Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

We had an amazing trip! Costa Rica is a beautiful place with so much to see and do! From the places to visit, excursions and accommodations, all of Veronica's suggestions were great, and the entire trip ran like clockwork. It was wonderful to know everything was planned and taken care of, and just be able to enjoy the experience. The tour companies - Green World Adventures, Desafio Adventure Company, Monteverde Experts and Iguana Tours - and every guide - John, Gabriel, Kathy, Andrey, Tony, Diogenes and Allen - were fantastic, very knowledgeable and friendly. We would absolutely plan our next trip with KimKim!

This trip was 3 years in the making as Covid restrictions delayed our plans. Working with Randall was a god send! I have never felt more comfortable with someone that I haven’t met personally and only conversed with through emails and texting. Randall took our requirements and put together a 17 day trip that we will remember forever. The details of the itinerary were extremely helpful particularly when going on the different tours which included equipment & clothing requirements, pick up times, tour operators, and travel durations etc. We visited several national parks through guided tours and learned about the fauna and flora on both the Pacific, Caribbean and the inland mountains. Highly recommend going on guided hikes/walks and all the guides were amazing at spotting and learning about flora and fauna you wouldn’t pick up on your own. The trip was well balanced with excursions and down days were you could chill and relax when you wanted to. Also Randall and the Kim Kim were there if you needed them at all during the trip. Thanks so much Randall. Pura Vida!

We visited Costa Rica from Jan 4-18. We started in Tortuguero and finished in Manuel Antonio. We spent 2 nights in 5 different locations and 3 nights in Tamarindo. For the most part that was a perfect amount of time. However I do wish we had 3 nights in Manuel Antonio and a better hotel location in Arenal. The Kim Kim team was always easy to contact. The tour guides they work with are very good especially Marco in Tortuguero and Charlie in Arenal. We appreciated the good food we ate for breakfast and the kind workers at the lodges. All were very helpful. Don’t hesitate working with Kim Kim.
We did buy trip insurance since the payment amount due was several month before departure.

This was our first time using kimkim, the experience was great and we will definitely use the service again!

Kimkim worked with Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip.
Communication with Sergio, Charlotte, and Nancy from SA, while planning and during the trip, was excellent.
Sergio tweaked our plan to accommodate our travel interests and created an itinerary that matched our requests. Charlotte and Nancy were both quickly reachable while we were in Costa Rica via WhatApp, this was a huge benefit as we made a few changes on the fly.

Prior to leaving we had some concerns regarding self driving in Costa Rica, after a call with Sergio we felt comfortable proceeding as planned. Self driving around Costa Rica allowed us to explore and stop as we wished, we felt safe. The winding roads through mountain elevation changes might be a bit much for some travelers.

Tours:

La Fortuna area-

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

This private tour was operated by Arenal Star. We were picked up by a van with a guide and driver. Nester was our guide for the entire day, his knowledge and passion for the local flora, fauna and ecosystem was outstanding. This package is a ‘do not miss’ tour.

Monteverde area-

Sky Adventures Zip Lines Monteverde Park

This is an amazing zipline system running through the jungle at high elevations up to 5,000 ft. The runs vary from 1/4 to 1/2 mile in length each; there are seven total cable runs. Be forewarned that this attraction operates in weather that would normally be considered dangerous in the United States. We had high wind and light rain accompanied by dense fog/clouds.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Don Juan coffee and chocolate tour is another 'do not miss'. A well organized and educational tour of the process involved in cocoa and coffee production also information about sugarcane.

Accommodations:

All were excellent and very different from each other. Rating on a 1-5 scale shown next to the property name below.

Arenal Paraiso Resort & Spa-4

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens-5

Los Altos Resort-Quepos-5

We had a great couple of weeks in Costa Rica, all planned through Kimkim and their agent Yuliana with Amazilla Travel in Costa Rica. Yuliana did a great job planning the trip following our, and our friends from Canada traveling with us, input on what to see and things we were interested in doing.
We travelled from Liberia to Monteverde by private transportation and knowledgeable guide that explained points of interest during the ~ 3 hour drive.
The Zip Line organized by Yuliana was fantastic. It worked out very well starting in the north cloud forest region first as it was a bit cooler but still very conformable mid 60’s to 70’s then making our way to lower elevations and south as the trip progressed. The accommodations were clean, comfortable and nice throughout the trip. Other main places visited included, La Fortune, Manuel Antonio and San Jose. Highlights were the Zip Line, Los Lagos hot springs resort, planned tours and hikes to beautiful water falls. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable which made the trip that must more enjoyable.
We learned a lot about the country, regions, culture, parks and animals through the organized tours so very glad we took them. All in all, it was a great trip, saw and did lots of things and had the right amount of down time. Would do it again.

Lorenzo & Helen C

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

This is a very nice resort with lots of hot spring pools, things to do and good restaurant. The rooms are spacious and clean as are the grounds and facilities. The town is easy to get to and Uber was a good mode of transportation. Great view of the volcano from the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located at the foot of the volcano and 5 minute drive to the town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Country Lodge

Monteverde

Good accommodations. Its on a hill so walking to stores and restaurants is very tough. Can take taxi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente

San José

Well located in the heart of the city. Lots to see in within walking distance. As with many big cities, you will see some homeless people is some areas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Amazing view of the ocean. Located in the hillside and close to the beach. Walking distance if you're a walker that doesn't mind steep hills. Local bus passed and stops near the hotel and other places of interest. Hotel grounds are well kept and a number of pools and great views. Restaurants are close by. Rooms are clean, spacious and great A/C.

Authenticity & Character

Location

View of the ocean.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

These were amazing zip lines, 13 in total. Some long some short. Well run and safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

Fun and tasty. Learned a few things about coffee and chocolate too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Timing was right, if too raining you won't see the turquoise color, we were lucky and it was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling

Manuel Antonio

Fun kayaking here. The guide was good and water calm.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José City Tour

San José

City tour was informative and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dear Yuliana,

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica! Thank you for managing our itinerary and coordinating reservations. Our group was made up of myself, my mother and boyfriend. Ultimately, you and the KimKim team provided us time back to focus on being present for each other throughout each excursion. One of my favorites was the boat tour of Las Catalinas Islands where we each plunged into open sea waters in search of sea dwellers. It all was possible thanks to the customizable itinerary and flexibility. The thoughtful work allowed us to feel pampered, and taken care of throughout our adventure.

A

Incredible trip with memories we will cherish!
Bryan and his team provided exceptional service from planning the trip to hands on 24/7 support or question through out our 2 weeks journey!

We loved our drivers/tour guides that made our activities beyond our expectations! We are planning other trips with Kimkim simply because of how they listen to our needs and experiences we desire. Plus they are with us on What’s App to support us throughout our trip!

Thank you for making our 30th Anniversary so very special!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

The people, food and hotel was exceptional!!!

Authenticity & Character

The people and food made the experience here.

Location

Staff

Love the staff!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Hotel Cuna del Angel

Dominical

Authenticity & Character

The food was totally incredible and everything was gluten free - incredible chef!!!!!!!!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

They did not clean our room but they did upgrade us to a villa for our anniversary.

Ocotea Boutique Hotel

Santa Elena

The sunsets from the roof top bar were exceptional!

Authenticity & Character

The staff were the most accommodating! Modern and European character.

Location

Staff

Love the staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Activity Reviews

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

We only visited the organic farm — none of the cultural experiences beyond the farm was omitted. The children are not in school in January so something should have been substituted.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Nature Walk in Danaus Eco-Center

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

I could not do this experience because I have an issue with heights. I thought I had noted this in advance but I assume I might not have. There were 8 bridges which I could not cross therefore I could not go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Monteverde Orchid Gardens

Monteverde

Very knowledgeable guide at the center. Learned a great deal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale Watching & Wildlife Spotting Boat Trip in Marino Ballena National Park

Costa Rica

Ok, no whales. It was an ok experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terraba Sierpe Mangrove & Wildlife Tour

Uvita

We traded this experience to go snorkeling for the day. The snorkeling was ok. The guide and boat support team were exceptional!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Poas Volcano

Costa Rica

We purchased an 8hour full day tour from the hotel on top of the Poas Volcano Tour. Best tour of the entire trip and best guide/ driver also!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our driver/ guide!!!!!!!!

Transport

Costa Rica is incredible! So amazing! We (2 adults + 2 boys) planned our trip with Sergio from Serendipity Adventures focused on animals and nature for the end of December/beginning of January. The whole planning process was great, and Sergio was always easy to reach. I think that KimKim is a good option if you don't have much time to organize your trip. It was the first time I used it, and I think it was a good option at the present pace of my life.

A review would not be enough to describe the unforgettable memories we have from our trip. We did Tortuguero, LaFortuna, Monteverde and Playa Conchal. Costa Rica's food is incredible and so tasteful. People are very very nice there. I was so sorry of leaving at the end.

My must-dos (which can be different from the rest of my family): Tortuguero canal ride (5-star to our guide Elston), LaFortuna waterfall, Arenal volcano hiking trail, Zip-lining with SkyAdventures, Monteverde village and cloud forest, Catamaran sunset ride in Guanacaste (we saw whales!).

Hotel Reviews

Evergreen Lodge

Tortuguero

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Westin Golf Resort and Spa, Playa Conchal

Playa Conchal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tortuguero Village Visit

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baldi Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Costa Rica is a beautiful country. Loved observing the wildlife, the ocean and rainforest. Randall did an excellent job at arranging the trip to my liking. He even arranged some last minute requests for us in a timely fashion. Thank you for your prompt and professional service Randall!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

The staff is wonderful and the rooftop restaurant is fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The room was roomy and clean and the staff very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near a busy street. But nice grounds

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Manuel Antonio

Loved this place the rooms have great views of the ocean. The room is a good size and very clean. The staff is very accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee & Chocolate Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

A great tour with and informative guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

An easy hike, beautiful park and great guide. I would recommend a guide because they have the expertise to point out things you might never find on your own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my husband's and my first time to Costa Rica. We were celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary and it was an amazing experience. Sergio planned a wonderful trip and really personalized it for us. For the most part we had private or semi private transfers and/or tour guides and it really allowed us to interact with them and get a lot of information.
Our driver from San Jose to Arenal/La Fortuna was Charlie with Ride CR. He was great. We arrived at the airport at 1:30pm and we were hungry and he was kind enough to take us to a Soda (local outdoor diner) for pina coladas and traditional meal of casadas. It was delicious and a wonderful way to begin our trip. It was a 2 and 1/2 hour drive to the hotel but it flew by with our conversations with Charlie.
We arrived at our hotel The Springs Resort & Spa and were greeted by Antonio who gave us a yummy tropical drink and then a tour of the hotel and he then delivered our luggage to our room. Our room was spectacular with a huge picture window framing the volcano with a view from our bed. The balcony with hammocks was a great way to see and watch the animals. On our first morning we were able to hear howler monkies, so cool.
Our second day we went on a Safari Float tour with our tour guide, Carlos and one other couple. We saw monkies, sloths, birds and other animals. Carlos spotted animals and would stop and point them out for us. That afternoon we went on a Coffee & Chocolate Tour at Don Juan's and Maria was excellent at explaining the growing and processing from start to finish. We even got to make our own chocolate. We topped off the evening with dinner at Las Ventanas at the hotel and it was very good and beautiful views.
Our third day we went on a Private Hanging Bridges Walk. Our driver Paulo and guide Kenneth couldn't do enough for us. Kenneth pointed out many animals, insects and plants and also would show us through a scope and then was kind enough to take pictures for us through the scope. After the tour, Paulo had a delicious spread of refreshments consisting of fruit, drinks and chips.
The fourth day, we took a lake crossing a drive to Monteverde. The boat ride across the lake was beautiful but the van ride was a little scary because the roads aren't paved and very narrow but the drivers seem to know what they're doing.
We stayed for two nights at the Hotel Belmar and had a fabulous view with sunsets and at night the stars were so brilliant. I wish I could remember the names of all the staff because they were all so attentive and the food served at the restaurants was amazing. We did ziplining in Monteverde and it was exhilarating and I highly recommend that you overcome your fears and give it a try. You won't regret it.
Our final leg of the trip was spent a Playa Hermosa and we stayed at the Hotel Bosque. The location is perfect for swimming, animal watching and the restaurants along the coast are fabulous. We ate at several of them and we were not disappointed. We would recommend Roberto's, La Casita Del Marisco (had a 4 lb whole redsnapper and it was fabulous), and the Restaurant El Velero. The staff at the Hotel Bosque were very attentive and made a real effort to remember your name and interact. Roland and Diego were especially helpful.
Our driver to the airport was Jose with 3Monkies. He was really made a point to interact with us and give us information for future visits.
I know this is a long review but I hope it is helpful in making a decision to visit and enjoy this beautiful country. Thank you Sergio for planning such a memorable vacation.

Hotel Reviews

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Wonderful views and rooms are beautiful. Staff were very helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Belmar

Monteverde

Hotel location, rooms and dining were fabulous.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Our room was ready as soon as we arrived. Although there were a couple of things that didn't work when we arrived. They were repaired promptly. The staff made an effort to remember your name and make sure you were happy. Roland and Diego were exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our tour guide Carlos was very knowledgeable and made sure we saw as much wild life as he could find.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Very informative. Maria our tour guide was very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Paulo and Kenneth made this such a memorable time. From the time we were picked up from the hotel they made an effort to point out animals and vegetation

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Thermal Hotsprings at your hotel

Arenal/La Fortuna

We only used the springs once during our stay because we were so busy but definitely worth seeing The whole hotel is beautiful .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

The weather wasn't ideal but the experience was so wonderful. The staff is very capable and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour

Costa Rica

The boat ride was very smooth and the staff very accomodating. Lots of food and drink served throughout. Beautiful sunset

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nuria was great and made sure I had an amazing trip! I did not have any time to plan my trip so I relied on Nuria to take care of it for me. This is definitely how I plan on handling future vacations! Nuria took care of EVERY DETAIL and made sure everything went to plan. Nuria checked in on us from time-to-time and let us know when one of our drivers was running late. I cannot stress how great it was to not worry about making plans and booking everything.

Thank you, Nuria!

Such an amazing adventure our plannned had for us. Amazing people , food , experiences. Definitely would recommend the same trip to all ages.

We had a blast in Costa Rica (Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Monteverde) and were impressed with how smoothly everything went! We had no issues during our stay. Accommodations were great, our transportation always arrived early, and the tour guides and service were PHENOMENAL. Bryan did a great job putting everything together.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

The rooms were comfortable and the rooftop dining area was nice. The location is right in the heart of the city, which in San Jose means we had to be a little careful. The streets essentially roll up by around 8-9pm and there is not a soul in sight. We have been told that it isn't very safe to walk around at night in the city and that was apparent to us in this area. This means that if you don't want to be hungry at night, make sure to eat a full dinner early on as there is no where nearby to get food and the hotel only offers $3 bags of peanuts. The free breakfast in the morning, however, was delicious with a large selection. The fact that everything around the hotel closes so early also makes it difficult for smokers. Since smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises my husband stepped out front at night to smoke a cigarette, and the gate promptly locked behind him (gate was not accessible with the hotel key). After about 5 minutes, the gate was opened for him, but during this time he did start to get heckled by an aggressive homeless man. The only entrance/exit to the hotel essentially leads right into the street so it's good to be careful when leaving the hotel grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Designated smoking area, main gate could be accessible with hotel key, vending machine

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

This is where we saw the majority of wildlife during our stay. The grounds are spread out and lovely with tons of beautiful vegetation, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Howler monkeys and iguana were abundant. Our guide for being transported via boat as well as the boat tours was Elias, and he was amazing and also very helpful when we needed to modify our plans slightly. Bismark at the front desk was also very helpful and friendly. They keep the bar running from 10am - 10pm and the large water-facing gazebo as a designated smoking area was appreciated. Being that we were in the middle of the jungle, the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms exceeded my expectations. There is no AC but the temperature was perfect the whole time and I truly didn't even notice. There are also mosquito screens rather than windows, but I still felt like I had enough privacy, plus the screens allowed us to hear all the jungle noises! I had a lot of fun just walking the nature trail and looking for (and finding) wildlife. The grounds were very relaxing. The tap water here is not for drinking but there is a place to fill up water bottles toward the entrance. The food was better than I expected. It is not out of this world or anything, but it is more than adequate. It is offered buffet style (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). We sat at assigned tables in small groups, but the tables were big enough that I didn't feel crowded. Also, the time window that meals are offered is large enough that it was rare for everyone at a given table were all eating at the same time. It is best to go outside toward the bar/restaurant for a good WiFi connection, if needed. I believe a lot of these lodges in Tortuguero (Pachira, Evergreen) all have the exact same setup and function essentially the same. I would definitely recommend them for staying somewhere that feels like 'the jungle' but doesn't sacrifice comfort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fonda Vela Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Customer service from Jazmin at the front desk and the restaurant staff was superb.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The restaurant here is perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever eaten (beautiful jungle view) and I am still thinking about how good the seafood soup was weeks later. The rooms were comfortable (also with beautiful views) and the springs were nice. The customer service was also exceptional. I would definitely recommend this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leno was our guide and he was great.

Transport

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nocturnal Rainforest Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1st time with KimKim
Planning the trip with KimKim was a pleasure. We were a bit overwhelmed with what CR has to offer and having someone help us make the most of two weeks there was a life saver.
Selection of activities was excellent - both in terms of number and variety of things to do. Both guides were very responsive and helpful.
Highlights of the trip: Rafting and chocolate tour in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Unexpected highlight: Kayaking up the river in PVdT
Can skip: We booked 3 wildlife tours. Unless you are a big wildlife fan, 1-2 tours is enough

Activity Reviews

Cahuita National Park Snorkel & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

A great kayaking trip up the river. Lot of wildlife, gets very quite after a while (once you are past the howler monkeys)

Quality of Experience

Lot of wildlife in a short time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guy was often more interested in taking pictures on his own vs letting us get closer to the animals

Transport

on time

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent! Nice class 3 river with a lot of excitement (but still doable with the kids)

Quality of Experience

Thrill, great guide, great fruits, beautiful nature

Food

delicious fruits!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David (aka Jesus) was a great captain and guide

Transport

on time

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Beautiful nature, helpful guide. The waterfall is pretty scenic

Quality of Experience

A bit far from La Fortuna (1.5h drive)

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and helpful

Transport

on time. Be ready for 1.5h drive from La Fortuna

Our recent trip to Costa Rica in January 2023 was amazing, it was our first trip in Costa Rica and the trip planned by Bryan and the Serenpidity team was amazing. Our goal was to see a lot of wildlife and experience the Rainforest and Cloudforest and our excursions totally met our expectations. The hotels were also great, with 2 of them absolutely fantastic (Arenal Manoa in La Fortuna and La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio).

We would totally recommend Kimkim and Bryan to our friends.

It was absolutely amazing. Everything was planned with such care and detail, charlotte was amazing and very responsive. Overall it was one of the best trips I have ever been on!

We visited Costa Rica for the first time and spent 9 days in the country. We spent our first night in San Jose and then 2 nights each in Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, La Fortuna and Tamarindo. We wanted to see as much as possible on this trip and we feel like we got to see a lot of different places. Getting to these different places wasn't easy. My wife gets car sick and she really had a rough time on the roads. If I could do it again I would have considered flying from place to place when possible. The drive times were all longer than we expected. Most roads were paved but not all. And some roads had many potholes. Even when paved the winding roads made the drives feel extra long. Fortunately our drivers were one of the highlights of our trip. They were all personable and professional. They were excellent drivers and handled the challenging road conditions like true pro's. They were very hospitable. They answered our questions and let us practice our bad Spanish.
All of our guides were wonderful. They were all very knowledgeable and professional and friendly. You can tell they enjoy what they do.

Hotel Reviews

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

This hotel wasn't "amazing" but it was fine and served it's purpose. We checked in at 10 at night and were gone the next day by 2. The rooms were dated and drab but everything worked. Great water pressure in the shower. We were hungry when we got in but didn't know where to find food at such a late hour. The person at the front desk let us know that we could order via Uber Eats. 45 minutes later we were eating Chinese food in our room. If he hadn't mentioned it, I'm not sure we would have thought of delivery. The breakfast in the morning was a good mix of hot foods and fruits. The waiter helped us when my wife overcooked her waffle in the waffle maker. The location of the hotel is very convenient to downtown San Jose. They held our bags as we went out to explore the city. Overall a solid choice for 1 night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We didn't have any hot water on our first night. Of course when the hotel sent someone to check on it the next morning the hot water was working. We had intermittent hot water for the rest of our stay. Besides the hot water, I don't have any complaints about the hotel. The room is simple and comfortable. Our 3rd floor room had a balcony overlooking the gardens. The restaurant served a yummy buffet breakfast. My favorite part of the property was the proximity to the beach. The beach is beautiful and only a few minutes from our room. We saw a sloth perched in the trees at the beach on our last day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beach access. 15 minute walk to Manuel Antonio park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

This is a beautiful property. The landscaping is beautiful with a garden and walking trail. Didn't get to use the heated pool or hot tub but it looked like the perfect way to finish a long day. The rooms were modern and comfortable. Great shower water pressure. The front desk staff, especially Lilly, was very helpful and hospitable. The restaurant had a yummy ala carte style breakfast in the morning. My only complaint is that with high winds during our stay, the branches from the trees kept hitting the roof above our room making it very difficult to sleep. We should have said something after the first night. If you're on the 4th floor make sure the tree branches are clear of the roof.

Authenticity & Character

Simple and stylish

Location

Right across the street from a shopping plaza that includes a supermarket and several restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Hot Springs Thermal Water Resort

La Fortuna

Fantastic hotel. The combination of the various hot spring pools, surrounding vegetation and the view of the mountains made this property really impressive. I think there was 7 or 8 different pools/hot tubs to enjoy. My favorite part was the view of the pasture and mountain from the coffee shop. The property feels luxurious and natural at the same time. The breakfast buffet at the restaurant was my favorite breakfast of all the hotels we stayed at. Good selection of hot breakfast food and all the fruits you could want. The rooms were modern, spacious and comfortable. Staff was friendly. Kenneth helped us schedule a taxi and make a dinner reservation on our first night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful location but not very walkable. Must taxi or drive to town or restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Pasatiempo

Tamarindo

We got to stay in the Villa. It was basically a one bedroom house with a full kitchen and living room and nice covered patio section. When we were escorted to the villa the sofa bed in the living room looked like it had been used and not cleaned and a coffee cup was in the sink. The hotel employee assisting us had somebody come and makeup the sofa while we were out at lunch. Not a huge deal but not a great first impression either. The shower water pressure was weak. The property is full of trees and animals. We saw an Iguana, monkeys, squirrels, lizards and cats. The breakfast was served a la carte and was delicious. The restaurant staff was very friendly. The pool was simple but very relaxing. Live music sounded good too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to beach and all you need in Tamarindo. Right across the street from a supermarket and ATM. Many restaurants within walking distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Damas Island Kayaking

Manuel Antonio

This was a very peaceful and relaxing activity. Albi, our guide was very friendly and did a good job explaining the ecosystem. We saw a monkey, a tiger heron, a kingfisher and a Black Iguana. We kayaked for about 90 minutes. The kayaking was easy and we saw a few other guides doing tours at the same time. We then were taken to a restaurant for a small breakfast and then transported back to the hotel. We had hoped to see more animals but we still enjoyed our experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Walk

Monteverde

We were in a group of 6. Our guide Andre was very knowledgeable and showed us many things we would never have seen on our. We saw a tarantula, glowing mushroom, several sleeping birds, lizards and opossums. I thought we would see bigger animals but I was wrong.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Backroad Mountain Biking Around Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Otto was fantastic. We were the only 2 on the tour. Otto had great energy and was so nice. The bike ride lasted about 90 minutes. You bike the road around Lake Arenal. We saw birds, cows, horses. Lots of farmland and great views of the lake. Otto even stopped on the way out of town to show us a sloth. Biking was a fun way to experience the area and get some exercise. After the ride Otto cut up a pineapple for us to snack on. And on the way back to the hotel Otto serenaded us with romantic ballad in Spanish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamarindo Turtle Nesting Tour (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

There were 21 of us on this tour, by far our most crowded tour of the trip. The ride to the beach took an hour and then it was a 20 minute walk to the beach. We waited for over an hour while our guide scouted the beach for turtles. There was only one turtle on the beach that night. We were able to observe the turtle nesting and laying it s eggs.

Quality of Experience

It felt a little unorganized when we got to the beach but really we were just sitting and waiting for turtles. The group also felt too big for one single guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Where do I start! This vacation was the dream just from the itinerary we set up, only took about a week and half to customize this amazing trip to Costa Rica. Our guide Nuria helped us every step of the way making sure we had tons of excursions and amazing resorts to stay while there. We had just the right amount of days in the beautiful city learning the history, an amazing few days on a jungle island where we explored the wildlife and people there. They ended it perfectly with our last weekend in a giant party city where we surfed with locals, drank beers, and listened to music till the late night. I highly recommend booking with them, they make your vacation so much less stress as they accompany you ever step of the process.

Dear Sergio, Charlotte and Nancy,

We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful experience we enjoyed in Costa Rica with your tremendous assistance, including the splendid itinerary, your responsiveness before and during our trip, and your suggestions of what to see and experience. True, you had an excellent canvas to work with: Costa Rica! The country is beautiful with so much to see and enjoy, and the people we met along our journey were also a pleasure, and the food was so tasteful and exactly the kind of food we enjoy as vegetarians. That said, we know that the quality of our experience was enhanced due to your individual and collective expertise and professionalism.

As for the guides and tours you recommended, each were great in their own way. Chris, our guide at hanging bridges (assisted by Pablo) was informative and personable. The white water rafting was truly a blast and well run, and the zip lining was, despite my personal fear of heights, truly amazing. Likewise, we cannot say enough good things about Andres Socio, our guide at Manuel Antonio National State Park; he is truly brilliant, good natured, and has a good sense of humor. Frankly, without the guides you recommended we would have missed the vast majority of what we saw on the hikes we did. Also, the ocean kayaking and snorkeling tour, in which Maddy and I were the only two participants, was also a tremendous life experience and very well run. We even made a point, per your recommendation, of stopping at Crocodile Bridge and were glad that we did. And the resorts we stayed at were each spectacular in their own way. Tabacon it was the thermal hot springs. Peace Lodge: as animal rights activists and nature/outdoor lovers, Peace Lodge was heaven on earth to us and had great vibe. And Arenas del Mar, particularly given its beachfront access and trappings and staff, and the many creatures of nature (capuchins, sloths, iguanas etc) that were just roaming about, was a blend of perfection. And Grano de Oro, an oasis in that neighborhood, proved to be the perfect cap to our trip.

Again, thank you, thank you and thank you.

Andy and Maddy Zwerling

Our trip to Costa Rica was a trip of lifetime. Sergio, Charlotte and Nancy were incredibly helpful during the trip planning and while we were traveling.

We had a glitch at the start of the trip due to our flight delay leaving from US, which resulted in extremely late arrival in Costa Rica. The tour team jumped on to help right away to help with re-arranging the airport pickup, hotel and the tour activities planned for the first day.

We have a special needs child with significant food & env allergies and the tour team went out of their way to help with ensuring an accomodation throughout our trip including but not limited to arranging for special food items included in the local tours.

All tour plans/activities/transportations went without a hitch.
It was an incredible trip and we truly fell in love with Costa Rica!
What the country has achived for the conservation was absolutely remarkable!

This was our family's very first big vacation abroad and I am so glad that we did this trip with KimKim and Serendipity (Sergio, Charlotte and Nancy). It will be hard to match this experience for the future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Villa Florencia

Turrialba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manatus Hotel

Tortuguero

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Valle Escondido Nature Reserve Hotel & Farm

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Adventure from Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, Arenal Volcano, and Baldi Hotsprings (Full Day Arenal)

Costa Rica

La Fortuna waterfall visit involves 500+ steep steps climbing down & up.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare River Rafting

Turrialba

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tortuguero Village Visit

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport