Portobelo National Park

The town of Portobelo lies within the more than 86,000 acres (35,000 hectares) of the national park.

Here you'll find trails that run through the forests with paths to waterfalls and viewpoints, and trails along the coast that take you on a tour of history. 

In addition, the park has an immense biodiversity, as its tropical forest protects a very large variety of plants and animals that will accompany you throughout your walks. When you visit the forests of Portobelo, you'll come across sloths, iguanas, frogs, snakes, parrots and butterflies. In addition, if you're lucky you'll be able to see anteaters, armadillos, deer and even the huge harpy eagle, the national bird of Panamá.

Forests, Waterfalls and History

Portobelo has a lot of options for you to get to know its history and environment.

Portobelo has a lot of options for you to get to know its history and environment. If you want to get to know the depths of the forest, walk along the Indian River and visit its waterfalls while learning about medicinal and edible plants. You can also challenge yourself with a hike along the Monkey Leap trail. Choose whether to do part of the trail or do it entirely, and hike for approximately 6 hours until you reach the impressive 110-meter waterfall.

If you want to take your hikes among historical sites and culture, take a tour starting at Fort San Jeronimo, climb to the top of the mountain next to the town and reach the La Trinchera fortification, or cross the bay by boat to visit the Fort of San Fernando. From the fort, you can continue the hike to the beach of Puerto Frances and end the day in the Caribbean Sea.

We recommend that, to make the most of your walks, you book one of the tours offered from the town or its surroundings. Being accompanied by a guide will help you learn much more about the history of the streets you walk through and you'll be able to find special plans for medicinal plants or bird watching. Hiking tours in Portobelo range from around $30 to $50. 

In Portobelo, you can also explore beaches, rivers or mangroves, and swim in the depths of the turquoise sea surrounded by corals. On your next vacation in Panamá, visit Portobelo to learn about the Afro culture, history and gastronomy, or go on diving and fishing tours, so you don't miss a thing.