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Excellent introduction to a lovely country
Many related to the wonderful birds and wildlife we saw.
Alejandro Rodriquez
Be prepared for various temperatures and degrees of humidity. Transfers between areas took longer than I expected although the bus was comfortable and there were plenty of stops.
Very enjoyable
This was a jam-packed itinerary, with many walks and other activities, combined with a lot of driving. We moved on every two days, which was necessary to see everything, but it also meant there was no down time. Although this was a wildlife trip, at times the wildlife was rather shy. Some walks we saw very little. We probably saw more wildlife on the boat trips. Our expectations were probably not realistic, but we expected toucans and sloths to be hanging off every branch. It’s not like that (at least in the dry season). We didn’t see a sloth until halfway through the trip when there was one on a tree next to our hotel. Never saw a yellow-billed toucan, although we did see other toucans and toucanets (never knew there was such a thing!). Final count was around 150 different birds, as well as many other creatures (many of which we didn’t know existed). So the wildlife was amazing, but you need to know it doesn’t necessarily just pop out at you. On some walks, especially in Manuel Antonio, there were so many other groups looking at the same thing that it was quite difficult to get in to see things and was quite tiring at times. The walks throughout the trip were also very slow and we understand the pace was to suit looking for wildlife but walking so slowly was difficult and tiring in the heat.
Spotting wildlife in its natural habitat is wonderful.And looking at the stars on the beach in Tortuguero. Amazing!
Jonathan had an encyclopedic knowledge of birds and other wildlife. We've never had a guide who knew so much detail about everything we were seeing. However, the organizational side was a bit confusing at times. It would have been useful to have had an opening formal briefing with everybody introducing themselves and then daily briefings to let us know what was going on the next day, which we have had on other Exodus trips. Our driver Keylor was great, getting us over some quite rough terrain at times, and even spotting and stopping for monkeys and other animals along the way.
Half of the group got sick (plus Jonathan and Keylor). We are not sure exactly what the source was - although it may have been improperly filtered water from a hotel. So bring enough Imodium for a few days (to help with the long bus rides in particular) and we found rehydration salts helpful. A couple of people brought ciprofloxacin just in case. We don't want to over emphasize this aspect, but we've never been on a trip with so many people falling ill and it did impact our enjoyment of the trip as we had to miss out on some activities. Obviously not Exodus' fault - just the nature of the type of region we were in. Note that you can get laundry done along the way, and the prices are reasonable, especially at Esquinas Lodge. It is difficult for things to dry if you wash them yourself since it is humid and you don't much time at any one place.
Be prepared for long drives - 4-5+ hours at times, with stops. We did the extension to Tamarindo. Because of a bridge that was out, combined with a holiday weekend, it took 7 1/2 hours to get there. On the way back, Exodus arranged for a private transfer because we needed to make a flight. That took 5 hours. A regular group transfer would take longer because you need to change vehicles halfway there, adding a half an hour. So the 4-5 hour estimates are not particularly realistic. Tamarindo was eye-opening, and not entirely in a good way. On the positive side, it is a beautiful position on the Pacific. And while it is quite busy and noisy (the booming music never seems to stop), we were able to find some quieter spots. Our hotel was nice - Arco Iris. Set back from the hustle and bustle a bit, a nice pool and great breakfasts (although not much else on site). On the negative side, Tamarindo represents a highly problematic side of tourism. As we drove in from the north (our driver went off-piste to avoid traffic), we saw lots of luxury hotels and gated communities in development. This appears to be primarily for the American market and likely does not return much to the local communities as foreigners buy up the country. And the roads were atrocious (presumably this will all change in a few years since the rich expats wouldn't stand for this as they drive to their luxury villas). Tamarindo itself was a bit bizarre. Nice beach town in some ways but with an undercurrent of a developing country being gentrified. Once you got off the main road running parallel to the beach, the roads were very poor, frequently without sidewalks, highlighting the dual nature of the place. And then there were the golf carts. You would see men driving their families around in golf carts and then parking them in designated golf cart parking spaces, as if the entire town was just one big luxury resort for their personal enjoyment. And the jacked-up dune buggies were also a sight to behold. So while eventually the extension provided us a bit of downtime after the trip, it was a bit unsettling. And driving back to San Jose to catch a flight the same day resulted in us being in transit for 31 hours, which was a bit exhausting. If you go to Tamarindo we suggest you spend an additional night in San Jose before flying home. However, we suggest that Exodus consider whether Tamarindo is the best place to send its customers. It certainly does not sit with its commitment to sustainability (lots of water is diverted from other parts of the country to sustain Tamarindo and the development around it, and it is clear that the development is not for the locals). Perhaps there are other places on either the Pacific or Caribbean coasts that would not have such a negative environmental and social impact. Also, while we understand why Exodus includes the home visit, it was a bit strange and awkward. It also came at a bad time at the very end as we were on our way back to San Jose when people were tired and many still feeling unwell.
My perspective is that of a fit and active gent in his early 70’s. Also, this is my first trip with Exodus. As another reviewer has noted, “Discover Costa Rica” is almost exclusively a nature trip. The itinerary touches only slightly on the peoples, history and culture of Costa Rica. This is also an active trip! You’re on the move every second day: bags packed and ready for loading by 7:00 AM with 8:00 AM departure. There’s not much downtime throughout this two-week trip.
It struck me that on a nature trip like this, the wildlife needs to “get the memo” that we’re coming. The wildlife needs to show up! Seriously, the forces of climate/climate change, local weather, and seasonality can come together in a way that limits the opportunity for wildlife viewing. Such was my experience. Several of the nature walks yielded very little in terms of wildlife viewing. In no way do I fault our group leader. He was VERY knowledgeable. I can’t imagine anyone trying harder to find wildlife for our tour group to view. So . . . enjoy the walk in the tropics and any wildlife you see is a bonus might be a good mindset.
Most of the wildlife I saw was birds. It seems silly almost to state the obvious. Birds are actually quite small as compared with other wildlife, say, an elephant you might spot on a trip to Africa! A bird can come into view, alight on a branch, and then, within a few seconds, disappear into the lush vegetation. There’s limited opportunity to observe the creature and perhaps take a few photos. I wish I’d considered this more before embarkation!
Accommodation was perfectly serviceable, clean rooms and well maintained. This is not luxe accommodation but it’s not spartan either. It was perfectly in line with the amount I paid to take the tour. The food was varied and tasty. Lots of it!
In my opinion, Discover Costa Rica is a good trip that could be great if the itinerary was tweaked a bit. For openers, I would get rid of one two-night stop (suggest Monteverde as we saw almost nothing) and create two other three-night stops. This would allow for a little downtime. I would also add some trip experiences such as the farm visit on the final day. These added experiences might focus on the people, history, and culture of Costa Rica. This way, if the wildlife “doesn’t get the memo”, there are still some high-quality experiences that the traveler will cherish.
I can’t say I had any “wow” moments. That said, I very much enjoyed the 3 river boat trips we took. These plus Manuel Antonio Park were the wildlife highlights. The farm visit on the final day was also great as it offered insight into the life of the owner of a small farm. A very hard-working, gracious, and welcoming host. My wife and I were the only Canadians on this trip; all others were from the U.K. I can’t overstate how pleasant these folks were to travel with! A real delight and they contributed hugely to our overall enjoyment of the trip.
As mentioned above, our group leader Jonathan was very knowledgeable; encyclopedic I guess you could say in all matters about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. He went all out in his quest to show us all that was possible to see in terms of wildlife. Well organized.
10 of the 18 people (we were 2 of the 10!) became ill on this trip with abdominal upset, etc. Take some meds to deal with this in the event it happens to you. Having some antibiotic pills would be great if your doctor would provide the prescription before you go. Also, bring basic first aid supplies on the walks for scrapes, cuts, insect bites, etc. (The group leader has none.) Give your wildlife viewing expectations a reality check as implied above. In places, the heat and humidity can be brutal for someone like me who comes from a temperate climate (British Columbia). You may have to pass on a few activities if you’re overwhelmed. At 2200 meters elevation (7000 feet), a number of us struggled at Sevegre which is the final stop before returning to San Jose. I was probably the worst as I felt I was constantly struggling for air especially at night when trying to sleep.
Great way to see a lot of Costa Rica with the huge benefit of a private vehicle and guide. All accommodation was a high standard as well as good and ample food in all hotels.
Too many to choose, but ziplining through the canopy at Monteverde, the river trips, and of course the diversity of wildlife.
Jonathan was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about everything to do with Costa Rica, in particular incredible knowledge of the flora and fauna. The timings given for travel, walks and general activities were often underestimated so it would have been better to be very clear about the daily plans and timings, and what we needed to pack for the following day, so there were no surprises.
Although the rating was 3 for Wildlife (Three: Designed for people with a general interest in wildlife, but who also want to experience the other highlights of the destination), we did find it heavily focused on wildlife spotting, which meant that all walks were done at a slow pace in order to maximise spotting. This sometimes meant that there was not always enough time to do some of the optional activities. Most people had good SLRs and some with telephoto lens as sometimes you do need a good zoom for the wildlife. The activity level is rated 1 out of 7, but some days had a couple of walks of 2.5-3 hours in the heat, which some found quite hard. There is also a lot of travel in the bus, so be prepared for that. The temperature ranges from extremely hot & humid in Manuel Antonio and Esquinas, to cooler in Savegre, and of course it can always rain although we were very lucky and hardly had any. Sturdy walking shoes and walking sandals with straps were fine throughout. Esquinas can get muddy but they supply wellies, so bring appropriate socks! We didn’t need walking boots at all. Over half of our group got ill half way through the trip with upset stomachs and cramps. The cause was not identified and could be a usual travel bug, but make sure you bring enough medical supplies just in case. We understand other recent groups on this trip had also been affected.
Although we did see all the wildlife we could wish for, some walks (in particular the cloud forests) seemed very quiet and sometimes meant we didn't see much at all. The river boat trips seemed to provide the most abundant viewings. It was mentioned this could have been because it was so hot, with little recent rain, so that can seem to affect sightings. If you set your expectations accordingly and just go to enjoy walking in the jungle, and if you see wildlife then its a bonus, then you won't be disappointed. Esquinas Lodge was completely in the middle of the jungle with a beautiful pool and very blended with the surroundings. The windows in your room are just mesh so you can hear the sounds of the jungle. Whilst there is a fan it did little to keep you cool, particularly given the high humidity! Tortuguero also only had fans, but wasn't quite as hot. All other hotels had a/c.
This proved to be a memorable trip, for all the right reasons! The wildlife is extraordinary. Point a camera in any direction and you will capture something wonderful, including sloths, toucans, quetzals, crocodiles and frogs. The itinerary gives a true taste Costa Rica’s varied terrain, weather and eco-systems. The accommodations are excellent, not because they are luxurious, but because they are clean, safe, comfortable and most importantly, in excellent locations. We were also very well looked after by our exceptional guide, Johnny and bus driver, Randall, both of whom had a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye.
Too many to mention but watching a keel-billed toucan taking berries from a tree in the grounds of Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero National Park was pretty special.
Our trip was made all the more memorable by our guide, Johnny Villalobos. His knowledge and expertise was exceptional and his love of wildlife and his country shone through. He offered us additional optional activities (including early morning walks) during which we enjoyed some of our most memorable wildlife spotting experiences. He also organised special events (blowing up balloons in the middle of the rainforest for one person's birthday and organising a lovely dinner at a local restaurant for our anniversary). He had a great sense of humour while remaining entirely professional throughout. Overall, Johnny was a great ambassador for Costa Rica and Exodus.
Pack for varied weather conditions - from hot and humid to cool and fresh. We were lucky and didn't see too much rain but be prepared for it at any time. Comfortable walking shoes and sandals are fine but no flip-flops! Definitely no need for heavy walking boots which I took and regretted. Costa Rica is relatively expensive for food and drink (think English/American prices) and while we took local currency (colones), US dollars are accepted everywhere as are debit/credit cards. As regards food, be prepared for large (albeit plain) portions! Where food is not included you tend to have plenty of choice in terms of restaurants. As regards included meals, we were surprised to find that we were offered three-course set meals for lunch and dinner in the middle of the rain forest (Esquinas Lodge) and a la carte dining at Savegre Hotel & Spa.
We came home with wonderful memories of this trip. Some of the accommodation is fantastic, especially Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero National Park and Esquinas Lodge in the Piedras Blancas National Park - truly exceptional locations. Overall, this trip leaves you feeling as though you have discovered much of what Costa Rica has to offer, ranging from the coast to the highlands and including its exceptional wildlife and fascinating rainforests.
The trip was packed full of wonderful and exciting experiences. The itinerary was terrific and we saw so much that was incredible and beautiful, with masses of photograph opportunities.
The beauty of the rain forest cannot be described and has to be experienced.
Glenda was outstanding from start to finish - a superb guide. Her in-depth knowledge of birds, plants and animals really enhanced our trip. We really enjoyed her company and her sense of humour, as did the whole group. She was always organised and made sure that everyone knew exactly what was happening and at what times. Quite honestly, there is nothing she could have done better; she was wonderful. Our driver Charlie was great too and looked after us (and our luggage) really well.
Prepare to change your clothes on a regular basis as it can be extremely hot and humid and pack with this in mind. Sunscreen and insect repellent is an absolute must and it might be handy to take insect bite cream too. Costa Rica is a little expensive but most places accepted payment by cards so having a lot of cash isn't necessary. We found that the prices for gifts varied enormously from place to place, but the Central Market in San Jose was really good. Prices were much lower, cards were accepted and there was a lot of choice. It is a fun and friendly market; we felt very welcome and safe and bought some lovely things.
The food choices for vegetarians wasn't great. Whilst there was always something on the menu for vegetarians, it was often a bit disappointing.
A great itinerary covering a number of nature reserves. We have seen so much wildlife and although we had a specialist birding guide there was still a lot to see and discover. The hotels/eco lodges were good with one exception in Manuel Antonio which was poor and the town was very busy as the tour took us there on Easter weekend. The National Park there was a bit crowded and at variance with other locations.
The early morning bird walks arranged by our guide - being in the rain forest whilst it is waking up is incredible!
David Vargas was inspirational and exceptional. His depth of knowledge and enthusiasm was astounding, he was amazing and very willing to help with anything.
Moving hotels every other night is a bit full on but we would not have seen so much without doing so. Maybe a specialist bird tour does not suit everyone, there were a few people who had chosen the tour because the dates were right for them (understandable!) but I think they found it a bit intense.
I would also like to mention Roy our driver who was keen to help and we enjoyed his company, between him and David our guide, nothing was too much trouble.
Amazing wildlife.
The boat driver at the beginning of the trip (Cecil) did a great job. Chico the bus driver, who was with us for most of the time, was a very good driver, was very efficient dealing with the luggage and he kept the bus immaculate. He was a character.
Before travelling to Costa Rica I spent 2 weeks in Panama. It has rubbish piled up everywhere – they don’t seem to manage it, don’t have a recycling culture and use a lot of polystyrene for the ubiquitous takeaways which just end up in the street. Costa Rica was like a breath of fresh air; no rubbish and a very strong emphasis on conservation.
I far prefer independent travel but having researched Costa Rica I realised that going to all the places I wanted to was a challenge too far. Exodus had been highly recommended to me by several friends and they were right. My reservations about an organised trip were dispelled very quickly. It was a small group, everyone bonded and got on very well. I enjoyed everyone’s company and never felt the need to ‘escape’. There was often a lot of laughter.
The trip was planned round my 70th birthday and I had a great group of people to celebrate (? drown my sorrows ?) with!
Lots of them but not one in particular
Katia the guide was absolutely brilliant: she's a lovely person, friendly, helpful, enthusiastic and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the wildlife. How she spotted some things was beyond me - she has a very well trained eye. She also gave us a lot of information about Costa Rica in general. I wish I had half her energy! The restaurants she took us too were all really good. My computer mouse died and she even found a computer shop opposite an ATM so I could get a new one. Katia emailed me a lot of photos, as did one other group member, as I didn't want to get involved with Whatsapp (part of Mark Zuckerburg's dysfunctional empire!). I felt I'd missed out a bit as a Whatsapp 'refusenik' although I fully accept that it was my choice to swerve it. Perhaps there's another safer way to share photos as not everyone wants to sign up to Whatsapp?
- Don't overpack like I did worrying that you couldn't get laundry done. The lodges / hotels had fast and relatively cheap laundry services. - Take waterproof trousers as well as a waterproof jacket .
There was only one place I didn't like very much, although it was in lovely surroundings, but this is a very minor point and in no way detracted from the holiday: Esquinas Lodge. It was a long journey to get there and to travel on to the next place and it didn't seem worth it for all we saw there. The room had semi-transparent curtains which me feel quite vulnerable, there was no choice of food (some was quite nice but some was just 'OK' and not to my taste) and it was so hot and humid (27 degrees centigrade overnight) that it was very difficult to sleep as there was no air conditioning. Perhaps another location could be substituted? I went to Volcan Poas in Costa Rica independently before the Exodus trip as it wasn't covered. It's not far from San Jose. Perhaps that's worth considering.
Costa Rica is such a beautiful Country. Can recommend it 100%.
Touring Costa Rica was a very humbling experience for me. Nothing could have prepared me for the way a lot of Costa Rican people live. Driving around Costa Rica I noticed how many people live in accommodation that is no more than a shed with a tin roof but the people were happy and smiling. Costa Rica is a poor country compared to many countries around but they are contented . I have loads of wonderful memories of Costa Rica. My most memorable were 1 zip line at Monteverde. Just an amazing experience. 2 swimming at La Fortuna Waterfall 3 seeing animals in their natural habit 4 swimming in the Pacific Ocean 5 Kayaking in the Mangrove Swamp
Pedro was very passionate about his country. From him I learnt a lot about Costa Rica. Knew all the tricks of the trade to try and encourage the wildlife out of their hiding places. Nothing was to much trouble made sure that everyone got so much out of the tour. Tock us on many early morning hikes to spot wildlife.
Go on this tour with an open mind. What I mean by this is the Caribbean was not how I imagined it to be. The sea was wild and the sand was not the colour I expected it to be. Before going on this tour I watched a lot of wildlife programmes so I was expecting animals to be everywhere and easy to spot in the rainforest/jungle. Yes saw a lot but sometimes on the hikes we didn’t see a thing. Didn’t really mind this as just hiking through the rainforest was an incredible experience . Something that I will treasure forever.
On the days that you are travelling be prepared for long drives. Some of the drives were a lot longer than the times given in the trip notes. I’m not sure if Exodus are now more drawn to couples as apart from me there was just one other single person on the tour. If they had not been on the tour I would have felt quite lonely at times.
We had an absolutely fabulous experience. The itinerary was well planned and allowed for a wide variety of experiences as well as free time to explore on our own or to rest. We loved the fact that we got to see most of Costa Rica to experience the wide variety of habitats and flora and fauna.
Seeing sloths, monkeys and incredibly beautiful large birds (quetzal, toucans, etc.) in their natural habitats. Also, our group really developed a nice fondness for one another. Everyone seemed to really enjoy one another and get along well in spite of the great diversity of people on the trip. Happy hours and meals together made the trip extra enjoyable.
Katia was by far and away the best tour guide/leader that we have ever had and we have had some very good ones on multiple international trips we have taken. Her knowledge of so many different topics is beyond comprehension. Katia's knowledge of species of birds, wildlife, trees, plants and anything else in nature is encyclopedic. She not only is able to identify what we were seeing or hearing, she was also able to tell us about the mating habits and habitat of any species she identified for us. Also her ability to find birds and animals and plants out in the wild is amazing. Seemingly, nothing went unnoticed. Katia is also amazing in her ability to organize and plan ahead and to keep the group well informed about upcoming activities and schedules. Katia was also fantastic at recommending fabulous restaurants for the meals that were not included in our trip. Lastly, we must comment on Katia's joyful personality. She is incredibly warm and welcoming and makes everyone feel at ease. She is extremely attentive to EVERYONE on the trip AT ALL TIMES!!! We are so very thankful that we had Katia to provide us with such a rich and fabulous experience. We must also mention how much we appreciated our driver Francisco (Chico). He is a very skilled and careful driver who also has a great personality and sense of humor. He also kept our bus EXTREMELY NEAT AND CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT at all times.
Pack lightly and bring clothing that can be easily washed in sinks and then quickly dry. Given that we stay in each location only two nights, it is pointless to pack and unpack at each destination. Thus, be prepared to live out of your suitcase. Bring excellent walking/hiking shoes. Be prepared for rain even in the "dry" season as it rained on 70% of the days we were there in March. Bring plenty of one and five dollar bills for tips.
Our suggestions to improve the trip are: 1) Specify the actual hotels in the trip notes in the last couple of weeks leading up to the trip rather than just saying that it could be one of two or three different options; 2) Be specific about times of planned activities in Monte Verde and how these correspond with the times for possible alternative activities. It was very difficult to figure out what activities to choose without missing out on included planned activities in Monte Verde.
