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Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
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A lot of time spent on the minibus. A variety of places visited for a short time.
Zip lining over the forest tops.
Excellent, very knowledgeable and kept the group on schedule.
Consider if alternate days of driving is what you had in mind. You will see a lot but cover hours of driving to do so.
Could have missed out one stop at least.
Just recently returned from a fantastic tour of Costa Rica and its natural wonders. This was our very first tour taken with Exodus tour and given our experience we are sure to consider Exodus in our future travel plans.
My wife and I were the two token Canadians in the group. We had a wonderful bunch of tour mates who all shared a light hearted sense of humour and concern for our world.
The central location of the Hotel Presidente – our first and last night accommodation – was ideal as it allowed us to readily partake in several of the sites of San Jose (all within walking distance). The two night stay in each location worked out perfectly. The “Eco” accommodations were top notch and not detached from nature like a 4-star hotel would be. Nor were we “roughing it”.
The activities were not too taxing. We enjoyed the fact that our daily activities typically did not start before 8am. We were Initially concerned that the tour might not be active enough for us, however, there was often the option to do more or less.
Thanks to the keen eye and in-depth knowledge of our Guide Jorge Lizano Suarez, we observed a wealth of wildlife. His enthusiasm was evident as he continued to add to our group’s running list of “must see” flora and fauna.
Learning how the government and residents of Costa Rica have been able to make protection of wildlife and biodiversity a top priority, as well as their 99% supply of renewable energy.
In a single word - fantastic. Jorge not only took care to ensure our safety but also truly cared that we all had our expectations met. His passion for his country and his job was palpable. He told us that at the end of the tour we would “be a family” and under his guidance that was indeed the case.
Telephoto lens camera would be advisable if one wants to bring back exceptional closeups of the wildlife, although Jorge was most accommodating to enable us to take pictures of animals with our phone cameras through his spotting scope.
The larger bus/coach we had was a bonus. Special mention to our skilled driver Roman, with whom we always felt safe, especially on the steep narrow winding roads of the Savegre Cloud Forest! He also - on the very last day of our tour – was able to spot an elusive Quetzal for us, the final animal we had on our bucket list for Jorge.
We toured Costa Rica as a couple in a group of ten in January 2024. Our guide Jorge Diaz did a fantastic job of showing us many of the different sights, sounds and experiences his country has to offer.
Quetzal spotting. Early start and cold but they do have magnificent plumage.
Excellent. Also a shout out to the driver Robinson
Sit back and let the guide show you what his wonderful country has. We could not have seen a fraction of what we did without Jorge. Anything we were interested in he would take time out to explain or visit - like adding the trip on the Crocodile River on the way to Manuel Antonio or stopping for lunch at the craft brewery outside Monteverde.
We got on well as a group and Jorge and Robinson took us to restaurants on the seven evenings when food was not included at the hotel. They were all good particularly Ronnies with the sunset view and flaming bananas outside Manuel Antonio
Very organised trip with a very knowledgeable guide who would adapt the itinerary to suit the group.
Seeing the abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat.
I could not fault Johnny.
As this was a grade 1 walking holiday in the dry season do not get carried away with clothing and footwear and the mosquitoes were not the problem I thought they might be.
Be flexible as a group is put together from all different walks of life.
Great itinerary. All the major habitats covered. Liked that we had two days in each hotel, as a lot of travelling involved. Our guide went above and beyond, up every day at 0600 for a walk for those that wanted to spot birds and other animals with the dawn chorus. Note that our guide was flexible about what was done in each location and on the days of travel.
Well the 16 zip lines around the cloud forest at Monteverde (two @ 1km long), plus a Tarzan swing was great fun, and seeing the Resplendent Quetzal on three separate occasions (not easy!!) was quite amazing, and the huge numbers of Frigate Birds at Tarcoles were just astounding. The hotels/lodges at Monteverde, Savagre and Tamarindo were outstanding. Overall the experience of the jungle at the lodge at Esquinas and the two optional night walks was maybe the standout. (two separate sightings of the 'ultimate viper' the Fer de Lance and lots of cute frogs) But really the whole tour was great for us, everyone will have a different favourite place.
Our group leader was Pedro. A great guy. Went above and beyond, interesting, informative, flexible, easy to chat to, knowledgeable. Don't see how he could have been better.
There is not a lot to do in San Jose. If you fly out early as we did, one full day in the City Centre is probably fine for some self guided walking tours, visit to the market (quite functional, not really a tourist destination), a guided tour of the Theatre, well worth doing, and a visit to the Gold Museum (underground in the square, next to the Theatre). Probably don't join a tour to visit outwith the City, as you may find some of these tours will be revisited as you travel around with your Exodus guide. If you do the Tamarindo extension at the end, the Capitan Suizo hotel is the best - at the end of the beach away from the noisier town, great hotel, only 35 rooms, as many staff (super helpful) as clients. But not if on a budget! It was suggested to us that Tamarindo would be busy and noisy. For anyone worried about this, it is absolutely not Magaluf, certainly busier than other places apart from San Jose, but where we were at the Suizo was very relaxing, quiet (the centre of town and that end of the beach is busier, but not excessive), lovely beaches, wildlife (howler monkeys in the hotel grounds, cuckoo jays, pelicans etc etc). We even saw a humpback whale and brown boobies just offshore (try a Sunset Tour on a catamaran). BUT NOTE timings about how long the Bus transfer takes from San Jose to Tamarindo are hopelessly optimistic. Our transfer took 6 and a half hours including pickups near the airport after we were picked up at our hotel, a stop halfway to transfer passengers to other buses/toilet break, and dropping off folks at hotels, some not even in Tamarindo. Coming back was better with a private transfer, but just to the airport (not City centre) took 5 hours, including a stop for a drink/toilet. The roads in Costa Rica are not good, consider a private transfer or plane transfer, (which another couple with us did), and only takes 35 minutes as well as being (apparently) a wonderful flight with the local airline Sansa. To repeat, this is not a great road journey. We did consider flying back from Tamarindo, but had too much luggage weight (you need to know you're going to fly internally and travel light due to the weight restriction on the small planes they use - check the limit in advance)
You will likely find that the Trip Notes will be varied by your Tour Leader, but only for the better. For example we would recommend (if you are not asked) the option of a boat trip and small bus to get from Arenal to Monteverde (while your bus negotiates the tortuous road all around Lake Arenal). This should be the standard transfer. Much more interesting and fun. And a stop at Tarcoles river to view the crocodiles and birdlife should be offered.
What an amazing trip this is, one of our best trips ever. Costa Rica is stunning and to experience the many different ecosystems and habitats and see the matchless variety of bird, animal and plant life was memorable. The itinerary is perfect, allowing one to see contrasting areas and top highlights, also to get off the beaten tourist trail aswell – the stay at Esquinas lodge and the visit to a farming family are good examples. Tourism is wonderfully well managed in Costa Rica and the hotels were all of a good standard, a nice varied selection. Special mention for our guide, David Vargas, who made our trip beyond incredible, see more below. Regarding tips for fellow travellers you will find many in these reviews, such as taking a rain poncho ( downpours tend to be short lived and a poncho fits over your day pack) it’s a good idea to take some US dollars. Credit Cards are widely accepted. We took some Costa Rican Colones aswell but you will easily get those from ATMs as required and at least you can use unspent US dollars on a future trip. Prices are slightly above European I’d say, not cheap for Brits taking into account the pound against the US dollar. Take quick dry clothing, humidity can mean difficulty drying thicker fabrics, and casual walking type gear fits most of the activities. Heavy walking boots would be overkill – waterproof walking shoes or trainers are more than enough. We would also recommend doing the hanging bridges at Monteverde despite the high cost, everyone on our tour took it and agreed it was unmissable. My husband and I also enjoyed the optional trip to the hot springs at La Fortuna with dinner included afterwards. Finally, I’d say if you are considering this trip, don’t hesitate, just do it!
The cloud forest at Monteverde and seeing a Resplendent Quetzal at Savegre
Our guide, David Vargas, who made our trip beyond incredible. We’ve had some really great guides with Exodus but David united and captivated our group from day one. He is a kind, likeable person and made us laugh, a lot. He was professional, hard working and organised, he never missed a beat, everything ran like clockwork and any challenges arising were magically, promptly and quietly sorted. Many of us understood the hard work that must have taken but he never missed a beat. David has a wealth of experience, extensive training and vast knowledge of his country, its nature and the environment. Above all what really shone out was his passion for the birds and wildlife. His enthusiasm was so infectious that few of us could resist joining him on pre-dawn walks to spot yet more rare species - his expertise and knowledge were second to none. A truly special holiday and guide.
See above.
A great holiday that really shows you the range of Costa Rica’s climate and wildlife.
Visiting Aurora on her farm and running barefoot on a Pacific beach tie for first place.
Dedicated, knowledable, funny, really helpful and untiring
Take warm clothes for the cloud forest, you might want a light down jacket. Don't buy smal value items with dollars, you'll get ripped off, beer is expensive in the hotels, take a travel plug as many washbasins don't have a plug. Take icaridin based insect repellent, less harmful to the environment than DEET and just as effective
The hotel at Savegre wasn't great. We got dirty sheets and had to ask for them to be changed. Service at meal times is cheerful but ultra slow and the food is heavy and dull. Some people got a great bathroom, ours looked institutional
We are very grateful for your review, Stephanie, and are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the variety on offer in Costa Rica. On the other hand, we were sorry to learn of your disappointment with the service and cleanliness at the Savegre Hotel & Spa, as this is not the type of feedback we expect to receive. The Savegre is our usual property for nights 12 and 13 of this tour and it is generally well-received by our groups, however, we would certainly not wish to downplay your review, which we have put to the hotel’s management. They have offered their sincere apologies for the unclean bedding and have followed up with the housekeeping team to ensure it is not repeated. They have also explained that the slow catering service may have been due to high occupancy during the holiday season, however, their staff will be better prepared ahead of subsequent busy periods and the head chef will endeavour to improve the menu. We realise none of these improvements will change the experience you had, but we trust it shows that we have taken your concerns on board for the benefit of future Exodus guests. We, nevertheless, remain apologetic for any impact your stay at the Savegre had on your overall enjoyment of your holiday.
Sarah Ahern, Product Manager
What a wonderful trip around Costa Rica with amazing guide Johnny Villalobos. Staying two nights at each hotel set the right pace. The food was very high quality throughout, although prices are close to European, so take plenty of dollars. Tortuguerro nature reserve and watching the turtles nesting was a massive highlight, along with the walks in the Jurassic like cloud rain forests. Make sure you take binoculars to see the wonderful array of wildlife as they are very difficult to spot in the jungle. Overall, it exceeded expectations as Johnny really made each experience so easy and interesting. Pura Vida!
I had an absolutely amazing time on the Discover Costa Rica trip. Our guide, Eduardo Lopez, was incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it came to wildlife. Exploring the cloud forests and rainforests was an unforgettable experience, and we encountered a wide variety of animals along the way. The accommodations were top-notch, and the entire trip was exceptionally well-organized. Thank you for this incredible adventure!
Our guide Jorge was incredible. He knew EVERYTHING about the country’s wildlife, landscape, history, culture and was so excited to share it all with us. He could identify all the birds and reptiles we found and helped us take great photos. He had everything organised so well and communicated the plans really clearly. The itinerary allowed us to discover so many different parts of the country – so close together and yet so diverse. Really recommend this trip, which was my 7th with Exodus, and definitely the best!
