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Early
in the morning we are picked up at the lobby
of our hotel by an Ancon Expeditions of Panama
Naturalist Guide and transferred to the Panama
Canal Railway station in Corozal. Here we board
the train for the one hour ride across the isthmus
to the Caribbean port city of Colon. The train
follows a similar route as the original train
built to transport 49ers coming from the east
coast of the United States across the Isthmus
to continue their journey by boat to California. |
The
route was diverted when Gatun Lake was formed to
give way to the Panama Canal. The train ride will
take us along the magnificent waterway to the west
and flanked by the exuberant rainforests of Soberania
National Park to the east.
In Colon our vehicle is waiting to take us across
the Panama Canal, over Gatun Locks, to the Castle of
San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built at
the mouth of the Chagres River, this Spanish bastion
served to fortify and protect the river entrance to
Las Cruces Trail that led to Panama City on the Pacific
Ocean and was later also used as the port of entry
for the gold diggers on their way to California during
the second half of the 19th century. We will be traveling
along lush rainforest within San Lorenzo National Park,
where we might have the opportunity to see monkeys,
Two and Three-toed sloths, Coatimundi, toucans and
other wildlife.
We return through Colon on our way to the historic
town of Portobelo where we have lunch. Famous for its
trade fairs during the 17th century, Portobelo is another
World Heritage Site. During colonial times it was one
of the most important strongholds of the Spanish Main
in the Americas. We will visit Forts San Geronimo and
Santiago de la Gloria as well as the Church of San
Felipe.
By mid afternoon we drive back to Panama City, first
making a stop at a site where the remnants of Las Cruces
Trail, the 400 year old colonial trail used by the
Spaniards to transport gold across the isthmus, are
still found.
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, camera, cap or hat, sunscreen
lotion, insect repellant, light clothing, light raincoat,
good traction footwear.
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