Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

We were inspired by the beauty of the country. It’s lushness and biodiversity. Our great guide Glenda was so passionate about her country she made all our areas visited inspiring for their individual charm. The waterways of Tortuguero were fascinating, and we particularly liked the cloud forest in Monteverde. The colourful birds in Savergre were stunning especially the toucan that sat on a branch within a few metres of us having our lunch in Savergre Hotel and enjoyed the attention! We enjoyed zip wiring through and over the tree canopy in Monteverde, organised from the hotel. 3kms of zip wires, 9 zips including across a valley over the lodges. Never thought l would have the courage, but felt safe and thrilled l did it. We enjoyed the night walk at Piedras Blanca organised through the hotel, frogs, snakes, tarantula etc. Our visit to a typical Costa Rican home for traditional fayre on our last day gave an enjoyable insight into the lifestyle of this country.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Glenda was the best group leader we have ever encountered. Her knowledge was extensive on all aspects of Costa Rica. She was extremely well organised and made sure we all had a brilliant holiday. She was sensitive to our individual needs, as well as keeping the group happy. She went beyond what was expected of her to ensure we filled our holiday with many memorable encounters. Her energy and enthusiasm never faltered , and her passion for Costa Rica was inspiring. Her warm and friendly personality, together with a good sense of humour made her the perfect host. Thanks also to Louis, our excellent driver, who kept us all safe and was happy to transport us around additional to the itinerary .

Advice for Potential Travellers

The Presidents Hotel in San José had a good rate of exchange, so we took dollars and changed some at hotel, then used credit cards as much as possible. Often best in markets, shops etc to pay in Colons as dollar price worked out more expensive. Check your universal adaptor is suitable for Costa Rican sockets as several of us caught out (American style) . No plugs in sinks, could take a universal plug. Expect some early starts but not so bad if you only adjust your body clocks by 3hours! A good camera and binoculars are very useful. Personally get attacked by nats/mosquitos. Advised to take antihistamine tablets by pharmacist from two days before travel, also used deet repellant. Possibility of getting bitten in all locations but not such a problem as anticipated.

Most Inspirational Moment

(Many moments) Soundscapes: At home I instantly and unconsciously recognise every bird call whereas in CR I was back to being a complete beginner, unable even to guess what kind of bird was making each sound. With Glenda's help I was able by the end of the trip, to differentiate quite a few, enriching the experience. Favourite songs: Montezuma Oropendula & Black-faced Solitaire. The various nocturnal choruses of frogs and crickets were astounding, sometimes synchronizing to a pulse like some ambient electronica, at other times more like a warehouse full of misfunctioning radios & striplights. Frogs that sounded like Space Invaders or little carpenters hammering boxes... I forgot the Howler Monkeys at dawn... The unexpected: Scarlet Macaws suddenly appearing when I thought we had little chance of seeing them. Flocks of unexplained nighthawks passing over the coast one evening; another invisibly camouflaged on its next just beside a busy path. A Masked Falcon gleefully cackling as it carried a snake to its perch.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant: Glanda Araya is a great asset. Smartly turned out, punctual, well-prepared, efficient, conscientious, attentive to the needs of tour participants. Subject knowledge excellent, but communicated with heartfelt enthusiasm, hence my title. Glenda's excitement at the amazing things we saw and heard was authentic and infectious. Her social skills were excellent: cheerful, humorous, with the ability to make relationships seem personal as well as professional. She & driver Luis seemed like old mates so I was amazed to find they'd never met before this trip! She was friendly with and respectful towards hotel personnel. I benefited greatly from her enthusiasm for bird-watching & she often went out of her way to show me things or just spend extra time looking for birds. The great majority of nature guides are male, and there were occasions when some of them seemed less respectful of Glenda because she's a (small) woman. I feel though that she is a shining example to which other female guides could aspire. I hope and expect that Exodus actively compensate for gender imbalances in the companies they deal with but there are some structural impediments to this, one of which is companies' preference for guide & driver to share a room. In order to pursue an inclusive policy I would expect companies to absorb the extra expense of separate accommodation in the case of female tour leaders. Another approach would be to employ female drivers.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes. Not all had understood that a "wildlife" tour might involve stopping to look at wildlife. They imagined it as a hiking holiday and got restless. This was not a big problem, and was solved quite easily thanks to the leader's flexibility. Only a few brought binoculars. Glenda compensated with very adept handling of her telescope, enabling everyone a good look at the more static animals.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting tortuguero

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent very knowledgeable pleasant hard working and considerate... Guillermo Gomez is his name

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take colones or pay by Visa card. If you are British and buy US dollars to take with you, you then end up converting dollars to colones at a poor local rate and lose out twice on the currency conversion If you are elderly you may find the high altitudes at Monteverdi and at savegre a problem. My 82 year old mother for example managed most of the rest of the trip ok but became ill in the high country Good binoculars and camera a must for the birding departure

Most Inspirational Moment

I was simply captivated by the stunning scenery everywhere you look but have a few favourite living creatures that we saw. The sight of three male Quetzels was sensational in the early morning light, I loved the tiger heron, the pelicans, especially twenty or so flying in formation as well as the Toucans and humming birds that flit from tree to tree but there were so many splendid species, in glorious colours, it is hard to single them out. The whole trip is wonderful and I would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone that is wavering.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Edward Sanchez (Eduardo) who I would be at a loss to fault and I am not a novice on group tours and their leaders and can be a stern but constructive critic. His organisation, incredible knowledge of every aspect of his country and the wildlife, his excellent English with a fantastic sense of humour, not to mention his enthusiasm and the calm way in which he cared for each and every one of us made this holiday just one of the best, most unforgettable experiences ever. As you can tell, I loved it, every minute of it and having such an amazing leader and great driver was just the icing on the cake. Thank you so much Eduardo and Victor, a serious contender for Leader of the Year I would say!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you arrive on a Saturday, in particular, be prepared for a long haul through immigration. The organisation is not best and slow! For the trip stay well protected against the sun (although many of the walks are in the jungle shade) and mosquitoes although in our experience, in February, there didn't seem to be too many. We were also lucky, being dry season, to avoid nearly all the showers but do take or buy a poncho. I got caught out as after the first few days the locations were quite remote and no postcards were available for about a week, let alone would you want to post them, until the last day in San Jose. It was hot and I did find the humidity, for about 3 days, in the humid rain forest, quite hard to take while in one of the most magical places I have ever been. Take plenty of t-shirts as you just drip and everything takes for ever to dry.

Most Inspirational Moment

The close up presence of hummingbirds (again, in the lodge gardens!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent except for the plant quibble above. He filled our 'rest' day with well led activities including the wonderful viewing of Quetzals.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No. We experienced perfect weather but other friends have either frozen or boiled. Be prepared for all eventualities and expect lots of very early rising to see wild life.

Most Inspirational Moment

The realisation that perhaps I should seek destinations more remote, to day getting more and more difficult.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Exceptional, his enthusiasm was infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do as much research as possible

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a 3 toed sloth at close quarters in Tortuguero National Park but there were so many other experiences that I will saviour such as the hot springs at Arenal, the hanging bridges at Monteverde, the wonderful environment of Esquinas Lodge, the sound of frogs at night, the multitude of hummingbirds especially at Sevegre and the general beauty of the countryside wherever we went.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Johnny was just brilliant. I think he must know every bird in Costa Rica by sight and sound and made sure we had every opportunity to see as wide a range as possible. But his knowledge does not stop there - his knowledge of all the wildlife, the different environments and the country in general is encyclopaedic and he is so keen to share it with you. He never seemed to stop working and took us out on many additional walks early in the morning and late at night . He was so well organised, could not do enough to meet our every need and had a lovely personality and sense of humour so that we felt at ease with him from the very beginning. It is no wonder that he won tour guide of the year in 2017.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go for it - it is a trip you will never forget.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is hard to pick one highlight from this trip as there are so many. Lots of wonderful birds..........macaws. toucans, resplendent queztal,not to mention good views of sloths and snakes. The forests are fabulous.In San Jose the National theatre is a must.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Johnny,our leader, and Olmond our driver, were both excellent.Johnny has a fantastic knowledge of all aspects of Costa Rica.He is a tenacious bird watcher as well as an attentive leader.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking on the high bridges at Monteverde. The weather was perfect and the scenery stunning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Edward was brilliant. He was so knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife we saw. He was also interesting, amusing and kind. I cannot recommend him too highly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't spend the whole time trying to take pictures of the wildlife, just enjoy the experience!

Most Inspirational Moment

Tortuguero waterways and beach was beautiful as was the lodge we stayed at. The wildlife was just stunning, giant green male iguana in their bright orange breeding colours were a highlight as was our first sloth. But that doesn't do justice to the other wonderful locations and lodges visited as they were all of a very high standard and everywhere had it's own special moments, whether it was the hummingbird garden in Monteverde, the sloths at Manuel Antonio, the volcano and waterfall in Arenal, the moment a bird eating snake slid into then out of a birds nest in Esquinas lodge or spotting Quetzal at Savegre.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio was a excellent leader who was very professional in his approach. He was very good at spotting and identifying the multitude of birds and animals we saw, while Juan-Jose (our ever smiling driver) was excellent as both driver and wildlife spotter. Gio went the extra mile in organising additional walks for those interested as well as arranging two excellent group meals on a couple of occasions when the evening meal was not included. He was happy to share with us the history of Costa Rica and it's peoples during the journeys and always ensured everyone was informed of the plans for the next day so that all activities went to plan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If travelling from the UK, embrace the jet-lag! You will wake early which helps as there are many early starts. The early to bed, early to rise mantra works in this case as the lodge gardens are wonderful for wildlife so get out at first light (about 6am) and enjoy them to the full. The other benefit of not trying to overcoming the jet-lag is that you adjust quickly on returning home!