Sep 1, 2024
Thank you Travel Tropical Tours for an unforgettable family vacation in Costa Rica! - Planning was easy, as we only had to let Sarah know when we were in Costa Rica and what we generally wanted to do. With that information, she quickly provided an itinerary from pick-up to drop off. We would spend our first afternoon travelling to Grecia to spend the night before using our next day to get to the Caribbean side where we would spend three nights. We would then transfer to La Fortuna for another three nights before being dropped off at our final destination at an all-inclusive in Guanacaste.
Communication was quick via e-mail prior to the trip and a WhatsApp group was created for more direct communication during the trip (WiFi is free in the airport and each hotel). We received a message each evening reminding us what we would need the next day and when we would need to be ready by.
We were met at the airport by our guide, Greivin, who is also the co-owner, and our driver David. Greivin was our unofficial family photographer and also our translator, especially valuable for the non-touristy areas we visited. David was great maneuvering the van through the traffic of Costa Rica, finding amazing parking spots, and seemingly appearing out of nowhere whenever it was time to pick us up. Other than meal and bathroom stops, they also put up with our request for picture stops (wind turbines…in Costa Rica???!!!), rambutan stands, and a Churchill dessert.
Greivin was our private guide leading us through Cahuita National Park, the Gandoca Nature Reserve, and Tenorio Volcano National Park/Rio Celeste. He pointed out wildlife and hauled along a telescope for close up views and a laser pointer to make sure we were looking at the right spots. While our pace was dictated by an 8-year-old, we never felt rushed, taking as many breaks as his little legs needed.
Other activities they had planned for us included more touristy places like the Jaguar Rescue Center, a horseback ride through a trail and along a beach, Sky Adventures tram and ziplining, Baldi Hot Springs, and Mistico Park hanging bridges. All reservations were made on their end so Greivin would check us in and tell us where to go from there. It was definitely a slower time of the year as each location had the capacity for many more people, but there were no complaints from us!
They were also very flexible with our plans. Since we were passing through Grecia where there would be a farmer’s market the next morning (only twice a week), we asked if we could go see what it was like and they were so accommodating with Sarah even meeting us there to help us buy fresh fruit from their favorite vendor. We had an empty afternoon on the Caribbean side and asked if we could do a chocolate tour – Sarah looked into it and found one for us the next day that we had a great time at, even though they hadn’t much experience with chocolate tours in that area!
Travel Tropical Tours even went the extra mile trying to track down a stuffed animal we accidentally left at one hotel and have it sent to final location before we left the country. Unfortunately, it was the weekend and things didn’t work out, but their efforts would not go unappreciated.
I would definitely recommend Travel Tropical Tours if you are planning to a vacation to Costa Rica. They took away a lot of stress and effort that goes into travelling. We did not have to worry about looking into accommodations or activities, driving, navigating, or deciding where to have our next meal. We only had to sit back, relax, and enjoy, which is what a vacation is all about.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 12, 2024
From start to end an amazing experience, would highly recommend - This is a long due review as life events came in the way for me since that trip and things have slowly returned to normal. We planned our December travel to Costa Rica in July-August of last year and Sarah with Travel Tropical Tours walked us through from the beginning to the end of the trip. Since it was high season, Sarah correctly pointed out that the priority would be booking the hotels. As she worked with her, she impressed us with her incredibly fast response time. She herself was on the phone with the hotels on our behalf and made the reservations. At no point did she try to push or upsell a place to us. Once the hotels were secured (we stayed at Arenal and then at Manuel Antonio and both the hotels were amazing), Sarah went about preparing a tailor made trip for us. She suggested so many different activities based specifically on our interests (we have two young adults in the family) and then we were able to pick and choose amongst them which she then reserved for us.
From the moment we arrived till the moment we were brought back to the airport, our guide Greivin (co-owner) and driver par excellence Miguel were our companions. We could not have asked for a kinder or more competent duo. Greivin speaks fluent English and was very knowledgeable about the country. We had a lot of questions (as we usually do when we travel to a new place) and Greivin patiently answered them all. We are a family of vegetarians (and had them know that ahead of time) and they went out of their way to make sure that we always had good food and great experiences with the excursions. Every single one of the excursions they had arranged from white water rafting in Arenal to surfing on the Manuel Antonio beach were excellent. We have traveled around the world and been to several places with crazy drives and the drive from Arenal to Manuel Antonio area is way up there in precariousness! Miguel always drove safe and had an incredibly steady hand. The van was always clean and there was always cold bottled water in the cooler. And oh my! thanks to Greivin and Miguel's practiced eyes, we saw so many amazing animals and birds that we would have missed otherwise. Greivin accompanied us on hikes and also helped translate in restaurants. There were innumerable ways in which Travel Tropical made our experience the best we could ever have. By the end of our tour, Greivin and Miguel were like family to us. If you are looking for a tailor made experience in Costa Rica that is comfortable and convenient, Travel Tropical is a great fit. When we plan our next visit to Costa Rica, Tropical Travel will be our first call :) Pura vida.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 14, 2024
Best Vacation Ever! - Four of us flew from the United States to San Jose, Costa Rica. We were met at the airport by Sarah, Greivin (Travel Tropical Tour owners) and David (our driver for the week).
We started our trip in the Cloud Forest region of Monteverde, where we stayed at the Hotel Belmar. The hotel is utterly charming and the food was amazing - the Hotel restaurant uses a Farm-to-Table approach with many ingredients harvested from their gardens/farm in the morning and used in your breakfast/dinner that same day. We discovered new fruits and flavor elements in every meal... A huge plus for the foodies in our group!
The other major highlight of Monteverde was the Tree Top Dining Experience at San Lucas. Words can't describe how wonderful this dining experience was to a group of foodies! A nine course meal served in our own glass enclosed dining room with views across the treetops was breathtaking! Each course was a masterful combination of flavors, textures and visual appeal. We all agreed that this was a once in a lifetime dining experience and among the best meals we've ever had.
We then traveled to the Arenal rainforest region where we stayed at Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. The Hot Springs and the Spa were so lovely. One of the other highlights of La Fortuna was a cooking class at El Fogon de Chela - the group made the best empanadas we've ever eaten!
We did many of the typical tours during our vacation -- Sloth Park, Hanging Bridges, Wildlife River Cruise, Night Walk in the jungle, Arenal Hike. All of the tours went off without a hitch. The planning/oversight of Sarah and Greivin made the entire trip incredibly easy. Greivin's excitement around the flora and fauna of his country was truly infectious as he shared many of the wonders of the forests with our group.
Our tour was more focused on nature and food activities than the beach. Travel Tropical Tours arranged a wide variety of activities, including some last minute shopping excursions that met our needs perfectly.
One last comment - if you are considering traveling to Costa Rica, GET A DRIVER! All of Travel Tropical Tours include a full time guide and driver for your entire vacation. This unique feature is priceless! A huge shout out to David (our full time driver) who chauffeured us around endlessly during our wonderful stay in Costa Rica.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 29, 2024
5 star experience in every single way!! - Our family of 5 just returned from a 9 day Costa Rican vacation booked through Travel Tropical Tours and I could not sing their praises high enough!!!! They are a small, husband and wife operated business, they do an INCREDIBLE job of providing a completely personalized, hassle-free experience. During the planning stage, Sarah was insightful with her advice, listened to our needs and created the perfect itinerary for us - a blend of adventure balanced out with wildlife/informative tours.
Having a driver and guide with us from start to finish completely removed the headache of getting around, and provided invaluable support and flexibility. Daily communication with them and Sarah via WhatsApp was seamless and lightning fast. Sarah sent daily messages with crucial information for the following day and answered every question. When we needed to shift around a couple tours, Sarah handled behind the scenes without us having to lift a finger. When my 12 year old suddenly spiked a 104.5 fever with incredible throat pain as we were on our way to Herradura, our guide Jeanfred arranged for an emergency after-hours visit to a private clinic at 7:30pm for her to be seen. To say I was thankful is an understatement. Our driver David made us feel completely safe on the crazy local roads.
There are a million zip lining, rafting, guided park tours etc tour operators, and it is clear that Sarah and her husband Greivin prioritize working with those who focus on quality over quantity. Every tour operator and guide that we were paired with was top notch. One example - during our time with Dani our Manuel Antonio NP guide, we saw another guide complete 3 separate tours, clearly working to maximize profits instead of providing a quality experience. Instead of doing one of the chocolate tours in La Fortuna that everyone does, Sarah booked a small, much more personalized cacao experience for us on our way to Herradura which we loved!
I could go on and on, but for anyone overwhelmed by planning their trip, worried about getting around, or simply wanting to reduce as much travel stress as possible - book with Sarah and her team, and you will not regret it!!! 5 STARS in every way. Pura Vida 💚 🦥 🐸🐒 💛 🏝️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 4, 2024
Amazing, wonderful trip! - We are back from an amazing trip to Costa Rica that Sarah organized for our group of 5, 70ish aged women. We had the time of our lives seeing this beautiful country and saw and experienced more than we thought possible. We went to Liberia, La Fortuna, Monteverde and ended in Manuel Antonio. We hiked to waterfalls, volcanos, tubed, floated and kayaked rivers, zip lined, hanging bridges, hot springs, horseback riding and the beach. We we’re definitely exhausted and energized! Our guide (Jean Fred) and driver (Walter) met us at the airport and were with us every step of the way. They showed us excellent care, along with pointing out so many animals, birds and plants. Sarah went above and beyond before the trip with what we would like to do and see. Once we were there, she was in contact with us everyday and gave us information for what to bring and plan for the next day. I can’t stress enough that if you want a wonderful trip without all the worries of planning and going on your own, please use Tropical Travel Tours. It was a trip of a life time and I would do it all again tomorrow if I could! Thank you Sarah, Jean Fred and Walter!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mar 3, 2024
Michigander Chica’s - Sarah organized 14 day fun filled adventure for 5 girlfriends. We hiked to LaLeona waterfall, whitewater tubing, volcano hike, horseback riding, hot springs zip line, Manuel Antonio National Park and kayaking. Our driver Walter, kept us safe on the narrow winding roads in his comfortable van. Our guide, John Fred, was the best!!! He showed us the Dry Forest, Rain Forest, Cloud Forest and the Beach. He has an eagle eye for birds and animals and taught us about Costa Rica’s fauna flora. It was a vacation of a lifetime thanks to Sarah and Travel Tropical Tours❤️Pura Vida
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 22, 2024
Trip of a lifetime! - Have you been wanting to go on a trip to Costa Rica, but those big tour bus groups sound unappealing? Well your worries be gone, introducing Travel Tropical Tours. The wonderful co-owner and guide Greivin is a local Costa Rican who is well educated about his beautiful country. He is familiar with the area and also knows a lot of scrumptious restaurants. He is knowledgeable about animal species and has an impressive telescope to see them close up. He was friendly and it felt like he was a part of our group rather than just the guide. He has impressive communication skills and is fluent in both Spanish and English. When you book with Travel Tropical Tours, they will already have many daily adventures lined up for you. Therefore, you have to be up and ready to leave at a certain time, so you don’t waste your precious day sitting around, wondering what to do. In conclusion, I hope you consider hiring Travel Tropical Tours to host you on your amazing trip to Costa Rica.
Written by Daysen AGE 10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 20, 2024
Amazing Costa Rican Experience - This was such an amazing family trip. We had a guided tour trip for 10 days. We went with our two children, 2 and 7 months. We also met teo other beautiful families that were with us the entire time. We had a personal driver, Miguel, and a personal guide, Greivin. We worked directly with Sarah who personalized an amazing adventure. We were met at the airport and every step of vacation we felt safe and cared for. Anything that we needed or any questions that we had Greivin was able to answer them. Considering we had two little ones, at times it was so hot/humid, Greivin and Miguel were super accommodating and did whatever we needed in order to make our trip amazing. We travelled all over Costa Rica, staying in four different hotels all over the country, going on many guided tours such as The Jaguar Rescue, Tornado, Hot Springs, National Parks and many beautiful beaches. Sarah and Greivin got us to do all the amazing things that we wanted to do. Miguel and Greivin knew all the stops, had incredible eyes and showed us all their country had to offer. I highly recommend Tropical Tours. They were absolutely amazing and have so much knowledgable information and tours to offer of the beautiful Costa Rica. Thank you so much Sarah, Greivin and Miguel:) !!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 5, 2023
Best family vacation ever! - We decided to book this 9 night trip just over a month ago, so we needed all the help we could get for our first time to CR! Sarah was extremely helpful in customizing and securing our accommodations and tours. We spent half our trip near Fortuna with a perfect view of the volcano, and the second part of the trip in Manuel Antonio overlooking the ocean. Every tour and excursion felt like we had the best experts guiding us through an epic adventure! From ziplining, hanging bridges, chocolate and coffee tours, hot springs, river rafting, mangrove kayaking, National park exploring, animal watching, waterfall wading…plus enjoying the amenities at our resorts… I can hardly wrap my brain around it all! And to top it all off- we had the BEST driver, Miguel, who was gracious, safe, and helpful! We could not have asked for a better family vacation. I highly recommend Travel Tropical Tours. Take the trip- PURA VIDA!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 25, 2023
Customized first class experience - There were 18 of us (4 families) that visited Costa Rica for the first time! 🌋 🌴
Sarah did an amazing job customizing the daily excursions/lodging so that everyone was happy. The excursions she arranged for our group were high quality, professional, safety focused and so much fun!
White water rafting
Rappelling/canyoning
Hot Springs at Tabacon
Hanging Bridges Tour
Manuel Antonio park Tour
Waterfall hike
Beach
ATV
At the last minute, our original waterfall excursion had to be canceled due to construction and Sarah and Greivin were able to pull together another day long trip to another waterfall/beach within hours and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.
Sarah also helped us get back some expensive sandals that one of my boys left at one of the excursions.
Having a personal driver and bilingual tour guide Greivin at our disposal daily made the trip so much more enjoyable and convenient.
allowed us all to travel together hassle-free. The availability of the team to answer any questions was greatly appreciated and added to the overall smoothness of the trip.
Our tour guide was exceptional – not only was he knowledgeable, but he was also funny, considerate, and incredibly helpful. And I can't forget to mention our expert driver, Ronaldo. Navigating through challenging roads and terrains, he made us feel safe and taken care of after tiring days of exploration.
I highly recommend Travel Tropical Tours to anyone looking for an unforgettable and well-organized travel experience in Costa Rica. Their dedication to providing a seamless and enjoyable journey truly sets them apart.
Review provided by Tripadvisor