Holiday review by Ms Cherry Crouch

Name: Ms Cherry Crouch

Date of trip: 21/02/2017

Number of people: 2

The best lodge was the Corcovado Jungle Lodge because of its remoteness and the experience of the journey there made it all the more special. The guides and staff were so helpful. The beach was idyllic as the lodge guests were the only people on it and lunch was served there everyday - brought down from the Lodge. The sunset bar had the most magnificent views and it was great to have drinks watching the sunset. We even saw a Tapir here - he came to eat the mangoes each night and early in the mornings.

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Tribes Overall:

The lodges and hotels were excellent with excellent service and very helpful staff in each place. We particularly enjoyed Evergreen Lodge in Tortuegero and Cocorvardo Jungle Lodge ( this was our favourite) . The journey by boat up the River Sierpe, through the Mangroves and then along the coast to the lodge made it extra special. The fact that there is no road access made it even better.
We were not very impressed by the National Park in Manuel Antonio. It was extremely crowded with large groups being led round. The tranquillity of the environment was spoiled by so many tourists. The Hotel Parador was good but Manuel Antonia itself is a bit too crowded.

Tribes Service:

As we have travelled with Tribes before to the Galapagos and the Amazon, Paul was well aware of the kind of holiday and experience we wanted. Also he was kind enough to prepare all the lodges and hotels to store and keep Sally's medication in a fridge and ice packs for travel in the freezers. Only 1 hotel lost the ice packs. But they supplied ice to pack the medication until we reached the Parador. The Parador then rang round various chemists and found us replacement ice packs, which they had delivered to the hotel.

Guides:

All our guides and boat drivers tried very hard to maximise the amount of birds and animals that we saw. Often diverted from the main route to go through tiny mangrove channels at high tide and close to the banks so that we could see the various birds and monkeys.

Social & Environmental Responsibility:

All the lodges in remote areas were trying to be ecofriendly. The Corcovado Jungle Lodge in particular and Sagevere Hotel had biodigestors, compost heaps, solar heating etc.

Evergreen Lodge

Tortuguero National Park

Only drawaback was they lost Sallys ice packs. Room was quite a walk from main facilities and in a new block. The walls were very thin and you could hear everything that was said in neighbouring rooms. But very friendly and helpful staff. The detached rooms might be a bit more private.