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.

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335 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Anne French

Reviewed March 2023

Trip of a Lifetime

This was the most amazing experience, enhanced by the enthusiasm and knowledge of our tour guide, David Vargas. We pretty well covered all areas of Costa Rica seeing diverse environments and experiencing different climates. David is an ornithologist and did his utmost to inspire the group with his love of birds and his country. His extensive knowledge of the history of his country and of its flora and fauna enhanced the experience. He always went the extra mile to ensure our comfort and to consider the needs of the group. We would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone who has an interest in the extraordinary amount of wildlife that is there for all to

Most Inspirational Moment

The time we spent in Tortuguero due to the attractiveness of the eco lodge and huge variety of wildlife. There were so many great experiences but another to stand out was the time spent in the south at Piedras Blancas Esquinas when we did a night walk in the rain forest with boots and torches - a first! And another beautiful eco lodge…

Thoughts on Group Leader

See general review. He was inspirational and much appreciated by the whole group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

People considering this holiday would be advised to bring stout footwear due to the challenge of uneven and muddy ground in the forests. We wished we had taken a travel kettle as there are only coffee makers in the rooms. Most hotels and lodges have hot showers but no hot water in the hand basins. Also no plugs, so take your own. Also adaptors of course.

Jay Gid

Reviewed March 2023

Discovering Costa Rica Trip

The holiday got off to a bad start with my first night at the Radisson Hotel. My room smelt extremely musty, there were large stains on the carpet, the curtain was hanging off the curtain rail and the dark brown furniture was very chipped. When I booked the trip, it was planned to stay at the Presidente which is in the heart of downtown San Jose. The Radisson is about 3/4 mile outside San Jose and walking outside after dark was not recommended. However, once away from San Jose, the holiday lived up to expectations, with spacious lodges in beautiful, peaceful settings (apart from the wildlife!). The flora and fauna was stunning and we had only one really wet day in Arenal. I was taken aback by the high cost of living and, where lunch and dinner were not provided, having both lunch and dinner at posh restaurants was both very expensive and, for me, unnecessary. A modest snack at lunch time would have sufficed. Setting up a group WhatsApp worked very well. Not only could we share photos, but also any last-minute changes in arrangements or the spot of a rare bird could be communicated to the group instantly. All sites had good Wi-Fi availability.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a sloth at close range. Waking up before first light and listening to the birds beginning to sing. Seeing a quetzal at close range. Using my newly purchased binoculars to spot tiny little birds in the forest. Filming hummingbirds using slo-mo on my phone

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, David Vargas, was absolutely brilliant. He is very charismatic but also a complete fanatic when it comes to birding. His instinct to spot sloths was amazing too. I love that we saw so many 2- and 3-toed sloths. Whenever the group had any down time, David always arranged an optional walk around the lodge gardens to view the wildlife there and also conducted sunrise walks for those interested to hunt out the birds. David also looked after the needs of the group, finding ATMs and post offices, recommending and booking excellent and quirky restaurants for our evening meals when required and organising a successful quetzal viewing trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you stay at the Radisson and get a truly awful room, please do ask Reception to change your room. Ask you group leader to set up a WhatsApp group so you can share photos etc

Sally Atkinson

Reviewed March 2023

Discover Cosra Rica

Brilliant trip, probably our best holiday yet. My husband is a keen birdwatcher, I am less interested but we both loved this trip. Our guide pointed out many birds, animals ,reptiles, insects and flora, he was amazing. We learned a lot about the natural history, biodiversity and conservation aspects of Costa Rica. We also heard about social and political history. Eric our guide was passionate about his country. Our driver Vincent was a careful and considerate driver and was happy to stop and reverse so that we could see birds or creatures we saw from the bus.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved seeing the sloths and monkeys, my husband saw over 170 new birds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was friendly, knowledgeable, approachable, patient. His English was perfect. He made our holiday memorable. While on the trip we accidentally left our belongings in a hotel safe when we moved on to another hotel. Eric arranged with the hotel and colleague for us to get them back. He did this in a very discreet, efficient and kindly way. It was also our 50th wedding anniversary, he arranged and paid for a celebration cake and we had a wonderful evening with the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the rain.

Nicky Allen

Reviewed March 2023

Fantastic Time

The trip was everything we were expecting and more. We have returned home with so many memories of both the group of people we met as well as the wonderful wildlife that Costa Rica has to share.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our stay at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge was truly memorable and such an experience being immersed in the rainforest. Wildlife and the sound of nature was around every corner. You can just sit on the veranda of your cabin and soak it all up.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Erick was such a knowledgeable leader. His ability to spot and identify birds hidden out of sight from mere mortals was incredible. His experience and input made the trip so special and without his guidance and insight, we would have missed so much.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Even though we went in the "less rainy" season, it still rained. At some locations, it was cold, especially in the evenings. As advised, we took a poncho to keep the rain off, but in fact you need something a little more robust and perhaps warmer! That said, other locations were steaming hot, so you need a bit of everything really! Also, even though this trip is classified as a level 1 (leisurely), don't be fooled into thinking this will all be on flat ground. Some trips were quite strenuous and when combined with high altitude, it did make for some challenging walks. But the wildlife made it all so worthwhile.

Lucy Wheatley

Reviewed March 2023

A delightful and easy, relaxed adventure in Costa Rica

I had not been on an Exodus trip before but have been on small group tours with JLA and G Adventures, probably 6-8 trips in total. Discover Costa Rica did what it says on the packet. There was no significant deviation from the trip as described at booking and on departure. We visited different habitats and ecosystems in different regions of Costa Rica with excellent guide plus superb driver. The accommodation was as I expected: adequate to good but nothing luxurious. Activities were well spaced and well explained. overall the trip was physically easier than I have experienced before, but as I am getting older I am not sorry about that! I particularly valued no ‘single night’ stops. All stays were 2 nights which is far more relaxing. The standard of service and food in all hotels was good. Access to coffee and tea was not good at every venue

Most Inspirational Moment

Being able to experience the country, flora and fauna with such a well informed and passionate guide.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Pablo was excellent. His English was fluent. His knowledge of topics relevant to 'Discover Costa Rica' and of managing small tour groups were brilliant. He was professional and friendly and unfailingly pleasant and polite to all, including one couple who were always ready to complain and want different rooms etc. (There is always one!). My only criticism is that maybe he could have tried more to ensure that those of us who wanted to see the wild-life and take poor holiday photos had more opportunity to get the long lenses out of the way. Having said that I think they would just have been rude and made things unpleasant. He went the extra mile when I left my iPad in one hotel. I was successfully reunited with it before the end of the trip thanks to his actions. He was also excellent at managing the situation when some of our group tested positive for Covid. I would also like to comment on the superb driving skills of Jose who was our driver for most of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do read about the sort of place you are going to and that it is a 'Group' trip. You are going to rural Cost Rica, not Eastbourne. You are staying 2 nights in each venue with several hours driving in-between venues. Rural roads in Costa Rica are hilly, windy and not always paved. If you are a long lens enthusiast please remember that everyone has paid the same for the same opportunities to view wild life and some people wan the opportunity to do that without long lenses always pushing to the front and staying there.

jackie spiby

Reviewed February 2023

pity about the trip notes

Great holiday Costa Rica is great fun and lots of birds. just a few points: there are lots of additional activities so take plenty of dollars. if you don’t take them up you lose a lot of the experience and may have to stay on the bus. at least a couple of the hotels are not as stated in the trip notes and not really equivalent. The San Jose hotel is way out of town so you miss doing the city tour and there isn’t much to do there. take a camera. take the best camera you can get or be lucky and have some great photographers in the group. enjoy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Tortuguero

Thoughts on Group Leader

a great birder

Digby HOLMAN

Reviewed February 2023

Discover Costa Rica Feb 2023

Excellent trip in every way. 6 locations 2 nights at each. Was wondering how Exodus worked it out. Including both coasts and high ground. Our trip was focussed on birds in particular and are group of 16 had a cohesiveness as a result – we were all considerate to one another, the wildlife, and ‘the moment out in the field’. Good value. we saw more than we could have expected I feel. The country of Costa Rica delivers on a number of levels and so does Exodus!

Most Inspirational Moment

How we all got on! With the help of our guide Armando. and then seeing an Osprey grab a fish and fly away in Tortuguero Then there were the Toucan's, Tanager's and a Tayra - and that's just the letter T! Most of us had Tortuguero down as our favourite spot. The inland waterway on one side -the roaring surf (like noisy air con at night) on the other - truly inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

First class. Friendly. Caring. Funny. With knowledge and intelligence to bring the best out of the surroundings and the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Yes The trip is one big journey in a suitcase. Take time out at the end to relax before heading home.

Amy Freeman

Reviewed February 2023

Busy cramped bus holiday

Costa Rica is lovely. The guides and drivers are amazing! As for the booking of the holiday, the bus being too small by at least 2/3 people (I was an extra) meant on long journeys it was not pleasant and caused problems. Some accommodation needed a little more thought (was the booking fit for the occupants, this could have been local).

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the ocean, seeing the quetzal bird, loved the boat trips through the rainforest.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayer was simply amazing!!! He was group leader/ cater/ problem solver, that man deserves a medal.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack more warmer clothes, it wasn’t warm very often and you can get a frost in some locations. Use the laundrettes at the beginning of the journey, the end part is super expensive. Pack snacks for long journeys. Have an amazing camera. Be prepared for long journeys.

Mark Tudball

Reviewed February 2023

Amazing country and a great tour leader

I finally made it to Costa Rica after my initial booking was cancelled at the start of COVID. I am so glad I re-booked because it was an amazing trip. The country is beautiful and we moved between various stunning areas and micro climates with the aid of our great tour leader Johnny Villalobos and our driver Wilbour. We were also lucky that the group gelled really well and the tour Whats App group is still in full swing. We were also helped by amazing weather which cannot be guaranteed. The accommodation apart from the Sleep Inn in San Jose (which was noisy) was all very good and immersed us in the local environment. Esquinas Lodge was especially beautiful. Obviously the animal and specifically the bird life was spectacular and it will take me weeks to sort through the amazing photos. An amazing trip and one of the best I have done.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to say as there were many. It is between seeing Quetzals in Savegre and the beauty of Esquinas Lodge and the inspirational story of how it came about. Costa Rica has been lucky that it listened to some inspirational people. We also met several inspirational people who have created a life from what was a very hard environment. Real explorers.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Johnny Villalobos is an amazing person. You don't need a bird expert trip because he is one. He is also encyclopedic and very proud about the stories of Costa Rica. It is all put across in a very calm way and he always seems in control. Most mornings at 6am he would do an extra bird walk for those who wanted to attend and along with Wilbour our excellent driver added several extra activities at no cost. He is still answering questions on Whats App.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it. The country is very stable and beautiful and that cannot be said for many places these days. We were there in the dryer season and we found we didn't need walking boots. Good walking shoes were enough. If required as it was for the night walk rubber boots will be supplied and are compulsory. I was unlucky at the end so pack some immodium (I was the only one) and if it's bad visit a pharmacy. But don't let that put you off it can happen anywhere. Wash a few things everyday as you go along. I never needed to use a laundry.

Sue Bradshaw

Reviewed February 2023