Portobelo, Canal Expansion Locks, and Train Express

After pick up at your hotel, we head North along the new Panama-Colón highway and turn East toward Portobelo a few miles before reaching Colon City. Following the Caribbean coastline, the road leads us into Portobelo, once a bustling center of commerce and a key strategic port of the Spanish Main where riches from South America were sent off to Spain.

While present-day Portobelo is now just a quiet village, one can still explore some of its defenses, as well as the old customs’ building, and the Church of the Black Christ which is a major pilgrimage point for devotees from all over the country.

On the way out of Portobelo, we stop for lunch at La Angosta beach where you can enjoy a hot meal and cold beers (not the other way around!) and take a dip in the calm waters of the Caribbean.

Moving on to modern times, our trip takes us to the Agua Clara Visitors’ Center where you will get a proper look at the new locks, part of the Panama Canal expansion, and watch how massive ships are raised and lowered a solid 80 feet while reusing three fifths of the water.

The day finishes with a relaxing train ride parallel to the Panama Canal. Once the train is going, friendly on-board staff will distribute coffee to those interested, and there is also a cash snack bar stocked with drinks of all sorts (hint hint), cookies, chips, and such.

Upon arrival at the train station at Panama City, transport will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in time for dinner.