Colon, Panama - Private Tours?

Has anyone taken any private tours in Colon, Panama?

We are going in January on the Zenith and I would like some recommendations.

I have read on the boards that if we are not on a tour we should stay on the ship It is not safe and we should not walk around alone- is this true?

Many thanks,

Marion

We used My Friend Mario (with a website of the same name) and had a very nice tour - we went into the interior of the country and spent a good paort of the day at the Embera indian village, swam in the Chagres river and returned by way of the canal for a look see. Our group enjoyed the day.

I also used myfriendmario and did the same excursion. It was very safe, the only thing is that I know I left my camera on the bus and when I got on the ship and e-mailed mario they said they hadn't found it, but that was my fault. Also we went in April and the river was low so we had to get out and push the canoe, the water was only about a foot deep. All in all it was a great value, much cheaper than the cruise ship charged for the same thing. :)