Something besides the Canal in Panama?

Will be in Colon and was looking for something to do beside the Canal Tours. Don't want the long bus rides and tie a whole day up with the Canal Tour. Is there any beaches or snorkling?

If I am understanding right you are not interested in seeing the canal? This area is not like other caribbean ports with nice beaches and such.

I too would like to see and do something else also. We have seen the canal and it is awesome, but I'm sure there are other sights worth seeing in Colon....

We used http://www.myfriendmario.com for our tours. There is a great waterfall that you can swim in and they take you to the Empera Indian Village. We did his tour that also included the Panama Canal, but I believe he has some that do not include the Canal. The Indian Village was enjoyable to see.

Interesting comments from Mario re locals going to the beach, and, as others have said, the tour to village, waterfall and locks appears to be a bit rushed. anyone else have an idea?

Honestly the beaches this particular day will be 4 times more full than the waterfall, because the children will return to the school the next day and a lot locals will go to the beaches.

But the waterfall neither is the best option to do some water time, becuase we are in the middle of the summer time and the level of the river is low so we need to hiking ahead to the waterfall around 15 minutes each way and the tme to spend there will be short, we estimate 20-30 minutes max. For sure the tour to the Indian and waterfall will be almost a private tour because this day we have only 12 clients, but again is not for people looking for water time.

We do not like to create false expetatitions about your visit to Panama and we tent to think that you must be plan some water time in other ports.