The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a beautiful property located right on the Panama Canal. They offer resort accommodations as well as tours of the reserve. You can choose to stay on the property for the full experience of a quiet rainforest sanctuary, or you can opt for a day trip to the resort from Panama City or elsewhere. Whether or not you choose to stay overnight, the resort itself is a wonderful experience. The building has a three level atrium with gorgeous views of the national park, along with an outdoor pool, a resort spa, and more than 150 rooms and suites with private balconies. All of the eco-tours and activities within the Gamboa Reserve are booked and facilitated through the resort. The staff members are very knowledgable, and there is a big focus on environmental conservation, as well as ethical and sustainable practices.

We chose to do a day trip to Gamboa during our stay in Panama City. There was plenty of time to fit everything into a single day, and we had a really enjoyable visit. Below we highlight the three tours that we experienced, all of which we highly recommend! They were all informative and entertaining, and offered us some of the most unique travel experiences we’ve ever had. Keep reading for more on each tour, as well as plenty of photos to inspire your trip!

Gatun Lake & Panama Canal Tour

We started our day with a boat tour of Gatun Lake and the Panama Canal. Touring the famous canal was a true bucket list experience, and completely unforgettable! After checking in with the tour desk upon arrival, we were driven in a safari vehicle down to the water. We then climbed into a small boat (just us, our tour guide, and our driver), and set off. For a full hour we explored both the Panama Canal and Gatun Lake, the large artificial lake connected to the canal. Our guide explained to us the history of the canal as well as the construction of the lake, and we saw plenty of large ships passing through. Our boat also took us up to Monkey Island, a small island in the lake that is inhabited by capuchin monkeys. Our tour guide was very knowledgable in pointing out all of the wildlife and we were close enough to get some amazing photos!

Aerial Tram

Our second activity was the aerial tram, a small gondola that transports you 600 metres through the beautiful Panama Rainforest. The views were absolutely stunning, and it felt completely magical to be up in the treetops. Even for someone weary of heights, it was amazing and entirely worth it. There is the possibility to see more monkeys on this tour, as well as many species of birds, and sloths if you’re lucky! The gondola drops you deep in the forest where you can climb up to the observation deck for more incredible views. The tower is 30 metres high and offers unobstructed views of the national park, the Chagres River, the Panama Canal, and the nearby indigenous communities. There was plenty of time to enjoy the look out point and take plenty of photos before making our way back down to the tram, and taking the gondola down to our starting point. This entire tour is about 1.5 hours.

Nature Labs & Sloth Sanctuary

Our last activity was a 1.5 hour tour of the nature labs and Gamboa’s sloth sanctuary, which was eye-opening. We learned so much about the conservation initiatives run by the Pan American Conservation Association, and all of the dangers that the sloth population is currently facing in Panama. Our guide was incredibly knowledgable and offered us a lot of really useful and interesting information. We were able to see some of the rescued sloths in their habitats, eating plants and doing a lot of sleeping. We were able to get close enough to take some incredible photos without disturbing them. In the additional nature labs we saw plenty of butterflies, frogs, and tropical flora. We really enjoyed this as our last activity of the day, and we learned so much about Panama’s unique tropical vegetation.

We highly recommend spending a day (at least!) on the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. It’s easy to access from Panama City and in our opinion is an absolute must-do while in Panama.

If you’re interested in travelling to Panama, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Panama City!

As well, we have a full article on How Lesbian Friendly Panama Is.

Have you already been to the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve? Share your experiences in the comments below!

The post Visiting the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve in Panama appeared first on Lez See the World.

What To Do

Explore Casco Viejo

Visiting Panama City’s old town is definitely a must-do. The historic district offers many interesting sights including beautiful churches and cathedrals, the residence of the Panamanian President, as well as plazas, museums, and historical landmarks. It’s worth wandering around to admire the architecture, and discover the many wonderful cafes and restaurants in the area. We also recommend heading down to the waterfront to enjoy lovely views of downtown Panama City. Don’t miss wonderful Casco Viejo!

See the Panama Canal

When visiting Panama, seeing the Panama Canal needs to be on your list. About 15 minutes outside Panama City are the Miraflores Locks, where you can see the canal up close! There is a visitor centre with exhibits explaining the fascinating history of the canal, as well as observation decks where you can watch the ships passing through the locks. There is a $20USD admission fee, but it’s well worth it to see the famous canal in action. It’s easy to take a taxi or an Uber here from the city.

Visit the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve

Located in the Soberania National Park, the Panamanian Rainforest is a tropical ecosystem of more than fifty thousand acres, and home to some incredible wildlife. It sits at the meeting of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal, allowing for some truly unique experiences. There are beautiful accommodations on the reserve, or you can opt for a day trip from Panama City, with plenty of time to do tours of the rainforest, the canal, and the incredible animal sanctuaries. This was a huge highlight of our trip and we highly recommend it! Read more about the Gamboa Reserve here.

Enjoy the San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands (also known as Guna Yala), are an archipelago made up of more than 350 islands off the Caribbean Coast of Panama. They are home to indigenous Panamanians known as the Guna people, and the islands remain mostly untouched. They are very remote and secluded, and it is quite a journey to get to them from Panama City. However, it is doable and entirely worth it! There are several tour companies that offer day tours, or you can opt for an Airbnb Experience like we did. It’s a full day of swimming, snorkelling, and exploring the islands, and it is truly unforgettable.

Discover More Islands

While the San Blas Islands are well known for being a bucket list destination in Panama, there are other beautiful islands off the Pacific Coast that are much easier to get to. With easy ferry service from Panama City, you can explore Taboga, Contadora, Saboga, and more. Some of these islands are more developed than others, but all of them offer a wonderful break from the city!

Where to Stay

In our opinion, the best spot to stay in Panama City is definitely in historic Case Viejo! In the heart of the old town you will find plenty of accommodation options including boutique hotels and Airbnb apartments. It’s a very charming area, and is central to many of the main sights in the city. It’s a great spot to be close to the action, and can also be quite lively! Expect it to be busy with lots of locals and other travellers. There are also plenty of accommodation options in the downtown area of Panama City, such as the Obarrio and El Cangrejo neighbourhoods. Here you will find more luxury and upscale options, as well as many reputable hotel chains. This area is the financial district of the city, and it has a vibrant nightlife scene and is busy with tourists. If you’re looking to book hotel accommodations in these areas, our favourite tool is Hotels.com. It’s easy to search within a certain price range, and filter for the amenities that you like. They also have a great reward system – for every ten nights you book, you receive one night free. The other option for accommodations in Panama City is Airbnb. There are listings all over the city, including some in the historic old town. We opted to stay in the heart of Case Viejo, in an Airbnb apartment right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. It was walking distance to all of the sights we wanted to see in the city, and it was a convenient spot for all of the day trips we did. If you enjoy using Airbnb like we do, it’s definitely worth taking a look to see what’s available! If you’ve never used Airbnb before, click here to set up a profile and save on your first stay!

Where to Eat & Drink

Panama City has a diverse food scene offering plenty of local and international cuisines. With everything from street food to fine dining, there are plenty of options to satisfy any traveller! We found some really great cafes and restaurants in the Casco Viejo area. Our favourite was Mahalo, a casual eatery that was started by two Canadian sisters, and they just recently opened a second location. Both offer a vegan-friendly, but well-rounded menu, as well as a cozy patio. Also in Casco Viejo is Dodo, a must-visit restaurant near the waterfront. It’s also very vegan-friendly, and offers all day breakfast! If you don’t have any dietary restrictions, be sure to check out Las Clementinas, another popular spot in the old town. For traditional Panamanian food, head to El Trapiche in the San Francisco neighbourhood. If you’re looking for upscale dining, make a reservation at Donde Jose. They update their set menu every couple of months, focusing on local Panamanian ingredients. If you’re looking for seafood, add Mercado de Mariscos to your list. The fish market is a great spot for lunch and a truly unique experience. For drinks, you can’t leave Panama City without enjoying a rooftop beverage! The city is packed with trendy rooftop bars offering gorgeous views. In Casco Viejo, be sure to check out Tantalo, Casa Casco, Salvaje, or Capital Bistro. In downtown Panama City there’s the AC Hotel rooftop, The Roof at the Best Western, and Bits Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel. Enjoy!

Lesbian Friendly

Panama is currently in a transition period, with some big changes to LGBTQ+ rights currently pending. Same-sex sexual activity is legal, but there is no recognition for same-sex partnerships at this time, and no discrimination protection for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2018, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that all Latin American countries (including Panama) must recognize same-sex marriages, and the Panamanian Government has “welcomed the decision”. The ruling should mean that same-sex marriage will become legal in Panama soon, and hopefully some anti-discrimination laws will follow. You can check out our full post on how lesbian friendly Panama is here. Panama is still considered to be a fairly conservative country, with the biggest opposition to the LGBTQ+ rights movement being the Roman Catholic Church. But there are advocacy groups helping to shift the conversation, and more recently there has been open support from the Panamanian government. While we would consider Panama to be a fairly safe destination for LGBTQ+ travellers, it’s best to use your personal judgement to stay safe while visiting. We held hands in public and showed affection to one another, and didn’t run into any issues. We were open about our relationship and weren’t met with any hostility from the locals, even though we were told that not everyone in Panama is ‘cool’ with it. We never felt the need to hide our relationship, but we always did our best to read each situation and keep our safety in mind. Panama City doesn’t have much of a gay scene, but it certainly does offer some incredible and unique travel experiences. We really enjoyed our time there and would definitely recommend it!

How to Get Around

Walk

The downtown area and the old town of Panama City are both very walkable, and it’s easy to see these parts of the city on foot. If you’re able, it can be a great way to discover all of the main sights as well as some hidden gems!

Taxi/Rideshare

Uber is available in Panama City, and there always seemed to be plenty of cars available. We used Uber to get up to the Miraflores Locks, as well as to the Gamboa Rainforest, and to the airport. The rates were very reasonable and it was always easy to find a vehicle. There are also plenty of regular taxis in Panama City that you can hail from the street. It’s a great way to get around the city if you need a break from walking, or if you’re heading to a location outside the city centre. Taxis in Panama are not metered, and the rates are based on standard fares measured by zone. Be sure to look up the fare for where you are going, and discuss the rate with the driver before departing. If you don’t speak any Spanish and are worried about being taken advantage of as a tourist, opt for Uber instead!

Ferry

There are several islands off the Pacific Coast of Panama that are easy to access by ferry. Isla Toboga is only a 30 minute ferry ride from Amador Causeway, and the Pearl Islands are about 1.5 hours by ferry from the Flamenco Marina.

Has anyone else fallen in love with Panama City? Let us know in the comments!

The post Lesbian Travel Guide to Panama City, Panama appeared first on Lez See the World.