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Fort San Lorenzo (Fuerte San Lorenzo) is one of the most important sites in Panamanian history. It sits on a small promontory near the mouth of the Chagres River (Río Chagres). It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the fortifications at Portobelo.
History
This Spanish fort was originally built in 1595 to protect gold transport routes and Panama City after repeated attacks by pirates.
The fort was seized by Sir Francis Drake just one year after its construction. After being rebuilt and made stronger, it was later destroyed twice more by Henry Morgan in 1670 and Admiral Edward Vernon in 1740. The current structure dates back to 1761.
Visiting the Fort
A short ride through the jungle in the San Lorenzo Protected Area (Area Protegida San Lorenzo) will take you to Fort San Lorenzo. The fort gives great views of the mouth of the Chagres River along with the bay that it flows into.
A short walk through a grassy field will take you to a rickety old wooden bridge that doesn’t look very sturdy. Once across, you’re free to explore the fort. Roaming around, I uncovered cannons, ruins of crumbling structures, and what I believed to be storage areas and barracks. There are no signs marking different features of the fort.
Getting There
It’s impossible to get to Fort San Lorenzo with public transportation. It’s best with your own car, but a taxi can be hired at the Colón bus terminal if necessary. In either case, it’s a great idea to combine a trip to Fort San Lorenzo with a visit to the Gatún Locks and dam on the Panama Canal since you have to pass the locks on the way to the fort. If driving, cross over the Panama Canal and follow the signs to Fort San Lorenzo.
The road to the fort passes a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fort Sherman (Fuerte Sherman), an old military base built by the US to protect the Panama Canal. Tell the guards you’re visiting the fort and they’ll let you through. We weren’t asked for ID. Once through the checkpoint, you’ll pass several hollowed out buildings remaining from the Americans. Fort Sherman and the surrounding jungle were used by the US as their Jungle Operations Training Center.
A fork in the road will point left to Fort San Lorenzo and right to Shelter Bay Marina, which provides a shop, hotel, and restaurant to boaters. Turn left and you’ll come to the entrance to the national park, where you pay a reasonable admission per person. Follow the road to the end and you’ll find Fort San Lorenzo. It’s about 45 minutes from Colón and 30 minutes from the Panama Canal. Hours are 8am to 4pm.
The ride to the fort through the surrounding jungle that is part of the national park is impressive, with many unique plants and birds to spot. If you aren’t satisfied with the drive, there are many trails to explore.
