I feel we were all truly fortunate to learn from the wealth of knowledge Fabian was able to share. From the history to Costa Rica (political, social, and geographic), to all the flora and fauna in each area we traveled, Fabian knew the answers to most questions asked. If he did not know an answer to a question, he was diligent to revisit and answer the question asked hours ago. I have traveled frequently on organized tours (REI & Contiki) and I have never seen such follow-through from a tour guide during my previous travels.

A tour guide can make a trip a vacation to remember a lifetime, or a trip not worth your time and money. I leave Costa Rica with many fond memories, a few new friends from around the world and a new found love for Costa Rica, and I have Fabian to thank for that.
- Ilene Schreider, New York, NY

Dec. 26, 2002 “All of the details were handled with such personal attention!”
Marco: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I want to thank you again for all of your assistance in planning our trip! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Costa Rica and already am anxious to return! It is a beautiful country and all of your suggestions were most helpful! There was just so much I wanted to experience and not enough time! I was particularly impressed with the kindness of your countrymen and the efficiency of Costa Rica Expeditions! All of the details were handled with such personal attention! Thank you again and best wishes to you!
- Kim

Dec. 16, 2002 “We felt well directed and taken care of.”
We had a great experience with your company. Everything was perfect and we felt well directed and taken care of. The lodge was incredible. Too much food. If we did it again we wouldn't get lunch. The canopy tour was excellent with Michi as our guide. It was great. Good job.
- Claudia Berman

Nov. 25, 2002 “The food in the tent camp was incredible - we looked forward to our meals every day!”
My husband and I had a wonderful time in Costa Rica! We were very pleased with Costa Rica Expeditions. Every aspect of the arrangements was very well thought-out and organized, from the transportation to and from our hotel in San Jose, to the airport, to our hosts in Corcorvado Lodge Tent Camp, and our guides for different hikes. The food in the tent camp was also incredible, and we looked forward to our meals every day! We were also happy with the effort you put into minimizing our impact on the environment.
- Nancy & Steve

Nov. 24, 2002 “We were very impressed with the knowledge and courtesy of all your guides!”
We have watched the Discovery Travel Channel program on Tortuga Lodge several times. It is very interesting and shows exactly what we experienced while there! We had a great visit. We are also VERY appreciative of the way you were able to accommodate our change in timing due to our detour to Panama! Especially since it was arranged between about 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. We loved Tortuga Lodge and hope to visit again when we can stay longer! We were very impressed with the knowledge and courtesy of all your guides! It was a great experience for us and we loved Costa Rica!!
- Woofter's Imperial, NE

Nov. 18, 2002 “The level of professionalism exhibited by your office staff, drivers and guides far surpassed our expectations.”
Greetings from Canada: My wife and I would like to thank everyone in your company for making our trip both memorable and enjoyable. The level of professionalism exhibited by your office staff, drivers and guides far surpassed our expectations. I would like to give special praise to Miguel Marin, our guide for the drive from San Jose on the first half of our Tortuguero trip. Mr. Marin went above and beyond his duties, sharing many of his own personal viewpoints about conservation, politics, and other relevant issues, while taking a genuine interest in my wife and me. This allowed us to get a real feel for the country. He is very knowledgeable and speaks English very well. His interaction with us made us feel like we were spending time with a friend, not just a guide. Our only regret was that we could not spend more time with him.

We had the good fortune of running into Mr. Marin at the end of our trip at Villa Caletas so we were able to thank him for everything again. When we make a return trip, we would request his service for the entire trip. In addition, the lodge at Tortuga was wonderful. We enjoyed the food and found the manager, (Sergio) to be very accommodating and pleasant. The local guides in the village were also very friendly and courteous.

In Monteverde, we used the services of Kiko (Jorge), the guide that your lodge felt was the best. He also displayed an amazing amount of knowledge and professionalism. We were able to spot a quetzal in the reserve and came away with an amazing level of satisfaction. Many people we met along the way told us that the guide we used would make a big difference in the level of enjoyment and once again, our expectations were surpassed. Kudos to both of them.

Regarding the transportation services, all the drivers you assigned us were either on time or early which helped alleviate any mishaps. We were able to keep the exact schedule that I planned. We also appreciated the reminder phone calls from your office and were quite satisfied that the office can be contacted past business hours in the event of any problems or concerns.

To summarize, the success of a vacation clearly depends on the degree of service received from the local vendors. Costa Rica Expeditions lives up to its slogan, understanding that vacation time is precious. It is refreshing to find such great service in a country where the local standards are not always what North Americans are used to. We would recommend your company to anybody and would utilize your services again on our next trip. As a part time freelance writer, I hope to publish and article about our trip in a local travel section. I would certainly include CRE as the best choice for all of the traveler's needs.

Finally, I would like to add a bit about the conservation efforts that your company is making in Tortuguero. Setting aside funds to help the locals as well as the wildlife sets your company apart from others. Costa Rica appears to be appears to be a country in transition, one with a real symbiotic relationship between the wildlife and the people. It is clear that conservation efforts must continue to preserve the wonderful natural beauty and wildlife for future generations. But speaking as a North American, there also needs to be a fine line. While tourism is an obviously an integral part of the country's economic future, we shouldn't lose sight of those average citizens who can benefit very little (or even suffer) as a result of increased tourism.

Educating the next generation of Costa Ricans will play a vital role in how the future plays out. While I am happy to see American and Canadian funds flow into the country to help supplement the government's efforts, the country needs to balance prosperity with conservation. For instance, the government really needs to understand some of the negative consequences increased prosperity.

The lack of emission controls comes to mind as both my wife and I had trouble breathing in the Central Valley. We hope to see future generations maintain the beauty of the country for its own citizens, not just the tourists. Companies like CRE can help this process and we are very happy to see you guys give back so much to the country. Thank you once again for a wonderful vacation. Feel free to include any of this email as a testimonial on your website.
- Rob & Diane, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Nov. 13, 2002 “My visit went all too quickly. I'll be back!!”
Arrangements by Costa Rica Expeditions were perfect, just as before. My visit went all too quickly. I'll be back!! By the way, my guide at Corcovado was absolutely wonderful, dedicated to the wildlife and environment and fully knowledgeable. A great asset to your organization!
- Mary Laddis

Oct. 29, 2002 “I want to thank you for making my visit to Costa Rica, under such adverse conditions, so calming to me.”
Dear Natalie: I certainly want to thank you and all of your team for the fabulous way that you took care of me when I had a disturbance of my heart. I certainly appreciate the thoughtfulness of you getting me a twin-engine plane to fly me back to San Jose. Having a representative with me while I was in the emergency room experiencing all of the complications of my heart was not only soothing to me but extremely considerate of your part. Further, you had arranged for a representative of your organization to be with me from the very start.

Natalie, your are a mind reader in picking out a jewel of a hotel after I left the hospital. The way it was decorated would indicate it was a five star hotel. The decor, food and service certainly indicated 5 stars although for technical reasons it was listed as 4. The city tour you arranged for me certainly was exceptionally good. Also, the photogenically-arranged food was excellent.

Thank you for exchanging my plane ticket for me; this thoughtful act prevented me from having to purchase another ticket home. Finally, the gentlemen who guided me to the airport was wonderful. He stayed with me until after I checked my luggage and was sure of getting me on the plane.

Natalie, I again want to thank you for making my visit to Costa Rica, under such adverse conditions, so calming to me. Also, thank you for personally coming to visit me.
- Luther Parman

Jul. 28, 2002 “Thank you so much for the expertise and patience you showed us.”
Dear Jonathan Sequeira: You have probably already done a couple of tours since we last saw you! We'd like to thank you so much for the expertise and patience you showed us in Costa Rica - you made our holiday a truly memorable experience and we have come back with so much understanding of the place and its people thanks to the depth and breadth of your knowledge. We hope all is well down at your farm and that the new trees prosper.
- Chris & Charles

Jul. 25, 2002 “Costa Rica Expeditions is the BEST travel company that I have ever used.”
I would like to express my gratitude for one of the best-organized and enjoyable vacations that I have ever had. I am a diplomat for the U.S. government, and I have traveled and lived in dozens of countries around the world. Costa Rica Expeditions is the BEST travel company that I have ever used. We were able to design our own itinerary, and when an unusual tropical storm passed through the area, CRE's staff immediately changed our travel plans around so that the weather would not impact our trip. All of this was done with no hassle on our part.

Your staff was unfailingly gracious and helpful, and we have nothing but the highest praises for our guides in Monteverde and Corcovado, and Danny our river guide down the Sarapiqui. You are truly one of the best in the travel field and I am already recommending you to all of my friends and colleagues. Feel free to share my comments with your staff or use them on your web site.
- Kimberly Krhounek, Washington, D.C.

Jul. 18, 2002 “I was very, very happy with your service.”
I was very, very happy with your service. I've told all my friends, and I'll be glad to be a reference if you ever need it. Everything went as I had hoped, from the speedy email response that I received from your sales person, Rebecca, through the trip logistics, and the assistance that your office provided to keep my luggage while I ran through the museums during my last day in San Jose. I really can't think of any improvements. The toll free number so that I could fax my credit information, since I had to plan the trip in a hurry, was a great idea.
- Barbara

Apr. 1, 2002 “The whole trip was awesome.”
What a wonderful trip I had to Costa Rica and what great guides you have both for hiking and rafting. The whole trip was awesome and not one thing could I have improved upon. Your employees have to be your greatest asset. It was a wonderful time!!!
- Nancy Griffith

Mar. 26, 2002 “The River and Rainforest trip was THE BEST!”
WOW. The trip was absolutely FANTASTIC! I can honestly say in my 50 years of traveling that the River and Rainforest trip was THE BEST! Everything about it couldn't have been better...the sights, staff, transportation, food, education and on and on. Each and every staff member was so personable, knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, accommodating, patient and friendly. There are not enough words to describe the whole experience!

In addition, we had a wonderful group of 7 people; all of who got along great and really had fun together. If you need a US spokesman, I could easily be it! I took 250 pictures and took them to a one hour photo developer when I got home. I plan to write Michael Kaye to tell him exactly what I am telling you. The Costa Rica Expeditions "motto" is exactly what the trip was to me! Thanks for everything. I got all of the guides addresses and or email and plan to send them the pix I took of them. I would go back to Costa Rica and do a trip with you all in a second!!!

P.S. Thanks for the birthday cake at Savegre Lodge...what a pleasant surprise and so thoughtful.
- Tina Fisher

Feb. 27, 2002 “We loved your lodges at Corcovado and Monteverde.”
On behalf of my wife and our daughters, I want to thank you for organizing a great visit to Costa Rica last month. Costa Rica Expeditions provided excellent guides at each location, and the travel logistics were perfect in all cases. We loved your lodges at Corcovado and Monteverde, and you got us superb accommodations at all the other hotels.

We also had a great time river rafting with Costa Rica Expeditions, which provided both the best equipment and the best guides. We had booked the Rio Pacuare, but due to heavy rains, we were told it was too dangerous, and we switched to the Rio Reventazon, which turned out to be a very exciting adventure.
- Joel Peck

Feb. 27, 2002 Tortuguero: “One of the most magical places I have been to.”
I would like to thank your staff for being so great and helpful. Only one part of our trip was with Costa Rica Expeditions but we all agreed that it was too bad that we did not have more time with you. We flew to Tortuguero on the 17 of Feb. and back again the next day. We were taken to the airport by Aaron, who was so great. At the airport they weighed us, our bags were not over the limit but my husband and son were. I expected a real problem and a big crisis and perhaps to have to spend extra money. What happened was the exact opposite your people made no fuss but simply called another pilot and another plane to fly us all out there.

Once there, we were met, escorted to our rooms at Tortuga Lodge, fed and then put on a boat to tour one of the most magical places I have been to. Fernando Estrada was our guide, he was terrific. He made sure that we saw everything there was to see. Lots of birds, river otters, caymans, and lots of plants. We got back for lunch were there was another great meal waiting for us. A little rest then back in the boat for more touring. A lovely evening meal and time to lay in the hammocks.

The next morning a nice breakfast and we were flown back to San Jose. None of us wanted to leave. We were then to catch a plane to Manuel Antonio. We had to wait in the airport for a couple of hours to make the connecting flight. (Not arranged thru Costa Rica Expeditions.) It happened that Aaron was at the airport meeting some people coming in on a delayed flight. He sat with us and told us more about Costa Rica and generally kept us company and reassured until his people and our flight came.

We were not his job any more, but he went out of his way to help us and make us feel comfortable. We really appreciate his kindness. We all commented about how the Costa Rica Expeditions people treated you like their "new best friend" or as my sons put it, "They really take care of you. It seems like they would take a bullet for you!"
- Karren Gratt

Feb. 19, 2002 “Thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness to be patient and teach about birds.”
Miguel: I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful vacation. I went to Costa Rica with two goals: 1) to spend some time with my family, and 2) to add some new birds to my list, especially the scarlet macaw and resplendent quetzal, with a toucan sighting being a bonus! I accomplished all of the above!! And had a great time doing it!

As a relatively inexperienced birder I would have added only a few new birds to my list without your help. Not only would I have totally missed most of them, but my identification skills are fairly rudimentary. So, your ability to see birds that can't be seen by anyone else and then to know immediately what they are was a tremendous help. Out of the list of 106 birds that were seen by the group I'm able to add 50 first sightings to my list. That's more than I've ever added in an 8-day period! Thanks.

And I especially want to thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness to be patient and teach about birds. I really appreciate some of the pointers you gave me, such as differentiating between streaks and bars on hawks, distinguishing calls, unique movements, etc. I learned a lot that will be helpful to me in future outings. I'm really anxious to get out and do some more birding. Thanks for bringing back my enjoyment of birds.

I don't know if you are aware how much your enthusiasm for birds affected the tour participants. I was especially thrilled with the interest my brother showed - having really never expressed an interest. And my sister, who's never had an interest in birds, commented after receiving "The List" that she might get into it some day. I received an email from Carmen today saying she and Betsy located "The Book" and were calling out "Page 50, Plate 6", etc. Not bad for people who'd never really paid attention to birds.

So, thanks for making such an enjoyable trip. You're a great tour leader with an infectious enthusiasm that encourages people to go beyond their normal expectations. We were all really lucky to have you as a leader. I had a great time and you had a lot to do with that.
- Linda Paul

Feb. 14, 2002 “We enjoyed everyone in our group and thought that Costa Rica Expeditions did a terrific job.”
Hi Mason and Tracey: We are mailing in our evaluations but wanted you to hear from me beyond that. The trip was fabulous. We enjoyed everyone in our group and thought that Costa Rica Expeditions did a terrific job. Everything worked smoothly, everywhere we went was fascinating and beautiful and Miguel, our naturalist and Luis, our driver were the perfect guides and hosts. We loved exploring this magnificent, gentle, impressive country and certainly plan to return.

Thanks for all of your help and good advice. We will definitely consider International Expeditions for future travel. I must add however that we have not traveled with tour companies and for us, the size of our group (8 tourists including ourselves) was ideal and we would be most interested in future travel with small groups. Do you ever restrict the numbers of your tours? Again, congratulations on your level of excellence and for making tour travel so appealing.
- Raquel Levin

Feb. 12, 2002 “Thank you for providing the best itinerary, personnel, and food and lodgings.”
I recently completed a 10-day tour with the International Expeditions group. I had a really great time, and thank you all for providing the best itinerary, personnel, and food and lodgings for me and the rest of my group. My only criticism is that 17 people is too many for a group with one guide. The guide was Marcos Solo - he was so exceptional in every way that he must be your best guide. So I lucked out in being in one of his groups. Carlos, our driver, was a great spotter, and has what I figured out is the wonderful Costa Rican laugh - "hee, hee!" Miguel was very informative on the ride from the airport to the Villa the first night, and Manuel Salos drove fine.

Norton Sinclair Tucker, our boatman in Tortuguera, was a treat. He spotted lots of wildlife along the waterways, and saved us from being swept into the Caribbean when our outboard motors went bad time after time. Norton knows more English than he lets on, I think, and he seemed to enjoy the humorous remarks of our group. I appreciated also Fabio (and driver Bernardo) picking me up at the hotel on the 11th for the trip to the airport, and his taking me into the airport to be sure I got everything filled out right and didn't get lost. I was impressed that you guys took such good care of me at the end, when I had to stay over to make the right connections home. You all gave me an exceptional experience, and I'll appreciate it forever.
- James (Emmett) King

Feb. 11, 2002 “We just can't say enough good things about Costa Rica Expeditions.”
Dear Mr. Kaye: Fantastic! What a great adventure!! Faye and I were not only impressed with the natural wonders and nature in Costa Rica, but the Costa Rican people were great too.

We booked our trip with Linda Long of GORP Travel who was very helpful and knowledgeable about Costa Rica Expeditions. We just can't say enough good things about Costa Rica Expeditions and your people. Everyone we interacted with were top-notch people, absolutely the best! I never expected we would receive so much personal attention from so many nice people. I just wanted to let you know what a great job your people did for us.

Karina Ramirez was great! Karina traveled with us to Monteverde, Arenal and Tamarindo. She was very knowledgeable about the country as well as identifying birds, animals, trees and flowers along the way. Faye was not feeling well when we left Monteverde heading to Arenal, but Karina nursed her back to feeling well enough to hike up to Cerro Chato! Karina even went on the hike with us to make sure Faye was OK. That was a difficult trail and we were grateful that Karina went with us. That evening we went to the private hot springs, what a neat place to relax after a long day. Karina is truly a nice person. Carlos Sanchez Morales was on of the safest drivers, he even wore his seat belt.

At Corcovado, Esteban Ericksen was our guide to the canopy tree platform and the Salsipudes Bay hike. We spotted spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, anteaters, macaws, King Vultures and many other birds and animals. Esteban was very knowledgeable and personable. Nadin was very nice and makes a good Guaro Sour. I talked with Kenyan and now I want to come back for the multi-sport tour.

Fernando Murillo, "Grandpa", my river guide on the Rio Pacuare, is the best. It is a beautiful white water river and a thrilling ride! Our pictures turned out great.

Transfer guides Fabian Montero and Aaron gave us some great information and made everything work smoothly. Fabian's tip about the supermercado down the street from the Rosa Del Paseo was invaluable. When Aaron said "No problem, just relax and have fun", we did!
- Wayne & Faye Nelms

Feb. 8, 2002 “All of the little extras made us feel very nurtured and special.”
To Guillermo, Marco and Michael: We just returned early this morning (after an unexpected long delay in Miami) from our superb visit to Costa Rica. Marco did a splendid job helping our group to plan the trip. Guillermo was the best guide we could imagine: knowledgeable, enthusiastic, fun, energetic, in love with his job. He could be a missionary for the Audubon Society! All of the little extras made us feel very nurtured and special. Guillermo has a way of making a group feel that he has been waiting all his life for this group to come along.

So, thanks again. We will recommend you to all who ask. Michael, I believe you are meeting with a close friend of ours at the travel show in Chicago (Paul Lehman of Austin Lehamn Adventures). Be assured that we will sing your praises before you meet.
- Lois Lipton and Peter Carey, Lois J. Lipton

Feb. 4, 2002 “Costa Rica Expeditions accommodated our every need.”
The Klein family wants to thank all of you for the best vacation our family has ever had! The plans that you made for us worked out perfectly from the time we were met the second we emerged from the plane in San Jose until our departure last week. The people all were so friendly and helpful to us. We loved all the areas we visited. Each was distinctive and unique. We especially enjoyed the accommodations and people at Casa Corcavado and Selva Bonanito. There were so many fun things to do for everyone no matter what their age or interest.

Finally, Costa Rica Expeditions accommodated our every need. When we wanted to stay a few hours longer at Monteverde Lodge, it was no problem. Also, our bus gave us room to stretch out and move around a little. This helped when we were traveling from one coast to the other and then to Monteverde especially.
- Maryjane & Phill Klein, Alex & Dawn Klein, Larry Klein, Clay Bibbee

Jan. 21, 2002 “The white water trip was fantastic.”
I just wanted to send a note to say what a great experience we had with Costa Rica Expeditions! Marco Madrigal was so helpful. We had to plan most of our trip by email and the web, and he was a great help. When we arrived in San Jose it was very late, the night before a scheduled tour it was so nice to find a faxed confirmation waiting for us at the hotel.

The white water trip was fantastic. We really appreciated you guys running tours on Christmas day. Our guides were so friendly and nice. Hansel and Alejandro Carazo were very professional, and made us feel like we were good hands and could have a lot of fun on the river. Unfortunately I cannot remember everyone's name who was present. So thanks for a wonderful trip!
- Erin Michael

Jan. 20, 2002 “The time we spent in Monteverde was fantastic.”
Dear Grettel: I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica and how much we appreciate all that you, and Costa Rican Expeditions, did for us. We were very pleased to be met at the airport when we arrived, whisked through customs and transported to the Hotel Don Carlos in a matter of

minutes.

Throughout our trip in Costa Rica, the efficiency, friendliness and helpfulness of all of the guides and staff of Costa Rican Expeditions helped to make our trip a wonderful experience. I wish I could remember the names of the guides, but I cannot remember them all, so I will simply tell you that they were all wonderful. We appreciated the faxes we received reminding us what time we would be picked up the following day. We also appreciated that the guides and drivers were always on time.

The time we spent in Monteverde was fantastic, from the delicious food at Monteverde Lodge to the beautiful surroundings and the attentive staff. The National Park is awesome, and though we did not see the quetzal, we did see many other beautiful birds in the Monteverde area.

We also liked the Montaña de Fuego Resort & Spa, with its superb view of the Arenal Volcano. Most of the time it was covered with clouds, but it did clear up enough for us to see some lava flows on our last night there. The time we spent at Dona Mireya's hot springs and Don Pedros' farm were some of the best moments we had in Costa Rica. Dona Mireya and her son were so gracious, so were the members of Don Pedro's family. We are so glad that you arranged those special trips for us.

The Aguila de Osa Inn was also a wonderful place to stay and we enjoyed the time we spent there. Although we liked the location, the atmosphere and the furnishings at Don Carlos, it was often very noisy throughout the night and it was difficult to sleep there. Still, the staff was very helpful and attentive and we liked being able to walk downtown and to the museums from the hotel.

Thank you so much for helping to make our first trip to Costa Rica a marvelous experience. You have a breathtakingly beautiful country (so green!) and we will be back.
- Bill & Karen Pierce

Jan. 10, 2002 “Everything about our interactions with Costa Rica Expeditions was really very positive.”
We returned from our visit to Costa Rica 10 days ago and are still excited about all that we saw and did. We enjoyed the country, especially the variety in the ecology of the areas that we were able to explore. And we cannot say enough positive things about Miguel Marin (and our driver, Marc Antonio). Miguel is a wonderful combination of extensive knowledge about the fauna and flora with a superb sense of his audience. This was reflected not only in what he was able to tell us about and point out to us as we traveled, but also in his sense of how we planned our days. His sense of when to linger and when to move on, when to suggest extra things we might do and when to give people time to just relax and enjoy. One would have guessed that he had known all of us for a long time to be so attuned to our desires. So, even though I tried to say as many good things as I could think of when I filled out your evaluation sheets at the end of the trip, I want to reiterate, he was first-rate.

I also want to reiterate that everything about our interactions with Costa Rica Expeditions was really very positive. From being met at the airport on our arrival (in spite of delays in our travel) to being dropped off back at the airport at the end of the trip, everything went EXACTLY as promised. The confidence that we rapidly developed that we didn't have to worry about the details of the trip, because you were doing so, contributed substantially to our feeling that we could just relax and enjoy the whole experience. And we did!
- Jim Zacks