Enjoying a Tropical Paradise

Gamboa is a small town in the Republic of Panama. It was one of a handful of permanent former Panama Canal Zone townships, built to house employees of the Panama Canal and their dependents.

Gamboa is located on a sharp bend of the Chagres River at the point which feeds Lake Gatun. Just south of Gamboa, Lake Gatun and the Chagres meet the Gaillard Cut also known as Culebra Cut, where the Canal cuts through the Continental Divide.

The town of Gamboa is still inhabited, but as a shadow of its former self, maintained, but without the vibrancy and civic spirit it once enjoyed. Many of its houses are not inhabited and several public buildings are underutilized. It remains the primary headquarters of the Dredging Division of the Panama Canal Authority (formerly PCC).

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort, a 5-star hotel offering access to the nearby forest, is the town’s main attraction today, attracting tourists from all around the world.  Among it many attractions is a gorgeous complex of swimming pools of different shapes, water depths, and sizes.  In the midst of lush tropical vegetation is closely resembles the biblical Garden of Eden of Adam and Eve.  Being here is like reaching a tropical paradise.

Below are several pictures of this stunning recreational spot in the midst of a tropical rainforest.  Take a look and feel the warmth of this wonderful country called Panama, Puente del Mundo, Corazón del Universo (Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe).  Here we go.

Snapshot of the complex of swimming pools at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel located in Gamboa, former Panama Canal Zone. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

View of the recreational area of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel located on the banks of the mighty Chagres River in the Republic of Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Take notice of the tropical bright flowers and the lush vegetation of this beautiful recreational spot in the midst of a rainforest in the tropics. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

In this picture con can see the Chagres River in the background surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

If you are traveling from a country covered with heavy snow and blinding blizzards, this tropical scenery will mesmerize you. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This is the end of the road.  The series covering the historic town of Gamboa is finished.  It was an unforgettable experience.  The scenery was spectacular, the food was great, and the fall at the Gamboa Bridge was painful.  Ouch!  It’s time to move on to other topics and other scenarios in this beautiful country of Panama bathed by the two greatest oceans on earth.  Good Day.

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The Mighty Chagres River

The Chagres River (Spanish Río Chagres) is a river in central Panama. The central part of the river is dammed by the Gatun Dam and forms Gatun Lake, an artificial lake that constitutes part of the Panama Canal. Upstream lies the Madden Dam, which created Lake Alajuela, a reservoir that is also part of the Panama Canal Zone water system. The river drains northwest via the canal into the Caribbean Sea.

Gatun Lake is an essential part of the Panama Canal, which forms a water passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, permitting ship transit in both directions. The lake is essential to the canal’s water supply, as it provides the millions of gallons of water at the high level needed for the locks to function correctly. The lake is also part of the navigational canal and provides drinking water for Panama City and Colon.

At the time it was formed, Gatun Lake was the largest artificial lake in the world. The impassable rainforest around Gatun Lake has been the best defense of the Panama Canal. Today, these areas have endured practically unscathed by human interference and are one of the few accessible areas on earth that various native Central American animal and plant species can be observed undisturbed in their natural habitat.

The Chagres River was explored in 1527 by Hernando de la Serna, who founded the town of Chagres at its mouth and built the fortress of San Lorenzo. Goods were transported on foot from Panama City to the coastal town of Cruces, and from there by sailboats on the river all the way to its mouth. This path, called Camino de Cruces, was very popular until the 18th century.  Henry Morgan traveled the Chagres River to attack Panama City in 1670-71.

It wasn’t until the late 19th century that attention was once again focused on the river, this time as part of the planning of the Panama Canal. The Chagres River is the Panama Canal’s chief source of water.  The river’s upper basin is covered by dense tropical forests. To protect that ecosystem, Panama created Chagres National Park in 1985.

Panama City’s dwellers jokingly refer to its drinking water as the “chicha del Chagres” meaning beverage of the Chagres.  It is considered the best drinking water in the region, albeit its quality has deteriorated over the years due to poor management of IDAAN, the government entity responsible for supplying drinking water to the country.

Below are several pictures of the mighty Chagres River and the tropical rainforest surrounding it in the neighborhood of Gamboa.  The pictures were taken from the balconies of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel, a 5 star hotel set on the Chagres River in lush rainforest.

A landscape shot of the Chagres River and its adjacent tropical rainforest famous for abundant flora and fauna specimens. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the Chagres River taken form the balconies of the five-star Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel located near Panama City, Panama. Notice the pristine tropical rainforest surrounding it. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the mighty Chagres River which supplies drinking water to Colon and Panama City, Panama and the Panama Canal. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Another view of the vital Chagres River surrounded by lush tropical rainforests. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the Chagres River near the town of Gamboa and the Panama Canal. Specialized tours are organized to explore the rich population of tropical plants, trees, and wildlife. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A splendid landscape view of the great Chagres River as well as the tropical rainforest which surrounds it. It's a great place to visit if you enjoy Nature and the outdoors. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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An Indoors Lush Tropical Garden in Panama

The Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel, as its name implies, is oriented for clients interested in nature.  Amongst its many attractions are specialized tours for sight-seeing, bird watching, river boat excursions and enjoying tropical vegetation.  As a matter of fact, there is a large tropical garden with a running water cascade inside the lobby of the hotel.  It is quite a sight to enjoy the size of the plants of this indoors garden.

For people living in countries where winters are always dark, boring white, and freezing cold, coming to Panama and enjoying its warm weather, abundant tropical vegetation, bright sunny days, white sand beaches, and beautiful rivers will be an unforgettable experience.

Below are several pictures of a gorgeous tropical garden inside the hotel, just outside its main restaurant.  Here we go.

Snapshot of an unusually large tropical garden inside the lobby of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The cascade inside the garden is another attraction of this resort hotel located in the middle of a rainforest at Gamboa. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Red and green are my favorite colors, and this garden sure knows how to display deep variations of green. I love it. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Notice how green this garden looks. In order to take this shot I introduced my Birthday camera literally inside the foliage of the garden. The results of this action is eloquent. The giant ferns are particularly attractive. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Iron Birds Suspended in the Air

Snaphot of a large metallic crane suspended on the ceiling of the spacious lobby of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of two large metallic cranes floating in the air in the lobby of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Lovely Specimen of Wood Artwork

Snapshot of a lovely wooden furniture located in the lobby of the Gamboa Rainfall Resort Hotel in Panama City, Panama. The furniture was a treat for my camera lens. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Lion by the Lamppost

Snapshot of a street lamppost with four lions on its base located in front of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Hotel in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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The Waiter

Snapshot of a cute waiter at the entrance of the restaurant of the Gamboa Rainfall Resort located on the banks of the Chagres River in Panama City, Panama. Bon Appetite. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Reflections on a Mirror

Snapshot of myself and my wife reflected on a large mirror in the lobby of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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