Our trip was designed around our "wish list" of birds - we sent Costa Rica Focus our list of target birds and they worked with our guide Mayer to create an itinerary that allowed us to observe as many of the birds on our list as possible. I particularly appreciated Mayer, who in addition to being an expert in bird identification, was a gentleman who helped us at all times. I felt like Mayer personally helped me get on a bird many times - he took pride in assisting everyone find the birds they wanted to see. Our accommodations varied from good to basic, but we were not there to hand around our rooms - we were there to bird. Almost all of the lodges we stayed at had a wonderful array of birds (and monkeys) on the grounds. Mayer kept us going from dawn till dusk - and that's what we were there for. He seemed to know everybody he met, often getting tips from local guides on good birds. Every restaurant we entered Mayer was friends with the manager and wait staff so we received excellent service. I would highly recommend Costa Rica Focus and Mayer for your future birding trips to Costa Rica.

We had a magnificent experience with Costa Rica Focus from start to finish. The work of their knowledgeable staff was exemplary throughout: every contact with them was helpful, prompt, cordial and professional. Often they answered our questions before we even asked, and they stayed in contact with us throughout the trip via WhatsApp. They designed a custom itinerary for the three of us that was remarkable - accommodations ranged from fancy to funky and meals varied from fine dining to traditional food. We visited many different climates, ecologies and geographical areas. We also had a variety of bird viewing experiences, including at blinds, feeder stations, formal gardens, jungles, forests and car birding. The key to a guided tour is the guide, of course, and our guide, Alex, was phenomenal. With his sweeping knowledge of where the birds could be found and his vast network of contacts (he seemed to know everyone at every stop), Alex was unfailingly able to get us on each location's "target" birds as well as on the more common ones. He worked hard to ensure that we all were able to see and photograph the birds he found for us, and we invariably got the shots. Beyond birds and their habitats, he shared his knowledge of a wide variety of topics about Costa Rica, and its geography, agriculture, history, politics, relationships with neighboring countries and the US, and much more. He was a marvel, and it was a pleasure to be guided by him. Oh, and we saw lots of great birds! In our seven full days plus two half days, we saw over 150 species, and we've got some great pictures to prove it. Thanks to Alex's skill, determination and networking, we saw at least half a dozen very uncommon species, including the rarely seen rufous-vented ground-cuckoo! I am sure that we will work with Costa Rica Focus again if and when we return to Costa Rica. In fact, Alex has already made some suggestions for our next itinerary! I give Costa Rica Focus my highest possible recommendation.

From the first contact to trip completion, Costa Rica Focus delivered! They were honest during the inquiries and put together a superior trip for my wife and I. The trip was seamless, and we felt fully supported by Costa Rica Focus. They provided a great guide and driver for our two-week excursion. A separate review follows for our guide. We will definitely use this company again and will recommend them to family and friends! Thank you! Occasionally you encounter a person who exemplifies professionalism, expertise, and dedication to their field. Fito Downs is such a person! We had the privilege to have Fito as our personal guide and driver on our photography excursion through Costa Rica from 04/13/24 through 04/26/24. Fito picked us up at San Jose Airport and guided us through San Jose “Hotel Bougainvillea”, San Gerardo de Soto “Savegre Lodge”, Turrialba “Rancho Naturalista”, Sarapiqui “Tirimbina Lodge”, Arenal+Cinchona “Hotel Linda Vista”, Monteverde “Trapp family Lodge”, and the Central Pacific “Cerro Lodge”. It became apparent that Fito loved his home country of Cost Rica and was glad to share his knowledge with us. This not only included Costa Rican facts but also nature facts. Fito is a consummate naturalist. He was able to point out and explain all the animals and local fauna in a very informative and entertaining way. As he did this it became apparent how deep his knowledge base was and how proud he was of his country! Fito is also well versed in many other central American and south American countries and their wildlife. Since we chose a private tour with Fito, we were free to follow the itinerary or deviate if desired. This gave Fito the ability to take us to more productive areas when necessary. It was incredible how prepared Fito was and how he used the resources of other guides to facilitate our quest for certain birds. This included the Resplendent Quetzal, Snowcap hummingbird and the Stripped Owl. Fito arranged with property owners to visit their property and homes where these birds were known to be present. We highly recommend Fito if you plan a trip to central or south America and want an enjoyable excursion. Craig R. Hedlund

Excellent accommodations in fabulous locations. Knowledgeable and friendly guide showed us amazing wildlife of all types.

We were so happy with all the places that we stayed as we moved around the country. The hosts in each location were great, as was the food! We also were so delighted with our guides in each location. We all had nearly 100 new life birds and many wonderful life memories. Costa Rica Focus was easy to work with and easy to contact and very responsive to our questions. We highly recommend.