Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Jean Carlo was so helpful throughout the process of planning our trip to Costa Rica. We were able to customize almost every part of our trip to be just as we wanted, and he was there to guide us every step of the way. As a result, our trip ended up being fantastic as all the activities were fun and the transportation was timely / comfortable. The trip went exactly according to plan, allowing us to be as stress-free as possible. I honestly don't have any complaints about either the planning process or the trip itself and will certainly recommend this service to anyone else planning to visit Costa Rica.

I wouldn't have planned a trip to Costa Rica any other way than using the Serendipity team and KimKim to organize and help us with all the logistics. Everything ran smoothly and we had wonderful experiences in three or four different provinces, visiting La Fortuna, Monte Verde and Manuel Antonio. The pre-planning team of Fio, Charlotte and Nancy was fantastic and I greatly appreciated their responsiveness to our questions and requests. They adjusted the trip plan and itinerary as needed and even changed hotels for us when we wanted to do something a little unique. We were really happy with their final recommendations and everything from the accommodations to the activities, transportation arrangements and all else was phenomenal. I will absolutely use them again for our next trip.

While in Costa Rica, we were so impressed with the guides. I hate to name them as I will undoubtedly miss some, but Mariano Salazar was particulary incredible with his knowledge and experience as well as his sense of humor and we all became fast friends. Alvaro (spelled incorrectly I believe) who transported us from Monte Verde to Manuel Antonio also stood out- he recommended sights and stops that we never would have known about, including stops for food and much less expensive souvenirs. There wasn't a single guide or driver who wasn't extremely knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and they all went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable and had our questions answered thoroughly. Can't wait to get back and use Serendipity and KimKim again. It's a great business model and experience. So much better than if we had done the planning and organizational work on our own and the value relative to the cost was extremely high. Thank you so much to the entire team for making it a wonderful experience for the four of us in our group. We have many memories and many of those were thanks to you and for making it such an easy vacation.

My trip to Costa Rica was incredible! Brian and his team at Serendipity Adventures did an amazing job with planning and communicating once I arrived to the country. While the entire trip was absolutely amazing, surf lessons in Manuel Antonio was the highlight for me.

The trip was excellent. We worked with Randall to plan out three days of activities and transfers, and our family had a great experience. I think it would be valuable for the trip planner to check in at some point during the trip to see how things are going. The logistics ended up working out great, but I wouldn't say that we felt like we had someone watching out to make sure it went well -- maybe that was true behind the scenes.

In terms of the activities, the hike on the volcano was good but shorter than I would have expected. The guide was excellent -- really knew his stuff.

The multi-adventure day was amazing -- the adventure provider was Arenal Mundo Aventura. the van dropped us off there and we had a full day of hiking to a waterfall (and swimming) followed by ziplining, followed by rappelling followed by horseback riding. We definitely got our money's worth! The rappelling didn't feel super-safe -- we found ourselves asking if the ropes were old, if the knots were tied, if the ladder would hold -- but we made it. The last part where you go to a traditional village is a little bit misleading in the description of the tour -- we thought that we would be eating a traditional meal, but you actually go to a shop where you can buy things and then you go to the adventure part restaurant and have food. All in all it was a great experience.

Activity Reviews

{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} - Visit La Paz Waterfall

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day of Adventure in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Spectacular hike. We thought it would be longer than it actually was.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time doing the coast to coast trip across Costa Rica everything run smoothly from start to finish our guides Dani , Jose and Memo where fantastic and speak perfectly good English nothing was to much trouble the food that they prepared in the evenings, was excellent all are very knowledgeable and kept us updated on the wildlife and facts I wouldn’t hesitate to use Kim Kim again

Thank you for an amazing trip. Dani was an excellent guide with a great combination of knowledge on wildlife and all things Costa Rican. Plus he possessed the enthusiasm and people skills to give us all a really great experience. A big thank you also to Josue who was also excellent in every respect and provided us with the support to enjoy and complete the Coast to Coast.

Hotel Review

Alma de Luna

Orosi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Naranjillo - Photos on the beach and we’re off! Biking 19km/12mi + Trekking 14km/9mi

Naranjito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quality of bikes, poor brakes.

Pacuare River – Rafting 20km/12mi

Siquirres

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Maria – Pacific slopes Trekking 12km/7mi + Biking 14km/9mi

Santa Maria de Dota

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Humo – Through the valley to the Tapanti area Biking 9km/6mi + Trekking 17km/10.5mi

Humo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare Valley – Free day in the rainforest - hike to waterfall, play in a rapid, and relax in a hammock

Río Pacuare

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ok

Transport

Caribbean coast – Biking 26km + Kayaking 12km

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare River – Biking 43km/27mi + Rafting 10km/6mi

Río Pacuare

Excellent river guides.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orosi Valley – Up and over the Continental Divide – Biking 49km/30mi

Orosi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip planned by Francisco was excellent. Each of the outings (adventures) was exactly what we wanted. In many ways it was like taking a graduate course in biology, botany and zoology. We particularly enjoyed the morning birdwatching with Josee. He was extremely well informed and gracious. Our driver, Alex, to and from airport/hotel, was superb. The roads were terrible. On arrival, we met Alex around 11pm as our flight had been delayed. He drove the difficult mountain roads to LaFortuna in fog and rain. Tip for the future, have your clients arrive at SJO in the afternoon to avoid the drive in the dark. We arrived at hotel at 2am and were picked up that morning for horseback riding at 8am (not much sleep). The hotel El Silencio was fine, not special. The Danus outing was good. The butterfly garden was not special. The transfer to Monteverde was fine and a nice boat ride with an attempt to find shorebirds. The hotel Fonda Vela was fine, not special; but the location was far from the activities because of terrible roads. It took about 45 minutes to go 5 miles. The sky walk adventure was worth the time; and the tram not particularly interesting. The Curicancha hike was very interesting with a wonderful guide. The night walk in the cloud forest was a highlight of the trip with a superb guide, Oscar. We took all our meals at the two hotels. The food was OK but nothing special or memorable. I forgot to ask Francisco about tipping. We did tip each guide $20 and also Alex. At meals, we tipped 20%. The drive from Monteverde to JSO was long and difficult but Alex did a great job. The daytime scenery as very interesting. Unfortunately the trip home took 16 hours -door to door- due to delays and long waits at airports. Not your fault. In all, we enjoyed being in Costa Rica and will surely recommend your agency and Francisco to our family and friends. Thanks for all you did for us. These are just my thoughts. My wife, Jan, will send her own review.
Donald Hamburg

I used kimkim to plan a Thanksgiving trip to Costa Rica with my kids and I could not have been happier with the experience. I'm a recent convert to travel agents, having used a local IRL agency to help me arrange a multi-week trip through Europe with my daughter last summer, and that was a great experience but very time-intensive and hands-on. I've been to Costa Rica on my own several times before, but for this trip, we wanted to hit several different destinations in a short time, so it seemed like having some professional guidance would be a good idea; a friend of mine had recommended kimkim. I liked the idea of using an agency that was actually located in my destination, and being able to do everything online on my own schedule.

Everything about the planning process was super easy; after I entered the information about where I wanted to go and what kind of trip I had in mind, I was connected with Holden at Serendipity Adventures. Holden was quick to respond to all my messages, had lots of options to offer for lodging, activities, and transport, as well as practical advice that made a big difference in our experience. Every time I'd visited CR before, I'd always gone to Manuel Antonio; this trip was going to involve three new destinations--Arenal, Monteverde, and Esterillos--with activities in each and transport between; there were a lot of moving parts. Holden got everything set up for me promptly and stress-free, and when it was time to get ready to travel, he was engaged and available for all my questions and had reminders and suggestions ahead of traveling. And once we arrived, things could not have gone more smoothly: every driver was prompt and courteous, every reservation was handled, and everything was as we expected it, or better. Two of our long car rides were handled by Holden's ace driver, Alex, who is the dearest man and a delightful travel companion (in addition to being a champ of a driver, ferrying us from the airport three hours to our hotel in the wee hours of the morning); Alex went above and beyond to give us the best experience, even stopping at a roadside stand one afternoon to pick us up a bag of rambutans to snack on and teaching us how to eat them :-) And throughout the experience, from touchdown to departure, I had Wilman available by text with any question, concern, or random inquiry that crossed my mind. It wasn't until two or three days into the trip that it occurred to me I was texting Wilman a LOT, ALL the time (basically with every question my kids came up with), but he was always quick and cheerful in his replies. As a single parent traveling with kids, it can be really stressful to feel like everything is on you--all the planning, all the managing, etc--and so having a team like Holden and Wilman to take care of things frees you up so much to just relax and enjoy the time with your family.

We got home from Costa Rica last night and I am already thinking ahead to my next trip--Portugal, with my daughter. I will definitely use kimkim to plan that one as well, and hope I get a team as helpful and professional as the folks at Serendipity!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Beautiful property with comfortable, well-appointed cabins situated at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Friendly, helpful staff, great food (I especially loved the Arboleda bar menu and its exceptional Costa Rican chifrijo), covered jacuzzi (soak with a drink while it rains), pretty pool area and great breakfast. Would've loved to have stayed longer and taken better advantage of the yoga deck, the hiking trail (wear good shoes, it's a real hike!), and the gorgeous grounds; will definitely stay again next time I'm in La Fortuna.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Gorgeous volcano views and proximity to many attractions.

Staff

Julián was a wonderful server but everyone we met was friendly and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Housekeeping was outstanding, nice in-room coffee service, and the products in the bathrooms are really nice.

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

This is a gorgeous property staffed by friendly, helpful people, but the room itself fell short for me on a couple of measures. My three kids and I stayed in a family suite, which contained three beds--a full and a queen on the first level, and a king in the loft upstairs. I don't love this arrangement because nobody gets privacy--four people sleeping in one room is tricky for light sleepers and people who don't all go to bed at the same time. We were given a heads-up at check-in that the room contained neither heat nor AC; you're in Monteverde, it doesn't get very hot, and can dip quite chilly at night. I can never be cold enough when I sleep, so I wasn't worried about not having heat, but the room was pretty stuffy and the loft actually hot when we arrived--I suspect it hadn't been occupied in a couple of days. It did cool off once we opened it up, and by our second night the loft was very comfortable, but the first night not so much. Another complaint is that the room was *dark*--Costa Rica is known for its energy conservation measures, and of course Americans are spoiled with our expectations of bright lights and blaring AC everywhere we go, but once the sun went down (which it does in CR between 5 and 6 all year), this room was ridiculous. There was one mirror in the sleeping area, but it was practically useless because by daylight it was brightly backlit by the windows and by night it was too dark to see yourself; this left only the mirror in the bathroom for dressing and getting ready which, again, when there are 4 people gets complicated. Hot water can be a challenge in lots of Costa Rican hotels, and that was very much the case here, where basically one of us could count on a hot shower per day, even with long intervals between people. This hotel was also just missing lots of little touches--nowhere to put your suitcase (except the floor), no extra blankets or pillows, no key to the safe, not enough water glasses or coffee cups, or supplies to make everyone's coffee or tea. I'm sure all of these things could've been had by calling the front desk, but it's already necessary to call for a shuttle to get most places on the property (which is a mile long from end to end), so who wants to keep calling for blankets and a safe key? The lunch/dinner restaurant was good, pretty views and good menus, and our dinner server Carmen was lovely. My daughter and I headed over to the pool for a hot tub soak at happy hour after a long day of hiking, only to find there is no hot tub and the pool is not heated, so we bundled up in towels and watched the sunset with our drinks. Again--delightful young woman working the bar, good drinks, but how is there no hot tub in a place that gets so chilly?! I loved sitting on my deck with a cup of coffee and watching the clouds over the gulf of Nicoya in the mornings, and we saw lots of birds and small animals as well. The location is good, walkable to some restaurants and bakeries, close to town and attractions...just a little more rustic in terms of the actual accommodation than I would've preferred. But also not a bad value for what you get in terms of the whole resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

See above

Alma Del Pacifico Beach Hotel & Spa

Esterillos Este

We ended up at Alma del Pacifico a little bit unexpectedly after having to change plans for the last leg of our trip, but my hopes were high after viewing their website. As it turns out, the website does not do the accommodations justice--Alma is one of the coolest, most surprising and delightful little hotels I've stayed in. I prefer quirky boutique hotels to big chains, and Alma is absolutely a unique little property that I cannot wait to visit again--our two nights were not enough. The first great surprise came at check-in, when we were informed we'd been upgraded; instead of two regular beachfront villas, one of our rooms was actually a beachfront suite with its own private pool. Everything about the layout and appointments of these bright, airy rooms brought me joy, from the minibar area--each had its own sink, nicely stocked bar, generous assortment of snacks and coffee and tea supplies, plus glassware and silverware for all the available beverages--to the fact that each room had abundant seating, table space, a writing desk, and an assortment of fresh fruit. The bathrooms knocked me out with their size, spaciousness, and beautifully tiled open showers, which face sliding glass doors that open onto private courtyards so you can almost have the experience of showering outdoors--one of my favorite things 😂 These are the kinds of rooms you can stay a long time in, because everything you need has been provided. Each room faced the gorgeous Esterillos beach with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private patio with a table and chairs as well as lounge chairs. The suite also had a lovely little pool that we spent an afternoon in cooling off and reviving with coffee after hours at the beach (which is not to say the pool was cold--I hate a cold pool). In addition to all this, Alma del Pacifico also features two full size pools and a hot tub nestled amid gorgeous gardens--flocks of scarlet macaws passed overhead--as well as a spa that I regret not having had the time to visit. The restaurant has a great view of the beach, as does the bar where we enjoyed our second happy hour (we took the first poolside), and the food was delicious. I'm sorry not to have gotten the name of the young woman who was hostessing/serving on Thanksgiving night; we had a reservation for dinner but when we arrived, the live music was crazy loud and we could not hear ourselves think. I asked the young lady who seemed to be in charge if she could help us out and she promptly had us re-seated on the patio by the bar, where we ate our thanksgiving dinner under the stars at a much more enjoyable decibel level. The beach is not my favorite--we left one day for Manuel Antonio, which I love, and where we had booked a parasailing excursion--but it's beautiful and the sunsets are gorgeous. Just a different vibe, very quiet, not a lot of people, but if that's what you like then you'll appreciate the beach too. We showed up for the included breakfast with only 30 minutes til our excursion and were surprised to find it was not a buffet but a sit-down, order-from-a-menu situation--ordinarily a great surprise, except we were short on time. Not a problem, though, we told our server we were rushed and he got our meals to us in no time so we were able to enjoy a delicious breakfast before we hit the road. My booking was arranged by a travel agent so I googled the rates while I sat in the pool and could not believe how affordable this experience was. I was desolate to leave this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Beach Parasailing in Manuel Antonio from Esterillos

Costa Rica

This was our third time parasailing with Aguas Azules, and they never let us down. Parasailing is a glorious experience, especially over a setting as amazing as Manuel Antonio, and these folks make it easy, safe, and so much fun. A great bonus is that for a little extra, you can rent beach chairs and an umbrella on their plot of beach, make use of their boogie boards (and the lifeguard on duty) and order food. The public beach at Manuel Antonio is very popular, with lots of foot traffic, but this end of it tends to be a bit quieter; I also felt a little more comfortable leaving belongings at our chairs while we swam knowing that the folks from Aguas Azules were close by. I wouldn't say they provide security, but I think they'd chase a monkey away if it was trying to snag my phone :-)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver was great, friendly, and flexible, which was awesome. The only downside to our experience was that it's a bit of a haul from Esterillos to MA and the AC didn't really reach the back seat.

Dani was a excellent guide. As was every one else involved in the trip .

Jean Carlo and the Kim Kim team were fantastic! We worked with him to plan an incredible trip, and everything happened on time, and without fail. It was so easy to plan a terrific vacation, and we will be using KimKim to visit other countries for sure!

Costa Rica is a beautiful intricate layering of ecosystems, cultures, and people. The sunset tour on lake Arenal at the foot of the volcano was by far the favorite and not to be missed! Also the coffee chocolate tour and Maleku reservation. We had the best weather and most comfortable stay in La Fortuna.

The cloud forest lodge was also an excellent accommodation in Monteverde. The food is amazing with incredible views and bird watching. Unfortunately it rained so heavily we were not able to enjoy our tours.

The end of our stay was a disappointment. The Hotel Naoz was about a 45 minute walk from the Mandrake reserve and the ocean . The rooms were very small and smelled of gas, and the amenities were lacking comfort. Soaps smelled medicinal in a bad way. The toilet paper was thin and rough to the touch. So bad that we asked to go back to our accommodations in San Jose. This was so unfortunate when we later learned of all the options at the opening of the Mandrake reserve that we could have stayed at instead. We booked well enough in advance that this could have been avoided had we been familiar with the area.

Phil was very helpful in getting us back to San Jose where we could enjoy the museums and markets and were back in the comfort of the Presidente hotel.

Hotel Reviews

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Fabulous literally in the clouds!! Great trails, excellent food and with the amenities they have thought of everything.

Authenticity & Character

Great trails and animal cams so you can get an inside view of the wild life.

Location

Literally in the cloud forest above the trees.

Staff

Very informative about the culture, eco diversity and community.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean high quality. Umbrellas, boots, everything you think you might need.

Hotel Naoz

Manuel Antonio

Accommodations are very small, amenities smell bad. 45 minute walk from the ocean and reserve entrance. Beds are uncomfortable, We could not bear to stay another night due to the smell of gas in our room. The staff was very nice, but we were unable to get a refund.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nothing it is too far from the ocean and reserve.

Staff

Excellent staff not their fault if is just an unfortunate hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but horribly uncomfortable and smelly.

Hotel Presidente

San José

Great hotel and location. Some of the rooms are small, but the amenities are of very good quality. Excellent breakfast and bar. Smelled lovely and decorated very well. The staff was friendly, knowledgable, and very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Fun refurbished factory great character.

Location

Very central location and felt safe always.

Staff

Super kind and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Fantastic, fun, lots to do!! Highly recommend. I would go back.

Authenticity & Character

The pools were over the top and walking trails easy to find with very good signage.

Location

Right at the base of the volcano with spectacular Views.

Staff

The staff was a little aloof but this may have been to respect privacy. Pool bar staff was excellent!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable and clean highly recommend.

Activity Reviews

Coffee & Chocolate Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was very interactive. Great for all ages, very informative and we got to see Sloths and monkeys. Not only taste but also make chocolate and coffee.

Quality of Experience

Very educational and interactive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kindness and always ready to answer wuestions.

Transport

Very reliable and timely.

Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a wonderful experience to be learning from the native people themselves. They were generous and kind.

Quality of Experience

Very special educational activities.

Food

Lical traditional food was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their genuine kindness and joy in sharing their culture.

Transport

On time and shared knowledge on the way to the tour!!!

Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Wow, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the volcano up close and personal. Very relaxing, excellent views and opportunities to see the wildlife. An array of beverages to choose from and a lovely cheese platter.

Quality of Experience

Perfect sunset and views!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and knowledgable!!

Transport

On time and helpful.

The entire trip was very well planned by Jean Carlos, it went off without a hitch. The drivers were all wonderful in particular, Otto on our mtn bike ride. We were lucky to be just the 3 of us. The zip lining was amazing, my first time, Sky Adventure were very safety conscious and encouraging. The bridge walk was okay, nothing exciting, it would have been good to walk down/up to the falls. Loved white watering, another excellent company - our guide Micheal was so much fun, but also very safe. Hotel Auténtico was great, and we enjoyed the pool at Arenal Country Inn. Jackie at the front desk of the Country Inn was delightful, always smiling.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Country Inn

La Fortuna

Nice location away from the busyness of La Fortuna. Jackie at the front desk is a lovey greeter and hard worker.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Jackie

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Good location but not many restaurants around and the vote one is expensive. Fully recommend a Mexican one nearby El Mananitos, hard working man and great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Backroad Mountain Biking Around Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Otto was a great guide and provided a lot of local knowledge as well as a Spanish lesson. Hood bikes and pace, he found us a well hidden sloth

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very safely conscious

Transport

Free Day in San Jose

San José

Busy and noisy, preferred the area around La Fortuna

Visit Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

Would love to have done a 2 day, 1 night lodge stay (instead of the day in San Jose.)

Quality of Experience

Our guide Michael

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otto at Destifino was our MTN biking adventure and he was great.
The only issue was the pillows at Hotel Authentico were too big and hard. Some smaller and softer pillows would have been great but they were apparently not availabe.
Sky zip lining and the rafting were very well organized.
Jackie at Arenal Country Inn was very nice and always helpful.

Nearly perfect vacation

The night hike was disappointing as it was really more of a garden than a jungle.

Everyone at the Hideaway was gracious, helpful and attentive. Also, the food was very good.

The river rafting trip was great from beginning to end.

Costa Rica is a special place.
I am so glad we used KimKim to plan and book this vacation. Yes it was more expensive than if we had done it on our own but…. It went off without a hitch. Everything was as it had been presented to us. Every tour company arrived on time. Every tour guide was professional, knowledgeable and hospitable. Every accommodation was expecting us. This left us to just enjoy the experience of Costa Rica, the amazing plants and animals, birds and people. Thank you Randall!

Gustavo was an excellent agent because he took the time to listen and understand the type of holiday I was looking for. His recommendations turned out to spot on!

He was very patient and committed to finding the best activities suited to the length of time I had to spend ion Costa Rica.

I appreciated the company he used for private transportation - RideCR is the name.

A special shout out to my driver Carlos Corrales who took good care of making sure I made my flight on time despite a 2.5 hour roadblock due to an over flooded bridge. Just be sure to bring beverages for your road journey when traveling with the car company.

I have no hesitation in using this agency for my next trip to Costa Rica

Hotel Review

Río Perdido Hotel & Thermal River

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel grounds - excellent place to unwind. I particularly enjoyed the warm thermal river and the massage. I will return for sure!

Authenticity & Character

The rooms are separate and you feel that you’re in the midst of a rain forest. I liked the privacy. Beautifully decorated too with comfortable beds.

Location

Staff

The on-site shop had authentic crafts - nice selection. Massage was superb.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Children's Eternal Rainforest Night Walk

Monteverde

Great opportunity to see animals up close, also to gain more knowledge about the rain forest. I enjoyed the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Visit to the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens

Monteverde

Opportunity to see butterflies and sloths up close. Nice experience if you’ve never done this before.

Quality of Experience

Treetopia Tram & Hanging Bridges Adventure

Monteverde

This activity afforded me the opportunity to see the volcano from a distance. There was a lot of construction taking place at the time which detracted from the overall experience. Nevertheless I’m glad I did the tram ride. The hanging bridges was an excellent experience.

AMAZING!

I would go back to Costa Rica every year if I could. The trip had such great variety, we really got to see it all. Everything was so organized, we didn't have to worry about a thing. Our flights got changed the day before we left on our trip, and Brittany was so helpful in booking us an extra nights stay. Our favourite part was releasing over 100 baby sea turtles into the ocean with Kids Saving the Rainforest in Manuel Antonio. They were so welcoming and went above and beyond to allow us to join in on such a special moment. The only downside was San Jose, being there right after Christmas, everything was closed! But that is the only negative thing I can say.
I am still dreaming about the coffee...

Activity Review

Visit Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary

Manuel Antonio

They were so incredibly welcoming and even let us tag along to release baby sea turtles into the ocean 10/10 trip hight light for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the most wonderful trip. Thanks to Jean Carlo and team for building an itinerary that perfectly fitted our brief and then making sure everything was perfect when we were there. When I wanted to change one travel plan while we were there, Within an hour of messaging, the change was made and updated. As somone who usually likes to plan and book everything myself, I am totally converted to using a local expert. Thank you, everything truly exceeded our expectations.

Overall Kimkim planned our trip well! We enjoyed ourselves, had good activities and had time to rest too.

- Transportation between cities was great. We felt safe with the drivers, and they were on time.

- Arenal: we wish the volcano hike was longer. The choice of Baldi hot springs was great.
-The chocolate and coffee tour was good too.

- Puerto Viejo: The Cahuita hike followed by snorkeling was our favorite activity of the whole trip.

- San Jose: we wish our bus had left earlier so we could get to San Jose earlier and see more of the city during the evening.

- The bedding situation was just OK. Beds were not comfortable and some were unstable on their bases. The 2 beds in San Jose were full size beds, not queen size. They definitely were not suited for 2 people per bed.

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The view to the volcano at this hotel was perfect! Breakfast was good! The beds could have been more comfortable and some were unstable on their bases. The customer service was great! Every employee we interacted with was nice and professional!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel is very close to a tour agency

Staff

The customer service was great! Every employee we interacted with was nice and professional!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds could have been more comfortable and some were unstable on their bases.

Villas del Caribe

Puerto Viejo

The beach views were wonderful! The customer service was good! The breakfast options could be better. The beds could be more comfortable. The bedrooms had good AC and we were cool there. The downstairs area was hot. The ceiling fan did not work well. Also, it would be good to have more than 1 fan. Adding 2-3 standing fans would be great!

Authenticity & Character

Great views to the beach!! Great beach!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas

San José

This hotel is in a great location! The 2 beds were too small for 2 people per bed. They should have been queen size beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Black hot springs is a beautiful location! The drinks were good too!

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was ok…

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling & Hiking in Cahuita National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The hike was easy and we were happy to see all the animals along the way! The guides were nice and knowledgeable! The snorkeling was the best!! The pineapple snack was appreciated.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All of my drivers were very courteous and very knowledgeable about the areas that we travel through. I enjoyed the hotel in la Fortuna the country inn. Jackie was the hotel manager. She was very kind and very helpful. I enjoyed the amazing beachfront hotel in Manuel Antonio, Everyone the staff was so kind. It was the best trip ever, I would tell anyone if they want to travel to use Kim Kim for their vacation everyone was always on time I didn’t have to wait on anyone they didn’t have to wait on me best trip ever

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Country Inn

La Fortuna

I am sure this hotel is one of the most beautiful places on earth very tranquil staff. It was wonderful and my room was just perfect close to town good restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

The setting was in the jungle a lot of trees flowers everything was just beautiful

Location

The hotel was deep in the jungle with a beautiful pool, wonderful scenery, and close to town

Staff

They paid attention to every detail they asked how was everything going during my stay and if I needed anything just ask

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful grounds staff that is very attentive, amazing surroundings

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport

San Jose

Staff was very wonderful. Nice to be close to the airport and breakfast was very healthy and delicious again it was very convenient for me being close to the airport when I arrived.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was great and delicious

Location

Upon arrival being close to the airport

Staff

Not that I can think of at the moment

Cleanliness & Comfort

Squeaky clean

Mar Inn Costa Rica

Monteverde Costa Rica

Hilltop hotel close to town. I had a room with a great view when you can see through the clouds coming through from time to time.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel was above average

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

After my first day in la Fortuna, the Beautiful Country in Hotel, it wasn’t very easy coming to this one. It’s second rate at bass.

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

My room was very nice some of the most wonderful people work at this hotel. The view was great I could see the beach I was on the beach. Everyone at this hotel are very friendly people very friendly my stay there made me feel like I must come back again.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean I could not ask for more

Location

Location was excellent. I could not ask for a better

Staff

Tatiana restaurant manager, Aldemir, waiter, and many more I can’t remember all of their names

Cleanliness & Comfort

Both squeaky, clean and very comfy

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

My stay was very brief because of the drop off time and the pick up time and my Wi-Fi would not work in my hotel room. I had to come downstairs in the lobby and the food was not that good

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is in the heart of downtown San Jose. If I had I had more time I am I would have seen a lot better things.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Best time ever wild and crazy and fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Falling overboard, but was rescued very quickly. That was fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Crossing the hanging bridges was an experience in a lifetime way above the canopies of the tall trees, and finding the flora and Fana to be so comforting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very experienced professional and knowledgeable

Transport

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

For a 65-year-old man that is not in the greatest shape did this wonderful excursion and enjoyed every bit of it. It was slightly rough, but I would recommend this excursion to anyone that can handle it.

Quality of Experience

Costa Rica is a wealth of flora and Fana and different types of animals birds species, reptiles, and insects and mammals. You couldn’t ask for a better place to visit with all of that wonderful creation.

Food

All of my drivers were on time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their knowledge of the areas that we travel through, and the ability to be bilingual and language, and very amazingly kind

Transport

Well, all of the equipment that was used in my travels were very new and very comfortable

Organic Spice Farm Experience

Manuel Antonio

And amazing experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Best time ever somewhat scary but I had a great time. Just be careful not to slip and fall on some of the slippery rocks.

Quality of Experience

Walking through narrow canyons with guides who took very good care of us, sometimes held her hand so we could make it through the narrow canyons with rushing water very beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Buffet Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale Watching Tour (seasonal)

Costa Rica

This experience, I had been looking forward to for a very long time to actually see whales in their natural habitat. I got a chance to see two pairs of mother and baby well together, jumping out of the water and swimming under the boat. It was such a great time that experience, I will never forget, never ever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Manuel Antonio Beaches

Manuel Antonio

The beach was just amazing right below of my hotel room. I was able to walk the beach and look at the white face monkeys, jumping from the trees tree to tree a lot of fun. They were very comical. The water was great. Nice and warm beautiful sunset. Great memories.

Quality of Experience

Costa Rica is a very beautiful country. There’s nothing there that doesn’t make you feel like you were in a.

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

My guide, Maria was very knowledgeable, happy, smiling, and very good with the group. We saw lots of things.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport