Pictures
Photos of Gamboa Resort by donna
July 2008
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a
luxurious resort overlooking the Chagres
River and the Rainforest close to the
Panama Canal.
We had the opportunity to visit it while
some friends were here from the U.S.
It’s about a 20 minute drive from Panama
City and takes you over the Bridge of
the Americas on the way to the resort.
It is a modern hotel that greets you
with Panamanian charm. Once inside the
lobby you are greeted with some
beautiful flowers, paintings, sculpture
and friendly and helpful staff. After a
short chat with the lady in charge of
marketing we were off to breakfast. Down
a flight of stairs with a waterfall and
plants on one side, the huge floor to
ceiling windows on the other and
overhead hung these wonderful birds. We
chose to eat outside as it was still
early enough and not too warm. The view
over the balcony was beautiful – from
the pool area to the green and water
beyond.
The Gamboa’s setting in the midst of
nature and its proximity to unspoiled
landscapes provide ideal opportunities
for all sorts of adventures. The Panama
Canal can be best observed from the
observatory tower on a mountaintop
nearby or from the Marina Terrace (where
we had breakfast), which is part of the
resort complex. Every room in the main
lodge has a balcony with amazing vistas
looking out onto the Rio Chagres and
they even come complete with a hammock
so you can laze away and watch the birds
or read.
Adjacent to the main resort building, 80
wooden tropical apartments built in the
1930's for the Panama Canal
Administration officers, have been
carefully renovated and decorated for
the use of resort guests.
As far as the tours go, the only one we
had time for was the aerial tram, which
was very good. They have knowledgeable
guides with an honest passion for the
environment. The tours and exhibits were
developed by the Smithsonian's Tropical
Research Institute (who also train the
resort's employees).
As one of the leading capitals for
birding, Panama has more than 950
species of birds, about 300 of which can
be seen at Gamboa Rainforest Resort.
Wake up in the morning to birdsong and
venture outdoors on walking tours to
view the birds in their natural habitat.
Spend the afternoon lying on the hammock
on your balcony with binoculars. Gamboa
Rainforest Resort and its guests are
very fortunate to have one of the
world’s best bird-watching sites just
minutes away. Panama is an important
destination for birdwatchers because of
its location in the migratory route of
birds as they fly between North and
South America. One of the best places to
see birds in Panama is Pipeline Road,
renowned around the world for its
abundance and variety of rare birds.
This is just one of the special packages
they offer including the Spa Package and
the Honeymoon Package, Fishing and
Family Fun. We didn’t have the time to
go and see the rooms nor take part in
any activities, but I did pick up the
press kit and take a look at the spa
pricing and it looks very good…
I would suggest that when thinking about
booking here, that you stay here. The
resort is a bit out of the way and
besides, there is so much to do, you
will wonder where the time went if you
just have a few days here. If you are a
golf nut, there is a nearby 18 hole par
72 golf course.
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