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What We Love
- The scenery is extraordinary. It's right in the middle of Soberania National Park, a tropical rainforest home to lush plant life, animals, birds, insects and reptiles.
Things to Know
- The Gamboa Rainforest Resort has everything you could ask for with extra perks such as the location so close to nature.
Set your sights on the thrilling rainforest surrounding the Gamboa Rainforest Resort outside Panama City. Exploration and adventure beckon with the resort's attractions and tours, right in the heart of Soberania National Park. Designed to give guests educational fun, the resort's protected and preserved location in the Panama Canal area is home to a variety of plant and animal life for guests hungry for a taste of biodiversity, history and cultural heritage.
The lush grounds of Gamboa Rainforest Resort are 35 minutes from Panama City and along the banks of the Chagres River and Gatun Lake. These valuable Panama Canal water sources are the backdrop to serenity and adventure, though the pool is a safer bet for swimming unless you like alligators! Paddle up to Cascadas swim-up bar for a mojito while soaking up the sun, and when hunger strikes take your pick of the three dining options. Corotu Restaurant's international theme dinners – from Italian to Panamanian – offer guests a taste tour, and Chagres River View Restaurant offers exquisite fine dining. After dinner, guests can groove to live music or relax to the nighttime sounds of the rainforest on the terrace at the Monkey Lobby Bar.
In order for guests to take full advantage of the area's unique eco-system, the resort has educational exhibits along pathways and trails. Let wonder guide you through the freshwater fish aquarium, reptile exhibit and historical and cultural displays. The resort's tours are a popular way to explore the surrounding environment totally worry-free, and the Arial Tram Tour gives you a bird's-eye view of breathtaking flora and fauna. The Monkey Island Tour brings guests face to face with capuchin and howler monkeys!
Adventuring can be tiring; luckily the resort's Sensory Spa by Clarins has the secret to winding down after a long day with natural herbs and minerals. We loved the quiet herbal wrap. When it's time to call it a day, the Standard Room's comfortable furnishings are just the thing. Looking for a bit of history? Choose one of the 48 renovated 1930s One Bedroom Historic Apartments.
This hotel is NOT All-Inclusive, but does include complimentary American buffet breakfast daily. Additional food and drinks must be purchased separately.
Property Information
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Resort Details
Dining
Amenities
Activities
Hotel Advisories
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy - This hotel cannot guarantee a spring-break-free environment.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price. Minimum night stay restrictions may apply. Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
2697 reviews
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Aug 19, 2026A Paradise for Bird Lovers! Great for Everyone ＋ Exciting New Updates!
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)
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Aug 10, 2026
Perfect
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.
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Jul 20, 2026Do Not Stay Here
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.
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Jul 19, 2026Nice view
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.
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Jul 09, 2026
Piece of Paradise
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.