4 independent reviews for Costa Rica & Panama tour
Reviews for Costa Rica & Panama tour
Nelly Clark review 8 Feb 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkelling in Santa Catalina. The water was warm, the abundance of variety and number of fish was like swimming in an aquarium, there were turtles too.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you’re a budget traveller, check out the supermarkets in Panama. Some have a hot food counter for pies and pastries also a coffee machine for $1 - you may need to pay at the main checkout if the counter isn’t manned.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
As the tour was basic, only the accommodation, transport, one meal and tour leader was paid for in advance, it meant all daily expenditure was being paid direct to your chosen activities each day, to the local people for your food etc. The tour leader was also from the region. It was supposed to be a public transport tour, reducing environmental impact but some journeys were upgraded to private transport but still in a bus and not individual cars I suppose. I’m not aware that it directly supported conservation, only if we happened to visit an area and paid park fees.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Panama was such a lovely country. I didn’t enjoy the Costa Rica bit getting there so much. I would have preferred one day less at Bocas del Toro and one day extra at Santa Catalina. The stay at Boquete had the extra bonus of the coffee and flower fair being on that week. Panama City needed at least one day extra but being at the end that was an optional extra, the metro was very easy to use there but limited to how close it got you to where you were going.Alison Duthie review 14 Feb 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing howler monkeys for the first time2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Prepare to pay extra for several of the activities3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Largely, yes4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very goodJackie Wall review 16 Jan 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The boat trips in Panama were amazing, the seas were so beautiful and clear and the air so fresh. It was exhilarating being on the water but also looking out for wildlife as we travelled. Panama City is a fabulous place with lots to see, many places to eat out and a great vibe.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are just booking this trip be aware that others in your group may have been travelling together some time before this one starts. If you have joined this as a solo traveller it is useful to know. If you are going to book the volcano tour and haven't been to anywhere up high be aware that you may suffer from altitude sickness. Definitely bring an underwater camera.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I don't believe it benefitted the environment or supported conservation as there weren't any specific activities linked to those topics. I know there were a couple of half day tours where indigenous communities were visited. We did use local transport or, as there were 13 of us, hired a local bus which provided employment. We also went on a trip with a local boatman who was just starting out. The hotels and accommodation didn't seem full in most places so I assume that we generated an income - this is definitely true of many restaurants. I don't think we reduced environmental impacts in any way. I did buy local products as a result of learning about local cacao and coffee growing.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I liked Costa Rica but didn't spend much time there. Panama was absolutely stunning and I would recommend travel here to anyone. It would be a good family destination for children aged 8 plus as well as solo or group travel. The people were friendly, it was safe, it was beautiful and the food was delicious. It is one of the most beautiful places I have been.Gabriela Stamenova review 28 Aug 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I think all of it. Loved every single minute and was extremely lucky with the tour guide (Vin) and the group!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
I would say to not expect luxury accommodation or to have hot water throughout but it is really worth it! Also be prepared that your days in Boquete will be much cooler than the rest of the trip so I would suggest bringing long trousers and warm cover up clothes as many people on our trip got caught out by the drastic change in temperature up in the mountain.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I feel like it did. We used local operators wherever we went, we were continuously told of ways to reduce our plastic wastage and also when water was potable from the taps to minimise buying it from supermarkets. Most of the time our group dinners were also at local restaurants that offered authentic, local food or food trucks/breweries rather than large chain restaurants etc.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would rate the holiday an 8.5 out of 10 just because I feel like the itinerary should have included more days in Sabra Catalina or bocas del toro rather than so many spent in Boquete, where our accommodation was quite far from the city and if you were not out on activities then you had nothing to do if you did not want to pay $25 for a single trip to the centre of town (where there was not much to do either). Activities with local operators in boquete were also limited unless more than one person subscribed and it meant that people missed out on seeing/doing things they wanted as no one else was on the trip ie I could not do the coffee plantation (one of the highlights of the region). Apart from that I loved the trip and the people on it. Our tour guide Vin from the operator was also incredible and we owe much of our experience on him.Holiday Reviews
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