Colon, Panama

With its face set firmly to the Caribbean sun, Colón was founded as a result of the California gold rush in 1850, as the starting point of a railroad that carried prospectors across the Isthmus of Panama.

Today, the culture, people, duty-free zones and historical architecture are what draw travelers to Colon. While there, take in Columbus Cathedral, Christopher Columbus statue, Christ statue, Virgin Mary statue, Shell Monument, Aspinwall Monument and Monument of the Students' Revolution.