Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

My sisters and I had an amazing experience with your crew! From pick up to drop off it was well organized and planned. We could not have asked for a better experience, your staff in every step of the way were professional and prompt.

We highly recommend anyone who is not sure how to plan a trip to Costa Rica to book with you!!!

Thank you, thank you again. For our next vacation and experience we are already considering your services.

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Great place. The rooms could use a little bit of an upgrade but it was very clean and grounds along with hot springs were super enjoyable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Great location and quaint hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Safari Float & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sailing Excursion

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magical First Trip to Costa Rica!

My husband and I just returned from our first trip to Costa Rica and it was truly unforgettable! We visited La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio, and every stop was filled with beauty, adventure, and incredible experiences.

In La Fortuna, we stayed at Amor Arenal, a stunning jungle hotel with private jacuzzis and breathtaking volcano views—pure luxury in nature. We loved our adventures there, including rafting, horseback riding, and spotting sloths in the wild.

Next, we headed to Monteverde, where we enjoyed a scenic road trip and a private tour of the Cloud Forest with Andy, whose passion for nature made the experience so memorable. Our night tour was equally exciting—we even saw tarantulas!

We ended our journey in Manuel Antonio at Arenas Del Mar, a beautiful beachfront resort with amazing food, service, and wildlife (hello hermit crabs!). We explored the national park and relaxed on the beach, soaking in every moment.

A heartfelt thank you to Holden and his team at Serendipity Tours, and to Kimkim.com for helping us plan such a well-organized, enriching, and fun trip. We’re so grateful and already dreaming of going back!

Pura Vida!

Our family’s adventure to Costa Rica was well planned and executed! All transportation, excursions, and accommodations were prepare ready for us. There was never a time when I felt like it could have gone better! Everyone was incredibly professional, kind and courteous. It was an amazing experience!

We had a great honeymoon in Costa Rica. Holden did a great job accommodating our requests and planning a trip that allowed us to see multiple locations during the week. Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin was a beautiful resort with plenty of activities, amazing food, and very friendly staff. Our snorkeling excursion with Yellowfin tours was great. We had a small boat to ourselves and got to see amazing marine life at multiple locations. Our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful and made it a great experience. Overall an amazing trip that was very well planned out. Serendipity Adventures was a pleasure to work with and were happy to work with us and accommodate any questions/concerns we had.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

It was a very nice resort up in the mountains of Costa Rica. The food at the restaurants there was amazing. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. There are plenty of activities to do at the resort. We would definitely come back again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bahia del Sol Hotel

Guanacaste

The hotel was very nice. Rooms were clean, new and modern. The food was good, but there is only one restaurant for lunch, and only two for dinner (one is a tapas bar with mostly just snacks and drinks). It is a nice smaller hotel. It was not busy when we were there, but if it was busy, the pool and lounge area could definitely begin to feel crowded quickly. It had amazing views of the sunset over the pacific.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing sunset views

Staff

Rolando was a great waiter, very friendly, remembered allergies we had over the course of the week.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guanacaste Snorkel Adventure

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introduction to Rincón de la Vieja

Rincón de la Vieja

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One Day Nature Pass and Hot Springs at Hacienda Guachipelín

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip & Swing Through the Canyon

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first time to use a travel agency as I usually enjoy putting together a trip and think that I can get the best deal. This was a trip for me, my husband and our 19-year-old daughter. I was so impressed with the details of the questions of what we were looking for with our vacation and even more impressed with how quickly Holden responded and put together a fabulous itinerary. It was such a blessing to have all the reservations and details put together and all questions I asked Holden were quickly answered. I think that I am now sold on using a travel agency and Kimkim is my number 1 choice!

Activity Reviews

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

I would say this event on our Costa Rica trip stood out as one of the best adventures. We loved meeting with Huber and his family. The extent of knowledge Huber had of the vegetation, the wildlife and the growing patterns of the produce was impressive. We loved going through and tasting the different leaves and bark and guessing what each one was. It was also really fun to actually pick the produce that we would be using later for the cooking portion of the class. The cooking process was truly authentic being in Huber's family kitchen. It was such an amazing experience! The three of us (me, my husband and our 19yo daughter) prepped the food and I helped Huber's mom (Haidy?) with cooking the arroz con pollo and while husband and daughter put together the salad with fresh pickings from the yard. We also learned how to make fresh tortillas (I've already bought the ingredients back here at home!) and made those straight on the cooktop. I got to learn to make my favorite Central American side of fried Plantains and am so excited with that knowledge. The family was more than generous with sharing their knowledge, time and space with us. These kind of authentic experiences are what I enjoy best about visiting other cultures. Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak & Snorkel Tour in Tamarindo Bay

Tamarindo

I've been snorkeling before, but this was such a great experience. Jeffery was our guide and Nico, el jefe, picked us up and helped along the way. We felt accomplished taking the kayaks to the island. Then Jeffery spent the time walking us along the island teaching us about the wildlife. I find Costa Ricans just love their planet and everything that provides for them! We snorkeled in shallow water and while the sea life wasn't as bright or colorful as some places, I've been, it was still magnificent to see. When we got back we enjoyed a treat of fresh pineapple and mamon verde. I loved being introduced to a new food while on a snorkeling adventure! Jefferey and Nico were fabulous guides and we hope to run into them again on our next visit to Costa Rica!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

We very much enjoyed our private excursion with Mariano! We live in Arizona and love to hike and were enthralled with the chance to hike in a very different atmosphere with very different plants and critters. My head was on swivel as I was searching high in the trees for monkeys and sloths and low on the ground for frogs and snakes. Our group consisted of me, my husband and our 19yo daughter. The trails were great to follow and the end of May was a great time because there weren't too many others on the path. Now I'm scared of walking on things where I can see the ground, but the hanging bridges were fine as long as I didn't look down! What a great experience! Now our guide, Mariano, was so very knowledgeable and just as excited as us with each find. If there is a way to ask for a guide on this adventure, Mariano is your guy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yuliana prepared a great trip for us. She adjusted the plans to our needs and preferences according to the number of days we were in Costa Rica. The places she suggested to stay were very comfortable and easy to reach, and the activities she planned were exactly what we wanted. Thanks Yuliana, Adrián, and Graciela for our wonderful vacation in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

Hotel Review

El Silencio del Campo Hotel

La Fortuna

Charming place, excellent service, very clean, and good food. Highly recommended!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

David is an amazing guide. His explanation and tour was fun and educational at the same time. Thanks!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano to El Castillo Mountain Bike Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

It rained a bit at the beginning, but we decided to continue and it was a very good decision. It was an excellent tour and the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim did an amazing job of setting up a perfect vacation for my daughter and I. Everything went as planned, just as they promised. The hotels they picked were exquisite. The guides and transportation were not only timely, but extremely informative and courteous. The contact person was readily available and quick to respond. I will definitely use KimKim for all future travel!!

A perfect trip!
Our transfer from the airport to our first hotel was seamless. We participated in multiple activities including a hike around a volcano, a guided hanging bridges hike, swimming at a waterfall, and sailing and snorkeling. We had great guides including Alex and Marion! We had a few questions along the way and communicating with the KimKim team was easy. We received responses quickly. I highly recommend KimKim and will be using their services again in the future!

Activity Reviews

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

The scenery around the lake was beautiful! Our guide Fred was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introduction to the Gulf of Papagayo

Gulf of Papagayo

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

Snorkeling and sailing was so much fun!! Our guides were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved this experience! Marion, our guide was wonderful! The waterfall was gorgeous but the rocks were slippery and the water was COLD!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The bridges are in the rainforest. The scenery was beautiful and we had the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife. Marion, our guide, was great at explaining and pointing out specific things during our walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wilman & Alex with serendipity travel were prompt and very informative. The springs hotel was relaxing and beautiful. Kayaking lake arenal was amazing, but could have been a longer tour, same for rain maker (hiking to waterfalls) - each was only an hour plus travel time. The kids favorite was the zipline, but we could have gone on the accompanying hike without the guide. Hiking up the volcano was fantastic- we took the res trail & are so glad we did!! Guide was amazing, so much to see and the view at the cafe after is well worth it all.

Hotel Reviews

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Great food, beautiful room, hot springs & pool & monkey slide!!

Authenticity & Character

Hot springs are amazing

Location

Not in walking distance to anything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Altos Resort

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Pool is beautiful Private beach is lacking

Location

Walking distance to several shops & restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room is large with amazing views, but feels a bit empty & not cozy

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff & guides for zipping were amazing!! Guide for the hike was slow and spoke entirely too much - felt like she was trying to delay us.

Transport

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

Really pretty and a lot to see, but need more tyan one hour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide was amazing!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation Tour - Morning or Afternoon

Arenal/La Fortuna

Cool to see sloths, not as awesome driving around to look for them

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica, visiting Arenal Fortuna and Manual Antonio. We enjoyed our stay at the Volcano Lodge and were blown away by how beautiful Los Altos Hotel was. Everywhere we went we were met with polite, friendly and helpful staff. The Kimkim team was very helpful in planning our trip and making the vacation relaxing.

We recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Costa Rica, organized by Kimkim in collaboration with Serendipity Adventures—and we couldn’t be more impressed.

From the very beginning, the planning process was smooth and highly personalized. Bryan was amazing! He truly listened to what we were looking for—adventure, nature, culture, and relaxation—and crafted the perfect itinerary.

Serendipity’s attention to detail and local expertise shone through at every stop. Our guides, Alex and Mauricio, were incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly. Every drive with Alex felt like a fascinating history lesson, and we loved that he took us to his favorite local restaurants. Pulling over to see sloths was an unexpected and unforgettable treat! Our final stop at Vista Mar was the perfect way to end the trip—watching the sunset while enjoying delicious food.

With Mauricio, our hikes and adventures were equally enriching, filled with history, personal stories, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. His local recommendations were also fantastic—we’re still dreaming about the smoothies at Red Frog!

If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica and want a customized, immersive, and stress-free experience, I can’t recommend Kimkim and Serendipity Adventures highly enough. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!

Our trip to Costa Rica was so much fun! The accommodations were fantastic, providing comfort and stunning scenery at every stop. Wildlife sightings stole the show and made the adventure unforgettable, from colorful birds to swinging monkeys to serene sloths hidden among the trees. We even bought a wildlife guide to help us check off and identify all the amazing animals! Exploring the outdoors was a dream—walking across hanging bridges, witnessing majestic waterfalls, and immersing ourselves in the beauty of lush forests.

The food was delicious. One particularly memorable dinner came from our specialist's recommendation, where we dined while hummingbirds zipped past us—it was an unforgettable experience! We would recommend this destination and can't wait to return for an even longer stay!

All in all we had a great experience. Planning the trip with Yuliana was a stress free experience. She was very prompt with her replies and always very helpful. She was also easy to connect with over the phone. All our excursions were great. We had a slight issue with one of the excursions but Yuliana resolved the issue and we received a refund. I would highly recommend Yuliana and her team to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Nice and clean hotel and great staff. Jordan and his waiting staff are wonderful. He remembered all our names and would greet us by our names every time he saw us. They make sure you have a customized wonderful experience and they tend to hear every need to ensure that things are just the way you like them. They will go above and beyond to make sure there’s a smile on your face and they were the bright part of my day every day when I went for a meal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is on top of a hill which is so cool. You definitely need a car if you are staying at this hotel.

Staff

The staff, especially Jordan was so sweet and friendly. He made sure to learn all our names and would greet us by our name every time he would see us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful trip.
Especially enjoyed Arenal Observatory Lodge and the Wilderness Resort Lodge at Drake Bay.
The food was fabulous and the service was splendid.
The La Paz Falls visit on the last day was a perfect ending before our late night departure.
I am already thinking of my next visit to Costa Rica and what new areas I would like to visit.
Thanks for all your suggestions and for making the arrangements.
Blessings,
Debbie from Alabama

We had a wonderful experience from planning and during the trip. The guides were the highlight of our experience as they had deep knowledge of how to think about and find natural wonders. We felt very taken care of and also able to do our own thing when we wanted to by renting a car and when we wondered if something was possible every question was entertained thoughtfully. Would definitely use Serendipity Adventures and Kimkim again !

Wilman and Serendipidy Adventures as well as Kimkim.com team were great from start to finish. My family and I are not planners but I wanted to have a well-planned and memorable springbreak vacation in Costa Rica. Kimkim.com's UI was very thorough in gathering all the preferences and bucket list of things to do in Costa Rica with the time we had. Once they gathered that info, Wilman and his team planned the perfect vacation. Sky Adventures and the white water rafting were the most memorable experiences for my family and I. To see the total fear in their faces at the start of each adventure to the feel and excitement once they have experienced the thrill of 700+ feet zip-lining above a rain forrest and facing the challenges of class 3+ raging rapids. Those memories will be in our hearts forever.

The accommodations were excellent. 3 days maximum at 3 different locations keep the experience fresh and new each time we arrived at a new Inn or luxury hotel. And the food wherever you are in Costa Rica is wonderful. Wilman made sure these locations had free breakfast included, which makes a difference both with the budget as well as planning for the day.

For my family to experience the true Costa Rican culture and food as well as their hospitality and adventures, to relaxing at the beautiful beaches has been a wonderful experience that my family and I will never forget. Thank you Wilman and Serendipity Adventures for a most memorable family vacation!!!!

I want to first thank Yuliana and the Kimkim team for all of your help in planning this trip for my wife and I. We are truly grateful for such an unforgettable experience.
Every guide from Julio in Tortuguero to Alex (our Pacuare River rafting guide) were amazing. Also every driver that helped transport us from place to place were very hospitable.
We absolutely loved the time that we spent in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, especially the gorgeous Punta de Uva Playa. One of our favorites was the serene Pacuare River Lodge. Next time we definitely have to spend more than one night there.
Well, until next time. Thank you for everything!!!

Hotel Reviews

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

Staff and amenities were amazing! The monkeys were definitely entertaining. Location was great, with stunning beaches close by.

Authenticity & Character

We loved opening our front doors and having a stunning view of the jungle.

Location

Easy access to the beautiful beaches.

Staff

Very attentive to our needs and were very informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and amenities were kept clean and in great condition.

Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

Pacuare

This place is truly unforgettable. It was so calming and soothing being here. Our only regret is not spending more time here.

Authenticity & Character

Our room had incredible views on 3 sides, and instead of having windows the walls were pretty much screens. This made us feel like we were spending the night in the jungle and of course hear all of natures noises.

Location

It's great to disconnect from the business of life. It is right on the bank of the Pacuare River.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very well maintained and clean. Extremely comfortable.

Activity Reviews

2-Day Rafting Trip on the Río Pacuare: Day 2

Costa Rica

The 2-Day Rafting Trip on the Río Pacuare was thrilling! Our guide, Alex, made the experience exciting and enjoyable. The rafting adventure was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, providing both excitement and breathtaking views.

Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park was delightful. We got up close with the local wildlife, with monkeys being a definite highlight. The park's natural beauty and the variety of animals we saw made this a memorable part of our trip.

Serendipty and our in country soecialist Holden did a great job tayloring a highly varied itinery on very short notice to make sure we got a great sense of the country with desired activities. Of particular note was Alex, who transported us on a couple of 3 hour drives while using his broad knowledge of local culture, geography, and history along with his outstanding communication skills to ensure those drives were a valuable part of our tour. We also valued our time with Andy a skilled natualist who lead us through the cloud forest.

Holden was so responsive and helpful. He and the kimkim team got creative when I decided at the last minute to add a stop and I so appreciated their willingness to make things work. Holden found us beautiful hotels, great local guides. We had such a wonderful time. Thank you!

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing. It was exactly as described. From arrival to departure experienced was as promised. KimKim worked with Serendipity Adventures. Our trip was divided in 3 locations: La Fortuna (Arenal), Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. We stayed in 3 hotels: Hotel Amor, Poco a Poco and Mariposa. The best experience was in Hotel Amor in La Fortuna then Mariposa in Manuel Antonio.

Serendipity Adventures operated the volcano hike and rio Celeste Hike look. Those were easy hikes. Short hikes. Our guide Mariano was great, super informative. The 2 walks were as expected and as promised. We just wished they were longer and more difficult. Desafio Adventures operated the lake Kayak trip. Great and fun trip. After La Fortuna we transferred by boat and then a bus ride to Monteverde. Aventuras el Lago operated the jeep boat jeep transfer to Monteverde. In Monteverde we went to Don Juan coffee and Chocolate tour. Great and informative. Then next day we went to Selvatura. Best advice: “Please please bring rain jacket even if sunny in Monteverde”. After Monteverde we had private transport to Manuel Antonio. Most of the private transport were taken care by serendipity adventures (highly recommended -> take private transport if possible). Once in Manuel Antonio, La Mariposa is not a beach front hotel. We wish we had spent more time there. Planet Dolphin operated the catamaran experience. Just truly amazing. The drinks and the food were delicious. Amazing cook !!!!. The Endemic birds was the tour operator for Manuel Antonio National Park. Our guide truly amazing. Once the final walk in Manuel Antonio National Park we were taken to a hotel: Studio on San Jose and took our plan back the next day.

Hotel Reviews

Amor Arenal

La Fortuna, San Carlos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was not ready on arrival. Room had no windows

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding on Lake Arenal

Costa Rica

Really fun activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano (guide) truly educated. Great personality.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Rainforest Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Super informative. Really fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Truly amazing and fun. Great food and staff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport