Costa Rica Tourism and Travel Bureau
HOME:  Guest Testimonials 2012 costaricatravel  
 


guest testimonials
The following are excerpts of letters sent to us by our guests, and they represent what they had to say about their trip to Costa Rica.

Where you see the camera icon , click to see their photos.

Click Here to add your own comments to this page.

[Current 2014] [2013] [2012] [2011] [2010] [2009]


Hello Arturo,

We had a wonderful time in Nicaragua. We thoroughly enjoyed every one of the destinations. After each place, Granada, Ometepe, and San Juan del Sur, we would say that we wished that we had at least another day to stay there. We will definitely return to Nicaragua in the coming years and allow more time for it. I would especially like to thank our guides Aura and Luis who gave a very personalized tour. They adjusted locations and times to our interests and the weather. If we wanted to do a longer hike, they and the drivers accommodated it. When the weather was not good for a boat ride on Lake Nicaragua, Aura moved things around so that we could go the next morning. The transportation was in good, air-conditioned vans or cars and they provided cold water and sodas. We enjoyed the company of both Aura and Luis and they gave us an insight into the people,history, and culture of Nicaragua. Like the people of Costa Rica, the people of Nicaragua are very friendly and courteous. The hotels in Granada and San Juan del Sur were first rate. The hotel in Ometepe was very simple but it was clean and we had a room right on the beach.

The only thing that wasn't just perfect about the trip was the long wait at the border on the Costa Rica side. In this case Wilmer, the driver in the Costa Rica, and our guides and drivers in the Nicaragua worked to make the experience as smooth as possible. They kept in contact with each other, took care of the luggage, directed us to the right lines, and told us how much we needed to pay. They stayed with us through the entire time which was very comforting.

I have included some photos of our trip in Nicaragua. Thank you for the suggestion of traveling there and for helping to set up a wonderful trip.

 


Dear Arturo:

We had a wonderful time. All of the drivers, hotels and events were terrific. We will use your business for future trips to CR and will tell all of our friends. Thank you so much for putting together a fantastic and memorable trip!

 


During this trip we went whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River, zip lining near the east coast of Costa Rica, wildlife viewing in Tortuguero and Corcovado National Parks, snorkeling off Cano Island, and sightseeing and wildlife viewing near the Arenal volcano and in Monteverde. We booked this trip through Arturo Napoles of Rain Forest Tours. He did an excellent job of arranging our individual excursions in each of the areas we visited in Costa Rica. He handled all lodging arrangements, transportation, and most of the tours that we took. The only adventures we booked were the rain forest hike and zip lining on March 10 & 11 and the coffee plantation and horseback riding tours in Monteverde on March 19 & 20. We were very satisfied with his arrangements.

Thanks for everything!


Working under a time constraint Arturo was able to get me reservations at the sites I requested. Everything went well so I had a great time seeking out hummingbirds.

Muchisimas gracias.


Thank you, Arturo.

Before I give you my address, I wanted to provide feedback to you on the trip. You "GUARANTEED A GREAT TIME." Well, sir, you delivered. We had a fabulous time!!! More specifically.......

Allen picked us up at the airport and took us to the hotel in Arenal. He was great, providing lots of information as we traveled through the country. Laura, who drove us to the Pacific was also excellent. The trip back to San Jose was OK, but not nearly as pleasurable as the other two. The van was a lot tighter for all of us, and Rolando seemed to not know the way on a few occasions during the trip. (Not a complaint; just info for you.) Finally, Will picked us up for return to the airport and he was also a pleasure. All drivers very much on time and enjoyable to speak with.

The hotel in San Jose was fine. The Arenal one was excellent in all respects. Excellent staff. Good choice! The activities were also excellent. We had to change the date for the Tabacon Hot Springs based upon our late arrival at Arenal. It would have been too tight for that night but the next night was great. And, the zip line company you booked us with was unbelievably fabulous!

So, once again, our sincere thanks for making the trip fantastic!!! So very much appreciated.


Hi Ines,

Well my week is coming to an end and I am very sad. I have fallen in love with Costa Rica. I had so much fun while I was here. I just wanted to thank you for all your help and give you a little feed back on the tours.

The tour to Arenal and the hot springs was great. The guide was really good and very knowledgeable. The bus broke down but it all worked out in the end and I would rate this trip 8 out of 10.

The combo trip was absolutely awesome and I had the time of my life. We had the same tour guide who took us to Arenal and again he was very good. As a group we had a lot of fun. There were people from all over north and south america which made it even better. I would rate this trip 10 out of 10. The best way to end my stay here.

There is one item that all the tour guides could add to their welcome and that is having people tell the group their name and not just where they are from.

Ines you live in a beautiful country and I can't wait to come back. I am going to go home and enroll in Spanish classes. Thank you for making my trip the best one I have every had and I have traveled all over the world. I look forward to speaking with you again.


Hi Arturo!

We are home from COSTA RICA!!! What an adventure! We had an amazing week - the highlight being the Rio Tenorio Water Rafting Trip- amazing!!!! We had a wonderful day exploring the river and all its critters. We saw LOTS of cool animals & birds, swam in a waterfall/pool and enjoyed a delicious lunch upon completion at the Corobici Restaurant- YUM! The guides were awesome and we even got to experience a HUGE rainstorm- it was truly an amazing day!

THANK YOU!!!!

We also went on a sunset cruise, drove to the Volcan Miravalles and had a personal Zip Lining day, lunch at Thermal Mania, rode horses to a rainforest, hiked to a waterfall and finished the day off at the Volcano Mud Baths!!!

What a great week we had! I really appreciate all the info you gave me about how to really do Costa Rica on such a short time allotment.

I wish you the best in your future!

Take Good Care~

Sincerely,  


Had an awesome trip and all the accommodation met our expectations and more.

Cheers


We just arrived home in NY and I had to write to thank you for everything. Raul was SUPERB!!! Pleasant, courteous, patient and a proficient driver. He was so GREAT when we arrived and we were very pleased to have hime again when we departed earlier today .........please let him know how much we appreciate and thank him. (we were a bit lackluster when he arrived at 2 am, and most of us were sleeping during our ride back to San Jose).

Thanks again for everything, I will definitely recommend you to anyone going to Costa Rica!!!!!!


Arthur and Rain Forest Tours,

Everything on this trip was so carefully planned out that when I landed, I was pretty much a passenger for the ride of a lifetime. All of the drivers, tours and accommodations were top notch and absolutely perfect for my family. I've already told all of my friends about your company and next time I visit Costa Rica, you are the first guy I'm contacting. Thanks again for all of your assistance in making this one of the best Spring Breaks we've experienced.

Regards,  


Hi Arturo,

We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica! Firstly, everyone we met was wonderful...my Spanish came back to me and helped a lot....loved the hotel on the coast. (sunset at their coliseum), La Paz!! and Manuel Antonio the best....hotel in San Jose was not too good but was in good walking distance to city...also hotels in Monteverde and Arenal nothing to talk about. Great Hanging Bridges tour, coffee plantation...volcano....heard that the other hot springs were better...also don't recommend the dinner that came with our hot springs package....in general...fabulous time...the guides were terrific and the bird sightings, animals,etc were great...our friends are in Los Suenos and we were able to connect with them. Most importantly, the transportation was on time, great drivers and no stress. Thanks!! I will sent some more photos but separately as I'm on iPad....Pura Vida!

  


Thanks you very much for your mail and more important for your assistance and arrangements. We were very pleased and Highly enjoyed our trip to Costas Rica.

I enclose a couple of photos.

My very best regards


I wanted to thank Ines and Rain Forest Tours for planning a perfect, worry-free vacation. Everything was all planned out for us, including transportation so we were able to enjoy ourselves even more without having to think about anything other than having a great time. All lodges booked were perfect, especially Casa Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula!

Ines knew that I wanted to see birds, especially the Resplendent Quetzal. She recommended that I visit San Gerardo de Dota - a lesser known location for the usual tourist. When I mentioned this location to other guides, their faces lit up; they knew exactly what was waiting for me there. I spent two mornings with Quetzals in San Gerardo and got great views - and photos - of this beautiful bird. To top it off, I saw all of my target birds - plus over 125 new life birds.

I was asked to share my photos, if you are interested in seeing what came from this unforgettable trip, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/mydigitalmind/sets/72157628831785127/

Costa Rica is beautiful and our vacation was unforgettable. I still enjoy reliving it through my photos!


Thanks Arturo for helping our travel agent organize our trip. A couple of small glitches were dealt with quickly. We had a wonderful trip and would love to visit again.


Hi, Arturo.

We got home yesterday from Costa Rica. Thank you very much for the arrangements you made on our behalf. The rafting trip was excellent; both the river and the resort were fantastic. The bungalow in Puerto Viejo was lovely and the jaguar sanctuary was a pleasure, though they haven't had a jaguar there since the first few days of their existence. All the drivers were good, courteous, prompt, with good vehicles.

Thanks again for helping make our trip quite memorable.

Sincerely,

and


Dear Arturo,

I just realized that I never did reply to your earlier e-mail. My deepest apologies for not writing sooner.

We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica, and we appreciate all your work on arranging such a great trip on short notice. The water was indeed a comfortable temperature to swim in, and the weather (although quite rainy) generally cooperated when we needed it to. The people were very friendly, and I was able to use quite a bit of my spanish since they generally speak relatively slowly and with little accent.

I've attached a few pictures. All in all, it was a great experience, and everything went smoothly!

Thank you!!!

 


Hello Arturo!

I was planning on e-mailing Ines this week to thank her for putting together an unforgettable trip! I also knew about the guest book. I will certainly recommend your company - it was so relaxing to have everything planned out and to not have to worry about transportation, etc. I will be sure to put together a good review based on a bird watcher's perspective because I know that is what I was looking for when I read reviews.

Ines knew that I wanted to see birds and, even though we booked last minute for the high season, she sent us to all the right places. I am so happy that she recommended San Gerardo de Dota to me. When I mentioned this location to other guides, their eyes lit up - they knew what was waiting for me there! I had two great mornings spent with the Resplendent Quetzals in that location - the bird that started this entire trip for me!! What a beautiful time it was!!!

mydigitalmind.com | Flickr


Hi Ines,

I just want to thank you for a wonderful time in Costa Rica. All of the arrangements you made for us worked out perfectly.

Everyone was so helpful and the tours were very good. The places we stayed were each so interesting and memorable.

Thank you for your help!

We are all one in spirit, regardless of our form


Arturo:

Thank you for the email and also thank you for arranging the trip to CR for me. I had a great time! All went as planned and, aside from a couple of Tico Time incidents, everything happened like clockwork. I was very impressed by Interbus and Nature Air.

I really enjoyed my time at the Jewel of the Jungle. Madeline is a great character. While I was there I met an English woman who, like me, was hiking toward the beach on Magdalena Rd. She is a volunteer at the Jaguar Rescue south of Cocles on the coast highway. I talked Madeline into visiting the facility with me the next day and we had a great time. It is an activity you might wish to recommend to anyone you send to this area in the future.

Tortuguero was wonderful. The weather was perfect while I was there and the guide I was assigned to, Conrad, really knows his birds and wildlife. Kayaking there was the best I have ever experienced, in terms of scenery and wildlife.

Drake Bay did not disappoint. The family that runs the resort were very nice to me and the food and accommodations were excellent. I really enjoyed the trip to the Corcovado. I did the hike in the vicinity of the Sarina Ranger Station. Our guide, Manuel, was great and I got some good shots through his spotting scope.

The Scuba trip to Cano Island was a bit disappointing and more than a little disconcerting. First, and this is nobody's fault, I got seasick on the ride out to the island, which often happens when I am on a very small boat in some chop. Second, the Dive crew did not have a wet suit that was big enough for me and I had serious suit squeeze, which upped my air consumption. Third, the ladder for the boat was totally inadequate for a guy my size wearing 18 kilos of lead. It was flimsy and too short and there was no safety line. I was in real danger when, as instructed by the boatman, I took off my fins and BC and was struggling to get my foot up onto the bottom step of the ladder, which was just a few inches below the surface of the water. It would have been an effort even without the weight belt. Given all of that, I have to say that what bottom time I did get in was pretty nice. I saw some of the best purple fan coral I have ever seen. However, I decided that I had seen enough and did not wish to endure the trip and risks for the second day of diving. Instead, I hiked up the coast into the village.

My visit to the Arenal area was very nice. The lodge was fine and the staff there did a great job, especially Fatima, with whom I dealt with most of the time. I enjoyed the town of Fortuna and the Nene's restaurant there. Both nights while I was in town, I really liked hearing the band practicing at the High School for the Christmas Pageant. The Rio La Fortuna Waterfall hike was great and it was really roaring, given all of the rain that preceded my visit. I also have to admit that I had way more fun than I expected doing the Zip Lines. They were really professional and I felt very safe too.

As you may have noticed, I have not yet mentioned rafting. That is because I have saved the best for last. My favorite adventures in CR was the Whitewater Rafting. The water level at the Rio Toro was too high for safety so we went to the Rio Balsa, which is reported to be a class II and III river, but take my word, it was kicking. I did both the Rio Paquari and the Rio Balsa on the first day that each were opened after being closed for several days for high water. Both operators provided excellent service and gave me all the thrills I could have wished for.

Thanks again for your help arranging my vacation and for your wise council on the locations and schedule for my stops on my trip. I have already recommended your services to many I have spoken to who might be interested in traveling to CR. I will be in touch with you again soon concerning a potential trip back to CR to see, amongst other areas, Guanacaste and Monteverde. I might also be interested in visiting the Boca Del Toro in Panama. Do you cover that area as well?

I have attached a couple of Photos for your guest book and journal.

Regards;

 


Hi Arturo!

I really appreciate your help. Thanks so much. It's difficult to drive if your car is inland & you're on the coast!!! What a dilemma!! I wish so badly I would've known about your company prior to planning this trip. I am so impressed with how nice & helpful everyone is. I will certainly use your company for everything next time. It sure would save me a lot of work & being in Costa Rica you would've been better able to help me.

Again my thanks. I'm looking so much forward to our trip!!

.


Ines

Thank you so much for your assistance. Jim and I went on the Tour to Tortuga Island and the Tortuguero 1 Day, you booked them for us and we had the best, best time. Especially the tour to Tortuga Island. Both tours were just fantastic. In fact our whole trip to Costa Rica was very special. We met some of the greatest people, Ticans and Americans. We'll be back!!! Sorry to say, we have to go home tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your assistance again, I will definitely recommend you....


Have a great day!


 
Add your entry here!
Frequently Asked Questions