Portobelo
Corregimiento and city in Colón, Panama
About
Portobelo (Modern Spanish: "Puerto Bello" ("beautiful port"), historically in Portuguese: Porto Belo) is a historic port and corregimiento in Portobelo District, Colón Province, Panama. Located on the northern part of the Isthmus of Panama, it is 32 km (20 mi) northeast of the modern port of Colón now at the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It has a population of 4,559 as of 2010, and functions as the seat of Portobelo District.
Established in 1597 for its deep natural harbor, it joined Veracruz (2,066 km (1,284 mi) to the northwest) as ports used by the Spanish Empire to ship treasure from the mines of Peru (via Panama City on the Pacific side of the Isthmus and overland to Portobelo) back to Spain. The city was repeatedly captured by British privateers and pirates, culminating in a successful siege by the Royal Navy in 1739, during the War of Jenkins' Ear.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Henry Morgan's raid on Porto Bello
1668 raid
330 ft away
Blockade of Porto Bello
Engagement in Anglo-Spanish War
1.2 mi away
Portobelo District
District in Colón Province, Panama
0.4 mi away
Iglesia de San Felipe, Portobelo
Notable place
La Represa
Corregimiento in Panamá Oeste, Panama
1.2 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
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Traveler reviews
Tickets & tours
Tickets and tours for Portobelo
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