Is BirdHouse@Gamboa, Panama Canal pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Where is BirdHouse@Gamboa, Panama Canal located?

This family-friendly Colon holiday home is located on a lake, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Gamboa Rainforest Resort, and within 12 mi (20 km) of Summit Botanical Gardens & Zoo and Centenario Bridge. Pedro Miguel Locks is 10.3 mi (16.6 km) away.

BirdHouse@Gamboa, Panama Canal Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

10/10 Excellent

Avis F.

10 Feb 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous

One of a kind home with a character and design unlike any other we’ve seen. It was a memorable stay with lovely times in the pool listening to the howler monkeys in the nearby hills We had the added benefit of getting to know the property owner Chimene. Thank you! Team Canada

Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sherri C.

25 Mar 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A paradise close enough to the City but surrounded by natural beauty!

The house itself is beautifully designed with wide open spaces and beautiful wood interior! The kitchen is well appointed with every amenity you could possibly need to prepare great meals! The master bedroom at the top is a triumph with a balcony overlooking the garden and pool where every sort of tropical bird - including two types of toucans come to visit every day. The host could not be more helpful recommending tours, hikes, restaurants, supermarkets! She even loaned us her hiking polls. The ground floor is perfect for young people and we can’t wait to take our young adult kids back! Thank you Gamboa and the Bird House for a wonderful stay!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

kimberly s.

11 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stellar in Every Way

Pictures can't capture how truly lovely this house is: charming sleeping rooms, a well-appointed kitchen, and comfortable common areas for the family to gather were only the beginning. Books, artwork, and personal touches made this place seem like our cozy home and not just another rental space. Our hosts were friendly, helpful, but never intrusive: they took care of us before check-in by setting up hummingbird feeders far enough in advance to establish a resident population, guided us through the day-to-day necessities like shopping and utilities, and followed though after check-out to be sure our experience was wonderful throughout. The kids loved the pool and our friendly Black Vulture friend. Nature lovers should not hesitate to book this oasis - my favorite parts of the visit were the early mornings sitting on the deck with a coffee, watching the Toucans and Tamarins along with my favorite, a gorgeous Squirrel Cuckoo (and a host of other birds and animals!). Gamboa is a marvelous small town, well away from the city chaos but with fantastic recreational options near at hand. We swam in a waterfall pool, hiked the world-famous Pipeline road, saw giant ships on the Canal, visited a native village (ask the hosts for a guide recommendation, so much more affordable than other published options!), took the kids to a zoo and playground, and even spent a day on the Caribbean side of Panama a fairly short drive away. I'm home now, exhausted, but ever so grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime memories of our Bird House trip. Book this place. Book this place. Book this place. It's magical.

Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023

6/10 Okay

shawn f.

2 Mar 2020

Liked: Location

Disliked: Check-in

Great place for a couple. Review limited to 2490 words. Too bad. I had good to add but limited.

There are times in life that despite one's efforts things still go wrong. The first night in the Birdhouse was one of those times. We were 4 female friends. Check-in day we had taken a 30 min boat ride, a taxi, hour plane, rented a car, visited Casa Viejo & Locks, grocery shopped & drove to the Birdhouse. We arrived ‪at the estimated time and went in as instructed. Our first greeting was a very cute bat swooping above our heads. We have all had bats in our house. Next we're the bedrooms which were behind the opaque facade walls. They were very difficult to opened. When we eventually found the bedrooms it was a punch in the gut. There was a strong smell of mildew & each bedroom was in a dark dank cubby hole. I am baffled as to why this information is not in any reviews? We had no way to phone contact owner/host as the WiFi password was not provided. The man across the street knew the password so we could make call The conversation was a disappointment. She came across as condescending. I'm sure it wasn't her intent, but that was how it presented. When I shared our complaints about no host to greet us, her response was “well most people like to be on their own to explore. The receiving host was her plan, and she never asked what we preferred. In addition, it's SOP in the field to have someone receive guests. When I mentioned any problems, her response was well your in the jungle. I knew where I was. I explained the downstairs was too smelly to sleep in and again her response was that’s how it smells in the jungle.(Apparently she was at an event and trying to appease me. We were both in bad places to communicate.) We all felt it was a health risk to sleep downstairs so we shared the only other bedroom & the two other girls slept on the couches in the living room no pullout bed. In all my planning I never envisioned that we would spend that amount of money to be sleeping on couches & doubling up in bed. In the end I would stay here again because it is the nicest house in Gamboa. Only as a couple/maybe one child. I did look around in the basement for any mold/mildew but could find none. All appeared clean. The owner reported that the housekeeper uses vinegar and bleach to keep the smell down. Dangerous combo. She stated that when no one is there they turn off the air conditioners. There were no dehumidifiers. (I see the problem now.) I just want others to know about the basement. I hope you enjoy your stay as in the end we did.

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

John P.

13 Nov 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfection in Panama

Care about the aesthetics of where you're staying? This is a beautiful indoor/outdoor pavilion with interesting art and a fabulous outdoor space. There are lots of spaces for four adults to be together or by themselves, and our family loved the house. The location is an easy drive from the airport and is very convenient to bird-watching on Pipeline Road or the launch for many of the canal tours. Logistics for the trip were made so much easier with all the information provided by our hosts. Shopping and dining recommendations were all provided in advance, as well as contacts for other services like in-home cooking or tour guides. The house itself had everything we could think of and then some. Loved our week spent at The Birdhouse!

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jose B.

22 Apr 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home surrounded by friendly neighbors in a peaceful location. If I would to return would

Home stands out above all others, no home like it in the neighborhood – simply put unique.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve G.

24 Jan 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love this location. Love Gamboa and Panama

If you want to wake up surrounded by nature, with the sounds of parrots and howler monkeys in your ears, be able to rest and relax in an amazing beautiful, bespoke house and also be able to get into Panama City for it's vibrancy this place is for you. You are right in the rainforest with easy access to tours and daytrips, but also totally self-sufficient if you want. We love this location and have stayed multiple times. We always look forward to going back.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Martin R., West Vancouver, British Columbia

19 Jan 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home for a family vacation.

Amazing architecture. The main house is very open with cool design elements. The kids were happy with their own rooms, a pool, ping pong, etc. The area is very quiet... with an occasional train coming through. Overall, an excellent stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Yossi F.

31 Dec 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A stunningly beautiful property

Just a gorgeous place to be. Everything is open, and gorgeous. The flow of the space is magnificent. The downstairs is air conditioned, if you want that, and the upstairs is like living in a beautiful veranda, where you can feel and hear nature.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

John C.

29 Aug 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Luxury in the Jungle

We had a fabulous stay at this house. It was a surprise to see all the open space in the home which the pictures can’t show. The master suite is luxurious with a beautiful mosquito net canopy bed, luxury bathroom with double vanity, and shower, beautiful faucets, bidet, automatic flushing toilet and California closets-truly Condé Nast Magazine picture worthy. The three levels of the house make it possible to spread out yet take in the sights and sounds of the surrounding jungle. It seemed that we lived with flocks of Toucans and green parrots and awoke with the haunting sounds of the Howler monkeys. This house is truly a magical place and experience our entire family enjoyed.

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra L.

15 Apr 2019

By far the best place to stay in Gamboa

A magnificent house with a pool, amazing breezes, a desperate kid or quiet sleeping area (air conditioned)- the house alone is a vacation onto itself with swimming, a pool table, ping pong and more. And then outside the rain forest, lake Gatun... Chimene had amazing recommendations and our trip was near perfect. I’m so relieved we did not stay in the resort but then it was also nice to have it there to use the trails and see their facilities. Recommend Pipeline Road with Saul, the most amazing bird guide; Playa Blanca outside portobelo; walking along the chagres through the resort jn the evening (monkeys!! The most magical forest); drinks on the porch in a Friday night with the da and baseball game below; and experiencing the sad heartbreaking beauty of the town of gamboa. We will return!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tom P.

9 Mar 2019

Excellent property and the owners were quite accommodating. Excellent birding! Refreshing pool!

As above. We all recommend the Birdhouse without any reservations and Gamboa has lots to offer.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

2 Oct 2016

Unique house and experience

This house is a truly unique experience as it is open to the environment, creatures sounds and all! We had a great time here experiencing and it is perfect for those that love nature. From the moment we arrived in the pouring rain we saw an agouti and as the sun came out so did all the birds! Chimene, who owns the property was very helpful from the off. She put us in touch with a private guide who took us on a boat onto Lake Gutan where we experienced close up the ships going up and down the canal, the local wildlife and local Indians. We stayed out of season, but even in season there is little in the way of restaurants, so you must bring food with you or eat in the local hotel up the road. The house is equipped with everything you could possibly need to cook though, it really is home from home. Don't stay here is you don't like bugs or the odd bat flitting about, this house is about as close to nature you can get but still be inside!!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ben L.

24 Jan 2016

Spectacular Home in the Jungle!

Our family has traveled all over the world (50+ countries), and we've never stayed in a house quite like this one. We really wanted to get out of Panama City and be closer to the jungle, canal, etc. The home provided a perfect base for 5 nights of our trip in Panama. The architecture and design is very unique, the location is in a nice part of the quiet town of Gamboa, and the Gamboa Rainforest Resort is only a 10-15 minute walk away. We did a sunset boat cruise, the aerial tram tour, the ecological exhibits (butterfly garden, orchid center, and frog house), and the new wildlife rescue center on property. All were pretty good. We cooked most of our meals ourselves in the fantastic kitchen, but we did have a couple meals at the Resort which were actually pretty good. For a family of 6 (2 parents, 2 grandparents, and 2 young children), the house was perfect. The open air design made us feel like part of the jungle, and we enjoyed hearing and seeing birds from the house and decks. Even when it was hot outside, the house always felt very comfortable with all the air flow (and the basement level is air conditioned). The toys, board games, and books were a great hit with our kids, and there were many interesting books upstairs for the adults. We used the swimming pool daily, and we even played a little on the pool table and ping pong table. Chimene, the owner, was delightful to work with and was available before, during, and after our stay to make sure everything went smoothly. I also walked to an ATM and a little convenience store in town and had no issues finding anything. We've been raving about this place to friends and family since we returned, and I expect we will tell anyone visiting Panama it is a "must do" part of their trip. I've rated other vacation houses that were perfectly nice 5 stars....this truly perfect house deserves more like 7 stars.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tom M.

14 Jan 2016

Fabulous house in a great location

The house is unique and a special experience. There is plenty to do in the area for day trips but our family also enjoyed hanging at the house where we could read on the deck, watch the parrots fly across the sky, and our college age boys could play ping pong or pool. The kitchen was great and we cooked in for all but one lunch in Panama City. We highly recommend it and the owner, Chimene, was very helpful and considerate.

Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Marcelo O.

5 Sept 2015

AMAZING NATURE UNIQUE DESIGN HOUSE

I rented this house with 10 friends for the weekend and we had an amazing time. The house provides an amazing outdoors feeling with the open living room and kitchen design connecting to the nature outside. The swimming pool and deck is amazing and the "kids" play room are perfect for hanging-out while playing pool. On of the best surprises was the FULLY equipped kitchen (as a real home and not as rental house). Even though on the top level there isn't air conditioning, the open design provides a fresh breeze during the day (complemented by fans). If you are looking for a house with lots of contact with nature and to hang out with comfort, this is the perfect house. Be aware: nature = bugs + mosquito The host was very thoughtful and organized. Everything was very well coordinated.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Caitlin S.

15 Aug 2015

Amazing House for Those Who Love the Outdoors

This house in Gamboa was perfect for me - I loved how it makes you feel like you're living in a tree house. However, it is in the jungle so anyone who wants all the creature comforts without the creatures should probably look elsewhere. Positives: - The house is beautiful and clean. - There are tons of beds in the house so while on a girls trip, no one had to snuggle. - The pool and deck are amazing. I had great plans to hike on day one, but instead I could not tear myself away from the amazing facilities in the house itself. - Nature. There are SO MANY birds that come to the house, humming birds, toucans, etc. - Host. The host is amazing and did a fabulous job facilitating my visit, arranging a guide to lead us from the airport to the house after dark, helping us find a grocery, and arranging for the housekeeper to also cook us local food. - AC. The main levels of the house are not air conditioned (which I love in the tropics) but the basement where the small bedrooms are located had two AC units and fans. I loved that I could have the humidity and breezes of the tropics during the day, but could retreat to AC to sleep at night. Surprises - From the photos I was not 100% clear on the layout. Essentially, there are no completely private areas in the house. This was not a problem for my group, but is something to keep in mind if planning a romantic couples get away. The master bedroom is open to the rest rest of the house, though it is raised above the kitchen. The architecture is AMAZING but may not lend itself to privacy. The basement has 3 bedrooms, all of which have "windows" to the common area, so none of the bedrooms are completely sealed off. 3 beds are located in the common area, which makes going to bed a group effort if they are all occupied. - Animals. The host left the family dog & cat at the property. The pets had caretakers so they were not a problem for my group, just a bit of a surprise. If you are allergic, have that discussion with the host and I'm sure there will be no problems. Negatives (if one considers them negative): This house is OPEN AIR in the main levels. There is no glass, there is no AC. There are only screens. It is in the tropics, it will be warm. And bugs/wild creatures may arrive in the house. While not always ideal, this is what one should expect in a house such as this. If you accept this, the house is for you :) Overall, I loved the house & recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing, outdoor experience in Panama.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eric S.

11 Jan 2015

Amazing, unique place to stay

My extended family of 8 stayed at the Bird House in Dec 2014 for six days. Our group consisted of my wife and I, our 2 children (ages 8 & 11), and our 4 parents. The house is a wonderful, unique experience for those looking for something very different from regular hotels. There is plenty of space, the full amenities of home (including very reliable wifi), and amazing decorations that had my wife (a graphic designer) buzzing with ideas. You truly can see the tops of ships on the canal from the deck and there really are birds everywhere. We didn’t catch sight of any monkeys around the property, but there were plenty along pipeline road (5 minute drive away), and there are agoutis and coatis hanging out in the park across the street. Look at the pictures on the site closely to understand how the house is laid out - the exterior walls on the main floors are giant, slatted, sliding panels with screens to keep the bugs out. This means the house feels almost more outdoors than indoors. Our group loved it, and we never felt like our privacy was impinged upon since there is a fair amount of distance to the neighbors, but if you are not an outdoors lover it may feel strange to you to have all the noises from the world around you in your living space. Obviously, there is also no air conditioning, but numerous fans throughout the house keep it quite pleasant. Chimene, the owner, is the perfect “remote host.” She helped us extensively with planning activities prior to our stay in Gamboa and also gave us advice for things to do in other parts of Panama. She had tremendous patience with me as I pinged her with loads of emails. Later in our trip we ended up staying at her treetop “beach platforms” in Rio Mar as well which was a whole other type of cool experience.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Stacie M.

6 Sept 2014

Creating Family Memories that Last a Lifetime

Our family travels to Panama each year to visit family who live in Panama. To maximize our time together, we will rent a vacation house where we can stay together, share meals, hang out, and go on outings as a group. We are usually able to find something to fit our needs, but rarely have we had the opportunity to mix family time with the adventure of discovering wild Panama. This house in Gamboa was the perfect retreat for reuniting with our family and getting to show our kids the beauty and excitement of Panama’s rainforest and Canal Zone. The house, in which the owner raised her own family, is arranged perfectly to enable families to spend time hanging out together. We were seven adults and 3 kids and the house fit us fine. The well-stocked kitchen made group efforts to produce family meals a breeze. We enjoyed lounging out on the expansive patio, swimming in the pool, and watching the butterflies and hummingbirds swarm around the flowering trees and the tropical birds – even toucans and parrots – flying overhead. You can even see from the pool deck, if you look closely, the barges passing through the canal. Our kids loved the downstairs area with the pool and ping pong tables, and TV with tons of DVDs. In the evenings we would make dinner and serve it family-style on the large dining room table. Early mornings were the perfect time to explore the nearby hiking trails. We visited Pipeline Road and the new Rainforest Discovery Center and checked out the trails around Gamboa resort, which is right down the street. We visited in August which is in the middle of the rainy season and since we were in the rainforest it did rain. Our solution to this was to spend our mornings which were reliably dry and sunny, exploring Gamboa and using the pool and then in the afternoon after lunch we would head to the beach on the Pacific side to escape the rain. Getting to the InterAmerican Highway from the property and over the canal to the beaches was a breeze. The owner of the property has a “platform” property at Rio Mar which we visited and it was the perfect set up to enjoy the beach and take a shower afterwards to remove the sand for the ride home. We liked the “platform” concept and the beach at Rio Mar so much that we plan to rent it for a few days next time we come to Panama. Both properties are It perfect places to disconnect from work and other stresses of life and reconnect with love ones to create memories that last a lifetime.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

15 May 2014

Beautiful, comfortable, relaxing. Great spot!

My family and I visited in April, we loved the house and location – we actually stayed in Chimene’s other house just across the driveway, but used the pool and spent quite a bit of time here. This place is fabulous! I woke one morning and my first sight as I opened my eyes was of two tamarin monkeys playing in the trees. What a great way to wake up! There are several really great hikes directly from the house. We saw four different types of monkeys, sloths, agouties, coatimundies, leaf cutter ants, a crocodile…. and a zillion different birds. Definitely hike up the pipeline road to the nature center to see the hummingbirds! When you come back from hikes and days out, the pool is just perfect to relax and cool off. We can’t wait to go back.

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