Real Affordable Costa Rica (2012)

This was our 10th OAT trip. Costa Rica has amazing wildlife with beaurtiful scenery. One of our highlights was hearing the wildlife every morning around 5:30am. Food and lodging were good overall. Thank you to one previous traveler who recommended bringing a round stopper for b-room sinks to retain water if that is your preference. Couple small flashlights are good on any trips.

As far as activity & based on what we encountered in India, Thailand and Vietnam, this trip was not as active as we would prefer. Guess we have become so accustomed to the very different, to us this trip was more like a relaxing tropical vacation. Had perfect weather, good food and nice lodging. Careful of belongings. We failed to secure our binoculars in our suitcase in one room and they came up missing.

Traveler: Bobby Calvary from Lakeland, FL traveled on April 21, 2012

This is my second OAT trip, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one! (which was Croatia). I went the last 2 weeks in March. We had about 15 people in our group and everyone was wonderful. I am younger than most of the people who take these trips (I'm 42, and I think the average OAT person is about 65), but it truly does not matter to me. I have been on so many trips with other tour companies (Geckos, Imaginative Traveler, Kumuka, WesCanTrecks, Exodus, etc) and after going to Croatia last fall with Grand Circle, I will never use another tour company. Everything OAT does is first class and it seems to draw exceptionally nice, smart, kind, thoughtful, interesting people to its tours. Our guide (Eddie) was amazing, as was our driver (Victor). They went above and beyond what I think guides should do, as they were always stopping to point things out and checking in with each of us to see if we were having a good time. I honestly think you can't go wrong with any of the guides, as OAT does a phenomenal job picking the best guides out there. We also stayed at really nice and comfortable hotels. All of them had AC, though one hotel had a few power outages and thus no AC. The food is good...especially the fresh fruit (papayas!)

I wanted to pass on just a few tips which I thought might be useful if you decide to go:
1) Don't change any money beforehand. Costa Rica takes dollars, and there is no need at all to exchange them into colones, which unlike the Euro, is not used anywhere else in the world. Every shop will take your dollars.
2) That said, bring lots & lots of $1 and $5 bills. I took $60 in ones and $40 in fives and I thought that was good. You can expect tons of tips to hand out, and if you bring a $20, you will get change back into colones, which you'll then need to unload. Bring the small bills.
3) Bring your Discover card! Unlike Visa and MC, Discover charges *no* int'l transaction fees.
4) The insects are really bad (at least, they seemed to like me!) I would invest in both some heavy duty repellant and some aloe to soothe the itching.
5) There are places to do laundry along the way, but I personally like to bring enough underwear and tops to last me without having to launderize.
6) Ipads are super useful. Only 1 of the places had wifi in the actual hotel room, but all had them in the lobby. They have computers, but they can be very slow and sometimes have a line to wait to use them.
7) I lost my camera on this trip, so learn from my mistake please and download your pictures daily or switch out your memory card!
8) It is very sunnyhot so bring lots of sun screen. I recommend the spray on kind. Don't go out without putting it on, and reapply.
9) Remember you need $28 in dollars to leave the country. Keep that handy so that you don't have to visit an ATM the night before you leave.
10) The home visit we had was very very long and awkward. I had an ipad, and the kids seemed to enjoy playing with that. I would strongly suggest bringing something from home (like photos) to show them or teach them.
11) The water is fine...really! Bring a water bottle to fill up with tap water and save some money.
12) I wore my tevas the whole time and did not need any other kind of shoe, though I was scolded for not having covered shoes on one of our hikes. But I did not miss them.
13) I would invest in a good camera with a zoom to see the animals and also some good binoculars. You can see so much more with them.
14) Forget the hairdryer. It's so hot your hair will dry in 5 mins.

All the optional activities were very fun, except I hear that the canoe ride on Day 10 was a waste of money. I did not go (that was the day I lost my camera :( but sounds like I saved myself $60. Don't miss Ziplining or the pineapple tour or Horseback riding. Super fun!

I really don't have any negative things to say about this trip! I hope you will go and enjoy it as much as I did.

Traveler: Clare Tuma from Portola Valley, CA traveled on March 17, 2012

This is a great trip! Our leader, Carlos, was very super. We saw so many birds and other wildlife in surprising places. The rafting, ziplining and horseback riding were a lot of fun for an old gal! I highly recommend this trip for everyone.

Traveler: Ann Robbins from Kennesaw, GA traveled on March 26, 2012

Too much busing and not enough time at locations - especially Pacific Coast. Very little time to enjoy the ocean.

Traveler: David Kornberg from East Brunswick, NJ traveled on March 01, 2012

We do not need a great deal of free time, but the pacing of this trip did not allow time to digest experiences before going to the next, or allow time to leisurely clean up and prepare for dinner.

Traveler: James Kelly from Las Cruces, NM traveled on February 14, 2012

Trip Leader was excellent and small group accomadations were a great way to meet new people and do do low to medium energy field trips.
Exposure to school group was best part of trip, as well as viewing many fauna and flora. Easy for young and "old".
Can do as much or as little you want in "extra" side trips.
Tipping got a litle aggravating but is understandable.
Rating between Amazon river trip and this one rates a 7,

Traveler: John Kamisky from Pine Mountain, GA traveled on March 20, 2012

This was a wonderful trip. It was well led with our trip leader, Priscilla Alverado Taylor. She was always on top of what was happening and checking to see if we were comfortable. Of course everyone would have different highlights but there was something for everyone's taste. We had a very congenial group that bonded well early on and this enhanced the trip.

The adventure part of the trip was great from riding a zip line high in the rainforest canopy, horseback riding to a volcanic heated spa, to river rafting, and ocean outrigger canoeing. The cultural parts from going to the local "mercado" to purchase ingredients for preparing "bocas" to visits to make empenadas and the home-hosted visit were good. The school visit, as in all OAT trips, was very rewarding even though we were at the site on a Saturday...still lots of children around.

Being able to drink the water from the tap and not worry about eating any of the food was a real treat and is not always possible for Americans in many foreign locales outside Western Europe.

The wildlife was great from 2- and 3-toed sloths to myriad birds were a naturalist's dream. Coatis that walked down the parking lot were a treat to see. Flowers abounded and everywhere you looked there was beautiful blooms.

A great trip and an interesting country to visit and learn more about. I loved the fact that for well over 60 years there has not been a standing army in this peaceful and beautiful country. If you want ot have fun grab your bags and practice saying "Pura Vida!!"

Traveler: Stephen Canipe from Boone, NC traveled on March 20, 2012

!.Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge-Our Favorite-no real air conditioning,but did have a large fan-good food-the bar drinks were expensive.
2.Bosque de Chachagua-Very Nice,good food and very nice grounds with a real air conditioner.
3.Montana De Fuego-THE WORST,our air conditioner was cool,but made a high pitched squeal constantly-I called the desk and they sent a workman who hit it with fist and then said"no,I can not fix"and left.Wel were locked out of our room twice because the door keys stopped working.Others in the group complained of ,no hot water no air.

Traveler: Wayne Woodward from Amarillo, TX traveled on March 10, 2012

I just returned on March 9th. We were close to the end of the summer there. The country was very beautiful and the wildlife was amazing and abundant. Our lodgings were exotic and amazing, out in the country side where you can hear the frogs and the howler monkeys.
I'm a 'young' 70 year old woman and I had a ball. There was a lot of activity but enough time to recharge and be ready for the next day.
Don't pack too much. I did and it was a pain for me and our driver! Light weight clothes and a jacket. Tennis shoes and sandals, a bathing suit and water shoes. I was a little surprised at the prices of things. As much or more than the US. and no bargalning for prices at the curio shops. The price is the price.
Our guide was wonderful with Superman eyes to spot the wildlife and our driver was excellent.
I was traveling alone and always felt safe and comfortable thanks to the rest of the group that was very friendly and inclusive.
I highly recommend this trip. Just be sure you are in good shape and can walk and be quite active!

Traveler: Louise O'Hara from Chino Hills, CA traveled on February 26, 2012

15-Mar-2012

When I think of Costa Rica, I’m reminded of the title of one of biologist Richard Dawkins’s recent tomes, “The Greatest Show On Earth.” That show is on stage in Costa Rica, and does not disappoint. I’ve never seen a more colorful display of wild flora and fauna anywhere in such a small frame of time and space.

Alex, our OAT tour guide, had the requisite knowledge of both flora and fauna, and could identify many diverse species on sight. We’d meet him for bird-watching at six AM, when birds are most plentiful. I am not a birder. But with a good pair of binoculars, I was soon identifying Mot-Mots, Toucans, Kiskadees, Montezuma Oropendolas, Nun birds, and many more (including the plainest bird you’ll see, the Clay-colored Thrush, ironically the national bird of CR). If you are a birder, Costa Rica is a must-destination.

Tirimbina Biological Reserve is a big research site, and was a great educational experience. For the lecture on various bat species, experts used wild bats caught from the surrounding forest. The bats didn’t seem to mind being spread-eagled, their intimate parts on display for discussion. I got to touch the wing of one. When the demos were completed, the bats were released and flew back into the lush Tirimbina Forest, mysterious, dark and beautiful. I enjoyed my trek through it.

I learned that my favorite non-alcoholic beverage, coffee, isn’t manufactured in a super market. The arduous process of growing and processing it was revealed at the Doka Estate coffee plantation, which made me appreciate the bean even more. The estate has a beautiful butterfly garden worth exploring, too. And lots of delicious coffee.

A good pair of binoculars is important. While cruising on the Rio Frio in the Cano Negro Wildlife Reserve, I was in the rear of the tour boat, scanning the shoreline with my binoculars, when I spotted what looked like a lizard sitting on a stump. I ran to the front and told Alex. He had the boat back up, and we located the Green Iguana, a small female. Suddenly, a big green male pulled into view, approaching her, his dewlap pulsating. You know the rest.

The Rio Frio, one of two boat trips, had a large family of howler monkeys among other sights. Mothers were nursing babies, males were fighting. The other boat trip was on the Rio Tarcoles, my favorite. This vast swampland is home to a huge number of crocs, many with wide open mouths, as if patiently waiting for some unwary critter to enter.

Being from Louisiana, where the soil is soft and mushy, I’d never experienced an earthquake. This trip changed all that. We were staying at the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel. During the night, while sound asleep, I suddenly sat upright, feeling the bed shaking. At first, I thought high wind was rattling my quarters. But when I peaked through the window, I saw the trees were still. “This is an earthquake,” I whispered, as much fascinated as alarmed. After about 45 seconds or so, it passed. I readjusted my pillow and went back to sleep. The next morning, Alex confirmed it was an earthquake, a 6.2 or 6.3, around four AM. They are not uncommon in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

One of OAT’s best and most distinguishing policies are the family visits, as well as “A day in the life.” I’ve found these to be incomparable experiences. At the school, the kids put on a great show, and I bought a couple souvenirs from them, including a colorful, hand-painted little coffee maker that actually works. Later, Alex split us up into three smaller groups, and each had lunch at home with three Costa Rican families. My group’s family didn’t speak english, so I got to practice my Spanish. The gentleman had a small farm, and like many Costa Rican homeowners, a lovely garden. He and his wife and son were gracious hosts.

The Class I-III rapids along the Sarapiqui River was a nice excursion, especially for those who haven’t been on white water before. More exciting was the wildlife along the bank. When we stepped onshore for a break, one of the guides caught two “poison dart frogs,” one a strawberry, the other a black-and-green, to show us.

The Rincon de la Vieja NP was in a secluded part of NW Costa Rica, off the beaten track. That was fine with me. Lots of activities there, including the horseback ride up to the mountain spa, where we spent much of the day enjoying the mud exfoliation, and thermal baths.

The eco-lodges were all charmingly rustic. My room at Montana de Fuego had a beautiful view of Volcan Arenal from the rocking chair on my porch. All the lodges had Wi-Fi. Be sure to bring a flashlight. While walking to my room at night, I saw a Coral Snake slithering across the walkway. It fascinated me this beautiful little snake could be so dangerous. Bring a flashlight! You don’t want this or any squiggly underfoot.

Of the optionals, the zip lining experience was thrilling and fun. I have recurrent dreams of flying through the air. When I return to Costa Rica, I will go again. The organic Pineapple Farm was the tastiest, and quite interesting.

Not everything was to my liking. I found the Ocean Outrigger Canoe option to be lot of rowing, for little return.

In my opinion, Manuel Antonio NP was overrated. I realize this is a big stop for tourists. But this park is simply too crowded. It’s beaches are pretty. And it’s fun taking a dip in the Pacific. But the animals are too accustomed to humans. I have a facial shot of a raccoon with his paw held out. A major national magazine has claimed this park is one of the best in the world. I’d suggest the editors get out of the office more.

This was not a culinary trip. Lots of rice and beans, fish, fresh fruit and veggies. Standard Tico fare. The food was good, very nutritious, and plain.

Remember, this trip is a trip for nature enthusiasts. It is not a cultural tour. We didn’t stay long in noisy and traffic jammed San Jose. Nonetheless, we did see the Teatro Nacional, and paid a visit to the Museo Nacional, where there are excellent exhibits of ancient and colonial life in Costa Rica, as well as a fine butterfly garden.

Strongly consider investing in a good camera. One of our troop had a big one, and took an incredible shot of a beautiful Great Blue Heron in flight just above the water, the kind of shot I just couldn’t get with my pocket digital. Keep your pocket digital as a spare.

Costa Rica’s abundance and variety of life forms will kindle more questions in the inquiring mind than it has ready-made answers for. Consider the sloth, which you’ll see lounging on a tree limb. If a sloth was in a race with the clock’s hour hand, he’d lose. Yet, this namesake for one of the Seven Deadly Sins gets along just fine, thank you. Clearly, there’s a place in nature, if not in heaven, for a creature whose strategy is to avoid the rat race, and survive by just taking it easy!

You’ll find the people of Costa Rica are friendly and easy going, too, and are in no race with your clock. Leave the rat race back home, at least for awhile, and go. Bring your curiosity, and a good camera. Pura Vida!

Traveler: Edward Wadsworth from Harvey, LA traveled on February 08, 2012

This OAT trip was the most enjoyable one we've taken thus far. We found the Costa Rican people to be very hospitable, and yet very hard working, and this was certainly exemplified by our Tour Guide, Nestor, and our Tour Driver, Walter. Nestor is a very knowledgeable, energetic and enthusiastic guide, with a quick sense of humor, compelling insights into his culture, and a wide knowledge of the birds of Costa Rica. He made our trip both educational and a lot of fun, but he also took care of business, calling ahead on his cell phone as we drove the roads in the van, so that we had the table set and the food waiting at every stop. Our driver, Walter, had a dry wit and a ready smile, and everyone in our group liked him and found him charming. But more impressively, Walter cleaned that van on every single night, and even spent his daytime waits in applying polish to the chrome and wheelblack to the tires. At no time was our luggage at risk, because the tireless Walter was on the job and standing guard over the cleanest van in the Western Hemisphere. What would we do differently? We took all four optional sidetrips, and probably only needed three - we are marathon runners, but even we get tired?

Traveler: Michael Walsh from Auburn, AL traveled on February 12, 2012

The [Sonafluca Village] experience took a whole day. It should have taken 3 or 4 hours. It was delightful to go to a school and meet the children and to go to a home to have lunch but it need not have taken an entire day.

Traveler: Jane Finn from Greenwich, CT traveled on October 26, 2011

Over the last 30+ years we have always traveled on our own. This was only our second OAT trip and we are looking forward to our next OAT trip to "Ultimate Africa" . This last one to Costa Rica was fantastic. The wildlife was incredible.

Carlos, our local guide, started spotting and identifying sloths, birds, coaties, howler and white face monkeys, etc within minutes of leaving the airport and his pace never slowed down. Carlos was incredibly fun, knowledgeable and patient.

We did everything there was to do; zip lines, white water rafting, horse back riding, two small river boat trips (think African Queen), nature walks, etc. The white water rafting was fun, but tame compared to rafting on the green, yampa and colorado rivers. However, had there been more water, we understood that it could have been much more exciting and challenging. The school visit and host meal by a local family was fun, educational and rewarding. The children were as cute as could be.

The food was delicious and plentiful; usually served buffet style. Eventually, everyone started complaining about having eaten too much and expressing regret at their own lack of personal restraint.

The weather was incredible and unexpected in that expectations were that rain would be frequent. It only rained twice and both times at night. There was one slight drizzle for about 10 minutes, but barely qualified as rain. OOOppsss, I forgot there was one other time when it rained fairly hard, but we were having lunch and watching people zip lining at the time get drenched.

We never used colones and instead just used dollars and our Discover credit card. The facilities we stayed at during our trip were kind enough to give us smaller dollar denominations for our $20's. We use Discover, because there is no fee for international charges as there is for Visa or American Express. The credit card is carried in a special wallet available at AAA to eliminate stray RFID (Radio Frequency id) signals from credit cards being picked up by hackers and id thieves. As soon as we return home we check and validate all foreign credit card charges.

The people at OAT are absolutely fantastic, from the phone representatives to the local guide to the many support people we encountered. They make travel so easy and stress free. We really appreciate it. Now if they would only cut down on the catalogs and mailings. :-)

Traveler: Howard Feldman from Indianapolis, IN traveled on January 24, 2012

I was on the same trip as the previous reviewer and agree with her on some points. Unfortunately she tore the skin of her leg on the rafting trip, and it kept her away from all water activities on balance of the trip. For myself-the raft was great fun. I have rafted before and enjoyed the pace of this trip more as it was not dangerous but had some small thrills and lots of beautiful trees and riverbanks to enjoy. I loved all the lodges, each unique and interesting locations with the exception of Casa Luna in La Fortuna. More like an American chain hotel, the room small and sheets worn, but the staff was helpful and friendly, and I understand that improvements have been made and more coming. Personally I thought the food was fine in each location. I really learned to love their squash dishes and all the fresh fruit. Always plenty. I loved learning about how coffee and pineapples are grown, and learning about banana trees and how they harvest. Visiting the school and local family is always a highlight for me. The foundation has done great things for the previous school and this new school will benefit as well and the staff and children and their families are so friendly and gracious to us visitors. Our guide Ozzy, terrific and passionate about his country. Helpful in every way and so knowledgeable about the animals, trees, birds. ( He could spot things in trees hardly visible to anyone else) Loved watching the sunsets at Buena Vista, the zip lining, mud and thermal baths, horseback riding. Our driver , Chicho, a gem. Had to keep his bus cleaner than any other in CR , also so helpful in spotting just the right photo shots for us travelers. Guess I loved about everything--met great travel companions from all over the states. Definitely reccommed to those who don't need fancy, like a bit of adventure and want to learn about Costa Rica- Pura vida!

Traveler: Marsha Herrick from Placerville, CA traveled on February 05, 2012

this was our 3rd trip to this delighful and happy country -
if you cosider white water rafting, be careful of the rafts, as they are quite old and the seams are stiff and rip the skin off on your legs, was bad - and no first aid around till we got back to base -
The other was the out rigger canoe trip, coming down on the ramp after changing, one of our buddy fell about 8 feet, knocked unconscious for a while, and with bruises and pain - unless they fixed this ramp, be very careful where you step .The bueno vista lodge had the worst food on the whole trip , recycled french toast into bread pudding and barely edible,
Casa Luna lodge in La Fortuna - great view, rooms very small and sheets and towels need to be replaced - very thread bare - and skimpy -
Driver Chicho, if you are lucky to get him - is a gem - best one we ever had - knows his high and by-ways .
Ozzy our trip leader was A-one , open to discussion and did not mince any words about quite a few controversial subjects.
overall we had a great time and met and made new friends, may be we go back to CR if there is a trip we have not been on.

Traveler: Gerda Haferkamp from Williamsburg, VA traveled on February 05, 2012

There are plenty reviews of this trip, so I will save my comments for the few things that might be unique. 1. Binoculars are very important; there are terrific animals to see, and even having to share binocs with one other person might mean one of you misses the sighting. 1. Bug repellant is essential. The bugs are not irritating, so it is somewhat surprising to end up with numerous very itchy bites. 3. To help with #2, bring itch relief spraycream...the one thing I didn't have that I wish I had. 4. My quick dry clothing dried (in February) with no problem. However, none of the sinks had plugs; bring a flat drain cover if you plan to do laundry. 5. I did purchase colones (Costa Rican currency) as it is normally beneficial to do so. This was one place where there was really no benefit. Just use dollars; take lots of $1 and $5 bills. 6. We had one bus and driver for the entire trip. Makes tipping easier... 7. The post trip, Tortuguero, provided a very different experience of Costa Rica than was otherwise part of the trip. It was very much worth the time and money.

Traveler: Leslie Boss from Silver Spring, MD traveled on January 30, 2012

More strenuous than most OAT trips.
Priscilla was absolutely terrific.
Wildlife was amazing.
Rustic was a flattering adjective for some of the hotels.
Food was acceptable but bland; fruit lovers will rejoice.
Be sure to bring a bathing suit and T shirts; you will get wet!

Traveler: Robert Wells from Aiken, SC traveled on January 30, 2012

Everything about this trip was amazing, starting with our guide, Andres. His knowledge, enthusiasm and love of his country made each day special, starting with our 5:45 a.m. optional bird walks before breakfast. We saw 175+ species of birds and many other animals. With the support of a very congenial group, I stepped out of my comfort zone to do both the whitewater rafting and the ziplining (loved them both).

The advice to take more cash and fewer clothes is good -- especially ones and fives. No need to take anything other than US dollars. I found a poncho to be more serviceable than my raincoat because it covered my backpack. I wished I had sturdier sandals to wear in rain other than flipflops. I was relieved to know the water was safe everywhere, and the food was great. We had opportunities to buy incidentals at groceries. I enjoyed the opportunity to swim at almost every lodging place. The one at LaMontana del Fuego was dirty but all the rest were great.

I was worried about not liking Tortuguero -- billed as hot, humid, rainy and buggy. It was one of my favorite places, as it is so pristine and has such amazing wildlife. Just be sure you have plenty of bug spray.

I felt this trip was an exceptional value. Costa Rica is such a wonderful country. I feel blessed to have met some of its people and enjoyed its beauty on this trip.

Traveler: Susan Lowmiller from Hendersonville, NC traveled on January 17, 2012

OAT advertises this as an eco-adventure and it certainly is. For a small country, Costa Rica has an amazing variety of topography as well as flora and fauna. This trip covers the dry (northwest), the wet (Caribbean coast), the beaches, the high plateau (San Jose), and the mountains. Our trip included the 3 day Tortuguero extension. The key to a good trip is the Trip Leader and ours (Andres Herrera) was outstanding. He was passionate about his country and its plants and animals. He could name any plant or tree, point out unique characteristics, and tell you what medicinal or other qualities it had. For birds, all he needed was to hear its song and he could identify it. We saw many, many birds and the requisite reptiles, amphibians, and land mammals up close, but alas no jaguar or Quetzal! Andres kept us informed and on schedule, but also allowed us the chance for some unique experiences by arranging special events that enhanced the trip.
Our group so enjoyed our tour that we made up a song sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things" from the "Sound of Music". The lyrics were pretty lame, for example "rice and beans, beans and rice, everyday you eat them twice; these are a few of my favorite things".
So, what are a few of our favorite things:
1. River rafting on the Sarapiqui.
2. Zip lining in the jungle. Even though most of us are collecting Social Security, the staff gave us good training and treated us like twentysomethings. For a hoot, try going upside down on the last zip line section.
3. The lodges, set in the jungle or forest, on the flank of a volcano, or near a beach. Don't expect the Ritz; after all, this is an adventure.
4. The food was amazingly good. Yes, there is always beans and rice, but there are other dishes, both familiar and unfamiliar, but all quite good. The breakfasts have American food with scrambled eggs, occassionally eggs, omelets, or Belgian waffles to order, loads of fresh fruit, and good coffee.
5 The bird watching trips, both in boats and on land, everywhere we went.
6. The night boat ride through the jungle, that Andres arranged as an option, spotlighting some very unusual birds and a couple of Fer de Lance snakes( at a respectful distance).
7. Interacting with the community and school visit. We had two teams that competed to complete a shopping list (in Spanish) at a grocery store. The locals were quite tolerant and didn't laugh out loud at our feeble efforts. The schoolchildren are like suddenly getting some new grandchildren. They love to show you their school and what they do.
8. New friends.

What could be improved:
1. The US OAT staff led us to believe that we had to make zip line optional tour reservations 60+- days in advance or be left out. This was not the case with zip line or any of the optional tours. We were just asked the day before who wanted to participate.
2. Our pre-trip research led us to believe that Montana de Fuego Hotel would be one of the best lodgings. In fact, it was our least favorite, While we had a great view of the Arenal Volcano, the building was shabby and in need of repair, and the room tired. It appeared that the hotel had newer, better lodgings available.
3. If you take the Tortuguero extension, you should plan on leaving your big suitcase checked at the hotel outside San Jose, since you will be returning there. Just take a pack or small overnight bag with essentials. Including this information in the itinerary would be very helpful, and avoid the need to pack your stuff in a hotel laundry bag!
After doing the Machu Picchu and the Galapagos OAT trip in 2011, we thought this trip might be a bit of a letdown. It wasn't; we enjoyed it very much.

Traveler: Richard & Sandra Foster from Fayetteville, PA traveled on January 17, 2012

This trip was just what you would want and expect of this tropical country: lots of birds (we counted over 90 different species), entertaining monkeys, cute frogs, caimans and crocodiles, interesting bats with an educational talk about them, and beautiful scenery and sunsets! Add on experiences like dancing and singing with the school children, making empanadas, and nature walks and talks about their eco farming and ranching, and you get an educational component. And, we loved our OATs Leader, Eduardo. He was patient, had a passion for his country and their practices, discussed controversial topics, and always had a welcoming smile. Make sure you take the extension to Tortuguergo National Park (no roads; travel via boat) for a relaxing, different park to see and way to get about.

Traveler: Evelyn Clayton from Salt Lake City, UT traveled on December 26, 2011

This is a great trip; you will enjoy it.

I suggest you take plenty of small USD, 5s & 1s for tips and incidentals. Change is hard to come by, either in dollars or colones. Dollars are commonly desired.

Enjoy

Traveler: Hugh Reeder from Austin, TX traveled on January 17, 2012

I recently returned from Real Affordable Costa Rica. This was my 7th trip with OATGCT. As usual, the group and our leader were interesting people with whom I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my experience. They encouraged me to do several activities that meant a lot to me personally. For example, I did the white water and zip line activiites. Now I had absolutely no intention of doing either one as both seemed way out of bounds for me. But I allowed myself to trust the guide who promised to sit beside me in the raft. Wow, what a great sense of freedom comes with overcoming a fear. Once I did that, I was able to do the zip line, first with a taxi but then on my own. I will always remember this trip as a personally freeing one.
One thing about this trip that I did not enjoy was the pacing. This was one of the few trips that was too slow. There was a great deal to do on some days and then there were a few days during which there was too much open time in isolated places. For example, the town of La Fortuna didn't need two days to explore. The hotel there was isolated and dinner was not provided.
We were fortunate in that we not only had fabulous weather, but saw many birds and other wild life. The bat experience was more interesting than I'd imagined with a naturalist who clearly loved bats. Take this trip and OAT rethink the pacing.

Traveler: Helen Friedland from Emerson, NJ traveled on December 28, 2011

This was our first trip with OAT. It was perfect for us. We will definitely take more OAT trips. If all the guides are as good as Priscilla Alvarado Taylor we will be very lucky. The extension to Tortuguero was a perfect way to end the trip. It was so beautiful and relaxing I didn't want to come home.
The only advice I would give is that I was concerned about the necessity to change money and got conflicting info from the website and phone conversations. There was no need to change money. Do take plenty of small bills ($1 and $5) for tips etc. Also the water was perfectly safe. By the way the food was delicious.

Traveler: Suzanne Lillis from Tucson, AZ traveled on January 01, 2012

I booked this tour at the last moment. Our trip leader, Rafael Campos, was extraordinary. Because of his storytelling style to share the history of his interesting country, our group was spellbound.

The nature walks were fascinating. Once he fearlessly took a large venomous (but not lethal) nephila spider from her orbed web and let her crawl over his face. She paused long enough on his forehead for us to photograph this unlikely duo. Later, at another park, we were tickled by the antics of white-faced Capuchin monkeys who grabbed from tree branches plastic bags with other tourists’ lunches and ate them. From experience, Rafael realized he had to guard our possessions carefully. And he did!

Rafael knew the perfect places to take great snapshots throughout our adventure, and a wonderful one it was too!

Traveler: Jayne Hanlin from Saint Louis, MO traveled on August 24, 2011

What was the best part of this trip??? The rainforest, of course (it really does rain), the bird watching, animals, hikes, the zipline, horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, the beaches - both Pacific and Caribbean, the host visit, school visit, the fellow travelers who became good friends, an extremely knowledgeable and excellent tour guide - Priscilla Alverado Taylor - and the wonderful Costa Rican people - PURA VIDA. This is my 7th trip with OAT (Patagonia is scheduled for the fall) - combining nature and culture - All adding up to an adventure I'd recommend to any traveler.

Traveler: Laura Haskell from E. Falmouth, MA traveled on January 01, 2012

I had a wonderful experience on this trip.
I can only rate this trip with more than excellent.

Traveler: Barbara Cerrone from Franklin Square, NY traveled on November 28, 2011

It was a great trip!!
Our guide was immensely knowledgeable and made sure everyone was as content as possible.
The fellow travelers were easy to get along with and fun to share with.
Now the country. Beautiful, very beautiful. The people in the country are doing an excellent job of being environmentally careful of their country. They take a lot of pride in it. Just meeting people on the street they were very friendly.
The one suggestion I have: if you go in the rainy season, bring a raincoat (works better than a poncho) and pants that can get wet or dry easily. Also a small umbrella (which is great for short distances when you don't want to don your rain coat).
Go, go go! It's a wonderful trip

Traveler: Barbara Murphy-Sanders from Park Ridge, IL traveled on October 26, 2011

Great trip with lots of adventures. Our guide Alex Espinoza was superb. Comments and suggestions...weather..it is the rainy season but you will see the country and jungles in full bloom. Mostly cloudy to sunny mornings the first week, showers often in the PM. Mostly sunny the second week. For jungle walks etc sneakers are fine. Wear drip dry clothes as CR is humid. Clothes are slow to dry out. Bring a good small flashlight as it gets dark early. A bring along rain jacket is useful. Hotels and lodges unique. All have wyfy services but not all provide pc's. Do take advantage of the many optional tours. The trip was crammed with beautiful sights, varied geography, interesting jungle and rivers nature tours and unique glimpses of Costa Rican culture, industry and life. Take this trip for you will not regret it. Pura Vida

Traveler: Richard Boyden from Mashpee, MA traveled on October 17, 2011

A culture different from our accustom experiences yet some similarities -----very informative, lots of fun interaction experiences, and exhilatering memories. to tantalize more exploration. This trip influenced us to explore more of the world.

Traveler: James Garlick from Grand Ledge, MI traveled on May 01, 2008

Are you tired of dark cathedrals and dusty museums? Would you like to enjoy natural beauty as it was intended? Then, this trip is right for you. The tropical beauty of Costa Rica is breathtaking. Whether you are trekking through a rain forest, riding a boat down a river or up a canal, or walking the beach you will find a sense of peace that overcomes you in a renewing and marvelous way. Being totally away from the incumbrances of life and enjoying the incredible beauty of nature rebuilds a weary soul. This trip can do that for you.

We traveled through this beautiful country in September and enjoyed the road less traveled. Not many tourists this time of year. So, much of our time in the wild was just us listening to the birds, and the call of the howler monkeys, and exploring what was before us.

We experienced Costa Rica through the eyes, incredible knowledge and wisdom of Carlos Calvos, our trip leader. Every day was new and different and he led the charge. But, the best was the last. The extension to Tortuguero was the icing on the cake. Such an incredibly beautiful place. Definitely, a must see!!

The hotels are located perfectly and each one has a wonderful charm and touch of its own.

This is a fairly active trip with a lot of walking and physical activity. If you are not up to it physically, consider a GCT that might accommodate your limitations and provide an enjoyable time.

Traveler: Carolyn Weese from Goodyear, AZ traveled on August 31, 2011

I cannot say enough good things about our trip to Costa Rica. Originally we were unsure how our 17 year old daughter would fit in with the typical OAT traveler, but she loved every minute of the trip and enjoyed everyone. She's ready to go again! By the end we were like one big happy family. Our trip leader, Alex Lopez was unbelievable and was "Johnny on the spot"! The whole trip was amazing and was a wonderful learning experience for all of us. We hope this will be the first of many future OAT trips!

Traveler: Tina Hickman from Dunlap, TN traveled on June 01, 2011

first of all let me tell you this about our guide alex. we had a lady on the trip who had some physical problems. when we got to the steep hill leading to the zip line starting point she could not get up the hill.alex then carried her piggy back up the hill so she could experience the thrill of the zip line. that gives you an inidication of his dedication to his travelers. if you are lucky enough to get alex as a guide you will be getting one of the best
we really enjoyed our costa rican trip. the hotels were basic but some had great views. the food was good and all the adventures were outstanding from the white water rafting to thezip line to the ocean canoe and everything in between. Great trip!!!!

Traveler: Richard Burger from Boothwyn, PA traveled on February 26, 2011

This was our 13th GCTOAT trip. Our Trip Leader, Jorge Diaz made this adventure fantasic in every way. He was most knowledgeable and professional in every way, in our top two of all time. What a beautiful country with animals and birds made viewable by our guide when we would have never spotted them. The hotels were great, our bus driver took great care of the bus and our luggage. The volcano was steaming as we stayed at the foot of the mountain. The white water rafting was just exciting enough to be really fun, but not scary. The horse back riding and the zip lining was super as Jorge took care of all his children. The food was good, but we did have black beans and rice every day, the staple of CR. Monkies at the back of our hotel in the rain forest, & one almost stole my bag at the beach. All great fun and a highly recommended trip. Any small problems that arose, Jorge took care of immediately and our satisfaction was his everyday goal.

Traveler: Tom Cunningham, Westminster, CO traveled on January 25, 2011

We loved our trip to Costa Rica. It exceeded our expectations for seeing so much flora and fauna, and our guide was so well-versed and knowledgeable about plants and animals. The country is so beautiful and we were there in JanFeb, and embraced the warm weather!
Hotels were local and had tons of character. Food was definitely not good at all (except for the daily pineapple, which was wonderful). The itinerary needs to be tweaked a bit (so as not to stay in Jaco, but instead, on the Pacific Coast near the national park). And beware of the buses OAT uses -- a fellow traveler had his bag (on the wheel well) stolen at a rest stop, and his passport was in it). Our guide told us that thieves break in the type of buses we used, so using them after they know that is unexcusable.
A wonderful winter respite. Beautiful pools in hotels, wonderful animal spotting. A 5-th time OATGCT traveller.

Traveler: Georgene Falcon from Elizabeth City, NC traveled on January 23, 2011

Our first OAT trip after GCT trips. We were not sure what to expect but were not disappointed. The small group was wonderful under the guidance of Marcelino Mata. His enthusiasm was contagious and his knowledge of Costa Rica and the birds, etc. was unparalleled. It is not the Ritz or even Red Roof but the experience is totally Costa Rica. Wouldn't do it any other way. Embrace the adventure.
My wife celebrated her birthday on the trip and Marcelino and our fellow travelers (friends) made it a very special day for her.
Advice-take cheap wash cloths that can be throw away after each stay. Nicer ones do not try in humidity. Make sure you do the Canopy Tour (perfectly safe).
Pura Vida.

Traveler: Kermit Hubbs from Glen Dale, WV traveled on December 28, 2010

Loved the trip -our guide, Marcelino Matos was absolutely the best! If you are lucky enough to get Marcelino, your worries are over. The fauna and flora were gorgeous - do everything, it's not hard, and definitely worth it. You don't need a duffle, a soft sided suitcase will do - and bring a raincoat!!!

Traveler: Carol Woudenberg from Mahwah, NJ traveled on December 28, 2010

Costa Rica is an exciting destination. This trip is a pleasant departure from visiting churches and government buildings. We could have packed lighter. You don't need fancy dress clothes. Bring a sturdy umbrella. You will be exposed to rain forest climate, so rain is to be expected. Consider yourself lucky if you get Carlos Calvo for your guide. His knowledge of nature is amazing. With his sense of humor, you will not have a dull moment. Keep in mind this trip does require agility to get in and out of rafts at steep banks, hike rocky and washed out trails and mount horses. You will also experience the thrill of ziplines and walking hanging bridges. The exposure to the large variety of birds, animals, bats and crocks is all about learning and discovery.
The meals are good. The fresh fish served is outstanding.
One tip nobody mentioned. The Costa Rica security people at the airport must collect umbrellas. When your carry on is scanned, they confiscate any umbrellas you may be carrying. There was a big box full under the conveyor betl. We would have packed it in checked luggage had we known.
This is a FUN trip. Highly recommend it.
Kaare & Mary from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Traveler: Kaare Wold from Sturgeon Bay, WI traveled on September 23, 2010

If you like adventure, beautiful scenery, and a willingness to rise early, this is the trip for you! Raphael Campos, our guide, was excellent in every aspect of the trip. Raphael guided us on early morning nature walks, rainforest hikes, and assured that we were able to experience all parts of the trip. You can pack light, the lodges offer laundry service, be sure to bring tennis shoes as well as sandels, sunscreen, hat and an open mind. Costa Rica has much to see and this trip offers a thoughtful insight into a beautiful country and its people.

Traveler: Patricia Doyle from Mckinney, TX traveled on May 06, 2010

This was a wonderful trip. There were 6 of us that were making return trips on this OAT tour. It was the begining of rainy season but this didn't bother us. Because OAT allows the trip leader to be flexable with the itinerary order we didn't miss a thing. Rafael is a great trip leader. The prices on things were in US dollars so you don't need to change any money or only very little. The wood factory takes Discover cards which surprised me. You need to read the physical suggestions because it can be taxing. I would highly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Jacquita Welch from Mckinney, TX traveled on May 06, 2010

So much happened on this trip that it is difficult to put into words. It was the most adventurous trip I 've taken. Since I'm afraid of heights I knew that there were several things I did not feel I could do. However, with the encouragement of fellow travelers and Ozzy, our guide, I did them all. One of my favorite trips was rafting. It was SO exciting and fun. There were five in our raft, and they called us the "divas". We worked together and enjoyed every minute. Ozzy was so informative in birdwatching and history of the country and a great guide. Our trip over the very long suspension bridge into the rainforest was a challenge, but I would have missed so much had I not done it. There were birds, monkeys, a rodent, interesting vegetation and lots more. We also had two other boat rides watching birds and crocodiles and caymen. A fellow traveler instructed me in the correct use of binoculars which helped in locating birds. The outrigger canoe trip was another great trip even though it began thundering on our return. We saw four kinds of monkeys, many birds, crocodiles, macaws, tucans, colorful poisonous frogs, ants, bats, etc. It was interesting to visit the school that is sponsored by OAT and then to a Costa Rican home for lunch. We had had another visit to a home of a woman who showed us how to make, and we did, empanadas. Then our hostess at the lunch also made some for us. I also rode a horse. Another great adventure was the Arenal volcano as we watched it erupt like fireworks in the evening. Then we got into the bus and watched somemore where Ozzy and Juanco, our bus driver, helped us to enjoy a party with wine and chips and dips,etc. What a great evening! Then we returned to the hotel for dinner, but who was hungry? There is so much more to tell, but I would rather suggest that you go and experience it for yourselves. Too great to pass on.

Traveler: Joanne Brue from New Berlin, WI traveled on April 01, 2010

So much fun and adventure on this trip through Costa Rica!! Our wonderful trip leader, Jorge Diaz, fostered a feeling of family within our group of 17 travelers. His pride in his country was contagious.

The trip offered so many unique activities. Every day something new...white water rafting, Zip ride through the rain forest canopy, crossing another rain forest on a series of hanging bridges, boating down rivers that were hosts to unbelievable amounts of flora and fauna. One couple counted a total of 97 different bird species!!

The hotels were often unique, the school visit charming, making emenadas with a lovely local lady, shopping for and cooking a delightful happy hour -- all wonderful experiences. All the kind of unique adventures that OAT provides.

And, best of all, even though the food was great, because of all the great oportunities to be active, I actually came home 12 pound lighter.

Traveler: Florence Frisina from Tucson, AZ traveled on April 05, 2010

I sent the following to Harriet earlier:

The Wave

Totally Immersed in Costa Rica

Hoping to initiate some action on the field by their hapless team, the diehard fans in the bleacher section, in back of the bull pen, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, home of the Red Sox, start a tsunami with thousands of bodies, arms and hands sweeping upwards like a giant spontaneous halleluiah. Some guy with a bull horn must be orchestrating all this. He’s too far away to see. I wonder if he can see home plate from where he sits. The wave, initially moving at the speed of a fast ball, propagates down the right field side of the park, past the foul ball “Pesky Pole”, zooms past first base, careens around home plate under the sky boxes and announcer’s booths, and accelerates past third base, finally crashing into the left field corner of the park, up against the giant “Green Monster” outfield wall. Like an earthquake aftershock, the bored (and hapless) fans in the bleachers immediately set off a second wave through the ball park. The third attempt to motivate this over stimulated crowd, who are more interested in beer, peanuts, ice cream, crackerjacks, and people watching, usually dies out before home plate. The action on the field is even slower than the arrival of the concessionaire with the peanuts. That’s baseball! On the other hand, the wave was something else. For a short time we were all fluidly connected to that man with the bull horn, the leader of the wave, who we have never ever met before.

After visiting a native Costa Rican Indian village with the 15 members of our Overseas Adventure Travel group, we crossed over a rickety wooden bridge with barely enough room for the wheels of our small tour bus. Overseas Adventure Travel or “OAT” specializes in small, intimate and educational group travel. In tribute to our expert driver, for getting us across the bridge safely, a wave of up thrust arms and hands, accompanied by much laughter, moved quickly from the front to the back of the bus. This ritual has become our standard acknowledgment to the driver following every successful bridge crossing in our circuitous route around Costa Rica. The wave has become a symbol of the connection and cohesion of the once disparate members of our group, now bonded by friendship and a common interest in exploring and understanding this wonderful Central American country.

Beneath every ocean wave is the sea, the liquid it rides on. If you follow all the molecules of water riding a wave, all they do is follow a circular motion as the wave passes through on its way to the horizon. The water, like the people in the ball park, bobs up and down. We, our fellow travelers, are the fluid through which the wave of time and events move. We are immersed in the process of learning and discovery about this place, its culture and its environment. In the heat and humidity, we are virtually under water, breathing, it seems, more water than air. In the jungles and forests, we are submerged below tree level, immersed in the environment. On the bus, gathered around our trip leader, and walking through the jungle, we are totally immersed in our group, our lives all connected at the same place and same time, as through the eye of a needle, joined in a common thread. We make friends. We are friends, like we have never ever been apart. We hope to see each other again. We make promises. “We must get together”, we say. How can two short weeks make such an impression? I think it is because we are sharing something unique for the first time. We are also older, maybe wiser. We understand what it means to be fluid and to go with the flow, to follow the wave, to see that others are exactly like ourselves. We are one. We are the fluid in this world. The waves pass through us, and we are forever connected to each other.

Dick Sederquist
2010

Traveler: Richard Sederquist from Middletown, CT traveled on April 06, 2010

Visiting Costa Rica last month was the 2nd OAT trip for me and my mom and was the one of the best times that I have ever had with my mom thanks to our trip leader Giovanni, driver Victor and the other couples that accompanied us on our vacation. This is a wonderful vacation to take a spouse, but was even more fun exploring with my mom - we went places that two shy Minnesota girls would never have visited on our own - I felt protected and cherished from the moment we exited customs in Costa Rica and were escorted through the throngs of people, all the way around the country and back to the airport with our beloved driver Victor almost two weeks later. The trip highlight for me was swimming in the Pacific Ocean - warm water, bright sun and clean, white sand. My mom and I tried to body surf as best as Minnesotans can do, but wound up with a lot of sand in our suits. My mom got caught in the surf and rolled in water about 3 inches deep and laughed longer and harder than what I remember in years previous. For nature lovers this is the trip to do - birds, monkeys, outdoor mineral baths, volcanoes, forests, the list of opportunities to see and experience is endless. Thank you OAT for setting up such a fantastic itinerary and a special thank you to Giovanni and Victor for ensuring that we could experience all of the opportunities that Costa Rica has to offer. We had a wonderful time and I can't wait for our next mom and daughter OAT adventure!

Traveler: Lisa Mckinley from Minneapolis, MN traveled on March 14, 2010

After being in our worst winter ever, we picked a great time to visit Costa Rica. It was different from any vacation we have ever taken, and well worth the trip. I must say that whatever Giovanni Comparaz, our tour director, and Victor, our driver are paid...it cannot be enough. They were fabulous. Our group of 16 were well matched and we had so much fun. The trip is taxing so you must be in good shape to enjoy it, as it is so fast-paced. Some of our favorite memories: the white water rafting, horseback riding and mineral springs, school visit, volcano, coffee plantation and pineapple plantation, and I could go on. My only suggestion for improvement would be at the mid-point, work in one beach day of rest and leisure to reenergize for the next week. Most of our group could have used that time. Also, might upgrade the Clarion in San Jose....even if you have to go up a little on the cost of the trip. We are so glad we took this trip and look forward to our next trip with OAT or Grand Circle. Wilma Styles

Traveler: Douglas Styles from Mills River, NC traveled on March 14, 2010

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip because, first of all, our fantastic tour leader Jorge Diaz. He made us all become like family and great friends. Second, were all the amazing natural sights that we saw.
The planning for the trip was exceptional - great hotels, food and activities. We really did a fine circle tour of the small country of Costa Rica - covering 7 national parks and reserves, winding up at Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific where we all enjoyed a beach afternoon swimming in the very warm water.
The animals, birds, flora and fauna were absolutely mind-boggling - especially the colorful iguanas, actually living near a wonderful local restaurant in the small town of Muelle, and all of the various lizards scampering about on walks and landscapes of the hotels.
The colorful macaws playing in the trees were a fine sight to see, and rare, I understand. The most amazing animal was the sloth, which we saw several times - one with a baby latched to her chest as she slowly climbed a tree. The scariest one was the eyelash viper, an extremely poisonous orange snake.
We really enjoyed the school visit to Esquela San Francisco and the two home-hosted dinners. I could practice some of my Spanish!
The stops at restaurants and craft shops were very well-timed, and the crafts were outstanding in great artistic beauty and very different from other countries.
I took over 500 digital photos and am busily making them into albums.
Thanks so much for the good service and impecable planning. This is my fourth trip with you and I am looking forward to more. BEST WISHES, JOAN R.

Traveler: Joan from Carlisle, MA traveled on December 30, 2009

The Affordable Costa Rica trip definitely is a thumbs up! We were surprised and delighted from the first day to the last. Our guide, Jorge Diaz, bent over backwards to keep everyone happy and made sure we were in the right place at the right time to take in the wildlife in their natural habitat: howler & white faced monkeys, squirrel monkeys (very rare), tucans, macaws (witnessed them mating!), caiman, crocodiles, leaf cutter ants, and endless tropical birds! Jorge's patience was tested as we waited for the lava flow at Arenal volcano. Fortunately, we were able to witness that as well.

All of the activities are a blast! The white water rafting trip was rated a "2" with 4 being the most difficult. It was perfect for us. Don't miss the zip line or the horseback ride to the hot springs. There is a great deal of walking involved on this trip, sometimes on difficult terrain, but well worth the sights...especially from the hanging bridges.

Of course, the school visit and home hosted lunch is always a treat. We especially enjoyed the cooking demo at the home of Rosita. The shopping at the wood factory is the best on the entire trip...great quality and prices.

The accomodations were great. At Buena Vista it is common to be extremely windy, and it was. Many in our group did not sleep well our first night there because of the extreme wind. The Monterrey del Mar was my favorite...extremely lovely with all the amenities.

The only negative we had would be the smaller buses that were used on this trip (compared to our previous trip to Thailand). We traveled almost 800 miles by bus. Water was not provided on the bus, we had to pick it up on our own.

We look forward to our next trip with OAT and hope to be a veteran traveler.

Thanks for the memories, OAT!!

Traveler: Barbara from Vinton, IA traveled on December 30, 2009

We found Costa Rica filled with good lessons for the rest of us about ways to save this planet. The country is inspiring because it has re-directed monies that they would have spent on an army to education. The Costa Riceños have programs to presrve the envronmennt -- 25% of the land is in national parks and peoe work to resto willife.

Our trip began in San Jose and ended there. We took a great loop to the west and the north before ending up at the Paicific Coast.

OAT chose delightful hotels and resorts for us to stay in, but our complaint --the one that stops us from giving the trip 5 stars --is that we spent a great deal of time on the bus and little time enjoying the places we stayed. We stayed two nights at each place, which was good, but I would have preferred to shorten that loop to the north, missing Caño Negro and spending THREE nights in a couple of places.

The river trip at Tarcoles, near the Pacific was more interesting than the one at Caño Negro.

The side trips and the meeting of the people were delightful.

I simply was very tired of that bus!
Mary Maynard

Traveler: Howard & Mary from Westport, CT traveled on December 19, 2009

I loved my eighth trip with OATGCT, this time to Costa Rica. The itinerary was perfect, providing an introduction to key regions and a wide variety of flora and fauna of Costa Rica, with apt pacing. The hotels were very comfortable, with the exception of the hard beds in the Sarapiqui lodge. The food was plentiful and delicious. The country is a lush paradise, reminding me of Kerala in India, with its rainforests, flowering trees and bushes and verdant agricultural fields and colorful gardens; the mountains and volcanoes are beautiful; the wildlife, including birds, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles,iguanas and lizards are plentiful; the beaches and sunsets are lovely. I liked our stops or stays in small villages and towns, and the school and family visits so I could experience something of local culture and life. The Ticos are very friendly people. The relative prosperity of Guatemala, compared to other Central American countries, meant that there was little abject poverty to be seen; the water was drinkable, and no one in our group got sick. Our trip leader, Victor Villegas, was the best leaderguide I have ever had. His personality was marvelous and his knowledge extensive. The only unenjoyable site was San Jose, an ugly city with little architectural interest, but we did not spend much time there. Also, if you are looking for beautiful colonial cities or towns, go to Guatemala or Nicaragua instead; if you are looking for fascinating indigenous culture, you will not find it in Costa Rica, but in Guatemala. I spent six days at the end of the trip at a beautiful hotel in San Antonio and loved walking the beaches, exploring the national park and the sunsets. Consider buying only the land package and making your own air arrangements, which was cheaper for me and allowed me to extend the trip on my own.

Traveler: Tom from Winfield, PA traveled on December 02, 2009

My wife and I traveled to CR on December 14 and returned December 26. To prepare for the trip, I read previous reviews. My intent in this review is to list a few practical matters that may add to your enjoyment.
1. US dollars work well in almost every place. Take plently of smaller bills. We only used credit cards a couple of times. We changed US dollars at the first hotel and found we had just about enough colones for the entire trip. If you change too much, it's easy to use them as tips for your guide and bus driver at the end of your trip.
2. We found prices to be somewhat similar to what we pay in the Midwest.
3. Expect to enjoy beans and rice at most meals along with numerous other choices.
4. Take a good flashlight (two if you are a couple). Lighting in some of the rooms is not too bringht, and paths to your accommodations are easier to travel with a flashlight.
5. Be sure to have waterproof shoes or something like 'crocks.' They will come in handy for rafting and other wet activities. It takes time for anything you wash to dry.
6. The stops at the art shop and the leather shop contain expensive items. At the leather shop, belts cost $60 US and purses were $150 US and up. The owner had an interesting story, but I don't think anyone in our group made a purchase.
7. You will be pleased with the wood shop visit near the end of the trip. There are LOTS of souvenirs of a wide variety at a range of prices. Your guide may mention this shop near the beginning of the tour, so keep this in mind. There's even a 50% off room for all you bargain hunters (my wife included).

Our guide and bus driver were thoroughly outstanding. I hope my comments may add to the enjoyment of your trip.

Traveler: Jerry from Sycamore, IL traveled on December 14, 2009

The tour leader makes the trip. We have learned this after 8 trips with GCTOAT. In this case Raphael was right up their with the best we ever encountered. Make sure you take the Hanging Bridges tour and the Zip lining excursion (forget about being afraid of heights) and horse back riding and mud baths! The birds and animals and foliage are amazing. The country is one big rain forest. Don't miss this trip.

Traveler: Edward from San Diego, CA traveled on December 18, 2009

This was my first OAT trip, and I certainly hope it will be just the beginning.
A big part of the credit must go to our tour leader, Victor Villegas. Victor was unfailingly polite, always making sure that everyone's particular needs were met. His enthusiasm never seemed to flag, and his knowledge of, and ability to spot, the local wildlife was uncanny. Plus, his imitation of a howler monkey is pretty spectacular. Our driver Alvin also deserves praise for his skill at getting our bus safely along some rather "rustic" roads.

This is a fairly physical tour- experienced OAT travelers in our group said it was the most physical OAT trip they'd been on. I was the youngest person in our group (37 years old), and even I felt a little winded near the end of the Arenal Hanging Bridges optional tour. Some other activities (notably the outrigger canoe) also left me feeling a bit sore afterwards. While you certainly don't need to be a triathlete to enjoy this trip, you really should be in pretty good physical condition.

I came on the trip primarily interested in seeing Costa Rica's natural beauty, and this tour definitely delivered. I spotted 77 species of birds, including toucans, parrots, motmots, trogons, hummingbirds, and many more. Howler monkeys, iguanas, and caimans were seemingly everywhere, and we also saw three-toed sloths, anteaters, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. One afternoon I even saw a small troop of coatimundi. The wildlife viewing wasn't always perfect- sometimes (especially on the hanging bridges) we saw hardly any animals at all, and some creatures (notably the rare Scarlet Macaws) were only glimpsed from a long distance. But as Victor said, "This isn't Disneyland. Wild animals don't perform on a schedule." Overall, the wildlife (especially bird) viewing was excellent.

But what really distinguishes this trip from the many other tour companies that will show you Costa Rica's wildlife is the many opportunities to meet with ordinary Ticos and learn something of their lives. The visit to the elementary school (including the coffee breakfast with Rocio and the home-hosted lunch) was a wonderful glimpse into daily life for rural Costa Ricans. The visit to the Maleku reservation was another highlight of the tour. Victor was quite candid in discussing controversial topics, including the rising problem of crime and the discrimination faced by Nicaraguan workers in Costa Rica; it never felt like he was trying to whitewash his country's problems.

Overall, this was an excellent trip. The weather was warm and mostly humid (except in Guanacaste), with occasional sprinkles, but there was only one day with significant rain, and that was during the whitewater rafting when we were getting wet anyway. Most of the rain fell during the evening and night. Insects were not a big problem, I only received a few small mosquito bites. Food quality varied, with some delicious meals and some rather mediocre. (Tip: When in doubt at the hotel buffets, stick to the local-type foods- beans and rice, plantains, fresh fruit. They are delicious and healthy, and the kitchen staff knows how to cook them right.) If you love birds and other wildlife, and if you are in good physical health, then Real Affordable Costa Rica is an excellent choice for your next adventure.

Traveler: Robert from Baltimore, MD traveled on December 02, 2009

My trip started with a pre-trip e-mail from our guide, Jorge Diaz Arias, welcoming us to Costa Rica and telling us how much he was looking forward to meeting us. Upon our arrival, and during the welcome meeting, Jorge gave us a one-page synopsis of the Green Book that made it easy to see where you were going from day-to-day. Great idea! And, it just got better from there.

From Day One we were stunned by the number of animals, birds and insects we saw on our nature walks. It's almost as if they were waiting to perform for just for us! Even a crocodile right next to our river boat greeted us! The hanging bridges in the rain forest and the walking paths in the dry forest got us up close and personal with nature and gave Jorge a chance to show us that he knew everything about his country. His pride in Costa Rica and his willingness to go the extra mile to show it to us made the trip much more interesting.

In September, it's the rainygreen season in Costa Rica, and we had several episodes of downpours, however, most of them conveniently happened during the night or while we were indoors. Along with two other guests on the trip, I did have some problem with sweating in the humidity of the rain forest, but you just need to drink plenty of water and carry an old washcloth or hand towel to mop your brow. Potassium andor salt pills might also help keep your system in balance.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lodges in the national parks where you awoke to the sounds of birds singing and were close enough to literally walk into the woods. The Clarion Amon Hotel in San Jose was also excellent with a good restaurant, wine selection and great staff.

Jorge saw to it that we were in the right place (sometimes early morning; sometimes late afternoon) to get the maximum opportunity to see the wildlife. He also brought his tripod and zoom camera for those peeks at birds and animals too far away for your own camera.
He also gave us choices and suggestions as to where we could go, spend more time or less and where we could eat.

The food was consistently good, and you will find gallo pinta for breakfast a real treat. Try it! Also, have the fish and seafood whenever you can - it's fresh, delicious and beautifully prepared. Except for one meal that wasn't the best, we had a wide variety of meats, vegetables and dairy - something for every appetite and diet. I particularly like the buffet style because you can eat as much, or as little as you like.

The school visit and home-hosted lunch were two of the highlights of this trip, but you cannot beat the fun of river rafting and zip-lining! I'm no athlete, but had no trouble enjoying myself with these two activities.

I'd like to add a word of commendation for Coca, our bus driver. Although the roads in Costa Rica are not horrible, some of them tend to washboard bumps and potholes. Coca was a real pro at navigating these with minimum discomfort to our bodies. Along with his other responsibilities of managing the luggage, he kept the bus clean and gassed and safe for us.

You couldn't ask for a better guide and a better driver than Jorge and Coca! A great team.

This was my third trip with OAT - and, the third time's a charm. Go. You will love it!

Traveler: Jane from Glenview, IL traveled on September 09, 2009

This was an amazing trip! Osvaldo was a fantastic guide, who knew every bird and animal call and could spot the most elusive, exotic birds and creatures. His Swaroski scope brought the birds so close yet did not disturb them.
The zip-line was way too much fun.
I enjoyed all of our accomodations, especially the Serapiqui Lodge and the Buena Vista cottages. I love the country and its friendly people. The Eco conscious culture is an example for the rest of the world in how to treat our precious resources.
OAT, you have done it again! This was over the top.

Traveler: Christine from Inverness, FL traveled on September 25, 2009

This was an incredible trip full of adventure in a beautiful country of friendly people. Our guide, Ozvaldo, was excellent at spotting birds and wildlife and showing us his country. The itinerary was excellent with white water rafting, horse back riding, zip line, out rigger canoeing and hiking through the rainforest on hanging bridges. We had a great group that became friends right from the start. But most of all it was just plain fun.

Traveler: Jan from Surprise, AZ traveled on September 07, 2009

The Affordable Costa Rica tour was a wonderful survey tour. I enjoyed contact with the CR people most of all - home hosted-lunch, school visit, roadside stops, visit to MY's leather works, etc.. What made this trip especially memorable, other than the GREAT group of fellow travelers, was the guide - Luis Cruz... also known as Pana. His knowledge of history, flora & fauna of CR was superb, but his passion for his country and his willingness to go the extra 10 miles to make this a trip of a lifetime, not just another tour was extraordinary. I would take another trip to CR if I was assured of Pana for a guide. But no matter who the guide, this trip gives a good overview of CR's natural beauty and culture. It was good value for the money.

Traveler: Susan from San Pablo, CA traveled on August 11, 2009

This was my first trip with OAT and my first travel experience outside the US for many years. I picked the trip because of the many different things being offered like rafting, horseback riding, zip lining....
All of those were great experiences, but the trip was just so much more than the activities. I learned so much about Costa Rica and had such a good time with the wonderful group of people. Our trip leader, Alex, loved his country and by the end of the trip, I think we all loved Costa Rica. Alex also knew so much about the land, the birds, the animals, it was really a learning experience besides a pleasant vacation. I am a birder and with the help of Alex, added 80 birds to my Life list.
A few things that would have helped knowing before I left was that it is almost impossible to get change in stores, restaurants, the motels. Getting money was not too bad as there were a few towns where Alex pointed out ATMs. The problem is the ATMs only give large bills. I would recommend taking a lot of $1 and $5 bills to use as tips and buy snacks and things in the stores. U.S. dollars were accepted everywhere we went, but they would not take a $20 for a small purchase.
I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. I had a blast and learned a lot about a country that I really never knew anything about before.

Traveler: Carolyn from San Antonio, TX traveled on July 17, 2009

This trip was just magical for both me and my mom. My mom's a satisfied OAT traveler but it was my first. After this experience, I hope it will be the first of many OAT trips. I was expecting to love Costa Rica but I wasn't expecting to fall IN LOVE with Costa Rica. I attribute this to two factors: the unique tour group experience that is OAT and our truly excellent guide, Rafael Compos. This trip was an almost perfect combination of learning, discovery, adventure and relaxation. The accommodations were stellar. We especially loved our introduction to the "eco-lodge" experience. Costa Rica has proven that you can feel pampered and happy in beautiful surroundings without making an adverse impact on the environment. OAT describes some of these lodges as "rustic" but I say that is hardly the case. Our rooms were clean & comfy with excellent buffets and service. Much of this trip involves nature walks and, with Rafael as your guide, you will have an unforgettable experience. His knowledge of the local flora & fauna, history & ecology of CR is vast. At the end of this trip I felt as if I had completed a college course because I had learned so very much. I would recommend every activity offered on this trip. We especially loved the zip line (of course), the horseback ride up to the mud baths, the hanging bridges tour and the outrigger canoe trip. All the guides who lead these activities are friendly & skillful. All activities were easy for both me and my mom (who just turned 70) to accomplish. OAT did a beautiful job of introducing me to the tropical paradise that is Costa Rica. This trip is pura vida for the eco-tourist.

Traveler: Michele from Alameda, CA traveled on June 20, 2009

There is not a lot that I can write that hasn't already been said by other travelers of this trip but a couple of things stand out for me. I took this trip with my 19-year old daughter who always goes on OAT trips with me. She absolutely loved it even more than I did. She did everything that was offered and altho I didn't, I still loved the trip because I got to do what I had my heart set on doing - photography of many birds and mammals. We not only saw tons of birds but they didn't fly away as we approached them so I have shots that are worthy of National Geographic (so I've been told). We also got to see many monkeys, sloths and crocodiles with the help of our amazing guide, Geovanny Comparaz, who continues to help me (via email) identify some of these birds even though our trip is over. Geovanny is not a native Costa Rican but you would never know that, with his incredible knowledge of the country. He always had some information to give us along the way. I loved this trip (our 6th with OAT) and wouldn't hesitate to take it again.

Traveler: Rhonda from Passaic, NJ traveled on June 16, 2009

What a paradise, beats Hawaii any day.
I live it Florida all winter so it it less than a three hour flight. The variety of terrain in such a compact country, it is the size of Delaware is amazinfg. The adventure of this trip is remarkable, everything from white water rafteing. zip line, two amazing hikes through rainforests. Birds walks almost everyday. We saw monkeys, toucans, and scarlet macaws, the hotels were wonderful all different and very unique. Our guide Marcelino was a wealth of knowlege, enthusiasm and energy. I hope to go back again next year. Two of our traveling companions had done five trips to Costa Rica with OATS. One of the best trips I have ever had in my life and I am a very seasoned traveler, I have crossed 50 borders!

Traveler: Patricia from Largo, FL traveled on April 15, 2009

So many rave reviews of this trip's sun, beach, birds, flowers, and wildlife ....and accolades to guide, Rafael Compos, have been written, that I shall say only that I agree with them, and share the following:

I felt very comfortable in this land because Ticos are a peace loving, tranquil people. Costa Rica has no standing army, over 25% of the land is protected, it is the greenist country in the world, and the president is a nobel peace prize winner.

Further, the water is safe to drink....they even have water fountains, and most shops accept US currency.

My many travels with GCTOAT speak to my feeling safe with them. Safe in that my trip will be interesting and well organized and safe in my unatheletic self taking advantage of the adventurous opportunities offered.

It's a great trip.

Traveler: Genevieve from Columbus, OH traveled on March 17, 2009

As a frequent traveler with OAT and Grand Circle, all I can say about this trip is "WOW"!! As they say in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida". It's truly a good life.

Our itinerary was perfect, and our supreme trip leader, Osvaldo, was simply the best. His knowledge, willingness to change the itinerary to fit weather conditions, and his attention to every detail of the trip made this an unforgettable experience. Our small group of 15 was extremely compatible.

The visit to the school to interact with the children, our home-hosted lunch, our visit to a local family complete with water buffalo, what more could you ask.

Spending every day outside, whitewater rafting, zip lining, canoeing, outrigger canoeing, hiking, we did it all. This is one trip I'd definitely do again! The fun and outdoor experiences never ended. Our post-trip to Tortuguero was a highlight of the trip... getting out into the water wilderness was exceptional with time to relax, canoe with Osie as our expert guide, and really get to know the Tortuguero area. It was really hard to leave it all behind.

Traveler: Alice from Traverse City, MI traveled on February 24, 2009

Although I am a seasoned traveler, This was my first trip to Central America and my first OAT trip. I could not have been more pleased with this entire trip...the scenery, the weather , the lodges, the food, but most importantly, the guide..Rafael. He was so knowledgable it felt like I had taken a college course in CR . His extensive knowledge and love of his country were evident each and every day. Our driver, Cristian, was top-notch and kept the bus clean and shiney at all times.

Our travel-mates ranged in age from the 50's to the late 70's and Rafael was able to accomodate the various levels of physical ability with no problems.

Needless to say I have many wonderful memories of this trip and an impressive photo album to share with friends and family. I look forward to many more OAT trips in the future.

Traveler: Nancy from Hopkins, MN traveled on February 13, 2009

Just returned from Costa Rica on February 27. Besides what has been already mentioned in previous reviews I would like to commend OAT on their efforts not only to support the Escuela San Francisco but also the Maleko tribe, the woman who prepared the empenadas, with us, the woman who designed the beautiful purses, the deaf people who make the beautiful wooden jewelry, the man who singlehandedly is working to preserve an endangered turtle species, etc. etc. By exposing us to these endeavors, we learned alot,had an opportunity to interact with the people with dignity, and tocontribute to them as well. I have never had that opportunity before with any other travel company and I will never forget it. Also, I most put a word in for our trip leader. He has to be the best trip leader!! Edwin Arse gave his all for the entire trip. Every day was a surprise, and he took us on many unplanned visits as they presented themselves, such as an open air market, a bull auction, and best of all a horse festival and parade in Liberia complete with beautifully decorated, dancing horses and brass bands. He took care of our every need and our driver Chicho was wonderful as well. On our last night, at dinner, our group thought so much of him that we wrote a poem and song in tribute.Thank you Edwin and OAT!!

Traveler: Lisa from Cleveland, OH traveled on February 14, 2009

I was not a very experienced traveler and had never traveled as a single before, so I wasn't entirely sure that I would enjoy the experience. But since OAT was waving the single supplement and I had just retired, I decided that it was time to give it a try. Boy am I glad that I did!

Although I was one of only two people traveling alone, I never for a moment felt lonely or left out. Our group of 14 was very congenial and friendly. I made several new friends whom I am currently communicating with by email and hope to see again in the future.

Our trip leader, Alex Alvarez, was wonderful and adept at solving any problem efficiently and cheerfully. This became apparent immediately when my luggage failed to arrive with me. Alex not only tracked down the luggage and arranged to have it delivered to our second night's lodging, he made a special stop at a small country store for me to buy needed personal items and provided assistance with difficult to translate words such as "deoderant."

As for the trip itself; it was wonderful. It was action packed and filled with a great variety of activities ranging from the thrill of a "zip-line" trip over the forest canopy, to having a family in a small village teach us to make our own empanadas. I especially enjoyed the hike in the rain forest over hanging bridges, the beautiful photos I was able to take at the butterfly farm and the opportunity to see and touch live bats at the Tirimbina Biological Station.

Our trip leader, Alex, was very knowledgable about the local flora and fauna. He had a fantastic ability to spot wildlife, and, when the rest of us would say, "what, where?" etc., he would whip out his electronic pointer and deftly place a little green dot of light on the sloth, monkey, bird or iguana of the moment. Wow!

I enjoy nature and this was the perfect trip for me. I also enjoyed the great variety of unique lodgings, including the one with the straw roof and the gecko on the wall.

This may not be the trip for you, however, if you are looking for luxury travel instead of adventure travel or if you don't particularly care for the outdoors. It does rain a lot in the rain forest; there are insects, though not as many as I expected, and some lodgings are rustic. I was very glad that I had invested in a good quality poncho prior to the trip, and was never uncomfortable. If you go with a spirit of adventure, you'll have a great time.

Traveler: Joanne from Fresno, CA traveled on February 08, 2009

A great adventure to say the least. We would have hoped for more cooperative weather but there was a cold front in the mountains causing very potent winds of up to 80 mph. The sunset from the Buena Vista Lodge in Liberia though was truly unforgettable and spectacular. Visiting a local school and interacting with the children was for me very special since I am a retired teacher and school principal,. Our tour guide, Jose Saenz, had the patience of a saint solving travelers' problems such as day-late arrivals, lost baggage and injuries. I especially enjoyed the Cano Negro boat ride safari as we spotted howler monkeys, colorful birds, and caimans. A great time was had by all!

Traveler: Edna from Hermosa Beach, CA traveled on January 27, 2009

After reading the reviews from other travelers, it appears that the tour guides for Costa Rica OAT trips are uniformly excellent. But not one of them mentioned our tour guide, Victor. Perhaps we are a bit biased, but we believe that Victor is quite possibly the best tour guide for Costa Rica. Surely the other guides were just fine, but we find it hard to believe that they were as good as Victor. He was absolutely tops for knowing all aspects of his wonderful country. And he was a master of details and organization. What's more, he kept us hugely entertained during the long bus rides on the backroads through the "jungle". Finally, he was caring and took a personal interest in each of the tour members. So at the risk of being redundant, the other guides are no doubt very good---but Victor is the best.

Traveler: Jane from Bellevue, WA traveled on January 13, 2009