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Holden Ketchum

I have lived in Costa Rica for seven years and made it my home. My role is to help travelers connect to the activities and experiences that will bring them the most joy and provide lasting memories. Costa Rica is a unique travel destination and I hope that my clients will get to know its many qualities by making up-close and personal connections through the activities in their personalized trip plans.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in Costa Rican highlights. Additionally, I like to recommend unique places that are less frequented but offer peace and quiet for those looking to leave the crowd behind. I love sharing places where travelers can experience the biodiversity of Costa Rica, relax in peaceful places, and enjoy delicious food. Ask me where the best cheesecake can be found!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I have been traveling my entire life. I have lived in multiple states in the USA (California, Texas, Florida, Alaska, Arizona, and Washington State) as well as other countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica. I completed my undergraduate degree in Paris. Being a student of history and cultural studies allowed me the opportunity to travel extensively across Europe: everything from modern museums and castles to ancient ruins and cave painting sites.
I began my new life in Costa Rica eight years ago, and I have been traveling and exploring here ever since. I have worked in travel marketing as a way to connect people to the adventures and experiences that are available to them here in Costa Rica. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My favorite place in Costa Rica is San Gerardo de Dota, which is a hidden cloud forest not far from Cartago. On a trip last year, as we were hiking through the forest, we saw a pair of quetzals in an aguacatillo tree. We sat quietly at the side of the trail and watched them eat their fill. Eventually, the male flew from tree to tree calling to the female. The usual light mist was falling, but the sun still sent sparkling rays through the canopy. The sights and sounds were incredible, and we were all alone in the forest with them. As an avid birdwatcher, this was unforgettable for me."

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...

Recent trip reviews for Holden

Amazing fast paced short visit to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Sep 5 - Sep 9, 2024

Pat
Pat d.
Tallahassee, FL | Reviewed on Sep 19, 2024
KimKim arranged several oustanding small group tours for us. Particularly wonderful was the tour of Hanging Bridges park with Mauricio, He was very informative and went out of his way to make sure we saw all the animals we were interested in. I highly recommend him. The night excursion in the Wild Frog Sanctuary was also greatly appreciated. Read more

KimKim arranged several oustanding small group tours for us. Particularly wonderful was the tour of Hanging Bridges park with Mauricio, He was very informative and went out of his way to make sure we saw all the animals we were interested in. I highly recommend him.

The night excursion in the Wild Frog Sanctuary was also greatly appreciated.

Activity Reviews
Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk
Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

Out guide, Mauricio was outstanding

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary
Arenal/La Fortuna

Wide diversity of animals seen.

Quality of Experience
Very knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guanacaste Snorkel Adventure
Guanacaste Snorkel Adventure
Costa Rica

The boat crew was outstanding and they did a great job of finding animals and habitats for us to see. Unfortunately the snorkeling reef was unimpressive--just coral rubble (none living) with algae overgrowth. Saw a variety of fish but not what would be expected on a tropical snorkeling experience. The rest of the excursion met or exceeded expectations.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Sep 19, 2024

Thank you Pat for your review. I'm glad that you had a great time on your short adventure to Costa Rica and that Mauricio helped you to see a lot of wildlife. That's why we always recommend a guided tour. There's so much to see!
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Unforgettable Arenal/Tortuguero adventure during Green Season
Costa Rica | Sep 11 - Sep 17, 2024

Lori
Lori R.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024
Our trip to Costa Rica this September, 2024 during Green Season was amazing. We traveled for a work conference in Papagayo, and decided to use a travel service to organize a trip extension to several other parts of the country. We found Kimkim, and were extremely impressed from start to finish. Kimkim contracted with a local tour company, Serendipity Adventures, which was excellent. We went to Arenal and Tortuguero. Both hotels selected by Serendipity — Moana in Arenal and Mawamba in... Read more

Our trip to Costa Rica this September, 2024 during Green Season was amazing. We traveled for a work conference in Papagayo, and decided to use a travel service to organize a trip extension to several other parts of the country. We found Kimkim, and were extremely impressed from start to finish. Kimkim contracted with a local tour company, Serendipity Adventures, which was excellent. We went to Arenal and Tortuguero. Both hotels selected by Serendipity — Moana in Arenal and Mawamba in Tortuguero — were excellent, as was our driver Alex, and our guide in Arenal Mauricio. The communication with Serendipity while in country was outstanding. I would highly recommend our hotels and booking through Kimkim and Serendipity!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Manoa was a great hotel, and the staff was very helpful. The onsite restaurant was delicious — a little pricey, but very good. Our package included breakfast which was an impressive buffet. The views of the volcano were incredible, from our room and our room. We had the benefit of seeing the volcano in all of its glory, which was lovely. The landscaping around the hotel grounds was extremely well done and encouraged a lot of bird action, especially hummingbirds. The thermal baths were really nice - a whole new thermal bath area was particularly impressive. It was like paradise. I would highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mawamba Lodge
Tortuguero

Mawamba is located in an ideal location in Tortuguero. A short walk to town, and access to river and Caribbean coast. The grounds are beautiful and FULL of amazing animals and birds. Food was excellent and staff was very nice. If you want a room with Wi-Fi and TV you should focus on another resort. Tours offered through the resort were great and guides were very knowledgeable. You can be as active or chill while at Mawamba as you like.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Sep 18, 2024

Thank you for the review Lori! 🦋
I'm glad you had a great time in Costa Rica and that we were able to make a memorable trip extension. I'm glad we were able to Tortuguero into your plans!🐢
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Amazing trip
Costa Rica | Aug 14 - Aug 21, 2024

N
Nathalia P.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2024
Amazing service received by KimKim at the time of booking and with the local agency Serendipity Adventures. Our driver and tour guides were the sweetest most amazing people. They made our trip 10x better! They went above and beyond to make this trip memorable for us.
I highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip!
Read more

Amazing service received by KimKim at the time of booking and with the local agency Serendipity Adventures. Our driver and tour guides were the sweetest most amazing people. They made our trip 10x better! They went above and beyond to make this trip memorable for us.
I highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Beautiful hotel with very helpful staff View was amazing

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort
Guanacaste Liberia

Great experience but the hotel has a little bit more to improve on to be all it can be. Overall a great experience but it was not the case in all restaurants of the hotel and would def not recommended the fire show. Felt very unsafe

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Check in procedure was chaotic and did not go smooth at all
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Sep 16, 2024

Hello Nathalia
I'm glad you received amazing service from our team and that our drivers gave 100%.
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

KimKim and Serendipity adventures are awesome!!!
Costa Rica | Aug 9 - Aug 16, 2024

V
vijay g.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Aug 25, 2024
KimKim team along with Serendipity adventures did a fantastic job in making our vacation a memorable one. We had very little time to plan our trip and they provided several options for itineraries. We ended up picking the one that covered Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna. Both were awesome destinations and offered plenty to explore. All the hikes, horse back rides, beaches, coffee tours, volcano tours, zip lines, thermal springs, are all really enjoyable. Hotel La mariposa was awesome. It's... Read more

KimKim team along with Serendipity adventures did a fantastic job in making our vacation a memorable one. We had very little time to plan our trip and they provided several options for itineraries. We ended up picking the one that covered Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna. Both were awesome destinations and offered plenty to explore. All the hikes, horse back rides, beaches, coffee tours, volcano tours, zip lines, thermal springs, are all really enjoyable.

Hotel La mariposa was awesome. It's location and views are out of this world. We got one of the corner sunset suites and it's amazing. Buffet Breakfast (includes omelette station) was fantastic and helped us get our early on time and get on the road. The restaurant is on a terrace with the most beautiful view of the beach and national park. Town of Quepos is a beautiful place. We wish we kept a free day for our selves to explore more of this town. Most of our time was taken by the planned activities/tours. You can walk to many restaurants and coffee shops from hotel, which was wonderful.

Hotel Arenal Kioro suites and spa is an amazing place. Situated close to the volcano with views of it from almost every room. This hotel also has breakfast buffet which was fantastic. This hotel has it's own hot springs. Property is very well designed and provides a lot to explore. Keep in mind that the hotel is about 10 minutes car ride to the town of La Fortuna. Town offers several restaurants and coffee shops etc.

All in all we had a wonderful experience and we will definitely use KimKim and Serendipity again.

Hotel Reviews
La Mariposa Hotel
Manuel Antonio
Authenticity & Character
Location
Views from the hotel and ability to walk into town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion
Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion
Manuel Antonio
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Horseback Riding to the Waterfall
Horseback Riding to the Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Organic Cooking Class
Private Organic Cooking Class
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Aug 25, 2024

Thank you Vijay for taking the time to review your trip with us. I'm very happy to hear your family enjoyed your time in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and that you rated your tours so highly. I'm glad you liked the views from your hotel balcony in Manuel Antonio and the hot springs in Kioro!
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

We had an amazing time! The tours were exactl...
Costa Rica | Aug 3 - Aug 10, 2024

A
Amanda K.
Grapevine, TX | Reviewed on Aug 11, 2024
We had an amazing time! The tours were exactly what our family was looking for. The guides went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing trip. We loved the mix of accommodations. All members of the family want to go back. Read more

We had an amazing time! The tours were exactly what our family was looking for. The guides went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing trip. We loved the mix of accommodations. All members of the family want to go back.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Tango Romeo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quepo Canyoning Tour
Quepo Canyoning Tour
Costa Rica
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was very helpful!
Transport
Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline and Horseback Ride
Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline and Horseback Ride
Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved how we didn’t have to wait in long lines between zips.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Savegre Whitewater Rafting
Savegre Whitewater Rafting
Manuel Antonio
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Aug 11, 2024

Hello Amanda! Wow!look at all those stars! I'm so glad you all had a great time!
Thank you for taking the time to write a review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Outstanding vacation
Costa Rica | Jul 23 - Jul 29, 2024

D
David H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 05, 2024

Well organized with efficient logistics for all activities (park tour, white-water rafting, horseback riding) in Manual Antonio. Guides were all excellent. Tulemar Resort with excellent food, helpful staff, and incredible views from the tree-tops over the Pacific. Hotel Cerro Lodge staff very friendly and helpful. Amazing birding there. Excellent guides Silvia for Cararra National Park and Hansel for Tarcoles River cruise.

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

David, I'm glad to hear that you had a great trip, that you enjoyed the activities we organized for you, and that everything ran smoothly.
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Fantastic organization for an amazing holiday!
Costa Rica | Jul 23 - Aug 3, 2024

G
geraldine c.
France | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2024
We just came back from a fantastic week in Costa Rica.
Holden was very helpful in organizing it. He carefully listened to our wishes and expectations and proposed us a complete itinerary. We then adjusted it through various iterations and he was very flexible all the way.
Once we arrived, we were put in touch with the local contact that helped us navigate a few questions and changes. He also kept checking with us to make sure that everything was going according to expectations. We felt...
Read more

We just came back from a fantastic week in Costa Rica.
Holden was very helpful in organizing it. He carefully listened to our wishes and expectations and proposed us a complete itinerary. We then adjusted it through various iterations and he was very flexible all the way.
Once we arrived, we were put in touch with the local contact that helped us navigate a few questions and changes. He also kept checking with us to make sure that everything was going according to expectations. We felt pampered!
I highly recommend KimKim and their local partner Serendipity!

Hotel Reviews
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel is overall a bit old so the rooms are quite noisy. But they are very big and comfortable otherwise
Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure
Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Hello Geraldine
I'm glad that you and your family had a great time in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and that we were able to provide you with a great trip plan and Wilman was able to help you adapt with some changes during your travels.
I'm happy to hear that you felt pampered while you were here!

Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Amazing Costa Rica Adventure!
Costa Rica | Jul 20 - Jul 27, 2024

Brook
Brook W.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2024
My trip to Costa Rica with my two sons (10 and 12 years old) was magical! Every place we stayed (recommended by Holden at Serendipity Adventures) was perfect for us and we enjoyed every activity they planned for us. We saw so many animals, connected over fun adventures and enjoyed amazing views and food. I can't recommend the Serendipity Adventures team (Holden, Nancy and Wilman) enough! Read more

My trip to Costa Rica with my two sons (10 and 12 years old) was magical! Every place we stayed (recommended by Holden at Serendipity Adventures) was perfect for us and we enjoyed every activity they planned for us. We saw so many animals, connected over fun adventures and enjoyed amazing views and food. I can't recommend the Serendipity Adventures team (Holden, Nancy and Wilman) enough!

Hotel Reviews
Tulemar Resort
Manuel Antonio

We loved our bungalow (number 121) at Tulemar. We had our own balcony with views of the jungle and the Pacific ocean and lots of wildlife. I told our travel planner (Holden at Serendipity Adventures) that I wanted to see wildlife from our room and he found us the best room in the whole resort (in my opinion). Our balcony was on the feeding route of different monkey troops and so every day between 3 and 4 pm monkeys would climb trees right next to our balcony. One day 10 squirrel monkeys even climbed onto the balcony right next to us and wrestled and played with each other while we looked on! It was truly magical! We had our own concierge (Miguel) who was available via WhatsApp to answer questions and book reservations for us. Since the phone in our room wasn't working he also called shuttles for us and placed room service orders for us. He was extremely responsive. The service was excellent!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ficus
Monteverde Costa Rica

This hotel is located on a ridge with wonderful views of Monteverde. Our room was spacious and comfortable with panoramic views and the hotel is in walking distance of the main town center (although down a little hill).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Horseback Riding through the Jungle from Manuel Antonio
Horseback Riding through the Jungle from Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio

The ride through the rainforest was beautiful and so fun. It poured rain on us, but because it was so hot, it was actually really refreshing. The horses were well-trained and gentle and they matched the people well to the horses.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Savegre Whitewater Rafting
Savegre Whitewater Rafting
Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time! The river was exciting but not too scary and the views from the raft were amazing!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions
Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions
Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. When my youngest froze on top of the ziplining platform and refused to continue (even though his older brother had already gone and was fine), they helped me get back to the base lodge with him and gave us a refund, radioed ahead so the staff could tell my older son what happened and help him continue on the course, and showed us where to wait at the end of the course for my older son to arrive. My older son said the ziplining was beautiful and exhilarating. We all enjoyed the views from the hanging bridges, the beautiful butterflies and the sloth sanctuary. Seeing sloths up close was really amazing!

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

Our guide was great and found a family of coatimundis for us to observe. Watching the mothers and babies climb trees and walk across the path right in front of us was a highlight of this hike.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica

This tour was fun and educational. We all enjoyed learning the details of how chocolate is made (and the history of how it became the sweet we know today) and about how sugar cane is turned into sugar (and sugar cane juice, which we all got to drink). The last part of the tour covered coffee (at which point my youngest got a little antsy) but it too was interesting without being too lengthy and didactic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica

Our guide was enthusiastic and so knowledgeable. He was able to help both the 77-year-old avid photographer and the 10-year-old boy in our group spot, photograph and learn interesting facts about the flora and fauna in the park. We saw everything from grasshoppers and spiders to rare coatimundis, sloths and howler monkeys.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Jul 30, 2024

Brook, I'm so happy to hear that your family's trip was a success! 💟 It sounds like you made memories for everyone to treasure! ✨️
I'm sorry to hear that you had rain but I know what you mean about it being refreshing on a hot day!
I'm extra happy to hear about the monkeys at Tulemar! I know that's something you were really hoping for 🐵🐒🐵
Thank you enormously,
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Family adventure:Arenal/La Fortuna, Golf of P...
Costa Rica | Jun 15 - Jun 21, 2024

Vanessa
Vanessa S.
Sunnyvale, CA | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2024
Family adventure:Arenal/La Fortuna, Golf of Papagayo. This was relatively last minute trip with one adult (me) & 2 kids. It was a week filled with zip lining , nature walks, snorkeling and good ol ‘beach time. First time for all 3 of us in Costa Rica and I think we all are a little bit in love. Wilman picked us up from our hotel in San Jose in his nice clean car & drove us to Arenal. Wow what a beautiful place. Hotel room is on the foot of the volcano with our private hot spring. Mistico Park... Read more

Family adventure:Arenal/La Fortuna, Golf of Papagayo. This was relatively last minute trip with one adult (me) & 2 kids. It was a week filled with zip lining , nature walks, snorkeling and good ol ‘beach time. First time for all 3 of us in Costa Rica and I think we all are a little bit in love. Wilman picked us up from our hotel in San Jose in his nice clean car & drove us to Arenal. Wow what a beautiful place. Hotel room is on the foot of the volcano with our private hot spring. Mistico Park hike: so many hanging bridges through pristine jungle: it’s hot, loud and beaming with life: toucans, sloths, all kids of insects. Mundo Aventura zip lining was combination of adrenaline rush and amazement of zipping thought forest canopy. Staff were all so nice to my 9 and 14 yo sons. Night hike at wild frog sanctuary did not disappoint either, but we were really tired at this point:so many tiny frogs, huge spiders, sloth, and snakes. Next day we were picked up by Alex who drive us to Golf of Papagayo with a stop at Danaus eco park and butterfly garden. We saw crocodiles and more rainforest frogs. We arrived late in evening at our beachfront hotel just in time for quick swim before sunset: sun sets at 6: then pitch dark night.(which was amazing to us, boom, lights out) Next day Snorkeling with Pacific coast dive center was probably the top highlight in an action packed week. This was really unforgettable. Last day we enjoyed the beach and pool at Bahia del Sol, which was perfect. Transfer to Liberia airport was with Genaro who took different route:main road was flooded (rainy season). Big thank you, he knows how to navigate those muddy hills. When we could, we tried to eat at Sodas: family run restaurants serving Costa Rican dishes. I can’t really describe how beautiful Costa Rica is without mentioning the immense kindness and warmth of all the people we met during our trip. I feel very grateful I was able to experience this with my two kids. Thanks so much🙏I sincerely hope to be back and see more

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Jul 12, 2024

Thank you Vanessa for your kind words for our team. We are all happy to hear that you and your sons have created treasured memories here in Costa Rica 🇨🇷
We look forward to working with you again! 🦥🦋🌋
Sincerely
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures

Family Vacation - La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Dominical
Costa Rica | Jun 21 - Jul 8, 2024

Lori
Lori C.
Oakley, CA | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2024
We recently had the pleasure of working with Holden and his team to plan a trip to Costa Rica, and we cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From start to finish, Holden provided exceptional service, attention to detail, and a deep knowledge of the destination that made our trip truly unforgettable. First and foremost, Holden took the time to understand our interests and preferences, ensuring that every aspect of our itinerary was tailored to our needs. We had a good idea of where... Read more

We recently had the pleasure of working with Holden and his team to plan a trip to Costa Rica, and we cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From start to finish, Holden provided exceptional service, attention to detail, and a deep knowledge of the destination that made our trip truly unforgettable.

First and foremost, Holden took the time to understand our interests and preferences, ensuring that every aspect of our itinerary was tailored to our needs. We had a good idea of where we wanted to visit and what we wanted to do. However it was Holden’s recommendations of lodging accommodations and activities we had not even thought of that made the trip extra amazing.

Holden and his team’s expertise was evident in the seamless coordination of all our trip arrangements, from accommodations and excursions, to even arranging the rental car to be dropped off and picked up from our hotel. Throughout the planning process, Holden was always available to answer our questions, provide valuable insights, and make adjustments to our itinerary as needed. We had several changes in our itinerary over the few months prior to finalizing our trip, and each time the charges were made without hesitation.

Whether it was recommending the best lodge for hot springs near the volcano, arranging thrilling adventure activities like zip-lining and ocean kayaking, or suggesting serene beaches for relaxation, Holden had us covered. Our group of five included two almost-adult kids and Holden found the perfect accommodations that provided us just the right amount of privacy and togetherness.

We were particularly impressed with the local guides and tour operators they connected us with, who were not only knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing the beauty and culture of Costa Rica.

One highlight of our trip was the personalized wildlife Safari Float tour in La Fortuna, where we had the chance to see an incredible array of animals, including sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, a porcupine and tropical birds. Thanks to Holden’s recommendation, we also enjoyed a top notch hike through the Monteverde Cloudforest and were lucky enough to see not one but two of the elusive Quetzal birds.

While we were in Costa Rica, Holden checked in with us a few times to make sure everything was going well and his colleague, Wellman, reached out multiple times to prepare us for the next day’s adventure.

I wholeheartedly recommend Holden to anyone looking to plan a trip to Costa Rica or any other destination. His personalized service, extensive knowledge, and genuine passion for travel made our adventure extraordinary.

Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Jul 11, 2024
Thank you very much Lori ❤️
I'm so happy to hear that your family had a great time here in Costa Rica 🇨🇷. It was many months of planning and customizing your vacation but it sounds like it all paid off.
That's super exciting that you saw quetzales, they can be so hard to find. A good guide is worth their weight in gold. It's great that you saw so much wildlife on the safari float as well.
Thank you for recognizing the efforts of the entire Serendipity Adventures team. We all worked hard...
Read more

Thank you very much Lori ❤️
I'm so happy to hear that your family had a great time here in Costa Rica 🇨🇷. It was many months of planning and customizing your vacation but it sounds like it all paid off.
That's super exciting that you saw quetzales, they can be so hard to find. A good guide is worth their weight in gold. It's great that you saw so much wildlife on the safari float as well.
Thank you for recognizing the efforts of the entire Serendipity Adventures team. We all worked hard to craft this successful trip for you 🌋🐒🦥🦋
I hope we can work together again in the future!
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures