Felipe Rico
I have seen how Colombia has evolved from a dangerous destination to a safe, welcoming, and upcoming destination, and I am therefore extremely passionate to be part of my country's tourism resurgence.
A life-long world traveler, I grew up in Colombia surrounded by successful travel businesses within a family of entrepreneurs. I have worked in the tourism industry in Colombia for many years and I have had the opportunity to travel to over 40 countries around the world. After earning a degree in Political Economy and Philosophy from the University of Sydney, I worked internationally in tourism, education, and technology. Across all the companies that I have worked for, from Apple to G Adventures, my biggest passion has been offering premium service to all my clients. I have since decided to follow my passion and dedicate my life to ensuring that travelers that visit Colombia have a fantastic time in my home country and are able to experience all the wonderful things that Colombia and its people have to offer.
I provide superb customer service and have traveled extensively around Colombia and continue to do so. I have the know-how to design unforgettable Colombian experiences. I treat each of my travelers as a VIP Client, and I will go above and beyond to make sure your trip is perfect.
My philosophy of Luxury Travel is to offer a personalized service that seeks to provide clients outstanding and authentic experiences in Colombia. I focus on tailored trips and work with professional and outstanding local partners in all regions across Colombia to design and plan trips that combine exceptional experiences. From diving to trekking, to relaxing on a beautiful beach, to tasting Colombian coffee and flavors, birdwatching, interacting with excellent local guides and storytellers, or hiring your private boat, I design once in a lifetime trips.
I look forward to taking care of you and making sure your trip to Colombia fulfills all your expectations and is filled with the most memorable experiences.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in creating truly personalized trips that are designed for each traveler or group. The main destinations I cover are Cartagena, the islands of Cartagena, Bogota and surroundings, Medellin, Guatape and surroundings, the coffee region, Santa Marta, Tayrona and surroundings, the Amazon rainforest, and San Andres and Providencia. However, I cover all of the country and can plan a trip to any destination you want or that I believe you will like.
I enjoy planning trips for couples, families, independent travelers, for those wanting to relax, for those seeking to learn and immerse in the Colombian culture, for city lovers, nature explorers, beach fans, foodies, coffee lovers, for the ones that love music and dance — for everyone that wants to visit Colombia! I specialize in boutique and 5-star hotels, but I love being creative, and every trip I plan is tailored to your wants and interests!"
How did you get involved in travel?
"My grandmother and parents have run successful travel businesses, and from a very young age, I have been exposed to the wonderful world of travel and to the tourism and hospitality industry. This allowed me to travel around the world, making travel one of my passions in life! I've also lived, worked, and studied in different countries including Colombia, Canada, Argentina, France, and Australia. I am passionate about seeing Colombia fulfill its potential as a world-class holiday destination, and I look forward to helping you plan your trip!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Colombia is an amazing country, with very diverse destinations and very friendly and welcoming people! I have traveled extensively around the country and three experiences I will never forget are a private cooking class in Cartagena with an incredible local host which introduced me to the world of cooking, showing me delicious recipes, exquisite flavours and dishes I will never forget! The local drinks, lemonades, cocktails and desserts we created were also incredible! The other experience is getting to spend one day with an authentic indigenous native community at the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta! This was a very unique experience and I learned a lot! The last experience is a Colombian rum tasting with chocolate pairing experience which I know help to organise which was very insightful and a lot of fun! "
Featured trips & expertise
Gourmet Tour of Colombia: Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena & Isla Barú - 12 Days
Hike around a coffee farm, take a cooking class in Cartagena, dine in the finest restaurants of Bogotá and Medellín — these are just a few of the gourmet experiences you can look forward to on this 12-day tour around Colombia. Featuring stops in the country's most popular destinations, plus off-the-beaten-path places like the idyllic island of Isla Barú, this trip offers an appealing mix of cultural sightseeing, outdoor activities, and culinary adventures. Whether you're admiring colonial architecture or sipping rum paired with artisanal chocolates, you'll find this itinerary a treat for the senses.
Quintissential Colombia: Cartagena, Santa Marta, Medellín & Bogotá - 16 Days
This sweeping 16-day itinerary showcases some of Colombia's most spectacular destinations—with daily tours and excursions to discover the hidden gems in between. Starting on the Caribbean coast, explore colonial Cartagena and the pristine beaches of Tayrona National Park before visiting the lush coffee country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fly to Medellín to experience the "City of Eternal Spring" and its surrounding countryside, then end your journey among the lively markets and cafes of Bogotá.
Family Holiday in Colombia: Bogotá, Zona Cafetera & Cartegena - 9 Days
Create lifelong memories on this 9-day family-friendly tour around Colombia. Starting in Bogotá, discover the city by bike and ride the cable car to Monserrate, then, fly to the Zona Cafetera to hike the Cocora Valley and discover the region's quaint villages. End on the Caribbean coast, where you'll tour the colorful streets of Cartagena, learn to fish with the locals, and relax on the white sand beaches of Barú Island.
Best of Colombia: Bogotá, Medellín & Cartagena - 9 Days
Explore three of Colombia's most exciting cities on this 9-day adventure. Start in Bogotá, the sprawling cosmopolitan capital. Tour the colonial streets of the historic center, taste local cuisine, and visit museums. Then, transfer to Medellín to see street art and communal projects, and learn about Colombian coffee culture. The adventure ends in tropical Cartagena, where you'll appreciate Spanish forts and architecture, enjoy fresh seafood, and swim in the Caribbean.
Colombia in April: Travel Tips, Weather, and More
April is the perfect month to visit Colombia—prices are low and the crowds have thinned. Plus, one of the most popular music festivals in the country takes place this month. Let this guide point you to the fun and adventure.
Recent trip reviews for Felipe
Family Trip to Columbia, May 2022 · Colombia - May 20 - May 30, 2022
Our family of four recently enjoyed the best trip to Columbia, planned and facilitated by Felipe and team. Upon deciding to visit this part of South America, I discovered KimKim and was impressed by the reviews. I sent a message and very quickly received a warm and helpful response from Felipe. While the initial itinerary was beyond our budget, he was more than happy to work with us.
Columbia is a tremendous destination, rich in history, culture and otherwise. The people are kind,... read more
Hi Susan, thank you for your review and it was my pleasure to help you with your family trip! It was also a pleasure meeting you, and thank you for visiting our home country and for making us a part of your trip. I wish you all the best to you and your family and we look forward to having you back in Colombia! Hasta pronto, Felipe
Family Trip to Medellin/Tayrona/Cartagena · Colombia - Mar 9 - Mar 19, 2022
Our family of 5 had an awesome trip to Colombia with the help of Felipe and the arrangements we made through kimkim. Felipe made the planning process easy by suggesting an itinerary and being very responsive to changes I requested before we finalized. Alba, our guide in Medellin, made us feel like family from the moment we arrived. Diva was also terrific for our time in Santa Marta and Tayrona. Staying in historic Cartagena was fun for the kids, and Eduardo was a very informative guide. The... read more
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for taking the time to write this review, and thank you once again for traveling with your family to Colombia! It was a pleasure to be a part of your trip, and we hope you come back to Colombia soon! Sending you and your family our Best Wishes y hasta muy pronto! Best Regards, Felipe
Outstanding and adventurous 2 weeks in Colombia · Colombia - Jan 28 - Feb 11, 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the country of Colombia. Felipe and his team planned an itinerary for us that was perfect. We had outstanding guides and drivers. In particular Diva, in Santa Marta and Jose in Medellin were excellent for learning the culture, the food, the history, and all the natural beauty that their regions had to offer. Having a professional driver throughout the country was critical to a relaxing trip. The roads are good but crowded with many different types of... read more
Hi Kimberly,
It was a pleasure having you and Glenn in Colombia, and it was great to meet you! Thank you so much for visiting our home country Colombia, and for having such an amazing attitude throughout your trip! Thank you as well for taking the time to write this review and stay in touch. We hope you come back in the near future! All my Best Wishes, Felipe
Colombia was phenomenal! · Colombia - Jan 14 - Jan 23, 2022
Colombia was phenomenal - we had such an authentic, local experience due to the effort and care put into our trip plan by our local guide, Felipe. KimKim made it easy to communicate with updates constantly through WhatsApp while we were in the country, and catered to every need we had that popped up.
Medellin was like a tropical, Spanish-speaking San Francisco - a must see! Cartagena was an enchanting colonial Spanish town. I hope to have those wooden windowsills and white walls on a latin... read more
Hola Andrew, Thank you for your review and feedback, and it was amazing having you in Colombia! Thank you for trusting us with your trip and we hope you come back! I loved your description of Medellin as a tropical, Spanish-speaking San Francisco by the way :)!
Hasta pronto, Felipe
We have never heard of KimKim or used it befo... · Colombia - Jan 14 - Jan 23, 2022
We have never heard of KimKim or used it before, but it worked out very well. Felipe and his associate were very responsive and available at all points, checked in with us to make sure things were running tight and we’re just super helpful. We loved Medellin and our city tour there. The restaurant reservations everywhere worked well and were appropriate for what we wanted. Cartagena was more heavily touristed than we expected but our city guide Manu was great, and the hotel was very nice,... read more
Thank you for your message Martha! It was great to meet you and thank you for visiting Colombia! thank you as well for all your valuable feedback and comments and we hope you come back in the future! All my Best Wishes, Felipe
Attentive Planners & Detailed Planning for a Beautiful Country · Colombia - Nov 25 - Dec 11, 2021
WOW! A truly special and personalized trip to a beautiful and diverse country. From start to finish, this experience with the Colombia kimkim team made every detail easier and unique. Special thanks to Felipe, Margoth, and the whole team at Aracanto for paying attention to all my special requests, detailed questions, and connecting me to guides/excursions to fit my interests.
The kimkim team were attentive to detail and knew the logistics of each day to the minute. I felt safe, listened to,... read more
Hola Kevin,
Muchas Gracias por tu mensaje! Y nos encantó tenerte en Colombia!
It was very special to have you in our home country, and great to hear you had a great time!
Thank you for visiting us, and we look forward to welcoming you back in Colombia!
We will pass on your comments to our local guides as well.
All of my Best Wishes and stay in touch,
Felipe, the kimkim team and the Aracanto team
Colombia is amazing and Kimkim is wondeful · Colombia - Dec 24 - Jan 1, 2022
Felipe did an outstanding job working tirelessly to customize our trip to see as much as possible in 9 days. Once in Colombia, he remained in constant contact and responded immediately 24/7 to any issues that arose. We had a wonderful time with memories that will last a lifetime. read more
It was a pleasure having you in and your family in Colombia Brian! All the guides spoke highly about your family, and had a great time with your kids. Thank you for visiting our home country, and we hope you come back in the near future. My Best Wishes, Felipe