Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Day 1: airport shuttle from San Jose to LaFortuna: Ride Cr, driver, Christopher. He was waiting for us with a sign, barely spoke English, did not offer water, did not explain what the drive would be , minimal comments on the 3 1/2 hour drive, we had to ask to stop for a break.
ROyal Corin REsort was EXCELLENT!! Extremely clean, very helpful staff, most spoke English, Daily breakfast was a huge buffett with many items, food was delicious. room was large, comfortable and clean. thermal pools offered a variety of temps. However, there was no hydro massage, the jets were weak. restaurant up stairs has fabulous service and food. lower level, main restaurant was closed, but offered gthe menu on top floor restaurant

Day 2: sloth & bird hike in La Fortuna, La Jacamar Natural Tours, Rodney. HE WAS FABULOUS! spoke English, truly an expert guide, spent extra time with us, provided a scope to see the animals, shared photos. offered additional information about the area and Costa Rica.

Eco Termales Hot Springs,Jacamar driver was great. The Springs staff was not friendly or welcoming and did not offer explanation of the facilities, offered minimal comments, there was nice variety of springs and all appeared to be clean. Nice that drinks were offered at the springs, the food was medium quality and variety.

Day 3: safari float, Jacamar driver and guides spoke English and offered much information. the boat itself was uncomfortable. I would suggest a stop along the way for a small break. the guides were helpful and well informed of the area and the river.

Lake Arenal sunset cruise, Jacamar Tours, guide was good, cheese, snacks & drinks were good. they pointed out several birds and offered a lot of information about the area. It was a little boring and lasted a little long for us. I understand it was designed to be that way and relaxing, but it is my personal choice, I woul not do it again or recommend it.

Day 4: sky tram, sky adventures. zipline experience was excellent, guides gave very good instruction, views were amazing. sky adventures scheduled too much time between the zipline and the hike. Therefore, we had to shorten the hike in order to get back to the bus for the return. Maria, our hike guide was fabulous. offered much information and spoke English.

Day 5: shuttle from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, Interbus Costa Rica. Larger more comfortable bus, was full of passengers (approx. 12) David was our driver, he did speak minimal English and did not comment or point out much on the drive. There were 2, 20 minute stops which made the trip more comfortable. He did not offer water.

arrived as Issimo, If I knew it was such a small seculed hotel, I would have nt chosen it. Angie, our travel agent, indicated she thought it was within walking distance to attractions & town.
the Jr. Suite was very disappointing. extremely small, not place to put away clothes, had to walk down several very steep steps to get to the room. the room smelled, ac wasn't working properly, sink area super tiny, shower floor was slippery. I spoke with Olivia from Kimkim and requested to be moved to another hotel. She said this could not be done. We spoke with hotel manager about being moved to another, possible larger & more comfortable room. Gustavo did reply on Jan 26th and was able to confirm us moving to a different room. The new room was much more comfortable, smelled better and was larger. Fortunately, we were able to taxi into the nearby town. AGain, if we knew it's location and the size of the room in advance, we would have asked for a different hotel before traveling. The staff at Issimo were fabulous, most spoke English, the breakfast every morning was delightful. Our new room was clean as well as all the facilities. I will say though, that I did see a spider and ants in our room. The view, was the best part about the hotel. The did offer complimentary hotel golf cart shuttle to very nearby beaches or bank, pharmacy.

day 6: national park nature hike, Paddle 9: Korry, our guide was definitely a 10 our of 10. He took much time to explain a lot of things alonge the way, pointed out many animals, birds, etc. He spent extra time with us, shared much information about the country and the town. and shared his photos with us. he provided binoculars and the scope to see animals. small group was best, as only 4 of us with Korry. He spoke fabulous English.

day 7: catamaran adventure, Tucanes Tours. comfortable boat, drinks included were poor quality, had to buy our own beer. I called Tucanes tours in advance and was told beer & cocktails were included. Only the poor quality cocktails were included. (watered down) great views, offered snorkeling, swimming and waterslides. The guide who did the talking to the entire boat, spoke mostly in spanish and very little in English. The quaity of the bbq, was medium. pre-cooked skewers of fish and peppers & onions. the views were amazing, saw whales. sunset was amazing and the ride was impressive.

Day 8: transfer to San Jose, Ride CR: david was our driver, he did a great job with a nice stop and break along the way. AGain, they did nor provide water, but I prepared and took my own.
He poited out points of interest, his English was minimal, but we managed to communicate well.

summary, we loved Costa Rica and learned so much from the locals and guides. I will go back, and now that I know more, will plan a little differently. Gustavo, I geatly appreciate your assistance. We always felt safe, hotels were so welcoming.

John & Susan Boggess

Hotel Reviews

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

somewhat seculed, had to shuttle or taxi everywhere, very quiet & small. would be perfect for those who want quite, calm. no entertainment, staff was extremely friendly and helpful.Don't get a Jr suite, pool was 5 ft deep, then a large drop off to deeper water. No shallow area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

views were amazing,

Cleanliness & Comfort

spider and ants in my room

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

the main guide spoke mostly in Spanish, minimal communication in English, The quality of the food was medium, only watered down cocktails were offered. We had to buy the beer, even though I called ahead and was told beer was included. HOwever, the experience, the views, the activities were great. Sunset was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

our guide was fabulous, spent extra time with us and offered so much information about the coungtry and the town. pointed out many animals, offered the scope to see better and shared his photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

a must do in Costa Rica, guides were excellent in giving information and instruction.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

views were amazing and guides were very informative. it was a bit long, we thought it would be a small groupl

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

boat was uncomfortable, suggest a short break

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

staff was not welcoming and did not tell us what the experience would be, food was medium quality, the springs were a good experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

better communication by the staff at the facility.

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

guide was fabulous, saw so many animals

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I had a great trip to Costa Rica -- we didn't have time to plan it, but had some ideas. Adam was very attentive and had great suggestions as starting points and adjusted the plan to our desires. Kimkim's communication with us was just right -- not too much but just enough. Once we were in Costa Rica and had travelled some, we realized we needed to instead rent a car and drive ourselves (my wife suffers from motion sickness, but if she drives it's much better) -- Kimkim came through for us with the adjustment and got us a car for the rest of our trip. We enjoyed all of the guided trips we went on and saw lots of Costa Rican wildlife and birds. Overall, Kimkim was responsive and helpful before and during our trip and we had a wonderful first trip to Costa Rica. Thanks Kimkim!!

The trip was wonderful. It was well put together and made it easy to see the different areas of Costa Rica. The activities and guides were on fun and educational. Enjoyed seeing all the rich diversity and climates the country has to offer. The Accommodations were all wonderful and provided the luxury and uniqueness we were looking for. The tour was very well put together we lots of activities but also having time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the rainforest and beaches. Everything flowed easily allowing us to enjoy our vacation on not stress about transfers or planning.

Hotel Reviews

Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel

Tamarindo

Awesome beachside resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

The location and views were amazing. An extremely peaceful place to relax.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The hotel and service was wonderful and the thermal springs are amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our trip was amazing from start to finish. The whole team helped make our dream vacation come true. We ran into unforeseen circumstances before our scheduled departure and everyone did everything they could to help us move things around so we could still do the trip. Once in Costa Rica every transfer was on time and every hotel was perfect. rideCR drivers were particularly great, they were more like tour guides than transfer drivers. The agent recommended tours were the highlights of each location. Would definitely recommend using KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

This hotel had a lot to offer. The hot springs pools were incredible and the included breakfast was the best we had anywhere in Costa Rica! The only downfall was the lack of activity, we never saw anyone else in the hot springs pools or at the bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We loved Karahe! We saw more wildlife on the property of this hotel than in the national park. We stayed on the beach side of the property and I would recommend that. The beach was incredible and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Would 100% stay here again if we ever come back to Manuel Antonio!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only steps from a perfect beach!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the highlight of our trip! The guides were so much fun and super helpful. Rappelling was incredible and the journey traveling between waterfalls was just as action packed. We didn’t stop smiling the whole time!

Quality of Experience

Better than expected!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an excellent experience working with KimKim Travel as our travel consultants for our Costa Rica trip. From start to finish, their team was incredibly responsive and flexible, crafting a thoughtful one-week itinerary that was well suited overall for our family of three—traveling with a 24-week pregnant wife and a one-year-old is no small task. All on-the-ground logistics were seamless, including airport transfers and daily tours, which made the trip feel very stress-free. Highlights included the Sloth and Chocolate tours in La Fortuna, where we loved seeing sloths, snakes, butterflies, and frogs, and our time in Monteverde, which was beautiful despite some limitations. As constructive feedback for the future, while certain activities may technically be labeled as infant-friendly, we would caution against recommending experiences like the Hanging Bridges in the Cloud Forest and Treetopia to families with pregnant travelers or babies—weather conditions, lack of stroller-compliant paths, and wind made these activities challenging and, in the case of Treetopia, distressing for our baby. We don’t hold this against KimKim, but hope it’s helpful guidance going forward. We’re especially grateful that they were able to move our trip up by an entire month due to unforeseen circumstances, with special recognition to Bryan and Nancy for their support and flexibility. We also appreciated Adrian from Serendipity Adventures, who proactively reached out via WhatsApp before our arrival and was extremely responsive in managing and adjusting logistics while we were in Costa Rica. Overall, it was an excellent trip, and we would absolutely work with KimKim Travel again.

Had a wonderful time in Costa Rica. Grateful for the local guides who set us up with seamless transportation to and from every location and exploring some adventures, we wouldn’t have thought of otherwise like Whitewater wrapping for six hours hikes to waterfalls and birdwatching in the cloud for us. Would highly recommend.

I can’t thank Kat, Kate and the rest of the great team at Kimkim enough for the incredible job they did creating our Costa Rica vacation! From the fabulous hotels to creative adventures to all the minute details each day involved, they did the best job imaginable, always available to answer questions, even on weekends and at night! Each location they booked for us was amazing, from La Fortuna (volcano! Frogs!) to Montverde (Santa Elena cloud forest! Coffee, chocolate and sugar cane tour!) to Nosara (swimming in the Pacific! Private kayak tour! Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary!). The hotels were all wonderful, with excellent food, friendly and helpful staff, and lots to do. Every driver was on time, every tour guide friendly and knowledgeable. I could never have created this amazing trip without Kimkim! Thanks to you all!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

We had a lovely suite, with separate bedrooms for my son and me. The view from the main bedroom was of the ocean and the rain forest, and the sound of birds was a delight. There are two infinity pools on the property, and the ocean is a short walk away - swim in the Pacific! They also offer night tours, kayak tours, and other fun adventures. They have two restaurants, both with great menus, even for vegetarians. The front desk staff was always there to help with transportation, to set up a tour, or to answer our questions.

Authenticity & Character

It felt comfortable from the moment we arrived. It is a fun property to explore, and there are hiking trails right there.

Location

Right on the beach, amazing sunsets every night!

Staff

We were treated so well by all the staff, from the front desk to the wait staff to all of the drivers and tour operators.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and so comfortable! They make their own toiletries, so no need to bring shampoo, conditioner or body soap!

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Lovely grounds, great views, a friendly and helpful staff, and our room as comfortable (and large!) Also, the food is gourmet-quality, just fabulous, and the chef deserves kudos for his creativity!

Authenticity & Character

The main building has character, with its indoor, patio and outdoor seating, allowing diners to watch the two hummingbird feeders and the bird feeder, to get great views of lovely tropical birds.

Location

We wanted to explore the cloud forest, and this hotel is perfect for that.

Staff

Everyone went out of their way to be helpful, and the dining room staff were all very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was large and comfortable, the bathroom too, and all very clean, with toiletries provided - you can leave your shampoo, conditioner and body soap at home! Theirs is made with local products and is terrific.

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Individual, private bungalows were a plus, as well as the friendly and helpful staff. The grounds are gorgeous, and the pool was lovely. We enjoyed the food at both restaurants, as well as the hiking trail on the property. I would stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

The attention to detail was notable - everything is very clean and inviting.

Location

Located in a rain forest, where we could take a night tour to see amazing frogs and other animals.

Staff

A huge thank you to Alejandro and Joseph! You were so helpful, and so friendly! Thank you both! ♥️

Cleanliness & Comfort

The whole place was spotless, the beds were very comfortable and the shower was great!

Activity Reviews

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

What a fun tour! Our guide, Mario, was funny, friendly and very knowledgeable. We got to see first-hand how coffee beans grow, the process for roasting them, and the various kinds of coffee produced (I did not know that espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee! (Well, quantity plays a role.) We got to taste seeds of the cacao pods, watch them turned into paste after roasting, and learned that chocolate is literally the blending of cocoa and milk: choco-latte! Sugar cane was also fun to learn about, and you can help press the cane to express the liquid if you’re strong enough! Getting to see coffee beans, cacao pods and sugar cane as they’re grown on the farm was so educational - and delicious.

Quality of Experience

Couldn’t have had a better guide!

Mangrove Kayak & Standup Paddle Board Adventure

Nosara

What a wonderful kayak adventure! Just us and our guide, David, who was knowledgable, funny and patient. He pointed out gorgeous birds we might have missed, provided us with a snack of ripe pineapple and coconut water during our break on the beach, and made us feel comfortable in our surroundings. Thanks so much for a great kayak tour, David! ♥️

Just returned from 12 days in Costa Rica. I was overwhelmed trying to plan it on my own and KimKiim was fantastic. We had to make some last minute changes in terms of pick up times and Serendipity Tours, the local Costa Rica team, was super-accommodating and always available through WhatsApp, even after hours and on weekends. Everything went seamlessly. We stayed in four spectacular hotels - Tabacon Resort in La Fortuna, Rio Celeste Hideaway, Korea in Monteverde and Capitan Suzan in Tamarindo. Never thought that we would try zip lining but Treetop in Monteverde was fantastic. We felt safe, the team told us what to expect and we spent more than an hour and a half zip lining with an option to Bungee jump afterwards. Fantastic trip.

Thank you for all the help and making this trip unique for our second trip. Really helped curate a special itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

Amazing location near the waterfall great customer service and very cute boutique hotel room rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Party Catamaran Sailing

Nosara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Isla Chora Private Boat & Snorkeling

Nosara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure (Class II-III)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We enjoyed all the places we stayed, especially Lomas de Volcan. All the activities were well-chosen and worthwhile. All the transfers were seamless and easy. Great river rafting with Jesus, but really, all the Costa Rican naturalist guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We learned a lot!

We really had a great time. RideCR picked us up at the airport and later dropped us up at the airports. It was a long ride but they stopped for a break both ways. Hotel Eco La Fortuna had a great breakfast buffet every morning. The river float was peaceful with juice drinks and cakes afterwards. The Arenal Volcano hike was too physical for us but the another couple was a physical trainer and he was so helpful getting Neil and I through it. To our surprise our hike included a trip to the hot springs and lunch afterwards. Since we had already booked Ziplining for the afternoon our Jamacar guide arrange for the hot springs and dinner afterwards and picked us up at 8 pm afterwards. We transferred to Nosara the next day. We stayed at Living Hotel in Nosara which was quite quaint. Experience Nosara took on a bird watching tour. It was suppose to to be a hike but he offered us a kayak drift instead which we were thrilled about after the Volcano hike
It was a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Living Hotel

Nosara

Small comfortable bungalow with an outdoor patio and hammock. Dining and shopping available just outside the lobby. Beautiful and quiet pool with lounges just a short walk from our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Arenal

Fortuna

Beautiful flowers and tropical birds in the landscaping , a great breakfast buffet on an open veranda.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guides were wonderful and very responsive when we needed them

Activity Review

Birdwatching Tour at CATIE Botanical Garden

Turrialba

It was great but had a little hiccup with getting picked up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I’m an avid traveler and usually plan all of my own trips, but Costa Rica felt overwhelming because of how much there is to see and do. I decided to reach out to KimKim and was assigned to Randall, which turned out to be a great decision.

Randall quickly sent over a preliminary itinerary and was extremely responsive with any changes or modifications we asked for. We had a limited budget but wanted to experience as much as possible, and he made it work within our limitations and we felt we were still able to truly enjoy and experience Costa Rica without missing out.

Everyone he coordinated was punctual, professional, and easy to work with, which made the trip smooth and stress free. I even contacted Randall during the trip for recommendations, and he responded quickly and went above and beyond to help.

I highly recommend KimKim, and especially Randall, to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Elena was fantastic and amazing to work with. She answered all of my questions rapidly and thoroughly. Her choice of hotels/resorts was spot on. As we requested, she kept us busy with fun activities. The Serendipity Adventures team gathered all of the details and communicated in an easy to follow manner -- the itinerary documentation was priceless. We had a wonderful time in Costa Rica and hope to be able to visit again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Flavors Cooking Class

Costa Rica

This was lots of fun! Despite my reluctance, my wife wanted to do this -- I am glad we did! I'm a picky eater but preparing the food and eating it was special. The staff was so kind!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

For me, this was the highlight of the trip. The guide was phenomenal!!!!! He was extremely knowledgeable, able to spot amazing things, kind, and courteous. You could tell that he was highly respected by his colleagues. Probably the best guide I have ever worked with. We saw many birds, insects, plants and animals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide!!!

Transport

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

The guide was great; Funny, knowledgeable, patient and very kind. Saw many species of birds and animals.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Lots of fun. Beautiful scenery and sunset. Snorkeling was brief but fun. The staff were very nice and always willing to assist.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Costa Rica

My wife loved the Zip lines! I did not do that activity due to my fear of heights. The hanging bridges/jungles were beautiful. The Sloth conservation center, Butterfly exhibit, and Reptile/Amphibian exhibits were very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Larger menu selection.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk at Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

The guide was extremely knowledgeable and showed us many subtle things. Fun and easy walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Lots of fun and interesting. The guide was very good, and funny!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Arenal Volcano hike was fun and we saw many animals. The guide was fantastic -- very kind and knowledgeable. After the Arenal Volcano Hike (which was more strenuous than we expected), we were too tired to do the La Fortuna Waterfall walk. The local tour company, Flow Trips, was very kind and substituted a twilight float trip that was lots of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In an airport on our way home last night, my 8 year-old grandson was reading posters for various travel options. "Where do you want to go next?" I asked. "Nowhere," he said. "I want to go back to Costa Rica.." That sums up our experience. When you work with an unfamiliar travel group, you never know if you can trust the literature. We could. Everything in our week-long trip went exactly as scheduled.
The hotel our family met up at, Buena Vista Chic Hotel, was beautifully situated. The staff was kind and the breakfast was delicious. The shuttle made it possible for us to arrive on three different flights.
Our personal driver, Cesar, accommodated all of our schedule requests and navigated challenging roads and traffic conditions carefully. He even brought a booster for our youngest traveler. Translation apps on our phones helped us out when we had plans to make that exceeded our language skills.
Our tour guides in Tirimbina (Ralph on the river trip and Valeria on the night walk at the Lodge) were fun to be with as well as very knowledgable about the wildlife at hand. The children overcame their initial fears about hanging bridges and became confident discoverers of monkeys, frogs and leaf-cutter ants.
The folks at Los Lagos let us swim before our afternoon excursion to the Mistico hanging bridges, even though check in wasn't until after 3. The adults loved soaking in the hot pools and the kids adored the water slides in the cool pools. We had lunch poolside and dinner in the dining room. Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. And breakfast the next morning was absolutely incredible. It was hard to tear the kids away after just one night.
The drive from La Fortuna to Quepos was challenging in its length and the hardest part of the trip. We arrived after dark and didn't know until the next morning how beautiful our beach location was at Karahé. Our rooms on the lower (beach) level were perfect both for the kids and the 2 grandmothers, giving us easy access to the water and restaurant. (I would NOT have wanted to need to cross the busy road dividing the property.) Breakfasts were very basic but dinner in the restaurant and lunches on the beach were great. We also took Ubers to 2 other restaurants.
The children skipped our excursion to Manuel Antonio Park in favor of playing on the beach. (The early start was too much for them although it put 4 of us at the front of the crowd at a very busy park). The easy walking and a good guide (Lisandro) with a telescopic lens made this visit comfortable for 2 of us with some vision and mobility issues, although I much preferred the quiet of Sarapiqui.
It was a pleasure to reconnect with "our" driver for the trip to the airport.
The trip was a total success for our family of folks ranging from 8 to 76. Thanks!

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

It was a pleasure to end our trip here with private beach access, the pool and the restaurant just steps away from our rooms. It was fun to have a sloth and her baby hanging in a tree by reception and a mischievous group of monkeys swinging past the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were especially well cared for at the beach and in the beachside portion of the restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

The children in our group would happily have lived here!

Authenticity & Character

The landscaping! The hot spring pools! The birds! The water slide! And the food!!! Breakfast was particularly lovely.

Location

Although clouds kept the volcano shrouded most of the time, it was lovely to be in its presence.

Staff

Check-in isn't until 3pm and we had an excursion scheduled for 1-3. The kids were eager to swim and the kind staff at reception had no problem with giving us early access to the water and restaurants.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every inch of the property is beautifully landscaped. Staff was constantly keeping it all pristine.

Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge

Sarapiquí

I wanted to start my family's first trip to Costa Rica in this quiet location away from crowds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Having constant access to trails meant the adults could talk short walks with the children without it being an "excursion."

Staff

Valeria was the guide on our night walk and she was so great with the kids!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

This hotel far exceeded our expectations. Yes, it was close to the SJO airport and had a shuttle. But it also had a beautiful location over-looking the city, very kind staff and a great restaurant. It was a perfect start to our week n Costa Rica.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The skyline at night was beautiful.

Staff

Our group arrived on 3 different flights. All were met and the staff helped navigate the challenges of finding supper for the last ones in. (The first person to arrive mentioned the kindness of the bartender)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

More than 3,000 people a day visit this park, so it was always busy. I much prefer quieter locations but the level paths and a guide with a telephoto lens on his scope made this a great final excursion for 2 of us with vision and mobility issues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver met us on time. Our guide, Lisandro, and his nephew were informative.

Transport

Night Walk at Tirimbina Rainforest Center

Sarapiquí

Our children were feeling a bit apprehensive about walking in the jungle at night. Valeria hit just the right tone to keep them engaged and comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat tour at Sarapiqui River

Sarapiquí

Our family had the boat to ourselves! Ralph was charming and informative. He and the boat captain spotted birds, reptiles and mammals that we certainly wouldn't have seen on our own. What a great lazy way to enjoy the area: motoring down the river. Ralph also shared some 3-D goggles that were a revelation to us all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ralph had a relaxed style and tons of information. We all enjoyed spending time with him.

Transport

Olman was very responsive and professional in making the arrangements for our trip. It was a relatively short notice trip which made it more difficult for him to arrange. We were able to accomplish all that we’d hoped to on our trip, and more, without much help from the Kim Kim team once we arrived.
We did have one snag in our itinerary due to us following the printed version rather than an on-line version in that the details of a tour we were to take did not print. We therefore went to the activity expecting our tour guide to be there for us, but the guide actually went to our hotel to pick us up. After much confusion at the event we were eventually let in but had to hire our own guide for the nature hike. We were not compensated for this.

Our entire experience was amazing. From our drivers, to the activities and the choice of accommodations!
We had a holiday we will never forget!
I/We were highly satisfied with Gustavo and KimKim.......I will recommend them over and over again!

Hotel Reviews

Occidental Tamarindo All Inclusive

Tamarindo

Second stay here - highly recommend for family holiday

Authenticity & Character

We like the charm of a smaller area

Location

We were happy with the location. A simple Uber ride into Tamarindo when we wanted to head out. We had a variety of animals that we saw right on site which was a thrill...monkeys, racoons, iguanas, and a large variety of birds

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was taken care of every day early. We had 3 rooms between the family, and the other 2 mentioned that there rooms could have been cleaned more often, or earlier. The sliding doors on the bathrooms do not slide well. Ours was particularly loud and difficult to close. One other room had the same issue.

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Highly recommend! The rooms were great - each family with our own bungalow was wonderful. The spring fed pools were very enjoyable. The food was good (in some cases a little pricey) but not having to leave resort to eat is a bonus. The Uber to La Fortuna was a great option. Definitely recommend Restaurante Fortuneno.....we spent New Years Eve with them for dinner and it was amazing! Tomahawk steak was a highlight.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Great service for meals......as in many swim up bar situations.....the bartenders OFTEN pretended not to see you, so service there was sub-par

Staff

Great service for meals......as in many swim up bar situations.....the bartenders OFTEN pretended not to see you, so service there was sub-par

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Liberia

The check in time was quite lengthy, but the accommodations were great

Authenticity & Character

Location

One night stay near the airport...had a great location

Staff

Only issue was time to check in .....well over half an hour....even if they had offered a complimentary drink while in line, or a "sorry for the wait" would have been nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Visit to the Tamarindo Market

Tamarindo

We went to the food truck area and enjoyed different meals before heading out on a nigh walk about. Friendly and safe town for the whole family

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Snorkeling Day

Tamarindo

We used this as a free day and a couple went to town, 4 went deep sea fishing, and we took a estuary tour on a boat to see monkeys and crocodiles

Self-Guided Beach Day from Tamarindo

Tamarindo

We walked along the beach - it does go into Tamarindo that way, we did not go all the way this time, we had on a previous trip and it is great. Taking an Uber into Tamarindo was inexpensive and very convenient. There is much to see there

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our family enjoyed this very much!! Swimming at the bottom of the waterfall was unforgettable!

Quality of Experience

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing for 10 y/o to 60 y/o. Quite an adventure. The length and heights were thrilling!! Our granddaughter (15) was feeling ill at the beginning of the adventure. Light headed and faint (found out during holiday she had pneumonia)! The first aid care there was top notch. Our daughter is a nurse and she said they were absolutely professional and spot on with care. They took her aside, gave her juice and chocolate, and kept her until vitals were all regulated. She was an amazing trooper and was able to finish all of the ziplines and the walking tour after. They allowed us to carry on even though this made us a bit later than scheduled. The walking tour afterwards was supreme!! Our guide was so knowledgeable and we found many, many animals and plants. Eyebrow snakes, monkeys, tarantulas, bat falcon and more!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We waited a while longer than we would have liked for return transport. Minor inconvenience, so no real issue

Transport

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Adventurous and soo much fun! A treat from 10 y/o to 60 y/o

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

God suggestions, and good planning, great hotels, cool activities, good communication. The kimkim was very patient with me as it took me 5 years to finally get to Costa Rica.

First off thank you for making my wife’s dream holiday come true. All of our drivers pickup us on time and we’re highly professional. The three hotel we stayed at were great. The Crowne Plaza first class accommodations and great restaurant and bar. Don’t remember names but the man and woman who waited on were fantastic. There singing of happy birthday and cupcake very special. Hotel Los Lagos was a little dated but after full of activities hot springs made things better. Restaurant and bar were good. Lastly the Sibu Hotel very modern with great bar and restaurant. Highlight there was wait staff first started singing happy birthday in English quietly and we then asked in Spainish and with gusto they belted it out fantastic.Activities number one Canyoning & Balsa River rafting combo was the best by far! The leader of the canyoning was great forgot his name and Adrian and his crew on the River were the best we had on the trip. The Selvatura Park zip lining was awesome hanging bridges ok. The volcano hike was very informative and fun. Only issue we had and maybe not your fault. The Cano Negro boat safari 2 hours 15 minutes one way and the same coming back was not really fun. We did see some wildlife but wondering if it could have been closer? Other then that it was a fantastic trip. We all will highly recommend your company to our friends and colleagues. Hopefully we will use your services in the future.

Activity Reviews

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari was a bit underwhelming for us. While we did get to see some wildlife, which was the main point, the long bus rides back and forth took a toll on our experience. It was more of a relaxed activity and not perfectly aligned with our active lifestyle. Nonetheless, it was still a fulfilling experience for the wildlife sightings, just not as thrilling as the other activities.

Canyoning & Balsa River Rafting Combo Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Canyoning and Balsa River Rafting Combo Adventure was another highlight of our trip. The guides were excellent, ensuring our safety all the time. The river had good rapids, but the guide assured us that if we fell out of the boat, we could just stand up as the river wasn’t too deep. We were like little kids, excited and thrilled by the end of it. Highly recommended!

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

The zip-lining and hanging bridges at Selvatura Park were amazing! We were a bit apprehensive at first, but that quickly turned into exhilaration. The anticipation for the first zip line was nerve-wracking, but once we did it, it was a piece of cake! We never felt unsafe, and the handlers did a fantastic job making sure we were well-prepared and safe throughout the experience. It was a thrilling adventure, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

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!

Hotel Reviews

Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel

Puerto Viejo

Great location and amenities. It was a mixed scene with loud club music during the day but family friendly service across the board.

Authenticity & Character

It's very modern and Euro in a Costa Rican setting. A bit of a contradiction.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable and housekeeping was frequent.

Casa Turire

Turrialba

Gorgeous building and setting with friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laguna Lodge

Tortuguero

Fun, family oriented hotel. The hotel and staff were lovely, but food wasn't varied enough for our length of stay (3 nights).

Authenticity & Character

The campus and access to ocean and river

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Surf Lesson at Salsa Brava

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The guide wasn't super family friendly. He was good with older kids but not really interested in helping those of use who weren't super confident (my daughter and me). He ended up going surfing with my husband and the other adults and leaving us on the beach when it was evident we weren't going to really go for it each time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Tour at the CATIE Botanical Gardens

Turrialba

The guide was awesome here, too, especially with some of us that were VERY scared of snakes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to the Summit of Cerro Tortuguero

Tortuguero

Chito, one of the resort's guides was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Canyoning with Children

Turrialba

Cesar and Serendipity were awesome. Our 6 year old was too scared to do it by herself and he and his team took her down and also dealt with our older child quitting half way through. The lunch at Cesar's mom's house was such a lovely ending, too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport