Top Things to do in Portobelo
What to do and see in Portobelo, Panama: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Portobelo, Panama including Golden Frog Scuba, Safaricks Zoologico, Panamore, Black Christ, Portobelo Tours, Panama Outdoor Adventures, Playa Blanca, Museo de La Real Aduana de Portobelo, Panama Divers PADI Dive Resort, Dive Adventure.
Restaurants in Portobelo
1. Golden Frog Scuba
Overall Ratings
5 based on 80 reviews
Golden Frog Scuba is an independently owned dive operation offering certification training in Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue, as well as other specialties, provided by a PADI certified Master Scuba Diver Trainer.Not only do we offer certification and dive excursions in the Portobelo area and beyond, we provide activities for non-divers as well such as airboat tours and/or fishing on Lake Gatun, deep sea fishing on the Caribbean and contacts to hiking, beach kayak/mangrove kayak tours and horseback riding.Though our facility currently does not offer hotel or restaurant amenities, we can refer you to many area establishments offering good food as well as information on area vacation rental homes if you prefer "the comforts of your own home".
Reviewed By cbl131 - St. George, Utah
I was looking for a low-key couple of days of diving in Panama over the long Thanksgiving weekend. I found Golden Frog Scuba on TripAdvisor as the number one dive shop in the area months in advance. Communicating with Rey was easy over email and we booked months in advance. I was able to put a deposit down with PayPal which was great, so I didn’t have to haul as much cash to Panama.
The diving was excellent. It was rainy season, so visibility wasn’t the best, but I’ve had much worse elsewhere.
There’s diving excellence and then there’s Golden frog scuba a step above. I felt part of the family when I was diving here and even got offered to come to a friends home for thanksgiving dinner after the diving for the day. You don’t get that anywhere, unless you have someone running the show that cares about their customers and that they’re having a good time. This is exactly what you get with Rey. A great owner, operator and dive master. Willing to go the extra mile to make it a special experience.
I highly recommend booking with Rey. You don’t be disappointed!!
2. Safaricks Zoologico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Safarick's Rescue and Rehabilitation Center gives visitors of all ages the chance to learn about Panama's wildlife. Safaricks works closely with Mi Ambiente by receiving confiscated wildlife, curing, rehabilitating and releasing, and giving a permanent home to wild animals that are not candidates for release. Among the animals currently residing at the center are an ocelot, deer, capybaras, Tamarin and squirrel monkeys, capuchin and spider monkeys, coatis, toucans, parrots and macaws, amphibians, and reptiles. Visitors arriving at Safaricks are guided by experienced tour guides through the enclosures, the walk-through aviary and the walk-through butterfly botanical garden.The tour is roughly one hour and 30 minutes. For visitors that wish to end their day on a caribbean beach, we offer packages that include rescue center and beach.
Reviewed By Kim C - Panama City, Panama
I took my 8th grade class to this wonderful rescue zoo. We had the most amazing hands on experience. My students were able to prepare food for the animals and then feed them. The center itself is clean and well maintained. The staff is amazing. They are well informed and kept my students engaged during the day. This was a truly wonderful experience.
3. Panamore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
We're here to show you the best of Portobelo: be immersed in this gem of nature and take on the several water and land trails that only a local can offer. Families, friends, couples, groups, we definetely have something to suit you! Charters to Guna Yala (San Blas), boat rides, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, water sports and so much more. Let us do the thinking, while you just kick back...
Reviewed By Bill B
My wife, 2 daughters and I went on the kayak, trek, snorkel tour with Francesco from Panamore. We had a really enjoyable time. We took a kayuk(traditional wooden kayak) and a regular kayak and paddled across Portobelo bay and finished with a short paddle through...MoreHi Bill, we loved to be on tour with you. You are an amazing family with a good feeling with the nature, our ideal customers ! We hope you will be back soon in Portobelo for more adventours. Francesco
4. Black Christ
Overall Ratings
4 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By William H - Houston, Texas
We had visited the Black Christ Church several times. However, we were truly blessed to attend one of the largest events of the year, THE CRISTO NEGRO FESTIVAL. Thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Portobelo from all over the world. The event is in October. It was AMAZING! If you are able to attend this event, you will not be disappointed.
5. Portobelo Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 29 reviews
We are a small, personal tour agency that offers unique tours and activities in and around the Portobelo National Park. Choose from kayaking, cheesemaking, hiking, snorkeling, diving and island tours to make your holiday really special. Or get in touch with us and we'll help you put together a package specifically designed around what you want!
Reviewed By jgrellamom - Brookline, Massachusetts
While in Portobelo for 4 days, we had the extremely good fortune to book 3 activities through Portobelo Tours. Co-owners Amy & Austin were well-organized, professional, flexible, and very helpful.
The first activity was a walking tour of Portobelo itself (subcontracted to the charming Heather at Tesoro Verde - please check out my review of her property!): it's an itsy- bitsy town with an over-sized history which Heather brought to life for myself, my husband, our friend and our 14 yr old son. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire area and very generous in her sharing of it. She even introduced us to the amazing Casa Congo where we had dinner the next night (i have a review of that, too).
The second activity was the Ridge Line Hike (also subcontracted to Heather's husband, Jim). Jim was even MORE knowledgeable about all things Panamanian, and even MORE willing to answer our myriad questions (and i'm pretty sure he's a closet Iron Man competitor)! The hike was amazing - but NOT for the faint of heart: we certainly felt that we earned a slice of Jim's home-made banana bread :o)
The third activity was supposed to be a boat ride to an isolated beach after the hike for an afternoon of lunch, swimming, snorkeling and lolling, but high seas forced the captain to turn back before we got there. Always ready with Plan B (and C, D & E), Austin took us to his house on the beach for an even better afternoon. Austin & Amy, partners in business as well as life, opened there home (also the HQ for Portobelo Tours) and were INCREDIBLE hosts!!!! We all shared the delicious lunch Amy had prepared for the beach excursion, played with their dogs (please visit their website to help fund dog rescue efforts), kayaked around mangroves, relaxed in their hammock (my son), honed machete-throwing skills (my son...thanx Austin), and talked all afternoon about everything from ex-pat life in Panama to child-rearing. Amy & Austin were SO much more gracious than they needed to be: i am certain we got MORE than our money's worth from the afternoon - and learned more than we would've on the beach :O)
So, my advice to the intrepid travelers going to Portobelo: contact Portobelo Tours to plan some amazing activities, check out the web site for Tesoro Verde for some VERY unusual accommodations, and if you are interested in rescue dogs, check out the section on the Portobelo Tours site about how you can help.
And one more thing: if you are planning to see Amy or Austin, please be sure to bring a care package of REAL Tetley Tea bags (black - English Breakfast, I think) and "crisps" (that's potato chips, in American)!
6. Panama Outdoor Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 81 reviews
Panama Outdoor Adventures is an eco-adventure site located in the jungles of Panama on the Caribbean coast, only 1 hour drive from Panama City. Activities include CANOPY ZIP-LINE ADVENTURE, RIVER TUBING, HORSEBACK RIDING, NATURE TRAILS, BIRD WATCHING, and JUNGLE CAMPING. Meals may also be provided with adequate notice. Many adventurers enjoy their day in the area by going to the historical town of Portobelo after their jungle experience. Please reserve via website form.
Reviewed By mbrownlee - Framingham, MA
I was visiting Panama City with my sons, ages 11 and 14, and had heard that there were ziplines in the rainforest and thought it would be a fun activity. I found Panama Outdoor Adventures here on Trip Advisor and saw that it was highly rated, so I decided to try it. I had a bit of difficulty connecting with the company via email and the phone numbers they provided did not seem to work, but over the course of a couple of days we were able to find a time that worked for everyone, and we made an appointment to go there. They told me to go to Safarick's Zoo to pay before we went to the zipline location, but they did not provide directions to the Zoo, so we never found it, and went straight to the zipline location. The zipline location is about 4 km down a dirt road filled with gigantic potholes. There are no signs really, until you get to the very end of the road, and I was worried the whole time we were driving that we might never get there. It was dry season when we went, but I imagine if you went in the rainy season, it might be very difficult to travel this road without a 4 wheel drive vehicle. There is also a crazy steep hill right by where the zipline is. I was scared we wouldn't make it up the hill. If you go, consider parking before you go up the hill and walk the rest of the way, or park at the top of the hill and walk down on the other side. When we finally arrived, they said we could pay there, but they only took cash I only had enough cash to pay for two of us. They were understanding and allowed all three of us to go, and I promised to pay for the third person later, via PayPal or bank transfer. The zipline itself was very cool - you go on around 9 or 10 ziplines through the rainforest. Our guides, Oscar and Oswaldo spoke English and explained to us on each line how we should navigate it. One of them went before we did and one went after to ensure safety. It was a fabulous experience, but a bit nerve-wracking to get there. One other thing to note is that the location is quite close to an Atlantic Ocean beach - Playa La Angosta. A short drive allowed us to get in an Atlantic Ocean swim and fulfill my son's dream of swimming in the two oceans in the same day.
7. Playa Blanca
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By bandit153 - St. Pete Beach, Florida
Enjoyed the view and the water but we are getting upset with the way the locals treat the land. So far the foreigners seen to care more about the land than the locals. Observed many of the local throwing garbage on the streets and in the water. When I spoke with a French Couple who live here, they stated that they are getting tired of the litter also. They pay a person to pick it up in-front of their business.
8. Museo de La Real Aduana de Portobelo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Scott W - South Miami, Florida
This is close to the church where the black Christ is. A small museum with a minimal admission charge that has an excellent film (both English and Spanish) of the history of the city, the various fortifications as well as interesting things to do close by. There are a few showcases with artifacts and some period weapons on display as well as a Christ gown.
9. Panama Divers PADI Dive Resort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
Panama Divers is a premier dive company, owned and operated by seasoned PADI professionals dedicated to ensuring the safety and enjoyment of every customer and committed to protecting our fragile environment. We offer the best dive adventures available in Panama! We only dive Panama's very best locations. If you desire, we can also tailor a dive package to meet the wishes of your group such as accommodations and transportation as well as tour of all kinds.
Reviewed By Kimberly S - Chicago, Illinois
I really appreciate Panama Divers for being so accommodating. Traveling alone, I couldn't find any other dive shop willing to accept a solo booking, but Panama Divers was not only fine with me being alone, they also worked with me to arrange round-trip transport from Panama City to the dive shop/resort. The hotel itself is in a bit of disarray after a recent storm and there was no electricity due to work being done on the power lines, but none of that impacted our dive. Divemaster Lito is excellent and showed us all sorts of awesome stuff underwater. It was a perfect day of diving and I would absolutely book with them again.
10. Dive Adventure
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
We are the only PADI TecRec dive center in Panama City that offers scuba diving training from DSD to Instructor courses. Recreational Diving, Tec Rec and Rebreathers . Dealers of SCUBAPRO to Panama ,also we offer TUSA Tusa Sport , Intova , Amphibious Outfitters , Sea Fear, Rebreathers (ISC Megalodon and Cis Lunar MKIV ) . Air , Nitrox & Trimix fills.
Reviewed By AJTraveler2013 - Panama City, Panama
We went there to get our Nitrox certification. Alvaro, the director, had been recommended by a mutual friend and we had a fantastic time.
He is an experienced, very experienced, diver who inspires confidence and has supreme patience with his students. Another way to describe the experience was that everything went so smoothly. There was a plan, we went through with it, highly enjoyed ourselves and begrudgingly left a most beautiful sunset to drive back to the city. (The location is killer too, beautiful, calm...relaxing)
This was a delight of a dive/trip and we were left looking forward to more adventures. We'll be back soon.
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