Tipi Camping
2 guestsA tipi with two twin mats and access to all shared areas.
$88.00per night
Lake Bayano · Chepo, Panama
There is a Panama you have not seen yet.
Find it in Bayano.
A limestone cave, a canyon you paddle through, and six cabins on the water. The only way in is by boat.
About us
An ecolodge that started with a cave
We are a family business working alongside the Bayano community, on the shore of the second largest lake in Panama. We opened in 2020 with a simple idea: that here you could trade noise for nature, and rushing for time.
The restaurant is run by entrepreneurs from the local community. On weekends we hand over our private cabin to the Emberá Majé community so they can offer their services and crafts directly, with no middleman.
Access
Boat transfer included with every stay and day trip, from Restaurante Madugandí, 100 m before the Bayano Bridge.
Scale
Six places to sleep in total, from a camping tipi to a family cabin for six. It never gets crowded.
Community
The heart of this business is the people of Bayano: the guides, the boat captains and the entrepreneurs who run the restaurant.
4.9/5On Google
5.0/5On TripAdvisor
9.2/10On Booking.com
+8,000Visitors since 2022
80.8KInstagram followers
Where to stay
Six ways to sleep surrounded by nature
All include boat transfer, breakfast and use of kayaks on the lake. Check-in 3:00 p.m. · Check-out 2:00 p.m. The rates shown here already include the 10% ITBMS tax; the booking engine displays the rate before tax and adds it at checkout.
Tiny Cabin
2 guestsA tiny cabin for two, with an outside bathroom and access to the reception kitchen.
$88.00per night
Little Cabin
2 guestsQueen bed, private outside bathroom, living area and your own balcony.
$143.00per night
Lake View
2 guestsThe most private one. Queen bed, living area, balcony and private bathroom.
$198.00per night
River View
Up to 4Living area, balcony, BBQ and private bathroom. Rate scales with group size.
from $198.00per night
Cozy Cabin
Up to 6An open two-storey cabin with private bathroom, living and dining areas. Up to 6 people.
from $198.00per night
The cave
You go in where the river goes in, and the city stays behind.
Bayano Cave is limestone cut through by an underground river. The walk is guided, safety gear included, and ends by paddling out through the Tigre River canyon.
Not suitable for under-12s, or for anyone with claustrophobia or a fear of bats. Closed, thick-soled shoes required — no sandals inside.
Explorer Day Trip
A full day of adventure, from the cave to the canyon
A full day with lunch included, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It starts and ends at the same meeting point. The price already includes ITBMS tax.
- Round-trip boat from the meeting point (transport from the city not included).
- Guided cave exploration with helmet, headlamp and life vest.
- Kayaking through the Tigre River canyon.
- Lunch: fried tilapia with salad, patacones and lemonade. Chicken or beef on request.
$75.00per person · all included
After sunset
What begins when the day goes out
With no street lighting for miles, the whole sky comes out. And when night falls, the deck lights and the fire by the shore come on.
The Milky Way, no telescope
On a clear, moonless night you can see the whole band from the deck.
Fire by the shore
Under the big tree, facing the water.
The lodge lit up
The thatched buildings glowing, seen from the lake.
Wildlife of Lake Bayano
Here you do not look for the wildlife: it shows up
The lake is a year-round fishing ground for water birds. From the deck and from the kayak you see herons, kingfishers, and the osprey perched on the dead trunks in the water.
Groups and companies
We build the day around your group
A company retreat is not a birthday, and a birthday is not a send-off. We shape the day around the occasion: the cave, the kayak and lunch are coordinated for the whole group, and the property can be booked in full, with no other guests.
- The day trip runs for large groups: cave, kayak and lunch coordinated in one go.
- The property can be booked in full, with no other guests.
- Weekdays are wide open, which is when most companies can actually get away.
Add-ons
Choose how you experience Bayano
If you are staying with us, you can add any of these activities to your booking. Prices already include ITBMS tax. We send the full catalogue by WhatsApp when you reserve.
Caves + Tigre River Kayak
The classic route, short version: cave and canyon.
$45.00
Caves only
The guided walk along the underground river, without the kayak leg.
$30.00
Tigre River Kayak only
Just the canyon, for anyone who knows the cave already or would rather not go in.
$15.00
Sunrise kayak · Majé River
An early start on the Majé River to watch the sunrise over the water.
$15.00
Cerro Bayano hike
A guided hike to the ridge lookout above the lake.
$25.00
Emberá community tour
A guided visit to the Emberá Majé community, its people and its crafts.
$25.00
Already included in your stay
- Kayaking on Lake Bayano (not on the Tigre River).
- Barbecue and use of the lakeside ranchito.
- Evening campfire, weather permitting.
- Night-time caiman-eye spotting.
Services to request in advance
Dinner table decoration · $25.00
Paid before your visit. Comes with simple decoration in your cabin as a gift.
Emberá Majé community
On Saturdays and Sundays, the comarca comes to the cabin
We hand over our private cabin to the Emberá Majé community so they can offer their services and crafts directly to visitors.
- Wearing traditional Emberá dress.
- Jagua body art.
- Parumas and handicrafts for sale.
Prices are agreed and paid directly with the community. The visit depends on their availability, so it is worth confirming when you book.
Getting here
Closer than you think
We will be waiting for you at our meeting point: Restaurante Madugandí, 100 metres before the Bayano Bridge, on the Pan-American Highway heading to Darién.
Frequently asked questions
What almost everyone asks
If something is still unanswered, message us on WhatsApp — we answer right there.
Where is the meeting point?
At Restaurante Madugandí, 100 metres before the Bayano Bridge, on the Pan-American Highway heading to Darién. From there the boat transfer is included: the lodge can only be reached by water.
What time does the day trip start and end?
You meet at 8:00 a.m. and the boat leaves at 8:30. Be on time — the boat does not wait. You are back at the meeting point at 2:00 p.m.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in 3:00 p.m. and check-out 2:00 p.m. the next day. Arriving outside that window carries an extra per-person charge, because it means an additional boat trip; we confirm the amount when we arrange your arrival.
Which meals are included?
With a stay, breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are not: buy them at the restaurant run by local entrepreneurs, or bring your own food — coolers with food and drinks are allowed, and you can use the grill in the BBQ area. On the day trip lunch is included: fried tilapia with salad, patacones and lemonade, which can be swapped for chicken or beef.
Do you accept pets?
Yes, we are pet friendly. Let us know when you book and we will get the cabin ready.
Is there a minimum age for the cave?
Yes, 12. It is also not advisable for the very elderly, or for anyone with claustrophobia, an extreme fear of darkness, or a phobia of the bats and insects native to the cave ecosystem.
What should I bring?
Closed, thick-soled shoes — no bare feet, sandals or Crocs inside the cave —, quick-dry clothing and a full change for the end, insect repellent, toiletries and a towel. Bring your licence and ID or passport too: there are checkpoints on the road.
Is transport from the city included?
No. The boat transfer from the meeting point is included, but getting to the meeting point is on you. It is about 90 minutes from Panama City.
I have an allergy or I am vegetarian — is there an alternative?
Yes. Tell us at least a day ahead. The usual alternative is lentils with rice, salad and fruit, or chicken or beef.
Can I cancel or change the date?
You get a full refund with 7 or more days notice. It does not apply to already rescheduled dates or holidays. If you reschedule, you have 30 days to use the new booking. If the weather forces a change, the date moves but the payment is not refunded.
Do the prices already include tax?
Yes. The rates you see on this site already include ITBMS tax. The booking engine shows the rate before tax and adds it at checkout.
Book direct
Booking direct means arranging it with the people who host you
Message us on WhatsApp and we settle the details before you leave the city: what time you reach the meeting point, which route you want to do, whether you travel with a pet, or if you need something specific for dinner. And if a date has to move, you sort it out with us.
- We agree with you on your arrival time at the meeting point and the route for the day.
- We send you the restaurant menu once confirmed, so you can plan your meals.
- We are pet friendly: let us know and we will get the cabin ready.
- Date changes handled directly with us, no middleman.