McDougall Adventures

Costa Rica McDougall Adventure July, 2011

If anyone ask us if we enjoy the McDougall adventure to Costa Rica we tell them it's our third one in twelve months and we have already signed up for January 2012. We travel often so we have a lot of comparison. It fits our needs perfectly. The food is great, the people are wonderful, Tiffany keeps things perfectly organized, the activities are fantastic but optional, and the hotel is very accommodating, particularly when you say you are with the McDougall group. We like the activities in the morning; a massage in the afternoon; followed by a great lecture; followed by a delicious dinner with new friends. We are both grateful for the McDougall Plan and the adventures. We look forward to many more.

Linda and George Goff

Thank you for putting together such a delightful vacation package. It was a wonderful balance between daily adventure trips (zip lining, horseback riding, snorkeling, river rafting, hiking) in the morning, free time in the afternoon (for swimming in the pool, visiting the gym, or just reading or resting in the beautiful surroundings), and stimulating lectures in the late afternoon, interspersed with three bountiful and delicious buffet meals each day. What a fun way to experience another country and to be stimulated physically, emotionally, and intellectually. This was our first visit to Costa Rica, and we brought the whole family—nine in all (my wife and I, our two daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandsons) ranging in age from one and a half to sixty-three. There was something for all of us to do—and everyone had a good time. One grandson even celebrated his seventh birthday while there--and said it was his best birthday ever! I thought the meals were fantastic--and even those in our family who don't normally eat vegan commented how good the food was! Another plus was getting to meet such interesting fellow travelers who share a common interest in good health and great adventures. Thanks again for all you did to put together a trip that we will remember forever!

David Heetland

After our long flight, we arrived at the Hilton Papagayo where we were treated to fruit drinks and warm welcomes from the staff. It was hard to keep our eyes off the panoramic bay views while checking in. Amazing vegetation and lazy iguana lined the walkways as we made our way to our bungalow where the accommodations were modern, pristine and comfy. Every day was more amazing than the last with all of the activities that we could choose from. But we started each day with a wonderful breakfast spread from traditional oatmeal with dried fruit toppings to freshly made waffles. My favorite was the corn tortilla that I filled with pico de gallo, gallo pinto and fresh guacamole...all made freshly practically before my eyes. Each meal was wonderful, but it was the little things that really made it - like freshly ground cinnamon, crisp cold pineapple slices, dragon fruit, fresh greens of all kinds and amazing McDougall salad dressings and toppings. So whether you were gliding down the Corobici river following an 18’ alligator or flying through the treetops on a zip line or enjoying the mud baths and relaxing volcanic pools, or just sitting by one of the many pools, you were always treated well by the gracious Costa Rican people. Pura Vida.

Judith, Amy, and Anastasia Brooks

Thanks for the wonderful Costa Rica adventure! I am no Indiana Jones and I was worried about flying through the treetops, or rafting down the river, so I told myself I would do no such folly on this trip. And I didn't! What I did do was sleep in a bed that was the best I ever slept in. Ate the most wonderful food I have ever eaten in huge quantities and LOST four pounds. Swam in a beautiful ocean. Watched birds, butterflies, Iguanas.

Bob L.

This was a great trip! My family had a great time on the adventures. I have 3 young children and there was plenty for them to do at the resort and on the adventures. Their favorite was the rafting trip down one of the rivers and seeing the local wildlife. I was not a follower of the McDougall diet before the trip, but because of the lectures and the great food choices I am making changes to my diet since returning. I would definitely attend another McDougall adventure trip in the future and would recommend it to anyone considering going!

Chris Campise

We wanted to thank you again for an amazing week. We got re-inspired, learned a lot and met some fabulous people. Just thought I'd let you know how we have been doing since, as per your request. Phil & I have been following your Program 100%. Phil had read all your books before and always gave me the "Executive Summary" but now it's my turn to read. I have started with your "Maximum Weight Loss" book and am following the suggested 21-day plan to get me started. We are using the recipes and getting great results. Since starting with closer adherence to your guidelines in Costa Rica and now at home, Phil has lost 7 lbs and I've lost 5 lbs. We gained the additional motivation and excitement because of our experience with you and our group and for that we are forever grateful!! Thank you so much. We will continue to update you with our progress from time to time.

Warm Regards,
Phil Kucharsky & Wanda Haber-Kucharsky

This was an ultimate travel experience! Loved all the adventures and connected with so many interesting people. The great variety of food gave me a lot of ideas for expanding my usual menu and the lectures provided a unique learning experience. I highly recommend this trip and it is my intention to join up again and bring family members.

Thank you so much.
Diana Bell

I HIGHLY recommend the Costa Rica adventure and health trip with the McDougall family! My time with them on the Costa Rica trip has changed my life and inspired me to live life to the fullest. The food was delicious, the people were kind, friendly, and very intelligent and the adventures were safe and super fun! I went on this trip with my mother who had been suffering from psoriasis for the past year. My mother had tried every kind of topical cream and medication. including UV light with not good results. After changing her diet to the McDougal diet her Psoriasis disappeared completely!!!! Day by day it faded and after we came back from the trip she continued to follow the McDougall diet and now she is 97% Psoriasis free and it is getting better every day! Dr. McDougall gives you the gift of knowledge and what I love most about the program is that Dr. McDougall doesn't have to over exert himself to prove to his travelers that the diet he recommends makes you healthier because you will feel it right away! I am not easily convinced and I attended this program not being a Vegan but when I followed Dr. McDougall's diet, which was very easy because the food was absolutely delicious, I felt better, I felt like myself again. Going to Costa Rica with Dr. McDougall and his family was a priceless life changing experience. I remember someone who was not in our group asked me about the "McDougall" sign in front of the room we would meet in for dinner, she said, " Is this a family reunion?" and I said, "Yes it is." I was surprised to hear myself say it, but that is exactly how I felt, my new friends, my new family. This experience enriched my life in so many ways. I continue to follow the McDougall diet and I continue to feel great! Thank you Dr. McDougall for your precious gifts of knowledge!!!!

Lana Keshishian

The McDougall Costa Rica Adventure was a good match for us because we wanted to see Costa Rica and we were interested in learning more about healthy eating. We accomplished both on this trip! The trip was well planned and organized. I appreciated the beauty of Guanacaste and the informative commentaries of the local guides. The Buena Vista Lodge was my favorite adventure tour ... loved the warm mud bath and mineral pools! I was thankful for the impressive vegetarian buffet offered at each meal and enjoyed the opportunity to try so many healthy new recipes. Dr. McDougall's lectures each afternoon were a highlight of the trip for me. And it was delightful to share this adventure trip with so many friendly people!

Kat Ballou

After my first trip to Costa Rica in July 2010, I said I wanted to return with my daughter. And I did. This second McDougall adventure was every bit as wonderful as the first! And sharing it with my daughter was a real pleasure. The guides are fun & very knowledgeable (& bilingual), the adventures exciting and the food so delicious. I enjoyed Dr. McDougall’s lectures just as much the second time and learn more each time I hear the material. Again, I met an interesting, diverse group of people with a shared interest in living a healthier lifestyle. (also read my July 2010 comments) Once again, I cannot recommend this trip enough.

Cheryl Duvall, RN

This is an all-inclusive adventure for any one of any age! In choosing Costa Rica, Dr. McDougall has done the right amount of research to ensure the success of this program. There are always things to do, see, or listen to -- and the memories are fantastic! I'm still telling anyone who will listen how absolutely necessary it is to take an action and go to Costa Rica!

Lyn

We had a wonderful time in the McDougall Adventure vacation in Costa Rica. The whole experience was well planned from start to finish. The airport at Liberia is small and easy to navigate. We were met at the airport by McDougall guides and taken by bus with other McDougall vacationers to the Hilton Papagayo. Having the next day off to explore the facilities and get oriented was nice. The Hilton Papagayo is an excellent resort with all the amenities... pools, spa, beach and various activities for all ages and abilities. The staff was always courteous and helpful. The pace of the vacation was perfect. The group activities were planned for the mornings leaving the afternoons free. The activities were excellent with the flexibility of taking a day off or repeating an activity. Being scheduled in the same group for these activities was a plus in that it gave us the opportunity to get to know some of our fellow vacationers. The guides were knowledgeable and helpful, some even giving additional lectures in the evening. Dr. McDougall gave excellent lectures at 5 PM each evening and was available for answering questions throughout the trip. We never had to worry about the food as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Hilton was always a delicious buffet with many healthy plant based options. The entire experience was outstanding and was one of the best vacations that we have had. We would recommend the trip without reservation. Thanks for all the time and effort that you and your staff put into making this vacation so successful.

Don (MD) and Beth Forrester

The Costa Rica trip was absolutely fantastic! It was extremely well organized, both in the advanced planning as well as the execution. It was so wonderful to not have to worry about a thing except what time to show up for the bus to head out for that day's adventure. That allowed me to really enjoy my time with my two daughters and to meet and talk to my fellow travelers. The guides were extremely knowledgeable about not just the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, but also the history, so I felt I learned a great deal about Costa Rica on our travels through the countryside. Of course the food was wonderful! I particularly enjoyed the dishes that included foods native to that region. The daily lectures by Dr. McDougall were a highlight for me. Although I have read all his books and seen most of his DVDs, I still learned a great deal from the lectures. John and Mary McDougall were attentive and gracious hosts for this trip which is a great value in many ways and which I recommend to anyone considering traveling to Costa Rica.

Marcia Shattuck, M.D.

What a lovely experience – to spend a week in Costa Rica with John and Mary McDougall, and all the wonderful people they have gathered around them. It was truly one of the most memorable adventures in my travel life. I had to overcome my internal resistance to “indulge” (“Taking a week to go to Costa Rica?”) by listening to the little (wiser) voice that said, “If not now, when?” - and I'm so that glad I listened to that voice! The trip was a “class act” - from start to finish. From the airport pickup to the beautiful accommodations to the many activities that introduced us to the rich natural world of Costa Rica, it was a delight at every step. The professional guides added so much to the experience, and having such full and easy access to John and Mary was especially valued. (Nice to see them in “vacation mode!”) Our week in Costa Rica with the McDougall's made memories that will last a lifetime, and one that I can recommend without reservation.

Michael Klaper, MD

Thank you so much for making our honeymoon as memorable and enjoyable as we had hoped. We had an incredible time. The food, weather, hotel, lectures, and adventure trips were all fantastic. The best part of the trip though was the people we met. We made some lifelong friends and learned so much from everyone. Its amazing how nice and friendly everyone was. It definitely made for a magical week. For Sara, the highlight of the trip was the gorgeous view of the Pacific that we woke up to each morning. For me, it was having the opportunity to meet you, one of my heroes and mentors. You and Mary were so generous with your time, answering every question we threw at you. We can't wait for our next trip back to Costa Rica with the Mcdougalls. We plan on bringing family and friends back with us next time too (kicking and screaming of course). Thank you for your pioneering work and for the inspiration you have been to me. You embody everything the "doctor of the future" should be. I, like many, hope to follow in your footsteps. Looking forward to seeing you again in February at the Advanced Study Weekend in Santa Rosa!

Michael Kadoch, MD

I had a marvelous time on this trip. I have always enjoyed B & B's more than hotels or motels when I travel because I find it fascinating to find out about people from all over the country and the world. This trip, although at a fabulous, large resort with full facilities and the friendliest staff I have encountered, was like staying at a small Bed and Breakfast because we had communal meals and shared day trips. I tried to meet each of the 105 people attending and the guides, and I found everyone delightful. The McDougall program appeals to all sorts of health conscious, animal conscious people. The teenagers, octogenarians and everyone in between were full of fun and had many interesting stories to tell and experiences to share. I thought the lectures were well done, at the right level of informational content, and the right length. Finally, all the guides were superb. I especially liked Sergio's initial welcome talk and his tour to the national park. Conrad was also grand. I didn't get to talk much to Freddie but he seemed great too.

Beth Forrester

Our trip to Costa Rica with John and Mary McDougall went beyond what we ever expected. I had looked at the McDougall website over the years, read his books, and even heard him speak in Seattle years ago. Our 35th anniversary is right around the corner and I approached my husband, David, with a plan for going on this trip to celebrate our anniversary. “I want to do the zip lines, go rafting, ride horses to a natural hot springs and just enjoy this amazing trip to Costa Rica! This would be so much fun, and it would be perfect because there are lectures each day. David was surprised that I wanted to go on this adventure trip, but he was willing to go to support me. The hotel looked amazing and he found out that there were alternatives to a plant based diet if he chose to go to another restaurant. The food provided on the trip was amazing. We looked forward to each meal because of the diversity and everything tasted delicious. It was motivating to see soups, vegetables, breads and main dishes that all had great flavor. David never thought about going somewhere else for another meal. We stacked our plates at every meal trying to taste everything that was available. It was motivating to see what could be done and we were surprised that we did not miss dairy or meat products. Since we have been home, David talks about how much he enjoyed McDougall’s lectures in Costa Rica. I frequently hear him saying that they were fascinating and the best part of the trip. The talks only lasted an hour to an hour and 15 minutes each day, but they were filled with so much information. Since David is a veterinarian he was impressed with all of the medical research that McDougall shared. He kept saying this is just common sense; John McDougall’s logic makes perfect sense. Instead of bringing home a husband that was going to support me, I brought home a McDougall advocate. We are having fun exploring new recipes, sharing information with our friends, and emailing friends that we met on our trip. I loved how we got to know so many people on this trip. We talked health, shared life stories, and celebrated each day. It was a great group filled with interesting individuals from all over the United States and other parts of the world. There was such a spirit of sharing and warmth. The guides that took us on our adventures made each day an experience to remember. They knew so much about Costa Rica, their animals and plants, education, the culture and the people. We participated in everything that was available from nature walks to talks on animals and trips to neighboring towns and markets. After each day we came back to a beautiful room, towel art, and access to swimming, the beach, walking paths, and much more. Everything was so well organized and it left us feeling relaxed and taken care of.

Judith Best

Just a quick note to let you and your entire staff how much I enjoyed your adventure. Being from the sub-tropics myself (south Florida), it was a treat to mingle with other "Spanish speaking" species! I must say your organization did an outstanding job of planning, coordinating and with safety in mind, giving us all, the time of our lives. As usual, the cuisine was excellent and well presented. This was my first experience on one of your "fun in the sun" adventures, a little fearful of the snorkeling and zip lining but went back in the water and tried it again, also ready for zip lining again. I have already contacted Carol for sign up on your upcoming January adventure to Los Suenos.

Gloria Hood