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A varied, enjoyable trip with something for everyone. Cycling generally to the mderate end of the scale, but with some more significant climbs to add a suitable level of challenge. Be prepared for some extended transfer spells on the minibus.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Sitting in the volcanic hot pools drinking cocktails..... And of course some of the cycling....!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob was great. Always aware of the needs of the group and always approachable. The trip passed flawlessly. The local guides provided sound support throughout.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some moisture if your trip is anything like our second week. It might be worth having an extra set of gear over what you might expect.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A very varied trip, with a good range of activities to supplement the cycling. Good accommodation and some great spots for evening recreation. Great scenery. A bit short on local culture for my liking. If you're after a full on cycling trip, this isn't it. But a well rounded holiday that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Fantastic memorable trip and experience cycling across three Central American countries. Highly recommended. Be sure to put in some hill preparation work before you go its not a flat area :-)
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Oooh tough one to limit to one moment. As a student of geology the variety of volcanic scenary in the trip was fantastic. From choking gasses and parakeets as we peered into the masaya crater to panoramic calderas and a littering of volcanoes throughout the trip. Hot springs in Fortuna with compulsory Pina Colada's :-)
The wonderous day off exploring Isla Colon, red frog beach, dolphins around bocas del toro.
Clocking 48 Mph on a crazy 12 mile downhill ride from cool cloudforest to blistering hot plains in Panama.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob was fantastic most memorable guide on a holiday for a long time. For example I was the one unlucky sod that had my luggage not arrive (thanks AA!), the problem was taken out of my hands straight away and everything organised to ensure my holiday enjoyment continued while behind the scenes my luggage caught up with me. Or the words of encouragement during the tougher days. Or the knowlege that our guide was a ex-paramedic. We simply couldn't have been in better hands.
I'd run out of space if i had to list the superlatives describing the support team who looked after us for the two weeks. All the team were great.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get hill fit beforehand ! There are few days without some sort of hilly challenge. The fitter you are beforehand the more you'll enjoy the holiday.
Pack a couple of days essentials in your travelling companions luggage, it will save your life if american airlines mislay your luggage.
When eating out, don't expect to get your starter before your main course. Things can get a bit chaotic at group meals.
The trip was pretty intense with little or no off time or dual night stays in same location until Bocas Del Toro. So expect to be repacking your bags and moving EVERY day! plan ahead.... a full to the lid suitcase is hard to repack !
Laundry service in la Fortuna (mid trip) is great you can plan on it while packing
If you are curious about stuff ask rob! the trip doesn't have much in the way of formal visitors centres or local history you are on the go. Just ask rob he's pretty knowledgable or will find out ;-)
Play with Alfonso's bike bell ! (alf on our trip gave it to him after he kept ringing it)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Exodus trip notes were out of date compared to the detailed day by day notes Rob supplies when you arrive.
Bikes were good quality mountain bikes with trip computers, adjustable front shocks and disc brakes.Support team has a great mechanic and serviced the bikes a few times during the trip.
The trip was pretty intense with little or no down time, might benefit from a slighty slower pace in the first half.
I had absolutely the best time!!! I'm still buzzing from this holiday and smile everytime I think of it. I don't really class myself a cyclist (everyone I met at the airport massively played down their expert cycling ability!), but I am generally fit and cycle from time to time so was fine. Despite being near the back on most of the hilly journeys, this was no issue and our leader encouraged us not to rush or race, and to enjoy the holiday and the scenery and I certainly didn't feel I had to hurry up and catch the others, despite the fact they were mainly ahead of me. To spend two weeks wheeling around the central american countryside is a wonderful way to spend a holiday, it was beautiful, warm, warm even when it rained, the people were really lovely, I laughed non stop, we all bonded quickly, which isn't difficult when you have a group goal, the hotels were better than I expected (except 1 or 2), food was great/ok, and we were thoroughly looked after by the leader and the guides, in every aspect.Agree with Rita that some people might like more background/contextual information about the countries, although personally this didn't bother me, I just like the cycling, but some might prefer this, but to be fair to Rob, on every other aspect he was 110%, in terms of making sure we were comfortable, happy, healthy and had everything we needed. Please go on this trip if you want a challenging but feasible outdoor adventure. If you're struggling, just have a bus day and talk in Spanglish to Luis!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I can't really decide, but there was a long up and down section in Costa Rica somewhere, I was miles away from everybody else (but a guide always behind, so you are always safe I hasten to add), had my ipod on (which we shouldn't really advocate as I guess that's a bit dangerous), and I was so happy I was almost dancing on my bicycle. I reached the others, saw the bus in the distance, and just collapsed with exhaustion and exhileration when I got to them. I was a pathetic heap lying in the road, but very happy.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob is organised, efficient, personable, social, and completely trustworthy. He knows what people need (laundry, the right food, beer, sufficient breaks etc). We didn't have to do a thing when it came to border crossings, hotels, or anything administrative. I think i lost a few brain cells on this trip as I didn't have to use them
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Thanks to my (experienced) room mate the following were indispensable:
a pegless washing line, travel wash and a travel plug, a travel kettle, two mugs, and tea bags/coffee sachets
bring your own cereal if you struggle without a decent breakfast (sometimes iffy)
Take cash, its just easier.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you're an 'up for it' person (like moi), and you don't mind the odd crappy breakfast, and you can laugh in the odd rainstorm, you will have a blast. Don't be afraid of travelling solo, nearly everyone was, it made it even better.
Great guides, great scenery, great places, great rum. All in all, a great trip. This was my first Exodus holiday but definitely won't be my last. We were really well looked after from start to finish, the bikes were good quality and we saw and did loads. The two weeks flew by and I enjoyed the trip from start to finish.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Lots of things -
Arriving at San Juan, diving straight into the Pacific and watching the sun come down.
Sipping beautiful Pina Coladas in the hot springs at la Fortuna.
Conquering some of the "rolling" hills in hot, hot Central American sunshine.
Cruising around on speedboats with "Captain Jack" in Bocos, seeing dolphins jump out of the water and snorkelling in the clear Caribbean.
Drinking lots of rum and dancing to bachata/meringue/reggeaton in Bocos until the early hours of the morning.
Flying downhill in Panama at 40mph in the pouring rain, wearing sunglasses and with suncream in my eyes.
Paul doing a booze-run so we would have lots of rum and beer when it was Easter.
The fruit - immeasurably better than anything you ever get in England, and probably the tastiest I've ever had.
And lots, lots, lots more.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob was great - very laid back, very accommodating but always managed to get us to where we needed to be without it ever feeling regimented. Paying bills for 17 people could be a nightmare (as we discovered in San Juan) but he had a great system in place so it was completely hassle-free.
A very fit rider, but also always up for drinks and dancing in the evenings.
Paul (cyclist/mechanic/singer/dancer) and Ronny (driver) were great too. Paul fixed a broken chain in about 2 minutes and kept all the bikes ship shape. They were always up for few rums and a dance too. Could do with learning a bit of English though....
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes say moderate to challenging and they mean it. There are a lot of what Rob described as "rolling" terrain (just plain hills to me) as well as a few steeper climbs. It was very hot too but, if you are reasonably fit, I reckon you'll be fine.
If you go out for a group meal on any evenings ask for separate bills at the start.
If you go snorkelling in Bocos take note of Rob's advice about how easy it is to get sunburnt. I didn't.....
Be prepared to eat more food than you have eaten in your life. Normally a big breakfast, a big lunch and a big dinner. With fruit stops inbetween. With the hills and the heat you need it though.
This was a great holiday and was much more than a cycling holiday- it included a raft trip, boat trips and the opportunity to go snorkelling, surfing or even more cycling. I have never seen so much wildlife on a holiday it seems that Central America is stuffed with animals, birds ... and mosquitos!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There was no one inspirational moment but many. The scenery is simply stunning taking in tropical rainforest, dry tropical forest and vast plains (sometimes even in the same day). We visited a few of the many volcanoes in the area and enjoyed their natural hot springs. But the truly inspirational moments came after the longer bike rides, some of which are quite difficult, as the sense of achievement overrides the tired legs!
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob was a good leader and very organised. I really liked his approach as he would listen to the group suggestions and adapt the itinerary where needed. The group meetings in the morning before each riding stage were particularly helpful and he was very encouraging to the less able cyclists.
His only let down was that he didn't always have the background information to the countries to hand - though he had internet access on his iPhone for some answers!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for a challenging holiday. The brochure does describe it as moderate/challenging and this is accurate but don't think as I did that 'it can't be that challenging, it's a holiday after all!' Some of the climbs are steep and long, some of the roads are rough dirt tracks, it can be very windy (those head winds are a killer) and we did cycle in 36+ degree heat. The long, fast downhills are a well-earned bonus!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it! You'll not regret it and you'll come back with an SD card full of pics!
Physically tough but worth all the sweat and sunburn to see such stunning scenery and wildlife by day, and recover over great food and beer each evening with fun, like-minded people.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The 25-mile downhill cycle ride in Panama was a white-knuckle adrenalin rush, with breathtaking scenery to boot.
Cycling around Lake Fortuna, moving from high altitude rain showers to scorching sunshine, looking out over the picturesque lake.
Drinking pina coladas in the hot springs in Fortuna.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rob was excellent, he was a highly-effective shock absorber, making the border crossings and other potential difficulties seem effortless. He even let us have his room at the last hotel when we had a problem with our room.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The cycling is tough, so make sure you're fit enough, or be prepared to sit out some rides in the bus as the hill climbs go on a long way. I thought I was really fit after months of cycling and spinning classes, but still found the going was tough, in the heat and humidity.
Toilet facilities are non-existent on some rides, so be prepared to slum it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Panama was the biggest surprise - the countryside was beautiful and the cycling was the best on the whole trip.
from 39 reviews.
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