Rio Celeste Wasserfall und Wildreservat

Verny gave us the BEST day and the BEST experience! He was so knowledgeable, funny, and helpful. He took us to see all the things we wanted to see! Waterfall, hiking, river swimming, rain forest, sloths, monkeys, great food, coffee and cocoa farming…he delivered it all! It was an amazing day and I highly recommend both the tour and Verny!

Verny was an incredible guide and was the highlight of our trip. He knew everything there was to know and taught us about the geological, cultural/political, and ecological history of the region. There were multiple times where he would stop, point something out, explain it to us, meanwhile other guides would just walk by and their groups would miss it. He always managed to get the perfect angle and took some incredible photos through the day, which he freely shared at the end. He’s well known and liked by everyone at the tour sites, and made us feel safe and welcomed everywhere we went. I’d take any tour if he was leading it.

Verny was an amazing tour guide for the day. For the moment he picked us up he gave us clear expectations for the day and ensured he would keep us safe. His driving was amazing and he played some relaxing music in between a very good history lesson of the region and his country. Verny made sure we were entertained every moment of the day. Verny had a very deep knowledge of the the rain forests and all of the creatures within. When he asked what I wanted out of the day, I told him I really wanted to see a sloth up close. While we did see 4 sloths from a distance, Verny did not rest until he found another area to guarantee we saw a sloth low in a tree. He made calls to local tour guides and found one! Our tour was over but he made a bonus stop and saw a sloth so close we could have touched it. We also were able to see more frogs and snakes along the way. Verny was one of the best tour guides I’ve had on a vacation and by the end we were good friends. His experience and his expertise are unmatched!!

All the reviews are true: Verny is a consummate professional, and it is palpable just how much pride he takes in what he does. He has been active in the tourism industry for decades and this experience clearly shows. He is also quite passionate about Costa Rica’s history and about respecting and appreciating wildlife. Verny not only wants you to have a good time and learn a lot while having a good time; he works hard to create a community of people embracing Pura Vida, which means life is meant to be enjoyed for all its beauty and honored for all that is possible if we consider what is sustainable for the environment and those who live within it. Take a tour with him and join his growing “family” of guests spending time with him on a variety of engaging tours.

I have spent my entire career in the travel industry and have recently retired to pursue some travel of my own. I was initially unfamiliar with Costa Rica Family Tours and discovered them through a friend who spoke very highly of their experience with the company and with Verny. This was my third tour with Verny, and on each occasion I felt as though I was receiving the same experience he would offer a member of his own family. The lengths he goes to in order to ensure guests have the absolute best experience possible is unlike anything I have encountered throughout my entire career. This level of dedication makes you feel truly valued and appreciated as a client. Verny is a remarkable individual who consistently delivers an exceptional, above-and-beyond service while actively supporting the local community — something that is evident in the warm relationships and genuine respect he receives from the people he encounters on every tour. Costa Rica Family Tours is now the only company my family and friends turn to, having had similarly outstanding experiences. I recommend this tour without hesitation to anyone visiting Guanacaste, and I look forward to creating many more lasting memories with Verny and Costa Rica Family Tours.

I had such an enjoyable time on this tour at a shockingly affordable price compared to the same tour offered by larger, more recognized tour companies through the hotels in the area. Costa Rica Family Tours is the only company my family, friends, and I use when visiting Guanacaste. The owner, Verny, is as talented a tour guide and genuine a person as they come. He will go out of his way to fit bookings into his busy schedule because he has that much passion for what he does, and that passion is truly contagious. He will also send you numerous photos he took throughout your trip as a complimentary part of his service. Verny takes a flexible, personalized approach to his tours, which stands in contrast to the rigid, set schedules I have experienced with larger tour companies. Because he is not locked into a fixed itinerary, he is able to adjust the order and timing of each stop for a far better overall experience. My goals for the tour were wildlife photography, small crowds at the Blue River Waterfall, and authentic local cuisine. Verny moved the nature preserve to our first stop after it rained on the way, knowing the emerging sun would increase our chances of spotting animals. Within 30 minutes, I had photos of a wild sloth, three different species of frogs, three different snakes, a toucan, and a Jesus lizard. The Blue River Waterfall visit was timed for just after 12:30 to avoid the morning crowds. By the time we began our hike, most other visitors had already left. The difference was remarkable, waiting roughly 20 seconds for a clear waterfall photo rather than an hour during the busy morning rush. Local knowledge made all the difference. We also enjoyed fresh pineapple along the way, a wonderful touch. After the waterfall, Verny called ahead to a restaurant where he had connections. We walked right in with no line, no wait, and our dishes were nearly ready to be served, all with a stunning view of the jungle and volcanoes on the horizon. Verny truly went above and beyond to make the experience special. Verny is funny, knowledgeable, punctual, and personable. If you want to feel like a VIP from start to finish at a very affordable price, book with Costa Rica Family Tours. You will not be disappointed.

Our adventure with Verny was arranged through our resort, Margaritaville Playa Flamingo. In addition to the waterfall and nature reserve, we enjoyed a tour of a coffee and chocolate farm. Verny made the day safe, informative and entertaining. Ours was a group of 6 and he could not have been a more welcoming host. The drive to and from the tour was over 2 hours each way, he kept his “familia” well looked after and his knowledge of anything nature related, the region and local amenities wise is limitless. He kept us interested and engaged. We were very well supplied and looked after and recommend his hospitality highly. When we return, we will be sure to arrange another tour with him. Thanks again! Chris and Sheryl

We had a small group of five He went above and beyond and made us have a great day. First the rainforest, and he pointed out a lot of the natural things that we would not have noticed We had a traditional Costa Rica lunch then through the nature preserve behind our luncheon area where we saw a sloth, tropical, frogs snakes, and beautiful flowers and showed us sloths and tropical flowers then onto a coffee and chocolate tour, which was great Afterwards, he found another place for us to see sloths close to the coffee and chocolate experience. Which was not in our tour he was really good at pointing out things that we would not have noticed. And took lots of pictures for us . What can we say? He was great.!!💕 Very professional and friendly .

Verny was very knowledgeable about everything and catered specifically to my family. When we expressed that we wanted to see animals most he figured out a way to adapt the trip to our needs and we saw everything on our bucket list!! I would highly recomend chosing Verny for this excursion.

From the moment we touched down in Costa Rica, Verny made our trip a first-class event! We did many tours with him and we all became “familia”. From a Wildlife Reserve and falling in love with the Sloths (especially the baby) to waterfalls, suspension bridge, and zipline to name a few…He is so knowledgeable about his trade and ensures everybody’s needs are met at all times. He has an amazing relationship with the local community which was demonstrated in our travels. An AMAZING guide!!! 💙