Discover Costa Rica

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Andy Gonsalves

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written April 2011

  Wildlife capital of the world!  Amazing animal sightings, superb scenery and the variety of ecosystems covered in 2 weeks makes this an outstanding trip. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  So many great moments, it's tough to pick just one.  The rainforest night walk at Esquinas Lodge spotting frogs, insects and snakes by torchlight.  Watching white-faced monkeys using the trees to cross the waterways of Tortuguero from our boat.  Being in the middle of a flock of macaws playing amongst the trees.  Flying through the tree canopy on a 1km long zipwire.....

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our guide Jeff was absolutely marvellous.  He has an astounding knowledge of the fauna and flora of Costa Rica and his passion for both is contagious.  He went above and beyond what I expect of an Exodus guide, providing the group with numerous additional opportunities to join him on walks during his 'downtime'.  It's obvious that Jeff does his job because he loves it, at no time do you feel that you are going through the motions as yet another tour group following a set itinerary.  I can't praise Jeff enough.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  In case you're not sure, this is definitely a wildlife tour.  The focus is on fauna and flora, with the exception of the interesting Arenal Volcano.  A good pair of binoculars and a camera lens of at least 300mm will allow you to make the most of the animal sightings (and there are plenty).  For those keen photographers, you need to make the most of the limited light available in the forest environment - ideally an aperture of f2.8 would be perfect.

   

  This tour already includes many of the incidental costs such as meals, but be prepared that Costa Rica is not a cheap destination in the way that many other Central and Southern American countries are.  US Dollars are fine for the whole trip and there's no real need to change currency at the airport on arrival - just bring small denominations. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I was surprised to find that the tap water in Costa Rica is in general drinkable - I drank it for 2 weeks with absolutely no ill effects.  The optional dolphin-spotting trip at Golfito makes a pleasant break from the humid forests.  As for most countries in this part of the world, if you like to use a sinkful of water, bring a plug!!

   
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  Michael Rivett

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written April 2011

  This was a fantastic way to see and experience real rainforest - trees, plants and animals - in the company of interesting people and free from the anxiety of travel in a strange country. Costa Rica exceeded all my expectations. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Just being in the forest and seeing all those exotic plants, mammals, birds and reptiles in their natural environments would have been utterly wonderful. But the tapestry of night and morning sounds (frogs, monkeys, birds) was a revelation, each place having its own soundscape. I have recordings which evoke the humidity, temperature and atmosphere of each place we stayed even more than the photos.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We could not have asked for a better leader. He (Jeff Munoz) was knowlegable, enthusiastic, and determined both to show us as much as he could of the country and its natural history and to impart his knowledge. Both the leader and the driver (Mario Jiminez Ortiz) were conscientious and accommodating. They arranged optional group visits to restaurants, which would not otherwise have happened, and always offered interesting trips during the free time when they should, presumably, have been off duty.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Do read up about each place you are visiting and where there is time for optional excursions ask your group leader about alternatives. In Monteverde we enjoyed the activities we did (bridges walk, zipline experience, hummingbird viewing, forest walk) but personally wish I'd spent more time exploring the primary forest rather than ziplining or visiting secondary forest (Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve - short walk). Definitely do the boat trip on the Tarcoles River if you get the chance. Don't obsess about seeing a quetzal - there are so many other exciting creatures to see!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This was a great trip. The only slight disappointments were the quality of the hotel accommodation at Monteverde (Montana Monteverde) and the forest walk - after such a long bumpy journey up to Monteverde I was expecting to see primary forest not secondary. Otherwise the transport, accommodation and meals were good or better than good. We don't generally use travel companies but organise our own trips; however I would not hesitate to use Exodus again.

   
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  Natalie Finlay

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written March 2011

  Costa Rica's beauty is not only in the Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, beautiful white sandy beaches, abundant wildlife but it's also in its people.  I've travelled to many regions; I live in the concrete jungle of London and was born in the beautiful New Zealand so my comparisons are many and varied.   I felt at home in this land, at peace.  If you're an adventurous type, keen photographer, love to hike, explore the wonders of birds and wildlife, or sip the odd cocktail or lovely local rum with a volcano or salsa music not far away, choose Costa Rica.     

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Costa Rica is the type of place you can get caught up looking at it just through a camera lens... there's so much to see, do and capture but I urge anyone to stop for a moment or two along the way, pause, listen to the birds/ monkeys, feel the sun on your face, the water wash over your feet at the sea.   Stop and look up as you hike through the different areas.  Listen and watch the children at the school visit, laugh at yourself as you try to make a Tortilla!  Then you will take back more than pictures but memories of moments.  I was inspired by the whole country; it's want to improve living standards and create bright futures for its children through education, conservation and hard work by many.     

  What did you think of your group leader?

  So what makes a good group leader a great group leader? I'm a Head of Human Resources so I'm often asked this question in my working environment but for a holiday is it different? Some of the common factors are; management and communication to different personalities (I felt included but was coerced when needed, I fear water but I ended up kayaking!!), organisation (you don't want to miss a thing in Costa Rica), safety (we did have a Tsunami happen while we were away!)
  BUT.... what more do we want as consumers?  How about this list;  ·    Extremely knowledgeable – our leader knew and lived Costa Rica, being a local guide he added his personal experiences along the way, his bird and general wildlife and plant life knowledge was very impressive   ·    Patient – with different age ranges, strong personalities, no doubt repetitive and certainly endless questions he coped always in appropriate and calm manner   ·    Passion – he cared that we all experienced Costa Rica, he cared that we saw but also felt the essence of Costa Rica    ·     Hard Work – How about the non glamorous heavy lifting of our luggage, changing a tyre on a busy roadside with the other key man “our bus driver” and a jack that didn’t want to make life easy....     ·    Excellent English – I was very impressed and embarrassed I hadn’t brushed up on my Spanish.  I would have loved to been able to communicate more with the local people  Diego Vazquez, our guide, made a difference, not just good but a great guide!!! Thank you.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

   A couple of things:   1.  Do take some warm clothing for the mountains; it really does get cold...    2.  Do all the hikes you can, they really are wonderful, I have a weak knee and a knee brace was helpful but a couple of poles for the downwards would have helped    3.     Experience all that you can, even if you're scared... I did the Zip Line and Tarzan swing... but I am an adventurous type...   4.     Take a good camera and a quick to use small compact one, sometimes when hiking you have to ask yourself which is better?  5.  Have a laugh; get to know your fellow travellers, even if its 3 or 4 am at Heathrow airport!   6.  Learn some basic Spanish, you’ll feel a lot better and its appreciated

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Thank you for another great trip Exodus!! 

   
• 

  Sharon Lister

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written March 2011

  Costa Rica was always one of my dream destinations and I have to say it far exceeded my expectations - some truly wonderful memories and experiences to take away with me. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were so many highlights on this trip, my top would have to be listening to the howler monkeys in Tortuguero, being surrounded by a troop of white-nosed coatis on my walk down from Arenal volcano and the very spiritual feel of listening to the jungle all around you whilst relaxing or swimming at Esquinas Lodge - truly magical, you really feel in touch with nature.  The other impressive thing is that Costa Rica is so environmentally aware - I feel we could learn a lot from their practices.  We also had a wonderful group, being a single I wondered whether it would be a case of couples and singles - but there was no such issue - we all gelled together and got on really well - sharing a lot of laughs & experiences along the way.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  From reading previous feedback on this trip I had already heard of both Victor (our leader) and Luis (our driver) so when I found out we had both, even though they had never worked together before, it was like getting the dream team.  Victor is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and took great care of us for the entire trip, nothing was too much trouble and he never got fed up of answering our many questions.  Both he and Luis were excellent wildlife spotters and we would have missed many things without them.  Having a good guide plays a big part in the success of the trip and we couldn't have got better than Victor.  He was an absolute star in my opinion.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't pack too much - travel light, the majority of the lodges you stay at have very reasonably priced laundry services - so it makes sense to make use of them.  I travelled in March and was perfectly comfortable in shorts for most of the trip - you do need a long pair of trousers and long-sleeved shirt for the walks in the jungle though - and a decent pair of socks to go with the borrowed welly boots, particularly as some of them don't fit so well. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This was my first Exodus trip and I have to say I was a little tentative as this was so different to anything I had done before - if you're having a bit of a wobble about whether to book, please do go ahead, you'll not regret it for one moment.  I had the most amazing time and the memories will stay with me forever.  It will be hard to beat Costa Rica as it was so fantastic but it's now time for a reality check and to start saving for my next trip - Mmm where next I wonder!!!!

   
• 

  Nora Kocsis

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written March 2011

  Excellent tour by Exodus.  Beautiful nature and the lodges give you a chance to enjoy a real rain and cloud forest experience.  I was surprised how environmental consciousness the country is.  Well done Costa Rica !   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  - Boat trip in the back canals at Tortuguero.

  - Children at school.

  - Humming birds !!! How beautiful they are.

  - rainforest and cloud forests - very unique experience and the well chosen lodges made them very enjoyable. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The guide was very knowledgable and had good contacts with other guides to help spotting animals.  The only comment I could make that he could have much better managed timing in the interest of the group (instead of his own interest) to make the most of the day.  Often days were splitn with short breaks that you could do nothing meaningful. 

  The driver was brilliant, he well looked after the bus and people safety.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  - It's a wildlife tour, so don't expect much cultural experience.

  - Food is great but nothing authenticate; ask for plain grilled fish when on the coast to enjoy the real flavor of fresh seafood and don't let it spoiled with marinade and sauce.

  - Bring a water bottle - tap water is safe to drink !

  - Don't forget your fleece, it's freezing in the mountains in the night. 

  - You are going to rain/could forests, don't expect your cloths to dry:-) 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I would allow an extra day but certainly more time at the ocean.  If nothing else, you can just better plan departure times to allow more time at various destinations; this however may be down to the individual guide we had; I would suggest to look into this in the interest of the group.

   
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  Debbie Garner

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written February 2011

  I was a little worried about the trip as I was travelling alone but this was totally unnecessary as it was a truly great group of people.  This trip was everything I hoped it would be and more.  From day one our brilliant guide and driver did everything possible to ensure that we got the most out of the trip.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Impossible to restrict to one moment - seeing jaguars swimming the canal in front of our boat, spending over an hour watching the elusive male quetzal, seeing a tree full of scarlet macaw, being entertained by primary school children (a first for the school), visiting an organic farm and enjoying fruits of the farm for lunch (including a glass of local rum) ...........................

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Rafael was abosultely fantastic.  He has a really good sense of humour and had excellent interaction with both the members of our group and our bus driver/boat driver.  He is passionate about Costa Rica - its history, culture, nature etc and is very keen to pass this on to the group.  His knowledge about birds and plants was excellent and he was a great spotter.  He even managed to add a few little extras to the trip to give us a more comprehensive feel for the country.  Our driver Francisco was also amazing - also a very good bird/animal spotter and also interacted very well with the group (family as he called us).  

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The temperature at night in Savegre is quite cool so make sure you have some warmer clothing.  Washing and drying clothese was relatively easy so no need to over-burden the suitcase.  Have plenty of memory for the camera you'll be taking a lot of photos! 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you love birds then this is the holiday for you.  But it is more than that - there are animals in abundance, exotic plants, culture, history, coffee production, swimming and more.  

   
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  Nigel Eaton

  DISCOVER COSTA RICA

  

  Written February 2011

  Costa Rica is a wonderful, safe and very ecologically friendly country. It has a wonderful range of fauna and flora and, if you love nature, this is a must-do trip for you.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The entire country and the vast biological diversity is inspirational! Over 30% of the land is devoted to wildlife reserves. Throughout the boat rides in Tortuguero and the many walks through a range of habitats we saw lots of mammals, reptiles, insects and over 100 species of birds. The trees and shrubs are also incredible, especially in the rain- and cloud-forests. Moments like seeing the quetzels in Savegre and scarlet macaws flying free by the Pacific were special; however, I have an especially soft spot for humming birds. Costa Rica has 57 species which you can see at several places. Typical of the country is stopping for coffee on the Pan American highway at 11,000 feet and finding that the cafe has sugar feeders outside the windows buzzing with humming bird activity.  

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our guide Jeff was outstanding - not only was he very efficient and good with people but he also had an incredible range of knowledge on flora, fauna, and geology. One day, for example, he would be telling us, in excellent English, about the life cycle of the banana plant and next day he would be describing how Costa Rica has been shaped by volcanic activity. He was very passionate about ecology and proud that Costa Rica is aiming to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world. Jeff was very good at arranging some very interesting additional optional outings. He was ably supported by the driver Francisco who drove very well, while at the same time somehow being an excellent animal spotter!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for a range of climates. Remember that when it says it is the dry season that is a relative term! We had periods of torrential rainfall in Tortuguero, lighter rainfall in the cloud forests, hot and humid weather on the Pacific coast, and then fairly cold weather in the mountains. Meals are not particularly cheap. To cater for optional outings, extra meals, tips and incidental costs you should budget on about 500 USD per person. ATMs are available at many of the stops.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The trip covers a large area of the country from the Caribbean coast in the north-east, down to Golfito in the south-west near the Panama border. However, Costa Rica is a small country and none of the journeys were particularly arduous. The trip was very well organised with good activities. There are plenty of early mornings but these are well worth it, and tend to be compensated by early nights!

   

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