Portobelo

Outdoor activities

Explore the beauty of the Blues Veins lagoon and the beach of Playa Blanca on this tour from Panama City or Portobelo. Sit down for a delicious lunch on a catamaran.  Choose to be picked up from the comfort of your accommodations in Panama City or to make your own way to Portobelo. Hop aboard a speedboat that will connect you to the catamaran. Feel the wind in your hair as you soak up some sun on the way to your first stop at Blues Veins. Make your way to the interior lagoon aboard a dinghy. Disembark at a secluded beach where you can take a walk or snorkel through the coral in the crystal-clear waters.  Head back to the boat to eat a lunch of local products with a variety of dietary options. Continue to Playa Blanca where you can make the most of the sea by swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding.  Return to you Portobelo where, depending on the option you select, you can be dropped-off at your accommodation in Panama City, or you can drive back to your accommodation. 

Soak up the beauty of the Chagres National Park on a boat ride and take a short hike to the Mono waterfall on this guided day trip from Panama City. Discover local culture as you visit the Embera tribe and learn about their customs, beliefs, and way of life. Be picked up in the morning from your Panama City hotel. Sit back and relax in a comfortable, air-conditioned car while taking in the scenic drive on the way to the Chagres National Park. Begin your boat trip on to the Embera tribe which lives in remote areas of the rainforest that can only be reached by boat. Have a member of the Embera tribe take you and your guide in a traditional boat called a "piragua." Hop out of the boat and hike thorugh lush jungle to the Mono waterfall, where you can take a refreshing plunge (in the dry season from December through April). Hear birds and other rainforest wildlife while capturing some incredible photos. Arrive at the Embera village where you can meet the Tusipono Embera tribe that has managed to reject the modern, technological ways of life and maintained its traditions. Be greeted by locals that can answer questions about their way of life. See how the Embera people live, work, and play. Find out how they build their homes, cook their food, and make their crafts. Witness traditional dances and music performances. Have the chance to see the Embera people's intricate body art. The Embera people have a long tradition of using natural pigments to create intricate designs on their skin. View some of these designs up close and learn about the significance of each one. Have the chance to purchase a Embera design a body painting. The paint is a temporary remembrance of your visit to the Embera tribe which slowly fades away after a few days. Return to your accommodation in Panama City at the end of your tour.

The tour starts at 7:00am, with your English speaking driver and guide picking you up from your lodging in Panama City. Enjoy our comfortable, air-conditioned car as we cross the country from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side. At 9:30am we arrive at the port, where a lancha boat will take you to the monkey island Isla Linton, which is famous for its Howler monkeys inhabiting the dense forest canopies. You will hear their barking howls when leaving the boat and you may also spot a few curious faces looking at you from atop the trees. Next up we visit the "Tunnel of Love", a natural pool, surrounded by mangroves, inviting you to soak in the balmy, shallow waters. The experience will almost feel surreal, as realize your heightened senses, listening to the multitude of birds chirping all around you and the occasional monkey bellowing at his companions, all while sitting waist deep in a natural bathtub. Exiting the Tunnel of Loves, we will be greeted by Isla Mamey with its large white sand beach. The huge, shallow reef right in front will be the perfect opportunity for you to unpack your snorkel and dive into the iridescent ocean. Various palm trees will afford plenty of shade, inviting you to lay down and enjoy the gentle Caribbean breeze. At noon we head to Isla Grande, a short 10 minute boat ride from Isla Mamey. As you step off the boat you will be welcomed by palm trees and white-sand beaches. A popular getaway for folk escaping the urban grind of Panama City, Isla Grande is an ideal setting for snorkeling, scuba diving or simply soaking up the island’s relaxed vibe. There are no roads here, just a small footpath along the island's southern coast, backed by pastel-colored cottages. Many of the people living here are of African descent and are eking out a living from fishing and growing coconuts – you’ll get a taste of both when you sample the local cuisine. We will recommend you an oceanfront restaurant, where seafood is served fresh from the ocean to your plate and where you can spend the rest of the day lounging on the private beach, sipping on a cold Balboa beer or snacking on delicious Patacones (fried plantains). At 3:00pm we will return to the port, making our way back to Portobelo, giving us the opportunity to explore the rich historical buildings around town. ‘Puerto Bello, ’the Beautiful Port, was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, when he landed here on his fourth New World voyage. Since it was common during that time to abbreviate Spanish names, the beautiful port quickly became known as simply ‘Portobelo.’ During the 16th to the 18th centuries Portobelo was an important silver-exporting town and one of the two Atlantic ports on the route of the Spanish treasure fleets. Explore the old ruins and cannons idly aging away ion the Caribbean sun. As the sun starts dropping, we will make our way back to Panama City, arriving at your hotel at around 6:00pm.

Enjoy a day on the country's Caribbean beaches enjoying lunch and reliving the important colonial history of the town. We will be picking you up at the hotel lobby at 5:30 am to begin our adventure to Costa Arriba, Colon Province. 2 hours approximately. Arriving we will be our first tour to the paradisiacal beaches of Isla del Padre, Venas Azules and Playa Blanca, returning at noon to taste our delicious local Caribbean lunch at the end we will be doing our historical tour of the ruins and the picturesque town of Portobelo, visiting the Church declared a national historic monument. At approximately 2:00 p.m. we will be returning to Panama City to drop you off at the hotel.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Panama City, and then journey by comfortable car to the Spanish colonial city of Portobelo, founded 420 years ago as the main port along the nation's Atlantic Coast. Get 1 hour to discover the sights of the historical city, where highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ruins of the colonial fortifications and the nearby Fort Santiago in Portobelo. Relax on a private beach with crystal clear water and get full access to the showers and bathroom facilities. Go for a walk around the island to learn more about the locals and visit their shops. Avail of the hotel's bar and a great restaurant, serving delicious from the Caribbean. Return to Panama City at the end of an amazing day, and get dropped off at your hotel on arrival.

The town of Portobelo was founded by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage in 1597. This picturesque town is rich in history as it was the site of many sea and land battles between the Spanish Colonials. Sir Francis Drake was among the infamous Captains that raided this site and his body is said to be buried off the waters of Portobelo bay, near an Island named after him. Visit Fort San Geronimo, Fort San Felipe, Customs House, two story colonial structure built in 1630, it was the headquarters of the Spanish customs offices and the Black Christ Church (the patron Saint of Portobelo). The new Observation Center of the Canal Expansion, Agua Clara Locks, located in Colon Panama, is a park style concept based on open platforms and roofed terraces, built in an area of four hectares, 400 visitors, simultaneously, will be able to enjoy in this new center, the construction of the new locks of the Panama Canal in the Atlantic, at the same time, from its privileged location, visitors see the majestic Gatun Lake, where ships continue their transit through the waterway.

We will depart from Panama City and head to Portobelo, situated in the Caribbean region of the country. Our first stop will be the fort of San Jerónimo, which is part of the Caribbean fortifications and a designated World Heritage Site. Following this, we will visit the Congo House to learn about Congo culture, which is another intangible heritage of humanity. Next, we will see the customs house, which was the trading headquarters during the Spanish colonial era. After this, we will take a boat to Playa Blanca , where we will conclude the tour by enjoying a relaxing afternoon, taking in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean and sampling the delicious local cuisine.

Cruise the Caribbean with this group day trip from Panama City to Venas Azules and Portobelo National Park. Enjoy exploring long stretches of sand at Playa Blanca and the dense nature surrounding Venas Azules beach. Be picked up from your hotel and head to Portobelo, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Embark on a boat to to Venas Azules. Swim among starfish and colorful fish. Continue to Playa Blanca in an isolated area in Portobelo National Park. Spend some time on the beach and have a delicious picnic lunch in the national park.

The tour starts at 7:00am, with yoiur English speaking driver and guide picking you up from your lodging in Panama City. Enjoy our comfortable, air-conditioned car as we cross the country from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side. At 9:30am we arrive at the port, where a lancha boat will take you to the monkey island Isla Linton, which is famous for its Howler monkeys inhabiting the dense forest canopies. You will hear their barking howls when leaving the boat and you may also spot a few curious faces looking at you from atop the trees. Next up we visit the "Tunnel of Love", a natural pool, surrounded by mangroves, inviting you to soak in the balmy, shallow waters. The experience will almost feel surreal, as realize your heightened senses, listening to the multitude of birds chirping all around you and the occasional monkey bellowing at his companions, all while sitting waist deep in a natural bathtub. Exiting the Tunnel of Loves, we will be greeted by Isla Mamey with its large white sand beach. The huge, shallow reef right in front will be the perfect opportunity for you to unpack your snorkel and dive into the iridescent ocean. Various palm trees will afford plenty of shade, inviting you to lay down and enjoy the gentle Caribbean breeze. At noon we head to Isla Grande, a short 10 minute boat ride from Isla Mamey. As you step off the boat you will be welcomed by palm trees and white-sand beaches. A popular getaway for folk escaping the urban grind of Panama City, Isla Grande is an ideal setting for snorkeling, scuba diving or simply soaking up the island’s relaxed vibe. There are no roads here, just a small footpath along the island's southern coast, backed by pastel-colored cottages. Many of the people living here are of African descent and are eking out a living from fishing and growing coconuts – you’ll get a taste of both when you sample the local cuisine. We will recommend you an oceanfront restaurant, where seafood is served fresh from the ocean to your plate and where you can spend the rest of the day lounging on the private beach, sipping on a cold Balboa beer or snacking on delicious Patacones (fried plantains). At 3:00pm we will return to the port, making our way back to Portobelo, giving us the opportunity to explore the rich historical buildings around town. ‘Puerto Bello, ’the Beautiful Port, was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, when he landed here on his fourth New World voyage. Since it was common during that time to abbreviate Spanish names, the beautiful port quickly became known as simply ‘Portobelo.’ During the 16th to the 18th centuries Portobelo was an important silver-exporting town and one of the two Atlantic ports on the route of the Spanish treasure fleets. Explore the old ruins and cannons idly aging away ion the Caribbean sun. As the sun starts dropping, we will make our way back to Panama City, arriving at your hotel at around 6:00pm.

Please note: We align the pickup schedule with your cruise ship arrival times. Please contact our office to confirm. Your English speaking driver and guide will meet you at the Colon cruise ship terminal. Enjoy our comfortable, air-conditioned car as we start heading towards the Caribbean island port. After a 1 hour drive we embark a lancha boat which will take you to the monkey island Isla Linton, which is famous for its Howler monkeys inhabiting the dense forest canopies. You will hear their barking howls when leaving the boat and you may also spot a few curious faces looking at you from atop the trees. Next up we visit the "Tunnel of Love", a natural pool, surrounded by mangroves, inviting you to soak in the balmy, shallow waters. The experience will almost feel surreal, as realize your heightened senses, listening to the multitude of birds chirping all around you and the occasional monkey bellowing at his companions, all while sitting waist deep in a natural bathtub. Exiting the Tunnel of Loves, we will be greeted by Isla Mamey with its large white sand beach. The huge, shallow reef right in front will be the perfect opportunity for you to unpack your snorkel and dive into the iridescent ocean. Various palm trees will afford plenty of shade, inviting you to lay down and enjoy the gentle Caribbean breeze. At noon we head to Isla Grande, a short 10 minute boat ride from Isla Mamey. As you step off the boat you will be welcomed by palm trees and white-sand beaches. A popular getaway for folk escaping the urban grind of Panama City, Isla Grande is an ideal setting for snorkeling, scuba diving or simply soaking up the island’s relaxed vibe. There are no roads here, just a small footpath along the island's southern coast, backed by pastel-colored cottages. Many of the people living here are of African descent and are eking out a living from fishing and growing coconuts – you’ll get a taste of both when you sample the local cuisine. We will recommend you an oceanfront restaurant, where seafood is served fresh from the ocean to your plate and where you can spend the rest of the day lounging on the private beach, sipping on a cold Balboa beer or snacking on delicious Patacones (fried plantains). In the afternoon we start making our way back. We will stop in Portobelo to explore the rich historical buildings around town. ‘Puerto Bello, ’the Beautiful Port, was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, when he landed here on his fourth New World voyage. Since it was common during that time to abbreviate Spanish names, the beautiful port quickly became known as simply ‘Portobelo.’ During the 16th to the 18th centuries Portobelo was an important silver-exporting town and one of the two Atlantic ports on the route of the Spanish treasure fleets. Explore the old ruins and cannons idly aging away ion the Caribbean sun. As the sun starts dropping, you will return to your cruise ship in Colon.