Costa Rica Trip

Author: ana b.
Date of Trip: December 2006

This was, by far, the most amazing tour I have ever taken in my life. The sights were amazing and the people were outstanding. Every detail was thoroughly considered.

The hotels selected for this tour were excellent. They were clean and kept up very nicely. At one hotel, we got to enjoy a pool, a bar, and a Jacuzzi in the gym. At this particular hotel, I enjoyed the convenience of having taxis outside at all times so I could set out and explore whenever I wanted.

At the next hotel, I loved the rustic solitude of the lodge nestled within a quaint and lovely location. It was a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of my daily life. Then, at our next hotel, we were within walking distance of the beautiful town of Fortuna. And, at the next, there was a swim up bar located right by the pool — what a relaxing atmosphere! Every hotel I went to had plenty of amenities to enjoy and each was special in its own unique way.

The meals were all very tasty, too. And, there was always plenty of it to eat! I felt like I really got to enjoy the full Costa Rica experience with the authentic meals that were served throughout the tour and at the hotels.

All of the activities selected for the tour were absolutely wonderful. Each tour was filled with interesting information about the area. I just know I saw more of Costa Rica on this tour than I ever would have been able to see on my own. Yet, I would have to say that my favorite part was Tortuguero and seeing the green turtles, though all of the sights and activities were truly memorable. From the Arenal volcano to wildlife viewing, to meeting the Ticos to the volcanic hot springs — I never realized just how varied the activities and sights of Costa Rica really are!

Aside from the amazing activities, one of the greatest parts of our Costa Rica tour had to have been the tour director. He was very knowledgeable and truly went out of his way to be helpful and to make our trip enjoyable. He went above and beyond my expectations and far surpassed the service I have had with other tours I have been on. He even took the time to help me put my 300 photographs in order so I can have a magnificent photo journal of my trip. The tour director also had a great sense of humor that really made our trip exceptional. He made every moment exciting, even when there wasn’t a whole lot going on at the time!

In addition to our main tour director, I was very impressed by the knowledge of the various local tour guides I met. They very friendly and knew a great deal about their area. Even the driver was wonderful! He was a very nice person who kept us quite safe. He was able to squeeze us in and out of tight areas with no trouble at all! He was very helpful when it came to getting in and out of the bus, which was always clean and was surprisingly comfortable. Perhaps the best part was when he would stop to point out the animals on the side of the road and provide us with interesting tidbits of information about them.

Even the boats were very comfortable and the drivers were skillful. I felt like I was riding on a bus as we glided over the water from one sight to the next. Not only that, I was very pleased with the number of rest stops that were planned along the way from one activity to the next. The bathrooms were very clean, which you don’t often see with rest stops. To make it even better, there were souvenir shops at each of the rest stops, which provided me with plenty of local shopping opportunities to pursue while everyone got out and stretched their legs and used the facilities.

I will definitely travel with Caravan Tours again. The value was excellent and this trip was amazing. You do not spend a lot of time on the bus, but make friends in the meantime. By the time this trip ended, we had made a number of new friends — a perk that was completely unexpected. I will definitely recommend this trip to all of my friends and family!