Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to Costa Rica.
I did not have much time to plan the trip but when I reached out to kim kim, everything was planned for me. The trip was exactly what I wanted and took all of my preferences and wishes into account.
I visited incredible rain forests and cloud forests and had such fun and knowledgeable guides for each one. I love nature and wanted to see the interesting wild life and birds of the country and that is precisely what I did. There was not a single national park or tour that I did not enjoy. I am really lucky to have had this experience and it was unforgettable.
The peaceful walks through different forests, the views of waterfalls and volcanoes, the flora and fauna that I had previously only heard about in documentaries – the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The hotel is situated with a beautiful beach that you can access by walking down the path. I spent many hours just walking on the sand listening to the waves. The lady at reception was also extremely helpful, making many calls for me when I made a mistake and missed my transport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Direct access to a beautiful beach.

Staff

The lady at reception really went out of her way to help me, making many calls on my behalf despite it not being her responsibility to do so. I am so grateful to her for her help and kindness.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

The hotel is designed in such a way that it feels like it is not busy and full of other people. There are little gardens around corners and even a long walking path through a forest to enjoy

Authenticity & Character

The hotel felt peaceful and I enjoyed the gardens and the walking trail

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Arenal

Fortuna

The rooms are set in a garden with trees and plants that attract birds and even a basilisk. I sat on my patio and watched a hummingbird feeding from the flowers of the tree in front of me.

Authenticity & Character

The gardens that allowed you to wander around the hotel and enjoy the setting

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Cloud Forest Night Walk

Monteverde

Seeing the forest at night gives a different perspective to the day walks. We were lucky to see two different types of frog as well as some very well camouflaged insects, such as the leaf insect (which looked so much like a dead leaf that my guide, Chris, had to point it out four times before I actually realised what I was looking at) and a stick insect. I think that the highlight was probably seeing a spectral bat which flew past us - it was a really huge bat with a wide wingspan - very impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Manuel Antonio Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio Park has 5 different types of ecosystems in one park, so you get the opportunity to see many different creatures. My guide Ariel made me feel like one of the family and we were so lucky with the animals and birds we spotted. This was an excellent place to see both 2 toed and 3 toed sloths, as well as playful squirrel monkeys. Perhaps the highlight of the hike was seeing the potoo - This bird was sitting next to a stick and holds its head upwards in such a way that it too, looks just like the stick. Wow!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was able to take some amazing pictures through his scope using my phone. Perfect memories

Transport

Private: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

The cloud forest is such a unique ecosystem. My guide, Greivin, was very good at spotting beautiful birds... as well as impressive tarantulas!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Children's Eternal Rainforest Guided Hike

Monteverde

I love the intimate setting of walking through the rain forest. My guide, Danny, was very knowledgeable and made the experience fun and interesting. He was excellent at spotting creatures and showing them to me through his scope. We counted the different bird species we spotted and he even sent me the list at the end, to keep as a memory.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was pleasant and friendly and helpful.

Transport

Easy and on time. A calm and pleasant drive

Cloud Forest Hike in Juan Castro Blanco National Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike was through some amazing cloud forest. There were incredible views and we stopped at the various refreshing waterfalls. I loved our guide, who was very passionate about his forest and the flora and fauna that you find there. He was patient and even helped me cross the stream (Read here that I held onto his shoulder as I didn't want to slip on the rocks and I don't know how he even managed to move with me holding on like that!) It was a peaceful and quiet walk surrounded by the trees and forest plants.

Quality of Experience

Food

We ordered the food before the hike and it was ready for us when we got back. The lunch was very good and it was service with a smile!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The passion for the cloud forest and the interesting details and history made it a wonderful experience for me.

Transport

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The setting is beautiful and you get some really striking views from the hanging bridges.

Quality of Experience

The experience was excellent, however, as noted, there were many crowds of tourists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was interesting and knew the right areas to stop to look for specific birds and frogs.

Transport

Private Isla Damas Kayaking Adventure

Manuel Antonio

This is such a unique and special way to experience the mangroves. The water is calm and the roots of the trees on either shore make such intricate patterns. My guides, DK and Roberto, were so patient with me and so interesting. I was also really fortunate as they spotted a silky anteater in the tree - the smallest anteater species in the world.

Quality of Experience

It gave a really unique view of the mangroves

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They put me at ease and calmed me immediately and made the whole experience fun and interesting

Transport

Easy and timely. I was also told about the customs and the places we were driving past on the way to mangrove.

Adam and Greg did an excellent job responding to our questions and providing top-notch service for our incredible trip to Costa Rica! We will certainly book through Kim Kim next time!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde

Hotel Heliconia in Monteverde was a gem! The lack of water features was something we knew after arriving, but the hotel made up for it with its incredible views and beautiful grounds. Our room, with three walls of windows, offered breathtaking views of Monteverde. We enjoyed a nature walk on the premises and loved the locally grown coffee served exclusively at the hotel. The design of the restaurant was not as unique as expected, but the helpfulness of the front desk staff and the overall magical setting made our stay really memorable.

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Our stay at the Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience was quite an unexpected one. The atmosphere was intended to be relaxing with its spa-like thermal pools. However, there was a bar in the center playing loud music which disrupted the tranquility we sought. The pool water wasn't clean, which was very disappointing. Despite the initial plan to stay for three nights, and despite exploring alternatives like Baldi Hot Springs, which seemed even busier, we ended up finding a better fit at another place. While the staff was responsive and eventually moved us, the initial experience at Volcano Lodge was not what we had anticipated.

Activity Reviews

Treetopia Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

The Treetopia Hanging Bridges experience in the Monteverde Cloud Forest was absolutely incredible. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, taking the time to dive deep into the fascinating details about the flora and fauna. Walking on the bridges during the day and exploring the diverse ecosystem with stunning views was an unforgettable highlight of our trip. This tour exceeded our expectations in every way.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Walk

Monteverde

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Night Walk was not our favorite part of the trip. Although it's heavily promoted when you arrive in Monteverde, the experience felt intrusive. Walking in a group with flashlights and disturbing the nocturnal creatures was uncomfortable and not what we hoped for. We didn't see many nocturnal animals, possibly as they were avoiding our lights. It felt like we were disrupting nature rather than being a part of it.

Logistics were seamless. Very good suggestions on alternatives when the price was too high for my budget. Quick responses on questions and no hiccups along the way with arrangements - everything was clear.

Hotel Reviews

Drake Bay Wilderness Resort

Drake

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Isla del Caño Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Pedrillo Ranger Station Guided Hike

Costa Rica

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

Holden did an amazing job putting together an initial plan, and making changes according to our feedback. Also giving honest input into lodging choices. Nancy provided comprehensive information about what to expect on our arrival and through our trip. Wilman was very responsive during our trip, answering questions and making last minute changes. What a great team!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful hotel! Room well appointed. Wonderful view. Comfortable beds. Pool and patio area was great. Saw many birds during our stay. Staff was attentive. We only had breakfast here, but the restaurant was busy for dinner, suggesting that it was a good place to dine. Breakfast was good. Good tea selection which we appreciated. Location of hotel was central to many shops, restaurants, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful view, central location, yet off the busy road.

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds very comfortable

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

The thermal pools were fabulous. The grounds were gorgeous with beautiful foliage and great bird watching. We liked the location and appreciated the responsiveness of the staff. The rooms were adequate but a bit dated and often felt a little damp. Meals were fine but not standout.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

With all the rain, the room often felt damp.

Activity Reviews

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Costa Rica

Crew worked hard, friendly and entertaining. Ship was very cool. Liked how they stopped to allow people to swim/float. Food prepared was okay. Could be better. Drinks great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Bernie Sanchez was great! He was very patient and knowledgeable. Saw so many species. We wanted to spend time on the beach after. He lead us to a less busy beach, instructed us how to get back to the entrance, and set up our transportation back to our hotel. Went above and beyond.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Above and beyond.

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Cloudy and a bit rainy. However did not do more than sprinkle a couple times. This was supposed to be 3 hrs, but only needed up being 2 hours. Guide was knowledgeable, he was young. It was only the 2 of us on the tour, so maybe this impacted it only lasting 2 hrs.

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Small area, yet amazed at the number of wildlife we saw.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diago was great!

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very nice experience. Weather was not the best, rained often, but cannot control the weather. It mostly impacted the view from the bridges.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica - the folks at Serendipity were so helpful in both planning, and then altering a few things for us once we were in-country.

Lost Iguana (Arenal) and Senda Resort (Monteverde) were both lovely. Standout activities were the Northfield Coffee Tour, Maquique rappelling adventure, La Fortuna waterfall, Aguti Reserve, and Treetopia Park. But we didn't have a bad day of vacation overall.

Activity Reviews

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Canyoning in Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

One of our best days of vacation - breathtaking - and wonderful staff.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the driver service in San Jose know that we would be late and once we landed in San Jose we were already in communication with each other so very comforting. From the moment of that first transport at the airport to all of the other transport throughout our 8 days, we were very pleased with the promptness, cleanliness, professionalism and bilingual abilities of all of our drivers. Our hotels(Hotel Presidente in San Jose, Arenal Kioro and Parador in Manuel Antonio were all great with the latter two having exceptional views. Hotel Presidente is in an urban area in close proximity to a lot of nearby activities so of course we didn't care about the views. All hotels were very clean and had great breakfast buffets. We only ate two other meals at the hotels during our trip. One dinner at Arenal Kioro was a seafood medley for two that probably could have satisfied a family of four. Our other meal was a quick grab at Parador which was just fine before our next tour time. All hotel staffs were courteous and bilingual so easy to communicate with during our stays. The three hotels were all very different with Hotel Presidente being in an urban setting close to major attractions which is what we wanted there. Arenal Kioro was on beautiful grounds more in a rain forest setting with sweeping views of the volcano. Parador took advantage of beautiful ocean views and definitely had more of a resort feel. There were many families there and maybe someday we'll come back with our own extended family as it seemed like a great place for both adults and children. All hotels were safe with appropriate security at all gates.
Before I review our activities, I just want to make a comment about Greg and others that we worked with in planning this trip. They were all excellent about keeping us informed as we did have a couple of cancellation issues. Greg either found us a beyond expectations alternative or promptly refunded us money, One of our concerns going into this trip was that we would largely be on our own once we got to Costa Rica. Let's just say that to the contrary, we felt Kim Kim was there every step of our trip.
Starting with the two activities we did not get to experience through no fault of Kim Kim. The second day of our trip we were supposed to go on a Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine Walk in San Jose. Greg let us know well ahead that the operator cancelled but in doing so refunded our our money and also arranged for a phenomenal alternative beyond our expectations. The only other activity that cancelled on our trip was on our very last day. Regarding Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary-Our transport never showed and we called the organization several times that morning. Our hotel staff even tried on our behalf and they never answered the telephone. Being that this was our last day, there was nothing we could do about an alternative but our money was promptly refunded . We still don't know what happened but it is what it is or Pura Vida.
Review of Activities-
Self-guided activities(Kim Kim did not schedule for us)-Nature walk in Ecological Park and Butterfly Park Danaus-This park was a pleasant enough walk but would not recommend it without a guide. Fortunately, the park staff realized after we returned from a fairly short walk that we probably did not take full advantage of the activity. A staff member was kind enough to take us back out to see sloths, caimans, and toucans although not a formal tour so our trip there would be more memorable. The second self guided trip we did was to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Doing this self-guided was just fine as it was basically a walk down 500 steps to the falls and then a swim. There are lockers near the entry, to store dry clothes so assuming someone can make the 500 step walk, it was fairly easy to do on our own and worth the trip. The third self-guided piece of our tour was to visit Manuel Antonio Beaches after the guided Manuel Antonio Nature walk. We basically stayed a couple of hours in the National Park to enjoy the beautiful beach. We found a quieter side of the beach after our tour and it was well worth spending that time there.

Wildlife Rescue Center Tour-San Jose-We found this to be a very relaxing introduction to the wildlife we would see throughout the rest of our trip. We would recommend this as it was not only enjoyable with our guide but also gave us an opportunity to see a caring organization rehab and take care of wildlife that will never be able to be reintroduced into the wild. Well worth it to see and a wonderful cause.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-La Fortuna. The night walk was easy to navigate and the guide was enthusiastic but we did not see much in the way of wildlife. We do realize that this is not a zoo so every night-wildlife observation will be different. The Costa Rican Dinner was excellent and the family was very hard-working and hospitable. Even though if the walk itself was not that great, the dinner more than made up for it and made the trip out here well worth it.
Arenal Volcano and 1968 Reserve Guided Hike-La Fortuna This was a great hike with a wonderful guide that stopped and spoke with us a number of times. Half the trail was easy to walk and navigate. The other half as we ascended through more of lava flow-rocky areas was a little more challenging. We certainly enjoyed but those with younger children or seniors with mobility challenges may find the second half of this walk difficult. I will also say that our guide took the extra step not only to provide us with fruit in the end but lay it out on a table and table cloth that was above and beyond our expectations.

Rio Penas Blancas Safari Float-La Fortuna
This was a very relaxing float down the river in a six person raft perfect after our hike in the am. The guide was great and there was really not any work to do other than the occasional paddle. The current really did the work. Although the wildlife that day wasn't particularly abundant, we did see sloths, monkeys, and a number of birds. Enjoyed the scenery and nature and would recommend this for a relaxing afternoon.

Sky Tram, Ziplines, and Skywalk Adventure-La Fortuna
We had a great trip with a lot of enjoyable activities but this was our favorite excursion. My wife was a little hesitant about the zipline. We have done them a few times in the past but it had been several years since our last one. Let's just say we both loved this activity as it was extremely safe and well organized. The staff also was sensitive to taking care of the younger ones in our group and would either assist them across or have them go together. The guided walk through the rainforest and over hanging bridges was extraordinary as well. It was an easy enough walk and a great way to get us out of the rainforest.
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour-La Fortuna
This was exactly we we expected and what we wanted on this afternoon. An educational and easy walk through sugar cane, cacao and coffee fields along with tastings along the way. The coffee and chocolate tastings were well done as they showed those important products to Costa Rica in their various processing stages.
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Walk-This was probably the one activity during the whole trip that I'm not sure we could recommend. We realize that every night could be different in terms of wildlife you could see. The setting was a little strange as it was literally outside of a busy restaurant parking lot. With that said, certainly every portion of rainforest could be fascinating. As we walked through the forest, we mostly saw insects and spiders and although we all had flashlights to help spot, I'm not sure that our guide was all that excited to be on our tour. The walk was simple enough to navigate but we left the forest without seeing much at all. I guess we had higher expectations after our volcano walk of the fruit served at end but even that seemed like a less organized and not well-thought out presentation.
Manuel Antonio Nature Walk-We didn't realize how busy this park was but we had a guide that really made this tour special. He was enthusiastic, willing to take the time with us to take excellent pictures and he was an excellent spotter. He also was extremely personable not only with us but with other guides who clearly were keeping each other informed about wildlife sitings. This was also an A+ experience and highly recommended.
Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue-This was the largest group activity that we did the whole trip and as such could have been really chaotic. It was everything but chaotic and very well organized from start to finish. It was the only time that rain interfered at all with our trip but was not that big of a deal since there was more than adequate covered space on the boat. The only downside was that the boat parked a fairly long way from the snorkeling opportunity. We have snorkeled in the past so were looking forward to it but once we got there, it didn't quite seem worth the swim on a rainy choppy sea day. With that said, we know this wasn't a snorkeling trip and certainly enjoyed everything else about it. There was no skimping on drinks and food was great and served in a very organized way and we were truly amazed at how quickly that all the people on the boat got served. Add to that we saw a whale and dolphins and you have a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.
The last activity review is not one that was recommended by Kim Kim and I appreciated your staff professionally telling me they did not have a recommendation for this activity. We were originally wanting to do a Las Dumas Mangrove boat tour but because of the tides and our schedule it could not be accommodated. I booked a Night Mangrove Safari Tour through trip advisor/Costa Rica Jade Tours not knowing what to expect. They picked us up promptly and took us to a boat dock where we had a private tour. There were other boats on the mangrove (Las Dumas) river that night with more passengers but we were by ourselves. Let's just say this trip was truly fascinating and an adventure at the same time. The driver and guide were able to spot some incredible snakes, birds, insects and small mammals. While we thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, it was a little on the rougher side and none-the-less could potentially be seen as less professional than everything else Kim Kim recommended to us. We also had dinner as part of this excursion and had a quick stop at a cute little restaurant with our guide in Quepos. Personally, I would highly recommend this tour but leave that up to your expert trip planners.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide you with our tour insights. We truly enjoyed working with you.

Our other day two activity in San Jose was the Wildlife Rescue Center.This was a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience and a great introduction into the wildlife we would be experiencing throughout the remainder of our trip. This is also a caring organization that is focused on the wonderful cause of rehabbing animals and taking care of those animals that could not be released in the wild. Definitely worth a visit.

Day 3-We did two self-guided trips in the morning and afternoon so Kim Kim did not arrange. The first was a self-guided walk through Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Danaus. This was a pleasant and easy trail walk but I would definitely do a guided tour here because otherwise you will miss much of it. We finished after a short time on the trail and I think the staff realized that we missed much of the experience. A staff member kindly took us back out to see caimans, sloths and toucans that we would have otherwise missed. We really appreciated their kindness towards us. We also did a self-guided tour of the La Fortuna Waterfall. Assuming that you can do the 500 steps, this was certainly worth it. They have lockers to store dry clothes if you want to swim at the base of the falls. This is something you can do self-guided.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-The frog excursion itself was little disappointing since we only saw two frogs on the hike. However, we know that this is not a zoo so some nights, I'm sure you would see more wildlife than others. The dinner afterward however was fantastic and the hosts were great so that in itself made this a worthwhile time investment.

Our trip to CR was amazing. Bryan at Kimkim and Nancy and Wilman at Serendipity Adventures did a great job planning and executing our trip.
The Zip line in La Fortuna was a real highlight. Our transfers were always on time, comfortable and we felt safe at all times. Our accommodations were wonderful and the food was excellent. The nature walk in Manuel Antonio park was amazing. Our guide had a telescope and knew all the right places to look for birds and animals.
Serendipity also arranged a side to Paos volcano at the end of our trip. It was amazing since the clouds lifted and we got to see the entire crater and lake!
We also thoroughly the rafting trip in La Fortuna and the cooking class in Manuel Antonio Park area.
We highly recommend a trip to Costa Rica and thank Kimkim and Serendipity for all their work to make our trip highly memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

This hotel is out of town near the airport. It is an excellent choice when travelling the next day to the airport. Good restaurants nearby and the decor (sculptures and paintings) are amazing. You will need a taxi to get to the big shopping mall - Multi- Plaza. Staff friendly and very knowledgeable about the surrounding area with things to do. Highly recommend.

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

the hotel is built into the side of a mountain that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The views are amazing. Sunsets on the deck off the swimming pool are stunning. Enjoy a beverage and watch the sun go down over the Pacific ocean. The rooms are spacious and clean. staff friendly and accommodating to all our needs. Highly recommend. One other thing - there is a lot of steep walking on the property and down to the beach area. Use the local bus to manage the trip down and back from the beach.

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The views from most everywhere on the property were stunning. The food especially the breakfasts were delicious and varied. We were there for 5 days. The staff were friendly and always accommodating. We highly recommend staying with them

Hotel Presidente

San José

This a great hotel in the heart of San Jose. great for walking around the City Centre. our rooms were spacious and the breakfasts were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Flavors Cooking Experience

Manuel Antonio

We had a great time and lots of laughs. The end result of chicken, vegetables and salsa was delicious. Knowledgeable instructors and a good group of people. Lots of fun.

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide had a telescope and tripod and we were able to see more animals and birds than with the naked eye. The guides work together to point out different "sitings" of wild life. Excellent tour and we would highly recommend it. The walk is generally flat and easy to navigate.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Learned a lot about the best way to make a great cup of coffee. Yen our guide made the tour interesting and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the coffee and chocolate planation!

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Rafting Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Lots of fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out lots of birds, animals and a few alligators during our ride.

Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Nature Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great walk through the rainforest. Lots of birds and animals. The hanging bridges are a fun walk!

Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then, staying at the Karahe by the ocean was very nice but very hot!! The capuchin monkeys hung around all the resort. It was so entertaining to watch them!! So it was a very memorable trip. We’re just home and it feels like it was all a dream!! What stands out the most to me was my beautiful birthday dinner with champagne on the Katonga, the floating restaurant going down the river, with soft music playing, seeing all the lights of Tortuguero. Your company gifted us with that and we won’t forget it. Thank you so much! And thank you Gustavo for being so patient and knowledgeable with me to plan this trip. We love you all! ♥️

Enjoy the entire trip, the La Fortuna guide in the jungle & volcano tour was excellent! Same for the coffee, sugar cane & coffee tour. The Curu Wildlife Reserve was a highlight of our trip to Parquera with all types of wildlife and an amazing Plam forest. Tamarindo was was nice- a bit touristy but great beach. I would have prefer a hotel near the airport rather than staying downtown San Jose. Great trip, I'll book again with KimKIm.

Kim Kim put together a wonderful trip for our family along with their partner Serendipity Adventures. From the hotels to the activities to the drivers everything was top notch. Serendipity provided a contact for us that was super-responsive and helped make sure our trip went smoothly, whether it be arranging pick ups or recommending restaurants and other activities. Booking with Kim Kim took all the stress out of our vacation, allowing us to relax and enjoy. Highly recommend!

Gustavo and Greg did a great job meeting our primary request for amazing eco-resorts where we could kick back in a jungle environment. The first property was so relaxing that we blew off a nearby hike that we'd scheduled just to sit around by the hot springs all day. At the second property we did get to do the fun excursions they recommended, but the hotel itself was also so nice that we would have been happy just to hang out and explore the grounds.

Working with Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip to Costa Rica was a pleasure. Elena, Nancy, Wilman and the team took care of us from planning through the trip, including booking all hotels, drivers and excursions. Wilman kept tabs on us as we traveled through Costa Rica to make sure our drives were comfortable and the hotels were as expected; any bumps in the road were addressed in timely, professional manner. I highly recommend the KimKim process and specifically Serendipity for well planned and executed vacation. We had a great time!

Based on my preferences of where I wanted to go, what kind of tours I prefer (small groups/private), and the type of hotel - Elena put together the perfect itinerary with a great mix of doing things and relaxing. As we were making plans she reached out by phone when decisions needed to be made in a timely manner. All questions/concerns were addressed. We stayed in 3 wonderful hotels in La Fortuna (room with a view of the Volcano), Monte Verde (view of the valley and Pacific in the distance) and Manuel Antonio (corner room with a sunset view of the Pacific) with spectacular views, very good food, and spot on service. While each was a little different, they each showed Serendipity's knowledge of their beautiful country. Our private tour at Arenal that included hanging bridges, a volcano hike and the waterfall with Mariano were a pleasure given his personable nature and knowledge of the flora and fauna. Our day at Sevultura Park in Monte Verde, while a touristy place, offered really great professionally run zip line and hanging bridges. Finally, a catamaran tour and a tour of the national park rounded out our activities in Manuel Antonio.

Our trip to Costa Rica turned out beautifully, in spite of the fact that after we had booked, my husband suffered major injuries that needed discussion and making alterations in our itinerary. We chatted in person with Holden, and he made several tweaks in the planned excursions to suit his limited mobility -at no extra cost to us. All the excursions were well planned and led by knowledgeable and flexible guides. We particularly enjoyed the sloth adventure, the coffee/chocolate tour, the Ecocentre Danaus guided rainforest walk, and Treetopia/tram. The hotels were lovely- all very good choices with restaurants on site and close to other good eateries.
Wilman was our contact once we came close to traveling, and he was very responsive to our questions and needs. He provide links to the GPS routes, along with travel stop suggestions ( all of which we took him up on!)
We chose to rent a car for the week. We would not do that again, as the driving is very stressful when you need to travel away from the main roads, and that is always necessary. Driving on your own in a rented vehicle is not for the faint of heart. The motorcycles and trucks , the potholes, the narrow roads and switchbacks takes away any desire to see the country.
Two caveats- but only because of the change in my husband’s mobility issues. 1) LaMariposa is a lovely resort, but not easily accessible because of the large incline walk to the main building which surrounded the pools, the front office, and the restaurant for breakfast. 2) While the swim holes in The Rainmaker are refreshingly lovely and fun, the trek up is pretty strenuous in the warm humidity. The guides will not allow one to continue if there is any question of abilities to to so.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

TreeTram & Hanging Bridges Adventure

Monteverde

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Brennon was personable and very helpful

My family just returned from 8 days of fun filled trip from Costa Rica. Thanks for Gustavo and Greg, the trip was a success. Gustavo planned an itinerary to accommodate all of our wants and wishes. Greg was there to attend to all of the travel logistics. Both Gustavo and Greg were attentive, responsive and met all of our needs through out the trip.

Our trip started out on a bad note with one of our traveler pulling out at the last second, and a missed connection flight due to American Airline mechanical issues. We ended up missing our first full day of white water rafting due to the flight delay. Greg responded to my email immediately, assured us that everything was going to be OK, and took care of all the changes necessary to continue our trip in Costa Rica. Fortunately, the rest of our trip continued without a glitch. The Arenal Volcano hike, La Fortuna waterfall, the night hike, Cloud forest, Tree top dining experience, and Manuel Antonio National Park were all as amazing as we imagined.

Needless to say, we can't thank Gustavo and Greg enough for a job well done. We will not hesitate to use them again for our trips.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

nicely located in San Jose. We were able to walk around and do a self guided tour of San Jose. The room was quite small,, just enough to fit 2 queen size beds. But really that was all we needed for the one night stay prior to our departure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Hotel & Casino Kamuk

Quepos

pretty standard Best Western Hotel. It was clean and overall comfortable. It was located in the center al Quepos, as we wanted to experience the local life. While it was extremely easy to walk around, see the various shops, marina and the ocean, the noise from the constant traffic was quite an adjustment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Lodge

Monteverde

This was a nice older resort than some of the other ones we stayed at. However, it was full of character and charm. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. There was a nice short hike on site. We saw a variety of birds just from the outdoor deck. The lodge was located close enough to town that we were able to walk to restaurants in the evening. However, it was also far enough from town that we always woke up to the sound of the forest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. The rooms were perfect for family vacations. The room backed up to the Arenal Volcano, giving us an awesome view every morning. The restaurant on site was good and we really enjoyed our meal there. The more remote location of the resort allowed us to feel disconnected from the daily hustle and bustle of the world. But it was difficult to go out to eat without taking a taxi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing

Monteverde

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. This was not just dinner in a stunning setting of glass tree top room. It was an entire experience that our family would not forget for a time. From the moment we arrived the restaurant, we were greeted by professional and knowledgeable staff. The restaurant must having ordered up the most incredible sunset for the evening. every course of the meal represented a region in Costa Rica, and this was explained in detail by out waiter. The wine pairing just added to the incredible flavor of each course. Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed if your budget allows for this excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Diego was a wonderful guide with excellent knowledge relevant to the excursion. He was very friendly, and always willing to answer any questions. He was able to locate 6-7 differently species of frogs and toads. We even saw a Costa Rican tree porcupine. the evening traditional Costa Rican dinner was delicious. The entire experience was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

nice experience with our guide Bernardo. He was very knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I loved that they checked in with us most days and made sure we were ok at each destination. This was especially helpful as we were driving a rental car and had some delays due to road issues and KimKim was super helpful in notifying us ahead of time and providing tips along the way

Our trip to Costa Rica in February 2025 was preceded by months of planning. Throughout that process, Olman of Amazilia Travel, the partner of kimkim in San Jose, was incredibly helpful in suggesting an itinerary and in fine-tuning it in response to our evolving needs and priorities. The result was a wonderful vacation, sometimes as part of a group, sometimes self-driving, that exceeded our already high expectations.

Olman took care of airport pick-up, car hire, accommodation, and various outings -- in short, of all the challenges and uncertainties of travelling in a country unfamiliar to us. We were provided with detailed information about each step in the itinerary, and every thing unfolded according to plan -- the bus connections, the rental car pick up, the route suggestions, the accommodation, the tour rendezvous. And the tour guides we had ranged from the very good to the outstanding.

We were able to add a number of outings of our own as our trip progressed, a task made easier by the fact that we had such a solid basic plan in place and by additional information provided in our kimkim itinerary file.

During our travels, Olman's colleague Graciela was our contact in case of need. In fact, we only had to contact her once when the Google map reference provided by the place we were about to visit led us slightly astray. The problem was quickly remedied.

This was among the most satisfying and enjoyable vacations of our lives. Olman and his colleagues were indispensable in making it so.

Hotel Reviews

Dreams Lodge Monteverde

Santa Elena

This is a small family-run hotel, comfortable and homely rather than fancy. Breakfast is provided and there are several restaurants within walking distance for other meals. The staff are very friendly and the Capuchin monkey viewing second to none. We had a most pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

This is a chain hotel, and it lives up to expectations. It is comfortable and conveniently located near the airport and car rental offices. The staff were very helpful and the evening meal a pleasant surprise. A bag breakfast is also available. The main advantage of the hotel is proximity to the airport and a regular shuttle service. This is especially convenient when one has an early morning outbound flight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

This hotel is beautifully situated on the waterfront and surrounded by dense forest. The gardens are lovely and home to Howler Monkeys and a variety of birds. Our room was comfortable and situated quite deep in the forest. Meals in the communal area were highly sociable, and the waterfront bar is delightful. Added attractions were the adjoining short forest trail and access to the spa and massage facilities at the neighbouring lodge. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

A convenient and comfortable stopover in San Jose. Within walking distance of the downtown core.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

We were blessed with sightings of sloths and innumerable birds, including the elusive quetzal. Our guide Jose was highly professional and engaging

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

The bird-watching boat ride and short jungle walk were rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable, not least thanks to our guide Fernando‘s enthusiasm, experience and enthusiasm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Jose - Tortuguero

Costa Rica

This trip is more than getting from A to B. The route takes one over mountains and through forest and ultimately banana and pineapple plantations. Our bilingual guide Fernando provided us with a wealth of information along the way, and did an excellent job in gently shepherding us when we stopped for breakfast, transferred into boats, and checked in at our destination hotel.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finca Sura Farm Tour

Sarapiquí

The Finca Sura Farm Tour was truly a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of being guided by one of the family members, a younger son, which made the experience intimate and enlightening. The small group setting allowed us to engage and share ideas effortlessly, making the tour not just informative but also highly satisfying. The farm, being family-run and organic, added an authentic touch to the experience. Highly recommended for those looking to connect with the local culture and learn more about organic farming in Costa Rica.

We had an absolutely amazing trip to Costa Rica. Holden was great from the start and listened to all of our desires and built us a dream trip. This was my second trip with KimKim and I would highly recommend them. They are an outstanding travel partner and saved me so much time in researching, booking and confirming our adventures! I will use them again for future adventures. Thank You, Holden. I appreciate all your hard work and organization.

We had a great experience planning our Costa Rica honeymoon. Holden provided several options and curated an itinerary based on our preferences. Serendipity Adventures was the local tour operator and Wilman was fantastic. He was extremely attentive to any questions with a speedy response time. We LOVED the Manoa Hot Springs Resort and experiences we did in La Fortuna. We did the coffee, chocolate and sugarcane farm tour and the organic farm and cooking class. We would definitely book with Kim Kim for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Papagayo Golden Palms

Guanacaste

This property sufficient but nothing exceptional. The restaurant did serve good lunch and dinner. The pizza was a miss, but everything else was fine. The hot tub was not working during our stay, but the pool was nice and the bartender was attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We loved this hotel! The view from our room was incredible and looked like a postcard. The on-property shuttle made getting around very convenient as the property is quite large. The breakfast included was very good and the sushi restaurant and pizza restaurant were both very good. The property was in pristine condition. The hot spring and swim up bar was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River was really good. However, the description mentioned 'small groups', but our group had about forty people, which I wouldn't consider small. This might affect others' expectations.

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved the Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Farm Tour. The format was great, the group size was manageable, and the facility was fantastic at explaining things and keeping everyone engaged. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved Huberth and his lovely family. Their farm was beautiful and such a special place. It was the exact experience we had hoped for and we will be cooking that Costa Rican meal at home with our family. Huberth spoke English and his mother spoke only Spanish. We had no trouble following her instruction and the meal was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The only part of this trip I didn't like was not being in Costa Rica longer! What a beautiful country and the wildlife lives up to all the hype without question!
Randall was extremely helpful and responsive in planning this trip for us and all of our guides were fantastic, especially Alan at Manuel Antonio. Our accomodations were beautiful and we saw just about all the animals we had hoped to, including 2 momma sloths with their babies- talk about cuteness overload! Besides the animals, the landscape is epic and Baldi hot springs was hands down the most incredible facility of that type I imagine there is in the world! Definitely will be returning and hopefully will have even more time for my next trip. Big thanks to all our drivers, guides and to Randall for the wonderful experience! Pura vida 😊

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

This facility is very large with many different parts to it. It was perfectly inlaid in to the jungle and seeing all the converted planes was surreal feeling. We also wound up seeing just as much if not more wildlife on the property than we did at any of the parks we visited, which was amazing! The food was great, rooms were clean and beds were comfy. The views from the pool and restaurants can't be beat either- definitely a great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

I mean, all the converted planes... If that doesn't scream unique/character I don't know what does!

Location

Very close to Manuel Antonio park with stunning views and tons of wildlife everywhere you look

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Montechiari

La Fortuna

This hotel was absolutely beautiful! The landscaping and all the birds and sloths on the property were so incredibly captivating and the food for breakfast was delicious as well. Highly recommend staying here 100%

Authenticity & Character

Adorable wood cabins with some of the most beautiful tropical landscaping on the grounds I have ever seen!

Location

Walking distance to the town plaza yet removed enough to be able to see a ton of wildlife all around the grounds of the property

Staff

Very kind and personable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio - Jungle Night Walk

Manuel Antonio

This was a small group and we saw quite a variety of animals in a relatively short time span. It was really neat as we all took turns finding then sharing with the others in our group the animals we discovered.

Quality of Experience

It was awesome seeing the different animals in the night time jungle!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very good and showed us a lot of things we would not have seen without him.

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

I loved our experience in the park! The park is incredibly beautiful with a wide range of different views/animals/flora & fauna. Our guide was not only kind and knowledgeable but also had a great sense of humor + tried his best to give us space from other groups so that we could see more wildlife. The only feedback/suggestion I have (which may really be the park's policy so I'm not sure if anything can be done) is that it seems silly and not ideal having all of the guided group tours arriving at the same time i the morning as it makes a big line to get in and then it is harder to experience the park without being surrounded by a large crowd (though again, kudos to our guide Alan for doing his best in mitigating this for us).

Quality of Experience

The animals and location are unbeatable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drive was not very long and our guide was very nice, funny and not only pointed things out we never would have seen on our own but also was a great advocate for the wildlife (he had to scold some people that were getting too close to some animals and intimidating them)

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

I absolutely loved this experience and it was quite the full day! The volcano was beautiful and the hot springs were absolutely epic!!

Quality of Experience

The nature of Costa Rica alone makes any experience like this amazing but add on friendly, knowledgeable guides and good, safe drives = perfection!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very kind and amazing qt providing information and pointing things out to us.

Transport

Our driver was very nice and I felt comfortable and safe

Hiking Waterfalls & River Swimming in La Fortuna

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the rainiest day of our trip so the waterfall was a little chilly BUT so worth it! Not only was it extremely beautiful but our guide was amazing at pointing out things the entire time (I was so impressed he even saw some things like the toucans in a tree on the drive there when he suddenly told the driver to pull over).

Quality of Experience

It was about as much activity as you could possibly ask for in a relatively short excursion and every bit of it was enjoyable!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both our driver and guide were very kind and our guide was very knowledgeable and fantastic at spotting and pointing things out to us from the moment we met him until the moment we parted ways.

Transport

Relatively short drive with no issues and a kind, safe driver.

We fell in love with Costa Rica after joining a G Adventures tour in 2024. We wanted to return, but wanted to visit different areas, with the focus on wildlife, birds and experiencing the forests/jungles/wetlands/national parks. We did not want 5*, all inclusive or private travel where shared travel options were available.
Olman understood our requirements and crafted a wonderful 2 week itinerary for us, and we enjoyed every second of every day - wishing we had arranged a longer visit as our time to depart arrived all too soon.
Our pick up at the airport was perfect, and our overnight accommodation at the Park Inn Hotel was comfortable. Shared transport to Tortuguero was fine, and we thoroughly enjoyed our 2 nights at Pachira Lodge, including the wonderful early morning boat tour. (We would not have wanted to stay in Anhinga lodge, the sister to Pachira). The buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinner were all very tasty with plenty of choices. Lunches at El Ceibo were fine.
The transfer to Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge was very comfortable, in shared transport (often we were the only 2 passengers when using shared transport). The Lodge was particularly beautiful with a very picturesque 'wild' pool. The location was perfect for our trip to La Selva Biological Station and, of all our drivers and transport, the lady who collected and drove us was absolutely wonderful. She was full of knowledge, information and very charming and so kind and helpful, she was the best, I am just sorry that I don't recall her name. La Selva is a fascinating place - we barely scratched the surface of all there is is to see and do there. Whilst staying at The Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge we were able to walk to 'Dave and Dave's' to watch birdlife very close up in a perfect natural setting. Highlights included the hundreds of hummingbirds feeding on Heliconia flowers, within feet of us. Dave Jnr, the host is a fountain of knowledge and no more than 6 people can visit at a time (pre-booking essential) so a very individual experience. We would definitely revisit this place. We were also able to walk to the Tirimbina Biological reserve and enjoy a night frog hike which was another amazing experience, seeing night birds and so many frogs with our knowledgeable guide. We loved how accessible Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge was to all these experiences - perfect for us.
Our transport to Hotel Lavas Tacotal in La Fortuna was excellent and we were blessed with good views of Arenal. Our stay here was fine - as we were out most of the time. Our day trip to Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park was fabulous. En route we stopped to rescue a sloth that was trying to cross the busy highway - our guide picked it up and carried it to safety, placing it on a tree on the other side of the road. We ended up with a bonus visit to a chocolate/coffee farm and a sloth farm where we came across a tapir. We also came across 3 eyelash pit vipers - our guide was able to share the importance of safe distance.
The drive to Natural Canon Negro Lodge was private transport, and very comfortable. The lodge itself is in a lovely location and we ended up doing a second boat trip in the afternoon to a different section of the wetlands - what a treat. We would love to return to explore more of the wetlands at Cano Negro, as the map indicates the wetlands cover a very large area.
Our trip to Rincon, again private, took longer as the more direct road was impassable and we were advised to go via La Fortuna, making it a long drive. Buena Vista Lodge was excellent, and again the location of our room with unspoilt views over the valley was perfect. There were many trails we could walk ourselves and we thoroughly enjoyed with hot springs. Again birds, wildlife, sunrises and sunsets could not be beaten. The buffet breakfasts were excellent.
Our drive to Tamarindo was on time, and comfortable, as was the hotel. The Wyndham Hotel had wonderful sunrise and sunset views with a regular shuttle bus to and from town, though we discovered a dusty track through the dry forest down to town where we could enjoy the amazing bird life, monkeys and even a Grey Fox. We enjoyed a roof top meal in Tamorindo as the sun went down and another on the beach where we were treated to a fire show. The Sunset catamaran tour was great, though snorkelling was curtailed by our guide due to an excess of jelly fish in the sea at that time - however we enjoyed spectacular views of a jumping hump back whale and calf, on both the sail out and return. Quite unbelievable.
We were glad to have had an extra day in Tamarindo, and could have had 3 nights in all our locations (except La Fortuna)!
Our hotels were excellent and all transport was comfortable and reliable (one of our unfounded worries!).
The flight down from Tamarindo to San Jose was perfect, and an interesting experience.

Thank you Olman, we are already planning a return visit in March 2026!!