Plotpackers Arvostelua 

Just had the most amazing experience traveling to Brazil on a group trip hosted by Samantha Casolaro. I can’t even begin to describe how incredible the trip was planned out and how safe I felt as a female solo traveler. The entire trip Sam made sure that we were having fun and experiencing all that Brazil has to offer. The trip was filled with both pre-planned activities and free time. Sam was an awesome host and really had the best interest of the group the entire trip. She was easy to talk to and just an overall sweet person. She always checked in on us and created a safe space. Our guide Julio was amazing as well and really looked out for us girls. He was funny and overall made sure that we were getting what we wanted out of the trip. I would definitely book another trip with Sam through PlotPackers in the future!!! So much fun!!

The 10 day trip to Brazil is very well organized.
We visited Rio, Isla Grande and Paraty. All three places offer something differently and unique. The best time I had was in Isla Grande, due to the beautiful nature and beaches surrounding it.
Our tour guide, Julio Labrana, did an amazing job during these 10 days taking care of everything and always being up to date with transport, recommendations for restaurants and always being available to us when we needed his support regarding different topics.

I had such an amazing experience on this Brazil group trip, and a huge part of that was thanks to our group trip leader: Julio Labrana.

From the moment we arrived, he was incredibly kind, welcoming, and full of positive energy. He made everything so fun and effortless, and truly elevated the entire trip. You can tell he genuinely cares about everyone having the best experience possible.

At one point I got sick during the trip, and he went completely out of his way to help me get some food, medication, and other necessities. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without him. That level of care meant so much.

He constantly made sure everyone felt included, comfortable, and taken care of. He went above and beyond by organizing extra activities through his connections, which made the trip even more special and memorable for all of us. He made sure we got the best touristic but also genuine local experiences.

On top of that, he was so patient and flexible with everyone, whether it came to planning activities or just managing a whole group of people.

That being said, I was disappointed with Plotpackers’ hostel selection. At times it was very uncomfortable, especially due to how dirty and moldy some of the hostels were. The last 2 hostels out of the 4 were lovely, but they were also the hostels we spent the least time in. I think this is something that definitely needs improvement.

Overall though, the trip was still so much fun and full of unforgettable memories. 💛

My Plotpackers trip to Brazil was amazing, and I genuinely had such a great experience. I loved the itinerary and felt like we spent the right amount of time in each place. There was also enough free time that I still got to do things I personally wanted to!!

The biggest highlight was definitely our tour guide, Julio. He truly made the experience unforgettable. He was so helpful, knowledgeable, kind, funny, and positive the entire trip. He really helped ease any anxieties about being in a different country, and even when things did not go as planned, he always made us feel supported and prioritized our safety. I have nothing but good things to say about him and this trip overall. ❤️

If you’re planning a trip to Brazil, do yourself a favor and book a tour with Julio. Hands down one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.
Julio isn’t just a guide—he’s the kind of person who makes you feel like you’re exploring the country with an old friend. His knowledge of the history, culture, and hidden gems is incredible, but what really sets him apart is his energy and passion. Every stop felt meaningful, every story had depth, and he somehow knew exactly how to avoid crowds and find the most authentic spots.
From breathtaking views to local food you’d never discover on your own, Julio made sure every moment was unforgettable. He was professional, organized, and always went the extra mile to make everyone feel comfortable and included.
If you get the chance to tour Brazil with Julio, take it—you won’t regret it. Absolutely outstanding experience.

Absolutely the trip of a lifetime! I travelled to Brazil on the girls group trip hosted by Samantha casolaro, we got to sightsee around Rio, travel on a boat to Ilha grande, see beautiful waterfalls near paraty and make some wonderful memories. The trip wouldn’t of been the same without our amazing tour guide Julio Labrana, for real such a knowledgeable, and kind man who truly cared for us and made sure we were always having fun and safe.

Julio & Samantha make such an incredible team together. They both always made me feel so safe and taken care of like anything I needed, making sure I was okay during this whole trip. Brazil wouldn’t have been the same experience if it wasn’t for Julio and his amazing personality he truly made every moment every day so fun & special. He made me feel so important & loved it felt like I was at home rather than in a foreign country with someone I had just met. I wish he could be my tour guide every where I went around the world. Can’t wait to be back!

Having the opportunity to go to Brazil for the first time with my group was an amazing experience! Julio was an excellent tour guide I couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide! He was kind, helpful, available, outgoing, and super patient with the group! Samantha was also great! She did a good job at keeping the trip organized and she made sure to let us know she’s available if we needed anything. Brazil was a beautiful country. Julio and Samantha played a big role in making the trip amazing!

I submitted a review while I was on this trip. I still stand by that review as I feel like we definitely did not do enough activities (that weren’t free - the beach and hikes) or get enough included in the price for this trip. However, I would like to recommend the tour guide, Olman. He did an amazing job and although everyone from the group had to book extra tours (at their own expense), he helped give us ideas, make reservations and set up transportation. The entire trip he was vibrant and made sure we were having fun and had anything we needed. Although I feel like the trip is way overpriced, the tour guide is definitely someone you’d want to have. Give him a raise!

Costa Rica was a fantastic experience. The tour guide Olman was the BEST, kind, informative, and always willing to help or give advice.
My only issue with the tour itself was the structure of the itinerary, there were many free days and then days that were packed with activities. It would’ve been nice to have something included everyday.
I cannot recommend Olman enough as a guide!

First and foremost, the guide, Olman, was AMAZING. He knows his stuff regarding Costa Rica and Central America, culture, landmarks, people, and activities like the back of his hand. He made for an unforgettable experience that I'll never forget.

In terms of the tour itself, it was great! The way each day seemed to ramp up in energy to a culmination at Monteverde was very well thought out. Getting to see many different aspects of the country from San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Liberia, and Monteverde also made for a thrilling and diverse experience. There's a little bit of something for everybody! This was a fantastic trip!

My trip to Costa Rica was truly unforgettable. I loved every single activity, from exploring the rainforest to the incredible adventures that kept surprising me every day.

What made it even more special were the people I shared this experience with. The energy, the laughs, and the connections we built turned a great trip into something deeply meaningful.

And a special mention goes to our guide, Olman. His passion, knowledge, and kindness made all the difference. He didn’t just guide us, he made us feel the true spirit of Costa Rica.

We had a really great time in Brazil with Mateus. We discovered Rio de Janeiro, Paraty and Ilha Grande. Mateus really knew the places that we went and had a lot of things to show us in the city. He always made sure that we were safe and that we had fun. Mateus was really a great guide, I would recommend him without hesitation !

Our guide Pear has made it a very enjoyable experience. She made sure everything went smoothly and without any issues. If we needed something or had any questions she was there to help and answer them. The group itself was a very nice and cheerful group. The activities were great and the overall experience was just very chill! Thanks for making this possible!

I had amazing two weeks, thanks to our guide Juan David Romero who always went out of his way, so we have the best time. He was extremely prepared and briefed us before the trip started, so you already felt really secure.
With 20 years Juan is really responsible and capable of guiding a group of people through Colombia. Through his knowledge the trip was educating and because of his open, warm and patient personality it was a lot of fun and the group felt like a little family. We all got along so well. Juan done way more than expected like providing more ideas for our itinerary or staying with me at the doctor and helping and supporting me.
I can 100% recommend him and he made this trip extra special.

incredible experience. i enjoyed the mix of activities, being able to spend time at the beach, visiting national parks and seeing wildlife, there was a vast amount of activities (both preplanned and additional) that would be perfect for whatever you want out of a holiday. olman was incredibly helpful and was there whenever you needed him, for random questions and chats to recommendations. overall a great time, and well worth the price.

Our local guide and our host Samantha made this trip truly one to remember! Olman is so knowledgeable and kind, you can tell he loves his job! Sam is a girls girl all around, so welcoming, comforting, and a gorgeous girl inside and out. We had a lot of excellent dinners thanks to olman, and always felt safe and thought of due to both our host and guide!

Our guide, Olman, made our experience great! He was so kind and patient with us, and he took care of us in so many ways. He showed us and taught us so much about Costa Rica, the culture, the wildlife, the plants. He literally answered 100’s of questions from our group- everything from restaurant recommendations to the names of birds in the forest! He cares about his country, and it showed every minute of every day.

JD has given us an AMAZING tour through the coast of Colombia. Not only is he super passionate and knowledgeable about his culture & his country, but he also really made our group feel like a big group of friends/family. JD was very responsible, reliable and always very very well organized. He treated us super nice and whenever we would want something, he would immediately make sure it got arranged for us. I loved every second of our trip together :)! I highly recommend booking the trip if JD is your guide!!

We had the most amazing time with our guide Jossy. She took really good care of us and we were able to explore Peru as best as we could. She is a lovely guide and an amazing Person
Lots of love <3
Johanna