How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Ray was fantastic. His enthusiasm and passion to teach us about everything from wildlife and nature to history and culture shone through. He went out of his way to point interesting things out and we made frequent stops on our travels to look at animals and birds. He even located a quetzal at Monte Verde! He was helpful and organised optional excursions for us. He tried to keep the group together as much as possible for meals and evening events which really helped the group to gel. I would recommend Ray as a tour guide for this holiday any day!

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

This trip gives a good overview of the many different life zones of Costa Rica. I was a little confused by other reviews stating that if you are interested in wildlife this tour wouldnt suit. There is so much wildlife to see from plants and trees to mammals and birds. The country is alive with wildlife and this is surely one of the main attractions of the country! The group I travelled with gelled together very well but I agree with other reviewers that 18 is a few too many so you may want to consider this when booking. Binoculars are a must!

Do you have anything else to add?

If I could recommend changing anything about this trip it would be the morning boat trip around the canals of Tortuguero. I would consider substituting the motor powered boats for the dug out canoes as everyone should get to experience this. This would make the holiday even better!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Outstanding. Of the 30 Explore tour leaders with whom I have travelled, Eduardo would rate in the top three. He got off to a good start by making it clear that he was availabe to us 24 hours a day and giving us his cellphone no. His knowledge of all matters relating to the tour was excellent both in its breadth and depth. As a result this was one of the few Explore tours on which local guides were unnecessary. I found him to be attentive and considerate. The three times I asked him to stop the bus he did so immediately. When asked an interesting question in the bus he would pick up the mike and address his answer to the group as a whole, not just the questioner. When there was a problem, for example a dog bite, he dealt with the matter efficiently and thoroughly.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Take a Lonely Planet. There is free time and the LP will help you fill it productively.
Don't bother with boots. If the conditions are the same as they were for us trainers and sandals are adequate.
Be prepared for crowds. The tour follows a well beaten tourist trail.
If you find out that your intended tour  has a group of 18, don't go. It is too many."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very good.  Pleasant personality and always obliging.  Committed to making the holiday a success.  While not an ornithologist he was of a good general standard and made every effort to find answers.  The criticisms of him in other reviews are groundless and unfair.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be prepared to make the extra effort to see the birds/wildlife.  It is worth getting up early to go bird watching.  The guide cannot present the wildlife on a plate!  

Do you have anything else to add?

A group size of 18 is too big for wildlife walks.  It needed to be split so that everyone could hear the guide and engage with him.  Iberia Air is a poor airline and did nothing for the holiday experience.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very pleasant but not very concerned to help us organise our free time, of which there was a great deal.  He was very keen to get us to places as fast as possible but a bit reluctant to stop en route for us to see anything interesting.  He did not arrange any special extras. It would have been very interesting if he had taken us to the market in San Jose.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If you want to see lovely countryside and interesting plants and trees, this would suit you.  If you're interested in wildlife, it wouldn't.

Do you have anything else to add?

I was on the trip with Margaret Waller and agree with everything she said.  I have read earlier reviews and find it hard to believe we did the same tour.   We had an extremely congenial group, which made it enjoyable.  I would describe the tour pace as much more relaxed than the usual Explore trip and certainly not busy.  The last day in San Jose was wasted, as it has little of interest to offer.  

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Well organised, some walks were too rushed and not enough searching for quetzals-the tour is advertised as a wildlife tour, unfortunately most group members felt there should have been more time for wildlife watching than there was. We never came close to seeing a quetzal !

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Well organised, some walks were too rushed and not enough searching for quetzals-the tour is advertised as a wildlife tour, unfortunately most group members felt there should have been more time for wildlife watching than there was. We never came close to seeing a quetzal !
This is more a taste of Costa Rica than a wildlife tour.

Do you have anything else to add?

More information on the tour is needed for the variety of options available in different places for individuals to do ,outside of the offered formal optional extras. this is needed in advance so that free time can be planned better. more use should be made of local guides.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Average. he seemed to just do what he had to for us without putting himself out to do extra.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If you want to see a lot of wildlife this not the trip for you as we found the wildlife disappointing.

Do you have anything else to add?

"The group number was 18 which is far too large for wildlife watching. we didn't have any local guides so our tour leader took us on all the walks. His knowledge was good on plants but not so much on birds etc.
There was too much free time on this holiday with very little to do, especially if wildlife was your reason for going.
In particular a place called Turrialba where we spent 2 days, but there was nowhere to walk to and no wildlife."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Superb, friendly, vast knowledge about the flora and fauna. Accommodarted every member of the group and gave up his free time to make sure people had the opportunity to see some thing, like the early start to see Quetzals before we set off, and accompaning one member who was rarely able to see or photograph something. he would take the picture for her.Aranging the very nice Christmas meal with a family with a tour before the meal of the farm. He was even up before 5am to see us offon 5 January. The organisation of transport, meals etc was faultless. We tried twice to see the turtles but the tides and wind prevented us but he tried his best with the contacts he had but nature was against us. I will go bas to CR if I will be in Ronaldo's group

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Don't be put of by the rain and make sure you have rain proof clothing-good binoculars
and we rely on Nature and it can have a mind of its own."

Do you have anything else to add?

Don't book the cheapest seats of the economy flight especially for senior citizens on long flights where knees touch the seat in front -worse when the front seat reclines.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Miguil. Good guy - extremely knowledgeable and really looked after us. Only (minor) point for improvement is his briefings - pracical information sometimes emerges in dribs drabs

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go for it. Costa Rica is quite an easy country and pretty westernised (although this tour doesn't use luxury hotels by any stretch of the imagination). If you go in November (end of rainy season) then (a) expect some rain, but don't let it put you off (b) expect it to be a bit cooler than Explorer's trip notes suggest - personally the temperature was generally great for me - pleasantly warm and not as humid as I'd feared  

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Ron was and excellent leader; his knowledge of the flora and fauna of Costa Rica was superb.  He was very proud of his country and wanted us to appreciate it to the full. Most important, he had a sense of humour.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Don't forget to take proper rain wear and a good head torch.  If you don't like very long plane journeys, explore the alternative routes through the US.

Wow this trip really was an excellent adventure around Costa Rica. Every day was packed with things to do, we never had time to get bored! Highlights had to be Tortuguero national park, packed full of wildlife; Monteverde cloud forest and Manuel Antonio national park. 

We saw several Sloths, varying types of monkey, toucans, scarlet macaws, frogs, snakes (at a serpentarium!) two turtles on the beach at night, and iguanas but to name a few............  Of course we travelled in rainy season and the weather was changable but usually only rained late afternoon and not everyday depending on where you were in the country. 

Our tour leader Ron was extremely knowledgable and friendly and was always providing us with information about anything and everything, and driver Kenneth kept his bus immaculate.  The lodges were all comfortable and clean and you really were in the middle of the jungle with the wildlife at some. 

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes wildlife, birds and the jungle.  Don't forget your binoculars and lots of camera card space! (CC -6th August 2011)