We um’ed and ah’ed as to whether we should stay at the floating lodge instead of at a ‘more comfortable’ hotel in the rain forest. Well go we did and it was an amazing 24 hour stay! It is a completely unique experience and i wholeheartedly urge anyone sitting on the fence of indecision to caste off those apprehensive shackles and go for it, you won’t regret it. We learnt thet the lodge will close permanently at the end of April as the Panamanian government will not renew the concession .This is madness. An ecological paradise that entertains and educates as well as offers employment to many locals and tour guides. I sincerely hope they will come to their senses. If you are in panama this month I would urge you to book it up now and stay for at least one night. Just go!
We spent one night at the lodge, electing to check in and out in the afternoon instead of the morning. There was a bit of a shaky start with the boat motor dying on the way to the lodge. I honestly though they were just kidding around. Luckily that didn't slow us down too much, we still got to fish that evening and they even cooked up our catch of the day. I was worried that it would be tough to sleep in the hot weather but we each had our own fan and the beds were comfy so no worries there. This was this highlight of our trip, good food, good people, a ton of fun and such a unique place! If you get the chance, stay here. And say hi to Eugene, he was very engaging and so interesting to talk with.
Me and my 2 friends had unforgettable memories. It was clean, comfortable and safe. We had a blast. Bring good binoculars if you want to explore the jungle. Star gazing was amazing! We visited at end of January 2022. Our tour guide was Eugene, we highly recommend this place and this guide.
A top visit of any vacation ever. A floating, rustic, lodge, tucked away in primary neotropical rain forest filled with birds, monkeys, sloths and reptiles. Superb guides provide kayak and SUP trips to beautiful waterfalls, jungle hikes (we saw a rare ornate eagle hawk), and night time boat rides. Just the lodge itself provides excellent swimming and wildlife viewing. 3 meals a day of excellent local food rounded it off. I would really recommend two nights rather than one to fully enjoy what the place has to offer. Totally worth the extra cost.
If you love adventure, nature, and a unique, one-of-a-kind experience, this is a MUST DO! I highly recommend staying at least 2 nights. Kayak to secret waterfalls, jump off the dock, search for monkeys, birds, crocks, sloths, and other jungle creatures. Or chill in a hammock, drink, eat, and chat with the amazing crew who make you feel at home. All food, drinks and as much adventure as you can imagine is included. The treatment is 5 star! The accommodations are comfortable with simple, private rooms, balcony with a hammock, and composting toilets (this all on a floating vessel).
After taking a boat on Lake got tune, arrived at this interesting floating lodge. Pretty setting. Peaceful. Hammocks to doze in. Nice, simple lunch. Swimming, fishing, and kayaking Possible. Monkeys nearby. Lots of birds too.
We stayed for 2 nights. The boat ride from Panama City to the lodge included a few stops to experience monkeys. Very fun. The lodge had delicious food. At night, we went on a boat safari and saw all kinds of animals - including our guide catching a crocodile and a cayman with his bare hands! In the morning we went bird watching and hiking. The bed was very comfortable. Our room had a porch with a hammock, where I spent an afternoon reading.
Spent one night and loved it. They arranged a pick-up in Panama City with transport to the boat in Gamboa that runs up the canal to Gatun Lake where the hotel is anchored in one of the lake's fingers. Our room had a comfortable king bed, our own balcony with chairs and a hammock, a fan (no A/C of course)... Bathroom has running water but a privy like toilet... The hotel is floating a a lake, so it's very eco-oriented, though I wonder why no solar. The meals were quite good and included, as is all alcohol and other drinks, and use of kayaks. The staff were from France and New Zealand and super cool. The night we stayed there were five or six people from Holland and three from Canada... Everyone tends to socialize. Very dark sky for stars, and some organized events... A night cruise to find crocodiles and K got to hold an 18 inch three year old. It is just an amazing and fun place...…
We had an amazing day with family and friends! A completely exotic trip at 30min from town, in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature and animals. A marvelous and funny way to see a new face of Panama! I would totally recommend it as well to foreigners as to Panamanians.
5 of us took the Jungle Boat tour from Jungle Panama, aka Gatun Explorer. The pick up time was right on. The boat driver was very good. We started at Gamboa Rainforests Resort, a short walk from the marina where we got picked up. Our guide unfortunately, was only 2 weeks into the job, and knew poor English, and was not informative at all. The boat ride to the floating lodge was very uninformative. As is many tours in Panama, the experience totally depends on the guide. Ours was poor. The lunch at the floating lodge was wonderful. One of us fished, and 4 kayaked. It was pouring rain, but both were fun. Caught two tiger fish, and two peacock bass, all small. Very touristy, with many boats doing the same thing as us, with a line up at monkey island. So no Indiana Jones experience here, lots of tourists, and we were in the slow season!!! Overall ok, but would not do again.…
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