Cristobal is a port city that resides at the entrance of Limon Bay that leads to the entrance to the eastern side of the Panama Canal. Many ships cruising to the Panama Canal simply enter the locks and then are raised up to Gatun Lake where they then tender folks ashore for their shore excursions. Those that do not take a shore excursion, generally stay aboard to retrace their steps back down the locks and then to Cristobal. Some ships do not enter the locks at all, but simply start their shore excursions in Cristobal.

Found in Colon, Panama's second-largest city, Cristobal Pier is situated on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal.  Touring from this impressive port, visitors can easily access the Caribbean Sea, the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean – all in the same day.