Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

4.8
Based on 956 ratings
Read 956 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Costa Rica on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

We went to Costa Rica for a combination of ch...
Costa Rica | Jan 18 - Feb 1, 2025

J
John M.
Windsor, CA | Reviewed on Feb 11, 2025
We went to Costa Rica for a combination of chill time along with wildlife. Holden and team did a nice job with that balance, planned activities with enough 'chill' time so we never felt especially rushed. I really appreciated that they assigned a person, Wilman, that we were in contact with on a almost daily basis via what's app. He helped us a number of times (including my wife got sick and we thought she might need to see someone. . It turns out she was fine but Wilman was useful in... Read more

We went to Costa Rica for a combination of chill time along with wildlife.

Holden and team did a nice job with that balance, planned activities with enough 'chill' time so we never felt especially rushed.

I really appreciated that they assigned a person, Wilman, that we were in contact with on a almost daily basis via what's app. He helped us a number of times (including my wife got sick and we thought she might need to see someone. . It turns out she was fine but Wilman was useful in researching our options if we had needed it), he also checked in every day or so to make sure we knew what was next (and in a few cases alerting us to a change in plans due to weather).

Overall our trip was great. We really enjoyed good weather, had fun beach time and saw a ton of animals.

Hotel Reviews
Aguas Claras
Puerto Viejo

Oh my god -- It is a bit of Heavanin an otherwise busy area with a semi-private beach and amazing service. Huge rooms with outdoor showers, yes!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Poas Volcano Lodge
Vara Blanca

This is a cool, kind of funky place. We were only there one night (which is probably about as much time as you'll want to spend.. it was cold!) but enjoyed it. If you go read the history of this place... it's pretty interesting.

Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

Great views, nice rooms, nice restaurant & bar area with amazing sunsets over the pacific ocean (or, depending on the weather you can watch clouds envelop the forest below) It's a bit of adventure to get here (windy roads that with lots of potholes) but it's worth it once you arrive!

Hotel Bosque del Mar
Playa Hermosa

Amazing location that is right on the beach. Rooms were spacious but they kind of looked into each other (Our balcony was sort of looking into someones bedroom) -- Not a problem as such but just worth noting. The beach access is amazing though, don't bother with the breakfast ($60 per person for a buffet!?) -- we went to a local place or just up to the market to get some staples. The bar was nice for lunch/dinner though and reasonable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience
San Carlos, Alajuela

This place is a resort style -- they have really nice grounds and that are well managed with plenty of tropical plants and a pretty active bird population who live there. Our unit had a private plunge pool heated by the thermal activity which was super nice -- we used it twice a day to relax (it was a really nice upgrade)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge
Sarapiquí

It's a pretty basic place in the middle of the rainforest (which, I guess makes it sort of exceptional in a lot of ways). This is a less touristy area and your choices are more limited. We rather enjoyed our stay with a patio outside and howler monkeys screaming in the morning. The rooms are, I guess you would say "Functional", and the restaurant area is sort of basic but you don't come here for the 5 start accommodations so it's fine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna

Of all of this things we did on our two week trip this was, by far, the most disappointing. You go up to an area and walk among the old lava flow but it's not really that remarkable(?) -- it's a rocky terrain with plants that are growing back (to the extent that it's hard to notice it was a lava flow in 1968 -- that is sort of interesting in how fast the plants have come back) then you walk back around a somewhat unremarkable lake. This was also the largest group thing we did (maybe 30 people -- they had two guides so maybe ~15 people per guide) but even if it had been private it would have been pretty unremarkable. The guide told us he's only seen the volcano clearly twice -- He's probably been doing it for at least 1 year (probably 2) so.. yea.....

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde

The reserve only let's in a limited number of people (200?) but we were in the guided group so we got in easily. We had to get there early to check in and they bus you to the reserved (maybe a 5 minute drive). The guide did is good job of describing the wildlife and was good at showing us flora and fauna.

Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva
Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Amazing kayak on the river.. It's a super slow river (almost a lake!) so it doesn't take much effort to Kayak either direction - It is also popular for kayaking so there were other people but it really wansn't too crowded. We saw sloths, alligators, a lot of turtles, bats, birds. After the Kayak the guide took us on a short hike (probably about 45 minutes) -- I was initially thinking we could probably skip the walk but I'm glad I didn't -- a ton more wildlife and some really nice views so well worth it.

 Countryside Horseback Ride
Countryside Horseback Ride
Monteverde

This is a real farm -- you drive up and there are dogs, random chickens and donkeys walking around and the folks who work there are basically the farmers -- only a few spoke English but it was a really fun experience. The day we went was spectacular as we tromped through the cloud forest with the dogs running with us and we even got to see them manage some cattle (with the dogs) at one point as they were blocking the way. Yummy snack at the end for a really authentic experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure
Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure
Costa Rica

A super chill day on a boat with some swimming and cave exploring.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica

There are a lot of coffee/chocalte tours and I thought it would be sort of forumalic but our tour guide was really good energy and it was fun to do the tour (even though it's a bit touresty it didn't feel like it) The place had an amazing set of wild birds who were flying around which was also a lot of fun. We were two adults and had a blast but you could bring even young kids and I think they would enjoy themselves.

Horseback Riding to the Waterfall
Horseback Riding to the Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

we enjoyed the riding and the horses and gear were well cared for. The hike down to the waterfall is steep (but doable) -- I would suggest you bring a pair of water shoes if you want to cross the river.

Privately Guided Naturalist Hike at La Selva Biological Station
Privately Guided Naturalist Hike at La Selva Biological Station
Sarapiquí

This is an all day session with guides who are experienced. We had a private tour and the guide had an apprentice who was in training so four of us total. He really had a good understanding of the wildlife and was great at finding them with his monucular.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Arenal/La Fortuna

I love night walks and this was no exception - -- Pretty much all we saw were frogs but that is OK since there are a lot of fun frogs to spot.

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 11, 2025
John,
Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed and thoughtful review. Your thoughts on each hotel and activity will help us plan for future travelers!
I'm glad to hear that you had a successful trip to Costa Rica and that Wilman was able to offer reassurance and guidance for your medical situation. I am also very happy to hear that you enjoyed your time at Finca Madre Tierra and their wonderful horses. They are a genuinely unique experience in Costa Rica. The same holds true for... Read more

John,
Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed and thoughtful review. Your thoughts on each hotel and activity will help us plan for future travelers!

I'm glad to hear that you had a successful trip to Costa Rica and that Wilman was able to offer reassurance and guidance for your medical situation.

I am also very happy to hear that you enjoyed your time at Finca Madre Tierra and their wonderful horses. They are a genuinely unique experience in Costa Rica. The same holds true for Aguas Claras, an authentic Tico experience in the Caribbean!

Thank you again for trusting us to plan and organize your trip. I hope you have many wonderful memories of your time in Costa Rica!

Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Great Costa Rica Trip to Maximize Vacation with KimKim!
Costa Rica | Jan 31 - Feb 6, 2025

Ashley
Ashley A.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 10, 2025
Our trip to Costa Rica was such a great experience thanks to KimKim with guidance from Holden! Really appreciated him taking the time to meet with us, walk us through options, make adjustments to the itinerary and activities based on our interest and physical level. We were able to book a trip with only a couple of months with a maximized schedule. Loved every detail in the trip, the places we went, the hotels booked and the ease to attend all the activities. Really appreciated the KimKim team. Read more

Our trip to Costa Rica was such a great experience thanks to KimKim with guidance from Holden! Really appreciated him taking the time to meet with us, walk us through options, make adjustments to the itinerary and activities based on our interest and physical level. We were able to book a trip with only a couple of months with a maximized schedule. Loved every detail in the trip, the places we went, the hotels booked and the ease to attend all the activities. Really appreciated the KimKim team.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal History Inn
Arenal

Really liked this spot overall. It's just right off the highway and the noise from all the traffic, especially motorbikes, makes it really hard to sleep. I think guests should know that going in. It is a beautiful location with great breakfast and amenities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right off the main road
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

By far the best view in a stay on vacation! We stayed in bungalow #8 and while the stairs are a killer, that view was worth it every time. Loved this spot in relation to the overall town layout, the proximity to other bars, restaurants and the Manuel Antonio National Park

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hampton by Hilton San José Airport
Alajuela

It's a standard Hampton hotel. Overall it's good, not great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde

This place is beautiful and in a great setting! The wind up there really gets to high MPH, so the door on the back patio really rattles through the night. Still a great spot to stay. Great food too!

Authenticity & Character
Location
It's on a mountain with incredible views!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal
EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

A great hot spring and meal overall. We showed up for a night swim and the pools were much larger than expected! A great layout and experience overall.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

A beautiful area around Arenal. Great to have a guide! Not a huge fan of the La Fortuna Waterfall due to the amount of people but it was still pretty cool overall.

Quality of Experience
Food
Mariano took us to the Red Frog Cafe and it was delicious!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde

Overall this was pretty cool. We really liked our guide, Elvis, and he did his best to help give a good experience. We definitely had a lot of people in our group and in general there were a lot of people on the pathways with guides. It makes it hard to enjoy parts of the walk.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling
Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling
Manuel Antonio

Super fun day of kayaking and snorkeling! Great sightings of fish during snorkeling. Loved the entire trip!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 10, 2025

Thank you for your review Ashley, I'm glad to hear that you and April had a great time on your fast-paced trip to Costa Rica. I'm especially glad to hear that you liked Karahé and the Ocean Kayaking activity in Manuel Antonio! I hope you both have great memories of your time here in Costa Rica with us.
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Wonderful Costa Rica trip!
Costa Rica | Jan 23 - Jan 29, 2025

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Lisa E.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2025

Our first accommodations were unique and comfortable. Mariano was our guide through Serendipity for the Volcano hike and La Fortuna waterfall. He was wonderful. Full of knowledge and personable. Highly recommend.
The coffee and chocolate tour was great!
The Villa Sol hotel was also lovely! The sail/snorkel through Kuna Vela trip was fabulous! Thanks to everyone who helped organize the trip.

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 10, 2025

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to review your trip to Costa Rica 🦋 I'm glad to hear that everything went well and that you enjoyed your accommodations in Arenal and the Gulf of Papagayo! It's fantastic that your guides were able to show you the best time on your tours and that you had a relaxing sailing trip along the coast with our friends at Kuna Vela! ⛵

Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

All in all a good trip. Well organized witho...
Costa Rica | Jan 19 - Feb 2, 2025

R
Richard M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2025
All in all a good trip. Well organized without a hitch on all the connections. Costa Rica itself is amazing, if not a little over sold. A couple of the tours were a bit disappointing, especially the Manual Antonio tour thru the park. Way to many people, to commercial and very little wildlife. Hotels were all good except Monte Verde which had a small room and the Wyndham in San Jose which is very dated with bad (very) beds. An upgrade helped, but this one is questionable. Greg and... Read more

All in all a good trip. Well organized without a hitch on all the connections. Costa Rica itself is amazing, if not a little over sold. A couple of the tours were a bit disappointing, especially the Manual Antonio tour thru the park. Way to many people, to commercial and very little wildlife. Hotels were all good except Monte Verde which had a small room and the Wyndham in San Jose which is very dated with bad (very) beds. An upgrade helped, but this one is questionable. Greg and Gustavo, thanks for all of your work, we would not hesitate to use you again now that we have a better idea of what we might like...
Rick and Simone

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

We enjoyed a fantastic family trip to Costa R...
Costa Rica | Nov 19 - Nov 27, 2024

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Lindsey F.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2025
We enjoyed a fantastic family trip to Costa Rica! All three locations were fantastic, and the activities really let us see so many different animals. Adam and Jessica were very helpful especially with changing weather conditions right before the trip started! Read more

We enjoyed a fantastic family trip to Costa Rica! All three locations were fantastic, and the activities really let us see so many different animals. Adam and Jessica were very helpful especially with changing weather conditions right before the trip started!

Hotel Review
Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs
La Fortuna

Fantastic location, very quiet and peaceful. Easy to get into town and such a spectacular view!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Arenal Volcano Hike & Paradise Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal Volcano Hike & Paradise Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike and our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the history of the area. The hot springs and meal afterwards was a perfect way to enjoy the evening.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Adam Gomez

Great Intro to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Jan 25 - Feb 1, 2025

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elisabeth c.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2025
This was a great way for us to get a feel for Costa Rica and an understanding of the available options for further travel. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and their experience and sighting skills made a huge difference to how much we were able to see. Read more

This was a great way for us to get a feel for Costa Rica and an understanding of the available options for further travel. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and their experience and sighting skills made a huge difference to how much we were able to see.

Hotel Reviews
Tenorio Lodge
Bijagua de Upala

Tenorio Lodge was my favorite of our 3 hotels. Small, owner operated and lovingly maintained it had an astonishing array of birds, from Toucans to Baltimore Orioles, coming in to enjoy daily feedings of bananas. Also sported a pair of resident sloths, and a tapir trail through the grounds. We stayed in Cabin #6 which was airy, comfortable and very private. Breakfast was excellent, if we went back we would probably go into Bijagua for dinner--we had a very tasty lunch at El Barrigon.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

Very attractive hotel with comfortable and stylish room. The grounds right around the hotel were beautifully landscaped but we saw only an occasional hummingbird on the grounds. The trails were not very inviting--poorly marked, and the loop we followed wound along the service side of some of the buildings. The food was excellent, albeit expensive. Staff was helpful and efficient, but felt quite corporate compared to Tenorio Lodge where it felt like a family operation.

Bahia del Sol Hotel
Guanacaste

This hotel had a stunning location right on the beach, and beautifully landscaped grounds-- I found it odd that we didn't see any pollinators on the many tropical blossoms. The reception staff was very helpful. Our standard room was a let down from our first 2 hotels--primarily because it had no windows. The room itself was comfortable and stylish. We liked being able to walk around the town of Potrero Beach and had a couple of nice meals at the Shack and La Forketta.

Activity Reviews
Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Private Hike
Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Private Hike
Bijagua / Rio Celeste

It was raining, and the only trail open in the park was the waterfall walk, but our guide gave us a great tour. He spotted several snakes, I tasted a termite, we made it to the waterfall and back. Our driver was extremely attentive to wildlife along the road to the park and stopped so we could get a good look at howler monkeys and a king vulture. The fruit snack at the end of the hike was delicious, and we were delighted when the driver and guide accepted our invitation to lunch on the way back to the lodge.

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions
Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions
Costa Rica

The hanging bridges walk was a chance to experience the grandeur of the canopy. I enjoyed simply breathing in the surroundings, but we would have understood what we were seeing much better with a guide. I would skip the sloth and reptile displays. The butterfly garden was worth a visit--we had a particularly good guide for the Fauna exhibits who had a special interest in insects. The next day we booked a last minute tour at the Monteverde Biological reserve, which I highly recommend. It was a nice complement to the canopy walk at Selvatura.

Palo Verde National Park Safari Cruise with Lunch
Palo Verde National Park Safari Cruise with Lunch
Costa Rica

This is remote--we enjoyed seeing the countryside, but it was a long time in the car. The boat tour itself was excellent, and the captain was very skilled at spotting wildlife and maneuvering the boat in close for a good look. It was in our favor that it was low tide and there was a breeze. The lunch and stops at a community center with a craft stand run by single moms as well as a stop to see traditional pottery were both quite interesting and a nice change from many of the souvenir shops with made in China goods.

Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 08, 2025

Hola Elisabeth!

Thank you so much for your kind words!

We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience and that our guides helped you get a true feel for Costa Rica. Their passion and expertise really do make all the difference, and we’re glad it enhanced your trip.

We hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!

Pura Vida! Bryan

Cost Rica 3 wk Hiking, Rainforest and Wildlife Trip
Costa Rica | Jan 13 - Feb 5, 2025

Jim and Susan
Jim and Susan J.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2025
Overall Comments.
We had a fabulous three weeks holiday due very much to the quality of Kim Kim’s itinerary planning, logistics organization, the quality of the operators and tour guides employed and the on-going communication and support to us throughout the trip by Kim Kim.
Trail damage and mud due to heavy rains prior to our trip or on several days during our trip, forced some limited rescheduling of tours but in all cases tour operators (and we) adapted without problems.
Kim Kim... Read more

Overall Comments.
We had a fabulous three weeks holiday due very much to the quality of Kim Kim’s itinerary planning, logistics organization, the quality of the operators and tour guides employed and the on-going communication and support to us throughout the trip by Kim Kim.
Trail damage and mud due to heavy rains prior to our trip or on several days during our trip, forced some limited rescheduling of tours but in all cases tour operators (and we) adapted without problems.

Kim Kim Organization
Kim Kim organization of our itinerary and communication with us was first class. Gustavo was very responsive to our concerns and suggestions in crafting our itinerary. Greg did a fabulous job of attending to the details and building this into our on-line itinerary. The scheduling of a Skype type call with us just shortly before our trip was very helpful in our preparations.

Kim Kim Support.
Greg’s availability throughout the trip to clarify issues was reassuring.

Locations Visited.
We were very happy with all locations visited and, with one exception, the amount of time spent in each. With advanced information on the closure of the Tortuguero Hill trail which evidently had been closed for around two months because of a fallen tree, a day less in Tortuguero would have been appropriate.

Tours.
All the tours organized by Kim Kim and the guides they employed were first class. Of the self guided days that we had built into our itinerary as efforts to cut down on costs or take a break, the Day 1 Cahuita Park trek and the three days in San Jose worked out well. Because of the mud situation with the jungle hike in Gandoca Manzanillo Refuge the Exploradores guide, Rodriguo made an excellent substitute by taking us kayaking. We loved that experience. The Tortuguero Hill trail was closed so we organized our own water taxi to San Francisco and that was perfectly fine. Making a self guided trek to the Arenal Volcano proved impractical because of the isolated location of the Lost Iguana Resort so we took a tour of the Arenal Volcano through the hotel. The English language skills of the guide were nowhere near as good as the other guides we had. In Santa Elena we decided taking a tour for the Curi Cancha Reserve was a good investment both for the guiding services and transport to get there. We booked this through Ocotea, the same company as Kim Kim engaged for the Cloud Forest Reserve, and it was a good tour. The San Pedrillo tour in Corcovado was much better for us than the Sirena tour but this was largely because of the fantastic wildlife sightings we made at the first compared with the second (a tapir and a puma up close) and also because of the shorter trip and easier sand beach access of the first. Our sightings on the second day in Sirena were slim and disappointing by comparison but from what we heard about prevalence of wildlife at each location our sighting experiences could easily have been the other way around. The beach embarkation at Sirena at low tide on large rocks as well as long rock slippery shelves had its difficulties for us and the wet shoes we had didn’t help our experience. Flip flops are not an option particularly at Sirena. Unfortunately for Susan one of her Keens’ water shoes had separated at the sole so weren’t usable so she was making do with flip flops which were not advised.

The zip line experience in Santa Elena turned out to be quite a highlight for us. We were nearly going to pull out but after our two test runs and encouragement from the staff, we went ahead with all five more.

Transfers.
The transfers operated and coordinated by Ride CR (almost all) all went off very smoothly. So did our Sansa flights.
The boat trip from Puerto Sierpe to Drake Bay was an hour and a half later than expected (the boat departs at 4pm as opposed to 3pm) and possibly not with the boat and skipper we were expecting. We are not even sure we even met Captain Licho 😊 But it all worked well in the end and we enjoyed the experience. We certainly were happy to have taken this method of getting to Drake Bay rather than an extra two and a half hours by road.

Accommodation.

Hotel Santo Thomas - San Jose.
This proved a great choice for us. The location relative to downtown, to a number of excellent restaurants and a bank was superb. The room was spacious and comfortable with all the amenities we needed. The breakfast was perfectly adequate. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. The price was also excellent.

Umami Hotel - Puerto Viejo.
This hotel was also excellent. A well appointed and nicely decorated room although the mattress on the main bed was not as firm as I would have liked. The staff were friendly and helpful. The location was great. We really enjoyed Puerto Viejo.

Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero.
This lodge is well located in reasonable proximity to the village and ocean beach. It is well laid out and the pool is great. The ability to walk into the village of Tortuguero was very good. However the hot water in our room was intermittent. Some of the staff could have been more friendly and enthusiastic.

Lost Iguana- Arenal.
This hotel was excellent and staff were universally helpful, friendly and enthusiastic. The food at the property was good and our room excellent. However it was very isolated from La Fortuna and because we didn’t have our own car it cost us US$40 each way to go to La Fortuna and didn’t allow us to eat dinner anywhere else other than the hotel’s restaurant.

Mar Inn - Santa Elena.
This motel, though modest in services and appointments met our needs very well. It was located close to the centre of Santa Elena village.

Rancho Corcovado- Drake Bay.
This motel was a real mixture. We were in a beautiful and huge room that seemed only partially furnished. It had no chairs or tables (other than recliner chairs on the balcony) and no hangers of any description either for clothes or towels

Possible areas for Improvement might be two or three page printed spreadsheet itinerary that was more easily referenced in off-line locations (we created our own). Also, better information on things like the trail closure on Tortuguero Hill would have been good.

Hotel Review
Hotel Santo Tomas
San Jose

This proved a great choice for us. The location relative to downtown, a number of excellent restaurants and a bank was superb. The room was spacious and comfortable with all the amenities we needed. The breakfast was perfectly adequate. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. The price was also excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Old tile floors, spacious rooms, high ceilings.
Location
Easily walkable distance to downtown attractions such as the Teatro Nationale and the Museo Nationale, a bank, on the edge of the Barrio Anon district with a number of great restaurants of different cuisine styles and price levels and a number of good souvenir shops.
Staff
Thomas, the owner provided a lot of good advice and all the staff were helpful and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was firm and very comfortable.
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

KimKim made planning our trip easy!
Costa Rica | Jan 16 - Jan 29, 2025

Barb
Barb S.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2025
I was impressed with KimKim from beginning to end. I worked with Olman to plan our itinerary and everything went like clockwork. All our transfers were arranged and on time. Our tours were scheduled and went off flawlessly. We stayed in wonderful lodges/hotels with no issues. We visited three areas of beautiful Costa Rica -La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. Our itinerary allowed us to experience waterfalls, safari river float and hot springs in La Fortuna, cloud forests, hanging... Read more

I was impressed with KimKim from beginning to end. I worked with Olman to plan our itinerary and everything went like clockwork. All our transfers were arranged and on time. Our tours were scheduled and went off flawlessly. We stayed in wonderful lodges/hotels with no issues. We visited three areas of beautiful Costa Rica -La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. Our itinerary allowed us to experience waterfalls, safari river float and hot springs in La Fortuna, cloud forests, hanging bridges hike and horseback riding in Monteverde and beach time in Manuel Antonio. In Manuel Antonio, we watched monkeys from our balcony while staying at the Jungle Vista Boutique Hotel. I Gracia from KimKim checked in us while we were in Costa Rica. Because of rain we had canceled one tour and she wanted to see if we were ok. She also answered questions I had about our departure so we felt well taken care of while there. I highly recommend KimKim and am a very satisfied customer.

Local specialist: Olman Romero
Olman
Olman Romero
Local specialist in San Jose, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 06, 2025
Hello Barbara, Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience! It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your trip to Costa Rica, and I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly. From your adventures in La Fortuna and Monteverde to your relaxing time in Manuel Antonio, it sounds like you had an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments! I’m also glad that Graciela was able to assist you along the way—our goal is always to ensure you feel supported and... Read more

Hello Barbara,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience! It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your trip to Costa Rica, and I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly. From your adventures in La Fortuna and Monteverde to your relaxing time in Manuel Antonio, it sounds like you had an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments!

I’m also glad that Graciela was able to assist you along the way—our goal is always to ensure you feel supported and well taken care of throughout your trip.

We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so happy to have been a part of your Costa Rican adventure. If you ever decide to visit again, I’d love to help craft another incredible experience for you!

Pura Vida,
Olman

Great introduction to CR
Costa Rica | Jan 25 - Feb 1, 2025

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Richard C.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2025

All the individual guides and drivers were very good, especially those on the Rio Celeste hike, they were very thoughtful in dealing with the rainy weather. The accommodations were each very different, Tenorio Lodge had exceptional wildlife and birds.

Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 04, 2025

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad to hear that you had a great experience with the guides and drivers, especially on the Río Celeste hike. It’s wonderful that they helped make the experience enjoyable despite the rainy weather. Tenorio Lodge is indeed a special place for wildlife and birdwatching—I’m happy you got to experience that!

Wishing you many more amazing adventures ahead. Let me know if I can assist you in the future!

Pura Vida,
Bryan

The trip of a lifetime!.
Costa Rica | Jan 18 - Feb 1, 2025

Mary Beth
Mary Beth S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 03, 2025
From our first interaction with Gustavo, we were impressed! Kimkim arranged our perfect trip after inquiring about our interests and preferences. We were easily able to modify our trip when our circumstances changed. The vacation itself was perfect. The hotels were amazing and the transfers from one locale to another went seamlessly. Each and every driver was friendly, informative, and accommodating. When our trips were long, our drivers suggested fabulous lunch spots! The... Read more

From our first interaction with Gustavo, we were impressed! Kimkim arranged our perfect trip after inquiring about our interests and preferences. We were easily able to modify our trip when our circumstances changed.

The vacation itself was perfect. The hotels were amazing and the transfers from one locale to another went seamlessly. Each and every driver was friendly, informative, and accommodating. When our trips were long, our drivers suggested fabulous lunch spots! The activities Gustavo suggested were amazing from the hikes through the rainforest and cloud forest to the catamaran cruise, where we snorkeled and spotted a pod of humpback whales. Over the two week adventure, we enjoyed spotting caiman, sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, raccoons, an anteater, pit vipers, and a plethora of colorful birds! This was truly the trip of a lifetime!

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

Amazing Pura Vida experience
Costa Rica | Dec 21 - Dec 30, 2024

Aparna
Aparna D.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 03, 2025
Working with Elena and Wilman from KimKim team was amazing. We had a great vacation which was tailored to what we were looking for from the vacation.
Starting with the itinerary creation, the process was very collaborative and Elena took a lot of time to ensure we minimized travel time by traversing the country in the right order, got the hotel choices that met our expectations of luxury and booked activities that we would enjoy as a family.
Once the journey started Wilman was a great day...
Read more

Working with Elena and Wilman from KimKim team was amazing. We had a great vacation which was tailored to what we were looking for from the vacation.
Starting with the itinerary creation, the process was very collaborative and Elena took a lot of time to ensure we minimized travel time by traversing the country in the right order, got the hotel choices that met our expectations of luxury and booked activities that we would enjoy as a family.
Once the journey started Wilman was a great day to day contact, checking in our us, ensuring everything was smooth and as per our expectations. He also helped with last minute taxi bookings. We asked a for a last time adjustment to the itinerary the day before the end of the trip to include an additional volcano visit and Wilman organized everything for us within a couple of hours.
Costa Rica is famous for its laid back Pura Vida approach. Elena and Wilman made sure our experience was Pura Vida while they said alert and on top of our needs.

Thank you both for a great trip. We will remember this one for the rest of our lives!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Heliconia
Monteverde

Good hotel..lovely views. Spacious and clean rooms, walking distance from several great restaurants. Courteous friendly staff. Breakfast service and checkout could be faster. Just FYI - For travelers with mobility concerns - the walking distance from restaurants is steep incline walks but that's Costa Rica for you

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort
La Fortuna

Lovely hotel. Beautiful landscaping... The hotel itself offers so much - hiking areas, zip lining, hot springs pools spa restaurants . I could just go stay at the hotel and have a 5 day vacation easily. Going from the main entrance to the rooms those is also a hike (use the shuttle). We are a very fitness oriented family and yet ended up getting tired/bored/overwhelmed by the long hikes from the room to the amenities and used the shuttle.

Authenticity & Character
This is a resort like place. Just different from what I would expect from 'authenticity and character '
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Studio Hotel
San José

Stunning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

This is a very basic hotel. Good for the location (beachfront) but that's about it. Clean but As basic as it gets. No frills. Even the safe inside the room was broken. We wanted to ask someone to come fix it and guess what - no phone in the room to contact front desk - have to walk all the way to the other side of the road to get someone.

Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Feb 03, 2025
Hola Aparna, Thank you so much for your thoughtful and heartfelt review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ !
It was truly a pleasure working with you and your family to craft a memorable journey through Costa Rica. I’m delighted to hear that the itinerary, hotel selections, and activities aligned perfectly with your expectations.
Wilman and I greatly appreciate your kind words, and we’re so happy that you felt supported throughout your trip. Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for our travelers is always our top... Read more

Hola Aparna,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and heartfelt review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ !
It was truly a pleasure working with you and your family to craft a memorable journey through Costa Rica. I’m delighted to hear that the itinerary, hotel selections, and activities aligned perfectly with your expectations.

Wilman and I greatly appreciate your kind words, and we’re so happy that you felt supported throughout your trip. Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for our travelers is always our top priority, and it’s wonderful to know that we could contribute to your unforgettable Pura Vida adventure.

Thank you once again for trusting Serendipity Adventures and us with your vacation plans. We would love to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future for another incredible experience!

Wishing you all the best, Pura Vida!

Elena Mora.
Serendipity Adventures

Enjoyable trip to Costa Rica!
Costa Rica | Jan 21 - Jan 31, 2025

Judy
Judy J.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2025
Overall our trip to Costa Rica arranged by KimKim (Serendipity Travel) was great!. The hotels were located in good locations and were comfortable. The staff were friendly For the most part, the local tours were fantastic! The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and truly loved their job and country! We saw sloths, howler, spider and capuchin monkeys as well as Macaws, and even one Toucan!! Read more

Overall our trip to Costa Rica arranged by KimKim (Serendipity Travel) was great!. The hotels were located in good locations and were comfortable. The staff were friendly

For the most part, the local tours were fantastic! The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and truly loved their job and country! We saw sloths, howler, spider and capuchin monkeys as well as Macaws, and even one Toucan!!

Hotel Reviews
Hacienda La Esperanza, Boutique Coffee Farm House
Cartago

One of our favorite places so far in Costa Rica. The house was beautiful, with art relating to the area and with a beautiful garden with many fruits, herbs, and local plants. The staff were friendly and cooked amazing meals for us! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend spending as long as you can here!

Authenticity & Character
The hotel was over 100 years old and filled with local art and history!
Location
The hacienda was located on a slight hill close to the town of Aquaires in a large garden setting.
Staff
The staff was lovely and cooked amazing meals!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
We stayed in the Coyote room with has a double bed (I swear it wasn't a queen), as well as another bedroom with three single beds. The bathroom was large and the shower was good!
La Mariposa Hotel
Manuel Antonio

We had a large room overlooking the Pacific. Unfortunately it was located right next to one of the bars that played music all day, but luckily went quiet by 6:00 pm. Since we were on the west side of the hotel, mornings were enjoyable sitting on our private patio, but by later in the day, it was way too hot to be outside. Breakfast buffet was good, nothing outstanding. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
It's a fairly modern hotel with not a lot of character, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in this case, since the view was outstanding.
Location
The view over the Pacific was amazing. Fairly quiet neighborhood.
Staff
Not really.
Cleanliness & Comfort
While there was a loveseat in the room one could sit on, there were no end tables where you could put your drink. The window shade on the largest window overlooking the bar could not be closed (it appeared to be broken with no chain with which to raise or lower the shade). You could see the bar tenders/guests at the bar, so we always felt we had to be mindful of walking too close to the window that we needed to be dressed.
Hyatt Place San Jose/Pinares
San Jose

We only spent one night here on our way from the airport out of town. It was fine, nothing outstanding.

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Nice bungalow in a resort 8 km or so from the main town. We had a premium room which included a jacuzzi tub (which was awkward to use when taking a shower) and a large patio with rocking chairs and hammock! It was quiet and private even though we shared a wall with one other unit.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful setting with bungalows scattered throughout the property so you always felt you had your own space.
Location
Far enough from town and the main road that it was quiet and very relaxing.
Staff
The cleaning staff came by our room twice a day!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was comfortable and the room very clean.
Activity Reviews
Aquiares Coffee & Community Experience
Aquiares Coffee & Community Experience
Turrialba

We had a very informative tour of the coffee plantation and the process from planting to roasting the beans! Manuel was our guide and he did a great job explaining why their coffee is so good!!

Rain_Maker Night Tour with Traditional Dinner
Rain_Maker Night Tour with Traditional Dinner
Manuel Antonio

I'm not sure if we were expecting too much from this tour or it just wasn't the right one for us. I think it didn't help that they were late picking us up, the 12 passenger van was full and it took 45 minutes to get to the actual tour location. The "traditional dinner" consisted of rice, beans and meat so overcooked it was impossible to eat. Our guide was knowledgeable, but really into frogs... we saw a lot of frogs.

Food
Get a better cook!
Archaeological Tour of Guayabo National Monument
Archaeological Tour of Guayabo National Monument
Turrialba

Our guide was informative, but unfortunately it poured the entire time we were there which made it difficult to see the site fully.

Private: Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
Private: Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a fantastic guide, Bernardo, who could spot a monkey high up in the treetops! He was great at answering our many questions about the area and wildlife. We were fortunate to see not only Capuchin but also howler and spider monkeys.

Quality of Experience
The hanging bridges were a not to be missed experience!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Bernardo was outstanding. Personable and very knowledgeable about the park and wildlife.
Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float
Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float
Arenal/La Fortuna

Floating down a river in Costa Rica is a not to be missed experience! We had an excellent guide, Chris, and another couple in our raft who were fun to talk with. While we did float downriver a bit, there was also quite a bit of paddling to be done. Th raft was ok the first hour, but by the end of the second, we were all sore and anxious to get off the raft.

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

This is a fantastic tour IF you have a guide! It makes the whole experience so worthwhile if you have someone who can not only find the wildlife you've come so far to see, but also the history of the park. Our guide was another gem who could spot wildlife and zero in on them with his telescope! We got some fantastic pictures of sloths and one Toucan!

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Buffet Meal
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Buffet Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

There were several large hot spring pools cascading down a hillside with smaller, warmer pools scattered around. The dinner buffet was pretty good.

Local Flavors Cooking Class
Local Flavors Cooking Class
Manuel Antonio

Fun experience on the tour owners farm. There were only 4 of us on this tour so everyone got the chance to dice the veggies and stir the pots! Delicious food and we were given the recipes at the end!! It was fun to get out of town and see some of the countryside.

Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 04, 2025

Hola Judy!

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you had a great trip and enjoyed the hotels, tours, and amazing wildlife encounters. It’s wonderful that you got to see such a variety of animals—especially the toucan! 😊

I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and if you ever decide to visit Costa Rica again, I’d be happy to help!

Pura Vida!
Bryan

A wonderful experience in Costa Rica thanks to Serendipity Adventures
Costa Rica | Jan 21 - Feb 1, 2025

Paule
Paule D.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2025
Holden and his team (Nancy, and Wilman) took the time to know us and customized our trip to offer a wonderful experience. Our focus was nature and wildlife photography. The hotels they recommended were a delight and the guide and excursions were fantastic. They recommended a 4x4 which was perfect for the type of driving and excursion we had in mind, they also recommended a local and knowledgeable guide for us in Monteverde who customized our tour to allow us to see the elusive resplendent... Read more

Holden and his team (Nancy, and Wilman) took the time to know us and customized our trip to offer a wonderful experience. Our focus was nature and wildlife photography. The hotels they recommended were a delight and the guide and excursions were fantastic. They recommended a 4x4 which was perfect for the type of driving and excursion we had in mind, they also recommended a local and knowledgeable guide for us in Monteverde who customized our tour to allow us to see the elusive resplendent Quizals (a rare bird!). The Serendipity team was in touch with us through whatsapp during our trip, always ready to answer any questions and offer suggestions. They regularly checked on us to ensure everything was smooth, they took care of every detail, even ensuring we could return our rental car to our hotel which had a free shuttle to the airport, making the return smooth and stress-free. I recommend them without any reserve and use their service again on a return trip to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews
Heliconias Nature Inn
Peñas Blancas

The staff was friendly and helpful. We did a bird-watching tour with Victor who is very knowledgeable and saw many birds and even sloths on the property! We stayed in one of the glass bungalows. They have AC and are very quiet and comfortable but a little dark since they are in the jungle, The walk to the restaurant is a little tiring after a long day, bring comfy shoes!

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel is located 30 minutes from La Fortuna, a little remote but the property is very good if your goal is to be in nature and see birds and wildlife. it is quiet which we really appreciated!
Staff
Friendly and very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fonda Vela Hotel
Monteverde

We had a junior suite, it was immaculate, the shower was roomy, very comfortable beds, and a dehumidifier in the room which is a plus in the rain forest! They provide robe and you can make a reservation to use the private jacuzzi at the spa at no extra charge. They also have hot tubs and a large pool. This hotel is in the clouds, you have a wonderful view from the dining room and the bedrooms. The staff is friendly and helpful and the food is good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport
Liberia

The room itself is average but it is what you expect from this type of hotel. The pool is really nice and the fact that we could return our rental car at the hotel (enterprise) was a definite plus, along with the free shuttle to the airport which made our return stress free. The breakfast as included and was surprisingly good, including buffet and an omelette station!

Authenticity & Character
Location
5 min from the airport, I am rating it a 5 for easy transfer, this is the perfect place if you arrive with a late flight and leave early.
Staff
The restaurant was under staffed in the evening but they really did their best to serve everyone in a timely fashion, we just felt bad for our waiter!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 03, 2025

Thank you Paule for taking the time to review your trip. We value your feedback! I'm happy to hear our team at Serendipity Adventures provided an amazing experience and that you were able to see and photograph the resplendent quetzal!
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

This was an amazing trip, and in no small par...
Costa Rica | Jan 9 - Jan 23, 2025

J
Jordan S.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2025
This was an amazing trip, and in no small part thanks to the knowledge, experience, and service from Serendipity Adventures. Holden had a great itinerary planned out for us and quickly took feedback to help us personalize it exactly how we wanted. Nancy was fantastic in setting everything up and getting all our confirmations in order, and Wilman was a solid and constant presence checking in with us on the ground and helping us when we needed it. Starting in Manuel Antonio with our first... Read more

This was an amazing trip, and in no small part thanks to the knowledge, experience, and service from Serendipity Adventures. Holden had a great itinerary planned out for us and quickly took feedback to help us personalize it exactly how we wanted. Nancy was fantastic in setting everything up and getting all our confirmations in order, and Wilman was a solid and constant presence checking in with us on the ground and helping us when we needed it.

Starting in Manuel Antonio with our first guide Andres set the bar high for our expectations. The forest there and the animal life was a great start, along with our first hotel, La Mariposa. That site was fantastic, and the staff were courteous and kind. In our guided walk we saw sloths, insects, and birds aplenty. We saw howlers, capuchins, iguanas, and so much more. Taking time on the beach was great and very comfortable. The kayak we had the next day was a bit rough on the water, but it was great to see the park from a different vantage point, and snorkel in amongst some schools of fish.

Moving from there to Monteverde was easy enough in our rental car... the roads can be a bit choppy but easily managed when driving with care. The Cloud Forest Lodge was a beautiful spot to stay, with wildlife right out our deck and Alejandra was particularly helpful. When we realized we had a flat tire, she quickly got Wilberth involved who fixed our tire for us while we were off on Cloud Forest tour with another fantastic guide, also named Andres. The restaurant on site was also amazing, and recommend anyone staying to have at least one dinner there.

La Fortuna and the Arenal area gave us yet more wildlife out our door (pretty much common most everywhere we were), at Kioro. Here we went to hot springs, went kayaking on the lake, forest hike, made quick trips into La Fortuna to hit up local and cheap restaurants, and waited patiently for the clouds to part to show us Arenal in its entirety... we didn't get that, but by no means did it diminish our experiences. :D

A quick trip up to Rio Celeste, and staying at the Hideaway was a beautiful spot with our very own casita. We had a night hike to see Tapirs, and got to witness a bunch of other wildlife including an anteater, vipers, and frogs. And the next day we caught a sloth on the Hideaway property, even. We had hike over to Tenorio park and while it was clouded in and we couldn't see the volcanoes, the sun did come out for us to see the beautiful Rio Celeste and its remarkable colour.

From Rio Celeste, over to the busier town of Tamarindo, we had a night trip to witness the beauty of sea turtles coming up the beach to lay their eggs. Tamarindo is definitely more bustle, and lots of folks go here for surfing. In addition to our turtle tour, we enjoyed walking the beach, and had a good catamaran sail which took us around to a bay for some beach ocean swimming.

Overall, this was an amazing trip and we have a bunch of really great memories. I'm sure I've missed a lot details above, of only for the sheer volume of great moments. The people of Costa Rica were warm and welcoming, and really accommodating. And while I was a bit concerned with driving around, we found it quite easy to do, albeit with an eSIM and a data plan to help with the navigation. We felt quite safe all the time, and even when we had to go to a pharmacy to get some help, they were amazing in trying to understand the symptoms and give us the right medication.

Hotel Reviews
La Mariposa Hotel
Manuel Antonio

This was a hard to beat first spot to stay on our travel through Costa Rica. It was relatively easy to locate, and a good location to get to Manuel Antonio, or drive down to Quepos. Had a beautiful room overlooking Manuel Antonio and the bay, and the sunset views from the restaurant were amazing. Staff are super friendly and accommodating. Are willing to work with my basic Spanish, and also English.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

We had an incredible few days at the Cloud Forest Lodge, and the surrounding areas. Everyone was engaging and quite helpful. They even fixed my flat tire for me while I was off on an excursion!! The grounds are beautiful and it is convenient a few small walking paths are onsite, to enjoy at your leisure. The rooms are expansive, and they provide heaters which I do recommend using at night. We had wildlife coming almost up to our deck… and plenty of it around. The onsite restaurant has amazing cuisine as well, and you won’t be disappointed staying and eating there... Endemica provided us one of our most memorable meals from our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Fortuna

We had a beautiful room overlooking the gardens and a direct view towards Arenal. It was a joy to look for the resident Great Currasow each day, and the many other birds. We were extremely comfortable and felt quite pampered in the space, and the staff were quite friendly. Particularly the gentlemen working the front gate were always quite friendly and happy to greet us. Easy access to their sister site with hot springs, and quick drive in to La Fortuna as well... really easy to access, but keep your eyes out for the signage coming back from La Fortuna, because you can miss it. ;)

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort
Bijagua

This is an absolute gem of a location and a must-stay recommendation. We had our own spacious casita, with a deck overlooking the nearby valley and we were just surrounded by trees. The site has access to walking paths, which can get you right on down to the Rio Celeste if you're bold enough to take a dip. (just be careful of the current). We felt like we had our own private space with this location, and it was comfortable and relaxing. Woke up one morning to Howler monkeys nearby, and came back from a tour one evening to see a sloth in one of the trees. Of course, plenty of birds and other beings to entertain nature watchers as well... the dining area even has koi pond with an island in which birds will pop down and take up a branch or two. A great addition to the dining experience.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas
Guanacaste

For being so close to the business of Tamarindo, being on-site was relaxed and we didn't feel the bustle. Our room was tucked away and private, though the walls were a bit thin for us to hear the family next door. The resident cats were entertaining and we had to stop to offer pets a number of times. Access to the beach was quite nice, and easy to stroll down from there towards Tamarindo Beach, and into town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica

We had Andres as a guide and he was amazing... he found us two toed and three toed sloths, insects, frogs, iguanas, howler monkeys, and more. He had a wealth of information about everything we saw and shared a lot of great details. The park is a must-see for Costa Rica, and the guided experience is a must-do.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Andres was absolutely fantastic
Transport
Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling
Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling
Manuel Antonio

This was nice to get out on the water and see Manuel Antonio from a different view point. We had sunshine the whole time, but the waves were quite choppy. And our previous experiences had always been single kayaks on the ocean while this one we were put into a double kayak. Snorkeling was lower visibility due to the choppiness... and while I could confidently go at it, my wife was new to the activity and did not get much in the way of instruction as to how to use the mask and snorkel. Also, my history of snorkeling in various out places, I've always had fins.

Quality of Experience
It'd be good to have an option of single kayaks being made available. If snorkeling is offered, probably ensure folks are clear on the operation of it before leaving land.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike
Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike
Monteverde

Our second guide named Andres, and another one who had a wealth of information to share. He was kind to pick us up from our hotel (as we had a flat tire), and we headed over to the Cloud Forest reserve. Started things out with the hummingbird area, and also saw a motmot up close. From there, we hiked around and enjoyed the beauty of the forest. We were introduced to stingless bees and the value of their honey, and were introduced to a lot of the plant species in the forest.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing
Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing
Monteverde

It's an experience that is definitely about the food more than anything. The concept of the treetop dining seemed great, but in practice by the time we got there, it was dark and we were just looking out on the lights of the town. While it was a novelty to have our own private dining room up high... the highlight was definitely the food. We did have a bit of a communication issue and had to engage with Wilman and Serendipity to straighten out that our drinks had been paid for, with the food. And on that... definitely a great tasting sampling of regional-inspired dishes. It felt to me a lot like what deconstruction and reconstruction of food concepts might be with fancy restaurants. The wine pairings were good. Not to say the food was not delicious... it absolutely was! My own personal dining preferences, though, would have wanted more of it, and maybe less focused on reinventing foods that are already great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
David was a great guide through our culinary trip
Transport
Private Kayaking on Lake Arenal
Private Kayaking on Lake Arenal
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a great trip out on the lake, and it gave us the best view we had across all our four days, of Arenal. Abel was a fantastic guide and helped us find cranes, kingfishers, and more. We had single kayaks (big plus!), and while it was windy, were really comfortable out on the water.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica

A great experience, for folks wanting to learn a bit more about how coffee is made... its history, and the basics of beans, roasting, brewing, etc.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tamarindo Turtle Nesting Tour (Seasonal)
Tamarindo Turtle Nesting Tour (Seasonal)
Costa Rica

A definite must for the animal lovers out there. Seeing a mother come up out of the ocean, across the beach, digging her nest, and laying her eggs... it is just absolutely next level.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk
Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk
Bijagua / Rio Celeste

This was a great opportunity to witness quite a unique animal up close.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 03, 2025

Jordan, thank you for taking the time to write a thorough review. Your feedback will help us provide excellent options for our future travelers. I am happy to hear that you had a great adventure and saw the best of Costa Rica including wildlife and beautiful landscapes with memorable experiences! Seeing turtles nesting and tapirs foraging is a real treasure.
It was our pleasure to work with you to create this opportunity! Thank you ⭐️
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

A Really Good Trip
Costa Rica | Jan 23 - Jan 29, 2025

Scott
Scott L.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2025
Our departure from San Jose was delayed by an hour and a half causing us to miss our first adventure to the Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Dinner - big disappointment. The Sloth Observation the following morning was great thanks to our excellent guide - can't remember his name. The Costa Rican cooking class with Scott that evening was outstanding - perhaps the highlight of the trip. The very lengthy transfer from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio the following day was further complicated by... Read more

Our departure from San Jose was delayed by an hour and a half causing us to miss our first adventure to the Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Dinner - big disappointment. The Sloth Observation the following morning was great thanks to our excellent guide - can't remember his name. The Costa Rican cooking class with Scott that evening was outstanding - perhaps the highlight of the trip. The very lengthy transfer from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio the following day was further complicated by significant and time consuming road closures resulting in close to 8 hours on road - much too long. Big mistake in scheduling resulting in loss of confidence in our ability to get back to San Jose in time for our return flights, resulting in resorting to booking a private flight to San Jose. The La Mariposa Hotel was OK. We were disappointed with the food and beverage service and lost power for a while. The Guided Manuel Antonio Park Hike was great thanks to our expert guide, Aerial. Lunch following at Cafe Agua Azul was great. The Savegre Whitewater Rafting the following morning was outstanding thanks to our guides, Nicholas and Leandro. All in all, the trip overall was really good and the closeness of our group with lifelong friends hasd a lot do with that. Nothing rattles us. Thanks for your great support through all of its ups and downs.

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

Pura Vida!
Costa Rica | Jan 21 - Jan 30, 2025

S
Sue M.
Rice Lake, WI | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2025

We had a great time in Costa Rica! Despite vague instructions from us (we want a winter getaway - active, fun, and relaxing), Holden was able to put together an itinerary that suited us perfectly. Nancy and Wilman provided operational support, with Wilman checking with us several times during the trip to make sure we were satisfied. All the vendors used (transport, tours, hotels) were prompt, friendly, helpful. Thanks to the entire team at Serendipity Adventures for an awesome trip!

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 02, 2025

Thank you Sue for taking the time to review your trip to Costa Rica 🇨🇷

I'm glad to hear that everything ran smoothly and you had a great time traveling with our team at Serendipity Adventures ⭐️
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

It's been almost a year since our honeymoon i...
Costa Rica | May 3 - May 16, 2024

B
Bryanna E.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2025
It's been almost a year since our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we've had an extremely hectic year and have been delayed in writing this review for many many months. But we still talk about how amazing our trip to Costa Rica was and all the amazing memories we made there. Our trip was very well planned, we loved all of our accommodations and excursions. We personally got a little zealous about how much we could do at a time, and didn't realize how much travel there would be to some of the... Read more

It's been almost a year since our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we've had an extremely hectic year and have been delayed in writing this review for many many months. But we still talk about how amazing our trip to Costa Rica was and all the amazing memories we made there. Our trip was very well planned, we loved all of our accommodations and excursions. We personally got a little zealous about how much we could do at a time, and didn't realize how much travel there would be to some of the excursions, but that was on us. We wish we would have spent some more down time at the amazing resorts, but other than that our trip was perfect and all the recommendations from Kim Kim were great! I would highly recommend their service to other people and we will definitely be using them again in the future. Every single shuttle/transportation service was excellent and every person we encountered on our trip was super friendly and welcoming. Everything was on time and all the tours and guides were super knowledgeable and fascinating. We saw all types of animals and wild life. KimKims flexibility in building your itinerary is great and it was the perfect level of assistance while also making it super personal to you. Thank you for a great trip!!!

Hotel Review
Arenas del Mar Resort
Manuel Antonio

This was our favorite hotel on our trip. I was blown away by the ocean views when we arrived and were taken up to the lobby. The property is stunning and cozy. The entire staff is amazing and by the time we left we were sad to go. They had great amenities, the food was excellent, the views were incredible, and they have their own private beach access. It was a perfect mix of luxury but also felt intimate and familiar. We saw so many wild animals on the property and the staff went out of their way to make sure we got a chance to witness the wild life. We did yoga which was amazing, and when we called for a ride, the response was almost immediate. We cannot recommend this property enough.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
People are absolutely incredible.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Guided Visit to Nauyaca Waterfall
Guided Visit to Nauyaca Waterfall
Costa Rica

This was our favorite activity on our trip. Potentially because it was our first, however it's still stands out as one of the best experiences. Our tour guides were super friendly and knowledgeable and I felt with them the entire time. They made the experience personal and special and guided us to jump off the cliffs in a once in a lifetime experience. Cannot recommend enough.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Adam Gomez

Our first Costa Rica Trip
Costa Rica | Jan 22 - Jan 30, 2025

J
Junghee P.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2025
Our family of four adults chose Serendipity for our first trip to Costa Rica, and it exceeded our expectations. The trip was well-organized, with a nice mix of activities that perfectly matched our interests. We especially loved our stay at Royal Corin in La Fortuna. Some of the highlights included the scenic float trip in Arenal, hiking in Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and the fascinating coffee and chocolate tour. Everything was thoughtfully paced and seamlessly planned. We highly recommend... Read more

Our family of four adults chose Serendipity for our first trip to Costa Rica, and it exceeded our expectations. The trip was well-organized, with a nice mix of activities that perfectly matched our interests. We especially loved our stay at Royal Corin in La Fortuna. Some of the highlights included the scenic float trip in Arenal, hiking in Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and the fascinating coffee and chocolate tour. Everything was thoughtfully paced and seamlessly planned. We highly recommend Serendipity for an unforgettable Costa Rica adventure!

Hotel Reviews
The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only
Fortuna

We loved staying here. The staff were attentive and the thermal hot springs were beautiful. Breakfast had some gluten-free options.

Authenticity & Character
Thermal hot springs were beautiful and enjoyable.
Location
Staff
Very attentive and helpful staff,
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ecotica
Manuel Antonio

The hotel was not close to the beach but was conveniently located near many restaurants and shops. The hotel grounds attracted birds and monkeys, making for some very entertaining wildlife watching. Manuel Antonio and the beach were just a short drive away. Breakfast was made-to-order, which often took 20-30 minutes after ordering our food, so we had to plan accordingly.

Authenticity & Character
Our room was spacious and beautifully decorated. It had no views though.
Location
Not too far from the town and had many restaurant choices closeby. Monkeys and exotic birds visited every evening and watching them was lots of fun.
Staff
The staff was very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde

The views from the room was amazing and we enjoyed the trails on the hotel grounds. However, the overall amenities of the hotel (like breakfast) was just average (when compared to other places that we have stayed).

Authenticity & Character
Our room had a nice view of the mountains.
Location
The hotel sat on a forested mountain slope and had hiking trails on the premises. Some rooms were located extremely high on the mountain and required a shuttle. While the location afforded beautiful views, people with mobility issues could find this hotel challenging.
Staff
The staff were friendly and were happy to engage in spanish language conversations with a non-native speaker.
Cleanliness & Comfort
At night, an upstairs banging noise (caused by a door or window perhaps?) during a windstorm was very noisy and it disturbed our sleep. The quality of breakfast food was average, when compared to other similar hotels worldwide.
Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 01, 2025

Hola Junghee,

Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that your first trip to Costa Rica with Serendipity exceeded your expectations. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the perfect mix of activities and had great stays at your hotels. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure!

Pura Vida!
Bryan

Costa Rica Private Tour
Costa Rica | Jan 14 - Jan 24, 2025

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Christopher S.
Redondo Beach, CA | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2025
Our Costa Rica trips involved visiting three areas; La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manual Antonio. This is a good combination of the most interesting parts of the country.
The Najara Tented Camp in La Fortuna was one of the most amazing resort hotels we ever stayed at - right behind the Manadarin Oriental in Bodrum (Turkey) and the Four Seasons Sayan in Bali. There was a nice private thermal pool, access to five restaurants with very good food, and overall excellent service. We took three...
Read more

Our Costa Rica trips involved visiting three areas; La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manual Antonio. This is a good combination of the most interesting parts of the country.
The Najara Tented Camp in La Fortuna was one of the most amazing resort hotels we ever stayed at - right behind the Manadarin Oriental in Bodrum (Turkey) and the Four Seasons Sayan in Bali. There was a nice private thermal pool, access to five restaurants with very good food, and overall excellent service. We took three excursions - the Hanging Bridges and Butterfly Garden were both really good, but we would not recommend the Arena Volcano/La Fortuna Fall excursion, which was difficult and not worth seeing.
We stayed at the Monteverde Lodge and Gardens in Monteverde. The hotel was a little dated and can use an upgrade. However, the restaurant has unexpectedly good food and the staff there provided excellent service. After a while, we grew to enjoy the place. We took another Hanging Bridges tour, which turned out to be a self-guided tour instead of a guided tour as specified. But it was OK and we really enjoyed the excursion.
At Manual Antonio, we stayed at the Arenas del Mar Resort. Overall, this hotel was excellent, with the exception of the Beach Restaurant, which was terrible. We do not understand how the main restaurant served such good food especially the fish dishes) while the Beach Restaurant served such subpar food. The staff were very good, and even arranged a coffee bean roasting demonstration in the hotel and a tour of the hotel lab where ginger beer and beer were made. We had two excursions there - the Manual Antonio National Park walking tour and a waking tour of a Biological Reserve tour. We recommend both excursions.
Our Costa Rica tour was a custom private tour worked out with Kim Kim. Overall, it worked out well for us. There were several mishaps though. The first was that the detailed itinerary was sent to us very late, just 4-5 days before our departure. As a result, we were not aware of the early starting times of the local excursions. We are not early risers and the starting times have to be reworked, and some of the new starting times were not confirmed until the day of our departure. Tis caused lots of confusion. The second was not some of the local excursions were not the same as described in our itinerary, such as the Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna. It was actually better than the one described.
Kim Kim was good in making all the right hotel arrangements and private transfers.
Would we recommend using Kim Kim for Costa Rica trips? Yes, we would, but with the stipulation that the final detailed itinerary will be sent out no later than 2 weeks before departure, and the understanding that not everyone is an early riser. We have been in over 50 tours, and mot tours start at 9 am, and we consider a starting time of 6:45 am simply unacceptable for us.

Local specialist: Phil Tardieu

Great trip! Thanks to all the kims!
Costa Rica | Jan 6 - Jan 15, 2025

M
Michael G.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2025

Incredible trip to Costa Rica with all its varied ecosystems and wildlife.

Our guide, Gustavo, really hooked it up. We were deeply impressed (and grateful) when he and the KimKim team arranged to get our passports couriered to us after we left them at our hotel. Top notch service!

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Feb 04, 2025

Hi Michael!

Shoutout to Greg and Kimkim's support team for making it possible to recover your passports.

At kimkim, teamwork makes the dream work and we will continue to work together to create wonderful adventures for travelers like you.

Happy future travels :)