Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Portobelo
In colonial times the scenically situated town of
PORTOBELO
was the most important set-
tlement on the isthmus after Panama City, since all the plunder from South America passed
through here en route for Spain. The ruined fortresses, remnants of the conquistadors' at-
tempts to safeguard the treasure from the envious grasp of pirates and privateers, constitute
the town's primary tourist sites. Indeed, a soldier's-eye view across the turquoise bay from
the forts' rusting Spanish cannons is one of the most popular postcard views in Panama, con-
veying the impression of a remote military outpost surrounded by dense vegetation. It there-
fore comes as a shock to most visitors to find the forts smack in the middle of an econom-
ically deprived modern town, with dilapidated houses propped up against the historical ru-
ins and kids playing football in what was once a parade ground. The town itself is mostly
squeezed along a thin strip of land between the main road and the bay, which spills into the
Caribbean, and is easily walkable. A half-day provides ample time to explore the colonial
relics, leaving you the afternoon to enjoy a nearby beach or arrange a boat trip round the bay.
Portobelo gets busy for two famous
festivals
: the Festival del Nazareño in October and the
hugely enjoyable Afro-colonial Festival de Congos y Diablos, which takes place every two
years in March, with smaller annual celebrations taking place along the coast in the weeks
leading up to Carnaval.
Note there is no bank or ATM in Portobelo or in any of the villages further along the coast.
