Portobelo National Park
Portobelo National Park
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Picturesque bayside village features the ruins of five Spanish forts, a restored treasure house and the burial place of Sir Francis Drake.
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4.0
202 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
80
Average
48
Poor
11
Terrible
8
Joseph D
10 contributions
Jan 2020
Portobello is a long drive from Colon (90 minutes) for little return. The Portobello National Park covers a small area in the town and is in pretty poor condition. It does look like some work has been started to update the conditions but much more is needed to make the trip worth the effort. The fortifications and the custom house are maybe a 15 minute stop.
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grizeagle
Terrace, Canada345 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Portobelo national park is an area of immense importance to the history buff who is inquisitive about the early colonial Spanish days in the Caribbean area. The quiet, rural and rustic community is situated along the shores of a strategically sheltered, picturesque bay along the Caribbean Sea. The bay is relatively narrow and surrounded by lush green hillsides along the rugged, mountainous shoreline about 30 miles from colon, Panama. The small settlement of Portobelo was a very strategic and historically important seaport in colonial Spanish days from the sixteenth century for 200 years. Every October for 200 years a fleet of merchant ships and galleons came to cartegena, Colombia and the large armed galleons would go on to Portobelo to load silver, gold and treasures from the new world to be taken back to Spain via Cuba. The silver mule trains came across the isthmus of Panama from Panama City laden with Peruvian silver and treasure on the easiest route to the Caribbean via the stone trail or Camino real or royal road,to Portobelo. The treasure was stored in a large protected cement customs house or counting house where the silver was weighed and stored for future loads bound for Spain. The Tierra firme fleet came to cartegena each October with 40 or 50 merchant ships and 6 or so large armed galleons that came to Portobelo to pick up the main Spanish currency silver from Peru. Early French, English and Dutch pirates preyed on these treasure fleets and towns and held them for ransoms. In response the Spanish fortified the important towns , so Portobelo was fortified and the old ruins of Fort San Geronimo and other fortifications nearby at the bay entrance , attest to the lengths the Spanish went to for protecting their strategic holdings in America. This Fort was built to protect the customs house with all its treasures. For two centuries this area was an important trade route to the motherland from south and Central America. San Geronimo fortress is situated at sea level and was built to withstand sea attack by pirates and corsairs. The fortress still stands in reasonably good shape prominently along the quiet shoreline facing the harbour entrance to the southwest. Cold, rusted steel cannons protrude from the batteries facing the direction of incoming enemy attack ships and they are a reminder of bygone fire power to protect Spanish colonial interests. The stone , coral and cement walls and bastions sit solemnly in silence as historical evidence of the significant importance of Portobelo as a sheltered , protected and strategic port. This excursion we took to Portobelo was a unique opportunity to visit the place that was the richest holding area for treasure in the world during Spanish colonial days. This national park also has an old church that has a black Christ that holds ethnic and cultural importance to many Panamanians and others and a pilgrimage exists each October to see and worship it. The Portobelo national park is a unesco world heritage site now and is being cleaned up. It is a worthwhile side trip to make to see the Eco-natural beauty of the diverse ecosystems along the Panama coastline. There is a lot of garbage along the highways and near homes which disturbs me and I hope the Panamanian government does something to clean it up if they want to attract more tourists.the trip to Portobelo is like going back in time where the locals can be seen fishing in the bay from dugout canoes and locals farming and selling wares. It is well worth the trip but research a little or go with a guided tour, so you can feel the historical significance of your adventure destination on arrival and view the museum items in the old customs house and watch the video on Portobelo there as well when you arrive at this no frills national park.
Written 14 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khuna
Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico1 843 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
So, if you are in Panama City and you want to go see one of the old Spanish forts of the 1500's, you essentially have two choices on the Caribbean side and you'll have to decide before you get to Colon. If you go left, it's San Lorenzo and if you go right it's Portobelo. San Lorenzo has so much more to see and it is my favorite. But, at San Lorenzo all you have is the fort, no place to eat or shop. Porotbelo on the other hand is near the city of Portobelo and offers very good dining and other attractions. The fort was actually the bigger shipper of gold in the 1500's and shares the same story of demise as San Lorenzo - Captain Morgan. The ruins could be better maintained, but they are still safe to explore. The view of the bay is awesome. If you look closely, you can actually see how the fort wall meanders around the bay, and it must have been an absolute site to see back in the 1500's.
We visited both San Lorenzo and Portobelo forts in the same day... that can be a little too much driving and not leave enough time to explore and take it all in. I suggest making them two discrete day trips and have a professional guide show you the details. Our guide knew a lot of the history, and made sure we stopped at the good places to eat and drink.
We visited both San Lorenzo and Portobelo forts in the same day... that can be a little too much driving and not leave enough time to explore and take it all in. I suggest making them two discrete day trips and have a professional guide show you the details. Our guide knew a lot of the history, and made sure we stopped at the good places to eat and drink.
Written 22 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D R
Tulsa, OK40 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Portobelo is well worth taking a trip. It's certainly not visited by many tourists, but that was fine by us. Our tour guide, Eric Rodriguez (507)6624-2761, took us to Portobelo from Panama City (en route to Gatun Locks and Fort San Lorenzo)...and we enjoyed a little breakfast at a local café (it took an hour to get our food, but get used to that in Panama!), some time at the fort ruins, the old customs house where the gold was stored, the Church of Black Jesus, and a really cheap boat charter from Juan Fernandez ($30)...who took us to a private little island beach, where we enjoyed snorkeling and hanging out, by ourselves. Just being in Portobelo takes you back in time to the pirate days...with cannons pointed out at the waters...you can almost picture yourself being there!
One tip: throw a roll of toilet paper in your backpack :-)
One tip: throw a roll of toilet paper in your backpack :-)
Written 16 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gugui Naters Amador
Mexico City, Mexico294 contributions
El Fuerte de Portobelo is on the coast, in the Province of Colón. It is about two hours from Panamá City. It is worth going there to explore the ruins, see the church, and check out the town.
Written 5 June 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FunOnly
Calgary, Canada3 804 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
The bus trip from Colon was long and delayed because of road closure associated with a local religious procession. To make matters worse it was pouring rain as frequently happens in this region of Panama. The ruined forts were in a poor state of repair and unimpressive compared to other seventeenth century fortresses in the Caribbean.
We took a tour that combined Portobelo with the Panama Canal Locks and we wished that we had just gone to the locks. The town of Colon was very run down and is best described as “The Colon of Central America”.
This is the least enjoyable port of call that we have experienced in the Caribbean.
We took a tour that combined Portobelo with the Panama Canal Locks and we wished that we had just gone to the locks. The town of Colon was very run down and is best described as “The Colon of Central America”.
This is the least enjoyable port of call that we have experienced in the Caribbean.
Written 21 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StefanM
Slovakia3 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This was our biggest mistake to go there. Both of two destination was very wasted full of junks and nobody speak English. Trust me you can't ask for coffee ....they don't understand you.totally nothing.in the hotels or local restaurants too. All the pics are lying of that region.really wasted everything. And we get sick from the food on the isla grande in Bucanero restaurant from octopus. Real pics of isla grande beach attached. Very dirty and very small.it was a nightmare. Never again 😷😷😫😫
Written 5 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laural A
39 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Portobelo is in a slum. Getting there is not pleasant and the town is in extreme poverty. Nothing to see or do. Eat at your own risk.
Written 1 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RodMac
Ottawa114 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
I loved my visit to Portobello. Founded by the Conquistadors, the town was raided by such infamous pirates as Sir Frances Drake and Captain Morgan. Fairly well preserved historic ruins and of course, there is the Black Christ in the local church, said to perform miracles, The sheltered bay is scenic and the town is a little oasis away from the maddening crowd.
Written 14 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SiamGator
Jacksonville, FL37 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
So much history in such a remote location.....A short drive up the Atlantic coast brings you to this sleepy village which was once the richest city in the world....all of the gold and silver that the conquistadors pilfered from the Inca Empire was stored here and put on the Spanish treasure ships for shipment to Spain. The Bay was originally visited by Christopher Columbus who named it "beautiful bay" as he recovered from an illness while anchored here in 1502. In 1596 the famous Captain Francis Drake, victor of the Battle of the Spanish Armada, died here and was buried in the Bay. In the 1600's the town was sacked by the infamous pirate Henry Morgan. In the 1700's the City was captured by the English Admiral Edward Vernon...the victory was so important that Portobello was used in place and street names in honor of the victory, such as Portobello Road in London, the Portobello area in Edinburgh, and the Portobello Barracks in Dublin. And then there is the story of the Statue of the Black Christ.....one version has that it was removed and loaded on board a ship...a sudden storm came up and the ship was sunk but the statue floated back into the bay to Portobelo. All in all a fascination place to visit!
Written 3 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, Maria.
En diciembre estaré haciendo un crucero que sale de colón y quería aprovechar 4 horas que tengo para visitar Portobelo. Será tiempo sificiente, cuánto se tarde en ir y regresar. Se va en taxy o algún tour se puede tomar en la zona? Y cuál es el precio aproximado.
Gracias.
Written 5 April 2017
Hola!
De Colón hasta Portobelo tienes aproximadamente una hora y media, dependiendo del estado del tráfico incluso algo más.
Portobelo tiene interesantes ruinas que te llevaran un tiempo para su visita.
En mi opinión, 4 horas es un tiempo algo escaso para poder realizar la visita.
Suerte! y buen viaje ;-)
Written 6 April 2017
I would like to have a concert suggestion of a place to eat, in Portobello or very close by. Thanks a lot.
Written 7 November 2016
actually at the spot where you find the ruins of the fortress there is a place where they sell local food but it's not so good and a little overpriced. on the way to Portobello on the left hand (on the shore line) you will be seeing many restaurants. I wouldn't remember the name of any but they are definitely better then what you will find in the town itself or next to the fortress. In any place ceviche must be very good. Recommend you
Written 8 November 2016
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