Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers  

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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…

Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

Reviews

Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on 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.

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.

Suggestions

Panama was the biggest surprise - the countryside was beautiful and the cycling was the best on the whole trip.

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Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

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!  

Thoughts on 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!  

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!

Suggestions

Go for it! You'll not regret it and you'll come back with an SD card full of pics!

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Reviewed January 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

A three country cycling holiday and so much more!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many moments to mention.  The best cycling day was the afternoon cycle along La Chocolata in Nicaragua while the sun was slowly setting ... and meeting with all the locals and animals en route.  While the cycling was fabulous it was the non-cycling moments that made the holiday ... the river rafting, the thermal spa, the coatis, the ferry trip to Omotepe Island, the border crossing in the rain between CR and Panama ...  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was fantastic - very calm and laid back but ensured that everything ran like clockwork.  Also excellent at roadside first aid!  The support crew was great too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You only need enough clothes for a one week cycling holiday - the laundry facilities in La Fortuna are excellent and very quick.  Take a gel seat cover or your own seat! 

Suggestions

All the hotels, with the exception of Hotel Tilawa (which needs to be removed from this itinerary as soon as possible - and for a number of reasons), were of a really good quality, many with pools and clean and comfortable.  

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for reviewing your recent holiday with Exodus. Our local operator has followed up your concern with the manager of Hotel Tilawa who has apologised that your room wasn’t of an acceptable standard when you arrived. This property, although in some need of renovation, is usually received well by Exodus clients for its spectacular location on the edge of Lake Arenal and its good leisure facilities. We are aware that the food at this hotel isn’t of the highest standard and this is why we arrange to eat at nearby Mystica lodge where there is excellent Italian food. The Hotel Tilawa is currently the only option in the area that is large enough to accommodate a group of our size, without splitting into two smaller hotels. We do remain open to the possibility of changing the itinerary if a suitable alternative becomes available. I hope this explains our position and I’m really happy to hear that there were so many highlights on your trip with us.

Vicky Boughton – Product Manager for Costa Rica

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