Panama | Road Scholar Trip Extension: Portobelo and Pirates Day Trip (Mon-Fri Only)

This tour operates on weekdays only.
Visit the historic, picturesque town of Portobelo on the Atlantic Ocean, just two hours from Panama City. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the port Belporto (Puerto Bello, or beautiful port) in 1502. The town of Portobelo later became the transshipment point during the Spanish colonial era for all the treasures the Spanish looted from the Inca Empire. Gold and other treasure stacked high in the Customs House, built in 1640, made it a favorite target of English pirates like Sir Francis Drake, who attacked the city repeatedly and eventually met his demise in nearby waters. Collectively, the fortifications in and around Portobelo are excellent examples of 17th and 18th century military architecture and have received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the restored Customs House and the ruins of four Spanish forts, including San Jerónimo, the largest and most complete of the fortresses built to protect the bay. San Jerónimo’s parapet has 18 artillery embrasures, and the upper battery contains a powder magazine and two other powder storages. Also visit the Hospital Chapel, built in 1597, and the Iglesia San Felipe, which houses the Black Christ, a life-sized, 17th century wooden statue that washed up on Portobelo’s shores.