We noticed you are browsing from
Summer’s Calling? Answer with Last-Minute Adventure Savings. Explore Here
Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
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.
Experiencing both cloud and rain forest environments.
Outstanding. Very informative. Knowledge of birdlife exceptional.
Go on this trip if you are interested in wildlife - particularly birds. Take a reasonable camera with a good zoom lens.
An excellent trip around this beautiful diverse country.
Everything was inspirational starting on Day 2 at Tortuguero National Park where we travelled the waterways seeing numerous birds , crocodiles , baby caymans , monkeys.sloths, iguanas , otters. river turtles and more.
Carlos Calvo was excellent in every way. His knowledge of birds , flora, fauna, local history was exceptional.
Be aware of weather in different areas, It can be 30 degrees with 80% humidity in the Esquinas rainforest with heavy rain so waterproof poncho and sensible footwear essential. The cloud forests can be chilly so sweater and fleece needed.
An outstanding holiday
Rainforest Austrians
One word Brilliant
Make sure you take a good camera and binoculars
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.
This would be a very difficult question to answer, because every destination had its own moment. Could it be the siting of a Sloth, Howler Monkeys calling to awaken you in the trees above your lodge, Bearded Monkeys walking along the wires or the plethora of beautiful birds viewed from the hotel windows. Don't lets forget the Humming birds as the hover in front of you. Viewing is not confined to the final destinations, on the way is just as exciting. Frequent stops offer another opportunity, wildlife is everywhere around this beautiful country.
Alex was our tour director. A great organiser. A proud Costa Rican and an enthusiastic wildlife expert. His knowledge seemed endless. Nothing was too much trouble, any questions, just ask. He was there to make sure that you achieved the most from your trip to Costa Rica. Alex is a great asset to the Exodus team.
I travelled in March. The so called "dry" season. Don't believe it, it frequently throws it down for long periods. Make sure that you have a, Poncho and an umbrella wouldn't go amiss. There is no malaria in Costa Rica, but there are mosquito and other biting insects, insect repellent is essential, (there are specialists in ankles and lower legs). As you move around the country, temperatures will vary, especially on the final destination. You will get up early for a special surprise viewing, be warned after the heat of the Pacific it is very cold in the early morning, be sure to pack a warm fleece.
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.
This is a question which I find impossible to answer since an Exodus tour is comprised of many unforgettable experiences. The varied wildlife of Costa Rica is the reason for the visit and we were very lucky to see the spectacular Resplendant Quetzal. This bird is rare and an early morning expedition proved to be successful. Comments from other guides indicated how lucky we had been when they said that it was the best display of the year and others had spent over two hours at the same location the previous day and seen nothing. From the restaurant in Monteverde we had superb views of the Motmot and visits from the Capuchin monkeys. In Savegre the manager has several bird feeders in his garden and you are actively encouraged to just go there and sit quietly and you will see a range of birds from woodpeckers to humming birds.
Hector Castillos was an excellent leader with an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural history of his Country. He was always keen to lead additional walks and his one aim was that the Group should not lose an opportunity to experience all the Natural History that Costa Rica could provide
Spend as little time as possible in the Capital San Jose as except for the National Theatre there is little to see in this somewhat run down City. If you are not interested in Natural History do not book this tour. I have an interest obviously but at the end of two weeks I felt that I had seen enough birds to satisfy me for some time to come. I linked the tour with Discover Colombia and I can recommend this if the dates are compatible. The tours are very different, Discover Colombia being Cultural and Historical whereas Discover Costa Rica is natural history based resulting in a four week holiday of contrasts.
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.
Coming from a snow bound country, the colour and sounds of Costa Rica were an ongoing delight.
Antonio, our local Costa Rican guide was excellent - his knowledge of the inhabitants and the vegetation of the many forests we visited was very extensive. He unfailingly answered our many questions, and if he didn't know the whole answer he researched it and gave us the relevant information later. He often stopped the bus along the way so we might experience a roadside market, take a photo or view cocoa trees up close etc.
Anyone who is tall will find the pitch of the seats in the small bus rather short. There are only 2 places in the bus where tall people can comfortably fit their long legs! Everyone on our tour thoughtfully respected this and left the seat by the side door for my husband who at over 2 metres has long legs.
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.
The initial few days spent at Tortuguero was amazing, arriving and exploring by boat. Being located within the jungle was a great sensory experience, with night times especially noisy with birds, insects, mammals and the Caribbean waves so close by. The optional zip wire experience in Monteverde was exhilarating.
Antonio was exceptional. His knowledge, his manner, his humour and most of all his passion for his country and its wildlife were all outstanding. Unfortunately we had a medical issue while on the trip and Antonio, Oliver (our driver), and the manager of the Aquinas Lodge were all extremely helpful. Also, Camino travel making extra arrangements.
Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration. It can have unpleasant consequences!
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!).
After a 5.30am start on our mission to find the rare Resplendent Quetzal, and after numerous false alarms, imagine the elation when suddenly, a lovely specimen landed in a tree barely 20 feet from me. David Attenborough - here we come!!! More seriously, I'd also say that taken as a whole, this trip is a remarkable experience in ecology and bio-diversity, which is so vitally important to appreciate in todays world.
Pedro was a bit of a curate's egg - good in parts. Great at keeping us safe and outstanding in the natural environment - this man can spot a sloth in a tree a mile away and had outstanding insights into the natural world and the conflict with development. And our sincere thanks for all that. But we'd rate him as not very good on the organisational front; sometimes we felt we were on a school trip with an irritable teacher. It didn't matter very much, but we'd encourage Pedro to engage more with his groups in future (and, eg, to attend the final group dinner and ensure that the trip ends on a real high...).
This is a photographer's paradise - but it is still challenging to take good pictures. You need a decent camera with a powerful zoom. Good binoculars are very useful. The climate can be surprising variable - bring rainwear and also a warm jacket for higher altitudes/early morning walks. Otherwise, dress code is casual throughout. We booked the direct BA flights which gave us a day or so either end of the trip, and we'd recommend this. Firstly, it gives time to recover from the long flight before the trip begins. Second, San Jose is more interesting than it seems at first glance. There are three excellent museums (National, Gold and Jade) and also an historic theatre; plus a small zoo. Everything is within easy walking distance, and we found San Jose to be safe and friendly. Try Pops ice cream - delicious!!
A thorough tour of Costa Rica from coast to coast, from sea level to mountain high
Seeing the beautiful colours of the birds, especially the quetzel ... and teeny tiny frogs ... and the headlamp beetles on a night walk ... and swimming in the refreshing water by a waterfall, and the sea in Manuel Antonio National Park ...
Pedro was excellent and thorough and gave us every opportunity for new experiences.
Remember to use your sunscreen and insect repellent, and wear a sunhat, even when swimming in the sea! Be warned that everything in your case will absorb moisture while in the rainforest. Take a universal plug for the sinks.
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.
It is difficult to pick a moment as they kept coming with every new location. The varied itinerary meant that we constantly had the wooh moments. Various types of rainforest the difference between the Caribbean coast and the Pacific coast. The wonderful lodges set in mind blowing settings.
Jorge was so enthusiastic and his pride and love for his country ran through every moment of the trip. He organised everything so efficiently and ended up as a friend. From every aspect he made sure we got to locations before the crowds and he made sure we used the best restaurants he knew. his knowledge of the fauna and wildlife was exemplary,theanks to him we saw at least 150 species of birds and he often had extra little treats up his sleeve.
Get the direct flight from BA and enjoy the extra days in San Jose, so much to see and do and that extra day at the end allowed us to wind down and take time to reflect on everything we had done and seen plus pick up momentos from the local artisan market.