Gamboa Rainforest Resort - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

2616 reviews

• 

  They can improve

  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.

  May 29, 2025
• 

  Loved it

  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.

  May 21, 2025
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  Went as a visitor for the restaurant and activities - worked out nicely

  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.

  May 05, 2025
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  Unique location

  All the rooms face the Chagras River Some are a long walk, I like the fourth floor if possible because the view is best Buffet breakfast and lunch are good Linen and towels good The shower goes to extra warm but not hot Pools average Lots of birds on the grounds Good staff all wear safari type clothes

  Apr 30, 2025
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  Two days in the jungle

  Impromptu two nights stay on our way back to Panama City. The staff was wonderful, and we took advantage of the tours. The river view room with a hammock on the balcony was a bonus. Restaurant food was well prepared, and the rooms were spacious

  Apr 29, 2025