Hanne N.
Wonderful birding trip to Costa Rica
Overall, it was a great trip. Tony and our driver were excellent, and the food at each stop provided a wonderful representation of the local cuisine. The primary improvements we would suggest are including an extra day in Arenal. We did not have enough time to enjoy our accommodations there; for example, we were unable to visit the pool, the bird tower, or the viewing point at our building. An extra day at the Arenal Observatory with some time to explore on our own would have been a significant addition. At the other locations, we felt the pace was appropriate. The selection of locations worked well, allowing us to see birds in many different environments. Traveling north to the Caribbean side offered a great look at the lowlands and the unique fauna of the Arenal area. We were also pleased to find that Selva Verde now has air conditioning. Additionally, staying a night in San Jose effectively broke up the transition to the higher elevations of Paraiso Quetzal Hotel. We enjoyed visiting Hotel Bougainvillea on the last day, but we are glad we chose the Studio Hotel for our transitions through San Jose. Finally, the size of our group worked really well and everyone got along. We felt very well taken care of, and it was interesting to see how the different guides shared information to help everyone see more. We specifically appreciated that Tony took us to secluded spots to look for individual birds that we never would have found on our own.




