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Costa Rica Tours - Adventure Life Testimonials and Reviews

Turtles & Rainforest - Tortuguero

Emily Plagman (Turtles & Rainforest - Tortuguero, Aug 2008)
I found the staff - Marissa especially - to be very helpful and responsive when I called with questions.

Selva Banananito's lodging was amazing! Hotel Bouganveilla was gorgeous and the accommodations were top notch.

This trip was well organized and I loved going to Selva Bananito. It was a good mix of major tourist activities and off the beaten path activities. I would book through Adventure Life gain.

Colleen Wilford (Turtles & Rainforest - Tortuguero, Jul 2008)
This tour was great - we have a 15 year old son and he had a great time! I have not seen him get this psyched about a trip and doing stuff with us in a while!

Okay - canal boat tour early in the morning with camons, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, tucans, and eagles (to name a few). Hour long walks on the beach and interesting people to meet at lodges that are an adventure just to get to. Dream-time magic with fireflies in the rainforest at night. Horse back ride in the jungle to a Zipline. Climb a 100 ft tree. Great coffee! Run a river that has constant class 2, 3 and 4 rapids - This was a great time for all of us and I will recommend it to friends!

Barbara McDonough (Turtles and Rainforest, Jun 2004)
This was a marvelous trip from start to finish. I really liked the idea that this was not an escorted tour.

Janessa & Scott Gruby (Turtles and Rainforest, Jun 2004)
We saw and experienced things we never thought we'd see, such as leatherback turtle hatchings, howler monkeys, 3 and 2-toed sloths, poisonous snakes, and many frogs and birds. This trip was awesome! Off the beaten path was even better. No other tourists around, and all the guides were great!

Sarah Yentz (Turtles and Rainforest, May 2004)
I was very impressed with how organized the trip was even though I at times felt like I was in the middle of nowhere, completely out of contact, there was always someone who knew where I was and where I needed to be next and how I was going to get there. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and you did a really great job of showing us that. I would recommend the trip to anyone.

Caribbean Adventure - Bocas Town

Catherine Cuccia (Caribbean Adventure, Feb 2008)
Met fascinating individuals from all over the globe. Great combination of city, jungle, beach, and nature all in one trip. Enjoyed whitewater rafting down the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. Thoroughly enjoyed the eco-friendly Selva Bananito Lodge and its hospitable staff and adventure-filled tours of the jungle. I have never rappelled before and I was amazed that I could hike for 7 hours and rappel down an 80 ft. waterfall! Very cool! The accommodations at Tranquilo Bay in Panama were superb and the extraordinary personal customer service by the staff was exceptional. Very much enjoyed meeting the indigenous Indian tribe, the Gnobe-Bugles.

Deborah Hicks (Customized Caribbean Adventure, Apr 2007)
Selva Bananito was so unique! Villa Marita was very charming with a nice staff. Our favorite guide was in Panama City. He was soooo intent in taking us everywhere in one day, which was much appreciated given our short travel schedule.

James Roberts (Caribbean Adventure, Feb 2006)
We had a great time on our trip. It truly was an adventure. The scenic beauty of Costa Rica was amazing. From the whitewater of the Pacuare River to the rainforest at Selva Bananito Lodge, the natural beauty of the landscape was a wonderful experience.

The quaint little town of Bocas del Toro in Panama was a great winding down spot. It was neat the way the buildings are built out over the water. The history of Panama City was interesting to learn about. I had no idea that so much history was involved with that part of the world.

Peter Papamichael and Alkestis Zapantis (Caribbean Adventure, Feb 2005)
We enjoyed every minute!! Our vacation was unbelievably amazing! I did things in Selva Banantio (zip lining, rappelling) that I never ever thought I would do! Our guide exuded such confidence and calm that I tried everything - and it ended up being life altering and incredible!

Wild Costa Rica - Nicuesa

Margaret Caldwell (Wild Costa Rica, Jan 2009)
What I thought was fabulous was as soon as we arrived someone was there waiting for us to take us to the next point....worry free traveling! loved it!

marenco lodge...food was good. @ pacuare lodge food was excellent.

we will be using adventure life for our next fabulous trip!!

William Thurlow (Wild Costa Rica - Tiskita, Mar 2008)
Everything from the arrangements to the accommodations and food and especially the local guides was just first rate we were very impressed that all of the connections went off without a hitch!

We were so impressed with not only our rafting guides' skills on the river, but with how they were just full of knowledge about Costa Rica and the jungle. Our guide Chullo was not only friendly but he treated us like members of his family. His and the other guides' knowledge was unbelievable, not only did they know every twist and turn in the river and how to hit the biggest rapids every time, but they knew every plant, every tree, every fish, every bug . . . well, you get the picture. These guys know their stuff!

Peter Vanicek and Liliane Brantes (Wild Costa Rica Tiskita, Mar 2007)
The trip was great and well planned! The drivers were always on time, friendly, and the vehicles were always great. Tiskita was also excellent-great place and staff. Thanks for a great trip-it was a present to my wife for her 50th birthday. We loved Costa Rica! You did a wonderful job for us and I will use Adventure Life again.

Adventure Pacifica - Corcovado

Jane Schmitz (Adventure Pacifica, Jun 2009)
Any time I contacted Marissa with a question, she responded almost immediately.

The planning and execution was awesome. Georges was a fantastic driver and was always waiting for us. Mario had everything planned to the minute. He was enthusiastic and so knowledgable. He put in 150% at all times. He took us on extra hikes and took us to local eateries that were wonderful. We couldn't have asked for a better guide. The guides at all the excursions we did were terrific especially at the canyoning - everybody had a blast!!

Everything went off without a hitch. Mario and Georges were fantastic. Our son got so attached to them that he was very sad when it was time to say good-bye. It felt like we were leaving family. I would definetly plan another trip with Adventure Life!!!

Jeffrey Welgoss (Adventure Pacifica, Dec 2007)
We had heard of the beauty of Costa Rica from many friends and the tour did not disappoint. The country provides a wonderful combination of eco-tourism, unique adventure experiences such as canopying and waterfall rappelling, without sacrificing comfortable accommodations. Casa Corcovado combines the experience of remoteness, the beauty of nature and luxurious accommodations perfectly. The people are friendly and accommodating. Adventure Life and the in-country contacts were responsive and helpful, even at 5 PM on Christmas Eve!

Adventure Pacifica Express

Ruth Mazujian (Adventure Pacifica, Jul 2012)
We had a great trip. The highlights were the Rainforest Canopy tour and the whitewater rafting on the Savegre River. An unexpected delight was experiencing the Continental Divide in the Monteverde Cloudforest. Our guide was was so professional in providing us a way to experience the Carribean and Pacific sides within a few feet on the trail! Although it was the rainy season, we did not experience much in the way of inconvenience. We have some great pictures and wonderful stories to share with family and friends.

Jan Claypool (Adventure Pacifica, Dec 2011)
The trip overall was perfect for first time travelers to CR. It is a beautiful country with lovely friendly people. It was good to experience the different climates and wildlife. I thought zip lining would be the most fun, but the white water rafting in Quepos was the best. Quite an adrenaline rush and the guides were awesome. Even the ride to the river was great and the guides stopped to give us natural history lessons and pass around bug and plant specimens. They put the bugs back unharmed of course! We will certainly make another visit to Costa Rica and are now learning Spanish!

Carol Thuerbach (Adventure Pacifica, Oct 2011)
We saw everything from the rain and cloud forest to the beaches, and what really stands out at the end of the day were the people -- delightful, friendly, helpful, accommodating. Next the to people, the wildlife takes the stage -- there is such an amazing array of critters. And if you are a bird lover, you will be overwhelmed!

Steven Goldenberg (Adventure Pacifica, Feb 2011)
As this was a custom trip, even "on the fly", we were able to make changes easily to make the trip the best that it could be. Adventure Life answered all questions happily, speedily. Knowledgeable, "service with a smile."

Nigel MacDonald (Adventure Pacifica, Jun 2010)
Our trip was absolutely amazing...more than we imagined we would be able to see and experience, always so close to nature with magical walks through the rainforest enjoying the wildlife especially birds and monkeys, the thrill of seeing glowing lava from active Volcano Arenal, whitewater rafting on the Savegre R., and the beauty of the Pacific seascape. Highly recommend the tour arrangements and locations...very well planned and organized for us. Always felt very comfortable and safe, every need anticipated. Truly an unforgetable experience for our family to be able to enjoy so many activities in such a gorgeous tropical environment...thank you!

Costa Rica Multisport

Wendy Cardell (Costa Rica Multisport, Nov 2010)
If i get to hang out w/ my son for a week (he lives in Colorado; I'm in Atlanta), that's always good. Add rafting, kayaking, snorkeling, zip-lining and a spectacular hike and we were two pretty darned happy campers! We got to see different, off the beaten track parts of Costa Rica (always good), and meet people who were just a joy to be with (guides & drivers). I think we got good advice to do this trip rather than Nicaragua (higher adrenalin factor :) -- thanks! This really is a great trip where you're going all the time and just flat out having fun!

Food was great. Simple, but amazingly fresh and well-cooked. Dennis was a great cook at Chirripo and meals at Talari Mtn Lodge were fantastic! Probably the freshest fish I've ever eaten.I can't say enough about every single guide ... Dennis, our guide for Chirripo really stood out as outstanding (is that redundant??). These guys absolutely made the trip!

Jeffrey Burd (Costa Rica Multisport, Mar 2010)
We had a truly wonderful trip to Costa Rica. We were going pretty much non-stop from the moment we got there to when we left, and everything went very smoothly. We loved all of our guides and the meals were some of the best I'd ever had. The highlight was certainly climbing Mt. Chirripo. Thanks for everything!

Orchids of Costa Rica - December 28, 2011

Mary Jo Gilsdorf (Orchids of Costa Rica, Dec 2011)
Fantastic is the word I have used most often to describe the trip and the experience. Most accomodations were very good to excellent, not to mention the food - biggest complaint about the food was - there was too much! I understand this "Orchid Tour" was new adventure put together by Tom Mirenda (who really acted as our orchid guide). All of my orchid friends who have heard about the trip are interested in attending a future one. Other months may be better for blooms but we saw enough and the rest of what Costa Rica has to offer is wonderful as well.

Anne Hardman (Orchids of Costa Rica, Dec 2011)
The tour was wonderful. We are a bunch of orchid aficionados, and the bus driver would stop, if he could safely, whenever we shouted "orchids!" The only drawback was that we went to too many different places--it would be nice to have stayed longer, in fewer places. The accommodations were very good - I would definitely recommend Bosque de Paz, a real gem, with the kindest and most helpful host. Loved that he presided there, like an old-world gentelman, and that his family was present on our New Years day visit.

Costa Rica Custom

Glen Arnston (Custom Nicaragua + Custom Costa Rica, Dec 2012)
Trip to Nicaragua was a most excellent adventure. Although the country is not developed for tourists, that and the friendliness of the people makes the trip an adventure to remember.

Costa Rica Quest

Concepcion Muncunill (Costa Rica Quest, Feb 2012)
We were taken by the gentleness, kindness, generosity, knowledge, and helpfulness of the Costa Rican people. We appreciated their sensitivity, consciousness and love for the environment. Everyone who was involved in our tour fit that description. The guide, the taxi drivers, the hotel/restaurant staff were all excellent. The guides and the taxi drivers such as Nano and Ricardo were extremely helpful. They educated us about many things, they were generous, knowledgeable, mannered and helpful. We thank them for the wonderful vacation they gave us. Thank you for the hotels that have no TV and for all our questions were promptly answered. All the details were covered, which took a lot of nervousness out of the planning.

Mary Keenan (Costa Rica Quest, Dec 2011)
We experienced a rare week of cool and (not-so-rare) rain in Costa Rica (east of the divide) but cool and rainy in Paradise is still Paradise!

Laurie Shacknove (Costa Rica Quest, Jun 2011)
It was fun to learn about Costa Rica from many different perspectives, but always with passion and love for the their country. I loved being able to speak with everyone, and they all encouraged us to use spanish even though mine is less than stellar. And they in turn practiced their english with us. I fell in love with Costa Rica and have plans to book with Adventure Life next year, already working on it. Awesome, excellent, wonderful !!!!!!!

Lee Metzgar (Costa Rica Quest, Apr 2011)
The trip: 2 days each in coastal rain forest, mid-elevation forest and cloud forest with a day of guided wildlife/flora hikes in each of the three; another day with a fun whitewater raft trip; and several days for the required transfers. Groups were small and often just the two of us plus guide or driver. The accommodations were elegant, the food was delicious, the people were friendly and all flights and rides happened on schedule. Illness and catastrophe were absent and the weather was appropriately wet but clear enough for good views and little discomfort. All that remain are great memories, photos and zero complaints. We had presented Marissa with a very general statement of our desires and she put together an itinerary that looked great. What we could not know until we went was how very well she had listened to our interests and how ideal a trip she created for us. It was fantastic!

Mary Kreider (Costa Rica Quest, Apr 2011)
You gave my family some exceptional memories that we will always treasure. We had a really exceptional experience. It was a terrific way for the whole family to spend time together in very unique way. Seeing my 75 year old mother hike, white water raft and zip line was awesome and unforgettable. I learned so much in such a short time. I am anxious now to travel more and experience places in a more thoughtful and educational way. Thanks for a wonderful trip.

Adventure Pacifica

Nancy Siepman (Adventure Pacifica, Dec 2012)
Very positive experience considering its a last minute arrangement and traveling with 10- and 13- years old girls. First time taking my nieces out of the country so Jenny walked through logistics with me The activities were suitable (active and fun) for all ages. Lodges are comfortable with good restaurants. Food are good with choices suitable for teenager. A couple of lodges also have gift shops offer snacks/drinks that are popular for my two kids. Our guide Jeremy was attentive and very flexible.

Lana Mann (Adventure Pacifica, Dec 2012)
Adventure Pacifica tour was amazing. Our guide Paolo went above and beyond to take us on numerous optional excursion and making surprise stops along the way for us to experience Costa Rican pura vida. We enjoyed every minute of the trip and hope to come back there again.

Karen Karras (Adventure Pacifica, Mar 2011)
The whole tour was even better than we expected. My husband and I travel twice a year: summer and spring and this was an excellent tour. You selected 3 different local companies for our tour. We were able to see that your selections were the best of what each tour company offered, making everything wonderful.

My husband and I have traveled with Insight, Trafalgar and General tours to Europe and Asia. We had never experienced this kind of independent travel. It was wonderful! Great job! Unfortunately we already bought the summer 2011 tour. Next spring, we will back with Peru or Argentina and your company!

Ralph Marchand (Adventure Pacifica, Mar 2011)
The hotel in Arenal was spectacular. The hotel in Monte Verde was nestled in the forest to provide a true eco-experience. Prior to the trip we did not attach any significance to the use of different tour guides while in Arenal. After watching other simultaneous but less informative tours pass us by, we can only surmise that the best of the best was selected for us. Overall our tour was excellent. Very pleased with all included activities.

Carol Hollingshead (Adventure Pacifica, Mar 2011)
Arenal Observatory Lodge was terrific. Loved waking up to see the volcano in my window. Good food, immaculate grounds and great hikes. Arenas del Mar resort was beyond fantastic. It was perfect in every way and a great place to recover from my concussion. Gorgeous, superb food and such caring staff.

The tour turned out to be just us and our guide, which we didn't expect. We loved having such personal attention and doing things at our own pace. There was a nice balance of activities and it was a treat to have someone else make all the arrangements. All we had to do was show up. Costa Rica is beautiful, and the people are very sweet. We intend to go back!

Beaches & Rainforest

Kristan Slabaugh (Beaches and Rainforest, Feb 2013)
We had SO MUCH FUN, and it was nice not having to worry about transportation, or what to do when. And it was awesome getting to spend time at both the Selva Bananito Lodge AND the cariblue...I really think we got the best of both worlds!!!

The Rainforest, and our personal and secluded experience at the lodge there (and FUN activities with an even funner staff!), and then the beach, which was GORGEOUS and relaxing, and of course we got to wander in town there and take part in lots of fun activities! (and had a free day to do whatever, so we ziplined!) and loved actually getting to SEE the monkeys and lots of other animals at the park (instead of just hearing them, which was neat in itself!) Overall, AWESOME! i'd go back in a heartbeat!

Deborah Attard (Beautiful Belize + Beaches and Rainforest, Jul 2012)
I was very happy with adventure life, the balance between planned activities and free time, the eco-friendly guest houses and accommodations, the balance between fun and relaxation. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly and fun to spend time with. This was felt mostly at Pook's Hill in Belize and Selva Bananito Lodge in Costa Rica but all guides in all activities were very helpful and friendly! Prior to our trip, Adventure Life's tips and advice helped a lot and we felt that before and during the trip there was always someone looking out for us. This was very helpful to us especially since we were two girls traveling alone in an unknown country. So, Thank you so much for your great service and we would consider your services in the future again!

Bob Meade (Beaches & Rainforest, Apr 2012)
The tour in Costa Rica was very organized. After living and doing business in Latin America I was kinda amazed at the level of organization with the transfers. Nice vehicles and safe professional drivers were the norm. The level of activity was perfect for us. We had enough free time to enjoy our honeymoon but we were also active which was very rewarding.

Nicole Sisen (Beaches and Rainforest, Mar 2012)
Truly an adventure trip! The beauty of Costa Rica is definitely captured with this trip. We added an extra day in Puerto Viejo for some down time because you are constantly busy. The jungle was beautiful and the Banadito family was very welcoming! Lots of bugs, but I guess that is what you get in the Rainforest and on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica! We had some of the best food I have eaten in my life! The salmon was delicious, the sushi was amazing and trying the local Casado was fantastic! And the cerveza was refreshing!

Pura Vida

Frank Pinto (Pura Vida, Aug 2012)
Everything was awesome, it was a blast. The only bad parts were the very long rides going from one place to the other. Otherwise, it was great.

Ayako Yoshikawa (Pura Vida, Aug 2012)
The tour was off the charts! I was blown away. It went beyond all my expectations. I never thought I would have so much fun. I fully enjoyed every minute of the trip. I was really impressed by the people of Costa Rica. Everyone was fantastic! I was impressed by their willingness to help us in any way they can, often going above and beyond their duties. They are so full of life and so friendly and welcoming. They are extremely hard working, and they seem genuinely happy to help us.

Pacuare' Lodge was simply amazing, almost like a dream. How can they offer all the comforts of a world class hotel and yet be so remote and environmentally friendly? The natural beauty of the country is simply breath-taking. And best of all, everyone appears to be proud and protective of the environment and the local culture. Of course, the fact that I was able to enjoy the best of Costa Rica is all thanks to your incredible work taking care of every detail so that we did not have to worry about anything. THANK YOU!!!!

Adam Wood (Pura Vida, Apr 2012)
Considering our tour was not advertised and was created on a request by myself. Adventure Life has totally exceeded all expectations. Email response was within 24h and very informative and professional. Organising a tour to fit in our dates was amazing! It was very impressive of Adventure Life! The staff that have helped me were all professional and communication was flawless. Payments were extremely easy and the whole experience was memorable and no dramas what-so-ever. The Lodge on the river blew us away! It was incredible by far definitely our favourite! We had an absolute blast in all our activities in Costa Rica! Very professional, informative and knowledgable! Thank you for such an amazing holiday!

Douglas Haxton (Pura Vida, Aug 2011)
We had no problems of any kind, everything went very smoothly. My Dad and I both agreed that zip-lining was the highlight of the trip, although we enjoyed everything. I would like to note that our rafting crew was very helpful. I can't say enough kind words about them. While my Dad did fall in the river at one point, in his defense he couldn't have picked a better spot (5 feet from shore while we were pulling in for a break). He always falls in the river when we white water raft, so it's something of a tradition. I won't hesitate to recommend your services to my friends, and I look forward to going on another tour through you in the future.

Elizabeth Holt (Pura Vida, Apr 2011)
It was all prepared well and safely. I was really concerned about my family getting sick but none of us did. We had a great time river rafting, zip lining, hiking, and exploring. The wildlife was fantastic. Thanks, and I will definitely use your site for other trips in the future.

Turtles & Rainforest Pacuare Reserve - Pacuare

Andrea Anaya (Turtles & Rainforest, Jun 2012)
We saw alot of amazing things and did things we had never done and probably will never do again. The food we were served was awesome. It would be a good idea to mention that there are 3 meals a day and it might be helpful to bring some of your own snacks. By the time it was a mealtime we were starving. We had brought a few of our own snacks with us and they were gone after the first few days. The guides and local staff were so friendly and helpful. You could tell the truly enjoyed their jobs. It is definitely tiring, you will come home exhausted. If someone is looking to go home relaxed they should choose a different trip. It was a great adventure.

John Miller (Turtles & Rainforest, Apr 2011)
Marissa and Ashley were fantastic!! No question went unanswered, no concern was ignored.

We could not have been in a better place for Holy Week. The experience of witnessing the leatherbacks rising from the sea, digging nests, laying eggs, covering the nests and returning to the sea was primordial and awe inspiring. The staff members at Selva Bananito are true disciples of the word of ecological resurrection. They are dedicated to their work, their environment and their call to awaken the love of and respect for natural habitats in others. Pierou and Carlos made these mid-60's grandparents very comfortable on the natural history hike and the 7-hour river walk. We had to do three rappels due to landslides. Pierou was very honest about the physical demands prior to our committing to the hike. They were very reassuring and put us very much at ease. We're looking for friends to go with us on a repeat visit.

Coast to Coast Multisport

Al Kirtley (Coast to Coast Multisport, Jan 2013)
Great trip with lots of fun activities. I think the free days were a key element to us being able to see what we wanted to see in each area. We had several guides on our multi-destination trip. All of the guides provided a positive experience.

Discover Costa Rica

Daniel Hanson (Discover Costa Rica, Jan 2011)
One suggestion - make it a 10 day tour and make people stay another day at Playa Nicuesa Lodge. Our most wonderful time was spent there. I want to tell everyone to go there and at the same time I want to keep the place as special as it is today. Costa Ricans we spoke with after we were in San Gerardo told us that very few tourists go there - AND they were impressed that we did.

Daniela Tiger (Discover Costa Rica, Apr 2010)
We had a great adventure with you! You took care of all the details like the invisible magic wizard and left us to just enjoy all costa ricas' natural wonders. thank you so much!

Martha McCabe (Discover Costa Rica, Dec 2009)
At Nicuesa, Fred and I took the wildlife refuge tour. One of the pics I'll send your Flickr site is of Sweetie, the 6 year-old White Faced Monkey who acted as the "PR outreach" for the refuge. Getting to interact with her and see and hear about wild species who are being rehabilitated for re-release into the rainforest made a big impression. Once again, as in Peru in 2007, the trip you planned took us at least a bit beyond the obvious tourist sites into a more reality-based glimpse at the country than we would otherwise have managed traveling independently, even though the tour was one in which we were cocooned by being able to afford to stay at the pretty places where we stayed, eat very well without having to select restaurants, and move about effortlessly thanks to your advanced planning. Also, just seeing and hearing the Resplendent Quetzals, Scarlet Macaws, & monkeys made a big and still lasting impression.

Goodrich Family (Discover Costa Rica, Mar 2007)
This tour was terrific, we had more fun and did more things than I had ever imagined. I would recommend Adventure Life to anyone looking for an adventurous trip, and hope to book another tour in the future.

Johanna Kallio (Discover Costa Rica, Feb 2006)
Our guides were the best that anyone could ever have. We will definitely do this again next year - everything was better than I expected!

Wild Costa Rica Corcovado

Bill Rothar (Wild Costa Rica, Jun 2007)
I would like to thank you for arranging my Wild Costa Rica tour. I had a fantastic time! It was as advertised and so much more. My connections and all arrangements were very precise, leaving me to enjoy myself without any worries. Your professionalism and courtesy are truly impressive. I loved Costa Rica, its people and natural beauty are just incredible. I hope to book a similar tour next year with several of my family members, and without question, I will only deal with your company. I will recommend you to anyone and everyone that I talk to.
So once again thank you very much.

Taylor Freshley (Wild Costa Rica - Corcovado, Mar 2006)
The trip was everything we expected and more. Overall, we were blown away!

David and Andrea DeGrange (Wild Costa Rica - Corcovado, Dec 2005)
This was our best vacation yet, and we've traveled a lot. We enjoyed everywhere that we stayed. Everyone was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Where else can you go and look out of your luxury tent and see a spider monkey? I didn't want to leave and definitely want to go back!

Susan and Dennis Salveson (Wild Costa Rica, Nov 2004)
This trip met all our expectation for adventure and unforgettable experiences. This trip may not be for everyone, but if you are flexible, enjoy physical, outdoor experiences and enjoy good food and the comfort of guided adventure...this trip is for you!

Michelle Antonelli School Group (Wild Costa Rica, Jul 2003)
We all want to go back. The Corcovado Lodge setting was unbelievable. The first encounter with primates was with the spider monkeys. Stephanie and I looked at each other, silently giggled, and both thought we would tinkle from excitement! (That is a good thing!) We were able to control ourselves, but not by much!

Earth, Fire and Water

Linda Robertson (Earth, Fire and Water, Mar 2012)
We wanted an eco lodge experience in the jungle and we had that at Tiskita. We saw three kinds of monkeys, lush jungle vegetaion, many new birds like the Macaw and new animals like the Acouti. The small village near Tiskita called Punta Banco was have a festival to raise money for the church. The locals were playing bingo and the chips were either corn kernals or black beans. Creative. Hotel Le bergerac was small, quaint and off the beaten path, so it was perfect for our transfers. Arenal Observatory Lodge was lovely. Cloud Forest Lodge was our least favorite, however, we enjoyed the privacy of the location. Tiskita was just an outstanding experience. It was paradise in the jungle.

Lindy Rose (Earth, Fire and Water, Feb 2012)
The trip was fabulous! I planned it for my husband's 60th birthday and he was delighted. This was the first time we used a travel agency or a travel guide service - and based on our experience we would certainly do it again. Our guide Alex was one of the reasons we enjoyed the trip so much - an excellent guide and driver. Having a personal driver, guide, and naturalist allowed my husband and I to soak up the Costa Rican countryside beauty and culture minus the expected stresses of traveling alone in a foreign country. A trip of a lifetime!

James Storey (Earth, Fire and Water, Apr 2011)
This tour is definitely for those who want an active trip. Lots of hikes and nature walks. There was enough free time to relax, but this is an adventure trip. The variety was quite good, with beach time, horseback riding, jungle walks, hanging bridges, zip lines as well as relaxing with a book by the pool.

Costa Rican food is very good. Lots of fresh fruit and salads, but also a good variety of seafood and meats. Flavored well, but not spicy hot.

This is not a complaint, because we enjoyed all of our stays, but the website should be a little more clear on how rustic Tiskita is. We thought it was fun, but the cabins are quite rustic and are pretty isolated in the woods. It gets dark during dinner and one needs a flashlight to find the way back to the cabin along the dirt paths. It's dark in the jungle at night, and there are snakes. The lodge turns off the lights at 9 PM, but it doesn't matter because you're up early and tired. We thought it was fun, but if someone was expecting a luxury hotel like we had at Arenal Observatory or Monteverde Lodge, they might be surprised. Just a suggestion so people know what they are getting.

Robin Storey (Earth, Fire & Water, Apr 2011)
Wonderful to visit Costa Rica - just after the high season ended so no crowds and weather cooperated. Tiskita Jungle Lodge was quite remote and if someone is thinking they'll "dress" for dinner or wear heels, this is not the place for them! We loved it and were prepared for it.

Janet O'Leary (Earth, Fire and Water, Apr 2011)
I love how this tour gave us a whole lot of the natural world of Costa Rica mixed in with some of the culture. We walked a whole lot and I ate copious amounts of the excellent food and didn't gain a pound! The accommodations were excellent and the guides were friendly and ready to share what they know about the country and particularly its natural history. This was our second trip with AL. We went to Antarctica with you three years ago and loved it, so we thought this time we'd see whether that was a fluke or whether AL consistently puts on a great tour--and I am so happy to say it's the latter. The couple who accompanied us were traveling with AL for the first time, and they were mightily impressed. AL will be our tour provider of choice from here on in! Thanks so much!

Caribbean Adventure - Tranquilo Bay

Jeremy Striffler (Caribbean Adventure, Mar 2012)
Adventure Life organized a truly unique, fun and dynamic adventure that I will remember for a lifetime. I was pushed beyond my boundaries in terms of the activities that I tried (whitewater rafting, zip lining, horseback riding), the food that I tasted and the people that I met. Not only did I learn a great deal about Costa Rica and Panama but I learned a lot about myself. I can't wait for my next trip with Adventure Life.

David Bennett (Caribbean Adventure, Mar 2009)
Hotel LeBergerac, Lomas del Volcan Tranquilo Bay all excellent. Panama City very very good. Selva Bananito was so unique for us it was difficult to evaluate due to first eco lodge..so I guess good.

Justo in Selva Bananito, Ramon and Natalia at Tranquilo Bay just so informative and very very friendly. Rene in Panama City was well versed. The courteousness of all staff at every location was really 5 stars. Some of these people were very young and they really did "get it" as to what was necessary to get repeat business through a personal extension of themselves.

The Arenal zip line at Paraiso..significantly better than I expected and enhanced by their staff (for someone fearful of heights) Wanted to go for a second round of zips. Tranquilo Bay was at least a 10 including food, activities, staff, owners, guests etc. Panama City was fine as to the time spent there touring the city and the locks.