That Guy on the Phone

The president of Costa Rica Travel Exchange is Patrick Hewitt. Based in New Orleans, Pat already had extensive experience in tourism when he first came to Costa Rica as a tourist in 1990. He instantly felt at home. Two years later he formed our company, Costa Rica Travel Exchange, Inc.

Over the past 30 years, his company has grown to be one of the most respected tour operators in the Gulf South Region of the United States. Our services are recommended in many guidebooks, and on numerous tourism web sites. Recognizing the opportunities offered by the Internet, he built an early online presence. Pat was very active in the AOL travel forums, and was invited by America Online to write the introduction for their “Traveler’s Journeys” section on Costa Rica in the late 90’s. He was also quoted in the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013 editions of Fodor’s guidebook on Costa Rica.

Over the years, he has built a strong reputation among both customers and vendors for professionalism and ethical business practices. Many of the hotels in the company inventory have been in his portfolio since the very beginning. He realizes the value of strong relationships in the travel industry, and enjoys warm friendships with travel professionals throughout Costa Rica.

When not sharing his love of Costa Rica with others, you will usually find him out and about with his lovely wife, Melissa. They love doing activities with the grandchildren. His other interests include exploring his adopted hometown of New Orleans seeking out that newest restaurant or hot band. He and Melissa also like to get out in their little Casita travel trailer. Pat also enjoys riding his bicycle, going to the gym, and sometimes doing a little yoga. Pat has shot thousands of pictures of Costa Rica. Most of the pictures on this website were taken by Pat.

Call Pat Directly at (800) 256-0124

Costa Rica Memories From Pat

This is an early shot at the Orquideas Inn, in Alajuela. I’m guessing 1993? In their famous Marilyn Monroe bar.

The bird was kind of famous too. He lived with free range on the hotel property, and loved to steal food off of guest’s plates. However, his feathers eventually fell out due to improper diet. The owner’s had to cage him for awhile, to feed him only the healthy food that was more in line with his natural diet. He recovered, and was given free range once again. But everyone was warned not to feed the Toucan!

Orquideas was a favorite haunt of ours. It changed hands a few years ago. The new owners changed the name, and remodeled the bar. We were there just a day or two before they closed for the changeover. We have great memories of our many visits there. We stayed late, knowing that this place was never going to be the same. Our favorite bartender gifted us with a picture from the wall, of Marilyn Monroe on the night she sang at JFK’s birthday party. He signed the back. We were quite sad to see Orquideas end and our friends leave. I also miss their gargantuan chicken wings and excellent ceviche too.

Oh. And that is a shadow behind my head. I can only dream of having hair that thick. Especially now that I have less of it!

Here is a flashback to the mid nineties. I figure that this is 1995 or 1996. These are my (step) daughters, on their first trip to Costa Rica. This is either right before, or right after I married their mom, Melissa.

We were among the first 100 or so people, to ever take a commercial zipline tour. Probably in the first couple dozen.

We were staying at Hotel el Sapo Dorado, in Monteverde. I had met the owners on my very first trip to Costa Rica, and we remained friends throughout their tenure there. At the time, this was my “Go To” hotel in this region. The Original Canopy Tour was in beta testing. A film crew for an adventure cable channel was also staying at the hotel. They needed some “customers” for their shoot at the zipline. Our hosts volunteered us, and we readily agreed.

In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best parenting decision. Who takes their kids on a brand new, and largely untested adventure, way up high over the jungle?. Fortunately, we survived to tell the tale!

Our girls are moms themselves now, and have given us beautiful grandchildren. When the kiddos are old enough, we will take them on a zipline too!

Melissa and her birds

From 2000 to 2018, we owned a small “casita” in Monteverde. I always say that it became available at the wrong time. As we happened to have the money!

But it was an adventure owning a home in a foreign land. Especially in a small dairy farming community, on top of a mountain, in a third world country. The house was in horrible condition, and over the years, we did a complete renovation. Initially, we had a crew from New Orleans come down to make it livable. As we made more contacts in the community, we found local guys with great skills. We gradually transformed a ramshackle shell, into a cozy little cottage. We made lifetime friends in the process.

We loved being up in the woods and only a half mile from the entrance to the world famous Monteverde Reserve. We constantly had animals in the yard. Raccoons, coatimundis, tropical foxes, all types of birds (including the elusive Resplendent Quetzals). We also would get an occasional monkey, and orange kneed tarantula.

One night, we even had a mountain lion! In the darkness, we mistook it for our neighbor’s gold lab. Melissa walked toward it to pet it! She got within 15 feet of it. It got up, and walked into the woods. We realized what it really was, when we saw it’s gait. It didn’t bounce like a dog. It slunk away, like a cat! We quickly went into the house.

This is one of my favorite photos of my lovely bride. She had painted some pictures of tropical birds. We had just hung them in the kitchen in our casita. She doesn’t like this picture. But as I said, it is a favorite of mine.

The next generation. My grandson, on his first visit to Costa Rica.

We traveled along with his mom to Costa Rica in 2017, when he was only four years old. He had a ball. We went to Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and Arenal. It was so much fun to share this special place with him. This is him and I checking out the view the Gulf of Nicoya, from a lookout in Monterverde.

In Arenal, we spent some time at Hotel Arenal Kioro. This is a great spot for families. Lots of shallow hot spring pools, of various temperatures. Nice kiddie and adult pools too.

It is also very kid friendly. I am the tour operator, and I work a lot with that hotel. You would think that I would be the VIP. But nope. Within a few hours, the friendly staff was calling my grandson by name. The guys at the pool knew what he liked to drink, and HE was the one that was greeted at the restaurant for breakfast each morning. The adults followed behind, as he was escorted to HIS table. He felt like he was a celebrity. I felt like I was part of his entourage!

We had a wonderful experience, and I gained new insight into trip planning when a small child is involved.