A Contemporary Hotel Immersed in the Unspoiled Beauty in the Panama Rainforest

Sun Jul 20 2025 14:31:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by jamesq352

Little changes could make this a great place, but they just don't seem to care. They cater mainly to tourists (I am not a tourist), and have a captive audience that they make little effort to please. I suggest hiring a foreigner as a consultant to teach your staff how to treat foreigners and what their expectations are. Panamanians may be used to sloppy service and poor quality food; foreigners expect more, and in many cases, what you consider 'normal' is just rude to others. I stayed here once before and have visited several times, but I would not return. Little changes could make a huge difference, but you seem to be getting worse rather than better. Read the multiple reviews that say the same thing. Why do you ask for feedback if you are just going to ignore it?

Mon Jul 14 2025 15:22:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by yuriko o

I went with my 3 kids and my mother in law in a 2 nights 3 day stay just to discover that on Mondays there are no activities, every tour is closed… so all we could do is a little hike and play in the pool… but the staff in the pool are not in good disposition at all… maybe they’re tired because of the heat. But in general, the staff look bored, with no intention to help you in any way.. The facilites are old, worn out and not so clean.. I could see spider webs in the stairs. It’s our first time in Gamboa, also a first to Panama, but definitely not coming back, nor recommending the place…

Thu May 29 2025 18:47:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Heaven T

I visited the hotel to have a nice experience with my family... But shamely it's not the same Gamboa that I used to know before..... I went with my family to visit the expeditions.... But I don't recommend it... The areal tram is nice, but when you go there no tour guides explaining you... They give you a little phone speaker in which narrates about the history but it's hard to listen... And it's only for one person... Beside that, no tour guide explaining in the tower... You are there, the view is amazing but you don't know anything about the surroundings.... The orchid nursery is just a little space.... No snake house.... No aquarium..... And the butterfly house needs maintenance... Not enough butterflies.... I suggest more care for all the expeditions and the tour guides giving information for all people interested in the fauna and flora of the country and history.

Wed May 21 2025 20:05:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Roam62481422713

We arrived for a 3 night stay at the Gamboa Rainforest reserve and within an hour had extended our stay to 5 nights. The lobby and pool area are absolutely beautiful. The grounds are also nice for walking. I pulled out my binoculars and walked every night for an hour at sunset. I saw 3 "froot loops" toucans and many other beautiful birds. The grounds are beautifully maintained with many flowers and rock waterfalls. The service is thoughtful. Every room has a small porch with a hammock, which I spent many hours laying and reading in. Our room was large and comfortable (double bed, garden view), quiet, and the bathroom was huge and nicely tiled. They have a booth right in the lobby to book tours to Monkey Island, the Pipeline Trail, a zip line, aerial tram and more, so you don't have to worry about arranging all of this prior. Prices are in line with those available on line. Downsides? This is an isolated area, so the hotel is pretty much the only place to eat. There is a bar restaurant open from 11am-9pm where you can get entrees like a personal pizza and veggie sliders for about $12. It is a pleasant place to sit, overlooking the grounds. The other option is the dining room. The food is very good and plentiful and it is buffet. You are sometimes able to order off a menu, but a salad or soup and main costs the same as the buffet. Lunch is about $30/ person and dinner is $35, so it would not be cheap for a family. Or they offer 3 meals a day for $65/ person.

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Mon May 05 2025 20:19:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Paul K

We visited Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel making day visits only via our rental car, while hiking in Soberania National Park and touring their Aerial Tram and visiting their Sloth Sanctuary, frog and butterfly exhibits. We ate breakfast and lunch at the hotel on successive days and found the buffet food acceptable. This is however not a 4 or 5 star resort and as I watched a guest pick up cheese slices from the buffet with his bare fingers, realized this is reflected in the clientele also. The hotel and pool looks a bit dated as other reviewers have remarked, but if you are going there for the wildlife and jungle setting it is perfectly acceptable. The tour desk was very helpful in booking the Aerial Tram and the Sloth Sanctuary tour, making sure we could do both successively, at 9:30 and 11:00. No distinction was made on the basis that we were walkin guests. An open backed truck takes you safari style to the Aerial Tram, and we enjoyed the ride up on the tram (an adapted ski lift) through the forest and the excellent vistas of the canal and Lake Gatun from the 90’ tower which you climb via a ramp at the summit. We were lucky enough to see some monkeys and a toucan on the ride back down. Communication was a bit haphazard for the return trip and having been told by the tram operator to take the bus back we blithely seated ourselves in a minibus which arrived for what we assumed was the ride back to the hotel or on to the Sloth Sanctuary. Some minutes later with the bus filling up we heard the driver and a guide talking about the next stop being the boat cruise, and queried them re the Sloth Sanctuary pointing to our wrist bands. We were told we had basically inadvertently invaded a “private tour”. Bemused we got off the minibus and on checking again with the tram operator got on the safari truck which appeared some time later. We enjoyed the frog, butterfly exhibits and Sloth Sanctuary tours very much, and for those who maybe haven’t had other such experiences in say Costa Rica, it was excellent and I think well worth it. I have to say I wasn’t entirely sure these were “rescued” three toed sloths having attained sanctuary, but they’re not endangered and seemed happy enough chomping on hand fed flowers. We passed on the ziplining but we could have done that the same day also. Be aware in May at least it was very hot and sticky so dress appropriately. I add we were getting into the start of the rainy season and managed to avoid some torrential downpours - a breathable rain jacket would be a good idea, but don’t worry too much the rain is part of the experience, and it is a warm rain! All in all, it was a great way to see something of Panama wildlife and get a feel for the flora and fauna without hours of hiking.

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