Panama Rainforest Discovery Center
Panama Rainforest Discovery Center
4.5
About
The Panamá Rainforest Discovery Center is the main project of the Fundación Avifauna Eugene Eisenmann, non-profit environmental organization for the conservation of birds in Panama. Our objective is to protect the tropical rainforest throught sustainable tourism.We offer bird feeders, a 32 meters observation tower, 2 kilometers of trails, gift sotre and educational programs for students.Most of the staff of the Panamá Rainforest Discovery Center are from neighbouring communities. They are incorporated into the center after going through a training and selection program.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.5
236 reviews
Excellent
149
Very good
59
Average
19
Poor
8
Terrible
1
jungleboywonder
New York City, NY210 contributions
Feb 2021
This was my forth time back to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center in 9 years. This place is awesome. Always a good experience. If you never been hear i recommend a tour in order to see more.. If not, you will miss animals right in front of you. I go without a guide because I like to photograph animals which takes more time than a simple tour can offer. It's also a relaxing hobby of mine. I do rent a car for flexibility and tip when possible to give back ton the locals.
I love Wildlife Photography. No picture is ever planned, but captured in the blink of an eye. No zoo.. Nothing is in cages. So you have to be patient, study where the animals live, what country, which jungle, when is the best season, what trees they eat from, decide which camera lenses to take, then just wait with equipment positioned for them to come close enough to you (a cell phone alone will not cut it!!). Thank God for whatever you see and photograph 🙏from that point. Enjoy
God willing, I will be back in May 2021.
I love Wildlife Photography. No picture is ever planned, but captured in the blink of an eye. No zoo.. Nothing is in cages. So you have to be patient, study where the animals live, what country, which jungle, when is the best season, what trees they eat from, decide which camera lenses to take, then just wait with equipment positioned for them to come close enough to you (a cell phone alone will not cut it!!). Thank God for whatever you see and photograph 🙏from that point. Enjoy
God willing, I will be back in May 2021.
Written March 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoel J
11 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
This is an absolute must do! Highlight of our trip for sure! It’s so pristine and buzzing with nature (not literally, we didn’t see a single mosquito) . From the Hummingbird exhibit to the Lake to the 100 foot tower, it was totally worth the $30 admission fee. Just make a left turn at the sign that is approximately 1.5 miles into the path.
Written January 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karl P
Coastal South Carolina, SC8 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
I was disappointed that there wasn’t more to see and do at this place. I had heard there was a visitors center but it really was just a booth where you buy tickets. There was a hummingbird station and the guide there offered us small feeders so we could feed the hummingbirds from our hands. There was a 32 m tower to climb. From the top you could see the canopy of the rainforest. We walked the trail to the lake but didn’t see much besides busy ants. The cost of admission was $30 which was steep considering there wasn’t much to see and do. It is a long sweaty walk through a rainforest so dress accordingly. Wear sneakers, have bug spray and sunscreen. The entry road is very bumpy - all dirt and rocks. It is not too far from the Miraflores Locks in Panama.
Written January 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Israel Reiselei... U
Tel Aviv, Israel1,498 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
The walking trails are well maintained and easy. Also climbing up the lookout tower is comfortable.
Hummingbird watching is excellent, other birds and wildlife not too much around.
However $30 entrance fee is much too high ' $ 15 would be in place. Panamanians pay $ 5.
Hummingbird watching is excellent, other birds and wildlife not too much around.
However $30 entrance fee is much too high ' $ 15 would be in place. Panamanians pay $ 5.
Written December 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter R
3 contributions
Aug 2022
Not a long drive from Panama City, but the last two kilometers are rough road. The rain forest discovery center is a gem of an experience. I walked down a trail to the hummingbird station where there are feeders to attract hummingbirds. A wonderful guide named Julie pointed out the different species and gave great information about their habits, and showed me how by sitting quietly the hummingbirds would come very close.
Just before a (short-lived) tropical rain started, the howler monkeys nearby began calling- it was a magical moment. Julie mentioned that they often begin calling when the rain starts. Then I climbed the rainforest observation tower and looked over the canopy- parrots and hawks and butterflies flying around, and you an even see ships passing through the Panama Canal through the trees.
Just before a (short-lived) tropical rain started, the howler monkeys nearby began calling- it was a magical moment. Julie mentioned that they often begin calling when the rain starts. Then I climbed the rainforest observation tower and looked over the canopy- parrots and hawks and butterflies flying around, and you an even see ships passing through the Panama Canal through the trees.
Written August 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tchadwh
40 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
A great place to hike/walk. You never know what you will see. Birds and more birds, look down and you see lots of insects (ants). It was cool to walk up the tower and be above the jungle. Bathrooms at the center, with some seats. Plenty of humming birds zipping back and forth. Maybe pricey 30 bucks, but worth it. The dort rd is a little bumpy. Some people park and walk to the entrance.
If u have a free morning before it gets to hot, great place to enjoy nature.
If u have a free morning before it gets to hot, great place to enjoy nature.
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth K
San Carlos, Panama4 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
I have visited the Center many times since 2008 and was saddened to find it in a deplorable state of disrepair. There were no guides, no scopes---only an apathetic employee collecting the entrance fee of $30.00, and a young man on a 4 wheeler, presumably keeping out intruders. The trails were dangerous with loose, rotten, and missing planks, and the handrails were filthy with rust. The tower is badly in need of repair, and the overall atmosphere is one of abandonment. The guide books speak of making reservations, but the web site is down and the phone appears to be disconnected. I would put it last on the list of places to visit in Gamboa. One could have a much safer and more rewarding experience by simply walking the Pipeline Road, for which a nominal fee is charged.
Written December 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thanks for you review.
6 years later we are glad to inform you that we are number 1 in Gamboa! We made changes in order to improve customer service satisfaction.
I hope you can visit us.
Written September 4, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ana B
10 contributions
My husband and I visited without a guide. We took a cab to the center and asked him to wait for us while we hiked for 5 hours! You HAVE to make sure the taxi waits for you since this place is in the middle of the rainforest and there is no civilization around. Our cab charged us $70 roundtrip (from the city to the discovery ctr and back) but we gave him a little extra because of the insane off road driving he had to do to get us there. Also, it seems that panamanians do not know where the center is so come prepared with your google map printed in spanish and let him know that it is in Gamboa about 3km past the hotel. All this is worth it. You are by yourself in a beautiful park surrounded by monkeys, sloths, birds, rainforest bugs, and we even saw a crocodile. If you are lucky, there will even be biologists at the top of the tower letting you in on cool birds they are seeing. My husband and I did organized tours but none of those beat our day at the discovery center.
Written October 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for this review
The Panama Rainforest Discovery Center is managed by Fundación Avifauna Eugene Eisenmann, a nonprofit organization established to protect Panama birds and their hábitats.
All profits go to conservation and environmental educational programs.
We are looking for grants and donations for maintenance of the observation tower, visitor center and access road.
I hope for your next visit, the maintenance is done.
Written October 22, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SoozeQ83
Boise, ID121 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
I was set up with a taxi from my hotel and when I got there paid the 20.00 as I was getting in after 10a (its 30.00 showing up earlier) I only ran across one other person so I had the rainforest to myself! It was quite the treat. The tower was amazing!!! So high up! Only recomendation is one that I shouldve thought of, I accidentally had my flash on and actually got the opportunity to see monkeys. I scared them and they came clambering down from the trees. I felt horrible. Dont use flash on the wildlife! They do not like it and youll feel like a heel haha! All in all this was a great value and I loved the independence of it all. The self pace is relaxing and the path was so easy to follow its impossible to get lost. Highly recomend this as an inexpensive alternative to guided tours.
Written June 9, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment that allowing us to constantly improve. In this way we can offer a memorable experience in the tropical forest of Panama, combining environmental education and sustainable tourism.
We are glad that you enjoyed the visit at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, and we hope you can repeat the experience soon with us.
And thanks to your support we have won the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor.
Best regards,
Written June 12, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
molia
Panama40 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
After almost 5 years of living in Panama, trust me when I say that the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center embodies what is best about Panama and its wildlife. Although I love nature, I am not a serious birder by any means. Nonetheless, something keeps bringing me back to the Discovery Center... Whether it's the exuberant, lush vegetation, the songs of the birds or watching the sun rise from the canopy tower, I cannot say. This is definitely a special place to visit.
Some have pointed out that it is hard to get to. Of course it is... it's in the middle of a rainforest. The roads are not in the best condition and that makes the drive quite a bit longer than some might expect. Personally, I think it is part of the appeal.
If you are going to do it, plan to be at the Center before 6h30. There is a reason the tickets are cheaper after 10h00 am... It's because you won't see anything that late in the day. The whole point of the Center is to be in communion with the animals/birds and watch nature wake up. If you are early enough, you can watch the sun rise over the canopy; you can hear the Howler Monkeys "yawn"; you can observe the tropical birds hop around and start their day... It really is quite magical.
Also, the naturalist guides that are currently working at the Center do not speak English. However, they are quite knowledgable about the birds and the area and are very friendly. If you do not speak Spanish, an easy way around this is to hire a bilingual guide/escort/driver. Your guide/escort/driver can accompany you and translate what the local guides are saying.
So, wake up early, go up to the Tower, watch the natural world awaken and then hike around to see the lake. If you find yourself smiling long after you have left the Center, it will be because you have lived the true Panama experience.
Some have pointed out that it is hard to get to. Of course it is... it's in the middle of a rainforest. The roads are not in the best condition and that makes the drive quite a bit longer than some might expect. Personally, I think it is part of the appeal.
If you are going to do it, plan to be at the Center before 6h30. There is a reason the tickets are cheaper after 10h00 am... It's because you won't see anything that late in the day. The whole point of the Center is to be in communion with the animals/birds and watch nature wake up. If you are early enough, you can watch the sun rise over the canopy; you can hear the Howler Monkeys "yawn"; you can observe the tropical birds hop around and start their day... It really is quite magical.
Also, the naturalist guides that are currently working at the Center do not speak English. However, they are quite knowledgable about the birds and the area and are very friendly. If you do not speak Spanish, an easy way around this is to hire a bilingual guide/escort/driver. Your guide/escort/driver can accompany you and translate what the local guides are saying.
So, wake up early, go up to the Tower, watch the natural world awaken and then hike around to see the lake. If you find yourself smiling long after you have left the Center, it will be because you have lived the true Panama experience.
Written February 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment that allowing us to constantly improve. In this way we can offer a memorable experience in the tropical forest of Panama, combining environmental education and sustainable tourism.
We are glad that you enjoyed the visit at the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center, and we hope you can repeat the experience soon with us.
And thanks to your support we have won the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor.
Best regards,
Written June 12, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I’m interested in walking the Plantation Trail in addition to visiting the Rainforest Discovery Center. Would you recommend doing this on separate days? Or, are visiting the Discovery Center and walking along its trails, then going to Plantation, doable / alright? Thanks in advance.
Written December 29, 2023
Buenas - do I need a reservation to visit solo, or just for a group?
Written March 11, 2023
The website states $30 donation p/person plus entrance fee if a person wants to go at night, after 6pm
So $60 per person? Or am I reading this wrong?
Thanks
Written May 16, 2019
Sorry for the delay - yes, our guide confirmed $60 per person at night.
Written May 22, 2019
1) I will go to PRDC on January 2 next year by a rental car. Is reservation necessary for that?
2) Is there hummingbirds in the feeder around noon?
Written December 3, 2018
Karen Avila
Panama City, Panama
Hi, you dont need to make a reservation ;)
Hummingbirds are all over the visitor center at noon.
Written December 5, 2018
Hello how much are tickets for children (age 12)? Are there family tickets ?
Written October 12, 2018
Thanks is that $30 for kids too ?
Written October 12, 2018
Thank you Karen. Is it open from Jan 1th to 5th next year?
Written August 24, 2018
Karen Avila
Panama City, Panama
Good morning, we will be close on Jan 1st due Holidays.
Returning on Jan 2nd.
Looking fwd to seeing you!
Written August 25, 2018
Is there a parking lot for guests in Discovery Center? I will drive a car to Discovery Center for bird watching.
Written August 23, 2018
Karen Avila
Panama City, Panama
Hi Masato, we do have parking area. I recommend to rent a sub since the road isn't good condition due the raining season
Written August 24, 2018
Karen Avila
Panama City, Panama
Sorry for the delayed response.
We will be closed during December 25th.
Written August 10, 2018
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