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

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337 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Reviews

Trip of a lifetime

We travelled mid February 2023 to Costa Rica. It was the trip of a lifetime and delivered everything I hoped for and more. Arriving at the airport we felt immediately that we were in great hands on meeting our guide David Vargas and driver Wilbur. The knowledge and expertise of our guide David Vargas made our trip a very interesting one. We learned so much about birds of which David is literally an expert as well as learning about Costa Rica. David also had fantastic people skills and helped our lovely group to quickly become friends and gave a 150% to ensuring we were all having a fabulous trip. Costa Rica was beautiful and inspiring. Nature is all around you and within the first two days I had seen more wildlife than I ever had in my life before. The trip gives does give you a packed schedule but this allows you to see and experience and all the diversity that this amazing country offers. It was our first ever group holiday and we absolutely loved the experience. Travelling with like minded nature lovers allowed for laughter but also learning. We are a middle aged couple who enjoyed the social side of this trip very much. The conversations and laughter at meal times and during exploring made our trip a memorable one.

Most Inspirational Moment

Travelling by boat through the natural beauty in Tortuguero was one of the moments that I will remember forever. It felt like we were in a David Attenborough documentary in a remote unspoiled place with amazing wildlife ever where we looked. The driver of our boat along with David our guide made sure we saw everything the water ways had to offer. I will go back for sure! The other inspirational moment was swimming in the pool as it went dark in Esquinas Lodge watching the bats fly around. The rainforest was beautiful and the whole experience staying there was magical. I went to Costa Rica to see a sloth and we saw more than I count. I also had so many encounters with monkeys my favourite animals all of which I found inspiring.

Thoughts on Group Leader

David Vargas was the best guide we could have had and anyone that gets to go on a trip with him is very lucky indeed. We all felt very privileged to have such a lovely and knowledgeable group leader and our trip was very special because of the care he took of our group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Expect a busy schedule but do as many activities as you can or you will regret it. Clothes drying can be a challenge so take light clothing but also bring something warm for the higher ground. Take a waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots are essential.

Voyage of discovery

This was the first trip to Central America for my wife & me. The group size was only nine, so not too large which helped a lot when it came to looking through one mono scope at yet another new bird. The trip mainly involved birdwatching, though bathing in hot springs, a river & the Pacific ocean were features. The hotels were all to a good standard, however, the Suria hotel had a limited menu for all four main meals. Distances travelled were generally less than 5 hours, however, one day that was exceeded when a bridge partially collapsed. We visited tropical & rainforest as well as cloud forest & mountane (transitional) climates. Our amazing guide David, helped us to spot literally hundreds of birds & he was so knowledgeable & enthusiastic. He also ensured any problems were dealt with diligently & effectively. This was truly an incredible adventure & we can thoroughly recommend it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing an anteater cross the road on a wire with a baby on her back.

Thoughts on Group Leader

David Vargas was the best leader one could ever have hoped for.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is the rain forest, ensure good waterproofs!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.