Gatun Lake excursion Vs Puerto Limon

[Homeagain]

We are booked on the Zuiderdam for Oct 20 - Partial transit.  We would like to do an excursion either in Gatun Lake or Puerto Limon.  The HAL excursions we are considering sound somewhat similar but wondered if anyone had been on either or both and have a preference.  We are looking at the Rainforest, Gatun Lake and Locks tour 4 hrs which is a 1.5 hr eco-cruise on the lake, a walk through the rainforest and also gives you a tour of the new locks by bus and time at the Visitors Centre then bus to Colon to catch the ship.  Or, the Rainforest Walk, Canal Cruise and Countryside from Puerto Limon for 4 hrs which is a bus ride to Limon then on to the rainforest walk and a pontoon boat ride through the Tortuguero Canals. Alternatively in Puerto Limon there is the Caribbean Train, Countryside and Tortuguero Canals for 3.5 hrs which is the historic open air train through the countryside then onto a boat to go through the Canals.

This is our first partial transit cruise (hoping to do a full transit next year!) so not sure if it is better to stay on the ship in Gatun Lake or do an excursion there or in Puerto Limon. 

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

[cruisegermany]

Gatun Lake Tour, definitely. First of all, I really recommemd to focus on the full transit, even if you're doing the partial transit now. The full transit won't allow any Gatun Lake Tours, so it would be smart to go for it, now! Staying on board is mainly "boring", you won't see anything else than cargo ships and tankers waiting in the distance for their chance to pass through the locks, while the heat and humidity kill you on the open decks. There is absolutely no wind. Since the Panama Canal has old AND new locks now fully operational, one has to go twice... smaller ship and bigger ship. The new locks are still on my bucket list.

[Homeagain]

Thanks cruisegermany.  Gatun Lake tour it is!!!  When we do the full transit we can look at Puerto Limon then.

Again, thanks for the tips!