Beaches, Military Forts and an Engineering Marvel
The province of Colon is located in the Caribbean at the entrance of the Panama Canal, just 55 minutes by road from Panama City, it is the main port for the traffic of almost all the country’s import and re-export merchandise. In importance, the City of Colon is the second in importance of the Republic, but due to its commerce, it can be considered the capital of the hemisphere.
Colon Province is characterized by the coexistence of various cultural ethnic groups of African, European and Asian descent. Also, for being divided into two sectors: Costa Arriba and Costa Abajo.
Portobelo
Portobelo Bay was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage aboard the Santa Maria, on November 2, 1502. Due to its unparalleled beauty, it was named “Porto Bello”. Portobelo was an obligatory stop on the route of ships transporting wealth from South America. This place was famous for its fairs which lasted up to 40 days, the last one being held in 1739. Between the 16th and 18th centuries it was one of the most important ports for exporting silver from New Granada and one of the ports of departure for the Indian fleet.
How to get:
This historic town is located 1 hour and a half by road from Panama City entering Sabanitas that leads to Costa Arriba, driving from Transistmica highway or the Panama-Colon highway.
Activities:
Upon reaching this historic town, the visitor has a large number of places to visit since the Portobelo Monumental Complex is made up of the Castle of San Jeronimo, the Portobelo Customs building, San Felipe Church, Fort Santiago de la Gloria, Santiago Battery, the Tres Cruces Bastion, Santiago Fortress, the Trench, Fort Farnecio, the Colonial House, San Fernando High Battery, San Fernando Low Battery, San Fernando Fort House, the Patio de Mules, the colonial bridges and Castillo de San Felipe.
From Portobelo you can explore its bay and the beautiful beaches of the sector by boat, an adventure with impressive views and unique experiences. You can do diving, fishing, kayaking, water skiing, banana boating and hiking.
Where to eat:
The culinary offer in this town and its surroundings has local and international restaurants such as Octopus Garden, Las Anclas, Don Quijote Pizzeria and Captain Jack’s.
Where to stay:
The road to Portobelo has a wide range of hotels, hostels and even Airbnb for all budgets and comforts. Among the most famous are Ciel y Miel, Casa Congo and Hostal Portobelo.
Nombre de Dios
It was in this place where “Camino Real” was born, a transportation route between the Spanish Colonies and Peru and the Mulatas Islands and Spain. Nombre de Dios was attacked and burned by the famous English pirate Francis Drake, later allowing Portobelo to be the Atlantic terminal “Camino Real”. There was also a mining railway that stretched from the manganese mines in the mountains, south of the place, to the pier in the bay of the same name.
How to get:
Upon reaching Portobelo, continue along the main road that becomes the Nombre de Dios highway. It takes 2 and a half hours from Panama City and 35 minutes from Portobelo.
Activities:
Currently, Nombre de Dios has beautiful coastal beaches with crystalline blue waters, which are ideal for beach tourism, recreation and all kinds of activities.
Nombre de Dios is a pearl with the ideal characteristics for ecological tourism due to its exuberant flora and fauna. Boats up to 35 feet deep can anchor in the bay.
Where to eat:
This area has mini-supermarkets where you can find the basics of food, so it is advisable to bring food unless the plan is to stay at the hotel or in the small hostels.
Where to stay:
Here visitors can find a beach hotel from where you can kayak. It also has a Marina with boats that set sail for tourist activities in the Caribbean.
Fort San Lorenzo
The San Lorenzo fort is one of the oldest Spanish fortresses in America. It is located at the mouth of the Chagres River, and it was through this river that the pirate Henry Morgan arrived at Panama City “La Vieja” to sack it. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was part of the defensive ecosystem for the transatlantic trade of the Crown of Spain, a magnificent example of military architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The New Visitors Center will soon be inaugurated, which will have a lookout tower over 50 meters high, a restaurant/dining room area, museography, auditoriums so that visitors can appreciate the natural biodiversity of the Forest and the entire history of Fort San Lorenzo.
Where to eat:
At this fort there are no places to buy groceries or restaurants. It is recommended to bring food, although in Fort Sherman across the bridge there is a restaurant in Shelter Bay Marina.
How to get:
Driving from Panama City to San Lorenzo is 1 hour and a half on the Panama – Colon freeway, and crossing the Atlantic bridge over the canal and following the highway.
Agua Clara Visitor Center
This place offers the visitor a never-before-seen perspective of the Canal. Located 50 meters above sea level, you can see the majesty of Gatun Lake, the exuberant vegetation, the Agua Clara locks and, beyond, the imposing Atlantic Bridge.
Ir is a park-like concept with open terraces, covered and stepped platforms, located in an area of four hectares that facilitates vision in an environment surrounded by nature.
On one side is Gatun Lake, where day after day cargo ships or other types of vessels pass through this magnificent work of modern engineering; In the same way, it is impressive to observe the giant Neo Panamax ships crossing through the enlarged locks.
How to get:
By road it is an hour and 9 minutes from Panama City on the way to the Atlantic bridge over the canal, but turning left before crossing it.
