Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

It is hard to narrow down one moment as there are so many. 1 - Seeing a female green Turtle laying her eggs and then going back to the sea. 2 - Seeing a baby turtle. 3 - Seeing the Resplendent Quetzal. 4 - Having a Howler Monkey try and make friends on a suspension bridge. That is just to name a few. I have bought so many memories back from this holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jose was brilliant. His knowledge of Birds and animals was amazing, I saw so much more on this trip than the first time I came.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just book the holiday, it was amazing and I would not want anyone missing this trip. It is one of the best holidays I have been on. One issue is the travel times, I would advise anyone to go a daily early. We missed the connecting flight in Madrid and had to fly to Panama and then onto San Jose. We then had to sit around to wait for our luggage for two hours as it did not make the same flight as us. So instead of getting to the hotel by 4pm we got there at 11pm, so was pretty tired for the next day's early start.

Suggestions

It is a beautiful county and I believe that everyone in their lifetime should visit it. I have been twice now and I would not hesitate to go again ......................... so what are you waiting for

Most Inspirational Moment

Our two nights in Tortuguero on the north Caribbean coast were wonderful.  The boat trips, the cabins, the food, the beach and the turtles ... just perfect.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was an absolute mine of information, always keen to provide us with the best experience possible of his country. Tricky questions were answered honestly, his manner open and friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the rain - there can be lots of it! A good waterproof poncho or jacket is a must, consider a decent umbrella and walking shoes. Sandals during the wet season are not suitable in every situation, boots can be a bit much.

Suggestions

Our first ever trip as part of a small group ... we certainly enjoyed the company of others but would occasionally have welcomed the opportunity for non-group time.  Our guide was very keen to keep as a group, a little more flexibility would of been welcome.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to highlight one in particular as there were so many, but perhaps the two that stand out the most are Tortugeuro beacuse of its natural beauty, peace and tranquility as well as the abundant wildlife and the cloud  forest at Savegre looking for the elusive Quetzal among other things.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gustavo our guide was excellent.  He spoke very good English and had an in depth knowledge of the very   different areas that we visited.  He was also a very good spotter of wild life and had a broad knlwledge of plants, birds and animals.  Orlando our driver was also excellent, spotting our first Sloth up a tree on the roadside,  truly incredible as we all got out of our minbus and spent quite a few moments before we could identify where it was.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a small collapsible umbrella for the rains and be prepared for your clothing to feel almost constantly damp during 'the green season' due to the high hunidity.  Other than that, don't spend too long thinking about it, book    it and go!  What an experience.

Suggestions

This was the first time that my wife and I had travelled with Exodus and our experience has all been good.   From the time we  made our initial booking all has been smooth sailing.  Even our email enquiries were repsonded too, quickly , completely and left nothing to chance. This leaves us with only one option, well several actually, which holiday with Exodus to choose to go on next?

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the turtles egg laying at Tortuguero and then seeing hatchings make their way into the sea. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio is a great leader.  We wouldn't have seen half as much without his expert knowledge and great eye sight - I still don't know how he spotted an anteater half way up a tree whilst travelling on the Pan American highway!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Highly recommend holiday - travel light and enjoy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the 3 toed sloth trying to negotiate it's way onto the tree hanging from a telephone wire, with a black and white owl sat next to it. The leader showing us a anteater asleep in the tree, using his telescope which shows every minute detail. Amazing! The hummingbirds are fairytale like and wonderful to watch hovering midair.Watching the monkeys swinging through the trees, howling (Howler monkeys) and interacting. They are great entertainment and we were very lucky as we saw all 4 different types of monkey native to Costa Rica.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio was absolutely fantastic. His level of expertise, professionalism, emotional intelligence makes him top of his game (He has been leading tours for 12 years so he knows what he's talking about). He carried a telescope (which is really heavy) so we could get a better view of the wildlife and was keen to offer additional walks to spot as many birds as possible. His enthusiasm is infectious, I found myself twitching which is a new concept for me.For me a leader can make or break a tour. He made it a fantastic experience for everyone and we wouldn't have seen half of what we saw if it wasn't for him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take something waterproof to protect your bags because when it rains, the heavens open..I think it's a good idea to take walking boots/trainers with closed toes with good grip as there will be some treks on potentially slippery terrain. Book early to avoid disappointment as this is a trip of a lifetime.

Suggestions

BOOK ON, YOU WONT REGRET IT ... AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS, THEN YOU CAN SHARE THE SPECIAL MEMORIES!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many - just to pick a few: Tortuguero - the river trips, the lodge and seeing the turtles nesting and hatchlings heading for the sea.Seeing the woolly opossum on our first night walk and the sloth trying to navigate the cables outside El Avion restaurant.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gio was fantastic.  Not only was he a thoroughly nice person and unobtrusively well organised but he obviously loved the wildlife and his job which shone through.  His knowledge of the wildlife and spotting ability were superb.  He freely gave of his time running extra spotting opportunities and providing us with hand written lists of everything we had seen after we left each lodge.  Gio had excellent English, a quiet sense of humour and gave us just the right amount of extra general information about his country as we were driving along. Gio was ably supported by our driver Gerardo who was a lot of fun and also helped to make sure we didn't have a wasted day by taking us out when Gio was taken ill.Both were unfailingly helpful above and beyond the call of duty and worked hard to make sure we all had great time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For many walks sandals were fine and they were good for travelling and round the lodges.  On occasion you will need shoes with 'closed toes' as Gio put it - for safety reasons. For those take whatever footwear you would use for a muddy, occasionally steep, walk at home.  For me that was walking boots and poles on occasion but younger and/or fitter folk were fine in lighter walking shoes/trainers as long as they had a good grip.  Insect repellent was useful on occasion but insects were not as much of a problem as I had expected so I wore short sleeved light clothes and shorts much more than long sleeved ones.  It is difficult to get washing dry because of the humidity and in some of the lodges laundry is cheap ($3 for 1 kg) so it is worth considering.Take a towel for the waterfall walk if you want to swim.  The steep walk down and up is all steps.While the recommended bird book in the trip notes was useful if birds are your main interest - for more general wildlife you might find 'Wildlife of Costa Rica - a Field Guide' by Fiona Reid more useful.  It covers the most common birds as well as mammals, reptiles, amphibians and some insects.  You can get it on Amazon or in CR.

Suggestions

It's a great trip and a wonderful country.  Go and enjoy it.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was more than one moment.The green turtle nesting and returning to the sea with the moon rising above the Caribbean sea with thunder and lighting in the distance.The humpback whale breaching in the Dulce Gulf again and again.The sea crashing through the trees where the rainforest touched the ocean.The lighting storm over the cloud forest whilst looking to the pacific ocean.The iguana falling out the tree by the bar in Tortuguero.Scarlet Macaws flying over the mangroves.Being woken up by Howler Monkeys.Need I say more?

Thoughts on Group Leader

Berny was fantastic.  Warm friendly and knowledgable.  He went above and beyond with many more activities than the trip notes described.  In particular his early morning bird walks were a highlight for me.Without him the trip would not have been the success is was and I will always remember and be grateful to him for making my journey through Costa Rica memorable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go. Don't wait. Go.Be prepared for high humidity and take walking shoes with you - you will need them.Biting insects are everywhere - if you are prepared with long trousers and cover youself you will survive! Even though I did get some bites they did not detract from my wonderful trip.

Suggestions

Costa Rica is spectaular.Take every opportunity this trip offers.  Do the night walks, take the optional extras it will enhance your experience. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Having a toucan land and pose for a photo on the tree directly in front of my accommodation at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge on my birthday!Watching the turtle hide its eggs before preparing to go back to the sea.Stepping into the accommodation at Savegre (cloud forest) - wow!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antonio was superb. He wasn't afraid to admit that he wasn't sure what a particular bird or plant was, although was very knowledgable and knew most of them. He was also very professional in his work making a point of speaking to everyone in the group and ensuring our safety and well being at all times. Mario our driver was also a great guy who drove some difficult roads with care and attention and was always prepared to have a laugh with us, following some translation by Antonio. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Plastic bags proved to be very useful in keeping clothes dry in the very humid conditions in the rainforests (nothing dries here once wet!)Prices in Costa Rica were similar to here with meals at some of the hotels and restaurants being more than we anticipated. This said, there wasn't much time to fit in many of the optional activities listed on the trip notes so this reduced expected costs.Rainy season had just started when we got there, but it seemed fortune was with us and we enjoyed some excellent weather. I only used my raincoat a couple of times due to feeling a little cold in the mountains. When the heavens really did open up we were setting forth on a boat trip from Tortuguero and were provided with Ponchos. However, these didn't hold off the rain completely and we all ended up soaked through and paddling in the boat! However, in retrospect, this experience gave us a true insight into the real 'rain' forest!US dollars were accepted almost everywhere. Change was often given in local currency which then meant you had some of this for the odd drink or ice cream.Walking sandals were ok for most of the walks, although there were a couple where we were advised to wear proper shoes/boots. I only had trainers with me, but found these to be fine. At some places where mud was likely wellie boots could be borrowed.Make the most of supermarket stops to buy water and drinks (both alcoholic and non), although in most places the tap water is drinkable and the majority of our group did exactly this without any adverse affects.

Suggestions

The crocodile tour which Antonio organised to break the journey between two places was excellent, not only for a the crocs, but also the birds seen. This tour should be included within the trip.Remember a warm top/jumper for the cloud forests, but you'll probably only need the one.Some of our group took malaria tablets, but most didn't. At present the only risk area is towards the start of the trip at Tortugeuro but this is low risk and in fact Dengue fever is more likely! Bug spray with deet was useful in reducing bites, although chances are that if the mosi's like your blood, you will get bitten no matter how hard you try and avoid it!

Most Inspirational Moment

First of all, the visit to the green turtle hatching ground in Tortuguero was amazing. Nothing prepares you for the sheer magic of it ! The most inspirational moment is hard to pick as there were so many! In general all the boat trips were outstanding. The best one was an optional boat trip organised by our fantastic tour guide Antonio. It was a crocodile safari. It was absolutely outstanding. I would really recommend Exodus to take this excursion on board as part of their holiday. The crocs were within touching distance..... Simply super! The hike to the lava fields of Arenal is not to be missed.The 'hanging bridges' or walking bridges were amazing.The lodge at  the beautiful Esquinas Rainforest Lodge at Golfito Nature Reserve was just simply breathtaking. What an experience. Every day was a highlight!One hightlight is not possible to pick.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Antonio was simply amazing and outstanding.He was a great people's person, and got on with everybody.His knowledge of Costa Rica was second to none, from the population to eco deails, from wildlife to all sorts of species of birds. He was a genius! Well done Exodus!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The tour is marked as 'Leisurely'.I would like to point out a few things. Whereas the accomoodation is great (=leisurely), the driving distances and travelling time is great(= leisurely), some of the walks would challenge a person that was not a little more than 'average'- 'fit'. We had no problem at all, but the walk to the waterfall and some of the jungle walks, due to high altitude and humidity could not be totally classed as 'leisurely'......Somebody that carries some excess weight or has some breating difficulties could be in trouble here.For that reason I think Exodus should mark this trip as 'Leisurely/Moderate'I took musquito nets, and there is NO NEED to do so! On the other hand bring plenty deet!We applied deet morning and night and got 1 bite each! Others that did not apply the deet had a lot of bites.

Suggestions

If you like nature, simply go for it! You will not regret it.Do not let the term 'rainy' season hold you back. We had two mornings of heavy rain, for the rest of our two weeks, we had wonderful weather!If you get Antonio as your leader, you are in for a real treat.We went a day ahead of the Exodus tour, to enable us to have a look at San Jose, and it was brilliant.The National Theatre in San Jose is not to be missed.For the rest, I cannot wait to book my next Exodus trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

The wildlfe viewing, from nesting turtles to gentle sloths.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Antonio was excellent.He paid attention to details,was  informative and is extremely knowledgeable about plants, birds and animals.A great ambassador for his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is a little more walking in the trip than the itinerary would indicate , but all to the better.Remember to pack warmer clothes for the higher areas.Good binoculars are essential, although all the guides carry binoculars and telescopes.A camera with a good zom lens is useful.