Costa Rica & Panama | Gate 1 Travel (2024)

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.

Walter W.

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!

Rallou M.

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!!

Bruce D.

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.

Stephen S.

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!!

Debra M.

This makes my 14th Gate1 trip since the 80's, and we(Steve and I) are glad to have chosen the 14-day option since Costa Rica has so much to offer. Our trip was fabulous! We had the best tour guide, Manfred, and safest bus driver, Armondo who was so attentive to the narrow roads as we passed other busses and large vehicles, whether good or inclement weather! Manfred educated us throughout, even bringing pictures of the tropical birds and other critters that we encountered along our travels for us to see first-hand what they looked like up close. In Tortuguero, the boat driver could spot varied wildlife from a distance and took the boat up close for our picture taking, even turned the boat around for those on the other side to get good pictures. We tipped him well as he deserved it! Every accommodation was excellent, the included meals were very good also, some well above what we expected! Some on this trip had been already 16 to 18 other trips with Gate1, and these great accommodations and quality tour guides and drivers etc. are the reasons we keep coming back to you! It makes the most of our time to enjoy our vacation. Thank you. THANK YOU!! Gate1 is the greatest!

Ronald A.

Our trip was absolutely amazing! We had 13 family members in our group. Gilbert did a wonderful job. We had 4 children with us. 2 of the kids were ours (8 and 12 years old). They had a great time as well. Loved seeing so many animals and learning a lot about the country.Would highly recommend this trip to others.

Connie A.

Our guide Ricardo was the most amazing tour guide that we have ever had. His knowledge and personality and thoughtfulness was just amazing. I hope gate one travel appreciates what a fabulous guy do you have on your hands there! It was our first gate one trip and because of how well entire trip was run by your company and Ricardo we will definitely schedule another trip. Driver Hector was also excellent and thought of the safety of the passengers the entire time even when we encountered a terrible accident and were stuck on the bus for hours they both hailed it very well. We'll definitely book another gate one trip in the future as a result! Thank you for a very well run trip!

Susan L.

The trip was GREAT! Our Travel Director Edgardo was fantastic and made the trip so much more meaningful! He was professional, funny, and knowledgeable about everything!! He really gave us a deeper understanding of Costa Rica's flora, fauna, people, and culture. Marvin, our bus driver, was outstanding as well. We could not believe the roads we traveled. His driving was nothing short of amazing! Thank you for a great trip!

Elinor C.

We had a AMAZING time! We were surprised to learn that there would only be 7 total vacationers for most of the trip (there were 5 enrolled for the full 14 day tour and 2 additional people joined us after the two days at the Tortugera) We were wondering how this would impact our tour and what type of transportation would be provided. We were extremely happy, although not surprised, at how well organized GATE 1 is. The personal attention our Tour Manager provided could not have been any better. He is truly knowledgeable of the environment, animals, wildlife, flowers and plants, etc. His enthusiasm for the beautiful locations and wildlife of Costa Rica could be felt each time he provided an explanation or answered the questions the group posed. He truly gave our small group 150% of his attention and knowledge. He was attentive to each traverler's individual needs. The transportation provided was very comfortable and spacious. The driver was very punctual and attentive to each tourist as well. This was our third trip with GATE 1 and each has been magnificent. We have highly recommended it to our friends and we look forward to traveling with GATE 1 again in the future. The itineraries are always very well thought out and the prices are extremely reasonable. THANKS FOR HELPING US MAKE WONDERFUL MEMORIES!

Axel A.

My trip was amazingly wonderful. This trip wasBeyond my expectations and happily enjoyed meetingAll the people and the Jewel of Costa Rica tour managerGiovanni. He is patience, accommodating, attentiveAnd very passionate about his culture and country.I wish I could have stayed longer. The hotels, activities,Food, drinks were so refreshing and good. I also loveThat our group was small for more enjoyable time andOn getting us checked in with great ease. First and best tour/groupTrip have done thus far. Definitely, will be booking future tripsWith Gate 1 travel again.

Medjine P.

Best Gate One trip ever! Very well planned itinerary with amazing sights, hotels and meals! Excellent tour manager!

Charles L.

It was excellent in all regards. Thank you!

Amy R.

The trip was wonderful and exceeded my expectations. Well done of Gate 1 Team!

Chien L.

I couldn't ask for a more invigorating, educational, relaxing and fun trip than my Kaleidoscope trip to Costa Rica. First of all, it was my first time taking a connecting flight and Gate1 did great with the connecting flights. The Tour Manager, Manfred was excellent at every level. Very professional, knowledgeable, and understanding. Upon arrival in San Jose, Manfred greeted everyone present in the lobby and facilitated check-in and luggage taken to the respective rooms. Throughout the tour, he unselfishly and with pride for his country made everyone feel welcome. He introduced us to the main cuisine- Casado and Gallopinto, and words such as Pura Vida and Tuanis. The bus driver, Mauricio was also excellent with driving as well as caring for everyone's comfort level throughout each trip taken. I truly had an excellent time and met some wonderful people, some of whom I exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.In ONE word: it was a MARVELOUS trip.

Arlene K.

I just wanted to take the time to say how close to perfect our Walking Tour of Costa Rica was. We have been hiking for every vacation we've taken over the last two years and it was everything we were prepared for and more. Jose was the best guide and accommodated everyone in our small group very well (I could not imagine being in a large group of 20, which is what the max size of this group could have been on paper. ) I was expecting to have an actual packed lunch (picnic carried in my pack) but instead we had full sit-down lunches. You should go ahead and put that in your itinerary. I was prepared for the hikes to be a little tougher but was still very much challenged on the hikes marked "challenging"). The one thing we were lucky to NOT needing to be prepared for was the weather, since we had unusually nice dry weather for the season. There was nothing in our preparation materials that described the humidity (not unlike my hometown, but the folks from the northern US were less prepared for how that would afftect their abilities). Also, if it did rain, the hikes would have been even tougher. I know you write the itineraries broadly for the whole year, but still, a weather expectation email closer to the date would have been nice.The accommodations at the Xandari were phenomenal. Shorter time at the coffee plantation so we could hike the waterfalls at the Xandari would have been nice. Also to add in an optional zipline somewhere. I loved the coffee plantation tour and thought it was super informative and fun. All of the dinner and lunch choices were amazing.

Christina R.

Just wanted to recognize our wonderful tour manager, Jose. He goes above and beyond at all times. Geo was an absolute pleasure as well. They both shared a TON of knowledge, and gave us a great tour of their wonderful country. Hector, the tour bus driver made us feel so safe. His driving was soothing and we felt like we could immediately trust him. Thank you Jose, Geo, and Hector for keeping us safe and giving us such an amazing experience.

Taylor M.

We just returned from the 10 day Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio. I traveled with my 11 year old daughter. It was her first trip out of the country, and she was a bit nervous and apprehensive. That apprehension quickly disappeared. Our tour guide Manfred went out of his way to put her at ease. I was incredibly impressed with his knowledge & communication skills . The trip felt extremely organized and all of the details were taken care of for us . Marvin, our driver, did an amazing job navigating the difficult terrain and always greeted us with a smile and cool bottle of water. Manfred & Marvin will be a hard duo to top on future travels ! My daughter and I were impressed beyond words with every aspect if the trip and will definitely recommend to our friends & family.

Stacey B.

My trip was amazing! I have taken several tours through a competitor company to Gate 1, and from now on, I will only book through Gate 1. The organization was incredibly well done, but I don't feel like we were treated like children. We were told deadlines and timelines in a well organized manner without being repetitive. Jose, our driver, and Gilbert, our tour guide, were both absolutely fantastic! Jose got us everywhere super safely and always in the perfect timeframe. Gilbert was SO knowledgeable about every thing that was asked of him, and he was honest and sincere. His biology background made him and excellent guide for all of his knowledge of the wildlife too! The optional excursions were fantastically planned and executed as well. The Ecotermales Hot Springs was an absolute favorite, as well as the Cane Negro River cruise. Don Juan also gave an incredible Chocolate and Coffee tour. Those partnerships are a definite keep for Gate 1.It was a fabulous trip, and I can't wait to take another one soon!

Jamie S.

We just completed the 14 Day Land Tour to Costa Rica. I just want to express our appreciation for Edgardo - our guide during the entire trip. His knowledge of the plants and animals was amazing. He also had insightful comments about the history of Costa Rica and the country. He could not have been more helpful, more friendly, or accommodating. He is to be commended for his excellent work!

Vernon L.

First of all, this was my first experience with Gate 1. I received the recommendation from a friend, Darlene, who has traveled extensively with Gate 1 in the past few years. I made this trip with a friend, Daisy.We both had a overwhelmingly positive experience with the tour, from the moment we touched down at San Jose airport, where we were met with Gate 1 representatives with the shuttle to the hotel, until our last day, taking the shuttle back to the airport.However, the success of the tour was in large part due to our terrific tour guide, Manfred and our super human driver, Armando. Kudos to this duo!Manfred made this tour a trip to remember. It can't be easy to have 42 people on a tour. However, Manfred's management and organizational skills kept the tour on time for each and every event, from meals to daily excursions. I learned a lot about Costa Rica! Manfred is incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of life in Costa Rica, from its people, government, geography, agriculture, wildlife, plants, education, food, customs--and especially it's history. His wealth and breadth of knowledge about the country is spectacular!!!I couldn't have asked for a more greater experience with Gate 1 than having had Manfred as my tour guide. His friendliness and people skills are to be commended. Although we were a large group, Manfred created a feeling of family. Many of us exchanged personal contact information, and have continued to keep in touch. I would highly recommend others to do a visit of Costa Rica and ask specifically to be on his tour!!Our tour would not be complete without our dear driver, Armando. I mentioned earlier that he is super human --which is the best to describe his driving skills. The roads in Costa Rica are not the most navigable, with winding rounds up mountainsides, unpaved roads, two lane highways, and narrow streets through the towns we visited--with limited parking options for the giant bus!!Not to mention the last hotel had a very steep and narrow driveway, which required that he did K-turns to get us in and up the driveway!I cannot thank Manfred and Armando enough for their hard work to provide a memorable tour. I would love to be on tour with them again.I hope that both will be recognized for their incredible knowledge, skills and expertise. They both made the Costa Rica experience one that will be the expectation of future tours. I will miss them both, and wish the best of success, health, and good fortune to them.Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my gratitude.

Cecilia B.

I wanted to commend several individuals whom, without them, this trip would have just been great instead of the "Excellent" that it was. Our guide for the tour "Giovanni" is truly a jewel and Costa Rica, as well as your company, should be very proud to have him as your representative. He is so attentive, caring, organized, transparent, meticulous and most of all, knowledgeable of his Country that we would not hesitate going on another tour with him. We had no worries with him at the helm. He organized pick up times efficiently and provided the right amount of information for everyone in the group to know what was going to happen next. We did not have to worry about our luggage being mishandled or lost for he took care of everyone's possessions as if they were his own.The hotels we stayed at were better than expected and the meals included were top notch. Our driver for the tour "Jose" was equally excellent and we rode in comfort and felt very safe during the whole trip. It is amazing how he can maneuver such a big bus as if it was a VW bug! Also our two boat captains "Orbin" and "Luis" were excellent and made sure we didn't miss any wild life they spotted. The tour to the coffee plantation was specially beautiful and informative and our guide "Jairo" was not only friendly and funny but also very knowledgeable in conservation and the coffee making process. We will be buying some of their coffee now that they have started selling it on line. Our half a day guide in San Jose, Monica, was also very friendly and knowledgeable. Although we only had half a day with her, she made the most of our excursion.I also want to commend the choice of restaurants we ate at and in particular our last meal atop the San Jose Hilton overlooking the Costa Rican National Stadium. What a view, and what a meal. Just a gorgeous place.Most of our new found friends had traveled several times with Gate 1 so we have a lot of catching up to do. We think our next trip will be to Iceland and next year we are planning in going to Australia and New Zealand and we would not trust our travel experience to any other company but yours!Thank you for the wonderful memories and an excellent trip experience. Please do not change the way you conduct business for, as I said at the beginning, you have really mastered the way a company should manage group travel.

Vincente S.

My husband and I just returned home from our first Gate 1 trip to Costa Rica. This was certainly one of the best vacations we've ever had. We would like to say a very special thank you to our tour guide Edgardo. He did a magnificent job. He is professional, very personable and so knowledgeable about all aspects of his country. He made the richness of the culture and the beauty of Costa Rica come alive for us. He paid attention to everyone in the group and every detail to make sure that we were all well taken care of and comfortable.We enjoyed the tours, both the included and the optionals, and the food and hotels were outstanding. We appreciated the fact that we got an opportunity to see so much of the country in that 10-day period. Gate 1 is really a great company to travel with. We look forward to taking more trips with you.

Andrea C.

Our bucket list trip to Costa Rica was spectacular!Gate 1 Travel Agency was introduced to us by our friends and trip to Costa Rica was our third one. We enjoyed everything about our trip and definitely a once-in-a- lifetime experience! Entire tour was very interesting and we would strongly recommend the Costa Rica tour and Gate 1 Travel Agency to our friends.Trip Booking Agent at Gate 1 Travel Office (Ms. Sharon) and IT Staff were very helpful and available with receiving and responding to phone calls and e-mails, and making travel reservations for trip. They showed attentiveness and worked diligently in making our reservations and maintaining reservation folders. They e-mailed and updated us on the status of reservations. Throughout the process agents and IT staff showed receptive and cheerful attitude.Tour manager in Costa Rica (Jose) and his colleague (Monica) were excellent; they had incredible knowledge and in depth insight on the Costa Rica and neighboring countries' history. Both Jose and Monica captivated us with their story telling skills. They made history come to life. We liked the size of our very friendly group and made new friends during the trip. We were able to travel at a certain pace, stop and take pictures or just rest as needed. Trips were very well organized in a professional way. We learned about Costa Rica history, art, culture, food, agriculture, rain forest and wild life, hanging bridge and canopy in rain forest, hot springs, coffee plantation, religion and much more. Jose used native words and explained their meaning. We enjoyed stays in all hotels and resort and accommodations in each town were met our expectations.Our transfers between airports, cities and tours were well planned and we felt very well taken care of. Guides were friendly, helpful, and considerate and took good care of us. Tour guides clearly loves their job and feels passionate about their work. We were very happy with our tour guides - they went above and beyond to make our trip special, they were great and spoke excellent English. Bus driver, Martin, was a skilled driver, always on time and kept bus clean. He did an excellent job in driving us throughout the trip.Time and money well invested!

Narayana M.

We had taken one Gate1 tour prior to this and it was also wonderful. My friends also recommend Gate1. Manfred made this tour one of the best ever. He is completely professional, knowledgeable, patient and he has a great sense of humor. He is very proud of his work with Gate1 and of Gate1 in general. I will definitely travel with Gate1 again because of the organization of the trip as well as the amazing tour guide we had and the spirit that he created on this trip. Manfred was fantastic! You have a real gem with him. Thank you!

Lynn B.

Our 14 day Kaleidoscope of Costa Rica was more than wonderful. This is our first time joining Gate 1 and traveling to Costa Rica. We have joined many tours before and this is definitely one of the best tours on our list . The itinerary is just right, not too rushed, we got to stay 2 nights in every destination and leisure time to rest or explore things we are interested in on our own. The optional tours we participated for EcoTermales Hot Springs with dinner, Selvatura Hanging Bridges and Panache Sailing was great and meals included were delicious which often comes with choices of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian dishes. Our tour manager Jose is a very experienced tour guide, leading 36 of us through the amazing journey around Costa Rica. His sense of humor, friendliness, caring nature, organization skills and his ability to encounter day to day problem solving skills is unsurpassed. His extensive knowledge about Costa Rica is like an open encyclopedia. We learned so much from him about the history, culture, nature and wildlife, etc. Through his sharing, we can see his love for Costa Rica which touches our heart. Our driver Marvin also did an excellent job taking us around Costa Rica safely from one destination to another. He is a very skilled driver, always alert, friendly, polite and patient. We feel very safe on the road riding with him. I would like to explore other tours with Gate 1 in near future and highly recommended anyone who has never step foot in Costa Rica to join Gate 1 Tour. Thanks to Jose and Marvin, we had a very memorable trip exploring Costa Rica.

Agnes L.

Our trip was enjoyable, entertaining and informative. Many thanks to our tour manager Mr. Edgardo who made the trip the best experience we have had. The coach captain/driver Mr. Luis was exemplary: safe driving, care for all of us, keeping the coach immaculately clean and ensuring we reached destinations on time.We cannot find words to express our appreciation and how much of our enjoyable vacation was the result of the hard work, diligence and concern not only for our safety but ensuring all our luggage was loaded and we had properly checked out. All of this appreciation accrues to Mr. Edgardo Hidalgo and his coach captain Mr. Luis.We thank Gate 1 for providing the services of Mr. Edgardo and Mr. Luis.Thank you

Jaishanker B.

The trip was incredible. Gate 1 nailed every detail from the itinerary , the hotels, the locations, the excursions and the travel manager. The travel manager Manfred was professional, courteous knowledgeable, and entertaining. He ensured everyone had an incredible trip! Outstanding! I am already looking to plan two more trips with Gate 1 on top of this one I just completed and the one I have planned in may for London and Scotland! Thank you for the awesome work you do! Please tell Manfred and the driver Jose they were outstanding and much appreciated! I know everyone that was on the tour agrees!Thank you Gate 1

Jeanna J.

We would like to thank Gilbert, our guide on the tour of Costa Rica, for his absolutely excellent care, incredible knowledge, great tact and sense of humor, super calm and even demeanor, warm and helpful attitude. We cannot imagine a better person to be taking care of us/the group on any trip! Also, Luis, our driver, was simply excellent! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience. It was our first trip with Gate 1 Travel, but definitely not the last.

Ryszard S.

Our trip was great! Luis was an amazing guide, very professional, super organized and fabulous with all the various characters that make up a large group. And with 41 people our group was large! We saw a lot of the country. Even the bus transfers were educational with Luis explaining the different eco systems, the native culture, flora, fauna, the pursuit of sustainable energy and the goals of a better quality more simple life. A terrific experience! I will travel with Gate1 again, with the smaller Discovery groups you offer.P.S. Our bus driver, also named Luis, was amazing too. He drove us safely on the very narrow, rough and very winding mountain roads that were partially washed out. What a fantastic bus driver he was!Thanks for a great trip!

Susan B.

We are happy to be back home after our trip, however we regret that we didn't extend our stay! Gate 1, you really outdid yourselves! Our family was pleasantly surprised at the level of professionalism and pride that we experienced on our trip to Costa Rica. You, Jeffrey, along with your team members Gilbert, Mauricio our driver, and Monica our last tour guide, exhibited a love for the work that you all do.We loved the beautiful properties at which we stayed; all the staff we encountered where very courteous and helpful. We loved the excursions; especially the immersive experiences we had in every town we visited. We loved the food; the restaurant choices were grade A quality. And my dad was so touched by the constant recognition he received for his birthday in every leg of our journey. We truly valued the care with which you exhibited to our family, and we can't thank you enough for making my dad's milestone birthday such a memorable one.Thank you again Gate 1 for an indelible experience! We will forever be grateful. Kudos on a job most excellently done.

Sydone B.

Our Costa Rican trip far surpassed our expectations and our guide, Edguardo, was exceptional. His incredible knowledge, demeanor, and personality were top notch. What a wonderful asset to Gate 1 he is. Thank you for everything-we will be back.

Sandra R.

Our trip was great! We enjoyed every moment of the trip in Costa Rica. The tour manager Gilbert is wonderful, he took care of us and knowing my daughter is allergic to tree nuts, he checked with restaurants making sure dishes we chose with no nuts in there. He made significant efforts to ensure the entire team has the best experience watching wild lives ( monkeys and birds etc). He has a great sense of humor making this trip very fun for all of us! We strongly recommended this trip to our friends and Gilbert is the best tour manager!

Kathryn L.

Our tour guide Rafael "rafa" was extraordinary, as a first-time gate 1 traveler I didn't know what to expect and how things worked but our tour manager was quick, knowledgeable and always went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. thank you gate1 for employing people like "rafa" and I look forward to my next gate1 trip. Please reward Rafael "rafa" with kudos and a bonus check as he was absolutely the right type of person you need as the face of this magnificent tourism company.

Kevin E.

I cannot say enough great things about our Tour Manager, Giovanni . Just giving "Excellent" on all the survey questions does not feel like enough. His extensive knowledge of the ecosystems, geography, culture and history of Costa Rica made the trip particularly enjoyable. He was thorough in his management of the large group without introducing any sense of pressure or rush and kept everything moving smoothly. He was quick and well prepared to deal with a (very minor) injury on one of the walks, and really made it feel like we were being escorted by an old friend more than being on a tour. Kudos both to Gio and to Gate 1 for a system that recruits and equips such capable directors. Every Gate 1 employee we interacted with was terrific.

Scott D.

We recently completed the 10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio tour (Sunday departure). Our tour manager Manfred was excellent in so many ways. He was very knowledgeable about every stop and destination and provided us with the information we needed to manage the time we had on our own. Manfred was an excellent ambassador for the country of Costa Rica, sharing details about the geography, history, agriculture, customs, food, wildlife, flora, infrastructure, etc., all the while showing great love for his country. He was also a strong ambassador for Gate 1, and we felt he had our safety and comfort in mind. I give Manfred a 5 Star rating, for sure!

Martha C.

We just completed the 13 Day Classic Costa Rica with Tortuguero and Manuel Antonio. We had an absolutely fantastic experience! I am so glad that we went to both Tortuguero and Manuel Antonio; some folks skipped one or the other and we saw so much in these locations that it truly would have been a loss to have missed them. Our Tour Manager Rafael was terrific! He was extremely knowledgeable about the animals, birds, reptiles, flora and fauna of Costa Rica and was very conscientious in making sure that everyone had a chance to see the animals, etc, that his eagle eyes had spotted. I also enjoyed his stories of the history of Costa Rica during our bus rides. We had two drivers, both named Jose, the first to and from Tortuguero, and the second for the rest of the trip. Both were excellent. I am so glad I wasn't having to negotiate those narrow winding roads! I especially appreciate Rafael's efforts regarding the mysterious pre-Colombian Stone Spheres of Costa Rica. I asked him early in the trip if we would see any, and he said yes, near Manuel Antonio. Then he made sure to have Jose slow down the bus so we could get a good view and photos. The other passengers didn't seem familiar with the spheres, but they were fascinated with them when he told us about them. Our traveling group was fun, we had a great Tour Manager and excellent drivers, what's not to love! Many thanks Gate1!

Regina S.

We just returned from our trip, 14 day kaleidoscope of Costa Rica. WOW, what an amazing experience. What made this trip so special was Manfred our Tour Guide. You could not meet a nicer man, an absolute diamond. The knowledge, passion and pride for his country and Gate 1 was above and beyond. So professional, kind and courteous. Always smiling and great fun, I miss him already. There aren't enough words, I only wish he could be our Tour Guide wherever we go. Special mention to Luis our coach driver (beautiful brand new coach, with toilet.. bonus !!) Fantastic driver, always felt safe with him behind the wheel, over the hills and round the bends. A true gentleman. Manfred and Luis are a great team.. All the excursions, accommodations and meals were exceptional. Saw so much of this beautiful country and will be back one day. Thank you Gate 1 and your team for a truly wonderful unforgettable experience. This trip was everything we imagined and more. Highly recommend and will be traveling with your company in the future. Spot on from start to finish, well done.

Anita F.

Edgardo far exceeded our expectations throughout our visit to Costa Rica. His depth of knowledge of Costa Rican culture, economy, history, plants and animals was incredible. His ability to connect with each traveler and create a safe and inviting atmosphere was above and beyond. Edgar has a true passion for sharing his beautiful country with visitors. He was timely and diligent in helping the group stay on track and have the most enjoyable experience possible. He truly went above and beyond in all capacities.Luis, our bus driver, prioritized our safety and comfortability in all capacities. The bus was kept absolutely spotless and his driving was impeccable, along with being a very kind person. Both Luis and Edgar prioritized our safety and health through their diligence in upholding Covid-19 precautions. I cannot thank them enough for their contribution to this amazing experiencing. Based on my experience in booking, and with Edgar and Luis, I will certainly be joining another Gate1 trip in the future.If you are able, please pass along this message to Edgar and Luis. They both deserve immense gratitude and appreciation. Thank you!

Marley B.

Our tour guide Edguardo was the Best Tour/representative I've encountered in 20 years. He was Exceptionally professional, knowledgeable of all things, environments and individual food exceptions on the tour. Ensuring safety and comfortable conditions for all.Our first driver Luis was the Master of our Limo. An extremely skillful driver who ensured time, comfort & safety were his paramount concerns. Both these gentleman deserve the title Mas Excellante.Other individuals who gone above and beyond were our Dining Manager Brauner and our breakfast person Hillary both working at the Hilton in San Jose.

Joseph D.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica with Gate 1. One of the main reasons our trip was so great was due to our tour manager Manfred. He was so knowledgeable about all of the birds and wildlife we saw and was equally good leading the San Jose city tour and providing suggestions for where to eat and what to do in the other towns we stopped at. Manfred was just a great combination of an organized, problem solving tour manager and a fun person to talk to and spend time with. He really knew his stuff and gave us all a wonderful trip to remember.

Linda H.

Our tour manager, Edgardo, was top notch! I never saw him without a smile and you could tell he was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about everything in his home country! He deserves to be highly commended for a job well done! I wish I could travel with him as my manager for every trip across the globe! Job well done Edgardo!

Melanie B.

The Costa Rica tour guide Edgardo is excellent. Extremely knowledgeable, kind and patient. I have traveled almost 70 countries and joined numerous tour groups. Edgardo is the very best tour guide. I feel really lucky to have him as the guide. Learned a lot about plants, animals. Because of him, Costa Rica becomes one of my best tours. Thanks Gate1Travel!

Zaijin H.

The trip was an excellent experience. The scheduling, transportation, accommodations, excursions, meals and tour manager were all again over the top!!!! Luis is an excellent tour manager and we give him a 10 out of 10. Our coach driver Hose' was extremely good and very capable of navigating the coach through traffic and into some amazing locations. Thanks for another great Gate 1 tour. We've enjoyed them all!

Bill & Miriam A. Cheyenne, WY

Trip was incredible. Tour director Edgardo was excellent and so knowledgeable. Loved seeing all of the different animals and birds and plants. Would highly recommend this tour.

Wendy K. Knoxville, TN

We had a very good trip and saw lots of beautiful scenery in Costa Rica. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and we learned a lot about Costa Rica from him. The places we stayed were all very nice.

Kathryn R. Fallon, NV

Costa Rica was amazing! This was my 10th Gate 1 trip so I knew it wouldn't disappoint. Our tour manager Ricardo and driver Luis were consummate professionals: courteous, personable, and excellent at what they did. Ricardo in particular was a wealth of knowledge, humor, and national pride. The accommodations were comfortable, the food was delicious, and the itinerary was full, varied, and interesting. I went zip lining, which is something I had never done or thought I'd do. I'm still a bit astonished! It was a beautiful, colorful, vibrant and welcoming country. I got home and recommended the trip to everyone I know! Thanks for another great trip.

Kyra C. San Rafael, CA

The trip was awesome, exciting, educational and fun. Jose, our tour leader was prepared, efficient and very knowledgeable. The trip was everything I expected and more. We enjoyed the unique experiences of all the trip options we selected. Gate 1 provided a great and memorable experience..

Naomi W. El Paso, TX

My Gate 1 Travel 10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Tortuguero tour was awesome. It was a great opportunity to experience the natural beauty of this amazing country.The boat ride and excursion to Tortuguero allowed me to see a diversity of wildlife including sloths, iguanas, monkees, and caymens in their native habitat. At Arenal National Park, the hike along the trail ended with spectacular views from a lava field at the base of the volcano. At the Monteverde Cloud Forest the tour started by seeing a variety of hummingbirds followed by a walk across eight hanging bridges surrounded by colorful flora and fauna.The Gate 1 Costa Rica itinerary was at a comfortable pace with just the right mix of organized sightseeing and free time on my own. The hotels were excellent even in remote locations such as Tortuguero, Arenal, and Monteverde. The Studio Hotel in San Jose resembled an art museum and the staff could not have been more welcoming.The meals were just the right combination of buffets and sit down dinners. The most memorable was the farewell dinner in the rooftop restaurant of the Gran Hotel Costa Rica looking down on the Christmas lights of the San Jose Plaza de la Cultura. This followed a walking tour that included a visit to the ornate National Theater. Our excellent tour leader, Luis, was also a photographer who shared with us his outstanding photos. He confirms my belief that Gate 1 employs the best tour guides in the industry.Costa Rica was my sixth Gate 1 tour and fourth different tour this year alone. I am sold on the quality and value offered by Gate 1.Thank you Gate 1 for yet another fun and exciting vacation.A blessed, safe, and healthy New Year to the Gate 1 family.

Michael R. Cleveland, OH

My trip to Costa Rica was one I will never forget. It surpassed my exceptions. I really feel like i learned and explore the country as a whole. It was the first time my husband and I did a group trip like this and we were able to meet amazing people. Above all the biggest highlight of this trip was our tour guide Jose. He is an amazing tour; knowledgeable, kind, sincere, and really went out of his way in making this a mind blowing trip. He took us to so many places that was rich in culture and meaning. I felt safe with him and really feel like I left Costa Rica really KNOWING Costa Rica. Thank you Jose and Gate 1 Travel.

Marylin L. Brooklyn, NY