Kimkim Trip Reviews for Colombia

I recently returned from a trip to Colombia organized by Michael, and I truly cannot find the words to encapsulate how wonderful the experience was and how grateful I am to the kimkim team and all of the guides they coordinated with to make this trip so meaningful and memorable. They were able to get my friend and I connected with staff from Tayrona Birding for a tour of Tayrona National Park, and each of the staff we interacted with were kind, professional, knowledgable, and warm. The lodging at the Senda Koguiwa hotel in Santa Marta was also so wonderful. The food was phenomenal, the grounds were beautiful, and the staff was so kind. I truly hope this review helps encourage anyone who is on the fence about booking with kimkim to move forward with it. I am already looking forward to booking future experiences with kimkim!

Hotel Review

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Friendly staff, delicious food, beautiful grounds, and comfortable rooms that kept us cool and safe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Conveniently close to Tayrona National Park.

Staff

The staff were so kind and helpful, and they seemed to genuinely care about making the experience special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and kept at a comfortable temperature.

Activity Review

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

The park itself is gorgeous with lots of breathtaking views and diverse wildlife housed within, but the thing that made it even more wonderful was the hiking guide and the experience he created based on his own knowledge of the park.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Comfortable, on-time, and felt safe the entirety of the nearly 3-hour long transfer from Barranquilla to Santa Marta.

I just returned from an absolutely incredible 10-day trip to Colombia, and I cannot praise this travel company enough for organizing such a seamless and memorable experience. From the moment I arrived in Bogotá to my final day in Cartagena, every detail was perfectly coordinated. The guides were exceptional - particularly Jose in Bogotá, who was incredibly knowledgeable and made the walking tour of Montserrat and the Gold Museum truly fascinating, and Roberto in Cartagena, whose perfect English and animated personality made exploring the city an absolute joy. The accommodations were outstanding, especially the stunning resort in Tayrona Park with its gorgeous cabañas and that amazing lighthouse room at the Rosario Islands with breathtaking ocean views. The variety of experiences was perfect - from hiking through Tayrona's beautiful beaches to the unique river tubing adventure, the fascinating cultural immersion in Palenque, and even the unforgettable mud volcano experience. The drivers, particularly Carlos, Emerson, and Jose, were not only professional but helped me practice my Spanish and made the long drives enjoyable. Every aspect of the trip exceeded my expectations, and I'm already planning my return visit next year. This company truly knows how to create magical travel experiences in Colombia! Many thanks to Michael especially, who worked tirelessly to make this one of my best trips ever! He really went above and beyond for months with me as we went through and tweaked my itinerary and made changes and additions. He and the team were also there every step of the way when I ran into problems (my first hotel was not able to host me, and another hotel had no water for 3 days!) It is at times like these when you really appreciate Michael and the folks at Kimkim/Chaska stepping in and advocating for you. It would not have been as wonderful a trip without Michael and all his expertise with planning. 11 out of 10 stars! :)

Hotel Reviews

Hotel De La Opera

Bogotá

I love this hotel just sadly did not get to stay there because of plumbing issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Loved this hotel! So peaceful and quiet. Great staff and food, great services, amazing pool. Very clean (despite the 3 cockroaches I found!)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Despite having no water most of the week, I still loved this hotel. :) Great staff, and the first 3 nights I had a beautiful room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fragata Island House

I really loved especially my lighthouse room at the Fragata house. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santa Marta City Tour

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Museums Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monserrate Hill Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to San Basilio de Palenque

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tayronaka Natural Reserve

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nueva Venecia and the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (On the Way to Cartagena)

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the National Aviary of Colombia

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

My only negative comment would be that it's swarmed with people begging to make money off of your experience. I did not need to pay someone to take my picture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour exceeded our high expectations. We had seen a small slice of Colombia on a prior trip and were eager to see more.

The country is so beautiful and the Chaska Team and their tour guides and drivers provided a wonderful experience with lifetime memories . Arrangements practices and drivers and guides routinely waiting for us.

Great activities and sights. Tour guides had great knowledge and were attentive and helpful. The kimkim/Chaska Team was a pleasure to work with during the planning period and delivered on the plan.

Well done!

Hotel Reviews

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero

Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Hotel Bucaramanga

Bucaramanga

Superb world class new hotel adjacent t to an amazing shopping mall with some great stores and good restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Misión Santa Bárbara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Hotel y Spa Getsemani

Villa de Leyva

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

Good location andjace t to Old Town. Modern and nice restaurant. Great rooftop pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira

Colombia

Amazing to see. What a creation 400 feet below the surface. And so expansive and grand, that there is no feeling of claustrophobia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Charming Villages and Special Coffees

Colombia

Great scenery coupled with understanding and appreciation great coffee snd the challenges in producing it.

Quality of Experience

Packed a lot of fun and I for stop. And scenery in one day.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The he Jeep visit on narrow roads to remote villages with incredible views and quaint towns.

Visit of Cocora Valley, Filandia & Salento

Salento

East see why Disney filmed scenes for e Encanto here in this other world setting. What lush growth and scenery with the world’s tallest palms . Nice ecological success story.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Chicamocha Park

Colombia

Fun to hike to the view at the top and see the sculpture paying tribute to peasant heroes of the revolution to establish independence. Cable car ride to the bottom of one of the world’s deepest canyons was a thrill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Smooth driving on a crazy road with twists and turns and sheer cliffs.

Barichara Walking Tour

Barichara

Our guide Oscar seemed to know everyone in Town and knew just where to take us on an abbreviated tour due to a late arrival because of weather issues on roads.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Ráquira pottery town & La Candelaria Monastery

Villa de Leyva

Wonderful experience with the lead priest who shared deep knowledge of history and traditions with a wry smile and sense of humor. Ráquira has what must be the world’s largest pottery shop with an amazing diversity of items.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide Manuel had to chastise the driver for starting g out like a race car driver on the typically twisty mountain roads. After that he was fine.

Walking Tour of Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you Cristina and team for a well organised trip.

We had an amazing trip and wish we had more time in Colombia! Thank you for all your help during the trip.

I would highly recommend Chaska Tours to anyone visiting Colombia.

Activity Reviews

Fruits of Colombia Food Tour

Bogotá

It was an ok tour. Nice to see the local market but not essential.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Unfortunately the Church was closed, therefore we could not enter. It was a shame.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

Amazing place to visit and Carlos the guide was great too. Beautiful scenery and very serene.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Tour of Nevado del Ruiz

Manizales

The place was amazing to visit but unfortunately it was a bit cloudy (unlucky for us) and visibility was low but it was a great tour which ended up in the hot spring and seeing the hummingbirds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the indigenous community of Katanzama

Tayrona National Park

Great experience. Martin, the tour guide was great and the visit was very eye opening. Nice lunch by the beach at the end of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Observation Tour

Colombia

Unfortunately we did not spot any wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael was amazing and his communication and trip guidance were on point. I will suggest the company to others and use again in the future.

My husband and I had a very memorable vacation in Colombia .

All our excursions and meals were carefully arranged and we were pleased at the very high standards that Michael and his team adhered to.

My favorite spot was the Cocora Valley and the majestic palm trees. A must see for everyone.

Driving in the antique Willy ( jeep) was perhaps my husband’s favorite for sure.

Do give Micheal and his team a chance to plan a trip for you , you won’t be disappointed.

Munir and Tarannum

We spent 2 weeks in Medellin and the coffee growing region of Colombia. Michael helped us create the itinerary based on our interests. With his excellent planning were were able to visit a variety of places and have many different kinds of experiences and learned a lot about Colombia, it's people and history. We especially liked our private tours with Paula in Jardin and with Carlos in Salento.

We loved out trip to Colomba and Michael was always very responsive to accomodating with all my questions and adusting our preferences during the planning process to custmoize it for our famliy of 4. We enjoyed all our guides who were very informative and passionate and our drivers were super nice and drove very safely! When one activity could not be accomodated per our itinerary, Micahel was very responsive and added another actvity we also wanted to do to replace it, and for that we were grateful. Our only regert is that we wished we had more time - another day in the Salento coffee farm area (our faborite) and another day on Isla Mucaro to extend the relaxation would have been perfect - but we did and saw a lot while we were there in the time we had! I have been raving about the country and our experience to our friends and highly recommend (and I am often hard to please and am used to planning trips all on my own) but I'm glad we booked through KimKim and Chaska Tours espeically since we were travelng with kids, as they helped to make our vacation seamless and turnkey. Thank you again and we hope to be back! Cara

Hotel Reviews

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

Clean and good breakfast in a good location near Monserate! Just wished their was temperature control or AC in the rooms as we were a little hot and opening the window at night can be noisy with street traffic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rancho San Antonio

Loved this place outside Salento -and the staff are amzing and welcomnig! Jeffrey prepared an early homecooked breakfast just for us the mornnig we had an early flight! He also pre-arranged cabs for us in town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wished we could open up windows for cool air but there were no screens and mosquitos so we couldn't

Bastión Luxury Hotel

Cartagena

Beautiful hotel and room with rooftop bar in the heart of the city. AC stopped working at night but we called the next morning and they fixed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds were comfy and bathroom spacious

Hotel Punta Faro

Isla Mucura

Beautiful grounds and beach; lovely room; AC had some issues working and some tours were not in English so this was difficult for us (plankton and bicycle) so my family did not benefit from the information as much. Also would love a pool but understand why they probably can't put one in being a national park but that would bring it more next level. Food was hearty but not gourmet so a tad pricey for that compared to other resorts

Authenticity & Character

Loved the setting; wish we could have had dinner on beach

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Great duplex room, good location; nice pool and rooftop bar/couryard - good value for $$! One of the AC units was leaking a bit on the bed

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little outside city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

We loved our guide and the food - he was informative and passionate and great with the kids! Thak you!!

Traditional Dinner - Top Chef Private Dining

Bogotá

Loved this experience - food was great, people warm and inviting and it was unique - thank you! Only lasted 2 hrs though but this was totally fine and we wanted to get to bed earlier :)

Fruits of Colombia at a Local Market

Bogotá

Loved it! Not really though it wasn't as long as advertised it was great

Horseback-Riding in the Coffee Region

Colombia

Gorgeous scenery and relaxing! Horses well behaved!

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Loved it but we would have liked to have lunch sooner as we were a little starved and tired - ate around 4-5;30pm and then we didn't have energy to see the last square however we did squeeze this in and see it the next day so we were satistfied with that

Visit the Guatavita Lagoon

Bogotá

Beautiful hike and scenery and made us understand the culture better and our visit to the Gold museum more meaningful!

Coffee Farm Tour in Finca Buenos Aires

Salento

Another fun and unique experience not to be missed!

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

Just amzing scenery and guide was great and informative!!!

Filandia & Basketry Workshop

Colombia

really NA because we didnt get to to this - wasnt sure why bt Michael offered us a Casillo Tour in Cartegena instead which was very good to see and informative! The shop we visited though was lovely and we bought souveniers

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

A unique experience that the kids loved!

Chocolate Workshop

Cartagena

Another amaznig time - they made it so special for my son's bday and we loved makng the cake and chocolate figurines - perfect bday celebration and end to our trip!

We had a blast on this trip and the planning process was extremely easy. Michael designed an itinerary that nailed exactly what we wanted -- lots of nature, culture, and hands-on activities. We loved both hotels where we stayed (Senda Watapuy near Tayrona, and Bastion in Cartagena). All of our tours and guides were fantastic. My 7 year old daughter loved tubing on the Rio Don Diego, swimming under a waterfall, exploring the fort in Cartagena, and making her own jewelry. We appreciated that our activities each day finished early enough for us to enjoy some pool/relaxation time at the hotel before dinner. Michael was super responsive via WhatsApp whenever we needed anything. Thank you for helping us plan such a wonderful trip to beautiful Colombia!

Hotel Reviews

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Incredible experience in the jungle and a great value. The scenery around the hotel area is stunning, the pictures online do not do it justice. The bungalows are very comfortable. The only thing to note about the bungalows is that (at least in ours) the bathroom was not very separated from the rest of the structure so anytime someone wanted privacy to use the bathroom, everyone else had to go outside. But we made it work. The beds were comfortable and there is air conditioning and fans, so along with having the windows open at night we were very comfortable even though it was pretty hot. The food at the restaurant was delicious and the drinks were great, especially the mojitos. If you're a wine drinker, note that the availability was hit or miss - but Colombia is not really a wine drinking country, so better to have a beer or cocktail anyway! The staff were extremely nice and helpful, although not all of them spoke English.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Spectacular scenery, right outside the entrance to the national park

Staff

They checked in on us often to make sure we had what we needed

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bastión Luxury Hotel

Cartagena

We enjoyed staying at this hotel a lot. The location is great, right inside the walled city of the old section of Cartagena. The room was comfortable with good air conditioning. The only issue with the room was that the water in the shower never got hot, but a cool shower actually felt pretty good after a hot and sweaty day walking around outside. The breakfast buffet was very nice and there was also hot food made to order. The best part of the hotel was definitely the rooftop pool with a great view of the city, and the delicious cocktails we enjoyed up there. It was a great way to end the day and cool off before getting dressed for dinner. The staff at the hotel were all super nice and helped us with various requests including dinner reservations.

Authenticity & Character

Interesting old building (with modern updates)

Location

Walkable area

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Market Visit & Cooking Class

Cartagena

The visit to the market was very interesting and we loved our guides, including the chef. The food was absolutely delicious and it was fun to help prepare it. Our only complaint would be that the chef and her assistant did almost all the cooking and didn't explain to us what they were doing, so it wasn't really a "cooking class" as we did not learn how to prepare most of the food (with a couple of exceptions). That said, it was a fabulous private lunch so we couldn't complain! It was also a bit hot on the rooftop area where we were cooking/eating, so it might have been even a bit better if it were in an indoor location with air conditioning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coconut Workshop

Cartagena

The women leading the workshop were wonderful and we had a great time making crafts. "Coconut workshop" is a bit of a misnomer as this is really a jewelry/accessories making workshop with polished colorful beads. You can't even tell they're made from coconuts. The finished products were all lovely and we can't wait to wear them. The setting of the workshop was also very nice, right on the beach with a cool ocean breeze.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Spectacular! The park was very crowded because we were there during Easter week (Semana Santa) but we made the bets of it and considered it part of the experience. Our guide helped us spot lots of birds, monkeys, and lizards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tayronaka Natural Reserve

Colombia

We absolutely loved tubing on the Rio Don Diego all the way to the ocean. The indigenous ruins and museum before the tubing portion of the day were also interesting although it would have been even better if we had been able to spend a bit more time learning about the indigenous culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm in Minca

Colombia

We enjoyed the tour of the coffee farm, it was interesting to see the traditional way of processing the beans. It would have been nice if we could have seen it in operation but we weren't there at the right time. It also would have been nice to see more of the area where the beans are grown, which was not part of the tour. Hiking to the waterfall where we were able to swim in the pool beneath it was very nice - our guide recommended that we go to Pozo Verde instead of the more popular one (Marinka) because of crowds, and that was a good idea. The lunch we had at La Casona with the hummingbirds was memorable. Overall we had a nice day, but the drive to Minca was quite long and it would have been nice to see more of the town/surrounding area to make the long drive more worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nueva Venecia and the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (On the Way to Cartagena)

Colombia

It was very special to see the stilt villages and learn about the culture and history. We were invited into a resident's home for lunch, which was wonderful. They accommodated the vegetarians in our group. Our guide was very nice and also helped us identify the birds we saw on the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena

Our guide Roberto gave us a fantastic tour. Most of the time was spent at the fort because that was particularly interesting to us. Afterward, we walked back through the park with the sloths (!!) and through the old city back to our hotel. It was a very hot day and our daughter was tired, so Roberto very kindly adapted the tour to be a bit shorter. He made sure we had umbrellas to keep the sun off of us as well as cold water to cool down. It was a very good experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

The mangroves were lovely and we saw a lot of birds. It was very special to help plant a baby mangrove in a reforestation area as well as to get a demonstration of the traditional fishing methods. The cold coconut water at the end was a bonus!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

Our schedule changed and the drum workshop was not at sunset, so we can't comment on that aspect of it - but we had a great time watching the performances and learning the drum rhythms ourselves. We were given some very nice refreshments (appetizers and a mojito) as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start of planning to even beyond trip’s end, Felipe and his Aracanto team associated with KimKim were nothing short of amazing in planning and implementing our foursome Colombian adventure. Felipe promised to be with us via Whatsapp and/or the KimKim chat every step of the way; this was more than a sincere pledge. Without exception, responses to questions or concerns were always timely, if not unbelievably immediate. No matter a simple request or out-of-the-box queries, everything was dealt with in a kind and effective manner. (Aside: a reservation was made by Aracanto at my request for someone we met in the Amazon and not even traveling with us!)
Of note: We were grateful for airport assistance. Rides were not just arranged to various airports, but also help guiding us through unfamiliar mazes and a foreign language to get us and our luggage safely delivered and on to our next location. Very helpful!
Pre-arranged guides at every stop were, without exception, qualified and eager to help to provide the best experience possible. For me, our Amazon guide, Ramiro, was a favorite, impressive in his sincere attitude as well as his knowledge of the Amazon area; his self-taught English was equally amazing. He was so unassuming, so thoughtful. Other guides (and drivers) throughout our journey were kind and well informed. How in the world drivers knew routes on the mountainous windy, narrow roads is a wonder (without GPS assistance for the most part). Alex, in the Pereira coffee region, was the standout driver!
As a sort of downside, tour timing may have been underestimated in terms of hours spent. This, due mainly to road and weather conditions. Some days got a little long. On the other hand, when will be here again? Guides wanted us to see and do as much as possible.
Our overview of Colombia began in Cartagena where we were housed in a beautiful boutique hotel, as I initially indicated to Felipe that we enjoy during travels. Spending three nights gave us the opportunity for enough exploration (as well as to fully realize the heat and humidity that is Cartagena). These outsiders are not used to that!
On to Bogota, a massive city sprawled far and wide as well as scrunched against and up the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. We found the weather gods with us, experiencing and appreciating the high-altitude coolness with, miraculously, little rain and nice sunshine. As arranged by Aracanto/KimKim, in addition to several tours of interest, we found Bogota dining exceptional. Of the several places we visited this trip, Bogota takes the cake in gastronomy. Delish! For a memorably unique dining experience, we especially recommend Prudencia for a late lunch. After that, no need for dinner! For the best lemon pie ever, it’s Armadillo.
On to the Amazon by way of the border (Brazil, Peru and Colombia) city of Leticia. Back to hot and humid, but if you want see the Amazon, this is the deal. Staying at what is perhaps the nicest accommodation on the Colombian Amazon was an experience to remember. We were booked for 4 nights. Having now been there, 2 days (so maybe 3 nights) would suffice. We had a nice (rustic) hut, king-size bed with mosquito netting, indoor plumbing, an outdoor porch with a hammock and stunning view of the Amazon flowing by before our eyes. Downside: no hot water equals cold showers. (We did not know this ahead of time.) That said, if you have no hot water, the Amazon might be the place where it’s at least semi-ok! Hot, hot, hot and humid.
Outings: pink and gray dolphins performed as promised, jungle tours by hiking and boating, piranha fishing. Not included in our particular tour was an early-morning outing to particularly see parrots. Three in our group signed up in addition to what had been scheduled; I regret that I did not. Parrots and other birds were seen as promised, but the highlight was saving a momma sloth and her baby, stranded on a fallen floating tree. Spotted by the boat driver, guide Ramiro knew how to handle the situation and the pair were carefully rescued from sure drowning and taken by boat to another tree rooted on land down river. Wow!
And, actually, one of the very best things about this camp, like so many times on travels, was meeting folks from around the world: people from Europe, Dubai, Africa, USA and probably other origins populated our camp. There was even a Montana/Kenya connection that may blossom further – the small world thing!
Downside: On checking out, we were informed cash was much preferred, which we did not know ahead of time (or had forgotten). Not everyone had enough COPs and/or other currency that could later be exchanged in Leticia. Credit cards could probably be dealt with, but definitely not preferred and, I believe, a service charge would be added. Also, on our arrival, the camp manager asked us what we would like to do. I, for one, was sort of taken aback at the statement, as I thought it was more or less laid out what the itinerary would be, weather dependent. Odd. It all worked out!
Next, the coffee region. Down the Amazon we went, back by way of Leticia to Bogota for just a night in order to catch an onward flight the following day. Once there, did we learn about coffee! The landscape here (and, really, throughout this lovely country) is stunning. Along with the spectacular scenery, though, is a study in inconvenient living. Steep! Mountains and valleys galore, with any cleared space planted for coffee production and other crops. All this with most everything from planting to harvest done by hand. (Coffee beans are picked one by one by one by one…). The entire agricultural economy is extremely labor intensive. For sure going forward, we will more fully appreciate our cups of coffee!
The Corcora Valley was also something to see with its unique wax palms (Colombia’s national tree) soaring up to 200 feet in the air, the tallest palms in the world; slow growing, and made to last 100 to 200 years!
Horseback riding was on the docket in this area as well. Again, the weather gods accommodated, giving us a wonderfully sunshiny day amidst a spectacular Colombian ranch backdrop. I asked for an authentic ride with good stock. Aracanto saw to it! New for us in riding in various places around the world was to include our guide. Jorge, who was with us throughout the coffee region, provided welcome translation along the way. Our llano leader, Victor, had no English and we had no Spanish. While we can always make do, it is helpful to have a translator.
Next, from Pereira in the coffee region, it was on to Medellin, formerly a city of drug lords (particularly, Pablo Escobar) and extreme violence transformed into a progressive city of appeal that we were happy to see. Besides a city tour, we had a treat outside of Medellin to visit an extensive hobby orchid collection along with its accompanying hydrangea farm. Each hydrangea is planted and picked by hand. Some 8,000 highly perishable stems are picked and packed for air transport, mostly to the USA, daily, year-round, from this one farm. What a process – by hand.
And not so far from Medellin, a final stop by way of the colorful city of Guatape and Marinilla, we spent 2 nights digesting this fine Colombian excursion at a lodge with more wonderful meals and final views of the lush green that is Colombia. As a bonus (at my last-minute request) laid out before us was a surprise celebration for the April birthday guys, complete with a private dinner and concert!
All this ably arranged through Felipe and the Aracanto/KimKim team. Impressive. We four have traveled the world extensively. We offer only praise for this team of travel planners, and heartily recommend their service should you be traveling to the beautiful country of Colombia.

photo: https://imemories.us/3RW2ShJ

This was our first trip with Kimkim as we had no prior knowledge of Colombia and thought it best to book some knowledge and experience. We were delighted with the whole experience. From the great Maria Jose and Richard in Bogota, the wonderful Claudia in Medellin and the super Evelyn and Sofia we were treated wonderfully and with such enthusiasm that each guide had in sharing their country with us. At every step of the way we were advised very well by Margarita and Marcela and the whole trip had the perfect balance of being well structured enabling us to see a do many things that we wouldnt have done if we were solo travellers and all without being too rushed. A great experience.

Michael was amazing at putting this trip together - many many thanks for such a wonderful experience. He was so responsive, kind, and accommodating to our many requests. Our guides and drivers were also wonderful. Anderson (driver) was beyond great. He couldn't do enough for us, and always ready to be helpful with a smile. Carlos, Danna, Adrianna, and Joithe were great, with a special shout out to Carlos for his great care, to Danna for imparting her knowledge, and to Adrianna for giving us such a great intro to Colombia. I really couldn't be happier. Such a great trip.

An Adventure in Colombia with Friends
We had an amazing time in Colombia. Michael Gold assisted me in creating an itinerary which was informative, creative and exactly what I had in mind. It was my first time to Colombia and as a travel advisor, I wanted to be able to share my visions of the country with my colleagues and clients. Adrianna in Bogota was wonderful. The chef's dinner on our first night was a wonderful introduction to the country. Carlos in Medellin helped us to sample the foods and culture of the country. Our time in Tayrona Park was informative and delightful. Cartegena was great with Luis as was our cooking class.
All in all, Colombia is a country of diversity in topography, foods, weather and culture. I loved my experience.

Activity Reviews

Traditional Dinner - Top Chef Private Dining

Bogotá

Fabulous! Food, service and knowledge about the country.

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Carlos make the best of the weather. He brought us to Commune 13 which I had wanted to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm & Salento

Salento

Loved it! Guide was very entertaining and informative

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time! The trip was for my mom’s 65th birthday and everything was perfectly planned. I have been to over 50 countries and by far this was one of the most amazing places I have visited with the nicest people. I loved that I did not need to plan anything and Michael planned everything. My mom and children had a great time.

Coordinating a family vacation with three kids throughout Colombia requires a level of expertise that is beyond even a well-seasoned traveller. My wife was a bit skeptical when I pitched the idea of taking our family of 5 to Colombia. Well, we loved booking through kimkim, but specifically, felt that we were so lucky to have Margoth assigned to our trip. She and all of Aracanto Travel were incredibly communicative and their recommendations were spot-on. Our guides Ana, Felipe, and Manuela were fun, flexible, kind, and able to connect with our children. I would highly recommend having Margoth and Aracanto plan your future family vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Tau House Hotel

Fantastic and beautiful hotel. Beautiful room and a nice restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

York Luxury Suites Medellín

El Poblado, Medellin

The location is perfect with a jaw-dropping rooftop pool and bar. The breakfast was lovely and overall, I would recommend this hotel, but only after they fix one MAJOR problem (and it's not the fault of Margoth or KimKim). My biggest problem with the hotel, which really was unfortunate, was the customer service. The front desk was super kind, but in the end, when I needed help, they were powerless. We had two rooms, and in the my kids room, the smoke alarm would beep off and on. I didn't hear it at first, and then like clockwork, would beep, beep, beep for 5-10 minutes, and then take a break, only restart beeping 30 minutes later. I called the front desk to see if this problem could be addressed. No luck. I called back again, and they asked if it was still beeping (as if Tinkerbell flew over to fix it). For the second time, they said someone would come and fix it. By this time it was 10 pm and my kids were asleep. By 10:40pm my wife and I were asleep. No one came. My 8 year-old daughter woke every up at 6 am complaining that the alarm kept beeping off and on throughout the night. I told the front desk at 6:30 am and they had no answers. We checked out of the hotel that morning as scheduled.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The breakfast was wonderful. The maintenance staff is poor.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Campestre las Camelias

Super fun hotel for families with young children. The food was ok but nothing special. The rides at the hotel are fun for very young children, and a similar to rides you may see at your local county fair. The pool is huge with waterslides but the weather was not ideal for swimming when we visited.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was super nice. My Spanish is pretty good, but not amazing. If we didn't know rudimentary Spanish, it would have been very difficult to communicate. We encountered only two staff members who spoke English. I would recommend more multi-lingual staff members to help guests who may not know any Spanish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

Cartagena

Few city hotels can blend relaxation, luxury, location, service, and beauty as well as this hotel. The history permeates throughout the hotel, and everywhere you turn, there is no doubt that you are in Cartagena. This is not a "copy-and-paste" Caribbean resort....if you're looking for a beach vacation in a forgettable place, go somewhere else. Our children felt very welcome from the moment we entered the property, and we were quite surprised to see so many families visiting Hotel Santa Clara, spending time swimming in their gorgeous pool. The buffet breakfast was spectacular and I got to try fruits I had never seen....I'm looking at you, guama! I would absolutely love to return to Hotel Santa Clara.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Drums and Music Workshop

Cartagena

This was a really fun experience for the entire family. I really tried to do things on this vacation that was different from our usual routine. The drum and music workshop really hit the mark! Though a bit tired, the kids really enjoyed it and our personalized instruction was quite fun! Kelele!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City

Colombia

I just loved our walking tour of Cartagena. Our guide Ana, who is also a schoolteacher, was focused on making it fun for my kids. Boy did she succeed with a scavenger hunt through the old city and Getsemani. Ana was able to navigate the tourist traps while still being able to allow my family with some of the colorfully dressed ladies with fruit on their heads. Too often, my vacation photos are of my wife with the three kids. One of the biggest bonuses of having a guide, is that I no longer have to worry about that job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Suggested Dinner at Crepes & Waffles

Cartagena

This one was for the kids, and they loved it. Many of my Colombian friends love this restaurant, and they have locations throughout the country. The place was packed and I would go back with my family or for dessert if I were just with my wife.

Quality of Experience

Michael organized a fantastic trip. The guides were amazing, knowledgeable and fun to be with. The drivers were always on time. Michael was always available to us , even during evenings and weekends. We wanted to know where to buy a certain type of coffee, and he made sure we were able to find it. The itinerary included a wide assortment of activities which enabled us to really understand Colombia and its people. Museums, hikes, Dinner in a private home, a visit to a local market with a chef, and then a cooking class, and high school students singing, dancing and playing instruments in their native cultural style. We highly recommend this trip to explore a beautiful country with beautiful people. Thank you !

Hotel Review

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

The desk receptionists were all so very kind and gracious. We were treated like celebrities! Beautiful surroundings and great coffee!

Authenticity & Character

Decorated exquisitely

Location

Easy to walk to restaurants

Staff

Gracious and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

The lobby was very cozy and inviting

Activity Review

Visit Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm & Salento

Salento

Beautiful place

Quality of Experience

Humberto was a good guide and it was beautiful

Food

Local food, colorful setting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Talking to the guides and learning about the people and culture

Transport

Always on time and clean vans !

We had a great experience working with Michael from Chaska Tours. He was very helpful in creating the perfect itinerary for our family with 5 little one (ages 1-7), and 4 adults. He answered all our questions and was very patient. We enjoyed a city tour, a Rosario Island tour/beach club (definitely a highlight), chocolate making workshop, and family photos with an amazing photographer, Rafael. We had Gabo as our guide the whole trip - he was so great, especially with the kids (they still ask about him). It was nice to have everything pre-arranged. The team was very responsive while we were there. Our family would definitely recommend Michael and his team!

We just returned from our 2 week family vacation to Columbia. Michael Gold worked with us for months prior on our itinerary, and he did not disappoint! Everything went off without a hitch! Michael arranged all of our flights, drivers and guides who were always on time, and very knowledgable. Our family wanted a mix of city, beach and nature, and Michael was always happy to modify our itinerary if we changed our minds. Michael was also always available to us while on the trip via Whatsapp if we had a question. We loved the horseback riding in Pereira, and the fruit-tasting there is a must! The scenery in Cocora Valley is not to be missed. Hotel Quadrifolio in Cartegena was a unique, restored hotel that was a gem to stay in and is perfectly located to stroll in the old city. Our kids even enjoyed the Bolero Museum in Bogota and wandering around the city. We would highly recommend visiting Columbia, and we will definitely be using KimKim again in the future!

Huge thanks to Margarita for organizing a wonderful two week trip to Colombia. From our first interactions with Margarita through emails, to our conference call talking about our proposed itinerary, to the warm welcome at the airport, to to the constant contact with her during our trip, she was marvelous. Margarita seamlessly modified our plans based on changing circumstances and arrange for some unique personal experiences.
Our guides and drivers were top notch. Our guides were friendly, informative, patient and really understood what we were looking to experience during our trip. Our drivers were likewise wonderful people who made us feel very comfortable throughout the trip. And we certainly did not leave Colombia hungry, Margarita's suggestions for restaurants were right on target. We had some amazing dining experiences for our dinners, and enjoyed local favorites during the day.
This was my first trip to Colombia, and my preconceptions of the country were totally wrong. I will become an ambassador to my friends about the safety, beauty of the country, cleanliness, and friendliness of the people, We had the opportunity to spend most of our time in Bogota, Villa De Leyva, Medellin and Cartagena, with side trips to small villages and even a lovely boat ride to a small village island near Cartagena. I loved experiencing each of these very different places, though the temperature in Cartagena was a bit too hot for us too stay out all day. I fell in love with Villa De Leyva which is such a beautiful. peaceful old Colonial town. The outdated stereotype about safety in Colombia needs to be changed. I felt totally safe during my entire trip. I felt very comfortable to walk around the neighborhoods by my hotels.
All in all, my trip to Colombia was wonderful. Again I thank Margarita for her excellent planning and I have no hesitation to recommend KimKim as a travel agent.

Michael did a great job. He paid attention to details. He used the airlines we wanted when available, got our seat assignments the way we wanted them and also entered our frequent flyer numbers into the reservation. He had every detail set up and everything went perfectly. His suggestions on where to go was very good. Any time we had a question he answered immediately. It was a great trip with great support.

Hotel Reviews

Sites

Medellin

Nice spacious hotel located in a nice and safe neighborhood. Convenience store across the street. Two restaurants in the hotel and others very close.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finca Hotel del Cafe

Santa Rosa de Cabal

Very nice hotel located at a coffee farm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located at a coffee farm, but not close to much else. the restaurant was about a 10-minute walk.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Salento Plaza

Nice hotel very clean and great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

Authenticity & Character

Nice hotel.

Location

Staff

Staff was helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Very nice tour. Guide with exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was a walking tour. Very interesting.

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

A really pretty area and a fun place to relax. There is a cold waterfall and hot Springs. The combination is unique and beautiful. It was a fun stop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

It was an amazing tour. Seeing the area was a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Tour

Santa Rosa de Cabal

It was a very nice stay and a very nice coffee tour. Learned a lot about the coffee process and types.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

Good trip but long. The traffic going back and forth was frustrating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

No problem with driver vehicle just bad traffic.