Gamboa Rainforest Reserve

“Perfect place to acclimatize”

We had a very pleasant two-night stay at Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the start of our trip. It’s a great place to acclimatize, recover from jet lag, and enjoy the surrounding rainforest. The resort feels a bit touristy, but works well as a comfortable starting point. It’s about 45 minutes from the… more

We had a very pleasant two-night stay at Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the start of our trip. It’s a great place to acclimatize, recover from jet lag, and enjoy the surrounding rainforest. The resort feels a bit touristy, but works well as a comfortable starting point. It’s about 45 minutes from the airport, though with traffic and roadworks it took us around an hour. Our room was spacious with two large beds, plenty of storage, and a terrace with a hammock. The shower, minibar, and Nespresso machine were all great. The AC and dehumidifier are quite noisy, so earplugs are recommended. The dehumidifier helps a lot with humidity but needs regular emptying. There is some light from devices (alarm clock, TV, etc.), which we covered ourselves; blackout curtains work well. The resort appears wheelchair-friendly (no thresholds, elevator, spacious bathroom with support handles). Staff were very friendly and helpful. We didn’t join the tours, but from what we saw they seemed quite commercial and relatively expensive. You can easily explore the grounds yourself with a 1.5–2 hour walk or a nice jog. Breakfast is good, with plenty of options for non-vegans. Vegan choices are limited but sufficient (fruit, vegetables, avocado), though no plant-based milk. Overall, a relaxing and convenient place to start your Panama trip.

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“Rainforest in Panama”

We love the location for birdwatching and seeing the wildlife. Our room was clean with comfortable air conditioning and hot showers. The meal plan was a good value and variety was good and restaurant staff were very attentive. Some staff members were very friendly and accommodating, others not s… more

We love the location for birdwatching and seeing the wildlife. Our room was clean with comfortable air conditioning and hot showers. The meal plan was a good value and variety was good and restaurant staff were very attentive. Some staff members were very friendly and accommodating, others not so much. While the online reservation system and emails to reservations were confusing and unresponsive, the young woman at the front desk was excellent at getting us our room and meal package.

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“Beautiful setting - poor service”

We stayed for 3 nights and, unfortunately, the experience was very mixed. On arrival, we were given virtually no information at all — no directions to our room, no details about breakfast, restaurants, or any of the facilities. As we arrived late and were checked in by the night manager, we initia… more

We stayed for 3 nights and, unfortunately, the experience was very mixed. On arrival, we were given virtually no information at all — no directions to our room, no details about breakfast, restaurants, or any of the facilities. As we arrived late and were checked in by the night manager, we initially gave them the benefit of the doubt. However, when we returned to reception the following day to ask for basic information, we were told there was nothing else they could tell us. It was genuinely bizarre and not what you’d expect from a resort of this type. Dining was another frustrating experience. Staff seemed unsure how much to charge and prices felt inconsistent, almost as if they were being made up on the spot. We were also told our 12-year-old had to be charged as an adult. Drinks are heavily overpriced — $5 for a single can of beer, when you can walk to the nearby Gamboa shop and buy six for the same price. What made things worse was the constant feeling of being chased for payment. Staff would interrupt meals to request payment before we had even finished, which really detracted from the experience. At checkout, an additional $60 “tax” was added to our bill, despite our booking (via Booking.com) clearly stating that taxes were included. This left a particularly sour impression. To be fair, the resort itself is beautiful. The setting is fantastic, the rooms are clean and comfortable, and there is plenty to do in the surrounding rainforest. However, there was an ongoing sense that the focus was on extracting as much money as possible from guests, which made us reluctant to book any tours or spend more on-site. For example, the gondola tour is advertised at around $50 per person, yet you can walk to the top in about 15 minutes — very poor value. Tips: • Hire a car if possible • Eat off-site to avoid high prices and hassle • Be very clear on pricing and charges upfront Overall, a great location let down by poor service, confusing pricing, and an uncomfortable guest experience.

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