We will make a short stop for visitors to take photos at the beautiful ruins of Portobelo and our guide will explain the history of this fort.

The tour starts at 7am, with our bi-lingual driver and guide picking you up from your lodging in Panama City. Enjoy our comfortable, air-conditioned car as we cross the country from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side. At 9:30am we arrive at the port, where a lancha boat will take you to the monkey island Isla Linton, which is famous for its Howler monkeys inhabiting the dense forest canopies. You will hear their barking howls when disembarking the boat and may also spot a few curious faces looking at you from atop the trees. Isla Linton also has a natural pool, surrounded by mangroves, inviting you to soak in the balmy, shallow waters. The experience will almost feel surreal, as realise your heightened senses, listening to the multitude of birds chirping all around you and the occasional monkey bellowing at his companions, all while sitting waist deep in a natural bathtub.

We continue our tour to Isla Mamey though the “Love Tunnel”, a small passage for our boat through the mangroves. Isla Mamey will welcome you from afar with its large white sand beach. With a huge, shallow reef right in front, this will be the perfect opportunity for you to unpack your snorkel and dive into the iridescent ocean. Various palm trees will afford plenty of shade, inviting you to lay down and enjoy the gentle Caribbean breeze.

At noon we head to Isla Grande, a short 10 minute boat ride from Isla Mamey. As you step off the boat you will be welcomed by palm trees and white-sand beaches. A popular getaway for folk escaping the urban grind of Panama City, Isla Grande is an ideal setting for snorkelling, scuba diving or simply soaking up the island’s relaxed vibe. There are no roads here, just a small footpath along the island's southern coast, backed by pastel-colored cottages. Many of the people living here are of African descent and are eking out a living from fishing and growing coconuts – you’ll get a taste of both when you sample the local cuisine. We will take you to an oceanfront restaurant, where seafood is served fresh from the ocean to your plate and where you can spend the rest of the day lounging on the private beach, sipping on a cold Balboa beer or snacking on delicious Patacones (fried plantains).

At 3pm we will return to the port, making our way back to Portobelo, giving us the opportunity to explore the rich historical buildings around town. ‘Puerto Bello, ’the Beautiful Port, was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502, when he landed here on his fourth New World voyage. Since it was common during that time to abbreviate Spanish names, the beautiful port quickly became known as simply ‘Portobelo.’ During the 16th to the 18th centuries Portobelo was an important silver-exporting town and one of the two Atlantic ports on the route of the Spanish treasure fleets. The city of San Felipe de Portobelo was officially founded in 1597 and its ensuing 200-year history was riddled with various invasions by English privateers and the Royal Navy. The first attack on Portobelo happened in 1602 by the English pirate William Parker, but it was the infamous Sir Henry Morgan who managed to sack the city in 1671. Attacks on Portobelo continued unabated until the city was ultimately destroyed in 1739 by an attack led by Admiral Edward Vernon. Although Portobelo was rebuilt in 1751, it never attained its former glory and over time became a virtual ruin. Later, much of the outermost fortress was dismantled to help building the Panama Canal. Many of the larger stones were used in the construction of the Gatún Locks. There are, however, still considerable parts of the town and fortresses left to explore and take pictures of. Portobelo is now protected as a national park and as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Today Portobelo’s residents make a living by fishing, growing crops or raising livestock. Though economically depressed, Portobelo is experiencing somewhat of a cultural revival, with renewed interest in Congo art, music (especially punta, better known abroad as reggaetón) and dancing. Each year the town bursts to life on October 21 for the Festival del Cristo Negro, one of the country’s most vibrant and spiritual celebrations.