Gamboa Rainforest Reserve

The grounds and hotel are beautiful, but the rooms need maintenance, as other reviewers have said. The bar veranda restaurant is lovely. Dinner and breakfast, though, were only offered as terribly overpriced buffets. The so-called night safari was a noisy, smelly ride in an open diesel bus. The sound system was impossible to understand, and despite the guide talking nonstop about being kind to animals, they shone a strong bright light all over the trees where animals might be resting. I was seasick by about three quarters of the way through, and glad the trip lasted only 25 minutes. They should consider a special light that doesn’t disturb the animals and an electric vehicle.

We saw an amazing range of wildlife, and the food was wonderful. It was a great experience at a really nice resort in a beautiful location.

The view of the river was the one bright spot. It was the river, not the canal. The rooms felt old and worn, and upkeep was poor. The elevator buttons didn’t work, there were hardly any pool chairs, and the lights in our room kept flickering. The TV and fridge were both out of order. We told the front desk staff three times, but nobody came to fix anything. Meals and drinks were expensive and not good. The complimentary night tour was just a 20-minute drive around the property, and we saw nothing. It felt like the Bates hotel. Three stars at best, and we couldn’t wait to leave.

The Lake Gatun tour was fascinating. We saw three kinds of monkeys, crocodiles, and lots of birds, and getting close to those huge container ships was quite an experience. The Aerial Tram is a must too. At 7:30 am, it feels magical. The climb up the tower is very easy, and from there you can watch birds and those enormous ships crossing the canal. This place is truly unique, and the resort is amazing. Highly recommend it.