In 2002 and 2008, and again in 2010, I’ve had the pleasure to travel throughout Costa Rica with Gil Calvo. Unequivocally, I can say that Gil is both logistically well prepared and an extremely well informed a fine naturalist/ambassador for the beauty, diversity, and history of his country. In my capacity as a naturalist/host for a pair of high school trips and a Public Radio World Citizens trip, I watched Gil work with both the boundless energy of teenaged students and the discriminating tastes of world travelers. He was great with both groups, infectiously enthusiastic while being sympathetic to individual needs. Gil knows every innkeeper, every restaurant owner, and every bus driver in Costa Rica. He knows all the back roads, all the turtle-nesting beaches, and, most importantly, all the less visited corners of his remarkable country. Birds are his specialty; sea turtles his passion. Costa Rica has no better public relations man.

Ted Levin

2004 winner of the Burroughs Medal for Nature Writing

commentator Vermont Public Radio

I am off to Philly early tomorrow morningn so wanted to send a quick

note on Costa Rica.  Gil was a super guide.  So much to manage behind the scenes

while providing us with excellent, balanced commentary and a happy

countenance.  We would have been quite happy with more economical

accomodations, but our resort/spa/hotels were a delightful extravagance

and we had no trouble indulging ourselves.  Very special thanks for the

MARVELOUS birthday party for Leeya with special pinata and very cute

cake(s) – pulled together by Gil and Ted, I believe. None of us will

forget that unique occasion!!

hasta la vista.  Sue

Hanover High School 2012 Trip

Hey Gil – here are some of the kids reactions to their time in CR.  Thanks again for all your work making this such a great trip – Jeannie

Gil,
I can’t express enough how thankful I am to have been able to be a part of that trip with you, and Alex, of course. The places you brought us and all the things you taught us about your country made a lasting impact on me and solidified my love for the country. The experiences you provided me with will be most memorable of all, whether it’s a fifteen hour hike nobody thought I could do or simply just traveling across the country and taking in its natural beauty. I enjoyed every second of the trip regardless of how burnt I got, I was having too much fun to be miserable. I hope you are doing well and miss us as we miss you.
Pura Vida,
Jake Randall

Dear Gil,
Thank you so much for making our trip to Costa Rica so unbelievable. There’s something really special about seeing the authentic, untouched parts of a country, which is why our trip was so great. You gave us the full Costa Rican experience by balancing the authentic aspects of the country, with the touristy, classic ones. Best wishes to you and your family (and to Alex!), and we hope that you will pay us a visit sometime soon.
Thanks a million,
Georgia Lubrano

Gil,
I never expected to see, learn, and experience as much of Costa Rica in one week as we did. Each day brought so many new adventures. I loved every moment of my time in Costa Rica with you; whether it being night hikes through unknown territory, tasting new and exotic foods and treats, or just simply having a deep conversations. You truly shared your love for your country with us and I am so excited to go back sometime in the near future. Thank you for the time you spent with us and for the new friendship I have gained!
~ Ariel Siegel

Gil,
At this moment I am eating an ORGANIC banana from Costa Rica and it is bringing me back to the amazing trip I had. I do not know how the trip would have been without you there, I imagine that we would have made it to our destinations much faster than we did because we would not have stopped every five minutes to see a bird, but that would not have been as fun and I would not have been able to see so many amazing things. It was awesome that we got to slow down and take the country in and see what it had to offer instead of just pulling the blinds on the bus and just driving through so we could just get to the beach and tan. I really appreciate everything you did for us, including attempting to rid my fear of spiders! Even though I didn’t let you lay me on the ground a put a giant spider on my chest, I was still able become less afraid of spiders because you assured me that I would not die if they bit me, snakes were a different story! It was amazing seeing how passionate you were and how much you were in love with Costa Rica, you truly made the trip! I wish to comeback and if I do you are coming with me! If you ever find yourself in Vermont I will take you around this time, however there is no way that I know as much about Vermont as you do about Costa Rica, but I will do my best. And sorry our mountains are not as big as Chirripo!
Thank you so much!
-Connor Gordon

Dear Gil,
Everything about Costa Rica is incredible, and I know I will never forget it. You are an amazing tour guide. I hope that in whatever countries I travel to in the future I can meet a “Gil”- someone who loves life so much it’s infectious. Thank you so much,
Erica Hinck
PS I’ll hopefully see you and Costa Rica again- in two years.

Dear Gil,
Thank you for leading us through Costa Rica and sharing your knowledge of the wildlife and natural history with all of us. I had an amazing time that week and got a chance to see plants and animals I had never seen before. I still don’t know how you spotted that vine snake. Thanks also for helping me after I got cut on the coral. I’m glad we were able to do the snorkeling. It was cool looking down and seeing all the coral and fish. On this trip everything was new and exciting for me as it was a biome I had never experienced before. Thank you Gil for sharing your company and wealth of knowledge with us. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and full of interesting sights. I hope to return someday.
-Josh Murphy

Dear Gil,
Thank you so much for everything you did for us in Costa Rica. It was an unbelievable, unforgettable journey. Your knowledge and passion for your country really made the experience. I learned so much about the animals and the connective relationships within nature. I have taken a lot of lessons with me (such as boycotting Belmonte and Dole bananas!). Also, thank you for getting my bag back for me- I really appreciate it!
Wishing you all the best,
Annie Dade

Dear Gil,
Thank you so much for making our trip so incredible! We had the best week and got to see so much of the country. Your love and passion for Costa Rica was infectious and I came home already wanting to go back! Since being home, I haven’t eaten a real banana because they don’t even come close to the baby ones you gave us. I had so much fun with everything we did from hiking Chirripo to seeing the horse parade to spending our last few days on the beach!
Thank you again, I hope you are doing well and hopefully I will see you again someday soon!
-Giulia Alexander

Dear Gil,
Thanks so much for being such a great tour guide. The trip wouldn’t of been half as fun had we had any other guide. Some of the things you found, such as the  vine snake, and the white-crowned manakin  I would never have seen by myself and the things I leaned on this trip will always stick with me. I hope to return to Costa Rica sometime in the future.  Pura Vida !
-Jacob Evangelos

Gilamonster-
I signed up for this trip with hopes of getting a small taste of the birds and wildlife I knew existed, but had never seen. I wasn’t expecting much time for birding, nor a guide so good at spotting wildlife. Picking a favorite bird from the 170 I ended with would be nearly impossible, but the hummingbird feeder with the Fire-throated hummingbirds might be one of the countless highlights. All in all a great trip, and you can bet all be back sometime soon.
Muchas gracias
-Spencer

P.S. The list is on its way!

Dear Gil,
Just the other day I was buying bananas at the food store, and I told my parents we could no longer purchase the del monte brand. When they asked why I explained everything and insisted we buy organic. During our week in Costa Rica I learned so much and it was all due to you. Your enthusiasm made every minute of the trip exciting, and your love for nature and wildlife rubbed off on everyone in the group. Between experimenting new fruits and ice cream on the side of the road to dancing in the disco tech I loved every minute of my time in Costa Rica. Furthermore hiking into the primary forest of Chirripo was amazing along with spending time on the beautiful beaches! Thank you so much for everything!
-Addie

Dear Gil,
I think I would have been amazed by your country no matter what, but it would be hard to find another person who could amaze me so thoroughly with their knowledge. I found myself learning even when I was half asleep on the bus. I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate your effort to fulfill all of our wishes, even when that included finding us some Costa Rican boys to dance with! Thank you for sharing your kindness, experiences, and knowledge with us.
Sincerely,
Emma Waters

Dear Gil,
Thank you so much for showing us around your beautiful country. It was truly an unforgettable experience. During our trip, there was not a single moment when I wasn’t engaged in something I had never done, whether it was hiking to the top of Chirripo, seeing sloths, or hiding a knife in my shirt. I really appreciate your knowledge of the natural world.
I will contact you for my honeymoon in several years!
Charlotte
p.s. Come to New England and visit!

Dear Gil,
I want to start off by saying you were amazing.  I had heard great things about you from Jeannie but thought that she was probably exaggerating, but she wasn’t.  You surpassed my expectations by so much.  I will also remember when you made the bus stop while we were speeding down a hill because you wanted to try and save the snake that had be caught in the middle of the road.  And the way you wanted us to experience all of Costa Rica, even though we were only there for a week.  You brought us to all the small little shops to get the best fruits or desserts, things that any other tour guide wouldn’t have known or brought us too.  And when the girls wanted to dance you were somehow able to find them a disco to go to.  You could literally do everything!  You made my time in Costa Rica a million times better than I could have ever imagined and I can’t say just how much that means to me.

Thank you very much!
Roland

Dear Gil,
It was awesome to get to see you again. Before the trip everyone would ask me, “Hey Jacob, what is this place like?” I would say that I didn’t know but I was sure it would be awesome, after all, Gil scheduled us going there. I was not disappointed once. The trip was an great adventure. Tortuguero was one of coolest places I’ve ever been, thanks for taking us there. And I really appreciated your dedication to finding every animal in the rainforest for us. I’ve been on a million boring school trips where the guide drones on and no one wanted to listen but every time you spoke we all wanted to hear what you had to say; it was always interesting and funny. This was my fourth trip to Costa Rica and I learned so many new things. I can’t thank you enough, I hope I get to see you again soon.

All the best,
– Jake Kornfeld

Dear Gil,
Thank you so much for the amazing trip, nothing else could have compared to what you had scheduled for us. Your country is beautiful and I hope one day I will be able to return. Everywhere you and Alex took us was breathtaking and absolutely unforgettable. You exposed to us to things that I know I never would have done if it had not been for you. I hope you and Alex stay well and hope to see you sometime in the U.S..
Thank you again it was truly a once in a lifetime experience!
Allison Garfield

You made us fell like part of your beautiful country’s family. Thanks from bottom of our hearts for our best, most memorable vacation ever with love, The Vellante Family

 

“Our trip to Costa Rica was absolutely wonderful.

Hanover 2014

Gil,

Although I can’t fully believe that I went on the trip twice, it was an amazing experience. You are wonderful and taught me so much. I wish I could sum up the impact you had on shaping my morals and values, but I can’t find the right words to. All I can say is that I live a happier life now. Thank you for that.

Erica

Gil,

Thank you for leading the way in so many amazing adventures. Your knowledge and love for nature helped me see the world in a new perspective and truly made me grow as a person. Thank you so much for an unforgettable experience.

Roya

Thank you so much for helping us explore this amazing part of the world. You encouraged us to be adventurous, open-minded, and inquisitive. You pushed us to try new things, meet new people and create new experiences. Thanks for the memories! – Susanna

Mi hermano,

Thank you for spending a week away from your family to hang out with us gringos. I know that we complained and were needy but you were an awesome tour guide and really made our week in Costa Rica one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Say hola to Freddy for me and tell him I’ve been practicing my spanish (I actually haven’t). -Ben H-M

Gil,

Before I went on this trip I will honestly tell you that I was not much of a hiker, birder, or anything of that sort. And I want to say thank you for all the time you put into giving everyone of us an unbelievable experience of exploring the incredible country of Costa Rica. Thank you for broadening my horizons, and now making me a hiker, birder, and all of the above. –Claire

Gil,

Thank you for the many amazing adventures you took us on, and taking the time to make our trip so enjoyable. You were an amazing tour guide and I’m still astounded how you can recognize and mimic so many bird/animal sounds so well. I will never forget my experiences from this trip or your imitation of a howler monkey. Thanks for everything. – Christine

Dear Gil,

I can’t imagine the 23 of us trying to find our way around such an extraordinary country without your help. You helped us fit so many things into each day so that truly telling people about our trip takes me hours. Without your presence and knowledge, I know that I could never had an experience that compared to last week and for that I thank you and Freddy from the bottom of my heart. I hope that we can please stay in touch – I’ll send you an email as soon as I can get your contact information! Talk soon,

Evie

Dear Gil,

Thank you for making our trip to Costa Rica interesting and fun. Your facts on the bus were enlightening and entertaining. They opened my eyes to many environmental concerns. I enjoyed the many aspects of the country and culture that we were exposed to from the orphanage to the jungle to the beautiful waterfall. Thank you for warning us and keeping the bullet ants out of our path.

Pura Vida, Kendra

Gil,

I cannot begin to thank you enough for the time you spent with us. I will forever remember the time we all spent together as the highlight of my high school career. Not only did we have an incredible amount of fun, but the knowledge you passed onto us was priceless. It was an incredible experience to be able to view an amazing culture with such authenticity and excitement. I already miss the warm weather, animals, plants and fun activities – but more importantly, I miss the Costa Rican members of my new family. By the way, I’m coming back to find some snakes with you!

Thank you again,

Emma

Dear Gil,

You emphasized at the beginning of the trip that what you wanted was for each of us to realize what a beautiful country Costa Rica is and to fall in love with it. It was your profound knowledge of the culture, your enthusiasm for adventures, and ever entertaining humor that opened our eyes to the true beauty of the country that went far beyond what typical tourists get a chance to experience. You left us with memories to cherish, a desire to advocate for the country, a yearning to go back, and plenty of stories to tell. It’s been pretty boring here waking up in the morning without the sounds of the jungle, not having to be wary of poisonous/venomous creatures, not seeing the bright and crazy colors painted on the buildings around Hanover, and not hearing people chattering spanish all around.

Basically I can’t wait to go back someday and thank you for everything!

Also my grandma wants to know what the name is of that bean we had on the last day that we transformed into earrings. Thanks to you, Costa Rica has sparked the curiosity of even more people I guess!

~Liesel

Gil,

Thank you so much for an amazing adventure! Everything about Costa Rica, from the foliage to the critters to the incredible people, blew me away. When I was growing up, I would have given anything to spend a day in the Jungle with Baloo the bear and the dancing monkeys (who we now know do NOT love to chow down on bananas!) from my favorite movie The Jungle Book – you have made this dream a reality! Your knowledge and excitement made the bus rides not only bearable, but one of my favorite parts of our visit. I enjoyed learning about the nation’s political history, industries, education, and people. I have already shared your insight with countless friends and family members, and I cannot wait to return to Costa Rica to learn more.

Pura Vida,

Claire

Gil,

I don’t think I’ve ever been on a cooler trip. I’ve wanted to go to Costa Rica ever since 3rd grade when I heard that there are monkeys and zip-lines. I don’t know how I could ever thank you properly for showing us how important the environment, kindness, and family really are. I will live the rest of my life with your lessons in mind.

Pura Vida,

Jake

Gil,

I can say with a hundred percent certainty that you are the best tour guide on earth. Your knowledge of Costa Rican history and their ecosystems is unparalleled. I hope some day I am fluent in spanish. Because of the three trips I have taken to Costa Rica that you lead, I have always wanted to live a portion of my life there. I am sure I will see you again some day. Until then pura vida and tell your family I say hello.

Jordy

Gil,

Thank you so much for spending those amazing nine days with us. I can’t imagine a better tour guide, not only to teach us about the ecosystem and ecotourism of Costa Rica, but also to help us connect with the people. Thank you for helping to set a welcoming environment where everyone got along and made lifelong friends. Please say thank you and hello to Freddy. I hope to see you again. PURA VIDA

– Daniel

Dear Gil,

Thank you so much for making my trip to Costa Rica so memorable. I will cherish my experiences for the rest of my life. In the week that I spent in Costa Rica, I made more memories than I have this entire year. The lessons you taught us about Costa Rica’s ecosystems, ecotourism, farming and immigration have helped me think about the world in a different way.

Pura Vida!

Tucker

Gil,

Thank you so much for showing us Costa Rica! It was so interesting to hear all about the country, from birds to the banana industry. You were able to show us the exciting attractions like the waterfall and the volcano, as well as making sure that we understood about some of the problems in the country, like the use of pesticides and children of Nicaraguan immigrants being left behind. The trip was so fun and exciting, but I also feel like I am coming away will a well rounded understanding of the country. Thank you so much!

Cathleen

Hi Gil

The kids have been talking about this trip non-stop since they returned. As you can see above they had an amazing experience. Thank you so much for all you do to make this trip so special and meaningful. And thank you also, for setting up birding in Tirimbina – that was awesome! Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of years! – Love Jeannie