Bryan Leon

The moment we decided in November 2022 that Costa Rica was going to be our honeymoon adventure vacation set for March 2023, I set out to create an itinerary that would be a blend of natural, cultural, and heart-pumping experiences that would fit our time and budget considerations. Since this would be our first visit to Costa Rica I sought the expertise from a couple of tour agencies which included kimkim. At kimkim we were introduced to Bryan, a specialist on his home country of Costa Rica.... read more

The moment we decided in November 2022 that Costa Rica was going to be our honeymoon adventure vacation set for March 2023, I set out to create an itinerary that would be a blend of natural, cultural, and heart-pumping experiences that would fit our time and budget considerations. Since this would be our first visit to Costa Rica I sought the expertise from a couple of tour agencies which included kimkim. At kimkim we were introduced to Bryan, a specialist on his home country of Costa Rica. Before, during, and now, a few days returned from the trip, it's clear that planning with Bryan through kimkim was the best thing to happen for us in creating our getaway.

From the jump, Bryan listened to our ideas, asked all the right questions, made wonderful recommendations, provided incredibly prompt and personal responses to our itinerary requests and considerations, and within a short amount of time put together a personalized, 11-day, self-drive, "we can't wait to go," Guanacaste adventure.

Pura vida! We can say it now, each and every check-in along the way was flawless and anticipated by the receptionist; from car rental pick up and drop off, to each of the 4 hotels we stayed, and all 10 tours we booked.

The accommodations that fit our budget and were available at time of booking included Hacienda Guachipelin in Ricon de la Vieja; Volcano Lodge in Arenal; Fondavela in Monteverde, and Golden Palms Papagayo.

Below is a listing of the notable, day by day highlights*, raves*, and faves* of our 11-day Costa Rica adventure:

After touching down in Liberia we picked up our rental car and dined next door at *La Choza de Laurel

Rincon de la Vieja:
*Hacienda Guachipelin breakfast buffet and dining area
*Hike to Las Pailas and Oropendola Falls with guide *Johnny
*Hacienda Guachipelin tubing the Rio Negro with guides
*Hacienda Guachipelin room and balcony

*Rio Celeste self-hike

Arenal:
*Volcano Lodge flora and fauna
*Volcano Lodge private hot tub and view of Arenal Volcano
*Variety of birds gathering at "banana breakfast buffet" at Surá Restaurant
*Volcano Lodge grounds yoga pavilion, out door workout area, and pool
*The welcoming energy of the entire receptionist staff of Volcano Lodge
*Robert at Surá Restuarant
*La Fortuna Waterfall hike with guide *Kenneth (Arenal Star), sighted 3 toucan species, Deivar providing fresh fruits
*Sloth family viewed at Volcano Lodge parking area
*Ecotermales Hotsprings with buffet dinner
*Arenal 1968 hike w/ *Kenneth, anteater encounter, Pablo providing fresh fruits
*Great cups of coffee on Don Juan’s Coffee and Chocolate tour
*Dinner at Pollo Fortuneño in the city of La Fortuna, *Marlon offering great service

Monteverde:
*Santuario Ecologico visit and hike
*Night Walk: Children’s Eternal Forest with guide *Marvin
*Fondavela Hotel perimeter walk
*Selvatura Park: Canopy tour with *zipline guides, hanging bridges, sloth and butterfly tour. Great lunch and best cup of coffee of the entire trip.

*Palo Verde National Park Boat tour with guide, *Ulysses and Capt. Miguel.
*Great lunch served at Hacienda El Viejo

Papagayo:
*Golden Palms Papagayo resort: receptionist *Angie; comfortable room, lovely pool; easy access to Playa Buena; great rocky beach walk around point
*Kuna Vela morning “sail” and snorkel in Culebra Bay with *Capt. Israel and *First mate Andres.
*Lunch and dinner at Hacienda Blu Beach near Golden Palms
*Lunch at Eco Camping Papagayo

*Suzuki Vitara 4x4, Sport Mode setting, total miles driven about 340

Amazing trip, every request we had made was achieved. Guided activities were worth their weight in gold! Stress free planning, everything just as described! read more

Amazing trip, every request we had made was achieved. Guided activities were worth their weight in gold! Stress free planning, everything just as described!

Hotel Reviews

Poas Volcano Lodge

Vara Blanca

Property, service and food was all amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bosque de Paz Reserva Biologica

Toro Amarillo

Family style meals were amazing, modest rooms with everything you need, a private waterfall and trails to hike, orchid garden, great service!

Authenticity & Character

They are doing a lot of the enviroment here!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Pool side bar 10/10, breakfast buffet 10/10, room service 10/10, afternoon coffee 10/10.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Riviera Hotel B&B

Heredia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Beautiful property, the best service we had on our trip, outdoor showers, hot tubs, swim up bar, great breakfast, dinner was amazing, even made suggestions to a local restaurant up the street which was the best meal we had in Costa Rica! Would live here if I could!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mambo Combo: Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable! Meal provided was amazing! Facility clean, in time pick up!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Buffet was ok, drinks were good poolside, lockers and bathrooms clean and in a good location. Pools were clean, various temps for everyone’s comfort.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

River Tubing, Río Celeste

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Our guide Óscar was knowledgeable and friendly, spoke English as well as I do! We had a wonderful time and got to swim, jump into the river and eat pineapple on the shore!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar was the best!

Transport

On time, very clean vehicle

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Guided Rainforest Hike

Costa Rica

The guide (Oscar) was able to provide so much information in the animals, the land, the history that while the waterfall is beautiful, the details made the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From organizing through the trip itself all went smoothly and gave us a great experience! This was our first time organizing travels using a travel service - but won't be the last. We particularly appreciate Bryan arranging for small group tours - versus large groups that we saw along the way. At times it was just us and our guide - fabulous! The guides were wonderful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the terrain and wildlife - which is infectious. Special appreciation to Socio of... read more

From organizing through the trip itself all went smoothly and gave us a great experience! This was our first time organizing travels using a travel service - but won't be the last. We particularly appreciate Bryan arranging for small group tours - versus large groups that we saw along the way. At times it was just us and our guide - fabulous! The guides were wonderful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the terrain and wildlife - which is infectious. Special appreciation to Socio of Endemic Birds - truly a standout in terms of depth of knowledge (in fact, he has trained many other guides). Our favorite accommodation was Hacienda Baru (near Dominical). This was "homey", complete with a lovely outdoor cafe that served great food that was cheaper than eating in town, and has fabulous nature trails on the grounds. We enjoyed having iguanas visit us during b'fast. Without leaving the property we were able to enjoy a bird watching tour and zip lining. We were happy that we only spent one night near Manuel Antonio Park - the crowds there were overwhelming. Special thanks to Bryan, Nancy and Charlotte for remaining available to us throughout the trip! One suggestion - providing more specific driving instructions would have been helpful.

Activity Reviews

Marino Ballena Park Combination Tour

Costa Rica

Boat ride was lovely - we saw mom and baby whale and playful dolphins, as well as the beautiful views. Our swim was lovely - snorkeling was underwhelming (not the guides fault, just not much to see). We enjoyed our time walking (on our own) on the Whale Tail at the end of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rainforest Birdwatching Hike

Uvita

Great guide, shared with one other couple. This was our first opportunity to see sloths - very exciting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flight of the Toucan Zip-Lining

Costa Rica

We had 2 guides for the 2 of us - so we were all able to play! The lead guide had also been our guide for bird watching earlier in the day, so felt like we were "playing" with an old friend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

The park is beautiful and full of wildlife. We did however, feel a bit overwhelmed by the size of the crowds. Most tour groups were large (we were fortunate to be in a group of 4) - so a lot of people to traverse around.

Quality of Experience

The nature - not the crowds.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carara National Park Guided Tour

Costa Rica

After our previous day at Manuel Antonio Park, we appreciated how quiet this park was. We had Socio for a second day - for a private tour. The volume of wildlife was lower than in Manuel Antonio - but Socio taught us a tremendous amount about the trees and balance of nature - as well as spotting fascinating insects/spiders, bats and other critters that we would have walked right by.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Socio was both exceptionally knowledgeable about the terrain and wildlife, but also took the initiative to make calls for us to re-schedule our tour in Arenal so we would not be rushed. Very grateful!

Arenal Volcano National Park Boat & Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

A very pleasant half day - with a (muddy) nature walk that we enjoyed, and a beautiful boat ride with views of Arenal (partially in a cloud). Once again - we had a private tour. Our only complaint was the 50 % penalty that we were charged for changing our tour from the scheduled day (pouring all day!) to the next day which was predicted to be dry. The company was willing to take us out in the rain - but we would have been wet/cold and seen nothing. We chose instead to spend that morning at our resort - enjoying the hot springs. KimKim did try to advocate for us, but the tour company didn't budge on the up-charge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Beautiful grounds - even able to enjoy on our rain-filled day (the walking path is under cover). We learned a lot about the production (from start to finish) of coffee and chocolate - and enjoyed the opportunity to make our own. I must admit - the coffee that we bought in their gift shop was much better than what we made!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We went to Costa Rica for 16 days. Our trip was mostly to enjoy Costa Rica's birds and wildlife. Bryan organized an amazing trip for us. We choose ecolodge and places with fewer tourists. We also rented a car. Other than 30 km or so of bumpy road to Monteverde and some from Monteverde to Jaco, the roads were fine. We had a few amazing guides during our trip. They were so knowledgeable. Bryan was very response to our questions before our trip and during our trip.

The only... read more

We went to Costa Rica for 16 days. Our trip was mostly to enjoy Costa Rica's birds and wildlife. Bryan organized an amazing trip for us. We choose ecolodge and places with fewer tourists. We also rented a car. Other than 30 km or so of bumpy road to Monteverde and some from Monteverde to Jaco, the roads were fine. We had a few amazing guides during our trip. They were so knowledgeable. Bryan was very response to our questions before our trip and during our trip.

The only improvement suggested would be to have a less generic travel guide - add the logistics and what to watch for. This would reduce the requirement to contact KimKim with questions during our trip as certain aspects were not obvious to us.

I would recommend KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Koora at Monteverde

Monteverde

the staff very friendly. great ecolodge. Beautiful sunset

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villas Alturas

Ballena

challenging getting in but worth it. Friendly staff. beautiful location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Selva Verde Lodge

Sarapiquí

Great location. We were in a bungalow. Would have preferred to be closer to the core of the lodge avoiding to use the car to go for dinner. It is set close to a river. You can see lots of birds by sitting in front of the restaurant for 1 hr or so.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Caletas

Jacó

Very busy hotel. The staff a big stressed. The facility is beautiful but prefer more boutique lodges.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lost Iguana Resort and Spa

Fortuna

the room we had was amazing with a view on the volcano Arenal. Staff very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SCP Cocovado Wilderness Lodge

what a nice remote location. Friendly staff. Lots to do beautiful views and sunset.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

nice hotel. Staff a bit cold. just stayed one night before taking the plane. Nice pool on the roof with a view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bird Watching Tour in Tirimbina

Sarapiquí

did not like spending so much time in the parking lot looking for birds. other than that the guide was knowledgeable and firendly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Walk: Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

We saw motmot sleeping, tarantella, and bugs/spider. Not my favorite tour. I would have like to see the beautiful frogs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carara National Park Guided Tour

Costa Rica

The best guide- he was just amazing - Andres Martin Chavez Rojas. We spent 7 hrs with him and learn and saw so much. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide did not seem very knowledgeable of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Hike on Arenal Hanging Bridges

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a rainy day walking through the area. We managed to see spider monkey much not much more. The clouds were affecting the view. The guide did his best to show plants, trees and insects.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marino Ballena Park Combination Tour

Costa Rica

Disappointed - no whales to see (although we saw one 3 days later in Osa peninsula). We did see brown boobies chase flying fish - which was amazing to see. We saw some dolphins. The snorkelling - nothing to see really. Best to snorkel at Cano island - lots to see there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat Transfer from Sierpe to Corcovado

Corcovado National Park

the boat navigator was amazing. Spot birds and other wild life along the way. he also did a great job navigating the waves when the river reached the pacific ocean.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caño Island Snorkeling

Corcovado National Park

A great experience. turtles and all sorts of fishes to see. water 25c

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike San Pedrillo ( Corcovado National Park Station ).

Corcovado National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking and Birdwatching at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

amazing guide - Oscar. he took extra time to show us birds. he is very knowledgeable and we had an amazing time with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sarapiqui Nature Hike at La Selva

Costa Rica

We had a pleasant tour and learned alot. Saw many birds and a Fer-de -Lance viper , blue jean frogs and 2 slots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Booking was simple and efficient. I especially liked the kimkim web interface, trip summary, messaging and notifications - made it so easy! Bryan was very responsive. We liked the survey that helped inform our specialists of our interests and lifestyle - they were spot on in their suggestions. We really liked the option to self-drive ... It gave us flexibility when transferring between locations and more freedom to explore. It would be a nice option to be able to add on a rental car with... read more

Booking was simple and efficient. I especially liked the kimkim web interface, trip summary, messaging and notifications - made it so easy! Bryan was very responsive. We liked the survey that helped inform our specialists of our interests and lifestyle - they were spot on in their suggestions. We really liked the option to self-drive ... It gave us flexibility when transferring between locations and more freedom to explore. It would be a nice option to be able to add on a rental car with preferred and price negotiated partners. Also, when self driving, it would be nice to have some site or food suggestions between locations. Lodging choices were great with exception of location in Manuel Antonio - conveniently located right next to park for easy access, friendly staff, good accommodations, but not really our preference of quiet, serene boutique hotel and not really an ocean view. All selected tour guides were very good, experienced and professional. Only other suggestion for tours is some recommendation on what to expect and what to bring (or leave behind). I would like to see a breakdown on costs that would help inform where we would want to spend more or less money. We would definitely use again and we have already recommended to some friends ... is there a referral program ;-) ?

Hotel Reviews

Bahía del Sol Hotel

Potrero

Great beach location on quiet Potrero Bay. Rooms nestled into thick vegetation making it feel more private and secluded. Natural modern stying of rooms and close proximity to beach, pool and restaurants. Breakfast included. 2 restaurants on-site: one traditional and one tapas bar. Other restaurant choices walking distance nearby. Kind helpful staff. Our room had issue with availability of hot water.

Authenticity & Character

Thatched hut styling, beach vibe, outdoor seating

Location

Beachside, landscaping, on-site parking, walking distance to other restaurants and shopping

Staff

Helpful with room service, luggage, directions, restaurant options

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms, clean restaurants, programable air conditioning

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We'd rate this more like 4.5 stars. Location was amazing! - nestled among the native vegetation made us feel like we were in the jungle. We saw many local animals (birds and lizards) from our back patio which looked directly at Arenal Volcano. This property was a little more spread out which required a little more walking (not a problem for us) but also contributed to a feeling of being more remote. The restaurant, spa and pool area were all a short walking distance from our room. Breakfast was included. One restaurant on-site: great morning breakfast buffet with quite a variety and dinner selections let us explore local flavors. We both had a massage - nice outdoor setting and very relaxing. Rooms were nicely decorated, air conditioning was great, back patio with large sliding glass door was excellent. Reception area quite far from our room prevented us from spending much time there and developing any relationships with staff. Rooms are small duplex style - limited insulation between rooms made it easy to hear neighbors next door.

Authenticity & Character

Quiet and secluded, natural vegetation, wildlife, privacy, amazing view of Arenal Volcano (when clouds clear)

Location

Centrally located for quick drive to La Fortuna, hot springs and Hanging Bridges, Lake Arenal

Staff

Kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice accommodations, traditional modern styling, clean. Not well sound insulated from adjoining room.

Hotel Koora at Monteverde

Monteverde

Amazing location, staff and accommodations! Nestled up in the mountains with incredible views of the Nicoya peninsula and Pacific ocean, this was our favorite for our emtire trip. Nestled in the cloudforest between Monteverde and Santa Elena, the climate was cooler than we expected in Costa Rica - but we loved it! Small mountain villages with plenty of site seeing opportunities - coffee & chocolate tour, cloudforest, nature preserves. Allowed us to experience the variety of ecosystems that Costa Rica has to offer. While here we saw beautiful Resplendant Quetzal and Motmot birds. We also saw a variety of insects and a couple vipers on night tour. Staff was fantastic, food was delicious, views were beautiful, bungalows were private and secluded. Don't miss this one - we highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Costa Rican hospitality meets natural modern accommodations in small mountain village area. Bungalow style accommdations were like being in a tree house - unique!

Location

Top of the cloudforest views, small towns with shopping and restaurants close by, abundant tour choices.

Staff

The staff were the most kind and helpful people of our entire trip. Every time we entered the main building with reception, restaurant and bar, they greeted us and remembered our names. They anticipated my wife's dairy free diet. Thank you to Diana, Kenneth, Javier and Christian - you made our stay most enjoyable!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Natural setting, modern interior, nice styling, well maintained, very clean.

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Conveniently located right next to Manuel Antonio National Park entrance for easy access. Nice kind staff. The hotel itself seemed a little more dated and not as well maintained as other properties we visited. The rooms were more traditional than modern. Nice pool area with snack/drink bar. Property is not on the beach but there are marginal views of ocean from 5th and 6th floors. Beware of rooms on 5th floor - raccoons (or Coati) fighting in attic at 3:00-4:00 am for all three nights of our stay. Issues with hot water availability. Not really our preference of smaller, quiet, serene boutique hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Spanish flair styling, thatched roof Congo restaurant, rooftop sushi restaurant. Nice balcony at back of bedroom facing distant ocean views.

Location

If we are staying at the beach, we want to be on the beach. If access to Manuel Antonio National Park is your priority, stay here.

Staff

Housekeeping did a great job cleaning our room and creating "towel animals" in our bedroom - fun! Front desk was very helpful. Especially, Kenneth ... always kind, greeting us every day and at my request, was able to arrange for bouquet of flowers for my wife on Valentine's Day. Ema or Eva at pool provided great service - try the Congo Temptation. Rooftop restaurant staff needs some training on hospitality.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and comfortable. Room was well stocked. Good air conditioning. Biggest problem was the raccoons (or Coati) fighting in the attic every morning between 3:00-4:00 am. We reported it to the front desk, they acknowledged the problem and reported it to maintenance.

Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel

Tamarindo

Secluded private resort at the far end of town provided for a nice mix of quiet with everything Tamarindo has to offer - tours, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Open air reception area overlooking beautifully landscaped property. Rooms nestled among the native vegetation provides for a feeling of authenticity and remoteness. Pool, restaurant, bar and beach are just beyond rooms. Beautiful setting - you can lounge near pool, under trees overlooking ocean or out on sandy beach. Rooms are well kept, nicely decorated and well stocked. Looking for a boutique hotel with the right balance of seclusion and tourism, look no further.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting in native vegetation, quality accommodations

Location

Natural setting on the far end of town directly on the beach, restaurant with beach views

Staff

Everybody at reception was so helpful! Moises went above and beyond to help us - we accidentally left backpack at restaurant in distant town. He called and made arrangements for us to pick next day and sent us with packed breakfast. Staff was fantastic in reception, gift shop, bar, restaurant and breakfast buffet.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable rooms, programable air conditioning, nice beds and furniture

Activity Reviews

Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

Costa Rica

We showed up early and wandered around Hacienda el Viejo - what a beautiful historic building that just takes you back in time. Boat tour, guide and boat drive were all great - we saw a record 52 crocodiles, white faced monkeys, birds and lizards. We ate lunch at the Hacienda after the tour - fantastic meal!

Quality of Experience

Since we arrived early, we had a chance to explore the hacienda - what a wonderful historic building ... like going back in time. We sat outside, had some juice and enjoyed the weather and sites.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guide and boat driver were great. Good personalities, humor and personable.

Transport

We drove ourselves to Hacienda El Viejo!

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Beautiful natural setting, clean facilities and reasonable amount of people. From what we understand, they limit number of people to ensure a positive experience. Our dinner meal was included - a traditional buffet with several local food options. Bar available for snacks and drinks. Beautiful to go just before dark so you can see both during day and night with dramatic lighting. Pools of varying temperatures and a few different pool settings from private & secluded pools to large open public.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful setting and not too many people.

Food

Variety of selection in buffet.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was kind and helpful.

Transport

Drove ourselves.

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Hanging bridges was a great excursion to see the jungle from different levels, different animals and amazing views. Our Guide, Marco was very knowledgeable and explained the balance of life in the jungle and roles of the different animals and plants - symbiotic relationships, very interesting! A lot of different plant life and monkeys too.

Quality of Experience

Gained a better understanding and perspective of jungle life and symbiosis.

Food

We went to a local authentic restaurant - I had casado: salad, rice, beans and chicken. My wife had arroz con pollo. Both were delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marco - Knowledgeable, humorous and fun!

Transport

Timely, comfortable, clean.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Learned so much about chocolate and coffee - from plant to harvest to consumption, fascinating! Informative and educational. New gained appreciation for the chocolate and coffee we consume!

Quality of Experience

Small group, answered all questions, informative and some humor too!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kind, helpful, spoke english.

Transport

timely, clean, safe

Local Flavors Cooking Class

Manuel Antonio

A fantastic way to learn more about Costa Rican life outside the tourist towns. Fifst we stopped by the Mercado in Quepos to see where everyone shops. Then Toucanes Tours took us to their rancho located outside of town. They had several different animals on the ranch, we hand picked some herbs and vegetables. Then we cooked! It was just my wife and I - we had a great time learning to make plantain ceviche (delicioso!), rice, chicken and handmade corn tortillas! What a great meal to share with great new friends!

Quality of Experience

Authentic local experience away from the tourist areas. Learned how to make ceviche and the secret ingredient!

Food

Nothing better than homemade food that you participated in

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Maria, our chef Stephanie and driver Asdrubal were all fantastic - we felt like we met and ate a meal with family! What a personal experience!

Transport

Timely, clean, safe, air conditioned

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Costa Rica

First introduction to all the ecosystems within Costa Rica - from dwarf forest mountaintops to dry lowlands. Our guide, Andreas, described in great detail all the ecosystems and what to expect. We chose to spend our time in the Rain shadow forest with greatest chance to see Resplendent Quetzal - we were not disappointed! We saw five differnet Quetzal (female, juvenile and male) - spectacular! We also saw the Motmot - beautiful! We also saw several other birds, including a variety of hummingbirds and one special Coati sunbathing on a log. An amazing experience!

Quality of Experience

Andreas asked us what we wanted to see. Our goal was to see the Quetzal and he put us in the right spot! Amazing spotting scope and took photos for us through the scope.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andreas is very knowledgeable and experienced!

Transport

He showed up a little late in a "very well worn" vehicle ... a little questionable at first, but got the job done.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

An amazing ecosystem with a large variety of plants & animals and several amazing beaches. Unfortunately, too many people made it feel like groups competing with each other to view and experience the park. Still, it was amazing what we did see: dragon flies, lizards, iguana, sloths (2 & 3 toed), many birds and monkeys (white face Capuchin and Howlers).

Quality of Experience

Great bio diverstity

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Socio, was very knowledgeable and well connected. You learn that these guides work together to share information to ensure the customer experience is spectacular. There were only four of us in the group, so it felt like a private tour. One guy didn't follow guides' instructions and he went a bit overboard on reprimanding the guest publicly - embarrassing. Lastly, he could have managed our expectations about what the tour would consist of and where we were going - we got to the beach and he started saying goodbye. Felt like an abrupt end or he had another tour to lead - awkward.

Transport

We met at entrance to park. Our hotel was adjacent to entrance, so it was a short walk.

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Kayaked from Quepos marina to rock outcropping where we snorkeled and saw several different fish. Then a short distance to Biasanz beach where we enjoyed some cold fresh fruit before heading back. Along the way we saw and discussed several types of birds. Calm bays and beaches to launch and land so not big waves - A great time out on the water! Driver spotted some Scarlet Macaw's near seawall in Quepos, so he pulled over to let us see - very accommodating.

Quality of Experience

A great time on the water, we saw many fish and birds. Good exercise, but not too strenuous.

Food

We stopped for lunch afterwards at the Toucanes Restaurant. Traditional casado selection - very tasty local food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Toucanes Tour Guide, Warner, was very experienced. knowledgeable and great attitude! George the driver was very kind and kept eye out for Mcaw's.

Transport

Clean, comfortable safe and air conditioned.

Sukia - Night Tour

Manuel Antonio

We saw everything: Aguti, monkeys, butterflies, grasshoppers and lots of frogs and toads. Our goal was to see famous red eyed tree frog and we saw several. Only wildlife refuge in Manuel Antonio - also had several crocodiles that had been rescued. a great night tour!

Quality of Experience

Fantastic night tour close to town! A wide variety of animals to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Juan was very knowledgeable and had a great disposition - very kind and patient with child in our group - adapted to the circumstances well.

Transport

We drove ourselves - parking on-site.

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

We went out at night and saw mothers coming up on the beach to dig holes and lay their eggs. We also saw baby turtles coming to the surface of the sand and making their way to the ocean - how special to see this whole process. We learned so much about turtles - informative and educational.

Quality of Experience

A beautiful night under the stars learning about turtles, the process of nesting. laying eggs, their incubation and the baby's trek back to the ocean. Special!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Christian, was very knowledgeable and took the opportunity to educate us on the preservation of this special animal. Very informative and educational.

Transport

Clean, comfortable, safe and timely. Prepare for the long drive out to nesting grounds.

Tamarindo Mangrove & Estuary Boat Tour

Tamarindo

Very interesting to learn more about the mangroves and the animals that live there. We saw many different birds. a couple crocodiles and several howler monkeys. Beautiful boat tour in the mangroves with a humorous tour guide, Moises.

Quality of Experience

Good tour that educates a person on the critical role that the mangroves play in our ecosystem.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Moises is knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor.

Transport

Clean, comfortable, safe and timely.

The entire 15 day itinerary was absolutely perfect for what we wanted to do in CR. Bryan and the rest of the staff at Serendipity Tours deserve kudos for all their hard work and expertise that they showed. Everyone was prompt at answering questions we had and if there were any issues that arose they were dealt with swiftly.

The drivers we had were great, arrived on time (usually early) and never made us feel rushed if there was something we wanted to see or do along the route. It was kind... read more

The entire 15 day itinerary was absolutely perfect for what we wanted to do in CR. Bryan and the rest of the staff at Serendipity Tours deserve kudos for all their hard work and expertise that they showed. Everyone was prompt at answering questions we had and if there were any issues that arose they were dealt with swiftly.

The drivers we had were great, arrived on time (usually early) and never made us feel rushed if there was something we wanted to see or do along the route. It was kind of them to bring water for us if we needed it during the drive. They truly went out of their way, were super polite and very professional. They really were ALL excellent.

Our many tour guides and tours were exceptional especially for our age group. The tours were varied (cruise, hikes, float and coffee tour and night walk) and educational. They all had such a vast amount of knowledge of the plant and wild life of Costa Rica. They all continue their education by taking courses to keep up their expertise. They were all very well mannered and always arrived on time.

Our accommodations were really nice (except for one).

Hotel Presidente had a beautiful rooftop patio and our room was clean and spacious.

Arenal Manoa and Hot Springs was magical, the view outside our cottage of the volcano, soaking in the hot springs, great wood fired pizza and foot massage by the bubbling river, all such wonderful memories.

Casitas Tenorio was so very special. Being so rustic and tucked in the mountains, we saw many animals and birds from the outdoor terrace while having breakfast. We enjoyed the tour of the farm and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Improvements could be made with the breakfast and the bed linens.

Senda Monteverde Hotel was magnificent. Such a beautiful view from high up on the cliff. We were very well treated, love the free snacks and alcohol in the fridge and the hot water bottles in the bed at night. We were glad we were in NUMBER ONE bungalow. It was very close to the dining room and check in. Many bungalows needed a driver to drive them up to it because of the steepness.

Hotel San Bada was a disappointment unfortunately. The check in experience by a very rude employee was disappointing. There was some error made where instead of 3 nights booked it was 2 nights. The employee was so rude and literally left it up to us to figure it out. Serendipity Tours was very good with resolving the problem. Also, our room had a very moldy, musty smell. We mentioned it to housekeeping and they tried to unsuccessfully resolve it. That smell got into some of our clothes as well. The hotel did not offer to move rooms. I would NOT recommend this hotel. It is in much need of renovation and repair. The elevator floor was broken and the rusty balcony railing needed painting. Having said that, the location is great, very close to the Park. And the rest of the staff was kind and helpful.

Hotel Buena Vista was wonderful and great location. Great staff, amazing breakfast and spectacular view. Our room was really nice and modern, well kept and clean. I would definitely recommend it.

I hope these comments are helpful for future visitors to lovely Costa Rica.

Pura Vida,
Vera and Doug Smith

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casitas Tenorio

Upala, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Monteverde Boutique Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

One front desk employee was rude and not helpful at all. The other two front desk staff were helpful and courteous. The cleaning staff was very good.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room had a smell that seem to be difficult to resolve. However the room was clean.

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñas Blancas River Nature Float (La Fortuna area)

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very long pick up process

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sukia - Night Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My 14 day Best of Costa Rica trip was amazing. Bryan, Nancy, and Charlotte did a wonderful job of tailoring a mixture of the excursions I wanted with enough relaxing time so as not to be exhausting. Each destination had it's own unique quality and beauty to it. This was my first time doing anything like this, and I was very overly nervous about how it would all come together. The team answered my repeated questions, rapidly, effectively, in person, and kindly. The excursions, transportation,... read more

My 14 day Best of Costa Rica trip was amazing. Bryan, Nancy, and Charlotte did a wonderful job of tailoring a mixture of the excursions I wanted with enough relaxing time so as not to be exhausting. Each destination had it's own unique quality and beauty to it. This was my first time doing anything like this, and I was very overly nervous about how it would all come together. The team answered my repeated questions, rapidly, effectively, in person, and kindly. The excursions, transportation, and lodging all came through on time and with no problems. KimKim and the team have earned my trust, and I am planning my next adventure with them.

Hotel Reviews

El Faro Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The view is gorgeous and the best part of the hotel. It is on a steep hill, if someone is not able to walk well, but you can request a shuttle ride. All the furnishings were uncomfortable. The bed was hard, there was a cheap sofa facing a wall that only served to put luggage on, no inside chairs, and patio chairs also uncomfortable. Pool lounges uncomfortable too.

Authenticity & Character

it should be more homey. is uncomfortable and cold

Location

it is close to manuel antonio

Staff

didn't really interact with the staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

i guess it was clean, but not comfy

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde Costa Rica

This hotel had the best bed and room setup. The bed was so comfy and fluffy comforter made it so cozy. It was better than other more expensive property beds. There were upholstered chairs by the windows for reading or whatever which other properties didn't have either. We found a trail in back, and saw lots of birds and animals.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was just a bit far to walk to town or other eateries. We did eat at the restaurant and they had a good home made tomato pasta sauce with fresh vegetables from their garden

Staff

very friendly and helpful, and they were there day and night it seemed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This property was gorgeous and we had a stunning view of the volcano. You had your own cabana, so it was very private and seemed like there wasn't other guests. The breakfast buffet had everything and overlooked a small pond with lots of wildlife. There were also sloths in the trees. We did take advantage of both pools and the termales. The bed wasn't as comfy as Hotel Heliconia was probably the only critique.

Authenticity & Character

the ground were gorgeous. reminded us of Hawaii

Location

view of arenal from the patio

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tenorio Lodge

Bijagua de Upala

I loved that the owner had a bird feeder in front which attracted so many kinds of exotic birds, and some squirrels too. It was great viewing and photo ops. The room had gorgeous floor to ceiling windows, but you didn't get much of a view because of the height of the vegetation. It did make it private. You had to go to the restaurant deck to get the view of the volcano. It was very nice relaxing on this deck. The canvas chairs that went with with the small table by the windows were too low for the table, and uncomfortable. There was a sofa which was good, but no good reading lighting to read in it. The water never was very warm. The grounds were very pretty, and it was quiet. It is a bit remote, so we made a stop at a market for some things before stopping. There is a walking trail to an observation deck over a pond, which was dense with foliage where we saw howler monkeys and birds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

was just a bit far out, which was both good for serenity, but left no other options for eating

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

The location of our room was across the street from the oceanfront, which although not on the beach, was still convenient. I liked the grass beachfront, as it was breezy/windy and there was sand blowing. With the grass you didn't get sandblown. I did prefer the more sandy beach at the near Playa Langosta, however as I said, the grass here was a plus. And Playa Langosta was not too far to walk if you wanted to enjoy that Our room was in a multi level/unit building near the auto entrance and at the beginning of the passage. We got a lot of noise with people passing by, especially on Saturday when they are drunk and really loud. And at night, when the auto arm was raised, you got beep beep beep up, then the same down. We did not get good sleep here. The room had a nice patio oriented toward the pool, which although not the beach, was still nice. The breakfast buffet was really good. There are plenty of stores and eateries close. I would actually rate this hotel a 3 1/2 due to the noise and close proximity to neighbors.

Authenticity & Character

a big multi unit building if you're not right on the beach

Location

i would've preferred ocean front, and not having to cross the street. however, i was on a budget and the beachfront was probably more money.

Staff

didn't interact much with staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

be sure to get your room at the end of the aisle so you don't get a parade of people going by and can't her the auto arm

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Adventure from Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

I got to be like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous for an afternoon. The catamaran was amazing, the largest of any other tour company out there. Got to see the coastline, and lots of dolphins, and nesting habitats on the small isles. We didn't end up snorkeling, as there was a red sea so visibility was reduced. We also didn't jump from the boat to the water, due to our age. The young people really enjoyed that. The dinner provided was very good and ample. There was also fruit prior. And you got 4 drinks per person, which we didn't even use all of. The beautiful sunset was a perfect ending. What I didn't like was that the music was deafening. You could hardly speak with the person you came with. The music selection was good, but just too loud. I also didn't like that the transportation bus made many stops to pick up other guests, understandable, but then we all had to disembark at the Boat Headquarters in town to receive our bracelets for the tour. This was inconvenient and time consuming when we were all amped to start our experience. The driver had all our names, so why wasn't it possible for him to go in and collect our bracelets and give them to us, and we're on our way. That is my suggestion for your team for the future.

Quality of Experience

same as above

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

I was really impressed with our guide for pointing out not only the obvious sloths, monkeys, but the flora and minuscule creatures that one would overlook. The guide was so adept at not only finding the wildlife, but getting the perfect photo and video for you. We did see many sloths, white faced monkeys, howler monkeys, and an endangered squirrel monkeys which was a rare treat. The tour ends on a beautiful beach where you can swim or relax away from the public beaches.

Quality of Experience

everything mentioned

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had one small glitch. We were told the tour office was right outside the park. That's not exactly correctly. It's on a small side street on the left. Once there our names weren't in the computer and our guide wasn't there. However, shortly he showed up, and he was amazing, the best of them all

Night Walk: Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

This walk was fun in that you are on trails in the night with your flashlight, provided by them, seeking out creatures of the night. It reminded me of being a kid. We mostly located species of birds roosting for the night, and it gave you the opportunity to see them pretty close up as they didn't fly off. It was interactive for the group (small) to participate in locating items of interest too. The tour begins with a beautiful sunset of the area that the children helped save before setting off on your adventure.

Day at Selvatura, Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Monteverde

The jungle is so lush and beautiful Spent so much time just looking at everything. The bridges were a lot of fun swaying with the wind, as well as providing a view from higher up. The sloth sanctuary exhibit at the end provided up close viewing of these animals which was fascinating, and the guide was knowledgeable. There was also a butterfly exhibit and a reptile after, both enjoyable and less crowded than the sloths.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Surf Lessons at Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo

I had such a fun time with this. The lesson was actually at Langosta Beach, not Tamarindo, which is a short ways away. This worked out fine as the beach is sandier and better for beginners. It turned out I was the only one in the group, so it was really a private lesson. I was able to get up my first try, and I am 68 years old. What a kick. The instructor guides you out on the board, then pushes you onto a wave, so it is not too difficult. Staying up is the harder part. The water was warm and shallow, and it was aslo a great respite from the heat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Guided Rainforest Hike

Costa Rica

This was a not to hard hike along the beautiful blue river culminating with the gorgeous blue waterfall. Our guide was very knowledgeable with the explanation and geography which makes this color occur. A bonus was the giant tapir which made an appearance.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike was not too difficult, and it had 3 levels of difficulty to choose. I chose the longest route, and it was still a pleasant hike although it rained and we didn't have a view of the volcano or lake.

Guided Nature Walk in Danaus Eco-Center

Arenal/La Fortuna

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

The warm water felt great as it was intermittent rain so was good to submerge in warm water. The water fall area was great on the back. The included dinner was very good.

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was relaxing going down the river and spotting the wildlife, but adventurous enough not to be boring. You are in a raft and do have to paddle in parts, so you got some exercise too. You do spot animals, but you are traveling down a river, so you don't get as great watch as if you were still. I didn't know about the chocolate presentation after, and thought it would be boring, but it wasn't. And the chocolate was delicious.

Incredible trip with memories we will cherish!
Bryan and his team provided exceptional service from planning the trip to hands on 24/7 support or question through out our 2 weeks journey!

We loved our drivers/tour guides that made our activities beyond our expectations! We are planning other trips with Kimkim simply because of how they listen to our needs and experiences we desire. Plus they are with us on What’s App to support us throughout our trip!

Thank you for making our 30th... read more

Incredible trip with memories we will cherish!
Bryan and his team provided exceptional service from planning the trip to hands on 24/7 support or question through out our 2 weeks journey!

We loved our drivers/tour guides that made our activities beyond our expectations! We are planning other trips with Kimkim simply because of how they listen to our needs and experiences we desire. Plus they are with us on What’s App to support us throughout our trip!

Thank you for making our 30th Anniversary so very special!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

The people, food and hotel was exceptional!!!

Authenticity & Character

The people and food made the experience here.

Location

Staff

Love the staff!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Ocotea Boutique Hotel

Santa Elena

The sunsets from the roof top bar were exceptional!

Authenticity & Character

The staff were the most accommodating! Modern and European character.

Location

Staff

Love the staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Hotel Cuna del Angel

Dominical

Authenticity & Character

The food was totally incredible and everything was gluten free - incredible chef!!!!!!!!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

They did not clean our room but they did upgrade us to a villa for our anniversary.

Activity Reviews

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

We only visited the organic farm — none of the cultural experiences beyond the farm was omitted. The children are not in school in January so something should have been substituted.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Nature Walk in Danaus Eco-Center

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura, Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Monteverde

I could not do this experience because I have an issue with heights. I thought I had noted this in advance but I assume I might not have. There were 8 bridges which I could not cross therefore I could not go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Monteverde Orchid Gardens

Monteverde

Very knowledgeable guide at the center. Learned a great deal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marino Ballena Park Combination Tour

Costa Rica

Ok, no whales. It was an ok experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terraba Sierpe Mangrove & Wildlife Tour

Uvita

We traded this experience to go snorkeling for the day. The snorkeling was ok. The guide and boat support team were exceptional!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Poas Volcano

Costa Rica

We purchased an 8hour full day tour from the hotel on top of the Poas Volcano Tour. Best tour of the entire trip and best guide/ driver also!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our driver/ guide!!!!!!!!

Transport

We had a blast in Costa Rica (Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Monteverde) and were impressed with how smoothly everything went! We had no issues during our stay. Accommodations were great, our transportation always arrived early, and the tour guides and service were PHENOMENAL. Bryan did a great job putting everything together.

read more

We had a blast in Costa Rica (Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Monteverde) and were impressed with how smoothly everything went! We had no issues during our stay. Accommodations were great, our transportation always arrived early, and the tour guides and service were PHENOMENAL. Bryan did a great job putting everything together.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center

San José

The rooms were comfortable and the rooftop dining area was nice. The location is right in the heart of the city, which in San Jose means we had to be a little careful. The streets essentially roll up by around 8-9pm and there is not a soul in sight. We have been told that it isn't very safe to walk around at night in the city and that was apparent to us in this area. This means that if you don't want to be hungry at night, make sure to eat a full dinner early on as there is no where nearby to get food and the hotel only offers $3 bags of peanuts. The free breakfast in the morning, however, was delicious with a large selection. The fact that everything around the hotel closes so early also makes it difficult for smokers. Since smoking is not allowed anywhere on the premises my husband stepped out front at night to smoke a cigarette, and the gate promptly locked behind him (gate was not accessible with the hotel key). After about 5 minutes, the gate was opened for him, but during this time he did start to get heckled by an aggressive homeless man. The only entrance/exit to the hotel essentially leads right into the street so it's good to be careful when leaving the hotel grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Designated smoking area, main gate could be accessible with hotel key, vending machine

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

This is where we saw the majority of wildlife during our stay. The grounds are spread out and lovely with tons of beautiful vegetation, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Howler monkeys and iguana were abundant. Our guide for being transported via boat as well as the boat tours was Elias, and he was amazing and also very helpful when we needed to modify our plans slightly. Bismark at the front desk was also very helpful and friendly. They keep the bar running from 10am - 10pm and the large water-facing gazebo as a designated smoking area was appreciated. Being that we were in the middle of the jungle, the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms exceeded my expectations. There is no AC but the temperature was perfect the whole time and I truly didn't even notice. There are also mosquito screens rather than windows, but I still felt like I had enough privacy, plus the screens allowed us to hear all the jungle noises! I had a lot of fun just walking the nature trail and looking for (and finding) wildlife. The grounds were very relaxing. The tap water here is not for drinking but there is a place to fill up water bottles toward the entrance. The food was better than I expected. It is not out of this world or anything, but it is more than adequate. It is offered buffet style (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). We sat at assigned tables in small groups, but the tables were big enough that I didn't feel crowded. Also, the time window that meals are offered is large enough that it was rare for everyone at a given table were all eating at the same time. It is best to go outside toward the bar/restaurant for a good WiFi connection, if needed. I believe a lot of these lodges in Tortuguero (Pachira, Evergreen) all have the exact same setup and function essentially the same. I would definitely recommend them for staying somewhere that feels like 'the jungle' but doesn't sacrifice comfort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fonda Vela Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Customer service from Jazmin at the front desk and the restaurant staff was superb.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The restaurant here is perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever eaten (beautiful jungle view) and I am still thinking about how good the seafood soup was weeks later. The rooms were comfortable (also with beautiful views) and the springs were nice. The customer service was also exceptional. I would definitely recommend this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Picturesque Volcano Lake Kayaking

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leno was our guide and he was great.

Transport

Guided Boat Tour through Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Nighttime Rainforest Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our recent trip to Costa Rica in January 2023 was amazing, it was our first trip in Costa Rica and the trip planned by Bryan and the Serenpidity team was amazing. Our goal was to see a lot of wildlife and experience the Rainforest and Cloudforest and our excursions totally met our expectations. The hotels were also great, with 2 of them absolutely fantastic (Arenal Manoa in La Fortuna and La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio).

We would totally recommend Kimkim and Bryan to our friends. read more

Our recent trip to Costa Rica in January 2023 was amazing, it was our first trip in Costa Rica and the trip planned by Bryan and the Serenpidity team was amazing. Our goal was to see a lot of wildlife and experience the Rainforest and Cloudforest and our excursions totally met our expectations. The hotels were also great, with 2 of them absolutely fantastic (Arenal Manoa in La Fortuna and La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio).

We would totally recommend Kimkim and Bryan to our friends.

Bryan was extremely patient and thorough when planning our trip. He was able to answer all my questions and concerns, and adjust my plans accordingly. He truly understood what we were wanting for this trip and our experience exceeded our expectations. We had a great balance of cultural experiences and downtime to hang out at the beach and pools. All of our accommodations were interesting and wonderful -- not your average resort. We loved the Poas Volcano Lodge in the Cloud Forest. It was... read more

Bryan was extremely patient and thorough when planning our trip. He was able to answer all my questions and concerns, and adjust my plans accordingly. He truly understood what we were wanting for this trip and our experience exceeded our expectations. We had a great balance of cultural experiences and downtime to hang out at the beach and pools. All of our accommodations were interesting and wonderful -- not your average resort. We loved the Poas Volcano Lodge in the Cloud Forest. It was small and intimate, and they went out of their way to make our family feel welcome. My kids declared it the best hot cocoa. Our favorite was La Mariposa in Manuel Antonio. Monkeys were always around and we had a pair of Macaws fly past our balcony every morning. Nearby restaurants are great. Our favorite excursion here was the nighttime rainforest tour. The national park tour is a must, and we had THE BEST tour guide, but expect it to be very slow. Lost Iguana near La Fortuna is a good place to stay, but it could use a little bit of updating. However, the views are the best, great hiking trail and a good restaurant. Our kids liked the heated pool. The town of La Fortuna has a lot of shopping and restaurants. Our favorite events of the entire trip were here: The cultural experience was the absolute best and everyone should be so lucky to do this. Second to that was the Chocolate Factory Tour.

If you're considering using KimKim.com to plan your trip to Costa Rica, do it. Our experience was seamless and wonderful. We will use them again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Wonderful rooms and guest services. Incredible views and we especially loved watching all the monkeys who live in the trees surrounding the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to/from restaurants, tours, ocean, etc.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Poas Volcano Lodge

Vara Blanca

Super sweet lodge with the friendliest staff. The design and architecture is very cool and it's tucked into the forest with lots of trails.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Less than an hour from the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lost Iguana Resort and Spa

Fortuna

Great location! Fun staff and a wonderful environment. The rock shower is neat but not really usable, and the rooms are pretty sparse but very clean. The rooms could use a little updating but overall it's still very nice and a relaxing place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Great tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sukia - Night Tour

Manuel Antonio

One of our favorite experiences. It was just our family of 5 and the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cultural Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite experience of the whole trip. The family who hosted us was amazing -- we learned more about Costa Rican culture and felt immersed in the family's story and life. The description said we'd visit a school and we did not get to do that but the time at the farm and with the family was wonderful all by itself.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Ecotermales is a neat place. Very clean and calm. We enjoyed seeing the Hot Springs but an hour was plenty and I wouldn't recommend getting the meal with it. The food was not good and the restaurant was a little dirty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike is pretty and enjoyable , but the view of the volcano is better from a distance. Seeing the waterfall is pretty cool and we all enjoyed the enormity of it. The water is ice cold so don't expect to swim or stay very long. It's a quick trip to see the waterfall and hike back out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chocolate Factory Tour in Rainforest Chocolate Tour.

Arenal/La Fortuna

One of our family's favorites! Travelers should absolutely do this. It is fun and educational. We returned much more conscience of our choices when purchasing and eating chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andres, our guide at Manuel Antonio, was the best bird tour guide ever! The highlight of our trip!
Our tours and drivers were all fantastic. Our stay at Chrystal Ballena in Uvita and Alma Hotel in Esterillos Este were our favorites. The Beach in Esterillos Este at the hotel was gorgeous and very private. read more

Andres, our guide at Manuel Antonio, was the best bird tour guide ever! The highlight of our trip!
Our tours and drivers were all fantastic. Our stay at Chrystal Ballena in Uvita and Alma Hotel in Esterillos Este were our favorites. The Beach in Esterillos Este at the hotel was gorgeous and very private.

Overall, I was completely blown away by my family's trip to Costa Rica. I expected to see natural beauty and warm weather but the hospitality of the locals is why I’ll be coming back.

Two examples. On our drive to Monteverde we got a bit lost and were trying to make a U-turn on a narrow, difficult part of road. A random guy riding past on his dirt bike stopped, got off his bike, paused incoming traffic, and helped guide us through the turn. Roads in Costa Rica were pretty terrible outside... read more

Overall, I was completely blown away by my family's trip to Costa Rica. I expected to see natural beauty and warm weather but the hospitality of the locals is why I’ll be coming back.

Two examples. On our drive to Monteverde we got a bit lost and were trying to make a U-turn on a narrow, difficult part of road. A random guy riding past on his dirt bike stopped, got off his bike, paused incoming traffic, and helped guide us through the turn. Roads in Costa Rica were pretty terrible outside of San Jose but it’s not really a big deal. Drive with a puravida mindset and you’ll be perfectly fine. On another occasion, we stayed at Hotel Koora at Monteverde. The staff gave my 5 year old a really cool wooden Coati toy. They also loaded us up a bag of water and snacks after learning we were heading out on a road trip to Manuel Antonio. Amazing.

The food was incredible. Nothing fancy but everything is fresh and a lot of attention is paid to preparation regardless of where you eat from Soda’s to the 4 star hotels.

I traveled with my five year old. He loved the trip and especially any component with a beach or pool. The guided nature hikes are a bit tough on kids. Really cool when they get to see things but it can be hard for them to spot things in the dense jungle. For kids especially I recommend the night nature tours. We used ​​Sukia in Manuel Antonio and they were terrific. Kids love holding the spotlight and trying to find eyes in the dark.

I got the impression that Costa Rica has a very complicated economy... with a large social/word of mouth culture. I wouldn't recommend doing stuff without e.g. a professional tour guide. Socio, our guide with Endemic Birds, was incredibly knowledgeable and great at trying to keep the kids entertained.

Brian with Serendipity Adventures did an amazing job with getting our itinerary setup. Everything flowed seamlessly. Hotels exceeded expectations.

Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures.

We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our... read more

Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures.

We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our questions. We were in touch with Nancy during our trip confirming pick up times and making schedule changes if needed.

From end to end the private transportation was clean, comfortable and on time. The drivers were friendly, brought snacks for us, and happily stopped for bathroom and lunch breaks. We considered renting a van and driving ourselves and are very glad we chose to leave the driving through winding mountain roads to professionals!

Christmas week was very busy but Bryan was able to find excellent accommodations in the small, locally owned hotels we requested. Each one was different but they were all conveniently located, clean, comfortable and included a hearty breakfast. We felt welcome and cared for by everyone we met.

We now know that the key to seeing wildlife in Costa Rica is getting great guides. Chris and Roy (Arenal Star), Andy (Forest Alive), Chris (Sky Adventures) and Andres (Endemic Bird) were fantastic! We appreciated their vast knowledge of each ecosystem along with its flora, fauna, insects and reptiles. They carried high-quality equipment and helped us capture amazing pictures and videos. We highly recommend them all!

Costa Rica is a beautiful country, rich in natural beauty and wildlife. We are grateful that the friendly people of Costa Rica have chosen eco-tourism over deforestation and are preserving their rain forests, cloud forests, fog forests and beautiful beaches for themselves and those of us lucky enough to visit.

Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge

Fortuna

If you are looking for an authentic ecolodge experience, this is the place for you! Rustic, individual bungalows set in the rain forest. Bungalows were spacious, clean, comfortable with modern amenities. There were howler monkeys in the trees throughout our visit and colorful tropical birds on display at the restaurant. We enjoyed walking the nature trail and were lucky to see a large Fer de Lance off to the side of the trail at a safe distance. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Not for everyone but we loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

10 minutes taxi outside Fortuna.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were large, clean and comfortable but kept rather dark. That might be because they don't want to disturb the wildlife...

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde Costa Rica

Great location at the top of a hill outside Santa Elena. Nice views of the valley. We stayed in 3 family garden rooms in the main lodge close to the restaurant. The rooms were large, comfortable and clean with a big bathroom and walk in shower. The restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner, not open for lunch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy 20 minute walk down hill into town but you'll definitely want to get a taxi for the trip back.

Staff

The staff at the front desk and in the restaurant were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Resort style hotel with two pools and beach access located adjacent to the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Very relaxing place to end our trip. Our standard rooms were large, clean and comfortable on a lower floor. Future guests might chose to be on a higher floor to have a better view of the forest or the ocean. The family pool looked great but we'd highly recommend the adult only pool, bar and sushi restaurant on the 6th floor! Excellent breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We avoided all the traffic in town because we were so close to the entrance to the park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

Excellent location for arriving and departing from San Jose International airport. Very artsy vibe, clean, comfortable, very friendly staff. Nice bar and restaurant, hearty breakfast. We especially appreciated the friendly airport shuttle drivers who picked us up and dropped us off on time at all hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Chris and our driver Roy took great care of us!

Transport

The resorts were gorgeous and had great service. The restaurants in the resorts were excellent. Our guides were superb. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. We loved the whitewater rafting, sea kayaking and hikes. We even enjoyed a night hike. We will definitely use Kim Kim again. We loved the trip in Costa Rica so much we are planning on returning next year. read more

The resorts were gorgeous and had great service. The restaurants in the resorts were excellent. Our guides were superb. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. We loved the whitewater rafting, sea kayaking and hikes. We even enjoyed a night hike. We will definitely use Kim Kim again. We loved the trip in Costa Rica so much we are planning on returning next year.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The grounds are gorgeous and the restaurant is great. We loved the hot springs. Spa was great too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views were awesome.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and pillows aren't the most comfortable and hated the shower/jacuzzi. Very unbalanced for taking showers.

Parador Resort and Spa

Manuel Antonio

Magnificent views, great service and good restaurants with a very talented guitarist. Loved the monkey trail. Very clean. Beds and pillows very comfortable. Great air conditioning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Gorgeous views and Werner was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Kenneth was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very organized. Great guides. Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Great guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Beautiful views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bryan put together a wonderful trip! Everything went seamlessly and the tours and accommodations were amazing. Rental vehicles were picked up our hotel and shuttle service to the airport ordered. There were so many details that were taken care of and it was nice to know that if we needed their help or support while we were travelling that they were there for us. Thankfully the people of Costa Rica were very hospitable and welcoming everywhere we went and the trip was very memorable. ... read more

Bryan put together a wonderful trip! Everything went seamlessly and the tours and accommodations were amazing. Rental vehicles were picked up our hotel and shuttle service to the airport ordered. There were so many details that were taken care of and it was nice to know that if we needed their help or support while we were travelling that they were there for us. Thankfully the people of Costa Rica were very hospitable and welcoming everywhere we went and the trip was very memorable. Thank you Bryan for creating great memories for us!!

Bryan and Charlotte were very helpful in providing the best combination of activities for our family. We liked all the hotel selections and tour operators were excellent. During our stay, our GPS took us down the wrong path one day and we were going to miss our planned boat cruise. They helped us adjust our tour timings on the same day notifying the tour company at short notice. Appreciated the local support when we needed it. We loved the curation of activities and places and it saved a... read more

Bryan and Charlotte were very helpful in providing the best combination of activities for our family. We liked all the hotel selections and tour operators were excellent. During our stay, our GPS took us down the wrong path one day and we were going to miss our planned boat cruise. They helped us adjust our tour timings on the same day notifying the tour company at short notice. Appreciated the local support when we needed it. We loved the curation of activities and places and it saved a lot of time trying to figure out everything on our own. Having someone with local knowledge was great so we got the best hotels and reputable service providers - important when traveling internationally. We will definitely recommend KimKim and would like to use their services again and help customize our trip even more ! Great idea and service

Hotel Reviews

Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel & Hot Springs

Liberia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only an hour from the airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Great hotel in the center of activities - nice access to all restaurants and beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa

Helpful staff, natural surrounding with beach access to Playa Hermosa. Not too crowded.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful guides and staff. They helped us change a flat tire while on the boat cruise and helped us find our way back to the main road.

Transport

Access roads to this place are not good - this is in the middle of fields and wetlands. Need better directions and assistance getting there.

Tube Down the Rio Negro

Rincon de la Vieja

Great adventure and unique experience - very scenic down the river

Quality of Experience

Was a unique experience - bit rougher than expected with a bumpy ride although guides were excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guides - very hard working team that takes you through the rapids

Transport

Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall

Costa Rica

Excellent experience seeing the volcano and rainforest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip and everything worked out wonderfully. Everything planned worked smoothly and on time. Here is a short review:
The car was delivered on time. We did not get to see a lot of Poas as it was very cloudy and raining heavily. The Arenal observatory lodge was great so was the complimentary breakfast and the dinner menu. The pool and hot tub are spectacular. It is 30 minutes away from the touristic La Fortuna area but that was just fine as the little that I did get to see of... read more

We had a wonderful trip and everything worked out wonderfully. Everything planned worked smoothly and on time. Here is a short review:
The car was delivered on time. We did not get to see a lot of Poas as it was very cloudy and raining heavily. The Arenal observatory lodge was great so was the complimentary breakfast and the dinner menu. The pool and hot tub are spectacular. It is 30 minutes away from the touristic La Fortuna area but that was just fine as the little that I did get to see of Lafortuna did not seem very authentic.
The private guide at Arenal was very enjoyable, especially at the beginning of the trip as we got to chat about different subjects and the country and as he pointed out and got us great pictures of animals and insects.
Monteverde was great and we enjoyed Selvatura park and canopy zip lining was very impressive.
All the hotels selected were clean and comfortable and the personnel friendly and helpful. The poco à poco hotel in Monteverde was comfortable and the breakfast very good, the room was clean and comfortable but thin walls and metal roofs made it noisy, although quiet at night. The personnel were nice and helpful and they even found a sweater I had forgotten in the selvatura shuttle and arranged to have it delivered to my hotel in Manuel Antonio.
We did not get a guide at Manuel Antonio which was fine because by that time we could move at our own pace and animals were more obvious than at Arenal. Since our last day activity was unfortunately cancelled (scuba diving) we visited playa dominical which we liked for its smaller local feel.

So overall it was a great experience, and everything worked out perfectly. We visited near the end of the rainy season, and it can rain quite a bit, sometimes all day and all night, the mornings are usually dryer and we managed to get one sunny day on the pacific coast.

We always planned to have plenty of time for travel between cities and that was very useful as the roads are narrow and we came across some traffic every time for different reasons so drivers should plan for extra time when driving just in case.

Excellent service provided by partners even with a few hiccups along the way. Wish we could have stayed longer!!!

read more

Excellent service provided by partners even with a few hiccups along the way. Wish we could have stayed longer!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Riviera Hotel B&B

Heredia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Factory Tour in Rainforest Chocolate Tour.

Arenal/La Fortuna

Sukia - Night Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José Explorer City Tour

San José

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First of all, Bryan was an amazing help in discussing our travel ideas and after confirming everything, he made an awesome job of scheduling the full holiday.

Every accommodation, activity, guide, travel, etc was smooth and punctual. The only thing we had to do was follow the itinerary and enjoy ourselves.

There were several times when arriving at the new accommodation, the guides were already there waiting for us, so we could go immediately if we feel like it, for example, the river... read more

First of all, Bryan was an amazing help in discussing our travel ideas and after confirming everything, he made an awesome job of scheduling the full holiday.

Every accommodation, activity, guide, travel, etc was smooth and punctual. The only thing we had to do was follow the itinerary and enjoy ourselves.

There were several times when arriving at the new accommodation, the guides were already there waiting for us, so we could go immediately if we feel like it, for example, the river tubing in Bijagua. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of our river tubing guide, but he was a really informative, friendly and good guide who made sure we enjoy the river tubing and hiking with him in Bijagua. The Casitas Tenorio B&B in Bijagua was a beautiful and calm resting place for us in the middle of our trip, where we could even spot howler monkeys a few meters away.

One of the most beautiful, calm and nature surrounded and favourite place we stayed at was the Caribbean side, the Congo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica in Puerto Viejo - Manzanillo. Here, you feel like you are inside the jungle, with monkeys above the house, with raccoons trying to steal your food remains in the night and hummingbirds buzzing and flying around you (less than a meter away) while you are chilling on the porch and sipping your coffee. It is beautiful.

In La Fortuna, I would strongly recommend that you would stay in the Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa. While it is really not the cheapest (however not the most expensive either), it gives you a transcendental experience. Here, you will not have any other task just to unwind and relax. They are making sure you will have a perfect time there and nothing to worry about. I would really like to go back there, even if the level of pampering there were so new to me that I was sometimes a bit flustered. :)
I would like to mention two people from Tabacón who were extra friendly and helpful. Diego was one of the chefs (at least at the breakfasts) who made sure that you had everything you wanted, and was willing to go the extra mile to make something for you if you had any wishes.
The other person was Diane, who was the most friendly and cute person we ever had the chance to talk with. She was a joy to speak with. (most of the time she was in charge of greeting and sitting the people at the restaurant reception)

In Monteverde, while the accommodation we selected was nothing special (and even had some struggles to change rooms because the rooms randomly don't have safes), the area is wonderful and filled with animals. The coffee and chocolate tour with the Don Juan Tours was really informative and our guide was one of the funniest on the whole trip, always cracking us up. The next day, in Sky Adventures park, we had two really good guides. The hike in the park was really informative and after that I really enjoyed the Arboreal tree climbing experience. It was challenging and rewarding at the same time and had just enough trees to enjoy it.

And for last but not least, we visited Manuel Antonio and stayed in the Tico Tico Villa which was an another amazing and relaxing experience. It is just a small but well equipped nice apartment with swimming pool, BBQ and etc, meanwhile scarlet macaws are flying above you, iguanas relaxing on the porch, capuchin monkeys are travelling on the trees. The owner is the loveliest person we have met on the trip. This place in details was nothing special, however I would really recommend it because overall it is a beautiful and relaxing experience after travelling through the country.
In Manuel Antonio we went to kayaking in the Damas'Island mangrove forest which is a really nice, relaxing and unwinding experience where Emese even realised how much she likes kayaking.
The next morning, we went to the Manuel Antonio national park with Adrian from Paddle 9, who was one of our favourite guide. He was informative, friendly and helpful and through him, we could get to know a lot not just about nature but Costa Rica too. Later on the same day we had another trip with Paddle 9, however it was less successful. While the activity would have been perfect, unfortunately trying to learn to do Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP) on the ocean is not beginner friendly. Unfortunately our guide misjudged our level and we went to a shore where the waves were over our levels and had to cancel our activity, but I have to mention that they really did their best to let us hike out of that bay through the forest the safest and easiest. As a summary of this activity, it is a good fun, but be sure you are not a total beginner or if you are, you are a confident swimmer in a really good shape.

And for the end, I would like to thank Bryan and the Serendipity Adventures team again for their efforts to make sure we enjoyed this trip. Be it organising everything, giving us travel updates about larger road closures or trying to get back our lost belongings, they always did their best and we are really happy to recommend them. Thank you very much. This 19 days and 1500km round trip was a really amazing holiday.

First time KimKim user and will now be an evangelist. I highly recommend KimKim if you lack time to plan a trip yourself. Bryan was our local specialist, and he helped arrange an excellent introduction of Costa Rica for us, with a detailed itinerary that made our trip entirely stress free. We had a quiet trip that focused on short, guided hikes introducing us to the forests. We loved our two cities (La Fortuna and Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park), though in the future we might look for a more... read more

First time KimKim user and will now be an evangelist. I highly recommend KimKim if you lack time to plan a trip yourself. Bryan was our local specialist, and he helped arrange an excellent introduction of Costa Rica for us, with a detailed itinerary that made our trip entirely stress free. We had a quiet trip that focused on short, guided hikes introducing us to the forests. We loved our two cities (La Fortuna and Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park), though in the future we might look for a more remote beach (we were right outside of the park, which was nice, but that part of Quepos wasn't so interesting). One of our favorite parts of the trip was getting to meet all of the different guides, who each had their own way of showing off their country. We look forward to using KimKim in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Right outside the Manuel Antonio Park entrance, and thus to the park beaches which are incredible. Couldn't be closer, or have better location. We also went to the hotel sushi restaurant and booked a couples massage at the hotel. We enjoyed both experiences.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide Kenneth was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zip Lining Tour

Costa Rica

Good experience, a nice view of the canopies, a bit of adrenaline for those with acrophobia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Very interesting

Quality of Experience

The guide was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

loved this park!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was one of the most knowledgeable guides we had our entire trip; he was also weirdly an anti-Darwin evangelist for Intelligent Design, but that just added some character to the trip.

Transport

we were right next door to the park! Couldn't have better transportation.

Birdwatching in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing diversity of birds

Quality of Experience

Food

I think in future might have been nice to have coffee snack *before* starting (it's 530am!) and then get back for hotel breakfast after birding.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport