Royal Decameron Panamá
Family-friendly resort in Farallon.
Room Upgrades
Amenities
Traveler Insights(120 discussions)
Grand Decameron Panama is the answer to a specific question: 'What's the best all-inclusive beach resort accessible from Panama City without getting on another plane?' For travelers who are in Panama and want a beach week, or for expats and business travelers based in Panama City who need a nearby resort option, Decameron fills that niche. The beach at Farallon is genuinely beautiful - two kilometers of Pacific sand with calm enough water for swimming - and the property's scale (11 bars, 10 restaurants, golf course, casino) would be impressive if the execution matched the ambition. Staff warmth is one consistent bright spot in the reviews.
The honest reality is that this resort rates below average even when judged against regional all-inclusives. Room readiness is a recurring frustration, food safety concerns have been raised in recent reviews, and management's responsiveness to guest issues has been called dismissive. The practical problem is that Farallon has only two all-inclusive resorts (this one and Riu Playa Blanca, which also rates poorly), so there's limited competitive pressure on quality. Travelers who've been to comparable resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean consistently note that the Panama offering doesn't match what they'd get for the same price elsewhere.
This resort makes the most sense for travelers already in Panama who want a convenient beach escape, for families living in Panama City looking for a long-weekend trip, or for first-time all-inclusive guests who don't have a quality benchmark yet. Anyone flying specifically for this all-inclusive experience from North America or Europe should compare it carefully against options in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or Jamaica, where similar budgets deliver significantly better food and room quality. The El Valle de Anton crater town nearby is worth a day trip for anyone who wants to see more of Panama's remarkable interior.
Pros
- +Only a 2-hour drive from Panama City, making it the most accessible beach all-inclusive from Panama's capital - a genuine advantage over flying to the Caribbean
- +Two kilometers of Pacific beach that reviewers describe as beautiful with calm, shallow water ideal for swimming and wading
- +Massive property with 11 bars, 10 restaurants, 8 adult pools, 3 wading pools, and 3 hot tubs - impressive range of amenities for Central America
- +On-site 18-hole golf course that's genuinely unusual for an all-inclusive in this region
- +Full spa and casino on site, providing entertainment variety for a week-long stay
- +Staff get consistent positive mentions for friendliness and warmth, even from travelers who found other aspects disappointing
- +A unique Pacific Coast all-inclusive experience - the closest thing to a Caribbean-style resort that doesn't require flying over water
- +Good base for exploring Panama's interior, with Cocle province attractions, El Valle de Anton crater town, and nature reserves within day-trip range
Cons
- −Rated below average even by regional standards, consistently scoring around 77/100 on traveler aggregators where the regional average is 86
- −Room readiness and housekeeping are recurring complaints - late check-ins, towel shortages taking days to resolve, and cleanliness inconsistencies are documented
- −Food quality is uneven, with the open-air buffet getting hygiene complaints and management responses to issues described as dismissive and unhelpful
- −Service consistency varies widely - the resort is large enough that experiences differ significantly depending on which staff member you encounter
- −The only all-inclusive options on the Farallon beach are this resort and the nearby Riu Playa Blanca, neither of which rates well - limited competition means limited pressure to improve
- −Pacific Ocean waves can be rougher and have stronger currents than Caribbean alternatives, which requires more caution, especially for young children
- −The two-hour road transfer from Panama City can be tiring, especially for families with young children on international flights
- −Value comparison is unfavorable - at similar price points, travelers can usually access clearly superior resorts in Mexico, the DR, or Jamaica
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Decameron is a very large resort, and organizing such a huge property is definitely not an easy task. Overall, I had a very positive experience and would gladly return. Highlights: • The staff are genuinely friendly and welcoming. • The food tastes...”
“listen to what the reviews say! if you’re flying from somewhere cold, make sure you have an accessible set of light clothing to change into when you arrive because upon check in, we had to wait in lobby 2 for 2 hours despite being plus (lobby 3 close...”
“Ive never been one to go on resort vacations, in fact I never have been to a resort. This was the first resort I've ever been to and let me just say it was phenomenal. The services from room services to servers at the bars and restaurants to even th...”