Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

My son and I traveled to San Jose, Puerto Viejo and La Fortuna. We had a great city tour in San Jose and spent a lot of time shopping around the Mercado central. In Puerto Viejo we surfed and had an amazing time snorkeling in Cauhita National park. The Caribbean coast was a favorite for the culture, beaches and food. During our last stop in La Fortuna we really enjoyed the hanging bridge tour in combination with time at the hot springs. We had a few minor issues with one of the hotels during our trip and Jessica was super responsive and helpful in getting things resolved letting us just spend our time enjoying Costa Rica and the spirit of Pura Vida.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

This was such a perfect spot. Despite one of the pools being renovated and the restaurant being closed, we had a great stay! The staff were friendly and accommodating and offered us excellent restaurant recommendations in town. The landscaping around the hotel was beautiful and made it feel like we were alone at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Costa de Papito

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón

Had difficulty checking in with this hotel, they were not able to confirm the payment from kimkim. They put us in the wrong sized room from what we requested. Breakfast was $8 and was not good- instead go to the hostel across the street for food and ocean views. The location was great, close to the beach and a short tuktuk ride into Puerto Viejo.

Authenticity & Character

Cute bungalows

Location

Staff

Staff were nice but seemed inconvenienced with our check in issues.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

Great location, clean and nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to walk to everything downtown. Recommended to not walk around after dark

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Balmoral

San José

Worked for what we needed, one night stay prior to going to airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

San José City Tour

San José

Great tour of the city with a great tour guide via car. Museum tour and food at the end were also great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Surf Lesson at Salsa Brava

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Great surf lesson in a small group! Everyone was new to surfing and everyone was riding waves by the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cahuita National Park Snorkel & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Highly recommend this tour! The boat ride and snorkeling were amazing. There is so much aquatic life to see and we went to a few spots. The hike after was also great. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the park, animals and was really friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano National Park Boat & Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nice boat ride across the lake. The walk was underwhelming

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great tour! 10 out of 10 day! The bridge tour was amazing. A beautiful walk through the rainforest with a great and knowledgeable tour guide. The hot springs after were a favorite of the entire trip. Absolutely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently returned from an incredible trip to Costa Rica that Priscilla planed for me. From start to finish, everything was impeccably organized, making this journey truly unforgettable. She was very responsive and tailored the trip to my liking.

Right from the beginning, the planning was seamless. She was helpful and responsive, ensuring every detail was covered. Whether it was answering questions or adjusting the itinerary.

The activities were the highlight of the trip. From thrilling zip-lining through lush canopies to an amazing water rafting tour, each adventure was perfectly planned.
Transportation was top-notch. The transfers were punctual, clean, and comfortable, making it easy to go from one region to the other without a hitch. The attention to detail in arranging smooth connections between destinations was much appreciated.

The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Each hotel was carefully chosen for its comfort, location, and service. Waking up to breathtaking views and enjoying luxurious amenities added an extra layer of enjoyment to the trip. My favorite hotel was Arenas del Mar.
Thank you Prici.
Pura Vida =)

Amazing trip with amazing people! Second KimKim trip - both great!

Bryan put together a great trip for us. we spent 10 days in Costa Rica, including Tortuguero, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio. Nice mix of activities and great guides. For many of the activities, it was just the 2 of us ( I went with my kid) and guide, which was nice, more relaxing and added flexibility vs touring with a group. Awesome nature, ziplining in Arenal is a must, wished we spent more time in Manuel Antonio so we could enjoy the beach and ocean (we were only there 1.5 days, I think it deserves minimum of 3-4 days, although we got in a spectacular hike with lots of wildlife including sloths and monkeys).
Also really appreciated that being an anxious traveler, I had questions every single day, and Bryan and his staff got back to me promptly every question I texted. While I never met them in person, I always felt like they were present and ready to help.

Serendipity Adventures were excellent! It was so helpful to have a local connection on the ground to help with everything from driving directions to restaurant recommendations to confirming our upcoming reservations. Wilman even managed to get us a better room at one resort. Rio Celeste Hideaway and Luna Lodge were two highlights of the trip. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review

Luna Lodge

Hidden gem in the rainforest! Amazing energy, delicious food, and friendly service. A must stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Costa Rica

Super fun, very educational, and very manageable with small kids!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Amazing experience like nothing else in the world.

This was our first time in Costa Rica, and the entire experience was wonderful!

We’re grateful to have worked with kimkim, especially Olman, who made planning so much easier. From the start, Olman was responsive and attentive to our travel requests, and his insights were invaluable when planning our activities. Everything during our vacation went smoothly—our transportation was always on time, our accommodations had amazing rooms with stunning views, and our prepaid excursions made check-in easy. We appreciated Olman’s thoughtful itinerary, which included time to rest after travel and between activities. His planning helped us avoid fatigue and fully enjoy our trip. Graciela also reached out as a point of contact during our stay in Costa Rica, which provided a sense of reassurance even though we didn’t need any assistance.

Here are some specific highlights:

La Fortuna: It took about 2.5 hours to reach La Fortuna from San Jose airport. Our driver, Leo, was incredibly kind, pointing out sights and offering to stop along the way. We loved staying at Los Lagos. Our room was within walking distance of the hot springs with a view of Arenal Volcano. Our tour with North Adventures, led by Monica and Caylor, was exceptional. They even spotted a three-toed sloth on the way to an activity and stopped for photos. Monica seamlessly switched between Spanish and English for our small group and offered great food recommendations in La Fortuna. The included lunch at Restaurante Las Tablas provided incredible casado with fish and chilera.

Monteverde: The lake crossing from La Fortuna to Monteverde was stunning. We stayed at Hotel Ficus, and it was our favorite place during the vacation. The reception staff—Dylan, Aylin, and Anna—were extremely kind and helpful. The town was close enough to walk to and far enough to avoid traffic noise. We were also lucky with our tour guides at Don Juan, Treetopia (Jason, Sebastian, Greivin, Daniel), and the night tour with Cristian.

Gulf of Papagayo: Our hotel, Bosque Del Mar, had beautiful rooms and was just a short walk from the beach, which felt almost private due to the lack of crowds. It was farther away from stores so we needed to take a taxi but it wasn’t an issue. The reception staff was very helpful and assisted us in booking a last-minute catamaran excursion (Marlin Del Rey) on our final day. We saw whales and snorkeled, and it was the perfect way end to our vacation in Costa Rica.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip unforgettable. We look forward to visiting again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

We loved staying at Los Lagos. Our room was within walking distance of the hot springs with a view of Arenal Volcano. The hotel restaurant had delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to hot springs, short driving distance to the town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Hotel Ficus was our favorite place during our vacation. The reception staff—Dylan, Aylin, and Anna—were extremely kind and helpful. The town was close enough to walk to, yet far enough to avoid traffic noise. It had incredible views of the clouds and was close to amazing restaurants and a delicious panadería.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Dylan, Aylin, and Anna went out of their way to provide us recommendations and to help us with activities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

The hotel had beautiful rooms and was just a short walk from the beach, which felt almost private due to the lack of crowds. The reception staff was very helpful, assisting us in booking a last-minute catamaran excursion (Marlin Del Rey).

Authenticity & Character

Location

We enjoyed how close it was to the beach but wished it had easier access to more restaurants, grocery store.

Staff

In addition to the reception staff, the restaurant staff were extremely kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

The included lunch at Restaurante Las Tablas featured an incredible casado with fish and chilera.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour with North Adventures, led by Monica and Caylor, was exceptional. They even spotted a three-toed sloth on the way to an activity and stopped for photos. Monica seamlessly switched between Spanish and English for our small group and offered great food recommendations in La Fortuna.

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

For the hanging bridge guided walk, Jason was very knowledgeable and pointed out birds we would have likely missed. We greatly enjoyed our time with Sebastian, Greivin, Daniel while ziplining.

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristian was very personable and knowledgeable. It was incredible how he could find insects, snakes, birds in the dark! He was very nice in helping all of us take pictures.

Transport

KimKim team along with Serendipity adventures did a fantastic job in making our vacation a memorable one. We had very little time to plan our trip and they provided several options for itineraries. We ended up picking the one that covered Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna. Both were awesome destinations and offered plenty to explore. All the hikes, horse back rides, beaches, coffee tours, volcano tours, zip lines, thermal springs, are all really enjoyable.

Hotel La mariposa was awesome. It's location and views are out of this world. We got one of the corner sunset suites and it's amazing. Buffet Breakfast (includes omelette station) was fantastic and helped us get our early on time and get on the road. The restaurant is on a terrace with the most beautiful view of the beach and national park. Town of Quepos is a beautiful place. We wish we kept a free day for our selves to explore more of this town. Most of our time was taken by the planned activities/tours. You can walk to many restaurants and coffee shops from hotel, which was wonderful.

Hotel Arenal Kioro suites and spa is an amazing place. Situated close to the volcano with views of it from almost every room. This hotel also has breakfast buffet which was fantastic. This hotel has it's own hot springs. Property is very well designed and provides a lot to explore. Keep in mind that the hotel is about 10 minutes car ride to the town of La Fortuna. Town offers several restaurants and coffee shops etc.

All in all we had a wonderful experience and we will definitely use KimKim and Serendipity again.

Hotel Reviews

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views from the hotel and ability to walk into town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to the Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I usually do all of my own planning for trips to save money. In Costa Rica, I wanted to see the Turtles on the Carribbean side of Costa Rica, my husband is a geologist so the volcanoes were of interest, and our daughter wanted to surf in the Pacific. We had nine days to manage this so we needed a car for a portion of our trip. I knew a boat transfer was necessary to get to Tortuguero but was a bit confused about what to expect and how to book it. When I contacted KimKim, Olman was really helpful. He explained that it was more expensive to book many things on our own and after comparing prices, he was right, it was more affordable to go through KimKim and absolutely less hassle! Olman asked what we wanted to do and he put it all together. The price was a bit higher than what we wanted to spend so I asked for a manual shift car and a hotel change, which brought the price into line. A driver met us at the airport and took us to our hotel in San Jose. In the morning another driver took us to the dock in Tortuguero for our 1 hour and 40 minute boat ride to the eco lodge. A jungle walk, open lagoon boat tour, and boat to town was included with our hotel plus all three meals daily. We booked a night-time turtle tour and saw a 250lb. turtle laying her eggs and then using her flippers to camouflage her nest. It was a dream come true for me to see this. After Tortuguero, we traveled by boat to the docks then to Guapiles by motor-coach for lunch and to pick our car that had all fees paid and was gassed up and ready to go. Our hotel in La Fortuna was at the top of a hill with a wall of windows for a perfect view of Arenal Volcano. We took a mud bath there and swam in mineral hot springs. Our next day took us to 7 zip lines over the tree tops and then a walk with hanging bridges to see the flora and fauna at Misitco Park. After two nights we made our way to Tamarindo where we stayed on the hillside with a cooling breeze and an infinity pool. Our daughter got in 3 days of surfing and we all took a snorkel sunset cruise. All of our accommodations were top notch and the food was great at all of them. Our drivers met us as expected. The tours were all good and safe (zip-lining!). The Costa Rican's are happy, helpful and appreciate tourists. The country is beautiful and still wild. Go to see the turtles, monkeys, sloths and colorful birds. There is so much to do. Contact Olman because he will very graciously work with you to put together an affordable trip of a lifetime. I now need to see the turtle hatchlings make their way to the sea, so I will be booking another trip soon (and I will feel very safe traveling there by myself using drivers) and I will book through KimKim and Olman again!

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham

Tamarindo

The room was big and the beds very comfortable. Loved the pool and swim up bar.

Authenticity & Character

Open air lobby overlooking the ocean.

Location

Located at the top of the hill there was a nice cool breeze.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

Beds were very comfortable and restaurant food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Pachira Lodge has their own boardwalk through the jungle where you will see monkeys, sloths and poison frogs! Three meals are served here and there is good variety and it all tastes delicious. We sat at each meal with another family to fill our table and it was fun getting to know them. Eco lodges do not have air conditioning but the overhead fan cools the room down at night where you will use a blanket.

Authenticity & Character

It's an eco lodge with monkeys playing in the trees.

Location

Staff

Oliver

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was as expected. Beds were comfortable.

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The glass walls made for a fabulous view of the volcano.

Authenticity & Character

It was one of the coolest rooms we ever stayed in with the big windows overlooking the volcano.

Location

Staff

Joseph was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great air conditioning and big towels for the springs.

Activity Reviews

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Turtles, Turtles, Turtles. And monkeys, sloths, frogs and colorful birds. I need to go back. Soon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All drivers and staff were very helpful and kind.

Transport

Very efficient.

Arenal Volcano Extreme Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

7 ziplines!!! Lot's of staff to help everyone. They were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This is the first time we have utilized "kimkim" services, and we are absolutely impressed with the level of service, professionalism and how easy they made our Costa Rica travel. We traveled to Costa Rica at the end of July, and it was our first international trip traveling with our kids. Our travel specialist helped us create an itinerary that allowed to see various parts of the country. We went canyoning, horseback riding, we hiked near a volcano, we dove into natural thermal waters, we visited the hanging bridges, kayaked, snorkeled in a beautiful beach and so much more. It truly made our experience an unforgettable one. We will definitely be utilizing their services in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel located at the base of a dormant volcano. Our room had a direct view to the volcano from the back porch. Moreover, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and the place has a heated pool with a jacuzzi for those that enjoy night swim. The food was good, but I recommend everyone to visit "La Fortuna" town, as they offer a vast variety of places to eat at a better price. Finally, the only thing we regret was not staying here longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view and peaceful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Great location! This hotel is only minutes away from the "downtown" portion of town. Dylan and Ana were extremely helpful, professional and courteous! There was a day we had additional idle time, and they recommended us a "forest night walk", and even helped us set it up. The rooms were very comfortable, and clean and the only time we needed assistance, they responded in very short time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to various coffee shops, restaurants and local shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

We only stayed one night, but the rooms had ample space, were comfortable and clean. Breakfast service was good, with plenty of options and the staff was friendly as it was professional.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty average, but not bad for a short stay.

Location

Close to the airport, but about 30 minutes away from the capital's downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only aspect i would recommend, is to install extractors in the bathrooms.

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Hotel is located about 10 minutes away from the beach. Rooms were comfortable and clean, and the hotel has a nice pool at a very convenient spot. The hospitality staff was very helpful, and extremely hard working as they seemed to do a bit of everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Transportation is limited, but manageable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

First time doing this!! Our whole family enjoyed it! The staff was extremely helpful, especially since it can be a bit of intimidating at the beginning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

What made this tour different was out guide, otherwise it would've been just a normal hike. Sergio provided us with a historical background of the park and the composition of the forest as we walked through. He had vast knowledge of the area's flora and fauna, and even provided us interesting details of Costa Rica's drive to protect their natural resources. He definitely connected with us!

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was provided at the end of the tour, and it was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

The farm has a gorgeous panoramic view. It was a peaceful tour, as our guides only helped us control our horses. Maybe I was expecting some information or any background conversation, but I wouldn't want that to take away from how great the experience was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Our guide Dio was great! Very knowledgeable and attentive. We were able to see wild sloths, various bird species, reptiles and mammals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

We loved this tour!! Diego (son of the owner) was extremely attentive to our group. He took his time to answer every question we all had, as he showed us his farm. We loved the ending with freshly made coffee, chocolate and light snacks. 100% recommend this for coffee and chocolate lovers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla Chora Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour

Sámara

If you want to have fun while exercising, i definitely recommend you this tour. The guides take you to a tour to a nearby island full of crabs, and where you can occasionally see wild iguanas. The snorkeling experience was OK, since the water current lifted some sediments from the bottom, and we were not able to see many fishes. It still was a worthwhile fin experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde was wonderful. Ficus is PERFECT in almost every way. I WILL go back there as soon as I can get there.
The guides, especally Juan Carlos at El Tigre, were wonderful.

Santa Teresa was a little ragged for our tastes. It looks perfect for 20-somethings who might be looking for surfing and meeting other young people, but it was somewhat hard to get around in and just not for us. The Fuego Lodge was nice and Candelaria was a huge help when I needed it, but after Ficus in Monteverde, anything else is hard to compare.

All drivers were courteous and extremely reliable.

Hotel Reviews

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Perfection!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fuego Lodge

Cobano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

A good overnighter.

Activity Reviews

Tortuga Island Day Trip

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time! The tours were exactly what our family was looking for. The guides went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing trip. We loved the mix of accommodations. All members of the family want to go back.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Tango Romeo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quepo Canyoning Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was very helpful!

Transport

Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline and Horseback Ride

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved how we didn’t have to wait in long lines between zips.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horrendous 1.5 hour overlap in schedule one day.
A citied activity was not provided.

We had an excellent time. It was just enough nature and luxury combined. Kokoro hotel was very rustic and natural. We saw lots of animals, like sloths, monkeys, and birds right on the property . The natural hot springs were amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was good. One day we forgot to make a lunch reservation and they came and made us lunch anyway and were extremely accommodating and kind. All the kids (3) had separate beds in our bungalow and all the beds were comfortable. The rainforest tour was amazing. Jacaro tours were great, specifically we really liked Nelson. We did hanging bridges with him and the volcano tour was very nice too. The lunch that came with the volcano tour through the Jacamar owed farm was fantastic, probably the best we had. Everything was fresh and grown on site. Because our own hotel came with the natural hot springs , we could have passed on the paradise springs hotel. If we didn’t have our own springs this would have been nice. The waterfall tour was beautiful.

Our next stop was Koora hotel in the cloud forest of Monteverde. The hotel was amazing. Everyone was so kind and very helpful. The front desk staff were fantastic. The food was very good. Lots of fun animals to see and they have a nature trail right on site. Our zip line tour was very fun.

Our stop in tamarindo was very nice. Surf lessons with the iguana surf shop were fantastic. Luis, David, and Viola taught everyone great lessons. Our snorkeling tour got off to a rocky start due to pick up confusion with pacific coast company. The wild life was great! Snacks were ok and equipment needed updating. This company appeared to be more diving focused than snorkeling. Our hotel was good. The actual pool could have used some updating but the view was amazing and all the service was great and staff were very friendly. The beach club included in the hotel was a very nice addition it gave opportunity to have beach access w a restaurant and pool while the hotel was more tucked into the mountain for spectacular views of ocean. Every room had a balcony w an ocean view. There was a shuttle into the town and the beach club that left every hour .

In San Jose w took a historical tour with Paula who was a wealth of knowledge and was super kind. She had a passion for history and people. The traditional food at the end of the tour was fantastic.

The Delta by Marriott was not great. The hotel messed up our reservation and gave us a king room w cots for our three kids. They were very confused at the front desk and tried to charge us for our stay which was prepaid. While this is true, Kim Kim went above and beyond to try to fix it for us.

All the drivers we had were kind, knowledgeable and pointed out interesting things on the way.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham

Tamarindo

Beautiful views, good food, great staff, very comfortable, beautiful lobby. Pool was really cool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

The place was rustic and great for seeing animals and nature. Staff was very accommodating and kind. Beds were comfortable. Food was good! General maintenance of hut could have been a little better

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just upkeep on maintenance

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Beautiful, clean, new, fresh, lots of nature to look at. There was an onsite trail to explore, pools and restaurants great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Loved the ladies at the front desk!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

Staff was very confused at front desk, gave us wrong room .. one king for 5 people and brought cots in for our kids. Room was humid, climate control not great. Food was just ok carpet was stained . Needed updating

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff were not helpful but the bell hop was very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

The correct room and cots with mattresses with poking springs

Activity Reviews

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Surf Lessons at Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis, David, and Viola were fantastic teachers!!

Transport

Private: Costa Rican Culture & Cuisine – Nighttime Guided Walk in San José

San José

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paula was amazing. So much knowledge. You can tell she loves her job, history and people!

Transport

Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nelson was an amazing tour guide. He showed us so much and was very kind and funny.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

Nature on the way to the snorkeling places was fantastic. The Pacific Ocean co concentrated on more the divers than the snorkelers . The equipment could have been updated and cleaner. The locations were better suited for the divers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well organized with efficient logistics for all activities (park tour, white-water rafting, horseback riding) in Manual Antonio. Guides were all excellent. Tulemar Resort with excellent food, helpful staff, and incredible views from the tree-tops over the Pacific. Hotel Cerro Lodge staff very friendly and helpful. Amazing birding there. Excellent guides Silvia for Cararra National Park and Hansel for Tarcoles River cruise.

We just came back from a fantastic week in Costa Rica.
Holden was very helpful in organizing it. He carefully listened to our wishes and expectations and proposed us a complete itinerary. We then adjusted it through various iterations and he was very flexible all the way.
Once we arrived, we were put in touch with the local contact that helped us navigate a few questions and changes. He also kept checking with us to make sure that everything was going according to expectations. We felt pampered!
I highly recommend KimKim and their local partner Serendipity!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is overall a bit old so the rooms are quite noisy. But they are very big and comfortable otherwise

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My trip to Costa Rica with my two sons (10 and 12 years old) was magical! Every place we stayed (recommended by Holden at Serendipity Adventures) was perfect for us and we enjoyed every activity they planned for us. We saw so many animals, connected over fun adventures and enjoyed amazing views and food. I can't recommend the Serendipity Adventures team (Holden, Nancy and Wilman) enough!

Hotel Reviews

Tulemar Resort

Manuel Antonio

We loved our bungalow (number 121) at Tulemar. We had our own balcony with views of the jungle and the Pacific ocean and lots of wildlife. I told our travel planner (Holden at Serendipity Adventures) that I wanted to see wildlife from our room and he found us the best room in the whole resort (in my opinion). Our balcony was on the feeding route of different monkey troops and so every day between 3 and 4 pm monkeys would climb trees right next to our balcony. One day 10 squirrel monkeys even climbed onto the balcony right next to us and wrestled and played with each other while we looked on! It was truly magical! We had our own concierge (Miguel) who was available via WhatsApp to answer questions and book reservations for us. Since the phone in our room wasn't working he also called shuttles for us and placed room service orders for us. He was extremely responsive. The service was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

This hotel is located on a ridge with wonderful views of Monteverde. Our room was spacious and comfortable with panoramic views and the hotel is in walking distance of the main town center (although down a little hill).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Our guide was enthusiastic and so knowledgeable. He was able to help both the 77-year-old avid photographer and the 10-year-old boy in our group spot, photograph and learn interesting facts about the flora and fauna in the park. We saw everything from grasshoppers and spiders to rare coatimundis, sloths and howler monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This tour was fun and educational. We all enjoyed learning the details of how chocolate is made (and the history of how it became the sweet we know today) and about how sugar cane is turned into sugar (and sugar cane juice, which we all got to drink). The last part of the tour covered coffee (at which point my youngest got a little antsy) but it too was interesting without being too lengthy and didactic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Our guide was great and found a family of coatimundis for us to observe. Watching the mothers and babies climb trees and walk across the path right in front of us was a highlight of this hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. When my youngest froze on top of the ziplining platform and refused to continue (even though his older brother had already gone and was fine), they helped me get back to the base lodge with him and gave us a refund, radioed ahead so the staff could tell my older son what happened and help him continue on the course, and showed us where to wait at the end of the course for my older son to arrive. My older son said the ziplining was beautiful and exhilarating. We all enjoyed the views from the hanging bridges, the beautiful butterflies and the sloth sanctuary. Seeing sloths up close was really amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time! The river was exciting but not too scary and the views from the raft were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Horseback Riding through the Jungle from Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

The ride through the rainforest was beautiful and so fun. It poured rain on us, but because it was so hot, it was actually really refreshing. The horses were well-trained and gentle and they matched the people well to the horses.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not knowing much about Central America, Costa Rica wasn't on our list. However, we heard so much from people who visited CR and loved it so it was worth the consideration. Now, we can say we loved CR as well and our trip focused on the rainforest of Manuel Antonio and its nearby beaches was the perfect itinerary that allowed us to limit our time on the road to just the 3 hours to and from SJO. All and all, a great trip...and perfect weather and less crowds despite the wet season.

Activity Reviews

Río Savegre Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Manuel Antonio

First time rafting for the entire family and was rightfully nervous. The rapids were Class II and III and the guides on each raft were in complete control that all of us felt safe. Again, it is the wet season which made the water level perfect for rafting! The ride up to the launch area was bumpy and the truck got stuck in the mud that the guides all worked together to resolve. We saw some wildlife on our way up and the scenery was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Boat Excursion

Manuel Antonio

This was a fun excursion to learn about the unique mangrove ecosystem. It was cool where the mangrove then opens up to the ocean. A great learning experience for the kids. Unfortunately, we didnt see much wildlife but that's just nature for you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Best to hire a guide when you visit MA National Park. They have the ability to spot animals that camouflaged so well with the environment and they have equipment to zoom in. We were able to see a couple of sloths! It's not really a hike as the first half of the park has a deck walkway. The park leads to the beach and then we went back on the trial that is mostly dirt and small rocks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gustavo created a perfect trip for us! Our favorites were Paddle 9, Arenal hike, boat/car ride from La Fortuna to Monteverde, and not having to worry about any transportation. We felt comfortable and safe and were had so much fun. It was such a pleasant surprise to arrive to the airport and receive fun local gifts too, thank you!

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved it! So glad it was self guided, we did the long hike and it was perfect. What a beautiful place!

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fun area! Wildlife on the walk down and up. Loved swimming in the water. Walked there from our hotel and coffee shop across the street was great!

Quality of Experience

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Beautiful day! So happy to do zip lining in Costa Rica. Of all places we visited glad we did that at Monteverde. Guides were helpful and fun. Very adventurous. Two of us are scared of highs and we did great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Manuel Antonio Beaches

Manuel Antonio

My friends/family liked it ok. Not my favorite beach. It was nice.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio

We got a guide and we are glad we did. Would not have seen 85% of the wild life on our own. Beautiful place.

Quality of Experience

Full Day Waterfall Adventure

Costa Rica

Highlight of our trip! No words! It rained day before, entire night, and the day of the activity. We didn’t really want to go. Considered canceling or not going and taking a hit. So glad we went! It was all of our favorite adventure.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from an incredible trip to Costa Rica! It was superb—we got to check off everything on our bucket list (ziplining, scuba, white water rafting, hikes through the forests, animal and bird spotting). We spent 11 days and everything that Jessica and Gustavo planned for us was perfect, from the private transportation to the impeccable hotels to the activities. Thank you to them and to Kimkim! This is our second time using Kimkim and you better believe it won’t be the last!

Everything went very well! Costa Rican people are very friendly and helpful. Olman adjusted my itinerary to fit my wishes. I also met many pleasant fellow travellers during the tours.

The guides on guided nature hikes are incredible. They can locate birds and other animals in the canopy or insects on trees that we would miss. Some could even imitate bird sounds enough to interact with the birds.

One of the drivers on the shuttle buses between places in CR was especially interesting to talk to and gave us many good tips. He worked for Interbus and his name was Alex. He speaks English fluently. With luck you'll he'll be your driver too.

The ziplining in Monteverde was fun and I highly recommend paying extra for the "Superman" harness that lets you lie prone as you zipline over the forest.

I miss the fruit in Costa Rica! It's something you can't take back with you. You can only encourage others to go there to try it.

Hotel Reviews

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

This is a modern hotel which is very convenient to the airport. The shuttle runs regularly. If you have a room which faces the railway line expect some noise, but there are few trains and it finishes early enough. A good restaurant with Costa Rican food a short walk away is "Rosti".

Authenticity & Character

For this type of hotel I don't expect authenticity and character.

Location

Good location if you want to be close to the airport. You can also take the train to/from the city although it doesn't run often.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dreams Lodge Monteverde

Santa Elena

This is a small family owned and operated hotel with a super friendly and helpful staff! If you have your own wheels it's easier to go to the center of town, otherwise it's a taxi or long walk. But it's also quiet so you will probably sleep better than at a hotel in town. The freshly prepared breakfasts (no buffet) were also good.

Authenticity & Character

This is a small family owned and operated hotel away from the center of town. I liked it.

Location

Far from the main town area but quieter and closer to nature because of that.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff. They really make you feel welcome and give you good advice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only problem was that the small refrigerator in the room was noisy. So I unplugged it.

Hotel Magic Mountain

Fortuna

Spectacular view of the volcano from the room! The view changes depending on the cloud cover and the sun angle. The room was clean and comfortable. The music and partying at the swimming pool can be loud sometimes but it stops early enough that you can sleep. Fantastic breakfast buffet. Easy walk into town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Spectacular view of the volcano. Easy walk into town.

Staff

I wanted to leave a tip for housekeeping but the front desk could not make change for Costa Rican money.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

I have the impression that part of the hike was skipped because it was raining. Part of the group returned to the van early and the guide took us somewhere on a normal road, not a hiking trail.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic! Saw many animals. The "surprise" at the end (after lunch) was also good but I don't want to spoil it here.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch was too rushed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Very good tour. I would do it again and hope to see different animals next time. There are many people on other tours in the same area at the same time, so be prepared to be on a crowded trail. I would like to suggest a night tour with night vision glasses in a less crowded forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

The zip lining and the hike through the forest and over the hanging bridges was fantastic! I highly recommend paying extra to be put into the "superman" harness for the last zip line so you can lie flat as if you are flying. A pity that they don't make a video of that for you, only the regular zip line at the beginning. The zip lining is rather rushed but they need to run many people through the system. Try not to lean back when you are zip lining because then you will start to brake with your brake hand to prevent yourself from leaning back further.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The road to the activity is in terrible condition.

Celeste River and Tenorio National Park Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent guide! (Sorry, forgot his name.) And finally a good strenuous hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

The freshly made chocolate paste was amazingly delicious!! I wish there was more chocolate tasting instead of just coffee tasting (with 1 hot chocolate).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Great guide, wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff