Kimkim Trip Reviews for Guatemala

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.

From the beginning the tour operator, Columbus Guatamala Travel, were incredible. From making a WhatsApp Group and giving us information before we even got there, to meeting them all at the office. All the guides were beyond expectation and spoke very good english. A special mention to JJ who spent 3 days with us travelling to Lake Atitlan, who was such a pleasure to have with us and nothing was too much trouble and he was very flexible and helpful.
Following on to El Salvador and Nicaragua, Katherine (Columbus Travel) was in the know about everything and kept an eye on everything we did, making sure everything ran smoothly.
Alfredo, who we had for day in San Salvador, was very informative and really good at showing us around.
Gerald, our guide in Nicaragua, was extremely knowledgeable and we learnt a lot and also was very flexible.
Overall we thanks Columbus Guatamala Travel for looking after us.

Fantastic trip to Guatemala. I wanted to go to three areas of the country: Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Tikal National Park. I also used Guatemala City to be able to use the airport easily when going to Flores. Everything went really well. There were many different trips within Guatemala that needed to be taken and every time the driver was right on time ready to go when we were ready to go. I even decided to plan the Tikal portion on my own and Catherine was just fine to work with my desires. My wife and I felt safe and secure the entire trip.

Hotel Reviews

Porta Hotel del Lago

Panajachel, Sololá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not sure why they close the pool and weight room at 8 PM

Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo

Antigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I just didn't like how there really wasn't a way to open a window at night

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

I think if I was given the option I would have elected for a private boat tour of the lake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have to echo what all the other reviews are saying…our trip to Guatemala far exceeded our expectations. Truly, in every way imaginable. From the very beginning, Catherina at Columbus Guatemala Travel was incredibly responsive, thoughtful, and intentional with every detail. She asked all the right questions to make sure our itinerary was perfect for us, and she absolutely delivered. The entire planning process felt effortless.
 
On the ground, everything was seamless. Every driver and guide was phenomenal — on time, easy to find, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable.
 
We had a full seven-day itinerary — flying to the rainforest one day for Tikal, then exploring the volcanic beauty of Lake Atitlán the next, and finishing in the colonial magic of Antigua. It was full, rich, and truly unforgettable… yet never rushed. Everything flowed so smoothly that we could just relax and enjoy every moment.
 
Benedicto at Tikal was amazing! We spent most of our time with our guide, JJ, who instantly felt like an old friend from the moment we met him. He is knowledgeable, fun, attentive, and always one step ahead with great recommendations. It was clear he genuinely cared about our comfort and whether we were having a great time. He constantly checked in behind the scenes to make sure everything flowed smoothly. We could feel how much heart and intention went into every moment. And let me say, after experiencing Guatemala’s adventurous driving style, I have never been more grateful to have JJ behind the wheel! I felt safe the entire time and appreciated his calm confidence navigating every twist, turn, and surprise the roads offered.
 
The whole team is amazing. We were genuinely touched by the small surprises, thoughtful gifts, romantic dinner, and all the extra care we never expected. They made us feel celebrated and cared for.
 
One thing that truly stood out is how deeply this company lives its mission and values. Their promise to be “your local compañero - your trusted companion” isn’t just a slogan — it’s something you feel every single day. It’s obvious they created their mission with intention, and they live it with heart. Nothing about it feels like publicity or marketing; it feels real, authentic, and woven into every interaction. We appreciated that more than anything.
 
We absolutely love these people and cannot wait to return with our son. We recommend Columbus Guatemala Travel 1000%.
 
We originally connected through the KimKim platform, which was smooth and easy. For future trips to Guatemala, we will definitely book directly with Columbus Guatemala Travel, because they were outstanding, but we’ll absolutely use KimKim again for other countries (including our upcoming Vietnam trip) in hopes of finding another team as incredible as this one.
 
Hands down, one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had.

Activity Reviews

Romantic Dinner For Two

Antigua

Food was delicious. View was amazing. The surprise music, flowers, and photos blew our minds ❤️❤️❤️

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk Antigua Like a Local

Antigua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano Hike

Guatemala

Loved our local guide up the volcano!! He was so friendly! Appreciated that JJ was also there to help interpret when needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

JJ was fantastic!! He knew just where to take us to learn and experience the best of the villages.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tikal Mayan Civilization

Guatemala

Benedicto was amazing!! He was always checking in to make sure we were okay and had great suggestions for food. We appreciated not just his incredible knowledge of Maya history, but also his knowledge of the plants and animals in the region as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex was excellent

This was the second time I used Kim Kim for travel. My first time when I went to Peru was beyond amazing and my specialist was absolutely incredible. I expected the same, but didn’t get that same level of service from Matt. Matt was a little harder to reach and slower with correspondence. It wasn’t bad, but I was expecting a different level, which is why I use a travel agency. Often times I will just do the travel itinerary myself so when I pay extra for an agency, I do expect a little bit more.

The excursions and the country of Guatemala more than made up for it though. Guatemala is absolutely beautiful and the people are so kind and amazing. The guides that I had unground were also incredible and very knowledgeable and went out of their way to make my trip a once in a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel In & Out

Guateala

Not my favorite hotel but it did the trick. It didn’t smell great, but I did feel safe and there was a complementary breakfast in the morning. The best part about this is that it is two minutes from the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acatenango Campsite

Guatemala

Sleeping on top of volcano was absolutely amazing! Be prepared for it to be very cold and windy and I did not have self service. We got to the base camp around 1400 and there wasn’t a whole lot to do for the rest of the day until we went up to the top the following morning. But the guide and the experience and the beauty of the volcano was certainly an amazing experience and I would highly recommend. The tent was very basic but provided a flashlight inside and a sleeping bag and the sleeping bag was able to keep me warm when it was 38° outside.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Luis is awesome!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Sol

antigua

Cute little hotel room in the center of the city. It has all the basic amenities that you need and is very clean. I also felt very safe as a single woman traveling in this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Joel was a fantastic tour, guide and kayaking for two hours on this beautiful lake was amazing! We went to San Marcos and jumped off the cliff and that was also an amazing experience! Joe was very flexible to make sure the day was how you wanted it. I would definitely recommend the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joel is awesome!!!

Transport

Valley Ride - Bicycle Tour of Antigua's Villages, Farms, and Ruins

Antigua

This was an awesome activity and it was a very good workout. It’s a great way to see the beautiful country of Antigua!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise on Acatenango

Acatenango Volcano

Definitely the hardest part of the hike. We woke up at 3:30 AM to get to the top and that took us about an hour to climb. It was extremely cold and windy and we were not able to see the volcano, but I’m still so glad that we did it! It was definitely a great workout

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Acatenango Volcano & Camp Overnight

Guatemala

This was a challenging, but beautiful experience! I am an avid hiker and consider myself to be very fit, but my legs were still so sore for a few days afterwards! Luis was a phenomenal guide and the whole experience was just so amazing! This was the whole reason I went to Guatemala and I am so glad that I did this. It was a spiritual experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was phenomenal!!

Transport

my guides were mi hombres😀Willie and Garcion(sp) I loved their company, professionalism, humor and friendship! They were on time every time. Garcion cooked lunch for us twice.... delicious ! He drove on the Guatemalan streets and trails expertly! Willie.... great rider, strong on the up hills sections. Picked trails based on my level of riding! Always concerned about me being bueno! I picked up more español and local culture, really the reason i chose Guatemala!im 100% happy with Kim Kim Alex, and Old Town Outfitters, my guides and the equipment we used👍😀i ll be back and i want the same team!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Utz Jay

Panajachel, Sololá

very quit and cute

Authenticity & Character

central court with excellent plants

Location

close to the lake and main street

Staff

very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and authentic

Camelias Inn

Antigua

breakfast buffet on the roof with a view of Vulcan de fuego!!!

Authenticity & Character

True colonial architecture

Location

close to the center of town

Staff

bilingual and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

it's difficult to rate a bed your not used to, but i did sleep

Activity Reviews

Atitlan Slickrock MTB Ride

Guatemala

last day great ride , tailored to my riding level, the uphills were still killing me

Quality of Experience

at this point i didn't want it to end

Guides, Drivers and Staff

another great picnic in a Guatemalan park

Transport

we drove over some difficult trails

Transfer to Lake Atitlán, Visit the Iximché Ruins

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mayan Traverse MTB Ride

Guatemala

riding followed by ruin tour..... my kinda day very educational! Thank you Melvin

Quality of Experience

it's one of the reasons i picked Guatemala

Food

a true Guatemalan picnic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gerson cooked us lunch while i was on the tour!!

Transport

consistently great

Double Down Mountain Bike Tour

Antigua

these were challenging trails for me and my guide helped me enjoy it

Quality of Experience

so scenic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

made it great .... never thought of throwing the towel in, finished the hardest day of trail riding

Transport

no way i'd drive here thank God for gerson!!!

Antigua Walking Tour

Guatemala

Danial was my local historian for my tour of two museums. We found liquid refreshments at Cafe Nosa!

Quality of Experience

he's historically enlightening

Guides, Drivers and Staff

they got me there on time for the afternoon tour

Transport

Valley Ride - Bicycle Tour of Antigua's Villages, Farms, and Ruins

Antigua

a great warm up ride, we hit a chocolate factory, coffee co op and a macadamian plantation shop

Quality of Experience

my guide was great company over chocolate and bread on the veranda

Guides, Drivers and Staff

lots of local knowledge from both of them

Transport

he's a great driver!!

Amazing trip to Belize and Guatemala. Alex was very communicative and helpful during the entire planning process and while we were on the trip. We have been on many trips through kimkim with local companies in different companies. There seemed to be a disconnect with this trip. Typically we have one guide for each region that spends each day with our family (from airport pickup to the last day). This guide gives us local history and lots of information. They typically provide water for our family, local snacks and keep an eye on the schedule for stopping to eat (which is important for us as we have five children). This wasn’t the case in Belize or Guatemala. The guides we did have were great! The trip was wonderful but not as seamless as we are used to with kimkim trips.
There was more than one instance where we arrived at a location (ferry, airport, etc) and the driver was no where to be found. Alex took care of things very quickly but there seemed to be a lack of communication or understanding of pick up expectations between Alex and the drivers. I would highly recommend visiting Belize and Guatemala, they are both beautiful countries.

Hotel Review

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

I stayed at the Porta Hotel Antigua during my trip, and it was especially good. It brought back nostalgic memories since I had stayed there before many years ago. The experience was as satisfying as I remembered.

Activity Reviews

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I booked the trip to the Antigua region at sort of the last minute, but once again Kimkim and Alex at Oldtown Outfitters came through brilliantly. Alex arranged an amazing short trip that packed in an astonishing variety of wonderful experiences in a short period of time, including a visit to Lake Atitlan, the Mayan ruins at Iximche, a cooking class, a visit to a coffee coop, and a walking tour of Antigua. Throughout the planning process, he was really responsive to my questions, and flexible in arranging the trip. The airport transfers were seamless, and the hotels were excellent. Nery, my guide, was so knowledgeable, professional and nice, and overall, I just strongly recommend both visiting Antigua and working with Alex!

We had an amazing time. All drivers & guides were perfectly on time. The acommodations were exactly what we expected.
Louis, our Guatemala Guide was fantastic. He gave us a great understanding of the Maya and Highland cultures.
Oliverio, our guide in Tikal and Yaxha had an immense amount of knowledge and experience. Our various activities were perfectly planned and executed.

Hotel Reviews

Black Rock Lodge

San Ignacio

Amazing food and super helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Way out in the jungle. Beautiful setting along the river

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Fortuna Atitlan

Santa Cruz la Laguna

Wonderful place to explore Lake Attitlan Everyone is so helpful and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Posada del Angel

Antigua Guatemala

Great place to stay in Antigua. Amazing Staff, everyone was so friendly Breakfast was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little away from the main traffic and downtown craziness.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cacao Farm & Chocolate Making Tour

San Ignacio

The farm visit was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line at Calico Jack's Village

Belize

Great experience, felt safe at all times. Very well maintained. Great rides through the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves day tour

Belize

The most amazing place. A MUST see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Yaxhá Maya Ruins

Guatemala

What a fantastic place away from the main tourist path. We felt like we were the only ones there. Very well maintained.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliverio was fantastic

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Fantastic place and Oliverio was a great guide. Start early before all the busses from Flores arrive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour the famous Chichicastenango Market

Guatemala

Great market, a bit overrun by tourists. Little side trip to the cemetery was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car was "OK"

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Great tour of two of the villages around the lake. We should have done two days to get to see more than two villages. Luis was the perfect guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The boat ride can get a bit bumpy at times.

Sip n' Cycle - Bike/Coffee Combo Tour

Antigua

Traffic was a bit scary when you are on a bike. Perfect amount of exercise. Not too strenuous.

Quality of Experience

Fantastic experience on the Coffee farm. The owner was so enthusiastic and friendly.

Food

Fantastic home cooked lunch and the best coffee.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Luis was a fantastic guide. Perfect for a one-day hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Perfect little lunch on the volcano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From my first email with Catherina to our last day with our personal guide JJ, and everything in between on our week-long trip was amazing and personal – truly. You can’t go wrong with this amazing and caring team. Some highlights: 1. I needed to book the trip quickly as we’ve never traveled internationally as a family. My husband was concerned about the State Department warnings. So, I knew I needed help. Of the 4 online companies I contacted, Columbus (Catherina) was the only one who replied quickly – and kept replying quickly to create the ideal trip for us. I felt like I was talking to a friend who truly cared, rather than a bot or bored office worker. She stuck with me until the itinerary was ideal – and we were also able to make changes on the fly during the trip. 2. We visited Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan, Antigua, and several places in between that had personal meaning to us. JJ was with us the entire time, expertly navigating the busy roads and easing the way with his translating and friendly personality. We felt safe and cared for the entire time, and were thrilled with the charming and delicious roadside restaurants JJ recommended. 3. This team is as good on the ground as they are at planning. The dedicated behind-the-scenes logistics team checked ahead to ensure things would go smoothly, alerting JJ to potential road blockages. We couldn’t have felt in better hands than this amazing group of caring people.
4. We are so glad that we made this trip. We found Guatemala to be a stunning country filled with incredible history and kind people. The first look at Lake Atitlan gave me goosebumps and will stay with me forever, as will so many of the memories we made on this trip. Thank you Columbus Guatemala Travel for making this happen for our family!!! I'm sure I left things out, because every single day was filled with beauty, wonder and learning. I highly recommend Guatemala as a destination and this amazing team as your guides.

Hotel Reviews

Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel

Panajachel

Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel had amazing food and a beautiful rustic charm. The breakfast was fantastic and the people were incredibly nice. However, it was a bit loud due to open air concept and lacked air conditioning which might not suit everyone's comfort level. Nonetheless, the views were gorgeous, and I would stay there again despite the minor issues.

El Carmen

Antigua

El Carmen was super comfortable and all-round really good. It turned out to be our favorite accommodation during the trip. The rooms were a perfect size for our family, making it a relaxing place to stay.

Hotel Barcelo

Guatemala City

One of the best things about this hotel is the extremely comfortable beds/bedding -- great for a good night's sleep. The buffets offered an amazing array of options, just wish some of the dishes had been warmer - or maybe that's a cultural difference. We especially enjoyed the breakfast buffet. Seems to draw a mostly business crowd, with just a few other tourists like us.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Villages Tour on Chicken Bus

Antigua

The Villages Tour on the Chicken Bus was just thrilling. Visiting the women's collective was a standout experience, providing an incredible insight into local culture. The views on the way were breathtaking. Overall, every bit of it was enjoyable and truly an amazing part of the trip.

Alex did a near perfect job designing our trip. He took the time to understand our needs and expectations and tailored the trip to provide the range of experiences and lodgings that fit our travel preferences. he also provided excellent guidance on what to do and expect at each of our 5 locations, e.g., the decision to add an excursion to Mountain Pine Ridge. The lodgings varied from spectacular (Las Lagunas) to very nice (Ramon's and Casa del Mundo) to pretty basic (Meson de Maria and Falling Leaves, which did have great service however). These choices were very consistent with the guidance we provided to Alex.

Some of our guides were outstanding, in particular, Dary in Antigua, the woman and grower at the coffee farm, Pablo for birding in Finca Santa Victoria, Oscar at Chichicastenanga, Oliver at Tikal, and our cave tubing guide. The rest, however, were mediocre at best. The guide for the Pacaya Volcano hike didn't add much value on a straightforward route, and discouraged us from climbing to the top, which I would have liked to try. The guide for our hike along Lake Atitlan was also pretty unnecessary and didn't add much, as was our guide for the Lake Atitlan boat trip to visit villages. Part of that problem might have been our overall Guatemala guide, Pablo, who was very nice and mostly helpful, BUT his English was nowhere near the level we expected. Therefore, there was alot of miscommunication, and very limited translation for our guides in Lake Atitlan. We really felt like we missed alot of useful information during the village visits and on our hike back to the lodge. AND, there was a major screw-up on our kayak/hike trip, with our bags in limbo for an hour and a wasted hour waiting for the bags after our kayak trip. We also felt like he was trying to scare us away from the full kayaking and hiking experience by overestimating the difficulty. Yes, it was challenging, but exactly what we wanted.

Finally, there was a bit of confusion on our flight from Belize City to San Pedro, but it did NOT turn out to be much of an issue and we all learned from our mistakes.

Again, Alex was a joy to work with and designed a 5 star itinerary for us, and most of the experiences lived up to that standard.. However, the execution by a few of the guides was not quite up to this high standard.

Hotel Reviews

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

Very convenient location, nicest beach on the island, easy access to town and services, mediocre restaurant

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Falling Leaves Lodge

San Ignacio

A little out of town, facilities need updating, but the birding and service were excellent, and the food was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Lagunas hotel

Flores

Great setting, great facilities, fantastic suite, great food, unreal service. Didn't want to leave the property

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

Beautiful setting, a bit challenging to navigate the property, and our room was small, cramped, and outdated

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Meson de Maria

Antigua Guatemala

Great location, decent breakfast, beautiful courtyard, charming hotel, BUT, our room was very tired and not that comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cramped room

Activity Reviews

Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route

Guatemala

transfer went very smoothly over the border, and our guide was excellent on the cave tubing, which was alot of fun and interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Oliver was a spectacular guide, with great information, flexible plans, a special extension to see a falcon, and a great lunch choice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour the famous Chichicastenango Market

Guatemala

Local guide was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Loved the kayaking and hike and Pablo took some good photos of us on the water. However, the local guide did not provide much info on a straightforward hike through villages, and the logistics from kayak to hike were a disaster. Our backpacks (with wallets) were left at the dock by our hotel, and we had to anxiously wait an hour for the bags to arrive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Local guide was nice but not very informative, and language was a problem. The visit to the bee collective and the mayan ritual visit were very interesting, but the rest of the trip didn't feel all that authentic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finca Santa Victoria Half Day Birding Tour

Guatemala

Pablo was a real character, but a little too full of himself. The birding was ok, but not all that productive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driving Tour of Almolonga Valley

Antigua

Nice villages to visit, but our guide, Pablo, had limited excitement, energy, or information to share.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Coffee Tour by Bus with De La Gente

Guatemala

De la gente was outstanding...both farmer and local guide and the farmer's wife

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Great experience, but not much help from local guide or our chaperone. Also, would have liked to try to go to the top, but not offered, and English was not good enough to make request.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AC didn't work and van was a little dirty

Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Class

Antigua

Great dinner, fun company, and accommodating for dietary restrictions.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

car broke down on what to get us

Antigua Walking Tour

Guatemala

Fantastic guide, Dary...authentic, charming, and shared her enthusiasm and love for the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you so much to Alex for planning such a great trip for me. He was able to plan a trip for me in a short period of time to Belize and Guatemala. The guides and the accommodations were amazing and I am so happy that I was able to participate in this trip. I would recommend Alex to plan your next trip to Guatemala.

Our trip went like clockwork. Everything was ready when it was supposed to be. All drivers, guides, & boats were on time. Matt did a great job in planning the trip & selected knowledgeable guides. Takal was the highlight of the trip.
We would recommend Kimkim to anyone who needs help in ensuring the best places to visit & stay.Everything is taken care of. There is plenty of free time to explore on your own

What an amazing trip!
Trying to arrange a memorable family trip to include my teen and college kid over the New Year's holiday, I reached out to Kimkim. They took the reins and did us a solid!
First, travel over the holiday is busy; second, it is expensive; third, schedules are tight. Chris at Old Town Adventures was our local arranger and helped manage all of the challenges with grace.

Hotel Reviews

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

This was a lovely space and despite the terrible weather of our first day (pouring an inch of rain) it was a dream! We arrived in the middle of said rainstorm and waited for the boat (SPBE) to unload our bags. We got a lift from Ramon's team and needed to stop at a pharmacy -- no problem. Took us to the check in and then to our rooms. sigh.... Needed dinner that night -- Pineapples on the Beach had an amazing menu! We went back 2 nights later because it was so good! Only concern was the final morning had to get the 0600 boat to get to Belize city for our international flight. We checked out night before and porters said they'd meet us at our rooms at 0540. But they didn't show up... got the night watch to wake up the driver and left at 0555. We made it, no problem. But we're no good at "island time."

Authenticity & Character

Well, I don't know if it was authentic (authentic Polynesian maybe?) but loads of character!!

Location

Walking to town and everywhere else!

Staff

Front desk staff, coffee bar and restaurant wait staff were all excellent. But by far our favorite was Leroy at the front desk!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were perhaps in need of an update and our shower had low pressure (they came and repaired the second day and it improved). The only real challenge was proximity to the airport meaning that without ear plugs, you had planes landing and taking off most of the day (early start)

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

We had a really short stay -- arrived around 9 pm and departed for our morning tour at 0400. We came back for breakfast and were on the road by 10:30 am. Breakfast was quite tasty but they were out of a few things. We note there was a hostel there but didn't explore that area. Visited the pool for pictures, but didn't get in because it was rainy that day. Property is dark at night, and with the rain, the sidewalks were quite slippery. Our daughter slipped by the plantings at the main entrance and ended up with a significant number of thorns in her arm and back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

walking distance to the park entrance

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our group had two different rooms, one had great water pressure, the other did not. Hard to shower in that setting. See note about dark grounds.

Acatenango Campsite

Guatemala

Old Town Outfitters campsite on the side of Acatenango -- camping/glamping on the side of a mountain with unobstructed views of Fuego blowing its top. Meals provided by our guide, Rudy were excellent -- they were substantially better than what we saw the other families being served by their guides. Sleeping bags could have been a bit warmer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

RUDY!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

Beautiful hotel, near -- but not too near -- the mix of things. Allowed us to have a walkable experience in Antigua. Rooms were comfortable, filtered water prevented us from needing to but bottled water. Breakfast was divine! Every day there was live music and great atmosphere. The lobby is nice and the public spaces are generally quite nice. All the staff are first rate. Warning -- they have a LOUD New Year's eve party with live and DJ music until 1:30 am and the rooms couldn't insulate against this kind of noise. Don't expect early check in to be an option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunrise Tour of Tikal National Park

Guatemala

No question, it is a magical experience. You walk through the park in the dark, surrounded by nothing but darkness (and some jumping spiders). You climb to the top of temple IV and sit in the dark (others arrive, but it's pitch). Then around 5:38 am, the howler monkey's start up, and it's surreal. Unfortunately, no sunrise for us, just the lifting of the fog. Pictures at the top and then a descent and tour of the grounds.

Quality of Experience

Tikal is the star of the show.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our sunrise guide didn't discuss much of the ruins with us. He shared knowledge of the Mayan religion and rituals and the current experience of being Maya as well as some history. But he often pointed us to areas for us to go and waited for us to return. Other guides I saw walked with their group and explained the ruins in more detail.

Transport

Mini van to and from TIkal. Drivers were safe, however, Guatemalan roads (or maybe just in Peten) were terrible!!!

Sunrise on Acatenango & Descent

Guatemala

Again, our guide made this so amazing. Despite having to escort one of our party back to base camp, Rudy got the rest of us to the summit in plenty of time for sunrise. Unfortunately it was crowded, but there was plenty of space to see and get some pictures of the sunrise and the volcano. We met others on our way that were turning back and some didn't get to summit because of their party splitting up. Rudy was able to safely manage our group.

Hike Acatenango Volcano & Camp Overnight

Guatemala

Rudy, our guide was absolutely the reason for our enjoyable trip. He engaged with our kids and took care of our needs. He's a budding chef and made remarkably tasting and filling meals for us on the mountain. Even when we had one member have to turn back for altitude sickness, he made sure the rest of us had a stellar time.

Quality of Experience

Altogether an first rate experience -- stunning area of natural beauty. Unfortunately there were loads of people (holiday week) and loads of trash on the mountain. Another draw back -- no coffee on the morning of the summit.

Food

We had a great meal of build your own burritos when we arrived at base camp. Dinner was again outstanding. Breakfast was fruit and yogurt and granola! Only complaint was the lack of caffeine on the summit day. Caffeine is good for energy, headaches, and even to fight altitude sickness.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Rudy was our guide and he was first rate. We had a nice crew up at the camp and our young porter was also good.

Transport

Different drivers on the way out and back from Antigua; minivans. Preferred the driver on the way out as we were fresh and feeling fine. The return ride was harder (we were tired and feeling less well) and the drive was slow, and hot, and uncomfortable. Not sure we could improve that other than driving faster ;-) Maybe A/C

Zipline Tour at Santo Domingo del Cerro

Antigua

Just do it. We had arranged for the full "superman" experience for the kids and we were planning to just enjoy ourselves at the cafe. But then Rudy and the kids encouraged us, and we said "why not?" Don't look down during the ladder climb. Do look down during the superman flight. Just amazing.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful grounds -- unexpected how enjoyable the sculpture garden and museum would be

I just want to remind KimKim that one way that I evaluate value is by seeing how much I paid per day. In my case it was $460/day. I understand that all agents involved need to make a profit to stay in business. However, I felt that on days 1, 3( guide was with me for 1 hour), 4, 9 and 10- I had free days which meant that the costs were primarily transportation and hotel( hotels that I stayed in Guatemala under $125/day). Please factor this in when you quote a price.
My comments by day are below
Day 1- took hotel shuttle which arrived 30 minutes late and picked up 4 other passengers, so we left the airport 60 minutes after arrival.
Day 2- prompt pickup from airport, good experience in Tikal.Good hotel in Flores.
Day 3- guide was with me for 1 hour( we had to wait to pick up his spouse) who accompanied us.
Day 4- Transportation and met with Chris. Camelias Inn is a good hotel, however their towels/sheets and pillow covers smell( I gave them this feedback, it is also mentioned in many Tripadvisor reviews)
Day 5- Hike to EarthLodge was un-necessary. I would skip EarthLodge all-together.
Day 6- Great hike to Pacaya
Day 7-Car troubles on the way to ChiChi, delayed arrival, but great experience. Isla Verde was a great hotel.
Day 8- Good day of hiking and kayaking.
Day 9- Free day, back in Antigua -I felt that I should have left that day.
Day 10- Free day in Antigua , flight at 1130p
Rudy- who was with me for the hikes in Antigua, Pacaya volcano and kayaking in lake Atitlan was fantastic!
I will be back to do the Volcano Acatenago. Thank you for organizing

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Isla Verde

Santa Cruz la Laguna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camelias Inn

Antigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sheets, towels and pillow-covers smell

Hotel Barcelo

Guatemala City

Airport shuttle does not arrive on time

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Take very long to check-in, 45 minutes to check in 3 people at midnight with 2 staff members

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isla de Flores

Flores

Near the Parque Central- can be a little noisy if there are town celebrations( which was on when I stayed). Hotel staff not very knowledgeable or helpful in guiding tourists regarding things to do.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near town Center can be noisy

Staff

Not knowledgeable about details of town events- there was a rodeo as part of the town celebration which they were not aware of

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable

Pacaya Sunset hike

Antigua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Earth Lodge Hike (stay overnight)

Guatemala

Good location, scenic- limited options for dinner. I would probably skip this

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable- we hiked to this lodge

Excursion Into Actun Kan Caves

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Took the short trip 30-45 minutes, I thought we would do the long 3 hour trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stopped at guide's home for 20 minutes to pick up his spouse

Explore Tikal National Park

San Ignacio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Guatemala was fantastic!
Chris Gwinner our planner, did an outstanding job with connecting us to beautiful accommodations, Incredible personal tour guides Edgar,Vinny,Caesar !!& Well planned out logistics.
Tikal, Lake Atitlan,Antigua were amazing places to tour and learn about Mayan history.
Chris was always available for questions that we had and gave his recommendations from the planning
stages & throughout our vacation.
He even took the time to meet with us in Antigua ,face to face and ask about how our vacation was going.
I highly recommend Kim Kim travel agency, and Chris Gwinner as a trip planner .
Thank you, Olga & Jeff

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Rustica

Antigua

Nice hotel ,but the bed was very hard. But Chris got us into another nice hotel with a lot more comfortable bed

Hotel Casona del Lago

Santa Elena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Utz Jay

Panajachel, Sololá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Antigua Coffee Tour by Bus with De La Gente

Guatemala