Travel Review: A Unique and Adventurous Costa Rica Vacation

Review by traveler

Vanessa L.

5.17.2009

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Costa Rica

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

The Costa Rica travel agency was great at giving me the itinerary that I wanted. They even set up a private car and driver for transportation between San Jose and Arenal and Arenal to Tortuguerro and airport transfers. This allowed us the ability to stop and explore, but not worry about the safety of the car. Normally, I would drive independently, but we got an excellent price. We met representatives of the travel company at each transfer - pick up from airport, transfer San Jose to Arenal, Arenal to Tortuguerro, transfer back to hotel. Each time, these representatives were friendly and informative: only once did the driver not speak English. Even though he didn't speak English, he would point things out, suggest clean and interesting pit stops, and be very accommodating.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

The rafting experience and Pacuare Lodge was fantastic! It's a short rafting trip to the lodge (1.5 hours) but we stopped at creek inlets for river-pool diving and small waterfall exploring. The Lodge was beautiful, accommodating, and relaxing. It is all eco-friendly with the running water powered by gravity and heated by solar panels. The 2nd day of rafting (out of the lodge) was harder and I would not recommend to someone who is not of reasonable health and ability to swim. The only way in or out of the lodge is by raft or by a hike with river crossing in a swing chair. I wished I could have stayed longer.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

Going in the Fall (September) was an excellent choice - the crowds are reduced. The weather was perfect in San Jose, Arenal and Tortuguerro. I would not go back to Tortuguerro (even though I saw turtle egg laying and hatchlings)...you must join a large tour group to travel to the hotels/tours. I felt very much herded around with no independence. Also the accommodations are flashback to summercamp - basic, dingy, and no airconditioning. (We didn't need air conditioning at the other locations - the windows were fine. But in Tortuguerro, it was much more humid and hot and less air movement) I give the trip 4 stars only because we were so miserable in Tortuguerro.

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Travel Review: A Unique and Adventurous Costa Rica Vacation

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

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