Choose our Portobelo Extension to add to your captivating Panama adventure and explore its best kept secrets. From the contrasting views of Gatun Lake to the historic San Lorenzo Fort and a coastal snorkeling experience near Portobelo's bay, this extension rounds up your journey. Immerse yourself in the colonial charm of Portobelo's UNESCO-designated port, where five forts stand sentinel, cannons pointing to the bay. The Aguas Clara Visitor Center offers panoramic beauty, blending natural wonders and man-made marvels. This extension promises a seamless blend of adventure and history, crafting lasting memories of Panama's cultural and natural heritage.
Highlights
Snorkel near the bay of Portobelo
Visit the Aguas Clara Visitor Center
Explore Gatun Lake where cargo ships and vessels transit daily.
Marvel colonial architecture at UNESCO-recognized Portobelo forts
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
Arrive in Panama City on the flight of your choice today. You will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in the city upon arrival. Enjoy a free afternoon exploring your new surroundings and stretching your legs before your adventure begins in the morning.
Day 2: Aguas Clara Visitor Center and San Lorenzo
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Today, you will be picked up in the morning and head out to visit the Aguas Clara Visitor Center. The center offers a breathtaking panoramic view contrasting two scenarios that generate mixed feelings. On one side, one will find the famous Gatun Lake, where cargo ships or other vessels transit every day, while on the other side, but from a different perspective, the view of the expansion works will amaze. The new locks are larger, use less water than the original locks, and can accommodate bigger ships that carry more cargo.
Next, the group will visit San Lorenzo Fort, a colonial fortress that was built by the Spanish to protect the entrance of the Chagres River, which was an important route for transporting gold and silver from Peru to Spain. It was through this river that the notorious pirate Henry Morgan arrived at the Old Panama, to attack the fort and burn and loot the city. Take your time exploring the ruins of the fort, which include a moat, cannons, and vaulted chambers, and enjoy the views of the river and the Caribbean Sea. You can also see wildlife and vegetation of the San Lorenzo Protected Area, which surrounds the fort.
Today, get ready to experience the Caribbean coast from a different perspective, by snorkeling near the bay of Portobelo. Portobelo is a historic port that was once a vital trade center for the Spanish empire. Enjoy a transfer by boat to the beach where you will prepare for your snorkeling experience. This snorkeling tour will take you to some of the best spots for snorkeling near Portobelo, where you can see colorful coral reefs, tropical fish, and other marine life. Please note, this activity involves swimming from the beach to the snorkeling site.
The tour will continue to the port of Portobelo, which is full of colonial history, giving visitors a sense of being transported in time. In this location, five colonial fortresses stand, their cannons still pointing towards the bay. The colonial beauty of the fortresses remains preserved, and Portobelo and its fortresses has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Day 4: Return Home
1 Breakfast
Make your way to the airport for your international flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400 (50% during holiday season) plus internal flight fare, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 251 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 251 reviews on
1 day ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
2 days ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.
Mary Warren
3 days ago
Jess was very easy going and answered all our questions. It’s not easy dealing with 6 people at once but she did an outstanding job!
Diane Foster
5 days ago
Kassandra and the Adventure Life team have been incredible! Kassandra was very knowledgeable and attentive to our asks while making sure we kept within our budget. This was our first experience with a travel agent and we were blown away by the booking/initial exploration service. We will use Adventure Life again.