Making the most of Fuerte Amador
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The new harbour now lets ships berth directly rather than tendering passengers. Its welcome area contains gift shops and restaurants. It stands at the former port site on Flamenco Island, at the end of Amador Causeway. This one-mile road projects into the Pacific and links four small islands: Flamenco, Perico, Culebra and Naos. Along it are the cruise port, marina, Fuerte Amador retail and dining plaza, a convention centre and a second shopping and restaurant complex.
Panama City centre lies twenty miles from the harbour. Only private taxis monitored by FARM can enter the port, while local cabs wait outside the island entrance. Taxi-union rules prevent shuttle buses from serving the city. Drivers accept U.S. dollars, but agree the price before leaving.
Just south-west of Panama City, Fuerte Amador is well positioned for discovering the city and nearby islands. Culebra Island houses the Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research.
Getting around
For safety, ship excursions are recommended because public transport is not considered very secure.
Taxis provide another practical and inexpensive way to travel in Panama. A three-hour trip costs about $90 per vehicle.
Nearby places
With a full day and no Panama City booking, visitors can hire Amador taxis for roughly $15-20 per hour to explore independently.
Miraflores Visitor Center is of interest mainly to passengers making a "partial" canal transit. Aim to reach Miraflores Locks around 9am -10:30am or 3pm -4:30pm. A "full canal" cruise offers a better view of everything from the ship.
Food and shopping
Traditional Panamanian crafts are cheapest at artisan markets. In Panama City, Balboa has the best, followed closely by Panama Viejo. The country's signature craft is the mola, detailed reverse-appliqué work produced by the Kuna. Buy molas at either market or from sellers along the Casco Viejo seawall.
Fuerte Amador Mall is a large duty-free shopping plaza offering a broad selection of quality goods at rock-bottom prices, including electronic gadgets, jewellery, food, perfume and clothing. Fuerte Amador also contains Flamenco Shopping Center, another plaza housing numerous boutique stores, souvenir shops and restaurants. A newly built modern shopping centre can also be found on Flamenco Island.
A number of specialist shops and stalls throughout the marina sell local products, including native handicrafts and souvenir items.
When your ship arrives in the evening, choose a restaurant overlooking Panama City and enjoy the view.
Money
Panama uses the Balboa and US Dollar. A balboa has precisely the same value as a US dollar, although in practice Balboas exist only as coins equivalent to US denominations.
Staying connected
Panama's official language is Spanish; 14% speak English, and many residents are bilingual.
Opening Hours and
Retail times differ, but most shops open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am until 6:00 p.m., with some trading as late as 10:00 p.m.