Transit through an Engineering Marvel: the Panama Canal ! - Panama Canal & Central America "Ports" Review by KruzinAl

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Home > Member Reviews > KruzinAl's Port Reviews of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Limon, Ocho Rios, Cartagena (Colombia), Grand Cayman

KruzinAl's Port Reviews of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Limon, Ocho Rios, Cartagena (Colombia), Grand Cayman
Carnival Pride cruise in March 2009

Member Name:	KruzinAl
Cruise Date:	March 2009
Embarkation:	Los Angeles
Destination:	Panama Canal & Central America
Member Review:	KruzinAl's Carnival Pride Review

	Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Port Rating: We actually stopped at Manzanillo, Mexico this choice not available in the pulldown review menu. A disappointing port, not sure why it was chosen, likely low dockage fees? Fairly poor local Mexican town, walked around. Beaches, a taxi ride or shore trip away were popular for those who took this option though.
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	Puerto Limon Port Rating: Actual port was Puntarenas Costa Rica. very friendly staff at the dock, nice market, a fantastic country. We took an outstanding local tour to Carara National Park and the Taricolas River with Greenway Tours. Would highly recommend Mario and his company. A new clean, air conditioned van with tour guide Ollie were fantastic. http://www.costarica-ecotourism.com/costa-rica-tours.htm or www.greenwaytours.com Will go to the volcanoes and canopy tour another time. Walked through the rainforest, saw much wildlife and interesting trees/vegetation. A short boat ride on the Taricolas River were the capper, with Lizard/Iguana sighting and a wide variety of birds and fish and wild crocodiles. The boat guide was a daredevil feeding the crocs on the riverbank. Unbelieveable photo ops. Seeing a pair of scarlet macaws flying by brought my wife to tears.
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	Ocho Rios Port Rating: ship tour to Dunn's River and Dolphin Cove. great time at Dunn's, a fairly steep 600 ft waterfall, walk, a little slippery, so good water shoes, lots of handholding going on, fun, refreshing, don't carry anything, check it. guides will take photos, so don't bring your camera unless it is waterproof. cost is only $15 if you go it alone. Dolphin Cove -almost across the street, a newly built attraction for ship dockers for sure,a small beach, various dolphin/shark encounters. I think you could almost walk to both attractions, but a wild road makes it dangerous.
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	Cartagena (Colombia) Port Rating: Took a ship tour city center, fortress and convent. Million people, high unemployment around 14% caused a tremendous amount of vendors and very aggressive sales techniques, rivaling the Cairo Pyramid vendors. No means maybe, so just ignore. Walked through the Castillo de San Felipe, very interesting, then a sharp drive up to the La Popa Monastery, great city views, then walking tour of old town Plaza de Bolivar, the emerald shopping experience can be missed. Had an hour delay in getting back on the ship, due to only 1 gangway in place(currents and water height) Shore ex wanted to keep customers in AC comfort on the buses in the 95 deg heat- but our bus was not that cool (got a 20% refund with feedback to shore ex) Others we knew just walked from the port and grabbed some low cost taxi/van tours for 1/2 price.
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	Grand Cayman Port Rating: Beautiful turquoise water, nice sandy beaches, only tendered port, take the free Tortuga rum cake samples in town, if you haven;t been to stingray city and snorkeling go,. we had so decided to do a taxi ride $16 for the load to closest beach hotel Royal Palms Beach, rented a chair/.umbrella, nice washrooms, good food/bar. Saw lots of ship staff here, so they know the best place as well.
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