Long John Silver speaks wistfully of Portobelo in Treasure Island, but Henry Morgan did something about it.

BBC: In search of pirates in Panama

From there, head back east to get to the heart of the story, in Portobelo, known variously to history as Puerto Bello, Portovelo and (to the English) Portobello.

BBC: In search of pirates in Panama

Portobelo went into a long and terminal decline.

BBC: In search of pirates in Panama

It was to Portobelo that the treasure from Panama City was brought during the dry season, by heavily guarded mule train along the Camino de Cruces and down the Chagres River, for shipment on to Seville on the mighty galleons of the treasure fleet which called in here once a year.

BBC: In search of pirates in Panama