fort san lorenzo ruins, colon, panama
Fort San Lorenzo resides west of the Panama Canal and is perched high on a cliff overlooking the mouth of the Chagres River, where it empties into the Caribbean Sea.
The ruins are secluded, and lush tropical rainforest blankets the surrounding area. Weather permitting, you should have spectacular views of the coastline and the northernmost section of the Chagres Rivers.
The historical site resides within the San Lorenzo Protected Area, which measures 30,000 acres and was once part of the Canal Zone territory. The park maintains several walking trails, though they are unrelated to the ruins.
Fort San Lorenzo Ruins – looking east at the fortress on the upper level, you can see five of the seven caverns accessible from the courtyard.
Whereas the ruins at Portobelo occupy several different locations and are an integral part of the town, those at San Lorenzo are limited to just one. They reside on an outcropping and are surrounded on three sides by cliffs that plunge hundreds of feet to the sea below. Despite this constraint, the ruins are noticeably larger and more complex, most notably because they consist of two levels.
Fort San Lorenzo is a bit deceiving from the entrance because so little of it is visible. The ruins resemble a horseshoe, with its open courtyard facing west towards the Caribbean Sea. Upon entering the site, you can proceed straight over the bridge towards the fortress or follow the walking trail left.
The terrain encompassing the ruins is flat and primarily grass, making walking easy. Generally speaking, the ruins are in good condition, and their surroundings are well-maintained.
The bridge, which crosses over a deep moat that wraps around the east and north sides of the fort, leads you out onto the upper level. Across the bridge, you will find cannons on both sides and lookouts off to the right. The immense fortress, San Lorenzo's most recognizable and prominent structure, is directly in front of you. The upper level is open and flat and offers expansive views of the courtyard and ruins below and the surrounding area. It extends the entire length of the fort. On the left side is a cement path that gradually descends to the courtyard below.
The walking trail leads you along the left side of the ruins before descending to the right into a deep moat. You will quickly appreciate the sheer immensity of the fortification walls, which, in some areas, measure 30-40 ft. in height. Further along is a steep, cement staircase on the right side, which you can climb if you wish to visit or return to the upper level. As well there is an open cavern along the left wall. The moat continues along the eastern boundary until it reaches the northeast corner. It then turns left and enters a large open area extending to the far end of the ruins. Approximately mid-way, along the massive fortification wall, is an opening that leads you into one of the caverns. This particular cavern exits into the courtyard on the wall's opposing side.
The courtyard in the middle of the fort contains more ruins and grants access to seven caverns. Five are spread evenly along the east or inland wall, and the remaining two are along the north. All but one has a single entrance. The cavern mentioned above, the westernmost cavern along the north wall, has two entryways. The rear door leads into the moat along the fort's northern border.
The caverns are empty and dark, and the floors consist of dirt, rock, and grass. There is little to see, but they are an intriguing component of Fort San Lorenzo and worth a peek inside.
There is no public transportation providing service to Fort San Lorenzo; you will need to arrange your own. Cabs charge approximately $30-$40, which usually includes a wait time of 1-2 hours. I recommend that you agree on all aspects of your excursion before you leave.
For those participating in an onboard cruise excursion, the bus ride from Colon to Fort San Lorenzo, which includes a trip over the newly built Atlantic Bridge, takes approximately 35-45 each way. The initial portion of the drive is out in the open with little if any, cover, and it offers panoramic views of Limon Bay and the Caribbean Sea. After the turn-off for Shelter Bay Marina, the dense tropical forest begins to line both sides of the roadway. The road is in good condition, with much of it newly paved. Overall, it is a pleasant drive with plenty of tropical scenery.
A wide-angle zoom (15-60mm) and medium telephoto (70-200mm) should be all you need.
A wide-angle lens will prove more valuable in San Lorenzo than at Portobelo. While there are subjects to photograph with a telephoto lens, e.g., cannons, lookouts, etc., the magnificent courtyard, numerous caverns, and the immense fortification walls and moats are better suited for a wide-angle lens. In addition, the setting lends itself to a more landscape/scenic type of imagery. The mouth of the Chagres River, shoreline, cliffs, and tropical forests are ideally suited for wide-angle lenses.
The upper section is where you'll find more use for a telephoto lens. You don't have as much room to work with as in Portobelo, but there are subjects to photograph, most notably the immense fortress. You can walk toward the far end of the ruins and shoot looking back. Behind the ruins is a verdant rainforest, which is an attractive background.
Like Portobelo, there is plenty to photograph in San Lorenzo.