Portobelo Beaches
Be sure to include the closest Caribbean port to Panama City on your next vacation in Panamá. Walk through the village, eat with a view of Portobelo Bay, and sail to beaches with turquoise water. Here you'll find plenty of marine life and beaches with up to 0.62 miles (1 km) of soft white sand. Its beaches greet you with an average temperature of 86ºF (30ºC), a refreshing breeze and landscapes that will take your breath away.
Islands in the Caribbean
Set sail for paradise from Portobelo Pier and discover Playa Huertas, Puerto Frances or Playa Larga in minutes.
Immerse yourself in nature, relax under the palm trees, admire the array of colors on the reef, and explore the marine life near the shore.
If you like a natural environment with very little development, you can also visit Playa Blanca or Isla Mamey where you'll find magnificent beaches, places to eat, kiosks, rental chairs, and basic restrooms.
Visit Playa Escondida if you prefer comfort. In this private development you can find luxury apartments and villas with a beach club, shops and restaurants. In Isla Grande, you'll find a mixture of a natural atmosphere, some good hostels, bars and typical restaurants of Afro cuisine with dishes such as coconut rice, seafood, octopus.
When to Visit
Although the beaches of Portobelo are somewhat rainy throughout the year, from December to March you can enjoy sunny days and a summer breeze.
The rest of the year you'll most likely have storms, but you'll also have sunny moments. During the rainy months, the water is still and gives you the best conditions for diving or snorkeling and swimming over corals with a thousand colors.
Getting There
From Portobelo, you can reach the beaches via the main road or by taking a boat from one of the nearby ports such as La Guaira, about 12.24 miles (20 km) away. No matter which adventure you choose for each day, from Portobelo you'll always be close enough for day trips.
If you want to enjoy each beach a little more, the more developed ones offer hotels or rental houses and, others, camping areas.
Discover the Congo culture and tour historic sites like the Spanish forts, the customs building and other pirate ruins. Stay among its small streets and go from beach to beach on the Caribbean side of Panamá.