Reviews

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

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330 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviewed January 2014

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

This was one of the "birding" departure dates, with the emphasis obviously on seeing many of the 800-odd resident and migrant species found in Costa Rica. There were plenty of opportunities for birding but other wildlife was not ignored so don’t let this put you off these dates if (like me) you aren’t a serious bird watcher.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing baby turtles scrambling out of their nests and scuttling down the beach at Tortuguero to reach the sea - truly unforgettable and really set the standard for the rest of the trip.Watching and photographing a three-toed sloth for half an hour in Manuel Antonio NP as it slowly clambered about in a nearby tree.Seeing hummingbirds for the first time, then seeing yet more and even more after that!! Getting some shots of these beautiful birds in flight as they darted from flower to flower or hovered near the feeders.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio was really great - first and foremost truly brilliant at spotting and identifying birds, but his depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and love for his country, the birds and animals as well as the culture really shine through.Gio was also very good at organising and tailoring walks and tours to suit the group or individuals, and was flexible enough to change the itinerary where necessary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Costa Rica is a truly beautiful country, and the people are welcoming and charming. If you are considering this trip then go, the wildlife alone makes it worth it, then you have the forests, volcanoes and beaches and people. As a keen photographer I lugged my big heavy 70-400mm zoom around with me most of the time, and it was well worth the effort, as a 300mm zoom wouldn't have had enough reach for some of the bird sightings. Having said that, on a few of the late afternoon birding walks I left the camera behind as the light levels drop after 4pm or so, and it was great just to forget about photography and enjoy watching the birds through binoculars or the guide's very good telescope.At Santa Elena Cloud Forest I opted out of the afternoon canopy walk and spent a brilliant couple of hours photographing hummingbirds at the feeding station to get the best of the available daylight, so there can be a bit of flexibility in the itinerary if you want to get the most from photographing the wildlife. Be prepared to up the ISO to 1600 or 3200 to capture fast movement or freeze birds hiding in trees and shadows. So many shots were deleted because shutter speeds were too low.I took a small netbook with me to back up and review my photos each day - really great to see what you've shot on a bigger screen, and maybe learn from mistakes for the next day. I also took a couple of 32GB/95 MB/sec cards as I was shooting in RAW, sometimes in 7fps bursts.

Reviewed January 2014

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

This trip ticked every box I’d thought of, and then added a few more. For anybody interested in wildlife and the environment it will be an incredible journey.

Most Inspirational Moment

I don't think there was an inspirational moment, as such. The whole trip was an inspiration and gave me a appreciation of a country which is at ease with itself, despite its problems, and is attempting to create a society and environment which will benefit future generations. The Costa Ricans have a saying "Pura vida" which sums up their approach to life and this holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Gio Madrigal, was fantastic! His enthusiasm and commitment made the trip very special. He was not only an expert in flora and fauna, as would be expected, but his knowledge of his country's history and society added another layer to the experience. I cannot commend him highly enough.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to pace yourself for a climate which can be very hot and humid. Always carry a water bottle, and use it.Dawn comes early so don't lay around in bed or you'll waste the best part of the day. Take a sink plug with you as most rooms don't have them. Costa Ricans are very friendly and welcoming people; go and meet them. It is very easy to strike up a conversation.

Reviewed December 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a fantastic country. The places we visited, the people we met and the wildlfe we saw was all just perfect. We stayed in each hotel for 2 nights and this was quite relaxing. All the places we stayed in were amazing. The weather was fantastic – not too much rain!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

We saw baby Green Turtles just hatched and coming out of the sand starting their new lifes running down the beach and getting swept by the waves into the Sea. A very emotional experience. And one of my favourite moments was watching 2 Toucans sitting in the tree right outside my lodge in Monteverde Cloud Forest eating berries and chatting to each other. We also saw the rare Quetzel too which was fabulous.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio was a fabulous leader. He was so knowledgable about everything and looked after us all so well. Gerardo the driver was brilliant too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this trip!!!!

Reviewed December 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

Beautiful lush country teeming with wildlife!

Most Inspirational Moment

All the wildlife spotting was great but I particularly love monkeys, lizards & sloths, of which there were plenty to see. Seeing capuchins so up close & personal at Manuel Antonio was fab!Zipwiring at Monteverde was fantastic - so much fun & great to be high up in the canopy close to the howler monkeys.Savegre was beautiful, peaceful, relaxing & refreshing - great place to end the trip!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was friendly, helpful & kept everything running smoothly. Jeffrey, our driver, was great - I felt really safe despite the rough roads & lousy weather .

Advice for Potential Travellers

Invest in a decent poncho - when it rains it really rains & a raincoat just isn't enough! Despite what trip notes may say, you are able to take all your luggage to Tortuguero, so no need to worry.Definitely make use of the wellies provided at Esquinas Lodge - the trails are very wet, muddy & you have to walk thru some streams. US dollars are universally accepted & there were ATM's in most places we went to. Be prepared for things to be expensive (food especially).

Reviewed November 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An interesting and wonderful country. Exodus organisation was impeccable. Not a cheap location and activities/shopping aimed at ‘Tourists’ charged in USD and often over-priced.

Most Inspirational Moment

For us both, seeing baby and adult turtles. For myself seeing the amazing butterfly population, particularly the Morphos.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good and reliable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Add a few days at Pacuare Lodge [www.pacuarelodge.com] at the end of your Exodus trip. Arrive and depart by white water raft. Amazing location, service, staff and food. In National Geographic's top 25 Ecolodge list! Our only mistake was not booking for longer!!Take twice as many USD as you think you will need. Contrary to expectation the the visit and walk to Arenal goes nowhere near the summit or crater. Don't bother visiting Selvatura Park, Monteverde - very overpriced, staff indifferent and some frankly rude. Visit the nearby Monteverde Butterfly Gardens 'El Mariposario' instead [not to be mistaken for the understocked butterfly house which is part of Selvatura Park].For snacks in Monteverde go to the Orchid Cafe - wonderful iced coffees and other delights!

Reviewed October 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

A truly amazing trip which surpassed my high expectations. Everything was perfect, the accommodation, the food, the guide, Giovanni, the local guides, the itinerary which included close contact with lots of amazing wildlife and chance to become familiar with some of the culture of Costa Rica with a visit to a coffee plantation, a school and an appetising lunch with a lady who makes delicious cheese.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to choose one there were so many but my first view of a sloth was amazing, I had always wanted to see one, also getting so close to iguanas who posed beautifully for photographs. Gliding peacefully along the canals at Tortuguero was like a dream. And I loved the feeling of being so close to nature at Esquinas lodge, listening to the evening frog chorus.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Giovanni was all you could ask for in a guide. His knowledge about wildlife was extensive and he never tired of answering our endless questions. He was obviously proud of his country and was keen for us to learn something about his people. He was able to recommend some good eating places. He was sensitive to all our needs and had a good sense of humour. He made sure dietery requirements were met and went out of his way to make sure we saw all the wildlife we could, He had amazing spotting ability, we wondered how he managed to spot some things, and would stop the bus so we could take photographs and get a closer look through his telescope. He made sure we saw the resplendant quetzal at Savegre. We were lucky enough to see male, female and juvenile.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book now it is an amazing trip. A poncho is really useful as it covers your rucksack when it rains. I took my own wellies for the muddy walks but others managed in trainers. I found my walking stick useful on really muddy tracks as it helped maintain balance when it was slippery. The walking is not difficult many of the trails are on stony tracks. I didn't need the separate holdall for the trip to Tortuguero as there was enough room for luggage even on a full boat. Check you have enough time for connecting flights in Madrid if you choose that route.A super absorbent travel towel was useful on the waterfall walk to dry off after a swim.Take plenty of insect repellent. We had to go through security again in Madrid on the return journey even my bottle of water bought airside of security in San Jose was confiscated so this might affect what you buy at duty free in San Jose.

Reviewed October 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

An excellent trip all round with a great group of fellow travellers. I saw and did everything that I wanted to and took lots and lots of photographs!

Most Inspirational Moment

I think seeing the green sea turtles hatching on the beach at Tortuguero was the highlight of my trip. We had been looking on the beach at dawn and dusk for 2 days when Primo our boatman called us over and we had to run and walk for about a kilometre along the beach just in time to see about 70 hatchlings break out of their nest and head off in to the sea. The visit to the organic farm is surprisingly good fun. Gustavo and Christian the farm worker are a great double act. Try some of the raw sugar cane juice and also the local rum that they brew from it whilst you are there. You will also find out how to harvest papaya the Costa Rican way, using your hat.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo was an excellent tour leader throughout the whole trip. Paulo was our bus driver and was able to navigate Costa Rica's roads with ease and as much comfort as possible for us. Gustavo has an obvious enthusiasm for his country and also has an excellent knowledge of the local wildlife, trees and plants. He was able to answer all our questions with a great deal of understanding and patience. We were quite a big group but Gustavo always had plenty of time for every one of us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in September and for me this was a great time of year to go. The turtles had been nesting for a few months and so there was a good chance to see hatchlings. It was also just before the main season started (Oct to May for the cruise ships) so there weren't too many other tourists at each of our destinations. The food in Costa Rica is not cheap and it is quite easy to spend a fair bit of money on the optional extras such as the boat trip for whale watching. Take one of those big sink plugs as a lot of the hotel rooms don't have sink plugs! If you want to get some laundry done then the Esquinas lodge only charge $15 for a bag full rather than per item. Also at Esquinas spend a little time choosing some wellies that fit, they are very useful after the rain! The horse riding is suitable for complete novices (like me) but it is quite a long trek (3 hrs round trip on the horses) as long as you can hang on as the horses know the way. The horses do like snacking on the way so try your best to keep them out of the hedgerows.

Reviewed June 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

2 Weeks in Costa Rica was a dream come true for a nature lover like me. I loved the lush tropical forests with blooming gingers and heliconias everywhere.

Most Inspirational Moment

I like to learn about local life and culture so I was really pleased to visit a rural dairy farm. We also went dancing at a local bar in La Gamba....ask your guide to take you there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Gustavo was a fabulous guide. I also have to give kudos to our driver Pablo for his driving skills.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for rain. Our tour started mid-May which is the start of the rainy season and it rained everywhere we went, sometimes for a short time and sometimes for hours. You will need an umbrella, poncho and waterproof footwear. I'm somewhat of a foodie so I do have to add that I was disappointed with the food in Costa Rica. Overall I found the food expensive, bland and uninspired at most of the lodges and restaurants we went to. I do recommend lunch at the organic farm in La Fortuna, they prepare local dishes from ingredients grown on the farm.

Reviewed May 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is a natural paradise teeming with life; monkeys swing in the canopy of the steamy rainforest, exotic birds constantly flutter and squawk overhead, cascading rivers carve through jungle and waterfalls plunge into pritine pools. The trip is the perfect introduction to this Central American country and its weirdly wonderful wildife. A perfectly balanced itinerary with two nights spent in each destination, from mangrove lagoons to cool, mistly clouds forests, sun-kissed Pacific beaches to sweltering, impenetrable rainforests, you say goodbye to Tico land feeling like you really have discovered Costa Rica!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were too many fantastic wildlife encounters, it is impossible to pick just one! My first highlight would be simply waking up to the sounds of the rainforest on my very first morning in Tortuguero - howling monkeys, chirping birds and chattering cicadas to name just a few. The boa constrictor digesting its iguana lunch on the banks of the mangroves in Tortuguero was a spontaneous encounter we were incredibly lucky to see; the Common Potoo and her chick nestled in a tree in Manuel Antonio was another rare and special sighting; and coming face to face with a Howler monkey piggy backing her baby was an initmate, albeit brief, interlude never to be repeated on the trip. With a view of Arenal volcano to one side and a lake on the other and swathes of undulating forest unfolding beneath me, zip lining 200 metres high over rainforest canopy was probably the most breathtaking moment of the trip! I was also delighted to see ten types of frog, including the iconic Red Eye Tree frog and the almost transparent Glass frog, during a couple of guided night walks - I would definitely recommend joining these walks as it is incredibly difficult to spot the night time wildlife in Costa Rica without an expert to point you in the right direction!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader, Pedro, was brilliant. His knowledge of the local wildlife was pretty much flawless, even able to identify a number of bird species simply by their birdsong alone! He was informative, flexible and dynamic enough to accommodate the needs of the group. During the few long bus journeys he educated and entertained us with humorous annecdotes and stories of his country's history.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take walking boots or at least a pair of decent walking trainers. Depending on the time of year you travel, some trails can be muddy, uneven and slippery. If interested in photography, take a decent telephoto lens with you as a number of the wildlife encounters maybe at a distance and often obscured by leaves and branches! Waterproofs and quick drying layers are a must as it can take a while for cotton clothes to dry out in that humidity. Oh and don't forget to take a decent supply of DEET repellent (or buy some locally) - the mosquitos out there mean business! Above all else, immerse yourself in the nature and enjoy one wildlife highlight after the next...it is an incredible destination.

Reviewed May 2013

DISCOVER COSTA RICA

A great overall and varied introduction to an amazing country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being in such close proximity to beautiful hummingbirds

Thoughts on Group Leader

Johnny is a wonderful guide and ambassador for Costa Rica. If he didn't know something, (which was rare) he would find out and let you know the answer.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go! You will not be disappointed.

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