Gamboa Rainforest Resort

I am writing this review as a bird lover to share my experience and some exciting new information. Gamboa Rainforest Resort is, of course, the perfect base for those who want to do serious birdwatching as Pipeline Road. However, it is also wonderful for children, seniors, or anyone who may not be able to walk long distances. I use a bird song identification app, and just by walking for 5 minutes along the path around the large pool, the app recognized over 10 different species of birds! Furthermore, when I walked closer to the hiking trail with tall, dense trees, I was lucky enough to see a Keel-billed Toucan. I also have some exciting new information to share! While taking my morning walk, I happened to meet Mr. Essdras M. Suarez, who is involved in a new project for the resort. He told me that starting in the last quarter of this year, the resort will launch official birdwatching activities on the property. He also mentioned that they plan to set up chairs at the feeding points to make it easier for guests to watch the birds. In fact, I already saw some beautiful birds there, including a gorgeous Whooping Motmot! Here is the list of birds I encountered during my morning walk on August 12th (listed in the exact order I found them): - Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Tropical Mockingbird - Tropical Kingbird - Clay-colored Thrush - Grear Kiskadee - Palm Tanager - Red-lored Amazon - Southern House Wren - Pale vented Pigeon - Scrub Greenlet - Orange-chinned Parakeet - Lesser Kiskadee - Yellow-headed Caracara - Black-crowned Antshrike - Barred Antshrike - Whooping Motmot (mentioned above) - Slaty-tailed Trogon (I heard its call, and the feeding staff visually confirmed it) - Blue-gray Tanager - Common Tody-Flycatcher - Jet Antbird - Fasciated Antshrike - Black-billed Wren - Crimson-backed Tanager - Red-crowned Woodpecker - Buff-breasted Wren - Keel-billed Toucan (mentioned above)

Very beautifull hotel in a very beautifull surounding. Friendly staff. Very good food in the restaurant Monkey bar (and not expensive). We also loved the organised tours. Best place we stayed for us in Panama. Children also loved the big pool.

This place is about 15yrs past when renovations should have been done. The furniture in our room was clearly from the 80's and has not worn well at all. The grounds are well kept, and the staff is very friendly. The common areas were hot and humid all the time. The location is remote and you are limited to what's available at the resort for food and entertainment. After several meals, we determined that the highest ratings begin would be about a 2.5 out of 5 stars. Most of the food served tasted as if it was old and reheated. The drinks were weak. The remote location had us feeling trapped, as the nearest restaurant was atleast 20mins away. Although this is labeled as a wildlife reserve, we saw very little wildlife. Having been to other reserves in nearby Costa Rica and Colombia I was soon wondering why I was there. In the evenings, there was absolutely nothing to do. No entertainment provided, television in Spanish, and nowhere to go. I strongly do not recommend staying here. I cut my stay short and left a day early.

Although we didn’t stay at the hotel, we stopped by for lunch and to experience the famous tram tour. The hotel itself is beautiful, full of history, and enjoys a spectacular location with breathtaking views. Lunch was good without being exceptional, but the real highlight was the rainforest tram experience. The ride is both exciting and incredibly peaceful as the tram glides quietly through the forest, stopping every now and then to give everyone time to appreciate the surroundings and learn more about the rainforest. After the tram ride, there is a walk up to the observation platform. There are no stairs, but it is still a bit of a climb. The effort is well worth it, as you are rewarded with stunning panoramic views over the rainforest canopy. From the viewpoint, you can watch ships passing through the Panama Canal and see the river that supplies water to the canal. One suggestion for improvement would be to make this final climb more accessible for older visitors and those with limited mobility. Providing wheelchairs or a shuttle service for this section would allow many more people to enjoy the spectacular viewpoint. At present, some older guests may simply be unable to make the climb. If you happen to spot some wildlife, the experience becomes even more memorable. We were delighted to see a toucan, and it was absolutely magnificent—a highlight of our visit. We received a discounted price of $30 per person, which we felt was good value. However, at the regular admission price, we would probably consider it a bit expensive. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. If you appreciate nature, beautiful scenery, and a touch of adventure, the tram ride is definitely worth considering.

I booked Gamboa Rainforest Reserve on a bit of a whim the morning I arrived, as I wasn’t quite ready to leave the peace and tranquillity of the jungle and head back into Panama City. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made on my entire trip. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking, and waking up surrounded by nature was something really special. Spotting monkeys, birds and other wildlife around the property was an unforgettable bonus. My room was beautiful, spacious and incredibly comfortable, making it the perfect place to unwind before heading home. The only thing that surprised me slightly was that there wasn’t a full service restaurant, with the main dining option being the pub style bar. That said, I have to give credit where it’s due because the burger I ordered was genuinely one of the best I’ve ever had! If you’re looking for a peaceful escape surrounded by nature, I couldn’t recommend this place more. I left feeling completely relaxed and already wishing I was back in the jungle.