Colon Journals

Memories of the Rainforest

A February 2003 trip to Colon by Lynn&Doug

Quote: Gamboa Rainforest Resort is without question breathtakingly beautiful. Serene strolls through the facilities and on the property led us through the luxury of the grand entrance with its colourful banners, mahogany sculptures, exquisite ironwork and roaming creek and waterfall, and beautiful gardens.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Hotel

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Best Things Nearby:
We took a boat tour to "Monkey Island" which is not really a particular island but a series of islands: heard howler monkeys, hand fed wild monkeys from the boat, saw a family of sloth, turtles. The canopy ride is fantastic for a panoramic view of the area. Side trips to Panama City included sight seeing of the antiquated city (ruins – must visit the museum too), the old city which is undergoing revitalization, and Panama – lots of shops and restaurants. It is about a $40 cab ride on way to Panama from Gamboa, so we travelled by bus with the kids most of the time. Resort staff was great helping us with schedules and making sure we stayed in safe parts of the city. Although everyone was concerned for our safety, there was so much police and military police presence we never felt at risk. If you are up for a real adventure catch the refurbished steam train from Panama to Colon. It travels alongside the canal and provides a view you can’t get from the water!

Best Things About the Resort:
The library is a hidden treasure—elegant, cool and well stocked with National Geographic and Smithsonian Institute reading material about the rainforest, its plants and animal life. The children loved the quiet area for games of chess. The porters—without them we would have been lost! They were friendly and eager; they directed us, answered questions, arranged transportation on the property and provided lots of information. It just took us a couple of days to figure out these were the guys in the know and made the vacation for us. One individual in particular, Richard, went above and beyond—guiding us about taking the local bus, introducing us to other resort staff like the activities coordinator, anticipating our needs and seeking us out to ensure we were happy. He spotted us one evening in Panama City waiting for the bus back to the resort; he waited with us to make sure we were safe and on the right bus. A sincere gentleman. In our welcome literature, there were a number of children’s activities listed including cooking classes. It took some persuasion but the activity coordinator arranged a class with the chef, Roberto Parker, at the Laguna restaurant. We didn’t understand the reluctance at first, until we later learned that no one had ever requested the class so it had never been offered. Apparently, because the chef likes children, he agreed to do it. So our children along with one other guest were the first to take a cooking class – dressed up in chef’s hats, they prepared plantains two different ways and a mango salad. It was fun! The spa area was absolutely beautiful, restful and spacious. Call ahead to ensure for the water to warm up otherwise you may find the water temperatures the whirlpool/hot tub not warm or full enough and the temperature in the steam room set too low.

Resort Experience:
We stayed in a villa for the first two nights because of overflow in the main hotel. We were surprised at how efficiently we could cool the unit with a single room air-conditioner and ceiling fans. The villa was simple but comfortable. It consisted of two rooms separated by the bathroom, one with a queen size bed, the other with twin beds. Although kitchen accessories were not supplied they could be requested. The tiny bathroom needed. However, what a thrill to wake up to the sound of rainforest life: parrots and monkey calls! We spent the rest of our week in the hotel part of the resort. Our room included room with a spiral staircase leading to a loft, which our two children declared a parent-free zone. They were so happy to each have their own bed and to share a bathroom. We all loved the "extra space". We loved the balcony with its hammock overlooking the Chagres River, had breakfast there on a couple of occasions, watched the sun set. The rooms were well maintained. Each door is an original carving of a typical rainforest creature. This is not your "beach" or typical resort holiday. We had the impression that one-week stays were not the norm either; the resort catered more to large groups such as business conventions, weddings, and symposia. They gear up the activities for a local tourist crowd on weekends. Live entertainment at the resort consisted of a person at an electric piano at the bar in the late afternoon and a folk show at the Laguna restaurant on Sunday afternoon. Hard to find out about activities because they weren’t posted. There was no entertainment for children or evening entertainment to showcase Panamanian culture during the week of our stay (unless you travel into the city which is about an hour away but worth it). The playground was set in an isolated area on the grounds and in need of repair. We were glad, however, the tennis courts were lit as my family enjoyed night games when the temperature was more tolerable. You can, however, spend hours at the Laguna restaurant watching the turtles and some of the best bird watching ever.