Discover Costa Rica

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This is a great trip if you like your wildlife. Make sure you bring the best camera/lens that you have got as you can get some amazing photographs.

Having said that there are a few things that could be better:
- Tortuguero is famous for its turtles. We didn’t see any even though we went to the beach around dawn both mornings we were there. Subsequently we found out that you can go on a local guide tour overnight, they then liaise with other guides to share where the turtles are (it is a long beach) to give you the best chance of seeing them. You may have to ask about it at the Lodge about booking a guide
- Manuel Antonio. Likewise a local guide would help find more of the wildlife here, as they know the area & have the required spotting scopes
- Savegre. To see the Quetzal (which is the main reason for going there, & is spectacular) again, you need a local guide to take you to the right area. These can be booked via the hotel
Hopefully Exodus will include these local guides/trips going forward as I have shared this feedback with them.

We enjoyed the coffee/chocolate tour at La Fortuna, where you get to make your own chocolate (you need to add a lot of sugar otherwise it’s very bitter !)
We also did a night trip to see more frogs & other night animals while at Manuel Antonio which was good

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I'm a wildlife photographer and chose to do the Discover Costa Rica trip with Exodus. Even in September, the start of the 'wetter season 'it was beyond my expectations.

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Eduardo and Victor were exemplary; they made the price of the trip worth it.

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Travelled first time with Exodus to Costa Rica and it was a very well organised and exciting tour of the beautiful country. Travelled to many different lodges and national parks. Arriving in San Jose we were welcomed by our wonderful tour guide Gwenda, we couldn't have asked for a better tour guide, so much knowledge about the country, culture and wildlife. Gwenda is truly an valuable member of Exodus along with Randall our amazing driver keeping us safe on our travels.

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Excellent introduction to a lovely country

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This was a jam-packed itinerary, with many walks and other activities, combined with a lot of driving. We moved on every two days, which was necessary to see everything, but it also meant there was no down time. Although this was a wildlife trip, at times the wildlife was rather shy. Some walks we saw very little. We probably saw more wildlife on the boat trips. Our expectations were probably not realistic, but we expected toucans and sloths to be hanging off every branch. It's not like that (at least in the dry season). We didn't see a sloth until halfway through the trip when there was one on a tree next to our hotel. Never saw a yellow-billed toucan, although we did see other toucans and toucanets (never knew there was such a thing!). Final count was around 150 different birds, as well as many other creatures (many of which we didn't know existed). So the wildlife was amazing, but you need to know it doesn't necessarily just pop out at you. On some walks, especially in Manuel Antonio, there were so many other groups looking at the same thing that it was quite difficult to get in to see things and was quite tiring at times. The walks throughout the trip were also very slow and we understand the pace was to suit looking for wildlife but walking so slowly was difficult and tiring in the heat.

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Great way to see a lot of Costa Rica with the huge benefit of a private vehicle and guide. All accommodation was a high standard as well as good and ample food in all hotels.

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This proved to be a memorable trip, for all the right reasons! The wildlife is extraordinary. Point a camera in any direction and you will capture something wonderful, including sloths, toucans, quetzals, crocodiles and frogs. The itinerary gives a true taste Costa Rica's varied terrain, weather and eco-systems. The accommodations are excellent, not because they are luxurious, but because they are clean, safe, comfortable and most importantly, in excellent locations. We were also very well looked after by our exceptional guide, Johnny and bus driver, Randall, both of whom had a smile on their face and a twinkle in their eye.

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The trip was packed full of wonderful and exciting experiences. The itinerary was terrific and we saw so much that was incredible and beautiful, with masses of photograph opportunities.

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A great itinerary covering a number of nature reserves. We have seen so much wildlife and although we had a specialist birding guide there was still a lot to see and discover. The hotels/eco lodges were good with one exception in Manuel Antonio which was poor and the town was very busy as the tour took us there on Easter weekend. The National Park there was a bit crowded and at variance with other locations.

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Amazing wildlife.

The boat driver at the beginning of the trip (Cecil) did a great job. Chico the bus driver, who was with us for most of the time, was a very good driver, was very efficient dealing with the luggage and he kept the bus immaculate. He was a character.

Before travelling to Costa Rica I spent 2 weeks in Panama. It has rubbish piled up everywhere - they don't seem to manage it, don't have a recycling culture and use a lot of polystyrene for the ubiquitous takeaways which just end up in the street. Costa Rica was like a breath of fresh air; no rubbish and a very strong emphasis on conservation.

I far prefer independent travel but having researched Costa Rica I realised that going to all the places I wanted to was a challenge too far. Exodus had been highly recommended to me by several friends and they were right. My reservations about an organised trip were dispelled very quickly. It was a small group, everyone bonded and got on very well. I enjoyed everyone's company and never felt the need to 'escape'. There was often a lot of laughter.

The trip was planned round my 70th birthday and I had a great group of people to celebrate (? drown my sorrows ?) with!

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Costa Rica is such a beautiful Country. Can recommend it 100%.

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We had an absolutely fabulous experience. The itinerary was well planned and allowed for a wide variety of experiences as well as free time to explore on our own or to rest. We loved the fact that we got to see most of Costa Rica to experience the wide variety of habitats and flora and fauna.

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A lot of time spent on the minibus. A variety of places visited for a short time.

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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.

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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.

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Very organised trip with a very knowledgeable guide who would adapt the itinerary to suit the group.

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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.

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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!

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A great holiday that really shows you the range of Costa Rica's climate and wildlife.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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I had heard that this was a good trip, and was looking forward to it a lot, but as a veteran of Exodus (this was my eleventh adventure with the company) this Costa Rica excursion managed to far exceed expectations. Costa Rica is an extraordinary and unique country that treasures its natural habitats (and abolished its own army in 1949) but you do need a good guide to unlock its treasures for you, and Jonny Villalobos was the key to making the last two weeks completely unforgettable. Jonny knows EVERYTHING... and is infinitely patient, and understands that a good guide needs to be like the proverbial swan... serene on the surface, while paddling away under the water to make sure everything runs like clockwork. The itinerary is impressive enough, but Jonny had most of the group willingly getting up at 6am every morning to go on his wonderful additional birding hikes... and I'm not even particularly interested in birds. I'm sure that I have learned more about wildlife in the last two weeks than in the entire 63 years that preceded it. Much of the fun of this trip is that most of you will be staring at dense foliage not seeing anything but leaves and vines, only for Jonny to isolate a branch half way up and reveal some perfectly camouflaged creature that you hadn't even heard of five minutes before. I've never said 'wow' so many times in my whole life. And where the trip notes said something like 'the day is yours to explore etc etc' of course you can do that if you want to, but why would you when you're going to get so much more by joining in with Jonny's unique spin on every activity. Of course the real star is the country itself and the extraordinary diversity of landscapes and habitats, from hot and humid tropical rainforest, to chilly atmospheric cloud forests up in the mountains. From rivers whose banks teem with monkeys and birds and lizards to thrilling waterfalls, to an idyllic pacific beach where all that's missing is a bounty bar or a bottle of Timotei shampoo. Seriously, everyone should give Costa Rica a go if only to appreciate how wonderful our world can be when we look after it, and to give you hope that it is possible to repair at least some of the damage we've done to our beautiful planet.

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A really excellent tour. I don't think I can find fault with anything. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The locations visited were incredible and we saw an amazing amount of wildlife with the help of our guide. The accommodation was good and the transport between locations was very good.

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We had a fabulous time in Costa Rica. The group got on so well together and we had the best guide, Glenda. We were extremely fortunate with our weather too. Although was the dry season, we were warned that we could expect rain at any time, particularly on the Caribbean side. We only had (biblical) showers at La Fortuna, but after we had had our tours. The wildlife was fantastic - we were lucky enough to see several quetzals and sloths and the bird life was abundant. Most of the hotels used were good but the Holiday Inn in San Jose was a little sub standard. The food was poor and the service in the bar very slow. We thought the Monteverde lodge was too close to the road as we could hear traffic at night. The service was rather surly there too. The lodge at Manuel Antonio was also close to the road and our room (very small) was right next to it so we were woken at 5am by traffic. The restaurant was very expensive too - much better to go into the town.

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We travelled mid February 2023 to Costa Rica. It was the trip of a lifetime and delivered everything I hoped for and more. Arriving at the airport we felt immediately that we were in great hands on meeting our guide David Vargas and driver Wilbur. The knowledge and expertise of our guide David Vargas made our trip a very interesting one. We learned so much about birds of which David is literally an expert as well as learning about Costa Rica. David also had fantastic people skills and helped our lovely group to quickly become friends and gave a 150% to ensuring we were all having a fabulous trip. Costa Rica was beautiful and inspiring. Nature is all around you and within the first two days I had seen more wildlife than I ever had in my life before. The trip gives does give you a packed schedule but this allows you to see and experience and all the diversity that this amazing country offers. It was our first ever group holiday and we absolutely loved the experience. Travelling with like minded nature lovers allowed for laughter but also learning. We are a middle aged couple who enjoyed the social side of this trip very much. The conversations and laughter at meal times and during exploring made our trip a memorable one.

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This was the first trip to Central America for my wife & me. The group size was only nine, so not too large which helped a lot when it came to looking through one mono scope at yet another new bird. The trip mainly involved birdwatching, though bathing in hot springs, a river & the Pacific ocean were features. The hotels were all to a good standard, however, the Suria hotel had a limited menu for all four main meals. Distances travelled were generally less than 5 hours, however, one day that was exceeded when a bridge partially collapsed. We visited tropical & rainforest as well as cloud forest & mountane (transitional) climates. Our amazing guide David, helped us to spot literally hundreds of birds & he was so knowledgeable & enthusiastic. He also ensured any problems were dealt with diligently & effectively. This was truly an incredible adventure & we can thoroughly recommend it.

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This was the most amazing experience, enhanced by the enthusiasm and knowledge of our tour guide, David Vargas. We pretty well covered all areas of Costa Rica seeing diverse environments and experiencing different climates. David is an ornithologist and did his utmost to inspire the group with his love of birds and his country. His extensive knowledge of the history of his country and of its flora and fauna enhanced the experience. He always went the extra mile to ensure our comfort and to consider the needs of the group. We would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone who has an interest in the extraordinary amount of wildlife that is there for all to

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The holiday got off to a bad start with my first night at the Radisson Hotel. My room smelt extremely musty, there were large stains on the carpet, the curtain was hanging off the curtain rail and the dark brown furniture was very chipped. When I booked the trip, it was planned to stay at the Presidente which is in the heart of downtown San Jose. The Radisson is about 3/4 mile outside San Jose and walking outside after dark was not recommended. However, once away from San Jose, the holiday lived up to expectations, with spacious lodges in beautiful, peaceful settings (apart from the wildlife!). The flora and fauna was stunning and we had only one really wet day in Arenal. I was taken aback by the high cost of living and, where lunch and dinner were not provided, having both lunch and dinner at posh restaurants was both very expensive and, for me, unnecessary. A modest snack at lunch time would have sufficed. Setting up a group WhatsApp worked very well. Not only could we share photos, but also any last-minute changes in arrangements or the spot of a rare bird could be communicated to the group instantly. All sites had good Wi-Fi availability.

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Brilliant trip, probably our best holiday yet. My husband is a keen birdwatcher, I am less interested but we both loved this trip. Our guide pointed out many birds, animals ,reptiles, insects and flora, he was amazing. We learned a lot about the natural history, biodiversity and conservation aspects of Costa Rica. We also heard about social and political history. Eric our guide was passionate about his country. Our driver Vincent was a careful and considerate driver and was happy to stop and reverse so that we could see birds or creatures we saw from the bus.

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The trip was everything we were expecting and more. We have returned home with so many memories of both the group of people we met as well as the wonderful wildlife that Costa Rica has to share.

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I had not been on an Exodus trip before but have been on small group tours with JLA and G Adventures, probably 6-8 trips in total. Discover Costa Rica did what it says on the packet. There was no significant deviation from the trip as described at booking and on departure. We visited different habitats and ecosystems in different regions of Costa Rica with excellent guide plus superb driver. The accommodation was as I expected: adequate to good but nothing luxurious. Activities were well spaced and well explained. overall the trip was physically easier than I have experienced before, but as I am getting older I am not sorry about that! I particularly valued no 'single night' stops. All stays were 2 nights which is far more relaxing. The standard of service and food in all hotels was good. Access to coffee and tea was not good at every venue

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Great holiday Costa Rica is great fun and lots of birds. just a few points: there are lots of additional activities so take plenty of dollars. if you don't take them up you lose a lot of the experience and may have to stay on the bus. at least a couple of the hotels are not as stated in the trip notes and not really equivalent. The San Jose hotel is way out of town so you miss doing the city tour and there isn't much to do there. take a camera. take the best camera you can get or be lucky and have some great photographers in the group. enjoy.

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Excellent trip in every way. 6 locations 2 nights at each. Was wondering how Exodus worked it out. Including both coasts and high ground. Our trip was focussed on birds in particular and are group of 16 had a cohesiveness as a result - we were all considerate to one another, the wildlife, and 'the moment out in the field'. Good value. we saw more than we could have expected I feel. The country of Costa Rica delivers on a number of levels and so does Exodus!

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I finally made it to Costa Rica after my initial booking was cancelled at the start of COVID. I am so glad I re-booked because it was an amazing trip. The country is beautiful and we moved between various stunning areas and micro climates with the aid of our great tour leader Johnny Villalobos and our driver Wilbour. We were also lucky that the group gelled really well and the tour Whats App group is still in full swing. We were also helped by amazing weather which cannot be guaranteed. The accommodation apart from the Sleep Inn in San Jose (which was noisy) was all very good and immersed us in the local environment. Esquinas Lodge was especially beautiful. Obviously the animal and specifically the bird life was spectacular and it will take me weeks to sort through the amazing photos. An amazing trip and one of the best I have done.

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It was an amazing trip, even though we had quite a lot of rain, even in the dry season and it didn’t make the wildlife any harder to see.

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A wonderful trip. Packed with things to see from the start. David was a fantastic guide. So knowledgable and enthusiastic.

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Very enjoyable trip. Slightly disappointed in the accommodation at Manuel Antonio otherwise absolutely no complaints

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Excellent trip

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Discover Costa Rica was an amazing trip in a beautiful country. It is verdant with different types of ecosystems, and teeming with wildlife of every kind. There is so much to see and do, and the days fly by. We saw sloths, iguanas, monkeys, caimans, crocodiles, birds of every kind (including the Great Green Macaw and the Resplendent Quetzel!), wonderful cloud forests, waterfalls, beaches, mountains and much more. The trip is well-organised, with comfortable transport and accommodation. The itinerary covers a number of locations in different parts of the country, so there is a fair bit of travel involved. Our driver Gabriel was good-natured, helpful and incredibly skilled at navigating some pretty tricky roads! Some of the locations are somewhat remote and surrounded by wilderness - peaceful and beautiful, and a good way to disconnect from it all. Special thanks to our tour leader, Jorge. He took an amazing itinerary and made it exceptional.

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This was an absolutely wonderful trip to the most beautiful and amazing country. We saw turtles hatching, sloths, monkeys and a huge variety of other wildlife and birds - including the resplendent Quetzal and lots of hummingbirds. The flora was also spectacular and a feast for the eyes. I took so many photos I am still going through them.

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An informative, educational and thoroughly fun holiday in beautiful landscapes with wonderful wildlife.

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This was a most interesting and unusual destination but what made the trip exceptional was the team leading it. Glenda was a truely inspirational guide and always went the extra mile to enthuse us about her country and its wild life.always cheerful and positive and full of fun.WE saw so much and learned about so many animals and birds that it has awakened a desire for more holidays with this theme.Glenda also has an eagle eye for spotting hard to see creatures.this review would not be complete without saying what a great driver and companion Charlie was, always smiling and willing to help us.This was a n inspirational team.Glenda will go far in the industry and will be head of tourism in costa rica one day.

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Outstanding trip, well and enthusiastically guided, great variety of wildlife.

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Would give this itinery more stars if I could thoroughly recommend .

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Amazing trip far better than I imagined, Johnny the tour guide and Percy the bus driver went out of their way to make this trip the best one I have been on

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This trip will go down as one of my best, if not the best, holiday experiences. If you love birds and wildlife it is not to be missed. There is quite a lot of traveling between locations, 4-4 1/2 hrs according to our guide each time & he wasn't far wrong. However the journey was always punctuated by stops for loo breaks, drinks etc but also for spotting the wildlife be it a soggy looking sloth high up in a tree in the middle of town, a pack of squirrel monkeys crossing electricity wires or a king vulture sitting in a tree that had our driver Randall very excited as he had only ever seen them in flight before. On the plus side 2 nights are spent in each location so there is plenty of time to relax and unwind. Even the early starts were not a problem as it is dark by 5.30pm but light by 5am so early nights were the norm. We soon realised however that our guide was planning the timetable to the weather forecast and if he recommended an early start it was because there was a risk of rain later whilst a late start was because we would be waking up to rain. We had been concerned about going to Costa Rica in October as it is during the rainy season however we were fortunate in that most of the time it rained at night. Only once did we have a whole afternoon of rain and that was when we were in the rainforest! Again our guide must have known as we did 2 early morning walks before the rain started and the rest of the day was free - we still went swimming in the pool, had to be done! On the plus side, going in low season meant that the majority of the time we were the only people in the hotel or doing a tour whereas, knowing the current popularity of Costa Rica, I had expected to be surrounded by other travellers.

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A wonderful adventure with something new and exciting every day. Costa Rica has wonderful wildlife and stunning scenery and this trip ensured that we experienced it fully. Great organisation, a charming and knowledgeable guide and a caring driver together with excellent accommodation made this an awesome holiday.

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This was a wonderful wildlife holiday. Although the itinerary is packed, with early starts and changes of location every two days, it means that we covered the range of Costa Rica's habitats. Our engaging and humorous guide Johnny was outstanding , with encyclopedic knowledge of Costa Rica's flora and fauna, and the unerring ability to spot them wherever we went. It was like having our personal David Attenborough with us for the entire holiday!

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It was our first time travelling in a small group tour. We had an amazing trip and saw so much - birds, turtles, sloths, monkeys, caiman, crocodiles and more. We enjoyed the informality of the lodges we stayed at. Pretty much everyone was very friendly. A big shout out to our guide Randall - nothing was too much trouble and he really looked after us as well as the coach driver Randall 2. We are not youngsters but the trip was pitched just right for our capabilities. Randall would explain everything that was involved and if you didn't want to go ahead, you didn't have to. I would highly recommend this tour.

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If you have thought about visiting Costa Rica, then don’t put it off. We visited this delightful country in September, not apparently in the Wet Season, but in the Wetter Season! However, don’t be put off by that. When it rained (mainly in the afternoons) it did rain heavily and it came at a time for a welcome rest. But despite that we did achieve a tremendous amount, and it is worth noting that some things can only be seen at this time - eg turtles laying eggs in Tortuguero, and whales playing in the Pacific Ocean. Key to the success of our trip was Glenda, our outstanding guide (and a “good witch!”): she knew exactly where to go to see the sloth and baby feeding in the trees, where the ellusive quetzal could be found, how to hunt down the red-eyed tree frog at night; she was also an expert on the country‘s biodiversity guiding us through Rain Forest and Cloud Forest, identifying all the trees, ferns and plants; in addition, she was always on hand to save cameras dropped into lagoons, and advising how to order the best well-balanced meals in the Hotels, Lodges and Restaurants. Costa Rica was unforgettable in so many ways, and I for one was so glad to have chosen this Exodus Trip .

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A truly great nature holiday. We saw all of the wildlife listed in other reviews. A great group and an excellent leader. Sometimes it is when things go wrong when you find out if the travel company has sufficient support. 5 days into the holiday I caught covid. The leader and the local team came up with a plan that made sense where myself and my wife separated from the group and met up for the flight home. I am very grateful for the local support and for the hotel for taking a covid positive person. In the near future I'm sure covid positive people will carry on with the other guests but this was not the case on this holiday where government rules meant I had to isolate. Thanks Exodus and team.

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Costa Rica is well known for its biodiversity, and this itinerary is well designed to show it off given the wide range of habitat visited over the 2 weeks. Starting on the Caribbean coast, we spent our first 2 days exploring the waterways of the Tortuguero National Park. From there, we visited various rain forests and then cloud forests as we increased altitude, climbing the central mountain range that divides the country and then descending to the Pacific coast.

Be prepared for contrasting weather as go, from hot and (very) humid to much cooler at the greater elevations, and be sure to pack accordingly. It's interesting to see the flora and fauna vary with these different ecosystems as you progress through the trip.

As previous reviewers have already commented on, the range of wildlife we saw (and heard) was huge, and included birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. Highlights for me include the toucans, humming birds, quetzal, sloth, and some impressively sized crocodile.

The accommodation was very comfortable and very well presented and the various eco-lodges certainly fitted the focus of the trip, helping you to feel immersed in the forest. Most had wildlife walking trails that you are able to explore without a need for a guide. I'd highly recommend the optional (guided) night walks as an opportunity to see the tree frogs and other amphibians and snakes.



I visited at the end of May, and decent waterproofs were essential - If, like me, you're taking cameras, make sure you have a waterproof bag for these too. Having said that, the weather was kind to us and although it rained frequently, it was pretty predictable and tended to be limited to the evenings so didn't impact on the excursions - but be prepared and aware that the itinerary is flexible to account for the weather if required.

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Had a fabulous time on this trip in March 2022.



The itinerary means that you cover a wide area of Costa Rica from the comfort of your small coach with likeminded travellers. Johnny was a great guide - very experienced at knowing what to say when with a smile and good humour. Chico was our safe driver with a cheeky smile.



The accommodation was good and varied but mainly lodges situated right where the forest and wildlife were.



I would say that this would suit as an introduction to the varying eco systems in Costa Rica as the tour takes you from Caribbean to Pacific coasts and with rainforests, cloud forests, beaches, volcanoes and lagoons . Wildlife sightings included sloths, hummingbirds, toucans, scarlet macaws (and numerous other birds), caiman, iguanas, monkeys . tree frogs etc. Some were hidden in the greenery of the forest and others were visible and I got some good photos - it is not so easy to take photos than, say, African safari.



Lodge employees were friendly and the food, when included, was delicious. There was some opportunities to eat in local restaurants as well.



There are a lot of early starts but it was also dark early so the itinerary made the most of the daylight hours.

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From meeting our guide, Andres, and our excellent driver, Victor, we had an unforgettable two weeks visiting different regions of Costa Rica. It is not just the sights but also the sounds that make Costa Rica such a special destination - it's so green and the wildlife is so colourful. We were delighted to see so many different species and we really appreciated Andres’ willingness to share his knowledge with us. The accommodation was very good and it worked well spending 2 nights in each of the different locations. Our group of 16 got on well and we helped each other to spot birds etc. The food was very good - portion sizes are very generous but you can ask for a half portion. This was a special holiday and it didn't disappoint.

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Just completed a fantastic two-weeks traveling around the wonderful country of Costa Rica. This was primarily a wildlife viewing holiday, and it certainly didn't disappoint - sloths, caiman, crocodiles, monkeys, lizards, iguanas and of course birds. Many different types of heron and flycatchers, plus tanagers, honey creepers, toucans, mot mots, macaws, humming birds - the list is long! We even saw and photographed the elusive but absolutely Resplendent Quetzal! Overall, yet another fantastic Exodus trip!

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From the moment we met our local guide, Pedro Benavides and our excellent driver, Gabriel, we had the most wonderful two weeks visiting many different regions of Costa Rica. From the pounding surf of the Caribbean to the stillness of the lush forests and then from the heat of the Pacific coast to the cool air of the cloud forests and Paramo region at the top of the Continental Divide every National Park we visited had its own character. We were somewhat disappointed at the lack of birdlife visible (or heard) on many of the forest trails, but overall we saw an amazing variety of species and with sloths, iguanas, monkeys and crocodiles adding to the wildlife sightings it was truly magnificent. Accommodation was great - the various wooden lodges varied in character but all provided comfortable beds and in the more remote locations, which were all-inclusive, the food was excellent. The Hotel Presidente in San José for the first and last nights was very comfortable and its central location made it ideal for shopping, interesting museums and visiting the National Theatre and Metropolitan Cathedral. Our group of 14 travellers gelled together easily despite a wide age range and the overall verdict was that this was a trip which could be highly recommended. Thank you, Exodus.

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This is a leisurely trip as stated with plenty of downtime. That said, expect breakfast at 7am most days. Most of the hotels are very good. Travelling in February, it provided a pleasant break from the British winter with the added interest of unusual animals and birds.

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This was a retirement present to myself and was certainly worth the two year wait. A great group of people, diverse locations, amazing wildlife, all brought together by our amazing guide ,Andreas.

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I thought this was a great trip and I was very fortunate to end up travelling with a fabulous, like minded group of people. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and the itinerary is well designed to fit in lots of places but without feeling rushed as you get to stay everywhere for two nights. It did not feel as intense and tiring as some trips I have done as there is ample chance to chill out on the verandas of the lodges or by the pool with a book or just watching the wildlife.

It is very focused on the nature, scenery and wildlife side of the country, in particular birds, so be prepared for that. There is a chance to do a few other things such as the hot springs and zip lining which are well worth it.



I thought all of the accommodation was excellent. Although they varied in terms of facilities everywhere was clean, comfortable and friendly, in excellent locations, with beautiful grounds and with good food (food especially good in Savegre) and most had pools which was an added bonus.

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An excellent trip with Edward our leader, Felix our driver and Primo the very best boatman in Tortuguero. Our 2 days in Tortuguero were a highlight with the boat trips and we were very lucky with the weather. You definitely need plenty of thin cotton clothes - nothing dries in the humidity and layers for the cooler areas. We felt well prepared having read the trip notes and the recent reviews. Plenty of bug spray, umbrella, waterproof or poncho and a good hat. Excellent food especially the fruit and fish and accommodation better than we had expected. The spa at the last hotel was an unexpected bonus - well worth having a massage and jacuzzi after a busy holiday! We enjoyed the happy hours to sample local cocktails (some more than others!). Our group of 16 was an eclectic mix who got on extremely well, always ready for a laugh and a challenge and got on really well.

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A trip that transports you from different areas in beautiful Costa Rica. Six different ecosystems visited but the travel between destinations was only half a day and spending 2 nights at each place meant we had plenty of time to explore. My trip was bird watching lead guide. So every morning had an optional early start to go out and look for birds. Some of the people on the trip were not that sure at the beginning but by the end of the trip, they were keen about what we saw and more knowledgable. Frankly I was in phographers heaven!

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This was the most wonderful adventure and our experience was just as all previous reviewers, simply amazing.

Lots of great scenery, beaches, forests, countryside and birds. Lots and lots of the most amazing birds.

Costa Rica is green for a reason so be prepared it can rain a lot at any time but it is always warm/hot!

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How many times can I say the word amazing?

We had high expectations of this holiday & we weren’t disappointed. It’s a busy holiday, moving on every 2 days, but there was time to relax in the afternoons & it meant that you feel you’ve seen so much of this varied country. The drives are about 4 hours, broken up with stops in interesting places, & the views are always amazing.

We saw so much wild life, and the atmosphere in the rain forests was a great experience



We had a couple of good fish meals at restaurants but Costa Rica isn’t really a ‘foodie ‘ destination. Prices are similar to England.

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This was a 'special treat' holiday for me, I had been looking forward to it for 9 months and had very high expectations. These were more than met. Costa Rica is a fascinating country which we could learn a lot from. This tour gives you a really good introduction to the country, staying at 6 different locations all completely different. Wildlife was amazing. The journey was shared with a wonderful group of people - so much fun and friendship.

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A great trip to get an idea of the different environments in Costa Rica, we saw a huge amount of wildlife in such a short space of time.

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Fantastic insight into this beautiful and fascinating country. Brilliant guide.

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This was a great trip which we enjoyed thoroughly. Having wanted to visit CR for some time, I was hoping to see a lot of the wildlife and to experience its rich biodiversity. The itinerary was perfect and allowed plenty of time to enjoy these aspects. The transport and accommodation was comfortable and of a high standard. Our guide was superb.

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I loved this trip. I had read many of the reviews before we went and so went with high expectations- we were certainly not disappointed. We saw so much more wildlife than I expected and saw such a variety of habitats/climates from rainforest to cloud forest, Caribbean coast to Pacific coast, plus a volcano to boot! It felt like we had been on holiday for way more than two weeks, we covered so much! I can’t pass a rustling bush now without trying to spot whatever is in there!

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The wildlife and scenery were stunning. We were not disappointed. Learning more about the country, its habitats and people was very interesting.

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Exceeded Expectations



Excellent Guide



Extraordinary range of wildlife and flowers

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A superb tour that delivered pretty much everything it promised. Good accommodation and comfortable transport. Wonderful scenery, amazing birds, mammals and vegetation throughout.

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Excellent trip in all aspect, better than I expected

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Beautiful Costa Rica tour with an amazing and passionate guide who expertly led us through the different geographical landscapes and wildlife. We saw so much in 2 weeks, very active, and understood what we saw. Great group of people sharing the experiences with. Highly recommend the tour.

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A couple of friends and I joined this trip. It’s an amazing wildlife adventure that’s not to be missed.

Tropical rain forests and cloud forests, some in the mountains, by the Caribbean coast on waterways and on the Pacific coast with beach time. Always options carefully explained by Johnny our superb guide whose enthusiasm, passion for wildlife and humour made it all come alive. He answered all our questions about the history, culture, birds, animals and plants of Costa Rica with great patience!

Hotels very comfortable, delicious breakfasts and the provided meals were good, the staff friendly and helpful. It was hot and humid in the lowlands and cooler in the mountains. Rain was mainly in the afternoon and in May it was dark by 6pm. I took walking poles but didn’t use them though a couple of people did. Plastic bag for camera and binoculars is wise. Rain gear is essential. There is sound daily advice about open or closed footwear, long trousers or shorts.



In summary, if you’re keen on wildlife book!

I intend to add the Coastal Secrets trip to my list- near the top.

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This was a joint celebration of our 70th birthdays so we wanted it to be extra special. It was an amazing experience, with a wonderful group of people, led by an extremely professional, knowledgeable and proficient guide, Johnny Villalobos. Thanks to Johnny's extensive knowledge of bird calls and habitats, we were able to see a huge number of birds, including the elusive Quetzal. Johnny also had a wide knowledge of the many mammals we encountered.

Apart from overnight stays in San José, we stayed 2 nights in each destination which was enough to enable us to explore what each habitat had to offer. Johnny ensured that we maximised our time in each location, though you always had the choice to opt out of an activity.

Each location was well chosen in terms of being a representative sample of what Costa Rica has to offer, from hot steamy jungle, to cool, high altitude cloud forest. The accommodation was excellent in each place but we particularly enjoyed the remoteness of Esquinas Lodge, surrounded by the sounds of the forest, especially the frogs. An added bonus was the stream fed pool and later, a night walk in the forest, led by a guide from the lodge who was able to identify the many frogs contributing to the incredible cacophony of frog calls.

We were given a warm welcome in each location by the hotel/lodge staff and served some delicious food. However, crucial to the success of this holiday, was Johnny's enthusiasm for what his country had to offer and his exceptional knowledge, organisational and people skills.

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We saw a huge amount of wildlife during our holiday: rain-forest habitat, mangrove, cloud-forest, dry forest and a very long list of tropical birds and many other animals. Our guide could spot creatures time and time again and he was keen to help as was indeed the driver. A dozen in our group and we were extra lucky to gel well. Accommodation was good with much to spot in the grounds. Care had been taken regarding the drinking water though travelers still need to be wary for themselves. Have good memories.

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This trip combines the highlights of the Costa Rica’s landscape with wild life in the national parks.

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Beautiful country, teeming with wildlife, lovely friendly people, an outstanding guide that looked after us from morning to night and made sure every minute of our holiday was amazing. This is a trip of a lifetime, we were transported to the best places in Costa Rica and guided through the national parks by an expert guide. We really had full days with as much wildlife viewing as you wanted to take part in, our guide was knowledge and passionate about the culture, the wildlife and the vegetation. I feel we had the most exposure to Costa Rica it would be possible to have within two weeks. If you wanted to our guide would show you the wildlife just around the hotel at 6am in the morning.

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This trip really did offer a lot - rainforest, cloud forest, canopy, beaches, waterfalls, hot springs, lots and lots of birdlife, wildlife, hot weather, cool weather, sun, rain. Costa Rica is a land of contrasts and diversity! It was one of the best holidays I have ever had.

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This trip exceeded our expectations in every respect. We had a fantastic holiday with a small group of like-minded people and every day we saw something special thanks to our excellent guide, Berny. Our transport and driver were also first class.



Each destination was unique. The accommodation overall was excellent, especially the remote forest lodges where you really feel part of the wildlife experience. The food included was also very good, as were the optional restaurants we visited as a group with the guide when dinner wasn't included. No-one wanted to miss anything and everyone got along so well, which is always a bonus. We were very lucky with the weather and only got wet twice.



We only took two of the optional (extra cost) excursions - the suspension bridges and the night hike, both at Monteverde and both very good. Berny obviously enjoyed showing us the diverse flora and fauna at each destination as he included additional walks and hikes almost every day, even if we only had an hour or so free and only one or two wanted to go while others stayed behind at the resort and relaxed.



We spotted the elusive sun bittern at Tortuguero at the start of the trip and a pair of rare nesting quetzal at the end of the trip at Savegre - really exciting as we were searching for them and so special when we found them and saw them flying in and out of the nest.



Really too many memorable moments to mention, but if you enjoy viewing wildlife, birds, plants and flowers without the walking being too strenuous then this is the trip for you.

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Although on paper it might look as if we were in a bus a lot, every moment was worth it for the variety of terrain and wildlife we saw, and the people we met. The wildlife was stunning, made more so through the expertise of our guide, the Tortuguera boat pilot, and the bus driver too. The accommodation was invariably clean and well looked after.

The only concern was Manuel Antonio park, which is highly commercialised. We queued for a hour from just after 7 am to get in, and there was (in contrast to all the other parks) close to mayhem inside. I suspect that mangrove wildlife is not as happy as it should be there.

The coffee farm and the over-canopy walkways were well worth the money. The visit to a dairy farm was very good too, and the farming ladies did so much to make us welcome.

The National Museum in San Jose is excellent.

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From beginning to end this trip never ceased to enthrall me. The organisation was spot on. The accommodation was first class. From the cloud rainforest to the hot and humid jungle we saw so much wildlife it was awe-inspiring. Our guide led us through this Wonderland with amazing knowledge and enthusiasm. I have travelled to many parts of the world but never been so inspired. What a wonderful country.

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I have been wanting to visit Costa Rica for a number of years and it didn’t disappoint. What an amazing and diverse country, so many different landscapes and microclimates in such a small country. If you are interested in wildlif and birds then this is the trip for you - I tried to make a note of everything we saw and I still only captured about half of it! You stay in every place for 2 nights which is great as you have time to relax and explore each place. All the lodges and hotels are in great locations and of good quality. Some of the best wildlife spotting was in the beautiful grounds of the lodges - you could just sit outside your room and wait for it to come to you! Driving distances are not too great and there are plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy your surroundings- some of the roads are very uneven so you do get a good massage but our fantastic driver, Carlos did his best to keep this to minimum. I shared the experience with a great group which made the trip even better, you had plenty of time to do things together or take time out and do your own thing if you wanted.

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Fantastic trip helped by very knowledgeable and helpful guide + driver

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As someone who wasn’t bothered about our trip to Costa Rica I can honestly say I have fallen in love with this country and it’s people. The trip with Exodus was so good. The guides, the activities and accommodation was first class. I would recommend this trip and Exodus to everyone. Fabulous.

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This 2-week trip took us to several geographically different regions ; volcano, tropical rain forest, beach and cloud Forrest. All had their individual climate and wildlife. We travelled with our guide and driver in a comfortable air-conditioned coach, staying in each location for 2 nights.

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We'd wanted to go to Costa Rica for some time and this holiday did not disappoint. In two weeks we saw amazing things on the coast, in the mountains, in the jungle and in the cloud forest. Our guide, Katia, was extremely knowledgeable and was excellent at spotting wildlife and explaining all about it. Indeed all the drivers and guides we encountered on the journey were excellent and also good at spotting wildlife. The accommodation was good all round including some great jungle lodges. We really felt that we 'discovered costa rica' and were really impressed with the whole holiday and the country.

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Lots of wonderful wildlife and plants, beautiful surroundings, great company and leader :)

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Discover Costa Rica really lived up to expectations



Wonderful wild life and plenty of time to see everything in detail



An incredibly varied country - difficult to do it justice in 16 days but this holiday gives an excellent insight into a wonderful holiday



Unhurried and relaxing holiday



Accommodation - food - wonderful



Costa Rica is very Eco friendly. It’s approach to living alongside wildlife is to be greatly admired and, indeed, the rest of the world should learn from Costa Rica approach



The guide (Héctor) was superb



Costa Ricans are fabulous people - warm and welcoming



Trip notes are accurate



However if travelling from Ecuador to Costa Rica it is necessary to have a Yellow Fever Certificate.

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A superb trip, a lifetime experience



As the other 227 reviews have said, the beauty of the environment, landscapes, birds and animals you see, hear and experience is breathtaking. I won't repeat the details again, but its all true!



Costa Rica has extraordinary biodiversity therefore ecotourism contributes a big chunk to the GDP, and so they do tourism very well. They know their market and hit it square on. This tour, in a short period of time provides experience of a range of ecosystems, a new environment every 2 days and each day reveals a whole new range of fabulous things.



While nature is the main draw to this trip, it also offers a great opportunity to learn about Costa Rica as a country.

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My recent trip to Discover Costa Rica was absolutely amazing - I certainly 'Died and went to Heaven - as I was in Heaven', the trip ran so smoothly, perfect in fact - the transfers, accommodation, boat trips, wildlife and birdlife were in abundance. Our tour guide Mayer was simply Perfect No1, who know everything we asked and had an excellent sense of humour.

I really cannot fault this holiday at all - simply perfect.

I want to do it all again if I could. I have worked in hospitality for around 7 years but have never experienced such a well organised trip.

Well Done and thank you so much Exodus, I will certainly be booking my trip with you next year, perhaps seeing the Jaguar in Brazil!

Helen West

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An excellent trip covering a variety of different locations enabling us to get a feel for the country and especially for its wildlife.

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My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to Costa Rica.

The group of sixteen bonded well. ( ages 40+ - 70+ years)

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An amazing country with such diversity. Each location has it’s own appeal. The Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, and the interior rain and cloud forests all have their own beauty, wild life and scenery. 16 is a good group size, and our new friends and brilliant tour leader- Glenda, made it a very special holiday. The lodges are comfortable and each is perfectly located for the adventures ahead, most have beautiful gardens. Usually basic lodge facilities, not always a hairdryer. Swimming pool in several locations , great to cool off! We were lucky with the weather though sudden rain showers need to be considered- best to pack waterproofs or cape. Concerned before we left about temperatures in February. Mainly between 26deg and 32, but Monteverde and Savergre cooler early morning and evening and a fleece useful. We did a 5.30am walk in Savergre (2100 metres) to see the elusive resplendent quetzal and was the only time l felt cold! There is an emphasis on the trip to see all the beautiful birds, though we were also delighted to see slouths, iguanas, lizards, camens, monkeys etc. The itinerary was much fuller than listed, with our guide adding extra walks and finding interesting places for us to stop. Although San José has little to offer, we appreciated going a day earlier to acclimatise and see the town- excellent restaurant with Costa Rican specialities 10 minutes walk from hotel- Nuestra Tierra. Also consider flying from a local airport via Skipol (Amsterdam) if you don’t live near Gatwick. It worked out cheaper and more convenient for us when considering hotel and car parking in Gatwick.

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A smoothly running trip, comfortable hotels & lodges, giving a great sens of this country's natural riches,

transformed into something exceptional by a gifted tour leader.

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For anyone that loves birds, Flora and Fauna Costa Rica certainly does not disappoint. The itinerary is well put together, not quite as frantic as some I have been on, with the luxury of two nights in all locations apart from the start and finish in San Jose. Some of the walks are perhaps better described as Moderate, rather than Elementary but all are optional. The scenery is just stunning and we were, in the main, so lucky with all the lovely birds and wildlife we saw. It is a lottery and matter of luck but we were helped by our fantastic guide Eduardo and our lovely driver Victor. Even if the wildlife was elusive some days, the plants, flowers and trees are just so glorious, whether you are walking or travelling in the bus, that there is always something to please the eye. There is really nothing I would change about this trip spent with a great group of people. It was awesome and I loved every minute of it. Having said that, and being a self confessed foodie, Costa Rica is not exactly a gastronomic delight and the cooking mediocre at best. The fruit is wonderful and fish is probably the best option but I am afraid I found myself eating rather more sea food pasta's than is good for me. My favourite was probably Ceviche, raw, marinated fish. Local wine is not recommended so it was either beer, South Amrican wines and the odd cocktails.

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The title does not reflect how 'bird' focus sed the trip would be. We saw 120 different bird breeds and only a handful of mammals, these latter predominantly in the grounds of the lodges we stayed in! That is a minor quibble, trip was well led, mostly comfortable (the roads/tracks left a little to be desired) and overall most enjoyable. Eric our guide was excellent on spotting birds, reptiles and near invisible mammals but uninformed and uninterested in plants.

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This was the most inspirational trip and I can't speak highly enough of the country, its wildlife and its people. This trip ensured that we spent time in a variety of ecosystems that were all so diverse and each had so much to offer. Our brilliant guide Johnny made sure that we had every opportunity to maximise our time each day to experience as much as we could in every location. Our focus was birdwatching and we saw the most splendid variety of beautifully coloured birds of all types, including the quetzal, as well as many other animals including sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, coatis, agouti, iguanas, snakes , frogs and so on. The accommodation , mainly in lodges, was fabulous . It was always well located and often in lovely grounds and gardens with many opportunities for seeing wildlife before we even set out on our daily itinerary. We were also with a great group of people which made the trip all the more special.

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If you want a relaxed birdwatching trip to Costa Rica this is the one.

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This was a varied and interesting trip. We had various wildlife encounters. We had an excellent group with a magical guide. I loved it. It was great to enjoy some lovely weather and stunning scenery in January!

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Ever wonder what people mean when they harp on about microclimates, well just visit Costa Rica and experience it for yourself. From tropical coastlines to dry forests to rain forests and cloud forests, Costa Rica seems to have it all. The variety of climates gives rise to a diverse range of plant life which it turn supports a wide variety of beasties. Drives between locations were a pleasure as the scenery was so beautiful. Gardens whether local or at the lodges we stayed in were extraordinary in the variety of flowering plants and wildlife. You do not even need to leave the lodge premises to experience the wildlife. We saw sloth, iguana, coati, agouti, monkeys, armadillo, frogs, toads, lizards, bats, toucans, motmot, hummingbirds, quetzal and zillions of other colourful birds all in the gardens of lodges/hotel we stayed in. It was wonderful to go to sleep with the sound of nature as a backdrop.

We were fortunate to have good weather throughout (apart from one morning) so were able to enjoy the included walks fully as well as some additional walks our excellent guide Gio kindly added for those who wanted to go. Good closed shoes with 'grippy' soles are recommended. It was hot and humid throughout (apart from evenings/early mornings in the mountains) and the pace of the walks was easy to suit the conditions. Many of the lodges have their own marked trails for those who want to make the most of the locations. If you have any interest in wildlife, nature or stunning landscapes you would enjoy Costa Rica.

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An amazing holiday with lots of stunning wildlife and rich forest. Moving every 2 days so a lot of travel on gravel roads. Lovely lodges, good food and surprisingly civilised amenities even in the deepest rain forest. All about the wild environment. No nightlife. Great country. Group size was 11 which was very friendly and we had our own boats, bus and visits except for day 1. Suitable for singles. Climate changes are dramatic so carefull wardrobe planning needed.

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Costa Rica was truly amazing, I hadn’t realised the diversity for such a small country. So much wildlife and beautiful scenery, I felt I didn’t want to miss a thing. Although I had travelled through Costa Rica before, this tour offered so much more, I still can’t believe how much we saw in just two weeks. Glenda our tour and driver Carlos were constantly on the lookout, making sure we didn’t miss anything.

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This was our 8th Exodus trip and one of the best. The tour leader was excellent..Giovanni Madrigal. He was very knowledgeable, professional in his approach and good fun especially as he had a great relationship with the driver, Juanjose who was also part of the team. Gio made it clear from the outset that this was a group holiday and group harmony was important. We were encouraged to rotate the seats on the bus so everyone got a chance to sit at the front. The group really got on well. There were many excellent group meals and we had a good mix between travel, group walks and downtime by the pool. The accommodation was very good....wooden lodges set in wonderful surroundings. We stayed for 2 nights in each place which was great. Much of the food was included so it wasn’t so expensive when we were there....most hotels had happy hours! We saw so many birds, mammals and reptiles. Gio knew where to look and had a scope so we could all see. There are additional trails we could walk on our own which we enjoyed. He knows his country and was keen to pass on his knowledge.

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We had an excellent opportunity to sample Costa Rica's varied and unusual wildlife and habitats in a tour led by a knowledgeable and inspiring tour leader. The accommodation was well chosen and the itinerary carefully enabled us to experience the Caribbean and Pacific coasts as well as highlands and intermediate areas. Having such an excellent guide really did make a difference. I don't think we would have spotted half of the birds we saw without his keen eyes and ears!

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This trip was fast paced and full of variety. We stayed in seven different locations during the two weeks which meant we were packing up and moving on every two days. The scenery we saw in between locations was incredibly beautiful and the bus rides were always interesting as our guide made sure we stopped for coffee, lunch or a surprise! .....a sloth and baby in a tree or crocodiles basking in the river!

The lodges were all full of character and of a high quality. Meals were typical Costa Rican with amazing variety and choice. The fruit was outstanding.

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An excellent, varied and active holiday, led by the most inspirational guide I have ever had. Covered most aspects of Costa Rica's varied terrain and abundant wildlife.

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What an amazing Country to visit. Felt I saw it too. So much wildlife. The guide made it. Her enthusiasm and passion for her Country was the energy passed on to us all. It was non-stop and we made the most of every minute. It was a great experience and will treasure the memories.

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A great trip, 2 nights in each hotel, fairly long drives on the days we moved on. We saw lots of spectacular wildlife and scenery - rainforest, cloud forest, beaches, waterways, countless birds, cute moneys, plus some mammals we'd never heard of, such as olingoes and agoutis.



Come prepared for hot and sticky weather on the coast and cold and wind in the mountains.

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This was our first holiday with Exodus; we weren't sure what to expect but we can honestly say we can't fault it. Costa Rica is a fantastic destination and this itinerary was thoughtfully put together to show it at its best. The variety of locations was incredible and in each place the standard of activities and of accommodation was outstanding. Somehow every day seemed to be better than the day before. We enjoyed being part of the Exodus group, and having then spent an additional week on our own we realised that a huge part of the success of the trip was due to having an excellent guide and driver to point out things which otherwise would have passed us by. All in all an unforgettable holiday and highly recommended.

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We were lucky enough to have Johnny Villlobos as our guide and he made the whole trip special! His knowledge of eveything to do with Costa Rica was outstanding. Everything ran smoothly from pick up at San Jose to the sad return to the airport at the end of the trip. The quality of the hotels was excellent (I am quite fussy!), Henry our driver was excellent and the bus was always waiting for us. Apart from the hanging bridges at Monteverde everything was included with Exodus, which was not the case with other tour groups. Although of course we must have paid that in the overal trip cost it was so much better not to keep paying extra along the way. Many entrance costs were between $16 and $26 so it would have really added up. The only other thing extra I did was the hot springs at La Fortuna which was a fantastic experience - I would thoroughly recommend that one. Johnny took us on many extra walks that were not on the trip notes but were all fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble.

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Just got back from Costa Rica and I can honestly say as a regular Exodus traveller that this is one of the best trips I have been on. Our guide Johnny was amazing and a real credit to his Country - and no surprise that he has won guide of the year twice. My one wish was to see baby turtles and boy did we see baby turtles - pouring out of the nest and making their way down to the sea. I never appreciated the different climates available in Costa Rica and spending two nights in each place gave us the chance to experience them all. The wildlife was amazing and everywhere. I can highly recommend this trip to anyone that loves seeing birds, animals, flora and fauna.

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Exodus' first women only trip with the wonderful Katia as our guide. She was truly an inspiration and a great breadth of knowledge so effortlessly imparted.

I felt so privileged to be in Costa Rica. We saw much of its wildlife including armadillo and anteater and fabulous diversity of landscapes and eco climates.



What a beautiful country and what a great group of fellow travellers.

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First Exodus women’s tour and every part of it was fantastic!! We had a wonderful guide who could not have been more knowledgeable or helpful and funny. Torteguero was the highlight on the boat in the primal rainforest. However we covered 7 different ecosystems all different and exciting. Loved the bird life we did get to see a lot. I definitely recommend this trip it was so interesting. The watch outs were the zip lines are high and you need warm clothing for the Savegre as it is so high.

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Had a wonderful trip around Costa Rica, on the delightful 'women only' trip. We were led by a very knowledgeable and informative guide, in Katia, and whilst I avoided the zip wires, I thoroughly enjoyed the suspension bridges, the boat trip in the mangrove swamps and the geo-thermal baths. We saw birds of all kinds, including the quetzal, racoons, crocodile and caiman, an armadillo, sloths, turtles and monkeys! We started as a group of strangers on the same trip...and ended up feeling a family!!

The only downside was the return trip...so thorough is the security at Houston, that a two hour gap between flights is barely sufficient and i had to run to catch the second plane!!!

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PS See later

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Excellent trip, lots of wildlife to see, turtles,snakes, frogs,birds,cayman, crocodiles and much more all explained by our knowledgeable guide. Lovely beach for swimming in the Pacific and spas. Locals very friendly, a great place to visit.

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Costa Rica is a wonderful country, mainly for its variety and volume of wildlife.

Of course Costa Rica is well know for its bird life. While many will have seen humming birds, (as I have) it was a superb sight to be close to these magnificent birds as they weaved their way around us lumbering giants. I never grow weary of watching these creatures.

Howler, Spider and Capuchin monkeys using their prehensile tail moving from branch to branch provided an often amusing spectacle. Other animals featured were the Tent Maker Bats and White Lined Bats, Agouti, Coati, Caiman and Green Iguana.

Although not an ornithologist, brightly coloured birds such as Toucans, Curassaw, Acorn Woodpecker, Scarlet Macaw, Flame Coloured Tanagen and Emerald Toucanet, I find a delight to watch, particularly watching them feeding. It seemed as though even when driving along the roads animals almost posed for us to record them.

One would expect to be roughing it, but it was the last thing I would use describe our accommodation, while the food was always good and often outstanding.

The places visited represent the full variety of environments, from high altitude cloud forest (at Savegre) , to transitional forest (Manuel Antonio Reserve), to tropical wet forest (Tortuguero) to rainforest (Esquinas).

I cannot leave my summary without mentioning the inspirational Michael Schnitzler who as a conservationist has obtained over $4 Million from his Austrian sources to purchase land and develop Esquinas Lodge. Amazingly he has done this in between travelling to between Costa Rica and Austria, where he is an internationally admired violinist and concertmaster the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra. A truly remarkable person developing a remarkable environmental project.

Friends who have seen the videos from the trip have been enthralled. Others to whom I have described it have suggested that it be added to their 'bucket list'.

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The group size of 14 was ideal with plenty of different personalities. The locations selected were a good combination of places which illustrated the diversity of wildlife habitats. The real bonus to the holiday was the guide (Katia) and driver (Chico). Katia was the real deal. Her English was good, she was very knowledgeable about wildlife, and she went out of her way to help and try to meet everyone's needs. Katia was a very professional guide indeed. We were also fortunate to have Chico who was always happy and helpful. He would often stop to let us see something he had spotted. The guide and driver always considered our safety not only when stopping to take in the view, but also in pointing out any potential dangers such as pickpockets, rip currents when bathing, etc.

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The group size of 14 was ideal with plenty of different personalities. The locations selected were a good combination of places which illustrated the diversity of wildlife habitats. The real bonus to the holiday was the guide (Katia) and driver (Chico). Katia was the real deal. Her English was good, she was very knowledgeable about wildlife, and she went out of her way to help and try to meet everyone's needs. Katia was a very professional guide indeed. We were also fortunate to have Chico who was always happy and helpful. He would often stop to let us see something he had spotted. The guide and driver always considered our safety not only when stopping to take in the view, but also in pointing out any potential dangers such as pickpockets, rip currents when bathing, etc.

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We were very lucky to have Johnny Villalobos as our tour leader. He is a walking encyclopedia on the flora and fauna, caring, flexible and a great organiser. We saw spider, capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys, three and two toed sloths , lizards, iguanas, a green turtle laying her eggs (very moving) and much more. I can't remember how many species of birds we saw (loads), all of them very colourful and often very close up. This is one of the best trips I have ever done.

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What an amazing trip! Incredible wildlife at every turn - sloths, monkeys, turtles, iguanas, frogs, coatis, the list goes on, beautiful birds and unusual plants too. Seven very different locations, shortish travel times and great hotels. Just be prepared to sweat more than you thought humanly possible!!!

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15 day trip travelling around Costa Rica discovering all it has to offer.

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This holiday was superb for exploring different landscapes and seeing lots of wildlife. The tour includes a wide variety of places to visit, allowing you to see the shifts in environment and wildlife, which was very interesting, and we were awarded with so many fantastic wildlife spots - both birds and mammals. We stayed in a collection of lovely hotels set in beautiful gardens where you would often have your own cabin and small terrace. Food was tasty and local people were very friendly and accommodating. You will definitely return home with plenty of stories to tell!

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We had am amazing time on this trip from the moment we landed in San Jose. Our guide Andres kept us informed about what to expect, and bring for each activity. He had an amazing knowledge about his country and was passionate that we should like and enjoy our tip. Our Driver Juan was also excellent. He kept the bus spotless and was keen to help.

The accommodation was of a good standard with the last lodge being the icing on the cake.

The plants, animals and scenery were also fantastic. Overall an amazing trip.

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Cosa Rica has such diversity,you will experience rouged mountains,rolling hills,virgin forest ,tropical beaches and beautiful waterways to view the homes of the turtles,not to mention the

numerous butterflies,birds and mammals you will encounter.

San Jose is not a place to savour but after a good nights sleep in a fabulous city hotel (the decor,staff and food is first class ) you will be off to start your adventure.

You will have good accommodation in lovely locations.

Be warned some nights you will be chilly and the dampness can be a problem,after all you are often in a rainforest environment,when I returned everything in my suitcase and its contents were damp.

This is a small price to pay for the things you will see!...do be willing to take the walks,you will miss out so much if you decide to stay at the base or take a bus.

We had lovely weather every morning before the rain came most afternoons...so dont go for this type of holiday to stay in bed till 9....you will miss the best times!...up at 6 and bed at 9-10 is a norm.

This trip has a nice balance of trip and leisure with a brilliant guide,it you want a holiday....dont go!...if you want an experience book now!

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Our Guide & tour leader-Johnny [Villalobos] made this trip the best we have experienced; with his expertise, knowledge & general manner. Superior to similar trips in the past this one was outstanding!

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This was our second Exodus trip and again, we were not disappointed. An itinerary which covered many different ecosystems, plenty of wildlife, pleasant travel companions and an exceptionally knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide all went to make this trip a fantastic two weeks. Lots of early mornings, some long journeys and very hot and humid conditions did nothing to distract from the beauty, diversity and friendliness of Costa Rica. Highly recommended.

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This was our second Exodus trip and again, we were not disappointed. An itinerary which covered many different ecosystems, plenty of wildlife, pleasant travel companions and an exceptionally knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide all went to make this trip a fantastic two weeks. Lots of early mornings, some long journeys and very hot and humid conditions did nothing to distract from the beauty, diversity and friendliness of Costa Rica. Highly recommended.

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An excellent taster of the country. Well planned with good locations

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This was our first Exodus trip, which, to be honest I viewed with some trepidation, as I walk with crutches, and so wondered how it would be. I cannot praise Exodus highly enough, from my first phone call to the very end of the trip. When enquiring about accessibility, the person I spoke to listened properly to what I was asking, contacted someone in Costa Rica so they could answer my queries knowledgeably, and together we came up with a plan. The reality, however, surpassed the plan, due to our amazing guide, who organised things such that I could go into each of the forests we visited for a short trek, and then the rest of the group went on to do a longer one. Although obviously I was hoping we would have a good time, I really did not want this to be at the expense of others seeing and doing what they wanted. Katia's extremely thoughtful organisation, meant that we all really enjoyed and learned lots on our trip. The fact that our entire group was made up of lovely people helped!

Although like I said this was our first Exodus trip, it certainly won't be our last!! Thank you Exodus, Katia and Francisco!

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I would highly recommend this trip. The trip is very wildlife oriented, so if that is not your main interest, it may not be for you. However, I wouldn’t say that is normally my main area of interest, and yet I really enjoyed this trip, and it made a nice change. You get 2 nights in each place (except San Jose), so its not as rushed as some trips where it’s mostly 1 night before moving on. The standard of accommodation is very good too. Bus journeys were broken up so they didn’t feel too long, so don’t worry about the time spent on the bus. Great customer service and standards of tourism infrastructure in Costa Rica. An excellent, well organised trip, as perfect as these things are ever going to be.

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This trip was one of the best holidays that my wife and I have ever taken. . Costa Rica is a beautiful country but the attention to detail provided by Exodus and their agents ensured that it was a magical experience

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A great way to experience all Costa Rica has to offer! Great Accommodation in a variety of hotels and eco lodges all with their own unique character. Food was excellent throughout the holiday. Very highly recommended.

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Costa Rica is a beautiful island and this trip shows it at its best throughout. It is bursting with wildlife, plants and fantastic National Parks. This is a well organised and varied trip and the ecolodges and hotels were just amazing. Beautiful scenery, well tended gardens and comfortable accomodation with great food at every place. The people are friendly, well mannered and polite. The Costa Ricans are proud of their country and the land is superbly managed and protected.

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If you are looking for diversity then this is the trip for you. From cloud forest to rain forest to mangroves; this trip goes everywhere.

The drives between the accommodation stops were incredibly scenic and an adventure in themselves; even stopping our mini-coach (causing a traffic tail-back) whilst Juan and Alex were “assisting” a snake to slither across the road.

We have been on many wildlife holidays around the world and were surprised that Exodus only rated this as 3 out of 5; it could easily have been given 5 paws.

All our viewing expectations were met (and massively surpassed).

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An excellent trip with an opportunity to experience a good range of different habitats. Accommodation all of a high standard. Eco-lodges particularly good. High standard of food throughout the trip.

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An excellent trip around this beautiful diverse country.

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An outstanding holiday

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What an exciting adventure this trip proved to be. From the very first day to the last it was just so interesting and exciting. Whether you are interested in exotic flowers, birds or mammals it is non stop viewing. Like so many adventurers I am becoming a veteran of trips. Every day brought something new. The beauty of the bird species can only be described as 'flying iridescent rainbows'. Every new destination brought great delights. This is not a trip to miss, miss it and you will regret the decision.

One of my fellow adventurers logged a total of 150 different birds.

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This is an excellent tour which visits several National Parks and Reserves in Costa Rica. There is a great emphasis on wildlife and if this is not your interest, do not book this tour.

There are opportunities to see the very varied birdlife in Costa Rica and often you have to go no further than the Hotel bird feeders to see some of the most spectacular species.

There are opportunities for walking in the National Parks and a good pair of walking boots would be recommended. The two nights spent at Manuel Antonio makes for a pleasant beach break in this busy programme.

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The title 'Discover Costa Rica' puts it in a nutshell. We explored from coast to coast and many of the forests in between. On our trip over 125 different birds were identified including nesting Quetzals, many mammals, reptiles and even an eye lash viper. The flowers and butterflies in the many gardens of the lodges were a joy. There is an emphasis on being aware of and on contributing to the conservation of the natural resources which was appreciated.

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A great trip, very well organised with very comfortable accommodation in wonderful locations.

It provides a very good introduction to this fantastic country within a very brief timespan.

Attention to detail was excellent as was the contribution of our group leader and driver.

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This was a well choreographed exploration of Costa Rica, with an emphasis on exploring biodiversity and ecology thematically. The choice of hotels/lodges is excellent - you stay 2 nights everywhere which gives opportunity to explore without feeling too rushed. The trip is graded 'leisurely' but in fact we seemed to be active throughout, so good basic fitness is important to get the most from the trip.



There were 16 people in our group, and whilst we greatly enjoyed the company, it felt a big group to take for nature walks - usually most of the wildlife had scarpered by the time we arrived as 16 people stomping along a trail are not exactly quiet!).

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A thorough tour of Costa Rica from coast to coast, from sea level to mountain high

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What a fantastic experience. From beginning to end we cannot fault this brilliant trip, so well organised with a wonderful enthusiastic guide, Jorge and a brilliant driver Alejandro. We took advantage of opting for the direct flight on BA which meant an extra night at the beginning and and end of the trip, all organised by Exodus with pickup and drop-off and extra nights at the wonderful hotel in San Jose, Hotel Presidente. The wildlife had me glued to my binoculars, the knowledge imparted by Jorge and his ability to spot the furthest bird and animal never ceased to amaze us all plus the interesting information he gave us about his beloved Costa Rica.

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This was a fantastic introduction to Costa Rica, which packed in so much in the space of two short weeks. The itinerary took in both coasts and led us from the steamy heat to the cool of the cloud forest, enabling us to see a huge range of birds and some interesting animals during a range of walks both during the day and at night. Views everywhere are stunning and the Costa Rican people an absolute delight. We stayed two nights in each place we visited, which meant that we weren't constantly on the move and could have a full day exploring each location. The travel days were also not too onerous, with time on the road 3-5 hours at a time (with pleant of breaks).



All of the accommodation was good, some more basic than others but all of a good standard. All the rooms were large with plenty of space. The food on this trip was fantastic; quite a few meals were included and were delicious. The food generally in Costa Rica is amazing - even if you order a humble burger it will taste lovely and will generally be made from high quality meat!



Some walks/trips were included and some were optional. These were all explained well and if you fancied time to chill out, you could opt out of one or more of these. I missed a jungle walk at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge but when you see the setting for the swimming pool you will see why!



If you want a trip to really whet your appetite to see more, this is it. All in all this was a great trip, not in the least because of our tour guide, Jorge. If you get him you know you are in safe hands. Pura Vida!

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As my personal interests are more history/culture/architecture I knew that by choosing a basically wildlife/scenery holiday I was slightly pushing myself out of my comfort zone but I had heard so much about Costa Rica I decided to give it.a go. As I was travelling with two chums one of whom is quite a keen bird watcher we picked a date where there would be a bird watching guide but when I booked and from the brochure it looked as if the tour would be as normal. I found this far from the case and this was as very much a bird watching trip. I must be honest and say there were moments I was bored to death! However, when I look back on the whole trip I did enjoy it and with the exception of one day it was well paced and very varied. The day in question (Monteverde - Manuel Antonio) where the journey time was shown as 4.5hours but due to frequent stops for bird watching it actually took over 8 hours and we effectively missed half a day at Manuel Antonio, a stop I had been particularly looking forward to.

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Have just returned from Discover Costa Rico Tour. The whole trip was amazing from the moment I arrived until with a heavy heart I left this beautiful country.The itinerary was perfect in every way.

We visited many different areas and saw the wonderful wild life and were lucky e ought to see the Quezal which was beautiful and well worth the 5 30am start .All the accommodation was lovely and each had unique features ,food was great as well.

The holiday was made extra special by Alex our guide who was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and caring and funny and just great.Our driver Mal was wonderful as well driving to perfection in sometimes difficult bumpy areas but he always had a smile on his face.

All in all the best trip I’ve ever been on and can’t wait to go back to explore more .

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Very varied trip with good range of experiences despite poor weather at the start. Great accommodation though the breakfast at Arenal Montechairi was poor.

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Fabulous holiday - due in no small part to our guide Katia, she went over and above what could have been expected. It included early morning and late evening walks to watch wildlife that weren’t included in the tour.

Also travelling with a great bunch of people absolutely made the holiday. Can’t wait for my next Exodus trip.

Richard

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Holiday exceeded expectations - due in no small part to our excellent guide, Antonio, who went out of his way to ensure that everyone had a great time and their individual interests were catered for.

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An excellent introduction to Costa Rica, and in particular its wildlife.

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This trip was varied so provided something for everyone. It was an easy trip - there is excellent infrastructure in Costa Rica, the standard of accommodation was good and the walking was not difficult.

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A great trip with a group of 16 which gelled really well and an inspirational guide and excellent driver. The itinerary was well-planned and we saw some varied parts of the country without endless bus journeys. All the lodges and hotels were good, and some very good, as was the food and of course the coffee. There was an occasional lack of hot water indoors, and too much rain and mud outdoors, but that's the rainy season for you. We saw a simply extraordinary variety of bird, animal and reptile life, often spotted by Chico as he drove the bus. Jorge's knowledge of birds and pride in his country were constantly evident. He arranged far more walks than the itinerary suggested so that we saw as much as possible. Overall a really excellent trip.

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This 16 day trip in November 2017 covered much of the Costa Rican countryside and was focused on bird watching. It was very well organised, tour leader (see below) was excellent, accommodation and food were fine. We stayed in 6 lodges close to or within National Parks on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. We saw in excess of 250 bird species including the Resplendent Quetzal. It was everything I wanted and more. Thank you.

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I cannot recommend this trip enough. Everything was organised to perfection. We saw pretty much every animal available (apart from a jaguar which i believe the chances of seeing are zero)!

The hotels were all pretty much first class - food delicious, staff so friendly, rooms comfortable and the towel art!

Transport - comfy, driven very well by Felix, arrived on time everywhere.

Andreas - the best tour guide you could ever hope for. It was a passion for him to ensure that we all made the best of the holiday and he ensured that we see everything he saw. He was so knowledgeable with everything Costa Rica had to offer. He was careful to ensure i was feeling okay after a run-in with a raccoon :-)

Activities - all spot on and the hot springs were amazing. I only wish i was brave enough to do the zip wire instead of the coffee tour.

Fellow travellers - all were amazing and made everyone feel welcome. i am sure we are going to keep in touch with everyone in the future.

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We have just returned from a fantastic holiday guided by Johnny Villalobos. He made the experience memorable for our group of 13 travellers. He gave 100% to us, walking early to see as much as possible, owl hunting at night and working all hours to enable us to ' maximise' our holiday ( his word ) ! The itinerary was well put together and all the lodges and hotels were carefully chosen, all different but all excellent. We particularly loved Esquinas Lodge, its remoteness and the birds of course! We saw a huge number of bird species and Johnny helped us to check the 'list' every evening in happy hour!!! We had the good fortune to be travelling with a great group of people which really made for a fun time as well. We did see quetzal too. We saw at least two males and two females and they did us the honour of performing a memorable flying display! All in all a really wonderful holiday. My only query might be a question of its rating as Leisurely 1!!!

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This was a wonderful holiday from start to finish, with so much to see and do. Our first stopover at Tortuguero was very enjoyable - the lodge was superb and we saw a lot of wildlife both on the boat trips and walking around the forest. It was also refreshing to have a swim in the pool at the end of a busy day. I thought the holiday may have gone downhill after that - but it didn't! The lodges we visited subsequently were just as good, and I continued to be amazed by the flora and fauna that were in abundance at all locations on our trip. Add to that a couple of relaxing days on the beach at the Pacific, and it truly was the recipe for a superb holiday.

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In my opinion, this tour is the perfect blend of wildlife, nature, activities and perfect introduction to Costa Rica. They say a guide makes the trip and in this case Andres did, but everything ran perfectly from meals to accommodation, and activities to free time. I was surprised just how much wildlife we saw including sea turtles hatching and making their way towards the Pacific Ocean, hiked in cloud forests and watched the forest below from canopy bridges. Exodus did a fantastic job in selecting eco-lodges which worked with the environment, as opposed to leaving a carbon footprint. I couldn’t have asked for a better Costa Rica experience.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. We had a great guide, Gustavo, and fab driver, Juan, who helped make the trip a success. We saw plenty of wildlife, including sloths, greenback turtles, monkeys, iguanas, frogs (including the iconic red eyed tree frog) and birds too numerous to list. Costa Rica is a lovely country with rich biodiversity and unspoilt countryside. The people were friendly and largely English speaking and very helpful in all the places we stayed. Our accomodation was of a good standard and the first and last lodges were particularly good. In spite of travelling in the rainy season the weather was kind to us - an added bonus.

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This was my first Exodus trip and it reminded me why I love to travel and how I have missed travelling.



It is a good trip to show you some of what Costa Rica has to offer and in comfort from travelling to accommodation, the daily drives are not to vast and are broken up with a visit here or there.



You go from travelling through mangroves to witnessing turtles nesting, to volcanoes, rain & cloud forests with a beach thrown in as well - with evening cicada and frog calls to being woken by the roar of a howler monkey with sights of sloths, untold colourful birds including the fabulous Quetzal, 4 species of monkeys and much, much more, what more could you really want?

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Discover Costa Rica is a fantastic holiday that is suitable for all ages. The itinerary is expertly put together, meaning you really get a sense of the whole country and the various different ecosystems. 6 lots of 2 night stays with the bookends in San Jose and a comfortable mini-bus for the entire trip (with wifi) take you from the Caribbean ocean and sea turtles in Tortugero, to the volcano and hot springs of Arenal, to the cloud forrests of Monteverde and Savegres, and the nature reserves of Manuel Antonio and Esquinas. Each of these locations present their own individual highlights and the travel in between is well planned and not overly long (4 hours on average on a travel day).

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This was a fantastic trip and a great way to discover the delights of Costa Rica. From the lush tropical rainforests of the Caribbean coast to the misty cloud forests to the fascinating pacific coast. A truly memorable trip

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This was our first Exodus trip and it won't be our last! It was a well paced holiday, moving on after two days in one place, but we managed to see a range of different environments in this amazing country. There was such a number and variety of animals and birds wherever we went! It must have one of the richest natural habitats in the world. The scenery was stunning too - from beautiful river systems to volcanoes and cloud forests and tropical rain forests. What an experience!

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The title of this holiday is Discover Costa Rica, and that is exactly what it delivers. During the break, you get to experience the beauty and the wide diversity of the country from Mangroves on the Caribbean coast, to volcanic regions to rain forests, cloud forests and beach resorts on the Pacific coast.

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This was a really good and varied introduction to the country, taking in both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and a number of types of forest in between. We saw a wide variety of birdlife, flora and fauna and enjoyed the different types of accommodation, all of which were very good or excellent in different ways. The food was generally first class and served with a smile by friendly and helpful staff. The visits to a village school and a local cheesemaker on the final day were both interesting and enjoyable, in spite of our misgivings beforehand about this sort of activity when we saw it in the notes.

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An excellent introduction to the wildlife around Costa Rica. The focus was on birds but there were plenty of flowers, mammals and invertebrates to add interest. A little more strenuous than suggested by the rating but the guide did give the option not to go on some of the walks. The country is safe and reasonably clean (water in hotels was all potable) and the accommodation was of a good standard throughout.

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We chose this tour because it visits areas of Costa Rica that a lot of tours don't reach. Having returned home and reflected on the experience we could not have made a better choice. Every lodge or hotel we stayed in was perfectly placed, comfortable and relaxing. Where food was included it was always good to excellent. The gardens surrounding all the accommodations were wonderful, with birds, mammals, frogs and reptiles as well as beautiful flowers providing fantastic photo opportunities.



Coming home with such a great feeling about the trip would not have been possible without the company of such a lovely group of people. All 14 of our fellow travellers were great company and got along without any problems. However, without a great tour guide, holidays can fail to achieve the magical tour that we had. Johnny Villalobos was tremendous and went out of his way make sure we saw everything we possibly could in the time available. I have said more about him below.



We loved every part of this tour and we are so glad that we chose this tour over all the others that were available.

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We have just returned from the most amazing trip of our lives, Costa Rica is a stunning destination.

From start to finish our party was enthralled not only with new discovery's at every turn but also by the knowledge & obvious love of nature shown throughout by our guide Johnny, he was amazing.

Costa Rica has so much to offer with every destination offering new & exiting discovery's everyday.

The lodges are all top class with good food comfortable rooms surrounded by nature.

The rain forests visited are stunning with an incredible diversity in plant & tree life, add the wildlife & you are in heaven.

I would recommend this trip to anyone of any age or ability as all paths are manageable for anyone with reasonable mobility.

But it is the wildlife that makes this trip, be it birds, reptiles, mammals, they are all there in abundance.

You will need a poncho, you can guarantee rain & these slip on easily to keep you dry & protect your Camera & binoculars, raincoats are to cumbersome & the humidity will drain you



Costa Rica is a paradise waiting to be discovered for anyone that has a love of nature, enjoy

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Clearly a well thought out itinerary to explore the many different regions and ecosystems of Costa Rica. Timings worked very well but all you ever wished for was more time in each location but this would then make it a 3 week trip! No matter how much literature you read before the trip the diversity is amazing and just how much is packed into this small country is incredible; the wildlife, the insects, reptiles and plants exceed all expectations. Each location is so different you just never tire of what you will see next. We went on a bird watching departure, this suited both nature lovers and more serious 'birders' alike. I believe we saw and appreciated so much more due to this type of departure - would recommend it highly.

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I really enjoyed the Costa Rica highlights trip which gave a great insight into the wealth of wildlife in the country. Our guide Guillermo was very knowledgeable but struck a good balance between enough but not too much information. The group was, as on previous Exodus trips, an interesting mix of people sharing a common interest. We covered a lot of distance but travelling was broken up well with viewing and refreshment stops.

Food was almost always very good and sufficient variety at buffet meals for the length of time we stayed at each place.

Eating out felt a bit expensive probably because of the recent decline in the value of sterling. Similarly it wasn't easy to find souvenirs at good prices.

We expected the travel to be much more strenuous on unpaved roads but in truth it was rarely uncomfortable. San Jose, where we stayed for an extra night, doesn't have a lot to offer but we were lucky to experience the main drag on a Sunday 'family fun day'. Quite a few things are closed on Monday so it's worth checking in advance. Many guide books advise extreme caution in San Jose but we felt as safe as any other city we've visited whilst keeping to the central area.

If anything was lacking it was perhaps the opportunity to meet with more local people and learn a bit more about daily life in Costa Rica but I think this would need a longer or different trip. The visits to a school and cheesemaking family were very interesting.

I will be recommending this trip to others.

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This was an excellent trip full of variety and interest. The range of scenery was amazing and the pace of the trip just right with enough time to explore each diverse region.

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2 weeks touring the different ecological areas of Costa Rica

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We choose the bird watching guide holiday and we saw over 200 bird species as well as animals, reptiles and butterflies. The guide was amazing at spotting birds and other wildlife and indicating to the group.

Lodges were great and food tasty and often local.

The minibus and driver made the journey and we had WiFi almost continuously on the bus!

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Holiday was everything I expected and more. We managed to see lots of things that we were not expecting to see and the weather was great (we only got rained on once!). Our tour leader was very enthusiastic and made the trip extra special. All the hotels and food were of a very good standard and our transport was excellent (even WiFi on the bus!).

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Outside of San Jose, Costa Rica is a beautiful country with an abundant variety of birds, verdant countryside, the best of tropical fruit, very friendly people and an increasing sensitivity to protecting the environment. All-in-all, it was an excellent holiday.

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Truly the holiday of a lifetime. Could not improve on any elements of it. The pace and variety was perfect. Loved the Eco lodges, the wildlife and was very lucky with the company. The guide was fascinating and passionate about his subject. A walking encyclopaedia of Costa Rican facts and insights.

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Lovely tour of a beautiful country

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A brilliant 'taster' trip to Costa Rica, which our Guide (Jorge Diaz) skilfully adapted to the group preference for wildlife discovery with several early morning starts to capture the best viewing.

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Probably the best holiday I have ever had. Excellent wildlife and well thought out locations to ensure we saw the maximum amount of the various landscapes Costa Rica has to offer. Excellent tour leader and driver. I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday.

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A wonderful holiday! Well organised and varied . We were fortunate to have an especially nice group who all interacted well together.

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A packed itinerary, a great tour of the country- experiencing micro climates- differing landscapes- wonderful national parks and wildlife.

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Costa Rica is an exceptionally beautiful, green and environmentally aware country. This trip, when considered as primarily a wildlife spotting trip, is very interesting with huge opportunities to visit the wide variety of parks to view the wildlife and botany that the country has to offer. It is however, more limited in its ability to help you discover Costa Rica other than through the guide's anecdotes and infrequent opportunities to meet locals and see sights other than wildlife.

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If you want to experience the lushness of the rainforests and the animals and birdlife that inhabit this disappearing

eco system go to Costa Rica.

A group of 15 we all seemed to gel on some level and had a really could laugh .

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IN SPITE OF THE RAINY SEASON SAW A FANTASTIC RANGE OF WILDLIFE INCLUDING GREEN TURTLE HATCHLINGS MAKING THEIR BID FOR LIFE IN THE OCEAN

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A great trip, full of wildlife. Quite different from the other Exodus trips we've taken to South East Asia. Costa Rica is doing well in promoting eco-tourism and deserves a lot of credit. As usual we had an excellent guide.

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An outstanding trip that explores the full range of what Costa Rica has to offer, from the hustle and bustle of San Jose to the quiet stunning beauty of Piedras Blancas.

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We had a fantastic holiday in Costa Rica. The holiday was well planned and managed perfectly by our great tour guide, Gustavo. The holiday allowed us to experience the diversity of this lovely country and had just the right amount of mix of activities, walks and free time. The lodges and hotels were all good, friendly, well managed and in fantastic locations particularly in Tortuguero, Golfito and Savegre

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This was an amazing 2 week long adventure exploring all that Costa Rica has to offer - a vast amount of birds and wildlife, gorgeous flowers and plants, beaches, walks and, for the more adventurous, ziplining. Most of the accommodation was superb, often nestled among the cloud and rain-forests where the abundant wildlife roamed freely and the organisation of the tour was excellent with just the right amount of time in each place to fully explore and not feel that the trip was rushed.

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I enjoyed all aspects of this tour. It was well organised and structured with lovely accommodation and delivered on the wildlife experience it promised. A couple of the driving days are quite long but not bad as we had a great and enthusiastic bunch of people along for the ride

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This is a fantastic holiday - in some strange way managed to be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. It was the first time we had taken a group holiday and our reservations about it were completely unfounded. We visited lots of different eco systems - cloud forest/ rain forest/ beach - and saw lots of amazing scenery and wildlife. It's a real outdoor holiday.

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A great introduction to Costa Rica & its wonderful wildlife. Its diverse climatic conditions make for a varied and interesting trip.

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We thoroughly enjoyed the tour which was tiring but very rewarding. Our tour leader, Johnny Villalobos, was determined that we should see as much as could be fitted into the days, and was very knowledgable. The accommodation was just the right balance between location and comfort, and the necessary travel between centres was well broken up by interesting stops. The locals were very friendly throughout, although San Jose is like any large city.

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An absolutely tip top trip. Our guide, Pedro Bolanos, was amazing. The trip takes in so many aspects of this very interesting country. The travel can be quite long, but still very interesting as we passed by so many amazing places. Two days in each place is about right - but then again, we could have stayed longer in virtually every one, needing a three week trip! The lodge at Esquinas is a real experience, just lovely.

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Excellent trip - the lodges were superb and the wildlife was fascinating

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A great itinerary with a wide variety of locations. A must for bird and wildlife enthusiasts. The colours are amazing.

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An amazing trip taking in a variety of national parks to see an endless variety of wildlife, just magical.

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This was a fabulous trip. Costa Rica is such a beautiful country & our route took in many of the main national parks. The bird watching was brilliant. Our leader was a specialist bird watching guide & was very knowlegeable about birds + very enthusiastic. The accommodation was excellent.

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The necessary evil of the tour was all the coach travelling, of course Costa Rica cannot be seen without touring. Beautiful scenery, diversity of weather conditions from rain forrest to Hot central pacific stunning beaches. a bit too much bird watching, if you're not a bird watcher it got a little too much for us at times.

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This was a most amazing and varied trip, visiting rain forest, cloud forest, volcanoes, Pacific and Caribbean sides. 48 hours of rain, even though the dry season, now I see why its called the rain forest. Hanging bridges, zip wires, hot thermal pools, the warm ocean. Excellent accommodation and meals throughout the trip. Wonderful siting of birds and animals. Hot, humid, cool, wet, dry, Costa Rica has all the seasons in a quality small package, that everyone should visit.

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This trip is a great example of the contrasts across the whole country of Costa Rica, from the tropical rainforest of the Caribbean coast (wet but amazing wildlife), through the volcanic area and cloud forest to the Pacific coast (hot and humid) . The final resort in the highlands with its hummingbirds is a real highlight.

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An amazing, memorable holiday, full of variety, laughter, wonderful animals and birds, and great accommodation. Our group leader, Carla, and bus driver, Mario, are a dynamic duo- Mario carefully negotiating some challenging roads while still spotting sloths etc. Carla- extremely knowledgeable, caring of all of us and very safety conscious. Costa Rica is indeed a rich country- variety of micro-climates, flora and fauna. Rich too in its people- charming, friendly, unfailingly helpful and welcoming.

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A truly memorable holiday, made by our tour guide and the other members of our group.

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The experience was everything I had hoped and more,the wildlife was amazing especially the birds and the brochure promise was fulfilled in ever way. The dry forest,rain forest and cloud forest will will be relived every time I look at my photos. I will certainly recommend this experience to my friends.

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A great country to visit with great wildlife.

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A well organised holiday a great way to see Costa Rica with diverse climates from hot rain forest to cool cloud forest . Fantastic sightings of many birds and wildlife including the elusive Quetzal . Accommodation was very good in all places visited . A lovely group with a fantastically enthusiastic and passionate guide .

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This is a well planned itinery to enable visiting a wide range of ecosystems - wetland rainforests, cloud forests, coastal rainforests, high altitude forests so the variety of flora and fauna seen is great. I thought that the travelling every other day would be tedious but each journey was broken up by something of interest and often we had reached our destination by lunch time.

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We are just back from two weeks in Costa Rica and have had a wonderful time travelling around the country. There were 16 of us with Gerardo as our guide and George as our driver and the group all got on well and shared a sense of humour together.

We had a very varied time travelling into the different micro climates and experiencing very cool weather and extremely humid rain forests all with interesting places to visit from bird filled rain forests to high cloud forests and volcanos. I can really recommend this trip and Gerardo was an excellent guide. As well as being a fun friendly person, he is a fluent English speaker and very knowledgeable about all sorts of things from identifying wildlife and bird spotting to discussions about politics etc. At the beginning of the week I expressed interest in the social side of the country and he wrote and presented a very informative talk on these issues that must have taken him some time to put together. That was really very appreciated and a fascinating added extra to the holiday.

He also went out of his way to locate and reconnect us with our luggage which was left in Madrid for some days having missed our 2nd flight out!

Thanks to everyone for ensuring that the trip was so good, and varied, including the school visit and visit to a home. We will definately think of further travel with Exodus in the future.

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An excellent overview of the wildlife of the country from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific. Led by an excellent knowledgeable guide, Antonio. Who, as well as having an excellent knowledge of the birdlife in each area visited, with a personal birdlist of more than 500 species in Costa Rica, was also willing to lead early morning bird walks and other walks through the various habitats. Two members of the group were able to identify around 200 species of bird, including the iconic Quetzal, which was seen in two different areas. Antonio was also able to identify and give information on much of the other fauna and flora seen on our travels, and explain some of the social history of Costa Rica. The jungle walks, both at day and night, gave a good overview of the diversity of species found in these amazing habitats. Accommodation was excellent, the people were friendly and our drivers, both on the bus, Mario, and on the boat, were excellent, helping us to enjoy the whole trip.

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The whole trip was full of exciting experiences, seeing a wonderful variety of flora and fauna and visiting so many different places. The list of animals and birds we saw grew longer by the day and the almost encyclopaedic knowledge of all elements of Costa Rica that our group leader had was readily shared with us all. The itinerary was well planned, allowing us to see the different landscapes and terrains of the country, and the numerous activities available were thoroughly enjoyable. All the accommodation was of a high standard as was the transport vehicle and its driver. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in seeing wildlife in a beautiful setting.

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Excellent holiday - good leader and driver. Good mix of people. Good insight into the best of Costa Rica and I want to go back and do it all again!

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First time with Exodus, we travelled with a group of friends, plus three other couples to make up the numbers. As a group we immediately realised that we were going to have a good time together - this was a good start and then of course the rest of the holiday - touring the highlights of Costa Rica was perfect, helped along by a wonderful guide (Andres) and our driver (Carlos).

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This is an absolutely fantastic trip.

It is diverse in terms of climate, type of rain forest, topography and ,Eco systems. you see The Caribbean and the Pacific,You experience High mountains ,volcanic areas ,pristine sandy beaches and huge range of mammals and birds.

The food In all the places we stayed and in the local restaurants was great if you are a meat and fish eater.

The accommodation excellent with contrasts between the Eco lodges and the small hotels which are you appreciate both !,

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Costa Rica is a beautiful country, remarkably diverse, and well worth discovering! The circuit was extremely well organised so that we travelled long distances only every other day, with plenty of stops along the way. We would usually arrive at our lodge in the early afternoon with time for a walk afterwards for those who wanted it. The food was surprisingly good wherever we went, and the people we met very friendly and kind. The nature is fabulous, we saw monkeys, sloths, more birds than you can count, frogs, and much more.

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This was my first trip with Exodus and what a great choice! Costa Rica has so much to offer; it has an abundance of wildlife, is rich in flora and the weather and climate can change vastly within short distances. It's an amazing experience to watch a flock of red macaws flying by wild and free, It was worth every penny and every ounce of effort needed for the early morning starts! I wouldn't hesitate recommending this to anyone who is fit and active.

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A holiday of contrasts. This trip takes you from the Caribbean to the Pacific and back. This was a bird spotting trip of a lifetime. In total between us we spotted 180 birds including the elusive quetzal. We walked in rain forests, we floated on waterways and mango swamps and we sped through delightful mountains. We woke up to the sounds of howler monkeys and bird song and we went to sleep to the chink chink of the frogs.

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An excellent expedition with a variety of landscapes and wildlife, and a comprehensive introduction to tropical Costa Rica.

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It was my first experience with Exodus. Everything was so well organised, the guide, the driver were punctual to the minute. Upon arrival at our different destinations, the meals were hot and ready and I have to say very delicious and offering local dishes as well. All our accomodations were clean. We felt safe every step of the way. For nature lovers and bird watchers, Costa Rica is a paradise and your tour offers so many opportunities. Both the guide and the driver were very alert and very good at spotting wildlife and they would stop often so we could see and take pictures.

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As in the meaning of Costa Rica (Rich Coast), this trip showed our group the beautiful details offered in the country. The country is renowned for its '1000 needles' of all types creatures, and no matter how big or small they were, they were definitely worth seeing. This trip is for those who wish to see or spot wildlife, walk in the rainforests and don't let a 'little' rain get in the way.

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A great taster of the incredibly varied biodiversity and wildlife of Costa Rica

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Just book this trip!! A superb trip, fantastic guide, great variety of different styles of accommodation, excellent choice of food and a nice group who all got on very well and helped by great weather (very little rain on the 24th October - 7th November 2015 departure), so much so we only missed one afternoon walk (which was an extra that was organized by Eduardo our guide) due to the torrential rain. This did not stop us doing anything as most of the group sat outside our rooms bird watching and trying to take more photos of humming birds!!

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The country more than lived up to expectations. The emphasis on conservation provided some memorable moments. Hotels and lodges were above average and those with pools were a bonus after a long day of enjoyment.

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If you love wildlife (big and small) then this could be your perfect holiday. We saw a huge variety of mammals, birds and insects over the two weeks, in a range of stunning locations. The guide had an impressive knowledge of plants and animals and went that extra mile to suggest optional extras to make the holiday truly special. We visited an organic farm for lunch which was excellent (as was the sugar cane moonshine!)

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This was a wonderful holiday for getting in touch with nature. I became glued to my binoculars trying to spot birds, animals and insects. All of the lodge/hotel stops showed a different element of the country and it was nice to sit and listen to the life around us. It is a lot of travelling and moving around the country but it allowed some people to catch up with their sleep and others to watch the scenery move past.

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What a thoroughly enjoyable experience! This trip covers a lot of ground with 2-day stops at six different venues and in so doing offers the chance to learn much about the natural wonders of this remarkable country. We went from rainforest to cloud forest and back again, via the Pacific coast, and clocked up an impressive number of sightings of mammals, birds, butterflies and reptiles.

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A comprehensive trip including many special places in Costa Rica. The leader and group of 16 were both excellent.

If you don't like birds and slow walks through rainforest spotting plentiful, but elusive wildlife, then this holiday is not for you.

While the trip is rated as leisurely, day 1 started at 6am in an effort to beat the traffic in San Jose. We however saw 2 three toed sloths at the place we had breakfast on the way to Tortugero.



Its a busy holiday with 2 nights in most places but generally starts were before 9am. If you want to see wildlife you need to look at the best times early morning or evening

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An interesting trip with a wide variety of flora, fauna and climate. As always, a good group and a good group leader make a trip like this and we had both.

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If you want to see wildlife then this is the country to visit, you will not be disappointed! The weather is warm pretty much everywhere except at altitude (but nothing us Brits can't handle), very laid back itinerary with plenty of free time to work on that tan. The hotels and lodges are of a very high quality, as is the food, we were spoilt with all the fresh tropical fruit on offer!

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I read all previous reviews before booking and they were all useful information - if you are planning this trip I suggest you do likewise.

I booked this as the dates suited me but we had a bird-watching expert and it was interesting to be part of a group some of whom were 'on a mission'. Despite the specialism I don't feel that we 'non-birders' missed out on anything and our guide also pointed out animals, gave information on culture, geography, etc.

All in all a well paced trip and having two nights at each place meant less pressure to pack up every morning.

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Wonderful trip and so full of wildlife. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with welcoming people. This trip took us through many eco systems from high altitude cloud forests, humid tropical forests, very very humid (couldn't believe it could get much more sticky!) rainforests to beautiful white sand beaches. Most of which were in protected national parks. Saw so much wildlife it would fill a guide book.

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This was a fantastic trip covering a range of different environments. Highly recommended to anyone interested in flora, fauna and ecotourism. It was all I have learned in Geography and more!!

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A wonderful trip. Stayed in some beautiful locations with excellent accommodation

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We drove some 1,300 miles (or was it kilometres?) in two weeks, travelling every second day so quite a lot of time was spent on the bus albeit with regular stops. The country is very varied with distinct geographical zones.

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I went on this holiday expecting great things and this did not disappoint. The variety of wildlife was second to none. The hotels were all different and to a very good standard. The organisation was good and having two nights at each location gave you chance to experience each of the very different Eco Systems in the country. The guide Johnny was friendly, knowledgable, and went the extra mile often in his free time.

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Our first trip with Exodus was a wonderful experience. The diversity of flora and fauna was amazing.

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A brilliant holiday. Packed itinerary. Very well managed by our guide Edwin who added such a huge amount to my enjoyment.

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A stunning, stimulating, invigorating and fascinating country. Book this trip now. See the places, the wildlife and the scenery firsthand. Meet the people. Talk to them. They smile back. Take your photos but also take the time to sit back and fully absorb. Wonderful.

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Excellent adventures every day. Loads of wildlife to see, great jungle lodges, excellent guide and good food.

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This trip seems a great introduction to what Costa Rica has to offer and certainly worked as an appetizer

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Stunning country with multiple Climates, Landscapes and Wildlife that will take your breath way. The people truly want you to experience the best their country can offer and every interaction leaves you feeling that your time and money is valued highly.

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The trip provided a great overall view of Costa Rica with a friendly and fun group - from the glorious Manuel Antonio beaches to the heights of the rainforest canopy and everything in between.

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Absolutely amazing trip of a lifetime! Antonio (our guide) was so knowledgeable on all the birds and wildlife we saw. He spent extra opportunities with us, getting up extra early in the mornings to watch the birds and never tired of us asking questions or identifying species. We were so lucky to have marvellous weather throughout the trip and each region had it's own wonderful setting and range of birds and wildlife.

A truly spectacular trip - fabulous food and hotels. I didn't want to do the long walks, so was able to spend time around the pools or lodges etc just focussing on the birds and wildlife.

Exceeded all my expectations. Glad I chose to travel through Madrid and not America as we had an early start the next day. Iberia not a great airline, but the US ones are just as bad.

Highly recommended! This was my first Exodus trip and classed as 'leisurely'. Lots of walking for those who are keen, but as mentioned above, you could choose to not do long walks.

Lots of long journeys on very bumpy un-made roads, so not for the faint-hearted! But the reward is seeing so much of this diverse country and all the wildlife.

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This was an action packed trip, with moving every couple of days an improvement on the one night only trips I have done in the past. You have the opportunity to see as much of the country as possible, yes it rains but you are visiting rain and cloud forest. We where very lucky seeing some amazing sightings (the list was eight pages long - birds, animals, insects, reptiles, plants and trees - and that was not complete there was much more). Hotel catering was good were we availed ourselves, the driver safe and proud of his vehicle as well as being good fun and a good dancer and our guide was outstanding - his knowledge, honesty, humour, sightings but equally the obvious care he had for us - his guests.

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This was a very good trip. We had a very nice group of like minded people, an excellent tour leader, beautiful varied scenery, very nice lodges and so much to see in the way of animals, birds and plants. The included meals were all very good and the walks were not too long. I am so glad I went. Another great Exodus trip.

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We enjoyed it as much the second time round as our trip 14 years ago, which was infact, our first trip with Exodus.

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This was a wonderful 14 day trip (March 8 – 23 2014) which introduced us to the amazing bio-diversity of Costa Rica. Six very different regions were visited in a hectic schedule: the beguiling waterways of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast; the impressive Arenal Volcano; the Monteverde Cloud Forest; Manuel Antonio on the Pacific; Esquinas Rain Forest, and Savegre Tropical Cloud Forest.

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This is a first rate trip seeing all the important national parks and wildlife centres. The chance to see some of the most diverse fauna and flora in the world was a chance in a lifetime. Superb leader and driver, Good qualty accomodation in fascinating locations.

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A holiday in paradise pcaked with wildlife.

From the palm trees and white sandy beaches of the Caribbean and Pacifice coast, to the cool misteriousness of the the cloudforest, to the heat, verdant vegetation and sounds of the tropical rainforest. A holiday of contrasts with amazingly beautiful birds, frogs, reptiles and unusual mammals.

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I loved waking up in stunning locations to enjoy the beauty of nature without a care in the world! It was my first trip to Central America so I didn't know what to expect but I was certainly not disappointed. For all the reasons below I cannot commend this trip highly enough. It is definitely one of my all time favourites.

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I'm no birdwatcher or particular wildlife enthusiast but I loved this trip.  To see red macaws giving a wonderful display backwards and forwards across the road was amazing.

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A wonderful experience. The guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about his country, the wildlife and conservation. Staying in eco lodges brought you closer to nature. The locals were very friendly and went out of their way to make you feel welcome.

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This was one of the "birding" departure dates, with the emphasis obviously on seeing many of the 800-odd resident and migrant species found in Costa Rica. There were plenty of opportunities for birding but other wildlife was not ignored so don't let this put you off these dates if (like me) you aren't a serious bird watcher.

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This trip ticked every box I'd thought of, and then added a few more.  For anybody interested in wildlife and the environment it will be an incredible journey.

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Costa Rica is a fantastic country. The places we visited, the people we met and the wildlfe we saw was all just perfect. We stayed in each hotel for 2 nights and this was quite relaxing. All the places we stayed in were amazing. The weather was fantastic - not too much rain!!!

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Beautiful lush country teeming with wildlife!

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An interesting and wonderful country. Exodus organisation was impeccable. Not a cheap location and activities/shopping aimed at 'Tourists' charged in USD and often over-priced.

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A truly amazing trip which surpassed my high expectations. Everything was perfect, the accommodation, the food, the guide, Giovanni, the local guides, the itinerary which included close contact with lots of amazing wildlife and chance to become familiar with some of the culture of Costa Rica with a visit to a coffee plantation, a school and an appetising lunch with a lady who makes delicious cheese.

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An excellent trip all round with a great group of fellow travellers.  I saw and did everything that I wanted to and took lots and lots of photographs!

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2 Weeks in Costa Rica was a dream come true for a nature lover like me. I loved the lush tropical forests with blooming gingers and heliconias everywhere.

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Costa Rica is a natural paradise teeming with life; monkeys swing in the canopy of the steamy rainforest, exotic birds constantly flutter and squawk overhead, cascading rivers carve through jungle and waterfalls plunge into pritine pools. The trip is the perfect introduction to this Central American country and its weirdly wonderful wildife. A perfectly balanced itinerary with two nights spent in each destination, from mangrove lagoons to cool, mistly clouds forests, sun-kissed Pacific beaches to sweltering, impenetrable rainforests, you say goodbye to Tico land feeling like you really have discovered Costa Rica!

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A great overall and varied introduction to an amazing country.

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Costa Rica may be a small country but it is one with a big heart. With its volcanic landscape, dramatic coastlines on both its Carribean and Pacific shores, lush tropical rainforests, and diverse flora and fauna, it has so much to offer its visitors. An inspiring example of how people can work within the natural environment, preserving it for all to enjoy.

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This was a stunning trip for a wildlife enthusiast, particularly one with a camera and binoculars! Costa Rica is a country of contrasts; within a few hours of travel you go from a lowland tropical rainforest to a cloudforest in the mountains, from a volcano to a beach. Not for one instant were we ever bored or disinterested; the wildlife metaphorically throws itself at you wherever you go. I never dreamt we could have seen so much in such a short space of time. This trip exceeded all my expectations and I recommend it highly!

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The magical forests and critters are out of fairy tales, the landscapes breath taking and the diversity of the countries flora as only before seen in the tropical aisles in garden centres.  The people always smiling and pleased to assist.  A proud nation in a beautiful country - a true gem of our earth.

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A varied trip staying in some wonderfully remote locations in a good standard of accomodation.The wildlife was nearly always right on your doorstep.  

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The trip is well paced and relaxing.  The wildlife does major on birds even if not on the bird watching departures.  The accommodation and food is very good (where included is mostly buffet style to suit all tastes) and any wildlife is generally close to the lodges.

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Exceeded our expectations of seeing wildlife up close. A well planned itinerary, with a good variety of accommodation.

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A poncho, binoculars, camera and a change of underpants is really all you need for this trip (the first three are essential, the last one is optional!)  If you like wildlife you will love this trip and when I say wildlife, I mean accessible wildlife everywhere you look.  If you sit by your lodge at any of the places you stay at you will see wildlife passing you by and if you are really lucky you might even get a bat in your shower.There are some long drives but plenty of opportunities to stop and also to shout out what you have seen out of the window - SCARLET MACAW! TOUCAN! etc etc.The accomodation is excellent and many of the lodges you stay in are on the edges of the rain forest and there are so many trails to discover. The noises at night are amazing. My first night back in England I wondered what was wrong and why I could not sleep - it was too quiet!

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A wonderful tour of the beautiful country of Costa Rica, taking in amazing scenery and wildlife. This trip is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in nature.

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Fabulous.  First day on the road, our driver (the excellent Orlando) spotted five sloths in one tree - and that set the tone for the wildlife extravaganza to follow.  Landscapes, experiences and accommodation were so varied that it was like (as others have said) a series of wonderful mini-holidays.

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The first time I have used Exodus (or any organised tour),  This holiday lived up to all my expectations. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and DCR allows you to see a great cross-section - the two different Coastlines, rainforest, cloud forest, meeting local people,  and of course lots of wildlife - day and night time, and a lot of birding. The accommodation was very good, the food delicious and lots of.   It is a leisurely paced trip.

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This was one of the best holidays we've ever had - the wealth and variety of experience was breathtaking!  We couldn't believe how much wildlife we saw against the backdrop of a truly beautiful country, and the structure of the holiday (2 days in each of 6 contrasting locations, from coast to cloud forest, topped and tailed by a day in San Jose at each end) made the trip feel like 6 full-on, action packed weekend breaks.

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Birds, animals, plants, landscapes, beaches and of course birds. You will see more  than you can ever expect on the boat trips and walks from 0-10,000ft. Don't forget the binoculars and camera but most of all don't forget to just watch and absorb the diversity.

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A great trip, particularly if you are a bird watcher or photographer. We saw most of this facinating country from the coasts to the cloud forests so plenty of variety and also lots of free time to do optional activities or just chill out by the pool. All the hotels are really nice - look out for the 'bath towel art' made by the chambermaids at most of them.

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We saw a beautiful and very varied landscape and a wide range of wildlife on this well organised and balanced trip, alternating between hot and humid areas and more temperate zones with optional opportunities for extra adventure.  Our excellent and very knowledgeable group leader managed the needs of the mixed age group very well, arranging extra activities often to break our journeys, guiding us to good restaurants and helping us to get the most out of the excellent forest lodges or hotels we stayed in.

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Great holiday, excellent guide, good group size (8), exciting wildlife

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An amazing variety of wildlife and ecosystems - great for birdwatching.

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Amazing trip that explored many different aspects of Costa Rica, and enabled us not only to see colourful birds and new animals but also to gain some understanding of the country and its people. Action packed but well balanced with plenty of choice in things to do.

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On the whole, the trip was wonderful, notwithstanding quite a lot of rain and grey skies (detracting from some of the photogrsphic opportunities).I would recommend spending a bit more time in a couple of places at the expense of removing Golfito. The weather was terrible in Golfito (not uncommon we were told) and  even when we were out there really wasn't much to see there although we did see a fair amount en route to and from there. 

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The Exodus trip, "Discover Costa Rica", is a wonderful introduction to a wildlife paradise. The programme was jam-packed with unforgettable sights and experiences.

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Our first wildlife experiance and it was wonderful, this trip has given us the enthusiasm to do more. The accommodation was good and the lodges in particular gave the sense of being part of the wonderful enviroment around you. 

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Costa Rica is such a diverse country with all different scenery and climates. This was my second time on this trip, I loved it the first time and it was even better the second time.

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A jam-packed fortnight filled from beginning to end with good company, new destinations and exciting wildlife. Not your typical holiday and certainly not many occasions for putting your feet up but definitely interesting, informative and thoroughly enjoyable.

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What a fantastic trip to a country with such diverse habitats, wonderful birds and mammals.  Providing the opportunity to experience coast, mountains, cloud and rain forest, which although wet was at least warm!

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Brilliant holiday - lots of wildlife seen and holiday was definitely a trip to remember with a great group of people.

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This trip is suited for anyone who is interested in wildlife, birds and nature. You will be taken to places off the beaten track, learn about Costa Ricas diverse and fascinating ecosystems and escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life (If you are a city worker like myself)

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Discover Costa Rica exceeded my expectations.  It is a beautiful country with superb wildlife and we had a brilliant leader.

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A really great wildlife adventure.  Rain Forests, beaches, volcanos, hikes, swims, adventures and plenty of birds!

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An excellent, well balanced holiday, which gave a fantastic insight into both life and wildlife in Costa Rica.

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Costa Rica was a real surprise! It is really a wildlife-destination. It is a must for anybody with an avid interest in wildlife, plantlife and nature in general. It blew us away!!!

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An excellent holiday for enjoying wildlife viewing and walking in the rainforest.A really good active tour, yet relaxing also. Each day was full, yet at a slow pace.

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This was a fantastic trip with an excellent in country representative who was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the areas visited. I thouroughly enjoyed every minute and would strongly recomend a visit to sample Cost Rica's rich flora and fauna, a real naturalists paradise.

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I had a great trip.  The variety of habitats in a relatively country means you see and experience a lot without too much time on a bus. 

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Excellent trip for wildlife and birds !!

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A really good insight into Costa Rica and the varied landscapes and wildlife.

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we see everything we expected to see,

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This was a fantastic way to see and experience real rainforest - trees, plants and animals - in the company of interesting people and free from the anxiety of travel in a strange country. Costa Rica exceeded all my expectations.

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Excellent tour by Exodus.  Beautiful nature and the lodges give you a chance to enjoy a real rain and cloud forest experience.  I was surprised how environmental consciousness the country is.  Well done Costa Rica !  

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A great trip, wasn't quite sure what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

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Gustavo was a fantastic guide- incredibly knowledgable about his country, people and wildlife

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This was a fantastic trip, made not only by the country, wildlife and weather (we were very lucky) but also by the other members of the group, the guide (Antonio) and the driver (Luis Diego). Each location visited during the two weeks spent in this country offered something new to discover and enjoy. If you are into wildlife or just like fairly easy walks in great surroundings this is a trip you should consider.

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Amazing!  It was made so by an excellent guide, Antonio, a terrific group of travellers who got on really well, a quality driver, Luis Diago and luck with the weather and sightings.

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The holiday was an amazing experience from start to finish.  The guide was excellent and the trip was exactly as described - perhaps even undersold.  The guide provided lots of tours/hikes which were additional to the ininerary and very enjoyable.  We saw an extremely wide variety of animals and birds in their natural environments.  The group we were travelling with was great and we had a good time together.

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Wildlife capital of the world!  Amazing animal sightings, superb scenery and the variety of ecosystems covered in 2 weeks makes this an outstanding trip.

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Costa Rica was always one of my dream destinations and I have to say it far exceeded my expectations - some truly wonderful memories and experiences to take away with me.

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Costa Rica's beauty is not only in the Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, beautiful white sandy beaches, abundant wildlife but it's also in its people.  I've travelled to many regions; I live in the concrete jungle of London and was born in the beautiful New Zealand so my comparisons are many and varied.   I felt at home in this land, at peace.  If you're an adventurous type, keen photographer, love to hike, explore the wonders of birds and wildlife, or sip the odd cocktail or lovely local rum with a volcano or salsa music not far away, choose Costa Rica.    

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Costa Rica is a wonderful, safe and very ecologically friendly country. It has a wonderful range of fauna and flora and, if you love nature, this is a must-do trip for you. 

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I was a little worried about the trip as I was travelling alone but this was totally unnecessary as it was a truly great group of people.  This trip was everything I hoped it would be and more.  From day one our brilliant guide and driver did everything possible to ensure that we got the most out of the trip.  

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An excellent trip which covers a lot of ground. Costa rica is a wonderful country and certainly not like most Central or South American countries. It is well developed and benign.

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Great trip. So many different ecosystems in a relatively small area. I have variously been woken up by frogs, howler monkeys and parrots on this trip! Fabulous hotels - especially the Esquinas rainforest lodge. Brilliant, very knowledgeable, patient and friendly guide.

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Initial enquiry not addressed but after second attempt all the hotel bookings and flights gathered pace. I did wonder because of the delay whether that caused some of the hotels to be booked up meaning we didn't get our first choices.
Communication has been frequent and we've been kept informed and advised about changes in hotels and prices. Andrew has been very good a surfing the Web to get us alternative suitable deals.

Alison Whitelegg, 19 Apr 2024

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Always very helpful - courteous and responsive.

23 Jan 2024

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Good standard of holidays but you are able to adapt some the travel options to suit individuals. Your staff then sort out those flights & transfers before putting together the complete package. Thank you

Sean, 9 Jan 2024