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Darren SteenOctober 5, 2024
Thank you so much Gecko Trail and especially Nina for making our trip to Costa Rica so unforgettable! It was truly amazing and so much of it was made so by using your company to help us with our activities and excursions. Fantastic work, well done and I look forward to using you again in the future!
Paola & Yuri from ITALYAugust 26, 2024
This is the second time we use the agency Gecko Trail for trips to Costa Rica, the first time for a complete tour from east to west and the second time for services in the Guanacaste area. Monika is a precise and reliable person, we have never had problems communication was timely and clear, she has always assisted us in the best way, also advising us on which animal recovery centers to visit and many other services.
I highly recommend Gecko Trail to anyone!!!
EloiseAugust 12, 2024
Outstanding service from Monika & the Gecko Trail team! All my shuttle transfers throughout Costa Rica were co-ordinated & booked by Monika. All shuttle transfers were on time & seamless. Great communication & price. Made getting around Costa Rica as a solo traveller easy & safe. I can’t recommend highly enough to anyone looking for a service to make your shuttle bookings easy & convenient!
BrigittaMay 28, 2024
Es war alles super organisiert, tolle Unterkünfte gebucht. Automiete klappte hervorragend, Transfers alles geklappt
Immer wieder werden wir über euch buchen und euch empfehlen
Nele KülskeApril 26, 2024
Wir haben zwei Wochen in Costa Rica verbracht und ausser den Flügen alles von Nina planen lassen. Ihre Vorschläge für Route, Hotels und Aktivitäten waren von Anfang an sehr gut. Auch als wir die gesamte ( bereits fertige ) Planung nochmals komplett ändern mussten hat das Nina mit grossem Engagement in Angriff genommen und zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit umgesetzt. Es hat alles super geklappt. Transfers, Hotels und Aktivitäten waren gebucht und haben auch, bis auf eine Ausnahme, pünktlich stattgefunden. Der eine Ausflug welcher nicht ganz glatt lief war aber nicht die Schuld von GeckoTrail sondern des Veranstalters. Nina hat sich aber nach unserer WhatsApp an sie sofort gekümmert und eine Stunde später stand unser Guide für eine Private Tour vor dem Hotel.
Wir können GeckoTrail absolut empfehlen und werden bei unserem nächsten Besuch in Costa Rica wieder auf die Erfahrung von Nina und dem gesamten Team bauen. Pura Vida!
Veronica SusaniApril 21, 2024
Gecko trails helped us organise our wonderful two weeks’ tour of this amazing country and we would recommend their services to anyone: they were efficient, readily available for suggestions and practical help and promptly assisting us even during the trip itself (when the internal flight changed time, for example.) Thanks again, Monika!
Tony ZempMarch 23, 2024
Unsere Ferien in Costa Rica werden wir sicher nie vergessen.
Moni hat unsere Rundreise organisiert mit Hotels, Ausflügen, Auto und alles was sonst noch anfiehl in Costa Rica.
Wir waren sehr zufrieden mit allem, hatten nur etwas Pech mit dem Wetter. Aber wir waren ja fast fünf Wochen in Costa Rica und wurden dann doch noch belohnt mit Sonnenschein ohne Ende.
Vielen lieben Dank an Moni wo alles organisiert hat. Wir können Gecko Trail nur sehr empfehlen. Tony, Claudia, Helena und Albert
Ivan and LenoreMarch 6, 2024
Thanks to Nina for organising our near three week trip to Costa Rica. All the hotels were excellent value and transport between each destination was on time everytime. We had a great time and the faultless organisation meant we could relax and enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery of Costa Rica. Highly recommend Gecko Trail and Nina in particular if you are interested in creating you own bespoke holiday in Costa Rica.
LyraMarch 3, 2024
Excellent resource for planning activities in Costa Rica.
MartaDecember 12, 2023
Gecko Trail was recommended by a colleague who’s used them in the past.
From the beginning, Monika, was incredibly helpful: I sent her a suggested itinerary and asked several opinions for transport options and what we could do for tours, I was planning to organize myself the tripp for quite a while and I wasn’t capable of managing some stuff by myself such as transfers and required days for each place we were wisshing to see.
Monika went above and beyond to arrange all our request in term of the itinerary and the timeline, and suggested even some activites that we didn’t think of, that at the end of the day became some of the highligths of our tripp.
Everything Gecko booked was perfect – all the shuttles were reliable and trustworthy with amazing service and the tours were great. Monika also checked up on us while we were on holiday and in the couple of cases we had some incomprehentions with an hotel and a shuttle (not the hotel faults or the shuttle, btw) she stepped in and managed everything on our behalf letting us enjoy our activities while she sorted out the issues.
Last but not least, I choose their service after consulting other tour operators as well and their offer was the most competitive (with similar activities proposed) but also the offer that respected the most our spirit in a holidy.
I felt understood and well take care of and I was ready to enjoy the tripp without any worry.
I wish they woud cover other destionations in central america as well so that I could use their service once again.
Kina EagerNovember 6, 2023
Gecko Trail was recommended by a friend of mine. He has used the company several times in the past. This was my first time ever using something like a travel agency and especially not one from another country. I prefer to try to schedule specific activities according to my preference of how I would like for my trip to flow. With all of that being said Gecko Trail did not let me down and I am sooo happy that there were able to help with my vacation. Tamara was great! Very prompt, professional, and accommodating. She would give me feedback throughout the entire process. The process was very well organized and practically effortless. She literally booked and scheduled everything for us. The activities, transportation, and hotel accommodations were all completed. The trip was a weeklong and I never had to contact a vendor or hotel for anything. Everywhere I was supposed to be I was met with someone who was expecting us and had everything arranged accurately. Also, I was happy to hear that she personally recommended some of the activities and locations. I am very impressed and completely satisfied. I totally recommend Gecko Trail and will definitely book with them on the next trip. I am grateful for everything they did to help me celebrate my birthday!
MONICA ALDENISeptember 11, 2023
We returned to Italy with beautiful memories of Costa Rica and our vacation.
Many compliments for the excellent support and organization, both in the choice of accommodations (Arco Iris Lodge in Monteverde and Vulcano Arenal Villa) and in the proposed tour (Tortughero Park).
It will certainly be our concern to inform your agency to those who ask us for an opinion to organize a trip to Costa Rica.
Flavia FaviniSeptember 10, 2023
We have organized our holiday with the support of Monika (trips and transfers). Great experience. The mini-bus were always in time, the tourists guides very experienced and they gave us a lot of information about Cosa Rica. All the tours done were wonderful experiences. I recommend this acency. Thank you Monika for your support before and during all days of our holiday!!!
Sigrid Anderson-KwunAugust 18, 2023
I absolutely recommend Nina and Gecko Trails. She organized the most wonderful trip for our two families, with just the right combination of exciting activities and relaxing downtime. In ten days we saw three different parts of the country and met so many lovely people. Nina was really responsive throughout the whole booking process, making suggestions and changes. When we needed a little extra help during the trip Nina was right there to assist us. In particular, her choice of sending us on an overnight rafting trip on the Pacuare River was the experience of a lifetime. Also, the Hotel Silencio del Campo was outstanding with great service and lovely hot springs. We couldn’t have organized a trip like this without Nina and I think it made a big difference to use Costa Rican agency. Thank you, Nina!
Susy JengAugust 17, 2023
During our 10-day trip to Costa Rica, we constantly said to each other, “Thank you Nina (from Gecko Trails).” Transportation was seamless, and we especially enjoyed having Wilson, who has been doing this for 27 years, and stopped at an amazing cafe in San Ramon for coffee and pita sandwiches. The 2-day rafting trip with Exploradores Outdoors was a highlight, and we also loved Hotel El Silencio’s grounds and hot springs. Speaking of lodging, we had an unexpected COVID infection, and despite being on vacation herself, Nina contacted all of the hotels and added an extra bedroom for quarantine. Cannot recommend her more highly!
MariaMay 8, 2023
This is a very belated message, but we had an amazing time in Costa Rica in January, helped by Monika and the Gecko Trail team. We picked the locations and hotels ourselves and asked Monika to plan all the transfers and the activities. It all went smoothly and we were glad that everything was arranged for us so we could relax and enjoy this stunning country.
Chiara ColliMarch 29, 2023
We travelled to CR from Italy for 10 days, in March 2023.
The service they provided was simply perfect: they took care of everything: from transfers to experiences. They helped us orientating and planning everyday with a perfect balance of adventure, nature and relax.
I can only recommend you to trust them and pack. It’s going to be one of the best experiences of your life!
Ita LawlerJanuary 17, 2023
Myself and 2 friends from Ireland have just had the most wonderful Tour arranged by Andrea from Ireland. She organised us a tailor made trip to suit our needs and age group. All our accommodation was better than our expectations with excellent service and food. The guides and tours that Andrea booked for us were so professional and some with just us and a guide. We cannot praise your company enough for a wonderful and memorial trip and will recommend g your company to friends wishing to visit
Jasmin KernenJanuary 11, 2023
Our trip in Costa Rica was amazing. We spent 5 weeks in the country and booked part of the travel with the help of gecko trail costa rica. Everything went smooth and Monika was so nice and kind- responding to all my question quickly and arranging everything really well. Thank you! We definitely recommend gecko trail.
Eveline und RoliOctober 10, 2022
Unsere ganze Reise durch Costa Rica hat Nina von Geckotrail für uns zusammengestellt und organisiert. Es war einfach nur traumhaft schön und sehr eindrücklich. Diese Reise war wie für uns massgeschneidert. Die ganzen Transporte von Ort zu Ort waren sehr angenehm und funktionierten reibungslos. Auch die geführten Touren waren sehr interessant und abwechslungsreich. Wir durften viele wunderbare Eindrücke vom Land und den sehr freundlichen Ticos sammeln.
Wir hoffen bald wieder mit Geckotrail dieses wunderschöne Land bereisen zu dürfen.
Pura Vida
Bea & Markus aus der SchweizMarch 26, 2022
Wir durften (leider nur) 2 Wochen das schöne Land, Costa Rica bereisen.
Nina hat uns hervorragend beraten.
Alles hat bestens geklappt und die ganze Reise, mit verschiedenen Transfers und Innlandflügen, hat wie ein Schweizer Uhrenwerk funktioniert. Dies in einer extrem kurzen Zeit, da wir uns erst ein paar Wochen davor entschieden haben diese Reise an zu treten.
Hätte ich ehrlich gesagt nicht so erwartet.
Gratulation für die perfekte Arbeit.
Reiner&AndreaNovember 26, 2021
Alles was wir über Gecko-Trail gebucht haben war einwandfrei organisiert. Sie haben uns sehr gut informiert und waren flexibel. Wir würden wieder bei Gecko-Trail buchen und werden diesen Reiseveranstalter sicher weiter empfehlen.
Maria McDonaldJune 30, 2021
Gecko Trail was awesome! They worked with us closely to design the perfect travel itinerary and were responsive every step of the way. Their transportation has AC (and wifi) and the drivers know all the best places to stop for the best local cuisine. I highly recommend them and will be sure to use them again for future trips to CR. Pura Vida!
Francesca PasqualiniMarch 30, 2020
Siamo stati superfelici di aver organizzato con gecko i trasferimenti i furgoni tutti superpuliti gli autisti tutti superpuntuali ed educati lo consiglio a tutti voto 10+
Kristyna VolejnikovaMarch 30, 2020
Dear Monika,
I would like to thank you for the service provided by the driver Rolando. He made our vacation unforgetable by showing us interesting places, getting important information for us. He was very helpfull to all of us , nice personallity and he always recomended great places to eat. The car was always clean and very comfortable!
Big thanks once again!
Kristyna__
Timm StoneMarch 13, 2020
Thank you, Monika, for your valuable help in putting a fantastic trip together!
We were all very impressed with how smooth things went and felt we truly got a great taste of Costa Rica. What a wonderful country you live in!
Until our next trip down, Pura Vida!
Nicola ChalkeFebruary 19, 2020
I have visited Costa Rica three times in the last 8 years and have used Gecko Trail each time to organize my shuttles and various tours. They have been spot on! Amazing customer service, amazing transfers (especially adventure transfers…highly recommend White Water Rafting), and such reasonable prices. This last trip we encountered unexpected delays in Mexico City and Gecko Trail helped us via email and chat to figure out options to get us where we needed to go! We will be back to Costa Rica and will absolutely use Gecko Trail to help us plan our next visit. Thank you for everything!!
Germana da TorinoFebruary 10, 2020
Grazie Gecko Trail per la gentilezza e la professionalità, tutti gli accordi sono stati rispettati e la vacanza è stata perfetta.
Irena from GermanyJanuary 29, 2020
I got a recommendation to use geckotrail from a colleague of mine, who had a fantastic holiday in CR. From the first contact to quick assistance that we needed during our trip, everything was handled perfectly. Monika helped us to find out what exactly we wanted from this holiday and finally did all bookings. In between a lot of eMails, always a swift and helpful response. Monika gave us some options that we would never have found by ourselves or by any ordinary travel agency. CR is a beautiful country and I am glad that we could fully appreciate its beauty because we had a great trip planned for us. I cannot recommend geckotrail highly enough!
YUval LionJanuary 8, 2020
I recently returned from an 8 day trip to Costa Rica. I decided on the trip less than a week before I left and contacted Gecko to plan an itinerary. They got back to me quickly and were able to put together a fantastic trip within 24 hours that was also very affordable. The trip itself went very smoothly and was super fun, and Gecko were always there to help if a need arose. Thanks Gecko Trails for a lovely time in Costa Rica, and I recommend them to anyone looking to book a trip to Costa Rica!
Laurie RoseNovember 18, 2019
I want share how excellent Gecko Trails was for my group of friends and I! They handled all our tours and transfers for our 5 different hotels and locations. Their drivers were always on time, great attitude, clean vehicles, awesome and knowledgeable tour guides, and Irene was always quick and helpful with all my questions and changes during planning. I cannot recommend them enough! Thank you for making our trip to Costa Rica so smooth and wonderful!
Philip JonesSeptember 6, 2019
Gecko arranged all transportation around Costa Rica for us (cars, horses, rafting, boats) and everything went very smoothly. The ability to chose our own dates and routes was the initial attraction – the prices were also much better than a full tour booked through operators in the UK. All drivers were on time and very friendly, all connections worked perfectly and everyone had a brilliant time. I would not hesitate to recommend Gecko to any other travellers.
Lots of helpful emails – always answered promptly.
Thanks for making our holiday the best ever.
Nicki KongAugust 27, 2019
We have recently returned from the most incredible trip to the wonderful country of Costa Rica. Having booked our flights, I set about researching the country and then, once I had a very rough idea of where we would like to visit, I searched for a travel company to help. I chose Gecko Trails due to their clearly apparent ethos of supporting causes in CR and trusted the many positive reviews. I was not disappointed! From the moment our correspondence started I knew I was in safe hands. Nina suggested a route, hotels, lodges and some excursions. At no time did I feel pressurised and all messages were responded to promptly and efficiently. On arrival in CR, every single moment went to plan and I cannot fault one element of the holiday. After a recovery night in San Jose, we travelled (with friendly, safe driver) to Samara – a chilled out Pacific escape for 4 nights of relaxation. From there we experienced a night walk, hanging bridges and zip lining in Santa Elena (don’t miss out on the wonders of the cloud forest); then the majesty of Arenal volcano (Tabacon was 2 nights of unrivalled luxury); the incredible Tortuguero followed (highlight – watching turtle laying); an exhilarating 2 day raft trip before 5 leisurely nights in Puerto Viejo (Casa Luna). Thank you Nina and all at Gecko Trails. If you, or anyone you know, are considering a trip to Costa Rica you should absolutely seek out this fabulous travel company.
Paula MandevilleJune 6, 2019
We had an amazing time in Costa Rica and Gecho Trail did a wonderful job of helping us organize our trip. It was all very easily done via email. We went to four different areas in Costa Rica and booked numerous excursions. All of our transportation arrived at the exact time they said they would and the drivers were friendly and courteous. The recommended excursions were all a lot of fun. We were given a choice of four or five different hotels in each area we visited and we were able to pick the ones we wanted. All of our hotels were beautiful but affordable. I would highly recommend using Gecho Trail for your Costa Rica trip. They could not have made things any easier for us.
JenMay 29, 2019
Gecko Trails was such a help! We booked our shuttle through the site with so much ease and received correspondences and confirmations right away. There was some construction going on and due to possible delays to the airport we decided to change our shuttle to private transportation to get there on time and Gecko trails made sure that the changes were made for us. The drivers were always on time and very friendly. Highly recommended!!
anaMay 12, 2019
Contraté con geckotrail los transportes para todo mi viaje a Costa Rica y alguna actividad con ellos(ráfting)y no pudo ir mejor. Puntualidad,profesionalidad y todo a la perfección!. Se preocuparon de que todo saliera bien y contactaron conmigo en varias ocasiones para comprobarlo. Muchas gracias!
Javier from Spain and Marianne from NorwayApril 30, 2019
Muy muy agradecidos con el servicio de Gecko Trail para organizar todas las rutas por Costa Rica con servicios de shared shuttle. Hizo que nuestra experiencia fuera mucho más satisfactoria que si hubiéramos tenido que alquilar coche y conducir por todo el país. Además, tuvimos que hacer un cambio en nuestra ruta y la respuesta de la gente de Gecko, incluso siendo un fin de semana y en plena Semana Santa, fue rapidísima y súper efectiva. ¡¡Muchas gracias!!
JerryApril 15, 2019
We just returned from a 9 day trip in Costa Rica and booked most of it through Gecko Trails. It was incredible. Monika was patient with the itinerary scheduling and had great suggestions of locations along the way. We were so impressed by the friendliness and flawless scheduling of pickups and tours. Marcos our tour guide in Monteverde was incredible. His enthusiasm and knowledge made this one of the highlights of the trip. We had an amazing time in CR thanks to Gecko Trails and I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting and needing assistance in itineraries.
KamilaJanuary 28, 2019
I contacted Gecko with my travel plans to Costa Rica and the places I wanted to visit. My friend and I wanted to do our own thing and just have transportation between destinations and hotels arranged.
Lorena was in contact with me for a number of months and sent me a great itinerary that took care of everything so we didn’t have to search (also my first time in CR so I had no idea where to start).
All transport and all the hotels were wonderful!
Lorena stayed in contact via email throughout the whole planning process and I knew I could email her if any issues arose. Thankfully none did! We were so happy with everything! This is a great company to plan a trip with
Cyrus and Valerie from CanadaJanuary 5, 2019
Me and my girlfriend used Gecko Trail for our travel in Costa Rica …… WOW !
Everything went so well and no shuttle arrived late at our destination. As a result, we were able to accomplish our journey exactly how we wanted it.
We fully recommend Gecko Trail, they are the best, the most professional and are always here to help if you need to contact them.
Thank you again for everything !
Pura Vida !
Raimundo MachadoDecember 13, 2018
We, two couples, just came back from Costa Rica and all our trip, except flights, was booked with Gecko Tours. It included the lodgings, transfers, most of the meals and activities as rafting, diving, bird watching, hiking, you name it. It all just went perfect! Everything was on time, everyone more than friendly and great conditions on all activities. We could not be more pleased with our trip. Only thing that could have made it better was not returning home. Thanks a LOT to Gecko Trails, specially Lorena, and be sure I’ll pass along your contacts to everyone wanting to visit your beautiful country.
Rai & Francis from Toronto, CanadaOctober 24, 2018
My husband and I enjoyed our trop to Costa Rica. It was such a worry-free vacation as everything was booked via Gecko Travel. We have contacted Gecko Travel to plan our trip and they have booked all the transportation transfers, trips/excursions, and accommodations. We are impressed on how on point everything was, from the time of pick up/drop off, all the tour guides and trips and hotels were amazing . Would definitely recommend Gecko Travel to our friends and family.
Flavio BarontiAugust 21, 2018
Hi guys, I just arrived back from a wonderful trip to Costa Rica, and the first comment I want to leave is for Gecko Trail and especially Tamara who has been our guide on the trip to the “Tortuguero” canals.
We have probably been also very lucky with animals sightseeing, but having Tamara with us would have made it a wonderful day also without the sloth! She has been extremely helpdful and accomodating since our first email exchanges, and having her as a guide, with her perfect Italian, has really been a plus; all her stories and explanations on Costa Rica and on the areas we visited were very interesting and very well told also for our kids. All parts of the day were perfectly organized and greatly exceeded our expectations.
Finally, also the trip to Panama was perfectly organized and smooth. Thanks again for everything.
Irene und FamilieJuly 31, 2018
Über Umwegen und eher zufällig bin ich für die Organisation unserer individuellen Rundreise auf Gecko-Trail gestossen. Nina meldete sich via Email und später auch per WhatsApp unglaublich hilfsbereit, prompt und zuverlässig. Alle Fragen über Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua wurden rasch beantwortet. Durch die Unruhen in Nicaragua stellten wir unsere Reise kurz vor Abflug nochmals um und reisten 5 Wochen durch Panama & Costa Rica. 3 Wochen war ich mit unserer 16-jährigen Tochter alleine unterwegs und 2 Wochen gemeinsam mit meinem Mann. Sämtliche Hotel, Touren und Transfers hat Nina für uns nach unseren Wünschen & Bedürfnisse gebucht. Alle Unterkünfte waren super, sauber und schön gelegen, die Touren abwechslungsreich und die Guides unglaublich freundlich & hilfsbereit. Jeder der vielen Transfer hat ausnahmslos pünktlich geklappt! Die Tour-Guides waren alle englisch-sprechend. Wir hatten Touren dabei die nicht der Norm entsprachen – sondern schlichtweg fantastisch, einmalig und genial waren! Nina hat unsere Reise zu einem unvergesslichen & genialen Erlebnis gemacht – das Pura Vida haben wir voll ausgekostet und die Natur & Menschen dieses Landes unheimlich genossen. Gerne empfehlen wir Nina & die ganze Agentur zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit weiter – dies Reise war fantastisch!
Veronica EApril 25, 2018
We just got home from a second FLAWLESS Gecko Trail adventure- and beauty-filled trip. Everything from advice to booking to modifications was met with stellar service (thank you Irene and Lorena). Not enough praise can be said for the hotels, transporation, and tour providers suggested by GT. It was a magical trip from beginning to end, and it sure won’t be our last! PURA VIDA!
Margreth und RalphApril 24, 2018
Herzlichen Dank an Gecko Trail (Monika) für die perfekte Planung und Organisation unserer zweiwöchigen Costa Rica-Reise. Wir haben unvergessliche Tage erlebt, eine faszinierende Vielfalt an Pflanzen und Tieren gesehen, dank toller Tourguides (auch via Gecko Trail gebucht) viel Interessantes über das Land, dessen sanften Tourismus, die unterschiedlichen klimatischen Gebiete erfahren. Und letztendlich, wiederum dank einer von Gecko Trial gebuchten City-Tour haben wir sogar noch historisch Wissenswertes über die Hauptstadt San José und deren Kulturgüter, erfahren.
Monika von Gecko Trail war für uns jederzeit auch während unseres Aufenthaltes erreichbar. Vielen Dank!
Gecko Trail Costa Rica können wir allen Reisewilligen wärmstens empfehlen.
SueMarch 31, 2018
My friends and I LOVED our trip to Costa Rica!!! It was perfectly tailored, thanks to Irene, to meet our wishes and needs. I would use Gecko Trails again in a heartbeat!
john mcculloughMarch 21, 2018
Thank you Gecko Trail. We had a super holiday in Costa Rica 27 Feb-13 Mar 2018. Your arrangements were 100% successful.
Loved Costa Rica and its people. Beautiful country and so clean (very little litter). Very friendly people. How proud you must be. One area needs improving though – road signs! No names of settlements and few signs to confirm which road you are on. We don’t use SatNavs and so had several off route adventures – including missing the left turn at Paso Real off Route 2 to San Vito (en route to Wilson) and doing an extra 80km or so. Came back on the correct route and still didn’t spot Paso Real!!!
Loved Monteverde. Cala Lodge great – wonderful food, room, service, view, wildlife. But hairy driving to Monteverde on the steep, winding dirt roads (OK for me but not for nervous drivers). We got stopped for nearly 2 hours because of roadworks on the 606.
Loved Arenal. Observatory Lodge room/view/facilities/grounds/wildlife wonderful but food awful – felt it was living on its laurels.
Great day trip to Cano Negro if you like wildlife (my highlight for that) and don’t mind 5 hours in a bus.
Would recommend valley of San Gerardo de Dota in Los Quetzales NP to anyone who wants to see Quetzals and complexly out of the way Costa Rica. Dantica Lodge unique. Food great, service v good, views to die for. However, suggest you warn elderly visitors of the 400m or so walk from the reception/restaurant to your room. There are a few other hotels in the valley that might be more suitable for elderly visitors.
Wilson Botanical Station really interesting and great on-site tours. Very communal feel. Very healthy, well prepared canteen food – lovely atmosphere. Top notch for birdwatchers & gardeners.
Don’t visit Manuel Antonio if you don’t like crowds!!! Hotel Villa Bosque ideally situated if you do and lovely air conditioned rooms. If, like us, you don’t then drive 40-60km South and visit Hacienda Baru (read Monkeys are made of chocolate first) for the wildlife and no crowds. Also visit a beach or beaches of the Ballena Marine NP. We went to Playa Ballena. Endless sand, lovely shade, surf/swim heaven and never more than 10 people in total.
We spent our last morning at Hacienda Baru doing the2 km Mangrove Walk on our own – first time anywhere wildlife walk without a guide. saw Cappuchin Monkeys, large and baby Caimans, Coati, Iguanas, Lizards, black squirrels, leaf cutter ants, ‘helicopter’ dragonflies and lots of birds , including 3 Curasows in a tree above us and a blue heron with the adult Caimans.
Thank you Costa Rica & Gecko Trail!
Donna clarkFebruary 21, 2018
Our trip to Costa Rica was the best ever all made possible by Gecko trail tours. Every detail was done with caring and excellence. We were amazed how everything was so organized and timely and within our price range. Accommodations were great and
people were always happy and helpful. I Thank Monica for her patience kindness while planning this trip, as I knew very little about Costa Rica .
It was wonderful
Aravind ParameswaranFebruary 17, 2018
I chose Gecko Trail as my tour agency to arrange everything for my 2-week adventure trip in Costa Rica. The decision was easy considering the values you guys hold and the projects you are involved (animal rescue centers, ecotourism, LGBT friendly and more..). From the first communication, I had a great impression. I was extremely glad to have arranged the entire itinerary with Gecko. Everything was taken care of very well by Monika. I sincerely appreciate her patience in compiling an amazing itinerary through loads of E-mails; ultimately, I had my big wishes fulfilled in Costa Rica, thanks to Gecko Trail.
On ground, everything went as planned in Costa Rica. I had absolutely no big issues. All tour operators, guides, shuttle services were very very professional, in fact, so friendly, at times, I felt like, I was with a friend (truely Tico nature 🙂
Without any hesitation, I would be really glad to recommend Gecko trail to anyone and in fact, for my next Costa Rica visit, I know whom to approach!.
Heike & DetlefFebruary 7, 2018
Absolutely fantastic journey perfect travel planning and service and thank you so much !!!
We traveled to Cost Rica for the first time and used the service & support of Gecko Trail. The itinerary began with a short stay in San Jose, followed by a couple of days at the volcano area El Arenal and a multi-day visit to the Tortuguero National Park. Finally, we were allowed to enjoy a few days beach holiday nearby Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast. Each stop over was covered by outdoor activities such as e.g. zip lining, hiking, kayaking and riding tours enriched with impressive nature experiences. We have come to know the team of Gecko Trail as a perfect travel partner, characterized by friendliness, professional fast organization and very nice consultance. As well during the trip the tream responded flexibly to our needs and made possible all kinds of travel adaptations. The Hotels Presidente, Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs and Banana Azul hotels were individually chosen to meet our needs and desires. We can already say that this will not be the last trip to Costa Rica with your support !
David SheldonJanuary 30, 2018
Traveling overseas in foreign countries can always be an adventure. Our trip was certainly one. Yes, the unexpected bad weather canceled flights, tours, and the like, but Gecko took care of the aftermath. The staff, all of them, provided timely advice, helped with cancelling things that needed to be canceled, getting us booked anew and simply following up with us to make sure we were alright and our needs were being met. That is what you want from a guide company. I HIGHLY recommend Gecko!!!
DianaJanuary 19, 2018
Monika was super helpful and responsive. She helped us plan an itinerary that worked for our time constraints, budget and interests. All the buses were on time, hotels were beautiful, tours awesome. Thanks for a worry-free trip!
BenediktDecember 23, 2017
Gecko Trail made my vacations!!
These two weeks was an amazing adventure. I had a great time . The activities scheduled were so much fun. My favorites are Rafting on Rio Pacuare, the tour to Rio Celeste Waterfall and Zip Lining in Monteverde. Perfect choice of hotels. On time transportation. Nice and quick communication with Gecko Trail. They know what you are looking for. 🙂 I can highly recommend Gecko for unforgettable experiences in Costa Rica. PURA VIDAA! Feliz navidad a todos y un prospero año nuevo…
Carolyne PriceDecember 17, 2017
Highly recommend Gecko Trail for first class itinerary planning and fast response times. It was the first time I’d used an overseas agency for organising our whole trip (multiple transfers, accommodations & tours) and felt slightly nervous not being in full control. I needn’t have been. The whole experience was first class with not one single issue and it was so nice to have that stress taken away and managed by someone else. I would have no hesitation in recommending Gecko Trail and will entrust future trips to Costa Rica with them.
Stefanie KöhneSeptember 1, 2017
Ich möchte hier Geckotrail für Ihre super Organsiation und Unterstützung danken. Ich hatte meinen Sohn, 15 Jahre alt, alleine für zwei Monate nach Costa Rica geschickt. Er wollte dort in mehreren Freiwilligenprojekten mitarbeiten und längere Zeit bei einer Familie bei Puerto Viejo leben. Seine Fahrten in Costa Rica, seine Touren ( z.B. die Raftingtour im Pacuare River über Exploradores ) und seinen Hotelaufenhalt am Ende seiner Reise kurz vor dem Abflug hatte ich alles über Geckotrail (Nina ) gebucht. Nina hat mich zu allem super toll beraten und alles absolut zuverlässig organisiert, da ich natürlich schon Angst vor meinem eigenen Mut hatte, mein Kind alleine ein so fernes Land zu schicken. Ich hatte das Gefühl mein Kind bei Geckotrail in den besten Händen zu wissen und konnte mir sicher sein, dass die Empfehlungen von Nina genau zutrafen und für die Bedürfnisse meines Kindes super passten. Auch hatte Nina mehrere Überweisungen an Freiwilligenprojekte für meinen Sohn für mich übernommen und dazu mit den jeweiligen Ansprechpartnern vor Ort alles abgesprochen, so musste mein Kind nicht dauernd mit allzuviel Bargeld in Costa Rica unterwegs sein. Die gesamte Organisation hat seites Geckotrail absolut verlässlich funktioniert und mein Kind hatte dank Geckotrail in Costa Rica eine traumhaft schöne Zeit, von der er ganz begeistert nach Deutschland zurückgekehrt ist.
Marta from MadridAugust 16, 2017
Contactamos con Gecko por recomendación de una amiga que previamente visitó Costa Rica. No nos decepcionó en absoluto! Eramos 5 amigas y no queríamos estar precoupadas por conducir, por lo que contratamos los servicios de transporte de Gecko Lorena fue encantadora, respondió a todas las preguntas que le planteamos y nos ayudó mucho a trazar el itinerario que queríamos seguir. Los coches que nos recogieron estaban muy limpios, llegaban antes de la hora y los conductores eran muy atentos en todo momento. Todas coincidimos en que fue un acierto contactar con Gecko. Destacar su trato amable e incluso, como detalle, muchos coches tenían wifi. Recomiendo 100% y si volviese a Costa Rica, lo cogería de Nuevo sin pensarlo. Gracias Gecko.
Virginia McGeheeJuly 13, 2017
We had a great trip to Costa Rica arranged by Gecko. The Rio Celeste Hideaway was charming and comfortable. La Paloma Lodge was also lovely. The various adventures, including horseback riding, scuba diving, bird watching and hiking, were all terrific. It was a good idea to use the private air charter to get to and from Drake’s Bay, and that worked well. All in all, a really well planned and well executed trip.
Brian MilesMay 3, 2017
Initially, I was unsure if I would do business with this company. I ready good reviews, but I didn’t realize how many services they truly offered. Looking back, I can’t believe I even hesiststed to do business with this company. Everything went perfectly. Flawless trip. Every excursion was properly planned and on time down to the minute. The shuttles even had wifi, which was great. We enjoyed everything. I really appreciate the time the travel agent took to help me arrange the trip. This made me feel very comfortable and ultimately the deciding factor. I value excellent customer service. I highly recommend this company!!!
Jeanne HegelApril 20, 2017
I want to thank Monika and Gecko Trails for the awesome experience in Costa Rica. We planned a three day tour with Gecko upon arriving into San Jose. We toured Tortuguero and went river rafting down the Pacuere River. Our transportation, accommodations, guides, and food were all included. We booked our own accommodations in Playa Chiquita for eight nights after the tour. Then we booked transportation and accommodations with Gecko again from Playa Chiquita to Arenal/La Fortuna for one night before heading to Liberia for our flight back. Monika’s responses to our requests were always quick and she gave us good suggestions for tours that our group would be interested in. Our transportation was always on time, more than comfortable, professional, and the drivers were always safe and accommodating if we wanted to stop along the way. The accommodations were rustic, beautiful, and better than expected. The guides were all easy going, professional, English speaking and informative. And, all the food that was included on our tours were absolutely delicious. This made our trip the most memorable and we loved Costa Rica so much that we will be going back. Thank you again Monika and Gecko for everything.
Alicia OvermyerApril 4, 2017
Wow, What a great week. Loved all the activities Gecko scheduled. Everything ran on time.The hotels were perfect for our family! The whitewater rafting and the ziplines were the family favorites. The last hotel, La Mansion Inn was extremely friendly and family-like atmosphere They included all our needs on the itinerary from sunscreen to type of shoes. Really appreciated how they catered to our families wants and needs. Would totally recommend them to others. They came highly recommended to us!
JOEL GRONDINMarch 31, 2017
I wanted to take the time to thank GECKOTRAIL, especially Monika, and others that have assisted when she was not available, for 5 star service. This company went above and beyond to try and accommodate us before our trip and during our vacation. Everything went smoothly, and they were always there to answer any concerns or last minute changes if needed be. They were provided a list of excursions for our family and quickly responded with a detailed itinerary to accommodate our needs. Our family had an amazing time in Costa Rica and wish this company was world wide to take advantage of such great customer service in ease in our travels. Thank you Monika for an outstanding job! You are the best!
Alexis from Sydney, AustraliaMarch 29, 2017
I honestly cannot recommend this company enough. I have done a much more detailed review on Trip Advisor. You will be really missing out, and most likely adding stress to yourself and you wallet, if you do not use this company. Everything was seamless, every external company they used was the most highly rated for that activity. Thank you for the most incredible trip that gave me the autonomy I wanted but also the safety and diversity of experiences in a short amount of time. Thank you Nina!
Greg OvermyerMarch 22, 2017
The Gecko Trail people were excellent. The trip went exactly as planned. I really enjoyed never having to drive anywhere. The drivers were very courteous and knowledgeable. As well, it was great having everything prepaid so we could get going with the different activities, immediately. The recommendations were very good. The only thing that i would have appreciated, was a little more information on each event. I.E. you will be horseback riding for about an hour, then you will have an opportunity to change into your bathing suit and hike for another 1/2 hour until you ge to the waterfall, where you can swim.
Again, this was a fantastic trip that my wife, and kids really enjoyed and will never forget!!
John and Jackie fron London UKMarch 2, 2017
Used Gecko Trail for our transportation needs while on holiday in Costa Rica. All vehicles arrived on time,were clean and safe with friendly drivers.
Would definitely recommend ……Thank you Gecko Trail
john rohaleyMarch 1, 2017
This was a last minute trip and you guys were great setting everything up for me. All activities, hotel and transportation was right on time and organized.
Thanks John
Kathy MeyerJanuary 3, 2017
Dear Gecko staff,
You did an amazing job setting up our trip and assisting us while in Costa Rica. Thank you so much. All of the taxi drivers were punctual and helpful, the tours were fun and our lodging was great. I will be happy to recommend you to anyone I know interested in visiting Costa Rica. I just want to express my sincere thanks.
Best,
Kathy Meyer
John taylorDecember 10, 2016
We had a fantastic service from gecko travel. I had booked a tour over 16 days and booked four different hotels. I went to gecko for transportation between these hotels. They replied to e mails set up all the transfers and when our plans were disrupted by hurricane Otto they also responded quickly, changed our transport and got us on our way. I cannot speak more highly of their service.
kim alegadoNovember 28, 2016
A friend recommended Gecko Trails and I am happy that I used their services. They booked our hotel, transportation and adventures. Everything we wanted to do in a fixed day trip we were able to. The best feeling was the peace of mind we had and were able to enjoy our trip. Thank you to Nina and Monika.
John and LeaAnnOctober 9, 2016
We booked all our transportation to Bocus Del Toro and back to CR with Geko Trails as well as 3 days in Tourtaguero. We were truly impressed with how smoothly it all went. All the shuttles were on time or early and found us even in some not so easy to find places we stayed.
The assistance crossing the border into Panama getting to Bocas was fantastic and the Tourtaguero Lodge and tour was great. Only complaint was our tour guide was very knowledgeable but not very friendly at all. We never felt like anyone was comfortable asking him questions.
We would highly recommend Geko and will use them again if we get the chance to return.
GaelleOctober 3, 2016
I had an amazing time in Costa Rica thanks to Gecko Trail! I really want to thank the team, they are so nice! They planned my trip at the very last minute and everything was perfect! I didn’t have to worry about anything. From Arenal to Puerto Viejo passing by Tortuguero, i really enjoyed. They are so responsive, if you email them, they will respond as soon as possible. You can travel and simply enjoy your vacation! If i go back to Costa Rica I will contact them again 🙂
8 Happy CanadiansJuly 14, 2016
Dear Monika and other Gecko Trailers – wow is all we have to say. Thanks for looking after us.
For the information of others we have, posted below the (—–) line, the comments on Gecko Trail we posted on Trip Advisor.
Bottom line – this is a top notch company.
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We just returned from a trip to Costa Rica. Two families, with four boys aged 9-14. Initially, when planning the trip, we considered booking through a travel agent in our home country (Canada). Reviews of the major outfits were good…but we did wonder if a structured tour was the right fit for our boys. After a bit of digging and based on previous reviews, we decided to contact Gecko Trails.
Best decision ever!!! We worked (mostly) with Monika (but also with other agents from time to time). They were great. We explained our families, our likes and preferences, etc. They took care of the rest!
Monika put together a bomb proof itinerary that we fiddled with and, with her help, settled on a week in the mountains an a week on the Pacific coast (Samara). Gecko Trails arranged for our accommodations, transport (two couples, two weeks, four kids and no navigation required = still friends, still couples and still sane) and day trips.
All were perfectly suited to our families…sure, there were long drives over dodgy roads (without us doing the driving!!!)…but there was also ziplining, hundreds of dolphins, birds and butterflies everywhere, and four very happy boys. After booking a few extra trips for ourselves (which were good, but not great), we also realized that Gecko Trails picked the top notch companies/attractions to book us on. They also, during the trip, altered our itinerary and arranged for refunds (as applicable) when we decided to change things up a bit – on very short notice!!!!
Cannot say enough good things about them…and we unabashedly recommend them to all who are looking to have a good time in Costa Rica!
Have fun
Sincerely,
8 very happy Canadians
Karen PriceJune 8, 2016
We traveled to Costa Rica May 2016 with extended family ranging from 21 to 89 years. Gecko Trails customized our hotels in San Jose, ground transportation and tours in and around Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio. The arrangements were perfect and were executed flawlessly. The Gecko Trails staff were very professional, responsive and knowledgeable. We loved Costa Rica and highly recommend Gecko Trails. Pura Vida!.
RosmarieMay 17, 2016
Gecko Trail hat für uns die wunderschöne, zweiwöchige Rundreise organisiert, Transporte, Hotels, Touren. Alle Fahrer waren pünktlich, die Hotels gut und auch bei den geführten Touren hat alles geklappt.
herzlichen Dank an Gecko Trail. Falls wir wieder einmal nach Costa Rica kommen sollten werden wir gerne wieder eure Dienste in Anspruch nehmen und euch auch weiter empfehlen.
MelanieApril 27, 2016
Our trip to Costa Rica was absolutely magical! Gecko trail organized everything perfectly, and we loved every minute of our visit. The hotels were great, excursions were so much fun, and transportation picked us up without any problems. My friend and I felt safe and comfortable with the bilingual guides and all the tours that were organized. I would recommend Gecko Trail to everyone planning a visit to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
Rosemarie LippmanApril 23, 2016
To all our friends at Gecko Trail,
Thank you so much for helping us plan the perfect trip through your beautiful country. Your website made it easy to plan our visit. The drivers were on time, courteous and knowledgeable. My grand daughter (aged 14) and I are not an experienced travelers, but with your professional help we felt like we had a personal tour guide all along the way. We felt safe and very well accommodated. I can’t thank you enough for making this “grandma and me trip” extra special. Pura Vida!
Chantale LauzonApril 22, 2016
First, I would like to apologize for not having put my comment before today. We returned from Costa Rica on February 15 last. WOW, great travel and country ! We are 4 friends from Quebec. We contacted Gecko Trail for car rental and hotels only. We had already made our itinerary and wanted a professional advice. We made more than 1,500km in 2 weeks. This is Lidieth who recommended us your agency for our bookings. We have only great comments about Gecko Trail. We were served by Monika and she perfectly met our needs. Always listening and attentive to our requests, the 5 hotels that she had recommended and reserved were just perfect. In no time we were disappointed, everything was up to our expectations. Email exchanges were fast and quality service was exceptional. I highly recommend Gecko Trail without hesitation. Thank you for allowing us to make a dream trip. We had chance to meet Lidieth during our trip. Hope the next time, we will be able to see Monika to thank her to help us in organizing our wonderful trip. Chantale, Lucien, Céline and Richard
STEVE MONAGHANApril 6, 2016
Gecko Trail booked our whole trip – we told them what we were looking for, gave them a budget and they had everything. lined. up. Saved so much time out of looking for yourself. From the hotels to the adventures, everything went like clockwork. Happy every step of the way! Thanks Irene!
Judy FeredayApril 1, 2016
Our trip was fantastic. All tour directors and transportation arrived before or on the scheduled time. The only exception to this was our arrival at San Jose airport. We waited an hour for our driver. Someone else showed up in the drivers place with our name on the sign, and then the driver showed up with our name on a sign. When we got in the van, the first person asked for a tip. This seemed a little fishy.
All tours were excellent, and hotels were excellent.
LouiseMarch 22, 2016
We love Gecko Trail! Every time we visit CR we book our hotel and transportation through Gecko Trail. Drivers are always on time, friendly and helpful. Accommodation is reasonably priced and unique, clean and usually very central. I recommend Gecko Trail to anyone visiting CR. They know the country well. They check out the hotels they represent and make sure that your itinerary is organized and confirmed. The Gecko agents are friendly and helpful. Everyone is there to make sure your trip is an excellent experience.
Laurie DenisonMarch 11, 2016
The trip was fantastic! Gecko did an incredible job arranging activities, accommodations, and transportation. It was the trip of a lifetime. I will review your service on trip advisor.
CinziaMarch 7, 2016
Great time! Two weeks full of adventure! 29.12.2015/12.01.2016
Monika was very kind and helpfull during the organization but also during the vacation!
We have done a very customized tour! Tortuguero- Arenal-Monteverde-Manuel Antonio with zip line, canyoning, horses … And a very special time in Cordovado!
Stefaan DeweerdtMarch 6, 2016
We booked a holiday for 2 weeks in this beatifull country. Gecko trail oranised everything ; hotels, pick ups, guiding tours and excusrions ; everything was perfectly organised, picks ups where Always strictly on time, in comfort vans. Hotels were from good choise. Support was Always available and quick. Tours and guides were good and intersting. We saw the most beatifull things and we had a good time. Gecko trail did for us a perfect job.
jan tynanFebruary 29, 2016
Had a lovely holiday in Costa Rica. Delighted with all the travel arrangements suggested and arranged for us. Everybody was courteous and the time keeping was very accurate. Impressed by efficiency and also speed in response to our questions. Found emails a very good way to communicate. Will happily recommend your team at the office and your operatives to all.
many thanks Jan and Paul
Daniela bucciFebruary 25, 2016
Ciao …il viaggio il costa Rica è. Andato benissimo….alberghi, orari, personale…tutto ok…grazie x la disponibilità e professionalità degli organizzato ri della agenzia Geko
Grace MerliniFebruary 22, 2016
I just came back from a 14 day visit to Costa Rica. My friend and I really enjoyed our trip , the hotels, tranfers and excursions were all well organized by Gecko Trail. We decided to go to this country last minute and Gecko Trail in a very short time put together a great itinerary suited for us. All went very smoothly, I’d like to thank Monica and Nina for their kindness and great help in making it possible.
Wolfgang RuebenachFebruary 17, 2016
Hi, I booked two tours with Gecko Trail. The service by Gecko Trail was absolutely superb. The tours were well organized and the hotels were great. On my next visit in Cost Rica Gecko Trail is back in any case. Thank you.
Torsten KummetzFebruary 14, 2016
Wir benötigten für unsere Reise einige Transfers von A nach B während unseres Costa Rica Urlaubs und fragten diese bei einigen Veranstaltern an. Lediglich Gecko Trail hat uns ein detailliertes Angebot vorlegt, welches wir dann auch zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit nutzen konnten. Die Autos waren pünktlich , einige Fahrer haben uns während der Fahrt wissenswertes über ihr Land erzählt und so waren das rundum gelungene Trips – bis auf die “Bumpy Roads” vielleicht hä, hä …
Fazit : sehr empfehlenswert.
Tatiana, PolandFebruary 10, 2016
I used Gecko Trail to plan and organize a trip through Costa Rica for 5 persons in January 2016. Everything was perfect and on time. Monika and all team were very helpful and flexible, especially when our flight to San Jose was delayed and we needed to re-organize our trip schedule, change some booking etc. Thanks a lot!
JP ShieldsFebruary 4, 2016
We had the best time! And it was all thanks to Gecko! Really great suggestions and accommodations throughout our journey to Costa Rica. The only mistake made was that I screwed up a departure time for a shuttle. Thanks again for all your help. Pura Vida!
Cala MillisJanuary 31, 2016
We booked our honeymoon through Gecko Trail, and were so impressed and happy that we did! They were so flexible with letting us customize things, everything was perfect. Everything was taken care of, from transfers to tours, and it was so nice to relax and not worry about details on an itinerary. Everyone we met through the tour companies were professional and very friendly, I would HIGHLY recommend using Gecko Trail to plan your trip! One of our tours got cancelled last minute, and they promptly contacted us and offered us a variety of replacement tours, as well as a reimbursement for the tour that was cancelled. They were absolutely wonderful to work with.