Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

What a wonderful 8 days in Costa Rica for our family of 4 (including 2 teenage girls)! Because of the impeccable planning and support provided by Adriana, the actual trip turned out to be so much better even as compared to what we had anticipated.

Planning the trip took multiple back & forths with Adriana over a few weeks - given our specific interests, constraints as well as the changing COVID situation. But Adriana was always patient, resourceful and prompt in getting all the questions answered to our satisfaction. The trip plan that she arrived at, after all the iterations, based on our feedback was just perfect. Even after arriving at a perfect plan, we needed to move the dates by a couple of days, requiring Adriana to redo some of the planning and booking - but that did not deter her! A few timing changes during the trip were also accomodated by the Amazilla team. Wilson, Mr. Gonzalez and other drivers did an excellent job shuttling us between destinations and providing vivid commentary. Our guides Franklin (at Arenal), Jason/Jon Carlos (White Water Rafting), Allen (Manuel Antonio) were all very knowledgable and made the activities so much more interesting!

This was a memorable 8-days for all 4 of us. CR's beauty is alluring and captivating. And the local expertise and diligence provided by Adriana and the rest of the crew made it very seamless and delightful. Thanks everyone! Pura Vida!

Hotel Review

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Stayed here for 2 nights - Great Views specially if you drive up the property - Vegetarian food options were somewhat limited. But still manageable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

Ziplining over the Cloud Forests was amazing! Some climbing and fair amount of walking required

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

Ziplining over the Cloud Forests was amazing! Some climbing and fair amount of walking required

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Franklin (as our guide) was very knowledegable - Making the hike a very interesting and learning experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

Level 2/3 White Water Rafting - This was on our bucket list. Had a small incident (since I do not know swimming and started panicking when the raft capsized and I fell in the river). But Jason (our guide) handled it professionally and strongly! Truly amazed

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We booked a trip to Costa Rica through KimKim using Randall. He was amazing, and the process of setting up and managing the trip was great. We made several changes to our group and our itinerary throughout the process - including while we were in Costa Rica - and Randall handled everything professionally and quickly.

We did a river nature tour on Cano Negro, which was amazing - although it helped that we were the only people on the tour. Our driver for the day, Daouren, was also a tour guide and very knowledgeable.

We also loved our hanging bridges walk in Fortuna, our night jungle walk in Manuel Antonio and surfing lessons with MASS in Manuel Antonio.

On the downside, we didn't have a great time in the actual Manuel Antonio park. We were there on New Year's Eve day and it was packed. We saw very little wildlife and when we did it was often waiting with a group of 20 or 30 people to look through a spotting scope.

Our first hotel - Montana Del Fuego in Fortuna - was okay, except that our rooms were right off of the main road. It was very noisy and felt more like being in New York City than in Costa Rica.

All in all we'd recommend working with Randall if you are trying to book a trip to Costa Rica and need some help!

Randall provided insider advice on Costa Rica, a country I struggled to piece together things online. He gave a great itinerary for my friends and I based on our likes and dislikes, including great lodging, in great locations, and with activities we got really excited about. It's like having a family friend create a perfect insider's trip FOR YOU. Recommended!

The trip was well planned, but it would be nice to know in advance which tours were private and which were small group. Also, in terms of our itinerary, it would be better if we had the hot springs visit on the evening that we arrived in La Fortuna rather than the next day when we also had a bunch of tours. That would give us more time to enjoy the resort and provide dinner. The fact that the La Fortuna hotel had no restaurant aside from breakfast was a bit of an issue without a car. Thankfully the hotel manager offered us her car so we could get food, but otherwise we had to cross the language barrier to get taxis into town and back. I'd recommend clarifying the hotel's amenities.
Manuel Antonio Park entry rules have changed as well from the information provided in the itinerary. You can now book timed tickets online on the park's website and also get tours there as well. That removes the hassle of going early in the morning to get tickets the day of. Thankfully we checked and booked tickets the day before. There is a cafe in the park as well so no need to pack food.
Otherwise all the guides were good. We especially liked the one in Monteverde cloud forest.

Hotel Review

Igloo Beach Lodge

Manuel Antonio

Activity Review

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Baldi Hot Springs Excursion

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hanging bridges experience was great. The hot springs not so much in the beginning, but better once we figured out the lay of the land.

Everything was fantastic! Olman did an incredible job answering all my questions about places to stay and excursions to take. Every detail was planned and made the trip stress free. We had an incredible room at each of our destinations and I would credit Olman in making that happen. I highly recommend using KimKim. It made traveling to a country we weren't familiar with very easy and comfortable. We are very pleased with everything!!

Hotel Reviews

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

super convenient airport shuttle! perfect place to stay for quick layover before our adventure. The hotel was very clean and breakfast was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

What a view! This hotel was amazing and had the best views in the area. The food was great and the customer service at the pool bar and the restaurant were top notch. We were very pleased and would definitely return to La Mariposa without hesitation. It was the perfect location to get around the area and walking distance to so many restaurants and shops. The free shuttle to and from Manuel Antonio was convenient, and the city bus was great too! We enjoyed our room and the panoramic views it provided us. Every afternoon after our excursions we looked forward to relaxing by the pool for a few hours then up to our room to watch the sunset. Amazing!! Photos don't do this place justice. Andres and Harvy at the pool bar were very attentive and Christian at La Papillion Restaurant went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. Thank you so much for the outstanding customer service!!

Tips for future travelers

Just relax and chose this place. You will not be disappointed at all!!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully manicured and very clean

Location

perfect! we could walk to at least 10 different restaurants and the city bus was so easy and clean to use

Staff

everyone was so nice and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and extremely comfortable, especially the padded sun loungers by the pool under the canopyt

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

This place is absolutely magical!! We truly enjoyed everything about this hotel except for the lack of water pressure in the shower. That was disappointing, but it by no means ruined our trip. The robes to walk around in were a very nice touch. The restaurants on site were really good and the signature drinks were fun to try. Shang ri La Gardens- the adult section for hotel guests only was incredible. We spent a very large amount of time there. We loved the server Adrianna. She was fantastic. The little cabanas to rest in were perfect. It was so quiet and calming. Incredible!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Adventure with Snorkeling

Manuel Antonio

The boat was very spacious and clean. There were 2 waterslides that some enjoyed. Our captain even spotted some whales so we were able to see 2 whales on our sail. That was a pleasant surprise. The lunch they served was phenominal! The food was very good and they served plenty of it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Manuel Antonio

The guys were so friendly and enthusiastic! I felt safe the whole time in the water and the hike to the waterfall was really nice. We even enjoyed the open air truck ride up to the river. Awesome experience on my 40th birthday!

Quality of Experience

great time!

Food

the restaurant we stopped at for lunch was delicious and the food was nearly ready for us when we got there. The company calls ahead to put our order in. That is a great way to be mindful of time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very friendly and enthusiastic

Transport

loved the open air truck ride

Arenal - San Jose - Visit La Paz Waterfall

Costa Rica

Absolutely stunning! We couldn't believe how beautiful this park was. The falls, hummingbirds, and landscape was incredible. It was so peaceful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a wonderful boat ride and a very relaxing. The hike down to the boat ride was also very nice! We saw some birds and a sloth on the hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a great time! The hanging bridges were so fun! The hike through the rainforest was beautiful! Our guide showed us 4 different poisonous snakes on the way. Super cool! We went for a nice authentic Costa Rican lunch after were was fabulous as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Surf Lesson

Manuel Antonio

We had a great time learning to surf! The guys were very patient with me and my inability to figure it out! lol! My husband had a blast and I gave up after about an hour, but that was just fine for me. I sat in a lounge chair and enjoyed a wonderful passionfruit margarita in the shade that was provided by the surf club. No worries;) Pura Vida

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In Arenal/Fortuna we took a Traditional Cooking Class at the Arenal Vida Campesina, a family-owned organic farm, where we learned to cook "verduras salteadas con pasta de achiote" over a wood-fire stove. We hiked (Canoa Aventura) and rafted (Costa Rica Descents) at the Arenal Volcano and la Fortuna Falls. The Tabacon hot springs with dinner was an amazing, relaxing experience.

Ziplined and hiked the Cloud Forest hanging bridges; and took a Night Walk (Selvatura Adventure Park) in Monteverde. On the trip from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, we took a detour to the Jungle Crocodile Safari (Jose's Crocodile Safari & Bird Watching Tour) a must see, along the Tarcoles River.

We spent our last few days in Manuel Antonio, where we were awakened in the morning with the roars of the howler monkeys. What a story to tell!

In addition to our need for adventure, my son and I wanted some relaxation time, so we stayed at resorts: Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs; El Establo; La Mariposa; and Park Inn San Jose Hotel (1 night). All provided excellent accommodations, service, and restaurants. Breakfasts were included at all accommodations. The Arenal Manoa is a couple of miles from the town on a highway, so no hiking into town. Did not feel we missed anything as our excursions usually included lunch and/or dinner. The Establo hotel is located on a hill, so hotel transport is provided to/from the rooms to the reception/breakfast areas. There was a small glitch in our reservation for the La Mariposa, however, the front desk staff accommodated us with cocktails, while we waited. In addition, they arranged for us to have an in-room COVID test prior to checking out. A shout-out to the front desk clerk at the Park Inn San Jose Hotel, who took it upon herself to provide us a take-away breakfast snack as we were leaving at 5:00am the following morning.

Two changes I would make to our trip: (1) the transfer from Manuel Antonio was a 6.5 hr. drive, which meant we did not arrive into San Jose until almost 8:00 pm. (2) Manuel Antonio is known for the howler monkeys, I think I would have liked to have stayed in one of the cabanas at the Howler Monkey Hotel, near the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.

Hotel Review

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Great staff, great food, great service, and amazing massages.

Tips for future travelers

We booked a lot of excursions so we were content to be away from town. If someone is planning to spend time in town, they might want to be closer or have access to a car.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is located in a tropical forest with a variety of birds and wildlife . We had a celebration dinner at the restaurant, which was 5-star presentation and taste.

Location

Loved that we were in a rain forest with a view of the Arenal Volcano. Great way to start our adventure.

Staff

Service at the restaurant was excellent; as well as, the massage therapists.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean upon entry; rooms were spacious.

Activity Review

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

The ziplining crew was amazing. They provided constant support and encouragement for everyone in the group; and they were constantly mindful of creating a positive fun experience.

Quality of Experience

1st timer and I am looking forward to trying this again.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and professional on every level.

Transport

Equipment was well-maintained and secure.

Chris and Randall planned an absolutely fantastic trip for my father and me. We did activities that the both of us enjoyed, and we appreciated still having flexibility during the trip. The trip had a balance of everything; hiking, wildlife, food, culture, beaches, and relaxation.

Hotel Review

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Great views from each room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a beautiful country filled with the nicest people on the planet! Diego helped our family plan a memorable trip to Costa Rica. We trekked through the rainforest, swam in the waterfalls at La Paz, zipped lined for forever (terrifying but incredible), walked around the Arenal Volcano and ended that day at the Tabacon Hot Springs (so awesome). Our last three days were at Samara where we swam, kayaked and snorkeled on the most beautiful beach (Playa Carrillo). Our guides along the way-- Jorges, Philipe, Ray, Walter, Samantha-- all so knowledgeable about the rainforest, plants, animals, history--and so full of love for their country. All our transfers around the country were seamless and easy, and the hotels were so sweet-- especially Hotel Arenal Montechiari, complete with a resident sloth. Diego was incredibly helpful and available throughout the whole planning process, and during the trip when I had questions. Will definitely book another trip through kimkim! Thank you Diego!!

Hotel Review

Hotel Arenal Montechiari

La Fortuna

Super nice place-- in walking distance to town, and the staff is so charming and nice! The bungalows are nice and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Sweet pool as well!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica planned by Olman (through KimKim). From start to finish the whole experience was easy and seamless. Olman was extremely responsive to our requests during our planning and made every modification that we requested. When we were on our trip, every reservation was waiting for us without any issues. KimKim and Olman made this trip absolutely stress-free for us.

First, our driver Roy. We decided to use a driver for our trip so that we didn't have to deal with renting a car and navigating from city to city (3, 4, 5 hour drives), so we hired Roy as our driver and that was a GREAT decision. Roy was professional, easy-going, and SO FUN. He has a great personality and just made our trip so fun and effortless. Roy drove us everywhere and accompanied us on many of our day trips. He was part of our family for 10 days and we truly loved having him. He definitely gave us space to do our own thing, so even though he was with us a lot it was a good balance. I cannot recommend Roy highly enough - such a gem.

Stop 1: Manuel Antonio. The Parador Resort/Hotel was wonderful. It was a luxurious resort - great food, lovely staff, beautiful property and great rooms. It was a sure treat. Manuel Antonio itself was just okay in my opinion. We went on a sunset catamaran cruise and it was also only ok. It was very crowded, very loud and very party-like (not what we wanted). Overall, we felt that Manual Antonio was very touristy and busy, and after going to Arenal and Monteverde I'd put it last on my list of favorites. Glad we went there first...

We then drove from Manuel Antonio to Arenal (5 hour drive - while long, it's a lovely drive)

Arenal: We stayed at Las Lomas de Volcan Hotel for 4 nights. This is also a lovely property. Our family had our own cabana/room and it was very nice. The property itself was lovely and the hotel restaurant was delicious. The cabanas themselves are comfortable. While in Arenal we did horseback riding to the waterfall and white water rafting - both were very fun. We also spent a day volunteering at Proyecto Asis. My family loves animals so this was really fun for us. We also took a cooking class one evening and that was really fun. We made tortillas and ceviche (and they'd already cooked the rest of the food) but it was a great experience. We really enjoyed Arenal overall. There's a lot to do and it was all really enjoyable.

Monteverde: We stayed at Koora Hotel, which was hands down the most wonderful hotel I've ever stayed at. It is a boutique hotel with only 14 rooms and it was AMAZING. The service, the accommodations, the food, the view... everything was absolutely top-notch. This is not a resort so there's not a pool or other amenities so I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for families with young children. My kids are 12 and 15 and they loved it. We had a two-level family unit so it was extremely spacious and comfortable. It was a splurge for sure, but it was worth it. This hotel was a total highlight for us.

Monteverde was top of our list overall. The surroundings are beautiful and we just really enjoyed being there. We did ziplining and went to a sloth sanctuary - both were family favorites for us.

Overall, it was an absolutely amazing trip. My blood pressure stayed at a constant low level for 10 days so there you have it :)

Hotel Review

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

This hotel was hands down the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. This is not a resort (no pool, spa or other similar amenities). It's a boutique property with just 14 rooms and it is absolute paradise. From the second we walked in the door the staff was nothing short of amazing. They exude warmth and professionalism. The family unit we stayed in was so lovely. It had two levels (it's like a mini apartment) and it was just so comfortable, light-filled, and spacious. The food at the hotel was wonderful. The view was breathtaking. The service was impeccable. I cannot recommend this hotel enough.

Tips for future travelers

Do it! It's worth the extra money to stay here. It's a total treat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a really fun experience. The guides were excellent and really helped us out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our 14 day trip to Costa Rica was the best vacation we have ever had! Diego planned a trip that had a perfect balance of fun, adventure, relaxation, beauty, and learning! He was very easy to work with during the planning stages - and very kind and affable. Diego was also very accessible and responsive during the trip. I would highly recommend KimKim for planning your next trip and for working with Diego if your plans take you to the incredible country of Costa Rica!

Hotel Review

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Transfer San José to Arenal with Rafting on the Balsa River en Route (Class II & III)

Costa Rica

Everything went smoothly. It was nice to have someone overlooking everything.
Highlights were the day tour in Manuel Antonio, canyoning, white water rafting and surfing lessons.
All drivers were on time
Negatives
1) aggressive passing and driving from Monteverde to tamarindo (I didn’t complain but was very nervous)
2) hotel in tamarindo was right beside night club. Could not sleep at all until after 1 am.
3) night tour in Manuel Antonio was disappointing and our guide Carla was scared of spiders.

This was just an overall incredible experience for us. Diego really listened and set up an extraordinary 7 day trip for our family. It was an outstanding blend of fun, culture, relaxation, and excitement.

There was one little hic-up with one of the drivers, but Diego and the team responded very quickly... we didn't miss anything.

My 7 year old daughter could not have enjoyed it more. We'll be going back and will trust Diego with all our plans.

Trip was as planned. All scheduled transfers showed up within (10 to 20 minutes) of the scheduled times. Organization of the trip was easy with Alberto.

As far as the trip itself, Costa Rica is a great place to visit, however; going from place to place is taxing. Our normal car ride was 3+ hours. This was expected for the places we choose, however; looking back on it we spent too much time getting from place to place and not enough time seeing relaxing on our vacation. For a week long trip, we estimated that we were in a vehicle for 30+ hours in total. This is not the fault of the company we choose, they did a great job, just a thing of note for others following in our footsteps.

Beer was cold, weather was ideal, people were friendly, food amazing and Costa Rica was beautiful.

What an amazing vacation through kimkim! Right from airport pick up to drop off and everything I’m between we had the best experience at Costa Rica. The outfitters they arranged for the activities such as zip lining, canyoning & rafting were perfect. A special mention to Olman who was our advisor. He’s been nothing but awesome! We had some changes to itineraries, flight cancellations etc and he helped our group throughout!

Would Highly recommend kimkim for anyone looking for future trips!

Thanks
Tina

Loved the service and customized package!

Hotel Review

Shana By the Beach Resort

Manuel Antonio

Incredible location with spectacular view. A bit dated but still worth going

Tips for future travelers

The property is on a high cliff above the ocean. Great view. But remote beach access requires a vigorous walk

Authenticity & Character

Charm

Location

Cliff based view of ocean

Staff

Friendliness

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness; simplicity

Activity Review

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Costa Rica

Seeing wildlife through the guide’s eyes was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Expertise of guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knew their subject cold

Transport

Comfortable

We trusted Alberto, Diego (with GWA, who will be one of your main contacts once you're in CR), and KimKim as a whole with our honeymoon, and they knocked it out of the park. Booking everything was seamless, as we were able to adjust lodging and activities to fit our desired budget and pacing of the trip. Alberto was exceptionally responsive and accurate with his information. Every tour guide, every transfer/ride, and every hotel/resort were exactly what we'd hoped for. We ended up with the honeymoon of a lifetime, rich with wildlife, adventurous experiences (including horseback riding through the cloud forest and countryside, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and swimming in a waterfall), and most importantly, ease. I strongly recommend using KimKim to book your Costa Rica experience without hesitation.

He was fantastic! Planned an amazing trip for us that kept us busy but also had some downtime to enjoy and relax. The selected tours were top notch and we highly recommend them to anyone looking to see the best of Costa Rica!

This trip was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. Thankfully kimkim and Yenyi took care of everything for us, even making changes to our excursions while we were in Costa Rica. This was a complicated trip and throwing in the pandemic further complicated it. This would have been overwhelming had we had to make all of the changes ourselves. We highly recommend kimkim for their excellent customer service during a very challenging time. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

We had a lovely room overlooking the jungle and the bay. The grounds of the hotel were very unique and we felt like we were definitely on vacation each time we stepped outside. You see monkeys and birds all around the property - monkeys even showed up for breakfast - just be alert because they'll try to steal your food! The staff was very helpful and accomodating. There is even a private beach area at the bottom of the hill that staff will gladly take you to and from via golf carts. We happened to be there at the end of the rainy season so the walkways are slippery if you're not wearing shoes with soles that grip. The food is excellent as well. Makanda was just was a wonderful getaway from reality.

Tips for future travelers

Bring shoes with soles in case of rain....also pack a rain coat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Guanacaste

We were very lucky in our room assignment - off the walkway, toward the back to allow for more privacy (and a place to dry our laundry with it not being in the public view). The food is excellent and I highly recommend the farm to table dinner that's offered. The farm is owned by the hotel owner and they grow all the vegetables and herbs for the hotel, organically. That dinner is a unique experience and everyone should try it. A short walk to the beach and you have access to tidal pools deep enough to swim in. You can walk for miles along the shore - just remember your sunscreen! There are a couple of cabanas by the pool that we employed during the hot afternoons and we enjoyed drinks and lunch by the pool as well. That's a great way to spend a warm day. The hotel is within walking distance (if you don't mind walking a mile or two) to downtown and amenities. I had a medical emergency our first night there and the night clerk was very helpful in finding a 24 hour urgent care clinic that was open for me to go to. All was well in the end and really, we can't say enough good things about Cala Luna. I think the villas with the plunge pools would be an excellent place to stay here, had we planned a bit better - more privacy, private pool. All in all, Cala Luna is an oasis in very busy Tamarindo.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you fully shut the door when going to bed or one of the resort cats might pay you a visit in the middle of the night. It was a surprise but makes for a very funny story.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Springs - Adults Only

Fortuna

Perfect!!! This was a trip postponed twice due to the pandemic and was originally scheduled to celebrate a milestone anniversary. When the staff asked us if we were celebrating anything, we told them that story. When we arrived at our room, there was a rose petal display on the floor, champagne, chocolates and fruit to help us celebrate! It was so very wonderful and thoughtful! Laundry is included, which, toward the end of a two week vacation, is very necessary. Food at every restaurant was over the top delicious and the staff is spectacular. The grounds are gorgeous too - take a walk up to the tented camp area and take advantage of the hot springs and the freezing cold plunge pool. Our room was perfect - huge, outdoor shower (as well as an indoor one), large bathroom and a fabulous hot spring warmed plunge pool! We used that quite a bit. We stayed here at the end of the raining season so it, of course, rained. That shouldn't deter you - there are umbrellas everywhere and if you don't feel like walking in the rain, you can call the front desk for a golf cart ride to wherever you need to go. The staff is very helpful with anything you need whether is be making reservations for dinner or setting up an excursion. They are happy to help so don't be afraid to ask. We actually based our entire trip around this resort - I had read about it and how wonderful it was so we had to stay here....the article was spot on!!! We would go back in a heart beat!

Tips for future travelers

Celebrate whatever here - they really make your special day even more special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close for an inexpensive taxi ride to town

Staff

Personal attention

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide was extra friendly and informative, he had a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna plus he was very adept at taking photos with cell phones through the viewfinder of his telescope. We had some free time during the tour to explore the beach on our own before heading back through the jungle. The park is gorgeous and they are very strict about handwashing and mask wearing through the entrance gate. There is so much to see in this national park - it should be a national treasure! We saw birds, monkeys, iguanas, caimans....just a great place to explore!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

I'm glad the boat wasn't filled to capacity - we wouldn't have been able to interact so easily with our other snorklers as much. Drinks were delicious as well as dinner - and the sunset was amazing. The crew guided us around the bay before we started snorkling and we encountered a pod of spotted dolphins who swam along with the boat. There weren't a ton of different fish to see but it was calm and the water was warm. The boat has a slide that nearly every passenger went down! It was a very pleasant and relaxing time spent on and in the water.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time during our days in Costa Rica. Our local specialist, Diego, did an awesome job planning our trip, all our days and activities. Prior to going, he was always available and patient answering our questions and adapting the trip to our preferences and needs. We lost our connection flight and consequently our first day in Costa Rica, I alerted Diego and he was super fast in answering and adapting everything, and we ended up only missing a small activity at the first place we visited, Tortuguero. Regarding the trip itself, we fell in love with Costa Rica and had the time of our lives. All the activities we did were awesome and aligned with what we like. We had a mix of adrenaline, adventure and relax, which was perfect. We got to try things from zip lining, to rafting (which was our favorite thing), a night tour in the jungle, snorkeling and hot springs! Costa Rica feels like a country in the middle of an amazing jungle and Diego at Green World made sure we had an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend his services! All our guides knew what they were doing and we had a lot of fun. The hotels we stayed at were super nice and all activities we did were very well organized. Everything went smoothly and we didn’t need to worry about a thing, it was completely hassle free! Costa Rica blew our expectations and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Costa Rica is a true tropical paradise with an incredible flora and fauna. Our trip was filled with endless breathtaking views and experiences. And the people were incredibly friendly, courteous and helpful. Thank you so much to Alberto, all of our guides and drivers, and Kimkim for making our trip to Costa Rica so well-planned and smooth. Everything went according to plan. The communication with Alberto was without any problems, and he came up with a really nice itinerary for us after two days. He managed to squeeze in so much in just 10 days, but without it being too much. It was the perfect balance between activities and leisure. Our drivers David and Felipe, were exceptionally nice, and we had so many good conversations with them. Our other guides and drivers were all really nice and knowledgeable too. Our guide, Donald, in Monteverde's cloud forest was especially knowledgable and enthusiastic. He was also really good at spotting quetzals! Everywhere we went, the wildlife was in proximity: macaws flying by at breakfast, monkeys coming up to the pool, a beautiful blue bird joining us for lunch at the beach, snorkling and seeing reef fish and a turtle, passing by a crocodile in a river on our way back to the hotel from the beach.

We had a mid-range budget, and the hotels Alberto picked out for us were all great. We had big rooms/bungalows with two BIG twin beds. Hotel Lomas del Volcán in La Fortuna was particularly nice, and the food there was delicious. Hotel Nimmbú in Playa Carrillo (Sámara) was also beautiful, but the food could have been better. It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite live up to the standard that we expected from such a nice hotel.

We loved La Fortuna and its volcano. Monteverde was breathtaking and perfect to see from the horseback. The cloud forest there is also absolutely a must to see. It was perfect to end our holiday at the beach in Sámara, which was such a quaint little community with breathtaking and almost empty beaches.

We will definitely visit Costa Rica again! Also because we didn't get to see a sloth which we really really wanted to see :)