Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Diego did an amazing job arranging a babymoon vacation to Costa Rica for us. Everything went seamlessly and all transfers/tours were on time. Would recommend highly!!

Olman went beyond the scope of his duties to help us have the best trip possible. Also, so responsive and friendly. You can tell that he really enjoys helping people and wants the best for you. He also checked in on us during the trip which I've never experienced with any other agency.

Hotel Review

Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

We loved everything about this place, especially Fernando and Daniella and the kitchen staff. It was quaint, clean, had a lovely little night tour where we saw a ton of frogs (including the poison dart frog), nice breakfast, outdoor shower which was covered so no debris was in there. Saw birds and monkeys outside our room. Walked up the street to the waterfall attraction. Our favorite spot out of the 4 places we stayed in and would definitely go back.

Tips for future travelers

Don't think twice about this place. It's a must-stay kinda place.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic food, local decor, locals working there.

Location

Walking distance to waterfall. Free night time tour on premises.

Staff

The sweetest staff we met over our 2 weeks in the country.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Felt like new

Activity Review

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

On time, friendly tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Ease, accomodating tourguide - we wanted to leave earlier and they made arrangements,

Food

Buffet

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly

Transport

Flexible to our schedule

We had a *wonderful* time in Costa Rica- many thanks to Yenyi!

Yenyi helped us curate an itinerary that fit our travel style, adventure level, and budget. We felt supported and equipped with all the necessary resources every step of the way (confidence in every transfer ride, guidance on tipping expectations, a clear list of country entry requirements- nothing was missed!).

We loved our self-guided tour of La Fortuna Waterfall alongside our own independent exploration of downtown La Fortuna. Our tour guides on the Sloth Tour, Hanging Bridges Tour, and Volcano Tour were wonderfully passionate and knowledgeable. And even though it was a small group, we really enjoyed getting to know the culinary instructor and one other tourist who joined the local cooking class. But our favorite had to be the evening pass and dinner reservation at Tabacon Thermal Resort!

Can't wait to come back! Thank you, Yenyi!

Hotel Review

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

This hotel has an unbeatable view of the volcano and a few nice pools to lounge in on lazy days. Staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating. And the breakfast buffet will fill you up for a day of activity. The location is also great- no more than a 15 minute drive from most activities. Room quality, food and drink quality, and poolside amenities do not have quite the same level of "wow" factor. So this hotel is a great "home base" for travelers hoping to get out and explore every day, but perhaps might not be a top choice for a resort-only stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacón Hot Springs with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica very much! We originally scheduled the trip pre-covid and were able to reschedule the trip with Olman when we were ready. Olman was kind, patience and accommodating. His guidance and recommendations were exactly what we were looking for. Thanks Olman! When we plan on another trip to Costa Rica, we will definitely be working with Olman again.

Hotel Review

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The Tabacon resort and spa was the perfect escape for my husband and I. We enjoyed our luxurious suite, spa and thermal hot springs.

Tips for future travelers

No

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was such an amazing experience. We had Ray as our guide and he was such a cool guy with an eye and ear for all things in the jungle. He showed us a lot of wild life and made the hike interesting and fun. The hanging bridges were really cool and the zip lining adventure was a heart-racing, memorable experience. My favorite one was the second to the last zip line which was 1/2 a mile long with beautiful views of the landscape and lake. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adriana was there for my family whenever we needed advise or a change in our schedule. We had a great time

Our Costa Rica experience was amazing and I thank Kimkim in assisting us with our journey. The transportation was great with wonderful drivers. The accommodations were very nice and comfortable. We did have bad experience with one hotel. I'm not totally faulting Kimkim. It was a mis communication between parties. We didn't stay at our arranged hotel and found another one on our own. The main thing I would like to see in the future is a breakdown of the expenses. Didn't see one even after requesting it. Even with the issue we would use Kimkim again.

Hotel Review

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde

Excellent friendly comfortable great views!

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Guided Hike & Zip-lining tour

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Guided Hike & Zip-lining tour

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Roy was outstanding, knowledgeable about the areas visited, very good driver, spoke English and Spanish well, and friendly. One of the big things that stood out for me was how friendly the people of Costa Rica are. All of hotels that we stayed at were unique and very nice. The hotels that really stood out were Jardin del Eden Boutique Hotel in Tamarindo, Hotel Arenal Springs Resort and Spa in Arenal/Fortuna, and El Establo Mountain Hotel in Monteverde. All of the excursions were great. Our favorite areas visited were Tamarindo, Arenal/La Fortuna and Monteverde.

We enjoyed the entire trip and will return again soon.

Loved it! The whole experience was so seamless from the planning and booking stage to actually being there. All the tour guides were wonderful too.

Brittany helped us to plan a great trip to Costa Rica! My friend lives there, but we wanted to make the trip extra special by going on some tours together. We were particularly impressed with our green turtle nesting tour and riverboat and rum experience. The guide (I didn't catch his name) for our turtle nesting tour was very knowledgeable and helped us to spot over 10 turtles! He also helped us to arrange a taxi after the tour.

Our Riverboat and Rum Experience at Hacienda Viejo was extraordinary. Brittany was able to get us last-minute transportation to the hacienda when something came up which was very helpful! Our guide, Minor picked us up and drove us to the Hacienda. Along the way, he pointed out various flora and fauna, and talked about the pura vida way of life. He was not only very knowledgeable but personable as well. It ended up being a private tour and we got to know Minor very well. The grounds of the Hacienda were well kept and all the staff were friendly. After a quick stop for fresh juice and fruit, we made our way to the river. This again was private and there was only one other boat on the river at the same time. We saw various types of birds, monkeys, bats, and crocodiles with the help of Minor.

We then went back to the Hacienda for a delicious and traditional Costa Rican lunch. After it was time for our Rum experience with Roberto, the Rummelier. He was very knowledgeable about the distillery process, and we got to sample sugar cane juice as well as rum. At the end, you can infuse your own rum with a variety of spices or fruits. If you like your infusion, you can infuse a bottle and buy it to bring home. They even create a special label for your bottle to include a name and the date, a nice personal touch.

Overall we were very impressed by our trip and Brittany's responsiveness. We definitely would recommend Minor as your guide for the river cruise. Can't wait to go back!

Activity Reviews

Wetlands Boat Ride and Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo

Costa Rica

This was our favorite experience of our trip. Our guide Minor was amazing, very knowledgeable as well as personable. He was able to point out all the wildlife and give us information about the ecosystem and interactions of the flora and fauna. The food at Hacienda was fresh and delicious. Before going to the river you can stop for fruit, coffee or juice. The lunch was great as well. All the staff was friendly. The rum experience was also great with Roberto. He was very knowledgeable and friendly. You get to see the process from the sugarcane, to the barrel. You can then infuse your own rum with a variety of spices and fruits. If you like your infusion you can even buy a small bottle to bring home with a personalized label. The Hacienda grounds were clean and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful grounds, great guides, and staff, able to see wildlife, private, luxurious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Minor was the best! So knowledgeable, kind, and funny. He went out of his way to make our time great!

Transport

Air-conditioned, comfortable van, No issues with picking us up.

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He helped us to find a taxi for the way back which was really great. We saw lots of turtles!

Quality of Experience

Seeing the turtles!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was knowledgeable!

Transport

Air Conditioned

Overall this was a very good trip. Two of the three hotels were extraordinary with excellent meals and service. Costa Rican people are very friendly and helpful. Our only disappointment was that wildlife viewing was very difficult to get good photos. We took several nature tours and all offered much of the same with little chance of capturing good photographs. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and group size was small. There were many good restaurants in every place we visited. We had no interaction with our local specialist Olman during the week. The schedule he planned for us went very smoothly and almost all the local contacts and transportation services were punctual.

Hotel Review

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Location

Too far from La Fortuna

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great views of volcano and interesting geology. Slightly difficult hike but very enjoyable. Guide was very knowledgeable and attentive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing Costa Rican Trip!

Adriana helps us setup a perfect trip for us! Adventure/Travel/Relaxation

Thank you!!

Originally we booked a trip to Peru to visit Machu Picchu and do some other excursions while there that he would enjoy. Joanna put together an amazing trip plan for us! Unfortunately about 5 days prior to departure Johanna notified us that the town below Machu Picchu suffered a horrible mud slide which closed it down. We shopped other travel coordinators and no one could beat the prices. Johanna was great but unfortunately we had to pivot quickly. Costa Rica here we come...got in contact with Charlotte who helped us outline an amazing trip to Costa Rica. Charlotte was so attentive to our needs and timing. She put together a great trip and found a fabulous local private driver. La Fortuna is such an beautiful place to visit and Charlotte booked some great adventures for us including Private ATV trip, Zip Line, Spa visit with a hot spring right off of the active volcano Arenal and a hike along the base of Arenal with a very knowledgeable guide. Great service and follow up. We will use them again and again especially when visiting new destinations! Costa Rica is now one of our new favorite places to visit.

Amazing service. Would definitely use again for future travel plans. From the first time I connected with Adriana, she was very helpful and answered all my questions. After making a truly memorable trip plan, she was available for any further questions. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review

Nayara Hotel Spa and Gardens

Fortuna

Unique experience with unparalleled service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

Awesome views and experience. Get to really experience Costa Rica with this excursion

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was truly great. Only issue we had was the reservation for the ride back to the airport. Our car came at 8AM when it probably should have come at 10. We were sitting at the airport for 5 hours.

Normally I book trips myself, but this was our first time using a travel agent, and we had a fun week in Costa Rica. It is a beautiful country with lots to do and see. If anything, I wish that we had more time there. Brittany, our agent, was always friendly and reasonably responsible. She listened to our needs throughout the process. Most of the trip reservations ran smoothly. The only hiccup we had was on the first night. We arrived at 2 am from our flight, super tired. When we came to the hotel, they could not find the reservation that KimKim booked through Expedia. They even tried calling Expedia and trying to find it but couldn't find anything. KimKim didn't give me any relevant info to find the reservation besides the unsuccessful confirmation number, and we couldn't get in touch with them since it was the night. Eventually, we had to end up paying for a night directly with the hotel at the counter (which was at a cheaper price than the KimKim booking). KimKim refunded their booking fee. In general, the agents were available to respond within 15-30 minutes of when we had a question or situation.

Besides this booking hiccup, all the other bookings ran smoothly. Everyone that KimKim booked us with were great companies and excellent service. We especially enjoyed Sky Adventures ziplining at Monteverde and the Catamaran Adventure with Tuscanes Tours in Manuel Antonio. Also, the shuttles that they booked us with RideCR between the different locations were always on time and very professional, which I very much appreciated. One note about the transfers, I feel that there could have been more attention to detail by Brittany for when the shuttle times were and when the hotel check-in/check-out were. There were multiple times when the two did not align and so we found ourselves having to figure out what to do in the interim time. Another way to work with this issue would have been to call the hotels for us in advance and let them know of these transportation timings.

One thing that I would have wished for is a breakdown of the costs for lodging and activities. As college students, we were hoping to keep the budget as low as possible. As such, Brittany kept some large blocks of time in the day free to do self-exploration so we didn't have to pay additional upfront costs. On the itinerary, she provided suggestions of what to do, but the transport and entrance fee to those activities were not included. If I had a cost breakdown, I could better understand where to spend and where to splurge. It is also possible that I could have found cheaper rates than the agent if I looked myself. It seems like most of the bookings were done through Expedia, at least for the hotels, which may or may not have been the cheapest rates.

Overall, we had a good experience, but not necessarily a great or excellent one based on the above factors. I appreciated that Brittany was able to connect us with the local companies, but now that we know the good companies to book with, I would book a trip by myself in the future.

Hotel Review

La Fortuna Downtown Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna San Carlos

Good, no-frills hotel. Good front desk service. I like that all the rooms face the pool. Breakfast in the morning was tasty. The location was great to be able to walk around town or get to La Arenal and the Hot Springs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

Staff was very attentive. We love boats so this was a really fun ride. It was great to interact with the other people on the boat as well. Had great food and drinks.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have made a rather last minute decision to visit Costa Rica for our very first trip together with Anna. Having had difficulties with arranging a car rental we decided to look for some support with our arrangements. At this point Anna popped into Kimkim and ask for assistance. Charlotte did not only came up with a positive offer for the rental but gave us advise for our entire trip plan inclusive of hotels, activities, insurance, etc. We found the Kimkim platform very user friendly and easy to understand. Frankly we did not really hesitate for a moment weather to accepts Charlotte's offer as it gave us a the structure and the security for 16 days we just needed to feel comfortable. Not going into details we just really liked all our destinations, hotels so we were convinced enough to reach out to our suggested hidden spots in between the cities. Credit goes to Kimkim and Charlotte who by the way was all our way long available for questions or just a kind follow up. Traveling to different exotic destinations we would definitely be looking for a Kimkim representative to guide us with good recommendations !

PS : If you get the chance to visit the Pacific Coast, dont miss Playa Ventanas next to Uvita !

Hotel Review

Azania Bungalows

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

our favorite

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arrive and Transfer to Hotel

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Diego helped us plan the trip. He made suggestions about the itinerary and helped us select suitable hotels etc in accordance with our budget.
Our trip included most of the key parks, waterfalls, hot springs, and other must-see venues. We even ventured on a Zipline which was fun.
There was one excursion, the Volcano walk, which turned out to be very difficult for us (senior citizens). The walk was considered a "leisurely" walk but instead, it was a very difficult climb on a relatively steep grade. I would not recommend this tour for seniors.
Diego was very responsive to our inquiries which were promptly answered.
So thank you, Diego. You streamlined the trip for us and it was an enjoyable journey.
Costa Rica is a beautiful country, well worth a visit.

Hotel Review

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

We stayed here for 3 nights. What we loved was that the hotel had hot springs. So after a day of walking and sightseeing, the hot springs were great for relaxing. The hotel dining room was spacious and the food and service were excellent. The only reservation is that the hotel facilities are on a hill and it is necessary to use a shuttle if your room is up the hill. While the shuttle was available most of the time, it was necessary to wait for the shuttle.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The ambiance was great

Staff

Very responsive staff. Always happy to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Transfer San José to Arenal with guided visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Costa Rica

The transfer was picturesque and La Paz was an interesting stop. The waterfalls were magnificient. The collection of animals reminded me of a zoo, but in reality La Paz was the only place where we saw the larger animals. We did see many butterflies and other insects as well and the gardens are a real treat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brittany and the Kim Kim team put together a fantastic 9 day trip for me and my son over the New Year holiday with very short notice and reasonably priced. Our accommodations in La Fortunate, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio were beautiful and luxurious. Twice we opted to hang out in our room just to enjoy the beautiful views.

Brittany had set up multiple excursions and guided tours at each of the three destinations. The activities like the sky walk, kayaking and snorkeling were so much fun. We really loved everyone of them. The guides on our tours through the rainforest of various parks and on the ocean were so professional and the experience was very educational as well as entertaining. We got a ton of great wildlife photos.

Our entire experience with Kim Kim has been the best and we will definitely use their services in the future. We highly recommend them and we are very picky vacationers.

Thank you Brittany and your team.

Sincerely,

Ann

Hotel Reviews

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Beautiful views. Another hotel we enjoyed just hanging out in our room watching the views and animals. The restaurant was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Luna Hotel & Spa

La Fortuna

A wonderful hotel. We loved the trail along the river. The food was delicious. Everyone was so nice and friendly. Thank you for a great stay.

Tips for future travelers

Enjoy your stay. Be adventurous and hike up to La Fortunate waterfall.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful accommodations.

Location

Staff

Very kind and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

So beautiful. Monkeys everywhere. We just enjoyed watching the view , hanging out at the pool and sipping a cocktail. Easy walk to the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling

Costa Rica

We loved it. Awesome to kayak experience as well as snorkeling.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide. Great educational experience. The sky walk was a blast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Celeste Day Trip

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guid.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

January 2022. Our trip to Costa Rica was wonderful. Adriana, our trip planner was amazing. In planning the trip, she modified the itinerary several times to fit our specific needs and was available to answer all our questions immediately before and during the trip. She even offered to check her email after her regular hours to assure our needs were met. I never felt we were alone without help if needed.

The hotel in Arenal, the Kioro , could not have been more perfect. The view of the volcano from the room was phenomenal. One of our most memorable moments was seeing the volcano after the clouds finally cleared. Hotel staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The dinner meal at the poolside restaurant was delicious and included many local specialties. Franklin, the tour guide for the national park hike and the La Fortuna waterfall, (and our trusted driver, Gonzalos) was entertaining, informative and helpful. He went out of his way to try to try to find sloths, making extra stops along the way. And he helped us get an item in town that we needed. The 500 steps down to the waterfall are worth the prize at the end of the journey, even though the climb back up was challenging. Take some water with you for the climb back up. A couple hours to shop in La Fortuna is all you need and a nice place to gather souvenirs (as are some of the stops the drivers make in transport - good deals). Also some good dinner choices in La Fortuna. Note: no ATMs in the hotels, so get your cash in town.

Joshua was a great guide on the Frio River in Cano Negro tour and he really knew his facts. We saw beautiful birds, such as the blue heron, the Anhinga (native to CR), Wood-stork, and Amazon Kingfisher. Turtles, and Jesus Christ green lizards – named that because the literally fly across on top of the water. Oh, and huge iguanas! Caimans were sunning on the shores all over. The big treat, though, were the monkeys. Howler monkey families everywhere and we saw an adult w/a melanin mutation, causing him to be orange. There was also a baby with the same mutation which was white. Joshua had the boat docked so we could get a closer look and we got great photos through the telescope.

Zip line tour in Monteverdi was very fun! Another memorable moment. The staff that accompanied us throughout the tour deserve 5 stars. Friendly, helpful, reassuring, professional. A bit of climbing up and down steep stairs and about a total of 2 miles of hilly trails in between the zip lines, so be aware you need to be in shape if you are an older tourist. You can do the hanging bridges without a tour guide, but another 3 miles of up and down hilly trails. So, I’d recommend stopping for lunch in between zip lines and bridges.

Manuel Antonio area was another treat. The Parador Resort was 5 star +. Again, staff very friendly and took care of your every need. Beautiful ocean views and the rainforest was right in front of the property where you could take a 1/2 mile walk. We saw Congo monkeys in the trees, white-faced howlers (cappuccinos) and sloths and macaws right on the hotel property. Breakfasts offered many choices. Eat as much fresh fish as possible if that is to your liking - mahi-mahi, red snapper, sea bass - all fabulous. Take a private birding tour if possible. Our guide, Elias, was very informed and we saw fabulous, beautiful birds up close with the telescope (a must). The tour of the Manuel Antonio National Park can be very busy and you may or may not see some of the animals you are seeking, but the park is very lush and beautiful. The beaches are clean, with beautiful white soft sand and wonderfully warm waters. Very relaxing. We had a day without any tours and enjoyed this day on the beach. Can rent chairs and umbrellas for $10 USD for the day at the public beach. (No credit cards)

Tour guides, Warner (kayaking) and Mario (Manuel Antonio National Park) went way out of their way to help us when we had an unfortunate incident. They were extremely helpful.

A huge shout-out to our drivers during our private transports: Ricardo, from San Jose to Arenal; Wilson, Arenal to Monteverdi - (a treacherous journey across the mountain); Albarro, Monteverdi to Manuel Antonio; and our driver from Manuel Antonio to San Jose made sure our check-in at the hotel was seamless before he departed. Such caring service!

The people everywhere were warm and friendly. Breakfasts included every day and lunches with almost every tour, were very convenient and tasty! I would recommend this company to any traveler going to Costa Rica and will look into using them again for our next trip. Great job!

Hotel Review

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Great staff, perfect location, fabulous ocean views. Perfect sunsets. Great food. Fish is fresh and delicious. The rainforest in front of the hotel allows amazing opportunities to see wild life right on hotel property! Junior suites offer so much room and comfort. Several pools to choose from, clean and relaxing. 5 star.

Tips for future travelers

Take the private birding tour (at 0600 -worth it), if possible. Phenomenal birds and informative guides. And the guide will get you fabulous close up photos through the telescope. And most of the tour is right on the property!

Authenticity & Character

Tropical setting, birds and sloths on the property. Classy.

Location

Staff

Everyone acknowledges you and goes out of their way to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was amazing because we saw so much. The Jesus Christ lizard jumping over the water, the huge iguana, the howler monkeys, including those with mutations. And our guide went out of his way to dock the boat and get us to shore so we could view the monkeys up close. But, it would not have been fun if we missed these sitings 🙁. It’s a 2 hour trip each way, so makes for a long day. Lunch was included, and was very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Authentic Costa Rican meal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nothing, really. It’s just a long journey to and from the river.

We had a great experience touring Costa Rica. Chris and Randall was very organized and planned our trip really well. They were very responsive . I will definitely recommend working with Chris and Randall if you are planning a trip to Costa Rica.