Rainforest Adventure

After arriving in Panama and taking a one hour taxi ride we arrive at our resort late in the evening. We were greeted by the exceptionally friendly hotel staff of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. After a quick registration, we were quickly via golf cart to our charming villa. The first memorable moment was waking in the morning to the jungle sounds and a spectacular view of the rainforest. An iguana was sitting on a tree limb staring in our bedroom window. That was just the beginning. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort grounds were impeccable. There are many walking trails and paths. The resort is well lit and we always felt safe. The resort's staff was always on hand to assist us in planning our activities and answering our questions. I was impressed with how much pride everyone took in their country and in particular, the rainforest. Everyone was very environmentally protective as well. I felt as if the monkeys, slothes, and crocodiles that we saw frequently were personal pets of the staff. They were just as proud and protective of their butterflies, birds, and vegetation. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort offered many complementary activies each day including kayaking, nocturnal tours, biking, and hiking. There were numerous other tours available as well. The tour desk personnel went out of their way to make sure we were matched with the activities we desired. We fished for peacock bass, toured the islands and fed the monkeys, spent the day with the Embera Indians, hiked in the rainforest, swam under a waterfall, and took advantage of the luxurious spa treatments. There simply wasn't enough time to do everything in just 8 days.

Quick Tips:

1. Get to know the friendly Gamboa Rainforest Resort staff. They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. Make a point to meet Richard, the bellman, and Alex, the person who arranges the tours and activities. They both were extremely helpful. We left feeling as though we had made two wonderful new friends. 2. Bring a Spanish dictionary, if you don't speak Spanish. Many of the people in Panama do not speak English very well.

3. The weather is very hot and muggy even during the dry season. Bring lightweight clothing. Also bring lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirt for hiking in the jungle.

4. Make sure you try the homemade pizza at the hotel. It is the best pizza I have every eaten. The breakfast buffets are exceptional too. 5. If you have questions, are confused, or just want to visit, don't hesitate to talk to the hotel staff. They love giving you "their take" on the area's history, or favorite "must do" activity. 6. Don't forget your camera. 7. Take advantage of the complimentary tours available at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. They are very nice.

Best Way To Get Around:

We took a taxi everywhere we went. The Gamboa Rainforest REsort arranged for us to have a taxi driver give us a city tour early in our trip. He acted as our guide as well as taxi driver for the rest of our stay. His name was Leo (Alex, the tour desk manager, arranged). It was easy to get around the Gamboa Rainforest Resort by walking. When it was especially hot and muggy, there was someone at the front door eager to give us a shuttle to our destination. We met several people that took buses into town or to activities. They received directions and reported that it was an easy way to get around.

Best Things Nearby:
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is in the middle of the Sobriana Rainforest and on the banks of the Chagres River. There is an aerial tram which takes you on ride above the jungle top. At the destination is a very tall tower. It is a very simple climb to to top. And the climb is worth it! The 360 degree view is breathtaking. There is a marina on the property as well. There are educational exhibits including a reptile house, a butterfly house, an orchid exhibit, and an Indian village exhibit. The city of Panama is about a 40 minute drive.

There are the usual things to do there including historic tours, great restaurants, and shopping. The Panama Canal Lockes are about 30 minute drive away, but a quick walk to the end of the Gamboa Resort driveway will take to a great place to view the ships traveling through the canal. There are four very good restaurants at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. There are no other restaurants close by.

Best Things About the Resort:
The very best thing was the friendly staff. There are four very good restaurants at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. We never felt we had to go away from the resort to eat. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort spa is absolutely gorgeous, especially the women's locker room and baths area. The resort is very clean.

Resort Experience:
The Gamboa Rainforest Resort looks just like the pictures on their website (gamboaresort.com). It is very quiet. This is definitely not the place if you are into a lot of night life. There is a disco that is open on the weekends, but it was pretty quiet with not a lot of people. On the weekend there were many families enjoying the resort. During the week days it seemed to be an older crowd with some young honeymoon types. There were several birdwatcher groups staying at the resort as well.

Our timeshare accommodation itself was a junior suite. The main floor had a beautiful navy blue tiled bathroom, large bedroom with a king size bed, sitting area, TV, small stocked refrigerator, and balcony with a hammock (I would be embarassed to let anyone know how much time I spent with my book on that hammock - pure heaven!). The spiral staircase led to a charming second bedroom with two twin beds and a small but very nice second bathroom. Both bedrooms had a great view overlooking the Chagres River and Sobriana Rainforest.

There is a nice sized children's pool and a large pool both with a large waterfall in the background. The large pool has a swim up bar. There are waiters that come to your lounge chair and fill drink and lunch orders (this part reminded me of being on a cruise).

There are walking trails on the grounds. The wildlife was indescribable - iguanas, monkeys, crocodiles. The butterflies and birds looked like a child went around with colored markers or crayons and painted each one a different color. The colors were so vivid they looked fake. Imagine a fluorescent sky blue butterfly with wings the size of your palms. The grounds, lobbies, and restaurants were beautiful and impeccably clean.

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort has three great restaurants and offers numerous daily complimentary tours. The friendly staff is also on hand to arrange shopping trips and specialized tours such as to the canal lockes, Embera Indian village, and peacock bass fishing.

I would recommend the Gamboa Rainforest Resort for honeymooners looking for a romantic spot, people that are interested in history (Panama Canal), and people that are the outdoorsy type. I traveled with my husband, but if I were going by myself I would feel very safe at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. There are a lot of activities to do during the day, and the evenings are very peaceful and quiet. I loved Panama and the Gamboa Rainforest and can't wait to go back to do all of the things that there just wasn't time to do on this vacation.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent