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! "
Felipe's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Felipe
Trip to Colombian Amazon
Colombia
|
Nov 15 - Nov 19, 2023
Satyanand N.
San Jose, CA
| Reviewed on Nov 25, 2023
The planning process with Felipe was very good. He was prompt in answering questions and providing information to customize the trip the way I wanted. The travel experience was excellent and the guides were great, especially Herman in the Amazon, who was very knowledgeable, friendly and accomodating.
The one big negative about kimkim is a lack of transparency when it comes to pricing. I requested for a breakdown of the amount that I was paying, which I was denied. You are charged a lumpsum...
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The planning process with Felipe was very good. He was prompt in answering questions and providing information to customize the trip the way I wanted. The travel experience was excellent and the guides were great, especially Herman in the Amazon, who was very knowledgeable, friendly and accomodating.
The one big negative about kimkim is a lack of transparency when it comes to pricing. I requested for a breakdown of the amount that I was paying, which I was denied. You are charged a lumpsum and there is no clarity on how much of it is going towards the actual trip costs (e.g. how much of it was spent on flights. how much on accommodation etc.). As a paying customer, I have a right to know how my money is being used and if I am getting my money's worth.
I am happy with the planning process and the travel experience, but the lack of pricing transparency makes me hesitate to use the service for future travels or to recommend it to friends.
Hotel Review
Location
good central location for activities and a remarkable place to truly unplug and immerse yourself in what the Amazon has to offer
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Nov 28, 2023
Dear Satya,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback, and thank you for making us a part of your family trip to Colombia! I am very glad to hear that you had an excellent trip, and that you all enjoyed your time in Colombia, and we will pass on your feedback to everyone involved in your trip.
We appreciate your honest feedback regarding pricing details. Before booking your trip, we discussed the reasoning behind kimkim's pricing policy, and we provided an explanation as to why...
Read more
Dear Satya,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback, and thank you for making us a part of your family trip to Colombia! I am very glad to hear that you had an excellent trip, and that you all enjoyed your time in Colombia, and we will pass on your feedback to everyone involved in your trip.
We appreciate your honest feedback regarding pricing details. Before booking your trip, we discussed the reasoning behind kimkim's pricing policy, and we provided an explanation as to why we do not provide a breakdown of all costs, and we will add our reasoning below. You still decided to move forward with your trip and agreed to the pricing details, and the process with kimkim was transparent from the start. We worked together to bring down your overall costs, and it was discussed that a pricing breakdown would not be provided, but that we could work together to adjust the costs to your budget. We understand that some travelers prefer to book all their services separately, or work with a company that provides the cost of each item separately, but the service and quality of trips we provide is different and we excel at supporting our clients every step of the way and providing personalised itineraries and a very high standard of service that includes everything you need from the moment you start your trip, until you finish.
In kimkim we do not provide a breakdown of the price and do not sell tours or transfers separately, but we plan trips as an experience and complete package in which we support you along the way, help you with anything you need and make sure you have an amazing trip. You receive the support of the kimkim team and the local team at all times, before and throughout your trip, and we build trips as one experience where your activities, tours, transfers, accommodation, local flights, recommendations, know-how and in-destination support are all included. I apologise if this was not clear, and hope you understand.
Most importantly, I want to thank you for having trusted us and allowing us to be a part of your trip to Colombia, and it has been a pleasure meeting you. Creating unforgettable journeys for our guests is at the heart of what we do, and knowing that your family had an excellent trip and a great time, means a lot to us.
Best Wishes,
Felipe
Columbia-travel made easy!
Colombia
|
Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2023
Chris M.
Chester, NJ
| Reviewed on Oct 30, 2023
Felipe and team were very communicative and in touch the entire time. They picked great places for dinner and set up wonderful guides. David in Bogata was very knowledgeable and had a great background in history. Diego in Medellín was a lot of fun and shared very interesting context to the places we visited. Carolina in Cartegena had great energy and provided some additional local places to grab a beer and good eats. Felipe put together a trip that was exactly what we wanted with tours and...
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Felipe and team were very communicative and in touch the entire time. They picked great places for dinner and set up wonderful guides. David in Bogata was very knowledgeable and had a great background in history. Diego in Medellín was a lot of fun and shared very interesting context to the places we visited. Carolina in Cartegena had great energy and provided some additional local places to grab a beer and good eats. Felipe put together a trip that was exactly what we wanted with tours and all of our dinner reservations. We just showed up to enjoy!
Hotel Reviews
The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection
Bogotá
The Artisan D.C. Hotel was great with a fabulous location. The service was top-notch and we felt very taken care of.
Beautiful location and small hotel. You feel like a guest in a wonderful home.
Location
Walking distance to great restaurants
Activity Reviews
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá
Our Bogota guide, David, was super knowledgeable. His depth of knowledge was impressive.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Medellín
The coffee tour was intriguing but I'm mixed about whether I would recommend it to someone else. It felt like it was something that could be skipped if you were pressed for time.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín
The walking tour is a must, the fruit tour was okay, but the rum tour is an absolute must-do. It was amazing! The one downside was the restaurant Marea, which was the worst meal we had in Colombia.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
The welcome to Colombia was fabulous. Felipe and his team were absolutely amazing, setting up a WhatsApp and communicating with us all the time.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guatavita Lake Tour and Usaquén
Bogotá
The Guatavita Lake Tour was interesting and the dinner at Artisanal Crepes & Waffles was great. The only issue was the altitude, which could be a problem for some people.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Cartagena
Very educational and fun. Trying 8 rums with chocolate.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Oct 30, 2023
Dear Chris,
It has been a pleasure meeting you, and thank you and Ray for making us a part of your trip! Thank you as well for visiting Colombia and for trusting us.
I will shared your feedback with David, Diego and Carolina, and we really appreciate that you took the time to write a review and send us your feedback.
It is great to hear you had a great time and enjoyed your trip, and sending you my very Best Wishes!
Muchas Gracias,
Felipe
Hello, Filipe … We are now back to our home i...
Colombia
|
Aug 26 - Sep 7, 2023
ROBERT M.
Evanston, IL
| Reviewed on Sep 14, 2023
Hello, Filipe … We are now back to our home in the US and sorting through dirty laundry and backed up mail. After our own stops and starts on the trip planning, we are very pleased with the overall trip experience that you and your guides assembled.
· Guides. Each of your three assigned guides were excellent, with English language communication skills and insights into Columbia’s past drug lord issues. Guide Diago realized that Robert was not as nimble-footed as he once was, and...
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Hello, Filipe … We are now back to our home in the US and sorting through dirty laundry and backed up mail. After our own stops and starts on the trip planning, we are very pleased with the overall trip experience that you and your guides assembled.
· Guides. Each of your three assigned guides were excellent, with English language communication skills and insights into Columbia’s past drug lord issues. Guide Diago realized that Robert was not as nimble-footed as he once was, and suggested wheel chairs when necessary. Using such a vehicle, Diago pushed Robert up the very steep walkway in Medellin for a very interesting neighborhood visit. Quite a task!
· Hotels. We were pleased with our hotels in Bogota and Cartegena However, Patio del Mundi there needs some help. We were first booked into a back room that could only be accessed by a crazy quilt of patio and unlit steps. The following day, due to our complaints, we were changed to another smaller room, but with door keys that did not work. In addition, breakfast each morning offered only the same scrambled eggs plate, a couple of the pastries that did not seem that fresh, and coffee where it took forever to get a second cup and that tasted like instant. Patio del Mundi is a small pleasant hotel that really needs some work.
· Restaurant Meals. We planned the trip by asking you to book us in top restaurants in each city. You really achieved our expectations throughout! The lady at the front desk in Cartagena, when we asked each day for a cab to our designated restaurant, said that we were really going to the best restaurants in Cartagena. Our only comment regarding asl of these restaurant reservations was Medellin’s El Ciello, which was perhaps too much over the top for us. They featured a 17 -course tasting menu. That was just too much for our tastes. We skipped that and ordered a lesser selection from their menu.
Overall, we are very pleased with our trip to Columbia and your schedule adjustments, despite our own personal back and forth changes. We would be pleased to provide a favorable reference to others as you may wish.
If I have a grumble about your trip organization, it is your failure to communicate via standard MICROSOFT email. For example, you spent far too much time claiming I should us an application called "Whats App". I wasted too much time and never got the application to work.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Sep 14, 2023
Dear Robert and Lois,
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time in Colombia! And it is wonderful to hear that you found our guides to be excellent and knowledgeable as we strive to provide the best possible service to our clients. Your kind words about Diego's assistance are greatly appreciated, and we will certainly pass on this positive feedback to him. Regarding the restaurant choices, it is great to hear that you enjoyed our recommendations.
I am also glad you liked your...
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Dear Robert and Lois,
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time in Colombia! And it is wonderful to hear that you found our guides to be excellent and knowledgeable as we strive to provide the best possible service to our clients. Your kind words about Diego's assistance are greatly appreciated, and we will certainly pass on this positive feedback to him. Regarding the restaurant choices, it is great to hear that you enjoyed our recommendations.
I am also glad you liked your Hotel options and thank you for your feedback regarding Patio del Mundo. This is a very unique local boutique hotel in Medellin, located in a nice and safe neighborhood, and usually our travelers have a very good experience with them especially when they like boutique style hotels with an authentic nature and a garden. Very valuable for us to have your feedback though and thank you for taking the time to write your comments.
I understand that you expressed your frustration with the different communication methods used, especially with WhatsApp. We use Whatsapp as a service for our travelers to stay connected to our local agency in Colombia at all times, and to assist you at anytime and be there for you for anything you need, but it is an optional way of communication that most of our travelers appreciate, and not mandatory to use. Having said this, please know that we have certainly taken this feedback into account and are making efforts to be more adaptive and ensure that we only use the preferred communication channel of each of our travelers.
Should you require any further assistance or have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us, and thank you once again for visiting Colombia!
Warmest regards,
Felipe
We had a great time with unique experiences i...
Colombia
|
Aug 12 - Aug 19, 2023
Sindhu K.
West Bloomfield Township, MI
| Reviewed on Aug 22, 2023
We had a great time with unique experiences in Medellin, and Cartegena. Our guide Diego in Medellin was excellent. He encouraged us to speak spanish and made sure we were comfortable at all times. Great time!
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Aug 22, 2023
Dear Sindhu,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review of your experience in Colombia! I will pass on your comments to Diego and it is great to hear that you practiced your Spanish! Sending you and your family all my very Best Wishes and Muchas Gracias for visiting Colombia!
Felipe
La Costa Colombiana……Our family trip to the Tayrona and The Sierra...
Colombia
|
Jul 10 - Jul 19, 2023
Maria Claudia A.
College Point, NY
| Reviewed on Aug 11, 2023
Our family trip to the Tayrona and The Sierra area near Santa Marta was memorable. Erik Ramirez our guide was terrific. His knowledge of flora, fauna, animals and archeology was superb and he maintained the children’s attention with his information. All three adventures were fantastic but Tayronaka and the inner tube floating experience down the Don Diego River left a special place in our heart. We are still waiting for the photos that Erik promised us.
In Cartagena Jose Miguel was...
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Our family trip to the Tayrona and The Sierra area near Santa Marta was memorable. Erik Ramirez our guide was terrific. His knowledge of flora, fauna, animals and archeology was superb and he maintained the children’s attention with his information. All three adventures were fantastic but Tayronaka and the inner tube floating experience down the Don Diego River left a special place in our heart. We are still waiting for the photos that Erik promised us.
In Cartagena Jose Miguel was fantastic. The temperature was quite high and he made sure to keep us cool and entertained. He was also very knowledgeable . Most memorable for both children and adults was the music and drum workshop at La Boquilla
Overall we were very happy with our guides and experience.s…Transportation to all locations was very comfortable with luxury air conditioned vans….Thank you Kim Kim, Felipe, Erik and Jose Miguel and all of the drivers and guides for a truly memorable experience.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Aug 11, 2023
Dear Maria Claudia,
Muchas Gracias for taking the time to leave this review, and it has been a pleasure meeting you! I will share your details with our local team, with Erik and Jose Miguel, and drivers, and all those involved in your trip and Thank you so much for visiting Colombia with your family, and for making us a part of your experience.
Feedback is extremely important for us, so a big Thank You! :)
Wishing you all my Best Wishes and I hope you stay in touch!
Best,
Felipe
Colombia in raining season was beautiful
Colombia
|
May 25 - Jun 6, 2023
Zvonko D.
Slovenia
| Reviewed on Jun 09, 2023
Overall we were very pleased with our trip to Colombia. The trip was well organized and balanced. In fact before the start I was a little worried, but it worked perfectly for us that out of 12 nights we spent three nights in each of four very different locations: Bogota, Pereira, Medellin and Cartagena. We definitely recommend this approach for first visit to Colombia.
Filipe and his team took care about every detail and all four local guides (David, Omar, Patricia and Sandra) were very...
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Overall we were very pleased with our trip to Colombia. The trip was well organized and balanced. In fact before the start I was a little worried, but it worked perfectly for us that out of 12 nights we spent three nights in each of four very different locations: Bogota, Pereira, Medellin and Cartagena. We definitely recommend this approach for first visit to Colombia.
Filipe and his team took care about every detail and all four local guides (David, Omar, Patricia and Sandra) were very knowledgeable and passionate about their country.
Fact is that we were quite lucky with the weather, but regardless of this we dare to say that going to Colombia in rainy season was the right decision and a great experience.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jun 09, 2023
Dear Zvonko,
It has been a pleasure meeting you both, and thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. This means a lot to us! We really enjoyed having you in Colombia, and all of our local guides spoke highly of you. Thank you for visiting Colombia! And thank you for your positive and amazing attitude, and your interest in our country. We hope you come back and I wanted to send you both and your family and friends my very Best Wishes! Muchas gracias!
Felipe
Superb experience booking through KimKim
Colombia
|
Apr 10 - Apr 17, 2023
Kiran S.
Houston, TX
| Reviewed on Apr 18, 2023
Great experience working with and booking through KimKim! Excellent platform for connections to and interactions with local tour providers. Just returned from a week in Colombia organized by Aracanto Colombia through KimKim. Review of the experience below:
I am not prone to superlatives or hyperbole. However, I would be horribly remiss if I were to not use them to describe the service my we have received thus far from Felipe Rico, Margoth Rico, and team at Aracanto. Woefully insufficient...
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Great experience working with and booking through KimKim! Excellent platform for connections to and interactions with local tour providers. Just returned from a week in Colombia organized by Aracanto Colombia through KimKim. Review of the experience below:
I am not prone to superlatives or hyperbole. However, I would be horribly remiss if I were to not use them to describe the service my we have received thus far from Felipe Rico, Margoth Rico, and team at Aracanto. Woefully insufficient number of stars available to grade their service!
We are in the second half of our tour of Colombia and it has been nothing short of exceptional! We travel a lot the world over, and Aracanto are hands-down among the best travel curators we have worked with! Right from the get-go, our connection with Felipe Rico was very comfortable - he was calm, understanding, very responsive and friendly, and curated a superb private tour itinerary for us, spanning sights in and around Medellin and Cartagena. As advertised, Felipe, Margoth, and team are passionate, care deeply about showing off their country and are equally, if not more, solicitous of their customers’ needs and desires. They hooked us up with superb lodging (the Patio del Mundo boutique hotel in Medellin was a magical tropical bungalow/paradise - great service, exceptional lodgings, the lovely welcome gift awaiting us at the hotel was a thoughtful surprise; Nacar Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton, is equally unique, in the walled old city in Cartagena - superb location) and equally superb guides in each city - Andres Jimenez in Medellin, a knowledgeable and passionate young man (a well-traveled, multilingual (Spanish/English/Portuguese) Chemical Engineer by education and experience, turned expert travel guide) who became a friend; and Isaac Francis in Cartagena, equally competent and friendly!
Felipe, Margoth, and team have been exceptionally organized, superbly responsive to our myriad queries, and keenly attuned to our tastes and preferences. In an instance where a certain planned event did not occur due to a miscommunication by the event owner, they promptly refunded that portion of the cost - no questions asked!
The restaurants they chose for us, the visits to picturesque/colorful Guatape and El Peñol near Medellin, to rum and chocolate tasting at the Arsenal of Rum, and cooking with Caro (owner-chef at Oh La La Bistro - see separate review), both in the Getesmani, neighborhood of Cartagena, to a resort/beach excursion at Isla Bomba tomorrow …each better than the other! Thank you, Felipe, Margoth and the rest of the Aracanto team for making our first visit to Colombia a memorable one!
Did I say I was not given to superlatives/hyperbole?? Oh, what the heck!!
Hotel Reviews
Lovely boutique hotel in the leafy/hilly/safe El Poblado neighborhood of Medellin. Spans two bungalows that are beautifully repurposed to serve as a boutique hotel. Incredible tropical foliage and local handicraft decor woven into the common areas - very welcoming, inviting, refreshing. The owner, Agnes(?) has fantastic taste - ably supported by dedicated staff who are eager to please. Service and breakfast were superb…rooms are elegantly appointed, shower areas have colorful local tiling with a great touch - plants/foliage inside the shower enclosure. Only regret - spent too little time at this location. Plan to return, however.
Kudos to Andres/Isabel/Erica/Laura/Housekeeping, for taking good care of us!
Location
Located in El Poblado - a leafy/hilly/safe area,
of Medellin. Proximate to wonderful restaurants.
Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton
Cartagena
Lovely Hilton hotel in their Curio Collection, located near the sea wall and within the old walled city of Cartegena. Large, well-appointed rooms with typical Hilton amenities - clean rooms, comfortable beds, good toiletries, great shower pressure and drainage! On-site Uma Restaurant provides excellent local and western breakfast and local delicacies for lunch and dinner. Great staff -eager to please.
Only downsides: a) Hardly any of the staff speaks English, despite the town and hotel hosting significant numbers of tourists from English-speaking countries. Made communication very difficult - combo of our elementary Spanish and the staff’s equally elementary English.
b) We were located on the 3rd floor - directly below the 4th floor bar/club, Gets extremely noisy with staff dragging furniture etc during off times and loud thumping reggaeton and other club music well into the night on weekends! Made sleeping rather difficult!
Authenticity & Character
Located in an in-character building, within the walled city.
Location
Inside walled city, proximate to shopping, sites, restaurants.
Staff
Excellent staff - eager to please; however, lack of English-speaking ability was a severe constraint for us. If you are planning to stay here, beef up on your Spanish!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Superb cleanliness and in-room amenities. Typical Hilton standards
Activity Reviews
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
All of transfers were flawless including the one from to and from the airport!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dinner Reservation at El Correo (Y Amada) Provenza
Medellín
We enjoyed the dinner reservations made by the travel specialist, particularly our meal at El Correo in Medellin. It was a very nice and fancy restaurant, and the food was good. However, after trying a few Colombian dishes, we decided to explore different cuisines and found our own dining spots. We appreciated the flexibility provided by the travel specialist and the curated restaurant recommendations.
City Tour of Medellín (with Local Market and Comuna 13)
Medellín
Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell the people here are very passionate about their country and have a lot of pride.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guatape and El Peñol Tour & Airport Transfer: {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}
Colombia
Once again we had a flawless experience with transfers and transportation, the vehicles were nice, and the staff provided excellent service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City
Colombia
The guide Andres was phenomenal, the first half of the tour was wonderful, but the second half of the walking tour was more shopping. We wish they separated the shopping from the tour or let us know to come back to the shopping later, as we felt a bit rushed.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Cartagena
We had a phenomenal experience at the rum tasting, which included a chocolate pairing, and the local staff was very knowledgeable and attentive.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Cooking Class and Lunch (with Bazurto Market)
Cartagena
We enjoyed the cooking class with Carlina, at her restaurant, which provided a unique and enjoyable experience. We got to walk around the market beforehand with her and then she even walked us to our next tour afterwards.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Traditional Coffee Tasting
Cartagena
The coffee-tasting experience was disappointing as the host was not prepared for our arrival, causing us to cancel the activity. We appreciated our specialist, Felipe, who took care of the cancellation.
Day Pass at Tierra Bomba Island at Makani Beach Club - Pool Lounge Chairs Reserved
Colombia
We found the beach club pool lounge experience to be decent but not something we would necessarily repeat, we were glad we did it but we prefer more active and cultural activities. We also felt like the poolside lounge chairs were a bit expensive. We would recommend waiting until you arrive to book the chairs.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Apr 18, 2023
Hi Kiran,
MUCHAS GRACIAS! :)
We will miss having you in Colombia, and I will miss our conversations. It has been a pleasure meeting you, and thank you for visiting Colombia! We also really appreciate your feedback, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us, we greatly appreciate it to continue improving, and going above and beyond so our travelers have the best experience in Colombia!
Please stay in touch and sending you and your family my very Best Wishes!
Felipe
Great holiday.
Colombia
|
Feb 21 - Mar 6, 2023
Priscilla R.
the Netherlands
| Reviewed on Mar 12, 2023
Everything was taken care of and if you wanted last minuted chances, this was possible too. Kimkim organized it all very well in cooperation with you and were flexible. They really want you to have a great experience and holiday!
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Mar 12, 2023
Hi Priscilla, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review and it was a pleasure meeting you and Nena. Thank you for making us a part of your trip to Colombia and sending you my very Best Wishes!
Felipe
Flawless planning and execution; an experience of a lifetime
Colombia
|
Feb 6 - Feb 18, 2023
Blaine B.
Oakland Park, FL
| Reviewed on Feb 22, 2023
From our initial conversations several months ago to our return to the U.S. from Colombia a few days ago, Felipe and his team "escorted" us through their beautiful country, always in touch with us to make sure our experiences were memorable. We enjoyed all of our knowledgable and engaging guides, especially Tomás Vargas in Bogotá and Juan Carlos Vandergast in Medellin, both with whom we spent considerable time. We also enjoyed Isaac in Cartagena, with his enthusiasm and command of his...
Read more
From our initial conversations several months ago to our return to the U.S. from Colombia a few days ago, Felipe and his team "escorted" us through their beautiful country, always in touch with us to make sure our experiences were memorable. We enjoyed all of our knowledgable and engaging guides, especially Tomás Vargas in Bogotá and Juan Carlos Vandergast in Medellin, both with whom we spent considerable time. We also enjoyed Isaac in Cartagena, with his enthusiasm and command of his city's history, though we only spent a morning with him, because of some confusion on our end.
What an unfair question when asked about favorite experiences! Through KimKim, Aracanto provided us with a myriad of exciting opportunities. How about Monserrate, Candelaria, Villa de Leyva, Kronosaurus, Raquira, Medellin's Commune 13, Fernando Botero, Guatapé, El Piñol, Rosario Islands, walled old city Cartagena, Gethsemane, the cooking class with Gilles Dupont? They all tumble around inside our heads as memorable events of the trip. And I can't forget the friendliness of the welcoming Colombian people we met everywhere.
Two thumbs up to everyone involved and hands down for an incredible twelve days discovering another favorite country.
Thank you, KimKim.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Quadrifolio
Cartagena de Indias
Stunning architectural beauty, welcoming and helpful staff
Authenticity & Character
Outstanding renovation, seemed true to the original design, elegant, sophisticated
Very nice boutique hotel, jungle-like setting, very helpful staff, challenge to carry heavy luggage up steps.
Coralina Island
Isla del Rosario
Idyllic setting, enjoyed the desert island feel, outdoor dining, private chaises, access to water, good food. very friendly staff.
Hotel Casa Terra
Villa de Leyva
Like all Spanish-influenced houses, it's all behind the walls. Lovely grounds, huge room with living room, convenient to the squares and restaurants, delicious breakfast, very attentive staff. Rick was having physical difficulty with his back, and the owner arranged for a massage for him. The experience immediately improved his condition.
Hotel Casa Medina Four Seasons
Bogotá, Cundinamarca
Terrific, upscale feel to begin our time in Colombia. Spacious room, delicious breakfasts, very helpful desk staff to guide us to restaurants. Lovely dining room.
Location
Close to restaurants, far from sites.
Activity Reviews
Dinner Reservation at Harry Sasson
Bogotá
Fabulous first dinner in Colombia. Loved the "room." Sophisticated. Food was tops.
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá
Knowledgable Tomás enriched the day's experiences. The market, riding to the top of Monserrate for the city view, touring Candelaria--great introduction to the trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dinner Reservation at Tierra Cocina de Entorno
Bogotá
We waited 90 minutes to get our food. Language barrier and non-attentive wait staff made for a poor evening. However, we loved the vibe of the place.
Dinner Reservation at Mercado Municipal
Villa de Leyva
Fun waiter frying to learn English while I practiced Spanish, charming courtyard setting. Tasty barbecue.
Half Day Villa de Leyva Tour
Villa de Leyva
Charming Spanish village. Villa de Leyva itself is the attraction. The long drive to VdL from Bogotá is marked by a beautiful landscape I never tired of watching. What a discovery of the fossil of Kronosaurus at the Fossil Museum! I tried to wrap my head around the fact that this area was under sea water at one time. We really like the stop of Raquira on the return, a colorful arts and crafts town. Too bad they wouldn't ship purchases.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
Dinner Reservation at OCI.Mde
Medellín
Great vibe. Friendly staff. Good food.
Guatape and El Peñol
Colombia
What a day of exciting discovery. Everything was eye-opening. Juan Carlos was absolutely one of the best guides we've experienced. Guatapé's journey to becoming an artistic jewel, the sad story about the flooding of the original town of Piñol to make the lake for producing hydroelectric power, the boat ride and Juan Carlos' clever reveal of Pablo Escobar's dilapidated mansion amidst the stunning hillside houses. No, we didn't climb El Piñol, though I really wanted to. I was sure I could climb to the top, but I was concerned that my left knee would not have allowed me to descend!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dinner Reservation at El Cielo - Please confirm on your side
Colombia
El Cielo couldn't confirm a reservation.
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín
Comuna 13 is a living miracle. My body felt jazzed during the entire experience, and with the salsa and other beats filling the air, I could barely stay still. Sunday's crowd was thick, yet again, a friendly vibe. Exciting. Then there is Botero Plaza, with his 24 sculptural voluminous pieces thrilling us.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Arrival to the Islands
Rosario Islands
Long drive from Cartagena airport to Barú to get in the Hotel's boat. We appreciated the special arrangements.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day at the Islands at Coralina Island
Rosario Islands
Departure from the Islands
Rosario Islands
Well, if nothing, it was exciting. Full boat of 40 people with luggage. Not balanced well, so this of us on the starboard side literally got soaked through all our clothing. Kind of funny, and uncomfortable. They rearranged luggage and then it was okay.
But the adventure was not over. Apparently high winds made the Caribbean approach to Cartagena too dangerous, so our boat, along with several others, entered a very shallow river delta where our propellers were hitting mud. Other boats sped passed us, causing our boat to rock violently. Finally the boatman and first mate raised the engine (?) and we were on our way. Two your ride.
It was an unanticipated adventure.
City Tour of Cartagena (Half Day)
Cartagena
We liked Isaac's introduction to Cartagena. For us, it was an incredibly hot and humid day, and waking up the massive fort near noon was exhausting. So we cut the schedule short and returned to the hotel.
Dinner Reservation at La Mulata
Cartagena
Fun place. Good food. Casual, local feel. Met two couples separately that made it more enjoyable. One man invited us to his cafe the next day for more conversation.
Private Cooking Class and Lunch
Cartagena
An excellent activity that we enjoyed thoroughly. French-born Gilles Duport is a wonderful and charming chef, fluent in French, Spanish, but not English. We had a wonderful time with our little bits of both European languages and his armchair English.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dinner Reservation at Alma
Cartagena
Despite its beautiful decor and lovely room, the food was not what we expected. The wait staff was inconsistent, and we felt a bit fooled by the wine selection process in an attempt to have us buy a very expensive bottle of wine.
Airport is convenient to downtown. Isaac was the only guide who did not go into the airport with us to help us get situated. Maybe it was because this was an international flight, whereas Tomás and Juan Carlos were able to help us with domestic flights.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Feb 22, 2023
Dear Blaine and Rick,
It has been a pleasure meeting you both, and I will miss our conversations and messages, and Thank You so much for making us a part of your trip to Colombia!
I also wanted to Thank you for taking the time to write this review, and I will certainly pass on your comments to Tomás, to Juan Carlos, Isaac, and to Gilles. Muchas Gracias!
We all hope you come back to Colombia in the future and Hasta Pronto amigos!
My very Best Wishes,
Felipe
We had never been to Colombia before and in f...
Colombia
|
Feb 2 - Feb 15, 2023
Brian B.
Canada
| Reviewed on Feb 17, 2023
We had never been to Colombia before and in fact some friends asked us why we were going there. Felipe, our local specialist was very attentive and on each leg of our trip we were met at the airport by a greeter and a driver (very welcome on our arrival at 4:00am). Anytime we had a question through Watsapp, Felipe or a member of his team would reply within minutes even late at night. For each transfer Felipe confirmed the pick up details and gave the name of the people meeting us. We are now...
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We had never been to Colombia before and in fact some friends asked us why we were going there. Felipe, our local specialist was very attentive and on each leg of our trip we were met at the airport by a greeter and a driver (very welcome on our arrival at 4:00am). Anytime we had a question through Watsapp, Felipe or a member of his team would reply within minutes even late at night. For each transfer Felipe confirmed the pick up details and gave the name of the people meeting us. We are now spoiled by the handholding but it absolutely eliminates the stress of travelling to a new place. A minor issue in the booking was sticking to the budget we had given for the trip.
We had guides in Bogota (Tom), Medellin (Manuella), Cartagena (Oscar) and the 4 hr drive from Taganga to Cartagena (Javier, who gave us an impromptu seminar on Colombian music). The latter was a pleasant no-cost surprise as the drivers rarely spoke English. In every case, the guides gave us a thorough overview of their cities, made restaurant recommendatons and were a very time efficient way to learn about Colombia. All were very enthusiastic and proud to teach us about their country.
The accomodations were all well selected boutique hotels, even the ones owned by Marriott and Hilton in Bogota. The locations allowed us to mostly walk to dinner and we never felt any security concerns. The restaurant bookings were excellent and made for some memorable evenings.
Hotel Reviews
The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection
Bogotá
A nice boutique hotel in a trendy part of Bogota. There was never a security concern and restaurants were all a few minutes walk. The bar and dining room were very nice (although we found that a glass of wine in the bar was a little pricey). The breakfast was excellent and the service was great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the noise. At 6:00am someone outside was shouting something that sounded like he was selling and there was ongoing conversation in the room next door that made me wonder if it was being used as an office.
We stayed here again on a different floor the night before our trip home and I had to call the front desk about the noise coming from our neighbor at 11:00pm.
Authenticity & Character
Cool design of the room and very nice bar and restaurant
Location
Safe and trendy, near restaurants and bars
This hotel is located in two large houses across the street from one another. Both have beautiful gardens where breakfast is served and nice lounge areas. While they are right in the heart of a restaurant and bar neighborhood, the gardens made it seem like we were in the country. The hosts were very welcoming and attentive. We met another couple at dinner who were scouting wedding venues and enthusiastically recommended Patio del Mundo as a place to book the wedding party during their stay in Medellin.
Authenticity & Character
Every room has a theme, we were in Argentina. There was no TV in the room but we didn't miss it and has a nice time on the patio of our room surrounded by tropical gardens.
Location
we only took an Uber for dinner once and walked to our other dining spots.
Hotel Quadrifolio
Cartagena de Indias
We ended up in this hotel because our original choice was booked by the time we pulled the trigger. It turned out to be the No 1 hotel in Cartegena and we were lucky to get it at no extra cost. It is set in a Colonial building that has been completely restored (there is a book in one of the lounges that describes the three year project to bring it back from ruin). The location was in the heart of the old town with bars and restaurants on every corner.
We were met on arrival by the manager and checked in while sitting comfortably on a couch with a cold welcome drink. The room was incredible with high ceilings and a period appropriate theme.
Breakfast was excellent and served at a community table so that you can meet other guests (however you can also dine privately across the hall). One morning we had an early pick up and the hotel served us a half hour before the usual starting time without a question. There is a hot tub on the roof with a small seating area that made a nice spot to sit outdoors (the hotel also supplied us with plastic wine glasses and a corkscrew so that we coould enjoy some wine we had bought).
Authenticity & Character
Beautifully renovated colonial building with a central courtyard. This was the highlight of the trip.
Location
The heart of the old town a quick walk to dining and bars.
Staff
Friendly and attentive, met ou every request including where to buy wine and water.
Hotel San Pedro de Majagua
Isla Grande
People go to Rosario Islands because the beaches in Cartagena are not very nice. This hotel is served by it's own speedboats from the main port. We were fortunate to have a guide and driver take us to the departure point which was a bit chaotic. Our guide stayed outside the fence until we had checked in and were ready to board. It takes about an hour but on the return seasonal winds caused a detour that resulted in a 2 hour trip. Pro tip: sit on the right side on the way to avoid the sun and also on the way back to avoid the spray, some people were soaked.
There are 2 boats carrying 40 people each, most of whom were day trippers. When the boat docks there is an orientation and welcome drink and then a stampede for one of two small beaches (one has music, the other does not and both have bars). There are beach chairs and a few Bally beds with curtains.
Activities included scuba diving, cycling and kayaking through the mangrove but we found them quite pricey for what they were and in the case of scuba, about twice the going rate (300,000 COP for a 1 tank dive). It seemed more like a community money-maker than paradise lost.
A positive was the great service and warm reception at the main desk and would like to cite Evelyn specifically. The service in the dining area was also excellent and the food and drink were good and reasonably priced for an island. A drawback were the ever present flies in the outdoor dining area, there were a couple of propeller type devices to shoo them which sort of worked but at breakfast we actually changed tables to get away from relentless flies.
The rooms were little cottages scattered around the property. They were clean and comfortable, with outdoor seating areas and a hammock. We turned off the mini fridge at night as it was a little noisy and the room had a broken towel hook and toilet paper holder. On the whole, nice but in need of an update.
Authenticity & Character
The rooms need an update, service was excellent
Staff
Evelyn at reception was a standout and spoke excellent English
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean but had a few issues
Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton
Cartagena
A good hotel owned by Hilton. Great location, the best feature was the rooftop pool with dining/bar area. The room was modern, spacious and clean with separate toilet and shower area and double sinks. A deep and narrow modern building resulted in long narrow halways that reminded us of a movie set for an institution with blank walls holding multiple small wall planters.
Breakfast had many options with a buffet and menu choices.
The in-house Peruvian restaurant looked cool but we did not dine there.
Authenticity & Character
Modern and nice but could have been in any city.
Activity Reviews
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
Arriving at 4:00am we were very happy to have a guide (Tom) and driver to take us to our hotel. When we arrived there was no one at reception and Tom stuck around to make sure we were checked in. Thanks Tom!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Coffee Shops Usaquen recommendations (no transportation and activity not included)
Bogotá
We did not do this activity, we did lunch instead
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lunch Reservation at Abasto (Usaquén area)
Bogotá
Very authentic local restaurant.
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá
Tom gave us a great tour of the city and a trip up to Monserrate. He was particularly helpful and interesting during the gold museum tour which I hadn't really been keen to do. Due to time constraints we did an interesting coffe tasting at the end of the day near our hotel. At the local market we tried a number of fruit that we had never seen before.
Quality of Experience
Tom was very knowledgeable and personable. He gave us a restaurant recommendation that turned out to be a highlight of our trip
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lunch Reservation at Madre
Bogotá
This was a recommendation from a friend who visited Colombia last year. Very cool vibe and filled with locals. We asked Tom to join us and had a great meal and Cervesa. We were told it was better to do at lunch as the location was a bit sketchy at night..
Quality of Experience
Very cool, set in an area between two buildings with a roof.
Dinner Reservation at Tierra Cocina de Entorno
Bogotá
A busy, trendy restaurant we had good food and a fun time. At the end of the evening they provided dry ince and sparklers for eveyone to celebrate the evening.
Dinner Reservation at Alambique
Medellín
This was another highlight of our trip. Very cool ambiance, live music and great food.
Quality of Experience
You would not find this place if your didn't look for it. It is down a long hallway in an old building on a busy street. Very cool,
Dinner Reservation at Andrés Carne de Res
Medellín
This was doubled booked to give us an option. We chose Alambique instead and cancelled the reservation.
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín
Manuella was an experienced and enthusiastic giuide who gave us a thorough tour of Medellin. She worked effectively with our driver who made a convenient and fun recommendation for an al fresco lunch in a local spot. We all had a great time.
Quality of Experience
We visited a local marketn took the metro, the goldolas and explored the hilltop communities and graffiti art of Medellin.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The driver was particularly personable and made a great recommendation for lunch. He seemed happy in his work and we requested him for our trip to the airpiort
Dinner Reservation at Rocoto
Medellín
This was an outdoor dinner spot a short walk form our hotel. At first we thought the reception was a bit abrupt but the waiter warmed up during the evening (picture a rough character from a Bond film). In many of the restaurants we went to we found the portions large enough for us to have 2-3 apetizers and wine.
Sunset Drinks Reservation at Café del Mar
Cartagena
We skipped this activity, it sounded touristy and busy/expensive. We have seen many sunsets.
Dinner Reservation at Candé
Cartagena
A very potpular restaurant, it was big, busy, expensive and touristy. We had a nice meal - mostly appetizers and there were dancers around the tables and live music. We prefer smaller and more authentic local spots.
Quality of Experience
The location was convenient and the restaurant was nice.
City Tour of Cartagena (Half Day)
Cartagena
Very interesting given the history of the city. Oscar was a very competent and enthusiastic guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Traditional Coffee Tasting
Cartagena
We had very insightful comments from the coffee person and had samples of coffee prepared in different fashions
We were met on time at our hotel and had an uneventful 35 minute drive to the airport. We delayed our departure time to reduce our wait for our flight.
Arrival to the Islands
Rosario Islands
We and boatload of day trippers arrive to a welcome drink and orientation. Then there is a mad dash for the beach chairs at one of the two small beaches. We can check in at 2:00 pm but get in a bit sooner.
Quality of Experience
A bit crowded and impersonal, a tourist event but for locals
Transport
A 40 person sppedboat, check in and boarding is a bit chaotic and time consuming
Day at the Islands
Rosario Islands
The actrivities are good on paper however in practice underwhelming and a little pricey. The cuba diving was twice the going rate so we dove with a local dive shop nearby. The local guides wanted to sell us on the pricey cycling/kayaking in the mangrove tour saying there were no mosquitos (there were). We passed.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff at the hotel were excellent
Transport
The trip home took 2 hrs because of the wind. The left side of the boat was soaked, fortunately we had chosen well.
Departure from the Islands
Rosario Islands
The seasonal wind is very strong so they start the boats home early. The wind comes from the left so we boarded 20 minutes early and were rewarded by not getting soaked like those on the left side. Because of the wind the route back was along an artifical river made 300 years ago that adds an hour to the trip home.
Dinner Reservation at Marea
Cartagena
we cancelled this reservation
Interesting but not the same as seeing birds in the wild
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Oscar was very enthusiastic
Dinner Reservation at Juan del Mar
Cartagena
We had walked by this restaurant earlier and thought it looked cool. There was live music and again we shared appetizers, a main and dessert. Service was very good as was the music. Lot's of locals dining there. It was a block from our hotel.
Dinner Reservation at Mistura
Cartagena
Live music, a place popular with locals. We shared an apetizer, main, dessert and wine.
Dinner Reservation at El Chato
Bogotá
Due to confusion at the reception we were led to a table on the second floor which turned out to be exclusively for the 6 course wine-paired tasting menu. We had no interest in that and had some discussion about whether to just leave.
Finally, they just accomodated us and we had a very good meal of three appetizers and a main in full view of the kitchen.
Very interesting experience. The pastry chef was introduced who recommended a Vegan dessert which was great.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Feb 18, 2023
Hi Brian,
Thank you for visiting Colombia, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your trip. All our guides spoke highly of you and Brooke, and it has been a pleasure meeting you!
I also wanted to Thank you for taking the time to write this detailed review, not only of your general experience, but also of every activity, hotel, guide, restaurant and experience you had. Although we are constantly traveling around the country doing inspection trips, trying restaurants, visiting...
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Hi Brian,
Thank you for visiting Colombia, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your trip. All our guides spoke highly of you and Brooke, and it has been a pleasure meeting you!
I also wanted to Thank you for taking the time to write this detailed review, not only of your general experience, but also of every activity, hotel, guide, restaurant and experience you had. Although we are constantly traveling around the country doing inspection trips, trying restaurants, visiting hotels, and going over the quality of our tours and experiences, receiving feedback from our travelers is extremely valuable for us, and helps us to continue improving and reviewing our offering. We go above and beyond to make sure our travelers have a great time in Colombia, are able to relax and enjoy their time in Colombia, and being able to go over your comments and experiences is extremely valuable for us, Muchas Gracias! These comments (positive and constructive feedback) will be reviewed in detail not only by our team, but also by our local partners, guides, the hotels and the restaurants.
Sending you and your family all my Best Wishes for this year,
Felipe
Felipe was excellent from start to finish. ...
Colombia
|
Jan 25 - Feb 9, 2023
Emily C.
Washington, DC
| Reviewed on Feb 10, 2023
Felipe was excellent from start to finish. My family and I had a wonderful trip to Columbia. Felipe was so helpful in putting together a trip that made all of us with different needs and desires happy. The hotels were steller, the guides lovely and knowledgable. We loved the drumming workshop in Cartegena - a real highlight. We needed to change directions on our trip several times as I had an injured leg. Felipe arranged for me to have an appointment with a physician and had...
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Felipe was excellent from start to finish. My family and I had a wonderful trip to Columbia. Felipe was so helpful in putting together a trip that made all of us with different needs and desires happy. The hotels were steller, the guides lovely and knowledgable. We loved the drumming workshop in Cartegena - a real highlight. We needed to change directions on our trip several times as I had an injured leg. Felipe arranged for me to have an appointment with a physician and had medication delivered to my hotel. Also, when my daughter got a bad cold, he sent supplies and checked in daily. I always felt there was someone there if I needed anything at all - from something small to larger requests. This was the first time I used an agency to plan a trip. I researched many companies. This one was the only one willing to do as much or as little as I wanted and was not pushy about having us do more touring than we like.
Columbia is a beautiful place to visit. The people were kind and helpful. I learned so much about the history, and culture, and got to spend time in both cities and nature. I would love to go back. A shout-out to Margoth and everyone who helped make our trip easy and fantastic.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Casa San Agustin
Cartagena de Indias
A beautiful hotel with a staff that is kind and attentive. The rooms are lovely, the courtyard magical, and the food delicious. There was nothing the staff would not do to make you feel comfortable. It was a quiet retreat in the middle of a bustling city. Once inside, you were transported to serenity.
A lovely, quiet retreat in the middle of the city. Beautiful house with magical outdoor space. Lovely service and care.
Senda Watapuy
Santa Marta
A wonderful magical place in the middle of nature. The rooms were large and private and the property was well taken care of. The pool was lovely. My only wish is that they had more umbrellas or created shady pots around the pool. The sun is quite intense and there needs to be a way to stay outside by the pool without getting burned. Other than that, it was a great place to stay and I would not hesitate to go back.
Activity Review
Drums and Music Workshop
Cartagena
All I can say is go..... Support these amazing musicians, dancers, and artists. I loved the workshop, playing the drum, and dancing with the dancers. They were exceptional, and it is a great way to support their school. A highlight of my trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Feb 10, 2023
Hi Emily,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. It was truly amazing having you and your family in Colombia, and thank you for working together with me to plan a trip that everyone enjoyed. Thank you very much as well for highlighting the drumming workshop in Cartagena and for supporting the community and musicians involved, and being a part of this special social project. And great that you liked our selection of hotels!
It has been a pleasure to know you, and to...
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Hi Emily,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. It was truly amazing having you and your family in Colombia, and thank you for working together with me to plan a trip that everyone enjoyed. Thank you very much as well for highlighting the drumming workshop in Cartagena and for supporting the community and musicians involved, and being a part of this special social project. And great that you liked our selection of hotels!
It has been a pleasure to know you, and to work with you, and Muchas Gracias for visiting Colombia!
Sending you my very Best Wishes and hope you stay in touch.
Best, Felipe
Family vacation in Medellin and Bogota
Colombia
|
Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2023
David U.
Canada
| Reviewed on Jan 02, 2023
We had an incredible family vacation in Columbia with our guides Alba (Medellin) and Santiago (Bogota). Felipe was incredibly helpful in arranging an itinerary and trip plan based on our specific needs. Memorable experiences in Medellin were a coffee farm tour, and visiting Guatape and climbing El Penol. In Bogota we loved the Salt Cathdral at Zipaquira and the Guatavita Lake tour, Gold Museum, Monserrate, and chocolate experience. The transporation and dining arrangements were seamless. I...
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We had an incredible family vacation in Columbia with our guides Alba (Medellin) and Santiago (Bogota). Felipe was incredibly helpful in arranging an itinerary and trip plan based on our specific needs. Memorable experiences in Medellin were a coffee farm tour, and visiting Guatape and climbing El Penol. In Bogota we loved the Salt Cathdral at Zipaquira and the Guatavita Lake tour, Gold Museum, Monserrate, and chocolate experience. The transporation and dining arrangements were seamless. I highly recommend using this service if you don't have extensive knowledge about your destination -- it is money well spent.
Hotel Reviews
Medellin Marriott Hotel
Medellín
NH Collection Bogotá Teleport Royal
Bogotá DC
Activity Review
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour
Bogotá
Incredible experience. We learned a lot about the history and people of Colombia.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jan 02, 2023
Hi David,
It was truly amazing having you and your family in Colombia! Thank you for your great attitude and positivity, and Thank you for visiting Colombia! It was a pleasure meeting you and your family, and great to hear you had a good time!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and sending you all my very Best Wishes for 2023!
Best, Felipe
Felipe did an incredible job helping us plan ...
Colombia
|
Oct 9 - Oct 15, 2022
Melanie F.
United Kingdom
| Reviewed on Oct 16, 2022
Felipe did an incredible job helping us plan our trip. He was very patient as we amended our itinerary a few times and recommended great places to see and restaurants. Couldn’t have made our trip to Colombia any easier and more enjoyable!
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Felipe did an incredible job helping us plan our trip. He was very patient as we amended our itinerary a few times and recommended great places to see and restaurants. Couldn’t have made our trip to Colombia any easier and more enjoyable!
Activity Review
Cocora Valley, Salento, & Coffee Farm Visit
Colombia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Informative
Transport
Nice clean transport
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Oct 16, 2022
Hi Mel,
Muchas Gracias! Thank you for traveling to Colombia and taking the time to write this review. It has been a pleasure meeting you and great to hear that you had a great time in Colombia :)! Sending you my Best Wishes!
Felipe
Wonderful trip
Colombia
|
Jun 19 - Jul 4, 2022
Eva W.
Portland, OR
| Reviewed on Jul 12, 2022
We had a great trip to Colombia. Both Felipe and Margoth helped us during the entire vacation and took care of everything from start to finish. All was outstanding but we especially liked our travel guide Pablo in Medellin, our tour to Cafe de la Cima, chocolate tasting at El Arsenal The Rum Box, Cartagena and the cooking class at Oh La La also in Cartagena. We would not hesitate to recommend Felipe to anyone that wants to visit Colombia.
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We had a great trip to Colombia. Both Felipe and Margoth helped us during the entire vacation and took care of everything from start to finish. All was outstanding but we especially liked our travel guide Pablo in Medellin, our tour to Cafe de la Cima, chocolate tasting at El Arsenal The Rum Box, Cartagena and the cooking class at Oh La La also in Cartagena. We would not hesitate to recommend Felipe to anyone that wants to visit Colombia.
Activity Reviews
Coffee Farm Day Tour
Medellín
Wonderful! We loved it! Great visit with the family at this coffee farm.
Quality of Experience
Great coffee. Wonderful family.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazing!
Transport
Great transportation.
Rafting Tour at Rio Claro
Medellín
So much fun! Highly recommend!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Cooking Class and Lunch
Cartagena
Very fun cooking class and great food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wonderful!
Guatape and El Peñol
Colombia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wonderful staff!
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dinner Reservation at Andrés Carne de Res
Medellín
Alto de San Miguel Forest Reserve Birdwatching Tour
Medellín
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jul 12, 2022
Hi Eva,
Thank you so much for your review!
It was a pleasure having you in Colombia, and it has been great meeting you!
Muchas gracias for visiting Colombia and we hope you come back!
All my Best Wishes for you and your family and if we can do anything for you, let us know.
Best, Felipe
Colombia non-stop and loving it
Colombia
|
Jun 23 - Jul 3, 2022
Cheri S.
Saint Peters, MO
| Reviewed on Jul 04, 2022
We had a great time and it was planned well. We never would have done as much or see so much without your service. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Oscar when we arrived at Bogota. He has so much knowledge and knew so many people along the way that made the trip extra personable. Gustvo made the coffee region exciting, fun and full of local greetings everywhere we went. Sebastian toured us throughout Medellin hitting every aspect of the city while explaining both the successes and...
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We had a great time and it was planned well. We never would have done as much or see so much without your service. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Oscar when we arrived at Bogota. He has so much knowledge and knew so many people along the way that made the trip extra personable. Gustvo made the coffee region exciting, fun and full of local greetings everywhere we went. Sebastian toured us throughout Medellin hitting every aspect of the city while explaining both the successes and challenges. For us, Cartagena was to be more relaxed as we had already seen and done so much. The walled city was vibrant at every hour of the day and night. Martin shared the beautiful history of the city and we felt his pride.
Kimkim experience was beyond our expectations, all of the planning, coordination and thoroughness of both drivers and guides made our travel full and rich. Thank you all
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jul 04, 2022
Hi Cheri and Jeff,
Muchas gracias! Thank you SO much for your review and for taking the time to write about your experience. It was a pleasure for us to meet you and to help you with your family trip in Colombia! We will pass on your comments to our team of guides in Colombia, and to Oscar, Gustavo, Sebastian and Martin and drivers. Your feedback is very much appreciated. Sending you both our Best Wishes,
Felipe
Family Trip to Columbia, May 2022
Colombia
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May 20 - May 30, 2022
Susan O.
Canada
| Reviewed on Jun 06, 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,...
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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, welcoming and helpful. The trip itself was flawless in its planning and execution. We had just the right amount of time in each destination, excellent guides (a special shout out to David Suarez), tours, hotels, restaurant recommendations etc. When there was a slight hiccup, Felipe and team couldn't have been more helpful and beyond working hours. All in all, it was exceptional.
In short, I very highly recommend KimKim, Felipe and team. We hope to have opportunity to work with this tour company again!
Hotel Reviews
The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection
Bogotá
Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton
Cartagena
Hotel San Pedro de Majagua
Isla Grande
Activity Review
Half-Day City Tour of Bogotá with Local Fruit Market and Monserrate Hill
Bogotá
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jun 06, 2022
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
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Mar 9 - Mar 19, 2022
Jessica J.
Phoenix, AZ
| Reviewed on May 05, 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...
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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 drivers were great and it was so nice to have all the domestic travel arrangements taken care of for us. We also appreciated the restaurant reservations, and all the help we got with needs that arose during the trip. We would all love to go back to Colombia, and if we do we will definitely book through Felipe and Margoth again.
Hotel Review
Perfect family hotel in a great location.
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on May 05, 2022
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
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Jan 28 - Feb 11, 2022
Kimberly B.
Hurlock, MD
| Reviewed on Feb 13, 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...
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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 vehicles and people. We felt very safe everywhere in the country and the local people clearly enjoy having Americans among them.
Hotel Review
Hotel Casa Medina Four Seasons
Bogotá, Cundinamarca
Beautifully renovated property in downtown Bogota. Staff is excellent and speaks English and super comfortable beds! Breakfast included were delicious.
Activity Review
Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour
Bogotá
One of the most unique tours we have seen. This former salt mine converted into a very creative and sacred Cathedral. Definitely worth visiting.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Feb 15, 2022
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
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Jan 14 - Jan 23, 2022
Andrew B.
Maywood, IL
| Reviewed on Jan 27, 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...
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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 ranch someday :).
Hotel Review
Hotel San Pedro de Majagua
Isla Grande
Charming and comfortable, and surrounded by massive local trees, the hotel is adorned with hammocks and private outdoor living rooms attached to your hotel room. Can sit in the evenings and look out over the coast, with the sea breeze and waves all around you.
Tips for future travelers
Use the bikes to get to town!
Activity Review
City Tour of Medellín (with Parque Arvi)
Medellín
The cable car trip is amazing. Stunning views, and you interact with friendly locals the entire time.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jan 27, 2022
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
Martha B.
Casas Adobes, AZ
| Reviewed on Jan 26, 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,...
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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, conveniently located, much nicer for us than a big hotel would be. We absolutely loved staying at Isla Grande. (The boat ride back was a bit choppy and wet but fun anyway.) We loved our first trip to Colombia and are so pleased with how all of the planning worked out. Thanks again!
Hotel Review
The Click Clack Hotel Medellin
Medellin
Very stylish, playful, great location, terrific service although breakfast could be a bit slow some days.
Activity Review
Dinner Reservation at OCI.Mde
Medellín
They took such good care of us. They didn’t immediately have a table ready but apologized and more than made up for it by sending complimentary dishes. The food was our favorite of the whole trip. Great place
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota
| Replied on Jan 27, 2022
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