Note: This was the second trip with Adventure Life for me and my wife Wendy--three months earlier we'd gone on a tour of Patagonia, and found the trip so fantastic that we talked our friend Amy Litos into joining us for Costa Rica. The Patagonia trip was a celebration. We didn't travel during 2004 because I was battling colon cancer, getting disemboweled and pumping expensive and highly toxic chemicals into my body. The fact that I'm writing this now indicates that I won.
The flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Costa Rica is short, just over two hours; they're on Central Standard time, so during the DST months, you arrive about the same time you leave. We got in to San Jose early enough to enjoy a walk to the town center, which is filled with charming markets. We had a glass of wine at the Teatro Nacional, a beautiful, elegant building that's the cultural center for the nation.
[Photo 1: Wendy and Amy at the Flower Market]
Hotel Le Bergerac is a jewel…located just outside of the center of town, it's an elegant and comfortable place often used by visiting diplomats. Rooms are spotless, service is friendly, courteous and attentive, and most have a garden just outside where you can sit and enjoy the serene beauty.
[Photo 2: The garden outside our room at Le Bergerac]
And the real treasure is their restaurant, L'Isle de France. It has a wonderful continental menu, and the two dinners we had there were exquisite, from escargot to veal to delicious desserts.
[Photo 3: Dinner at L'Isle de France]
Costa Rica, like much of Central America, doesn't use street numbers, and street names are rarely posted. The hotel's address was La primera entrada a Los Yoses, 50 metros sur…"the first entrance to [the neighborhood] Los Yoses, 50 meters (1/2 block) south," which is the descriptive style they use to identify places. I would despair to rent a car there and try to find anything. Mercifully, Adventure Life's transportation arrangements worked flawlessly.
Adventure Life took care of everything! All we had to do was show up when we were supposed to, which made our first trip to Costa Rica largely stress-free and incredibly fun. Our trip reps, Hannah and Mariethony, were helpful and responsive, getting back to us by email usually within a few hours. Our accommodations were all great, and we got incredibly blessed with some absolutely stellar guides and drivers.
Our Jungle & Beach trip was an excellent balance of adventure and rest. We got to try out a lot of different activities, including snorkeling, hiking, white water rafting and kayaking, while also partaking of some rest around the pool or by the ocean. We enjoyed seeing and exploring the beautiful Caribbean side of the country.
Joy Knowles
1 week ago
The company made our adventure trip hassle-free, and a lot of fun! I will definitely be using them again
Carolena F
1 month ago
For our first trip to Costa Rica, Adventure Life designed a tour that meets the interests, ecological and adventure, of our party; but also takes into account our physical limitations sine we are all septuagenarian. We are looking forward to the trip.
John Zent
1 month ago
COSTA RICA a trip of a life time travelling round this beautiful country. All went like clockwork even when the weather was against us and all transfers seemed to be part of the holiday not a chore. Would definitely use Adventure Life again having previously used them 20 years ago!!
Cynthia Calton
1 month ago
Our Costa Rica trip was amazing! Kassandra planned everything and the excursions, hotels, overall organization were outstanding. Everything worked out smoothly, the excursions guides were knowledgeable allowing us to see so much of the fauna and flora of the country. The hotels were great as well, all in fantastic locations and with beautiful views.