Visit to see Black Christ in Portobelo

Portobelo situated on the Caribbean coast is a port in the Colon province of Panama and is known as one of the earliest Spanish settlements.  The main attraction of Portobelo is the Black Christ in the church located on the Main Square. The port is a wonderful blend of culture, history and natural beauty.

When the colonizing of the regions by the Spanish was high and after conquering the Inca Empire, the Spaniards were carefully transferring their treasure through waterway to coast-to-coast. The Portobelo was the main centre at that time as it was the only path to the old Panama City. The cargoes would be lifted here and from here, it would be transferred to the old world.

Hence, the shifting of treasure and being the main centre of Spanish, many Buccaneers and Pirates were attracted towards Portobelo and that’s why Spanish erected many fortress in order to protect its treasures. Even though the port was surrounded by the many fortresses, a British Buccaneers, Sir Francis Drake finally was successful in conquering and destroying Portobelo. But he died in the battle and till today, his coffin is deep into the ocean by the Portobelo bay. Now the whole scenario id different, the Portobelo is one of the religious places where more than thousand pilgrims come here every October to see the black Christ in old customhouse of Portobelo. Except for the church, there are many remnants of fortress as well as some in perfect condition to admire like San Felipe del Morro Castle, the Santiago Fort, The San Fernando Fort, and la Trinchera, San Felipe del Morro Castle that have been conserved and are the World Heritage Site.

The Portobelo also have a National Park, which was established in 1976. Approximately 34,846 hectares of land is under protection and known as Portobelo National Park. The park has many natural resources and it protects the Headwater Rivers, Guanche, Iguana, Cascajal, Brazuelo, and Piedras. The attraction of the park is the Cerro Bruja which is the highest point in the Park, around 979 meter high, as well as it is the continental dividing point. The park has two significant hills: Cerro Palmas and Cerro Pan de Azùcar. The northern side of the park has strip of narrow mountains at the Panama Canal Basin.

The park has mean rainfall approximately 4.800 mm annually and the temperature also differ on the coast and in the mountainous regions, 27 degree to 24 degree respectively. Variety of premontane forest from wet to moist can be found in this park.

The Portobelo National Park has a long coastline, 70 kilometers, which stretches from northern part of San Cristobal Bay to southern part of Buenaventura Bay. The coastline of the park is rich with marine life such as beaches, mangroves swamps, coral reefs and coastal lagoons.

The beach is home to four species of sea turtles as well as to Hawksbill, who come to this islands’ beach to lay their eggs and to mate. Here you will find large numbers of iguanas too.

The Manglatero cat is very common to spot in this region. Also specifically, in the mangrove swamps, you will find raccoons that eat crabs and in river, otters habituated as well as in the dense forests, white-throated capuchin monkeys dwells.

There are many different types of birds that are found in the park such as common black hawk, tiger heron, osprey, the plumbeous kite and big kingfisher of Panama are just to name few from the great variety.

Scuba divers advised Playa Blanca, Drake’s Island, the Three Sisters and, Salmedena Reef.

Portobelo is great for one-day trip and if you feel this place  much more to offer then days will just pass on relaxing and enjoying it picturesque landscape.