Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Everything was great all three hotels were wonderful to stay at! The experiences were top notch, both Puerto Viejo and Arenal took our breath away

Twenty-two years after honeymooning in Costa Rica, my husband and I brought our two daughters (ages 16 and 20) back to Costa Rica and it exceeded expectations! Gustavo put together an incredible itinerary for us and chose perfect accommodations to please all. We especially loved Hotel Poco a Poca which had a lovely walking trail, beautiful little spots to relax, and a lovely swim up pool and large hot tub which our girls especially loved. The onsite restaurant is great, and the morning breakfast was delicious with lovely ambiance.

Our excursions in the La Fortuna / Arenal area definitely exceeded expectations. Hugo was our tour guide at Arenal Volcano and he was so knowledgeable and gave us lots of opportunity to choose the pace. We then headed to the waterfalls which were rewarding. It would have been helpful to know in advance that we could have packed a separate bag for the waterfall and left it in the van, instead of trying to dress for both hiking and swimming. The EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience was truly exceptional. We were the first people there in the morning which gave us time to explore and take pictures. It was never particularly crowded, and the meal was lovely too.

In Monteverde we were thrilled with the TreeTram ziplining adventure. It definitely gets the heart racing, but we felt safe and our guides there were really personable. We had a really fun day at the beach in Manuel Antonio. We didn't book excursions here, but took some advise for how to spend our day and it was great. We took taxis to and from the beach and the National Park which were super easy and all our taxi drivers were kind and friendly.

Super impressed with how smooth everything went with the car rental, and our trip itinerary prepared us plenty for the driving between La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. A nine day trip for a family of four - everything went completely smoothly and everyone's expectations of this once in a lifetime trip were exceeded! I definitely recommend KimKim for planning trips like this that need to please different ages and where you want to fit in lots of different locations and activities!

Hotel Reviews

Shana by the Beach Resort

Manuel Antonio

The views at Shana by the Beach are magnificent, which we enjoyed from both our balcony and the pool. The rooms are clean and comfortable, although the walls are quite thin and we did deal with some noisy neighbors. There is an adult pool which we appreciated given how popular the main pool was. Service at the restaurant and pool was great, and the menu is diverse enough to accommodate the varied tastes of our family of four. The front desk was very helpful with quickly getting taxis to pickup right from our building.

Authenticity & Character

The monkeys bring on the character at Shana by the Beach! We arrived during the evening hour when they are frolicking all over the balconies. Very authentic, but don't leave things on your balcony and make sure to lock the sliders from balcony into the rooms as they are capable of sliding the doors open!

Location

The views are beautiful from Shana by the Beach, but don't count on walking places due to very steep, windy roads. It's easy enough to get taxis to get where you want to go and all our taxi drivers were super friendly and helpful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

My family of four (daughters ages 20 and 16) simply loved this hotel. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with fresh juice in the lobby while checking in, and shown to our rooms. The pool and hot tub are beautiful, with a swim up bar which was such a treat for all. As you walk the grounds, there are so many nooks to curl up in and savor the peace and quiet in whatever way you prefer. The onsite restaurant is wonderful to have, which allowed us to not have to leave the grounds after a full day of excursions. The breakfast service is top notch, and the setting is beautiful. There's a lovely little nature walk onsite which was perfect for filling little gaps of time.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds are lush and beautiful, with a nature walk onsite.

Location

We were close enough to walk to restaurants and shops, albeit with some steep hills. There is a helpful plaza right across the street with ATM and grocery store, which was super convenient. Short trip to excursions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

Very beautiful grounds where weather permitting, you will get incredible views of the volcano. The rooms are clean and simple with ample space. The private huts are truly lovely. We found it convenient to have the onsite food and beverage service, however it's hours are not clear so we learned to not count on it being open. The service at both the restaurant and front desk were friendly and helpful. We were originally put in two units that are off the parking lot which were very noisy and not nearly as lovely as being within the walls of the hotel grounds. We asked to be relocated and they were beyond accommodating to make this happen. It was lovely to have the pools to enjoy before and after our excursions!

Authenticity & Character

Lush grounds with amazing views of the volcano! A beautiful space towards back of the grounds where we were able to to see toucans and other birds, and take in the views.

Location

Not a far drive from all the local excursions in the La Fortuna area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

EcoTermales is very luxurious! We got there early and enjoyed being there without others, but even as it began to fill up it never felt crowded. We easily could have spent more time than than we had planned for. They make beautiful and tasty cocktails! There are lockers and changing rooms and everything is very thought out to increase enjoyment of the grounds and pools.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver was not there at the time we requested, but when we called they came quickly.

Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a great first day for our family in Costa Rica. We started at the volcano, and our tour guide Hugo was prompt and proved to be super knowledgeable and patient. He gave us options for how long of a hike we wanted to do. He really knew the area and had a lovely way of sharing it with us. He had fresh pineapple ready for us when we got back to the van, before heading to the waterfall. He was very patient when we took the time at the waterfall to seek out a snack for our daughters since they needed something to hold them over til lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg was also a great person to be in contact with through the planning- He helped me during an issue that arouse because of a travel time issue- but he fixed the problem and made it go smoothly for my clients - I hope to work with him again

The place that yesinia found for us in the jungle called almonds and Corals was more than we could’ve hoped for. It was pricey but worth it for the immersion into the jungle with no swimming pool and no TV. It was perfect and the food at the lodge was great.
Our favorite Guide ever was Allen, who took us through cohuita national forest

The surest way to ruin (a) paradise is to advertise it. I’m tempted to keep the secret and hope that nothing changes. However, I will let the cat out of the bag because that is what the residents of San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica want. They made a conscious decision to forgo land clearing agriculture and to earn their living by providing high quality eco-tourism experiences.

This family trip was literally thrown together in two weeks and we lucked into a Costa Rica travel agency (Serendipity Adventures) that took care of everything except our flights.

What is paradise? Different people have different preferences but the my family believes in escaping Texas heat in August. But, doesn’t it get hotter further South? Probably but not if you are in the mountains of Central America.

I was looking at the better-known Monteverde cloud forest region NW of San Jose but Serendipity encouraged San Gerardo de Dota which is about the same distance but SE of the capitol.

My only issue was traffic in and around San Jose. We arrived on a Saturday and a 2 ½ hr drive turned into over 4 hours because San Jose was a parking lot and we have to go cross town from the airport. Our driver explained that people can drive on alternating days based on license plate numbers but no restrictions on Saturday when everyone gets in their car and becomes part or a city-wide parking lot. One we cleared the twin cities of San Jose and Cartago we found smooth sailing on the Pan American Hwy. The Pan Am had very fresh smooth asphalt (if I were driving I would want my Porsche). What the two-lane Pan Am lacks is consistent striping, shoulder, guard rails or passing lanes. If you leave the road there are three possibilities: 1) hit a ditch and roll over, 2) hit something hard like a very big tree; or 3) drop 2,000 feet and maybe the forest canopy below might slow your descent. No worries, we were in the care of a local driver. Getting back on a weekday was one hour faster but there were still massive traffic jams in San Jose. Tip, don’t fly on Saturday in or out of San Jose.

The road to San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre Hotel and Narutal Reserve & Spa departs the Pam Am at 9.800 ft elevation and follows the narrow Savegre river. The resort is 6 miles below at about 7.200 ft, and about a mile above Savegre Falls. The road is about 50% paved and full of hairpin turns,,,but I wasn’t driving. There are about ½ dozen resorts and some Air B&B’s in the valley. Savegre Hotel is the oldest but also very modern, completely equipped i.e. great Wi Fi, Thursday night football in the bar, a spa, guided or self-guided tours through a private reserve, excellent staff, comfortable accommodations and so forth. Very good menu.

Tip. Don’t rent a car. Let a local drive.

You can read the Hotel Savegre backstory several places on the Internet. A condensed version is that the valley was undiscovered until the mid-1950’s. No evidence of prior human occupation. The first settlers cleared land for cattle, then a professor came along and said, why don’t you throw trout into the (fish free) river and Canadians will fly down here to pay to catch them. Later on the locals were encouraged to give up on cattle and take up hospitality. Within 30 years the cleared land regenerated back to forest.

So what is there to do: eat, relax, drink, hike, hike, hike, night hikes and go birding. I have never been a dedicated birder but, I knew where I was going so I bought a new super tele camera for the occasion. That was a good decision.

We spent two days hiking and birding, include a night hike with Raul Chacon who is the best nature guide that I have met and that is saying a lot. Excellent English, extremely well educated and knowledgeable and passionate without being overbearing in the least. He finally admitted that his grandfather and great uncle discovered the valley and established the community and resort. Raul has been finding Quetzals, Motted Owls and 49 varieties of Hummers for his whole life except when he was away at school.

So what to do in 4 ½ days? A couple of hikes above 10,000’ (epiphany, no acclimation issues because there is more oxygen at altitude compared to the Rocky Mountains further north), a hell of a lot of pretty birds to photograph, hikes to waterfalls, a trip to a coffee plantation, the most challenging horseback ride that I have been on, learning all about cloud forests, the local economy and people, and making plans for a return visit to Costa Rica at some point.

Hotel Review

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Páramo

Given the remote location it exceeded expectations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Coffee tour was fine but too much travel to and from Hotel Savegre.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Guided Hike at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Tour at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highland Bird and Paramo Tour at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Birdwatching and Natural History at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Raul Chacon is excellent guide

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter joined my wife and I on our Costa Rica trip. Our trip planners, Holden and Serendipity Adventures tailored our visit to accommodate our special needs and schedule. We landed in San Jose and stayed at a hotel within a mile of the airport. Next day, Alex picked us up at the hotel for our trip to the Arenal Volcano area. Alex was much more than a van driver. He is an encyclopedia for Costa Rica! He gave us interesting facts about each small town we traveled through, pointed out interesting flora and fauna, and took us to his favorite Soda for an excellent Cost Rican lunch.
Our hotel, the Arenal Springs Resort, is a full service resort with multiple restaurants, swimming pools and excellent service. Our favorite restaurant was the swim-up in the hot springs swimming pool! The only negative for the hotel was its size. Our rooms were far from the central area and, since we had trouble walking, we needed to call for a ride every time we needed to do something. The rides arrived quickly, but were a little inconvenient.
From our hotel, Serendipity took us to a jungle walk, a river rafting trip (no rapids), and a coffee/chocolate tour. Lots of great photos and we are now experts on coffee and chocolate!
After 4 nights in Arenal, we journeyed to Monteverde, and the Cloud Forest Lodge, Our trip began with a short trip through the jungle to Lake Arenal, where we and our luggage boarded a boat for a sail across the lake to a landing about 45 minutes away. Our van was then loaded up and we learned about some of Costa Rica's very poor roads! 3 1/2 hours of pot holes, with a few newly paved sections to give us some hope! Next time we visit we hope that paving will be completed!
We only had 2 nights scheduled for the Cloud Forest Lodge, which was unfortunate. We could have stayed there much longer! The hotel is an eco-friendly facility with no TV, no pools, and no noise! Yes, you can hear birds singing and some animal calls from the jungle, and occasional thunder, but nothing else. We had never experience such an atmosphere and I thought I might get bored, but it was a wonderful experience. Thanks to Holden and Serendipity for finding this unique destination. Next time, we will spend a week at that lodge.
More kudos: My wife is gluten intolerant and when we had lunch that afternoon on the balcony overlooking the jungle, we informed the waiter of that. Her lunch was excellent and gluten free. When we went to dinners, lunches, and breakfasts thereafter, all the wait staff knew of her gluten intolerance and were careful to serve her only gluten-free dishes. Even the amuse bouche was separately prepared for her at the dinners. We have eaten at many Michelin-stared restaurants without that level of attention.
Our best tour of the week began the next day, a bird watching adventure in the cloud forest. Our guide, Andres (Andy), was an internationally recognized naturalist who is an incredible source of knowledge of birds, animals, trees, etc!

We had an absolutely incredible trip to Costa Rica and it would not have been possible without the amazing team at Serendipity Adventures. From the very start, everything was thoughtfully planned, well-organized, and tailored to our family’s needs.

Holden, Wilman and the team were a joy to work with. Always responsive, friendly and professional. Every transfer, tour and accommodation was seamless and we felt supported at every step of our journey. The attention to detail made all the difference, allowing us to relax and enjoy Costa Rica’s beauty without any stress.

The experiences they arranged, from exploring rainforests at night to white water rafting, were unforgettable. It was clear how much care and passion went into crafting our itinerary.

Thank you, Serendipity Adventures, for the trip of a lifetime. We couldn’t recommend your team more highly to anyone considering a trip to Costa Rica.

Pura vida!

Our family had an amazing trip to Costa Rica! The trip planned by Kim Kim and the local tour group Serendipity Adventures was planned from beginning to end to perfection supporting our family’s interests and needs. Elena was wonderful in helping us plan the trip and Wilman supported us throughout our week on the ground. While we did our own self driving tour, it was nice to know that he and his team was just a text away to answer any questions we had. We visited Arenal with an exciting rafting trip and then a private hiking tour with Mariano that was so educational. Then it was on to Monte Verde for a night exploration of the Children’s Forest, fun ziplining and another educational coffee and chocolate tour. Finally, we ended in Manuel Antonio. We had the most amazing tour with Socio, who i think taught most of the other guides at the park. His knowledge and excitement about every single organism there was truly unmatched. We ended our journey to paradise with a boat tour where the kids got to unwind and swim in the ocean while we enjoyed some delicious seafood relaxing on our last day here. It was a full week that we will remember fondly

Hotel Reviews

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

incredible views and very secluded in nature

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

overlooking the water and the park with beautiful views

Staff

everyone is incredibly friendly. Alan and reception and Fabian at breakfast were both lovely

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Costa Rica

We went for the ziplining and stayed the entire day checking out all of the other exhibits and activities. Our favorite was the 2 toed sloths , particularly Oprah who was very photogenic! The reptile and butterfly presentations were also really well done and the hanging bridges walk was a lot of fun. The ziplining is really well done and you get the adrenaline rush you are looking for, knowing that the equipment is all well maintained.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk at Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

Such an incredible night hike with Alan who found so many creatures and taught us about each of them as we spent this special time exploring the Children’s Eternal Forest. There was something truly magical about exploring the forest after dark and we all really enjoyed this experience so much. Of course, the highlight was the tarantula!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was awesome. He spotted two night animals as well!

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano was so well informed and so much fun to learn from. We ended up in the middle of a deluge on our hike but it still was a lot of fun and we learned a lot about the history of the area and the environment

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

Lots of fun for family with older kids

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica - 9 days/8 nites in La Fortuna for 4 and Manuel Antonio for 4. Volcano, hanging bridges, zip lining, waterfall and then onto the beach and the rain forest. Elena w/ KimKim and Serendipity Adventures were responsive, pleasant, flexible when some of our plans changed and always willing to help. I would highly recommend them for your plans to go to Costa Rica! Thank you so much!! 😍

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

We saw whales! Great 1/2 day excursion w/ lunch. As we were on the Pacific it was a little wavy which caused some motion sickness but when we got in the water all was well. I would have spent less time looking for whales and more time in the water but overall it was a great time. Water slides were fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

A great day exploring the National Park with a very knowledgeable guide (Antonio). He had "hawk-eyes" and pointed out so many amazing animals on the walk. We ended at the beach for a relaxing dip and then lunch right in town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

an amazing day to see all that Costa Rica has to offer; my only suggestion is to split out the volcano from the hanging bridges/waterfall as it was a lot to do all 3 in the same day. Mariano was an amazing guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spent an amazing 11 days in Costa Rica, arranged by Elena. We were in 3 different locations, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and near Arenal volcano, and all details were cared for and everything went extremely smoothly. Alex, the driver for two legs of the trip, was especially fantastic, providing history, background and sharing many stories during the hours-long drives- the time went quickly and the scenery was beautiful. Would definitely recommend both Costa Rica as a destination and KimKim as a travel agent.

Hotel Reviews

Casa del Sol

Manuel Antonio

Incredibly beautiful home set in the mountains overlooking the Pacific. Spotlessly maintained and incredible views. During our stay, we regularly saw (and heard!) a pair of Macaws soaring overhead, a sloth in a teee over the patio and a large group of squirrel monkeys in the trees overhead. Very memorable. We had a chef come and and prepare us dinner one night because the house was so beautiful we didn’t feel a strong need to leave. Pool table and pool (with daily pool service) kept our group of 6 entertained.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Beautiful hotel within walking distance of shops and restaurants in Monteverde. Comfortable rooms, and nice pool/spa area. Food and service in the restaurant was only ok. Though there was only one couple in the restaurant, service was extremely slow and we had plans for after dinner., therefore we had to hurry the waiter to get to our other activity on time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mountain Paradise

Fortuna

Good location near many activities. Abundant and fast Uber service makes a car unnecessary. The room was very dark, and bugs (flying ants) greeted us on our first night, but weren’t seen again after that. The scenery was beautiful and breakfast was very convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Fun experience with bonus - we saw humpback whales while we were out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Enthusiastic, knowledgeable guide who clearly lived sharing the beauty of the park. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Great fun, many ziplines, good value for the money.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide but we didn’t see much that day - just one of those days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Beautiful. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mariano was an excellent tour guide through Arenal. He was friendly and knowledgable and made the trip fun!
Alex was an excellent driver, despite being stuck in non moving traffic for more than 2 hours, he kept his cool and was still a delight to have driving us.
The communication with Kim Kim and Elena was great as well.
This was an experience I will not forget.

Hotel Reviews

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Beautiful hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Absolutely loved the hanging bridges, this was my favorite part of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was amazing!

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

10/10 would recommend. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Making chocolate was the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was a miscommunication in our transport to this activity.

Our Summer trip to Costa Rica in 2025 was truly amazing. I took my two adult kids as a celebration for them graduating high school and moving on to the next chapters in their lives. We made amazing memories and had 10 days of bonding time. Holden, Wilman, Nancy and the whole KimKim and Serendipity Adventures team were helpful from start to finish...beginning with the first day I started planning this trip a full year ago. Their attention to detail, patience with my endless questions and quick responses put my mind at ease and made planning and ultimately enjoying the trip totally seamless. Once in Costa Rica, any questions or needs we had were met promptly. Communication while there was a breeze. We even ended up adding some last minute excursions and they did all the leg work and set everything up. Everything we did was so fun!!! We visited La Fotuna/Arenal, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio. Each place we equally amazing with a totally different experience

Hotel Reviews

The Falls at Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

We liked this place. We stayed in the "apartment" and it was nice to have so much extra room and two full bathrooms. The only thing we missed about this room was having a patio where we could sit and enjoy the beautiful grounds and listen to the rain. We did see a group of squirrel monkeys out our window one morning though! The food at the Medusa restaurant is AMAZING! We loved the breakfast (free) and ate lunch and dinner there several times. The staff went above and beyond, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Finally, the location is good. Walking distance to a couple close restaurants and a quick bus or shuttle ride to the beach, Manuel Antonio park or in to town in Quepos.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Luna Llena

Tamarindo

This was a quirky place. We didn't hate it but we didn't love it. Pros: The bungalows were cute and funky and clean, and it was nice to have a full kitchen. And the extra space was for nice for our family. The complimentary breakfast was good and staff was very friendly. Also, you can't beat the location...a quick, easy walk to the fun town of Tamarindo and the main beach. Cons: Pool is kinda dirty and the hot tub isn't functioning. Also, the appearance of a swim up bar was a sad tease...as there is no poolside service at all, and the 'bar' is non-functioning. The worst part was the water pressure in the room. This was a strange one...it was truly hit or miss if any water would come out of the faucet at any given time. There were times the pressure was great, and other times literally nothing came out and we couldn't shower, wash our hands or flush the toilet. Every time we asked about it we got a different answer about what the issue was. A couple times in the 3 nights we were there, we had to use the pool to get clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This was our favorite hotel of the trip. Everything was really amazing. Top notch staff and service, gorgeous grounds, a couple great restaurant options, two large pools with swim up bar and SEVERAL private smaller hot spring tubs. Quick taxi ride in to town for shopping and other restaurant options and close to lots of great excursions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Canopy Zipline Tour

Costa Rica

This was super fun! Not real challenging but a fun adventure. Loved propelling down the little waterfall, and we even saw a sloth! Staff is super friendly too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Barbecue

Costa Rica

This was a favorite activity of the whole trip. Everything from the staff, the drinks, the food, the VIEWS! and just the whole vibe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was REALLY a cool experience. We enjoyed every minute. The lush rain forest is breathtaking and filled with wildlife. The bridges are so cool with spectacular views. And walking across and see the Arenal volcano was truly magical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The team at KimKim and Serendipity Adventures were so helpful from start to finish. Holden provided an itinerary that suited our needs perfectly; a mixture of adventure and relaxation. I was traveling with a friend. Getting our rental car was such an easy process. He booked the Heliconias Nature Inn near La Fortuna and Bosque Del Mar Hotel in Playa Hermosa and we couldn't be more happy with these choices. He also booked two tours during our 5-day stay, Canyoning and Sailing/snorkeling. Although both were fantastic, the Canyoning was my favourite!

Wilman maintained contact with us through WhatsApp before, during and after our trip which was extremely helpful. He responded very quickly to all of our inquiries and even helped reserve a last minute tour and provided several recommendations for dining.

Holden, Wilman, and the team at KimKim and Serendipity Adventures helped make our trip run smoothly and we are so grateful for their guidance and support!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

What a beautiful hotel! It was beachfront but also surrounded by forest with lots of native trees and plants. We saw howler monkeys on two occasions. We stayed in room 201 and we couldn't be happier with it. There were two queen beds with a separate living area that looked out to the forest with floor to ceiling windows. We also booked a sailing/snorkeling tour that picked us up from the beach which was very convenient.

Authenticity & Character

It was just beautiful and clean.

Location

Close to souvenir shops and a mini market. It was also a 10 minutes drive to the town of Coco which has lots of places to shop and places to eat.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and approachable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were super comfortable and the room was immaculate.

Heliconias Nature Inn

Peñas Blancas

Such a beautiful resort-like setting. We stayed at the Tucan Suite which was nestled in the forest. Alejandro and the staff were so friendly and made sure our stay was memorable. Although we didn't have time to do the night tour on the site, it seemed like it would've been a great experience.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms and grounds were just beautiful.

Location

We loved the location since it was nestled in the forest. However, we didn't mind driving. If you're not driving, it's about 27 minutes from La Fortuna.

Staff

We interacted mostly with Alejandro, Diego, and Carlos but everyone was friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were very comfortable and the room was clean. We would recommend better lighting and more towel hooks. There were only two. We would also recommend providing an umbrella for the guests, especially during the rainy season.

Activity Reviews

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

It was a beautiful sail to our snorkel site. We even saw sea turtles on the way! We had so much snorkel time and saw some beautiful fish. It was amazing! Loved the atmosphere of the boat, familiar tunes but with a spanish flair, the bottomless drinks, and finger food snacks were perfect.

Quality of Experience

The sailing part of the tour was incredibly comfortable and beautiful. The care we were given on board, and the marine life seen were amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All staff were amazing!

Transport

We were picked up at the beach of our hotel which was a bonus!

Canyoning in Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Everything about this tour was amazing. If you like adventure but still a beginner like me, this would be a great tour. Also, the lunch at the end was delicious and much needed. We all got a bit hungry after the tour lol

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All the staff were amazing!!!

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was incredible. The country is beautiful and the people are wonderful. Our trip was perfect for us due to the planning of the Kimkim team and the implementation of their in-country partners.
We chose not to drive around the country which meant spending time with 4 drivers as we moved from area to area. Rodney, Brian, Charlie and Christian were great drivers, knowledgeable about the country and always looking out for wildlife or viewpoints. That made long drives enjoyable and feel like part of the trip rather than just transport. Hats off to those four gentlemen!
The planned activities were great. Guides always arrived on time, were professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. Rodrigo, (Puerto Viejo kayaking), Dion (Arenal volcano), and Ronaldo (El Tigre waterfalls) were such a pleasure to spend time with.
Monte Verde was stunning. Zip lining and El Tigre waterfalls are highly recommended. The Cloud Forest Lodge was wonderful and their restaurant had delicious food!!
La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano was wonderful. The natural hot springs were delightful even though it was a rainy day. Lomas del Volcán hotel was beautiful. Also good food. We had a spa treatment that was incredible.
Puerto Viejo has an incredible vibe. Kayaking the Punta Uva river was beautiful. The black sand beach was incredible. We body surfed all day. Umami Hotel Garden Spa is a beautiful boutique hotel.
Thanks so much to Adam for his patience and thoroughness when planning our trip. Thanks so much to Greg for booking everything and being in touch during our trip when we thought we needed him

Hotel Reviews

Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Umami Hotel Garden Spa

Puerto Viejo

Beautiful boutique hotel with wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was at the edge of the jungle and we watched howler monkeys in the trees. (With binoculars)

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Beautiful grounds, pools, rooms. Good food. Pleasant staff. In our three day stay, the power went out twice. They have generators for the main part of the hotel so the restaurants and lobby still function. The rooms do not. A battery operated lantern would have been nice. We packed to leave by the lights from our phones. Our guide for the next day was trying to be in touch but we did not have wi-fi in the room due to power outage. Once we went to the lobby, we easily were in contact. The hotel is one of the closest hotels to the volcano and the view is amazing when it is clear. The spa is incredible. It was a nice place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Power outages were unfortunate.

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Peaceful, hiking trails on the property, views, so many humming birds, and an incredible restaurant all while committing to protecting and preserving the local environment. Impressive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Beaches Around Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

We saw Punta Uva beach, Puerto Viejo beach and Playa Negra. They were all beautiful and the water was warm and amazing. We walked the black sand beach and then body surfed for hours. Great way to spend a day.

Quality of Experience

Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Our guide was great. Punta UVA beach is beautiful. Kayaking on the river was wonderful. We saw lots of animals. Hiking afterwards was lovely. Sloths everywhere. Such a great day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was fabulous and the hike was beautiful. Although a rainy day, the volcano cleared for us. It was amazing. The hot springs were wonderful. It rained a lot of the time that we were there but that didn’t matter one bit. The food was fabulous. It was a great day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a very rainy day so we were not able to swim at the bottom. It is a beautiful waterfall and a lovely place. But compared to the waterfalls in the natural environment throughout Costa Rica, it is a bit of a let down.

El Tigre Waterfalls Excursion

Monteverde

This was an absolutely stunning hike. Highly recommend. The waterfalls were breathtaking, the jungle was amazing and the hanging bridges at the bottom above the river were truly incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious food here! Definitely have rice and beans and use their verde hot sauce. Yum!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I believe our guide was named Ronaldo. He was so knowledgeable, friendly and funny. Great guide!!!

Transport

The roads here were terrible and our driver was so skilled. Also it was pouring both ways ( but not during our hike) and he was a great driver.

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Zip lining was amazing. Hanging bridges were beautiful. Tram had a great view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t recommend these guys enough. Planned a perfect vacation for us (the brief was see cool things and adventure). Super communicative throughout they absolutely nailed the brief and made every step of the way super easy!

Activity Review

Arenal Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our trip was fantastic and amazing!!
Holden, Wilman and Nancy from Serendipity Tours helped plan a fun action filled trip from Arenal to the beaches of Tamarindo!
Alex, our driver (Alex) from the airport, was exceptional! He stopped along the way to Arenal to show us sloths and toucans and brought us to wonderful lake view restaurant for lunch!
The hotels were excellent, wonderful private rooms--the staff at Manoa Arenal were fantastic (Thanks Hilda and Edwin!!).
Our favorite excursions were the ziplining, canyoning and Sunset cruise as well as the coffee/chocolate plantation tour!! Although, all the activities were exceptional. and well planned!!
We would love to return soon!!

We had an incredible time in Costa Rica!! All the accommodations and adventures were exactly what we were looking for, and we had a perfect balance of luxury and adventure that was still affordable. It made for a perfect honeymoon! We loved our guides, especially Andres in the Cloud Forest- he was so knowledgeable and so much fun! It really felt like he wanted to get to know us, and it was clear how much he loved nature and how he wanted to share his knowledge with us.

Hotel Reviews

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

This hotel is beautiful- it has a great view of the volcano, but it was so overcast that we only really saw it on our first day. The pool is super nice, but the one with the swim up bar is heated to the point where it feels like a hot tub- way too hot for a hot Costa Rican day! There is a second pool right next to it that is nice and cool, but I'd definitely prefer for the cooler pool to be the one with the swim up bar! The other drawback of the hotel is that it's really spread out- that gives lots of privacy, but we had to take a 5 minute walk up a super steep hill to get to our room from the main area where the restaurant and lobby were. Finally, the restaurant was nice and very fancy, but I actually had an allergic reaction from eating the quesadilla there- the shrimp is cooked in a cashew sauce and there was no note of that on the menu. So be careful if you have food allergies! Overall the room was super nice and private, and there were gorgeous views. The property itself is like a mile down a private road, which can be nice but it did make it completely impossible to walk anywhere.

Authenticity & Character

Vibes were great!

Location

Nice views, but very removed from town.

Staff

I had an allergic reaction to the food, as the shrimp in my quesadilla was cooked in a cashew sauce and it wasnt noted on the menu. We had to go back to our room urgently to get my medication, and they brought the food- and the bill- to our room. You would think that the least they could do was comp the meal that almost caused me to go into anaphylactic shock!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

This hotel is an absolute must- by the time we were leaving, we knew that we would be back again one day. It is a crazy drive up the mountain to the very top- I'd recommend getting a transfer if you don't feel super comfortable driving. Some of the roads are completely washed out and super steep and bumpy- the drivers know what they're doing though! This hotel was absolutely gorgeous, but nothing compares to the view and vibes in the restaurant. We went during the rainy season, and our first night at the hotel there was this incredible rolling thunder, a steady rain, and misty clouds just rolling into the open air restaurant- it's cooler up in the mountains so it wasn't hot at all. We sat outside, completely protected from the rain, and played cards and had drinks for hours. Not only are the vibes incredible, but it was some of the best food we had. Everything we tried on the menu was absolutely delicious. We only stayed there for two nights, but we would have been happy there for a week at least. There is so much to see in the cloud forest, and the towns nearby have even more great restaurants. This was the highlight of our trip for sure.

Authenticity & Character

The restaurant, with the fire, open air, and rolling mists was just absolutely breathtaking.

Location

In the middle of the cloud forest- how could you go wrong?!

Staff

Everyone there was so kind! We chatted with our waiter all night long, and everyone was so patient with my Spanish- I speak pretty well but not perfectly, and can get nervous about it- but everyone was so impressed and kind!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms seemed to be brand new- everything was perfectly clean, safe, and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

This was so much fun! I was worried that the rapids would be too difficult, but we had 4 relatively fit people in our raft and we all did a pretty good job of handling it well, we also had a great guide! Nobody fell out, and we stopped halfway through and had some delicious fresh fruit and switched who was in the front. The front was definitely more difficult but it was super fun the whole time! Be prepared- it is an hour drive from La Fortuna, which we weren't prepared for. It goes by quick and is definitely worth it, but a change of dry clothes is key! You will get 100% soaked on the river, so I wore a bathing suit under athletic wear that didn't get too heavy when it got wet.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

This was the best excursion of our trip! Andres was an incredible guide, and we had a great time. We took our time walking through the jungle, and he pointed out everything he saw- coati, snakes, frogs, certain types of plants, monkeys, etc. We saw so much, and we never would have been able to see half of it without our guide! The cloud forest is absolutely breathtaking. It was the excursion that I was least excited about going into the trip, and it ended up being my favorite one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yuliana provided the perfect itinerary for our family - she listened to our concerns about having small kids and picked the best activities that they would enjoy.

We got a good mix of rainforest and adventure in La Fortuna and then beach and relaxing in Tamarindo. The hotels were beautiful and the excursions were on time, safe, and fun.

Everything on the trip went so smoothly and we never had to stress while in Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved how everything was close by and multiple pools to choose from.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Great view and so much to see on property

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the pull out beds for the kids. Rooms were clean and spacious.

Activity Review

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our favorite activity of the whole trip. Ended up being the only family on the tour and they were just so nice. They were so helpful to our kids and letting them try new foods and even help with the cooking! The dinner turned out muy delicioso!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aww we

The concept of kimkim is great. We enjoyed the trip and it overall went well. After many trips with kimkim, we continue to be very happy, and we would clearly continue with Kim Kim.
Only one out of three hotels was not the best we would recommend due to very few sitting areas with A/C and internet, both accessible only in the lobby, but the location was really pretty.

We used KimKim to book our amazing trip to Costa Rica. They were so easy to deal with and were straight forward with pricing and trip options. The trip we booked through them was incredible! Everything went so smoothly with all of our travel arrangements and pick ups and transfers. All of our accommodations were wonderful and just was describe in our itinerary. The excursions we did were amazing as well! Perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. All of our guides were so awesome and went out of their way to make our excursion extra special. The provide breakfast and lunches were so delicious and authentic Costa Rican food! The travel throughout the Country, although terrifying at times, was easy with Ride CR. Their drivers were wonderful and made us feel safe at all times! They also went out of their way to point out things in Costa Rica and even made stops so that we could see the wildlife! We only ran into one hiccup with our transportation not showing up for our scheduled fishing trip, but I was able to contact the KimKim support line and they got on it right away and we were still able to go on the awesome fishing trip! The itinerary that KimKim provides is so easy to follow and has everything you need to get where you are going! This was a trip of a lifetime and my Husband and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to explore and experience the incredible and BEAUTIFUL Country of Costa Rica! Kimkim made it so easy to travel and we will definitely book more trips with them in the future! I only have two things left to say, Book the trip and Pura Vida! ❤️💙🤍

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

The views are everything here! Just incredible! And all the wildlife was sooooo cool!

Authenticity & Character

Small and quaint!

Location

Views, views, views!!!

Staff

Great service all around and super helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

This is a great little spot! Rooms very clean and great location where you can walk to so many things! Service was a little lacking, but this may have been due to the off season!

Authenticity & Character

It’s cute! The walking patch and all the wildlife was the best part! And the fire pit with s'more's was great too!

Location

So close to the town of Monteverde, we walked to so many shops and restaurants and it was amazing!

Staff

Service was a bit slow but the staff was very polite and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable bed!

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolutely beautiful! This place is everything you need and want! I do not have a negative thing to say about it!

Authenticity & Character

It’s stunning!

Location

The views of the volcano are everything!!!!

Staff

Top notch service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are amazingly clean and have everything you need!

Activity Reviews

Private Damas Island Fishing

Manuel Antonio

This was so cool! We started in the mangroves and took a boat ride through all these amazing canals and saw crocodiles and other wildlife! Then we bottom fished and trolled! It was soooo much fun and our guides were super experienced and wonderful to fish with!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This is an absolute must do! All I can say is wow! The wildlife and everything in between was just wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joseuy it everything!!!

Transport

Ocean Kayaking Adventure

Manuel Antonio

This expirence was a lot of fun! The kayaking and scenery were awesome and the snorkeling was soooooo cool! We got to swim with a sea turtle and saw all kinds of tropical fish! The lunch included was also really great! Must do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

This is a must if visiting the Monteverde area! We learned so much and this plantation is so incredible and respects the environment and as a results all of the products they make are top notch! It was so much fun learning and seeing how sugar cane, chocolate and coffee are produced! It was all fascinating and I highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Tree Topia Park is a must! Our guides were wonderful, so much wildlife and the views!!! The hanging bridges are so cool and when you are in the clouds it’s such an experience! And the zip lining was the best I have ever done! The heights the views, it’s such an adventure. Do the vertical drop at the end, it’s sooooo worth it! They were such a great company and accommodated us when our initial zip line tour got rained out! They moved us to a morning session so we could fit it in before we left! I am so glad we got to do it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

10 out of 10 recommend! This was such a wonderful experience and great company to go rafting with! All of the guides were amazing and made us feel safe, comfortable and most of all ensured we had a blast! These rapids are no joke and it was the best adventure! It’s a must if visiting the La Fortuna area! Oh and the lunch at the company’s headquarters afterwards was perfecto!

Quality of Experience

Top notch guides!

Food

Fantastic! Authentic Costa Rican food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome! So informative, Knowledgable, professional, funny and fun!

Transport

On time and easy!

Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing hike up a lava flow of the volcano! Who can say they hiked a lava flow!!! Do it! Our guide Melanie was also incredible and so knowledgeable! She also takes great photos! And the lunch, perfection!

Quality of Experience

It’s beautiful!

Food

The farm to table restaurant was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So professional and shared so much about the country and what we were seeing! Melanie rocks!

Transport

Easy, on time and kept us safe!