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Explorations 4.6 feefo-stars

Costa Rica: A World of Nature

featuring Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano & Manuel Antonio National Park
12 DAYS
$4,599 pp*
*Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.

About This Tour

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From thrilling water journeys to ethereal jungle expeditions, discover what pura vida means to you when you explore the essence of Costa Rica. Encounter an emerald wonderland, where trees climb high and animals roam free. Immerse yourself in nature when you spend 2 nights at a remote resort in San Carlos and 3 nights in the region of Arenal National Park. Sample fresh cacao during a visit to a local plantation. Give back to preservation efforts at a sea turtle research station in Tortuguero National Park. Embark on a crocodile safari in the jungle and a bird-watching cruise in the rainforest. Stand suspended over the rainforest floor as you journey across a network of hanging bridges. Hike the lava fields of Arenal Volcano or soar over jungle canopies on a zip line. It’s time to experience a world of nature.

Your Tour Includes
  • 5 Handpicked Accommodations
  • 23 Meals
  • 2 Choice on Tour Options
Included Highlights
  • Tortuguero National Park
  • Cooking Demonstration
  • Sarapiquí
  • Tirimbina Rainforest Center

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Your Tour at a Glance

Stay

12 Days

11 Nights


Meals

23 Meals

11 Breakfasts

4 Lunches

8 Dinners


Activity

3 - Active

What's This?

Travel Style

Explorations

What's This?
Customize Your Tour

Optional Excursions

Starting at $63.00

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  • No booking fee, *no change fees
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Getting Prepared

Know Before You Go

Enhance Your Tour

Accommodation

Arrive Earlier

Pre Night: Doubletree Cariari Hotel
From $95 per night

...
Doubletree Cariari Hotel

Night 1

...
Evergreen Lodge

Nights 2-3

...
Tilajari Hotel Resort

Nights 4-5

...
Hotel Lomas del Volcan

Nights 6-8

...
Los Suenos Marriott Costa Rica

Nights 9-10

...
Doubletree Cariari Hotel

Night 11

Stay Longer

Post Night: Doubletree Cariari Hotel
From $95 per night

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Trip Reviews

Live, Unedited, & Independent Traveler Reviews

Rating

160 reviews
Overall Trip Rating
4.6
Out of 5
feefo-stars
Based on 160 independent reviews
5
121
4
28
3
5
2
5
1
1
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Collette tours did an excellent job of planning our trip. Including air fare, multiple hotel arrangements (6 differet ones) transportation, and all the different excursions. We saw a sea turtle laying eggs on the beach as well as monkeys around our hotel, crocodile tour, zip lining, white water rafting, and a banana plantation process start to finish. We saw sloths, toucan, macaw, as well as a variety of other birds. Our tour guide, Martha (Marta) was unbelievable in her knowledge of the local areas, the history and traditions.
    Craig Snead
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The paddle and float down river on Penas Blancas River. The guides was knowledgeable and friendly. The wildlife was amazing! The visit to the finca of a local family was so special. They were so welcoming.
    Anita Cochran
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Juan Pablo was an excellent tour manager. Loved the small group.
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Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The small group explorations are always my favorite. We had 19 people and the itinerary was amazing. This tour gave me “first ever” experiences as I was exposed to the rainforest during the rainy season. The unusual flora and fauna, white water rafting, zip lining, hanging bridges, hearing from local people about green turtle research, coconut plantations, cacao plantations, and coffee plantations all were firsts for me and I loved every minutes. The accommodations were beautiful and each unique to the area and staying multiple days in each was especially enjoyable. The Arenal Volcano was my view for three nights. Nature walks and boat rides on rivers and canals added greatly to my list of birds and animals spotted. Our guide was so knowledgeable and an extra plus was that he brought his scope which allowed us to get awesome views of those animals and birds nestled in the trees. I arrived in Costa Rica a day early so I added a city tour of San Jose that was arranged at my hotel. I have never been disappointed with Collette tours and this one was exceptional!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Tortuguero night tour of green turtle laying eggs.
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Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Seeing the turtles laying eggs in Tortuguero was an amazing experience. The boat rides looking for animals were amazing. Our tour leader Rafa was kind and funny and so knowledgeable about Costa Rica. We cant wait to return in the future.
    Matti Feldman
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We went late at night to see the turtles laying eggs in the beach, it was magical. The following day we got to see the release of a turtle which we now track. Rafa our guide was delightful and caring. The whole trip was just a fantastic experience.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    I thought there could have been a meeting on the day we arrived in San Jose to meet the group vs leaving super early the next day for a day of traveling. I enjoyed the hotels through Arenal. Los Sueños is a lovely resort but it felt as if we were in Miami rather than Costa Rica. Also, our final farewell dinner was held in a horrible conference room with a not great meal when there was a much more intimate and more interesting restaurant on site.
Reviewed on
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We saw tons of wildlife and enjoyed seeing how cacao, coffee etc is grown and processed. The tours and accommodations, as well as the tour guide was excellent
Reviewed on
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Tour manager was excellent. Accommodations spanned a wide range from resorts to sleeping in a rain forest in a screened in porch type room. Lots of activities for all levels. Not for anyone even a little bit handicapped. We skipped the zip lining and river rafting. Only 24 on tour and about half took part. Lots of rain and really humid, and it was only April. Beautiful birds and flowers. Great for bird watchers.
    Marjorie A
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I was very happy with this tour! Once again, Collette got me into tours and presentations that taught me about the local way of live and economy. They were things that I never would have chosen or found on my own. The tour was quite active with many activities, often boating, although with the heat it was hard to be physically active and we didn't walk a whole lot. My favorite experience was watching Arenal volcano steam from the back porch of my cabin with a cup of morning coffee at La Fortuna.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was an excellent comprehensive tour of Costa Rica. We enjoyed the variety of experiences that were offered. Our tour guide Sergio was wonderful. He took pride in sharing many interesting facts about his country & he had a very nice personality. He offered bird watching/nature walks at 6-7 am before the start of his/our day. Sergio was patient & helpful in finding my glasses on the bus & found 8 of us safe, economical transportation to a wildlife center on his day off while most of the others in the group went white water rafting which allowed us to maximize the last day at our resort.
    Cindy Simmons
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent itinerary and tour. Tour manager was outstanding and even provided extras especially the early morning nature walks. The wildlife was the best and it was truly "A World of Nature". The ziplining and rafting were memorable as well. We enjoyed learning about: coconuts, pineapples, bananas, cacao and coffee. We enjoyed staying at the Marriott for some relaxation rather than taking the day trip to the National Park; it was a holiday period and expected crowds and wait time at the park.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent itinerary and tour. Tour manager was outstanding and even provided extras. The wildlife was the best and it was truly "A World of Nature". The ziplining was memorable as well. We enjoyed staying at the Marriott for some relaxation rather than taking the day trip to the National Park; it was a holiday period and expected crowds and wait time at the park.
    Gene Reinhardt
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved the morning bird walks. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, he also shared photos he took using his spotting scope. Our guide was easy to be around, friendly, spoke perfect English, and he is clearly proud of his country and it's high regard for ecotourism.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Seeing all the birds, butterflies, monkeys, and the beautiful lush land of Costa Rica.
    Mary Ann Pape
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    One of my most memorable experiences on tour was walking the swinging bridges over and through the rainforest. We saw lots of natural beauty and creatures. Our guide was excellent at pointing out and naming vegetation and creatures.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Martha was not only friendly, but a wealth of knowledge. A great ambassador for her country!!! I loved all the great experiences and excursions. The first location in the jungle, although primitive provided an amazing experience. The food authentic! The second lodging in the mountains was super comfortable and loved eating watching the birds, the restaurant had tasty food. The third place was not good. It felt un kept. We saw the good staff pick up a utensil off the floor and put it back on Buffett- yuck! Another staff member did not wash her hands in the bathroom. I would rather have an extra day in the second lodge and an extra day in the last lodge! The Marriott property was beautiful and the food amazing. Would have lived an extra day here!! The starting point and capstone- Double tree had great accommodations as well and the staff amazing! I loved the coffee tour, the farm tour, white water rafting, actually ALL the activities. Jason our driver was awesome as well!!!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    My favorite experiences were meeting the Costa Rican people and, especially, making the acquaintance of others sharing the tour. The most memorable experience was, on one of the waterway excursions (all of which were highlights), seeing a so-called Jesus Christ basilisk skirting across the top of the water. Also, seeing three scarlet macaws relatively up close was a real privilege, and listening to howler monkeys in a ruckus in the trees right right above us was a delight.
    Douglas Reichenbach
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Very well planned and diverse activities. Gets a 99/100.
    Garth Peterson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I was very pleased with this tour experience and we had the most amazing tour guide in Carlos Calvo, he was just wonderful from beginning to end and I cannot imagine having a better guide, he was a wealth of information, entertaining, courteous, pleasant, and always available and attentive to all guests and their needs and able to answer various questions about all things Costa Rica and more... I have already recommended this tour (and him as a guide) to many co-workers, at least one of which is looking at tours and planning now.
    Angela Ott
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The whole trip is a memorable experience. I cannot say enough, was very well planned. The only thing that was not great about the trip, was the very, very long return lay over flight from Houston to Boise. Was very, very exhausting and hard on a person. .Made a great trip end badly!!
    Gloria Arriaga
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Zip lining is my most memorable experience. I may have changed my mind if I'd known in advance what it entailed. It was very frightening experience. It happened to be raining that day. I had no idea I'd be laying on my back and flying at 60 mph! In the end, I was glad I was brave and proud of myself for completing the course. Over all the tour was rather boring. Too much repetition of the same thing which was sitting in a boat and looking for animals.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Each day was well balanced with travel and activities. Our amazing tour guide-Martha Seelye made everything run smoothly at all times. Her knowledge and love for her country was unsurpassed. I fell in love with CR and would consider returning as a resident. I loved the bird watching, was thrilled to see sloth, had an incredible time zip lining. Coffee and chocolate plantations were great too. I have nothing but praise for this tour! And, the trip is a great value!
    Carol Axness
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Martha was a terrific tour guide and the places we experienced were amazing! The only flaws in an otherwise excellent experience were the Moutain Paradise Hotel (not up to standard) and the horrible flight connection in Dallas on my return home. I loved (and feared) the Hanging Bridges.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Favorito fui Tortuguero. The river lodge, the boat excursions, visiting the little town of Tortuguero, meeting a local and learning about coconuts! Juan Carlos our tour manager was the best, as was the bus driver Juan Carlos!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our knowledgeable tour guide was the highlight of our trip. She gave us valuable insight to the country, landscape, people and all the areas we visited. The trip was incredible, and we highly recommend travel with Collette. Not having to worry about the details was a huge bonus!!
Reviewed on
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    They are simply the best travel company-From start to finish, they provide wonderful support for amazing trips to see all the best places.
    Diane Sconce
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent tour guide. Amazing sights seen: rainforest, beaches, towns, farms. Very comfortable bus. Incredible wild life.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Visiting Tortuguero River boat tour
    Bryan Carpenter
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The flora and fauna were amazing. Great variety of activities and the cultural events were very interesting. Our tour manager Fabian was the best!!! My only negative comment is that the hotel in Arenal could have been better.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Well organized, but our guide really made the adventure special. We had an unfortunate bus brake problem during the beginning of the tour, but we were quickly moving with a new bus in about an hour. The tour size was great at 23 and Fabian and our Driver Juan Carlos treated us all like family. The people of Costa Rica were also welcoming. The accommodations were very good yet not extravagant, good food and spectacular weather mid 90’s on our last day, returned to Colorado to sub zero temperatures.
    Joseph Reynolds
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Enjoyed visiting a variety of areas (rainforest, mountains, beach) , seeing the wildlife, experiencing native CR and making new friends. Some of the trips on the river were repetitious and the crocodile trip was boring. The tour was definitely aimed more toward people who are bird enthusiasts than the average tourist and more than I anticipated. The most fun experiences were zip lining and white water rafting. But the most memorable was meeting the three-generation family that first settled along the river, hearing their story and understanding their commitment to the land and Costa Rica.
    Valery Whipkey
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Guillermo Ayub was a wonderful tour director.His knowledge and enthusiasm of the area and animals helped make a great experiance a exceptional one. Thank you Guillermo!
    Kathleen Robertshaw
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent tour, tour guide
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I had an Excellent time on trip
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    better than expected. could not be happier. I was captivated by all tours thru Costa Rica. I found it a fascinating country beautiful and historical
    PHILIP WEINBERGER
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Trip was as advertised. Guide was knowledgeable and did everything he could to make the trip enjoyable
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Overall a wonderful experience. Manuel Antonio park was hipped far too much. It was not worth our time. Perhaps the cloud forest would be a better choice. The white water rafting was most enjoyable, it would have been fun to hear more about the location where lunch was served. Our guide was very knowledgeable, a question and answer tea with him would have been great too. The Volcano was just amazing!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything was great on our trip. Only possible negative was we were on the go a lot.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were able to see amazing wildlife and our tour guide, Juan Pablo, had encyclopedic information about everything we saw.
    Stephen Roberts
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  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    This is my first ever tour experience. Part was good, part I didn’t enjoy.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    it was a great trip and tour guide was awesome Fabio.
    Patricia Everett
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    We were able to see monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, etc. We also saw banana, coffee, pineapple and cacao operations. There was a little too much repetition of seeing the same animals over again. I was hoping to see parrots and macaws, but was disappointed.
    William Campbell
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Wildlife was wonderful. Great trip
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Starts and ends with our tour director Fabian and our driver Juan Carlos. They were beyond fantastic each and every day. Made our experience memorable even in torrential rains.
    Charles Stevens
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The pace of the the tour and the pace of tour activities was much slower than I expected.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Our tour guide was amazing and insightful. His knowledge gave a tremendous understanding of the country, it's people and especially the wildlife..
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved Tortuegrero. Well thought out tour.
    Gail Nonella
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour guide was extraordinary and made every effort to enrich our experience. Most of the hotels were first class. Good pace.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Beautiful country, friendly people, outstanding wildlife, fantastic tour guide.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour manager, Juan Pablo, was wonderful! He was very knowledgeable, interesting and articulate. He was also kind , compassionate and very patient. When one of our group fell in the bathroom and hurt her forehead, he immediately arranged to get her medical care (doctor, testing, stitches, medicine; etc.) Also, as a senior citizen, I sometimes don't realize that it's difficult for me to keep up with the pace of a tour. He managed to balance my needs with the others on our tour. He's an exceptional individual. I'm so glad he was our tour guide! I loved all the monkees and their antics! They were the stars of the show! It was a great trip and I would highly recommend it.
    Betty Abramson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The trip was FABULOUS! Loved it
    Dorothy Fry
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was an amazing tour.We went to most of the National Parks, from the Caribbean Coast to the Pacific Coast.Staying in the middle of the forest with the monkeys around, and going in a boat to see the crocodiles so close, were unforgettable experiences. Staying at the Spa Spring Resort was wonderful. Walking to the Pacific Beach and back, after a swim, (on the last day)was very unpleasant, to say the least.and should be looked at to make it better. That was the only experience I could've done without. Everything else was great.
    OSHRIA LEVIN
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    No zipline for me/us! I loved the adventure and thrill which I never image doing. February 8th-19th 2022 one of the best birthdays.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excelletn tour guide. Excellent tour
    Donald Fry
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour manager made this trip special. Even with some unavoidable issues his thoughtfulness and planning made all the difference
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  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Zip lining, plantation Tours, home experience and boat rides.
    Lillian Kovac
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  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Evergreen Lodge and Pacific side
    Susan Nichols
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We loved the amount of nature we were able to see in a short time. We saw tons of monkeys, birds, reptiles and plant life.
    Susan Hopkins
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Colette had excellent tour inclusions, especially the hanging bridges and wildlife spotting. The tour guide was interesting and informative. The Accommodations were very comfortable.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Very rainy on the Caribbean, Eco lodge had ants in beds, but took care of issue. Cacao plantation interesting. White water rafting was fabulous. Active tour and a lot of fun.
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Every day was a new experience. The highlight of this tour were the adventures: hiking, river boating, and learning more about the culture.
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We were on a small group tour and we were able to go to so many places that most people would not know about. Back rivers and primal rain forest. We saw soooo many birds and even a big cat sleeping in the treetops. Favorite adventure is hard to pick because all was great, but the zip lining was really thrilling and the hanging bridges were nearly meditative. All of it was wonderful but our guide and driver and all their sub guides were the true stars of the show. So organized.
    Mary Doherty-callaghan
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    The Doubletree Cariari Hotel room, room 1025, in which we spent three nights was the worst room of the hotel. It was noisy from the lobby and the roller bags going early to the airport. The room dark, cold and damp. The drapes of the windows, front and back were never opened. The view from the back window was horrendous. The room should not be allocated during the worst days of the rainy season.
    Franklin Chow
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Two days involved a lot of travelling but overall a well thought out tour with everything going like clockwork.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent tour with a fantastic guide and coach driver. Great wildlife - would have been perfect if it hadn't poured with rain all the time!
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Well organised tour, knowledgeable tour guide, good accommodation
    Barbara Buffton
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  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Everything went smooth. Would like to get the paper work before the trip a little sooner.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    enjoying nature thru adventures and firsthand experiences,ziplining, white water rafting, hiking, swimming, cooking class, cultural activities, ecolodges, boating, bus trips, and impromtu discussions about daily life of locals.
    Dawn Lukas
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I didn't have to worry about a thing. plane tickets, in country transportation, meals, accommodations, up time and down time were all provided seamlessly. The local guide was absolutely amazing at spotting and identifying the local wildlife for us.
    Doris Alberg
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent we got to see so much wildlife..
    Frieda Cox
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Seeing exotic wildlife and birds close up.
    James Brindley
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    I would have given this 5 stars, but there were a few days where there was too much time spent on the bus. In their defense, the roads are difficult in Costa Rica. Maybe this should be a 15 day tour to allow shorter days of travel between locations. Also, skip Manuel Antonio Park. It is a zoo with too many people. Not the best way to end the tour that kept you away from crowds.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I think the trip to Tortuguero was my favorite...I loved the boat ride in and the canal ride. I loved our cabin at Evergreen Lodge. The bird walks in the early morning with our tour manager Juan Pablo were fun and informative. All the hotels we stayed at had beautiful grounds and abundant wildlife.
    Linda Crowe
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The river tour into and out of our stay at the Evergreen hotel. The Evergreen hotel itself! It was the most interesting and beautiful hotel I've ever stayed at! All river tours provided great pleasure.
    Carol Gusen
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Stopping the bus to ****** a sloth as it crossed a busy highway. The birds!
    David Botts
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    recommend a graphic style picture guide, showing the physical difficulty of each activity. Similar to the pain guide in a doctor's office. drop the first coffee event (with the long twisted tail) in favor of the coffee presentation alone the road café.
    Henry Miles
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Unique opportunity to see the nature of this country. I loved Tortuguero. The Everygreen Lodge was great. I like staying more than one night at a location, although sometimes it was only one day because of travel and late arrivals. I would have liked another night and full day at Manuel Antonio. And a day in San Jose. The extra excursions offered were already included in the package. A Little confusing.
    Gail Miller
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Whitewater raft and float trips. Visit to the plantations. Tortogero
    George Gauger
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent tour manager and excursions.
    Gladys Sherman
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    We really enjoyed the Evergreen Lodge at Torteguero National Pk. It was so quiet and secluded. Food was excellent. The included whitewater rafting trip was lots of fun and a new experience for us, as well as the included ziplining excursion.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    See review above in custormer experience
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    River rafting, eco bat, chocolate,pineapple & coffee tours were the highlight of the trip.
    Yvonne Darling-atkins
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    Loved the Zip Line through the tree canopy
    Dan Lightfoot
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was first time I have been on an organized tour. Usually I make my own plans. My concern was having a large group and waiting for the last person to get on the bus so I chose a small tour group tour. The group size was 19 and there was never a time where we had to wait for someone to board and thereby, lose time at the next experience. The planned excursions were excellent. I rarely felt rushed. Our full time guide and bus driver were excellence. The most memorable experience was the turtle egg laying excursion (extra cost) in Tortuguero. The meals that were provided were good, as local foods and spices were used. The hotel rooms were what I had expected considering we spent a lot of time in the rain forest. Not all of our hotel stays had air conditioning in rooms, which did not bother me, as the ceiling fans and the large window screens in the rooms provided ample ventilation. PS: Travel light, no one will notice you wore the same shirt a few days ago. Check with the hotel if they provide laundry service, most do, but prices vary. One hotel charge per pound and the other hotel charged per item.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The white water rafting excursion that was included in the tour, was by far the most fun we have had on any vacation.
    Nicholas Bagarella
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    So many favorite memories, but the zip lining and watching the monkeys swing through the trees stand out in my mind,
    Joanne Bagarella
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    An absolutely superb tour, not to be missed. The zip wire adventure through the jungle was amazing. The tour manager, Ricardo, was the best I've ever come across. So knowledgeable, friendly, caring and with a great sense of humour.
    Raymond Johnson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    It was a very good tour well organised and interesting. The accommodation was of a very good standard and yet very varied as we moved from place to place. The tour guide was very informative and also well organised so that we were able to enjoy all aspects of our holiday. The standard of our driver meant that we could completely relax and enjoy the journey.
    Janet Johnson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Activities and excursions to cater for everyone with knowledgeable staff always on handUp close and personal with the exotic wildlife.One of my many highlights ziplining over the jungle canopy with breathtaking views of The Arenal Volcano Exhilarating and exciting !
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Nice variety of experience - feel like I saw much of the country.
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  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    there is always room for improuvment
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The rain forest and cloud forest were extraordinary. A very friendly, traveler-oriented country. A definite bucket list one!
    Suzanne Mahaffey
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Favorite experience was zip lining.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The birds of Costa Rica were incredible!
    David Myllenbeck
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    A fast paced tour with quite a few early starts. Excellent hotels in great locations. Our tour manager was very informative and had a good sense of humour. There were many highlights, the best were seeing a Jaguar in Tortguero and zip lining. I was surprised that a tour of San Jose was not included but we did that by ourselves as we had an extra day at the end of the trip.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Zip lining beside the volcano and being able to see the beautiful area going down
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Nature tour of Costa Rica was wonderful. A tour director who knows where to find wild life! We would never have seen these things on our own.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Seeing turtles hatch which are guide set up especially for our group was amazing. Could have lived without the earthquake but he had nothing to do with that
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Perfect except for some embarrassing confusion over tipping, said to be included for British guests but guide not aware. Have taken this up with Collette and awaiting reply
    Anthony Evers
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The waterfall and swimming hole in west Costa Rica was a highlight.
    Thomas Mcveigh
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    My favorite experiences would be the cruise we took on the Torteguero River, where we saw birds, crocs, and other animals, as well as the Arenal Hanging Bridges tour, where I felt I was on top of the forest (I actually was).
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I mentioned them in the previous response.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Optional zip wire experience
    Keith Scruton
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Resorts were unbelievable. Tours in the jungles were wonderful.
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Riding the boats on the rivers was a fun and different experience
    Donna Speich
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    First class all the way!!!
    Stephanie Lenahan
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  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved everything especially the zip lining.
    Maryellen Scerbo
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    As stated above, this was a fantastic tour. It was even more than we expected. We went on this tour for our 50th Anniversary which *personal info removed by Feefo* made very special over and over. We got to see all the habitats we wanted to see and with expert guidance from *personal info removed by Feefo*. Waking up looking out over the Pacific with a toucan 3 feet in front of the window and having hundreds of blue morphos fly all around us just after photographing almost twenty hummingbirds are some of our favorite memories. Thank you for tour but especially for *personal info removed by Feefo*.
    Mary Bernice Winkler
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Cloud hotel and surroundings outstanding
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was a 4and 1/2 overall. I liked the crocodile boat trip and the Tortoguera segment best.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    all the wide life people so friendly, food excellent
    Josephine Kunowski
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    I already did make a statement about the tour. My favorite experience was the whole Tortuguero experience. Loved being with all the birds and animals around. I could have spent more time there.
    Donna Swinney
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent hotels and food - good group - felt that we were secure in an unfamiliar environment. Favourite experience - Manuel Antonio National Park and beach.
    Colin Stone
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Please do not change a thing!! All was a fantastic experience & all the little things done by Ricardo made the trip even more special. The wildlife seen was superb & some would not have been possible without the experts on site so a big thanks to them all.
    Kevin Taylor
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I liked the immersion into the culture, learning how the people live and seeing how much they love their country and want to protect it and save it for the next generation. They live in one with nature and love and appreciate life. Their existence does not depend on money and material things but appreciating life and the moment.
    Doris Patteson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Many excellent moments and we grew to love Costa Rica due to these experiences. Loved our group and the size of the group was especially wonderful. THe only negative was the hotel we stayed in San Jose. Although we thought it was a beautiful property, we had a walking tour in downtown San Jose and had to spend almost $70 in cab fares to get to where the tour began. Also the restaurant in the hotel was very disinterested in us and it took us forever to get our lunch and to get the attention of the wait staff.
    Leslye
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    1star
    Other than the San Jose hotel, only one other hotel which I would describe as 3.5 to 4 stars. The planning of the wild life experiences for 9:00 to !0:00 AM, just does not work when it was as hot. The animals are already hunkering down for the day. Having a hotel that is 1 hour and forty-five away from a national park for 2 hours in the park is he waste of a day. The La Quinta hotel was a dump. .
    Thomas McAuliffe
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    River rafting, Zip Line and the Tarcoles River tour. Also enjoyed the Pineapple plantation tour
    Maurice Bobst
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our Collette tour was perfect from picking us up at the airport to ensuring that we were returned to the airport with plenty of time to make our flight and a packaged breakfast to take with us since we left very early. The tour manager was excellent, ensuring that everyone was having a good tour and that all the details were managed. She was so enthusiastic about sharing her country with us.
    Eleanor
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    We required a nature holiday & this holiday more than met the brief. Wonderful hotels apart from the rooms at Hotel Punta Leona, Playa Blanca which were cramped & unwelcoming. Excursions were first class & the white water rafting was a great experience. Some culture was included like meeting local farmers & pineapple growers. Tour manager was excellent as was the coach & driver. Many reptiles & birds were spotted by the numerous guides on the included excursions that we would have not seen otherwise. Pace of tour was good but you need to be fairly fit as there was a lot of walking in high humidity over some uneven ground. If you can avoid going via the USA then do so as their immigration lines even for passengers in transit are long & slow. We did not meet our connection home due to late arriving aircraft & the curt nature of United Airlines personnel. Collette were very good & arranged an overnight hotel with transfers. Would not travel with United Airlines again as the meal from Newark to Heathrow was terrible with the main course being burnt & pre-meal cheese being a month out of best by date.
    Rodger
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Good paced tour. Wildlife we saw was good. HIghlight was probably the whtite water rafting, but whole tour was very enjoyable
    Ian
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Incredible experience. All was planned spectacularly and I could not have asked for more.
    Paul
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Most accommodation was excellent, we were unimpressed by La Quinta. The food, accommodation, cleanliness and staff left a lot to be desired at this property.
    Deborah
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    A fantastic tour with a great tour manager, Adriana Diaz Rodriguez. Driver was excellent too. Love the small group tours. I loved best the hotel near Arenal and zip lining blew me away. hanging bridges was fun too.
    Peter
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    We did not go to Torteguero Park since we left our lodge too late and other groups that were there earlier got their permits. We felt rushed going through the turtle conservatory. All we saw there was a short (15 minutes) documentary and we had to board our boat to go to the nearly village whereby we were stranded there for at least an hour. We would have liked to go through the exhibit in the conservatory but ....
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Zip line and hanging bridges
    Genevieve
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Tour manager knowledgable, helpful & fun. tour nicely paced. seemed to do a lot but not rushed & plenty of time to just wander & see what 'critters' could be found. Abundant sightings of birds, monkeys, reptiles etc. Each place completely different & well chosen. White water rafting tremendous fun. Fantastic holiday!!!
    Helen
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was an exceptional tour, far exceeding our expectations, Our Tour Manager Fabian Alfaro was also exceptional, knew what he was doing, and made the process easy for all of us. His knowledge on Costa Rica, the wild life and everything else was very good, cant praise him enough, also a good fellow with a great sense of humour. Only one bad experience and that was our room in La Quinta Country Inn, which left much to be desired, wash basin coming of the wall, and a shower that would not switch off,making a loud noise all night. This hotel is not maintained very well in our oppinion. The rest of our hotels were fine especially Hotel Arenal Manoa, this is outstanding..
    John Latimer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable and good fun. We enjoyed the fact that the group was only made up of 22 people. The stay near to the Arenal Volcano was great, fantastic view of the volcano and wonderful weather. The bird and wildlife was fantastic. The white water rafting and hanging bridges were amazing experiences. We enjoyed the food, great fresh fruit and salads. The local food was also very good. Our tour manager directed us to some excellent restaurants for lunches. The educational part of the trip such as learning about coffee and chocolate was excellent.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    2star
    Did not know the tour manager till the first day of our bus trip, on the bus.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour more than met expectations. The sights, sounds and experience of the rainforest was outstanding. Having a knowledgeable tour manager , in addition to local guides helped foster a desire to return for more. I am already looking forward to my next Collette tour.
    Deloria
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved the chocolate tour, rafting, and zip lining.
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our two memorable experiences where daring to do white water rafting and zip lining. Seeing the birds and animals in their natural habitats were exactly why we had gone. We were not disappointed. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone else. You get first class service, excellent tour management and never to be forgotten experiences.
    Ivan
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved the tour. Clean comfortable hotels. Great tour guide and driver. Loved seeing all the birds and animals. Thrilled to see Scarlet Macaws at the beach. Loved boat trips, seeing Crocodiles and Iguanas. White water rafting was a new and exciting experience. Transport to and from the airport was wonderful. The actual journey wasn't so much fun. Changing planes in America was stressful.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Tour was action packed and provided activities to do for everyone. The rain forest experience was Great - waking to the howler monkeys every morning, and then seeing so much of the wildlife and birds. The zip line was a thrill of a lifetime for me-something I will never forget. Loved that we traveled from the city, to the rain forest, to the Carribbean, to the mountains, and to the Pacific Coast. A truly amazing trip.
    Dorothy
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Very good in all aspects. Lots of varied activities. Excellent tour guides. Good hotels. Fantastic wildlife. Would love to do it all again.
    Jack
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Great experience with Tour Manager, Omar Torres of exceptional ability and knowledge.
    Graham
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I loved the natural history aspect of the tour. The guides helped us to see and identify them so now I have 60 different names of birds on my list for Costa Rica. Seeing butterflies, crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, monkeys, frogs, turtles, and more were all part of our experience. At the Punta Leona Hotel the monkeys looked in at us while we ate in the restaurant which had open walls with netting surrounding it so It was as if we were in the cage and they were running free-what fun. We also visited coffee and pinapple plantations as well as a local farm to learn about the agricultural production of the country.The country feels very safe and the locals are friendly and do not beg or interfere with you.
    Judy
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent tour manager a very enjoyable trip. Tourtagura was very good Arenal was wet and Tarcoles river was a highlight

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