Pirates hauled gold through Panama’s jungles: now the Transisthmian Colonial Route, a 2025 UNESCO World Heritage site, connects Panama Viejo, Casco Antiguo, and Caribbean forts from the capital.
Transisthmian Colonial Route Unveils Ancient Paths
From Pacific to Caribbean, this new route links Panama City, Panama Viejo, and Casco Antiguo to Portobelo and San Lorenzo. Trails like Camino de Cruces blend land, river, and sea. Camino Real stays fully on land.
Travelers retrace pirate paths on historic hikes. It’s part of Panama’s dense cluster of UNESCO World Heritage sites near the capital.
Portobelo-San Lorenzo Forts Defied Pirates
Listed in 1980, these coastal strongholds feature cannons and Caribbean Sea views to the Panama Canal. Key Spanish ports, they saw fierce 17th-18th century battles.
Portobelo thrives with Congo culture—dances and rituals from enslaved Africans, a UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Colonial military architecture wows visitors.
Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo: Colonial Cradle
Founded 1519, Panama Viejo was America’s first Pacific European settlement. Sacked by Henry Morgan in 1671, ruins boast cathedral tower and convents.
Vibrant Casco Antiguo blends neoclassical, Spanish, French styles. UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Perfect day: ruins morning, colorful streets afternoon.
Panama packs three UNESCO World Heritage sites into easy routes from the capital, tracing trade, piracy, and culture.
Panama Shines in Broader UNESCO Honors
Beyond the historic circuit, parks like Darién, Coiba, and La Amistad safeguard biodiversity. Intangibles feature Pinta’o Hat (2017), Congo rituals (2018), Corpus Christi dances (2021).
Panama City named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017. Details at https://pt.tourismpanama.com/cultura-culinaria/locais-historicos/.
Photo: Disclosure
