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
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TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN5,762 contributions
Oct 2021
Located in the Soberania National Park about a 30-40 min taxi/Uber from Panama City. Climbed to the top of the tower overlooking the forest canopy. Hearing the howler monkeys in the surrounding jungle was pretty cool. Hiked all the trails and was feeling like I may have wasted a lot of time and money coming up here but ran into a troupe of capuchin monkeys. This experience of encountering wildlife in a natural setting made it all worth it. In retrospect, it may have been worth hiring a guide when walking the trails as I suspect we missed a lot of other animals. Make sure you arrange for your driver to stay so that they can drive you back to the city. There is no cell service or taxis available here. Better yet, invite your driver to join you on the hike as "guides" get in free. The 2-mile unpaved road that leads to the Discovery Center is the Pipeline Road. It is one of the premier bird watching places in the country. Best to hire a guide if you want to see much. It is also an incredibly narrow treacherous drive along the road filled with rocks, potholes and tree branches. I was certain my driver's compact car was going to end up with a flat tire of broken axle. You really should have a SUV with high clearance if driving here.
Written May 24, 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.
Evi M
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
A group of eight birders from Southern California had the most amazing experience birding with Jacobo Ortega. His ability to hear and then pinpoint even the smallest birds is absolutely superb. He communicates with the birds by vocalizing in such a precise way that it was often difficult to distinguish between Jacob’s and the birds’ vocalizations. At some point he even called down a high soaring Black Eagle-Hawk which responded to him by landing on a tree. I recommend Jacobo to anyone at anytime.
Written March 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.
Yumi H
South Pasadena, CA71 contributions
Jan 2020
It is cheaper if you get there in your own car. Entrance is just $30. I spent a couple of hours there and was able to see monkeys, different types of birds, and other mammals that I cannot remember their names in English. The best part for me was the hummingbird feeders. It was lovely to see them so close.
I recommend you go early in the am. And try to be quiet. Many tourists are loud and scare animals away. Just be patient and quiet/calm and animals will appear.
I recommend you go early in the am. And try to be quiet. Many tourists are loud and scare animals away. Just be patient and quiet/calm and animals will appear.
Written January 25, 2020
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.
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, Israel1,482 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.
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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