Personalized trips to Costa Rica
for independent travelers

Via Kimkim, we booked our 9 day Costa Rica trip with Serendipity Adventures, a Costs Rica travel agency. Elena from Serendipity was super responsive in helping us customizing our trip and responding to all our questions. The trip was very well planned and fit our need. I would like to thank Adrien from Serendipity for her the assistance and support during our stay in Costa Rica. Her prompt responses were greatly appreciated when we encountered questions or issues. We felt we were in good hands with her help throughout the trip. Our local guide Sergio was awesome in providing helpful local information, including restaurants, local culture, etc. during the our ride/transportation between different destinations. We enjoyed this trip very much, and the journey definitely has become a beautiful memory that we will talk about for a long time. Both Costa Rica and Serendipity Adventures are highly recommended, and Kimkim made it possible!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Hot springs pools are fun to use. The hotel is directly facing the volcano ( although the clouds cover the volcano most of the time…) Great birding location! Room is outdated and felt cheap. About 10-15 minutes drive from the town. No other restaurants within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Some staff are super nice but not all.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The air conditioner direct blow to the bed. Room design may be improved.

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Awesome hotel with a superb restaurant! Outstanding services.

Authenticity & Character

cozy and nicely decorated room.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Great sunset view! Nice pool. Many good restaurants near by.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Great staff. Very good fish bbq. Not sure the snorkel gears are properly cleaned between use.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All Day Adventure at Selvatura, including Zipline, Hanging Bridges, and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

The pre-purchase meal tickets have limited selection and seem the food quality and portion not as good as if one purchases at the restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

The white water rafting experience is awesome and one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stevens was awesome

Transport

The drive to the rafting location is long 2 hours one way!

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adam (and team) was an amazing, thoughtful and thorough local specialist. He listened attentively to our goals & expectations and executed planning with precision.
We had hiccups with the car rental- overall probably the most disappointing/disruptive part. Ti-Fakara (waterfall) lodging was “ON POINT!” Second lodging was memorable for phenomenal(!!!) restaurant and grounds- room was “meh.” Last hotel was, “eek 😬… “ I think we were looking for a more authentic and intimate experience (like Ti-Fakara)- maybe hard to do at this location? However, feedback is not to throw shade at the hard working people who are employed there- they were wonderful with what they have to work with.
The ADVENTURES were STANDOUTS! 💖Consistently Adam booked us with BEST outfits and guides- this was a steady experience across the various areas we traveled in Costa Rica. Quality guides, educated, committed, engaging and enthusiastic- the guides were overall just BEAUTIFUL people, inside and out- people who will not be forgotten, who genuinely love their jobs. The logistics were timed perfectly, managed and communicated seamlessly. As a family, the adventures of hiking in various areas, bird spotting, animal, botanical, frog, insect identification, zip lining, white water rafting, whale/dolphin watching, snorkeling, beach frolicking, sunset/moon/ star gazing, photography … are memories forever seared into our individual and collective hearts and minds. We desperately needed this time to reconnect and recalibrate within ourselves, each other and with the naturaleza.

Hotel Reviews

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Needs an update and a thorough cleaning.

Authenticity & Character

I absolutely adored the Christmas entertainment- almost all Spanish songs. Beautiful musical entertainment the instrument playing and singing. Really special/unique. Songs bellowed into the rooms/suites/outdoor patios, drowning out road traffic. I felt this hotel was very tailored to the American traveler, I felt sad/disappointed as I really wanted to feel more “Costa Rica” and less of an American experience. Felt like a mainstream cheap American hotel, copy and pasted in Costa Rica. It was a cheaper version (in all ways) of the bougie resort down the street, which neither experience was wanted by our family.

Location

Location is physically right on main road. One can hear road traffic and smell gas/exhaust even at the back of the hotel.

Staff

Great restaurant staff. Evening night staff was particularly kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trash from former occupants was left in room. Bathroom was not clean with thoroughness/care. Felt creepy/weird. Chose to wear sandals in shower and opted out of using jacuzzi. Patio was so beautiful- and once again under amplified with cheap, uncomfortable, faded (old) plastic table and chairs. It was such a STUNNING patio and to look out on the beautifully kept grounds watching and listening to the birds could have been even more memorable, cozy, authentic. It was challenging to get enough coffee stocked in room. Zero privacy from other guests. Rooms and patios echoed with various aged human activity.

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

This hotel stood out with its hiking grounds on site and its PHENOMENAL dining experience- breakfast and dinner. I am not a vegetarian or vegan and their menu was so inclusive and inspiring, I chose a vegetarian option one of the nights- probably my most memorable vacation meal.

Authenticity & Character

Room felt like a slightly upgraded dorm room. With limited toilet paper, and wanting us to throw toilet paper in trash, access to a bidet would be a thoughtful touch. I desperately wanted a more “Tico” experience- traditional rocking chairs would be a beautiful touch to the sprawling deck.

Location

Remote- limited opportunity to explore the town- almost required dine-in at restaurant (which wasn’t a “bad thing,” just got “spendy,” but worth it!) However, great opportunity for rooftop bonfire, landscape views, sunset and star gazing!

Staff

Addressed above. Wait and Restaurant staff was top-notch.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chillier than expected- no heater- limited blankets. Traveled with carry-on, limited space for warm clothing, had to get creative. It was fine. Curious toilet paper practices, could be cozier. BEAUTIFUL soaps and lotion. We upgraded room, in exchange we received a massively huge bathroom with vapid space- it was really “strange,” design-wise. Deck/Patio could embrace more ambiance as it is stunning and has amazing potential- it does have a coziness, which could inspire guests to linger with morning coffee, etc. In room coffee access was also very limited/scarce.

Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

Beautiful up to date inspiring room, quaint, secluded, with rainforest experience- lots of birds, sloth and monkey spotting. LOVELY breakfast dining, nice dinner experience- service staff had warm and kind hospitality. Awesome night time guided walk, attentive staff. Walking distance to Fortuna Waterfall. Overall, BEST lodging experience.

Authenticity & Character

Small, quaint, simple, attentive, good attention to detail, good quality of facilities and grounds! Ti-Fakara seems to understand what they have to offer and embrace it with simplicity and authenticity- not over-reaching- trying to be something they can’t, understanding there is a lot of competition and they offer a unique slice of experience.

Location

Away from downtown, walkable distance to Fortuna Waterfall, surrounded by rainforest.

Staff

Reception staff (Esther), wait staff (Antonio), electricians/maintenance and cleaning staff were particular standouts.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were so thoughtfully cleaned! So appreciative of the care put into the rooms.

Activity Reviews

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Everyone was very friendly and the views were beautiful. Also, a very informative nature walk with Alex. Would visit again.

Quality of Experience

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

Private Boat Seaside Adventure (Seasonal)

Sámara

Ok- next to the white water rafting… this experience might take the “gold star.” We were SO FORTUNATE to have Christopher as our guide once again, so he knew our family. He had a lovely crew. Josué and Yosuel (sp?). We had the most BEAUTIFUL experience and hands-down the best Christmas day of my life. Dolphins, whales, sea turtles, fish, invertebrates, coral reef. Snorkeling was top-notch and we tried out different locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Beaches Around Sámara

Sámara

Really beautiful tropical experience. So many tourists. 😂

Quality of Experience

Setting. Landscape.

Werner Sauter Biological Reserve Hike

Sámara

Christopher was a great guide. Great to be exposed to the land/botanical landscape of the “dry side” of the rainforest. Fun to get out, exercise, break a sweat and to be taught local knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Maybe our best/most fond Costa Rica adventure… on par with the Arenal hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

LOVED the family style (all guides, all tourists and restaurant together as one) feel of this TRADITIONAL Costa Rican meal after whitewater rafting. A special memory!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We especially loved that Jorge was with us from pick up to drop off, meaning he was ALSO our white water rafting rover guide. He was spectacular! 🌟 Driver was knowledgeable of roads and very safe. Vehicle was comfortable.

Transport

Teamwork between drive and guide. Good knowledge of roads.

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Herson was just the BEST guide. We saw so much and were provided so much knowledge and wisdom of the land. Beautiful views. Great exercise. Ecotermales was nice. Super touristy- as was everything in Fortuna. Glad we went in the evening. Meal was delicious. Staff seemed somewhat annoyed/exhausted of tourists. 😂

Quality of Experience

The hike of Arenal with Herson.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and Engaging. Wanting to teach.

Transport

Nice vehicle, knowledge of roads, safe driving.

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Go early. Huge amounts of tourists. Staff seemed annoyed.

Quality of Experience

The beauty and power of waterfall and walk down and up masked any other “curiosity.”

Adam (and Team) did a terrific job helping us plan our vacation to Costa Rica. We had a great visit! Better than expected frankly and already thinking of another visit next year. Highly recommend working with KimKim to plan your trip. We visited Playa Hermosa for a relaxing few days at the beach while staying at the memorable Hotel Bosque del Mar (the staff were so friendly and accommodating and we loved every meal!) . Then on to Hotel Arenal Lodge where we traveled into La Fortuna to join a cooking class and prepare and eat an authentic Costa Rican meal, followed the next day with a hiking tour of Arenal volcano (amazing to think the land you're walking on has only existed for ~57 years!) and a trip to the hot springs. Our last day we visited the La Fortuna waterfall down almost 500 stairs. Amazing to swim in the water with the powerful falls just a few meters away. The last few days of our visit were spent near Rincon at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. Great accommodations with delicious food and drinks at the restaurants. But the best part was the outdoor adventure activities - horseback riding, tubing down rapids (one time isn't enough) and ziplining through the canopy. Each of these really exceeded expectations. KimKim made everything much easier and less stressful. Thank you for all your efforts to make this a fun and memorable vacation!