The staff at the Monteverde Lodge was helpful and friendly and took time to let me practice my Spanish. Carlos was a great guide in the cloud forest reserve. The coffee plantation tour was among our favorite stops. In Arenal, we loved the Safari float on the Penas Blancas River. Our guide Guillermo was friendly and full of interesting information about Costa Rica. The float itself was quite relaxing with surprisingly good animal spotting. Crocodiles! Iguanas! The float also included the best cup of coffee in Costa Rica. The Eco Termales hot springs were beautiful and peaceful.

Our San Jose return driver, Hector, gave us a unique off-the-track tour of an oxcart factory in Sarchi that we really enjoyed. Thanks Lily for helping us change schedule at the last minute to see Poas and La Paz. Thank you for everything!
-The Page Family

Feb. 29, 2008 “I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were with your hotels and guides.”
We have just returned from a one-week Costa Rica Expeditions’ trip to Monteverde and Corcovado and I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were with your hotels and guides. They looked after us from the minute we stepped off the plane until we left. During the Monteverde portion of the trip, we were with Luis Chinchilla, who provided thoughtful and intelligent insights, and Ricardo, our driver who carefully navigated the often very difficult roads and always made us feel safe. They were interesting and fun dinner companions as well!

In Corcovado, Erick Gomez went above and beyond to get us up-close pictures of wildlife including taking our camera and sneaking down into the forest so that he could get a shot of a puma! We loved all his plant descriptions complete with medicinal recipes! And, finally, Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo) was a true nature lover, endlessly enthusiastic and knowledgeable. His bird walk was great! Please thank them, and also Priscilla Jimenez who did a wonderful job organizing the trip in the first place.
-Amy & Pete Stevens

Feb. 16, 2008 “Your company is a good, professional outfit.”
Michael & Natalie: Thanks for your follow up. Actually, second follow up. So, brownie points for persistence. We enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica very much. We also think that your company is a good, professional outfit and would recommend to others. In fact, we took this trip with you because of a recommendation from my sister-in-law. So, you have our vote of confidence.

A brief travelogue on my trip to Costa Rica follow below.

The good wife said that the tracks on the beach that we came upon at 7 AM were made by a man walking a dog. If you value peace, then you already know that it is easier to accept such assertions than to argue. Besides, I have been excited many times with tracks only to be informed by the guide that they were made by non-exotic animals. The tracks went on for as far as I could see with my naked eyes. So, while the explanation was plausible, the pug marks were large and didn't look like a dog's to me. I took a picture of it

(http://lukematam.smugmug.com/photos/242565649-M.jpg).

We went on with our plan to go and take pictures of macaws before catching our plane out of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. When we got to the makeshift airport, we found out that early that morning a puma had tracked a tapir along the beach and successfully hunted it and dragged the body off into the jungle!! It was exciting to hear this even if no one actually saw the puma or the tapir but just the fresh tracks. After a lot of animated chit-chat, it dawned on me that I had been walking in the middle of the night, without fear, to the restroom some 100 meters from our tent camp. Had we chanced upon these tracks on the first night we were there, I doubt either of us would have ventured alone after sunset even to the restroom.

The pilot was a pleasant man and he escorted us to the small airplane to fly us to Tortuguero National Park. It all seemed cozy - just my wife and I and the pilot - until a student popped into the co-pilot's chair!! It was a bit discomforting but I rationalized that if the pilot is teaching someone else, then he must be good. My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed that the pilot's window was open, air gushing in and the plane was rolling on to the runway. I felt that the air-turbulence would get us in trouble with an airplane that was really the size of my car with wings attached. I felt that it would be rude for me to tell the pilot to close the window as all those wrinkles on his face surely were backed by experience and wisdom. As the plane was racing on to take off, the pilot finally shut the window and with it the plane was a bit quieter along with my mind!

I spent about four hours trying to get decent shots of poison dart frogs. I also endured many mosquito bites, despite putting on insect repellant generously. Since it was raining, and I was reminded many times that it is the rainforest after all, my helpful wife offered to hold an umbrella up to shield my camera from rain. The kind woman also slapped me a few times!! Well, she was trying to kill mosquitoes while I was trying to compose a shot!! It was challenging. By the time I adjusted the tripod, the frog would move! There was not enough light for the camera as the canopy was thick and it was raining. In the end, the better composed shots were those that were shot handheld.

We took a boat into a canal and spotted a caiman basking in the sun. Sighting a caiman was exciting enough but what made a stronger impression was the fact that the previous day, at exactly the same spot where it was lying, my wife and I were taking pictures of a kingfisher!! I cannot say that this was too close for comfort, but it was discomforting nevertheless. But then, why else would you go on a vacation into the jungle?
-Luke Matam

Feb. 15, 2008 Corcovado Lodge: “This was the best vacation we have ever had.”
Dear Michael and Natalie: This was the best vacation we have ever had and you should you know we have traveled to many places - China , Thailand, Australia, Belize, Italy and Greece. We stayed at the Corcovado tent camp 10 years ago (and a year before that as well) and then hiked into Sirena. We weren't able to get a reservation to Sirena this time, but were delighted to stay at the tent camp for our entire vacation. The staff were impressive, especially our guides Marco and Eric, the managers, Mitchy and Jesse and Albon, the chef - but everyone was great.

We heard some hints you might be thinking of changing some things, we'd like to urge you to keep them just the way they are. The accommodations, the food, the people who come from all over the world to stay at the tent camp, the staff, and of course the incredible natural environment which you have done such a good job of preserving and protecting while also making it easy to enjoy a safe and extraordinary vacation are perfect and not something we have found anywhere else in our travels. We'd be delighted to provide a quote and feel free to use the photos for the website. The fish is sea bass which Eric caught while helping us re-learn handline fishing (we've done it before at Corcovado but were rusty) - you've got a great team there. And, by the way, as a professional folklorist, I was especially appreciative of Eric's knowledge of natural plants gained from his abuelo.
-Sue Eleuterio & Tom Sourlis

Feb. 14, 2008 ''All of your staff were so helpful.''
I had a wonderful time on my trip to Corcovado. All of your staff were so helpful. I would especially like to commend Nils who escorted me back to my hotel after the tour was over. He waited until I confirmed my hotel registration and my airport shuttle arrangements before he left me. That was very thoughtful. My only complaint was that I was not made aware of the difficulty of the hike to the canopy platform before I signed-up to do it. I might have opted-out if I had known. I would recommend Costa Rica Expeditions to others. If I ever return to Costa Rica I will use your services again. Attached are some photos.
-Kaye Duncan

Feb. 8, 2008 “You are professionals to your toes.”
I was surprised at first to find your follow-up email on my return to Florida from CR after two weeks. But on thinking, I saw that it was fully consistent with the excellent overall service Costa Rica provides. You are professionals to your toes and have an excellent understanding of what 'service' means. I and my traveling companion only enjoyed two items off the CRE “menu" - two days at Corcovado Tent Lodge and another two on the Pacuare.

The experiences were delightful and truly memorable. The atmosphere in Corcovado is just right for relaxing and end enjoying what is after all the feature attraction: Nature. The staff stands ready to cater to all needs but are never intrusive. Guides, on the other hand, help visitors draw their richest experience from the forest. I was enchanted. On the Pacuare trip, our guide prepared us with history and local lore and even a little coaching and encouragement (for a first-time rafter) before we ever got to the river. On the water he quickly built crew esprit. In camp he showed skill as a gourmet cook! We got home tired but wearing broad smiles. In short we were mightily impressed and delighted by the overall experience. It was a pleasure to deal with qualified and sensitive professionals who facilitated our perfect holiday.
-Nora Pena & Dick La Roche

Feb. 7, 2008 “With the professional staff that you have in this company no wonder Costa Rica Expedtions is a first-class tour company.”
I am sending this e-mail to let you know that your organization/company did such an amazing job of planning and organizing our trip to Costa Rica. Before we arrived in Costa Rica I dealt with Jeffrey Vargas either via e-mail or by phone. He planned and organized the trip from our transportation to our extra luggage - he had so much information on the trip before we were there. He answered my emails promptly and made it seem that I had a friend in Costa Rica. He was exceptional employee of yours. Jeff's honesty, professionalism, knowledge and efficiency are first class.

We stayed at Tortuga Lodge and the staff was exceptional, from the moment we were picked up in San Jose by Luis Torres. As a guide he was entertaining - from his knowledge on Costa Rica, the history of the country and his great sense of humor. We would also like to give praise to out river guide, Ricardo Davis, with his keen eyesight and respect for the environment. Ricardo's character made the time we spent with him very enjoyable. The time spent with Fabian the bartender was also very enjoyable; the impeccable service we had from Fabian and the great conversations we had with him. Valentin Corral's culinary skills, personality and the way he treats the customers made the stay there A-One. Kevin, the other manager there, had a great sense of humor as well as he was very professional.

The Corcovado tent camp staff was just as professional and the food was fantastic. Jessie the manager had a great sense of humor, was very courteous and knowledgeable. His personality was appreciated and contributed to a great stay. The bartender Erik was also a great asset to the tent camp. Great service and very knowledgeable about the area.

The end of our vacation we went rafting with Costa Rica Expeditions. Our guide Kevin was amazing. The safety guide and the photographer as well as Kevin made us an amazing lunch. Kevin's guiding expertise on the river was fantastic. Kevin is also a huge asset to the company. With the professional staff that you have in this company no wonder Costa Rica Expedtions is a first-class tour company. We would like to thank you and your staff for a great and memorable vacation.
-Nadine Balkaran & Glen Sykes, Canada

Jan. 16, 2008 “Tortuga Lodge exceeded my family’s expectations…and Corcovado was an exceptional experience for our whole family.”
Michael & Natalie: I had visited Tortuga Lodge 20 years ago with my father and sister and had always longed to go back. My wife and I felt that this was the year, with our boys at the ages of 8 and 9. The hospitality we were shown not only by your staff, but Costa Ricans in general only reinforced the wonderful memories I had from 20 years ago. Tortuga Lodge exceeded my family’s expectations, based on my recollections from 20 years ago, and the Corcovado Tent Camp was an exceptional experience for our whole family. Since our return home I have mentioned to at least a dozen of my friends that Costa Rica is an experience not to be missed and CRE is the company to get it done.
-Mark Woods & family, KS

Jan. 15, 2008 “We had a wonderful time at the Corcovado Tent Lodge.”
We had a wonderful time at the Corcovado Tent Lodge. I hope to return soon.
-Steve Binder

Jan. 15, 2008 ”It rained an awful lot more than I ever expected, but I felt that the trip was a real adventure.”
We just finished a great tour to Tortuguero and Corcovado. Marcia Carranza was our guide and we all just adored her, the kids, too! She was just great. I have to admit, it rained an awful lot more than I ever expected, but felt that the trip was a real adventure. And most importantly, we believed that CR Expeditions wanted us safe! We had some issues on a flight to Corcovado where we got up in the air, weather was bad, and came back down (I was personally relieved, it was a bit scary for me; my 9-year old son thought it was great!).

One comment is that I think you guys could do a better job in preparing us for the trip. All of our clothes were just wet the whole time (didn't help that the very first day the tarp we used leaked all over our stuff). However, I would have brought far more plastic bags and it wasn't very clear exactly when the 25 pound luggage limit was needed. My friends said they went on an African safari and had luggage weight restrictions and the tour operators were much more specific about what was needed. For what it's worth.

It seemingly rains a ton in Tortuguero and I just didn't realize that - everything I read said we weren't going for the rainy season. It's obviously false and wish I would have brought much more rain gear. I can understand that if you talk up the rain too much, no one would want to go, but I tossed in my coat as a last minute item at the last minute of packing - had no idea! It didn't even have a hood! Anyway, we had a great time and would recommend CR Expeditions to everyone.
-Sheri Kole

Oct. 13, 2007 “Thank you for your assistance in preparing my travels.”
Luis: I want to thank you for your assistance in preparing my travels to Corcovado and for recommending my day outing from San Jose, where my focus was on Poas, but I experienced much more.

I had stumbled onto the Corcovado Lodge on my own and from the website had already determined what to expect, and in spite of having high expectations (usually a recipe for being let down), it still surprised me in what it had to offer. Corcovado was one of the best and most unique experiences I have had in travel and the Osa Peninsula now ranks as one of my favorite places on Earth. Wow.

It is also very important that I thank you for recommending the “Best of Costa Rica” day tour from San Jose for the time of year I was there as the trip was perfectly designed to enjoy great weather in the location I traveled to, while seeing interesting parts of the country. Thanks again Luis and all the best from a grateful traveler from Canada!
-Mark Dumont

Jun. 25, 2007 “The guides we encountered were professional, knowledgeable, gracious and attentive.”
Hi Priscilla: We have returned form your beautiful country and the beautiful vacation you so kindly planned for us. We spent a lovely time exploring the many regions that we were so fortunate to visit. I think it's fair to say that we enjoyed the "untouched" Osa peninsula the most - so pristine and pure in every sense.

The Lapa Rios Ecoresort is a destination that, time permitting, we would return to again and again. It is really an extraordinary resort and destination. All of the travel arrangements were perfectly executed by your firm and colleagues throughout our eight-day adventure. The guides we encountered were professional, knowledgeable, gracious and attentive at every step of the way. The accommodations and cuisine throughout our travels were superb and exceeded our expectations, as did the beautiful and unique wildlife and activities.

Although I write this note to you, I know that Bob echoes all of the same sentiment and accolades - he was genuinely impressed with your firm. Thank you for your advice and assistance planning this great trip - it was truly wonderful from start to finish. I hope you are proud to be a Costa Rican, you should be!
-Rita Whitney

Jun. 25, 2007 Monteverde Lodge: “We loved the fabulous views from our room, the wondrous gardens, the wonderful staff, the great food…”
We got back a week ago from our 11-nite-tour with Costa Rica Expeditions and we can't tell you how much we enjoyed the experience. Everything went off exactly as planned by herrol mora. He was very patient in figuring out exactly which locations would appeal to us based on our interests and especially in answering all our detailed questions.

The tour guides were all top-notch including Norton Sinclair Tucker, in tortuguero, Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo) in corcovado, and all the guides we had in monteverde. They really know their stuff and were patient and enthusiastic in showing us all they could. We could never have picked out all the animals and plants they found for us. I'll never forget seeing all those monkeys in the wild.

The accommodations were all fabulous including the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. It was a struggle convincing my wife, who is not a camper, to agree to 2 nights there and it was well worth it even if there is no hot water available. The best was the monteverde lodge. We both loved the fabulous views from our room, the wondrous gardens on the property, the wonderful staff, the great food and views in the restaurant, the hot tub and the mind-boggling surroundings of the cloud and the transition forest. I also loved visiting st. elena. Again, thank you for a fabulous trip. I've already written to arthur frommer suggesting he give more prominence to cre in future editions of his costa rica guide.
-Rich Korn

Jun. 21, 2007 Corcovado Lodge: “The facilities are beautiful and the staff very helpful.”
Dear Michael: We had a very nice time at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. The facilities are beautiful and the staff very helpful. What we loved most:

-The timing of when the beds were made and room cleaned was perfect – right after breakfast we come down and everything is new again!
-We loved having so many pillows and our daughter loved her mini bed.
-We used baby aspirin on various occasions and a crutch was superbly crafted for one of our party that broke his ankle.
-We had a newly diagnosed diabetic in the party and she had been continuing eating her regular Panamanian fried food diet. When she was forced to eat the healthy food the staff provided it changed her lifestyle. She commented that for the first time she didn’t experience abdomen pains and she felt much more energetic. She has proof that a healthy diet will improve her health and will continue making healthy choices from now on.

Some suggestions:

-Snacks were great, but we would have liked them a little earlier, maybe at 4 instead of 6 pm
-Stock more novels in your bookshelves
-Offer natural fruit juice for lunch or dinner
-The coke and beer prices changed according to the specific bartender. One night we were charged $2 for a coke and the next night it was $3
-May be impossible, but something should be done to better coordinate the outgoing Carate taxi colectivos.
-Alicia Añino

May. 14, 2007 “We had an outstanding time at Corcovado Tent Camp.”
For myself and my friends I would like to say thank you. We had an outstanding time at Corcovado Tent Camp and at Serena ranger station. I would like to ask a favor of you. Could you please send our best regards to the people at Serena. My Spanish is poor and since we left before sunrise we were unable to express to the ranger and especially the cook how much we appreciated them. They may remember me since I helped clean the kitchen and I am 2 meters tall. All I know about the cook, other than her generosity, is that she has older children and also a four-year-old child. When she is gone for twenty days at a time she misses her child greatly.
-Buck

May. 7, 2007 “We have not slept in tents for 50 years, but found our tent very comfortable.”
Dear Michael and Natalie: Thank you for your interest in our feelings about the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp trip. We had filled in a Satisfaction Report at the camp but this will all help to convey our impressions. The whole process was a joy from the start, with timekeeping good enough to satisfy the fussiest gringo. The booking process with Herrol Mora was straightforward and efficient, and the general advice about putting up with a small amount of inconvenience in order to experience something unique, was well said.

We were collected from our hotel by Eduardo, who made us feel at ease and was clearly experienced and capable beyond that morning's task. After a good journey we arrived to the beautifully appointed tent as shown in the photo, and were given a welcome talk.

We are pensioners and have not slept in tents for 50 years, but found our tent very comfortable, helped by the good weather, surroundings and staff. Indeed it hardly felt like a tent at all. The food was really good as well.

As our main interest in the trip was naturalist life we undertook 3 guided tours - the Night Walk, a half-day trip to Rio Madrigal in the National Park, and an early-morning bird watching trip. We found the guides Mikka and Percy knowledgeable and enthusiastic. When we followed up with a walk in the National Park by ourselves we were noticeably less successful in seeking out the wildlife.

I can only think of two negative points. Firstly, during a period in which we were the only residents there was a changeover of the staff which meant that one afternoon we could not get a drink as the temporary barman could not unlock the drinks cabinet and could not tell us the price of a displayed bottle of wine, so we didn't buy it.

Secondly, it would be better if all guides on bird watching trips were equipped and trained on telescope plus tripod. What happened was that on one of the trips the guide, who had very good eyesight, could point out a bird, but we could not easily see it with our eyesight. Admittedly it only works on birds that are stationary, but the technique of setting up the telescope for customers to view the wildlife was one that we appreciated on our earlier birding guided walks in Arenal and Monteverde.

After driving a hire-car through the suburbs of San Jose, to Rio Sarapiqui, Arenal, Monteverde and Liberia areas it made a welcome rest to go to the Tent Camp with its beautiful setting. It was very relaxing and yet there was enough time to undertake those interesting guided tours.

Our general impression throughout Costa Rica was how well-trained were the staff engaged in tourism, which I understand is government sponsored. Table serving staff were familiar with all the usual international etiquettes, hotel reception staff were generally proficient in English, and naturalist guides were not only good at English but knew the English names for the plants and animals as well!

The government has clearly put a lot of effort into tourism. Perhaps it could next look at the signposting of main roads when they go through towns!
-Colin Philpott

May. 4, 2007 Connoisseur: “(I) am glad that I decided to go with CRE instead of with another company.”
I recently returned from the Connoisseur trip (Apr 20-30) and just wanted to let you know what a wonderful trip I had to Costa Rica. I am enclosing the survey for the trip but am listing some additional comments below:

1. The transfers from the airport to the hotel in San Jose went smoothly and without any problems. I especially appreciated the transfer guide on my day of departure who was so friendly and helpful at 4:30 in the morning!

2. Our guide, Luis Torres, was absolutely fabulous. He was extremely knowledgeable on Costa Rican history and the flora and fauna of the country, friendly and personable, always willing to be flexible, and he epitomized excellent customer service. I highly recommend him!

3. Felix was an excellent driver being able to manipulate all of the roads and getting us to our destinations on time. Plus, he was able to change a flat tire on the road to Monteverde without any help from anybody; impressive.

4. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the hotels and delicious food. My only issue was with the hotel in San Jose. Although the Parque del Lago Hotel was quite comfortable, I would have preferred a hotel with more local character and more typical of the country.

5. Ricardo Davis, our boatman in Tortuguero, did an amazing job spotting the wildlife and was able to see animals that seemed hidden to the naked eye.

6. My main complaint for the entire trip is that I would have liked to spend an extra day I either Arenal or Monteverde, or both. Because of the extremely long travel day from Tortuguero to Arenal, it would have been better to take the boat into Tortuguero and then on the day of departure, to fly directly to Arenal, thereby giving us more time there. I especially wold have liked an additional day in Monteverde in order to visit the village, the cheese factory, etc.

7. I also would have liked one morning completely free (with no scheduled activities) that would have allowed us to sleep late and eat breakfast on our own. I am not a morning person, and generally do not eat breakfast.

8. I know that on a trip like this it is impossible to see everything, but it would have been nice to spend some extra time in San Jose so that we could visit the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall gardens. Maybe for future trips this could be included on the way back to San Jose on day 9 after visiting Café Britt?

9. Finally, I really enjoyed the Pacuare white water rafting trip and am glad that I decided to go with CRE instead of with another company. The Pacuare is a beautiful river and both Alvaro Farias and Alejandro Carazo are fun guides.

Overall, I would say that I had a great vacation and I hope to return to Costa Rica some day to visit the rest of your beautiful country. Thank you for all your help in planning the trip and for your patience in answering my email questions.
-Lisa Yrizarry

Apr. 23, 2007 “We had a fantastic stay in Costa Rica.''
As usual we had a fantastic stay in Costa Rica, and thank you very much for all your good care. I've taken some good shots with my Nikon D80 and I'm attaching them to this email.
-Frank Verpoorten

Apr. 21, 2007 Corcovado Lodge: “(We) were very impressed at the high level of service and food that was provided.”
Our trip to Costa Rica was great and Corcovado tent lodge was even better. My wife and I were very impressed at the high level of service and food that was provided. Julian and Marcia do an outstanding job at taking care of all of the guests’ needs.
-Greg Sullivan

Apr. 14, 2007 “Our U.S. workers should take a course in Customer Service from your staff.”
Costa Rica Expeditions was fabulous! You have some real gems working for you. Our U.S. workers should take a course in Customer Service from your staff.

1. Nadya Shaw spent countless hours arranging our trip and then due to family illness, we postponed and she arranged it all over again!

2. Luis Chinchilla was a wealth of info, very friendly and upbeat, and spent his afternoon at a soccer game with us, which was thoroughly enjoyable!

3. Monteverde Lodge: The manager and staff went out in the dark, took off our flat tire and put on the spare. We got the flat at dinner time and thought we would have to wait until morning. But within 5 mins of us talking to the manager, they came out to do the work! In the US we would have had to wait 4 hours the next day for a tow truck, and since it was Sunday, we might have had to waste the whole day and wait until Monday. But these guys got us back on the road in no time.

4. Customer Service was exceptional at all hotels - Hotel Grano de Oro, Monteverde Lodge, Arenal, Torteguero Lodge, Corcovado Lodge. Food at Hotel Grano de Oro was marvellous - especially the pie!!!

5. Arenal was a bit short-staffed, we often had to wait a while to talk with staff, even though they worked extremely hard and were always courteous. They just need to hire a few more people. Also, the Arenal food was not as good as the other locations.

6. Tortuguero was very nice to not charge us for our kayaking disaster – we fell out of the boat! Ricardo was an excellent guide on the inner canal trip.

7. Corcovado - Julian was excellent, as was "Fillo" (Rufilio).

8. We could not get Rios Tropicales to schedule our rafting trip to fit our itinerary, even after multiple long distance calls and emails. We went with Aguas Bravas and they were fantastic. We got lost driving to Sarapiqui and were 2 hours late so they let us go on a private rafting trip that afternoon, even though it was pouring rain. CRE should definitely recommend Aguas Bravas to your clients. Altogether a wonderful trip.
-Terri & Steve

Apr. 2, 2007 “The whole staff at Tortuga Lodge was wonderful and the food was delicious.”
Dear Grettel: Everything worked out so perfectly and the way everything was organized the first week, where we traveled around Costa Rica, was so fantastic - like our own private service and we did not have to think about anything except enjoying ourselves, which we definitely did.

All the guides were sweet and knew so much about Costa Rica, from Sebastian who picked us up in the airport to Federico, with whom we drove to Tortuguero. Suddenly half way to the destination there was a truck-accident 7 km further down the road and instead of waiting many hours on the road, you fixed a plane for us so we flew out to Tortuguero, and the next few days we had lots of canal tours. Kenya, with a voice like silk, and Norton Sinclair Tucker, who knows every name on any animal in Tortuguero, and the whole staff at Tortuga Lodge was wonderful and the food was delicious. We had so much fun.

We were a bit worried about going to Corcovado Lodge because of the tent camp, but that ended up being our favorite place on earth, my daughter wants to go and work there… Aaron, Estefano and Nadine were wonderful too, knowing so much. Also British Airway lost one piece of our luggage, but you managed to find it and bring it out to us at Corcovado. It was so important as we had our photo cameras, binoculars, hats, sunscreen all the important stuff in that suitcase. Thank you.

Montverde was interesting; we were running around in the cloud forest with raincoats on and finally saw the quetzal. The Tamarindo Diria Resort, our final stay, was also wonderful. What more can I say than we will definitely be back in Costa Rica. I recommend Costa Rica Expeditions to everybody I talk to.
-Winnie Hollmann, Denmark

Feb. 21, 2007 “The trip you arranged was the BEST trip I have ever had.”
Hello Janna: It’s hard to believe its been more than a week since we got back from our trip ... time flies! I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that the trip you arranged for me and my friend Brad was the BEST trip I have ever had. We had such a great time and did more stuff in two weeks than most people get to do in two months!! When our girlfriends saw the photos they were mad at us!! I guess we will have to come back soon!

There was not one single issue, complaint, or problem - (well other than the single bed thing... but you fixed that in short order and quite frankly it was kinda funny)... in fact - I have very high praises for you and your entire staff, the drivers, the guides we encountered, the people working at each of your properties. There are quite a few people I know here who are interested in a trip to Costa Rica - I have already forwarded your name... so if you get someone contacting you out of the blue from Phoenix there is a good chance it came from me!

I thought I would give you a few comments on the various places you set us up with:

1. El Rodeo Hotel - fantastic hotel!! Quiet, clean, comfortable and very nice staff. The restaurant at the hotel (steak house) is fantastic, again with superb service. When I come back to San Jose I will go out of my way to stay there again.

2. Tortuguero - I was not sure what to expect here but this place had the BEST wildlife of the entire trip. The majority of my wildlife shots were taken at Torteguero. The company’s Tortuga Lodge was absolutely beautiful and the service/food was as good as a 5-star resort!! I want to go back there with my girlfriend and spend a few days for sure!

3. Corcovado Lodge - amazing place! Despite coming down with a bad cough and cold. I had a great time there. The girl who was managing the place (forgot her name) was awesome - she made sure I was OK and checked to see if I was feeling well, enjoying my stay, etc. Unfortunately, I was sick for the stay here but I cannot wait to come back. I think of all the places, I liked Corcovado Lodge the best. While I did go on some of the hikes and the canopy platform tour - I was a little disappointed that there were no access trails to the primary forest. I understand that the it is a reserve area but one trail into the primary would make a big difference in being able to experience the forest and see the wildlife. As it was, the hikes we did were very nice. The guides were excellent and good people. The entire staff was nothing but top notch! When I return I will stay there a few days and take the trek over to Sirena.

4. Savegre Mountain Lodge - Thank you for setting us up in this place! Our room was fantastic and as we were driving into this area my smile got wider and wider! If ever there was a place I wish I could live, SAVEGRE would be it. That lodge/hotel was the best place I have stayed at in years! The serene beauty and photographic opportunities were endless... not to mention the hiking!! I think we walked and hiked 60 miles in the 3 days we spent there... it was incredible! The Cerro de la Muerto hike (sp?) was the best... we did it in under 4 hours! Amazing variety of forest and wildlife... got a nice shot of a Quetzel from 20 feet!

5. Pacuare - Brad and I both agreed that this was the highlight of the trip... we had a BLAST here. The company you set us up with (Rios Tropicales) was SUPERB... their guides and staff were incredible as well as their river lodge... in fact. when we were on the river, we came around the corner and saw the river lodge... all 4 of us in the raft made the comment... "Man.. I wish we could stay there tonight.” That was right about when the guide said "well, here we are..." That lodge was the BEST! We hiked, swam, zip lined through the trees, climbed waterfalls - I could have spent a week there. I want to go back there for sure!!

6. Drivers - on time, courteous, accommodating and professional - in years of travel I have never come across a better team of drivers!!

7. Pilots/Air charter - the service you hooked us up with was amongst the best I have ever seen! Our small plane pilot (same both ways from Corcovado) was amazing! As a pilot myself I know what it takes to keep a flight smooth in wind... he was so good you hardly knew it was windy! (I like the bumps though... makes flying fun but the other passengers liked the smooth ride better!)

Anyway, overall we had a 10+ of a trip! It is not a matter of if I return - its WHEN. I would like to make an attempt to come back with my girlfriend sooner rather than later. A lot depends on timing, I doubt we would do more than a week.. but another trip may be in order!

I have taken many photos of the areas you sent me to... you can see them in the "personal gallery" section of my website, www.sixgunphoto.com. If there are any photos you might want to use for your business, have your owner contact me and maybe we can arrange something. Again - best to you and thanks for everything!
-Mark Kilian

Feb. 16, 2007 “My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Corcovado Tent Lodge.”
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Corcovado Tent Lodge. We especially loved our tour through the National Park with our guide, Percy. He was by far the most knowledgeable tour guide that we encountered during our whole stay in Costa Rica. He really made our trip!! After our stay at C.T.L. we moved onto another nearby lodge. While there, we actually were recommending to other guests to ask C.T.L. if they could use Percy!! He is really asset to your team.
-Nicole Shefrin

Jan. 8, 2007 “We loved the trip. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people.”
Hi Janna: I wanted to thank you again for putting a great trip together for us. We had a fantastic time and really feel like we covered so much of the country. We learned a lot, and we really loved our guides - so friendly, informative, and great communicators. We wish you had stopped by to say hello - we met so many others, it would have been nice to thank you in person!

The logistics worked beautifully - we were always picked up on time. I didn't realize that all the pickups would be so early... might have been better to have planned a few mornings to sleep in a bit. The pace seemed a bit intense. We wish we had not had so many all inclusive meal plans - just too much food - could we have opted out of some of these?

I'd like to give you specific feedback on each place. I know in my job I value getting feedback and hope you will, too.

-Corcovado Lodge: There is no doubt that Corcovado was our favorite spot - I only wish we could have ended the trip with it as it was so relaxing and beautiful.

-Tortuguero: Mawamba Lodge was really the low point. So touristy - we felt like we were on a cruise with a bunch of inexperienced American tourists. The food was mediocre and we hated standing in line and being sat at a big table with a previously organized group. That being said, thank you for getting our private tour with Norton - that saved it for us. We saw lots of amazing wildlife and got a sense of the Caribbean people, economy, and geography.

-Arenal: We loved the Hanging Bridges hike. We adored Karla, the bike guide, and had a great day with her. She introduced us to the best restaurant in La Fortuna, called Don Rufino. We also ate at Cascada, which was not good. We didn't much care for the hotel, Montana del Fuego - very touristy.

-Monteverde: We had a great drive with Eric from Arenal to Monteverde. We liked Sapo Dorado, though they gave us the lowest rooms with a few of tour busses, rather than of the beautiful Gulf of Nicoya. Food was good. We liked walking around the town of Santa Elena and wished we'd had more towns to poke around in. We really liked going on a night hike. But the morning hike in the rainforest was disappointing - we saw the quetzal, but not much else. We'd already been to 3 spectacular rainforests, so perhaps we could have skipped it. We did have a great time on the sunset horseback ride, spectacular setting, wonderful funny guide, and gentle horses.

-Jaco/Ziplining: This was not a good choice. I thought you had scheduled us at La Paz with beautiful waterfalls. This area was not beautiful and Jaco was awful. This was a wasted day. And not sure why you sent a driver and a guide, as a driver would have been sufficient - they didn't really tell us much. (Though they were both charming!!!)

-Rafting at Pacuare: Mixed bag. We got picked up at 6 am and didn't get to the river put-in until noon... 6 hours later. Ridiculous. Then the rafting that day was just one hour! Hardly a two-day raft trip. But we enjoyed the camp, the dinner, and the next day of rafting was awesome! So all in all, we liked it.

-Grano de Oro: Great!

All in all, we loved the trip. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. I think, considering it was high season, things went pretty well. Again, many many thanks and very best in the New Year to you. Feliz Ano Nuevo!
-Sara and Jeff Lesk

Jan. 7, 2007 “I wanted you to know how much fun we had on our trip. It was beyond what I expected.”
I just wanted you to know how much fun we had on our trip. It was beyond what I expected. Pablo did an excellent job of providing political, cultural and environmental information of Costa Rica. We felt as if we had relatives in the country and they were showing us around. We will definitely rebook for a trip back in one year.
-Pat Rodell

Jan. 2, 2007 “I am singing the praises of Costa Rica and of Costa Rica Expeditions.”
Dear Nadya: The Bennett family is just home in Ottawa after our terrific Costa Rican holiday. Tomorrow I must go back to work - the first day of the new term at the college where I assist International students. I will try to bring the warmth and graciousness of the Tica people and the professionalism of Costa Rica Expeditions to my work.

I was so very impressed with the pride that Costa Ricans have in their country, and with their eagerness to share their knowledge, language, history and culture. We four had lots of questions, and all your staff, but particularly Luis at Corcovado and Paloma of Rios Tropicales, answered our queries and went out of their way to point out things they thought might interest us. (Could I please have Luis’ surname and his email address so I can thank him – I realize he is back at university now, but he was a real asset to your Corcovado location).

The staff at Costa Rica Expeditions made our holiday so relaxed – we never had to give a thought to the arrangements. We were confident that everything would be handled "behind the scenes" leaving us free to enjoy our time fully. We quickly learned a phrase that expressed all aspects of our trip – Solo Bueno.

All my very best for the new year to you and your family. I hope to contact you again to visit other parts of your beautiful country. In the meantime I am singing the praises of Costa Rica and of Costa Rica Expeditions.
-Heather Bennett, Canada

Nov. 10, 2006 ''Thanks for all your careful work.''
Dear Nadya: We're home safely with lots of wonderful memories of our trip to Costa Rica, including the warm farewells by Eric and the rest of the CRE folks who took us to the airport. We plan to send you a detailed note about our trip, but one thing we wanted to mention right away: If we left a pair of binoculars somewhere along the way (possibly at Corcovado), please DO NOT try to send them to us. We are happy to have them stay in Costa Rica, where someone might find them useful. (Randy had been planning to buy a pair of more advanced binoculars, so this just gives him an excuse to do it sooner.)

Thanks again to you for all your careful work, and to everyone (especially Luis Torres and Ricardo and Pablo Aguilar and Pato and Dennis in Puerto Jimenez and his friend the farmer with the truck!) for making this a vacation we will treasure.
-Randy & Deb Lyons

Jul. 18, 2006 “Food, service and accommodations were all top notch.”
Our time in Costa Rica was amazing. Our stay at the Corcovado Lodge was first rate, the food, service and accommodations were all top notch...and we definitely hope to be back one day.
-Darrin and Monika Meehan

Jul. 12, 2006 “What great memories we have together from this trip.”
I would like to let you know what a wonderful time we all had in Costa Rica. We especially enjoyed the Corcavado Tent Lodge. What a breathtaking setting and fantastic experience. Kenya Mendez is such a welcoming and professional manager. She takes great care of her guests and really loves her job and it shows. She helped us tremendously when we had car problems and when a storm blew in suddenly she attended to our tent while we were gone. She anticipates her guests needs and takes care of it before you even ask. The entire staff was very attentive and courteous. I hope to be able to visit Corcovado again. I traveled with my 70-year-old mother and 11-year-old-daughter, what great memories we have together from this trip.
-Michelle Manquen

Jun. 30, 2006 ''The service and the friendly employees of your company are the best we have encountered anywhere.''
Dear Michael and Natalie: Thank you for the magnificent trip that your staff prepared for us. Last October, my wife and I had our 25th anniversary. Since I am a teacher, we decided to do a trip this summer. I researched information on Costa Rica and decided your company was the best to go with. My wife was very hesitant about planning a trip over the Internet, and was a little worried. That all vanished when we were met at the airport the first night, and the next morning when our transfer guide waited several hours with us at the airport for our flight to Corcovado (bad weather). The service and the friendly employees of your company are the best we have encountered anywhere. They were extremely helpful, professional, and we felt that they really liked us when we interacted with them.

I was happy that I could adjust our itinerary (with the help of Hérrol) to extend our stay at Corcovado and Monteverde. I think the extra days there allowed us to experience them better. I don't think you can really get to know a place in two days. Our naturalist guides in each region were outstanding ("Fillo" - Rufilio - in Corcovado, Mal in Manual Antonio, and Eliàmar in Monteverde). What we were really impressed with was that they really loved their jobs, and loved their country. We also have never seen such cooperation among guides. They weren't competing, but they were willing to share sightings with the next group to come along. We went to Monteverde reserve a second day on our own. Eliàmar was waiting for his group to return from the restrooms, recognized my wife, and called her over to show her a trogon in his scope, even though she was not a paying customer that day. Another guide did the same later in the forest.

Overall, I can say that our trip was the nicest that we have ever been on. Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and its people are very warm and friendly. We felt that they were all very proud of their country, and they should be. We truly do think we have friends there now, and really want to go back to Costa Rica, as soon as we can afford it. Maybe next time we'll take our daughters with us. I would be glad to share my images with you, but after editing I have over five-hundred from the trip. I am sending a few with this email as samples.
-Daniel Kennell, Gallup, NM

May. 9, 2006 “The wildlife we saw was incredible!”
Thanks for a wonderful Costa Rican Experience! Your staff was attentive and informative from the moment I was met at my hotel until I returned from Corcovado. I had been to the Tent Camp before and loved it so much I was back just one a half years later. This second trip was even better than the first. The small changes you have made were a nice touch. Our manager Kenya and the rest of the staff made sure that our stay was comfortable and that we had all we needed. The wildlife we saw was incredible! We took the plane to Sirena and hiked back to the Lodge and were not disappointed! Our guide Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo) was very knowledgeable and has an incredible eye to spot the wild life I would have walked right by. I know we were lucky, but in two days we saw 2 pumas, 3 Baird's tapirs, an anteater, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, white face monkeys, spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, a toucan, curassow, poison dart frog, ruby eyed tree frog, tiger heron, great kiskadee, and the list goes on! I can't imagine a trip to Costa Rica without returning to the Tent Camp. I look forward to my next visit!
-Alleen McLain, Jackson, Mississippi

Apr. 12, 2006 “Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was the highlight of our 2-week trip to Costa Rica.”
Our time at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was the highlight of our 2-week trip to Costa Rica. It exceeded all our expectations. When I completed my comment card at the end of our visit, I could not think of one thing that could have been better. The experience was enhanced by the interesting people we met there and the kind and helpful staff. Thank you for a wonderful vacation. We hope to return someday.
-Anne Hendrie

Apr. 10, 2006 “The highlight of our trip was our stay at Corcovado Lodge.”
We returned from Costa Rica late last night after an unforgettable 2 weeks in your beautiful and amazing country. Wherever we went, the Costa Rican people were so friendly, and helpful -- this is something we will also never forget.

Certainly a (possibly the) highlight of our trip was our stay at Corcovado Lodge, booked through Costa Rica Expeditions. Osa Peninsula is an amazing place, and the lodge is a world just "out of this world". We also cannot say enough to praise Mr. Andrew Newcomb, our naturalist guide. He went "above and beyond" to make sure our needs were met, from the minute we left the driveway of our accommodations in San Jose, until returning after our 3-night stay, and not to mention his strong interest and knowledge of the flora & fauna during our hikes through the rainforest and National Park.

We will be talking about our trip to friends and acquaintances here at home for a long time to come, in the hope that they will feel inspired to experience the same. And we will be back!
-Kimberly Hayward, Bermuda

Mar. 29, 2006 ''Corcovado Camp was a great adventure and we all loved it.''
Hi Michael: I just wanted to let you and Selena know what a wonderful trip we had. Selena, your planning was great. We visited varied places and ecosystems and were able to do some extensive hiking and photographing. Corcovado Camp was a great adventure and we all loved it. Ginger and I did go into Serena after the other two couples left. Even though it was an expensive side trip, it was worth every penny. Obviously the park is a very special place - we hope it can be preserved (we were able to see 3 tapirs - mother, father (we presume) and baby).

Special thanks to Victor Perez, who is an outstanding guide and young man - certainly one of the best guides we've ever been with. Kenya at Corcovado is a fabulous young woman, very capable and very attentive to anything that we needed. Ginger's vegan diet was accommodated beautifully everywhere that we went.

Thanks again and we look forward to a return trip. By the way, Bosque del Cabo was also a terrific spot with wonderful hiking trails, great food and staff, and lots of animals and birds to photograph. Michael, it was great to see you again. We'll look forward to meeting again someday. FYI our anniversary dinner on the 15th at Grano d'Oro was a really nice evening.
-Richard Goldman

Mar. 22, 2006 ''The accommodations were amazing, as were all the people.''
This trip exceeded all my expectations! Please extend my gratitude to Alejandro, our river guide on the Pacuare River; Ricardo, our host at the Tortuga Lodge; and Kenya, she was a perfect example of the peace and relaxation achieved at the Corcovado Lodge. The accommodations were amazing, as were all the people who helped make my vacation a perfect time away from home. I just wish I were still there. I'm already planning my parents’ vacation and maybe will even join them. Thanks!
-Kathryn Harris

Mar. 13, 2006 ''Pablo ranks in the top 10% of local guides around the world''.
Dear Herrol: Just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful time at Corcovado - thank you so much for your help in arranging this trip! The tent camp was even better than the first time I visited, which was already a very high standard. I'm certain that my friend Isabella loved it and will go back as well.

Also, I just wanted to let you know that I thought that Pablo (Aguilar) was a truly excellent naturalist guide. I've traveled to many natural destinations around the world and have spent time with numerous guides, and I think that Pablo ranks in the top 10% of local guides around the world. He is quite knowledgeable but does not pretend to know things if he is uncertain (for example, on a bird identification); he speaks clearly and is easy to understand, and he has a gentle voice and soft sense of humor; he is full of information but doesn't overload people who are less interested; he distributes his attention to all members of a group equally without showing favorites; he has wonderfully keen eyes and ears for spotting wildlife; and most importantly to me, he know when to talk and when to walk quietly in full appreciation of the surrounding natural beauty. I would appreciate it if you could pass these comments along to the heads of Costa Rica Expeditions, in the hope that they will convey my appreciation to both you and Pablo - and the super staff at the lodge (particulary Kenya and the excellent cooks)!

Many thanks, and I hope that I will be able to return to Costa Rica sometime in the not-too-distant future!
-Susan McConnell

Mar. 10, 2006 “Costa Rica Expeditions really delivers on its promise of service excellence.”
We had a great time, with Corcovado being our favorite! Costa Rica Expeditions really delivers on its promise of service excellence provided by local people. The guides and drivers were all safe, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun to be with and their pride in their country and its flora and fauna was inspiring. Costa Rica and its people made a profound impression on us and I believe the experience will prove to be particularly valuable for our two teenage daughters.

We will send a more detailed review to Herrol, who served us very well both before and after our trip. From my own business experience, I know that service excellence starts at the top and requires dedication and vigilance for success. It was wonderful both to see and to benefit from this kind of business philosophy.
-William Parkinson

Mar. 6, 2006 "The people at Corcovado were wonderful and the place itself is amazing."
Thanks for everything! Our two nights at the Corcovado Tent Lodge and a night at the Don Carlos wrapped up our busy but fun adventure through Costa Rica. The people at Corcovado including Kenya and Marcia were wonderful and the place itself is amazing. I hope to be able to visit and spend more time in the park next time.
-Scott Steiner

Feb. 27, 2006 ''Everyone was fantastic. From my first contact with you, I knew I was dealing with a great organization.''
I wanted to write to say "thank you" for the most incredible vacation. Although our whole week in Costa Rica was wonderful, it was truly the memories of our stay in Corcovado that we will treasure most of all. EVERYONE who works with your company was fantastic.

From my first contact with you, I knew I was dealing with a great organization. You were always prompt and extremely helpful as we planned the details of our trip months ago.

Gaston (who picked us up at the Hotel Le Bergerac) was right on time, was very friendly and provided us with interesting information as we drove to the airport. Eduardo (our pilot) was very professional and made us feel safe as we flew over your beautiful country. Edgar welcomed us to the tent lodge with delicious fruit drinks that tasted refreshing after our lovely walk along the beach. Pablo (who led us on our walk to the platform) was pleasant and highly informative...he seemed to know the answers to all of our questions! Michy (our guide into the National Park) was also interesting and informative. The entire staff at the lodge was attentive and extremely friendly. The waiters (Jose, in particular) all seemed to anticipate anything we needed.

The tents looked lovely with the fresh flowers and the bathrooms were kept immaculate. Kenya (who checked us out) was very sweet and helpful, also. We absolutely loved everything about our stay at Corcovado! I can't thank you all enough for making our stay there one we will always remember with much happiness. I will tell anyone I know who plans a trip to Costa Rica that Corcovado Tent Lodge is a "must see" destination for their trip. We appreciated all that was done for us! P.S. We hope to return in the future and have an opportunity to visit Tortuguero!
-Sherrie Becker

Feb. 26, 2006 ''Costa Rica Expeditions' service was in the English sense 'Outstanding' and endured our changes of plan with charm.''
Rather inevitably, during our recent trip we were invited to tick and complete "satisfaction" forms, none of which we did. I thought you could have my view of our trip. First, we enjoyed ourselves enormously, the Costa Ricans we met were as to 90% charming and most helpful. Second, the arrangements were excellent, but more important we were exceptionally impressed with Costa Rica Expeditions, whose service was in the English sense 'Outstanding' and endured our changes of plan with charm. We were particularly impressed that it took only to 70 minutes from the time we said we wanted Out of Volcano Lodge until we were on the move.

The hotel in San Jose was exactly right and the arrival arrangements were excellent. The transit to the Osa Peninsula and our time in Corcovado Lodge together with the guides was equally good; it requires some organisation to run that isolated spot. One comment, a new cook would make it even better. Monteverde Lodge was very good.

Personally I would not stay in the Volcano Lodge again, not just because of the sheet rain but a frankly uncharming reception, made up for by the charming Local Agent arriving in person to remove us when the rain did not stop. The Parador was exactly what we had been told: unrivalled situation, best for us to eat the plain food (every piece of fish we ate in Costa Rica was extremely well cooked which is more than you can say for London.) The enthusiasm of the staff somewhat outwayed their training, and once again the young (too young) reception staff were too interested in the IT processing and not enough in their guests. But those are the only downsides to an excellent holiday. Well done to all.
-Jeremy van den Arend

Feb. 21, 2006 Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp: ''We had a wonderful time.''
We had a wonderful time in CR. Kenya was especially enjoyable as a host at the tent camp and she should be always valued as well as Marcia, Pablo and the rest of the staff. Here are some photos of out trip for you to enjoy and use if you wish. Please let me know what you think!

http://web.mac.com/
-Miguel Morejohn, Portland, OR

Feb. 15, 2006 "At every point we were met by a smiling face."
“A lifetime experience” is my husband's description of our trip Feb. 3-10. Between Herrol and our daughter Martha Rebour, a trip was planned for two small children, their parents and we grandparents. Let me say that at every point we were met by a smiling face, a knowledgeable person, helpful in every respect. We learned about your crops, pineapples, bananas, and coffee. What was the most fun, however, was meeting your plants, animals, birds, and butterflies. My neck is still stiff from looking for sloths, toucans, Scarlet Macaws, new native birds and, of course, the monkeys.

The canal trip in Tortuguero with Miguel was exciting but no more so than the hike to the Madrigal River in Corcovado with Marcia. The small plane rides were a treat, especially for my husband, a small plane pilot. We all loved the scenery from above. The children were treated to many kindnesses all along the way and their memories must be special. As a child, I played a good deal of Animal Lotto. Never did I dream I would actually see a sloth, a tapir or an ocelot!
-Tony and Ann Brockelman

Feb. 11, 2006 "An awesomely excellent expedition to Tortuguero and Corcovado."
Greetings from cold Champaign, Illinois! We want to commend your organization for an awesomely excellent expedition to Tortuguero (staying at Tortuga Lodge) and Corcovado (staying at the tent camp) and on to Arenal. Starting with Nadya Shaw, every single encounter with Costa Rica Expeditions went precisely as planned - unfortunately, not always our experience with others such as Montezuma Expeditions (who only had to pick us up at our hotel and never showed!).

The people who picked us up, took care of us, and who guided us through the rainforests were ALL excellent folks we would be glad to have as friends. I would name the best, but they would all make the list. The facilities were also wonderful and the service primo. One suggestion would be slightly better food, especially at the Corcovado tent camp. Maybe it was simply eating the same type of menu at Tortuga Lodge and then Corcovado? I was disappointed not to be able to hike the primary forest at Corcovado. I understand what an undertaking this is, but suggest you offer a trip to fly into Silena and then do a 3-day hike to the tent camp. (Our guide, Fillo, suggested this but we didn't have time in our itinerary to arrange it this trip.) I will send some photos when we get them uploaded, but wanted to make sure I responded with our great appreciation for a job extremely well done.
-Diann and Arturo Thoma

Feb. 10, 2006 Corcovado Lodge was "perfect in every way."
Dear Herrol: We are home from our trip to the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. Thank you setting up such a nice trip for us. The tent camp was perfect in every way. The food was great, the staff very helpful, friendly and caring, the tents very nice and the location perfect. Our flights were good and your staff was always there to meet us and take us to the next place. I would be happy to recommend your agency to Costa Rican visitors. Thank you again.
-Bill and Mary King

Feb. 2, 2006 ''Everything about how your lodges are run is first-rate…I never realized tent living could be so luxurious.''
I'm very pleased to provide you feedback as my wife Cathy and I had a terrific experience during our Jan. 16-23 trip arranged by Costa Rica Expeditions! The itinerary (Monteverde Lodge and Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp) was just perfect, thanks to Marco Madrigal. Everything went very smoothly, and everyone from CRE did their jobs superbly, from the host (I'm sorry to forget his name) who met us at Juan Santamaria, to the very friendly driver who took us to Monteverde, to the front desk folks at Monteverde, to all the staff at Corcovado Lodge (special thanks to Kenya who is very, very good).

The guides we had at both Monteverde and Corcovado (particularly Rufillio, aka "Fillo") were EXCELLENT. We were very impressed with their knowledge of the rainforest and even their tolerance for good-natured ribbing.

The overnight stay at Grano de Oro (between the stays at your lodges) was very comfortable, and the restaurant there is top-notch. Great recommendation. Everything about how your lodges are run is first-rate, from the level of service, to the smooth execution of the ground and air transfers, to the comfort of the accommodations (I never realized tent living could be so luxurious), to the quality of the food, and to, most interestingly, the variety and caliber of the guests you attract. I wouldn't change a thing!

I'm already planning a return trip to the Tent Camp with at least one of our teenaged sons, hopefully this year. Corcovado is indeed God's country, and we'd not want to experience it any other way than with you folks. Thanks for a great vacation, it definitely is/was, as you say, an "unforgettable memory."
-John King & Cathy Gennert, CT

Feb. 1, 2006 ''Your impeccable planning made our vacation a true vacation.''
Hi Marco: I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica. We LOVED it!!! We liked all the things that we saw and especially enjoyed our time in the Osa Peninsula. It was more untouched than the other areas. La Paloma was beautiful and the people who worked there were wonderful. The food was also great. The Tortuga lodge, Monteverde Lodge & Arenal Lodge were also wonderful. Your impeccable planning made our vacation a true vacation. We only wish that you could have changed the weather our last day in Arenal, as it rained. We never got to see the volcano. Oh well, I guess that we'll have to come back. The hot springs and meal at the spa was also fabulous. Thanks for letting us know about it.
-Jo Ann

Jan. 23, 2006 "Every staff member was superb."
My wife and I had a wonderful time, thank you. Every staff member was superb. Prompt. Polite. Helpful. I thought about bringing night-vision binoculars for our night on the tree platform in Corcovado. I couldn't persuade myself, however, to spend $450 for binoculars that I might use only once. I would have rented night-vision binoculars from you, if they had been available at the lodge. Just a suggestion for you. Thanks for a great trip.
-Dan, Wisconsin.

Jan. 6, 2006 Corcovado Lodge “was the highlight of our entire trip!''
My fiancé, Jonathan Nituch, and I stayed at Corcovado Tent Lodge from December 3-6, 2005. I have to say it was the highlight of our entire trip! Everything was perfect. We enjoyed every minute and hated to leave. Every place after that we stayed in just didn't compare. I really appreciate all the help I received in retrieving my lost suitcase with my wedding dress in it. I am already planning my next trip to see the rest of the country, with a stop at the Tent Lodge, no matter where we are.

There was one dish at supper at the Tent Lodge that I really enjoyed and would like to make at home. It was sliced tomatoes, a basil leaf and a slice of cheese. What is the name of the cheese? Was it local cheese, or do you think I can find it Canada? Thanks for everything!
-Kerri Pokorny

Jan. 2, 2006 “Ecotermales Hidalgo was incredible.”
Prospero Año Nuevo, Priscilla: I'm sorry we didn't get to meet you. Perhaps next time. I'm assuming the key to #33 Capitan Suizo was found and returned. Sorry for the bother. Marvin was so efficient at getting us out of there that we all forgot. What we really liked:

1. Arenal--we had a guide, Johnny, at Puentes Naturales. University trained. Best young guide we met. I don't know if you (CRE) have a choice of guides or not. Ecotermales Hidalgo was incredible. We were the only ones for dinner and got to hear quite a few Hidalgo family stories. We also did Arenal zip lines. I suspect one of the better zip lines in the country according to other people we met. Our driver Marvin was excellent. You probably know this joke: How do you tell a drunk driver in CR? S/he's the one driving straight. Needless to say, you were right about the roads.

2. Drake bay--Brad is a wonderful fellow. We liked supporting his enterprise. Photos of fishing will hopefully be forwarded to you. Fishing boys Willie and Dede great. We had a deal that we would only speak Spanish except in emergency--like when the big fish were on. If you have never gone out to see the birds and dolphins, that is almost as wonderful in itself as the fishing. Don Carlos and Antonio, their naturalist guides, are phenomenal. Carlos knows 400 bird and animal calls. His howler monkey is a favorite, of course. The white faced monkeys stole sugar out of our cups at 5AM.

3. Tent camp--If I only had time for one and could afford it, I'd return to Aguila de Osa Inn. Nonetheless, we really enjoyed the tent camp. Waves were excellent. Wildlife came through. Guides Luis and Pablo, though not as experienced as those above, worked really hard. We found the park to be more interesting at Pedrillo--the paths went up into the primary forest more and, of course, there is that nice waterfall. Edgar is doing a good job. Food understandably not as good as Aguila de Osa Inn, but obviously, much more remote. They prepared turkey for us on x-mas eve which was REALLY GOOD.

4. Thanks for recommending the Grano de Oro Hotel.

5. Tamarindo would be #4 on our list. Development gone loco, no? Que lastima. But, we were glad we went there 1st and not last. Capitan Suizo Hotel really nice. We went elsewhere for food as prices pretty high.

All our transfers were perfectly timed. You guys do a maximo job. We are already talking CRE and CR up to our friends.

We went to 4 PM Mass at the Cathedral on Christmas. We are not catholic. We were made to feel totally at home. You have a great country!!
-Jim Janney

Dec. 10, 2005 A "magical" trip and Phillip, an inspirational guide.
Thank you for everything. The trip was magical in every way. Anyone seeking beauty and peace should have an opportunity to walk on that beach in Corcorvado. Phillip, our guide, after only a couple of days, felt like a new friend. He was an inspiration for my son.

The rafters exuberantly guided us through a day-long adventure while ably protecting us from mishaps. I know it’s their job, but they do it with genuine good spirit. That is also the impression I am left with when dealing with CR: genuineness. Pura Vida.
-Bob Aglow

Oct. 13, 2005 Costa Rica Expeditions: "Noteworthy service."
We are now home, very sad to have left Costa Rica. Is there someone I can write to pass along my commendations for people who provided especially noteworthy service? I believe that such people should be recognized for their excellent work. Please pass the following photos to Omar at Corcovado. Without his help and those of his staff, they would not have been possible.
-John Dwyer

Aug. 18, 2005 ''Those personal moments set your lodges apart from other places we visited.''
We want to say thank you to you and Nadya Shaw for a wonderful vacation. Just about everything worked out very well for us and we appreciate the effort Nadya put into it.

We absolutely loved Monteverde Lodge and Corcovado Lodge for their reverence for nature, their personal service and beautiful surroundings. Stellar at Corcovado are the peaceful setting, the family-style approach and the enthusiasm for nature shown by guides like Daniel. I enjoyed the home cooking and speaking with the staff, one of whom was kind enough to write me down a recipe for their delicious platanos con queso!

Those personal moments set your lodges apart from other places we visited and made our trip even more meaningful. We thank you and the staff for fostering this friendly and hospitable atmosphere.
-A. Boulton, CA

Aug. 11, 2005 ''I loved Tortuga Lodge. The food and the service were great.''
Dear Michael: We went on the Tortuguero study group in July with Jonathan. You've probably read the evaluations by now but we were the couple that was delayed by 2 days, with a stop over in Atlanta due to weather. During our whole travel ordeal in Atlanta I kept in contact with Marco Madrigal and he was great about rolling with all the changes - first we're coming, then we're not, then we're not coming until Sunday, etc. However, when we finally did arrive in San Jose, there was a driver and a guide waiting to take us to our hotel.

Unfortunately, my luggage didn't arrive and that was another hassle, the first hotel we went to didn't have a room for us, la da de da, but a few phone calls later we proceeded with our hotel tour of San Jose and a room was secured for us. Needless to say, my spirits were beginning to flag at the prospect of heading out at 6 am the next morning for another plane ride to a port unknown with only the clothes on my back (day 3 and getting riper by the day), my sunglasses, my passport, my mastercard, my camera, and care package from CR. But I figured what else was I going to do? Sit in a hotel room? If there were things I couldn't do (like swim in the pool because I didn't have a suit, hike in the jungle, because I only had sandals....) so be it. I could always sit at the bar and drink - I had my mastercard! This was not the trip I had so carefully planned and packed for! At least I wouldn't have to worry about the 25 lb luggage requirement for the plane!

Bright and early the next morning we took off on a little 5 seater and arrived at 7:30 am at Tortuguero's air strip. A small boat ferried us across the river to where a waiter dressed in white stood brandishing a tray with two tall glass of a delicious fruit frappe. Good beginning. At breakfast we were deluged with questions about our trip and offers of sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent etc. By lunch time one of the women on the trip who was returning to San Jose the same day that we were assured me that if we got back to the Bougainvillea and I still didn't have any luggage she would give me her hikers, smelly shorts, shirts, and socks for the second half of our trip on the Osa Pennisula. When I got back to the states, I would mail them to her - what a deal!

That day we took a boat ride up the river and into the canals, walked along the beach checking out turtle tracks (photo) and then that night we were treated to the spectacle of the turtle nesting and laying of eggs. So - no complaints - we were still able to experience Tortuguero even though we had missed the two out of the 3-1/2 days there! My mind was pretty muddled when I was there due to our travel ordeals but despite that or maybe because of that I can give some feedback:

- Costa Rica Expeditions, and especially Marco, rolled well with all the changes in plans concerning our arrival, non-arrival etc. It was fantastic that the office had such extended hours - something like 6:30 in the morning to 9:00 or 10:00 at night? We could always call and get a real human being. Every one spoke English, which was extremely helpful when trying to explain circumstances that kept changing...the only glitch was that we were taken to Hotel Bougainvillea, but the hotel room had not been confirmed by Costa Rica Expeditions and they were full. CRE proceeded to find us another room in town and took us there - some confusion initially about payment but it was worked out as well.

- I learned how little I really need and to travel with carry on luggage. I've traveled a lot and only had delayed luggage once, but it was never quite the ordeal it was this time. In Atlanta they told us we would not get our luggage if Atlanta wasn't our final destination and so we were two days in Atlanta without bags. They said our luggage would be sent on, but because it was an international flight they then told us it would only go on the flight we were flying - which would have been fine if it had arrived. Apparently it was still another day before it arrived in San Jose.

- Costa Rica Expeditions retrieved my bag and had it waiting for me on the bus that picked us up at the boat dock in Tortuguero - wonderful!

- Would it be helpful to post on the website that folks consider taking a couple of days worth of clothes as a carry on? I know I read somewhere about taking on all your prescription medicine (which I didn't do...) live and learn. Things that are not easily replaced such as swimsuits (for women!), hiking boots, extra glasses, should go on carry on.

- I loved Tortuga Lodge. The food and the service were great. We were with the study group so we ate our meals together. It looked like other folks ate in their family or travel groups. It might be nice for others who were traveling independently to eat at least one meal family style with other people - say at dinner time - so they could get to meet other folks and share stories. The lodge seems small enough that that could happen.

- The rooms at the lodge were well appointed and beautiful. I loved having the creature comforts while at the same time feeling that we (hopefully) were not abusing the environment. The porches were lovely with hammocks available for that late afternoon snooze or read, good ventilation, nice cool fans.... I loved hearing the sounds of the jungle through out the day and night.

- The pool looked lovely - I would have loved to have lounged in it - sigh...

- The Guide Jonathan was AWESOME. What didn't he know? He spoke of how much training you give guides and that is really important. The guide makes or breaks the trip. Knowledgeable, personable guides are invaluable.

- Local guides in Tortuguero Park - apparently there was some inconsistency in presentation etc among the turtle watching groups. Different groups got different "facts" depending on their guides. The command of English was not as good among this group. Did not feel the same levels of enthusiasm among these guides as among the CRE guides. Have they reluctantly taken on the job of turtle protection? Some people felt "herded" while on the beach, although this was not our experience the night we went. Personally we had a great guide - I can't remember his name, but he also met us at the airport strip when we landed. Short, well built guy whose son is one of the rangers.

- Local boat driver - very nice guy. Great eyes, could spot a sloth 1/2 a mile away! Can't remember his name but there's a photo of him attached at the entrance booth for Tortuguero Park.

- Bougainvillea Hotel - WOW! What a place. I'd like to have my next conference there! We loved the gardens - what luxury in San Jose and for Americans at a very good price.

- After the first half of our trip we went on the Osa Pennisula independently and stayed at La Paloma. We fell in love with Osa. I know that you are booking folks into La Paloma and I can't say enough nice things about our stay there. Maybe I was just so relieved to have my stuff again - a swimsuit for snorkeling, the beach, the pool- yeah! Water shoes for the river and the beach! Hiking boots for the trails and Corcovado National Park! We did not make it over to Corcovado Tent Camp, but after seeing another tent camp at Drake Bay and hearing how "upscale" your tent camp is, I think I could do the tent camp thing. We had friends who stayed at La Paloma 5 years ago so we made plans based on their recommendations.

- We'll be back as we didn't have time to go the mountains and we have to go back to the Osa Pennisula - paradise on earth! Thank you for sharing your adopted country with us! This trip rates as one of my best trips ever (despite the rocky beginning) because it IS so biologically intense. I am recommending Costa Rica and Costa Rica Expeditions to everyone!
-Catriona Binder-Macleod

Jul. 7, 2005 "We have never had such excellent and punctual arrangements."
We have traveled in several countries including Belize, Mexico, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe and so we are used to the normal delays and mishaps especially when several different modes of transportation are involved. We have never had such excellent and punctual arrangements. Not only were your drivers and staff punctual but also extremely helpful.

We were not allowed to take our pressurized can of bug spray on Nature Air and your staff kept it for us and it was in the bus on our return. Awesome. Dennis the taxi driver from Puerto Jiminez is a gem. He is extremely knowledgeable and stopped several times to show us animals and other interesting things (we saw more wildlife with him than with anyone else including tamandua, sloth, squirrel monkeys and howlers, lots of birds, leaf cutter ants, etc.) I was disappointed when I learned that we couldn't fly directly to Carate, but those rides with Dennis were priceless. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.
-Nick Levy

Jul. 4, 2005 "Impressed with the knowledge of the guides in the local fauna and flora."
We had a wonderful time with Costa Rica Expeditions visiting Tortuguero and Corcovado. My wife Susan is a biologist and was very impressed with the knowledge of the guides in the local fauna and flora. Everyone was also very helpful and the food was great!

I'd like to point out that Costa Rica Expeditions made the whole experience very pleasurable and easy from end to end. Many of the less glorious or visible aspects (such as booking the trip, local transfers, clean water, on-time departures, professional pilots for air charters, etc.) are all very important and were masterfully handled. Thanks so much for a super and informative vacation!
-Ivan Varlamoff

May. 16, 2005 "Our stay at Corcovado was enchanted."
While in Costa Rica our family stayed at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. Before the trip when I told my husband  we were staying at a "tent camp" while on the Osa Peninsula, he was, to say the least, reticent. However, I am happy to report that from the moment we arrived at Carate and were greeted by the gentlemen with the luggage cart, and began our walk down that gorgeous beach, our stay at Corcovado was enchanted.

When we came upon those beautiful grounds of the your tent camp, we cheered with joy. From the hibiscus flowers on the beds, to the hammocks in the bar, these extra touches that you and your staff go out of your way to do, creates a magical experience. Every staff member was courteous, informative and more than helpful. Our guide was knowledgeable and thorough and increased our enjoyment of the park. And the food was excellent! Thank you and your incredible staff for a marvelous stay.
-Rebecca Wilder

May. 5, 2005 "Thanks for the excellent service."
Thanks for the excellent service. Marco Madrigral did a splendid job dealing with my many emails trying to make rather late arrangements. The few days at the Corcovado tent lodge will stay in my mind and provide refreshment during stressful days in Paris.
-Debra Justus

Feb. 17, 2005 "The reviews (about Corcovado) can never do it justice - this place is magical."
After all the great things we'd read, my husband and I were excited to visit Corcovado Tent Lodge as part of a two week honeymoon in Costa Rica. However, I was still a bit apprehensive about the idea of a tent near the rainforest as I'm not a huge fan of insects and critters.

We were so thrilled when we arrived at the camp to find such a beautiful and isolated area. The reviews can never do it justice - this place is magical. We stayed 2 nights and loved every minute of it. The tents are extremely comfortable, public washrooms are clean, grounds are beautifully maintained, staff is so friendly and helpful and the meals are excellent.

Our favourite part of our stay was to meet and get to know all the different guests the lodge attracts. It's a very worldly crowd, each with the most amazing stories and we enjoyed the time we spent with them at dinner, on hikes and at the bar. The tent lodge provides incredible value for money. It was by far our favourite part of our trip to Costa Rica. Even though it is not the most convenient place to go to, it is completely worth the effort and totally surpassed our expectations. It is a once in a lifetime experience.
-Manasi Kulkarni, Toronto

Feb. 7, 2005 "The planning and service were impeccable."
We had a wonderful trip and did, in fact, meet many wonderful people, particularly at the Corcovado Tent Lodge which we loved and consider an adult summer camp. The planning and service were impeccable. Marco did a superb job! We plan to return to this very special country.
-Nancy K. Haaren

Feb. 3, 2005 "We loved everything about Corcovado!"
Priscilla: Garry, Emma, and I just wanted to let you know that we had an amazing trip to Corcovado in December and we wanted to thank you for all your help with our plans! It was great for us to be able to leave the logistics to you and to just RELAX with our friends for 4 days at your luxurious beach/jungle lodge. What a treat! We loved everything about Corcovado!

Everything went smoothly and we were particularly happy about the air conditioned taxi ride from Puerto Jimenez to Carate. So much better than riding in the open trucks in the sweltering heat. THANK YOU! Also, our flight from Carate to SJ was perfect. And, we were pleasantly surprised to find Alberto (name?) waiting for us as our transfer guide. He was so nice and informative. We really enjoyed his "driving tour" stories and his friendliness. Thank you again for all of your help with planning our trip of a lifetime!
-Alicia Foster, Emma and Garry Hanley

Jan. 18, 2005 "The (Corcovado) camp has to be the best place I have ever been."
We had a wonderful time and our trip to Corcovado Tent Lodge was the highlight. We have pictures at www.travelpod.com/members/nklenske. Just click on the Costa Rica travelog and then the Corcovado entry.

Here's a sample:

"The camp has to be the best place I have ever been. It is literally right along the beach and the jungle. It's like a scene out of survivor. No cars, houses, noises, tvs, phones, anything. Just the loud crash of the waves, the roars of the howler monkey and the screeches of the macaws. We had the beach and the jungles to ourselves. Our tent, which was more like a canvas hotel room, was facing the ocean. We could open our flap and there it was. We spent the day eating at the restaurant, which served delicious family style meals by the most friendly wait staff in the world. We then took a nap, laid in the hammocks, walked along the beach, saw some spider monkeys playing, watched the sunset and called it a night. The funny thing is, here you go to bed at 8:30, since the lights go out. But the tropical stars are amazing. You cannot even pick out the constellations since they are overshadowed by a blanket of white dust. We both slept good that night, despite the heat."
-Nick & Kara Klenske

Jan. 14, 2005 "Great people, delicious food, magic place!"
Just a quick e-mail to mention that Corcovado Tent Camp made for one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica this year! Great people, delicious food, magic place!
-Gabriela & Romulus

Dec. 18, 2004 ''Our experience with Costa Rica Expeditions has been nothing short of delightful.''
My boyfriend and I would like to thank you for the wonderful time we had while we were in Costa Rica. Our experience with Costa Rica Expeditions has been nothing short of delightful--from the travel arrangements which Rebeca Zuniga facilitated, the punctual pickup from our hotel, the great food, the friendly and hugely efficient staff at the tent lodge, and most of all, our tour in Corcovado.

Sofia Cordero, our guide, really made the trip for us. She was very knowledgeable, and very kind. I cannot imagine how we would've fared in the rainforest without her! She also provided us with some valuable insight about Costa Rica, which was just as important as all the wildlife that we saw.

The downside is now, my boyfriend refuses to travel to another country without a guide, but I think it will be very difficult to find someone as good as her!

To Sofia, Rebeca, Olman (who flew in to Corcovado with us), Elyer (the wait staff at the tent lodge), and everyone else in Costa Rica Expeditions, our warmest gratitude for a most memorable experience!

I would also like to commend Costa Rica Expeditions for your efforts in protecting Costa Rica's precious resources, and for sharing with us outsiders how important it is to do so. Staying at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp has been one of my most guilt-free indulgences.
-Simone

Dec. 13, 2004 "It made it comfortable for us as we travelled, knowing that everything was taken care of in advance."
We are back from our wonderful trip to your wonderful country and want to tell you what a fabulous time we had. First, your planning was perfect! The order of the places we visited was so perfectly planned. We loved every place we stayed and the various kinds of hotels, from a resort to a lodge to a resort to a tent and end with a resort was a perfect order and combination and gave us a chance to experience much of what Costa Rica has to offer.

And everything went so smoothly. The drivers were always on time as were the guides for our tours. Thank you so much for making these arrangements for us and for keeping an eye on us as we traveled. You were so thorough and that made it comfortable for us as we traveled, knowing that everything was taken care of in advance. You are an excellent travel agent.

Second, every guide we had and each one was so knowledgeable. We learned so much and saw so much and enjoyed everything we did. They explained every plant, spotted so many animals, birds and insects and had so much patience and spent a lot of time with us. They all seemed to love what they do. We especially liked Nelson at Corcovado - he is a real asset to your company. He is extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic and seems to love what he does. We also liked Michy and the platform tour.

Third, everyone we met who works for your company was fabulous - from the drivers (especially Carlos), to transportation (especially Sergio, who is terrific), to the people at the Monteverde Lodge (Maria, George and Leonardo), to operations (Harrol), to the guides (Nelson and Michy). They were all so nice, helpful and efficient and wonderful to work with. Again, thank you so much for making this trip so wonderful and special.
-Carole and Art Levine

Dec. 9, 2004 ''The food was a gastronomic delight - the tents were fabulous...beautiful next to the Pacific.''
I just spoke with my clients - they gave me such a glowing report of their trip to Costa Rica that I just wanted to share it with you. They could not believe how well organized their trip was and how much they accomplished and saw in so short a time - thanks to the great organization of Costa Rica Expeditions.

Their guide - Elston - was a charming, polite, humble person, extremely well-spoken in English and Spanish and so knowledgeable of all the different animals and ecosystems. They said the food was a gastronomic delight - the tents were fabulous - glorious, beautiful next to the Pacific. They loved every part of the trip - the Canopy was amazing and the Butterfly farm fabulous. The service throughout was far better than they had expected.

They loved the Hotel Grano de Oro in San Jose. All in all, both mother and son had a wonderful trip which surpassed their expectations - despite the "cold showers" - but as they said "that was ok too". Thank you for putting this together for them - I can't wait to do the trip myself someday.
-Ann Court, 4 Seasons Travel, Inc.

Dec. 9, 2004 ''We had a wonderful time. The service from costa Rica expeditions was unbelievable.''
We had a wonderful time. The service from Costa Rica Expeditions was unbelievable. It was perfect in every way from the time of my first email till we boarded the plane home. Everyone of the people we meet and had dealings with during the trip were wonderful. They were helpful, informative, courtesy, friendly, and very punctual. We always felt safe and well taken care of. I have never had a easier time getting from one area to another as we did using your guides and drivers.

We stayed 2 nights in the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp and that experience was just great. The guides there were very helpful and informative. The camp itself was very nice. The food was wonderful and the place was very clean. There was one little problem, on the first night before bed on my nice white pillow with its beautiful flower was a baby boa. The guide was very helpful in getting it out. It really wasn't a problem and has made for just another fun story from our trip.

Another wonderful experience: while relaxing in the hammocks at the tent camp, 7 Scarlet Macaws fly into the almond tree over top of us and we spent a hour dodging almond shells. Only in Costa Rica!
-Jill Snyder, Uniglobe Wings Travel

Nov. 16, 2004 “A splendid few days at Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp.”
Dear Michael: I have just returned to New York after a splendid few days at your Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp. My trip was quite impromptu as I was in San Jose for work and realized I had a few days off so took advantage of your "Corcovado Rainforest Odyssey" tour. Rebecca Zuniga was very efficient at organizing the whole thing at short notice. The pick up at the airport, the flight to Carete, the walk to the Lodge all went smoothly. The level of comfort was higher than I expected and the bar and the dining hall were both great places to hang out and get to know the other travelers. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your staff at Corcovado is great.

Aaron was my guide for the canopy platform and he really knows his stuff. He's definitely an asset to your operation, particularly with his command of vernacular English. And Nelson, who I believe is new, was my guide for the Madrigal day hike; he knew his "Birds of Costa Rica" inside-out and was able to spot a bird and then immediately point it out in the book. The experience has inspired me to spend more time in Corcovado and next time I will definitely spend some time in Sirena.
-Saad Iqbal, NYC

Nov. 2, 2004 “The Corcovado Tent Camp is paradise.”
I enjoyed my trip to Costa Rica that was arranged through your agency. I thought I was going to have a bad time when I missed my flight to Corcovado Lodge two days in a row due to weather, but Nadya Shaw helped me immensely and arranged a trip to Monteverde. I got to enjoy the cloud forest and I arrived in Corcovado in time to enjoy the nice weather that occurred after the storm. All of the guides and drivers were great and I loved both of the lodges as well. The Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp is paradise.
-Charlie Jordan

Oct. 8, 2004 ''The food at Corcovado was so good you ought to offer a Corcovado Lodge Cookbook.''
We've been home five days and I can't stop thinking about Costa Rica and all the great experiences we had while there. Thanks again for the trip of a lifetime. I sent some specific feedback to Priscilla Jimenez already which she forwarded to you. One suggestion I forgot to include in my earlier e-mail: The food at Corcovado was so good we thought you ought to offer a Corcovado Lodge Cookbook for sale to your guests. We certainly would have bought at least one copy.
-Tom

Oct. 8, 2004 “I can't stop thinking about Costa Rica and all the great experiences we had while there.”
Dear Michael: We've been home five days and I can't stop thinking about Costa Rica and all the great experiences we had while there. Thanks again for the trip of a lifetime. I sent some specific feedback to Priscilla Jimenez already. One suggestion I forgot to include in my earlier e-mail: The food at Corcovado was so good we thought you ought to offer a Corcovado Lodge Cookbook for sale to your guests. We certainly would have bought at least one copy.
-Tom and Shelley

Aug. 31, 2004 ''(From the canopy platform) we were thrilled to see all three types of monkeys, along with the macaws and toucans!''
We have been back a little over a week now from our wonderful trip to Costa Rica. I wanted to send this note to thank Grettel again for all her assistance and to let you know that everything went extremely smoothly. We had a fabulous time! I traveled with my husband and our two children, aged 16 and 12, and we all loved CR.

I was so impressed by your web site and Grettel's prompt and complete assistance, I planned the entire two weeks over the Internet, not all with your company (we booked a week at a private villa), but I would certainly recommend (and have already recommended) to people that they don't need to use any other tour company or for booking accommodations!

Grettel recommended that we stay our first and last night at the Xandari Plantation. What a wonderful place! I would go back in a flash to the prima villa, although the so-called standard villas are really terrific! What peace. Coming from Toronto, the silence and the beauty of the place was so welcome, as were the wonders of waking up to the sound of roosters from the valley below.

And of course the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was one of the highlights. What a fabulous place and what an adventure! The food was terrific (the best we had in CR) and the location was the most beautiful we have ever stayed at. I loved the tents (as did the family) and living (oh, so briefly) so close to nature. And thanks for booking our terrific guide, Olman, who was such a wonderful guide and companion. After we left Corcovado we really missed him! I didn't really know what I had booked, when I booked the trip plus a guide, but I am so glad we did that. Olman was so knowledgeable, so kind and helpful - we all so enjoyed having him with us! He even gently persuaded me to go up to the canopy platform where we were thrilled to see all three types of monkeys, along with the macaws and toucans! In fact the only animals we saw during our time in CR was in Corcovado (other than birds, of course).

I took lots of photos (but the humidity played havoc with my camera in Corcovado and I wasn't able to take as many as I wanted). I am old-fashioned and use a film camera still but will scan some in and send them to you.

The only thing I would do differently next time is to use your services more completely and ask for more recommendations! Really! Both on locations in Costa Rica and lodgings and particularly alternatives to Monteverde (Too many people traveling in larger groups for me!), although we enjoyed your lodge. There were also large groups staying there at the same time, definitely the least peaceful place in CR we visited!
-Rebecca Cowdery, Toronto

Aug. 31, 2004 ''We love Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp.''
Dear Mr. Kaye: We were very pleased with the services we received form your company. All of the tour operators and guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. We love Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp, particularly its remote location, the attention to detail (e.g., a fresh hibiscus flower on the pillow every day), and the food was very good. I would recommend your company to any friends or colleagues.
-Joyce Hopkins

Jul. 20, 2004 ''It was one of the best vacations we've ever had, which says a lot since we take 2-3 major vacations per year!''
Dear Michael: We can't thank Fiorella and Costa Rica Expeditions enough for the excellent work arranging our trip to Tortuguero, Corcovado, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. It was one of the best vacations we've ever had, which says a lot since we take 2-3 major vacations per year!

The entire trip was flawless and exceeded our expectations. The transfer guides and drivers (specifically Luis, Sofia, Henry, and Daniel) were friendly, enthusiastic, and always prompt. The national park guides (Fernando in Tortuguero, Fillo (Rufilio) and Mishi in Corcovado, and Carlos in Monteverde) were knowledgeable, had keen eyes for spotting cleverly camouflaged wildlife, and genuinely seemed to enjoy their work. And the hotel staff at each of your three properties went out of their way to ensure their "legendary service led to unforgettable memories." The staff in Tortuguero went out of their way to keep our group of 10 (new friends we met while traveling) together on various tours, and even prepared special vegetarian meals on request. Aaron and Ricardo in Corcovado were always around to make sure everyone was taken care of. And the staff in Monteverde had all our damp clothing from Corcovado laundered and returned to us within hours of our arrival. We also have to commend the kitchen staff in Corcovado - who knew that such excellent cuisine could be found in such a remote location.

All our vacation pictures are on our web site - please have a look at http://www.whywework.com/travel/cr/ Please feel free to link to our site, or if you would like the original of a particular picture just let us know which ones and we'll send them.

We had to rack our brains to come up with suggestions - a lot of people were asking if they could buy "Corcovado Lodge" t-shirts. We would have bought one had they been for sale. Same with those laminated wildlife cards. Actually...now that I think of it, you should set up an online shop.
-Andy & Jennifer Martin

Jun. 17, 2004 ''It was an absolutely wonderful trip. Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was great.''
Thank you for the warm response. We did have a wonderful time and are already talking of a return trip. Everything was so smooth and trouble-free on the leg of our trip planned by your staff. In fact, on our return from Corcovado, your staff member who met us at the airport (I'm sorry, but his name is escaping me now) saved us a lot of time, trouble, and travel by suggesting, then altering our rental car pick-up to a better location. In short, I cannot think of anything you all could have done better.

It was an absolutely wonderful trip. Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was great. The service, friendliness, and atmosphere was even better than expected. And the service from Priscilla and all the rest of the staff was professional, prompt, and covered all questions. Thanks again, and you will most certainly receive a future visit from my wife and myself.
-Jeff Oakley

May. 25, 2004 “I am convinced that your company really does have the best guides.”
You asked for feedback regarding the quality of our stay at Corcovado Tent Camp and at Tortuga Lodge. I am an Urban Park Ranger in Central Park and my boyfriend works in Visitor Services at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We stayed in Costa Rica for 2 weeks. Part of that time was spent visiting and traveling with his family there. Our time at the CR Expedition Lodges was wonderful.

We loved the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp and all the staff there. We had an excellent hike with a guide named Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo). He and all the staff there were friendly, professional and always helpful. The hibiscus flowers placed in our tent each day were such a nice touch. It was a very special 4 days for us. We will return and bring our friends!

We also loved the Tortuga Lodge. It was fantastic. What a wonderful swimming pool. And a great hiking trail. The hotel manager, Osvaldo, and all the restaurant/bar staff were friendly and so helpful when my boyfriend got a little sick. They made sure he ate only foods that would help him get well...which he did! thanks to them. The women who cleaned our room each day added beautiful and creative touches when it came to folding the towels. What a luxury!

Best of all were the 2 guided boat trips into the national park. I was fortunate to go with both Franklin and Don Fernando Estrada. I had some of the most special moments of my life on the river with those gentlemen. Each of them gave unique and excellent tours.

I am convinced that your company really does have the best guides. While traveling with my boyfriend's family, we took a few guided tours with other companies. All of those guides were knowledgeable. But none of them had the charisma, warmth, enthusiasm and absolute professionalism that I saw in Rufilio Nuñez at Corcovado, and Franklin and Don Fernando Estrada at Tortuga Lodge. Clearly, they love working for your company and they love the natural world.

Don Fernando Estrada's reputation actually preceded my meeting him. We had met a family with children at Corcovado who had been on a tour with Don. Their son could not stop talking about him! The special experiences that these guides are sharing with people have the power to change lives!

We will return to Costa Rica and look forward to staying at your exquisite lodges and adventuring with these great guides.
-Sheridan Roberts

May. 19, 2004 “(We) went to Corcovado Tent Camp and had a wonderful time.”
We recently went to Corcovado Tent Camp and we had a wonderful time. Your staff in San Jose is always so kind and gracious in getting us to the airports and hotels. Our guide was Elston Valentin who was our guide last year. We just love him. He is probably the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had, and we have done a lot of guided trips. Most of them were through IE who always have great guides. Elston is by far our favorite though. We also got to meet up with Sophia at Corcovado. She was in training on our trip last year. She is a sweet and very intelligent young lady. We had a little reunion there in Corcovado. We also love the staff at the tent camp. There were several people there who we met last year. They are always friendly and helpful. Especially Hector. We enjoyed catching up with him.
-Shari and Ricky Zaloski, Georgette and Barry Suski, and Vince Faranda

May. 11, 2004 ''The Corcovado Tent Camp is a great place.''
Hello Michael: Thank you for your e-mail. Not many companies follow up with a thank you, but it is a testament to the great organization you have assembled. Although I only used CRE for part of my trip everything was thoroughly professional with great follow through. It started with Nadya Shaw who answered by preliminary e-mail within a couple of hours, while other inquiries took days. That gave Nadya the opportunity to sell more services to me. I had originally inquired only about the Corcovado Lodge. She expanded my inquiry to include airport pickup, an overnight in San Jose, flight arrangements and a week's rental car after the Corcovado experience. She is a great credit to your company.

The Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp is a great place. Aaron, your manager there, runs a good ship under difficult conditions. He interacts well with the guests. His staff are very attentive and sensitive to client's needs. The food was excellent. I can't say enough about the cook staff who prepare excellent meals. The guides, Mitch and Rufilio Nuñez (Fillo), are knowledgeable and go the extra mile for customer satisfaction. I would highly recommend your company to anyone visiting Costa Rica.
-Pete Van Kuran

Mar. 29, 2004 “Corcovado Tent Camp was nothing short of paradise.”
Our trip was absolutely wonderful and without question Costa Rica Expeditions made visiting such a beautiful country ever so much more wonderful. Your company took away any stress one would normally have in a foreign country. Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp was nothing short of paradise. The Hibiscus on the beds and pillows was a very nice touch. The staff was outstanding. The food tasty and plentiful. This adventure was the highlight of our trip.
-Bill Demlong

Mar. 22, 2004 "All the guides on the trip ensured our safety."
Mr. Kaye: I just wanted to send you a reply to let you know what a great experience we had with Costa Rica Expeditions. I planned our trip with Selena Solis in your San Jose office. She responded promptly to e-mails and was very thorough in her communications. She was a pleasure to work with and very patient in answering all my questions.

We stayed at the Corcovado Lodge Tent Camp for a couple of nights. It was a great place and the staff was extremely friendly. Eric is a good manager. I don't remember everyone's name, but here are a few of the staff members that assisted us at the camp or on a tour: Erin, Fillo, Ricardo and Heraldo (handled our luggage transfer). We also met a private (CRE) guide that was there with another couple, Guillermo. He gave us some pointers for our hike and also rescued us from a snake that was on our tent porch. EEK!

Dennis was our driver from Drake Bay to Carate. He resides in Puerto Jimenez. We enjoyed our trip with him. He taught us a lot about the country and a few Spanish words a long the way. In San Jose, we did white water rafting with Alvero and Alejandro. Due to recent rain, the rivers were high and flowing rapidly. All the guides on the trip ensured our safety and explained the instructions thoroughly.

Our experience with Costa Rica Expeditions was wonderful and I would definitely recommend your company to others traveling to the country. In talking with other guests at the tent camp, I know they had good experiences with your company too. Thank you and your staff for such an enjoyable experience.
-Holly Adams

Mar. 22, 2004 "(the