Portobelo, Panama: travel guide
Small Caribbean coastal town in Colón Province, Panama, built around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Spanish colonial fortifications (Fuerte Santiago, Fuerte San Jerónimo, Real Aduana) and the Iglesia de San Felipe's Cristo Negro. Colón city, ~20 km west, is a separate catalog city. A distinct diving and heritage-tourism destination with its own hotel stock (Captain Jack's Hostel, El Otro Lado), not a suburb of Colón.
- Country
- Panama
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Panama
Top places to visit in Portobelo
Fuerte San Jeronimo
Fort · about 1 h
The largest of the UNESCO Portobelo forts, whose cannons still line the bay where Spanish treasure fleets sailed.
Fuerte Santiago
Fort · about 1 h
Well-preserved seaside Portobelo fort with bastions, barracks and sweeping bay views.
Iglesia de San Felipe (Cristo Negro)
Church · about 0.8 h
Portobelo church housing the revered Black Christ statue, focus of a huge October pilgrimage.
Real Aduana de Portobelo
Museum · about 0.8 h · entry USD 1
Restored royal customs house on the plaza, once the counting house for New World silver, now a museum.
Portobelo National Park
Nature · about 3 h
Coastal park of reefs, mangroves and rainforest surrounding the historic bay and forts.
Things to do
- Portobelo Forts & Black Christ Tour Cultural · 4 h · from USD 45 per person
- Portobelo Boat & Snorkel Trip Adventure · 4 h · from USD 50 per person
Where to stay in Portobelo
- Portobelo about USD 80 per night
Historic bayside village by the UNESCO forts and Black Christ church.
Hotels
- El Otro Lado 5-star · USD 380 to USD 700 per night
- Captain Jack's Hostel 1-star · USD 18 to USD 60 per night
Where to eat
- Restaurante Los Canones Seafood, Caribbean · about USD 18 per person
- Casa Congo Caribbean, Panamanian · about USD 20 per person
- Restaurante La Torre Seafood, Panamanian · about USD 12 per person
Getting around
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.