Trip Planning
Provide a detailed itinerary. The itinerary on the kimkim site was quite high level, without any details. It was only after booking that we got more specific travel details from the local specialist, Giovanna, via the messaging section of the kimkim site. Giovanna was very responsive, checking in periodically with us before and during the trip.
The first day of the Rio tour was quite interesting, particularly visiting the artistic Santa Teresa neighborhood. After visiting Sugarloaf Mountain on the second day, the tour consisted mostly of driving quickly through various neighborhoods.
I would suggest that kimkim offer a list of some suggested activities for the “free days” in Rio, such as attending the Carnival Experience, recommending museums, etc..
Flight Scheduling
For the Rio-Brasilia-Manaus journey, schedule flights earlier in the day, with ample connection time in Brasilia. Our evening GIS-BSB flight was somewhat delayed, so the 45-minute connection time was inadequate. We literally ran to the departure gate for Gol Airlines’ BSB-MAO flight, which was marked as “closed,” but the gate agent was able to quickly onboard us, and the baggage crew managed to get our luggage loaded, as well. The BSB-MAO flight landed at 10:55pm, so we didn’t arrive at our hotel until almost midnight. With a 6:30am shuttle-bus pick up the next morning, we barely got any sleep before the arduous journey to the Amazon Tupana Lodge.
Travel to Amazon
Inform travelers about the extent and methods of transportation to the Amazon Tupana Lodge. We would likely have chosen a different itinerary had we known that we would be packed into a shuttle bus for an hour, ride on an aluminum boat for 45 minutes, ride on an even smaller shuttle bus for a couple of hours, and then board another aluminum boat for 30 minutes – all while having to carry our luggage between the four travel segments.
Inform travelers who choose to go to the Amazon to pack a smaller bag for that segment and store their larger luggage at their Rio hotel.
Hotel in Rio de Janeiro
While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.
In short, the Windsor Excelsior was not even a 3-star hotel, in my book.
Amazon Tupana Lodge
The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently.
The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.
The lodge does not accept cash, and their credit card reader had difficulty connecting to their very spotty internet.
We gave the room key to the front desk at “check-out”, but they called our driver to the Manaus airport to ask if we had taken it.
Tupana Lodge Excursions
Schedules were not announced by guides. The “motorized canoe” described in the kimkim material was actually an aluminum fishing boat.
We were not informed that the evening hike into the forest was going to take 5 hours (including dinner). I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and returned to the lodge, but the lobby was locked, so I had to search for a staff member to let me into our cabin.
We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.
Communication from Leonardo, the Amazon guide, was lacking. Often, there was often no information provided on what we would be doing the next day, with only his comment that "I'll tell you at breakfast." When I asked what an afternoon activity was going to be, he answered that we were rowing canoes. I explained that I have a shoulder problem, and he dismissed my concern. I asked what we were going to see, and his response was "trees." Again, I opted out of the excursion. During excursions, Leonardo was often conversing with a local guide or boat operator without explaining what he was doing or trying to achieve. We guests often felt like an afterthought.
The 5:30 am boat trip was re-scheduled for our last day, when we had a long travel day ahead of us. My husband, Brad, did the tour, but I again opted out. Brad reported that there were no animal sightings and that the excursion was a waste of time. He also noted that there were only a few people on the excursion, indicating a lack of interest or poor planning in the types of activities offered by the Tupana Lodge.
The excursions were uninspired and repetitive, so I ended up skipping most of them. Consequently, for me, four days at the Tupana Lodge was way too long.
The lodge portion of the trip was a waste of time for me. Frankly, I hated being there.
Transportation
On a positive note, all the car services were on time and reliable.
Overall
Based on the low quality of this trip, we are unlikely to use kimkim’s services again.
Hotel Reviews
Amazon Tupana Lodge
Manaus
The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently.
The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.
Hotel Intercity Manaus
Manaus
Windsor Excelsior Hotel
Rio de Janeiro
While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.
Activity Reviews
Last Day Jungle
The Amazon
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazon Jungle day 3
The Amazon
We had already decided that we were not going to camp overnight, but we were not informed that the hike into the jungle would take 5 hours, including dinner. I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and went back to the lodge.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazon Jungle day 2
The Amazon
We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
