P.S. Lily Ulate, who looked after the booking of our trip, was exceptional and very patient with all of my questions and requests. Please thank her for us.
-Joe Ladouceur

Mar. 4, 2008 “Costa Rica Expeditions did a fine job with our trip to Tortuguero.”
We had a lovely time in Costa Rica and certainly Costa Rica Expeditions did a fine job with our trip to Tortuguero. Guides were great, accommodations very comfortable, transport arranged perfectly and on time. We haven't had time to put our photos on our computer but if we have any fabulous ones, we'll be glad to send them along.
-Peter Purdy

Feb. 25, 2008 “The entire staff at Tortuga Lodge was outstanding.”
Our trip to Costa Rica was wonderful. My daughter and I were celebrating our birthdays and wanted to do something memorable. To start, the planning with your travel expert was easy and flexible. We were greeted at the airport and felt well taken care of. Our first afternoon/night was in San Jose... honestly, it was worth skipping. The hotel was lovely bit we had nothing to do all afternoon and actually did feel a little abandoned. The restaurant was beautiful and the wait staff very kind. The hotel staff was okay, no rave reviews!

In the morning we were picked up by CR Expeditions and had a great journey to the boat to Tortuguero. Our guide and driver of the boat, Gerardo Aguilar, aka "Cola," was THE BEST! He really made the trip that much more pleasant, loved his picnic lunch. He was also our guide at Tortuga Lodge and we can't say enough good things about him... he even arranged with the staff to bring me a birthday cake! The entire staff at Tortuga Lodge was outstanding. I would recommend the lodge to anyone visiting CR we just loved it!! Okay, charter flight back to San Jose - exciting and fun and really beautiful.

Long drive to Arenal but certainly interesting. However, again, when we arrived at the hotel we felt "abandoned." The hotel staff was not too warm, just minimum. We felt the same about the restaurant there as well. Eventually we made our own plans and got to hike and see the volcano up close. The next day had been planned by CR Expeditions and was great. Hanging bridges was awesome, enjoyed the tour. The evening ended at the Hidalgo Hot Springs, a great way to end our trip. Wonderful place and yummy dinner. Thanks for everything. Hope my summary is informative. I will send some pictures in the next couple of emails.
-Cathy Meshumar

Nov. 30, 2007 “Our family is already planning our next trip to Costa Rica.”
I just wanted to let you know how much we all enjoyed our trip with your organization. We went with two of our kids, son-in-law, and my husband's parents. This is the second trip with you for Gary and me. Everything went so smoothly, and we had such a wonderful time together. The other members of our group were also comfortable and fun to be with. Luis is a great guide. He is knowledgeable, organized, patient, and kind. He wanted to make sure that we saw and learned as much as was possible. He always had his scope and binoculars ready, got up extra early two mornings so we could see baby turtles, made extra stops with the van and boat, and took us out one night to look for frogs, besides spending the days and evenings with us. He never seemed to get tired. Ricardo and our drivers were very nice also. Our family is already planning our next trip to Costa Rica.
-Gary & Lynne Caletti

Nov. 29, 2007 “Everything was spectacular, including the guides.”
My family and I did the Tortuguero Jungle Odyssey November 18-20. We had a wonderful time. Everything was spectacular, including the guides. I was wondering if Diego Blanco has an email address to email him directly?
-John Trimble

Sep. 20, 2007 “We appreciated spending time with one of your employees, Luis.”
We are writing to say how much we appreciated spending time with one of your employees, Luis . He rode with us from Tortuguero to San Jose (the delightful Priscilla was the driver). We had thought this part of the trip, on our last day would be a 3-hour slog, as our son gets bored during long car rides. It ended up be a major highlight of our trip - even for our son!

Luis' amazing knowledge, his enthusiasm, and his generosity in addressing all of the questions we'd been socking away during our trip had us wishing the ride would go on another couple of hours. Though we grilled him mainly about plants, medicinal and otherwise, he was also fascinating to talk to about Costa Rica's people and history, and its creatures. A brilliant and lovely person.
-Melissa Hoffs & Stuart Swezey

Feb. 12, 2007 Costa Rica Connoisseur: “What a wonderful week we all had.”
Dear Michael: We came back from your beautiful country last night to cold and snow in the Chicago area. Aren't you lucky! I had joined the Costa Rica Connoisseur trip with three other couples and I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful week we all had.

Everybody just loved Tortuguero. That is a dream destination. Tortuga Lodge is superb in its simplicity and friendliness. This is my third stay at Tortuga and you are really keeping up the standard of excellence. The boat rides were wonderful and well led by Miguel.

I think we all would have loved to stay there another night but off we went to Arenal. That was also a great experience. We arrived and the Volcano was hiding behind clouds and Andres was expressing his hopes that we would see it the next day. But first we refreshed ourselves in the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs. That was a fun experience and it was followed by a lovely dinner there. The next day we did the morning hike in the rain forest with the hanging bridges. That is a unique experience. We had a sunny day and the clouds disappeared from the top of Arenal.

Dinner at the hotel was fun and we watched with fascination viewing the volcanic activity which included explosions and lava flows just as you describe in the itinerary. It was like having dinner with fireworks except they were real.

Next day off to Monteverde. Your lodge there is so beautiful and everybody was exclaiming over the charming rooms with the sitting areas at the corner windows. And we did get to see the resplendent quetzal (male and female) and that made the day! Again, I think I could have easily stayed another night and enjoy the lovely lodge. We all loved the elegant farewell dinner in San Jose.

But the best thing was the tour guide you provided, Andres (Andrew) Newcomb. His knowledge of birds, plants, history of CR is excellent and he is able to present everything in an interesting way. He was patient and very attentive with everybody in the group and never lost his cool. He was there at 6AM every morning for those who wanted to look for birds and was as enthusiastic and thrilled as we were when a good one presented itself to us. He was always prompt and explained what we were going to do and see in a clear way. He joined us for all meals and was a great addition to the table. I cannot recommend him highly enough and hope to have him again, should we join another of your great tours in the future.
-Mary Sproul, Four Corners Travel Ltd., Evanston, IL

Sep. 11, 2006 Tortuga Lodge: ''The food was the best I had in Costa Rica.''
Finally getting around to answering your email. We had a wonderful time at the Tortuga Lodge. I can't say enough good about the service and facility we visited. The whole experience was excellent -- right down to the wild, stormy July nights we spent there. I loved it and look forward to coming back. Your staff was friendly, efficient, helpful. The food was the best I had in Costa Rica. The presentation of your food was lovely -- thank you to your chef. The waiters/waitresses were so pleasant and patient with us. We all enjoyed your housekeeping staff -- they very patiently tried to help us with our faltering Spanish and allowed us to practice on them.

The boat tour of the canals with Nardo (Gerardo Aguilar) was so very interesting and he obviously has a great knowledge and love of your wildlife. I recommend Costa Rica Expeditions to everyone I can when I recount our wonderful trip this past July. All of us had a super day rafting -- but my kids, in particular, enjoyed it, as they hadn't been rafting before. Alejandro Carazo, the rafting guide, was excellent and I really appreciated how generously he shared his wealth of knowledge.
-Laura Preheim

Sep. 10, 2006 “Costa Rica Expeditions is truly a world-class company who has raised the bar of expectations for service.”
Michael & Natalie: We will be providing a response to the two questions you posed before we went on the study group tour soon. However, we felt compelled first to write about the stark contrast between the great service of your staff and that of Air Canada when Tove's bag went missing on the way to San Jose. Air Canada squandered every opportunity to make up for their mishandling, while everyone from CRE went well beyond the call of duty to assist us.

It began at the airport where the AC agent was not sympathetic to her plight: no clothes, toiletries, or essential medicine. No idea of how they would deal with us leaving San Jose for Tortuga Lodge before the bag would arrive on their next flight. Not even a 'care package' so Tove could brush her teeth! Then we came out of customs to a most patient CRE transfer guide (Alejandra I believe - sorry for the spelling) who immediately gave Tove a package with essentials plus a T-shirt. And she told us how CRE would take over the effort to get Tove's bag and get it to us.

My last contact with Air Canada was to let them know CRE would be acting for us. They were not very communicative then. And from what I can tell, not any more so when your staff contacted them. Come Monday, we were informed by your staff at Tortuga Lodge that the bag had not arrived on the Air Canada flight. In fact, Air Canada did not know where the bag was. When there was no more information by Tuesday, your team sprang into action.

First they organized for your doctor to write prescriptions for Tove's heart medicine and for those drugs to be flown to Tortuga Lodge. Then they prepared a package for Tove that included essentials like underwear, more T-shirts, and a pair of Capri pants along with the meds. Herrol Mora, our travel planner, included a nice note apologizing for our inconvenience (even though it was not your fault). The medicine was becoming essential, but the rest was both unexpected and deeply appreciated. And finally the bag arrived and your staff brought it to us on the bus that picked us up for our return to San Jose.

We want to mention specifically the effforts of Herrol, Sofia Cordero our guide, the manager of Tortuga Lodge (Jonathon?), and Alejandra who were the folks who helped us directly. At the same time, we realize there were others behind the scenes who also helped us. We deeply appreciate the concern and efforts of all who were a part of helping us out. These efforts certainly went well beyond what could have been expected by any company not responsible for the problem in the first place. Everybody took every opportunity to turn this into an event where we would come away saying: Wow, that was great!

This simply confirmed our feelings that Costa Rica Expeditions is truly a world-class company who has raised the bar of expectations for service. We believe this is something organic that can only come from enlightened leadership, such as you have obviously provided (v Robert Milton of Air Canada). And is manifest in the way your staff go about their work with a smile on their face, a concern for the guests, and a commitment to do what it takes to make our time in Costa Rica truly memorable. We can assure you of two things: we will be returning again to Costa Rica perhaps many times, each time we will be with CRE, and we never miss an opportunity to spread the word about such a remarkable company and its tours. Please let everybody know how much we appreciate their efforts.
-John Reece

Aug. 8, 2006 “I had an excellent experience with Costa Rica Expeditions.”
I apologize for my delay in replying to your email. Once again I have had an excellent experience with Costa Rica Expeditions. Sofia was a wonderful guide (full of information) and I must also give credit to Don Fernando who operated the canal boat and who was our turtle guide during our nighttime visit to the nesting sites.

As always all the activities flowed together very nicely even when it was necessary to make adjustments due to the weather or when is was more appropriate to modify the schedule to a more suitable time. I do have a problem with sitting off and relaxing (I am working on this) however, I will say that Sofia ensured that there was always something for us to participate in if we wished to do so.

I hope to be back in Costa Rica in January or February 2007, during which I hope to catch at least one of the Costa Rican festivals…It was a pleasure to meet you (Michael) at the Parque Del Lago Hotel In San Jose and once again Costa Rica Expeditions has put together a most enjoyable trip to Tortuguero.
-Rick Spurling

Jul. 4, 2006 ''EVERYONE was extremely kind and made our experience one we'll never forget.
A Great Experience! As soon as we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the staff. After breakfast we went to our room and our bags were already there. We saw more wildlife than expected. In June, nesting turtles are a hit or miss. Even though other turtle tours we passed on the beach didn't see a nesting turtle, our guide Fernando worked extra hard to make sure we saw a nesting turtle - unbelievable! The food, the tours and the overall experience were just fantastic.

Walter the bartender worked late and helped me with my Spanish, the cook gave me a copy of her Pinto Gallo recipe (which I tried today July 4. Mine was not as good as hers) and as we waited for our plane to leave, the gardner helped my find wildlife in the garden - he pointed out an iguana & toucans, he put a giant grasshopper in my hands, looked for a snake he saw a few minutes earlier. EVERYONE was extremely kind and hospitable and made our experience one we'll never forget. Thanks and hope to see you again soon!
-Jeff & June Sano

Jun. 28, 2006 “I fell in love with Tortuguero.”
How do I ever begin to explain our trip and to thank you Nadya for having the wisdom to believe I could handle this trip. Tortugereo and Lapa Rios were awesome, next I want to come back and do the tent lodge!!! I fell in love with Tortuga Lodge, as my 15-year-old son said, its a place where you are treated like a good friend, like someone you have known your whole life!!! Ramon, Luis, Miguel and Owen... WOW!!! Where do you find such treasures! We are still at Hotel Si Como No, but nothing compares to Osa and Tortuguero. Thank you for a trip of a life time and beyond!!!
-Emilie Wheat & Thomas Augliere

Apr. 15, 2006 “All of your employees were happy and being around them was a joy.”
We have just returned to our home and I am very excited to look at our pictures of beautiful Costa Rica. Thank you for everything. All of your employees were happy and being around them was a joy. We laughed a lot!

I especially enjoyed laughing with Don, a large black man who took us on a boat tour at Tortuguero. I was the last to board the boat, and he said, watch your hat! I thought that maybe he was going to start the boat very quickly so I sat down quickly and pressed my hat onto my head. Just then my legs began to burn on the seat and I jumped up screaming Yahoo! Everyone laughed and my husband said, "he said to watch! It's HOT! We still are laughing at that.

Your packing list was extremely helpful. As was the advice about separating our luggage into a 25 pound max. for our return to San Jose from Tortuguero on a small plane. Some of the other travelers did not get the message or didn't understand it and had to repack at the last minute. Our plane was pressurized, although your info said it would not be. I have a few suggestions:

It would be so wonderful if your employees had name tags. We met so many wonderful people and remembering all of the new names was difficult. Also at Tortuguero, the signs in the bathrooms about conserving energy and reusing towels were incorrect. I know what you wanted to say, but it actually says the opposite! Also the laminated books in the reception/game area have a few language problems! It says: "our highly experimental guides" instead of experienced! Thanks for the giggles.

I would suggest that there be dancing after dinner every night or at least on Friday and Sat nights, if only for an hour. It gets very quiet at night in both Tortuguero and Monteverde. I asked Riccardo if we could turn up the radio or recorded music and dance on our last night and he looked concerned but said yes. Then the guide Sonia and Jonathon helped to arrange for 3 local musicians to come. We danced and got everyone to have a wonderful time. The teens and children were so happy! What a great memory! Even if they just laughed at their parents! My many thanks to Sonia for her gifts of teaching, laughter, comraderie and warmth. She is a true asset to your clients!

I would also suggest that there be someone on staff who can help the children to join together in playing games in the pool or playing relay races or doing some silly games after dinner. I started doing this and enjoyed it for a while, then the children began asking me all the time as though it was my job! They just need a little guidance, a few suggestions and very little equipment. We played a few games in the pool, with the round seed pods we gathered at the beach. Perhaps you could have a book available for a staff member or parent to refer to get things started. The games must be short, simple, few rules, easy to play with different ages. Some parents aren't very creative or have no energy after the day trips. Some of the children, especially the teenagers, want to play but feel embarrassed or too cool. Thank you to you and all the friendly people at Costa Rica Expeditions!
-Kevan Rupp Lunney

Apr. 4, 2006 “We had a great time.”
We had a great time. Two individuals deserve a special mention. Ricardo at Tortuga Lodge and Kenya at Corcovado Tent Camp. Each went out of their way to make everything work and each runs a great operation. Please tell them a huge thanks from us.
-Christine and Peter Montgomery

Apr. 1, 2006 “…the BEST family trip they had ever had.”
Hello Marco: I want to tell you and your ENTIRE team what a fabulous trip the Crockard family had. Both Mr as well as Mrs Crockard called to tell me it was the BEST family trip they had ever had.

The trip far exceeded their expectations. The people were so NICE. They felt the equipment was safe, up to date and reliable. All the people they came in contact with were knowledgeable, spoke good English, were friendly - especially with the children. They appreciated the fact that you hired an excellent boat for fishing with a skipper who knew where to catch the fish. They caught 8 huge sailfish. The fishing was really important. They had friends who where also in the area, who went out fishing for the day, and did not even have a strike!

They especially liked the daily faxes to help keep them on track and know what to expect.

What can I say? They are spreading the word about Costa Rica Expeditions, as well as Gaia. We had to take your word and rely on all your suggestions, and it worked beautifully. Their children and grandchildren just came up to them during the trip, and thanked them so much for the special family time and experiences. You made me look good, and your company looks GREAT.
-Debby Denson, Brownell Travel

Mar. 1, 2006 "Tortuga Lodge was beautiful and the food delicious."
We indeed had a wonderful time in Costa Rica. My family's glowing reports to friends seems to have inspired them to investigate a trip to Costa Rica for themselves. Your agency's services were outstanding. Everything happened exactly as it had been explained to us - all pick ups, transfers and hotels and tours. Our guide to Tortuguero was excellent - well informed, eager to relate information to share and friendly. The Tortuga Lodge was beautiful and the food delicious. Our plane ride back to San Jose was fun and exciting. And the taxi driver who met us at the airport was prompt and friendly. Again, everyone we met in Costa Rica was friendly and helpful. The country is beautiful and the outdoor opportunities are endless. Our experience in Costa Rica could well be remembered as our family's best vacation ever!
-Allison Taylor

Feb. 28, 2006 ''You never missed a pick-up, drop off, meeting the plane, etc.''
We had a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica, and it was all we had hoped for, and more. Truly wonderful. The exotic birds, animals and extraordinary flora were worth the trip. We did not expect the terrific lodges, and other accomodations, nor the delicious cuisine (I was steeled for rice and refried beans, daily - had it once, at the folklore dinner, and it was fine, once).

I must mention the superb service that Costa Rica Expeditions afforded us. You people never missed a pick-up, drop off, meeting the plane etc. taking our excess baggage over 25 lbs. when we flew the little "puddle jumpers," and returning it on the next pick-up, was a special bonus. Very courteous service by your staff. Extra special, tho' was the planning of your staff worker, Nadya Shaw, who answered very patiently ALL my numerous questions, with courtesy and knowledge, and she was the reason our trip was so perfect (she deserves a raise!). Her planning of our itinerary was exact with all my numerous requirements. My only regret was that the tel. no. was not an 800 one...

Your lodge at Tortuguero was wonderful. Because of our constraints in time, we had a canal tour (a must), at 2:00 p.m., during which the heat of the mid-day was overpowering, and the birds knew better (nothing much was flying). Starting at 3:30 would have been better. We saw more birdlife at 5:30 in front of the lodge than the entire day. A very small flaw in a very, very good trip. I would and will certainly give your outfit the highest recommendation, whenever I can! My fond regards to Nadya, that patient angel.
-June Goldberg

Feb. 21, 2006 "In the top 3 trips of my life."
Thanks for all of your wonderful services. We are already trying to find a time to get back and do some different parts of the country. It was in the top 3 trips of my life. I have some pics up at: http://lklein.smugmug.com. Click travels in vacations and cost rica. The beginning is from Tortuguero. I have many more on my laptop but edited the amount for a decent album size. Feel free to use any pics. There are some very nice ones.
-Lisa Klein

Jan. 26, 2006 ''Your slogan, 'Legendary service, unforgettable memories,' is earned in every way.''
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for organizing our trip; the whole experience was wonderful. I cannot praise Charlie (Carlos) and Nimo enough for all the hard work they put in on our behalf; it was faultless in every way. Special thanks are due to Charlie and to your staff, who managed to extract our lost cases from Delta Airlines and to fly it out to us at Tortuga Lodge. This was above the call of duty, many thanks to you all.

Tortuga Lodge was superb in every respect, from the manager, who made us so welcome when we arrived, to Norton our boatman during our stay, who were so courteous and who made our stay so enjoyable.

Special thanks are due to your chef at Tortuga, whose meals were almost the highlight of our stay; the presentation and taste were outstanding. This in no way decries from the rest of the hotels and ranches that we stayed at during our trip, the service and quality were all of a very high standard, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Your slogan, “Legendary service, unforgettable memories,” is earned in every way. Once again may I thank you all for all your hard work in making this trip so memorable.
-Dick & Gloria Harding, UK

Nov. 9, 2005 "I would highly recommend your company to anyone looking to go to costa rica."
I had a great time in costa rica. it was my third time. second time using your services. I filled out the form at tortuga lodge in detail, but i'll repeat some of it here. Your company does a great job. I felt very well taken care of and all the employees are very enthusiastic. When i was at the lodge there were hardly any guests, and since i speak spanish, i spoke with some of the employees. everyone seems thrilled to be working in tourism and for your company and everyone made a huge effort to keep us few guests happy. at one point after an outing, i offered to buy the guide a coca cola. While we were at the bar, he described in great detail the entire nesting cycle of the green turtle to the bartender and waiters who asked a thousand questions and couldn't get enough. that was just terrific. I would highly recommend your company to anyone looking to go to costa rica.

With that in mind i'll make 2 very minor suggestions. at tortuga lodge (not sure if this applies to your other hotels) the food is terrific. but it's almost too good. they are trying very hard to put together sophisticated multi-course meals. i think simplicity might be ok here. simple grilled fish, that sort of thing. i'm a carnivore and had some excellent rare filet mignon. but it just sort of struck me as incongruous to the setting.

Also, i assume you are not in control of the departure of the plane from tortuguero at 7am. i arrived at the int'l airport at 8:15 am for a 1:45 pm flight to miami. your guide was kind enough to point out a nearby shopping center, but i'm not a shopper. if he'd suggested a visit to a museum or some such thing - for a fee of course - i probably would have taken him up on it. Keep up the good work. i'm sure i'll see you again soon.
-Linda Sittenfeld

Aug. 16, 2005 "You provided incredible service and great assistance."
I have been meaning to send you an email of THANKS for the incredible service you provided. We had some bad luck in San Jose, robbed of my wallet that included cash, license etc. Your company provided me with great assistance. Nadya hand delivered my new credit card to me at the hotel and was able to arrange transportation throughout the whole country for the balance of my trip. All the drivers were courteous and on time! There were a few other people in the office on the weekend that also offered great assistance, Herrol was one. Also, the people at Tortuga lodge were extremely helpful with contacting your office in San Jose. We loved all of the lodges, guides, meals, and transportation. I was very glad that I had chosen your company for our travel needs. Again, Muchas GRACIAS, for all that help and to all of those who did a great job!
-JoAnne, James and Christina Felchner

Aug. 10, 2005 ''It was a true vacation...no stress.''
Dear Michael, We had a great trip! Everyone we met was professional, knowledgeable and most importantly, very friendly! We loved the Tortuga Lodge. Rebecca (Becky) and Jeraldo where very on top of things and made it a great trip for everyone (that includes all of the people staying at the lodge while we were there!). They even waved good-bye as our plane took off! We felt like we were leaving family.

We flew over to Tambor and stayed at the Hotel Flor Blanca. A perfect second half of the trip. I can't imagine how our trip to Costa Rica would have turned out without CRE! It was a true vacation, meaning there was no stress! All transfers and transportation were smooth and on time. Starting with having someone meet us at the airport and ending with being dropped off at the correct spot as we prepared to depart took away all worries. We are looking forward to our next visit to Costa Rica! Still relaxed in New Jersey...
-Susan Demmerly, NJ

Feb. 28, 2005 "Thank you for planning such a great trip for us."
Dear Nadya: Greetings from snowy Michigan. I want to thank you for planning such a great trip for us. It was all that I had hoped for, and more. The three of us enjoyed the entire time: rain, mud and even no fish. None of that mattered, it was a fantastic trip. We expected rain and were well prepared. We saw fantastic birds, Phyllis and I added new birds to our lists, we saw lots of old favorites, enjoyed the company of the guides, and feel that we have a new friend in Carlos. He was terrific and really made the trip special for us. Our ride to Moin with Carlos and Oswaldo was most interesting and it was a real plus to have Oswaldo with us. We saw some good birds on the road out of Rancho thanks to Carlos and Oswaldo.

The boat ride to Tortuga was so much better than I imagined. I guess I had no idea what that was going to be like, but we had a great time and Miguel made our stay there so enjoyable. The fishing wasn't good, but when you fish, you take that into account. We enjoyed being with Eddy Brown and saw some good birds while fishing. Villa Rosa Blanca was terrific. The area was beautiful, we added good new birds (crested guan for one) and I had the first massage of my 65 years. The rooms were beautiful and the staff was great. Their birding guide, Warner, went out of his way to see that we saw good birds and we loved it.

This is a very brief summary, but I wanted you to know how much we appreciated all of your help. You did a wonderful job. l am just sorry that we didn't get to meet you. Maybe next time, we will be back. Thank you so much, Nadya, it was a wonderful trip!
-Nancy

Jul. 26, 2004 "Thank you for the most amazing trip ever."
Dear Michael: I want to thank you for the most amazing trip ever-I know that my 10 year old and I will never forget it-and it was by far the most meaningful and special time we have ever had together. And I want to mention that Nadya did a wonderful and perfect job planning for us and it was a wonderful surprise to meet her in Tortuguero where she happened to be spending a few days with her family. Our driver Pricilla went so above and beyond it was amazing - she was fabulous.

Every member of Costa Rica Expeditions that we worked with and every accommodation spot was better than the next but without a doubt the highlight of our trip was our guide Elston Valentine. He was absolutely the most professional, kindest, patient and knowledgeable individual we could have shared our vacation with - he simply made the trip for us. He is incredibly kind and humorous and we learned so much from him about Costa Rica and my son cannot stop talking about him. I promise to send photos and a personal letter to Elston as soon as I catch up on my work from being away but please feel free to share these comments within CR Expeditions and of course with Nadya, Elston, Priscilla and all of the members of your team. And of course if you ever decide you need an on-staff attorney-I'm there :).
-Michele C. Campbell

Feb. 7, 2004 "The whole tour was professionally conducted with our every need attended to."
We recently returned from our trip to Costa Rica. We booked with International Expeditions but spent the time with Costa Rica Expeditions. We are very pleased and wanted to let you know.

The trip exceeded expectations (and we had high expectations). The whole tour was professionally conducted with our every need attended to. The food was not only tasty but more than abundant. Having the option to order from a menu was an unexpected pleasure. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable. Our only wish would be for screens in the rooms at Montana de Fuego and Villa Caletas so that we could let in the wonderful fresh air without the bugs.

Villas Caletas was the perfect ending with it's breathtaking views, beautiful grounds, gorgeous rooms, gourmet food and impeccable service. Although we had no problems is might be wise to warn guests earlier about all those steps!

We cannot give high enough praise for the guides and drivers. From the moment we arrived we were well taken care of. Favio met us at the airport. He and Favio (the driver) saw us safely to our hotel and made sure we had everything we needed. Mainor Gonzalez (Mongo) was our driver for the majority of the trip. Mainor is a most careful driver and we felt very comfortable with his driving. He is very efficient and friendly. Franklin (Eagle Eye) was our boat driver in Tortuguera. He did a wonderful job and was a joy to be with. How he spots all those animals and drives too is beyond me.

Saving the best for last, Elston Valentin. We give Elston our highest praise. He is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. His enjoyment of his job and pride in his country is infectious. It was wonderful to see the country through his eyes! I decided to keep a list of the birds I saw on this trip and at the end my list has 129 different birds! Needless to say, we are very pleased with your company and will recommend it to everyone.
-John & Estelle Evans

Jan. 25, 2004 "Tortuguero Jungle Odyssey was definitely the highlight of our entire trip."
Hello from Canada! We had a great time on your Tortuguero Jungle Odyssey - it was definitely the highlight of our entire trip to Costa Rica. I guess we learned our lesson - book everything with you from now on!! We will highly recommend Costa Rica Expeditions to our friends.

We want to especially say that Federico Alban was an EXCELLENT guide on our bus trip out to Tortuga Lodge. He was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly and helpful. Once we were on the boat portion, we had Franklin as our guide. He is amazing, and we were really pleased to have him as our guide during the boat tours (we took two because they were so much fun). He really knows about the wildlife and his sense of humor made it a lot of fun. Tortuga Lodge was great, too! We even had live entertainment one night!! Oswald made certain we all had a good time.

Thanks again for offering such professional and accommodating staff and lodgings. You are building a great reputation based on friendly, outstanding service!
-Russ & Terry Unilowsky

Aug. 20, 2003 “I would come back tomorrow if I could.”
Selena: We could not have been more pleased with the arrangements that you made for us. Everything was just as it was supposed to be. Everyone was waiting for us and the guides were wonderful. We loved Tortuguero because it was so remote. We didn't get to see the turtles because of a big thunderstorm with lightning on the beach so we will just have to go back.

We even enjoyed the long ride in there through the Caribbean lowlands and the banana plantation. We were greeted by the wonderful staff at Tortuga Lodge with fresh tropical drinks and very much enjoyed our stay. The charter airlines are the only way to go, as we did not have to waste any time waiting around. We enjoyed Monteverde but I would skip the twilight tour. It was way too crowded but the guide was excellent. We had a good tour through the Cloud Forest and enjoyed that.

Lapa Ríos Ecoresort was everything that it was supposed to be and more. We loved it. We saw wonderful wildlife right out our cabana deck and we loved surfing the beach there.

Hotel Flor Blanca was also a wonderful find. The accommodations and the staff are unbelievable and the food was some of the best anywhere. The beaches were remote and beautiful and lastly the Hotel Grano de Oro was a great little hotel especially the family suite we had on the last night. I will give you and Costa Rica Expeditions the highest recommendation possible. Thank you so much for making this a most enjoyable, relaxing and worry-free family vacation.

I have to admit I was a little nervous sending so much money with only email traffic to evidence our trip and you were most kind to offer your cell phone number, which of course we didn't need. As soon as we were greeted the first time I knew we had nothing to worry about and everything would be just as arranged and it was.

We will definitely be coming back to Costa Rica let us know if the airlines, Lapa Rios or Flor Blanca ever have any special prices. I would come back tomorrow if I could. I have given your name to a bunch of people and will continue to do so. You are fabulous.
-Sue Bennett

Nov. 22, 2002 “Seeing Costa Rica again on the TV really makes us want to go again.”
Friendly greetings from Oregon! Thank you so much for letting me know about the Jules Sylvester program set in Costa Rica! We enjoyed watching the program very much. When the segment filmed at Tortuga Lodge came on, my wife and daughter and I all looked at each other and said, "We've been there! And look, the man brought them a tasty tropical drink just like he did for us!" We also enjoyed seeing the caymans, Scarlet Macaws, and the Eyelash Viper, all of which we saw while on our vacation in Costa Rica.

Seeing Costa Rica again on the TV really makes us want to go again. This time we will want to visit Corcovado Lodge, since that is an area of Costa Rica we have never explored. We also would like to spend some time birding in the Sarapiqui area. Costa Rica Expeditions has always treated us very well and provided excellent service, so I'm sure we will contact you when we start to plan our next adventure in Costa Rica.
-Ron Weller

Nov. 22, 2002 “We truly received excellent service that helped create unforgettable memories.”
I want to thank the staff at Costa Rica Expeditions for helping make our vacation absolutely fabulous. I usually take company slogans with a grain of salt, but we truly received excellent service that helped create unforgettable memories. I'm so glad Richard suggested we go with CRE to help plan our trip.

Marco did a terrific job coordinating our itinerary and went out of his way to help us with getting soccer tickets. Too bad my husband, John, caught a cold on the flight down and was not up to traveling back to San Jose for the game. But Marco gladly adjusted our itinerary so that we never missed a beat.

Our favorite place was Tortuguero and Tortuga Lodge. In retrospect, we should have stayed both our extra days (from not going to the soccer game) there. Franklin is an excellent guide and we learned so much from him, more than most of the subsequent guides we had put together. Frederico Alban is a warm and welcoming host. We enjoyed chatting with him about topics from conservation to soccer. He really watched out for John's cold too and explained how things including cold viruses can grow fast in the tropics.

Our goal on this trip was to experience tropical ecosystems and magically, we felt connected to the Tortuguero environment, while still having the amenities of home. I know it wasn't really magic, but the thoughtful way Tortuga Lodge fits into its environment without diminishing it. Not a small feat! We enjoyed our stay in Volcano Lodge and Hotel Parador as well, but didn't quite get that feeling of being connected to the surroundings. We think Fortuna is a charming and industrious town. Parador was pure indulgence and Quepos a bit touristy, but that has its up side too.

I can't find the customer service survey that I meant to return to you by mail so I'll tell you in this email that we will certainly recommend Costa Rica Expeditions to friends and family and when we come back for a second visit, we will call CRE. The service and accommodations were excellent at Tortuga Lodge and from that experience, we would stay at the Monteverde Lodge and the Corcovardo Tent Lodge without hesitation. The transfer guides and drivers were very attentive to our comfort and understanding of what was going to occur for each portion of our trip.

The most striking thing to me is the palpable impression I have that CRE has taken to heart the welfare of the natural resources and people of Costa Rica. If more corporations operated in this manner, we could actually see mutually constructive partnerships between development and local communities. As you can guess, the trip along with the stop over at EARTH, reminded me of the environmental and social issues I was idealistic and passionate about when I was in school. The complacency of middle America had crept further into my life than I was willing to admit, but hopefully to a lesser degree from now on as I've been re-inspired.

The only recommendation we have is to do something about regulating automobile emissions! We realize that is out of the hands of CRE, but maybe it can help move some sort of regulations along. John is putting together a webpage with our pictures from the trip. I'll send you the web address when its completed. Thanks again for an unforgettable vacation!!
- Nancy Lee

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

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. 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

Aug. 17, 2001 “The whole family enjoyed Tortuguero and especially staying at the Lodge.”
To Rodolfo Vargas, General Manager, Tortuga Lodge: I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful time we had while guests at the Tortuga Lodge last week. The whole family enjoyed Tortuguero and especially staying at the Lodge. Everyone was so friendly, helpful and accommodating. Our daughter, Sophia, is still raving about the special virgin strawberry drinks that were made especially for her! And our son, Nate, so enjoyed all of the wonderful iguanas, lizards, poison dart frogs - and more!!! - that he had the pleasure of seeing around the beautiful property. And of course, we can't say enough about how wonderful Franklin is as a guide/naturalist.
-The Bernitz Family, MA