Panama Tours / Colon?

Hi everyone. We're doing a PC transit in November and dock in Colon. Ship's selection of side trips is pretty disappointing -- why do a canal-based excursion after transiting the entire canal the previous day? Colon, from what I've read, is a bit scary and doesn't offer much to see or do besides avoiding criminals.

:eek:

Any suggestions? Is it hard to get to Panama City on your own, or would that be silly? Thank you.

Really don't know what you are interested in, but unless you have something particular you want to do or see in Panama City I think a an organized excursion whether from the ship or independent is the way to go. Panama City offers the ruins of Old Panama that Henry Morgan sacked, the Casco Antiguo that was built after Morgan destroyed Old Panama and that is all intertwined with the modern day Panama City. You could certainly engage a cab in Colon to take you over to the City, but that would be the absolute last option I would consider. While nothing is inherently unsafe in doing that, it just they are not really the best tour guides around and sometimes their English is rudimentary.

If you are not interested in shore excursions that are Canal centered, then a visit to the Embera Indians is certainly one of the more popular excursions... almost a Nat Geo affair. Lots of history in any trip that takes you to Ft. San Lorenzo or Portobelo. A relaxing excursion could involve the train, the first transcontinental railroad in the Americas and while not the fastest, it is the quickest!

You are spot on about Colon, there is nothing there for the cruise passenger, it just happens to be where the dock for the ship is located. To see anything of note you will need to have an excursion of some sort arranged. The mall adjacent to the pier is certainly fine for browsing around if you need a souvenir of Panama.

We got day passes for the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. It included a delicious buffet lunch and drinks, and the pool is beautiful. It is about 45 minutes from port. It was at the end of our cruise, so after a week of sightseeing, it was a very relaxing day.