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This was the most inspirational trip and I can't speak highly enough of the country, its... Maggie Godfrey, 2019 See more reviews
If you want a relaxed birdwatching trip to Costa Rica this is the one. Maggie Eaton, 2019 See more reviews
This was a varied and interesting trip. We had various wildlife encounters. We had an excellent... Eve Doyle, 2019 See more reviews
Ever wonder what people mean when they harp on about microclimates, well just visit Costa Rica... Ivan Pinto, 2019 See more reviews
An amazing holiday with lots of stunning wildlife and rich forest. Moving every 2 days so a lot... Julia Southall, 2019 See more reviews
Costa Rica was truly amazing, I hadn’t realised the diversity for such a small country. So much... Lesley Galvanoni, 2019 See more reviews
This was our 8th Exodus trip and one of the best. The tour leader was excellent..Giovanni... Vivienne and Michael Hodgins, 2019 See more reviews
We had an excellent opportunity to sample Costa Rica's varied and unusual wildlife and... Paul Martinez, 2019 See more reviews
This trip was fast paced and full of variety. We stayed in seven different locations during the... Hilary Brattle, 2019 See more reviews
An excellent, varied and active holiday, led by the most inspirational guide I have ever had.... Geoff Paterson, 2019 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all San Jose to San Jose Day 1 Start San Jose. The group flight usually arrives into San Jose this evening. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients. This evening is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers. Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Day 2 To Tortuguero N.P. Our adventure begins early this morning, leaving San Jose behind as we travel to the north-east of Costa Rica to Tortuguero National Park. Accessible only by boat or light aircraft, Tortuguero's vast network of waterways, canals and swamps is remarkably tranquil, unspoilt and devoid of noise pollution. On reaching the pier we board a small motorboat for the one hour fifteen minute journey to our lodge, which is nestled on a small strip of land between the Caribbean Sea and the main lagoon. Our afternoon is spent in Tortuguero village, where it’s possible to visit the Sea Turtle Museum (a donation will be requested at the entrance). Tortuguero is probably most famous as a nesting site for the endangered Green turtle, which can be seen arriving onto the beach to lay eggs from late July to October (as part of an optional excursion). Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Giant Leatherback turtles also nest in this region, and during November to January baby turtles start to hatch and make their way towards the ocean. Today's travel time will be in the region of six hours including a break for breakfast. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Boat tour around Tortuguero waterways. An early morning boat trip enables us to discover the extraordinary flora and fauna of Tortuguero, passing serenely along the waterways. At this time of day wildlife is usually at its most active, and with the help of our expert guide we are likely to encounter monkeys, caiman, iguanas, butterflies and many of the 300+ bird species recorded here. We return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast by the river. The lodge is a tranquil spot to relax this afternoon if you want to take some time out to enjoy the facilities, or alternatively you can join a second boat trip or follow a short walking trail through the forest. Accommodation: Laguna Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 To La Fortuna, near Arenal Volcano. We leave Tortuguero the same way we arrived by taking a small boat to the pier. Our bus will be at the pier waiting to drive us to the region of Arenal, passing huge banana, pineapple and sugar cane plantations on the way. Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until fairly recently when it entered a resting phase, and can no longer be seen spitting ash, smoke or lava. However there is still a lot of geothermal activity in the area and you'll have the opportunity to visit one of the excellent hot springs this evening. In clear weather there are great views of the volcano from our overnight base in the nearby town of La Fortuna. Today's travelling time is around five and a half hours including a lunch stop. Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 5 La Fortuna Waterfall hike; visit Arenal Volcano. Waterfalls are abundant in the region of Arenal and this morning we visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 65 metre cascade of water plunging into an emerald pool below. A short trail through the rainforest brings us to a relatively steep set of steps that we must descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to the exit - the hike/climb takes around 20-30 minutes and is within the capabilities of anyone with reasonable fitness. Reward your efforts with a dip in one of the natural pools punctuating the foliage to cool off! Alternatively you could visit the lookout point and wait for the group. After lunch we take a short scenic hike within Arenal National Park, walking through secondary rainforest and passing some of the lava fields from past eruptions. The high vantage points on this walk allow great views overlooking Lake Arenal, and the birdlife is plentiful.Accommodation: Arenal Montechiari (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 To Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains. From Arenal we travel to the Tilaran Mountain Range in the Central Highlands for our first taste of a Costa Rican cloud forest. The journey provides breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands below as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means 'Green Mountain'. The high altitude supports a complex eco-system where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400+ different varieties here. Today's drive is around four hours — the last 40km of road is gravel and can be bumpy, particularly following heavy rain.Accommodation: Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Visit Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. This morning we have a guided walk in Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the first community-managed reserves in Costa Rica and an area that is world-famous for its biodiversity. To this day the reserve is managed by the Santa Elena High School with funds channelled into protecting the reserve and providing environmental education classes within the local community. Thanks to its high elevation, Santa Elena is bathed in thick misty clouds which support a huge range of flowers, ferns, mosses, vines and orchids. Birdlife thrives in the cloud forest with over 425 species recorded here. Santa Elena is also one of the best places to spot noisy Howler monkeys swinging through the trees! In the afternoon it's possible to join an optional coffee tour to learn about the importance of this crop to the socio-economic development of the country, or join a canopy tour to get a different view of the forest. Accommodation: Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 To Manuel Antonio. Our journey takes a south-easterly turn today as we follow the Pan-Am Highway along the coastline to Manuel Antonio, passing African oil palm and teak plantations on the way. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of a vast marine reserve as well as 1,700 acres of mangrove swamp, primary and secondary rainforest. The forest vegetation stretches as far as the high-tide line and provides a stunning backdrop to the expansive sandy beaches, forested islands and dramatic rocky headlands. Our drive to Manuel Antonio takes around four hours. We spend the next two nights here, normally in a hotel close to the beach and the entrance of the national park. Depending on our time of arrival we should have some time to enjoy various optional activities this afternoon or enjoy the hotels facilities. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Discover Manuel Antonio N.P. A guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park this morning should enable us to have some close wildlife encounters. White-faced Capuchin monkeys play in the trees and are frequently sighted on the beaches, whilst noisy Howler monkeys are usually heard moving through the trees and calling to each other before they are seen. The endangered Titi monkey (Squirrel monkey) are fewer in number but can sometimes be spotted in this area. Iguanas, agouti and two and three toed sloths are also commonly sighted in the national park. Manuel Antonio's beaches are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the country and we have all afternoon to enjoy them or try one of the optional activities available in this region. Please note that Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays. If your visit falls on a Monday, the timing of this activity will be adjusted so that you visit the park on the previous day, and today will be at leisure to enjoy the many optional excursions of the region. Accommodation: Villa Bosque Hotel (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 To Esquinas Lodge in Piedras Blancas N.P. Travel four hours south towards Golfito, a relatively wild and undiscovered region. The dense jungle here has hardly been explored or researched. The next two nights are spent in the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge set in the heart of primary rainforest and bordered by the newly created Piedras Blancas National Park and Golfito Nature Reserve. The lodge was originally financed by the government of Austria as a project combining forest research, development aid and nature conservation. Most employees are local and profits are used to help with projects in the nearby village. This afternoon we discover our peaceful surroundings and search for the abundant bird and insect life that resides here. Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Hike on trails in Piedras Blancas N.P. Hike through the rainforest this morning with your guide and experience all of the sights and sounds of the jungle. During this activity we are likely to see snakes, monkeys and maybe sloths. This hike can be quite slippery after rainfall but is a real highlight and well worth the effort. This afternoon has been left free for optional activities — delve deeper into the forest on a 10 mile network of trails departing directly from the lodge, or simply relax by the stream-fed pool.Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 To Savegre Cloud Forest. Our journey takes a north-westerly turn through San Isidro and up and over the Cerro de la Muerte mountain range to our next destination, the Savegre Valley, located around four and a half hours away from Golfito. The cloud forest of Savegre is said to be one of the best places in the whole of Costa Rica to see the beautiful, colourful and notoriously shy Resplendent Quetzal and we have two nights here to discover the region. These endangered birds rely on the cloud forest for their habitat — the males in particular are striking with a green crest, red breast and tail feathers that can reach a metre in length. A good pair of binoculars will be helpful for quetzal spotting as these birds camouflage themselves well amongst the wet leaves of the forest! After lunch we take a short walk from our lodge into the cloud forest.Accommodation: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Free day to discover walking trails in Savegre. Today is free to relax and explore Savegre Valley. Bring your binoculars to spot some of the 170 bird species, trek through the tropical cloud forest or simply enjoy the incredible view from the lodge. Your leader will suggest walks for today so that you can discover the tropical cloud forest and sub-Andean vegetation of the area. Accommodation: Savegre Hotel, Nature Reserve & Spa or Trogon Lodge (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 Visit the village of Copey; to San Jose. Visit the village of Copey this morning to step momentarily into the agricultural lives of those living in the highlands of the Central Mountain Range. We take a short walk to the picturesque village where some snacks will be prepared for us with a local family, which is sure to be a memorable touch of Costa Rican hospitality! A two and a half hour journey takes us back to San Jose, where there is time to explore the modern capital.Accommodation: Presidente Hotel (or similar)Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 15 End San Jose. The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Costa Rica and the rest of the group goodbye. Free transfers to San Jose airport are available to all clients today. Meals included: Breakfast
Costa Rica Holders of British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU passports can enter Costa Rica for a stay of 90 days without a visa. Proof of onward travel may be required when entering Costa Rica - we suggest you take a print out of your flight details in case officials ask to see them. All passengers flying via the USA will have to clear immigration during transit. Prior to travel you must apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) under the Visa Waiver Programme. Please see here for more information. The same applies to travel via Canada which also requires an Electronic Travel Authority. If you are not a UK citizen please check with your local U.S. Embassy.
Costa Rica There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels and Eco-Lodges 14 nights spent in hotels and eco-lodges, all with en suite facilities and most with swimming pools. We use fairly small, family run establishments: wooden lodges set in tropical gardens or eco-lodges nestled in the rainforest. The highlight of this trip will no doubt be our stay at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, a 100% carbon neutral property within Piedras Blancas National Park — wake up surrounded by the sound of birds! Optional single supplement available, please see Dates & Prices.
February 7, 2019 3 Luxury Cruises to Take in 2019 There’s something about an intimate cruise ship that conjures up images of the world’s very first explorers.
November 27, 2018 Dynasties: In Focus Paul Goldstein is one of very few people that has spent time with all five of the BBC's ‘Dynasty’ luminaries.
September 20, 2018 Meet 2017 Leader of the Year: Johnny Villalobos, Costa Rica We sit down with Exodus leader Johnny Villalobos, winner of our Tour Leader of the Year
July 22, 2018 International Tiger Day Here at Exodus we are incredibly passionate about wildlife and the conservation efforts to save it.
Reviewed February 2019 Maggie Godfrey Trip: Discover Costa Rica Diversity, diversity, diversity This was the most inspirational trip and I can't speak highly enough of the country, its wildlife and its people. This trip ensured that we spent time in a variety of ecosystems that were all so diverse and each had so much to offer. Our brilliant guide Johnny made sure that we had every opportunity to maximise our time each day to experience as much as we could in every location. Our focus was birdwatching and we saw the most splendid variety of beautifully coloured birds of all types, including the quetzal, as well as many other animals including sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, coatis, agouti, iguanas, snakes , frogs and so on. The accommodation , mainly in lodges, was fabulous . It was always well located and often in lovely grounds and gardens with many opportunities for seeing wildlife before we even set out on our daily itinerary. We were also with a great group of people which made the trip all the more special. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing a 3 toed sloth at close quarters in Tortuguero National Park but there were so many other experiences that I will saviour such as the hot springs at Arenal, the hanging bridges at Monteverde, the wonderful environment of Esquinas Lodge, the sound of frogs at night, the multitude of hummingbirds especially at Sevegre and the general beauty of the countryside wherever we went. What did you think of your group leader? Johnny was just brilliant. I think he must know every bird in Costa Rica by sight and sound and made sure we had every opportunity to see as wide a range as possible. But his knowledge does not stop there - his knowledge of all the wildlife, the different environments and the country in general is encyclopaedic and he is so keen to share it with you. He never seemed to stop working and took us out on many additional walks early in the morning and late at night . He was so well organised, could not do enough to meet our every need and had a lovely personality and sense of humour so that we felt at ease with him from the very beginning. It is no wonder that he won tour guide of the year in 2017. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Just go for it - it is a trip you will never forget. Is there anything else you would like to add? Make sure you go prepared for all temperatures as it gets quite cool in the cloud forest and very hot and humid in other locations. Good walking shoes and closed toe sandals are advisable.
Reviewed February 2019 Maggie Eaton Trip: Discover Costa Rica Bird watching in Costa Rica If you want a relaxed birdwatching trip to Costa Rica this is the one. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It is hard to pick one highlight from this trip as there are so many. Lots of wonderful birds..........macaws. toucans, resplendent queztal,not to mention good views of sloths and snakes. The forests are fabulous.In San Jose the National theatre is a must. What did you think of your group leader? Johnny,our leader, and Olmond our driver, were both excellent.Johnny has a fantastic knowledge of all aspects of Costa Rica.He is a tenacious bird watcher as well as an attentive leader.
Reviewed February 2019 Eve Doyle Trip: Discover Costa Rica A Wonderful Experience This was a varied and interesting trip. We had various wildlife encounters. We had an excellent group with a magical guide. I loved it. It was great to enjoy some lovely weather and stunning scenery in January! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking on the high bridges at Monteverde. The weather was perfect and the scenery stunning What did you think of your group leader? Edward was brilliant. He was so knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife we saw. He was also interesting, amusing and kind. I cannot recommend him too highly. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't spend the whole time trying to take pictures of the wildlife, just enjoy the experience! Is there anything else you would like to add? The bus had two seats over wheel arches which were uncomfortable on long journeys. Apart from that the trip was magical!
Reviewed February 2019 Ivan Pinto Trip: Discover Costa Rica Beauty and the Beasties Ever wonder what people mean when they harp on about microclimates, well just visit Costa Rica and experience it for yourself. From tropical coastlines to dry forests to rain forests and cloud forests, Costa Rica seems to have it all. The variety of climates gives rise to a diverse range of plant life which it turn supports a wide variety of beasties. Drives between locations were a pleasure as the scenery was so beautiful. Gardens whether local or at the lodges we stayed in were extraordinary in the variety of flowering plants and wildlife. You do not even need to leave the lodge premises to experience the wildlife. We saw sloth, iguana, coati, agouti, monkeys, armadillo, frogs, toads, lizards, bats, toucans, motmot, hummingbirds, quetzal and zillions of other colourful birds all in the gardens of lodges/hotel we stayed in. It was wonderful to go to sleep with the sound of nature as a backdrop. We were fortunate to have good weather throughout (apart from one morning) so were able to enjoy the included walks fully as well as some additional walks our excellent guide Gio kindly added for those who wanted to go. Good closed shoes with 'grippy' soles are recommended. It was hot and humid throughout (apart from evenings/early mornings in the mountains) and the pace of the walks was easy to suit the conditions. Many of the lodges have their own marked trails for those who want to make the most of the locations. If you have any interest in wildlife, nature or stunning landscapes you would enjoy Costa Rica. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Tortuguero waterways and beach was beautiful as was the lodge we stayed at. The wildlife was just stunning, giant green male iguana in their bright orange breeding colours were a highlight as was our first sloth. But that doesn't do justice to the other wonderful locations and lodges visited as they were all of a very high standard and everywhere had it's own special moments, whether it was the hummingbird garden in Monteverde, the sloths at Manuel Antonio, the volcano and waterfall in Arenal, the moment a bird eating snake slid into then out of a birds nest in Esquinas lodge or spotting Quetzal at Savegre. What did you think of your group leader? Gio was a excellent leader who was very professional in his approach. He was very good at spotting and identifying the multitude of birds and animals we saw, while Juan-Jose (our ever smiling driver) was excellent as both driver and wildlife spotter. Gio went the extra mile in organising additional walks for those interested as well as arranging two excellent group meals on a couple of occasions when the evening meal was not included. He was happy to share with us the history of Costa Rica and it's peoples during the journeys and always ensured everyone was informed of the plans for the next day so that all activities went to plan. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If travelling from the UK, embrace the jet-lag! You will wake early which helps as there are many early starts. The early to bed, early to rise mantra works in this case as the lodge gardens are wonderful for wildlife so get out at first light (about 6am) and enjoy them to the full. The other benefit of not trying to overcoming the jet-lag is that you adjust quickly on returning home! Is there anything else you would like to add? If you have any interest in wildlife and/or botany or simply wonderful landscapes then this is a holiday you would enjoy. Add the high standard of accommodation in remote, 'away from it all' locations and it becomes unmissable!
Reviewed February 2019 Julia Southall Trip: Discover Costa Rica WIldlife Paradise An amazing holiday with lots of stunning wildlife and rich forest. Moving every 2 days so a lot of travel on gravel roads. Lovely lodges, good food and surprisingly civilised amenities even in the deepest rain forest. All about the wild environment. No nightlife. Great country. Group size was 11 which was very friendly and we had our own boats, bus and visits except for day 1. Suitable for singles. Climate changes are dramatic so carefull wardrobe planning needed. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There was so much to enjoy. This truely is a Garden of Eden and it is humbling to be able to see all these creatures and the forests. The canals of Tortuguero where a boat takes you around the river estuaries/ canals are stunning. Swimming in the warm Pacific was gorgeous, getting up at dawn to see the reslendent quetzal less inticing. Night walks to see sloths, sleeping toocans, tree frogs, bats, green vipers curled on twigs, emerging cicada and Toasty the caiman gulping down fish, were fascinating. The birds were spectacular: scarlat macaws, humming birds and birds in every colour imaginable. There were many at hotels and restaurants eating bananas. The monkeys leaping across the canals and pathways were greeted with oohs and aahs as they leapt the gaps between trees. The white faced capucine looks so human. Boats and the bus stopped immediatley whenever a special creature appeared. What did you think of your group leader? A brilliant man who knew how to find the wild creatures and had lots of knowledge about the flora and fauna. Unlike many trips, wildlife does not stand around so the holiday is much less predictable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You need clothes for humid hot weather and cold mountains (but no frost), and a plastic cape is useful for downpours. I imagine that this is a very wet country in the rainy season. We choose the dry season but missed the turtle egg laying. Ask the guide to tell you what to wear and take each day. Some of the extra trips are expensive for what they are and there is enough to do without them. The night walk at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge was well worth it and the better one of two. Take closed toe walking shoes but walking boots would be rather hot. Take a travel towel for swiming in the National Parks. Do not leave bag unguarded at the beach. Monkies! The accommodation is in wooden lodges except for San Jose. They have wonderful gardens. Take your own plug for the sinks! Most have hair dryers. All have good showers. Wifi was good. Do not attempt to do any laundry in your room because it does not dry. Laundry at Esquinas is $15 for a sackful! San Jose is not worth any extra days. A tour of the Theatre was lovely and the National Museum taught us the history of the country. We had no trouble with mosquitos inside or outside in January but we did choose to wear long trousers and long sleeved shirts. The bus is air conditioned/heated, the driver was very good but many miles are on gravel roads and very bumpy. You move every 2 days so have to be organised. Early mornings meant early to bed for us and there was no nightlife, music or dancing. Take binoculars and good cameras. Your holiday snaps will wow your friends! My son who usually confines himself to the top 10 photos of my holiday, is insisting on 50 with an option for more this time! This trip is not for you if you would mind restaurants with no walls so that the wildlife comes in too: lizards on the walls, birds flying through, bats on the wall behind the bar. Always take a torch and watch where you are walking especially at night. Cases were delivered to rooms. Dollars are acceptable everywhere. Not USA coins. Is there anything else you would like to add? It was almost spirtual. Such an honour to see such wildlife. There is plenty to eat and if you are veggie/vegan there are times when the restarant needs to know in advance but most meals were buffets. Alcoholic drinks cost about the same as in Britain.
Reviewed February 2019 Lesley Galvanoni Trip: Discover Costa Rica Excellent Trip Costa Rica was truly amazing, I hadn’t realised the diversity for such a small country. So much wildlife and beautiful scenery, I felt I didn’t want to miss a thing. Although I had travelled through Costa Rica before, this tour offered so much more, I still can’t believe how much we saw in just two weeks. Glenda our tour and driver Carlos were constantly on the lookout, making sure we didn’t miss anything. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The wildlife and beauty of the country. The amount and variety of the hummingbirds were for me a highlight, having plenty of opportunity to attempt to photograph them. What did you think of your group leader? Glenda is a wonderful leader, one of the best. Not only as a wildlife spotter! The guide that spotted the quetzal first! She is kind, friendly and funny, sorting out problems and queries with ease. Her organisation and knowledge second to none. Glenda went out of her way to make the holiday special for everyone. I really appreciated the time to take photographs, Glenda never hurried us and we had plenty of time just to enjoy the beautiful country. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared to pack for all weather conditions. It can be quite cold at the high altitude locations. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you like wildlife and nature Costa Rica is a must. I stayed on a couple of days to see Poàs and Irazu volcanoes. Well worth if you have the time.
Reviewed February 2019 Vivienne and Michael Hodgins Trip: Discover Costa Rica Wonderful trip to Costa Rica This was our 8th Exodus trip and one of the best. The tour leader was excellent..Giovanni Madrigal. He was very knowledgeable, professional in his approach and good fun especially as he had a great relationship with the driver, Juanjose who was also part of the team. Gio made it clear from the outset that this was a group holiday and group harmony was important. We were encouraged to rotate the seats on the bus so everyone got a chance to sit at the front. The group really got on well. There were many excellent group meals and we had a good mix between travel, group walks and downtime by the pool. The accommodation was very good....wooden lodges set in wonderful surroundings. We stayed for 2 nights in each place which was great. Much of the food was included so it wasn’t so expensive when we were there....most hotels had happy hours! We saw so many birds, mammals and reptiles. Gio knew where to look and had a scope so we could all see. There are additional trails we could walk on our own which we enjoyed. He knows his country and was keen to pass on his knowledge. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the quetzal, the scarlet macaws, the toucans, the monkeys,sloths, iguanas,snakes, crocodiles,caimans.......etcetcetc. So much to see everywhere we went. The fantastic Pacific beaches where you can swim...you can’t in the Caribbean where we were. The hot springs at La Fortuna The suspension bridges at Monteverde The waterways at Tortuguera Manuael Antonio Park Esquinas lodge and its surroundings The night walk What did you think of your group leader? Superb. My husband fell on gravel and had to go to the doctor to have stitches. Gio and Juan were great, taking him,staying with him etc after a long day. Gio was very patient and knew how to see birds and wildlife. He took us out some evenings in the bus to great restaurants. He ensured the trip ran according to plan....it was a very professional approach. He shared information on politics, history etc....not just wildlife. We felt very well prepared for the National Museum in San Jose. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take dollars or colones...both accepted everywhere. Take a hairdryer if you like to use one...a few lodges didn’t have them Take warm walking clothes and good rainwear...we only had rain one morning but it was wet! Closed in shoes....walking trainers are necessary .Godd walking sandals are useful. You don’t need walking boots or poles. You need a good camera and binoculars although the leaders have scopes. Swimming stuff...great pools especially the natural stream pool in Esquinas. We also swam in waterfalls and hot springs. Mosquito spray.. Light towels for Manuel Antonio and the waterfall. You don’t need to stay longer to see San Jose...you have enough time to see the few sights. Is there anything else you would like to add? We went on the group flight...we often do land only so we can recover and see more of the city but this one was fine as we arrived early enough to relax and although the first morning is an early start ,the first 2days at Tortuguera are very relaxing so no real need to go early or stay on. If you do go to the Pacific...I could have stayed in the Manuel Antonio area for a week at the end! But I love the sea.
Reviewed January 2019 Paul Martinez Trip: Discover Costa Rica Wonderful wildlife We had an excellent opportunity to sample Costa Rica's varied and unusual wildlife and habitats in a tour led by a knowledgeable and inspiring tour leader. The accommodation was well chosen and the itinerary carefully enabled us to experience the Caribbean and Pacific coasts as well as highlands and intermediate areas. Having such an excellent guide really did make a difference. I don't think we would have spotted half of the birds we saw without his keen eyes and ears! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing around 150 different bird species. What did you think of your group leader? Our tour was led by a knowledgeable and inspiring tour leader, Andres. He went out of his way to be helpful and provided additional opportunities to enhance our tour by visiting private gardens which were attractive to birds, and also by providing 4WD transport at the second Savegre lodge to save us what would have been a strenuous uphill walk , so that we could enjoy and spend more time on the descent through the cloud forest. He also gave up a couple of hours of his time to go through in detail the 170 or so species of birds we had seen on the tour. I don't think we would have spotted half of the birds we saw without his keen eyes and ears! He were well informed about each step of our tour and our guide was also very clear about options. Andres has great people skills as well and was responsive to the needs of different people in the group, including the organisation of an impromptu birthday celebration for one of our group members. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Good binoculars and a decent camera are a must.
Reviewed January 2019 Hilary Brattle Trip: Discover Costa Rica A fabulous trip This trip was fast paced and full of variety. We stayed in seven different locations during the two weeks which meant we were packing up and moving on every two days. The scenery we saw in between locations was incredibly beautiful and the bus rides were always interesting as our guide made sure we stopped for coffee, lunch or a surprise! .....a sloth and baby in a tree or crocodiles basking in the river! The lodges were all full of character and of a high quality. Meals were typical Costa Rican with amazing variety and choice. The fruit was outstanding. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many magical moments. Quetzel hunting with dozens of other crazy people at 5 30 am. We had almost given up hope when Glenda made the first sighting and we all captured the flash of green tail. What did you think of your group leader? Our leader was called Glenda and she was a marvel, transmitting her love of Costa Rica to all of us through her constant stream of information. As we travelled we learnt about the history, culture and wildlife of this wonderful place. We were amazed at her ability to spot the smallest bird or animal hidden in the undergrowth. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she was brilliantly organised. We felt we were in very capable hands with Glenda and our driver Carlos. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions. A warm jumper and trousers were needed in two mountain locations whilst thin clothes were needed in low lying areas. Be prepared to get up early to see wildlife! Is there anything else you would like to add? We thoroughly enjoyed the zip wiring at Arenal. Unfortunately, it was not possible to visit the coffee plantation as the two trips ran at the same time. We greatly enjoyed the farm visit and would have found a visit to a banana plantation also very interesting.
Reviewed January 2019 Geoff Paterson Trip: Discover Costa Rica Discover Costa Rica An excellent, varied and active holiday, led by the most inspirational guide I have ever had. Covered most aspects of Costa Rica's varied terrain and abundant wildlife. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Searching the forests for the elusive quetzal at 5am and finally getting sight of this impressive bird. What did you think of your group leader? Glenda Araya is the best tour leader I have had on an Exodus holiday. Her great enthusiasm for her country, it's people and wildlife was infectious. She has an extensive knowledge of the areas visited and the wildlife to be found there. Nothing was too much trouble, she was attentive to the needs of individuals within the group and has a very easy and friendly manner. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take plenty of warm clothing for the mountain regions, it's very cold first thing in the morning. Perhaps something that could be emphasised a little stronger in the trip notes. Is there anything else you would like to add? An absolutely brilliant trip.
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