Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Bryan and kimkim were enormously helpful when we decided, a month out, to spend the Christmas holidays in Costa Rica. They flagged that the Pacific side would be super crowded per our notes about enjoying more laid back and local experiences and advised us to explore the Caribbean side. We needed support in country for a few changes and an unexpected injury. Serendipity travel, who was our contact on the ground, was very responsive - even arranging a doctor to come to our hotel. We will definitely use kimkim again and hope to travel to Costa Rica again in the future!

Adrian and the entire staff at Serendipity Adventure and the KimKim team made for an unforgettable trip to Costa Rica. All of the adventures were amazing and every tour guide they provide was very knowledgeable and made sure we had the best experience possible. They made sure everything was taken care of for us and even during a few last minute changes, they made sure everything was figured out and we did not need to worry about anything. Would definitely use them again on my next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Chira Glamping Monteverde

Puntarenas

5 stars and amazing doesn't explain how great the Chira glamping is. Absolutely beautiful stay in the trees, and the entire private deck and platform that you have to enjoy is better than you can imagine. The staff were all incredibly helpful and took care of anything you need. The breakfast and food were also very good. If you have a chance to stay here it is a must for anyone visiting Monteverde. The sunset view from your private balcony over the trees and pacific ocean is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Go for the hot springs and nature. Gardens and the grounds were great. Rooms could use some updating but if you do not plan to spend a lot of time indoors don't worry about it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Turire

Turrialba

Hotel was very nice, quiet, and felt like hidden gem. Food was very good and property grounds were beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

Hanging bridges are amazing. Best way to see the forest. Tour guide forgot to mention that we had to get to the waterfall by 4PM so we ran out of time to get to the waterfall. Heard from others that it isn't anything too great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

Treetopia is a must do activity in Monteverde. Haven't done a lot of ziplining, but this has to be some of the fast and longest ziplining you can do. If you want to get over the forest and see some of the best views in Monteverde yoy should add this to your list.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Guide was great and found as many birds and other animals as possible. Got to see some good trees, but since it is a nature preserve a lot of the old forest was cut down. Good way to see some views, but if you want to walk through the jungle you might want to find another option.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Standard tourist coffee & chocolate tour. If you have time to do it the activity is fun, but would leave it as a last option if you do not have other things planned.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in the Lost Canyon *

Arenal/La Fortuna

If you want to see deep into the jungle this is the only way to get it done.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Rio Pacuare

Turrialba

Rafted a different river due to rain. The guides were awesome though and kept us safe and they loved what they do.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hike Turrialba Volcano

Costa Rica

Private hike was great. Wish it was longer and they let you hike higher up the volcano. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, but you can only go so far up the volcano as they will allow on the private property.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip! Yuliana came up with the initial itinerary and was very helpful and responsive with modifications. Even though our booking was relatively late, she got the four of us on all the adventures we asked for as well as hotels and transportation. All the transportation was on time and friendly. The adventures (rafting, jungle walk, zip line, etc...) were great and well planned. Overall, I would highly recommend the Kim Kim team (especially Yuliana) to plan a trip to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Beautiful setting. The buildings with the rooms are scattered over the huge property. You have to take a shuttle to get around. The shuttles were fairly prompt. Nice room with a view. They have trails through the rainforest ($20) and other amenities that we did not get a chance to use. We would have liked to stay here for a few more days!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Faro Arenal

Fortuna

Nice grounds with a trail through the rainforest and a view of the Arenal volcano. The rooms were very basic, but clean.

Crowne Plaza San Jose La Sabana by IHG

San José

It was fine, only stayed there overnight and left at 5:30 in the morning for the rafting adventure.

Activity Reviews

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

Thrilling to go over the rainforest. A highlight for the teenagers.

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

fun night walk through the rainforest. We saw some interesting bugs and a snake. Not much more wildlife. There were a lot of people in several groups during the walk. The guides were very informative.

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was overcast and we weren't able to ee the volcano. The guide was very informative and it was educational to learn about the region and the volcano.

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

Awesome! The guides were great. The rafting was amazing through the rapids! The thrill of the whole trip!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My college-age son and I had an incredible time!
La Paloma Lodge was a pearl -- accessible only by boat, it is nestled in the rain forest and the experience of staying there was both novel and comfortable. My leg was eaten by sand fleas at the local beach, but otherwise we had a wonderful tour of Corcovado National Park, and the Cano Island snorkeling was fun. The only thing I would comment on is that the snorkeling trip ends with lunch on a beach (we were at San Josecito Beach) but there is no bathroom available there (which was surprising). I was also stung by multiple jellyfish larvae while snorkeling, so that was a bit rough. I was itchy due to the sand fleas and larvae stings for a full week afterwards. I would have appreciated a heads up about these in advance, as I did not adequately protect myself.
Manuel Antonio was awesome, but in particular, our hotel (Hotel Mariposa) was spectacular. The resort is breathtakingly beautiful, and there are monkeys and macaws surrounding the property. I went for a daily swim in the pool because it was so beautiful and comfortable. The food at Le Papillon is a bit overpriced but it is delicious.
The Manuel Antonio hike with Andres (an ornithologist and naturalist) was incredible. He can spot a dragonfly from 100 feet away. It was a privilege to learn from him, and his powerful scope was instrumental in getting some incredible photos. We LOVED the whitewater rafting, even though water levels were low. In retrospect, I would have wanted to go in a full raft (not a raft for just the two of us and our guide), as the heavier raft leads to a bumpier ride. The guides at Amigos Del Rio were excellent.
The surf lesson with Sebastian (who works for Glen) was good, even if there was as much chatting as there was surfing. The Manuel Antonio beaches are perfect for learning to surf. The only unfortunate aspect was that our driver to and from the lesson never showed up so we had to rely on alternate mechanisms. Also our itinerary listed the lesson as "2 hours" in one place and "3 hours" in another place. Turns out it was only 2 hours, but that was plenty.
All in all, the team at Serendipity did a great job, and Adrian was accessible on WhatsApp at all times. That was hugely helpful.
Here are my suggestions:
1. More specificity on what to expect and where to be. It's great if a tour starts at 7:50am. Where should we be at 7:50am? Hotel reception? Security gate in front of hotel? Who should we look for? There are times when multiple tour guides approached us, but we were not the right clients. It would have helped for us to have a name/company to look for.
2. Lay out where we will and will not have access to internet. At La Paloma, there is no cell service, and the only WiFi provided is in the central restaurant.
3. Warn people of sand fleas and jellyfish (golden line) possibilities.
4. Recommend tours like the mangrove tours or the night tours. We did not book these in advance but word of mouth indicates that they were amazing.
All in all, we had a great time, and I appreciate Serendipity Travel very much for booking such excellent guides and experiences.

Excellent support from Randall. Only suggestion would be to keep the phone numbers for local tour operators up to date (some numbers were no longer in service) and include the pickup info in the confirmation details. Thanks!

Serendipity gave me an itinerary that was responsive the needs for an intergenerational trip. I was planning for my children and their grandparents. I am used to doing everything on my own and it worked out great to work with pros in-country! the local advice was critical. When one is an outsider there is no way to distinguish who are the best service providers, guides, transfers, etc.

Serendipity booked us the most incredible MASTER guide in Monteverde who was greeted like a celebrity by the other guides. Without Bryan and his team's expertise we would have been rolling the dice. Serendipity also had access to hotels beyond the booking.com options which was critical when we were searching for lodging in peak Christmas season on the beach. Given that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, it is great to have a local who knows what is good and worth it, depending on the travelers' profile.

I know this when I play host in my favourite cities- guidebooks and reviews are not enough and the options are overwhelming.

in country we had available and super-responsive support via WhatsApp.

This was the first time in a long time I used a travel agent or Kim-Kim but it saved me hours of time and all of their recommendations and timings of the day were great recs and worked out well. When decisions you make from you laptop don't line up it can be a bummer on vacation. My parents were super impressed.

Hotel Review

Fonda Vela Hotel

Monteverde

The Fonda Vela Hotel in Monteverde had its ups and downs. Initially, we were placed in less desirable rooms overlooking the parking lot, which lacked privacy and had a less pleasant view. However, we were able to resolve it due to speaking the local language, and eventually, we were moved to better rooms. The location of the hotel was beautiful, and the grounds were well-maintained. Service was good though the restaurant was overpriced and service slow. The New Year's Eve dinner was a letdown due to poor organization and long waits, despite being complimentary.

Activity Reviews

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

The morning sailing and snorkeling adventure was great. The crew was fantastic, making the whole experience smooth and entertaining.

Palo Verde National Park Boat Trip

Costa Rica

The Palo Verde National Park Boat Trip was an enjoyable excursion. It was a refreshing change of pace and presented Costa Rica's natural beauty from the water in a unique way.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

The Coffee & Chocolate Tour was one of the highlights of our trip. It lived up to its sterling reviews, offering informative and enjoyable experiences surrounding two of our favorite indulgences.

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Treetopia adventure with zip lines and hanging bridges was exciting. Although my daughter felt the zip lines were too advanced, the hanging bridges were a great alternative, and we enjoyed the experience. The flexibility to change plans and enjoy different parts of the tour was appreciated, though I would have liked more specific guidance on choosing between this and other nearby attractions. Booking the first thing in the morning helped as we avoided the crowds.

Private: Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

The private guided walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve was outstanding. Our guide was phenomenal, treating us with personal attention and engaging with our kids throughout the tour. He seemed like a celebrity, known by everyone at the site, and made the experience special. His ability to spot wildlife and engage us all made the tour unforgettable.

Kimkim put together a fantastic trip to visit the volcano, the cloud forest, and then the beach. We did not have to do a thing! The lodges they selected were terrific especially the Cloud Forest Lodge and the Lagarta Lodge in Nosara. The food at Cloud Forest Lodge was truly gourmet. It was wonderful to watch the bird life on the breakfast patio while eating delicious French toast. The highlights besides the accommodations were the wildlife opportunities. We booked on our own a zip line and hanging bridges experience at Treetopia which was great. We saw a group of howler monkeys: moms, babies, and males. A real highlight. At Nosara we went to the beach where the Olive Ridley turtles hatch one early morning. This was an unexpected treat and the highlight for our 9 year old grandson. It was a magical trip.
We opted out of a planned trip on our last day to take a boat to an island for snorkeling. The setting at Lagarta Lodge was just so spectacular that we did not want to leave that for our last day. Instead we swam in the beautiful infinity pools at the lodge, watched the coatis, and took a boat excursion up the river from the lodge. Kimkim agents Gustavo and Kate
kept in contact with us through the trip and we always felt like they were there to help us in any situation. I am very impressed with Kimkim after this trip. I accidentally found them while searching on the internet and will look into other trips with them in the future. Every meeting point was always met — we never had to wait or worry. Rather than take a group tour with another company this family tour for us worked very well. I highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

The views alone are worth it!! Also, set in a more quiet location from other beach resorts that I have heard about. This was our hope and Gustavo met it. Loved the different pools — none of which were ever crowded. The hotel could offer more options for shuttle rides into town. Somewhat limited but we never even went into town because the hotel was so great. Excellent service at meals — food was also very good. Lovely room — very quiet and private and wonderful view of the coast and the river. From this hotel we booked an excursion to see the baby sea turtles hatching. This was probably the highlight of the whole trip. I have always wanted to witness this phenomenon and for my grandson it was the crown jewel of the whole trip!! When possible this should be offered as part of the trip. Staff always friendly and helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Peaceful and quiet setting; not surrounded by other developments

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Rooms were lovely with big outside deck overlooking the forest. Food was truly gourmet here. 5 star meals. Exceptional staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

This hotel was nice, but the rooms were rather basic. Evidently we got a room upgrade for one of our rooms which worked well for our son and his family because it had two bedrooms. We, the grandparents, stayed in the more basic accommodation. The pool and warm springs were very nice. The night walk was a highlight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

La Fortuna is extremely crowded. Traffic is very bad. The hotel is a bit away from the town center so that was good.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Isla Chora Private Boat & Snorkeling

Nosara

We opted not to do this trip. It was too early in the morning for us knowing we had to get up very early the next day for our departure. I also think this is not a necessary trip for this area. You can rent kayaks or take a boat up the river from the lodge which is fine rather than traveling over the bumpy roads to get to the snorkeling area.

Self-Guided Beach Day in Nosara

Nosara

We did the turtle excursion offered by the hotel which turned out to be the highlight of the trip!! We also hiked down to the beach which is a bit of a trek. We think the hotel should offer better means of accessing the beach — develop a better route and shuttle.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Day at the Monteverde Hummingbird Garden

Monteverde

We did not do this. Instead we opted to go to Treetopia and do both the zip lining and the hanging bridges. This was amazing!!

Self-Guided Visit to the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens

Monteverde

We did not do this.

Private: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

This was a good trek through the cloud forest. Our guide was exceptional! Very good and patient. We did not see too much but we enjoyed the experience. Tarantulas and millipedes!

Quality of Experience

Guide was very knowledgeable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

A good overview of the volcano and surrounding area. Glad there was shade a lot of the way. Beautiful views and we were lucky with the weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was good but seemed a bit preoccupied. Perhaps because there was some confusion about the trip. We were not aware that we would be going to hot springs and lunch after the hike. So we needed to get more gear before we headed out and that perhaps distracted him. Otherwise good information about the volcano. Sometimes repetitive.

Transport

Self-Guided Nature Walk in Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a nice first nature walk. We opted for a guide in training who was very good. The bird life was good. We saw one sloth and lots of butterflies. Otherwise not too much else. Are there other nature walks closer to the hotel that might offer a similar experience?

Quality of Experience

I was sick along with the majority of our family- the long bus ride from the airport was very crowded and uncomfortable for a few family members- we ended up renting 2 buses for the remaining transfers - if it hadn’t been so crowded it’s possible that many of us would not have gotten sick - The one excursion I did get to do was the coffee and chocolate factory- we had several excursions that we had to cancel or only a portion of the group were able to go - overall - not a great experience

We have just came back from our Costa Rica adventure. We have contacted kimkim because last year they helped us plan an amazing New Zealand trip. We love traveling but taking 2 little kids makes it hard for me to plan by myself and kimkim always comes through! We also had my dad join us for this trip
So we looked for something fun for all ages, literally.
We had our specialist Elena and the whole team at Serendipity Adventures make sure everything goes as smoothly as it possibly can.
Starting with planning, Elena was always available for questions or comments and made sure I’m happy every step of the way. She modified our itinerary 10 times until I felt it was the right one, location and budget combined. We also had Nancy in charge of booking our adventures and had Adria text us a few days before we left the US to introduce himself and let us know he will be available for anything we need and he was!
For the actual trip, every tour we booked came to pick us up on time, there were no hiccups.
We started at Arenal with volcanoe views and the nicest ppl. The hanging bridge was our favorite tour there, it was amazing and we all enjoyed it so so much.
We also did a sloth tour and a coffee tour (that was amazing as well)
Then we drove to the beach in Guanacaste stopping at La Leona on the way, this track was hard but the waterfall was worth it.
We arrived at Guanacaste for 4 days of resting by the pool in a beautiful resort. We had 2 scuba diving planned which was also really fun.
All in all, we all loved Costa Rica. Thank you, Serendipity Adventures for an unforgettable experience!

Yuliana provided an itinerary with an irreconcilable time conflict on one of the days—back-to-back activities with two different providers scheduled on the same day. I have a very disappointed teen who was excited about the waterfall visit, only to find out that we were unable to reschedule. There was no communication from Yuliana or anyone on the team for 48 hours, and no help with rescheduling or a refund, all following kimkim’s error in putting together a flawed itinerary.

We were disappointed about having to forgo the waterfall visit, and kimkim’s response further added to the disappointment. We contacted Yuliana multiple times; all we received were empty words that our “concerns are being taken very seriously,” but that “there’s nothing we can do.” Kimkim could have helped us with rescheduling or provided a refund, but instead we received “sorry, not sorry” responses.

The bottom line: Yuliana is great at booking four-star accommodations (which I can do myself as well), but not helpful at all when issues arise—especially issues caused by her faulty scheduling.

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

Overall, the trip was planned well. There were minor miscommunications. For certain events, the specific s were not clear. We had one driver for two days, he was okay, sometimes moody. The second driver was nice and friendly. The third one was outstanding, went out of his to show the Cities around. Very friendly, very communicative with the history and the overall site seeing places. I want to point out about a trip that was planned in this trip, mangrove boat tour. The itinerary mentioned that the lunch will be provided, in fact, they served lunch after the trip at 4:30pm. It was not acceptable, there were few of us with diabetes, it could have ended up in a disaster. Luckily we had some snacks with us. I wish for future travelers, these things should be sorted out and rectified.

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.”

Everyone was great.

We fully enjoyed our vacation to Costa Rica. The entire production was well organized by the team and we enjoyed a memorable family vacation. The trip out to Arenal was memorable at night. It is through some serious back and windy roads and so a little more heads up on that front in the travel description would have been great. Not everyone handles these types of car rides the same and the trip back (during the day) and a different driver was actually much more pleasant. Nevertheless, it was worth it!

We arrived at Hotel Mountain Paradise. The authentic and "rustic" rainforest setting was amazing and the view of the Arenal volcano was spectacular. The staff was delightful and polite. We enjoyed ziplining, the bridges and the forest walk on our first day. It was an early morning (since we came in late the night before) but beating the crowds was worth it. The facility got more crowded (December is peak season) as the day moved on. It was a unique and breathtaking experience.

The second day excursion was also enjoyable but we felt the volcano hike portion was underwhelming. Again, the trail was crowded and at the very end of the hike we did locate a couple of howler monkeys. However, the time spent on that portion of the trip meant that we had very little time at the waterfall. We were given about 30 minutes to hike down, jump in the falls and hike back up. It would have been more enjoyable to have a fair amount of time at the waterfall. As an unexpected surprise, we did have a complimentary lunch in La Fortuna and had a chance to go to a local restaurant (this was not mentioned on our itinerary.

Both "half day" excursions had us picked up between 7 and 8 AM and returning around 2:30-3:30 PM. They were long "half days" so I don't recommend doing any full day excursions if you want to enjoy the hotel or surrounding areas. We did fully enjoy the hotel and La Fortuna area (by taking an Uber) and being able to spend time together enjoying things in an amazing setting.

Our travel out to Guanacaste on Christmas day was extended by traffic near Liberia. It was almost four hours of travel time but the driver was professional and courteous and we much appreciated a short rest stop to use a restroom and stretch our legs. The Papagayo Golden Palms greeted us with an amazing setting and the beach beckoned. We enjoyed the facilities and this hotel was a bit more "modern" and the air conditioning and showers worked more reliably.

On both days, we enjoyed the pool, the beach and seeing the monkeys that live in the trees surrounding the hotel. We had a delightful dinner at the hotel (which was very good) and a great breakfast buffet. We did share a hotel shuttle with another family to Playa Del Coco for more beach time, food and souvenir shopping. Playa Del Coco had the most authentic Pura Vida vibes as we shared the area with both locals and tourists. We fully enjoyed our stay and the hotel coordinating a trip for us to that unique setting.

Our last day was met with a delay in our United flight home. We reached out to kimkim and they were able to extend our pickup by another 30 minutes. That was much appreciated as it allowed us to stay at the nice hotel for just a bit longer (before heading to the airport). Liberia is a small but bustling airport and easily accessible from Guanacaste. I highly recommend flying in/out of that airport over San Jose if you are in the coastal area.

Again, a well organized and wonderful trip to Costa Rica. Thank you for helping making this a great experience. Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Papagayo Golden Palms

Guanacaste

Great pool, beach area is a little rough as you'll find a lot of rocks in the immediate area outside the hotel so you'll need to walk down the beach to find an easier entrance. The hotel area was extremely well kept and the staff were super helpful and polite.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's sort of on a black sand beach but it's at the end of a cove that makes it a little less desirable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mountain Paradise

Fortuna

Staff was delightful, hotel had a few hiccups with things not quite working (e.g. air conditioning and showers) at times but we signed up for an experience in a remote part of Costa Rica and so we understood these challenges.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing view of the volcanoes

Staff

Very kind and welcoming from the pool to the restaurant to around the grounds

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air Conditioning broke in the middle of the night and then never put out cool air again, pool was not always cycling water so collected a lot of bugs.

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

A unique and enjoyable expereince. The hike around the area was interesting but don't expect to see too much wildlife, Mostly birds, snakes, spiders and a few ants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Arenal Volcano Hike was okay but the hike to "lava fields" that were about a mile closer to the volcano through a crowded trail wasn't much different than just taking pictures from the trailhead. The second part of the hike through more of the rainforest was a bit more interesting. The La Fortuna waterfall was the best part of the trip for our family but extrememly short so we had to move very quickly and rushed to enjoy any of it. It would be nice if the waterfall was longer.

Quality of Experience

Duration of the waterfall portion

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introduction to the Gulf of Papagayo

Gulf of Papagayo

Not sure what I am reviewing. There wasn't much provided here. We did a lot of independent research to determine best places to visit, eat in the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Organized that independently.

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!

We had a great time in Costa Rica.The Hotels that were booked were great and we had a great time at the hotels.The drivers for the first two legs of the journey were good drivers and the third one-Driver+Guide,Mr.Sergei was a wealth of information and very nice-much appreciated by the group.Adrian,our local contact was awesome with his quick responses and we felt comfortable kowing that some one was available for contact and information locally.I did not think that I would be conatcting him but I did have to do it a couple of times.It worked out perfect-Kusod to him.

I would like to mention a couple of things:
1.The itenerary needed a little more detail in term of description of activity or Hotels and duration of activity with actual times.For eg.The Selvatura tour is a whole day trip that can started anywhere between 8-12:30pm.
2.The Damas island boat tour started at 1:30pm and said Lunch was included but in practice the lunch was not served till after the tour at 5 pm.If we had details,we could have had lunch on our own and skipped their meal which was very very POOR.
3.We are new to rhe country,so exact times of pick up and drop off would have been helpful.

On the whole except for a few little twiks,the trip went well and we felt comfortable and safe with the drivers.Thanks,Elena for planning teh trip.

Hotel Reviews

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen

San José

Beautiful Premises-wished we had stayed longer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ecotica

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful location and nice utilization of landscape

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Beautiful location in Monte Verde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Liberia

Conveinent for an overnight stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

The OT springs at the Hotel was nice added Bonus!We took full advantage of the spring

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful view of Arenal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private San José City Tour

San José

I would have liked a planned tour of the most important places to see.He did a good job but it was a little chaotic as he requested what we wanted to see and took us around.However I think he did a great job given the traffic in San Jose!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

The tour was called Lunch tour but they did not Provide any food till after teh trip at %pm-food was cold and very poor quality-fish and chicken were dry and rubbery

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Costa Rica

The safest Ziplining so far and the team of six who were with were awesome in watching for safety and helping the group move safely across teh 16 platforms.Wasa great Experience as I felt safe.

Quality of Experience

Food

We had a choice of the Menu and teh staff were curteous and attentive!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zipling was the safest

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was incredible. We were only there for 4 days between Monteverde & Manuel Antonio but our travel agent Elena did a wonderful job making sure those 4 days were memorable. The two hotels she picked were beautiful, clean, and with lovely views. The guides for our activities were all friendly and knowledgeable and we really enjoyed visiting the cloud forest, doing a nighttime wildlife walk, our boat tour, and the trip to Manuel Antonio park. All transportation arrangements were entirely seamless and pickups were timely. I will definitely use KimKim again for future travel needs.

Activity Review

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

The crew on our boat were super friendly and ensured it was a great experience. The boat was spacious and there were only 15 people on board so things didn’t feel crowded. We got a great tour of the western coastline and then enjoyed an hour in the ocean diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The lunch provided was delicious, as were the drinks. I would highly recommend this guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Costa Rica is an interesting country. We stayed in Nayara, Hotel Belmar and Cala Luna resorts so we experienced rainforests, cloud forests and the Pacific. Kat organized a trip around our interests, but driving from point A to point B was only for locals - the roads were typically in poor shape, two lanes and lots of ruts, so we were glad we had a driver instead of our own car. We also enjoyed the transfer time by observing the countryside that we wouldn't normally have seen. Miguel drove us to Nayara, a 3 hr + ride and he handled a detour skillfully while answering the many questions I had about the country. Nayara is so verdant and brimming with natural elements_ pools, natural springs and wildlife. A coati visited us on our patio one afternoon! First-class rooms, amenities and food. Every restaurant showed careful consideration of my food allergies. Massages by Alejandra and Erika were excellent. We would return to Nayara!
Hotel Belmont in the cloud forest (ironically, sunny every day!). The main part of the hotel was old but updated. We had a great view of the Pacific nearly 40 miles away. We enjoyed the cuisine at their restaurant and ate every meal there to be assured we had potable food and water. We shopped at many quaint shops in the town area with regional handmade items. At night we chose the guided Children's Eternal Rainforest walk. Our guide, Alum pointed out many nocturnal animals, birds and insects. Cala Luna resort in Tamarindo was next. While we were very near the Pacific we couldn't see it. The beach was full of enormous, slippery rocks making walking impossible. The nearby public beach (a drive) was crowded, so we stayed away. A shout out to Harvey and Carla at the restaurant, and the masseuses Caroleena and Silbeea, although the spa was near the road, so we heard traffic. The pool was lovely and void of guests, although my chair broke and fell to the ground and no employee noticed. Since we booked late, Kat was told the only room available was a three-bedroom home which was very expensive and it wasn't special at all. Tamarindo is very hot and humid. Kat only contacted us once during the trip...we've had Kim Kim guides text daily. Costa Rica is a mixed bag, but the people we encountered were lovely and appreciated us trying our very limited Spanish.

Activity Reviews

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience

Costa Rica

We have seen baby turtles leave their nests to travel to the ocean before, but never seen the mothers come directly to the beach to dig a hole and make a nest in the sand. This time, in total darkness, we saw several mothers come to the beach ready to lay their eggs. While exciting, Christian used red light for us to watch the mothers dig for over 45 minutes before they decided the sand was too wet and marched back into the sea to look for more favorable conditions. Again, it's nature so Christian could not have predicted it, but we were all disappointed. We had ample time to view the vast sky with stars, which was peaceful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mangrove & Estuary Safari by Boat

Tamarindo

Aside from getting up very early, this experience was very interesting. Our guide Juan Carlos was excellent and gave us a "lecture" about the importance of the estuary and what we might see. We did, in fact see crocodiles, monkeys and many birds. Our promised "snack" was a large piece of very fresh pineapple that Juan Carlos sliced perfectly with his machete!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eternal Rainforest Night Walk

Monteverde

Our guide, Alum was very helpful in pointing out nightlife, when possible. There were only four in our group that night. We saw several birds but mostly insects....the finale was a tarantula that lives in a hollow log. I can't blame the guide for not seeing more wildlife and he did his best to find what he could. I love the story of how the Eternal Rainforest was initiated, but I'll leave that story for the next visitor to hear.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim was very easy to work with. Yuliana put together a. Very memorable trip meeting our requirements - budget and adventure and cultural experiences. Thank you!