It is hard to write about Portobello, now that we have left. Portobelo holds an important part in Spanish Colonial history. This was where they stored the gold found on the Pacific side of the continents and then trekked across the isthmus - the forty miles of jungle covered hills and valleys. Naturally the pirates knew about the importance of Portobelo, and attacked, often and viciously. So the Spanish built forts, four of them with watch towers, cannons and upper strongholds to hold the gunpowder. The remains of the last set of forts guard the entrance today. The last custom house burnt down, and now there is a replica. Pirates, forts and gold what more could you want to spark your imagination.