Destination: Panama Canal

Port/City: Panama Canal (Cruising)


Portobelo Pirate's Paradise & Gatun Locks

Your tour to Portobelo will give you a glimpse into the rich history of the area once known as the Paradise for Pirates. You will enjoy the history and folklore with a visit to the Fort and its surroundings. A guided tour of the Gatun Locks will also be included.



Portobelo was a market town as well as a fortress. The flood of gold that poured through the trails across the Isthmus was traded for goods from Spain and Europe. Portobelo became the emporium of the riches of the two worlds, the most important commercial depot of the period and a Paradise for Pirates. Although Portobelo was substantially built and protected by four strong fortresses and seven minor batteries, the town was repeatedly taken by British and other marauders. Sir Francis Drake died in Portobelo and has an island named after him where he was supposedly buried. During this tour, you will visit Fort San Geronimo, Fort San Felipe, the Custom's House, and Black Christ Church. You will also get to see what is often referred to as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Panama Canal. The construction of the canal was undertaken by the United States in 1903, and took 10 years and 387 million dollars to complete. The Gatun Locks were at the time the most massive ever envisioned, and are still impressive to this day. You will have a one hour guided tour of the locks, before being transferred back to the ship. Note: This tour will commence via tender from Gatun Lake and end at Cristobal Pier. Guests have to climb several steps to reach the upper level of the observation deck. Minimum age to participate is 6 years old.

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