The pass takes its name of Portillo from a narrow cleft or doorway on the highest ridge, through which the road passes.

From this point, on a clear day, those vast plains which uninterruptedly extend to the Atlantic Ocean can be seen.

We descended to the upper limit of vegetation, and found good quarters for the night under the shelter of some large fragments of rock.

We met here some passengers, who made anxious inquiries about the state of the road.

Shortly after it was dark the clouds suddenly cleared away, and the effect was quite magical.