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Gustavo Camperos

I was originally born in Colombia but at a young age moved to Costa Rica with my family. As foreigners, we were inspired to get to know our new home as much as possible and through those travels, I fell in love with the place and its people. Costa Rica is richer than most countries in raw natural beauty, given its concentration in such a small land extension, but an even greater asset is its people. They are always ready to go out of their way to make you feel at home and the Pura Vida motto is highly contagious.

As my career progressed, I joined kimkim to bring my local knowledge of Costa Rica and expand my horizons by servicing Greece as well. Since then my main goal has been to dive into this destination as if it were my home, learning all about its history, its people, and all its most recent trends. My local knowledge of the destination has also expanded with development trips that have allowed me first hand to fall in love with Greece and motivated me to share with travelers what the birthplace of democracy has to offer.

How did you get involved in travel?

"Being born in Colombia and moving to Costa Rica at a young age allowed me to experience the benefits of cultural exchange. I was able to observe both cultures as a foreigner and a local, learning about their similarities and contrasts, and seeing how this exchange can enrich people's lives. This is one of the things that inspired me to create experiences that can help people grow, expand their horizons, make new friends and fall in love with customs and cultures that may even be completely opposite to what they believe. For me travel is a tool for a more tolerant and united world. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I will never forget my stay at the Llao Llao Hotel in La Patagonia. It was right at the beginning of winter and I have the clear memory of swimming underneath the barrier that separated the indoor pool from the outdoor pool, feeling the piercing cold in the face as I emerged out of the water and seeing the sun set between the snowy peaks at a distance. It is a sight I do not think I can ever forget, and Patagonia is one of the places I always keep in my heart. "

Top itineraries and travel advice

Favorite experiences

Río Pacuare Whitewater Rafting

Located along Costa Rica's Caribbean slope near Turrialba is a deep gorge considered one of the best river-rafting sites in the world. The Río Pacuare runs 67 miles (107 km) from the Talamanca Mountains to the Caribbean in the southwest of the country. Along the way, it passes through some of the...

Samaria Gorge Guided Hike

Experience a full-day guided hiking tour through Europe's longest (and Crete's most popular) river gorge, Samaria Gorge. As one of the island's natural wonders, you'll enjoy incredible views of the rushing river, rocky mountain peaks, and Crete's scenic countryside. Along the way, your local...

Sloth & Bird Hike

Join an expert guide for a family-friendly, 1.2-mile hike through Costa Rica's secondary rainforest a few minutes from La Fortuna in search of the country's most beloved creature—the sloth. With the help of your guide's keen eye, you'll spot camouflaged sloths as well as vibrant birdlife,...

Visit the Palace of Knossos and Archaological Museum

Enjoy a private tour of Knossos Palace, Cretes' most extensive and important archeological site. A licensed guide will cater the tour to your personal interests and lead you through the most important monuments of the site, such as the Palace of Knossos, the Little Palace, the Royal Villa, and...

Sunrise or Sunset Horseback Ride

Saddle up for an adventure on horseback! Choose between a morning or sunset ride and explore the unspoiled tropical beach near Nosara. Trot over jungle trails, cross the river to the Gulf of Nosara, and gallop along Playa Pelada's white sands as blue waves crash nearby.

Private Culture Walk with Food Tastings & Tavern Meal

Bring your comfortable walking shoes (and your appetite) on this four-hour stroll around Naxos. Experience the city through the eyes of a local as you follow your private guide to the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and climb to the Venetian Castle. After admiring island artifacts at the...

Recent trip reviews for Gustavo

Gustavo didn’t “get” what we were looking for...
Greece | Apr 12 - Apr 20, 2025

E
Evan S.
Nicetown-Tioga, PA | Reviewed on Apr 28, 2025
Gustavo didn’t “get” what we were looking for. We had a nine day trip to Athens and Crete with our 13 year old granddaughter who is into mythology. He kept suggesting multi day trips to mythological sites that involved wasting a whole day traveling each way. He should have advised us that we didn’t have time for those kind of time-consuming trips and that the Mythological Day trip we took in Athens covered most of the mythological stories and characters. It seems like he didn’t know anything... Read more

Gustavo didn’t “get” what we were looking for. We had a nine day trip to Athens and Crete with our 13 year old granddaughter who is into mythology. He kept suggesting multi day trips to mythological sites that involved wasting a whole day traveling each way. He should have advised us that we didn’t have time for those kind of time-consuming trips and that the Mythological Day trip we took in Athens covered most of the mythological stories and characters. It seems like he didn’t know anything beyond the short description on the website.

When we told him we were looking for hands-on activities that would appeal to kids, he recommended tours that included wine tasting. He also didn’t take into account the limited time we had so the all-day trips from Athens that he recommended weren’t the best use of our time. We did take one which was good except the tour guide’s accent was so strong that we understood about 20% of what he said.

Gustasvo recommended taking an overnight ferry to Crete which should had been wonderful with the three of us in a cabin. When we got on board we discovered that the reservations were totally screwed up: we were all listed as “Mrs” and I (the only male) was assigned to an all-female cabin with two other women. Our other reservations were for economy class which meant sitting on the equivalent of a dining room chair for 9.5 hours. The times for the ferry and the drivers both coming and going were also incorrect on the itinerary. While on the ferry we were unable to reach KimKim for quite a while (they weren't able to help us) and ultimately had to make a new reservation for a cabin at our own expense (it was after midnight by then) and apologize to and rebook the taxi drivers.

Nevertheless, the parts of the trip that worked were terrific (Mythology Tour and Gourmet Food Tour in Athens and the History and Food Tour in Crete). Kimkim did their best to rectify stuff (thanks Lea!) and reimbursed us as well as offering a free day tour in Crete.

We had a wonderful experience on our KimKim trip to Norway several years ago. So although there are plenty of negative things in this review, our previous experience was great. So much depends on the advisor…

Hotel Reviews
Be My Guest Hotel Athens
Athens

Modest hotel. Excellent staff and breakfast. Room very small. Good location. Shower had been added to a very high tub making it very difficult to get in and out.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness = excellent. Very small rooms limited comfort. There were only two chairs (kitchen chair type).
Malmo Historic Hotel
Chania

Incredible! Recently renovated with amazing design and every modern amenity that you might imagine and more. Wonderful staff and incredible breakfast!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Avra Hotel
Rafina, Attica

Unexpectedly terrific. We were unable to get a booking at the airport hotel so we settled for this one that was 20-30 minutes away. This was far better than what we would have had at the airport. Spacious, modern, next to a small beach. Breakfast had many, many delicious options. The shuttle to the airport was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
History & Foodie Walk in Old Town
History & Foodie Walk in Old Town
Chania

Terrific in every way.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wonderful, friendly, knowledgable guide!
Transport
We walked to the meeting place and the entire trip was walking.
Ancient Athens Acropolis and Mythology Walk
Ancient Athens Acropolis and Mythology Walk
Athens

Great guide. It covered all of the mythology and we visited the most important remnants of the ancient buildings.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Not applicable - all walking.
Gourmet Food  Walk
Gourmet Food Walk
Athens

Terrific guide, wonderful food. The meat and fish market were overwhelming. Smell stayed with us fort hours.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
No drivers - we walked to the meeting place and walked on the tour.
Private Delphi Day Trip
Private Delphi Day Trip
Athens

Driver was terrific. The guide’s accent was so strong that we understood about 20% of what he said. Restaurant that the driver had arranged was terrific and he got us a table with a wonderful view.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
driver = wonderful. Guide = although knowledgable, not understandable .
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 30, 2025
Thank you for your honest feedback. I’m truly sorry that parts of your trip didn’t meet your expectations, especially given the importance of this experience with your granddaughter. Your original itinerary was designed to explore the Peloponnese — a region rich in mythology and easily accessible from Athens — to make the most of your time in Greece. When plans changed after booking and you chose to focus on Crete instead, I adjusted the trip accordingly and did my best to align it with your... Read more

Thank you for your honest feedback. I’m truly sorry that parts of your trip didn’t meet your expectations, especially given the importance of this experience with your granddaughter.

Your original itinerary was designed to explore the Peloponnese — a region rich in mythology and easily accessible from Athens — to make the most of your time in Greece. When plans changed after booking and you chose to focus on Crete instead, I adjusted the trip accordingly and did my best to align it with your revised preferences. That shift understandably introduced more complex logistics, and I regret that some of those didn’t go as smoothly as they should have — particularly the ferry arrangements.

I also hear your concerns about tour content and suitability. I appreciate you highlighting what worked well — like the Mythology and Food Tours — and I’m glad our local team was able to support you along the way. We will work towards creating more child-focused activities in Crete, that allow for Mythology but also cultural immersion, and that are also hands on.

Your feedback is valuable, and I take it seriously. Thank you again for sharing it and for the opportunity to learn from your experience. 🌞🇬🇷

Loved Costa Rica + local suggestions, but really rocky start to the trip without an emergency phone line
Costa Rica | Apr 15 - Apr 22, 2025

Liz
Liz M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025
We had a lovely time in Costa Rica — saw so many animals and got to really experience the culture! Gustavo suggested some amazing dining spots in Monteverde and Manuel Antonio and we thoroughly enjoyed the tours that he picked based on our preferences. The drivers and guides were always on time, courteous, and helpful! Would definitely go again :) However, we had a very disappointing start to our travels. When we’d arrived in Monteverde after a long day (several flights and a 3-hour drive),... Read more

We had a lovely time in Costa Rica — saw so many animals and got to really experience the culture! Gustavo suggested some amazing dining spots in Monteverde and Manuel Antonio and we thoroughly enjoyed the tours that he picked based on our preferences. The drivers and guides were always on time, courteous, and helpful! Would definitely go again :)

However, we had a very disappointing start to our travels. When we’d arrived in Monteverde after a long day (several flights and a 3-hour drive), the hotel we’d booked was fully closed and locked — no staff member was there. We tried calling the hotel, but no one was picking up.

KimKim and I called the hotel the day before just to make sure they kept our room open late and were present to greet us, so them not having the room and staff prepped was definitely on them.

However, it was quite disturbing that KimKim did not have an active emergency line to help us find accommodations. It was 11pm in a sleepy mountain town where we did not speak the language.

We called the only assistance number we had from KimKim, but the agent could only take a message and get us in contact with someone on the KimKim team the following morning (which obviously was not helpful at the time).

If it weren’t for our incredibly helpful driver, who spoke great English and Spanish, happened to know a security guard who worked for multiple hotels, and got us a spot at a different hotel, my mom and I would’ve been totally stranded in a foreign country.

Though KimKim did comp two hotel nights and a birthday dinner — which was very generous and much appreciated — it was still a scary experience. The team at KimKim has let us know that they are looking to work with their third-party emergency line provider to make sure this doesn’t happen again and we hope it doesn’t.

Hotel Review
Hotel Playa Espadilla
Manuel Antonio

Lovely and helpful staff - super clean and pleasant!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Monteverde

Axel was super knowledgeable about birds and other wildlife in Monteverde. We especially liked how he’d take pictures with our phone over the scope he brought - they turned out great! Even though we didn’t see as many animals on this tour as we did in Manuel Antonio, it was still well worth it to hear all about the history of Costa Rica and the Curi Cancha reserve. We still did see a bunch of birds, a tarantula, butterflies, agoti, and coates, which was exciting! Thank you, Axel for a great tour :)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ocean Kayaking Adventure
Ocean Kayaking Adventure
Manuel Antonio

Saw a ton of fish (parrotfish, puffer fish, tons of others) and lobsters snorkeling! We had a little bit of a struggle kayaking in the ocean, though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Monteverde

Though he told us he was newer to this job, Jorge was a pro! His English was excellent and we had a wonderful and educational tour. Really interesting to hear about the coffee roasting process, drink the traditional cocoa people used to back in the day, and eat some great chocolate and sugar cane juice samples. Would definitely recommend going on this tour!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

This was our FAVORITE tour. Ariel had great energy and an even more positive mindset — and we saw a TON of amazing animals on his tour. He pointed out 2 types of monkeys, 2 types of sloths, a rare anteater, tons of lizards/basilisks, crabs, bats, deer, birds, you name it. He was such a fun, funny, and informative guide and we would highly recommend doing a tour with him!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

Gustavo Camperos, Our kimkim Specialist, was Amazing
Costa Rica | Apr 5 - Apr 12, 2025

Bob
Bob B.
Waunakee, WI | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2025
Gustavo Camperos, our kimkim specialist, was absolutely amazing in every aspect of trip planning. On this type of performance feedback evaluation, I tend to be a "tough grader." Hence, my "absolutely amazing" rating speaks volumes. To provide a bit more detail: Four of us (myself, my wife Joan and our two friends, Jon and Deirdre) began our interaction with Gustavo by first describing our "vision" for an eight-day trip to Costa Rica. This included many details such as the type of hotels we... Read more

Gustavo Camperos, our kimkim specialist, was absolutely amazing in every aspect of trip planning. On this type of performance feedback evaluation, I tend to be a "tough grader." Hence, my "absolutely amazing" rating speaks volumes. To provide a bit more detail: Four of us (myself, my wife Joan and our two friends, Jon and Deirdre) began our interaction with Gustavo by first describing our "vision" for an eight-day trip to Costa Rica. This included many details such as the type of hotels we like, type of activities we wanted to pursue, the amount of territory we wished to cover and our desire to have drivers from location to location rather than rent our own vehicle.

What followed the above is best described as an "iterative process." That is, we went back and forth with Gustavo many times using the kimkim messaging system, email and Zoom. As things progressed, we observed our evolving itinerary get better and better. At each step along the way, we requested changes which we viewed as incremental improvements. For example, add one day at location X and subtract one day at location Y, swap the hotel at location Z for one which is more upscale, add guided bird-watching and volcano hikes at location Z, etc. In this context, we easily monitored the dynamically changing trip itinerary and cost and could customize our "adventure" to any level of luxury which suited our fancy. In achieving all of the above, it was a sheer pleasure working with Gustavo. Over and above the fact that he lives in Costa Rica and gave highly-expert advice on the "best things" to see and do, he would rapidly respond to our large number of queries. To add icing to the cake, the week before our departure. he suggested that we meet on Zoom to review the final itinerary to make sure all details were to our satisfaction. Finally I should also mention that throughout the course of our planning, we also had a number of interactions with kimkim associate Greg Fendler who helped make sure that all our logistics were solidly in place. We were also very happy with the work which Greg did on our trip.

Kudos to kim kim. Thanks to your dedicated travel experts, our trip to Costa Rica was excellent. The trip went off without a hitch exactly as planned.

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

100% will use kimkim again! amazing activties and service!
Greece | Apr 5 - Apr 12, 2025

A
Amanda Amparo M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 16, 2025
logistics were seamless - drivers were always there, guides were on time.
we especially loved katerina (percy jackson tour) and george (river gorge hike in crete). veerna and kosta (crete cooking experience were amazing and great w kids).
local expert (lea) was always available and responded super fast. we got notified of a cancellation bc of weather and she started a refund within hours. we asked to make a weather related change and she made it happen, also within hours.
hotels and...
Read more

logistics were seamless - drivers were always there, guides were on time.
we especially loved katerina (percy jackson tour) and george (river gorge hike in crete). veerna and kosta (crete cooking experience were amazing and great w kids).
local expert (lea) was always available and responded super fast. we got notified of a cancellation bc of weather and she started a refund within hours. we asked to make a weather related change and she made it happen, also within hours.
hotels and service at hotels (laundry, restaurant recommendations) were amazing and exactly as promised.
guides were knowledgeable, flexible to the needs of 2 elementary school aged kids.
activities were super entertaining and enjoyable. we will use kim kim again for sure! amazing service for busy parents looking to have an active vacation.

Hotel Reviews
xenodocheio Milos
Athens

comfortable rooms, delicious breakfast, concierges were amazing w restaurant recommendations and reservations. great walkable location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Delfino
Chania, Crete

charming and beautiful building, amazing and knowledgeable staff, great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Percy Jackson-Inspired Hero’s Adventure in Athens
Private Percy Jackson-Inspired Hero’s Adventure in Athens
Athens

guide was knowledgeable, flexible (it was our first day and our kids were jet lagged), friendly

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Acropolis & Highlights Walk with Food Tastings
Private Acropolis & Highlights Walk with Food Tastings
Athens

super knowledgeable guide, great access to crowded sites

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cretan Village Cooking Experience
Cretan Village Cooking Experience
Chania

friendly staff, great w kids (even though they were the only ones), delicious food, seamless logistics

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kourtaliotiko Gorge Hidden Waterfall & River Trek
Kourtaliotiko Gorge Hidden Waterfall & River Trek
Chania

george was amazing. super flexible, great w our kids, knowledgeable and fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Stargazing in the Heart of Athens
Private Stargazing in the Heart of Athens
Athens

didn't get to go bc of weather. they canceled promptly and offered to do the non-astronomy part of the tour but we were tired after the acropolis. next time!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coastal Fishing Adventure with Experienced  Fishermen
Coastal Fishing Adventure with Experienced Fishermen
Chania

beautiful day, great boat, we got lovely weather. kids all caught a bunch of little fish

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos

Great trip to Monteverde & Sámara, Costa Rica!
Costa Rica | Mar 22 - Mar 30, 2025

Julie
Julie O.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2025
Booking our family's trip to Costa Rica with kimkim was easy and streamlined. We simply told Gustavo what we were interested in doing & seeing, and what level accommodations we wanted, and he came up with a fantastic itinerary, including transfers between airports, hotels and activities, as well as great activities that we only needed to tweak a little on our initial call with him. In Monteverde, we particularly loved the zip lining at Treetopia Park Monteverde, our birding guide, Oscar with... Read more

Booking our family's trip to Costa Rica with kimkim was easy and streamlined. We simply told Gustavo what we were interested in doing & seeing, and what level accommodations we wanted, and he came up with a fantastic itinerary, including transfers between airports, hotels and activities, as well as great activities that we only needed to tweak a little on our initial call with him. In Monteverde, we particularly loved the zip lining at Treetopia Park Monteverde, our birding guide, Oscar with Ocotea Tours & Transfers (who was very flexible and indulging based on our birding priorities), and our coffee & chocolate tour with Katherine at Don Juan Monteverde. The treetop dining experience at San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience was fun too, and the food was delicious. In Sámara, we enjoyed our fishing and snorkeling adventure with Sámara Adventures, even though we didn't catch fish--but we saw lots of dolphins right up close to our boat! Our hike at the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve was good too--lots of wildlife. I would say that the Scarlet Macaw Refuge and Breeding Center Experience was a little disappointing; it was scheduled for 3 hours but only lasted about 1.5 hours including transportation; we had hoped to see the actual breeding facilities but only saw the macaws being fed by staff. This was great, but since we were staying at nearby Punta Islita, we had seen several of them flying around and eating in the trees on the resort property by the time we attended the experience. I will say that Punta Islita is a good 30 minutes away from Sámara, and 2 of our 3 experiences were in Sámara, so there was a lot of driving. The Hotel Punta Islita offers many of the same tours and adventures that we had with Sámara Adventures--so maybe we could have had fishing/snorkeling and hiking without as much driving if we'd used the hotel's options instead?

We loved our accommodations at the Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde and the Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection near Sámara--especially the views and wildlife (mostly birds) at Cloud Forest, and the pool, beach access and wildlife (including howler monkeys & scarlet macaws) at Punta Islita. While both these accommodations are beautiful and fairly luxurious, they are both removed from local culture, making it more difficult to explore the nearby (far in the case of Sámara--about 30 minutes away) towns, restaurants and cultural life on foot without having to call a taxi or other ride service. They did have all the amenities we needed on site, but we found ourselves eating at the same hotel restaurant (which were still excellent) for most meals in each hotel. I wanted to have some local gallo pinto, but the hotel restaurant versions were not the same as the gallo pinto I got at sodas when I was in Costa Rica many years ago--and we never found the time to find a soda or smaller restaurant at which we could get authentic gallo pinto (though if we'd made more effort to call a taxi for a ride into town in Monteverde for lunch or dinner one day, I'm sure we could have found some!). In addition, neither of these accommodations seemed to have good suite options for a family of 3--2 adults and a teen son--that would allow for much privacy (Cloud Forest Lodge was better in this sense--at least there was a large bathroom). They would be better suited for a couple, or you'd have to book more than one room/suite.

Overall, we LOVED our trip to Costa Rica, and particularly loved the fact that booking with kimkim made it easy, with an easy-to-follow itinerary, so that we didn't have to worry about ground transportation (especially between airports & hotels) or scheduling of tours while in-country. It was great to have a schedule to follow, but also enough downtime to relax and enjoy the beauty of Monteverde and Punta Islita!

Hotel Reviews
Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

Beautiful surroundings and views. Endémica restaurant is fantastic with so many delicious options and a beautiful fireplace and balcony. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Removed enough from Monteverde that you must call a cab to go into town. A little more difficult for families--we had the largest suite, the Tityra Junior Suite for our family of three (parents & 1 teen son), and it's still only one large room (with king bed & a daybed) with a large bathroom. In the future, I might book 2 different rooms. The nature trails around the property were great for hiking and some wildlife, and the bird viewing as well as cloud forest views from the balconies were excellent.

Authenticity & Character
in the middle of the cloud forest
Location
beautiful natural surroundings and wildlife
Staff
very friendly; we loved our waiter at Endémica Restaurant (who I think was the manager but can't remember his name!)
Cleanliness & Comfort
everything squeaky clean
Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection
Bejuco

Beautiful surroundings, excellent pool, excellent beach access with great restaurant at the beach and beach-side service. Great amenities and options for activities--surfing lessions, bird watching, monkey sighting, etc. Excellent restaurant at the hotel itself. The mountain view room was excellent for wildlife sighting--we saw howler monkeys in the valley below and scarlet macaws in the tree above our little "yard".

Authenticity & Character
Great wildlife opportunities, beautiful beach, staff was wonderful. There is a cultural museum (which we didn't visit) but removed from opportunities to actually meet and mingle with local people.
Location
Absolutely beautiful with lots of wildlife and great beach, but removed from "nearby" town so no real opportunity to experience local culture.
Staff
Very accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean.
Activity Reviews
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
Monteverde

LOVED the ziplining! The hanging bridges were great too--saw lots of wildlife including many birds and a snake!

Quality of Experience
Ziplining was awesome! Hanging bridges were fun but more like checking a box.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ziplining staff was amazing. Our hanging bridge guide seemed to play favorites with some in our group a bit which could be a little off-putting.
Transport
Private Curi-Cancha Bird-Watching Experience
Private Curi-Cancha Bird-Watching Experience
Monteverde

Oscar, our birding guide, was fantastic! Knowledgeable, and very accommodating to our birding priorities!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Werner Sauter Biological Reserve Hike (Seasonal)
Werner Sauter Biological Reserve Hike (Seasonal)
Sámara

Saw lots of wildlife including many "lifer" birds as well as howler monkeys! Learned lots about the local flora as well--very interesting. Great view of Sámara beach during the hike.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Private Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Monteverde

Katherine, our guide, was fabulous! We loved chatting with her and learning from her. I would highly recommend this experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing
Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing
Monteverde

The food was excellent and the service fantastic. The view was amazing!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Adventure Fishing and Snorkel
Private Adventure Fishing and Snorkel
Sámara

We loved this adventure! Unfortunately, we were there during a season when the fishing wasn't great so we didn't catch anything--but our son (a seasoned fisherman) was OK with that ("that's why they call it fishing and not catching"). The boat ride was beautiful and we saw lots of dolphins right alongside the boat. The snorkeling was great too--our son spotted a ray as well as a turtle for us all! The boat driver & fishing guide were fantastic as well--and the fruit at the end of the ride was incredibly delicious!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Scarlet Macaw Refuge and Breeding Center Experience
Scarlet Macaw Refuge and Breeding Center Experience
Sámara

It was fun to learn about the breeding project that has been so successful at reinvigorating the scarlet macaw population in Costa Rica--what a great accomplishment! In terms of seeing the macaws, we were led to the area where food is put out for them, which our guide did, and tons of them came to eat the food provided (these were birds that had been bred & hatched at the center then released into the wild after 2-3 years--the center provides less than 50% of their daily nutritional requirements--can't remember exactly how much--20-40%??--so that the released birds can learn to forage and survive on their own but have a backup just in case). So we learned a lot about the project and are happy that we were able to support the project. But we were hoping to see the actual breeding center itself--where the eggs are laid/chicks are hatched, and that wasn't part of the tour. Also it was billed as a 3-hour experience, and only lasted about 45 minutes (plus transportation there & back--about 10 min each way).

Quality of Experience
seeing the breeding area itself
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 15, 2025
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I’m so glad to hear that your family loved your trip to Costa Rica and that the planning process with kimkim felt easy and stress-free. It’s great to know the zip-lining at Treetopia Park, birding with Oscar from Ocotea Tours, and the coffee and chocolate tour with Katherine were highlights in Monteverde. I'm also happy to hear you enjoyed the treetop dining experience and had such a fun time spotting dolphins during your fishing/snorkeling tour... Read more

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I’m so glad to hear that your family loved your trip to Costa Rica and that the planning process with kimkim felt easy and stress-free.

It’s great to know the zip-lining at Treetopia Park, birding with Oscar from Ocotea Tours, and the coffee and chocolate tour with Katherine were highlights in Monteverde. I'm also happy to hear you enjoyed the treetop dining experience and had such a fun time spotting dolphins during your fishing/snorkeling tour with Sámara Adventures.

Your feedback about the Scarlet Macaw Refuge and the driving logistics between Punta Islita and Sámara is really helpful—we’ll keep this in mind for future travelers looking for more convenience or time-efficient options. And thank you for sharing your thoughts on the hotel dining and suite setup—we always aim to match accommodations to travelers’ needs as closely as possible, and this insight is invaluable.

It was a pleasure helping you plan this adventure, and I’d love to work with you again if you decide to return—maybe next time we’ll make sure to fit in a stop at a local soda for that authentic gallo pinto, I have some great places I would love to share with you 🦥

Wonderful planning of Costa Rica trip
Costa Rica | Mar 17 - Mar 29, 2025

Margaret
Margaret G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2025
My husband and I attended a destination wedding in Costa Rica. We expanded our trip with vacation time and hired KimKim to work out a tour plan. The Costa Rica specialist who designed the trip was Gustavo and he did a great job. We filled out a form giving our preferences and activities that we liked and then had a video chat to move toward finalizing the plan. He was sensitive to things we did not want to do. We enjoyed all of the activities suggested by Gustavo. Further, he booked... Read more

My husband and I attended a destination wedding in Costa Rica. We expanded our trip with vacation time and hired KimKim to work out a tour plan. The Costa Rica specialist who designed the trip was Gustavo and he did a great job. We filled out a form giving our preferences and activities that we liked and then had a video chat to move toward finalizing the plan. He was sensitive to things we did not want to do. We enjoyed all of the activities suggested by Gustavo. Further, he booked us into hotels that we enjoyed as well. The hotel in La Fortuna was excellent as were the tours in that area. Per our suggestion, the hotel in Monteverde was more 'adventurous' and that was enjoyed as well.

We want to give a special thanks to long-suffering Greg, who set up all of the tours and made the reservations. I wanted to add one particular tour in Monteverde and he graciously set it up even though it was not on the original list. There was time to do it and he fit it in. He was most helpful throughout the trip. It turns out that the 'extra' activity was by far my favorite of the whole trip. It was a private birding tour in Monteverde and we just loved it. Don't miss the fabulous birds in Costa Rica.

All of the tour guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. We unfortunately did not know Spanish, but all guides spoke good English. They were most helpful. Most all of our tours were private ones but we enjoyed our very few group ones as well. KimKim also arranged private transportation for us since we chose not to drive. There were several hours-long trips. The drivers were all prompt and friendly. Their English was minimal but Google Translate took care of anything we needed.

KimKim suggested Faye travel insurance. We took their suggestion. At one point we needed to contact them and aid was offered promptly. I found them excellent to work with.

All in all, we had an excellent experience with KimKim and would use them again.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio

We stayed at this hotel because it was the site of a destination wedding to which we were invited. This hotel is situated on a hill and extends pretty much from top to bottom, counting the restaurants. There are numerous room areas (designated A through E) that are scattered from reception (near the top) to the bottom of the hill. A is at the top and E, where we stayed, was at the bottom. Some units are part of a larger building, bungalows (which we had) look more like singles. The hotel has an aeronautic theme, so some rooms include the nose of a plane. Staying at area E meant that we were close to the lovely beach, but a bit of a distance from other areas, including reception. The hotel readily provides transport from area to area on demand, but my husband and I walked most of the time. That meant a fairly steep walk up to pool areas or to reception or to the restaurants. Despite our ages (70s) we were able to do it successfully. This hotel is not meant for those with mobility issues. Our unit had a balcony overlooking the beach. It would have been idyllic, but the noise from the main road below was very intrusive. We were able to tune out regular car noise, but there were many busses, trucks, motorcycles and vehicles with no mufflers. That was highly annoying. Each room has a kitchen. Although they claim the kitchen is fully stocked, we did not consider ours 'fully stocked'. Minimally is how I would describe it, though there was a cook top and refrigerator and microwave, some silverware and dishes. The biggest problem was the very weak light in the kitchen. We like to cook our own breakfasts and one could barely see in that kitchen even when the other lights in the unit were on. However, the rooms were large and comfortable and very clean. Maids come daily. Despite our hanging up our towels, the towels were changed every day. I found that surprising considering the ecological bent of Costa Rica. The only restaurant we used was Anaconda for lunch. We found it a very pleasant restaurant with good food. We especially enjoyed the lox sandwich. We only used the adults only pool which was half way between our room and reception. It was a very nice pool with a bar attached. It had great views all around it. There is a path for a short hike shown on the map but don't try to take it. It's largely impassable and not worth the trouble. One gets enough exercise hiking the regular hills in this hotel just to get to reception, restaurants, etc. All that said, the views from anywhere on the hotel property are exceptional. The foliage is lovely. We saw many birds, especially macaws and kiskadees and green parakeets. There were also white-faced monkeys and, somewhere off the premises, a howler monkey. It was only a short walk from our unit to the beach, which is a very beautiful beach. We can recommend this hotel, but with the stated reservations.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We had one unfriendly porter, but otherwise the staff were friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Lomas del Volcán
Fortuna

Hotel Lomas del Volcan was an excellent hotel. The rooms were spacious and clean. The bathroom was large and luxurious. There was no refrigerator in the room but there was really no need for one. The breakfast buffet was included and provided a wide choice of food. Service was excellent. For dinner, one could eat at the bar, the pool, or the restaurant if one wanted more formal, bigger dinners. The food was good. My husband and I especially appreciated the fabulous landscaping at the property. It was obvious a great deal of care went into it. There were beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs everywhere. There were a fair amount of birds and many people joined birdwatching groups to admire the birds. We also enjoyed the monkeys. Mostly there were spider monkeys which one could see best in the early morning or evening. We never saw the howler monkey but its howls reverberated early in the morning and in the evening. I was fascinated by it so it never bothered me. The service at the hotel was excellent in general and they were highly responsive if we needed something. The hotel is situated a bit far from the town. You would have to get a taxi if you wanted to go into town for anything, but we didn't really need to. We had a local tour every day and were occupied when we returned to the hotel. There is a walking trail that one can take, but we didn't see anything special on it. It's best to walk the main grounds of the hotel and admire the foliage and the bird population. All in all, we recommend the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
The landscaping.
Location
It was secluded and beautiful. There were good views of the volcano.
Staff
The maid for our room would make origami from the towels. One day it was an elephant, another day it was two swans 'kissing'. It was a bit special.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nothing to add. The grounds and rooms were always clean and neat.
Los Pinos - Cabañas & Jardines
Monteverde Costa Rica

My husband and I enjoyed this experience. Los Pinos is not a 'traditional' hotel. Guests have their own cabin; our cabin was clean and comfortable and had a rustic-look. We had a 'junior' cabin, which meant that we had one queen-sized bed. Some cabins were a bit smaller but most were larger and could accommodate families. Each cabin has a fully-stocked kitchen. Ours was stocked with vinegar and oil for salads, salt and pepper, coffee and tea. There was a toaster oven, a cook top, refrigerator and plenty of dishes and pots and pans. We looked upon this hotel as 'glamping'. Los Pinos was situated on its own preserve on a hill. Monteverde is, of course, very hilly. Having no car, we had a short uphill walk to our cabin from the registration area. Our suitcases were transported to our cabin. The site was private and wooded, just as we like. There was a picnic table and chair outside the cabin on the porch but it was generally too chilly for us to make good use of them. We were there in late March. The cabin was very spacious and warm indoors. Some might be put off by the fact that one could not put toilet paper down the toilet, but it didn't bother us terribly. It was, however, very difficult to remember to do so as habit is so strong. The bathroom was well ventilated and there was no bad smell. Maid service came every day and removed the trash. We very much enjoyed the ecological point of view espoused in Costa Rica. The person working in reception was always most helpful even though we required little. There is a private reserve with a trail that one can hike but we found nothing of note on the hike . We do not really recommend this activity. It was fine for the exercise. There is a nice lookout at the top, but the day we were there it was quite cloudy. Best to walk to Curi Cancha and walk around that lovely park. Be sure to eat at Stella's on the way.

Authenticity & Character
The cabins and their wooded locale.
Location
It was close to restaurants, a bakery, a bank and a supermarket.
Staff
The manager in reception was always helpful and friendly and maid service was very good.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a beautiful hot springs. We had the dinner and it was very good. We aren't ones for sitting in water for long periods of time nor for drinking extensively in the pool, so it was not a long experience for us. It was, however, very relaxing.

Quality of Experience
Food
Dinner was buffet which was very convenient.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch
Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch
Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was friendly and knowledgeable. The hike was excellent. The guide told us a lot about the area and pointed out interesting animals and birds, particularly the birds. It was a group hike and it was interesting meeting the various travelers. The waterfall experience was a bit less so for us. We were the only ones on this part of the trip and had no idea what to expect. It turns out that the waterfall is 500 steps down and 500 back up. You can swim in the pool but one has to clamber over huge rocks to get there. After we got back to the top we were taken to a private farm to table lunch at a restaurant owned by the tour company. It was a lovely secluded site, but the food was so-so. We enjoyed the day, however.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maleku Cultural Immersion Day Trip
Maleku Cultural Immersion Day Trip
Arenal/La Fortuna

My husband and I enjoyed this activity start to finish. It gave one a perspective on the life of the indigenous peoples back in time which gave way to present days issues. The demonstrations were fascinating. They demonstrated a wedding ceremony, how they made their clothes and how they made bows and arrows. I actually shot an arrow and hit the target. Big win for me. The lunch was delicious. We highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
The indigenous peoples genuinely cared about teaching us something. They were very friendly.
Food
Good lunch.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All were polite and pointed interesting things out to us on the way.
Transport
Comfortable van.
Treetopia Tram & Hanging Bridges Adventure
Treetopia Tram & Hanging Bridges Adventure
Monteverde

It was an interesting excursion. The bridges were sturdy and easy to walk. The views were excellent. It was worthwhile. We took the ride to the top, but it was so very cloudy and rainy that we couldn't see too much. We were grateful that we did not do the zip lining in the cold rain. Our guide was very good, though and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private: Half-day Bird-watching in Curi-Cancha Reserve
Private: Half-day Bird-watching in Curi-Cancha Reserve
Monteverde

This is a great activity. We had a private tour. The guide was friendly and fun. We saw at least 20 birds, including the elusive quetzal. It was a great activity, probably the best of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Organic Spice Farm Experience
Organic Spice Farm Experience
Manuel Antonio

We very much enjoyed this tour. It took about 45 minutes to get there from our hotel, but the surroundings were interesting to watch during the ride. The guide at the farm was excellent. We learned a lot about vanilla and saw examples of the plants and orchids. The guide showed us many spice trees and plants on the farm and described in good detail how each was harvested. We learned a lot. Best yet, we got to sample some of the vanilla and chocolate in drinks, cake and ice cream. It was a lovely tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike
Monteverde

This tour focused heavily on the plants and the cloud forest itself, rather than the birds and all of the animals. The guide was excellent and his passion for the environment was evident. We really enjoyed our time with him. Although he focused on plants, he identified a few birds for us and teased a tarantula out of its hole so that we could get a good look. We gained a lot from this tour and highly recommend it to others.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Isla Damas Kayaking Adventure
Isla Damas Kayaking Adventure
Manuel Antonio

My husband I like to kayak but this trip fell a bit short. We took the trip in the late morning and that may have made a difference. It was very hot and anything interesting was probably hidden away. There ended up being two guides for us two people. One, the secondary guide, was quite interesting and talked a lot to us. The main guide was informative during the ride, but got quieter during the trip. Basically, we paddled through mangrove trees for an hour or so. It gets very repetitive. The best part was the last 10 minutes when we actually saw two interesting birds. It wasn't our best trip. The kayaks are not propelled by paddles as we are used to. They are propelled by pedaling, as in a reclining bicycle. Steering them is also very different from our norm, and it took a few minutes to get used to. I would not really recommend this tour, but it could be better at a different time of day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were perfectly good, but not stellar.
Transport
Transport was fine; on time and a good van.
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 02, 2025

Hello Margaret!

It was a pleasure for us to accommodate your needs and compliment the wedding you attended in Costa Rica.

It was a pleasure for both Greg and me to hear that they enjoyed the itinerary we created and that the wedding was a total success.

Here is to more adventures in the future! 🥂

Love this company
Costa Rica | Mar 20 - Mar 30, 2025

Jennifer
Jennifer L.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 31, 2025
I wanted to take a mother daughter trip with my 10 year old. I wanted a company that I could trust and Kim Kim was great. I wanted to feel safe because it was just my daughter and I. It’s not an inexpensive way to travel but definitely easy and thought free. I would also recommend small group and private transfers from place to place. We had a driver Andreas who was superb. I learned so much from him and he took us to the best local restaurant. Great trip! Great memories! Read more

I wanted to take a mother daughter trip with my 10 year old. I wanted a company that I could trust and Kim Kim was great. I wanted to feel safe because it was just my daughter and I. It’s not an inexpensive way to travel but definitely easy and thought free. I would also recommend small group and private transfers from place to place. We had a driver Andreas who was superb. I learned so much from him and he took us to the best local restaurant. Great trip! Great memories!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Heliconia
Monteverde

This hotel felt like a treehouse. It was amazing. Needs a little updating (bathroom) but the bed was so comfortable! The views were ridiculous!! Everyone working there was so kind and super friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shana By the Beach Resort
Manuel Antonio

Rooms definitely need updating but the location and views were off the charts. Everyone was very friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was clean just a little run down.
La Fortuna Downtown Boutique Hotel
La Fortuna San Carlos

It was right in the middle of La Fortuna. A little loud and run down but easy to get to all activities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location but I would’ve rather been a little out of the downtown.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Needs to be updated.
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 01, 2025

Hi Jennifer!

I am so glad to hear that you could feel safe during your trip, as that was our number one priority. Often, people ask if Costa Rica is safe because it's located in Central America. Being one of the safest countries in the region, you can travel stress-free, and of course, we take any extra steps necessary to make it safer and more comfortable.

P.D: Local restaurants along the way are amazing, aren't they? One of my favorite aspects of traveling around Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Highlight of our trip this year was the Osa P...
Costa Rica | Feb 24 - Mar 10, 2025

B
Brigitte D.
Kanab, UT | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2025
Highlight of our trip this year was the Osa Peninsula. The Drake Bay Wilderness Lodge was a wonderful place where we stayed for 5 days/4 nights.
The food was excellent: a culinary and aesthetic delight. Cudos to the chef cook!
The heart of the whole place is "Henry" the waiter. He is a natural talent and his welcoming and friendly and kind attitude makes the stay at the Lodge special.
For the 3rd Tour we didn't want the Cano Island and were given the advice to go to see an⁶ Animal Farm...
Read more

Highlight of our trip this year was the Osa Peninsula. The Drake Bay Wilderness Lodge was a wonderful place where we stayed for 5 days/4 nights.
The food was excellent: a culinary and aesthetic delight. Cudos to the chef cook!
The heart of the whole place is "Henry" the waiter. He is a natural talent and his welcoming and friendly and kind attitude makes the stay at the Lodge special.
For the 3rd Tour we didn't want the Cano Island and were given the advice to go to see an⁶ Animal Farm including a Nightwalk."
What it turned out to be was the so-called "Tapir Trail", a great trail, but definetly in the category of strenuous with a lot of exposure. A small trail , steep, partly slippery ending up at a waterfall. We didn't put on the rubber boots which we were offered - without explanation- at the Entrance but the guide assured us that we could keep on our (Keen) hiking shoes.
Glad that we did that, since it gave us a better footage on the trail versus oversized rubber boots..Again, a great hike, but it would be very advisable if the Manager at the Lodge would give his customers ( also considering the age group and the temperature of the day)detailed information about this hike ( and not naming it an Animal Farm Tour).
After return , in the evening, we had to remove some tics from our body!
We signed up for 3 tours: the Corcovado NP and the Mangrove Tour were each excellent Vincent was a great naturalist guide and the captain was superb.

Overall: a wonderful place to stay.
Sure, if the manager or the person in charge there, would have an attitude like Henry the place would even be better.

Overall Transportation from one place to another was always on time, with friendly drivers and very good vans! Big plus!

Alex, the captain , who brought us to Sierpe for the transfer to Manual Antonio, was a real professional and seasoned captain.

Manual Antonio: Ariel was a very good guide in the National Rainforest there.

Karake Hotel: good location. We were there in 2024.

Drive to La Fortuna: Oskar was an excellent driver on these windy roads.

Hanging Bridges Tour a must and great experience. Guide David was very good.

Ecotermales: great place. Have been there in 2024.
The issue with the wrong time on the clock of the piscinas was discussed with Greg
and resolved.

Again: all together a wonderful trip for us.
A big Thanks!
A big Thanks also to Greg ( and Gustavo) who helped us getting the trip together on short notice. Greg was in touch with us along the trip and made sure that everything was happening smoothly what it did indead! Great customer service!

Hotel Reviews
Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola
San José

A good place to stay. Downtown. But be aware of robbery on the streets, as we have heard from fellow guests. Restaurant: good. But we had to wait a very long time before being served because a group was there ( came even after us). I talked to the manager after ~ 2 hours waiting ( not even water was served) and he apologized and reimbursed our dinner. Lesson learned: go in restaurant when no group is there.

Authenticity & Character
Restaurant waiting time
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Lavas Tacotal
Fortuna, San Carlos

A nice place outside of La Fortuna. More in the country side. We enjoyed that is was not in the center of Fortuna and more quiet. It is a rather big place, but the individual Bungalows are well placed and provide privacy. Nice landscaping with native plants and trees. Had the Deluxe Garden Bungalow which was huge and something smaller would have been good enough for us. Nice swimming pool. Restaurant: since it is basically a very big place, we had to decide about a time slot for breakfast ( every 15 minutes). So it is a very busy and a rather crowded breakfast situation. Not for a relaxed breakfast. We were in La Fortuna in 2024 and stayed at the Campos Hotel. We learned that kimkim is not working anymore with this place. We loved it! Spacious room had a very special character, unlike seen anywhere else. Great swimming pool a little separate from the building. Good location. Good breakfast. Breakfast room not crowded. 10 minute walk to town with panderias on the way. There was a bridge beeing repaired, so cars had to take a detour. Maybe that is why it was taken off the list. I highly recommend adding it again. We would have loved to stay there this year also.

Authenticity & Character
Location of Bungalows and landscaping
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Breakfast situation not ideal. Outside of La Fortuna for people like us who want to avoid the huzzle and buzzle of the city and be more in nature. Free laundry when you stay 3 nights.
Activity Reviews
Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

Ariel was a great guide. Park was happily less crowded then last year. Had afternoon tour. Overall it is certainly advisable to go as early as possible to have the chance to see more animals.

Quality of Experience
How intuitively Ariel discovered animals!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
On time, friendly driver
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

Were there in 2024. This year we choose the morning spot and could enjoy the surrounding nature. At the evening spot it is dark outside! Different pools with different temperatures . Bring your own watch to observe the time since the official watch gave the wrong time .

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

Hanging bridges Tour is a must. Would have liked to learn how they were built. Maybe showing a video of the construction process, since it it so unbelievable! David was a great guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Mar 20, 2025
Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and heartfelt review, Bridgitte!
>
We’re delighted to hear that the Osa Peninsula, especially Drake Bay Wilderness Lodge, was the highlight of your trip. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the food, the incredible service from Henry, and all the tours, including Corcovado NP and the Mangrove Tour. Your feedback on the Tapir Trail is incredibly valuable, and I’ll make sure to pass along your suggestions to the Lodge to help future guests prepare for that...
Read more

Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and heartfelt review, Bridgitte!
>
We’re delighted to hear that the Osa Peninsula, especially Drake Bay Wilderness Lodge, was the highlight of your trip. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the food, the incredible service from Henry, and all the tours, including Corcovado NP and the Mangrove Tour. Your feedback on the Tapir Trail is incredibly valuable, and I’ll make sure to pass along your suggestions to the Lodge to help future guests prepare for that adventure.
>
It's wonderful to know that your experience was filled with so many memorable moments and that everything ran smoothly, thanks to Greg. We truly appreciate your kind words and are so glad we could make your trip memorable.
>
Will look forward to assisting in your future adventures 🌎

Beyond Expectations
Costa Rica | Feb 13 - Feb 21, 2025

Mark
Mark N.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2025
I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the... Read more

I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the driver service in San Jose know that we would be late and once we landed in San Jose we were already in communication with each other so very comforting. From the moment of that first transport at the airport to all of the other transport throughout our 8 days, we were very pleased with the promptness, cleanliness, professionalism and bilingual abilities of all of our drivers. Our hotels(Hotel Presidente in San Jose, Arenal Kioro and Parador in Manuel Antonio were all great with the latter two having exceptional views. Hotel Presidente is in an urban area in close proximity to a lot of nearby activities so of course we didn't care about the views. All hotels were very clean and had great breakfast buffets. We only ate two other meals at the hotels during our trip. One dinner at Arenal Kioro was a seafood medley for two that probably could have satisfied a family of four. Our other meal was a quick grab at Parador which was just fine before our next tour time. All hotel staffs were courteous and bilingual so easy to communicate with during our stays. The three hotels were all very different with Hotel Presidente being in an urban setting close to major attractions which is what we wanted there. Arenal Kioro was on beautiful grounds more in a rain forest setting with sweeping views of the volcano. Parador took advantage of beautiful ocean views and definitely had more of a resort feel. There were many families there and maybe someday we'll come back with our own extended family as it seemed like a great place for both adults and children. All hotels were safe with appropriate security at all gates.
Before I review our activities, I just want to make a comment about Greg and others that we worked with in planning this trip. They were all excellent about keeping us informed as we did have a couple of cancellation issues. Greg either found us a beyond expectations alternative or promptly refunded us money, One of our concerns going into this trip was that we would largely be on our own once we got to Costa Rica. Let's just say that to the contrary, we felt Kim Kim was there every step of our trip.
Starting with the two activities we did not get to experience through no fault of Kim Kim. The second day of our trip we were supposed to go on a Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine Walk in San Jose. Greg let us know well ahead that the operator cancelled but in doing so refunded our our money and also arranged for a phenomenal alternative beyond our expectations. The only other activity that cancelled on our trip was on our very last day. Regarding Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary-Our transport never showed and we called the organization several times that morning. Our hotel staff even tried on our behalf and they never answered the telephone. Being that this was our last day, there was nothing we could do about an alternative but our money was promptly refunded . We still don't know what happened but it is what it is or Pura Vida.
Review of Activities-
Self-guided activities(Kim Kim did not schedule for us)-Nature walk in Ecological Park and Butterfly Park Danaus-This park was a pleasant enough walk but would not recommend it without a guide. Fortunately, the park staff realized after we returned from a fairly short walk that we probably did not take full advantage of the activity. A staff member was kind enough to take us back out to see sloths, caimans, and toucans although not a formal tour so our trip there would be more memorable. The second self guided trip we did was to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Doing this self-guided was just fine as it was basically a walk down 500 steps to the falls and then a swim. There are lockers near the entry, to store dry clothes so assuming someone can make the 500 step walk, it was fairly easy to do on our own and worth the trip. The third self-guided piece of our tour was to visit Manuel Antonio Beaches after the guided Manuel Antonio Nature walk. We basically stayed a couple of hours in the National Park to enjoy the beautiful beach. We found a quieter side of the beach after our tour and it was well worth spending that time there.

Wildlife Rescue Center Tour-San Jose-We found this to be a very relaxing introduction to the wildlife we would see throughout the rest of our trip. We would recommend this as it was not only enjoyable with our guide but also gave us an opportunity to see a caring organization rehab and take care of wildlife that will never be able to be reintroduced into the wild. Well worth it to see and a wonderful cause.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-La Fortuna. The night walk was easy to navigate and the guide was enthusiastic but we did not see much in the way of wildlife. We do realize that this is not a zoo so every night-wildlife observation will be different. The Costa Rican Dinner was excellent and the family was very hard-working and hospitable. Even though if the walk itself was not that great, the dinner more than made up for it and made the trip out here well worth it.
Arenal Volcano and 1968 Reserve Guided Hike-La Fortuna This was a great hike with a wonderful guide that stopped and spoke with us a number of times. Half the trail was easy to walk and navigate. The other half as we ascended through more of lava flow-rocky areas was a little more challenging. We certainly enjoyed but those with younger children or seniors with mobility challenges may find the second half of this walk difficult. I will also say that our guide took the extra step not only to provide us with fruit in the end but lay it out on a table and table cloth that was above and beyond our expectations.

Rio Penas Blancas Safari Float-La Fortuna
This was a very relaxing float down the river in a six person raft perfect after our hike in the am. The guide was great and there was really not any work to do other than the occasional paddle. The current really did the work. Although the wildlife that day wasn't particularly abundant, we did see sloths, monkeys, and a number of birds. Enjoyed the scenery and nature and would recommend this for a relaxing afternoon.

Sky Tram, Ziplines, and Skywalk Adventure-La Fortuna
We had a great trip with a lot of enjoyable activities but this was our favorite excursion. My wife was a little hesitant about the zipline. We have done them a few times in the past but it had been several years since our last one. Let's just say we both loved this activity as it was extremely safe and well organized. The staff also was sensitive to taking care of the younger ones in our group and would either assist them across or have them go together. The guided walk through the rainforest and over hanging bridges was extraordinary as well. It was an easy enough walk and a great way to get us out of the rainforest.
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour-La Fortuna
This was exactly we we expected and what we wanted on this afternoon. An educational and easy walk through sugar cane, cacao and coffee fields along with tastings along the way. The coffee and chocolate tastings were well done as they showed those important products to Costa Rica in their various processing stages.
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Walk-This was probably the one activity during the whole trip that I'm not sure we could recommend. We realize that every night could be different in terms of wildlife you could see. The setting was a little strange as it was literally outside of a busy restaurant parking lot. With that said, certainly every portion of rainforest could be fascinating. As we walked through the forest, we mostly saw insects and spiders and although we all had flashlights to help spot, I'm not sure that our guide was all that excited to be on our tour. The walk was simple enough to navigate but we left the forest without seeing much at all. I guess we had higher expectations after our volcano walk of the fruit served at end but even that seemed like a less organized and not well-thought out presentation.
Manuel Antonio Nature Walk-We didn't realize how busy this park was but we had a guide that really made this tour special. He was enthusiastic, willing to take the time with us to take excellent pictures and he was an excellent spotter. He also was extremely personable not only with us but with other guides who clearly were keeping each other informed about wildlife sitings. This was also an A+ experience and highly recommended.
Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue-This was the largest group activity that we did the whole trip and as such could have been really chaotic. It was everything but chaotic and very well organized from start to finish. It was the only time that rain interfered at all with our trip but was not that big of a deal since there was more than adequate covered space on the boat. The only downside was that the boat parked a fairly long way from the snorkeling opportunity. We have snorkeled in the past so were looking forward to it but once we got there, it didn't quite seem worth the swim on a rainy choppy sea day. With that said, we know this wasn't a snorkeling trip and certainly enjoyed everything else about it. There was no skimping on drinks and food was great and served in a very organized way and we were truly amazed at how quickly that all the people on the boat got served. Add to that we saw a whale and dolphins and you have a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.
The last activity review is not one that was recommended by Kim Kim and I appreciated your staff professionally telling me they did not have a recommendation for this activity. We were originally wanting to do a Las Dumas Mangrove boat tour but because of the tides and our schedule it could not be accommodated. I booked a Night Mangrove Safari Tour through trip advisor/Costa Rica Jade Tours not knowing what to expect. They picked us up promptly and took us to a boat dock where we had a private tour. There were other boats on the mangrove (Las Dumas) river that night with more passengers but we were by ourselves. Let's just say this trip was truly fascinating and an adventure at the same time. The driver and guide were able to spot some incredible snakes, birds, insects and small mammals. While we thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, it was a little on the rougher side and none-the-less could potentially be seen as less professional than everything else Kim Kim recommended to us. We also had dinner as part of this excursion and had a quick stop at a cute little restaurant with our guide in Quepos. Personally, I would highly recommend this tour but leave that up to your expert trip planners.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide you with our tour insights. We truly enjoyed working with you.

Our other day two activity in San Jose was the Wildlife Rescue Center.This was a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience and a great introduction into the wildlife we would be experiencing throughout the remainder of our trip. This is also a caring organization that is focused on the wonderful cause of rehabbing animals and taking care of those animals that could not be released in the wild. Definitely worth a visit.

Day 3-We did two self-guided trips in the morning and afternoon so Kim Kim did not arrange. The first was a self-guided walk through Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Danaus. This was a pleasant and easy trail walk but I would definitely do a guided tour here because otherwise you will miss much of it. We finished after a short time on the trail and I think the staff realized that we missed much of the experience. A staff member kindly took us back out to see caimans, sloths and toucans that we would have otherwise missed. We really appreciated their kindness towards us. We also did a self-guided tour of the La Fortuna Waterfall. Assuming that you can do the 500 steps, this was certainly worth it. They have lockers to store dry clothes if you want to swim at the base of the falls. This is something you can do self-guided.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-The frog excursion itself was little disappointing since we only saw two frogs on the hike. However, we know that this is not a zoo so some nights, I'm sure you would see more wildlife than others. The dinner afterward however was fantastic and the hosts were great so that in itself made this a worthwhile time investment.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Presidente
San José

Hotel Presidente in San José was perfect for our situation. We loved its central location as we planned to explore the city on foot, except for a morning tour. The transportation picked us up on time without any issues. The accommodations were clean, and the staff was extremely accommodating. Even though it's in the middle of the city, which means the surroundings weren't spectacular, it suited our needs perfectly.

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Fortuna

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa in La Fortuna offered us a beautiful balcony hotel with stunning views. The staff was accommodating, and the grounds were extraordinarily beautiful, situated in the rainforest jungle area, enhancing our experience. We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, and there was one memorable meal there as well. It was truly a great stay.

Parador Nature Resort & Spa
Manuel Antonio

Parador Nature Resort & Spa was a fine choice for us. We understood that it was a more family-oriented hotel and did not mind having children around at all. The hotel offered a beautiful view of the ocean and the bay, which was a big plus for us. We had one meal there, and it was a very nice experience. Overall, it met our needs well.

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Apr 02, 2025
Hello Mark 🇨🇷 Thank you so much for sharing such an incredibly detailed and thoughtful review of your trip to Costa Rica! It truly means the world to me and the team to read your reflections, and I can tell how much care you took in putting it all together. I wanted to make sure I took the time to read every word carefully, which is why my response is a little delayed. But trust me, it was worth it to absorb all of the wonderful feedback you’ve shared fully. I’m so grateful for the trust you... Read more

Hello Mark 🇨🇷

Thank you so much for sharing such an incredibly detailed and thoughtful review of your trip to Costa Rica! It truly means the world to me and the team to read your reflections, and I can tell how much care you took in putting it all together. I wanted to make sure I took the time to read every word carefully, which is why my response is a little delayed. But trust me, it was worth it to absorb all of the wonderful feedback you’ve shared fully. I’m so grateful for the trust you placed in us and for the opportunity to be a part of such a memorable adventure in your life!

It warms my heart to hear that this was one of your best trips overall! I’m so glad to know that everything—from the airport pickup to the transport and the hotels—met your expectations. I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Greg and the rest of the team. It’s always so rewarding to hear that our travelers felt supported every step of the way, especially when unexpected changes, like cancellations, happen. I’m pleased to hear that the alternatives we arranged for you went beyond your expectations! It sounds like your time in Costa Rica was filled with a wonderful mix of adventure, relaxation, and breathtaking views. Your descriptions of the different hotels made me smile, and I’m so happy to know that each one had something special to offer, whether it was the urban charm of Hotel Presidente or the serene beauty of Arenal Kioro and Parador.

I also want to thank you for your honest and insightful thoughts on the activities. I completely understand that sometimes things don’t go as planned, and I really appreciate your understanding and positive attitude toward the few hiccups along the way. Your feedback on the excursions, especially the Wildlife Rescue Center, Nocturnal Frog Excursion, and the Sky Tram adventure, is so valuable to us. I’m thrilled to hear that some of the moments that stood out most to you were the ones where you were able to connect with the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Your suggestions on things like the self-guided walks and tours will definitely help other travelers as well!

Mark, it’s been such a pleasure working with you and getting to know you throughout this planning process. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to create this trip for you, and I truly hope we can work together again in the future. Costa Rica will always have a special place for you, and I’ll be here whenever you’re ready to return—whether it’s with extended family or just for another adventure of your own. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience in such a thoughtful way. Pura Vida, and I hope to see you again soon! 🍃🦥

A Fabulous Trip in Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Feb 10 - Feb 26, 2025

Genevieve
Genevieve B.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2025
Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then,... Read more

Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then, staying at the Karahe by the ocean was very nice but very hot!! The capuchin monkeys hung around all the resort. It was so entertaining to watch them!! So it was a very memorable trip. We’re just home and it feels like it was all a dream!! What stands out the most to me was my beautiful birthday dinner with champagne on the Katonga, the floating restaurant going down the river, with soft music playing, seeing all the lights of Tortuguero. Your company gifted us with that and we won’t forget it. Thank you so much! And thank you Gustavo for being so patient and knowledgeable with me to plan this trip. We love you all! ♥️

Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Feb 28, 2025

Hello Genevive!

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to write these words. As you know, we were looking forward to having you in Costa Rica, and hearing that it was all you dreamed of is truly rewarding.

We hope that your time boating in the canals was specialize great and that you can remeber this experience for years to come 💛