Gatun Lake Lodge Hotel

The best place of our Panama trip, hands down. A fantastic spot to stay alongside the most beautiful creatures in their wonderful home!

We loved the location and had a great boat tour at a reasonable price. The food was amazing, and both meals and drinks were fairly priced. The manager kept us entertained, and the staff were lovely. The pool was nice and cool enough to feel refreshing. It’s quite rustic, but that’s part of its charm. Really recommend it.

We had a peaceful stay and got to enjoy some nature, spotting caymans, turtles, and lots of birds. The pool has an amazing view, and using the kayaks was a lot of fun. The food was great and super fresh, cooked by the lovely ladies. Everyone was extremely kind and helpful. A special thank you to Gilberto, who made us feel welcome, shared stories about the place, and helped with a last-minute request without any trouble. It felt like a real paradise, highly recommend it. We rented a car in Panama city and drove here. The road wasn’t as bad as we expected, just make sure to follow the instructions you receive.

We spent our quiet moments watching the sun rise from the deck, sunbathing and floating in the pool, and kayaking through the flower-filled marshes by the lake. Every day we also hiked to different parts of the property, with lovely views of Gatun Lake from the hilltops and a rainforest stream spilling into the lake. Birds and sloths live just off the path. We took the boat tour to feed the monkeys one morning and even saw a giant container ship on the canal. Another night, Lide took us out in a little launch to look for caymans. What a thrill! I highly recommend both tours, just ask Pierre. He was entertaining, charming, competent, and accommodating, and the whole staff was friendly and helpful. The cabaña was bright, comfortable, and clean. The pool was crystal clear and the perfect temperature, and the grounds were well kept, with exotic plants, many grown for the fresh, delicious meals. Paradise at a pleasing price. One warning about the drive: take the main roads from La Chorrera, either via C. Hazia Mendoza or Via Sta. Cruz. Do not follow the Google Map route through Nueva Emperador, especially at night. I highly recommend Lake Gatun Lodge for anyone who loves nature, great food, and nice people.