On the edge of the jungle near the Panama Canal, the Gamboa Rainforest Hotel is a destination in itself but also a good launching site for excursions to the Smithsonian Institution's Barro Colorado research island and Pipeline Road on the bucket list of most birders.  It is located near the village of Gamboa and close by the Soberania National Park. All 166 rooms are air-conditioned and have Egyptian cotton sheets.