Portobelo is a port city in the Colon Province of Panama, founded in 1597. Its strategic location made the city prosper and become an important port in the colonization of the Americas. As a stopping point for all Spanish treasure fleets, this city starting hosting the famous Portobelo Trading Fairs, a precouser to Panama’s Free Trade Zone.

Because of all the wealth that passed through the area, it became a favorite for pirates such as Captain Henry Morgan, Sir Francis Drake, and Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Empire. The last attack proved the vulnerability of the Spanish trading practices and devastated Portobelo’s economy, which did not rise again until the Panama Canal was build.

Now a days, Portobelo is a sleepy city with a population of less than 5,000. It has a deep natural harbor and has become an well known eco tourism and adventure tourism destination in Panama.

In 1980 UNESCO declared the nearby Fort of San Lorenzo (picture above) a World Heritage Site.

Adventure Tours:

Longest Canopy Line of Panama or Jungle Camping

Horseback Riding Tours in Portobelo

Errabache Embera Native Experience

Tubing down Rio Piedra

Snorkeling and Diving Tours:

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving on the Caribbean of Panama

Dive 2 Oceans: Pacific and Atlantic

Hotels:

• Sunset Cabins and Dive Center
• Octopus Garden Hotel and Dive Center
• Coco Plum Hotel

More photos of Portobelo:

For more information about Panama travel, tourism, and locations contact Panama Travel Group today.

info@panamatravelgroup.com

+507-399-9830 (Panama) | 1-786-539-4731 (USA)