Located near the mouth of the Chagres River, the remnants of the mighty San Lorenzo Fort are surrounded by the sparkling Caribbean Sea and over 30,000 acres of protected rainforest in the Panama Canal Basin jungles. To safeguard the entrance and exit of the main route to the Americas, King Philip II of Spain ordered the construction of the fort in 1598, with limited success.
In fact, between 1596 and 1740, the fort was under nearly constant attack from now-famous pirates such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Henry Morgan, and the English Admiral Edward Vernon.
Recognized today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this massive fortress was constructed by the Italian engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli and is considered an extraordinary example of 17th and 18th-century military architecture.
When you visit, take some time to stroll through the majestic ruins and imagine what life may have been like over 400 years ago when pirates and enemy ships had their sights set on San Lorenzo. The historical area is not only ideal for exploration and introspection but also an excellent spot for bird watching.
