Costa Rica & Panama

Reviews
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, WYTrip 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, TNWe 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, NVCosta 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, CAThe 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, TXMy 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, OHMy 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, NYAdobe car rental was efficient and helpful ... Jet Blue also above average. Costa Rica is beautiful. Loved the protected areas plants and animals. Saw crocodiles, capuchin monkeys, scarlet Mcaws toucans, leaf cutter ants. Etc Highly recommend
David B. South Lebanon, OHVisiting Costa Rica was a very memorable experience for us! Our guide, Luis is very knowledgeable & answered all our questions. We learned a lot from him. He is so responsible & cares for each member of the group. The hotels, the bus, the tours & food were all excellent! We met very nice people from different parts of the country too. Will tour with Gate 1 again definitely & will encourage my friends to do the same! Thank you very much for great service Gate 1!
Ellen Y. Fulton, MDIt was a beautiful experience. Mr. Edgardo, our tour guide had been an unending source of a profound information about the nature, it's creatures, his country history, culture and economy, Edgardo's passion for the nature and life in its entirety was contagious! We have seen a lot, learned a lot and under his guidance the entire group had grown into a happy family. In addition to his people skills, this gentleman is greatly organized and constantly multitasking. We can't imagine any better conduct, management and manners of a leader in his position! Thank you Edgardo, thank you Gate 1!
Zdenka and Peter G. San Diego, CAWe have just returned from the 9-Day Classic Costa Rica trip. Our tour guide, Ricardo, was absolutely superb. I especially appreciated his extensive knowledge of the area and how well-organized the pace of the tour was. It definitely made our trip a fun and memorable experience. Special thanks goes to Jose, our bus driver. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful scenic vistas and local, natural wildlife as we drove across the country--from the numerous kinds of birds seen from Selvatura Hanging Bridge in the rainforest, to the relaxing Eco Termales Hot Springs near Arenal Volcano, to the beautiful sunset at Tamarinda Divia Beach. This has been one of the best tours we've had with Gate 1 Travel thus far, and we are already looking forward to the next one!
Wung K. Olney, MDWe had a wonderful time! Rafael was a wealth of knowledge of the history of Costa Rica, all the wildlife that we saw, and his organizational skills were outstanding throughout the tour. The accommodations were amazing and we were so impressed with how clean all of the areas were and how friendly all the staff of the hotels were. More importantly all of the staff of Gate 1 were very kind and helpful. The bus driver Mauricio was outstanding driving that huge bus through those mountain roads, making sure the bus was spotless, and being helpful and friendly. We will definitely use Gate 1 Travel for other upcoming trips.
Michael C. Lakeland, FLWe had a fantastic trip! Luis the guide was great, he kept the group organized, and ensured everyone's needs were met. He had so much knowledge about the country and animals and brought us to some interesting places. I would highly recommend this to my friends and family.
Carolyn J. Ontario, CanadaWe all had a great time. Our tour guide, Manfred, was great. All our needs were anticipated. I loved all the things that we did in nature. I loved learning about the country and culture of Costa Rica. I have already recommended this trip to others. The places that we stayed were beautiful and the food was so good. I was able to eat and drink everything, and not have any problems. What a terrific vacation!
Janis R. Madison, WIOur trip was fantastic! I can’t believe how much we saw and did in just 7 days. The itinerary and our tour guide was wonderful.
Marty Z. Street, MDThe trip was wonderful! Costa Rica is a beautiful country! Our tour guide, Gilbert, did an amazing job, and our bus driver, José, was great driving on those narrow roads... we always felt safe. The hotels were stunning, and the tour itself went at a good pace and was well organized. We never felt rushed.
Danielle I. Emeryville, CAIt was terrific and we can't say enough good things about our guide Geovani and our driver Louis. Geo was knowledgeable on so many levels. Louis navigated us through some crazy but fun roads. It's amazing to be in such diverse environments in a small country. We highly recommend this trip, it has it all. From monkeys to volcanoes to hot springs and beautiful lodging. The cloud forest is another world. Very friendly people. Grab your family and go!
Barbara M. Greensboro, NCWe had a great time! Hotels & Excursions were great. Edguardo was extremely informative and interesting. Our bus driver Jose was also remarkable. We always felt safe. We truly enjoyed this trip ...
Marlys F. Colorado Spgs, COThis trip was wonderful. Nice accommodations, good meals, great tour manager and an excellent bus driver made our stay in Costa Rica a memorable one. Looking forward to our next trip to Thailand next month also with Gate 1.
Elicia A. Hialeah, FLOur tour manager Gilbert really made the trip. He was knowledgeable and we learned so much about he Costa Rican culture that we would not have had we been on our own. Plus he couldn’t have been more welcoming and excited to spend the 10 days with us which was awesome. Fantastic. We enjoyed every day!
Joshua B. Concord, NCAmazing! The tours were animal filled and the hotels were beautiful and relaxing. Giovanni, our tour guide, was knowledgeable, humorous and very good at keeping 37 people on time. He had a wealth of both biological and cultural information that made the longer bus rides bearable. The food was beyond amazing! Thank you for another perfect trip! Already thinking about where I will go next with Gate 1.
Michele N. Huntingtn Beach, CAHi! We had an AMAZING TRIP! ... Larry our tour guide was Fantastic and made our trip that much better! The hotels we stayed at were BEAUTIFUL and were more then we could have hoped for! We cant wait for the day until we can return to the BEAUTIFUL COSTA RICA!!! We look forward to joining Gate 1 on another tour, and maybe to a different destination! I hope one day I can show my 5 kids all the beauty there is to offer in Costa Rica! Thank you for making our trip the best possible .... Pura Vida!!
Cami B. San Tan Valley, AZMy trip was wonderful! It was my first trip with Gate1, and it was also my first ever solo trip and I must say that I could not have been more happy with my experience. Our tour manager was great, our driver was top notch and the people I met on the trip were the cherry in top. Thank you for your help with my reservation I will definitely travel with Gate1 again.
Lilian C. Paramount, CAIt was excellent...The guide, Edgardo, was fantastic and really displayed a love for what he did. The hotels were all nice and the group was well organized and ran smoothly. I look forward to traveling with Gate 1 in the future.
Benjamin C. Tolland, CTOur trip to Costa Rica exceeded my expectations. From the country itself to the level of service from Gate 1 and of course our phenomenal tour guide Luis Miguel Cruz Comparaz, I couldn't have dreamed of a better vacation. Thank you for another wonderful vacation!
Pam N. Herndon, VAThe trip was great! The tour leader Manfred was informed, organized and kind, just terrific! Also, the driver Marvin was careful, pleasant, worked so hard to keep the bus clean in rainy muddy weather, and always a SAFE driver, just super! I’m looking forward to making another trip with Gate 1 soon.
Elizabeth D. Georgetown, TXOur trip was wonderful! Ricardo Bolanos, our tour guide was wonderful!! Very personable, knowledgeable, organized, and just a great guy. Gate 1 has a real asset in Ricardo. Also, Jose , our bus driver was unbelievably good! He navigated the narrow mountain roads with numerous, narrow, one lane bridges exceptionally well. He definitely earned his money! Looking forward to our next trip with Gate 1.
Richard C. GARLAND, TXIt was AMAZING! The tour guide was awesome. The sites and tours made the trip so much fun. We learned a lot. The food was really good everywhere. We would totally do the trip to Costa Rica over again through Gate1.
Danae D. Pottstown, PATrip to Costa Rica was very good. It was my first visit to Costa Rica and Gate1 did great job to show interesting places in short time. Food and accomodations were perfect, clean and in good location. Local guide Rafael and driver were excellent.
Agnieszka K. Calgary, AB, CAWe thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica. It was everything we hoped it would be. Our tour manager, Giovanni Madraigal, was fantastic. He was very professional and knowledgeable and took great care of us to make sure everything went smoothly. I'd give this tour 5 stars.
Cheryl L. Cottonwd Hts, UTMy trip was beyond amazing! One of the best vacations I have ever been on. Our tour agent Zarah was incredible!!!! I was so impressed by her, and her knowledge of the country. My husband and I, 100% will be using gate1 again! I have zero complaints.
Scott K. Plainville, CTIt was excellent, Caitlin. Exceeded my expectations. Jose, guide, and Luis, driver, were both first class. Experienced, professional, organized and very pleasant and knowledgeable. Hotels, food and excursions very good.
Andrew D. Calgary, AB, CAMy trip was wonderful. My tour guide Zarah was great and took good care of me. Everything went smoothly and I was able to see everything I wanted to see. The accomadations were very nice. Aninga Lodge in Tortuguero was perfect. I loved the cute cabins.
Jane S. Carnegie, PAIt was a fabulous! The guide was charming, informative and very helpful, all while being extremely professional. So glad I was able to make the last spot on that tour!
Beatrice L. Pasadena, CAWe had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. Ricardo was an excellent guide. We can't say enough nice things about his expertise and professionalism. I have already recommended this trip to friends and family.
May C. Bethesda, MDHi Nastassia, The trip to Costa Rica was amazing! We had a wonderful time. We really enjoyed all the tours and activities. Our guide, Gilbert, was awesome. The accommodations were excellent. We had so much fun traveling with this group of people. All the transfers went off without any problems. Thanks for planning and implementing a headache-free trip!
Karen D. Raleigh, NCIt was wonderful! Our guide 'Rafael' and Driver 'Jose' were exceptional. Costa Rica was beautiful, but both of them made it even better. Rafael is intelligent, helpful and friendly. Jose was polite and could drive through almost any conditions. Rafael helped us to really 'see' what is special about Costa Rica. I have already recommended Gate 1 to others.
Rebecca S. Saint Johns, MI