Originally a Spanish outpost valued for its deep water port, this was the depot for silver shipped to Spain through the mid-18th Century. An incident between the Spanish and a British merchant ship resulted in the War of Jenkins' Ear and the sack of the city. The ruins of Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provide lovely views near the mouth of the Chagres River, which comprises the water that powers the Canal locks. A church in the town has a distinctive statue of Christ depicted as a black man that is festooned with votives left by the faithful in hope of intercession.

Language: Spanish, English

Currency: Panamanian Balboa (PAB), US dollar (US$)