Most Inspirational Moment
Too many to choose, but ziplining through the canopy at Monteverde, the river trips, and of course the diversity of wildlife.
Thoughts on Group Leader
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.
Advice for Potential Travellers
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.