Stopover in the Bay of Portobello, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the site and its magnificent bay were used as a major center for collecting Central and South American riches and dispatching them to Europe. Almost nothing is left of its former splendor. The town is dilapidated and looks unsafe. At the « dinghy dock », guys charge us $2 to watch the boat (more like a racket that you’re wise to pay if you want to find your dinghy unharmed upon return) and $4 for our garbage. In fact, we shouldn’t have discharged our garbage. Moments later, looking at the town, it is clear that there is no sanitation here and that the garbage will end up straight into the sea. Aie ! The town is empty, dirty and sad-looking. Here and there, a few lost tourists, clearly misled by guide books, who arrive in shining 4-wheel drive SUVs. We tour the remnants of the main fort, which must have been formidable. And, in the church, we admire the statue of the « Black Christ » a rare representation of Jesus Christ as a black person. We had planned to stay in Portobello throughout the carnaval period (through March 4), but we leave quickly as it is clear that nothing worthwhile will happen here.