Kimkim Trip Reviews for Guatemala

Everything was good even with the tour guide and the shuttle . Everything was planned good and the timing . I would book again

Had a great time with everyone that I met, from the following :
Juli - our guide
Don Manuel - our driver
El Mono (Erwin) - Pacaya guide
Fernando and Oliverio!!!!
Karen worked with me and my sister about what we wanted to do and was very accommodating. I like change my trip itinerary like probably 5 to 6 different times but she was very patient and I told her what my budget was and she worked with me. She provided pretty much everything for me and spoke with me on WhatsApp to make sure that I had what I needed. From making sure that I made it safely to the next destination and to make sure that my driver was around.
I would highly recommend Karen and her team at Old Town. I am going to definitely book another mini trip with her for the volcano hike the big one Fuego.

Hotel Review

Hotel Casa Palopo

Panajachel

This place is like magical and majestic. You come here and you just feel like you're in some type of movie or dream. If everyone here is very nice and very hospitable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Oliver!!!!!!! What can I not say about this guy? He was very funny and he knows everything about the of history of TIKAL and the whole entire region. Very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The team in country adjusted things as we need it, The were very responsive. Vini, our guide, was one of the best guides we've ever had. He made us so comfortable and was so fun. Guatemala is a beautiful country with so much color and culture.

Alex (travel agent), Josias (guide for 4 days), Marlo and Fernando (drivers), and our Tikal guide (already forgot his name, we’re soooo great. They were on time, patient, safe and knowledgeable. We couldn’t have had a better time on our activities. Our hotels in Panajachel, Guatemala City, Antigua and Xela (Quetzaltenango) were safe and very nice for a good price. Highly recommend Alex and Old Town Outfitter.

Hotel Reviews

Naif Boutique Hotel

Antigua

Very cute hotel. Only complaint was that our room was directly across from reception so it was at times loud. Loved the courtyard.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pensión Bonifaz

Quetzaltenango

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful views.

Location

Right in the heart of the city.

Staff

Helped carry our bags up lots of steps.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regis Hotel & Spa

Panajachel, Sololá

Authenticity & Character

So cute. The natural warm springs tubs were awesome.

Location

Right in the heart of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casona del Lago

Santa Elena

Amazing location. Very beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Left our bags in the middle of the lobby when they should have been behind the desk.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Barcelo

Guatemala City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pacaya Sunset hike

Antigua

We ended up getting horses for 300 quetzales each for the accent. So fun and affordable. Josias was a beast on foot up to the top. Almost beat us. He also made a great meal for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Homemade authentic picnic. Nice work Josias.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Josias is a stud.

Transport

Marlo was awesome all of the days. Very safe.

Las Tierras Altas Ride

Guatemala

So fun. Long for a true beginner but so worth it to see the backcountry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Josias was soft patient and friendly. Really really kind.

Transport

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Soo fun and beautiful. Had a great time cliff jumping, swimming off the dock, and super fun walking along the shore trail through the small towns. Felt very safe with our guide and had great views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Josias was amazing.

Transport

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Felt a little like a sales pitch for local businesses, but was excellent seeing the various towns and having the boats ready.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Must visit. Lemurs, Tucans, spider monkeys, our birds and Jaguars. Amazing archeological site. Worth the travel day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great English. Super knowledgeable and funny.

Transport

Kimkim (old town outfitters) was incredible. They planned everything we wanted based off our wishes, and when we wanted to change plans/activities they did it with ease. The tour guides they scheduled for us were the most wholesome, informative people. I could not recommend this agency enough. Shout out to Cuscun cooking class, it was such a cool immersive experience for us.

Hotel Review

Camelias Inn

Antigua

Actually coolest hotel ever. Breakfast on the terrace and then seeing the volcano erupt at night was a memory I'll never forget.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Class

Antigua

SO COOL! Friendliest staff, amazing views, delicious food. You 100% feel immersed in the culture. Could not recommend this place enough.

Quality of Experience

Overall experience was the coolest cooking class I've ever done, with a breath-taking view

Food

Traditional Guatemalan foods, with an appetizer, dinner, and dessert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was sooo so sweet and fun! Let us choose songs to listen to

Transport

We had an incredible experience booking our trip through Kimkim. From start to finish, everything felt seamless, organized, and thoughtfully planned. Traveling can sometimes be stressful, but Kimkim truly made the entire process easy and enjoyable.

A huge shoutout to Antonio (aka Bobby), who went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly. His attention to detail, responsiveness, and genuine care made a big difference throughout our trip. It felt like we were in great hands the entire time.

We also had the pleasure of meeting the team in person. Sofia, Kathy (cariño!), and the rest of the staff , and they were all incredibly warm, welcoming, and professional. That personal connection really elevated the experience and made it feel even more special.

Every detail, from transportation to accommodations and activities, was well-coordinated and exceeded our expectations. We’re truly grateful for such a memorable and stress-free trip.

Highly recommend Kimkim to anyone looking for a well-curated, personalized travel experience. We would absolutely book with them again.

My trip to Antigua, Guatemala was an experience I will never forget. I had reached out to Alex to help me fulfill a bucket list item--spending Holy Week in Antigua, to see the carpets of flowers and the religious processions. He designed a custom trip for me that included the religious aspects and so much more. During my five-day stay, I took a boat ride on Lake Atitlán, saw the preparations for the processions and the process of carpet-making up close, visited a coffee farm, a family chocolate factory, a macadamia nut farm, and had a textile lesson. I attended Mass on Easter Sunday, including yet another procession. I was booked at the beautiful resort-like hotel, La Porta. All the while, I had a personal guide, Diana, who explained the history and customs of everything I saw. Our driver, Manuel, skillfully drove us everywhere we needed to go. Alex was always available for questions and help. He even met me at the airport when I arrived to introduce himself. All in all, it was a beautiful, meaningful experience. As a solo traveler, I felt safe and cared for. I am so glad I did this. I definitely recommend KimKim for special trips like the one I just enjoyed.

I wish I could give Columbus Guatemala Travel more than 5 stars – they were that good! Caterina and her team were available 24/7 for any of our questions, they were always quick to respond, and it was obvious they genuinely cared that we had a memorable and enjoyable trip. 10 out of 10 for Columbus Guatemala Travel in Antigua, Guatemala!

We had a great time in Guatemala and could not have had better support from Carino Sotelo (as well as Catherine and the other fine staff members at Columbus Travel in Antigua). Carino’s communication was consistently clear, timely, and useful. She was extremely gracious, and we now consider her to be a friend.

Specific things done for us include:

1) A detailed spreadsheet showing time, guide name, activity details, and helpful suggestions for each activity. It addressed every question we could possibly have had prior to the trip.
2) An actively managed WhatsApp chat that we used daily. Columbus Travel responded within seconds after each of our chat updates - regardless of time of day.
3) An impromptu offer to join the Columbus Travel team in making a sawdust rug on the street before a Sunday Lenten procession. It was great fun.
4) An informative group discussion with their full team on the Mayan calendar - made at our request.
5) A welcome gift of our favorite drinks and snacks upon arrival.

I am pleased to note that all of our activities, hotel stays, and transports went off without a hitch. We give Columbus Travel an unqualified 5-star review. Well done by KimKim to partner with Columbus Travel in Guatemala!

Hotel Reviews

Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel

Panajachel

I stayed at Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel while visiting Lake Atitlán. The hotel's location next to what seemed like a farm with poultry and industrial noise made it quite noisy, as we had to leave the windows open to keep the room cool. Customer service was not as good as at other places we stayed at, which was a bit disappointing.

Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo

Antigua

I stayed at Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo during my trip to Guatemala, and it was a fantastic experience. The hotel itself was charming, fitting beautifully with the Colonial feel of Antigua. The location was perfect for exploring the area, and the views of the Volcanoes added a lovely backdrop. The food at the hotel was great, and overall, it was a very pleasant stay.

Activity Reviews

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat (Small Group Service)

Guatemala

Taking a boat tour to the villages around Lake Atitlán was an interesting experience. Each village had its own unique charm, such as the chocolate and coffee villages. While we didn't find every stop compelling, it was a great way to see different parts of the lake and appreciate its cultural diversity. Expect a bumpy ride!

Kayaking in Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Kayaking in Lake Atitlán was one of the highlights of my trip. The lake's beauty is unparalleled, and paddling through its serene waters offered both relaxation and stunning views. It was a very enjoyable experience and a perfect way to spend a day at Lake Atitlán.

The whole travel team treat us like family, JJ our tour guy was amazing answer all our questions we had.

I cannot say enough positive and outstanding things about the kimkim / Columbus Guatemala Travel Team! It was my first trip to Guatemala, and hopefully won't be my last. That is in part due to the beautiful country of Guatemala, but also because of the careful planning, the collaboration, the almost immediate answers to questions and friendship of the Team! I felt 100% supported, informed and all the details handled every step of the way. Catherina and Sofia are AWESOME! So was everyone else, but special call out to Catherina and Sofia. They made sure I was taken care of from before I arrived, to the minute I arrived and also after I got home! I love adventure and travel and new experiences and the Team made sure every box was checked. I cannot recommend the kimkim / Columbus Guatemala Travel Team enough. I will absolutely use them again in the future!

Well organized and excellently flowing introduction to the beauty that is Guatemala!! We preferred a more active trip with plenty of hikes and natural wonder; that is exactly what we got. Our guide, driver and new friend Esteban was a wealth of local knowledge and tips about the areas we visited. Highly recommend!!

Activity Reviews

Mayan Face Sunrise Experience (Group)

Guatemala

Definitely worth the early rise time!! Great albeit challenging hike to a beautiful view of sunrise accompanied by coffee and local baked goods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

Fun to explore the unique villages and learn about the various Mayan trades and traditions! Great day of exploring communities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano Hike & Picnic, Private.

Guatemala

Beautiful hike!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Semuc Champey

Guatemala

Awesome hike and soak in the limestone pools. We also visited a cave. Great day for the active, outdoor enthusiasts!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The tour itself was well organized, with many interesting sites and activities. Guatemala is a fascinating country, where everyone was extremely friendly. The hotels were very comfortable and accommodating.

The cooking class was delightful and fun. I don’t think I’ll ever have the wherewithal to recreate the delicious meal! The hike up the Takaya volcano was a good challenge and a thrill, with great views when we finally arrived at the summit. Seeing the Maya ruins at Tikal National Park was unforgettable; hard to know that an entire civilization has disappeared but left monuments only one can imagine what went on there.

The day hike to the Volcano Chicabal on the last day before we left to return to the U.S. was unrealistic, as it meant about 8-10 hours driving along with a 2-4 hour hike. If it had been a day earlier it could have worked, but once we realized the problem it couldn't be changed due to the guide’s schedule and we chose to return directly to Guatemala City.

Safety was an issue that had been mentioned. The KimKim drivers were very careful. Our representative at Outdoor Adventures, Alex, took extra precaution when he heard of a political disturbance in the country. We much appreciated this precaution.

All told, the guides were very pleasant.

The trip would have been greatly enhanced if the guides had better proficiency in English and had provided more information about the sites, the history and all the land we covered. There were times when one of our guides seemed to stray way ahead of us that left us a bit confused, if not deserted. That said, he did return but it didn't always feel like he was there for us. It would have helped if the guides paid more attention to our safety and paid more attention to where we were on the trails and among the ruins, rather than lead and not look back to where we were.

Thank you for a memorable experience in your loving Guatemala.

All best,
Judith and Barbara

My daughter and I had a wonderful time on this trip. We only had 4 nights/5 days in Guatemala and wanted to make the most of this short trip to some fairly remote areas. Our guide Oliver took us to see the Mayan ruins in Tikal (for sunrise) and in Yaxha, and he was wonderful. Fernando was our driver and took us everywhere - he was also amazing! And Daniello was our captain for the day on the Rio Dulce to Livingston.

I had a pretty big delay with my flight getting from Atlanta to Guatemala City, which meant I had to wait to get a flight into Flores until the next morning. Chris was so helpful in adjusting things for me, and we were able to fit in all of the outings originally planned by making some adjustments. Thank you very much for making this a very special trip for us! I was also delighted to add a lot of new birds to my bird list!

Erin

Activity Review

Sunrise Tour of Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Incredibly powerful to watch the sunrise from the Mayan temple and we saw so many cool birds in the jungle after sunrise!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliver, Fernando and Daniello were all so wonderful!

Transport

Our driver was always on time and did a great job coordinating everything

Vinicio was exceptional.

Hotel Review

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

Excellent accomodations and good food. Grumpy front desk staff was the only negative.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Be friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pacaya Sunset hike

Antigua

Incredible views. Great experience overall.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Beautiful. The cooperatives felt like a shakedown, though, with disinterested presenters explaining the work and then hovering until a purchase wasade.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4x4 Acatenango Volcano Camping Tour - Day 1

Guatemala

Once in a lifetime experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing! Our primary guide, Vinicio, was the best guide ever. He was knowledgeable, very friendly, well spoken and made sure we were happy at all times. The entire trip was extremely well planned and organized. Our transportation was always on time and our drivers were professional and courteous. The entire team worked seamlessly together and we're very attuned to the details. I would highly recommend Alex and his group to anyone traveling in the area.

Chris helped us plan a really fantastic trip for our first visit to Guatemala. He was helpful, communicative, knowledgeable, and undertook to deal cheerfully with our preferences and frequent changes of plans! It was a good mix of planned activities and free time. We visited Antigua and Lake Atitlan. The hotel Porta in Antigua was beautiful, calm and a great experience with a relaxing pool and really great staff. My favorite activities included the half day Pacaya volcano hike with our fantastic guide Esmeralda and local guide Sheni, and visits to smaller towns outside Antigua to learn about weaving and chocolate making. On Lake Atitlan, we stayed in a lovely hotel in Panajachel, but had I researched the area more, I think I would have preferred a quieter town. However, we didn't have much time there and it was a convenient base. Our guide for a trip to some lake towns, Nicolas, was excellent - he taught us a lot about Mayan culture and history and it was great to visit Santiago with him. I appreciated that Chris planned a tour for us with a local Mayan guide at a really interesting archeological site on the way to the lake since we were not going to Tikal. Guides and drivers that Chris arranged through Old Town Outfitters were all professional, really kind, and great to be with. People were so patient with our elementary Spanish. On our own we visited a few things I would recommend: Cafe Azotea (coffee farm we walked to in Antigua), the Central Market in Antigua where locals buy and sell produce and many other things), Caoba Farm in Antigua for lunch, free salsa lesson at Las Palmas in Antigua.

Hotel Reviews

Regis Hotel & Spa

Panajachel, Sololá

Really nice small and comfortable hotel with lovely staff and a small hot spring bath in the backyard. They were kind enough to pack us a breakfast the day we left to go back to the US as we were leaving at 6 am. Really enjoyed our stay at this hotel but I would have preferred to stay in a town on the lake that is less busy than Panajachel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient but a busy area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

Lovely set up, nice pool, good food, attentive service. Our room was on one side of a courtyard and a little dark, but very nice! No complaints!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Fascinating to see what Mayan life is like around the lake. Extremely colorful and beautiful. People are really enterprising despite some hardships. Textiles, produce, friendly people and beautiful views are everywhere. Personally I could have done without visiting the town of San Pedro, which is really crowded with tourists and shops selling the same items. My favorite part was going through the town and streets of Santiago with our guide Nicolas.

Transfer to Lake Atitlán, Visit the Iximché Ruins

Guatemala

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Driving Tour of Almolonga Valley

Antigua

We had a wonderful guide and met some really interesting and friendly local people at their shops. I would have liked to have a little more time to just walk around and see things as well. I don't think the visit to the macadamia farm is particularly necessary or enlightening, at least that was my feeling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow - Guatemala has so much more to offer than I realized at first. Chris helped me plan an 8 day trip for a family of 8. He took care of all the details and had everything very well organized and coordinated. He also helped me make the trip much more efficient and enjoyable. Do not hesitate to use Chris.

We spent 2 days in Antigua. Highlights were hiking to the cross overlooking Antigua, shopping, cheap massages, amazing starbucks, good food, and watching the Antigua soccer team win the Guatamala league in the town square with the rest of the town!

The volcano hike was NO JOKE! We are all in good shape - marathon runners and soccer players....still, this was tough. My teens and young adults did great, but they were pretty beat up too. The hike is relentless uphill. My recommendation is DO IT....go at your own pace, the views and Fuego is worth it. The pay off was watching Fuego erupt dozens of times....a few times with massive explosions like a sonic boom. You'll be tempted not to hike the extra hour to the very top at 4AM. DO IT....so worth it.

Lake Atitlan is a crazy mixture of culture, tourism, and relaxation. We stayed 5 days in 2 different cities. Both times we were in houses fit for Swiss Family Robinson....right on the water. We loved swimming, cliff jumping, relaxing in the sun, eating on the deck with chef prepared meals, and just relaxing. We are very glad we stayed a bit off the beaten path in homes outside the towns. Only way to access were from boat...which meant we had our own little paradise. We also toured 5 different town via boat while there....which was great to pick up culture and meet locals.

One last highlight - we spent half a day at the Eagles Nest retreat. We had amazing guides teach us yoga, hanging silk yoga, sauna/cold plunge experience, and walking through visualization and goal setting - since we were there on New Years Day! Perfect!

Hotel Review

Acatenango Campsite

Guatemala

5 Stars for location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Hike Acatenango Volcano & Camp Overnight

Guatemala

Unbelievable views.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vinny!

Columbus Travel out of Antigua was no less than amazing. Every single detail was taken care of, every question was answered immediately. They helped us plan the perfect vacation for our family. It was a perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. I can’t recommend Sofia and team more! They are simply the very best.

Our trip to Guatemala was exceptionally well planned and thoughtfully executed. The itinerary struck a perfect balance between culture, nature, and pace, allowing us to experience the country deeply without feeling rushed.

Highlights included Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the incredible historical sites, all supported by knowledgeable local guides and smooth logistics throughout the journey.

A special thank you to our local specialist, Alex, who was attentive, responsive, and flexible from the planning stage through the trip itself. Even when small adjustments were needed, everything was handled quickly and professionally, which made the experience stress-free.

Overall, this was a memorable and very well-organized trip, and we would happily use Kimkim again for future travel.