Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nicaragua

Julio met us at the CR Airport in Liberia and transported us to Penas Blancas to cross the border. He was very helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Very glad to have his assistance crossing the border. Ariel met us at the Nicaragua Immigration/Border Crossing. He was very helpful in navigating all the lines, safety checks and ID checks. He was to drive us thru to Granada. He realized that we'd been on a "red-eye" flight and were probably Hungary. He asked if we'd like to stop in the little town of Rivas. There he guided us to a wonderful little cafe - where we had very needed coffees and breakfast. FABULOUS homemade pastries, hearty breakfast burrito and terrific iced coffees. He located our Airbnb in Granada and made sure we and our luggage were safely inside and starting to settle before he left. We felt very "taken care of and safe". Next day Oscar met us with a horse-drawn carriage driven by Wilburn. They took us around to different historical and interesting locations including a beautiful cemetery (which Heather loves seeing cemeteries around when we travel). Oscar then lead us on foot to the heart of the city, into little shops, tasting rooms, and the daily "Marketo" where we were very grateful to have his guidance thru all the little vendor stalls, fresh meat/fish market, tortillas stalls, spices, household goods, cakes/candy, clothing, jewelry, etc. etc. He took us a Chocolate Tasting, up a Cathedral staircase to the bell tower (where the views were AMAZING). Next morning we were taken to a 4x4 Tour onto the Volcano Mombacho. There Agustin was a very informed and enthusiastic "naturalist and environmentalist" with all kinds of details on the plants, geography and history of the volcano, animals and rainforest. The same day around 3:30PM Oscar returned to guide us on a Kayaking tour on Lake Nicaragua. Peaceful, beautiful, full of nature, monkeys, egrets, cranes, herons, trees and little islands. Gorgeous sunset!!! Before we got back to the Airbnb, Oscar took us to a street vendor he was familiar with and helped us pick out an authentic Nicaraguan Dinner with fried plantains, rice/beans, vinegar coleslaw, char-grilled pork & chicken - it was sooooo good! Thankful for Oscar's thoughtfulness and willingness to share his time, knowledge and energy with us.

Next day we transferred from Ferry to the island of Opemete. Horacio met us at the Ferry Dock and the A/C in his car was very welcome!!! He had very good English and was very eager to share with us about his Ingenious history with the island. Got us to our Hotel - Villa Parasio - VERY nice environment and view. Staff were very attentive, friendly and nice. Rooms are a bit "out-dated" and sorta "old school" for Western standards - but CLEAN, safe, had everything you need. A/C worked in room. Were able to use existing plugs/outlets to charge our devices - shower had custom tile. Hotel is on slight hill, over looking the shoreline - WATER views. Dining area provides unbelievable views. At the included breakfast we were visited by Blue Crested Jays we were not shy... but not aggressive. It was an unexpected animal encounter.

Eric greeted us for our daily experience. First stop was Antonio's home - were he helped teach us how to make "Maca - Tamales" from scratch. Very impressive, welcoming and informative. Needed time to cook the food, so we went on to our next stop and planned to return when the meal was fully cooked.
Next stop was Puesta del Sol - a community for women and children surviving domestic abuse. They are self-sufficient, eco-friendly and give tours to educate the public about their program, island, culture and how to help support recovery, healing and safety for their community. AMAZING experience, so encouraging and inspiring!!!
Then back to Antonios to EAT the Maca-Tamales. Wow, Wow, Wow!!! Nothing like the tamales we are used in Southern California. Such a hospitable, knowledgeable and gracious Host Antonio and his assistance were.
Then on to Ficas Madgelena Coffee Plantation (used to be one of the islands first Hostiles). Shorter tour, short little hike up to Petrogliths carved into the volcanic rock.
Last stop was Ojo De Aguas - a natural mineral spring that can be enjoyed. Little restaurant and bar to get some snacks, and enjoy all the beautiful, clear, mineral water. So peaceful and relaxing. GREAT day of different kinds of experiences.

Had to wrap up Nicaragua - Horacio drove us back to the Ferry - then Oscar was there to get us to the Costa Rican Border. So nice to see familiar faces and to have friendly/personal interactions. Both gentlemen were very impressive.

Overall our planned tours, drives and guides were perfectly planned by Emily and her crew. Had fairly good communication thru What'sApp - and had fairly timely responses considering the internet/wireless availabilities. If there were any minor clarifications or alterations to our plans - Emily was right on it and provided the necessary information.

LOVED our trip - would book and plan with KimKim and Emily again in the future.

I was very impressed by the patience and diligence provided by Sandra during our booking process; she provided a good range of itineraries for us which was backed up by local knowledge and information on travel times, costs and points of interest. It was easier to communicate via email due to the time difference between the UK and Central America and I was given sufficient time to consider the final intinerary and costs involved. All the information in the itinerary was informative and accurate. From the time of our arrival and meeting our first driver/guide, we felt very comfortable and confident that we were in good hands with the local travel provider Va Pues.

Our itinerary started in the quiet hills of Matagalpa and Selva Negra, then on to the RIo San Juan at Guacimo Lodge, followed by the bustling island of Ometepe and then a seaside chill out on the Pacific at Hotel Punta Teonoste and finally into Grenada which was full of music, activity, interesting historic sites, great restaurants and colourful nightlife while staying in the beautiful Plaza Colon hotel - a great end to the holiday.

We enjoyed meeting all our drivers, especially Oscar Lopez, who was helpful, informative and patient when I spoke Spanish with him. He was always cheerful and welcoming on each occasion we came to meet us to drive us to our next location and even spotted a sloth in a tree one day and we stopped so we could take a closer look. All the other drivers were cheerful, positive and happy to chat with me in Spanish.

The hotels we stayed in were very comfortable with lovely big beds, clean and efficient bathrooms and friendly staff.

The guides on the various rainforest walks, bird watching walks, river and city tours were all very welcoming and experts in their fields and their enthusiasm was infectious and we thoroughly enjoyed learning about all of Nicaragua's exceptional features.

Having a Whatsapp group with Maria Jose in Nicaragua was very helpful and reassuring and she always responded quickly to our requests and this again made us comfortable, safe and confident on our travels. Having our trip organised with drivers, prebooked hotels and tours (plus the ability to add side trips) took all the possible worry and hassle from our 14 days journey around Nicaragua, and we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday - it is a great way to travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Selva Negra (Bungalow)

Matagalpa

Fabulous location in a cloud forest on a fully sustainable coffee farm. Great walks, bird tour and farm tour with outstanding guide, Jose.

Authenticity & Character

The history of the family who have developed the hotel and coffee farm, the ethos behind the sustainability of the farm and hotel and the fact that the everyone who works there fully supports the ethos.

Location

In the hills above Matagalpa so the mornings were cool and fresh with warm sun during the day cooler evenings which was a relief after the heat of the day.

Staff

The staff were slightly reserved on our first day probably because we didn't speak Spanish very well and the fact that the hotel had been fully booked over the Easter week and weekend and they had been working very hard but a day later, we all relaxed and they were kind and friendly. Our guide during our farm and bird tours was outstanding, Jose Maria. We enjoyed his enthusiasm for his job and his knowledge was outstanding; we were lucky enough to find a bell bird in the morning on our 2 hour guided tour which turned into 3 hours with his determination to track down the bell bird we could hear calling/taunting us to find him. It was quite a moment. In the afternoon, we continued bird watching in various parts of the farm area and saw some beautiful birds in various areas. Thank you Jose Maria.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were given the honeymoon cottage for our stay which was comfortable, clean, spacious and set in beautiful private gardens. The hotel dining room overlooked the lake and all the shared common areas were clean and modern. The grounds were very well cared for with gardens and plants in pots watered regularly and growing very well, a beautiful area.

Guacimo Lodge

Rio San Juan

Fabulous location on the River San Juan with great staff and excellent food.

Authenticity & Character

Our beautiful cabana had beautiful views, surrounding by flowering trees and shrubs, was cool and breezy, with a separate seating area. The ceiling fan and mosquito net made for a romantic setting and the huge bed was comfortable and cool at night. The swimming pool was a huge bonus as we couldn't swim in the fast flowing river so at the end of a walk or in early evening, the pool was great for a cool down.

Location

The shared dining and sitting area was a fabulous place to sit in at any time of the day but especially at night listening to the frogs and toads and other sounds of the night, gazing at the stars.

Staff

All the staff were attentive and kin. Marjorie speaks fabulous English and was very helpful. Orlando, our guide in the rain forest and on the river was so interesting, obviously loves what he does and was fun too.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was super comfortable! The only word of caution would be to request a room/cabana at a lower level on the hill depending on your fitness.

Hotel Villa Paraiso

Santo Domingo

We arrived after a long day of travelling back up the San Juan river and across Lake Nicaragua to Rivas and then across the lake to Ometepe. The hotel is on the lake shore which was lovely and although we had booked a standard room, it was not in a great location so we asked to be moved to a better room. The receptionist was very helpful and understood our thoughts, (the standard room was quite small and didn't have a lake view). We were moved to a larger room with two double beds a separate shower and WC and a lovely sitting area outside with a hammock and lake view - perfect! The hotel was quite busy but service was good, except they had run out of fruit for breakfast the next morning. The hotel organised a motorbike for us for a tour of the island which was great fun.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the lake shore with nice walks along the beach, facing the sunrise.

Staff

Once I started to try to speak Spanish, there were a few more smiles from the staff - we think they had had a hectic Easter and were a bit tired of guests!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean room and comfortable beds.

Hotel Punta Teonoste

Tola

Fabulous hotel on a huge sandy Pacific Ocean beach. Great architecture of main dining/sitting/entertainment area and spacious comfortable cabana.

Authenticity & Character

Fabulous beach side hotel, with a lovely cold pool which was perfect for cooling off - it was colder than the sea, which was a gorgeous temperature. We walked on the beach to watch the sunset, sunrise and do some rock pooling and we could have walked further along the dunes if we had had time. The sea had some great waves and a great expanse of beautiful sand and easy swimming.

Location

We were the only people on the huge, sandy beach - what more could you ask for? The hotel sits in its own extensive grounds with around 15 individual cabanas with no near neighbours.

Staff

Fun, friendly, cheerful and eager to please with good service skills. We enjoyed speaking to the staff in English which they were trying to learn and Spanish which I was keen to practice. The manager spoke very good English which we needed on one occasion when ordering a Snapper for dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a two bedroom cabana, one room with air conditioning and one room upstairs which had a fan and huge window with fly screen; we chose the a/c room as it was very hot! The open air shower was fabulous and the rest of the bathing area was open air and discretely designed. We chose this hotel as we didn't want to be in a busy seaside resort or surfing town like San Juan del Sur and I would recommend that KimKim/Va Pues look at it as a recommended hotel.

Hotel Plaza Colon

Granada

Beautiful hotel in the centre of Grenada overlooking the main plaza. We had a room overlooking the plaza but it was incredibly quiet when the balcony doors were closed at night.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was first renovated around15 years ago but all areas and our room appear to be freshly decorated and well cared for. The pool in the second courtyard was a welcome facility after exploring the city or being out and about on a tour of the Masaya volcano and the Pueblos Blancos. Breakfast was fabulous with a large choice and we especially enjoyed the wonderful fresh fruit and great Nicaraguan coffee!

Location

Great location in the middle of the small city of Grenada so it was very easy for exploring the beautiful historic buildings and finding lovely places to eat. The city buzzes with music in the square in the later afternoons/early evening but closes down around 9 pm each night over the weekend when we were there. We felt safe and secure walking around the city and people were friendly and helpful.

Staff

The staff at this hotel are outstanding especially Jamie who has been there for 18 years and she does everything from serving breakfast to staffing the bar in the evenings, brilliantly. She is so cheerful, her English is excellent but she also helped me practice my Spanish with great patience and humour. The security staff in the evenings were very attentive and friendly too, as were the reception staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was spacious with a huge bed, desk and chair and a wonderful shower, plus an iron and ironing board! The pool area was cool and comfortable with covers for the sunbeds and lots of towels.

Activity Reviews

Matagalpa - Sustainable Farm Tour Selva Negra

matagalpa

Outstanding guiding by Jose Maria.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Matagalpa - Birdwatching Tour at Selva Negra

matagalpa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio San Juan - Night tour at Guacimo Lodge

Río San Juan

Outstanding guide, Orlando

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canoeing Indio Maiz Nature Reserve

Río San Juan

Outstanding guide, Orlando

Quality of Experience

We saw beautiful birds and a pair of rare cats, Tyrahs.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masaya Highlights : Masaya Volcano, The White Villages (Pueblos Blancos) , Catarina viewpoint, , Artisan Market

Nicaragua

Unfortunately we felt that our guide was a bit tired of taking yet more travellers on this tour, everything was a bit rushed and we had to tell him that we wanted more time at the Masaya volcano museum to look at photos and read signs after his good description at the beginning of the tour around the relief model of the volcano. In addition, as the volcano is a bit active at the time, only one small path and area where the smoke/heat vents are located, was open. We enjoyed the visit to the pottery but again there, the potter and his staff were a bit bored with the presentation and we were in and out in about 10 minutes despite asking questions. The Pueblos Blancos were a bit disappointing overall as it was very touristy although the pre ordered lunch was nice and in a quiet spot away from the parking areas. In hindsight we should have chosen the Mombacho volcano tour which would have given us (hopefully) a more in depth visit to the area without the touristy part of the tour although we did want to see the handicrafts of the villages but only saw these at the market in Masaya.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was good but the guide was a bit disinterested - we felt he had carried out this tour too many times!

Transport

Emily made the best itinerary for me! And from the day I got there, I knew I was in good hands. I was able to do the volcano boarding, have some relaxation time, and go ziplining. I was very happy with my accommodations. I would def recommend Emily if you plan on going to Nicaragua!!!

Emily was an absolute pro at making me feel well looked after on this trip. She was wonderful about listening attentively to my needs and shifted her approach to the planning when some unexpected developments emerged shortly before and during the trip. The local guides and drivers were so hospitable and made me feel like a family member at every step of the way. I couldn’t have enjoyed this trip more!

My trip to Nicaragua was truly one of the best trips I've ever taken. Two things made it particularly amazing. First, I want to thank Emily, my trip organizer, who managed to put together a spectacular itinerary for me based on my interests and feedback. We went through several iterations with where to go/what to see/where to stay, etc, and she always responded quickly and kindly. I really felt like her goal was to make me happy, and she did not seem to mind all my questions and changes as we went through the process. I actually looked at a few other personal organization services like kimkim, but Emily went above and beyond to deliver the best itinerary for me, which included lots of walking, nature, culture, museums, seeing the big sights (Leon, Esteli, Granada, Ometepe, San Juan Del Sur, etc). I have a friend who was born in Nicaragua, and he looked at my final itinerary and said "this is nearly perfect...with this you will see as much as you can in 9 days).

The second aspect of my trip which made it great was my personal guide, Oscar Lopez. Somehow I seem to always have had luck with guides, but Oscar was absolutely wonderful, and probably the best guide I've ever had. Thank you to Emily for pairing us up! Oscar was so affable and easy going, and of course his English was perfect. He would give me a brief overview of the day's events in the morning (using a map to show me where we were going) and then in the evening give me an update of what was to come in the morning. If we said we would meet up at X time, he was *always* there and I think probably 10-15 minutes early! Another thing I really liked was he always offered to take a picture of me, or a video..so it felt more like my friend was there than a tour guide. He even took pictures when I did not ask, and then would faithfully send them to me at the end of the day. He was very chatty and extroverted, and willing to answer all of my many questions about all sorts of things. We had some great conversations during our drive around the country. He came to realize how much I liked hiking and walking, so if there was a chance to do extra hiking he always offered it (ie. "Let's do the difficult hike back up the volcano, Clare!" or "Here's road I've never been on...let's hike up there and check it out!"). If I wanted to add something or make changes, that was always fine and he'd say "You are the boss; it is your trip". He is an incredibly kind, thoughtful, generous, intelligent, wonderful person who became my friend. The next people who get him as a tour guide will be very fortunate indeed!

I thought overall the hotels I stayed in were fantastic, except for maybe one, and I think that has to do with there not being enough hotels in that city (Esteli). I felt very well prepared for my trip and only wish it could have been longer. I cried at the end, I was so sad to leave. I had a fantastic time and it will remain one of the best trips of my life.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel El Convento

León

I absolutely loved this hotel! So clean, wonderful staff, great breakfasts, and nice icy cold AC! One of the best hotels I stayed in during my trip. Great location as well right in the middle of the city. Would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Arcos

Estelí

Not my favorite hotel, but my guide told me it is one of the best in Esteli, so there you go! On the plus side, it was very quiet, had working AC, there is a restaurant downstairs, and the staff are all very nice. It is in walking distance from the city center. On the not so great side...the rooms look out into a hallway, the lights are fluorescent (feels sort of like a hospital), the hot water in the shower does not work, and I ended up being attacked by bed bugs (at least 30 bites). The room felt clean, but I had bites all over my stomach and legs and torso for days after. I would try to find someplace else if I go to Esteli again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plaza Colon

Granada

Loved this hotel! The hotel gets 5 stars, and Victor at the front desk gets 10! :) The hotel itself is just gorgeous and you feel like you are walking around at one of the finest resorts in the world. The rooms are huge, with patios and huge bathrooms. My room was spotless, and the AC was so nice to feel after walking around in the hot / humid city! This was one of the few hotels I stayed in as well which actually had working hot water in the shower. I could have stayed here a week. The breakfasts were very yummy, and they had a pool. It's right smack in downtown and within walking distance of everything. Victor at the front desk is a total star...helped me out and answered questions...always smiling and happy to help. I was ready to move in and only wish I could have stayed here longer! I saw other people mention the noise, but my room was in the back away from the street, so it was very quiet at night. Totally loved this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Victor was amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finca San Juan de la Isla

Altagracia

Who would have thought there would be a 5 star experience like this on the island of Ometepe? Truly this is one of the most unique and most amazing places I have ever stayed. I had my own little bungalow right on the beach, and only heard the waves and monkeys at night. It was so peaceful and serene. One of the few places I stayed in all of Nicaragua with a hot shower as well! It was super clean. The staff were so friendly and helpful, and the restaurant provides great service and food at very reasonable prices. I only wish I could have stayed here longer (like a month!) It is a magical place and I can't wait to come back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Estación San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur

I really enjoyed this quaint little hotel, and don't judge the hotel by its facade! It looks a bit odd on the outside and rundown, but the interior rooms are very clean, bright, spacious, and well decorated. I had my own little balcony and it is mere steps from the beach. I picked this one over the Hotel Victoria and I am overall glad I did. My only not so great comment would be that the breakfast included is served across the street at a restaurant, and while the view from there is amazing (you are right on the beach!), the breakfast itself was probably the worst I had in Nicaragua. It was edible, but I would not pay to eat there again, which is odd, as I had a dinner there the night before and it was really tasty. Anyways, the hotel was great and I would stay there again...had a mini fridge which I found really nice to have while traveling.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

San Juan del Sur Hiking

San Juan del Sur

We hiked so much! Oscar showed me all around the city and was willing to keep going much longer than I was! I loved getting to see so much of the town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leon - City Walking Tour

León

Oscar did a wonderful job showing me the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cerro Negro sandboarding tour

León

Really enjoyed the hike to the top and then sliding down. Oscar made me feel very safe and it was super fun. Wish we could have done it again, but would have been quite a hike again to the top!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

León - Juan Venado Island Motorboat Tour

León

This was so fun! The guide was so good at spotting things to see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miraflor Nature Reserve

Estelí

Probably one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. Our guide, Carlos, was amazing. Started out as a 20 minute walk and turned into 3 hours...and a great jeep ride back to the city!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esteli - Tisey Nature Reserve & El Jalacate (-L-)

Estelí

Really enjoyed this day. Oscar went out of his way to make sure I saw the whole reserve, the waterfalls, and an extra hike to the top of a mountain so that we could make the most of our Sunday. I was supposed to have the afternoon off, but it was Sunday, and everything was closed. Oscar found an extra hike we could do and filled the day with more fun things for me. Above and beyond treatment. I was so grateful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masaya Highlights : Artisan Market, The White Villages (Pueblos Blancos)&Masaya Volcano

Nicaragua

This was very fun! I loved the hike to the active volcano, and Oscar made sure I got the best views. I enjoyed the little artisan market and seeing how pottery was made. We made a few stops and got to do some extra walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Granada - Las Isletas Boat Tour

Granada

This was much more than I expected! I loved seeing all the little islands, getting to take a walk on one, and being able to feed a mango to a monkey!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mombacho Volcano - Crater Trail

Granada

Loved our hike to the top! Oscar made sure I got to see everything, was able to take my time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ometepe Highlights

ometepe

Oh, I loved this island! I only wish that I could have had Oscar as my guide instead of Donald. Donald was very good, but I got very spoiled by Oscar and all the extra things he did for me. Nonetheless, Donald was quite good and made sure I got to see as much as possible. The driver of the car, Elma (Alma?) was also really nice and I enjoyed having a woman along for a bit!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy tour San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur

Super fun! It was much more than I expected, and the ride to the top was scary but the driver made me feel safe. Great value, and I was so happy Oscar could do it with me.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nicaragua is still relatively unspoiled and has great natural beauty. We were impressed by the accommodations, food and knowledge of our guides. We felt safe everywhere we went and didn’t get sick at all.
Reyna did a great job capturing who we were and the kind of experiences we were looking for - we felt like we had great exposure to authentic Nicaraguan customs and life. We learned a lot about the importance of coffee, chocolate, cigars and farming in general to the economy.
We plan to return in 2 or 3 years!!!

I had an amazing experience travelling to Nicaragua with Kimkim. I was a bit skeptical at first because I have never travelled with this agency before but they really surpassed my expectations. Reyna worked closely with me to accommodate my needs and always made sure everything is okay and if anything else is needed. There was active communication at all times. We stayed one week in Nicaragua and it was the perfect escape for whomever enjoys being in nature, surrounded by great people and eating delicious food. Every guide we had the pleasure to be with picked us up on time, was extremely helpful with any questions we might have had and you could tell they loved doing what they do.

In the future I would definitely book another trip with kimkim and was overall very impressed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Patio del Malinche

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

always attentive and very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Caite San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Charco verde

Rivas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Marimba

Apoyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Las Isletas Kayak adventure

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

we did not have any food so I would rate it neutral

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mombacho Volcano - Crater Trail

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

no food that is why I rate it neutral

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Juan del Sur - Sunset Boat Journey

San Juan del Sur

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Maderas Volcano

ometepe

We are not experienced hikers but we were able to succeed. It was not easy but the views were incredible. We were told this was a beginner's hike and it definitely wasn't. We also were not well prepared with the attire but overall it was a whole new experience for me and I am glad I was able to finish the whole hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure

Apoyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masaya Volcano - Lava Rock Night Tour from Apoyo Lagoon

Apoyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reyna was a great agent through both the planning of this vacation and during the trip itself. She was very prompt and knowledgeable answering all our questions, and checked in regularly. We never saw her, but felt that she was with us every day, making sure that things ran smoothly. All of the guides and drivers we met on the trip were also top-notch and helped us get the most out of each excursion. The while trip was fantastic.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Plaza Colon

Granada

A classy hotel with the friendliest of staff. They rolled out a TV to watch the World Cup with us, and were great hosts of their city

Authenticity & Character

Location

The room and the inner courtyards, one with a secluded pool

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel El Convento

León

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pacaya Lodge y Spa

Masaya

Authenticity & Character

Location

The most amazing view of the crater lake and close to some great volcano excursions

Staff

Super-nice people

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malibu Popoyo

Lives up to its website. Ultimate in laid-back beach vibes, with a great kitchen (food was simple but delicious). Very nice people running the place

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cerro Negro sandboarding tour

León

A great hike - nice views. The boarding was fun and lived up to its promise of adrenaline-inducing. But it can easily go from fun to injury in a second. I would not recommend it for children, and they should really take more steps to improve health and safety. ( ie options for shorter or gentler rides similar to green, blue and black paths as on a ski hill). As it is now- it is a black diamond ride as your first experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masaya Volcano - Lava Rock Night Tour from Apoyo Lagoon

Apoyo

Wasn’t sure if we would really see lava or just lots of steam - but there was a great view of the swirling lava and a nice hike overall

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mombacho Volcano - Crater Trail

Granada

Both a beautiful hike and a break from the heat combined. Well worth it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Las Isletas Kayak adventure

Granada

Do it if you want the exercise - but there was nothing special about this kayak route

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rene's welcoming smile at the airport made us feel at home immediately. He's really welcoming,the drivers were always on time. In Leon thanks to Freddie our guide Marcos and the driver. The hotels Reyna arranged our trip beyond our expectations. Granada the driver always on time with Rene. A big hug and thanks to kimkim. We are really grateful kimkim is for real so organized everything was.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel El Convento

León

It is was great

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

It's accessibility to all amenities

Staff

We could communicate to all staff members since they were speaking English and they were ever happy and smiling

Cleanliness & Comfort

Their rooms were fantastic

Hotel Plaza Colon

Granada

They were smart and organized.

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

Close to all amenities and markets.

Staff

Woooow so jolly happy welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything there

Activity Reviews

León - Juan Venado Island Motorboat Tour

León

Freddie showed us things we hadn't seen in our lives. First when we were going to the boat we walked a distance but to come back the place we passed when walking,we came back when we were passing seated in the boat. We saw the mangroves it was our first time,we saw different species of birds we also visited the place where tortoises are hatched thanks to our boat captain he was so loving and helped alot in showing us new things.every on the boat was aiming at making us happy. Thanks to Vapues tours and Reyna plus Sandra please

Quality of Experience

All

Food

Good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Those people are wonderful we are black people but we never felt out of place. They are so great

Transport

Ever on time, they drive with care everything was great

Leon - City Walking Tour

León

It was hot but Freddie gave us time we met people he showed us around he's really a great person. We also visited the art museum thanks to Freddie and Reyna kimkim and vapues tours. Vapues tours staff are so organized I love their uniforms,and transport.the cars are so smart.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They're the best

Transport

Number one

Masaya Volcano - Lava Night Tour

Granada

It was great thanks to Rene and the driver. Rene taught us alot by the time we reached the volcano you could think we knew everything

Quality of Experience

Everything was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They're number one

Transport

Fantastic ever on time

Granada - Las Isletas Boat Tour

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning the trip through KimKim was super easy and efficient. Lucia worked with us beforehand to plan the perfect Nicaragua trip! She was even extraordinarily helpful when there was an issue with the airlines and submitting the covid test on time. She somehow was able to work her magic and contact someone locally to make sure we got on the plane and also when the plane was delayed causing a missed flight was able to accommodate and change our transfer -- all which we would not have been able to do on our own and probably have missed out on the trip! The hotels she booked were awesome as were our guides (particularly Freddy and Oscar!) One thing that could have been better would have been checking in throughout the trip. I felt that once we got to Nicaragua, we did not hear from her as much and she was harder to get in contact with. I have traveled a few times with KimKim in the past and each time, the local specialist had checked in daily to make sure everything was going well and to give the more detailed time/itinerary/packing list/guide info for the next day. This would've been very helpful, and just a nice gesture all around. Even when we sent her a message, she did not respond (we had to call in order to get in touch with her). Aside from this the trip was great!

Thanks Lucia (and everyone else) for such a wonderful vacation.

This trip had to be replanned three times thanks to Covid. But Lucia did it. It was such a great, stress free time. All the transfers were prompt...and when one showed up 9 minutes late (the only one that was the slightest bit late), they sent a message at 9 to let me know the situation.

The tours were all private, which was great for me, because it was booked such a long time ago when my body was in much better shape (again, thanks covid).

Volcano Day sent a guide (Tony) that carried my board up the volcano for me! All of the guides were so welcoming and friendly.

Each hotel had its own charm...but Casa Marimba had cats. Not sure if I mentioned it to Lucia, but cats are my favorite. I might have spent almost as much time petting the cats as I did in the lagoon.

Wonderful trip from a great company that I would highly recommend 😀

Our 3 week self-drive trip through Nicaragua organised by Lucia at the local tour company Vapues through kimkim was excellent and exceeded our expectations. The initial discussions with Lucia about our interests and pace of travel were quickly understood and an appropriate itenery with realistic travel expectations proposed, negotiated, agreed, and most importantly delivered.
Despite our late arrival in Managua, the Vapues staff were there to assist with the 4WD booking and get us off to a quick start. The tours around Leon to Isla Juan Venado, Cerro Negro, and Volcan Telica were brilliantly guided by Alex and of sufficient length to appreciate the places and give us enough free time in Leon to walk around, and climb the cathedral at sunset.
Self-drive to Somoto allowed us the freedom to experience what we wanted to see en route at our pace. If you like rum, Flor de Cana is well worth the trip as are the boiling mud pools. The Cayon de Somoto 6 hr hike was one of the highlights and Noel was a splendid accompanyment for the adventure guiding us through the safe way to jump 12m into the river. The full tour of the canyon is recommended to see the full range of ecosystems including the roosting micro-bats. The surprise 50th birthday celebrations laid on by Vapues and Canyon de Somoto tours were delightful.
Next stop the cloud forest highlands around Jinotega where the varied birdlife, coffee plantations, and different climate were a surprise. The accommodation (Aguas de Arenal and La Bastilla) was very good, relaxing, and attentive with the few number of tourists making it to this area. In self-driving make sure you get detailed instructions as both are remote and not well signposted! An excellent bird watching tour from La Bastilla taken by a top guide seeing some rare specimens including the three-wattled bellbird, toucans, and numerous hummingbirds was not to be missed. The long day trip to the rainbow waterfall in Penas Blancas was slightly disappointing, but the scenery exquisite. Local side trips around Jinotega to the zip-line, lake, and local black pottery are worth the effort.
Granada next is a gorgeous town with more tourists than anywhere else, although still small in number. Fine churches, museum, cafes and nightlife. We stayed at El Respiro slightly out of town, which is luxurious with fine views over Volcan Mombacho and awoken to the sound of howler monkeys. Trips to Volcans Mombacho and Masaya are strongly recommended, particularly the sunset viewing of Masaya with the lava lake a highlight of the trip. Both guides Tiger and Rene added significantly to the experience. If self-driving get clear instructions of meeting places: if stuck the locals are lovely, approachable, and very keen to assist in any way. Additional sunset kayaking trip with William from Inuit Kayaks was excellent and his ability to spot wildlife deserves respect.
Next stop Lago de Apoyo, lovely spot and worth the trip. Birdlife was spectacular at all times of day. Scuba-diving in a crater lake is not the most spectacular in the world, but seeing endemic fish, and fumeroles bubbling underwater is unforgetable.
Ometepe was very different scenery with the twin volcanoes shrouded by cloud and the associated cloud forest. The climb of Maderas was VERY tough 7km each way with an average gradient of 1:5 on rocky muddy paths makes for an 8 hour, physical if rewarding experience, glimpsing views through the atmospheric cloud. Morning birdwatching kayak trip from Playa de Mangoes guided by Alan was brilliant just leisurely drifting through flocks of water birds, Cayman, and turtles. The brief rain showers refreshed and offered a different perspective. The half day walk to Ramon waterfalls is less physical, better views through the forest and the chance to see white faced capuchins as well as howler monkeys. Also spotted paca along the way. Waterfall would be more spectacular in the west, as would the walk in, but the water was refreshing to plunge and feel the force of the tumbling waters.
Next trip from Ometepe to El Castillo was a highlight of organisation by Lucia at Vapues. 4WD dropped on the mainland, transferred smoothly by 4WD to Colon on the SW corner of Lake Nicaragua ( the last 15km very rutted) the location of the 'port' is not really known to the locals! The private boat whisked us 50km to San Carlos via an observation of nesting migratory birds on a small island in the middle of the lake: pink spoonbills, wood storks, osprey...a real unexpected highlight. Then up the Rio San Juan to El Castillo. This trip would be nigh impossible to organise and very grateful to Lucia. The jungle in the Indio Maiz is again very different to the rest of Nicaragua. The walking through the post-cyclonic regenerating area around Rio Bartola is well worth it to see the poison-dart frogs and serenity of the jungle. Our guide Sayla was excellent with plenty insights into Nicaraguan life as well as deep knowledge of the jungle. The experience was compounded with a full-day kayak excursion travelling 20km from El Castillo into jungle less affected by the hurricane 3 years ago. The open nature of the jungle and the spotting skills of Harlem and Orlando were exemplary with the highlights being the spider monkeys and 3m crocodile where we were recently kayaking😁. The night Caymen tour with Sayla was another highlight with red eyes staring back from all points along the banks. Other night creatures added to the enjoyable, educational, and relaxing experience.
During the trip Lucia was always available to give updates to necessary changes in itinerary (such as cancellation of the white-water rafting trip due to lack of water). Any changes were quickly resolved with optional tours offered. The only slight criticism would be the lack of specific detail in some of the activity instructions and expectations for tours. This has got something to do with our independent nature of travelling and my pedantic characteristics, but more detail would have reduced some anxiety along the way. If a simple tour it would have been significantly easier.
Lucia as the sole point of contact throughout the 8 month duration from initial request to completion was appreciated. I would strongly recommend Vapues tours, even mentioning the name 'Vapues' when on the road opened doors in surprisingly places. All the guides, drivers, and contacts we met along the way were professional. The tours perfectly suited our description of what we wanted so definitely 5/5 for an exceptionally memorable trip.

Nicaragua far out weighed our expectations mainly due to Kim Kim. The tour and itinerary were excellent. Thanks Lucia.
Oscar was there to meet us at Managua airport and transfer us to Granada. The tours in and around Granada were great and the highlight for me was the zip lining at Mt Mombacho. That was amazing.

Rene gave us a great tour to Mt Masaya and his knowledge was diverse and enlightening.
Juan the driver was also a happy guy and he transferred us to San Juan del sur.

Sadly San Juan del Sur is suffering since the drop in tourism, so it was a quiet time there.
Rafa then transferred us to the border of Costa Rica (Penas Blancas) and helped us through the Nicaraguan immigration and customs, which we were most grateful for. It is also worth mentioning that the drivers were very safe which we appreciated.

Thanks again to Kim Kim

My trip to Nicaragua was outstanding and in large part due to Lucia. She was perfect from my initial research into Nicaragua until my last day of the trip. I told her how many days I wanted to travel, the things I like to do and the accommodations I prefer. She sent me a very detailed itinerary and it was everything I wanted to do. Her communication was clear and she always answered my emails right away. Once I got to Nicaragua - everything was always easy. Drivers were always on time, tour guides were knowledgeable and each guided tour was fascinating. I spent time in León, Granada, Ometepe Island and San Juan del Sur - always getting a safe ride from place to place. My guides for each on of the adventures all spoke English and were a wealth of information about the culture, history, flora and fauna of Nicaragua. I hiked up Madera Volcano and lost my guide on the way down (totally my fault - I went ahead and took a wrong turn) - I called Lucia from the trail, have her my google map pin of where I was (her idea) and eventually got back with my guide. She was on top of everything and it made my trip to Nicaragua one I will never forget.

Incredible holiday in Nicaragua exploring the lakes and volcanoes and absorbing some of the history of this beautiful country. Our tour allowed us to climb and explore 4 volcanoes, kayak around the Isletas de Granada and the Rio Istiam, tour the cities of Leon and Granada, visit the beautiful Ometepe Island and zip line through the treetop canopy on the slopes of the Mombacho volcano and on Ometepe. The highlight has to be climbing Cerro Negro volcano and ash boarding down the steep south face of this amazing volcano. Throughout the tour we we had amazing Vapues guides and drivers (Franklin in Leon, Renee in Granada and Roberto in Managua and the local guide, Enoch on Ometepe Island) who ensured all our trips went to plan and offered us an insight into the local wildlife, culture, foods and history. Franklin climbed half way down the ash slope to ensure we got incredible photographs of our descent - what incredible commitment to customer service! Throughout the whole tour we were made to feel like guests rather than customers - nothing was too much trouble. Franklin said ‘this is your holiday so we will do whatever you want to do and at your pace’ as he introduced us to the beautiful city of Leon. Renee took us to the top of the active Masaya volcano to see the lava pool and kayaked with us around the Isletas de Granada pointing out the fabulous birds, monkeys, reptiles and mammals. The little bat colony living on a branch overhanging one of the inlets and the hooting of the Howler monkeys was a particular highlight. Granada was a stunning city with fabulous coloured buildings and a lively street scene which we really enjoyed. Enoch led us up Maderas Volcano (a very challenging hike/climb in the heat) and guided our kayaking adventure in Lake Nicaragua and into the Rio Istiam, pointing out exotic birds and cayman. Roberto guides us around Chocoverde were we saw snakes, lizards and many morpho blue butterflies
The whole tour was incredible - Kimkim and Vapues more than met our expectations- we had an incredible holiday and the way they handled the end of our tour during the unrest in Managua was very impressive- we felt totally secure