I just wanted to take a trip for a break from work, but it turned out great. The tour manager Ricardo was super in many ways. Listening to him often made me feel as if I were traveling with a university professor. The people on the tour and I were amazed how accurate his dates and statistics were on the historic events. Ricardo's extended knowledge of local botany, insects and animals was equally impressive. I learned and enjoyed walking the Tortuguero hotel grounds and the jungle being explained about unknown plants, movements of insects and animals. His subtle way of joking was another quality the group all appreciated which made the long bus ride fun. Finding out his graceful way of handling unexpected events, such as an elderly lady getting sick, quietly situating her and providing needed transportation shows his ability to handle the unexpected seamlessly, no fuss. Above all he seemed genuinely interested and amazed about the lives of plants, insects and animals. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing someone enjoying his work. Costa Rica was beautiful. Arenal Volcano provided an incredible view of the volcanic mountain right in front of the hotel/our cabin. Swimming in the thermo pool, alternating to a regular pool looking at the live volcanic mountain was about one of the best moments in my life. As an early riser, I had the pools all to myself. I also want to thank the kitchen staff at Arenal Volcano's for the most delicious vegetarian meals they prepared for me. Visiting the coffee farm in Monteverde was an experience I should share with people. Walking around the farm ground in the rain looking at the coffee beans glistening but feeling cozy under the umbrella they provided, was a beautiful feeling. The lunch provided by the farm staff, all from their organic garden, down to the sauce and drinks was one of the best vegetarian meals I ever had. Everyone in the group was talking about the meal for a while. Luis, the incredible bus driver, handling a mega bus like a sedan, gave us the confidence that he would make it no matter what the road situation was. Thank you.

Gilbert was our tour guide, and he was excellent! It was our 1st Gate 1 tour, and we were so impressed with Gilbert's knowledge of all the birds and plants, and he really represented Costa Rica and Gate 1 in the best light. He told us that he has been with Gate 1 for many years. I asked him how he keeps it fresh and not get bored? He said it a different group/people each time with different questions and he loves what he does. Well, it shows. He is a keeper. I have been telling all who will listen about our trip and how we loved Gate 1 and our tour guide Gilbert. I can't wait for our next trip!

Manfred's enthusiasm for his job, his compassion for people, and his knowledge of his country made this a 5-star tour. And Luis was able to drive that large bus with more precision and expertise than most people can drive their car! What fantastic men!!

My trip was amazing. Our tour guide 'Ricardo' and transportation driver 'Jose' were amazing. Very knowledgeable about the surrounding areas. I appreciated all the safety protocols in place by Gate1 and would look to do a tour like this to another location sometime in the near future.

Our trip was amazing- thank you so much! The airport shuttles were seamless, the excursions were great, hotels superb, and I can't speak highly enough about our guide, Gilberth, and driver, Jose. We will definitely be travelling with Gate 1 again in the future!

The trip was excellent. Costa Rica is beautiful. The tour guide Jose was very good. Everyone on the tour was very friendly. We shall go with gate 1 again.

One of the best experiences my husband and I have had in a long time, and we travel a great deal. This was our first trip together with Gate1, and we were extremely impressed with the tour manager, destination and planning. My deepest gratitude to Manfred and everyone at Gate1 for showing us beautiful Costa Rica in style. We were genuinely impressed and can't for our next trip.

I want to again comment what a wonderful job Monty did as a tour manager, he is 100% complete in all areas. Very pleasant, funny and personable to keep the group all together in the right spirit. Additionally, our bus driver, Marvin, was very pleasant and kept the motorcoach in a very high state of cleanliness. He was always willing to assist, receive or give greetings and had a smile on his face. Such a wonderful representation of Gate 1.

Fantastic! This being our first time with Gate 1 we were thrilled. Thanks for setting everything up for us. You made the trip easy, and it was very memorable. Gerardo, our guide and all the drivers were fantastic and friendly. The sights were unbelievable. The hotels and restaurants far exceeded our expectations! This trip was a great value for what it cost. Could not have asked for a better vacation!

This was my first Gate 1 trip; it will not be my last! Our tour director, Geraldo, was excellent. He made the bus travel fly by with interesting information about the towns we were traveling through. We had a diverse group, including families, retired couples and solo travelers like myself, and Gerardo made sure everyone was having a good time and was well taken care of. The hotels were each unique and showcased the beauty of Costa Rica. Although the included tours were enough to keep us busy, the optional tours were added to the overall trip and I'm glad not to have missed out, especially the hot springs in Arenal and the catamaran tour in Manuel Antonio. The food was delicious, and it was nice having several options to choose from for breakfast and dinners. Our drivers were very skilled and navigated the sometimes bumpy and windy roads with ease. Thank you Gate 1 for an amazing experience!

A compliment for Jose from our 9-day walking tour in Costa Rica. Jose' was genuinely concerned about everyone and everything went very smoothly. I would highly recommend any of my friends and family take a tour with him as the lead guide in charge. Thanks for providing such a talented and experienced guide for all of us.

Our recent hiking tour in Costa Rica with Gate 1 was a resounding success! The trip was filled with friendly people and unforgettable experiences, thanks largely to our exceptional tour guide, Jose, along with his assistant and driver. Jose's organizational skills were impeccable. He was always on top of everything, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. His wealth of knowledge about regional economics, history, vegetation, geography, and wildlife made the tour incredibly enriching. Jose's ability to share this information in an engaging and accessible manner truly set him apart as a fantastic teacher. The hikes were challenging yet manageable, offering the perfect balance of adventure and enjoyment. We encountered some rainy days and muddy terrain, which added to the thrill and excitement of the experience. Despite the conditions, Jose's guidance and support made every hike both safe and enjoyable. The food on the tour was delicious, with plenty of tropical fruits that were a delightful addition to our meals. Overall, the Gate 1 Costa Rica hiking tour exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adventurous and educational experience in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Thank you, Jose and the Gate 1 team, for an unforgettable journey!

Thank you, the trip was wonderful, love the trails, the food , natural beauty and all the animals we watched. Our main guide, Jose is amazing and knowledgeable, assistant guide, JJ is courteous and professional, driver Hector is patient and friendly. Definitely will recommend to anyone who is interested in the hiking experience.

Everything went smoothly, from transportation to accommodations, making for a stress-free vacation. Our travel guide Gio was very helpful, provided excellent support throughout our trip. He was knowledgeable and friendly, making the experience both educational and enjoyable.

My trip was great! I loved the Gilbert, the tour guide. Marvin, the driver, was amazing. When the tour guide Edgardo stayed with us on the last day, he was so informative and helpful. I was happy with the accommodations and the food. The guides were helpful in making sure I had vegan meals. I loved the activities and signed up for all the optional additions.

We had a wonderful and exciting trip to Costa Rica. Our tour guide Manfred and bus driver Marvin were heaven sent, and the weather was great for the season. Everything was arranged so well. The tour group was good as well and we made new friends.

I'd like to add specific feedback on the service of our guide and driver. Specifically, Marvin (driver) and Manfred (tour guide), both were EXCELLENT!! Manfred went above and beyond taking care of our needs, preparing us for each day's activities, extremely thoughtful for our comfort and safety! I couldn't believe how much I learned about the country as we drove from place to place as Manfred shared historical info and current life details about Costa Ricans. He is funny and extremely smart! It was like getting a history lesson as I looked out the window at the beautiful Costa Rican country. This is my 3rd Gare 1 tour, and Manfred is my favorite tour guide yet!

Luis is the BEST tour guide ever. He is so amazing. We learned so much about Costa Rica and Panama. Thank you for hiring the best of the best. We had an incredible trip.

It was awesome!! We had such a wonderful time. Our tour guide Rafael was so informative, and our bus driver Armando kept us safe and comfortable throughout the entire trip. I'm glad I booked the hanging bridges tour last minute because that was just amazing! Will definitely be traveling again with you & referring my family/friends as well.

Wow! This was my first group travel vacation, and I am just overwhelmed by the overall experience! My husband and I and our two adult children (college age) thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica! We have traveled many times on our own, I usually do most of the planning, but this was amazing. I was unsure how traveling in a large group would work for us, but it was so easy and there was leisure time to do things on our own as a family. It was a perfect balance. I cannot say enough about everyone who had a part in this wonderful vacation. From booking the experience, airport transfers, and of course our wonderful guide, Gio, and the drivers, Jose, and Roberto. They were all AMAZING!!! The transportation infrastructure in CR is a work in progress, and Jose worked magic driving that large tour bus through the mountains! Roberto was fantastic as well. Our family met so many wonderful people on the trip, such a great experience! Thank you for the great memories, we will be booking more vacations with Gate 1.

Gerardo and Jairo are excellent guides. They are knowledgeable and have great interpersonal skills. Roberto was a fantastic driver. He stopped at various places so we could see even more waterfalls, animals etc. Thank you so much for this fantastic walking trip to Costa Rica.

I would like to add more praise for our guides! Geraldo was wonderful, working seamlessly to make all our connections smooth. And Jairo, our hiking guide, was fantastic in sharing his knowledge of the local flora and fauna. His depth of knowledge was very enjoyable and appreciated. I hope all my future guides are as knowledge and professional as these are.

The survey didn't leave much option for our walking tour assistant guide/manager, Jairo. He was wonderful, he was so knowledgeable about the animals and plants of Costa Rica. He made the walking tour a fabulous experience by his willingness to answer our questions, call for animals, and be patient as people looked for the animals he found. I hope Gate1 keeps him for the walking tours because Jairo made the tour so much more than expected.

We completed our Costa Rica/Panama trip last week. Our Guide Gilbert was EXCELLENT! He was accommodating in every way possible to please 22 people all at the same time. He has excellent knowledge of Costa Rica and excels at his job. I've been on many guided trips and Gilbert is OUTSTANDING. If I were still working, I would hire Gilbert in a heartbeat. Clearly this is not a job to him, it's his life and he represents Gate1 Travel with outstanding credentials and passion for his job.

This being our fourth Gate 1Travel trip, we pretty much knew what to expect. However, the Costa Rica trip was above our expectations. We spent a wonderful eleven days traveling across the country with our tour guide Giovani. I don't think that I have ever encountered a person as passionate as he is about the environment, so knowledgeable about both the plants and the animals that make up Costa Rica. I will never again take a walk through a forest without thinking about trees that can move (walking palms), trees that are dying and passing their last nutrients on to neighboring trees through their connected root system or trees so toxic you better not touch them. The animals were just as interesting. Sleeping in an elevated cabin in the rain forest with Capuchin monkeys running around outside your door, boating up close to caiman crocodiles, seeing a sloth at eye level so close you could touch it and observing numerous land and water birds, several unique to Costa Rica, were just some of the highlights. The trip also included some recovery time by taking a break to relax in the Arenal Hot Springs, a swim in the Pacific Ocean at the Manuel Antonio National Park and taking a nice catamaran boat trip for swimming and snorkeling fun. We would highly recommend this trip if you are interested in looking for some unique experiences and enjoyment.

I can't tell you enough how impressed I was with our Costa Rica guide, Ricardo. He was extremely knowledgeable, courteous, concerned for our wellbeing and happiness, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He made our trip very special. Also, Luis was an amazing driver! He graciously offered his hand to help the ladies off the bus each time we got off. I really appreciated that touch. Ricardo and Luis represent Gate 1 well and, frankly, set the standard for your guides and drivers for our future Gate 1 travels.

Great! I really enjoyed the trip to Costa Rica. Our tour guide was very informative, helpful, and friendly. Manfredo was also very organized and very thoughtful. This was my second time traveling with Gate1 and I am very confident, recommending it to my friends.

Our trip to Costa Rica was magical. We visited San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. It was the right amount of time in each place. The planned activities and meals were wonderful. Our drivers, Luis and Hector, were so skilled driving those buses. They kept us save and were very kind. Our tour guide, Gilbert, was funny and knowledgeable. He did an amazing job sharing his knowledge and making the long drives fun and entertaining. We saw lots of wildlife including toucans, sloths, capuchins, and more thanks to Gilbert. While we know we can explore countries on our own, we love how Gate1 gives us the opportunity to enjoy the ride, get to know other people, and learn about the country we are visiting. We truly felt immersed in the culture. This was our 3rd Gate1 trip and it definitely not be the last.

After hearing about Gate 1 from others we thought we'd give you a try. We normally plan and book all our own travel so using a tour company was a new experience for us. We are pleased to say that you passed with flying colors! We'd especially like to applaud Manfred for his organizational skills, humor, and in-depth knowledge. He was absolutely fabulous! All the other Gate 1 personnel did a great job too. I expect that we will be repeat customers for years based on our experiences on this "pilot" trip.

It was wonderful. Our guide Manfred was terrific - knowledgeable, down-to-earth, funny, considerate, helpful. Our driver Luis was exceptional - competent and careful and a real virtuoso in maneuvering that huge bus in tight or difficult places. The accommodations were very good (Monteverde and Tamarindo especially). The excursions were all good - we particularly enjoyed the coffee farm tour, and the lunch we had the Cafe Monteverde was the best meal we had in Costa Rica. The night walk with Derek was illuminating - exciting, though I never felt unsafe. I was glad I opted not to do the zipline - we saw so much more of the cloud forest hiking the hanging bridges. We hadn't realized the extent to which Gate 1 supports the local economy and ecology and came to appreciate all their efforts to do so. We are traveling with Gate 1 Discovery to Morocco in the fall and hope to see similar efforts there.

My husband and I just returned from a nine day trip to Costa Rica, and I don't even know where to begin about how wonderful this vacation was. I had been to Costa Rica before, but this was the first time my husband had ever been to this country. For both of us, it was the trip of a lifetime. Not only was the Costa Rica magnificent, from coast to coast, both the food and accommodations exceeded our expectations. Most of all, the best thing about our trip was our tour extraordinary tour guide, Manfred. I have traveled all over the world and been on many tours, but Manfred by far, is the best tour guide I have ever experienced. He was personable, well informed, courteous, kind and made sure each and every day was enjoyable. He interacted on a personal level with all 41 members of the group and made sure that everyone's needs were met. Manfred was incredibly organized and made certain that no detail was overlooked. He provided background information on every place we visited. He organized our day making sure we were all aware of what time to get our bags ready and what time we needed to be on the bus. He worked very well with Louiz, who was an incredible bus, driver, navigating winding roads safely and carefully. I would absolutely recommend this tour with Manfred to anyone. Manfred is a true treasure, and I wish he led tours all over the world, and we would follow!

I just returned from the 14-day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica and I had a fabulous time. Our tour manager, Gilbert, was incredible: extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and kind. He knew so much about the country's flora and fauna, as well as about its political, cultural, and economic history. Every day, I learned something new and interesting: about bananas, pineapple, the cross-country railroad, the struggle for independence, etc. Plus, Gilbert's ability to spot birds, sloths, and lizards is amazing! His keen eye helped me get some incredible photos, which are the best souvenirs of all. Gilbert made the trip fun and memorable. Finally, Gilbert is friendly, warm, and funny. He made everyone feel welcome and part of the group. Fabulous experience. Thank you, Gilbert! Our bus driver, Jose, was also incredible. The roads in Costa Rica can be challenging: bumpy, narrow, winding, marred by big potholes, and even unpaved. But, Jose navigated them with skill. His driving expertise made me feel safe and secure the whole time. Plus, his motorcoach is top notch: comfortable and clean. Jose also always had an ample supply of water waiting for us every time we got back to the bus from an excursion. I couldn't have asked for a better driver. Jose is a total pro. In sum, a great trip! Thank you.

Our trip was fun. Great weather, good tour guide. It offered a lot of activities that were fun. We did a lot of hiking. We walked over the eight bridges up in Monteverde, but we skipped the zip lining. The catamaran excursion was really fun. We loved swimming in that gorgeous blue water. Thank you for recommending us to visit the Pacific side of the country. Always appreciate your help!!

I recently went on the 13-day classic Costa Rica tour with two friends, and we could not be more pleased with the travel experience that Gate 1 provided. The lodging facilities at each destination far exceeded our expectations and the food selection was vast and of the highest quality. Each and every person we encountered there was friendly and professional, most especially our tour manager Rafael, who truly made this trip a once in a lifetime experience. His knowledge and passion for his beautiful country of Costa Rica was beyond impressive and left us all wanting more. He dedicated every minute to make sure we were all safe, prepared for each of the day's events and that we were satisfied with our experience. Marvin our tour bus driver was highly skilled at getting us all safely to each destination, which is a colossal challenge with a huge bus on narrow roads and bridges, but he made it look effortless. I highly recommend choosing Gate 1 for all your travel adventures and if you go to Costa Rica ask for Rafael and Marvin.

We recently returned from a fabulous 14-day kaleidoscope of Costa Rica trip. Can't say enough good things about our tour manager, Manfred. He went above and beyond, keeping us organized and so very well informed about his beautiful country. It was obvious that he was well respected by all the hotels, restaurants, boat drivers/ captains, and many others we encountered along our adventures. What a hard-working guy he is! We had a late-night redeye flight. We booked independently for travel back to LAX, so we spent much of our last day hanging out in the San Jose hotel lobby. Manfred was there often welcoming the incoming for his next tour group as well as bidding farewell to those who had transfers in our group. What a treasure he is for Gate 1! And Luis- our driver- wow! He navigated some roads and bridges that we could probably barely walk on ??. And he always kept the bus so clean, the windows sparkling for photo opportunities - and always a helping hand when needed while getting out of the motorcoach. Manfred and Luis - what a team- Pura Vida.

Our trip was wonderful! We were lucky to have great weather and a wonderful guide named Edgardo. Our bus driver Marvin was incredible. You should have seen him get around those narrow roads. Edgardo really new how to keep things together. That made it so easy for us. He also gave us plenty of information about Costa Rica. Our meals were delicious and the service was great.

The 10 Day Costa Rica trip was made wonderful and comfortable because of Gilbert our tour guide and Hector and Jose our bus drivers. Gilbert has an amazing knowledge of Costa Rica/Central America that spans physical/cultural Geography, the Environment - flora & fauna, the ecology, the geology and its millions of years of earth/volcano forming; and the people, locals/politicians/influencers. Gilbert was amazing that he could talk an academics interest at a level that everyone in our group could understand. Sure Costa Rica is a land of tropical wonder, but without someone to explain all those wonders, I would have missed 80% of it. Spotting wildlife is not easy, nor recognizing what you see..... Gilbert did it all. He assured that everyone got personal attention, that the accommodations and meals were as expected, and that all those hours of being on the bus traversing mountain switch-backs were filled with his interesting and jovial commentary. Gate1 does a fabulous job, but it is the employees who interface with the tourists that make all that happen. Gilbert, Hector & Jose made that happen! Great trip.

This tour far exceeded my hopes and expectations. It was my first Gate 1 tour, and certainly encouraged me to take others. The guide was particularly outstanding. Rafael is incredibly well informed and educated and was able to impart enthusiasm and information in a wonderful manner. I especially appreciated his knowledge of history and natural science as it applied to this area. And his skill with the English language is second to none. He was able to overcome and manage an unexpected event......that of landslides which necessitated a major detour. And he was able to provide information to the tour participants in a very reassuring manner, reminding us all that travel involves the unexpected and requires flexibility. I also want to comment on the amazing skills of the driver, Marvin, who masterfully drove that bus over mountain passes, narrow roads, and tiny little narrow entrances to resorts. He is amazing!

It was awesome! This was our first "group tour" and our first Gate1 experience and neither one disappointed. From the initial reservations, the communication was plentiful (but not too much) about what to expect and how to prepare. The itinerary was well planned, and the excursions offered were great. Gilbert, our tour manager made our trip that much more enjoyable with his personal knowledge of Costa Rica, his friendly and caring personality and his fascinating stories about all we were seeing. And our bus driver, Armando, deserves a medal for his masterful driving skills in maneuvering some of the roads we traveled and the towns we visited. The entire trip was a sight to behold...nature never ceases to amaze me. Loved every moment and will definitely considering using Gate1 again for another adventure.

Fabulous/Incredible/Amazing/Knowledgeable/fun. As a matter of fact there are no words...First time on a Gate 1 tour and definitely will not be the last!!

We had a wonderful time; Costa Rica is an amazing country. And I cannot speak more highly of our tour manager - Jose was not only extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of Costa Rican life (economics, politics, history, geography), but has an unbelievable familiarity of the flora and fauna (to the point that we had to ask if he had studied formally). We continue to be amazed at the quality of Gate1's tour managers; every time we think they can't get any better, they do.

Our family trip to Costa Rica using Gate 1 was fantastic. Rafael - our guide - was the best! We all loved him. He was so informative, funny, helpful and made everything so pleasant. And our driver - Marvin - was absolutely the best driver we have ever had! We never felt unsafe, the bus was immaculate and he was always so welcoming. And for our last day in San Jose - Monica was great guide! So warm and friendly - like our own mom or grandma. We have been recommending Gate 1 to all our friends!

The trip went very well! This was our first Gate 1 and our first tour with anybody for that matter. We felt the coordination from you and our tour manager was excellent. We had a little apprehension when we arrived late in the evening in San Jose but the transfer guy was still waiting for us after a long search for our luggage. When we got to the Hilton Garden Inn, there was a package at the front desk for us explaining what happens next. From then on, our tour manager, Rafael, kept us informed and entertained about the itinerary. It was a great trip and we would recommend Gate 1 to anyone but particularly you and Rafael provided accurate and timely information... that made me very comfortable and I wanted to make sure you two knew how we felt. Excellent job!!

The trip was fantastic. Our guide Edguardo and our driver were both excellent. Edguaro was amicable and entertaining as well as being highly knowledgeable and informed about Costa Rica, the sights and excursions. While the different sites and experiences were exciting and informative it was Edguardo that really made our trip totally enjoyable and rewarding. I can't recommend him sufficiently high. The bus driver was also superb. His skill at maneuvering that large vehicle on small roads and tight turns was awesome. Both Edguardo and the driver were constantly seeking and pointing out things of interest along the road, sometimes stopping to make sure everybody on the bus could see. I will definitely recommend Gate 1 highly to my friends.

We just completed a trip to Costa Rica including Tortuguero. We have been on 20+ Gate1 tours and wanted you to know that Raphael was one of the best tour guides we've ever had. Our party arrived 1 day early, and he personally reached out to us, dropped by the hotel, and gave us luggage tags along with safety advise for going downtown San Jose. We had a group of 18 for Tortuguero, and he was able to make every guest feel important. After Tortuguero, we met up with additional travelers making our group 40+...not an easy size group to manage. Raphael handled this larger group seamlessly. He has a great sense of humor and a wealth of knowledge about Costa Rica. He truly was made to be a tour guide - and we feel fortunate that he represents Gate1 so positively. Thanks, again, for a great tour experience!!