The Portobelo Kayak Mangrove Tour is a unique way to explore this national park. The tour begins at Casa Congo, where you’ll board a boat to start your adventure. Climb aboard a two-person kayak, with a special space for young children, and paddle through a beautiful landscape teeming with mangroves and wildlife.
The guide is a conservation specialist, and the proceeds from this tour go toward the protection of Portobelo National Park. Local inhabitants still extract charcoal from the mangroves. Tourism as a source of income ensures the sustainability of the area.
Established in 1976, Portobelo National Park covers 35,929 hectares. Of these, 15,465 hectares are primary forests crisscrossed by numerous rivers and waterfalls. Approximately 20% of the park is marine area, including mangroves, beaches, and coral reefs. Activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving can also be enjoyed in Portobelo. Portobelo Bay is also part of the national park. This bay is home to one of the most beautiful and historic ports in the Caribbean, as well as colonial fortifications—most notably the forts of San Fernando, Santiago, and San Jerónimo. These fortifications have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
During your kayak excursion through the Portobelo mangroves, you can observe various bird species, such as the osprey, mangrove hawk, barred tiger heron, Isthmus kingfisher, and black hawk. The critically endangered hawksbill turtle nests on the area’s beaches. Due to its strategic location, species from North and South America converge in this area.
Tour Info
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Daily
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Guided
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English, Spanish
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Not Included
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Not Included
Portobelo Kayak Mangrove Tour
The Portobelo Kayak Mangrove Tour offers a unique exploration of the national park, starting from Casa Congo and leading paddlers through mangroves teeming with wildlife in two-person kayaks. Proceeds from the tour support the park’s conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of tourism for local sustainability. Portobelo National Park, established in 1976, encompasses forests, rivers, waterfalls, and marine areas including mangroves, beaches, and coral reefs, making it ideal for snorkeling and diving. The park also features the historic Portobelo Bay with colonial fortifications recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trip Highlights
- Breathtaking scenery filled with mangroves and active wildlife.
- The guide is a conservation specialist and wildlife photographer.
- The profits from tours are dedicated to the conservation of Portobelo National Park.
