Bryan Leon

Amazing trip!!
Thank you the excellent guides and personalized itinerary read more

Amazing trip!!
Thank you the excellent guides and personalized itinerary

Our 8-Day visit to the tropical paradise of Costa Rica made us realize that life is good, it is very, very good.About the size of the American State of West Virginia, Costa Rica is a legend for its natural beauty, biodiversity and of course, its people.
It's our first time to use KimKim as a travel planner app when planning this trip. It matched us with a Costa Rican travel outfit, Serendipity Adventures. From the initial planning stage to the final execution, our local contact, Bryan... read more

Our 8-Day visit to the tropical paradise of Costa Rica made us realize that life is good, it is very, very good.About the size of the American State of West Virginia, Costa Rica is a legend for its natural beauty, biodiversity and of course, its people.
It's our first time to use KimKim as a travel planner app when planning this trip. It matched us with a Costa Rican travel outfit, Serendipity Adventures. From the initial planning stage to the final execution, our local contact, Bryan Leon, tailored our 8 day visit ( as per our request and budget) to include a good introduction to the country. He did this by letting us sample the unbelievable landscapes of Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio along with fun activities like trekking, zip lining, night walk in a cloud forest, guided nature hike ,and swimming in the ocean. Bryan was a complete pro in responding to our queries and a valuable local resource we truly relied on.In addition, Nancy and Charlotte from the main office in San Jose also made sure everything was seamless.
We had local guides who made sure that this trip was for the ages. Alex Quieros picked us up at our fantastic hotel in San Jose and drove us to Arenal where we experienced the rain forest and its wildlife. Alex was an awesome guide and driver. He conducted himself with professionalism, kindness, and charm. We felt very comfortable and safe with him. His driving skills were impeccable and he was a delight to talk to. Our second guide, Marianus ,took us on a volcanic hike and later a visit to the La Fortuna waterfall. He was engaging, immensely knowledgeable, and so much fun to be with. Our third guide, Andreas, was skillful at spotting wildlife with a tripod telescope. As both a certified guide and a researcher, he wowed us with his expertise in local flora and fauna.
In addition to the wonderful guides, Serendipity Adventures, made sure that we stayed at top-notched accommodations. Each of the places we stayed made thoughtful little gestures ( we were marking our wedding anniversary and we had bottles of wine waiting for us to enhance the celebratory mood).We were also impressed with the level of attention.
Overall, this short but immensely satisfying visit happened because of the expertise and professionalism of the crew at Serendipity Adventures. We can't wait to come back and we are already telling our friends and neighbors about our fantastic trip to beautiful Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

I went into this without any knowledge of KimKim or using a service to plan our trip to Costa Rica. I'm more excited to use it again now that I understand the process and what to expect. We were routed to Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip and Bryan Leon was the organizer for the trip. He was very patient with me as I wasn't sure what our family wanted to do. He offered many suggestions, even events I hadn't considered that ended up being some of our favorite parts of the trip. First of... read more

I went into this without any knowledge of KimKim or using a service to plan our trip to Costa Rica. I'm more excited to use it again now that I understand the process and what to expect. We were routed to Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip and Bryan Leon was the organizer for the trip. He was very patient with me as I wasn't sure what our family wanted to do. He offered many suggestions, even events I hadn't considered that ended up being some of our favorite parts of the trip. First of all, all of our transportation was either on time or early. They were all very knowledgeable and friendly. There was not one hiccup in our itinerary. It all went smoothly and if anything needed to be amended, they made sure it was taken care of.

The Guided hikes, zip line adventure, waterfall and cultural experiences were fantastic. We visited a farm owned by the granddaughter of the original owner. Her and her husband were so gracious. They showed us around their farm, our teenage kids participated by pulling Yuka to make chips, mango for our salad, they milled sugar cane for juice and we picked a pineapple that we took back to our hotel. We ate a wonderfully home cooked meal, listened to Eli play and sing, we sang and danced with them and it felt like we were spending time with family. Our kids spoke Spanish and that was very helpful and made the experience that much better.

Our surfing lessons by Glen were fantastic. We felt very well taken care of by him and his staff. We even went back later in the week and really enjoyed our time on the beach. I highly recommend working with Bryan and the others from Serendipity to plan an educational, adventurous and well organized trip in Costa Rica. We felt safe and the locals really love and care about their beautiful country.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The staff was so friendly and so helpful. The room was clean and very comfortable. The best part was the breakfast. It was THE best included breakfast I've ever had at a hotel or resort before. It had everything you could think of and it was fresh and they took a lot of pride in the presentation and service. It was impressive. We also loved the spa services. We had a perfect view of the volcano.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's a little further from LaFortuna, but never a problem.

Staff

The staff was so helpful and friendly. I would talk with the staff about some of the adventures we went on and if they weren't aware of it, they wanted to know how it went later. They were polite and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

It was at the top of a hill and we needed to walk up many steps and hills. Not an issue for us, we liked it, but for others that have an issue ask for a room in the main hotel area. The view from the hotel was spectacular. The breakfast wasn't our favorite, but it was fine as they provided a number of options. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. We loved that the hotel itself had a lot of wildlife. We saw a sloth, two macaws, toucans, spider monkeys and a white-faced monkey right there at the hotel. That was exciting.

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide for our hike was so knowledgeable and really eager to point out and tell us about the jungle and the animals. You could tell he loved what he was doing. The zip line was so much fun. Well worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

We cannot say enough about our time at the Farm. Eli and Esteban were so wonderful. They both, along with their friend who helped cook the meal and the dancers that performed, made the experience unforgettable. It really helped that our two teenage kids could speak Spanish. It allowed them to practice and to communicate with Esteban in a way that my husband and I could not. It's always fun to see wildlife, zipline, hike, and be adventurous, yet, taking the time to learn and experience the culture of Costa Rica from the food, the land, the music, the dancing, the singing to just being with a Costa Rican family and connecting was so magical. We loved every minute of it.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was cooked by Eli and her friend and it was made on an outdoor grill box. The food came from their farm and it was all so delicious. We loved that my son pulled a Yuka plant from the ground and she used it to make chips for the homemade guacamole. They accommodated for the two vegetarians in our family and everything was so yummy. Best meal of our trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Esteban picked us up from our hotel and took us home. He stopped to buy fruit along the road that we had never seen before, he even cleaned a bathroom before we used it. He went above and beyond to make us comfortable.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Mariano was a pro from start to finish. He was our personal guide for many hours that day and ended with a nice lunch at a really great restaurant in La Fortuna. He was very knowledgeable and taught us about the fauna and flora in the park. We walked about 2 1/2 miles while he explained all that we were seeing and hearing. After a very hot and humid hike, we went to the waterfall. It was so beautiful and so refreshing. We LOVED it. Mariano was patient, he helped connect us with others to book additional adventures, he was a terrific guide.

This was the most organized trip I've ever taken. The team was very communicative and responsive. They were also able to modify changes we requested for different with times. All the drivers were professional and on time at each point. The hotels were all great and waiting for us, no issues with check in. The activities are all great top notch tour guides. If anything we had a lot of similar activities, but that was more our doing than theirs. Safari Float(Diego & Mariano) and Volcano... read more

This was the most organized trip I've ever taken. The team was very communicative and responsive. They were also able to modify changes we requested for different with times. All the drivers were professional and on time at each point. The hotels were all great and waiting for us, no issues with check in. The activities are all great top notch tour guides. If anything we had a lot of similar activities, but that was more our doing than theirs. Safari Float(Diego & Mariano) and Volcano Hike(Mariano) were amazing. It's impressive to have a 10 day trip without a single hiccup. Great job by Bryan, Charlotte and the whole team. I would gladly recommend this team for a Costa Rica Tour.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Amazing. Everything was great from check in to check out. Jose at the pool bar, everyone at the restaurant. Everyone at reception. Rooms were comfortably with amazing shower. I would be happy stay here again. Pools are fed by hot springs so they are warm. We were a group of adults. Not really a kid property more relaxing adult. You can not really walk to town or restaurants but taxi's are always readily available and its a short drive. Views from room are great, not one complaint.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

Clean, nice pool area covered. Rooms worked, nothing amazing. Friends enjoyed spa. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Great location for park and beach. Rooms are a bit worn, but functional. Pool Bar was great, the whole staff was amazing at both bars had great bartenders, I believe Estrella was one gal and Josue upstairs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

Very clean and good location 20 minutes from airport. Only issue is hotel restaurant was blah and very pricey, outside of that it was great.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very relaxing, saw lots of wild life. Mariano and Diego were great. A surprise snack was lovely. Would recommend especially if you don't want to do rapids but want to be on the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Volcano Hike and Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano was amazing, slow paced walked but did have some tough parts. Great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

We saw about 12 sloths, but far away. If you want to be close look for conservatory. Also seeing sloths could be a miss. But the end of trip coffee and snack was nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

Guide was very knowledge able and although we saw about 15 animals its hit or miss and most need to be seen through a telescope.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zip Lining Tour, bridges, and Fauna Exihibitions at Selvatura

Monteverde

Amazing, would do it again, best zip line activity, give yourself time to do the bridges and sloth exhibit. Best place to get close to sloths.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Great experience saw lots of animals but far away. Tour guide was a little snotty and rude to other people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks to Bryan and Nancy and the entire team who helped make our Cost Rica Bird Watching journey truly memorable! We are amateur birders who saw 100 new species. KimKim matched us with expert, patient and friendly guides who answered our many questions. All the transportation was on time, professional and safe. The accommodations were wonderful. Many many thx! read more

Thanks to Bryan and Nancy and the entire team who helped make our Cost Rica Bird Watching journey truly memorable! We are amateur birders who saw 100 new species. KimKim matched us with expert, patient and friendly guides who answered our many questions. All the transportation was on time, professional and safe. The accommodations were wonderful. Many many thx!

The trip was seem less as it pertains to the travel arrangements and punctuality of all of the transportation vans that were provided to us. All of the drivers were courteous and Proffesional.
We had many memorable moments. The hike to the volcano was beautiful and our guide Mariano was excellent. He was funny and engaging. He gave us many tips as to what to do and what to be careful of.
The River excursion was also memorable. Stopping and taking a break was fun while Mariano provided... read more

The trip was seem less as it pertains to the travel arrangements and punctuality of all of the transportation vans that were provided to us. All of the drivers were courteous and Proffesional.
We had many memorable moments. The hike to the volcano was beautiful and our guide Mariano was excellent. He was funny and engaging. He gave us many tips as to what to do and what to be careful of.
The River excursion was also memorable. Stopping and taking a break was fun while Mariano provided us with cut Pineapple and other fruit.
The beach at Manuel Antonio state park was amazing. The water was warm and had many places to take wonderful photo opportunities.
All in all it was a memorable trip. We will come back again and use Kim Kim as our service provider.

Activity Review

Canopy Zip Lining Tour, bridges, and Fauna Exihibitions at Selvatura

Monteverde

Super fun activity for all ages. The views are amazing. The ride was thrilling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. It was great to work with KimKim on the planning and execution of this trip. We visited 4 regions and stayed at 4 resorts so the logistics were significant. The resorts we stayed in were terrific. Loved the hot springs at Los Lagos. We stayed in the villa at Los Lagos and there was plenty of room for the 9 of us. We greatly enjoyed the white water rafting. Our guides were awesome! The experience was a ton of fun for kids and adults. The river... read more

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. It was great to work with KimKim on the planning and execution of this trip. We visited 4 regions and stayed at 4 resorts so the logistics were significant. The resorts we stayed in were terrific. Loved the hot springs at Los Lagos. We stayed in the villa at Los Lagos and there was plenty of room for the 9 of us. We greatly enjoyed the white water rafting. Our guides were awesome! The experience was a ton of fun for kids and adults. The river was clean and the food was very good for a lunch buffet.

Mariano was out guide through the rain forest and he was so knowledgeable. The lunch location was beautiful as it was at the base of the volcano with a terrific view, although the service was the slowest we experienced on the trip. The hike down to the La Fortuna waterfall was no joke. We are all fairly fit and able to do it but I think you need to make sure you forewarn people of how strenuous both up and down are. But how worth it!!! That was quite the experience.

The boat ride to Monte Verde was simple and had it not been foggy we would have had great volcano views. You also need to warn people that they need to be physically able to carry luggage long distances as we had to carry our luggage from the boat to the bus which was parked quite a distance away. The ride to Monteverde was very picturesque. El Establo was a terrific resort. We loved the pool area every afternoon during the rain. You have to get used to the fact that you are basically in a tree house while staying there but the views when the clouds cleared were awesome. Breakfast was delicious as well. Our zipline experience was top notch. Lots of fun and lunch after was nice.

The trip from Monteverde was a long one but we enjoyed the view. The biggest negative I have is that we were forced to stop at a seafood spot that was 10 minutes from our resort. We were in the van for 4 hours and I had asked to stop in Jaco or somewhere closer before we left. I was told the other place would be better but it is insane to be in the car for 4 hours and stop 10 minutes from the resort. The food was not very good. In fact my husband and 2 sons did not order and I did not eat my salad. You cant even get a beer there after a 4 hour car ride. This was the only time I felt frustrated that we were being taken advantage of because there must be some kind of kick back for someone otherwise I have no idea why we were taken to this place.

Los Altos and Manuel Antonio were our favorite. The penthouse was amazing. Views were breathtaking. The resort was so nice as were all of the workers. Our guide in manuel antonio was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Highly recommend him. We loved our kayak tour also although it was very physical with having to paddle against the current. The guides were terrific.

I would suggest limiting some of the back to back to back excursions. We were not able to do the cooking class - I honestly cannot imagine if we had tried after that long ride. We also canceled the catamaran because it literally takes people to the same spot we had been on in the kayaks. I would make sure you let people know so they can pick another option or at least are aware it will be the same excursion. Also it looks like there was a larger speed boat that was rentable and would have fit our group. That boat allowed for jet skis, tubing, snorkeling etc and would have been something our group would definitely have been interested in.

The food and the people were wonderful. Costa Rica is a truly beautiful country. We appreciate all of the help and support we received from KimKim during our planning and traveling. I would definitely recommend KimKim to friends and family!

Bryan and his team were great. They made planning our Costa Rica trip easy and fun. When we were there all of our guides, and transportation were on time, very nice and professional and very knowledgeable of the towns we were staying in. The adventures we booked were so much fun and run by reputable companies.
When we had questions we messaged the kimkim team and someone responded very quickly with an answer. Using this company literally took all of the stress out of traveling with a 2... read more

Bryan and his team were great. They made planning our Costa Rica trip easy and fun. When we were there all of our guides, and transportation were on time, very nice and professional and very knowledgeable of the towns we were staying in. The adventures we booked were so much fun and run by reputable companies.
When we had questions we messaged the kimkim team and someone responded very quickly with an answer. Using this company literally took all of the stress out of traveling with a 2 families and kids.
We will definitely use this company again to help with our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

The hot springs were amazing and the kids loved the slides. The pizza at the restaurant was amazing and the swim up bar was fun. I would recommend this place for sure!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

The location was amazing and the pool area and bar were fun, although the pool needed a few repairs. The staff and van drivers were very nice and at your door as soon as you called for a shuttle. The restaurant food was pretty good and the views from every location was stunning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Altos Resort

Manuel Antonio

Wow. This was our favorite hotel by far while we were in Costa Rica. Location, views, food, access to walk to some local restaurants, shops and bars was the best. The rooms were very nice and the view of the ocean from the balcony was superb. Location of hotel restaurant and pool was spectacular and monkeys visiting periodically was the icing on the cake! Would 1000% stay there again and recommend to friends and family!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Perfect location on our last day to get us close to the airport for traveling home. The restaurant staff was the best and bent over backwards to have food options for picky kids.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

We had rain and thunder and had to turn back and leave after 10 mins….. this was no fault of anyone obviously…..just Mother Nature and bad luck

Scuba Diving Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

The visibility was very bad and one of the guides was not very experienced.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

We were in Costa Rica for 12 days and did many adventures. This rafting adventure was the absolute favorite of all 5 of our kids!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

The waterfall was seriously unbelievable and so amazing that we could get in and swim. This was one of my favorite experiences while we were in Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining, Treetop Walk, and Fauna Exhibition at Selvatura Park

Costa Rica

This was so much fun and full of adventure. All of the kids ranging from 9-15 years old loved it. The staff was great and made everyone feel safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Our guide was amazing and very passionate about the wildlife in the park. We got to see sloths, monkeys, lizards, butterflies, spiders, dragon flies, hummingbirds, crabs, grasshoppers……… The beautiful beach at the end of the guided tour was wonderful and the icing on the cake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

This was fun but the kayak was no joke and a lot of work. We definitely felt like we had accomplished a great work out when we were back on shore. The snorkeling was pretty good for this time of year. The food for lunch was good and one of our favorite chicken and rice dishes we had in Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sport Fishing Inshore

Manuel Antonio

Deep sea fishing is always one of those experiences that is unpredictable. We staff and captain was great and the views from the boat were very nice. We went out for a half day and only caught 3 fish. So it was an expensive boat ride but we made the best of it. The rooster fish that we caught was huge and put up one hell of a fight, so that was our highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wanted to take the time to praise the experience we have had with Kim Kim Travel. The whole trip was seamless and amazing! We traveled to 4 destinations throughout the course of our vacation and the booked private transportation has been phenomenal! During the vacation, we made two small changes to the itinerary and Kim Kim made those changes happen without hesitation. I highly recommend using Kim Kim to book your next travel experience if you do not want to stress and worry about how to... read more

I wanted to take the time to praise the experience we have had with Kim Kim Travel. The whole trip was seamless and amazing! We traveled to 4 destinations throughout the course of our vacation and the booked private transportation has been phenomenal! During the vacation, we made two small changes to the itinerary and Kim Kim made those changes happen without hesitation. I highly recommend using Kim Kim to book your next travel experience if you do not want to stress and worry about how to make the most of your vacation.

Very well planned. All our guides we top notch. It was a fantastic trip! read more

Very well planned. All our guides we top notch. It was a fantastic trip!

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Very accommodating to our special needs diets (vegan, no gluten)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chira Glamping Monteverde

Puntarenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mambo Combo: Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano to El Castillo - Half Day Mountain Bike Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Luis was outstanding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Bernie was a very knowledgable guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining, Treetop Walk, and Fauna Exhibition at Selvatura Park

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Mangrove Forest Kayak Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We thoroughly enjoyed our whole Costa Rica experience. The wildlife, people, hospitality and food were fantastic. All the guides displayed a wealth of knowledge and spoke very good English. We were particularly impresssed with Randy at Selva Verde, Kike at Aguila de Osa and Agneli at Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge who stepped in at the last minute due to the illness of our intended guide, Carlos, who had nonetheless got up to take us to see quetzals at 5.30am. Agneli then took as for an... read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our whole Costa Rica experience. The wildlife, people, hospitality and food were fantastic. All the guides displayed a wealth of knowledge and spoke very good English. We were particularly impresssed with Randy at Selva Verde, Kike at Aguila de Osa and Agneli at Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge who stepped in at the last minute due to the illness of our intended guide, Carlos, who had nonetheless got up to take us to see quetzals at 5.30am. Agneli then took as for an unforgettable hike up around the local peaks. A particular shout out to Guillermo, the manager at Aguila de Osa who rescued my phone following an unfortunate dip in the sea!
Amongst so many great experiences, particular trip highlights were watching howler monkeys in full voice at Tortuguero and snorkelling at Cano Island.
Transportation pick ups and car hire all worked faultlessly. Everyone at Serendipity, the local tour agents, responded well and very quickly to all our many queries.
What a wonderful country! The UK has many lessons to learn about conservation from Costa Rica.

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica and greatly appreciated the work Bryan did to plan and coordinate all of the incredible experiences. While we are traveling, any time we had a question, issue or needed to make a change, the Kim Kim team was responsive and helpful- which made us feel like we had a friend in Costa Rica to ensure we had a great time. Overall- truly amazing experience and once in a lifetime adventure for our family!
read more

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica and greatly appreciated the work Bryan did to plan and coordinate all of the incredible experiences. While we are traveling, any time we had a question, issue or needed to make a change, the Kim Kim team was responsive and helpful- which made us feel like we had a friend in Costa Rica to ensure we had a great time. Overall- truly amazing experience and once in a lifetime adventure for our family!

Hotel Review

Nayara Tented Camp

Fortuna

What a dream…I cannot recommend of express more how incredible this hotel and their staff is, every aspect of the stay was well thought out, and executed. From the facilities to the food to the little things (like providing free laundry service and frog exploration tours at night with their amazing driver) this place sets the bar for excellence.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Surf Lesson in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zip Line Tour and Fauna Exihibitions at Selvatura

Monteverde

The absolute best experience- we LOVED it!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pura Vida!

This was a once in a lifetime trip for our group of friends to be able to take together and using Serendipity Adventures with the help of Bryan Leon made our trip the best we all have ever experienced.

Bryan was very helpful and quick to respond to all of our questions and concerns. And the whole team at Serenity Adventures were very attentive and helped to fix any issues we had.

We did a 7 day tour through multiple cities in Costa Rica with 1-2 excursions almost every... read more

Pura Vida!

This was a once in a lifetime trip for our group of friends to be able to take together and using Serendipity Adventures with the help of Bryan Leon made our trip the best we all have ever experienced.

Bryan was very helpful and quick to respond to all of our questions and concerns. And the whole team at Serenity Adventures were very attentive and helped to fix any issues we had.

We did a 7 day tour through multiple cities in Costa Rica with 1-2 excursions almost every day. We were able to enjoy all our transports, meals, and excursions set up by the company without any issues. And if we did have any problems, we were easily able to contact the travel agency at any time.

Overall, this trip was wonderful for each and every one of us because we were able to use Bryan’s help to customize each day to our liking from meal accommodations, to different hotels and excursions that better suited our wants and needs.

I would highly recommend using Serendipity Adventures for your next Costa Rica trip for the best experience possible!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel, food was amazing and service was wonderful! I can’t wait to go back!

Authenticity & Character

Cute hotel property, beautiful wildlife

Location

Perfect volcano views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

This hotel was a very lovely hotel. Rooms and bathrooms were spacious and breakfast was amazing! Views and wildlife were a huge plus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Westin Golf Resort and Spa, Playa Conchal

Playa Conchal

This was one of the best all inclusive resorts we have ever stayed at. The beach front property was perfect and the water was amazing. The food and drinks here were the best I have had in a resort type setting. They whole staff was very accommodating and everyone was so attentive and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was very helpful and attentive! We saw monkeys, snakes, and a sloth with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mambo Combo: Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a thrilling experience, especially for those who had never done it before. The tour guides were very helpful and instilled confidence in everyone. The adventure included rappelling down waterfalls and mountains, as well as ziplining. The whitewater rafting was more on the mellow side, which was perfect for me. The guides were great, and the two different tour companies communicated well to ensure a smooth transition between activities.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was a fun experience, but we felt rushed toward the end due to having to go on a guided night tour immediately after. We could have used an extra 30-40 minutes at the coffee farm to fully enjoy the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

This tour was interesting and full of bugs and critters. We saw snakes, tarantulas, and other creatures. It was a unique experience, but not for those who are squeamish around bugs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Costa Rica

This was a nice hike, but it felt repetitive after the previous day's tour. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and we saw many animals like birds, monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

This was a well-organized and safe experience, with sturdy equipment and experienced guides. The company had clearly been doing this for a long time, and we felt secure throughout the adventure

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bryan did a great job in mapping out our first trip to Costa Rica. It was an amazing experience to say the least. He certainly helped us get a flavor of the country and we are looking forward to our return! read more

Bryan did a great job in mapping out our first trip to Costa Rica. It was an amazing experience to say the least. He certainly helped us get a flavor of the country and we are looking forward to our return!

Hotel Reviews

Amor Arenal

La Fortuna, San Carlos

Absolutely amazing service, food, accommodations... amazing everything! We will stay here again. Top notch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gaia Hotel & Reserve—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

The hotel is dated, the rooms aren't clean and the grounds are somewhat unkempt. The restaurant serves a mediocre breakfast and I would avoid dinner or other meals -- it just isn't good at all. We also encountered our first instance of bed bugs. We didn't know until the last day that we had been terribly bitten. We addressed this with the concierge so that they could remedy the situation. Both the concierge and the manager brushed it off and told me that I must have been bitten by something else. I also sent pictures of my bites and urged them to take my statements seriously. In return, I received an email from the manager saying that it was not an issue. I would not recommend this hotel and would also suggest those choosing to stay there to check for signs of bed bugs before occupying the room. This was an overall bad experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It isn't really in walking distance to anything.

Staff

The only saving grace for our stay was Clarence. He was attentive and amazing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

If I could give this zero stars, I would.

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Decent hotel, clean but a little dated. It isn't really near anything and is somewhat off the beaten path. But, there are amazing views of San José from this hotel. The restaurant is just "ok."

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike and included lunch were both amazing. We loved our guide and would definitely recommend this trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

the Casado at the local Soda was incredible!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was decent, but there are likely better tours with better tasting coffee and chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

The hot springs and facilities are both really nice. The food is not that great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Our guide made this trip! It was absolutely outstanding and beyond my expectations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Flavors Cooking Class

Manuel Antonio

Our guide and the ranch were both awesome. It was fun to pick our own produce and make our own dinner from the goods.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Costa Rica

A wonderful and vast experience. You can spend a couple of hours or easily an entire day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had never used a travel agency before while planning a trip. I will never not use one. KimKim was outstanding from beginning to end. The planning was easy and their assistance on the trip was invaluable (arranging transfers and even facilitating refunds when a tour got canceled).
All the guides were great but especially Kenneth, our hiking guide, around Arenal and Hector our guide with the horseback riding in Uvita. Hard to pick out favorite experience, but repelling down the waterfalls... read more

I had never used a travel agency before while planning a trip. I will never not use one. KimKim was outstanding from beginning to end. The planning was easy and their assistance on the trip was invaluable (arranging transfers and even facilitating refunds when a tour got canceled).
All the guides were great but especially Kenneth, our hiking guide, around Arenal and Hector our guide with the horseback riding in Uvita. Hard to pick out favorite experience, but repelling down the waterfalls in La Fortuna, zip lining in MonteVerde and the horseback riding in Uvita were all fantastic and memories to last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Excellent place to stay for a family. Great views. Great pools. Breakfast is superb. Even saw a sloth on campus. Only downside for some of that it is far from downtown, so if you don’t have a car, you have to only eat at resort or take a taxi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Amazing views. Beautiful rooms. We were a little worried when we hear no AC, but is was fine at night as it gets breezy and cool there even in the hottest part of the year.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Playa Ballena

Nice views. Rooms are nice. Breakfast is ok. It is a boutique hotel so feels a little dated. Main issue was being hot in the room. It was very hot when we were there and our AC never got our room cool. The power would frequently blink off for a few seconds or even a few minutes. This would reset the AC and we would wake up sweating and have to turn the AC back on.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The AC

Activity Reviews

Cowboy Experience, Rancho La Merced

Costa Rica

Super fun for the whole family. Hector was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Kenneth was the best of our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Biking Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nice ride with nice bikes. Guide was great. First half is nice and flat. Gets quite hilly after the snack break. It was hot that day. They have support van following so my daughter was able to get in van when the hills got too steep.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very fun. My son’s favorite part of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Pop

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining, Treetop Walk, and Fauna Exhibition at Selvatura Park

Costa Rica

Zip lining is the best you’ll ever do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Walk in Ballena National Park

Uvita

Transport was a very old, dirty van complete with cut toenails on the floor. We waited an hour the guide to show up at the center. We were repeatedly told to wait 10 more minutes. After 70 minutes we had to beg them to let us leave and take us back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding Playa Hermosa, Uvita

Uvita

My favorite part of the whole trip. Once in a lifetime views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in the Lost Canyon

Arenal/La Fortuna

Super fun and memorable. Don’t miss it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First time using KimKim and had a great experience using the platform. Kudos to Bryan, Nancy, Charlotte and the rest of the Serendipty Travels team for helping us coordinate an itinerary for a multigenerational trip to Costa Rica with travelers flying in from different cities on different days. The hotel and activity recommendations were spot on for our families (each with 3+ school aged kids). The transfers from airport, hotels, and activities were seamless. We felt we were taken care of... read more

First time using KimKim and had a great experience using the platform. Kudos to Bryan, Nancy, Charlotte and the rest of the Serendipty Travels team for helping us coordinate an itinerary for a multigenerational trip to Costa Rica with travelers flying in from different cities on different days. The hotel and activity recommendations were spot on for our families (each with 3+ school aged kids). The transfers from airport, hotels, and activities were seamless. We felt we were taken care of and in good hands. The team was also very responsive when we had inquiries during our trip. Thanks to KimKim and the Serendipity Travel team for making our Costa Rica trip a success!

I have just returned from an amazing trip to Costa Rica.
Bryan was our local specialist and was on hand to organise everything.
HIs advice, planning, flexibility and response speed was outstanding and I cannot recommend the service enough.....and I am fussy!
Costa Rica was fabulous for our family with a 7 and 10 year old, we had apacked set of activities but it all worked out perfectly.
Any small issue we had, which was frankly minor, the local team addresses within 20 minutes and... read more

I have just returned from an amazing trip to Costa Rica.
Bryan was our local specialist and was on hand to organise everything.
HIs advice, planning, flexibility and response speed was outstanding and I cannot recommend the service enough.....and I am fussy!
Costa Rica was fabulous for our family with a 7 and 10 year old, we had apacked set of activities but it all worked out perfectly.
Any small issue we had, which was frankly minor, the local team addresses within 20 minutes and always responsive.

So all in all thank you Bryan and team....will definitely book again .

All the best Daniel

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica! Our guide, Bryan, was fantastic. He was super responsive before and during the trip, and he was very patient in answering all of our questions. The KimKim service was well worth the fee and led to a more relaxing, enjoyable vacation for our family. We would not hesitate to use KimKim again for our next trip!

We had a great time in your country, but had issues with some of the accommodations. We loved Congo Bongo, but had only one night stay in the 1 story dream deluxe cabin., which we liked. The other 3 days was in the bigger 2 story river dream cabin. Had to climb stairs to the kitchen. As we requested we got a bungalow at Selva Verde. The view from the Bungalow was of the roof of the path leading to the bungalows and was about a mile from the main lodge. Upon our request they moved us to the... read more

We had a great time in your country, but had issues with some of the accommodations. We loved Congo Bongo, but had only one night stay in the 1 story dream deluxe cabin., which we liked. The other 3 days was in the bigger 2 story river dream cabin. Had to climb stairs to the kitchen. As we requested we got a bungalow at Selva Verde. The view from the Bungalow was of the roof of the path leading to the bungalows and was about a mile from the main lodge. Upon our request they moved us to the main lodge room, which we enjoyed. The Luna Superior room at the Casa Luna Hotel was nice you could hear our neighbors next door thru the wall between the two rooms. The hotel knew about the problem and moved us to a standard room and enjoyed it very much. We had no problems with the Los Pinos Cabanas and Jardines. We enjoyed the tours and drives throughout our trip.

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