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active 3 hours ago

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! "

Felipe is part of the following groups: Colombia Travel Agents, Colombia Family Travel Agents, Colombia Luxury Travel Agents
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Recent trip reviews for Felipe

Our Comprehensive Colombian Adventure
Colombia | Mar 28 - Apr 17, 2025

L
Linda W.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Apr 20, 2025
From start of planning to even beyond trip’s end, Felipe and his Aracanto team associated with KimKim were nothing short of amazing in planning and implementing our foursome Colombian adventure. Felipe promised to be with us via Whatsapp and/or the KimKim chat every step of the way; this was more than a sincere pledge. Without exception, responses to questions or concerns were always timely, if not unbelievably immediate. No matter a simple request or out-of-the-box queries, everything was... Read more

From start of planning to even beyond trip’s end, Felipe and his Aracanto team associated with KimKim were nothing short of amazing in planning and implementing our foursome Colombian adventure. Felipe promised to be with us via Whatsapp and/or the KimKim chat every step of the way; this was more than a sincere pledge. Without exception, responses to questions or concerns were always timely, if not unbelievably immediate. No matter a simple request or out-of-the-box queries, everything was dealt with in a kind and effective manner. (Aside: a reservation was made by Aracanto at my request for someone we met in the Amazon and not even traveling with us!)
Of note: We were grateful for airport assistance. Rides were not just arranged to various airports, but also help guiding us through unfamiliar mazes and a foreign language to get us and our luggage safely delivered and on to our next location. Very helpful!
Pre-arranged guides at every stop were, without exception, qualified and eager to help to provide the best experience possible. For me, our Amazon guide, Ramiro, was a favorite, impressive in his sincere attitude as well as his knowledge of the Amazon area; his self-taught English was equally amazing. He was so unassuming, so thoughtful. Other guides (and drivers) throughout our journey were kind and well informed. How in the world drivers knew routes on the mountainous windy, narrow roads is a wonder (without GPS assistance for the most part). Alex, in the Pereira coffee region, was the standout driver!
As a sort of downside, tour timing may have been underestimated in terms of hours spent. This, due mainly to road and weather conditions. Some days got a little long. On the other hand, when will be here again? Guides wanted us to see and do as much as possible.
Our overview of Colombia began in Cartagena where we were housed in a beautiful boutique hotel, as I initially indicated to Felipe that we enjoy during travels. Spending three nights gave us the opportunity for enough exploration (as well as to fully realize the heat and humidity that is Cartagena). These outsiders are not used to that!
On to Bogota, a massive city sprawled far and wide as well as scrunched against and up the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. We found the weather gods with us, experiencing and appreciating the high-altitude coolness with, miraculously, little rain and nice sunshine. As arranged by Aracanto/KimKim, in addition to several tours of interest, we found Bogota dining exceptional. Of the several places we visited this trip, Bogota takes the cake in gastronomy. Delish! For a memorably unique dining experience, we especially recommend Prudencia for a late lunch. After that, no need for dinner! For the best lemon pie ever, it’s Armadillo.
On to the Amazon by way of the border (Brazil, Peru and Colombia) city of Leticia. Back to hot and humid, but if you want see the Amazon, this is the deal. Staying at what is perhaps the nicest accommodation on the Colombian Amazon was an experience to remember. We were booked for 4 nights. Having now been there, 2 days (so maybe 3 nights) would suffice. We had a nice (rustic) hut, king-size bed with mosquito netting, indoor plumbing, an outdoor porch with a hammock and stunning view of the Amazon flowing by before our eyes. Downside: no hot water equals cold showers. (We did not know this ahead of time.) That said, if you have no hot water, the Amazon might be the place where it’s at least semi-ok! Hot, hot, hot and humid.
Outings: pink and gray dolphins performed as promised, jungle tours by hiking and boating, piranha fishing. Not included in our particular tour was an early-morning outing to particularly see parrots. Three in our group signed up in addition to what had been scheduled; I regret that I did not. Parrots and other birds were seen as promised, but the highlight was saving a momma sloth and her baby, stranded on a fallen floating tree. Spotted by the boat driver, guide Ramiro knew how to handle the situation and the pair were carefully rescued from sure drowning and taken by boat to another tree rooted on land down river. Wow!
And, actually, one of the very best things about this camp, like so many times on travels, was meeting folks from around the world: people from Europe, Dubai, Africa, USA and probably other origins populated our camp. There was even a Montana/Kenya connection that may blossom further – the small world thing!
Downside: On checking out, we were informed cash was much preferred, which we did not know ahead of time (or had forgotten). Not everyone had enough COPs and/or other currency that could later be exchanged in Leticia. Credit cards could probably be dealt with, but definitely not preferred and, I believe, a service charge would be added. Also, on our arrival, the camp manager asked us what we would like to do. I, for one, was sort of taken aback at the statement, as I thought it was more or less laid out what the itinerary would be, weather dependent. Odd. It all worked out!
Next, the coffee region. Down the Amazon we went, back by way of Leticia to Bogota for just a night in order to catch an onward flight the following day. Once there, did we learn about coffee! The landscape here (and, really, throughout this lovely country) is stunning. Along with the spectacular scenery, though, is a study in inconvenient living. Steep! Mountains and valleys galore, with any cleared space planted for coffee production and other crops. All this with most everything from planting to harvest done by hand. (Coffee beans are picked one by one by one by one…). The entire agricultural economy is extremely labor intensive. For sure going forward, we will more fully appreciate our cups of coffee!
The Corcora Valley was also something to see with its unique wax palms (Colombia’s national tree) soaring up to 200 feet in the air, the tallest palms in the world; slow growing, and made to last 100 to 200 years!
Horseback riding was on the docket in this area as well. Again, the weather gods accommodated, giving us a wonderfully sunshiny day amidst a spectacular Colombian ranch backdrop. I asked for an authentic ride with good stock. Aracanto saw to it! New for us in riding in various places around the world was to include our guide. Jorge, who was with us throughout the coffee region, provided welcome translation along the way. Our llano leader, Victor, had no English and we had no Spanish. While we can always make do, it is helpful to have a translator.
Next, from Pereira in the coffee region, it was on to Medellin, formerly a city of drug lords (particularly, Pablo Escobar) and extreme violence transformed into a progressive city of appeal that we were happy to see. Besides a city tour, we had a treat outside of Medellin to visit an extensive hobby orchid collection along with its accompanying hydrangea farm. Each hydrangea is planted and picked by hand. Some 8,000 highly perishable stems are picked and packed for air transport, mostly to the USA, daily, year-round, from this one farm. What a process – by hand.
And not so far from Medellin, a final stop by way of the colorful city of Guatape and Marinilla, we spent 2 nights digesting this fine Colombian excursion at a lodge with more wonderful meals and final views of the lush green that is Colombia. As a bonus (at my last-minute request) laid out before us was a surprise celebration for the April birthday guys, complete with a private dinner and concert!
All this ably arranged through Felipe and the Aracanto/KimKim team. Impressive. We four have traveled the world extensively. We offer only praise for this team of travel planners, and heartily recommend their service should you be traveling to the beautiful country of Colombia.

photo: https://imemories.us/3RW2ShJ

Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Apr 20, 2025
Dearest Linda, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a heartfelt and detailed review of your experience with us. I am deeply grateful for your kind words and for recognizing the care and dedication my team and I strive to provide. Knowing that your Colombian adventure exceeded expectations truly means the world to us! It was such a pleasure assisting you and your group in planning and experiencing Colombia’s beauty—from the vibrant cities to the lush Coffee Region and the... Read more

Dearest Linda,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a heartfelt and detailed review of your experience with us. I am deeply grateful for your kind words and for recognizing the care and dedication my team and I strive to provide. Knowing that your Colombian adventure exceeded expectations truly means the world to us!

It was such a pleasure assisting you and your group in planning and experiencing Colombia’s beauty—from the vibrant cities to the lush Coffee Region and the captivating Amazon. Reading about the highlights—such as Ramiro’s exceptional expertise in the Amazon, Alex’s outstanding driving in Pereira, and the memorable birthday celebration in Medellín—brought so much joy. I will be sharing your lovely feedback with our team, guides, and local suppliers.

The wonderful photos you shared with us are such a gift, and we are so grateful to you for allowing us to be part of your incredible journey.

Your feedback about tour timing adjustments and the Amazon camp preferences is invaluable, and we will take it into careful consideration as we continue to enhance and refine our services.

I truly hope our paths cross again in the future—it would be an honor to assist you with your next adventure. Wishing you, your family, and your friends all the very best ahead.

Hasta pronto, querida amiga!

Warm regards,
Felipe

Read all Colombia reviews

My daughter and I spent my birthday in Colomb...
Colombia | Jun 15 - Jun 22, 2024

Tarang
Tarang P.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2024
My daughter and I spent my birthday in Colombia and had a first class experience! The guides were so knowledgeable and really cared to get to know us and provide personal experience. We learned so much on each tour. I loved the fruit, bread, and milk tasting in the market in Bogota and the trip to Monserrate. In Medellin, the coffee farm tour was first rate, definitely a highlight for the whole trip. Also, our guide took us to some of his favorite local cuisines which I loved. My daughter... Read more

My daughter and I spent my birthday in Colombia and had a first class experience! The guides were so knowledgeable and really cared to get to know us and provide personal experience. We learned so much on each tour. I loved the fruit, bread, and milk tasting in the market in Bogota and the trip to Monserrate. In Medellin, the coffee farm tour was first rate, definitely a highlight for the whole trip. Also, our guide took us to some of his favorite local cuisines which I loved. My daughter got to climb Guatape with him in record time which is a memory she will always cherish. My daughter also enjoyed walking the streets of Cartagena and learning about the culture. The day trip to Tierra Bomba was great too. There was an issue with one of the flights and the tour company took care of it immediately which shows the professionalism and experience of the team. Overall, amazing time

Hotel Reviews
Residence Inn Bogotá
Bogotá

Great location, hot water took a little time to warm up though. They gave special treat for Bonvoy members which was nice

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Faranda Collection Medellin
Medellin

Wonderful hotel, friendly staff. Rooftop view is amazing, food was fabulous and spa was also wonderful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton
Cartagena

Very friendly helpful staff. Great AC in rooms for hot days. Rooftop pool was very nice

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Sergio was very helpful with great recommendations
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá

Gold museum was amazing experience. Our guide was so knowledgeable, we learned so much in each area.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Medellín

Highlight of the trip! Learned so much, the view was incredible

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Jun 24, 2024

Dear Tarang,
Thank you very much for visiting Colombia with your daughter and for making us a part of your trip. Thank you as well for taking the time to leave a review, and we really appreciate your feedback. It is great to hear that you both had a great trip, and enjoyed your tours, activities, and had a good time with your local guides. It has been a pleasure meeting you, and we hope you stay in touch.

Happy Birthday once again and our very Best Wishes for the year ahead!

Best,
Felipe and the Aracanto Team

I have travelled solo to many countries, and ...
Colombia | Apr 29 - May 7, 2024

Abdul
Abdul A.
Kuwait | Reviewed on May 14, 2024
I have travelled solo to many countries, and this was my first time travelling with the help of a travel company. I am glad I chose Kimkim to organize my trip because it was my best decision ever. They are very professional from start to finish. The tour guides from Bogota (Oscar), Medellin (Diego) and Cartagena (Alvaro) were very professional and friendly. I should also mention all of the drivers (Alessandro and Giovanni). I do not remember the drivers' names in Cartagena, but they were... Read more

I have travelled solo to many countries, and this was my first time travelling with the help of a travel company. I am glad I chose Kimkim to organize my trip because it was my best decision ever. They are very professional from start to finish. The tour guides from Bogota (Oscar), Medellin (Diego) and Cartagena (Alvaro) were very professional and friendly. I should also mention all of the drivers (Alessandro and Giovanni). I do not remember the drivers' names in Cartagena, but they were also professional. Their driving was very smooth, and I felt comfortable the whole time.

Hotel Reviews
The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection
Bogotá
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Faranda Collection Medellin
Medellin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
OSH Hotel Getsemaní
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Welcome to Colombia!
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guatape and El Peñol
Guatape and El Peñol
Colombia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mangrove Tour with Local Fisherman
Mangrove Tour with Local Fisherman
Cartagena
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Medellín
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City
Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City
Colombia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Depart Colombia
Depart Colombia
Colombia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on May 14, 2024

Hello Abdul,
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave a review. It means a lot to everyone involved in your trip and we will pass on your comments to all your guides and drivers, and everyone involved. It is great to hear that you had a good time with Oscar, Diego, Alvaro, Alessandro and Giovanni! :)

Thank you very much for visiting Colombia, and thank you for trusting us, and it has been a pleasure meeting you. Muchas Gracias!!

Best Wishes,
The kimkim team and the Aracanto Colombia team

Taste of Colombia
Colombia | Mar 31 - Apr 9, 2024

Susan
Susan L.
Boise, ID | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2024
Our nine day trip to Colombia began in Bogota. We were delighted with our guide, Oscar. He provided great information, personalized service, and helped make our tours of the city and surroundings enriching and comfortable. We especially enjoyed the historical perspective he provided and his love of cooking! Our tour to Guatavita helped us to appreciate all of the history and the beauty of the gold that was displayed in the Gold Museum.
In Medellin, Sebastian, our guide helped us... Read more

Our nine day trip to Colombia began in Bogota. We were delighted with our guide, Oscar. He provided great information, personalized service, and helped make our tours of the city and surroundings enriching and comfortable. We especially enjoyed the historical perspective he provided and his love of cooking! Our tour to Guatavita helped us to appreciate all of the history and the beauty of the gold that was displayed in the Gold Museum.
In Medellin, Sebastian, our guide helped us understand life in this beautiful city. We especially enjoyed seeing Comuna 13 and learning about how the city of Medellin has evolved into the city it is today. Going to Guatape and climbing El Penol was a highlight. Sebastian was enthusiastic and a great ambassador for Colombia.
Cartagena is a vibrant colorful city and our guide, Anna, showed us various areas of the old city on a walking tour. We enjoyed fruit, ice cream, chocolate and rum tasting and learned much about the history of the city. Anna provided great historical insight and even helped us see a sloth in a city park! We also enjoyed a mangrove tour with a local fisherman. It was good to get a view of what life is like outside of the city.
Felipe helped us to arrange a tour that was suited to our way of travel. We covered history, art, food, culture and even managed to get out into the countryside to see life outside of the cities.

Hotel Review
Patio del Mundo
Medellín

Beautiful, peaceful and comfortable. Everything about this place provided a sense of calm. The staff was delightful and attentive. Location was great and near many nice restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guatavita Lake Tour
Guatavita Lake Tour
Bogotá
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
Medellín

This was a nice sample of what coffee plantations are like on a small scale and close to Medellin. Our time didn't permit going to the coffee growing region so this was a nice compromise.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
Medellín

We really enjoyed being able to take the cable car and see Comuna 13. We also really liked the guide who was a resident of the Comuna 13 area. We enjoyed the vibrance of the community and seeing how this area is transforming.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City
Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City
Colombia

We loved learning about the history of the city and it's people. Our tasting tours were informative and delicious.

Quality of Experience
Transport
Welcome to Colombia!
Welcome to Colombia!
Colombia

On time and efficient.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
Bogotá

We enjoyed our entire experience. It was nice to see the Gold Museum prior to going to Guatavita.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guatape and El Peñol
Guatape and El Peñol
Colombia

We enjoyed climbing El Penol and the city of Guatape. The community was lovely to visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Cartagena

We learned so much on this tour. We enjoyed tasting the rum and the nibbles that they provided were very good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Depart Colombia
Depart Colombia
Colombia

It was really great to have our guides help us with airport check ins. This really made things go much more smoothly than if we had to do the check ins on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All of our guides made sure we were checked in and good to go before they left us. A nice touch!
Transport
Exotic Fruit Tasting Workshop and Local Ice Creams
Exotic Fruit Tasting Workshop and Local Ice Creams
Cartagena

The young women who provided the service at this venue were delightful! Koko and Vicky were great fun and very informative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mangrove Tour with Local Fisherman
Mangrove Tour with Local Fisherman
Cartagena

Very interesting and enjoyable. We loved seeing the birds and seeing how the fishermen do their work. We learned a lot about the mangroves and the ecosystem there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Apr 14, 2024

Dear Susan,
A big THANK YOU for taking the time to write this detailed review. We really appreciate all your comments and feedback, and it is great to hear that you had an amazing time in Colombia!
It has ben a pleasure meeting you and I am very glad you enjoyed Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena and got to experience the diversity of Colombia, meet locals and immerse in our culture. Thank you very much for choosing us, and for making me a part of your trip, and I hope you stay in touch.

Best wishes,
Felipe

We had an amazing trip to Colombia! Setting ...
Colombia | Feb 7 - Feb 18, 2024

catherine
catherine e.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 24, 2024
We had an amazing trip to Colombia! Setting up our trip was easy. KimKim asked about our likes/dislikes, how active we wanted to be, what places we didn't want to miss seeing etc all to set up the best vacation possible for us. We went to Bogota, Pereira and Cartagena and thoroughly enjoyed all 3 locations. In Bogota we did a city tour which included the Gold Museum (a must see) as well as the local market and Monserrate Hill. We also left the city and did some hiking so it felt like a... Read more

We had an amazing trip to Colombia! Setting up our trip was easy. KimKim asked about our likes/dislikes, how active we wanted to be, what places we didn't want to miss seeing etc all to set up the best vacation possible for us. We went to Bogota, Pereira and Cartagena and thoroughly enjoyed all 3 locations. In Bogota we did a city tour which included the Gold Museum (a must see) as well as the local market and Monserrate Hill. We also left the city and did some hiking so it felt like a good mix of time in the city as well as enjoying the natural beauty around the city. Our guide in Bogota, Oscar, was very helpful and informative. Periera was totally different. We were out in the beauty of the coffee region visiting small towns such as Finlandia and Salento. Going to the Corcora Valley and seeing the beautiful Wax Palms, Horseback riding and a Coffee Farm Visit. The only disappointment was due to fires we were not able to do the Los Frailes Hike but it certainly wasn't the fault of KimKim. The boutique hotel in Pereira , Hotel Sazagua, was just lovely. It was by far our favorite hotel. Our room was spacious with our own private patio/jacuzzi, the food at the hotel was great and the service top notch. Our guide in Pereira, Claudia, was also great. She was so knowledgable about the area she even gave us the coffee tour herself.
Cartagena was our third stop and it didn't disappoint. It was very hot but we managed to get some pool time in at our hotel as well as a full day at Tierra Bomba Island at the Makani Beach Club to cool off. The Makani Beach Club was fabulous. It had a beautiful pool, a restaurant, bar area as well as massage. We enjoyed all three. Due to the wind the boat ride back was very bumpy so if that is bothersome it might not be a good choice. I would also highly recommend the Mangrove Tour. It s a very beautiful area and we were able even able to catch a few blue crab on our tour! Again, our guides were very informative and knowledgable about the city and it's history.
We've had a lot of people ask us if we felt safe while in Colombia. Our answer is "Yes"! As long as you're smart about where you go on your own and are aware of your surroundings it is perfectly safe. Our guides were very helpful in giving us tips and guidance in this area for sure. The one thing that was surprising to us was how few people spoke any English. Our Spanish is extremely limited so without a guide I think it would have been difficult for us to navigate around the country. But thanks to KimKim and our guides this wasn't an issue at all. We would definitely recommend travel to Colombia!

Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Feb 25, 2024
Dear Cathy and Tim,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this review, and for sending us your valuable feedback. This is extremely important for us, and we greatly appreciate it. We will pass on your comments to the team and everyone involved in your trip, and it was a pleasure having you in Colombia. I am very glad to hear you enjoyed all the destinations you visited, and that you were able to experience the diversity of the country, by visiting Bogota, the capital city, the... Read more

Dear Cathy and Tim,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this review, and for sending us your valuable feedback. This is extremely important for us, and we greatly appreciate it. We will pass on your comments to the team and everyone involved in your trip, and it was a pleasure having you in Colombia.

I am very glad to hear you enjoyed all the destinations you visited, and that you were able to experience the diversity of the country, by visiting Bogota, the capital city, the museums and the history as well as its surroundings, then the Coffee Region with its authenticity, and natural beauty as well as charming towns, and Cartagena, with the magic of the Caribbean region.

Thank you for visiting Colombia, and sending you our very Best Wishes! Muchas Gracias!

Best Wishes,
Felipe

Fun and interesting time in Cartagena
Colombia | Jan 24 - Jan 28, 2024

M
Mary L.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2024
The online staff was quick to respond and super helpful. Our guide Daniela was knowledgeable and fun. Read more

The online staff was quick to respond and super helpful. Our guide Daniela was knowledgeable and fun.

Hotel Reviews
OSH Hotel Getsemaní

Oasis in Gestemani. Walking distance to everything or a quick Uber ride. Friendly staff, comfortable rooms and beds. Breakfast was bountiful and pools relaxing and clean.

Authenticity & Character
New hotel but in keeping with the vibe of Cartagena.
Location
Bonus - we could walk to the fort.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sparkling clean
Hotel San Pedro de Majagua
Isla Grande

A gem!!!!!!!!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
Felipe Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Feb 05, 2024

Hi Mary, Thank you very much for taking the time to write this review and Thank you very much for your feedback. Thank you for making me a part of your trip, and for visiting our home country Colombia, and sending you all my very Best Wishes.

Best, Felipe

Trip to Colombian Amazon
Colombia | Nov 15 - Nov 19, 2023

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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... Read more

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
Calanoa Lodge
Leticia
Authenticity & Character
Location
good central location for activities and a remarkable place to truly unplug and immerse yourself in what the Amazon has to offer
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
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

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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... Read more

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
Patio del Mundo
Medellín

Beautiful location and small hotel. You feel like a guest in a wonderful home.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to great restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
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.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Highlights of Bogotá City Tour (with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill)
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.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour
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.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)
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.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Colombia!
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.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guatavita Lake Tour and Usaquén
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.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing
Cartagena

Very educational and fun. Trying 8 rums with chocolate.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Felipe Rico
Felipe
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

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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... Read more

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
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... Read more

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

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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
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