Costa Rica Adventure Family Holiday

Robert King   -  Traveled, August 2023

Fantastic adventure An amazing adventure holiday that the whole family loved. It was a perfect balance of wildlife adventure and opportunity for my 9 year old to play at the hotel pools and beaches. she enjoyed the wildlife adventure part just as much as the pools and beach. I thought we managed to get so many things into two weeks including a few of the options. We all thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and would recommend it to anyone interested in nature. Most Inspirational Moment We loved seeing all the wildlife in their natural habitat, especially the sloths, Toucans, scarlet macaws, iguanas and monkeys. The night time green turtle trip was amazing and the boat trips in Tortuguero stand out. It was also great to hear that tourism is contributing to protecting the wildlife as it give income to people as well as the banning of single use plastics in the national parks. Thoughts on Group Leader Alejandro was brilliant, very knowledgeable and always happy to go out of his way to help and organise things. Chico the driver was also excellent, often spotting wildlife and stopping the bus so we could see and take photos. Advice for Potential Travellers If you want to take photos then at least a 100-400mm lens is recommended. I got some amazing photos using this. If you only want a compact camera then 20x optical zoom or would be good. Dollars are widely taken and often prices are quoted in dollars. Colons are easily available from ATM and a lot of ATM will give dollars or Colons. Visa and Mastercard also very widely taken. (check if your bank charges a fee, mine doesn’t) Take an insulated water bottle, I appreciated having cold water during the day having filled it from the hotel water cooler.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/12/2023

Helena Doucas   -  Traveled, August 2023

Costa Rica Adventure Family Holiday Incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. We saw such a lot- mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. The experience of being in the rainforest is unique and totally different to anything we had experienced before. Most Inspirational Moment Close up views of wildlife. We loved the zip lining and the hot springs. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent. Organised, extraordinarily good English and a mine of information on all sorts of topics. He also shared some fabulous wildlife photographs with us. Advice for Potential Travellers The wet season is really really wet so be prepared. It doesn’t necessarily rain every day but is overcast most of the time and there are days when the rain is absolutely relentless for the entire day. Nothing will dry so bring a spare pair of trainers or walking shoes. Suggestions I’d suggest ditching the sloth sanctuary- it’s two concrete rooms. The information was really interesting but suspect the guide could have told us the same facts. The final day which is just a drive to San Jose feels like a wasted day. Not sure if it would be possible to do something else that day? Also, we had a group of 19 which is too many really for this type of trip. When trying to see wildlife it was often difficult to see or to hear in a crowd of this size.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/15/2023

James Gray   -  Traveled, December 2022

Absolutely brilliant family Christmas trip We went on this trip as a family of four with children aged 12 and 14, over Christmas 2022. We had an absolutely brilliant time and the memories will stay with us forever. Costa Rica just has everything- amazing wildlife, great weather, beautiful scenery, beaches, friendly people, felt very safe and just a wonderful and easy place to be. Without exception the activities were all brilliant especially the hot springs and rafting. Johnny and Victor looked after us incredibly well and really went the extra mile to make sure we had a great time. Johnny clearly has a genuine love for his country and is exceptionally knowledgeable regarding the wildlife. The travelling was all very pleasant and the only bad thing was that the trip had to end! Cannot recommend this trip highly enough if you want a great experience with loads of amazing wildlife, fun and adventure. Most Inspirational Moment Watching our children’s reaction (they’ve never been further from the UK than France!) to all the amazing things we saw, especially the wildlife Thoughts on Group Leader Johnny was an absolute star- caring, witty, exceptionally knowledgeable and just great fun to be around. Advice for Potential Travellers Go!! You won’t regret it. Suggestions An unforgettable experience- thank you so much.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/10/2023

colin stanley   -  Traveled, December 2022

dec 22 trip The whole family loved the trip and everyday even the travel days there was something to look fwd to. Most Inspirational Moment All the wildlife we saw especially the sloths, snakes and all the birds. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent great to get someone who is a great people person who is an expert in Costa Rica wildlife Advice for Potential Travellers Great trip for all aged kids and teanagers Suggestions No

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/13/2023

Mark Searle   -  Traveled, August 2022

Perfect Costa Rica Family Adventure An amazing adventure that exceeding expectations. The travel guide, Johnny and driver Wilbur were superb and made the holiday Most Inspirational Moment Loved every moment. Seeing the Green Turtles giving birth and Hump back Whale babies jumping was amazing but the thousand little things easily matched Thoughts on Group Leader Absolutely Perfect. Love and enthusiasm for Costa Rica was Superb Advice for Potential Travellers Enjoy. Traveled in early August and needed no warm gear. T-shirt and umbrella was ideal for all areas. If you have never explored Costa Rica would 100% recommend. Suggestions Would recommend Exodus Travels

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/30/2022

Mike Crook   -  Traveled, December 2019

Exceeded Every Expectation From the moment our amazing adventure started we did not want it to end. Now 5 months later we still don’t want it to end. Sadly it did back in January (so many tears when it was time to go home) but the memories we have are secure and will last a lifetime. Most Inspirational Moment There are so many highlights with not a moment wasted. Here's a few... The night walk over vertigo inducing hanging bridges in the tree canopy and coming face to face with a mother sloth cradling her baby hanging off said bridge. We never thought we'd get that close! The James Bond style speedboat race over rivers so wide you couldn't see both sides. The zip lining above a rain forest. I mean, what's more to say! The white water rafting. Awesome! Sloths. Toucans. Frogs. A snake. Etc. Etc. And, everything else too! Thoughts on Group Leader Alejandro was the perfect guide engaging with adults and children alike with the enthusiasm necessary to keep interest high (especially on the long journeys between destinations). The supplementary knowledge of a native Costa Rican added the local insights we wanted to lear about and we're sure we wouldn't have experienced many aspects of Costa Rican life (e.g. local dining) without Alejandro there to support us. Nothing was too much trouble. Advice for Potential Travellers Read the advice provided by Exodus. It's all pretty useful and relevant. Heed the warnings of rain. For the first half of our trip in December/January it rained a lot (perhaps more than expected). We found that swimming clothes and ponchos was a better option in many situations (not the jungle) than going for full waterproofs. Less to dry out because drying stuff out takes days in the humid environment. The rain is always warm. Suggestions If you can do this trip (once all of this horrible pandemic stuff is out of the way) just do it. Spend the money if you can. This was by far the most expensive holiday we've every taken and it was almost certainly also the best value for money. Thank you Exodus!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/12/2020

Helen Cordery   -  Traveled, August 2019

Great adventure - our expectations were blown! A fantastic, safe but action-packed way to explore a totally new country. The wildlife was amazing (the crocodile eating a howler monkey was a ‘highlight’), as was the white water rafting. A wonderful way for a family to connect to each other and to nature. Most Inspirational Moment There were so many, it's impossible to choose! But I think the Costa Rican wildlife in all its glory was the highlight. Seeing a baby humpbacked whale swim alongside our boat will stay with me forever, as will the crocodile eating a monkey - but in a different way. Our driver spotting a group of scarlet macaws as we drove along the highway, and then spending several minutes watching them with our mouths open was another highlight. On another level, the white water rafting was exhilarating and such fun. But the whole country and its people was inspirational too. Thoughts on Group Leader Gio was amazing - his wealth of knowledge about Costa Rica, its history, geography and nature was amazing, as was his engagement with the group (kids and adults). His lovely last speech as Roberto was driving us to the airport brought tears to my eyes! He was always very mindful of our safety, which was so important when you factor in the excitable kids (and adults) who could potentially forget themselves and make unsafe decisions. I am also extremely grateful to him for just ignoring my travel-related migraine (and vomiting) within minutes of meeting him at the airport! Advice for Potential Travellers If you, like us, want a real adventure, but are nervous about how to do this when you're not that confident travelling, this is a definite trip to consider. This was our first trip abroad as a family, but has set the bar very high for future trips! Suggestions Roberto, our driver, was also fantastic. It was just a shame we couldn't converse with him as he didn't speak English.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/20/2019

Richard Bowman   -  Traveled, December 2018

Amazing wildlife adventure What an incredible trip! Costa Rica is everything that we had hoped for and more. The wildlife and scenery was spectacular, and the tour gave us a great experience of all of the different areas of the country. Each day felt like it couldn’t be topped only for the next to be even better. We had a magical Christmas in Tortuguero and New year in La Fortuna. Exodus had thought of everything to make the holiday special and our guide was simply awesome and really made the holiday. The hotels were in some great settings and grounds, were comfortable (more than adequate) but not luxurious. We would highly recommend for families that love nature, the outdoors and new experiences, and like to meet new people. Most Inspirational Moment It's really difficult to highlight a best bit as the whole trip was incredible. The boat rides on Christmas day in Tortuguero and seeing all of the amazing wildlife is hard to beat, being so up close, felt like being in a wild life documentary. Rafting was incredible fun and the guide was very funny. The beaches and warm sea were just gorgeous, especially when you thought of home! We really enjoyed sharing the experience and getting to know the other families. Relaxing at the end in Dominical and seeing the stunning pacific sunset. Our guide was very passionate about his country and we learnt so much not just about nature, but about the geography, history and government of Costa Rica. It was fascinating and not something you would necessarily know if you traveled independently. Thoughts on Group Leader Our trip guide, Jonny, was simply fantastic. He'd won the award the previous year for exodus' best guide and it was easy to see why. As a guide he was incredibly attentive to the groups mood and needs and was always planning ahead so that our trip went as smoothly as possible and that we got the most out of our time. He was also a great ambassador for Costa Rica, using the journeys to tell us about the country's history and the lands we were traveling through. Above all he was a incredibly passionate and knowledgeable naturalist, helping us to spot some amazing wild life and learn a little of this fantastic country's eco-systems. Advice for Potential Travellers I packed walking boots which were heavy, trainers are fine. You do need a waterproof as the weather can literally change in minutes! Be prepared to be up and out around 6/7am on trip days - this sounds early but the sunrise is 5.30am and everyone is up and about (also this is when you see the best nature and the UK time zone helps!). Your routine just adapts, early rise and early bedtime! Wifi was available in all hotels but signal patchy. A travel washing line is useful - we did do a laundry load in La Fortuna which was reasonable but hotels are not cheap. Food is generally not cheap. Budget as exodus advises and you'll be along the right lines. Suggestions This trip has inspired us all to travel more and we would definitely use Exodus again and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Travelling over the Christmas/New Year period was a fantastic tonic!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/24/2019

Natalie Charles   -  Traveled, July 2018

Amazing Adventure with Teens A wonderful couple of weeks focusing principally on the wildlife of Costa Rica. We went at the start of the rainy season and were lucky with the weather, but don’t think you’ll be suthbathing (much) as Exodus keep you moving! Most Inspirational Moment My thirteen year old son told me that the Pacific coast beach we visited was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent, excellent, excellent. Gio has an exceptionally calm, professional and efficient manner. He's also incredibly knowledgeable and endlessly enthusiastic about his country. On top of that, he understands the importance of group dynamics and ensured that we formed a happy group. I really don't think we could have asked for a more thoughtful, organised and all-round nice guy to lead our holiday! Advice for Potential Travellers Two things - 1. If you're travelling in the rainy season, ignore the advice to travel light as you cannot dry clothes (everything is constantly damp) 2. Ignore Exodus's terrible and costly advice to take dollars. You need enough dollars to get you to a cash machine, then withdraw local Colones and use them everywhere - otherwise you will be ripped off by terrible dollar exchange rates offered in shops and restaurants.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/20/2018

Caroline Richardson   -  Traveled, August 2018

Wow, wow, wow!!! Costa Rica is a fabulous country and well worth the long flight. We went as a family of 5, parents of nearly 50, my mum in her early 70s and 2 girls aged 10 and 12. We were looking for a change from the usual pool / beach holiday and gosh, it was different!!! The wildlife is nothing short of phenomenal. We saw spiders, snakes, macaws, crocodiles, lizards, fantastic birds, frogs etc…… the list just goes on. The plantlife was great – plants we have at home in pots in the house growing tens of feet high in their natural habitat – it was quite something to see. It was also very educational, not just seeing plants and animals in their natural environment, but also other experiences such as the trips to the chocolate / cacao plantation and the sloth sanctuary. And it was great fun, especially the white water rafting and the zipwiring in Arenal. It was however, quite exhausting. I must admit we were not quite prepared for the pace, the early mornings and the long coach trips, but, in retrospect, they were all for a reason and all worth it for the sights and sounds and experiences in each location. And of course, I must mention our guide Glenda and our driver Mauricio who were quite simply, marvellous. Their professionalism, efficiency and enthusiasm for their country made the holiday very special for us. Most Inspirational Moment I think we all enjoyed the quiet boat trip in Tortuguero - how Glenda managed to find a waterway all to ourselves given the amount of traffic on the main river I will never know. But the chance to see turtles, crocodiles, various birds including toucans and macaws, monkeys, lizards etc in their natural habitat with the added highlight of the 2 dolphins was marvellous. The white water rafting and zip wiring were such fun and we all enjoyed the adrenalin rush! And seeing something new almost at every turn was great. Traipsing back to our room one afternoon we came across an armadillo, seeing a coati in the grounds of the hotel, howler monkeys moving across in the trees above the swimming pool... etc. I could go on....... Thoughts on Group Leader Nothing short of fabulous. Glenda was so knowledgeable and her telescope managed to pick out things that we could not even see with the naked eye. Mauricio was always there incase anyone wanted to finish a walk early and his keen eye also spotted other treats hidden in the trees. Glenda's enthusiasm for her country and her willingness to share this with us was much appreciated. Our experience of Costa Rica would not have been half as good without her... Advice for Potential Travellers It is hot and humid in August and clothes all get very damp. Anything that gets wet, stays wet. So pack clothes in ziplock bags and keep them zipped wherever possible. Dry-wicking clothes are perfect and do not bring anything that cannot dry easily. A ball or something for the kids to play with in the pools is a great idea. And test your waterproofs before you travel. These need to be industrial strength as when it rains I mean it really rains!! Stand in the shower for 15 minutes on full blast and check those seams!!! If your kids are remotely travel sick - think about travel bands on their wrists as the roads are windy and bumpy. Connecting or family rooms are rare however if you have young kids the rooms normally have 2 double beds so you could all sleep together although it might be quite tight! A zoom camera is a must and maybe, as we did, another soft bag to throw in the washing and / or hiking boots when these are not being worn will keep the suitcases relatively clean and organised. Suggestions Come with an open mind - this is not a five star country and yes it does rain - loads!! However, the experiences are well worth the early morning starts and the requirement to pack up and move on every 48 hours. It is, admittedly, quite daunting. The concept of spending 2 weeks in close proximity with 3 or 4 other families and hoping the kids get on and the parents find common ground. However I feel we were incredibly fortunate on our tour and met some lovely families. The kids had great fun together and the parents did too! Looking at other reviews this seems to be a common theme, so do not delay and book today, you will not regret it!!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/30/2018

CLARE HUDSON   -  Traveled, July 2018

COSTA RICA FAMILY ADVENTURE This was a really memorable holiday. Costa Rica is an extraordinary country with a plethora of fantastic birds, animals, and flowers to see – and the big appeal of it when travelling with children is that on any expedition you ALWAYS see something. Hotel gardens themselves are places where anything can happen – I had one of the most exciting bird sightings (a trogon) in the garden of our hotel in Dominical – where we also saw a boa constrictor in the stream by the hotel. It really did feel like an adventure – the itinerary packs so many experiences into a short space of time. It was great for our 11 year old daughter to have other children in the group to make friends with – that made her braver and more tolerant of some of the long journeys and physical challenges of so much torrential rain. What makes it all work is the style of the tour – yes, there is a busy itinerary but our guide always sought to offer choices of places to eat and things to do, so it felt quite organic and we never felt over-managed or regimented. Her deep local knowledge, and that of the driver made a huge difference. Costa Ricans are friendly, efficient and proud of their country and that made this trip special too. Most Inspirational Moment My daughter and I loved the rafting trip at Sarapiqui - which was the "floating safari" rather than the white water version as we felt too nervous to do that. In fact, because of heavy rain the night before the water was quite stirred up so it was actually quite thrilling. The guide on this raft was wonderful - he made it really fun. She also loved the zip wiring at Sarapiqui, and we all enjoyed the hot springs at La Fortuna - absolutely magical in the twilight. But the stars of the show were all the animals we saw - especially sloths and monkeys, and endless iguanas! Thoughts on Group Leader Katia was one in a million - so knowledgeable and such a brilliant communicator. Long journeys were broken up with really good background on where we were and what we were seeing, and she gave us really good historical, cultural and social background too. - As a birdwatcher I really appreciated her willingness to take us on 6am bird spotting strolls. I would never have seen half so much if she hadn't shown me it - and her passion for flora and fauna is infectious. I will never forget her detailed description of the social organisation of the leaf cutter ant! She is a born leader - always managing to make things feel organic and informal, while doing masses of contingency planning behind the scenes. She also treated us all as individuals and sought to offer options that would appeal to each of us. Her local knowledge of restaurants was invaluable - she gave us choices and took us to great places. Advice for Potential Travellers We went in the rainy season - and boy, did it rain. Not just an hour or two a day, but torrentially for hours on end, especially on the Caribbean side where it rains more or less all the year round. And when it isn't raining it is more often than not very overcast. Once we got to the Pacific side the weather was much better - sunshine for at least half of every day. So be prepared for the weather - it can be demoralising. Others have mentioned the difficulty in drying clothes out - our guide was ingenious and took us twice to local laundrettes where a service wash was efficient and far cheaper than in the hotels. Returned either same day or following morning. Hotels are simple - but we liked the simplest one, at Cahuita, the best because you could hear the ocean from the garden. We had a miserable time on the optional turtle trip at Tortuguero locally run, not organised by Exodus. We had to walk through rainforest to get to the beach and, because of heavy rain, floodwater was nearly up to our knees - the pitch dark and the warnings about going single file because of the risk of snakes resulted in our daughter being absolutely terrified. We did see turtles but by this time she was unable to enjoy and just wanted to feel safe again. It felt very overcrowded and not really in the interests of the turtles. But the river trips made going to Tortuguero worth it. Do consider doing what we did: we booked a hotel on the Pacific coast and stayed on for five more nights after the tour relaxing, swimming and whale watching. Really worth it - after travelling all that way. Suggestions This is a really good way of seeing fantastic wildlife and visiting a tropical country very different from our own, with children. The organisation and the guide take all the stress out of this kind of travelling leaving you all free to get the most out of the experience. The Caribbean coast is wetter but it is really fascinating and shouldn't be missed - its Afro-Caribbean heritage making it very different from the rest of the country.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/20/2018

Tim Newham   -  Traveled, August 2018

Excellent intro to Costa Rica - outstanding guide Edward Wow, just back from our 2 week adventure. I don’t usually do reviews but this one is definitely worth a few lines! Firstly, our guide Edward absolutely made the trip for us. Enthusiastic, unfappable, great with kids. Very knowledgeable about all aspects of the country, particularly wildlife and specifically birds (Edward is a trained and expert ornithologist and took keener members on a couple of early morning twitching trips). Edward gauged the needs of our diverse group really well, and made just the right number of decisions for us to keep it relaxing without being constraining. A special word for how he dealt with a favourite cuddly toy being left in a hotel (when we noticed about 200 miles away). Edward’s connections, organisation and determination led to a reunion the next day! Costa Rica, generally, delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Amazing wildlife and landscapes. The big highlights for us were the additional paid-for trips. White water rafting was exhilarating, with just enough thrills to feel edgy for our 9 and 11 year olds, whilst feeling completely safe and in control. Zip wire near Arenal volcano was similarly exciting. As someone with an intense dislike of heights (I feel wobbly in thick socks – and seriously, struggle to stand on a step ladder) I’d encourage anyone like me to go for it. The start and interim platforms are deep in the trees, so don’t feel at all exposed or high. And the “zippy” bits are, yes, high above the valley, but high enough for the drop to be abstract and so fast there’s no time to look down! The only slightly tricky bit for me was the walk (down a spiral staircase – think of a fire escape) at the end. Tips: – Everyone accepts dollars, and debit cards work everywhere too (including all the restaurants). – It’s wet in August! (as everyone kept reminding us – it’s a rainforest…). Doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment at all but anything that gets wet, will stay wet and then smelly. If we went again we’d take 7 days worth of clothes and get them washed (i.e. and also dried) at a couple of hotels. This was fast and efficient when we tried it. – We travelled 1000 miles on fairly slow roads (so, a bit more than 20 hours in total) over the 2 weeks. For younger kids, bring activities for the coach. Feedback for Exodus (other than the obvious “it was all great and Edward is amazing”) Cahuita didn’t really do much for us and also featured the weakest of the set of hotels. Nothing specifically bad about it (so don’t worry, prospective bookers!) but maybe drop that (and the 2 long-ish transfers) for more time around Arenal? The last 36 hours felt a bit flat/wasted. Maybe have an early start, drive straight from Dominical to the airport on the last day, and have an extra night in Dominical? Overall, and excellent trip, well worth the money, and we’ll be back for more in the future! Most Inspirational Moment Seeing our first sloth in the wild!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/30/2018

sheryl lorimer   -  Traveled, August 2018

Costa rica family adventure What a fabulous experience only made possible by our wonderful guide Glenda Araya, our fantastic driver Mauricio and 3 families who met as strangers and ended the 2 weeks as one big, happy family. It may have rained every night (and when it rains it really rains) and we may have witnessed some of the most amazing thunder and lightening I have ever seen, but that didn`t detract from the scenery which was stunning and the wildlife which was up close and fascinating. Every day involved a new experience whether it was gliding slowly on a boat through the deserted waterways of Tortuguero ( made possible by Glenda`s expertise in managing to capture a quiet time of day) or chewing on raw cacao beans on the chocolate tour then sampling the finished product or white water rafting, something I always said I would never do but somehow it seemed right to be brave and give it a go. You lose track of the days of the week and really it isn`t important- just let go and enjoy the experience as everything is organised for you. Most Inspirational Moment Gliding slowly though the waterways of Tortuguero National Park with no other boats around us- just the forest,the water and us. Glenda, our guide, and Jeffrey, our boatman, helped us spot dolphins, turtles, a host of birds and iguanas. Magical. Thoughts on Group Leader Glenda was approachable, fun and also had an extensive knowledge of her country and it`s flora and fauna. Armed with her trusty telescope she allowed us to capture amazing videos and pictures and spotted wildlife which, quite frankly, I would never have seen had she not been with us. She was very patient even when the group were dithering about the rafting and what grade of river we would be on as some of our insurance didn`t cover certain grades of river. She made several phone calls to try and clarify this for us and found out the information and came with us for the experience. Advice for Potential Travellers Bring a poncho ! Bring lots of quick drying underwear as nothing dries if you wash it. There is a laundry service in most hotels the cheapest was at Montechiari at Arenal. Everyone took suitcases - I only mention this as I was unsure when it said `pack light` whether it meant rucksacks or not though you still need a day rucksack, and definitely bring walking boots or shoes. Suggestions If you are wanting a relaxing holiday to put your feet up by a pool this may not be the best trip for you. If you want to see this wonderful country and pack as much as possible in and still have a few afternoons or mornings to relax then this is the best way to do it.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/29/2018

Peter Whittle   -  Traveled, August 2018

Family Adventure This was an excellent family holiday to a magnificent and inspirational country full of adventure opportunities and wonderful wildlife. Our tour guide, Hector, was excellent and very knowledgeable. There was a lot of travelling, but the destinations were worth the time spent travelling. It was the wet season, but the rain didn’t cause any real difficulties or stop the planned activities. Accommodation was good, mainly in lodges, and the food everywhere was better than expected from the guide books. The wildlife is amazing and generally so close to hand. Most Inspirational Moment Probably the turtles laying eggs at night time, although the scenery, the oceans and the wildlife are all inspirational. Thoughts on Group Leader Our tour guide, Hector, was excellent, very knowledgeable, good English, gave us options to consider, and dealt with the few problems that arose very well. He made sure that we did as much as we wanted, gave good commentaries and has very good knowledge of the birds, animals and insects. He was very patient with the children. The two drivers we had were also professional and drove safely. Advice for Potential Travellers A great family holiday, the children of various ages all got on well together, but the humidity can make drying clothes almost impossible. However the laundry services offered by the hotels were generally cheap and quick. Suggestions Our third Exodus holiday, all have been excellent. Exodus policy of using local staff is very good.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/29/2018

Anonymous User   -  Traveled, March 2018

Costa Rica Family Adventure Family adventure trip – you moved on every couple days so you needed to pack wisely. There was a lot of boat trips and travelling around the country. There was a huge amount of wildlife to see so a pair of binoculars is good. Highlights were Tortugero National Park – truly remote location, beach at Cahuita and seeing Buttercup. Most Inspirational Moment White water rafting at Sarapiqui - instructors were great - really good with the kids and great lunch provided afterwards. Thoughts on Group Leader Jorge was inspirational - his knowledge of the wildlife was exceptional. He was great with the kids. Advice for Potential Travellers A plastic poncho - raincoats even the highest tech do not shelter you or backpacks enough from the torrential downpours, and invariably it takes jackets a long time to dry out. The luggage is packed onto a minibus so we found that smaller wheelie cases worked well. Suggestions Would like to remain anonymous

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/15/2018

Ann T   -  Traveled, August 2017

Brilliant family adventure We travelled with children aged 11 and 14 and found ourselves in a lovely group of 4 families from across the UK. We totally lucked out with our amazing coach (and driver, Ohman) and our wonderful guide, Gustavo. Every day was different and we learned so much about where our food comes from, nature, and all types of wildlife. Accommodation was slightly basic at times but we coped and all pools were lovely. The 14 KM white water rafting is not to be missed and we also enjoyed the night walks and boat trips. Had an amazing trip on a catamaran and swam with tropical fish and the kids jumped off the boat back into the blue sea. We always felt very safe and well looked after with Exodus. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the green turtles lay their eggs and watching the kids follow her back to the Caribbean sea. Thoughts on Group Leader Amazing: Gustavo looked after us so well and knew so much. Advice for Potential Travellers Take warm clothes, when it rains it's quite cold (we went in Aug) - it rained most days but was manageable. If you need special diet food take your own

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/20/2017

Katharine Baker   -  Traveled, March 2017

Costa Rica family adventure - fantastic The trip was an excellent way to see a sample of the best bits of Costa Rica. We had an excellent guide (Jorge) , who managed to find loads of animals and birds for us to watch. Most Inspirational Moment For me, this was being in the cloud forest and rain forest - being able to see all those things you have heard about on nature programs and geography lesson! Thoughts on Group Leader Jorge was a superb leader. He was very knowledgable about the country, the wildlife and the places we visited . He was really good at considering and involving the children and teenagers. Restaurant choices were good value and suitable for our family group. Jorge was very friendly and considerate. I would like to thank him for his excellent tour and personal dedication. Advice for Potential Travellers Guidebook temperatures are only that - a guide. We travelled in early April and temperatures were over 30 degrees C. Mosquito repellent is important . Drink bottled water. Do go if you can as it is fascinating country with lots of wildlife to see. Suggestions Well organised trip with good hotels although I would suggest the last hotel in Playa Hermosa could be substituted. It was beach side but not on a stretch of beach which was OK to swim at. Would have been good to visit a coffee plantation and factory.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/14/2017

Frederick Ibbotson   -  Traveled, December 2017

Family holiday in the rainforest The holiday was superb. Lots of lovely animals to see and of great interest to both kids and adults alike. Our guide and driver Antonio and Theodore were superb. Antonio super knowledgeable and a top bloke. Company of the fellow travellers and kids also made the trip-superb bunch of people. Animals,scenery and wildlife was great to see. Kids are still talking about the things they have seen Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the rainforest downpours and all the great animals. Thoughts on Group Leader Group leader was first class, amiacable and helpful. He listened to people's needs within the group and was always enthusiastic to show us the scenery and wildlife. Nothing was too much bother. Advice for Potential Travellers Don't forget your going to the rainforest. At times it may be wet and difficult to dry things but the weather is warm Suggestions A couple more local eateries would be nice but realise that sometimes have to stick to a schedule.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/15/2017

Scott Barclay   -  Traveled, March 2016

Adventures, Monkeys, Birds and Frogs Travelling with young children for an adventure across central America may be considered as too much stress and anxiety for some or downright irresponsible by others. Our family holiday to Costa Rica could not be further from the truth. Travelling through the waterways of Tortuguero exploring extraordinary flora, spotting amazing spiders, astonishing birdlife and catching a glimpse of a caiman or crocodile the children could not have been more inspired. The excitement of being woken by a barking howler monkey troop, the fun had chasing off cheeky white-faced capuchin breakfast thieves or the thrill of the sight of smartly dressed anteaters, oddly shaped armadillos and raiding racoons before bedtime added to the magic. Adrenaline flowed through the entire family with grins as wide as the Panama canal white water rafting down the Sarapiqui river and zip-lining through the Monte Verde cloud forests. Night hikes opened a whole new world of weird nocturnal creepy crawlies, with strange headlight click beetles, striking venomous snakes, industrious leaf cutter ant colonies, poisonous dart frogs and glowing scorpion exoskeletons. Banana crossing! As we travelled through active volcanic landscapes, rested on idyllic beaches and explored tropical rainforest with new friends and families met on the trip the stories flowed, vocabulary grew and imaginations ran wild. Even the frequent pit stops for the obligatory small child toilet break were supplemented by encounters with giant iguanas, crocodile swamped river beds, cactus flower ice-cream, unspoilt natural views, delicious cakes and, of course, incredible coffee. Our energetic tour guide (Eddie) and reliable driver (Hernan) judged our group perfectly and were tuned in to exactly what we would appreciate when to make the most of our time in their country. At the end of adventure packed days and encounters with stunning wildlife the entire family cooled off in serene swimming pools or thermal hot spring bars and weary little heads slept comfortably dreaming of the next adventure. It seems no other tropical country has made such concerted effort to protect its natural environment and as Costa Rica’s tourists account for the largest sector of their national economy we have unprecedented power to protect this amazing country’s natural beauty and remarkable wildlife – spend wisely, avoid business that threaten their future and enjoy this enchanting, magical adventure! Most Inspirational Moment The adults really enjoyed the wildlife, particularly Tortuguero National Park. The howler monkey wake-up call at 5am started an inspirational day of toucans, herons, snakes, frogs, crabs, caimen, crocodiles, spider monkey and then going to sleep to the sounds of the rainforest is something I will never forget. The children took all of this in their stride at the time but have since talked about nothing else with their teachers and classmates. Thoughts on Group Leader Eddie was fabulous. He was so very well tuned in to what we needed, whether we knew it or not. He knew exactly when and where we would like to go. One particular decision sticks in my mind: After a hot and sticky day on the Manuel Antonio beach all the children needed was food and all the adults wanted was a beer and Eddie took us to a fabulous bar on the beach to watch the sunset, with a beer and the kids played on the beach - perfect decision and it was those types of things that made our holiday very special - Thanks Eddie! Advice for Potential Travellers Take plenty of memory cards for all the photos, go with the flow so wake-up when nature calls and don't go to bed too early, enjoy rice and beans and definitely do the rafting, night hke and zip lining options - you will never forget this holiday!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/20/2016

Philippa Gardom   -  Traveled, July 2015

Holiday of a lifetime We had an absolutely wonderful holiday in Costa Rica with our 9 and 10 year old daughters. Stunning natural beauty, fascinating insights from our group leader, and exciting outdoor activities all contributed to our enjoyment. Most Inspirational Moment There was an inspirational moment almost every day...Exhilarating white water rafting through spectacular scenery; ridiculously brightly-coloured poison dart frogs; experts interpreting the night-time sounds and sights of the forest; pairs of scarlet macaws flying in front of the forest (viewed whilst floating in the Pacific); following columns of leafcutter ants to find their nest; boat trips through the rainforest to find ibis, herons and crocodiles; local food in lively restaurants. Thoughts on Group Leader Edward was absolutely brilliant. You could not have a better guide. His knowledge, insights and gentle humour really enhanced our trip. He enjoyed sharing his love of nature - and all things Costa Rican - with us all. His organisation was flawless, and he always told us what to expect and what to bring. He was superb with the children, patiently helping them to identify bugs, birds and reptiles. On the last night my younger daughter left a treasured soft toy in a restaurant several miles from the hotel, but a few phone calls (and a half hour drive) later Edward had retrieved it for her. Hernan, our driver, was also superb. I felt safe at all times in the minibus. Advice for Potential Travellers Listen to your guide - you will learn a huge amount. Go on all the trips - every one was fascinating, and most were led by real experts (although avoid the zipwire trip if you are afraid of heights.) Take plenty of mosquito repellent. Check your flights carefully, and make sure the flight bookers have allowed enough time to change planes - two families had more exhausting than necessary journeys as a result of missing connections. Suggestions This was a brilliant holiday. The only downside of going on it was that it had to end sometime...

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/12/2015

Christina England   -  Traveled, July 2015

Family fun in Costa Rica We had an amazing 2 weeks with a lovely balance of seeing such a range of nature – turtles, toucans, caimans, crocodiles, hummingbirds, monkeys, frogs, snakes just to start the list – and adventure experiences – white water rafting, cloud walking, ziplining, bathing in thermal springs. Our guide was knowledgeable, organised and had a great sense of humour.. he made sure that the itinerary suited the group’s needs. Would definitely recommend Costa Rica – ideal itinerary for teenagers and pre-teens.. Most Inspirational Moment Watching turtles lay their eggs on the beach late at night.. very lucky, very magical.. White water rafting - just the right amount of exciting! Seeing coasts, volcanoes, cloud forest, rain forest - getting a good picture in just 2 weeks of all that Costa Rica has to offer.. Thoughts on Group Leader Really excellent.. We felt very lucky to have him on our tour. Edward is a really experienced leader who is passionate about conservation and knows lots about Costa Rica's flora and fauna, about the country's history and geography. He was really organised and made everything seem effortless and had a lovely sense of humour which really contributed to the group's enjoyment of the week. He wasn't too intrusive and also not too aloof, just right. Can't fault him on anything.. Advice for Potential Travellers Light clothing with long sleeves/ trousers to cope with mosquitoes especially at rain forest locations. You only need dollars, no point taking local currency. Take a decent camera.. wildlife photography opportunities are endless. Save money on water by taking a water bottle.. All hotels let you fill them up from water coolers. Take up the optional activities - turtles, rafting and ziplining are definite highlights.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/20/2015

Francesco Francesco   -  Traveled, January 2015

The Perfect Family Holiday Excellent Family Trip, it did exceed expectations: outstanding nature and exciting adventure alternate and often combine together to make this holiday unforgettable. Caymans, sloths, toucans, crocodiles, rainbow and mangrove boas, capuchin monkeys, owler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, green iguanas, hummingbirds, blue and white herons, white ibis, blue-jeans poison dart frogs, brown pelicans, tanagers of all descriptions, scarlet macaws, snake-birds, huge rhinoceros beetles, silky anteaters, orb-weaver spiders, palm pit vipers, river turtles, green kingfishers, ctenosaurs, cat-eyed snakes, coatis, kinkajous, bats, blue crabs, all sorts of butterflies, lizards, stick-insects and raccoons are some of the animals we have seen in their own environments, which range from adventurous jungles to idillic beaches. The Sarapiqui River Rafting has been unanimously agreed to be the best of the action activities, but the zip-lining in Monteverde was not that far away! It is a perfect holiday for a family with young teens between 12 ad 15 years old. Most Inspirational Moment The highlights of the tour are The Tortoguero Canals, the Hanging Bridges in Monteverde, the rafting in the Sarapiqui river and the optional Mangrove Boat Tour in Manuel Antonio, while the Hot Spring in a fine Hotel in La Fortuna, the Coffee Tour and Manuel Antonio’s beautiful tropical beaches add to the variety of this holiday. Thoughts on Group Leader Our group leader, Edward, was very friendly and professional, he flawlessly arranged all the extra activities. We all wisely followed his suggestions on the choice of restaurants, and I have to say that some of them were excellent. Also a mention for our driver, you could not get a better one than Campbell! Advice for Potential Travellers I was surprised how few mosquitos we encountered, I believe the fact we chose to go to Costa Rica at the beginning of the dry season, which starts at the end of December, was an advantageous factor. So if you worry about mosquitos, choose a tour during the dry season. Use DEET or Incognito Insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long trousers and you will be fine. The sun is much more powerful than in the Mediterranean, therefore caution and moderation are needed on the tropical beaches of Manuel Antonio, not just suncream! Suggestions If you are serious about nature, you must book the Mangrove Boat Tour at the Damas Estuary near Manuel Antonio, it is a fantastic optional tour. You may even do it kayaking!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 02/25/2015

Anonymous   -  Traveled, August 2013

NATURAL MAGIC - FAMILY HOLIDAY Costa Rica truly is a stunningly beautiful country populated by gentle and enlightened people and its extraordinary wildlife is usually just outside your hotel room door and sometimes inside as well!. This trip was a perfect mix of stunning scenery, jungles and beaches from your dreams, activities that the whole family loved and magical wildlife encounters. Oh yes – and the food was amazing too. Most Inspirational Moment For me, the privilige of watching an enormous green turtle laying her eggs, gently covering them with sand and then hauling herself back down to the sea was an experience that I will treasure for ever but I must admit that zip-lining over the forest canopy was also fantastic. The wildlife is everywhere, Howler monkeys on the roof of our room in Tortuguero, iguanas and capuchin monkeys on our roof at the Pacific Coast and swimming in the sea while Pelicans and scarlet macaws fly overhead, just incredible. Thoughts on Group Leader Vinnie was the perfect guide, impeccable English, always considerate, polite and helpful and with a passion for wildlife. He also had an amazing ability to find us a fantastic restaurant night after night to the extent that we re-named the trip, 'Vinnie's Gourmet Tour of Costa Rica'. Our driver, Hernan was also lovely, really looking out for us and great at spotting wildlife from the road. Advice for Potential Travellers Food is great. The trip is really well paced with at least 2 nights at each hotel/lodge, there is enough time to relax whilst still managing to see and do lots. Lovely to have no worries about Malaria or drinking the water! Suggestions This is a fantastic, family adventure with more than enough to keep both adults and teenagers fully occupied and incredibly well fed! Costa Rica is truly a beautiful country, I'd go back tomorrow.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/15/2013

Anonymous   -  Traveled, December 2011

COSTA RICA ADVENTURE As an ex trolley dolly I would consider myself a seasoned traveller used to travelling independently. Taking my 11 year old daughter on this trip of a lifetime gave me back my sense of adventure and has inspired her to globe trot. I met an American on a rickety boat in Thailand 20 years ago – he told me to visit Costa Rica as it was beautiful – well he was wrong, it is the most beautiful and magical country I have ever visited!!!!!!!!!! Most Inspirational Moment Zip lining across the rainforest canopy ............ just as a thunderstorm was starting. I have a rubbish head for heights but its just so exhilarating and fortunately kind Fiona distracted me by relaying her favourite recipes whilst my teeth were chattering waiting on the platform to take off. My daughter of course found it a doddle. I have to say that I also found the kids on the trip inspirational - they bonded and had a great time and when we visited a local school everyone joined in and had fun. Thoughts on Group Leader Fab - knowledgeable, funny, helpful and so enthusiatic. Advice for Potential Travellers Expect to be dinner, lunch and breakfast for the mosquitoes! Long sleeves, long trousers, deadly sprays, natural remedies - nothing stands in the way of the mosquitoes in Tortugera but then the sight of the butterflies makes it all worthwhile..................

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/10/2012