Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers  

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!

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Reviews

Reviewed March 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

After an extremely long and tiring flight from the UK, we arrived at Managua Airport and was greeted with a beer….at that point I knew this holiday was going to be great!! No rest for the wicked as we had a fairly early start the following day, all of the bikes were prepared in advance which made things really easy for the group. The riding is tough…I dont care what other people have put…Lance Armstrong would have struggled with the heat/ headwinds and terrain in certain parts!! An inspiring trip, which not only allows you to see some wonderful countries, but also to meet some fantastic people in the group you travel with. A very diverse bunch all with a good story to tell over the odd "panama/ balboa…or for the weak hearted Atlas" beers. Watch out for the "electric blue lemonade" cocktail….there isnt any lemonade in it!!

Most Inspirational Moment

So many...the scenery in parts is stunning...not just because me and my mate Dave were there! The volcanos in Arenal and Otemepe have to be seen to be believe, the lagoon (watch out for the fish...they bite! joking!) The sunset in san juan del sur, the food......the volcanic springs, the downhill to panama (we clocked 50 mph!) too many "highlights" to mention....explore and see it for yourself......you wont regret it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was cool....he even got the English sarcastic sense of humour by the beginning of week 2! He got involved with all the group, and even got on the Dance floor in the night club in Bocos del Torro! Rob and his team were very good.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Have a reasonable level of fitness before you go.......you will reap the rewards if you do!

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Reviewed March 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

I had a BRILLIANT holiday that had everything in it – hot sunshine, beautiful volcanos, amazing sunsets, tropical rain forests, lakes, rivers, Pacific & Caribbean beaches, remote villages, colourful colonial towns, wildlife, nightlife, great people and of course lots of cycling. A wonderful way of seeing three Central American countries if you can only go away for two weeks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Beautiful sunsets at the beachs of San Juan del Sur and Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua.Cycling around Lake Arenal in Costa Rican highlands. Challenged by hills & rain but the some of the best views of the trip.Bocas del Toro - day off cycling meant time for surfing, snorkling & dancing.Great view on 12m downhill ride in Panama.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was a great leader always listening to our wishes and accommodating them whenever possible. Thanks to him and his team we had a very hassle free holiday (restaurants, hotels, border crossings, currencies etc. all sorted out for us).Rob was a great cyclist too - I personally enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up with his cycling pace whenever he was leading the rides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't be put off by the mileage or the hills. The trip is very well organised and caters for all cycling abilities from the potential Lance Armstrongs to the casual Sunday cyclists. There is always to option to take it slowly or hop on a bus or challenge yourself by trying to keep up with one of the guides. But it goes without saying that the fitter you are, the easier you'll find it. So training before is worth it.

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Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

A great way to see 3 countries and keep fit at the same time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Floating down the Tenorio river, we saw lots of wildlife. Visiting Ometepe Island, great to cycle on and great hotel location, the views of the island and volcanoes are fantastic.Bocas Del Toro islands are a total contrast to the other places visited on this trip, very lively with a fun atmosphere.Looking for frogs in the ground of the hotel Atlantida in Cahuita.  Great Cubra Libres too.The hotsprings in La Fortuna were excellent - have a pina colada and a couple of minutes in the cold pool before you change back for dinner.Seeing Toucans in the grounds of the last hotel

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob is a great leader, he is very fit and extremely well organised.  He is very pleasant to talk to and obviously very passionate about cycling and fitness generally.We thought we might get more information about the local areas we travelled to and through but this did not seem to be part of the trip.The rest of the team (drivers/assistants/mechanics) are also excellent, the bikes are well maintained and there is a good supply of water and fruit at stops on route.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to be reasonably fit to complete all the cycling.  Some people chose to ride on the minibus for some parts of the cycling that they were not comfortable with - hills (up and down), distance and traffic, this is OK if you are happy to do this, we wanted to do everything and would have been disapointed if we were not up to the challenge.  Slower riders did not slow us down, it just spread the group out a bit more. It gets very hot and you need plenty of changes of clothes and lots of suncream even on days when it rains.  We took our own saddles and I think this helped, I personally found padded cycling shorts too hot and managed ok with just lycra shorts, whilst my husband wore padded shorts every day.

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Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

Physically tough but worth all the sweat and sunburn to see such stunning scenery and wildlife by day, and recover over great food and beer each evening with fun, like-minded people.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 25-mile downhill cycle ride in Panama was a white-knuckle adrenalin rush, with breathtaking scenery to boot.Cycling around Lake Fortuna, moving from high altitude rain showers to scorching sunshine, looking out over the picturesque lake.Drinking pina coladas in the hot springs in Fortuna.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was excellent, he was a highly-effective shock absorber, making the border crossings and other potential difficulties seem effortless. He even let us have his room at the last hotel when we had a problem with our room.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cycling is tough, so make sure you're fit enough, or be prepared to sit out some rides in the bus as the hill climbs go on a long way.  I thought I was really fit after months of cycling and spinning classes, but still found the going was tough, in the heat and humidity.Toilet facilities are non-existent on some rides, so be prepared to slum it.

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Reviewed February 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

This was a great holiday and was much more than a cycling holiday- it included a raft trip, boat trips and the opportunity to go snorkelling, surfing or even more cycling. I have never seen so much wildlife on a holiday it seems that Central America  is stuffed with animals, birds … and mosquitos!

Most Inspirational Moment

There was no one inspirational moment but many. The scenery is simply stunning taking in tropical rainforest, dry tropical forest and vast plains (sometimes even in the same day). We visited a few of the many volcanoes in the area and enjoyed their natural hot springs. But the truly inspirational moments came after the longer bike rides, some of which are quite difficult, as the sense of achievement overrides the tired legs!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was a good leader and very organised. I really liked his approach as he would listen to the group suggestions and adapt the itinerary where needed. The group meetings in the morning before each riding stage were particularly helpful and he was very encouraging to the less able cyclists. His only let down was that he didn't always have the background information to the countries to hand - though he had internet access on his iPhone for some answers!  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a challenging holiday. The brochure does describe it as moderate/challenging and this is accurate but don't think as I did that 'it can't be that challenging, it's a holiday after all!' Some of the climbs are steep and long, some of the roads are rough dirt tracks, it can be very windy (those head winds are a killer) and we did cycle in 36+ degree heat. The long, fast downhills are a well-earned bonus!

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Reviewed January 2011

CYCLE NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA AND PANAMA

A three country cycling holiday and so much more!

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many moments to mention.  The best cycling day was the afternoon cycle along La Chocolata in Nicaragua while the sun was slowly setting ... and meeting with all the locals and animals en route.  While the cycling was fabulous it was the non-cycling moments that made the holiday ... the river rafting, the thermal spa, the coatis, the ferry trip to Omotepe Island, the border crossing in the rain between CR and Panama ...  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rob was fantastic - very calm and laid back but ensured that everything ran like clockwork.  Also excellent at roadside first aid!  The support crew was great too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You only need enough clothes for a one week cycling holiday - the laundry facilities in La Fortuna are excellent and very quick.  Take a gel seat cover or your own seat! 

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for reviewing your recent holiday with Exodus. Our local operator has followed up your concern with the manager of Hotel Tilawa who has apologised that your room wasn’t of an acceptable standard when you arrived. This property, although in some need of renovation, is usually received well by Exodus clients for its spectacular location on the edge of Lake Arenal and its good leisure facilities. We are aware that the food at this hotel isn’t of the highest standard and this is why we arrange to eat at nearby Mystica lodge where there is excellent Italian food. The Hotel Tilawa is currently the only option in the area that is large enough to accommodate a group of our size, without splitting into two smaller hotels. We do remain open to the possibility of changing the itinerary if a suitable alternative becomes available. I hope this explains our position and I’m really happy to hear that there were so many highlights on your trip with us.

Vicky Boughton – Product Manager for Costa Rica

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