Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting on the beach at Manuel Antonio with a palm tree behind us with a toucan at the top, a woodpecker half way up and an iguana next to us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Guillermo was excellent, hugely knowledgable about the bio diversity, seemed to know every species of bird we saw and had a very sound philosophy about life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack lots of changes of clothes as its mostly hot except in the mountains where you need a fleece at night. Leave the really cold gear behind. It can rain a lot on the boats at Tortuguero but ponchos are provided so a lightweight waterproof jacket is the only rain gear you need. You can buy caps everywhere which is useful both for rain and shine. Food (including salads) and water is generally safe but you still might need some Immodium just in case. Walking trips are generally fairly easy, albeit sometimes slippery when wet. I had walking boots, a pair of rugged trainers and walking sandals. If you wanted to save space you could get away with just walking shoes and leave the boots behind.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the cloud forest of Monteverde and on the hanging bridges in between the tree tops were definitely something inspirational. It was a rainy day which only made it more magical. An afternoon bird watching trip by a riverbed near Esquinas lodge was particularly enjoyable and the walk along the river at Savegre was both inspirational and tranquil. The sounds and closeness of the animals particularly in Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio and Esquinas lodge. And as a more general comment. On our trip we had a special birdwatching guide and therefore some fellow travellers were particularly interested in bird spotting. I found it particularly inspirational to see their enthusiasm and couldn't help becoming interested as well. Both the guide and the fellow travellers have definitely opened my eyes to a new world.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo is extremely knowledgeable on everything from birds, animals, plants as well as the history, politics and daily life of Costa Rica. He was helpful answering every silly question we could think of and constantly added extra walks in the mornings or afternoons, giving us every opportunity to get the most out of the trip. In Tortuguero he got us a very good guide for the boat trips on the canals. Don't know if other guides there were just as good, but we were very happy with our Hector. Also, Gustavos sense of humour definitely added to it being a joy having him as a guide. Our driver (Geraldo) was also very good and extremely helpful along the entire trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring proper trekking boots. Called Exodus to ask about foot wear and was told to just bring walking shoes and sandals. Walking in the rain on muddy paths in the cloud forest of Monteverde would have been a lot easier wearing a pair of trekking boots. Apart from that ..just enjoy

Most Inspirational Moment

The shared experience with like minded people, our group, the leader, the drivers and local people. There was a real and tangible desire to share highlights of new wildlife, food & drink, culture and scenery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was a gentleman, he made sure everyone's experience in Costa Rica was the best it could be, he was always accessible if required, appearing with a sixth sence at times to translate or inform. Passionate, knowledgeable and the leader within the group, he was in it with us and you felt that you and your shared adventure mattered to him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book now you will not regret it

Most Inspirational Moment

The tranquility at the Esquinas Rainforest Lodge comes top of the list, with only a couple of other guests staying there it provided time to relax an absorb your surroundings and the gardens and track provided many wildlife sightings and photo opportunities. A great start to the trip was at Tortuguero with boat rides into the lagoon and canals to see plenty of birds and also many sightings in and around the gardens and cabins. The beaches of Manuel Antonio were lovely, although very busy on the weekend and sadly most wildlife was seen hanging around the people (raccoons, monkeys and lizards) and not on the quiet forest trails.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andreas was an excellent leader, with a passion for of his country, and a huge amount of knowledge on the wildlife and birds, making every outing interesting and informative. He was very patient with our group of 16 and he and our driver, Orlando were friendly and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is classed as leisurely but I would point out that many of the hikes in the rainforests were quite strenuous (and sometimes muddy) with steps up and down making a walking pole invaluable.The day in the Monteverde rainforest was exhilarating, with a morning walk, followed by the Hanging Bridges (optional) and followed by the zipwires (14 of them & optional!) a brilliant day but with quite long stretches of walking and more steps to get you to the various platforms we were all exhausted by the end of the day!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to decide! Tortuguera cruising along the canals,spotting so many things. Monteverde Cloud Forest Lodge - arriving in the afternoon sunshine and the agoutis and Coatamundies just foraging around you in the gardens, then going down to then birdwatching lounge with panoramic views - Mot-mots and humming birds galore! Esquinas Lodge - heavenly! Savegre - more humming birds and the Resplendent Questrel!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antonio was superb - nothing was too much trouble and he dedicated himself totally to the group

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take notice of the trip notes- long and short trousers/ good walking shoes Be aware of long journeys on very bumpy roads - but with 'comfort'/coffee stops

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Resplendent Quetzal - in the hotel grounds at 6am. Seeing all four monkey species and both sloth.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antionio had bountiful knowledge, openness and honesty, an appropriate sense of humour, the ability to maximise out experience with the sightings but equally he demonstrated that he cared for us - his guests.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Remember when you are up at altitude don't expect your body to work as well. Be prepared for a sleepless nights as you listen to the sounds of the forest - monkey's across our roof, frogs croaking and the sound of rain. All very soothing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Costa Rica has a strong conservation policy and protected areas make up almost 27% of the country. We traveled around much of the country and were priveleged to see so many animals, birds and plants living in unspoilt areas of outstanding natural beauty. I went zipwiring and as we were waiting to be collected at the end someone dropped his helmet into some shrubs. He went to retrieve it but one of the young guys who was in charge shouted to him not to as he would tread on the plants. I won't forget that. Costa Rica has a young generation educated to look after what is so precious. That is hope for the future.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He is an experienced and knowledgeable tour leader who assessed the group and got it just right. He knows a great deal about the bird and plant life. We also learned a lot about life in Costa Rica but he had the skill to not be talking all the time so I could take it all in.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Learn a little Spanish as it adds to the holiday experience to say a few words, although English is widely spoken or understood. Have some money handy each day for small tips which are much appreciated. Staff are hard working and friendly.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in the rain on the canopy walk while looking down on the luxuriant vegetation. Watching the antics of the wide range of humming birds was of course, a lasting experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very pleasant character; well informed on all aspects of the trip with a sound knowledge of the country's flora & fauna and always ready and willing to help. Of our 15 trips with Exodus he was among the best of the leaders, all of which have been very good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You have to be interested in natural history to take maximum benefit from the trip and thus be ready for quite a bit of walking which, even at age of 82/84, we really enjoyed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Highlight of the trip? There wasn’t any single highlight. Everything we saw was a highlight. The colours are amongst the things you notice immediately on arriving in Costa Rica: the bright plumage of even the common birds, the array of brilliantly coloured flowers, the blood-red Pacific sunset, the vivid green jungle foliage reflected in the Tortuguero waterways. Another thing you notice is that wildlife is everywhere, even in the unlikeliest of places: a herd of coati around the minibus, a two-toed sloth and baby snoozing high up in the tree in an otherwise undistinguished restaurant car park; a three-toed sloth, in the same car park, laboriously descending his tree to do his toilet; a green parakeet on a suburban street in La Fortuna; crocodiles basking by the river under the motorway bridge.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Necessarily, there is a lot of time in the minibus so it was good to have 14 convivial fellow explorers. Our driver patiently negotiated the often difficult tracks that stood between us and the next discovery. As for our guide ….. . Johnny Villa-Lobos (no relation!) was a fund of information and expertise which he combined with good humour and bad jokes. He knew everything about everything Costa Rican; nothing floored him – he was equally knowledgeable about birds, flora and fauna, wildlife, history, the goal-scoring record of Mr Campbell. He knew it all. He was indispensable. Pura vida.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are lots of early starts to make the most of every day: we are near the equator, so it gets dark around 7pm. The gallo pinto (rice and beans) breakfast, washed down with some Costa Rican caffeine, is an ideal launch pad for the rigours ahead. On the bus we get some history: ticos take pride in the fact that they abolished the army 60 years ago (they all became teachers, policemen or doctors apparently). Every village, you will be told, boasts a church, a school and a football field.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tortuguera national park on the carribean coast.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of birds animals and plants, which made all the differnce if your knowledge was very limited, like mine. Great organisational skills, and superb interpersonal skills made the trip very enjoyable for everyone.