Most Inspirational Moment
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.
Thoughts on Group Leader
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.
Advice for Potential Travellers
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.
Reply from Exodus
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review about your recent Exodus holiday, Douglas. We are delighted that you and your wife enjoyed the riverboat trips, Manuel Antonio Park, and the farm visit on the final day. It’s also wonderful to know that the group of travellers from the U.K. added to your overall enjoyment of the trip. We appreciate your detailed insights about the itinerary and the nature-focused aspects of the tour. We recognise how disappointing it must have been to not see as much wildlife as you had hoped. As with all our wildlife trips, there is never any guarantee that animals will be seen in the wild, however, the high concentration of animals in this region means that they are usually spotted by our groups. Regarding your advice for potential travellers, we are deeply concerned to hear about the health issues that affected several group members. At Exodus, our customer’s health and safety are our top priorities, and we regret to learn that during an incident on the trip, the guide did not have a first aid kit readily available, which is standard practice for our leaders. While we regret that this was not the case during this incident, our local team has confirmed that the leader took immediate action to best assist the customer, utilising his three years of first aid training. Your suggestions for improving the itinerary by adjusting the duration of stops and incorporating more cultural and historical experiences are invaluable. We will certainly consider these for future trips to enhance the overall experience for our travellers. Thank you again for your constructive feedback. We are committed to improving our tours and providing memorable experiences. We hope to welcome you on another Exodus adventure in the future.