Panama Caves
Panama Caves
4.5
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4.5
12 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Adam S
8 contributions
Jul 2021
We took this tour when we came to Panama. The water was really really low which is no fault of the service just mankind. My little daughter had an amazing time and I have never experiences a cave tour like this before. We were in Panama City and they came and picked us up and dropped us off.
Written 2 September 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.
Rebekah R
24 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Great way to get up close and personal with the jungle. It was about 2hr drive from the city (along the way we spotted a family of spider monkeys in the trees) and then a 30 min boat ride to the mouth of the cave. The lake boasted a wide array of ducks and cranes and we even spotted a small caiman as we parked our boat. In the cave we saw lizards, fish and a lot of bats. A beautiful experience with parts of the tour completely enclosed overhead and other parts opened up allowing light and views of the forest above. While I didn't find this trek difficult, it's probably not for everyone. You spend a lot of your time walking thru a refreshing river which means slippery rocks and uneven terrain. If you've done any other cave tours, you should be just fine. We had a great guide that spoke great English, was very knowledgeable about the local wildlife, and that kept a constant eye out for our safety. At the end of the tour was a great swimming hole with a good spot to jump in from a large boulder. The swim is very refreshing on a hot day. I loved the little fish that were in the beautiful clear water. They would come up and investigate us then swim off for a little while and come back and do it again. I'd highly recommend this trip!
Written 7 April 2017
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.
zzzWaikiki
Honolulu, HI44 contributions
Nov 2015 • Solo
Kevin at Barefoot Panama helped book this tour. The lake and caves were something that should not be missed on a visit to Panama. Swimming with bats flying above and walking chest high in the river over rocks and tree stumps to big pools were truly highlights. I rated it 4 out of 5 because of safety. The life vests were one size fits all (felt like it was going to come off while swimming) and the flashlight had low batteries (shining yellow light looked like a rock in the water), couldn't see a thing in the darkness.
Written 21 November 2015
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.
icohen424
Eatontown, NJ8 contributions
Oct 2021
I highly recommend you don’t visit Bayano Adventure.
This place is downright terrible, only made worse by the 2 hour drive necessary to get to this place before being treated that way.
They moved us around 3x to the place of their choosing only to be screamed at by the owner that we’re in the wrong place then refused to tell us where to go then kicked us out. My 6 y/o kid was heartbroken when he learned that we had to pack up camp and drive 2 hours back home.
Absolutely terrible experience!
I camp out more than 40 times per year typically and have never experienced anyone like this.
This place is downright terrible, only made worse by the 2 hour drive necessary to get to this place before being treated that way.
They moved us around 3x to the place of their choosing only to be screamed at by the owner that we’re in the wrong place then refused to tell us where to go then kicked us out. My 6 y/o kid was heartbroken when he learned that we had to pack up camp and drive 2 hours back home.
Absolutely terrible experience!
I camp out more than 40 times per year typically and have never experienced anyone like this.
Written 17 October 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.
rhtwo
Austin2 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
My husband and I took an Adventures Panama tour to the Bayano Caves with Diego and Orlando. It was just the 4 of us. Diego's knowledgable of Panamanian history and ecology is encyclopedic. He has been leading tours of this kind for more than a decade. The hike into and out of the cave took about 3 1/2 hours. It was a challenging hike that required swimming in the cave a well as some rock climbing. They provided helmets with lights, a typical Panamanian lunch with fried plantanos and fresh caught local fish, and well of information about the caves, the people living nearby and the country. If you are up for a little bit of a challenge I would highly recommend this tour.
Written 13 May 2019
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.
Ines C
Italy5 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
This day trip is an absolute must if you're staying in Panama city and have a sense of adventure! The day was extremely well organised; we were picked up at our hotel, drove to lake Bayano (1.5 hours), hopped on a boat (45 mins) and ventured into the caves. A local lunch was also included followed by a boat trip into the collapsed caves, giving us the perfect opportunity to take photos.
Although the nature alone made the trip memorable, our guide Edgar really made the day unforgettable! He was a great guide with a lot of enthusiasm - there was not one question we asked that he didn't have an answer to!
Although the nature alone made the trip memorable, our guide Edgar really made the day unforgettable! He was a great guide with a lot of enthusiasm - there was not one question we asked that he didn't have an answer to!
Written 24 July 2018
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.
Cathy G
Los Angeles4 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This was such a great experience. We did the full day cave tour and had a blast. We went on Sunday where you can join open groups. Edgar Huertas was our guide and spoke perfect English. He did a great job taking care of us and giving great details for the entire tour and even spotting numerous monkeys, birds and crocodiles!! I would highly recommend this tour. We went in early April and swam through the caves, saw lots of bats and had to do some easy climbing. Definitely doable by my people who are decently able bodied.
It was a long day as we were picked up early and it is a long ride to the facility and then a boat ride to the cave. Bring extra snacks and water and be prepared for a lot of fun.
It was a long day as we were picked up early and it is a long ride to the facility and then a boat ride to the cave. Bring extra snacks and water and be prepared for a lot of fun.
Written 11 April 2018
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.
val s
Lisburn, UK61 contributions
Mar 2017
We went by boat across Lake Bayano to the caves.
What an absolutely amazing experience! This has to be one of the most amazing places to visit. Not for the faint hearted!
Prepare to get very wet! We organised our tour through Barefoot Panama and our guide Hector was terrific and very patient with us.
What an absolutely amazing experience! This has to be one of the most amazing places to visit. Not for the faint hearted!
Prepare to get very wet! We organised our tour through Barefoot Panama and our guide Hector was terrific and very patient with us.
Written 16 March 2017
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.
PaulAK2011
Anchorage, AK494 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Again, My friend and Panama guide, Luis Calvo of Panama travel tours set out our Caves trip as a full day tour from Panama City. We drove the Panamian Highway to the bridge crossing a narrow neck of Lake Bayano. There our wonderful local guide Manuel took us on a long open boat, rough ride across the big lake to the entrance to the caves. We tied the boat up there and with life jackets on, had to mostly swim thru the 1st few hundred yards of completely dark cave. It was easier to float or swim than to walk since the river bottom varied from sand to small rocks to big knee high boulders under water. We saw many lovely formations of this relatively younger cave. With flash lights we could see and then photograph with flash cameras (waterproof or underwater cameras only of course.). Then there were areas of the cave that had openings skyward, showing the mountain/jungle vegetation above. The going got much harder, with now mostly walking in shallow water and slippery, uneven footing. Many of the rocks were slippery with moss. I was constantly worried about falling and breaking something, which was very easy to do. We continued our transit about a km of the 2 km long cave. There, our guide stated the only additional new thing to see was the lagoon at the end, so we decided to return after only traveling half way to the end. Another concern was our guides stating one had to be careful where we put our hands because of spiders, and also beware snakes. We did see spiders, but no snakes or even smaller crocodiles which occasionally ventured into the river. Finally, when entering the darkened last few hundred yards, an endless stream of bats raced past us . It was a truly stunning site, with well over an estimated thousand passing us. We got some amazing photos. It was an unforgettable adventure day and a "must do" day for any adventuresome types.
Written 24 January 2017
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.
E. Schweky
Brooklyn, NY145 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
This is a great tour!
A really fun place to go visit.
After a long boat ride across the lake, we arrived at the cave entrance. Our guide had told us that if the water level was low enough, we would be able to actually walk thru the caves.
We were all excited at this prospect!
Once we got there, we got very excited to walk thru the caves- that is until we saw all the bats flying around!!!
They were everywhere! Luckily, we were given helmets with bright lights on top which helped keeping the bats away.
It was a bit scary, invigorating but lots of fun!
We went deep into the caves even as it narrowed.
On our way out, we noticed a women standing by the shore.
I was told that she was collecting a toll for entering the caves!
We all had a good laugh upon hearing that- but we all paid her the toll!
This was probably the best time we had our whole trip to Panama!
A really fun place to go visit.
After a long boat ride across the lake, we arrived at the cave entrance. Our guide had told us that if the water level was low enough, we would be able to actually walk thru the caves.
We were all excited at this prospect!
Once we got there, we got very excited to walk thru the caves- that is until we saw all the bats flying around!!!
They were everywhere! Luckily, we were given helmets with bright lights on top which helped keeping the bats away.
It was a bit scary, invigorating but lots of fun!
We went deep into the caves even as it narrowed.
On our way out, we noticed a women standing by the shore.
I was told that she was collecting a toll for entering the caves!
We all had a good laugh upon hearing that- but we all paid her the toll!
This was probably the best time we had our whole trip to Panama!
Written 21 January 2017
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 tour group did you go with for caves in Panama?
Written 12 February 2020
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