El Castillo

Portobelo

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This seafront restaurant and hostel with one private room and dormitory accommodating up to 15 people indeed resembles a castle – one drawn by manga artist Miyazaki. Still, its French-speaking Vietnamese host Richard is welcoming and it has tumbledown charm. Rooms have mosquito nets and fans. The large sea-facing restaurant (mains US$12 to US$25) is open from 10am to 9pm.

The restaurant offers some appealing options for vegetarians as well as Thai curry and some Vietnamese dishes. El Castillo is 900m before Portobelo on the left-hand side.

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Nearby Portobelo attractions

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Approaching from the west, Portobelo's first fort is Fuerte Santiago. Built in 1753, some 14 years after Vernon’s attack, some walls were 3m thick and…

2. Mirador Perú

0.88 MILES

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3. Fuerte San Fernando

0.93 MILES

In 1601 Fuerte San Felipe and Fuerte San Diego were built near the mouth of the bay but were subsequently destroyed by Admiral Vernon in 1739. Fuerte San…

4. Real Aduana de Portobelo

1.1 MILES

Under renovation at the time of research, the handsome, two-story Royal Customs House of Portobelo was originally built in 1638 to serve as the contaduría…

5. Fuerte San Jerónimo

1.16 MILES

Fuerte San Jerónimo, close to the center of Portobelo, was the largest fortress ever built to protect the bay. Some two dozen embrasures with 16 cannons…

7. Iglesia de San Felipe

1.18 MILES

This Roman Catholic church dating from 1814 is home to Portobelo's famed Black Christ; it's to the left of the main altar. The faithful attribute scores…

8. Playa Blanca

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