| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Travel Related
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
NOMBRE DE DIOS |
| |
 23km
beyond Portobelo along the unpaved road is the small village NOMBRE DE
DIOS , founded in 1520 and Portobelo's predecessor as the Atlantic
terminus of the Camino Real. Almost nothing remains of the Spanish
settlement destroyed by Drake in 1596, and it is difficult today to
believe that in 1550 half the trade between Spain and the Americas
passed through this tiny port. It is a charming village, though,
friendly and laid-back, with the calm waters of Bahía de San Cristobal
in front and the lush forest descending like a curtain from the
mountains behind. Of the beautiful deserted beaches close by, the best
is Playa las Damas , which can be reached by walking an hour or so along
the sands - you'll need to get one of the locals to show you how to wade
across the sand bank in front of the Río Nombre de Dios. There are also
plenty of good snorkelling spots (bring your own equipment). Several
simple restaurants serve good fish and seafood, but unfortunately
there's nowhere to stay .
Beyond Nombre de Dios, the road staggers about 20km along the coast as
far as the hamlet of Cuangó, which has become a centre for illegal and
highly destructive gold mining. The frontier of Kuna Yala is about 25km
further along the coast, and you may be able to catch a lift from one of
the boats that sometimes travel into the comarca from the village of
Miramar , a few kilometres west of Cuangó, though this trip is best done
in the opposite direction. There are three to four buses daily between
Colón, Portobelo and Nombre de Dios; the last bus back usually leaves
Nombre de Dios at 1pm, though it's worth checking with the locals in
case it leaves earlier.
|
|
