Brittany McNamara

AMAZING!

I would go back to Costa Rica every year if I could. The trip had such great variety, we really got to see it all. Everything was so organized, we didn't have to worry about a thing. Our flights got changed the day before we left on our trip, and Brittany was so helpful in booking us an extra nights stay. Our favourite part was releasing over 100 baby sea turtles into the ocean with Kids Saving the Rainforest in Manuel Antonio. They were so welcoming and went above and beyond to allow us to join in on such a special moment. The only downside was San Jose, being there right after Christmas, everything was closed! But that is the only negative thing I can say.
I am still dreaming about the coffee...

Activity Review

Visit Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary

Manuel Antonio

They were so incredibly welcoming and even let us tag along to release baby sea turtles into the ocean 10/10 trip hight light for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning our trip through KimKim was great! The local specialist we worked with was easily available to answer questions and help build our itinerary. Once we were in CR everything went very smoothly and our specialist was quick to respond with any questions that came up while we were in our trip. We have used travel agents before and the KimKim team provides an excellent level of customer service and expertise in planning. Our local guide Melany in La Fortuna was so knowledge on all of the local animals and ecology we learned so much on our tour that we would never have noticed on our own. Every single guide, driver , concierge etc was so helpful and kind and so happy to teach us about thier beautiful country! I would highly recommend staying at paradise springs hotel in La fortuna , the hot springs are a great way to relax after a long day of hiking and it is very easy to get a taxi to the “downtown” area for dinner and drinks. While in Monteverde we stayed at the hotel heliconia which had absolutely stunning views of the mountains and sunsets , this hotel does not have AC however it gets very cool at night and we did not find it to be uncomfortable. This hotel is also a very easy taxi drive away from the “downtown” area which was very fun to explore! Our final stop in Quepos , Manuel Antonio we stayed at the tulemar resort which was phenomenal! A perfect relaxing end to our vacation on an absolutely beautiful property where we saw, monkeys, sloths and macaws up close! Overall this trip was wonderful and made even more enjoyable having the peace of mind that everything was so well planned out and organized by the team at KimKim

Hotel Review

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Very convenient and close to the airport , easy to locate shuttle out of terminal. Clean and a nice selection at breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private: Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

An amazing hike with views you will not find anywhere else in the world! Our guide Melany was amazing and very knowledgable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

So much fun! The rafting guides were a great time while also ensuring that everyone was safe! The meal provided after our rafting was one of the best meals we had on the trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

The zip lining portion was a great time! All of the staff made sure we had a great time while also taking safety very seriously! If you want a nice extra adrenaline jump at the end definitely try the “death drop” at the end! On the hanging bridges tour our guide Andres was wonderful and took to much time to help us spot some amazing wildlife!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing. The Kimkim team was awesome in helping us to plan and arrange our trip and activities. We cancelled one of our activites to relax at a spa instead. Jessica took care of the cancellation and issued a refund that day! The hotel Casa Luna in La Fortuna was beautiful with a natural creek running through it. The staff were very helpful and our rooms were great. The food was good but we also enjoyed venturing into town for more local cuisine. We would definitely return! After hiking to waterfalls, nature walks, hot springs and ziplining we headed to Manuel Antonio to experience the beauty of the National Park. The hotel Plaza Yara was beautiful and the staff were kind and accommodating. Always ready to help with taxies and directions. All of the guides were informative and their knowledge was very educational. Costa Rica is all about conservation and preserving their wildlife habitats. We loved this trip and the experience of a lifetime! Thank you Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Luna Hotel & Spa

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plaza Yara

Puntarenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

On a dangerous road so you need to take a taxi everywhere

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was great but the trip a little long and would like to have seen more wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a lot of information about rescued animals, mostly birds. The guide was great but we were hoping to see some sloths which were not there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was amazing and should be required for Costa Rica. Beautiful!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Highlight of the trip! Beautiful, exciting and would definitely recommend this!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This is a beautiful national park as is everything in Costa Rica. The guide was great. However, the tour felt a little long (maybe because it was so hot and humid) and we found that we saw more monkeys and sloths outside of the parks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Costa Rica is a stunning country, full of natural beauty and adventure opportunities. Our customized itinerary took us through 3 major areas with specific activities, hikes and adventures planned and tailored by the travel experts at KimKim. Jessica and Brittany did a phenomenal job of curating the activities based on out likes and dislikes and made excellent recommendations for hotels and going out of the way to help us get the accommodations of choice .

Arenal:
The Arenal area is known for its impressive volcano and hot springs. The volcano, while currently dormant, is still a breathtaking sight, especially when viewed from our Hotel Room (Manoa Hot Springs). Just sitting outside in patio, immersed in nature, we could experience the timelessness this place provides. The natural hot springs are the perfect way to relax and unwind after a day of exploring the surrounding area. Other popular activities in the Arenal area include hiking, ziplining, and white water rafting. We didnt engage in the latter but enjoyed the hikes and nature walks immensely. The Ziplining is at a whole other level and elevation... a must do.

Monteverde:
Monteverde is a cloud forest region known for its biodiversity and stunning scenery. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a must-visit for any nature lover, with miles of hiking trails that wind through the misty forest. The whole atmosphere is surreal and out of a movie. The weather is unpredictable but still fun with a constant mist that ever pervasive. During our visit here took a guided night hike and saw an incredible array of animals, including tarantulas, snakes, and sloths. Another highlight of our time in Monteverde was visiting a coffee plantation and learning about the process of growing and roasting coffee, Chocolate and and Sugar. Costa Rica produces some amazing coffee BTW.

Manuel Antonio:
Manuel Antonio is a coastal area known for its beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife.
Our Hotel - La Mariposa, gave us a lovely room on the top floor with sweeping views of the gulf and beyond. The Manuel Antonio National Park was the highlight of our trip, with hiking trails that lead to stunning views of the coastline and plenty of opportunities to spot exotic birds and animals. We spent most of the day lounging on the beach , swimming in the clear blue water, and watching monkeys and iguanas in the nearby trees. The kids especially had a blast with the monkeys.

Hotels: With the exception of a Hotel near the Airport which was decent, all other stays were excellent and we were totally satisfied.

Special props to the Staff at Hotel Ocotea for a memorable stay. Folks there went out of their way to make sure we had a good time.

Activities - perfectly planned - all tours went exactly as described and on time.

Transfers: On time, everytime. Comfortable most times and great drivers who took care of any issues.

Bookings/cancellations/changes: KimKim was very responsive in accomodating all our needs and communication was excellent throughout.

Overall, our Costa Rica trip was an unforgettable adventure filled with natural beauty and thrilling activities. Thanks to Kimkim for making it a memorable trip

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Great hotel - awesome location and views. Great breakfast. Nice rooms and feel close to nature . Only downside is distance e to La Fortuna restaurant activities - have to take a taxi .

Authenticity & Character

The view and the layout - each room feels like a part of nature

Location

Beautiful volcano view

Staff

Excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful location and amazing views . Very kid friendly . Close to good places .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Nice airport hotel - shuttle runs 24 hrs every 15 mins

Ocotea Boutique Hotel

Santa Elena

Amazing boutique hotel - absolutely loved it . The view from the roof top bar is breathtaking. Staff is the best we have ever encountered. Close enough to town to walk to great restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful sunset view - surreal

Staff

The best ever

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

The best activity we had in arenal - kids loved it . Manageable trail with tons of animals and birds . Great guides

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing experience- well run , great guides for the hike and e tire zip line part feel safe and exhilarating

Quality of Experience

Hi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Excellent tour with very informative guide . Loved the history of the products . We had a great guide

Private: Night Walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

Amazing experience at night in the forest - amazing guide from the rainforest reserve - very knowledgeable and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

The biodiversity is astounding . Saw amazing birds and animals . Guide was great and informative

Visit Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary

Manuel Antonio

Did not do the activity- we cancelled

My family (2 adults, 2 kids ages 9 and 11) spent 9 days in Costa Rica. We started in Arenal/La Fortuna. Our hotel, Tifakara Lodge, was amazing. The room was very private and comfortable, the included breakfast was wonderful, and the pool/hot tub area was very relaxing. While we were there, we went to Sky Adventures for zip lining. It was very fun, but we all felt like we had missed out on some of the amazing views because it was raining and pelting our faces as we made our way down. I would definitely do it again though. We also did a hanging bridge hike there that was great, and then had lunch at their cafe. The second day we went on a tour of the Arenal volcano and the lake. Again, it was raining, so our view of the volcano was limited but the guide was interesting and we all enjoyed it. The third day we traveled to Monteverde, but before we left we walked up to the La Fortuna waterfall from the hotel. The trip to Monteverde took about 3 hours, and included crossing Lake Arenal by boat. We stayed at El Establo Mountain resort. Our room was a family suite, and had a good amount of space. However, the hotel is on a hillside and requires either very steep walks to the room or other buildings, or waiting for a shuttle. I would not recommend this hotel for anyone with any kind of mobility issues. Otherwise, it was very large compared to our first hotel and felt less special and more like a large (somewhat rundown) resort. The next day we toured the cloud forest with a guided group, and then went to Don Juan’s chocolate tour in the evening. It was so much fun, and my kids loved all of the chocolate and coffee samples. We also did a little night hike there and saw some different wildlife. The following morning we toured the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in the morning with a guide. He showed us some very unusual birds, snakes, and plants and helped us get pictures of everything. In the afternoon we were driven to Manuel Antonio. There we stayed at La Mariposa hotel, which was lovely. We had a two bedroom “apartment”, which included a kitchen area that we didn’t really need, two bedrooms, and a large balcony overlooking the pool/ocean. The view was amazing. This was the only hotel that did not include breakfast in the price, but they did offer a large buffet breakfast where we ate both mornings. The first day there we spent the morning in the national park. This tour was a little disappointing because our guide was asked by someone to add several people to our group while we were getting started, so our group went from 8 people to 15 in about 5 minutes. That’s a lot of people to look through a scope anytime he spotted something interesting- most of the time the animal had moved before everyone got to see whatever it was. Also, it was very hot and crowded in the park. For what ended up being a fairly short tour, I felt really drained afterward. The tour rather abruptly ended at the beach, and we were left on our own there. We stayed and swam for about two hours, then took a taxi back to the hotel. Be aware that this was by far the most chaotic city that we visited - but it was Holy Week before Easter and we were told that everyone was on vacation. On our last full day we toured the Kids Saving the Rainforest facility. If you have young children, possibly 8 and younger, this is a great tour for them to see some wildlife in a more zoo-like setting. Most of the tours we went on involved looking through a scope at wildlife, but this is a rehabilitation center where the animals are in large cages. It’s not a long tour either, but I found their program interesting and was impressed by what they are accomplishing. From their we had one last drive to San Jose, and flew home the following morning.

Hotel Review

Tifakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

This hotel is beautiful, the employees are so friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are private. The breakfast is amazing - not the standard buffet. You choose off of a menu, plus there is a buffet of breads, juice, etc. There is a fancy coffee machine available all the time. We all took advantage of grabbing a coffee and sitting by the pool in the afternoon. They also include a night walk every evening, where you can see amazing frogs and insects. My only negatives- the rooms have metal roofs, and it gets really loud when it rains (often). Bring ear plugs. Also, the bathroom includes an outdoor shower, which we loved, but it essentially means that the bathroom is always damp and humid, so nothing dries. Neither of these things would keep me from going back - this was my favorite hotel that we stayed in.

Authenticity & Character

The landscaping is beautiful, the wildlife is right there, and it felt very relaxing.

Location

The hotel is not “in town”. It costs us $10 per taxi ride to go to La Fortuna for dinner. That was a fair trade for getting to be in a serene location.

Staff

The staff were accommodating and friendly. Everyone spoke to us as we walked around. I used the WhatsApp number to ask several questions, and always got a prompt response. They arranged taxis, etc. whenever we asked.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean, and housekeeping did a good job every day. The furnishings, etc. are pretty basic, but comfortable. The outdoor shower was open to the bathroom, which kept it quite humid and nothing ever got dry in there (bathing suits, towels, etc.).

Activity Reviews

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

This was so fun - probably my kid’s favorite tour of the trip! Our guide was great. In addition to learning all about making chocolate and coffee, there were lots of samples. We also did a little night walk and saw sloths, kinkajous, a snake, etc. There is also a store for stocking up on chocolate and coffee.

Quality of Experience

Fun, guide had great energy, included my kids

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This was my least favorite tour of our trip. There were too many people in our group - most tours we had between 4-8 people, this was 15. Every time the guide stopped to show us something, it took forever for everyone to take a turn looking through the scope - many times the animal had moved before everyone saw it.

Quality of Experience

Limit group size to 10 max

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It seemed like we were left at the beach. Fortunately it was easy to get a taxi, but tge tour ends pretty abruptly.

We had a great family trip to Costa Rica at the end of March 2023. KimKim made the planning process a LOT easier. We were a bit overwhelmed when we started to plan it because there are so many different options, and the good hotels (if you can identify them) also fill up fast. KimKim helped us narrow down options, book hotels and activities, and made the process significantly less stressful overall.

We – myself, my wife, and our two kids who are 7 and 5 – spent four nights at an all-inclusive resort at Playa Conchal (the Westin, which we booked before contacting KimKim) and then two nights in a hotel near Rincon de la Vieja (Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel, which KimKim recommended). We did activities almost every day (and one at night) which KimKim recommended and helped arrange. Here are our impressions of each one.

• PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK BOAT TOUR. This activity was highly recommended, but we were underwhelmed, mostly because the trip to the launch point was 2.5 hours and we had to take two buses each way (and we also stopped at a ceramic workshop on the way back, which was fine but lengthened the trip). That was a lot of travel for my five-year-old, especially on bumpy roads. The boat tour itself was fine but you are rarely out of view of the dock and it would have been nice to go deeper into the park, or perhaps get out of the boat at some point. But we did see lots of wildlife.

• NIGHTTIME PACIFIC GREEN TURTLE NESTING. This was great and a truly memorable experience (and a short trip from our hotel). First, it is rare to hike on any beach at night with no man-made light around, and it was great to see so many stars. But most importantly, we saw both adult sea turtles coming ashore to try and lay eggs as well as some newly hatched turtles heading to the ocean. That is a once-in-a-life time wildlife sighting. The guides (appropriately) took their jobs of making sure the turtles are comfortable (e.g., no flash photos, do not get close) very seriously, as they should.

• KAYAY AND SNORKEL TOUR IN TAMARINDO BAY . This was a pretty standard tour – a 20-minute canoe ride from a beachside resort to a small island and then snorkeling around it – but it was perfect for a 5- and 7-year-olds first snorkeling experience. The guides were also great. So a good recommendation for our family.

• VANDARA HOT SPRINGS ADVENTURE. This was the highlight for my kids. The park was not very crowded at all, which was great, and they have also recently redone many of the attractions so everything was modern and professional. We did the ziplines (8 in total), horseback riding, long water slide (440 meters), and hot springs. Again, a bit of a trek to get there on back road (which was rough for my 5-year-old) but my kids called it “the best day ever”. Their only disappointment was not being able to do the water slide twice.

The logistics that KimKim organized were also pretty perfect - on-time, reliable, and professional. My only mild frustration with KimKim is their technology platform -- it not super-intuitive and seemed to have errors at times, which frankly made me question the service overall. But once you are in touch with a travel planners that problem is manageable.

I would definitely use KimKim again. In my view, they fill a gap between offering cookie cutter tours and DIY travel, and my experience they were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Westin Golf Resort and Spa, Playa Conchal

Playa Conchal

Great location, pool, and rooms, and the all-inclusive approach made it very easy for us to relax and get around. But very much like other all-inclusive resorts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

Costa Rica

This was highly recommended, but we were underwhelmed, mostly because the trip there was 2.5 hours and we had to take two buses (and we also stopped at a ceramic workshop on the way back, which was fine but lengthened the trip back). That was a lot of travel for my five-year-old. The boat tour itself was fine but you are rarely out of view of the dock and it would have been nice to go deeper into the park, or perhaps get out of the boat at some point. But we did see lots of wildlife. I would give the guides a five though, and my three stars is largely a function of the distance and the age of my kids.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

This was great and a memorable experience (and a short trip from our hotel). First, it is rare to hire on any beach at night with no man-made light around and it was great to see so many stars. But most importantly, we saw both adult sea turtles coming ashore to try and lay eggs as well as some newly hatched turtles heading to the ocean. That is a once-in-a-life time wildlife sighting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak & Snorkel Tour in Tamarindo Bay

Costa Rica

This was a pretty standard tour – a 20-minute canoe ride from a beachside resort to small island and then snorkeling around it – but it was perfect for a 5- and 7-year-olds first snorkeling experience. And great guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day at Vandará Hot Springs & Adventures

Rincón de la Vieja

This was the highlight for my kids. The park was not very crowded at all, which was great, and they have recently redone many of the attractions so everything was modern and professional. We did the ziplines, horseback riding, long water slide (440 meters), and hot springs. Again, a bit of a trek to get there on back road (which was rough for my 5-year-old) but my kids called it “the best day ever”.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio was definitely our favorite. We saw tons of wildlife. Our guides in the parks were incredible, Jeremy and Karla. We saw sloths, monkeys, and tons of birds, even scarlet macaws. On our snorkeling trip to isla del cano, we saw so much. Turtles, sharks, sting rays, plenty of colorful fish, even dolphins jumping on the way back. Our guide Nacho was great.

We probably could've spent one less night in Monteverde. It is green and beautiful and the town of Santa Elena is very walkable. Many restaurants and coffee shops. We enjoyed learning about the different environment in the cloud forest. Our guides on the night and day walk were excellent, very passionate about the ecosystem they were showing us. The zip lining was a very unique experience.

Tamarindo was probably our least favorite part of the trip. We stayed about a half hour north in Playa Flamingo, which is a beautiful beach. However, I wonder how our experience would have been different in the surf town. The area is very Americanized, it did not necessarily feel like we were in Costa Rica. We did an estuary tour and turtle watching, which was with the same guide. Moses was very knowledgable and prepared. We saw nine (!!) turtles on the beach.

Snorkeling in the Catalina Islands was very disappointing compared to what we saw before. The conditions were very windy, which made the water rough and currents strong. I was surprised that we were not required to wear lifejackets - especially as it was easy to drift away quickly. The water was cold - which is not their fault, they offered us wetsuits. But if I had known how many jellyfish were in the water, I would've taken them up on it. Thousands, though most were small but still did not feel good if you happened to be stung. I was twice and I know others on the boat were. This was with Pacific Coast dive company. We could've skipped this outing and stayed at the hotel beach.

On our final day we went to Sensoria, which was gorgeous. Our guides Rod and Jesus were excellent. The pools were incredible and like nothing I have ever seen before. This place is truly a gem. However, if I had known how far this was from our location, I would not have chosen to do this excursion that day. We spent 5-6 hours in the car on our last day in Costa Rica.

That is the only thing I wish I knew before booking the excursions - how far they were from the hotel/location. If I knew some of them were 2+ hours, I might have chosen a closer activity. Costa Rica is a gorgeous place with much diversity, so much to see and do. I highly recommend exploring this country. Also - whoever says rent a car and drive, don't listen to them. Would have been so much more stressful. Thank you Jessica for all the planning and the transfers were stress free. I only wish on the downloadable itinerary it said the lengths of the activities. That was only online, but as I had minimal access to wifi/no cell service, I downloaded the itinerary and referenced that.

Activity Reviews

Sensoria: Land of Senses Full Day Tour

Costa Rica

This place was incredible. Truly special. Our guides were great, really enjoyed the area and knowledgable. Taught us about costa rica and let us customize the experience to what we wanted. Food was good also.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José City Tour

San José

Oscar was great. It was a great start to our trip - we learned so much about Costa Rica. And had a great dinner!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

We saw so much. Really made the most of our time in the park. Jeremy was well prepared and knowledgable. Beach was gorgeous, as described.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carara National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Karla was very passionate and excited about what she was showing us. Her enthusiasm was contagious. We saw a lot of cool birds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Manuel Antonio

This was probably the best activity of our trip. Can not recommend enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling or Diving at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

As I mentioned in our full review, we probably could have skipped this experience. The winds were very high, making the water conditions difficult. Life jackets were not required, and a family got into the water, realized they were not strong enough swimmers, and the boat had already drifted away. We had to help call for attention to them and get lifejackets and assistance. The water temperature was cold, they offered us wetsuits. I did not mind the temperature as much as the jellyfish. Thousands, unavoidable. I would have taken a wetsuit for extra protection had I known. The sting was not unbearable, but not pleasant. I was not the only one to get stung. Also there was not much to be seen, a few pufferfish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Did not offer much about them - if they were from costa rica, how much experience they had. More interested in interacting amongst themselves.

Transport

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

I had never done an experience like this. Moses was in contact with our groups, giving us the best chance of seeing turtles. We saw nine. It was great. He was very respectful of them, teaching us to be as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 1-Starting in San Jose, we were greeted by our driver, Mario with Ride CR for our transfer to La Fortuna and our hotel, Lavas Tacotal. On the way, we stopped at the La Paz waterfall for photos and for local fruit from a roadside vendor. We tried a caimito or milkfruit, it was delicious! Upon arrival at Lavas Tacotal we were directed to our bungalow which had a lovely view of Arenal. The room was very clean and the beds were comfortable. We really liked the separate rooms for the toilet area and the shower. Water pressure and temperature were also very good. It would have been nice to have a reading lamp in the room, however. There are two restaurants very close to the hotel. We chose the steakhouse across the street. The food was ok but not great.

Day 2- Our tour to Arenal was scheduled for 2:30pm on our agenda but we learned the the tour operator, Jacamar Tours, had us scheduled for a 3pm departure. Our tour guide took us on a moderate hike around Arenal where we spotted a howler monkey, montezuma oro birds, and a screech owl. After our hike we were transferred to Ecotermales for dinner and a soak. The buffet was very good and we really enjoyed our time relaxing in various pools.

Day 3-Tour operator, Ride CR picked us up for our transfer to Monteverde promptly at 8:30am. A brief car trip brought us to the shore of Lake Arenal for our boat transfer. Once on the other side of Lake Arenal, we were greeted by our driver Bryan who drove us for the remainder of the journey to Monteverde. We were not allowed to check into Hotel Heliconia until after 3pm so we chose to have lunch in the hotel restaurant and then walk into town and explore until check in time. The hotel's lobby and restaurant area have been recently renovated and were very clean and pleasant. Our room was clean and the beds were comfortable, however, again, a table lamp would have been nice for reading before bed. Water pressure in the shower was plentiful as was the hot water. We did notice a strange sewage like smell in the bathroom that seemed to be worse at certain times of the day. We enjoyed the complimentary coffee in the room and the quiet location. The breakfast offerings at the Hotel Heliconia were by far the best of the three hotels we stayed at. That evening we had a tour to the Children's Eternal Rain Forest with Ocotea Tours. Our guide Walter did his best to find animals hidden in the jungle but given the high winds the area was experiencing this proved difficult. We did see a side striped palm pit viper, an orange kneed tarantula, and some scorpions, however.

Day 4-An early start for our tour to the Cloud Forest with Ocotea Tours. Our guide, Daniel, was very knowledgeable and helped us spot a family of spider monkeys, a hummingbird in her nest, a black faced solitaire bird, and the resplendent quetzal (both male and female!). The hummingbird gallery after our hike was truly spectacular-a must see!

Day 5-We were greeted by our driver, Matthias, promptly at 7:45am for our private transfer to Quepos. The ride was long but Matthias made time for us to have a rest at a roadside restaurant and shopping area. Upon arrival to Karahe Beach Hotel we were too early for check in so we hiked up the hill for lunch at Rafael's Terraza's Restaurant. The hotel had assigned us a sea view room that was renovated but we learned that we had one bed and not the two we had anticipated. Our agent Brittany was helpful in securing us a small refund for our trouble which we appreciated. The hotel is broken up into two sections, the hill side and the beach side, separated by the main road. Our room was on the hillside. It was very clean and the bed was the best of the three hotels but were not able to use the safe, it was broken. One of the two table lamps stopped working on the second day. The water pressure and temperature here was not good. The A/C was very cold and welcomed for such a warm and humid destination. The last thing I would mention is that there was no tv in room-I did not care about this but wanted to mention it. It looked as though there were plans to add one because the one electrical outlet in the room (not even an outlet in the bathroom) was six feet up the wall. Luckily, we positioned a chair to balance our cell phones on but it made charging them a bit more complicated.

Day 6- The breakfast at this hotel was the worst of the three by far. It started after 7am which made it impossible for us to even get a cup of coffee before departing for our tour to Manual Antonio. The presentation of the food and the food quality was not good. We did enjoy having a beach bar and loungers on the beach for our use as hotel guests. That afternoon we were picked up by Tucanes Tours for our Damas Island Kayak trip. Our tour guide, Cesar was very nice. We did spot some white faced capuchin monkeys on the tour but nothing else. I am not sure I would recommend this tour again as I found it underwhelming and the water we kayaked in looked very polluted. Dinner was provided after kayaking at the Tucanes Tours restaurant rest stop. It was a classic Costa Rican casado which gets the job done but was overall pretty flavorless.

Day 7-We learned of a special bird watching area called Esquipulas and made a decision to change our tour from Caracara to Esquipulas. Tucanes Tours was kind enough to switch our tour for no additional charge. We were met by Carla at 5:00am for a private tour to this special bird watching area only around 30 minutes from Quepos. She was very enthusiastic and knowledgable! We saw so many birds! Esquipulas is a really lovely area and quite a bit cooler than Quepos. We spotted a stick bird and it's chick, two species of toucans, honey creepers, king vulture, wood peckers, and many others. It was a very good tour.

Day 8-
We were picked up by Olandro from Ride CR promptly at 6:30am for our transfer back to San Jose for our flight home. We made it to the airport for plenty of time to do last minute shopping and have brunch.

Overall, everything was just about what we expected. However, I would mention that Costa Rica is not a place for those who get car sick. The roads are very bumpy and often windy. Monteverde and Quepos are very hilly, so you should be in reasonably good shape to get around on foot. You also must be fit enough to bring your bags to your room up steep hills. And, having some Spanish speaking knowledge would be very useful! Luckily for me my travel companion is a pretty good Spanish speaker.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

Great views of Arenal, bungalow room was clean and beds were comfortable. Good water pressure and very hot water. The breakfast options were good but the coffee was just so so. There is no lamp in room so if you like to read at night this hotel might not be for you. No safe in room. Sushi restaurant near hotel and steakhouse across the street. You can walk to a traditional SODA in about ten minutes. All other restaurants are a taxi ride away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

View of Arenal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde Costa Rica

New restaurant has great food and lovely decor. Our room was clean and comfortable but if you like to read at night, there is no table lamp. Coffee maker with coffee in room was nice and the coffee was good. Bathroom had good water pressure and hot water. Strange sewer smell in bathroom but maybe that was just in our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being so close to town was great. Steep walk to get back to hotel, however.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Newly renovated room had the best bed with terrific pillows and linens. Safe in room was broken. Table lamp stopped working after first night, luckily there are two lamps in room. One electrical outlet in entire room-none in bathroom. AC was very good. Water pressure and temperature were subpar. View from room was very nice. Our room did not have a TV but that was not a problem for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across street from the beach with beach bar and loungers. Great restaurants close by.

Staff

We left the housekeeper a tip in the room and she did not take it. We had to chase her down to ask her to take the tip!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was the great. AC was very good.

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great buffet dinner and the pools at Eco Termales are wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

It was very windy when we were there and this made it hard to hear animals. This made the experience rather underwhelming but it's not a zoo so you have to expect that you might not see much. The guide did the best he could given circumstances.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

This was one of our favorite hike. The cloud forest was so beautiful and we spotted so many animals and birds. The hummingbird gallery was so much fun. You will never see more hummingbirds in one place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Kayaking

Manuel Antonio

This was just ok. Saw some monkeys at the beginning of the tour. The water appeared quite polluted.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was pretty bland.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Carara National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

I did not go on this tour.

Our family took its first trip to Costa Rica, opting for the 9 day itinerary to experience as much of the country during our children's winter break in the U.S. northeast. First, many thanks to our excellent KimKim travel planner Jessica for her responsiveness and advice pre-trip and the same availability and support during our trip. Over the 9 days we were able to cover the lush rain forest in La Fortuna/Arenal, the cloud forest high atop the mountains in Monteverde and the breathtaking Pacific coast beauty of tropical Manual Antonio. This itinerary allows you to fully experience each of the diverse climates in Costa Rica while traveling from the low altitudes in San Jose, up to the cooler and wind swept peaks and descend back down to finish the trip on sun drenched beaches.

RIDE CR provided all our transfers and we cannot recommend them enough for customer experience, timeliness and willingness to share history and knowledge of Costa Rica during our rides. To set expectations, the transfers between locations can be long ranging from 2-4 hours and often on windy roads with mind bogglingly steep inclines. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is worth preparing. This said, the long transfers are - ABSOLUTELY - worth every second and DO NOT let it deter you from making the journey.

The ride from San Jose took approximately 3 hours ascending through very windy and foggy roads (zero visibility at times) up the mountains and down into La Fortuna. In La Fortuna we stayed at the Tabacon Resort and Spa for 3 days. Tabacon's grounds are meticulously maintained and seemingly carved into the rain forest with perfect views of the breathtaking Arenal Volcano. Without a doubt, the gem of the Tabacon resort are the healing natural hot spas. Tabacon offers constant shuttles just around the corner to the spas only minutes away. I recommend walking to the spas (in your bathrobe ;)). The walk is 5-7 minutes and surrounded by gardens and the rain forest. The Tabacon hot spas are amazing, and it features many (often hidden) pools with an average temperature of approximately 98 degrees F. We elected to forgo an excursion to fully experience the spas for a day, even our teenage boys were happy with the decision. As a Tabacon guest you have access to ‘private’ pools in the Shangri La section of the hot spas. Less crowded and totally worth it.

Tabacon offers good options for food, but I recommend heading to downtown La Fortuna and eating at one of the local ‘sodas’. Eating at a ‘soda’ can feel like being invited into someone’s kitchen, the food is delicious and it’s a great experience, in addition to being much less costly than hotel restaurant prices. The Arenal Hanging Bridges tour is a must, and our tour guides were informative and greatly enhanced the experience by pointing out the flora and fauna. Walking the (6) hanging bridges is a ‘bucket list’ item and the spectacular views are inspiring.

On our 3rd day we left La Fortuna for a boat/bus trek across the man made lake surrounded by towering mountains and jungle, and up the mountain to Monteverde. The ride from La Fortuna to Monteverde is approximately 4 hours. Oscar from RIDE CR is a talented driver and navigated the impossible hills and turns in the bus effortlessly (at least it seemed that way). Oscar took a stop half way at a small soda in the mountains, where we got empanadas and stretched our legs. The stress of the grind quickly became a distant memory as we stood outside the soda surrounded by green mountains and deep valleys thousands of feet below.

Monteverde is special and worth every second of the journey to get there. Monteverde is windy (expected being a mile from sea level), and suggest packing some cool weather gear. The cooler temps of Monteverde is a welcome change from the more tropical climates below. Similar to La Fortuna, it is worth keeping a rain slicker in your backpack for the unexpected rain shower. Our original reservations were at Los Pinos - Cabanas & Jardines, but due to increased wind and fallen trees our cabin was no longer available. The staff at Los Pinos was extremely accommodating, found a room at another hotel and covered the cost. Our relocation was serendipitous, and we were fortunate to spend the next two wonderful days at Valle Escondido.

Valle Escondido offers 2 miles of cliff side trails with vistas of towering waterfalls and sheer cliffs. Access to the trails, the prime view to watch the sunset or endlessly stare miles away down the valley leading to the Pacific Ocean makes every moment at Valle Escondido precious. The onsite restaurant serves food made from ingredients grown on site, which also offers educational tours of the permaculture practice at the property. The food and the staff are excellent. While in Monteverde we visited Cloud Forest for a walking tour. Our guide Marvin was an encyclopedic compendium of information explaining the daily contributions many of the plants and inhabitants play in its life cycle. The Cloud Forest does contain a few hanging bridges, with equally stunning views as we experienced in Arenal. We were fortunate to see burrowing tarantulas sleeping during the day, millipedes slinking through the brush and toucanets eating on a branch.

With 4 days to go we left Monteverde trekking down the mountain to the ocean with our final stop in Manual Antonio. On our way down our driver stopped at the Tarcoles Bridge where you can view prehistoric crocodile sunbathing in the muddy beaches 40 feet below the bridge. The crocodiles are enormous and worth the stop (we also stopped on our way back to the airport from Monte Verde). At the Tarcoles Bridge there are a few options for food and souvenirs. The ride to Manual Antonio was short of 3 hours. We finished our trip at Tulemar in Manual Antonio, and we could not have asked for a better way to end an already amazing trip. Tulemar offers multi-level studios with full kitchens and multi room houses all carved into the steep jungle descent down to the warm Pacific Ocean.

Tulemar is fully immersed in the jungle, and we awoke each morning to have coffee on our deck to enjoy the views of the ocean, while watching a troop of 50 spider monkeys gather food for the day. The property is filled with wildlife including spider and howler monkeys, sloths, toucans, giant iguanas and capybaras. The beach is truly a hidden cove at the base of the hill below the resort. Tulemar offers shuttle service up and down the steep hill to the beach, but walking is a fine alternative and good exercise to work off the food and drinks. The downtown is fully accessible by foot from the hotel, with great grocery stores only minutes away. I recommend stocking up on snacks and making a daily trip to the grocery to cook in the more than adequate kitchens of each unit. Although we were on ‘vacation’, cooking meals in this gorgeous setting is a nice change and we enjoyed the ‘home away from home’ feel in such a special place. We spent 3 memorable days on the beach at Tulemar, and elected again to forgo some activities to soak in the beauty and vibe of Costa Rica.

The ride from Manual Antonio was a ‘quick’ two and half hour ride back to San Jose, which included a second stop at the Tarcoles Bridge.

The Pura Vida value of the Costa Rican people, the geography and simply stunning beauty of the country won my family’s heart and we fully intend to make this a recurring trip. I am counting the days to watch the sunset at Valle Escondido again. Truly appreciate KimKim and Jessica for organizing a great trip and all of our hosts in Costa Rica. Much love and Pura Vida!

Brittany’s recommendations were spot on! She was such a huge help and knew Costa Rica so well that we experienced the best.

Hotel Reviews

La Fortuna Downtown Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna San Carlos

Wonderful hotel in the heart of the city. Fabulous restaurants all with in walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Fabulous view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous hike!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

One of the most fabulous experiences I have ever done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

Wonder hike with a fabulous guide! Experiencing the rain Forrest at night was truly magical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous hike with an outstanding guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Kayaking

Manuel Antonio

Loved our knowledgeable guide who pointed out wonderful wildlife allow our journey!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport