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Stone wall of the fort at Portobelo with boats beached in front of it.

Panama · Portobelo and Colón's Costa Arriba

Diving and snorkelling

Portobelo National Park's reefs are minutes away by boat. The site is chosen on the day depending on sea conditions.

5 places

  1. 1

    WaterOpen

    Drake Island (Isla de Draque)

    Entrance to Portobelo Bay, a few minutes by boat from town.3.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Islet at the mouth of the bay and Portobelo's best-known dive site, with reef, sponges and turtles. Francis Drake died off Portobelo in 1596 and was buried at sea in a lead coffin; it has never been found.

    Source: Diving and Snorkeling in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Diving: US$110–280; snorkelling: US$100–225 per tour, with gear, guide and boat (approximate prices Visit Panamá gives for diving and snorkelling in Portobelo in general, not for this island).
    Booking
    With a dive centre. The exact site is chosen on the day depending on weather, visibility and current.

    Tip: Local legend places remains of Drake's ship at about 21 m; no find has been confirmed. Choose an insured operator: Canada warns that not all meet international standards.

    Nearby: La Huerta Beach (Playa Huertas) (0.5 km) · Fort San Fernando (2.2 km) · Buenaventura Island (diving) (2.4 km)

    Sources: Diving and Snorkeling in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 8 Days in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Francis Drake – Wikipedia · Panama travel advice – Government of Canada (actualizado 15 jun. 2026)

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  2. 2

    WaterOpen

    Buenaventura Island (diving)

    Off the community of Buenaventura, south-west of Portobelo, inside Portobelo National Park.3.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Island west of Portobelo Bay with three dive sites, according to Visit Panamá. Nearby are other park sites such as Tres Hermanas, the deepest in the area.

    Source: Diving and Snorkeling in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Diving: US$110–280 per tour (approximate price Visit Panamá gives for diving in Portobelo in general, not for this island).
    Booking
    With a dive centre; the site is confirmed on the day (Visit Panamá).

    Tip: Visit Panamá considers August and September the best months for diving, when the sea is calmer.

    Nearby: Drake Island (Isla de Draque) (2.4 km) · La Huerta Beach (Playa Huertas) (2.4 km) · Fort San Fernando (3 km)

    Sources: Diving and Snorkeling in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · MiAmbiente refuerza patrullajes y rescata especies marinas en el Parque Nacional Portobelo – MiAmbiente (mar. 2026)

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  3. 3

    BeachOpen

    La Huerta Beach (Playa Huertas)

    North side of the entrance to Portobelo Bay, opposite Drake Island.2.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not confirmed
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Small clear-water cove at the mouth of Portobelo Bay, with a reef for snorkelling. Reached by boat from the Portobelo pier.

    Source: Portobelo Beaches – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Boat fare: not confirmed by the official source at the time of review.

    Tip: Visit Panamá pairs it with the Venas Azules mangroves on the same boat trip.

    Nearby: Drake Island (Isla de Draque) (0.5 km) · Fort San Fernando (1.6 km) · Buenaventura Island (diving) (2.4 km)

    Sources: Portobelo Beaches – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 8 Days in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Diving and Snorkeling in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP)

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  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Isla Mamey

    Costa Arriba of Colón, 5–10 minutes by boat from Puerto Lindo.9.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Day pass US$4 approx.
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Small, almost undeveloped island with white sand, calm water, a short trail to a viewpoint and a camping area. Visit Panamá presents it as a wildlife refuge with its own rules.

    Source: Isla Mamey: Beach day in the Panamanian Caribbean – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Day pass about US$4 (under-5s free); camping about US$10 per person per night; boat from Puerto Lindo about US$10 per person; parking in Puerto Lindo about US$5 (approximate prices from Visit Panamá, checked October 2026). Tours from Panama City: US$40–55 (Visit Panamá).
    Booking
    Cash only: no cards and no ATM.
    Time needed
    About 2 hours by car from Panama City to Puerto Lindo; by bus, about 90 minutes to Sabanitas and another hour by local bus.

    Tip: Glass containers and pets are not allowed. There is no electricity: bring water, a torch if camping, and take your rubbish with you.

    Nearby: Isla Grande (4.5 km) · Isla Grande Lighthouse (5.2 km) · Playa Blanca (Portobelo) (6.6 km)

    Sources: Isla Mamey: Beach day in the Panamanian Caribbean – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 8 Days in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP)

  5. 5

    NatureOpen

    Portobelo National Park

    Portobelo district, between Buenaventura, Portobelo Bay and the Costa Arriba.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Foreign adult US$5
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    MiAmbiente protected area created in 1976, covering about 35,929 ha of rainforest, mangroves, rivers, coast and reefs; roughly a quarter is marine. Portobelo town lies inside the park.

    Source: Parque nacional Portobelo – Wikipedia · 2026 · +5

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Portobelo National Park admission in MiAmbiente's payment system (reservasap, checked October 2026): foreign adult US$5; Panamanian adult US$2; Panamanian or foreign student US$1; Panamanian or foreign retiree US$1; under-12s free. The system only sells admission for this park and does not say on which trails or points it is checked. Hiking tours: about US$30–50 (Visit Panamá).
    Booking
    For Salto del Mono, hire a certified local guide (Visit Panamá). The Río Indio trail is more accessible and is led by local agrotourism guides (Visit Panamá).
    Time needed
    Salto del Mono trail: about 6 hours' hike; Visit Panamá gives a 110 m drop on one page and 75 m on another, and suggests an overnight camp.

    Tip: In March 2026 MiAmbiente found illegal sales of egg-bearing lobsters and crabs in the park: do not buy seafood that is out of season or carrying eggs.

    Nearby: San Felipe Church and the Black Christ (6 km) · San Juan de Dios Chapel (future museum) (6 km) · San Jerónimo Fort and Battery (6.1 km)

    Sources: Parque nacional Portobelo – Wikipedia · Trails and Waterfalls in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Outdoors & Nature in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 8 Days in Portobelo – Visit Panamá (ATP) · MiAmbiente refuerza patrullajes y rescata especies marinas en el Parque Nacional Portobelo – MiAmbiente (mar. 2026) · Sistema de Reserva de Áreas Protegidas – MiAmbiente

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