Portobelo Fortifications
Portobelo
A group of Spanish colonial forts on the Caribbean coast, once the port where treasure fleets carried South American silver. Together with Fort San Lorenzo, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The small town is scattered with fort ruins, including San Jerónimo and Santiago, whose batteries face the bay. The Real Aduana (Customs House) has a small exhibition. The Church of San Felipe enshrines the 'Black Christ', and every October 21, large numbers of pilgrims arrive. Visitors can take a boat trip around the nearby bays and go snorkeling. Portobelo is about 1.5 to 2 hours' drive from Panama City and is often combined with sites in the Colón direction.
Opening hours
Open all day (fortress ruins)
Nearby sights
- Agua Clara Locks Visitor Center
- Fort San Lorenzo
- Panama Rainforest Discovery Center
- Gamboa Rainforest
- Barro Colorado Island
- Soberanía National Park
- Gatun Lake
- Summit Municipal Park