Anchorage· Portobelo· Other Caribbean
Portobelo Anchorage & Forts
9° 33.5′ N · 79° 40.1′ W
A deep, hill-ringed natural harbour guarded by the ruins of Spanish forts, where howler monkeys roar at dawn: the historic Spanish Main port, a port of entry, and the classic overnight stop between Colón and the San Blas.
Practical
Position 09°33.470'N 079°40.103'W, anchored off the fort on the north side in 15 m compact mangrove mud; quieter and better holding than off the noisy town road, with a small beach and walk up to the fort (Spirit of Argo 2016). Bay entrance near 09°33.18'N 079°40.50'W (Noonsite). Yachts can anchor close to town except in westerlies, when the northern part of the bay is more protected. Moorings from the Portobelo Yacht Club; diesel and water delivery via Eloy, +507 6729-0623 (Noonsite, April 2026). Small restaurants, mini-marts, bakeries and hardware; frequent buses to Colón and Panama City. Cruisers' net VHF 72 at 9 am. Water can be murky after heavy rain; derelict boats in the anchorage. Security: armed robberies in the past and continuing dinghy thefts; lock everything. Half-sunk logs reported on the passage from Porvenir.
Best for
History, forts and a sheltered overnight on the way east or west
Nearby
- Casa Congo Restaurant & Dinghy Dock (Portobelo)0.7 NM away
- Casa Vela Bar, Restaurant & Sail Loft (Portobelo)0.7 NM away
- Festival of the Black Christ (Portobelo)0.8 NM away
- Portobelo Clearance (Port Captain & Immigration)0.8 NM away
- Portobelo Fortifications (UNESCO World Heritage)0.8 NM away
- Portobelo Town Shops, Buses & ATM0.8 NM away
- Captain Jack's Bar & Grill (Portobelo)0.9 NM away
- Portobelo Town Provisioning, Bakeries & Laundry0.9 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).