Panama Canal Cruise: Where to Stay in Los Angeles for 2 Nights and Excursions?

Hello, We’re going on a 15-night cruise through the Panama Canal from April 18 to May 3, 2019, aboard a Princess ship departing from Los Angeles (California) and arriving in Fort Lauderdale (Florida). The ship will dock in Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco (Mexico); San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua); Puntarenas (Costa Rica); Fuerte Amador (Panama), full transit of the Panama Canal; and Cartagena (Colombia). Has anyone here got any tips for organizing excursions on my own at a lower cost, and what are the absolute must-sees? For staying 2 nights in Los Angeles near the port, do you have any recommendations for hotels or Airbnbs? Thanks in advance. Martine

hi we stayed at the Ramada in Marina del Rey really great close to the airport and within walking distance of Venice Beach

in Puerto Vallarta you have the city bus to the port I didn’t really like the stopover

It's hard to give advice on accommodation in Los Angeles since there are so many options and without knowing your needs/requirements... Do you have a car, which would make things easier?

As for stopovers, based on what I know: - **Fuerte Amador (Panama)**, Actually, it's in Panama City—a marina on an island connected to the mainland. There’s a Hop On Hop Off bus that goes to this marina for a classic city tour, the most interesting parts being: the old town of Panama City and the Miraflores Locks on the Canal, especially since you’ll pass through them later to cross the canal. https://city-sightseeing.com/en/71/panama-city/77/hop-on-hop-off-panama-city

- **Cartagena (Colombia)**. There’s also a Hop On Hop Off bus here, with a tour of the "modern" city—meh, not the most interesting. However, the historic/colonial part, the "ciudad amurallada," is really nice to explore on foot. https://city-sightseeing.com/en/15/cartagena/12/hop-on-hop-off-cartagena

Hello, We stayed at the Ramada in Marina del Rey. It was great. Close to the airport and within walking distance of Venice Beach.

In Puerto Vallarta, there’s the city bus to the port. I didn’t really like the layover.

Thanks, Nataly, for these valuable tips—really appreciated! Martine

It's hard to give an opinion on accommodation in Los Angeles since there are so many options and without knowing your needs/requirements... Do you have a car, which would make things easier? Otherwise, regarding layovers for what I know: - Fort Amador (Panama), actually, it's in Panama City—a marina on an island connected to the mainland. There's a Hop On Hop Off bus that goes to this marina for a classic city tour—the most interesting parts: the old town of Panama City and the Miraflores Locks on the Canal, especially since you'll pass through it later to cross the canal. https://city-sightseeing.com/en/71/panama-city/77/hop-on-hop-off-panama-city

- Cartagena (Colombia). There's also a Hop On Hop Off bus with a tour of the "modern" city—meh, not the most interesting. However, the historic/colonial city, "ciudad amurallada," is really nice to explore on foot. https://city-sightseeing.com/en/15/cartagena/12/hop-on-hop-off-cartagena

Thanks, Michel, for these valuable tips—they’ll definitely be taken into account. For Los Angeles, we won’t have a car, but we’ll get around by taxi or Uber. We arrive Tuesday evening and have all day Wednesday to explore. Boarding is early Thursday morning. We’ll probably do a city tour unless you’ve got a better idea. Martine (France/Canada)

Hi, can we take the hop-on hop-off bus in Cartagena right when we get off the boat?