Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica thanks to Diego. He had planned out a trip for my wife and I, and we paid for it with a credit card. 10 minutes later as we were filling out the forms on Kim Kim’s website we noticed that our passports expired the previous month. We called Diego and he managed to put a hold on the hotels. We received an expedited passport on a Monday and called Diego that day and he rescheduled the whole trip that day and we flew out on Tuesday. The trip went smoothly in spite of the last minute preparations. We can’t thank Diego enough. Pura Vida!

Great trip, beautiful scenery with lots to do. Very affordable especially if you use cash.
All the activities were very good and well planned. If getting a rental car get specific instructions on where to return it to and watch out for the return fees.
Most people are very friendly and like to help.
Please don't use the Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort although gorgeous grounds the spa was closed, room service was unavailable and the front desk staff acted like you were doing them a favor by staying there.
We drove from San Jose to Liberia which is an adventure in itself. Not for the faint of heart but was fun for us. A working GPS is mandatory and driving more than a few miles at night is not recommended unless using the highway. We had to reschedule one of our activities to the morning since it was a 3 hour drive at night.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Great Hotel, good location. Beach activities by the locals right on the beach so can book an activity as soon as you step onto the beach(10 yards)

Tips for future travelers

Watch out for the Howler monkeys. They are entertaining.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Looks like a 5 star resort but behaves like a Motel 6. Rude front desk staff, no spa, room service not available.

Tips for future travelers

Go some where else

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Location and grounds

Activity Reviews

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Scary and fun at the same time

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Catamaran Sailing Excursion

Costa Rica

Party Boat with great staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The planning and booking process was very easy. Alberto was very quick to answer all my questions and make the small changes we where asking for. We wanted a mix of adventure and relaxing down time for our honeymoon. The Hanging bridges in Arenal experience was great, Marcos was a very knowledgeable guide of all the animals and very enthusiastic. Rosa was our guide to Rio Celeste and she was also very knowledgeable. Orjel in the Cloud forest in Monteverde was very fun and we even got to see the Quetzal! Fabian in Manuel Antonio was very nice and genuinely happy to be our guide, saw a few sloths! Every driver was very nice, also every interaction with staff at the hotels. We would use kim kim in the future.

Hotel Review

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

This was the best hotel we stayed in! From the greeting with juices to the service at the front desk. They decorated our suite for our honeymoon. The breakfast buffet was delicious and the food at the restaurant too. And the best part were the thermal pools.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

It is definitely necessary to use a guide since they are the ones that know the forest and spot all the animals and plants and are so very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Randall knows the country very well and the best things for tourists to visit. He takes into account budget and other constraints! He organiséd a fabulous trip for me and my daughter! Unforgettable ❤️

Over all a very good time for us, the Whitewater rafting with Desafio was really well done and lots of fun the guides where top notch. We loved La Fortuna and really enjoyed staying at "Arenal Springs" a really amazing hotel/resort and the hanging bridges. Good times ziplining at Monteverde and the Poco a Poco.
Beaches, Monkeys and wildlife in Manual Antonio where a highlight of the trip.

In hindsight we would not have done the night walk with Terra Travel and I might have tried to schedule the last days differently so there was less driving. (maybe a day in Jaco or somthing)

But thanks for the good times and well orchestrated adventures.

Diego did such an incredible job planning the girls’ trip to Costa Rica my best friend and I went on earlier this month. He was incredibly responsive the entire time (including when we had real-time questions while we were in Costa Rica), and put together an itinerary that was perfect for us!! It was SUCH a relief not to have to plan anything ourselves and to know that everything was taken care of (especially transportation). I would 100% recommend Kim Kim (and Diego!) for anyone who is looking for a fun, stress free trip to Costa Rica!!

Charlotte was awesome, she created an itinerary which met our needs with a 7 yr old kid and we were yet able to cover a lot of activities including a dinner with a local Costa Rican family, which was the highlight of the trip!
Charlotte was easily reachable on text whenever we had any questions during the trip and even prior.
We wouldn’t have been able to explore and enjoy CR the way we did , if it wasn’t for Charlotte.
A true professional and an expert at what she does! Would highly recommend her to anyone!!

Hotel selection was perfect. Best hotel was Naraya Springs, Finca Rosa Blanca and Tulemar were a close second. The Belmar was just OK, but, not great. It would be good to suggest to travelers that distances are great and the ride between points is 3-4 hours in less than great vans. Bottom line-allow more time in each stop than we did. Hanging bridges was fantastic but rather arduous for a person with compromised knees or hips. It is not flat walking. Cloud forest would be better if there were clouds, but, there were none on our trip. Tulemar was great with the private beach, very good experience. The sunset cruise was also very pleasant and a good option for a more relaxed excursion. Snorkeling not so great in this area.

Hotel Review

Nayara Springs - Adults Only

Fortuna

This hotel was fantastic. Everything about it was great. Beautiful setting. Very large room. Private plunge pool and outdoor shower were big plusses. Hotel also provides 24 hour turn free laundry. The included breakfasts were amazing, great food. All of the staff of this property are very customer focused and do a great job.

Tips for future travelers

Stay more than 2 days.

Authenticity & Character

Set in the jungle and you feel very private.

Location

Close to the Arenal attractions

Staff

Everyone pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and very comfortable.

Activity Review

Private Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very attentive crew that worked very hard at making this a nice leisurely trip.

Quality of Experience

As advertised exactly

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They worked really hard at pleasing everyone.

Transport

Bad AC on bus.

Diego truly did an *incredible* job planning our trip. He made the whole experience seamless, and whenever we hit any snags (which were few and very minor), Diego's communication was consistently responsive and helpful, and he always got things back on track immediately if needed. The activities he guided us to were amazing experiences and the transportation was just so easy! We loved all three locations (La Fortuna/Monteverde/Manuel Antonio) and were absolutely DELIGHTED with each place Diego picked for us to stay: each was so different, a bungalo suite and hot spring hotel in La Fortuna, a delightful spa hotel in Monteverde with a beautiful view and grounds, and a *gorgeous* beach hotel in Manuel Antonio; each place we couldn't think could be topped, and offered such a unique, comfortable and hospitable experience with amazing amenities (that we fully took advantage of!).

We could not have asked for better service; this trip was incredibly memorable and beautiful!

Hotel Review

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Absolutely beautiful hotel with some of the best hospitality I have ever experienced. The hotel itself is beautiful, and the grounds and surrounding area were magical. We loved the massage services and the staff in the restaurant were so accommodating and kind, and genuinely went out of their way to make our stay so special. The location was ideal and very walkable to the "downtown" area of Monteverde.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I cannot say enough about how wonderful the staff were - we are so grateful for the amazing service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

Probably my favorite activity in our whole trip, this was an incredible experience with some of the most breathtaking views in our entire journey.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can't say enough good things about the people of Costa Rica - they are friendly, happy, and proud of their country. Most spoke English, but were very patient with our Spanish, which my 2 high schoolers had fun practicing. The scenery and wildlife were great and the food was delicious.
Brittany helped us arrange a great trip to Costa Rica where we were able to visit Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. In La Fortuna, we got a great view of the Arenal volcano and did a nocturnal walk to see red eye tree frogs and poison dart frogs. Monteverde was probably a highlight for the family, even though it wasn't cloudy in the cloud forest that we were there. We had a great time on the ziplines. We had a very unique & special dinner for my daughter's birthday at San Lucas TreeTop Dining. It was delicious, yet pricey. My favorite hotel was our stay at La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio where there where monkeys and sloths at the hotel and the view over the water was beautiful. Brittany did a great job of arranging transportation and excursions and was easy to communicate with during the planning. We will definitely be using KimKim services to plan our next international trip.

Hotel Review

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

The hotel overlooks the ocean and has a great patio that is very relaxing. The staff were very friendly and the food was pretty good. The beds were a little hard for my taste, but the rooms were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

Our family of 5 (ages 13, 15, 18) had a great time on the ziplines. The guides made you feel very safe and it was exhilarating. There are a few ziplines that you had to ride tandem, but it added to the fun. I definitely would recommend, it was my kids favorite experience of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was absolutely lovely. Olman did a great job of working with us during the planning process. He listened to our needs and found just the right properties. We did not get a final itinerary until 36 hours before we left. I am not used to such a short timeline. I have used KimKim before and have gotten our final itinerary at least a week in advance. It made me very nervous and did not allow me to look at the day trips to know what to pack etc. Makanda by the Sea (which Olman had highly recommended) was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. My son had the most spectacular room, all glass looking over the Pacific Ocean with monkeys and sloths traveling bye all day. The pool was blissful! The Lost Iguana was very nice but paled in comparison to Makanda. Olman did a great job and we had a great time.

Hotel Reviews

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at. The pool was beautiful with a spectacular view. The staff were extraordinary. The food at the restaurant was delicious. We enjoyed the private beach. There were more animals around the pool than we saw anywhere else during our entire trip (monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans, macaws). Whatever we wanted all we had to do was ask. Our villa was absolutely breathtaking. My son's room was a glass cube with an amazing view of the pacific and sloths and monkeys swinging by all day.

Tips for future travelers

Don't hesitate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The hotel is on beautiful grounds. The pool is lovely with a heated part that is a swim up bar. The swim up bar was over run with kids on our second day. The lighting in my son's room was very odd. Just one dim overhead light and a tiny LED by his bed with n o windows to speak of. Fortunately the amazing outdoor shower made up for it. The view from our suite was spectacular. The food was fine.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds were beautiful

Location

It was very secluded which was nice but a little far for in town dining.

Staff

We didn't have much interaction. But the ones we met were very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The outdoor shower was spectacular. The lighting in the rooms could definitely be improved upon.

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Extreme Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip lines were very cool and fast. We had a great time. We would have liked to learn a bit more about the animals and area from the guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It would have been nice if they would have told us more about the animals and rainforest.

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

We al learned a lot. The view form the top was spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved the local restaurant that we went to. It had authentic Costa Rican fare.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable.

Transport

Kim Kim did everything right and fixed things that needed fixing. I am using them again for my trip to France. They just do it all and then you don't have to worry. I don't think I could have put things together myself. It is so seamless when they do it. It is worth every penny!

Hotel Review

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

The Hotel was lovely but San Jose is a rough city. The hotel is across from a nice museum and other is a HUGE park that my husband found for walking , running, biking and all activities. We had to be in San Jose to pick my son up at the airport.

Authenticity & Character

NIcely appointed

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Eternal Rainforest Night Walk

Monteverde

Loved it. Just interesting

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica thanks to our local specialist Randall. He tailored our trip to exactly what we wanted in this trip. Communication/response time was excellent. Randall timed everything just right; the pace for all of our activities were spaced just right. Transportation was punctual, comfortable and pleasant. We had excellent guides at Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hanging Bridges, and Manuel Antonio National Park. They were all experts of the rain forest and at finding wildlife. Our guide even spotted the Resplendid Quetzal in Monteverde Cloud Forest! He took photos and video for us through his scope. Costa Rica is so full of wildlife. We even had a resident three-toed sloth at our hotel in Costa Verde! Our trip to Costa Rica will live forever in my memories. Thank you Randall for your amazing service. ¡Pura Vida! ☺

Hotel Review

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Loved the view and the wildlife everywhere we looked!

Activity Review

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Our expert guide was wonderful and full of information about the rainforest.

Quality of Experience

It wasn't crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Well-informed.

Transport

They were punctual.

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica .We planned the trip with Brittany’s help and she did a wonderful job. The people are very nice in CR. We felt very safe. Our accommodations were top notch - clean and excellent service .

Hotel Review

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolute paradise

Tips for future travelers

Just enjoy the view and the ambience

Authenticity & Character

Privacy, facilities, fabulous breakfast and restaurant

Location

View is fantastic though a little far from the town. .

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Activity Review

Shuttle Transfer with Rafting on the Sarapiqui River En Route

Costa Rica

Just do it though you better be a strong swimmer and in good health

This was one of our favorite family vacations ever. Diego was a HUGE help in planning it and making sure everything was exactly as I dreamed.

We were able to hit all the highlights we wanted to and the hotels were nothing short of spectacular. Everyone in my family had a different group of favorite activities from the trip! The zip lines and hanging bridges were a universal top-3, but we also loved all of the other excursions Diego helped plan for us. In 8 full days of vacation we managed to tour the Rio Celeste (my favorite), hike around the Arenal Volcano eruption site, float down the Arenal River, relax in some hot springs, take a horseback ride over the cloud forest mountains of Monteverde, hike through Monteverde, visit a sugar cane/cocoa/coffee plantation, go on a night hike, do zip-lining and walk the hanging bridges, and hang out at the beach finishing off with a sunset cruise on Tamarindo Bay. There wasn't a day we didn't enjoy ourselves. I just wish I had more days available where we could just relax and enjoy the beautiful country.

Everything was extremely well organized as well. The car rental went smoothly and every tour picked us up as scheduled with absolutely no stress on our parts. It was so nice to have a trip where I wasn't worried I had missed something or gone to the wrong location. Most tours were either just my family or my family a few other people - you never felt like you were part of a huge group and unable to hear the guide.

In fact, literally the only concern we had the whole time was when we landed in Costa Rica and tried to find our car rental. The directions said to find an agent from the car rental company at the airport, but there were 4 companies directly in the terminal so we assumed it was supposed to be one of those. When we asked one of the airport workers, they told us our company was a few kilometers away and we would have to rent a taxi which obviously concerned us. However, once we made our way out of the terminal the company's agent was right there and got us taken care of. May just want to change the directions to go out of the terminal and find your agent there.

Thank you for a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Definitely a must-visit hotel. Extremely high-quality service. Many of the staff would call us by name despite us only being there 3 days. The hot springs were terrific - definitely try the ones down in Club Rio. They are surrounded by the rainforest and much more natural than the ones by the hotel. Our kids loved Club Rio, especially the rock climbing. We also all loved the entertainment room - our teenagers would happily go here to play some PS5 or other games while my wife and I could get some peace and quiet ourselves. You could spend a week here easily and not do everything they have available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Koora was a quiet, beautiful hotel to relax and enjoy the cloud forest in. Our bungalow was surrounded by the cloud forest and we enjoyed the privacy and having nature all around us. While it doesn't offer as many amenities as other hotels, we enjoyed the quieter tempo and more personal atmosphere. Every one of the staff knew us by name and would check on us to see how they could best help us. We'd have our table for breakfast and dinner ready every day and, if we had any questions, they would quickly respond to a message through WhatsApp. Would love to return again and just spend days relaxing and enjoying their nature trails and atmosphere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Absolutely beautiful hotel and great service. The room had a balcony opening right into the rain forest and a private outdoor shower in the back (along with a normal indoors one) where you could just listen to nature around you. Our kids loved eating here - they had fruit stands around the dining area so animals would constantly be climbing them to grab a bite to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

OK hotel but very touristy and busy. The parking lot and most of the accomodations are across the street from the hotel so expect some walking. The pools themselves were great and it was wonderful having straight access to the beach (which is obviously it's main attraction). There is no room service so if you want to get something in your room you have to order it at the restaurant, wait for it, and then carry it across the road and to your room. Staff were also very impersonal compared to the hotels we stayed at in Arenal and Monteverde.

Authenticity & Character

not much character - just a Vegas-like hotel to get as many people as possible into the limited space

Location

beach-side access was wonderful

Staff

not very personal, had to ask them for what amenities/activities the hotel offered, laundry was a day late getting back despite dropping off at 8AM the day before

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

This was my must-do adventure and it was exactly as I hoped. The hanging bridges tour was awesome - our guide was a lot of fun to talk to and always open to questions. We saw quetzals, tarantulas, hummingbird nests, and lots of other creatures. The hanging bridges themselves were terrific - we went across 6 of them, the largest spanning quite a long ways with beautiful view of the cloud forest around and under you. Zip-lining was awesome. You go on 7 total lines with the longest being 1/2 a mile. Sometimes they'd have my kids go separate, and others they ride paired. Everyone was very great and you always felt safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Rainforest Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a ton during the hike and had a great time. We worked well with our kids, even when our youngest started getting a little tired of the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent chance to see many of the animals in the rainforest. Guide had an amazing ability to spot them and then get us to see them. We saw iguanas, bats, owls, monkeys, and TONS of different birds. One highlight was definitely when the guide managed to get the howler monkeys to start calling back to him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Trapiche Sugarcane Mill Tour

Monteverde

Very fun tour that both we and our kids enjoyed. The guide showed us how they grew sugar cane, coffee, and cocoa and how each was processed. You saw everything from plant to machinery to process. Along the way we were able to taste the coffee beans, raw cocoa seeds, and processed chocolate and we made our own raw sugar candy. Definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

Extended horseback ride through the cloud forest. You go through a variety of areas, from shrubs, to mountaintops, to the cloud forest itself. We ended up on the mountaintop as the sun started to set with an amazing view of the surrounding mountains I will never forget. Longer trip than I thought it would be, but that was a good thing and it wasn't so long I was sore the next day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike around the volcano. Guide was very knowledgeable from everything of the local plants to the volcano and it's eruption itself. Great visual aids to help in teaching. We got some absolutely beautiful views of the volcano from the closest you are legally allowed to get to it. On the way back he led us off the usual path up the mountain side and you really felt like you were exploring the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing! All the transportation, lodging, and activities were seamless and there was very little additional work on my end once I arrived. Diego was also extremely accessible and helpful with any of my questions/concerns during the trip itself. Highly recommend both the country and this tour agency.

Hotel Review

Evergreen Lodge

Tortuguero

Amazing food

Tips for future travelers

Be aware that the windows are just covered in screens and some bugs may get inside your room

Activity Review

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

Tour guides were awesome and very informative while also keeping us safe. The food provided was also really good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brittany was great to work with and was very accommodating while we asked for modifications. It was also great to have her support during the trip!

Activity Review

Sloth Discovery Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Gustavo, was incredible. I’ll never forget this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gustavo was one of the best guides I’ve ever had

Transport

Amazing family trip that we completed for spring break to Costa Rica. Adriana helped with the planning and produced options that would be fun for kids of different ages, also while making sure that we had time to relax as a family.

I first thought that this may be some sort of internet swindle, since I had never heard of KimKim before, but everything was exactly as promised. Every driver showed up on time, and every rental was organized, and excursions were as described.

I would recommend Adriana and KimKim without hesitation.

Rizwan Pasha, M.D.

Hotel Review

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Very nice hotel and furnishings. Very good location, but food was better in the town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alberto arranged an incredible holiday for us. All the transfers and activities went very smoothly and we found Costa Rica to be a beautiful and friendly country with so much to see and do.

We visited Arenal, Tortuguero, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and Bahia Drake and we enjoyed each and every one of them. The local guides are excellent and very knowledgeable.

In terms of accommodation Las Caletas in Bahia Drake is paradise.

Thank you for arranging such a fantastic holiday Alberto!

Hotel Review

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

Perfect location with gorgeous gardens, friendly staff and a beautiful beach. Great food. Highly recommended

Tips for future travelers

You will arrive by boat be prepared to get your feet wet!

Authenticity & Character

Stunning location

Location

So beautiful it's hard not to love it.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

We got the honeymoon suite with its own hammock. Lovely balcony

Activity Review

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

We swam at the base of the waterfall. Beautiful! And the hanging bridges are a great way to experience the canopy in primary rainforest

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing. We visited Tortuguero, Arenal and Manuel Antonio.
We liked all three locations but we will not forget Tortuguero and the amazing hotel where we stayed, Tortuga Lodge & Gardens - truly outstanding location, view, service and food. Thank you to our guide Miguel.
In the Arenal area, Nayara hotels are a must if you are a foodie!
All the tours and transfers were on time with great guides. Everything worked flawlessly.

This was also my first experience with Kimkim and it will certainly not be the last. The degree of customization it allows is unparalleled. Also, Adriana was the perfect specialist for our first experience with Kimkim. Very friendly and responsive, her work was great creating a perfect trip and adjusting all the details we needed. She deeply understands the locations and activities, and gave us important suggestions. Thank you, Adriana!

TIP: always do your tours in the early morning. At first, we were afraid that the tours were too early (7-8 AM) but I glad we kept it like that. We soon adapted to do everything very soon in the morning (when it's fresh and the nature is more active) and then keep the afternoons to yourself and relax.

Hotel Reviews

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

Tortuguero

Amazing hotel, one of the best we've been. Great service and food. Location and views are breathtaking.

Tips for future travelers

Arrive by boat and leave by plane, so you can have both experiences. The small airport is right across the canal. We upgraded to a room with A/C but we didn't really used it. The ceiling fan is more than enough. Book a Miss Evelyn suite - you won't regret it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton

San José

Great hotel, great design and breakfast. Central location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Hotel Spa and Gardens

Fortuna

Great hotel. Awesome food with lots of choices. It's not cheap, but if you can afford it and appreciate good service and food, go for it.

Tips for future travelers

Try to request a room with view of the Arenal vulcano.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Superb location and views, awesome design, great pools. Poor service at the restaurant - certainly doesn't match the price and profile of the hotel. Also, poor noise insulation in the rooms - you can hear everything that's going on outside and in other rooms. The music in the pool areas should be avoided and certainly affects your experience. We asked for a volume decrease, which happened during our presence by the pool, but the volume was turned up again as soon as we left. Would not return here unless a deep review of the service happened.

Tips for future travelers

Request a room far from the pool areas. Our room was next to the pool, and we could not rest/relax during the day due to the music.

Authenticity & Character

Location

awesome sea view

Staff

Staff in restaurants were not professionals, and some were unfriendly. The staff from front office and transport cars were nice, though.

Cleanliness & Comfort

room insulation in the rooms.

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shuttle from San Jose to Tortuguero

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport