{"id":3968,"date":"2017-11-20T10:34:38","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T16:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitcentroamerica.com\/visitar\/portobelo-and-san-lorenzo\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T14:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T20:24:11","slug":"portobelo-and-san-lorenzo","status":"publish","type":"pit","link":"https:\/\/www.visitcentroamerica.com\/en\/visit\/portobelo-and-san-lorenzo\/","title":{"rendered":"Portobelo and San Lorenzo"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Portobelo<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Portobelo<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Portobelo<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Panam\u00e1,<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Portobelo<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Portobelo<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Portobelo and San Lorenzo are located in the\u00a0province of Col\u00f3n<\/strong>, only one hour away from Panam\u00e1 City. Portobelo is a small historic town on the\u00a0Atlantic coast<\/strong>\u00a0of the country where you can literally immerse yourself in the past, while delighting in the\u00a0warm, crystal clear tropical waters<\/strong>. It has approximately 3,000 inhabitants who have lived there for many years.<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>

In the sixteenth century, the Spanish conquerors needed a way between both oceans to communicate Spain with the lands of Bolivia and Per\u00fa. The\u00a0Chagres River<\/strong>\u00a0assumed that function, and soon its mouth was threatened by pirates and buccaneers\u2019 attacks. This required the construction of these fortifications to defend it, which were declared a\u00a0World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Portobelo you can admire part of the\u00a0architecture of the colonial era<\/strong>. The\u00a0old fortifications<\/strong>\u00a0used by the Spanish to defend themselves against pirates stand out, among which you will find the Bay of Portobelo, dominated by the Iron Castle of San Felipe de Sotomayor, considered the most important fortification in the city. During your visit, do not miss other colonial monuments, such as the Church of San Felipe with its famous\u00a0Black Christ of Portobelo<\/strong>, and the\u00a0Royal Customs House<\/strong>, where the gold and silver of Per\u00fa and Bolivia were stored waiting to ship.<\/p>\n

San Lorenzo<\/strong>\u00a0is a Spanish fortification in excellent condition. You can visit a grave dating from 1760, the walls, the canyons, and the moat. Other important forts are San Jer\u00f3nimo, integrated today in the city, and the Farnesio, where it is said that the famous corsair Francis Drake is buried.<\/p>\n

To go to Portobelo you can leave take the Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar road from the city of Panam\u00e1, which later becomes the Transisthmian highway. Go through Sabanitas, and then continue to Portobelo for about 45 km.<\/p>\n

To get to San Lorenzo you can take the road to the Gatun Locks, and there you will see directions to San Lorenzo. Traveling on the transisthmian railroad to Col\u00f3n adds charm to this getaway. You will skirt the Panama Canal, and enjoy the natural wealth through the tropical jungle.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

GEOPOSITION<\/span><\/h2><\/div>