Colon, Panama’s Most Dangerous City
The city of Colon, on Panama’s Caribbean coast has a long-standing reputation as a dangerous place. Tourists do visit the area for the surrounding beaches and Duty Free Zone, as well as the cruise ports, but most don’t stay long due to its reputation.
Panama City has it’s fair share of violence as well. In 2008 the capital registered 70% of the nation’s murders. However, when you take in to account the population of Colon, that city is the most violent in all of Panama. Panama’s Minister of Government and Justice announced that in Colon there were 33 murders per 100-thousand residents in 2008. In Panama City there were 27 murders per 100-thousand.
In 2008 there were a total of 652 murders throughout the Republic of Panama. Much of the violence that takes place in Colon and elsewhere in Panama is the result of gang activity. Unfortunately it’s not just the gang members killing each other. Near the end of 2008, there were a handful of incidents where small children were killed as a result of stray gang bullets.
If Panama wants to continue as a popular tourist destination, the government and citizens need to take action to clean up the streets not only of Colon, but of all of Panama. Murder rates have been growing under the Martin Torrijos administration so one can only hope the new president who takes office this year will have a viable plan to curb the violence on Panama’s streets.
| Written by Rebecca Tyre |  |
This post's rating:
(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
Loading ...Related Stories
Dangerous Casco Viejo, Panama
On the Panama Free Trade Zone- Zona Libre
Panama’s Jewish Community
A Guide to Driving in Panama
Filed under: Country Guide, News on January 20th, 2009
Okay, my comment has nothing to do with street violence in Colon but please still read this anyway.
The best seafood dinner I’ve had in Panama was at the Hotel Washington just outside the duty free area. It was absolutely superb in every way: fresh, hot right off the grill, perfect mashed potatoes, and vegetables too. You can watch the freighters and sailboats go by.
If you’re staying at the Melia Colon Hotel, I would actually take a taxi over to the Washington for lunch. It’s that good, my friend. Wish I was there now.
Rebecca,
I came across your article and it reminded me of how it feels living in Jamaica and hearing relative ‘outsiders’ painting a picture that is worse than the situation warrants. Incidents of violence are escalating – in certain sections of the city and are drugs and gang related.
Where this is taking place, tourists have no business going in the first place. Not even locals do not go into some of these places unless you have specific business to be there. The same is true of every country in the world. It is true for Panama City as well!!
I live in Colon, Panama but I am not Panamanian. I am Jamaican. I too am looking on as an outsider but I’d more likely to be hurt here than a tourist. So just so that that is clear. I have no agenda and I own no tourist attraction that is likely to lose money or gain anything from my sharing my opinion.
Your statistics above are mostly accurate, however, the conclusion that Colon is ‘Panama’s most dangerous city’ I would never agree with. Taking the scale of the population to conclude how dangerous a place is just not correct.
What I would like to let your readers know though, is that
Colon Panama is in no way more dangerous for tourists than Panama City and I really have to say my bit to stop that propaganda. I hope you’ll publish my note as is as I really feel strongly about this issue.
The country is a beautiful one and visitors to Panama stand to lose out a lot on the different Atlantic flavour on this side of the country. That is such a pity!
Thanks for allowing me this space,
Rev. Marvia Lawes
Pastor, First Isthmian Baptist Church
13th Street and Balboa Ave
Colon, Panama
Marvia, I completely agree with you. There are areas everywhere, in every country that locals and tourists should avoid.
The government of Panama released the statistics saying Colon is Panama’s most dangerous city (per capita). I know Colon has a lot of great things to offer tourists and locals, but many people don’t get a chance to experience them.
I have to admit, I haven’t spent very much time in the city of Colon. Every time I’ve been there with Panamanian friends, they won’t let me get out of the car! I have friends who live in Colon that won’t even take me there because they are concerned about my safety as a foreigner.
Colon has a bad reputation, but if the people living there make an effort to improve the reputation, more tourists will visit.
sorry reverend but I totally disagree with you. Colon is as violent as they paint it to be. I grew up there, and I dread it everytime I have to go back to visit. Its totally unkept, and things are falling apart. Have you ever taken the train from Panama city to Colon? It saddens me every time the train reaches Colon. Right after Mount Hope the crazy looking jail. It hurts my heart, but truth must be told, I would never tell a tourist to go in to Colon city. Never ever. But that’s just me.
My wife and I spent two days in Colon last week. We stayed at the Hotel Washington which must have been very impressive when new. We had one taxi driver who warned us about walking around the hotel area. Then another taxi driver bringing us back from the Cristobol pier where we went to meet some friends laughed at that. He said Colon is like any other city : if you do something really stupid like walk around flashing your money, of course you’ll get robbed. Just like you will in New York or Paris or Sydney. Be reasonable, walk in small groups, stick to lighted areas and there should be no reason to fear. That was our impression of Colon as well. We enjoyed a walk down Ave. Centrale which is a varied and interesting walk. We went out to the park at the far end and talked with people who were relaxing. From what we experienced, we do not think that Colon is any more dangerous to the average traveller than any other city. Take reasonable precautions and you should be as safe as in any city.
Thanks Rebecca,
Gordon has expressed it quite well. Just act as ’sensibly’ as you would in any other city to which you are a stranger.
Willy D, I totally agree with you regarding the general state of decay in Colon city itself. However, from where I sit I have to take a position that tourists and some citizens really can’t be bothered with. It is the other side to the continued state of decay in Colon.
First of all – I cannot imagine that people can just throw their garbage right at their feet, or on the steps of their buildings just so. So there is the absence of the pride in people to keep their area clean. That’s a different story however from the issue at hand. ”most violent city’ and ‘most dirty city’ are two different things.
Second – Even I can see that Colon has been neglected in terms of receiving back from government coffers a decent and just portion of that which it produces. Colon City generates a huge portion of Panama’s income? We have : (a) The Freezone (b) Manzanillo Intl terminal (port) (c) Gatun locks/Panama Canal (d) Most recently – Cruise ship home port . So the fact is Colon does generate a lot of income for the country. Can’t the city look a little more prosperous then? Can’t there be more employment opportunities for Colonenses then?
Why is it that the majority of persons with the best paying jobs in Colon come from outside of Colon City? I am yet to see evidence of heavy investments being poured back into this city to lift up its schools, its health system and other such important social support structures of a community.
So Willy let’s talk about that. And while we are on it – when last did you check out certain sections of Panama City itself. How many of those in Panama City ever go to Caledonia or sections of San Miguelito?
This is too funny – would you believe my members in Colon will NOT let me go to Caledonia or similar areas in Panama? They say Pastora, don’t go to those places you’ll get robbed or killed. So its the same thing then – we need to separate perception (usually biased perception) from facts.
Thanks again for letting me go on Rebecca:-)
33 murders per 100,000 people is just an outrageous number… when I compare it to Canada where I grew up which has a murder rate of 1.89 per 100,000 it really puts it in perspective for me. I have lived here for a few years now in Panama City and I can honestly say that in the last 6 months I have really felt less safe. I have had friends assaulted near my home (in the Punta Pacifica) area. I have learned that the cops are not interested in solving your problems.. only collecting bribe money when they can catch you doing something. No protection there. And who can blame them? They get paid $500 a month. I wouldn’t put my life on the line for that kind of money. It’s just pathetic. We talk about all the riches that Panama has and yet most of the country lives well below the poverty line while a few people walk around super rich controlling everything. Are Panamanians only here to serve drinks at restaurants or resorts? Can Panamanians afford any of the housing that is going up in the city center? No they can’t and I’m sure more than one of them is bitter about it. I would also bet that the 1989 invasion by the US isn’t exactly forgotten either. Now a Spanish guy get’s murdered in broad daylight in San Francisco while working out in a park? When we will see some action from the police or government? Probably when they stop getting paid by the people commiting it is my guess.
And having a conversation about which is worse Panama City or Colon misses the point completely. 30 murders per 100,000 is one of the highest murder rates in the world. Period.
Anybody interested in seeing the murder rate in other countries can go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_homicide_rate
Some of the stats are out of date but it’s good to get a ballpark idea. They don’t have Panama’s updated murder rate but in the past it hovered around 10 – 12 murders per 100,000 people. So clearly the murder rate is trending up and trending up fast if we are at 27 – 30 now.
hey just wanted to say that everyones comments here are great to read, keep them coming please!
mike u have to remember that the 30 per 100,000 is in the worst areas of panama, on average its much lower than 30, but still way higher than canada for instance (we rock, im canadian also)
heres some information on murder rates
http://www.geocities.com/dtmcbride/reference/murders_us_2003.html
new orleans and washington dc have far higher rates than colon or panama city
but at the bottom of the page you can see panama makes top 10 list for most murders per country per 100,000 people, just under mexico
heres some not so good news for youths in latin america
http://www.theargentimes.com/currentaffairs/newsfromlatinamerica/murder-rate-in-latin-america-worst-in-world-/
Bottom line:
If you’re coming to Colon, on a cruise boat; are there convenient/safe places to snorkle?
Or, do you have to risk your life/wallet to experience such an activity?
And, if it’s available; is the snorkling any good?
i was thinking of moving my family to panama. i have a wife and three young girls. we would rather live in the rural areas not one of the larger cities, how is rural living there? is it dangerous?
Since the news is coming out of Costa Rica, I just call it ENVY. You do not know what you are missing! Great country, beautiful people!! and the most impressive City in Latin America!
Kenneth:
Nope, our writing staff is right in downtown Panama City. We have offices in both Panama and Costa Rica. I love both countries and certainly have complaints about each, but I think many on our staff have a unique perspective for having lived and worked on both countries. I go back and forth frequently and maintain residences in both places, so I’m not sure how I’d be envious of one over the other. If you’re referring to Panama City as the most impressive in Latin America, I think you’ve got some tough competition there in Buenos Aires, Medellin, Santiago, etc…but it’s certainly got San Jose beat! Anyhow, thanks for reading!
Maaaan!!!!!,I am in touch with a Panaminian lady that doesn’t talk any of this thing’s just beauty’s,what she say’s is:prices are based on where you want to live,she doesn’t mention criminality at all….hum!!!!!.
I am from Peru and that’s the main reason I don’t want to relocate there even though I love the food and traditions.
Maaaaannnn!!!!.
Is there any place that is considered safe??? close to Panama?.
thanks.
carlos