Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Our experience pre-trip with KimKim and their trip specialists was simple, straightforward, and super helpful. I've never used a travel service to plan a trip before. Wow, does it make things easy! We only had general ideas of things we would like to do and no specific location within Costa Rica we wanted to visit, so it was so helpful to have knowledgeable input in the planning. Once in country, we had wonderful drivers who got us where we needed to go. Our guides for the two tours we took were phenomenal. In Monteverde, Micha, a freelance guide, took us on a birdwatching tour at the Curi Cancha Reserve. Micha grew up in Monteverde, has spent his whole life observing the birds and wildlife in the area, and was so kind and knowledgeable. We enjoyed our time with him so much and highly recommend his service. In Tamarindo we took a boat tour up the Tempisque River with our guide Mauricio, who was so attentive to the needs of the group, very observant and knowledgeable. He clearly enjoyed the views of rare birds we came across and helped us identify the birds we saw from the bus. One of the other highlights of our time in Costa Rica was the food. We so enjoyed the local fare, simple as it is, and some very excellent coffee in both locations. We have nothing but good things to say about KimKim and will use them again. Pura vida!

Hotel Reviews

Mar Inn Costa Rica

Monteverde Costa Rica

The Mar Inn is very nice. We only spent a couple of nights here and were fairly busy during our stay, but it fulfilled the need for a quiet, clean place to sleep. The staff were helpful at check-in and in helping us figure out the included breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

It felt very much a part of the town and not very Americanized.

Location

Mar Inn is a close walk to the small downtown of Monteverde but definitely up a steep hill.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom was very clean and neat, the bed made each day. The bed could be considered hard for people not accustomed to a firmer mattress. Our room had a neat little sitting room with full windows which was nice.

The Beach Bungalows - Adults Only

Tamarindo

If you're looking for a quiet, more private feel for your accommodation, The Beach Bungalows fits the bill! Nico and Kim are the owner and manager of this beautiful bed and breakfast spot just up the street from the main streets in Tamarindo. The grounds are clean, safe, and there are thoughtful touches throughout (water bottle daily replenished in our room, a full breakfast provided each morning, shared kitchen space, towels for the pool, etc). Each bungalow is private access, has a fully functioning toilet, and a/c. We loved our stay here!

Authenticity & Character

It felt very beachy and tropical.

Location

We loved that our hotel was a quiet retreat from the noise of downtown Tamarindo but close enough to be a very easy walk to anything we wanted.

Staff

They were engaging and helpful. Kim especially put care and time into knowing each guest and helping with recommendations and offering to fill needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms clean and neat, cleaned each day, a/c in each bungalow, pool swept and cleaned frequently.

Activity Reviews

Private Curi-Cancha Bird-Watching Experience

Monteverde

Our guide, Micha, was so great. He took us to all the best spots he know for seeing birds and wildlife and was so knowledgeable and kind. He went out of his way to show us the beauty of his hometown. It was exciting for us to be able to see so many birds even though it was really windy that day. We even got to see a Motmot!

Quality of Experience

We had so much fun exploring the local wildlife and the area around Monteverde

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Micha really helped us find the birds, identify them, and told us so much about the area.

Transport

Car was very clean and new

Self-Guided Playa Langosta Crossing and Beach Day

Tamarindo

If you're looking for a beach experience away from the crowds and clubs, this is it. The surf was beautiful and the waves so much fun to play in. Getting to Playa Langosta from Tamarindo is definitely a bit of a walk up the beach and around the point. So be prepared for a long walk. But the beach was beautiful and there was lovely views all the way up and tide pools to explore at low tide on our walk back to town.

Quality of Experience

Palo Verde National Park Safari Cruise

Costa Rica

We weren't sure what to expect for this tour but it turned out to be a fun adventure! The boat tour itself was lovely. Lots of birds and wildlife to see. Our guide, Mauricio, was fabulous! We spent quite a bit of the day on the bus travelling to the boat and also picking up other guests, but he did his best to help us see wildlife from the bus along the way and tell us about the areas we were driving through. The included lunch was so cool. We stopped at a local ranch to enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch, cooked right there over wood. followed by Costa Rican coffee. It was lovely! We also got a bonus stop at a town known for traditional pottery where we were given a demonstration.

Quality of Experience

Food

I really enjoy the traditional Costa Rican fare and this was especially delicous!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mauricio was engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about his country.

Transport

This rating may be misleading - we had a great experience on the transport, but they had to make an extra trip to pick up guests before backtracking to the boat so some of us spent quite a bit more time on the bus than we expected. At the end of the tour our guide, Mauricio, did arrange to have a different bus meet us partway, which was very kind.

My wife and I decided to go to Costa Rica for our anniversary fairly last minute. Neither of us speaks Spanish or had much knowledge about the country. Kimkim saved me hours of research by offering a buffet of options for what we wanted to do during our trip and then Gustavo helped us to customize the recommended itinerary to fit what we wanted. Specifically, when he heard that we were interested in bird watching, he added Monte Verde to our itinerary which turned out to be a highlight of the trip. In country everything worked flawlessly. We were picked up on time for each of our rides to new locations or tours. Not having to deal with the stress of driving and getting to just enjoy the country side was almost worth booking through kimkim all by itself. Bottom line, we will be recommending kimkim's service to anyone we know who is considering a trip and doesn't want to do all the research and booking themselves.

Let me start by saying this, and i said this to my partner at least once a day during our trip, I will NEVER plan another trip WITHOUT KimKim ! I have been the trip planner for all of our vacations for years, every flight, transfer, transport, adventure, experience and meal, and of course , I then felt completely responsible for their success or failure! This is the first time in years that I have felt like I was actually completely on vacation and in the moment! I know that I did the planning with KimKim and chatted with Gustavo and Jessica and set up the plans, but I was totally along for the ride this time! We were never disappointed, absolutely AMAZING!
The KimKim team, Gustavo, and Jessica (thank you Jessica for handling things in real time !!) really listened and heard what we were looking for in out Costa Rican experience. Thank you to Christian at Relax for the best start to our trip, what a wonderful host and amazing place to stay! Thank you to Jorge and Diego at Jacamar for our adventures in La Fortuna! Thank you to both Hugos (great driving and sharing) and Alex (Tortuguero). Also, all boat rides were incredible, and the snorkeling in Cahuita and surfing in Puerto Viejo (best surf instructor Misael!!!! )I could gush all day! I know i have forgotten some names but not the experiences!!! Thank you for making our trip Absolutely Unforgettable!

Hotel Review

Relax Natural Village

Puerto Viejo

Cristian , thank you so much for making our stay so wonderful! You have created a magical place to stay in Puerto Viejo! Thank you for your hospitality, comfy beds and rooms, the delicious breakfast and coffee every morning and for every suggestion you made! We will only stay with you on any future trips to Puerto Viejo! Absolutely fabulous !!

Authenticity & Character

Cristian is just the best host and the cabins are absolutely beautiful !!

Location

Walking distance to everything we wanted to do and see!!

Staff

Breakfast was delicious every morning and staff was kind and attentive !

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cabin was spotless and comfy, outstanding!!

Activity Reviews

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

Junior is the best ! We learned so much and had an amazing time! We have a new friend in Monteverde for sure!!

Quality of Experience

Junior's passion for coffee makes this the best experience! He is a coffee expert and a great teacher!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

thank you, Junior! for taking so much time to share your world with us!

Transport

Junior picked us up and dropped us off at our lodge and shared his love of coffed with us from start to finish!

Private Surf Lesson at Salsa Brava

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Great lesson !! so patient ! great instruction , we really learned a lot and enjoyed every moment!! Thank you Misael!! and the lunch suggestion was one of our favorite meals of our entire trip !!

Quality of Experience

Great lesson, Misael really understood how to explain body mechanics so that we could make progress and make adjusments ! thank you !

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unnecessary for us, we could have walked and instead paid two cabs we did not need , but we did not know final meet up so now that we know we would have walked instead of taking cab to school and then back tracked to beach

Horseback Riding on the Beach

Costa Rica

We loved this day !!

Quality of Experience

Saw so much more than we expected!! Jungle and beach !!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was so great ! we learned a lot!

Transport

On time and kind!

Mariano was Amazing!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything was perfect here!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Costa Rica. The highlight was the Monteverde Cloud Forest - very pretty and great guides. One of the best parts of this trip was simply not having to worry about any of the details - all of our transportation was pre-arranged to pick us up at our hotels and they always arrived on time or a few minutes early. The transportation was also comfortable and the drivers friendly and helpful. Erwin, who helped us with planning, made good suggestions and was also flexible to meet our specific desires. Overall, would recommend using KimKim for planning your trip if you want to be able to not worry about the details and just enjoy your time in Costa Rica.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Corcovado and Hiking at the San Pedrillo Ranger Station

Uvita

Good trip to a really remote area that many people don't get to visit. We had good guides who helped us see wildlife. We saw many monkeys and a sloth, also some really cool birds. (We hadn't seen these elsewhere in Costa Rica.) Only 2 drawbacks: at the start we were in a pretty big group which made it difficult to hear the guide; it's a 90 minute boat ride each way, which makes for a long day. Instructions said to bring bathing suit and towels, but we didn't actually swim on this trip. (There was a very short opportunity to swim in a pool in a stream, but nowhere to change from hiking clothes to swimwear.)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Great experience. Our guide taught us a lot about both the animals and plants/trees in the cloud forest. We saw many cool birds and trees, and even a couple of monkeys. Moved at an appropriate pace and got a good sense of the forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk

Monteverde

Fun way to see the rainforest. Our guide did an amazing job of finding wildlife we would have never found on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Fun to learn about 3 different products in a single tour. This was informative and interactive - we got to actually press sugar cane and crush/mix chocolate ingredients. The guide was fun and informative. The only downside was that we had a pretty big group (10-12), so sometimes there was side chatter and people who seemed to distract or slow down the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

We didn't really learn anything here. It was a big group (~20 people) and really just 1 big cooking station, so we ended up watching a lot and not doing much cooking ourselves. Everyone helped chop some vegetables and made our own tortilla, but not much else in the way of cooking. The menu.. Rice - we measured some rice and water into a rice cooker Vegetable saute - chopped a few vegetables, but that was it Beans - cooked ahead of time Chicken (main course) - cooked ahead of time. No information about how it was made, ingredients/seasoning, etc Tortillas - we got to make these, which was good Fried plantains - a couple of people (on the other end of the kitchen) fried these without the rest of us knowing/seeing anything about it. The food was decent, but overall we just really didn't learn much about the local cuisine and we didn't actually do much cooking for ourselves. (We've taken classes in other countries where we each had our own cooking station and made everything ourselves.) May be an okay activity for college-aged people or people just looking to fill an itinerary, but really not good for people know love to cook and want to learn.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Walk & Sky Tram in Arenal Volcano (hanging bridges and aerial tram)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great tour. We were in a small group (1 guide, 4 guests), which made the walk really interesting - we had time to ask questions and have personalized experience. (guide told us that sometimes the have groups of 20... that may not have been as enjoyable.) We was coati, snakes, spiders, and learned a lot about the plants and trees in the rainforest. One downside - there were only 2 hanging bridges on our walk. Given that it was called a "sky walk", we expected that there would be more bridges than that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide for the walk (Reinaldo) was fantastic. He found so many snakes and things we wouldn't have found for ourselves, and was very knowledgable.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Good overall. We were the only people on the tour, which gave us personalized attention. The hot springs were nice, but it would have been good to have more instruction about which pools to visit in what order. Dinner here was just okay - nothing wrong with it but also nothing special.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We initiated and finalized our travel planning with a woman who left KimKim before our travels began. Phil took over and was very responsive and helpful during our trip. One day we had to cancel our tour due to rain and he made all the calls immediately to obtain a reimbursement for us. We learned when we got to Costa Rica that mornings are best for tours but our original planner scheduled many tours in the afternoon - when you see less animals and are more likely to get rained on. That was the type of insider travel coaching we were hoping to receive from KimKim when we decided to coordinate our travel plans - but apparently didn't get it. Had we worked with Phil from the get-go, it might have been a different story. Also - we traveled between several locations which on map don't seem that far away from one another and googlemaps indicated, for example, 100 miles. We assumed that it would be a 90-120 minute drive but it turned out to be nearly 300 because roads travel slow in Costa Rica. One day we were in a van traveling between locations for over six hours. This was unexpected and ate into vacation time for exploring, relaxing, and doing tours. Overall - we had a great trip, our accommodations were wonderful (and all had breakfast included which was great), and it was nice that everything was reserved and transportation was ready for us throughout our stay. Because we traveled to Costa Rica just before the busy season - almost all our tours were exclusive where we had the entire bus, boat, guide, or place to ourselves. We never felt rushed and really enjoyed the varied excursions that were arranged for us.

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

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

Full Day of Adventure in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

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

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

Orosi

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

Caribbean coast – Biking 26km + Kayaking 12km

Costa Rica

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

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

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

Santa Maria de Dota

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare River – Rafting 20km/12mi

Siquirres

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Activity Reviews

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

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.

Maleku Cultural Immersion Day Trip

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!!!

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.

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

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

Visit Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day in San Jose

San José

Busy and noisy, preferred the area around La Fortuna

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very safely conscious

Transport

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

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.