Those who prefer a busier beach can opt for Playa Portobelo, located on a bay with quiet waters in the town of Portobelo. Playa Portobelo is a favorite among the snorkeling and scuba diving crowd, who enjoy exploring the waters around Drake's Island and seeing the schools of brightly colored fish. Playa Portobelo is also home to several restaurants, so hungry beachgoers have a choice at meal times. While visiting this Colón area beach you can see the ruins of a 17th-century Spanish fort, San Jeronimo, which was once used to store the gold mined in South America before it was shipped to Spain. After several attacks, however, the fort was abandoned and fell to ruin. To reach Portobelo from Colón city, take highway 2 until you reach Sabanitas, then head northeast on highway 31 to Portobelo, a roughly 40 minute drive.
Playa Blanca is a good choice for families, seniors or anyone looking for a quiet afternoon at the beach. The beach is rather small but has beautiful white sand, some of the best in Colón. You can hire one of the local boats docked at the Bateria Santiago in Portobelo to take you to this picturesque little beach. Playa Blanca is a fantastic spot for picnics, swimming and lounging in the sunshine.
Located on a bay along highway 31 about 5 miles before the town Portobelo, Playa Langosta is a wide expanse of gray beach with a bar and a restaurant. This is the most popular beach in the Colón area. Quiet during the week, Playa Langosta fills up on the weekends, with young and old arriving from Panama City and Colón to enjoy the sand, sun and surf.
Take highway 2 to Sabanitas from Colón City then head 10 miles northeast along highway 31 to reach Playa Maria Chiquita. This beach is surrounded by a small community and features calmer waters, making it a good spot for swimmers and beginning surfers.
A 20-minute boat ride heading east from Portobelo will take you to Playa Huerta. This pretty stretch of beach is lined with tropical plants and trees and calmer waters, and is perfect for swimming. Local boats docked at Bateria Santiago in Portobelo can be hired for the trip.
