THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 176

Tourist information The tourist office (Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm; 448 2200) is in a beau-
tifully restored old merchant's house at the corner where the road forks coming into town,
though information is limited.
ACCOMMODATION
Portobelo's accommodation options have improved immensely recently though if you're hit-
ting town for a festival, you will still need to make a reservation well in advance. There's
nowhere safe to camp around the town itself but you could pitch a tent on one of the beaches
if you get a boat out there.
Captain Jack's Hostel Portobelo Casa 3c la Guinea, 2min uphill from town 448 2009,
hostelportobelo.com . Though with a lovely veranda, overall this place is rather cramped with
four stuffy fan-ventilated dorms (though good mattresses), usually packed with travellers ar-
riving from, or waiting for, a boat to Colombia. It also hosts a surprisingly pricey, though
good, restaurant. Dorms $13
Casa Congo Waterfront west of the Aduana 202 0111, [e-mail] .
Four light, modern en-suite rooms filled with local Congo art, plus a/c and fan and a mini-
fridge. I t's worth splashing out the extra $10 for a room with a private balcony overlooking
the bay. $80
Coco-Plum Eco-Lodge Resort Main road, 2.5km before town 448 2102, cocoplum-
panama.com . Quite a nice spot to stay but overpriced, this cheerful lodge has a dozen funkily
furnished though dark en-suite rooms decorated with conch shells and marine-themed murals
(a/c & TV) set in a plant-filled garden. There's a hammock-strewn jetty, a thatc hed balcony
bar with pool table and an on-site scuba outfit (see Activities around Portobelo ) . $60
La Morada de Portobelo Waterfront west of the Aduana 6528 0679. Striking Congo-
themed murals invite you to this welcoming s pot. Three flats (two for 6 people, one for 4),
with a shared grassy lawn by the water's edge. $200
Scuba Portobelo Main road, 2.5km before town 261 3841, scubapanama.com . Al-
though catering for divers, anyone can stay here. Five light, en-suite a/c rooms and shared
balcony with hammocks afford superlative sea views. Spread around pleasant grounds, six
slightly older, rather faded cabins with similar amenities accommodate up to four, plus there's
dormitory with a/c available at weekends. A low-key restaura nt s erves a f ew filling s tap les
but there are good restaurants within walking distance. Dorms $17 , doubles $53 , cabins $64
EATING AND DRINKING
Las Anclas Coco-Plum Eco-Lodge 448 2102. Don't let the fun fishy decor distract you
from the tasty squid, lobster, crab and the like - try the mixed seafood in coconut milk
(US$11), plus daily specials prepared by the Colombian chef. Daily 8am-8pm.