We stayed for 2 nights. The couple who hosted us were so lovely and kind. We went birdwatching with our guide Rich Cahill, who was so interesting and fun. He grew up in Panama and English is his first language, so it made everything easy. We went birdwatching 2-3x/day, and saw a ton of different birds. Toucans, laughing falcon, rufous motmot, parrots, about 10 different types of hummingbirds, and so many more! The meals were delicious. The room was basic and lovely. Beautiful flowers and trees. Good shower. I loved our jungle trek.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
My partner and I visited Burbayar Lodge to do some birding last week. We were very impressed with the facility. While there I had a very unfortunate accident. More on that later in the review.
The area around the lodge is spectacular and, to put it tritely, a real paradise for birding. Its very interesting habitat and the birds were very cooperative. The food was excellent and the guides are knowledgeable and very friendly. Michael speaks excellent English and is a lot of fun to be around! The cabanas are primitive, with no hot water nor electricity, but they are very comfortable. We didn't miss air conditioning at all. There were no biting insects at all. We were very pleased.
On our second full day at the lodge I had a bad fall and broke my ankle in two places. I was walking on flat ground, stepped on a stick that rolled. I planted my left foot to try and stop myself from falling. Unfortunately I continued to fall and snapped my ankle! Ironically I had hiked a fairly difficult trail the day before with no problems. This accident in no way reflects on negligence by the lodge.
Inaki, the lodge owner was a real jewel! He rushed us to the best hospital in Panama City. He arranged lodging for us in the city and stayed with us through out the ordeal at the hospital, The doctor at the hospital wanted to operate immediately. Inaki had his secretery take the xrays across town to another orthopedic surgeon, who told us we could wait and have it done in the states. He took us to the hotel, where we stayed for 3 days, waiting to fly back home. He arranged transportation back to the airport. There were other things he helped with, also. He is an incredibly kind person!
I can not wait to go back to Burbayar to do more birding! I have downloaded several pictures that I took on the lodge grounds.
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Date of stay: March 2009
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Let me make it clear that I am no fan of nature trails, birds, mud, hard walking or sick making car journeys and I LOVED Burbayar. We only stayed one night before shuffling the 20 ish km Kuna trail but it made a definate impression - a hurricane lamp lit night with owner Inaki modestly sharing tales of spear fishing derring do was one to remember.
It is spenny but walk the Kuna Trail - its a nightmare of up and down and down and up and up and down but worth it. Be humbled that the 70 year old man leading the horse will turn straight around and go back up that huge hill whilst you are punted to the sea from Carti bridge.
Go on do it!
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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.
What nobody tells you about Burbayar Lodge is that you are essentially sleeping in an open air shed fit only for animals. In fact every animal that can creep, crawl, and fly will be found in your shed, as it is open to the outside environment all around the "so-called walls", and along the ceiling as well. We were never prepared in advanced for this experience in our tour literature, and were we extrememly apalled at the terrible living conditions we had to endure for 4 days and 3 nights. The wind blows through the openings between the slats of the walls (the "walls" of the shed are essentially slats like those which make up a fence, with an inch of spacing in between them), carrying dust, leaves and all manner of debris into your room, covering your bed, clothes, and floors. We had frogs on our walls, cockaroaches and katydids and spiders on our floors, bats flew around our heads in our shed while we tried to sleep at night, moths the size of of my fist were fluttering about and a dead one remained in our shower drain the whole time we were there. I was too freaked out to touch it to get it out. While showering, a gecko dropped onto my son, and a second gecko skittered across the shower wall. Lizards also skittered around inside our shed. Twice a hummingbird came buzziing into our room, flittering all about looking for a way out, which was not hard to find with all the openings in the shed. Do not romantisize this kind of experience; it was not charming in any way. There was no single moment when we felt calm and at peace in this environment. The weather there is very hot and very humid, and at night the wind blows cold through the slats of your shed walls, so the moisture on your body gives you a real chill. We awoke to stiff necks and stiff upper backs---partly from the chill wet weather, and partly from the unforgiving mattresses layed over wooden slats on our beds. It was very painful to spend the days with our stiff necks and backs, trying to crane our necks up to search for birds with our binoculars. Even three extra strength Ibuprophen tablets, every 6 hours, did not help. We slept only one hour the first night and only a few hours the nights after that. When they say there is no electricity, they mean it. In Panama, the sun sets in the blink of an eye around 6:30 pm and you have to walk with a head lamp. The way is not lighted to your shed. It is literally pitch black. They put on a very loud and noisy generator for 3 hours during which time you have a single exposed bulb in your shed giving off such paltry light that you have to wear your headlamps to shower and dress. The showers only have cold, cold water, so you have to shower fast. Anyone can see you in your shed, as there is no real privacy and therefore no real "down time" to relax and chill out and be alone for a little while. You can hear everything everybody is saying and doing in the neighboring sheds. So everything I have described involves the sheds you will be staying in (don 't think for a second that they are real lodges, or bunglalows, as I have stayed in logdes and bunglaows in Kenya, Dominica, and Torturguero in Costa Rica and those seem like 5 star hotels in comparison). The people who work at Burybayar are hard working and they made us good meals everynight. The trails are really jungle trails, and hot and humid (as expected) and sometimes quite challenging to traverse over mud and through streams. For all of that, we only saw a few birds at a time during our 3-4 hour hikes. They were uncommon birds, but not really worth all the effort it took to see them for us. And we had already seen many of them along the Pipeline Road earlier in the week. We were lucky enough to see a mixed flock after an hour of hiking up what I call the "Roller Coaster Road", which is the road that takes you to Burbayar Lodge, and that was at least gratifying. I will say that I unequiviacally will never, ever stay at this lodge or any place like it again, and feel that the tour brochure and the reviews on Trip Advisor never gave a clear picture of what life at Burbayar Lodge is really like. For some of us who love the wilderness, take many nature trips,and can hike outdoors for hours, this "lodge" is too much to bear. Even my 19 year old son, who is studying Wildlife Management, and is an outdoorsman found it unsettling and creepy and uncomfoprtable, and in no way a place we would ever visit again. But that is because the accomodations were unfit for humans. If we had slept in tents we would have at least had a barrier to the outside world, with some real protection from everything creeping and crawling and flittering around our heads all night long. Even sleeping pills could not induce us to relax and sleep. On a good note, the guide we had was knowledgeable and patient, the food was well prepared and tasty, and the people were kind, if not particularly friendly. Decide for yourselves if this is the kind of place that you think you can endure----you may be alot heartier than we are---but at least know what it is really like so that you can decide ahead of time if it is for you, and not be surprised once you get there (and realize it is too hard to bear) and there is no way out! Good luck!!!!
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Date of stay: January 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â There are no good rooms. HOwever, if you want it quieter during the day, get a shed far from the...
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.
Response from ignacior441, Guest Relations Manager at Burbayar Lodge
Responded Feb 9, 2019
We are happy to let you know that Burbayar is under new management and the lodge reopened last month. A lot has changed since you visited. New cabins with very comfortable beds and showers (no hot water). What hasn’t changed are the home-made, hearty and tasty, the hosts and the Naturalist guides. The grounds and surrounding trails are teeming with birds and wildlife in general. Sincerely,
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I am a serious birder (I was hoping for Xernoris and Sapayoa). I expected to be guided by an English speaking guide in a group of other serious birders. The only other people at the lodge were a family of 5 (parents and kids 12-17) The first day the only option provided was going out with them. The second day I had the option of going out with an under-equipped Spanish speaking guide (no binoculars). Only on the third day (which was the last day for the family) did I go out with the primary guide (who was actually a replacement for Jose Tejada, the main lodge guide). If you go, insure when you book that you will be provided with the guide service that you expect.
I explained my concern from the time I arrived at the lodge. After I left I received an email from the lodge offering 2 complementary days as a make-up. But I would have to travel again from the US to take advantage of the offer
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Date of stay: April 2011
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Our trip to Panama was a multiple stop tour of many areas of the country, Burbayar Lodge is not our first eco resort, so we were expecting limited services and rustic conditions.
Jose is the primary guide. Our intention of staying here was birding and adventure hikes. Jose is truly incredible. His knowledge of nature is staggering including the full Latin names of most species. In 2 days my wife was able to see over 80 species of birds including parrots, toucans and dozens of smaller species. The 2 hour ride to the Lodge was in a comfortable air conditioned van and was included in our package. The road has now been paved and not a problem for access. To enjoy this place fully, plan to bring the proper gear although Jose has a high quality spotting scope.
Antonio and his family are the primary managers. The 3 daily meals are simple, plentiful and acceptable. Expect eggs, toast and fruit for breakfast, stewed chicked and rice for lunch and fish/meat with rice and beans and ice cream for dessert. The cabins are rustic but clean and functional. Although open air, we had zero issues with bugs in the room and didn't even use spray. Do know that after you finish dinner and take some time to prepare for bed, they turn off the power until morning. We brought a little flashlight and would highly recommend doing so. Also, bring good socks so you can wear the Lodge-supplied rubber boots.
You should know that there is nothing to do here except wildlife hikes, birding and serenity. I mean nothing. Also note that the terrain is hilly and you will need to be in decent health. If you can walk and climb stairs you will be fine. The guides will go at your pace.
Compared to other places we stayed in Panama, the package price seems to be on the high end, but all-inclusive with ride, food, and guide services it was an enjoyable visit. Also note that they now offer basic beer and wine for purchase.
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Date of stay: March 2011
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â All cabins are the same.
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.
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.
Response from ignacior441, Guest Relations Manager at Burbayar Lodge
Responded Feb 9, 2019
Thank you for the review. You will be happy to hear that Burbayar Lodge has 24 hour electricty now so beer (available at the lodge) is now colder than ever. The trails are still teeming with wildlife as you experienced 4 years ago. Come back!
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I would recommend Bubayar if you’re seeking solitude, don’t mind basic accommodations and a unique nature experience. Upon arrival at the airport, we were greeted by a transporter arranged by the resort. Unfortunately, we speak very little Spanish and our driver didn’t speak any English so we weren’t able to communicate. After a 1 ½ hour car ride, we were greeted by our tour guide and main resort ‘host’ Jose who made us feel welcomed. However, there wasn’t an introduction as to ‘how Burbayar works’. Just a simple orientation up front would have been nice, but I quickly learned that you have to ask how things work upfront. The lodge and cabins are rustic and simple (the cabins look exactly as they are pictured on the website). The electricity is powered by a generator which generally runs from sunset to about 8:30/9p. Bringing a flash light is a must! There were two guides present – Jose and Antonio. Jose is wonderful and extremely knowledgeable and speaks both Spanish/English and Antonio only speaks Spanish. While I am not a ‘birder’ we were there to enjoy the lodge and the various activities that didn’t necessarily focus on bird watching entirely and we were able to get just that. Our activities included: a 5 mile hike to a waterfall (a must do), a hike along the road in which we saw various bird species and sloths and a hike within the jungle for an educational flora/fauna guided walk (2 mile hike round trip). Guests are able to go on two hikes per day – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The guides point out things that you would never see and did a fantastic job explaining the different bird species, animals and plants. There wasn’t a thing that Jose didn’t know! Brining a set of binoculars is a must! Our guide, Jose, didn’t mention that we could have gone to a cave or the lake excursion. The website doesn’t indicate that these excursions need to be arranged prior, so I assumed that I could have made these reservations upon arrival. Jose was more than happy to help coordinate this for me and informed me that the excursions were not included in the all-inclusive package. After learning that the lake excursion would have been $60 per person for a half day excursion, we decided against it. The food is less than to be desired and I do not understand how anyone could have commented that the food was wonderful. This is one area that greatly needs to be improved. Every meal ended with fresh fruit (pineapple or papaya). Breakfast included fried eggs, toasted bread from the night before, oatmeal (if desired) and fried hot dogs. Lunch included rice, mystery meat with sauce and salad. If you like spaghetti noodles with random interchangeable meats (sometimes with no sauce) and salty salad (of iceberg lettuce, and hefty portion of salt thrown in and the occasional tomato or two) then you’d love their dinner. The dishes were flavorless and often lacked effort that could have made a simple meal delicious. Often, the food needed hot sauce or salt/pepper. We found that any requests for these items were met with grunts and a lack of enthusiasm to the point where you felt bad asking for anything. However, you do have to ask otherwise you will be provided the minimum of what they feel is adequate. The portions were fine if you consume normal portions of food. If you’re used to eating a 14 oz. steak, potatoes, salad, vegetable and desert for dinner – then you will feel as though you are not consuming your normal calorie intake. The resort had beers available for $1 a can and wine for $10 a bottle. I’m not sure that these items are always present and there isn’t a store anywhere near – so be sure to bring cash for these items or pack your own or stop at a local store prior. I feel this place is totally over priced – yes, your daily rate goes into the transfer to/from the airport, 3 meals a day (remember – it is probably $5 per person when you break down the cost of the meals) and guided walking tours (no transportation to any of the walking tours and if you choose to go to the lake or caves you will pay additional). I feel this resort should be charging half of the rate for what you actually get. If you can negotiate the price down to half the cost of what they’re charging, then I would recommend this place to anyone.
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Date of stay: February 2011
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
I'd like to add to the good reviews of Burbayar. We loved it there. The food was simple but delicious & there was plenty of it. The cabins were comfortable and well appointed for a remote lodge with no hot water & electricity for only an hour or two each evening - note: take a flashlight. Our cabin had a private bath & I believe they all do. We left the windows open (there are no screens) and the only bug problem we had were moths attracted by the lights in the evening. The lodge grounds are well kept.
Our driver was arranged by the lodge. He picked us up in Panama City and stopped at the last town on the highway so we could pick up some beer (which they kept cold in the fridge for us), some wine and anything else we needed. There is no bar service at the lodge and the town & store are pretty distant so make sure you have everything you need or want. The lodge info said there was a limit to how much luggage we could bring so we arranged with our Panama City B&B for storage of the things we would not need.
Michael was the onsite guide while we were there and he did a great job. He's quite a good birding guide. He also doubled as our 'host' at the lodge - making sure were had everything we needed & were comfortable, answering questions, etc.. He made our stay most enjoyable.
The trails are rough and quite steep in places, so you need to be in reasonably good physical condition. They are also very, very muddy and thus slippery (at least they were while we were there & this is rain forest). The lodge provides wellies which were essential. They also had walking sticks.
If this type of accomodation and adventure is your style, I don't think you will be disappointed with a stay at Burbayar.
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Date of stay: January 2010
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
If you visit Burbayer Lodge be ready for a remote, off-the- grid experience. This is a very basic property, no wifi, no hot water, lizzards in the rooms kind of experience. My room was so dimly lit I need the door open to see well. I fault the property for not even having a over-the-bed reading light. Questioning that omission I was told it had "rusted out". Getting there is along a very rough (paved with abundant pot holes), winding road. The driveway into the property takes an all wheel drive vehicle. The provided food was basic but tasty and adequate. The redeeming quality of the place is the birding and the provided guide. If you visit for that reason you will likely not be disappointed.
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Date of stay: March 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.
"There are no good rooms. HOwever, if you want it quieter during the day, get a shed far from the kitchen where the workers talk and laugh and it can be noisy. However, you may end up by the generator which will deafen you for 3 hours at night while it is turned on."
There are more places to choose from in the Guna Yala Region area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
burbayar hotel panama
LOCATION
PanamaGuna Yala Region
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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