Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

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

Hotel Review

El Silencio del Campo Hotel

La Fortuna

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano to El Castillo Mountain Bike Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

Activity Reviews

Introduction to the Gulf of Papagayo

Gulf of Papagayo

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Hotel Reviews

Los Altos Resort

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Pool is beautiful Private beach is lacking

Location

Walking distance to several shops & restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

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

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

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

Authenticity & Character

Hot springs are amazing

Location

Not in walking distance to anything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation Tour - Morning or Afternoon

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide was amazing!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Transport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

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

Staff

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

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

Pacuare

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

Authenticity & Character

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

Location

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

Staff

Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very well maintained and clean. Extremely comfortable.

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

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

Authenticity & Character

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

Location

Easy access to the beautiful beaches.

Staff

Very attentive to our needs and were very informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and amenities were kept clean and in great condition.

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

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

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

Costa Rica

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was not ready on arrival. Room had no windows

Amor Arenal

La Fortuna, San Carlos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Truly amazing and fun. Great food and staff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Super informative. Really fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Rainforest Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding on Lake Arenal

Costa Rica

Really fun activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano (guide) truly educated. Great personality.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a lovely time in Costa Rica — saw so many animals and got to really experience the culture! Gustavo suggested some amazing dining spots in Monteverde and Manuel Antonio and we thoroughly enjoyed the tours that he picked based on our preferences. The drivers and guides were always on time, courteous, and helpful! Would definitely go again :)

However, we had a very disappointing start to our travels. When we’d arrived in Monteverde after a long day (several flights and a 3-hour drive), the hotel we’d booked was fully closed and locked — no staff member was there. We tried calling the hotel, but no one was picking up.

KimKim and I called the hotel the day before just to make sure they kept our room open late and were present to greet us, so them not having the room and staff prepped was definitely on them.

However, it was quite disturbing that KimKim did not have an active emergency line to help us find accommodations. It was 11pm in a sleepy mountain town where we did not speak the language.

We called the only assistance number we had from KimKim, but the agent could only take a message and get us in contact with someone on the KimKim team the following morning (which obviously was not helpful at the time).

If it weren’t for our incredibly helpful driver, who spoke great English and Spanish, happened to know a security guard who worked for multiple hotels, and got us a spot at a different hotel, my mom and I would’ve been totally stranded in a foreign country.

Though KimKim did comp two hotel nights and a birthday dinner — which was very generous and much appreciated — it was still a scary experience. The team at KimKim has let us know that they are looking to work with their third-party emergency line provider to make sure this doesn’t happen again and we hope it doesn’t.

Hotel Review

Hotel Playa Espadilla

Manuel Antonio

Lovely and helpful staff - super clean and pleasant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ocean Kayaking Adventure

Manuel Antonio

Saw a ton of fish (parrotfish, puffer fish, tons of others) and lobsters snorkeling! We had a little bit of a struggle kayaking in the ocean, though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This was our FAVORITE tour. Ariel had great energy and an even more positive mindset — and we saw a TON of amazing animals on his tour. He pointed out 2 types of monkeys, 2 types of sloths, a rare anteater, tons of lizards/basilisks, crabs, bats, deer, birds, you name it. He was such a fun, funny, and informative guide and we would highly recommend doing a tour with him!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Though he told us he was newer to this job, Jorge was a pro! His English was excellent and we had a wonderful and educational tour. Really interesting to hear about the coffee roasting process, drink the traditional cocoa people used to back in the day, and eat some great chocolate and sugar cane juice samples. Would definitely recommend going on this tour!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Axel was super knowledgeable about birds and other wildlife in Monteverde. We especially liked how he’d take pictures with our phone over the scope he brought - they turned out great! Even though we didn’t see as many animals on this tour as we did in Manuel Antonio, it was still well worth it to hear all about the history of Costa Rica and the Curi Cancha reserve. We still did see a bunch of birds, a tarantula, butterflies, agoti, and coates, which was exciting! Thank you, Axel for a great tour :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were a little late in getting to plan our family vacation (for 6) to Costa Rica. We had a rough outline, and Elena and her team helped us make our dream a reality and took a lot off of my plate! From our initial call, Elena had a plan the next day and had planned everything we wanted, with effective communication and clear instructions for when we landed. Once we got to Costa Rica, Serendipity Adventures responded quickly to all our questions and reminded us of the times and what to bring to our excursions. It made planning and going on our trip so much easier! We had a blast ziplining, on our safari boat tour, and catamaran sunset tour. Our first hotel was amazing as an off-grid Ranch with fun yoga classes, horseback riding, and beautiful grounds to explore. Overall, I am really glad we went with Kimkim and Elena at Serendipity Adventures to help us plan and execute our family trip. It made things so much more enjoyable and relaxing! We loved Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

Hotel Review

Rancho Margot

La Fortuna

We LOVED this hotel. The food, the horseback riding, the bungalows, the grounds itself- all of it was so much fun to explore and learn about! The road was bumpy for the last leg to this hotel but it is worth it!

Authenticity & Character

Outdoor yoga classes, outdoor dining, horsebacking riding, the handmade furniture, all of it was so cool to explore!

Location

The road to the hotel was bumpy!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Catamaran Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Beautiful hike with amazing views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall a great trip.
We had a bit of back and forth about our planned accommodations, but after that, we had three great hotels- resorts and nice trips to attend.
Manoa Hotel in la Fortuna has the most beautiful gardens and a ton of birds- tucans, wild peacocks, and a ton of egrets and small birds. We had a hiking trip around the Arenal volcano forest and we had a great guide named Carlos. Very knowledgable about nature and history and geology. Then we went to hot springs spa- totally not worth it, unless you enjoy to share a warm, crowded small body of water with a bunch of strangers who are served drinks and never leave to pool to go to the bathroom. They had a very nice buffet restaurant. one downside- our driver forgot about us and it took the front desk to call and investigate before someone showed up 30 minutes later to get us to our hotel. He appeared surprised that he wasn't tipped.
Poco A Poco in Monteverde- nice, compact hotel, with its own trail into nearby jungle. I arrived there with a bad stomach issue and they had a room for us in 10 minutes, even though the check-in wasn't for another 3 hours.
All the trips we booked- cocoa plantation, night jungle trip and the canopy bridges the next day were enjoyable, in my husband's view ( I was sick for 2 days, so I didn't participate)
And then Shana by the sea near Manuel Antonio National park - forget the sea. water is not clear, nor blue. No surprise, it is on a Pacific side. The path- very steep-takes you to the secluded beach with dark colored gravel. But first you have to wade thru a dark murky pond with water coming out of Mongrove forest. Not big, maybe 25 feet wide, but enough to make you not trust the water. Don't bother to go there, better spend time at the pools. Beautiful pools and gorgeous views make up for no beach. The staff, especially Carlos in the front office, are extremely helpful and nice.
We had added attraction of Capuchin monkeys visit the hotel every afternoon. Nice but they steal stuff- keep your balcony doors closed. Again, lots of colorful big and small birds .
And Views to die for.
I highly recommend a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. We managed to see both kinds of sloths, an anteater, monkeys, birds, inland crabs, deer, the famous colorful frogs, lizards ,even a tiny snake.
Downside- we visited in a week before Easter so all locals had time off and the park was beyond crowded.
I was pleasantly surprised that Eli, our guide, managed to find animals for us to see. I imagine that any less busy time of the year only adds to the allure.
Overall, a nice trip, well organized,
To those who expect a real jungle experience- you may be surprised . The trails and paved with gravel, there are water stations along the trails. Very civilized.

Gustavo Camperos, our kimkim specialist, was absolutely amazing in every aspect of trip planning. On this type of performance feedback evaluation, I tend to be a "tough grader." Hence, my "absolutely amazing" rating speaks volumes. To provide a bit more detail: Four of us (myself, my wife Joan and our two friends, Jon and Deirdre) began our interaction with Gustavo by first describing our "vision" for an eight-day trip to Costa Rica. This included many details such as the type of hotels we like, type of activities we wanted to pursue, the amount of territory we wished to cover and our desire to have drivers from location to location rather than rent our own vehicle.

What followed the above is best described as an "iterative process." That is, we went back and forth with Gustavo many times using the kimkim messaging system, email and Zoom. As things progressed, we observed our evolving itinerary get better and better. At each step along the way, we requested changes which we viewed as incremental improvements. For example, add one day at location X and subtract one day at location Y, swap the hotel at location Z for one which is more upscale, add guided bird-watching and volcano hikes at location Z, etc. In this context, we easily monitored the dynamically changing trip itinerary and cost and could customize our "adventure" to any level of luxury which suited our fancy. In achieving all of the above, it was a sheer pleasure working with Gustavo. Over and above the fact that he lives in Costa Rica and gave highly-expert advice on the "best things" to see and do, he would rapidly respond to our large number of queries. To add icing to the cake, the week before our departure. he suggested that we meet on Zoom to review the final itinerary to make sure all details were to our satisfaction. Finally I should also mention that throughout the course of our planning, we also had a number of interactions with kimkim associate Greg Fendler who helped make sure that all our logistics were solidly in place. We were also very happy with the work which Greg did on our trip.

Kudos to kim kim. Thanks to your dedicated travel experts, our trip to Costa Rica was excellent. The trip went off without a hitch exactly as planned.

Our trip to Costa Rica with Kim Kim was amazing! Everything was done exactly as it was described. All the transportation arrived as expected exactly on time. We stayed at four different hotels or resorts. Each one was unique, beautiful and comfortable, even luxurious in the case of the resort -Manao- we stayed at in La Fortuna, under the Arenal volcano. There we watched hundreds of egrets roosting in the trees across from our dinner table and relaxed in a few of the many hot spring pools located on site. The nature tour we took just outside the town was the best among all the many excellent opportunities we were booked into. The guide was super knowledgeable and helped us get fantastic pictures of sloths, birds and crocodiles with his spotting scope. We even got to spot a gorgeous trogan which was the bird my husband had hoped to see. The cooking class and tour of the organic farm was also so much fun and educational and both our tour guide and cooking instructor were full of fascinating info about plants and the locale cuisine which was even more delicious because we helped prepare it. I loved making tortillas!
All that being said, my favorite place was Sarapiqui. We stayed at a marvelous gem of a resort called Ambigua, which is surrounded by a jungle like garden. In the evening the red eyed tree frogs come out all around the dining area providing me with amazing photos. The night hike we were booked into on the grounds was magical. The guide, Tavo , went out of his way to make our time with him full of glimpses of all sorts of night creatures from bulletin ants to kinkajous. The pool was lovely and refreshing and the reflexology in their spa was the best I have ever had. Our nature tour at a local ecological institute was full of toucan and parrot sightings as well as many other birds and sloths. The guide was most excellent.
Our stay at Tortuguero was awesome as well with special kudos to our two day guide there- Raymond, who clearly knows his stuff and has a great affinity for the natural bounty of his country as well as a great sense of humor. The only disappointment was that an optional hike was too rigorous for me to attempt and we wished there was an alternative choice.
A huge thanks to Kim Kim, Olman and the team in Costa Rica (Aleska Tours I think was the name and they were able to change our airport pickup time with one phone call), for creating and managing our unforgettable and magical visit to Costa Rica ! Everyone and everyplace was no less than fantastic!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This place is awesome! It sits back well off the main road which provides the guests with an amazing view of the volcano, and also some exquisite natural settings all around. Our first dinner there we were seated where we could see hundreds of egrets roasting in the trees for the night, which was unforgettable. The front desk was quite helpful in managing our connections with our tours that we were taking in the area. our room was absolutely perfect and unique. We could see Arenal volcano from our patio and at the same time experience the natural beauty of the area and local vegetation. The bathroom of the room was most amazing with a tropical plant in the floor and a luxurious shower. During the day when we weren’t taking a tour, we were relaxing in the many beautifully designed thermal springs on site. The pools are phenomenal and one day we had lunch served at the bar actually on the edge of the pool . The restaurant is pricy but the food is excellent. The included breakfast was a huge buffet with more choices than can be named- all fresh and tasty. The only downside is that the lobby is not very comfortable and there was no way to get any forgotten toiletries at the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting, architecture,food

Location

As I said great view of volcano and access to hot springs. Downside was that it was far from town and there is no shuttle, so without a car we were unable to see the town unless we wanted to pay dearly for taxi ride.

Staff

Everyone tried to be helpful but service wasn’t quite as personal as elsewhere. Quickly rectified problem with laundry, though and cleaning staff did amazing job on room.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fantastic level of cleanliness- not sure how they do it in such a big place

Ara Ambigua

Heredia

This hotel is the home of our fondest memories of Costa Rica and a prime example of Pura Vida! Surrounded by beautiful gardens blooming vegetation, and much wildlife. This is a magical place! We watched red eyed tree frogs come out at night while we ate dinner and were able to experience a night hike right on the grounds. This unforgettable trek with Tavo gave us a sneak peek at many nocturnal creatures we would never see on our own. The pool was lovely and relaxing, the spa provided me with the best reflexology I have ever had and the staff was exceptional in helpfulness. Highlights were the frogs, birds , iguanas, and basilisk lizards, and lovely murals.

Authenticity & Character

Nature, architecture and delicious food

Location

Close to chocolate factory and nature preserve. Quiet set back from road.

Staff

Friendly , patient, helpful, speak excellent English

Cleanliness & Comfort

All was clean and comfortable

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Our first encounter with the natural wonders of Costa Rica. When we arrived we were all greeted with a refreshing drink and welcoming faces. Considering it is located very remotely, the resort has the routine well organized but still feels relaxed. Service at the desk was excellent and always cheerful. The hotel is nestled within the jungle and has a few trails right around itself., but it carries off a luxurious feel as well with a lovely pool and bar and patios right on the river. All personnel were lovely and our guides were exceptional. Food was similar from meal to meal but always fresh and tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Jungle canopy and location

Location

Very near to National Park and preserve and within an actual jungle complete with howler monkeys

Staff

Our guide Raymond

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spa was squeaky clean as was everything (except the nationwide toilet paper disposal system which was never explained adequately in terms of how to properly handle toilet paper in a sanitary manner and was cause for smells in the room)

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Beautiful pool and dining area. Outstanding service and exceptional food. Lobby a bit small and room adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful garden around pool and delicious typical dishes.

Location

Close to airport but far from other sights

Staff

Service outstanding even gave us a box breakfast when we left too early for dining room to be open.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was clean and adequately comfortable

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic way to get closer to the people, food and customs of Costa Rica. Also delicious! We also got unexpected presentation on sugar cane which was fascinating!

Quality of Experience

The cook was a lively woman who did not speak much English but managed to communicate with us well enough and with enthusiasm. She had so much energy and skill!

Food

Loved eating what we had a part in preparing.everything was so fresh and very delicious and all typically prepared.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much from our guide about the plants. Our favorite part was his humorous presentation about sugar cane!

Transport

Guided Nature Walk at Danaus Ecological Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite guided hike and preserve. The guide had exceptional knowledge and great enthusiasm for what he was doing. He helped us take pictures using his spotting scope and found many birds. He was never in a hurry and told us one of the most memorable stories we heard on our trip. The preserve is outstanding with so much to see from alligators to shunting and so many birds!

Quality of Experience

We were delighted to be served fresh fruit and water at the end of the hike. Also loved the native craft area and learning about the art and the people who craft it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So much enthusiasm and knowledge

Transport

On time comfortable communicative

Birdwatching Tour at La Selva Biological Station

Sarapiquí

Guide was exceptional knowledgeable and well spoken. The center was fascinating-I especially enjoyed seeing toucans and walking on the bridge across the river and seeing the nesting birds there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was a woman with a kind and relaxed manner who made us feel welcome. She even presented us with little souvenirs of Costa Rica!

Transport

Always on time and courteous

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Absolutely amazing! Raymond our guide . Was extremely competent and patient as our leader for three days. He made every effort to provide us with knowledge and opportunities to see even rare wildlife. His affinity and understanding of the natural wonders of his country and his sense of humor made it all very special. His command of English is also quite impressive. Ray is a great example of Pura Vida and a Costa Rican we won’t forget!

Quality of Experience

Ray and jungle location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always eager to help, friendly and cheerful. Captains of boats went out of their way to show wildlife.

Transport

Always on time. Captains and Drivers were friendly and communicated well. Vans and buses and boats were clean and comfortable with the exception of life preservers which were bulky and hot.