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Leslie Pérez

I am proudly Mexican and a travel passionate. I have had the opportunity to visit 25 different countries and during the past 4 years I have focused on exploring and sharing about the hidden treasures in my country, Mexico! I love sharing about its iconic destinations, cultural heritage, natural treasures and welcoming people, and will be more than happy to share my experiences and knowledge to help you design the most authentic and transformative trip.

Leslie is part of the following groups: Mexico Travel Agents, Mexico Family Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Leslie

The people you want to plan the trip of a lifetime
Mexico | Jul 18 - Jul 27, 2023

R
Rob V.
Weston, WI | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2023

Leslie is an amazing organizer for the trip of a lifetime. She heard what we looking to get out of a trip to Mexico and tailored a beautiful itinerary to our needs. We learned so much from the tours they booked us. Everything flowed so nicely as we went to different regions from Mexico City to Puebla and then Oaxaca. Her team was also amazingly responsive on a daily basis. We couldn’t be happier! read more

Leslie is an amazing organizer for the trip of a lifetime. She heard what we looking to get out of a trip to Mexico and tailored a beautiful itinerary to our needs. We learned so much from the tours they booked us. Everything flowed so nicely as we went to different regions from Mexico City to Puebla and then Oaxaca. Her team was also amazingly responsive on a daily basis. We couldn’t be happier!

Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

The staff was professional, responsive, flexi...
Mexico | Jul 18 - Jul 27, 2023

F
francisco g.
Edinburg, TX | Reviewed on Jul 28, 2023

The staff was professional, responsive, flexible, and smart. We could not have been better guided. This organization has a strong infrastructure. I recommend it for anyone looking for good, thoughtful guidance on a trip to Mexico. read more

The staff was professional, responsive, flexible, and smart. We could not have been better guided. This organization has a strong infrastructure. I recommend it for anyone looking for good, thoughtful guidance on a trip to Mexico.

Hotel Reviews
Casona de los Sapos Hotel Boutique
Puebla

This was a favorite for the family.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
El Diablo y la Sandía Libres
Oaxaca de Juárez

Great location, good support from staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Great trip
Mexico | Jun 2 - Jun 10, 2023

G
george w.
Lexington-Fayette, KY | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2023

Great trip read more

Great trip

Hotel Reviews
Fiesta Inn Aeropuerto Ciudad de Mexico
Mexico City

Incredible that it is in the city next to airport, highways, etc. Had a country feel. Only problem was that they could not easily use the 4 confirmation numbers in our kimkim trip plan to register. There was confusion that was cleared upon a call to Lizbeth, I think.

Authenticity & Character
as above
Location
near airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Parador Margarita
San Cristobal de las Casas

Very comfortable. Great base for our trips.

Authenticity & Character
buildings layout
Location
a short walk ti shopping and many resturants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic
Palenque

Good restuarant, Waking to the howler monkeys was exciting. Nice grounds.

Authenticity & Character
Location
near ruins, in park
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Jacinta Guest House
Del Carmen, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México

Quaint and in the center of shopping, restuarants. Breakfast very good

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sumidero Canyon landscapes in Chiapas
San Cristobal de las Casas

cool boat trip welcomed, and fast on the return.

Quality of Experience
cool when hot day
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
El Chiflón and Lagos de Montebello
San Cristobal de las Casas

zip line was worth it. but their not taking credit card was combersome.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural Immersion: Cooking in Zinacantan
San Cristobal de las Casas

This was outstanding for cultural exposure. Visit to Maria's home/ workplace/milpa was special. The authentic lunch was very interesting and well done. Her textiles and demo were excellent. The visit to the church with prayerrs and chickens was most revealing and interesting. Very culturally real and revealing. Hector was particularly good at describing the details and richness of this tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Again, Pasquale was expert.
The beautiful waterfalls of Misol-ha & Agua Azul - Night in Palenque.
Mexico

We chose to miss Misol-ha to have more time to swim at Agua Azul. The detour due to the protest took more time, but it allowed us to see the agricultural aspects of the area more, so i considered this to be a plus.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, Pasquale and Hector were very expert and accomodating.
Transport
Discover the Palenque Archeological Site
Palenque

Very interesting and Hector was expert in his descriptions of the details. The short walk through the jungle was not that useful on a very hot day, because there were no animals to be seen. Better to get to the hotel in the jungle where we saw/heard the howler monkeys, a large parrot, and some other criter.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
In the entire trip the vans were excellent, and again, Pasquale and Hector were great.
Explore the Casa Azul Museum
Mexico City

Those of us that walked to, and visited this feature were quite happy with it. Others of us went to the Capultepec Zoo. This was quite good, not crouded. As hoped we saw some animals unique to the reigon. I think Mildred would have been a better guide for the Anthropology museum and Castle, but we wanted a site where the kids could run and be entertained. The zoo worked for this. Again, Mildred did fine and was very accomodating to our last minute change of plans.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit the Museum of Anthropology and Chapultepec Castle
Mexico City

Unfortunately we did not see this so as to accomodate the needs/interests of the 3 children in out group.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
friendly and knowledgible
Transport
I can't emphasize how good Pasquale and Hector were.
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Kimkim did a great job of helping us put together a trip in short order - I removed a tour to leave a little time for relaxing on Holbox and was glad I did.
Mexico | Feb 27 - Mar 8, 2023

Narain
Narain S.
North Chicopee, MA | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2023

Kimkim did a great job of helping us put together a trip in a rather short window. Highlights included Hotel B on Cozumel, but do not get the Jungle Room - it is well worth the upgrade to get ocean side; then to Nojoch Keej where Manuel showed us around (we enjoyed him very much); then Ek Balam and Valladolid, and a few days to chill on Holbox. Chichen Itza is a must-see, but Ek Balam is more fun and we were able to see both in one day, along with a cenote' and get a little more time at... read more

Kimkim did a great job of helping us put together a trip in a rather short window. Highlights included Hotel B on Cozumel, but do not get the Jungle Room - it is well worth the upgrade to get ocean side; then to Nojoch Keej where Manuel showed us around (we enjoyed him very much); then Ek Balam and Valladolid, and a few days to chill on Holbox. Chichen Itza is a must-see, but Ek Balam is more fun and we were able to see both in one day, along with a cenote' and get a little more time at Holbox for relaxing at the end of the trip. Vallodolid is well worth a stop and fun to stay on the main square, lots of great food and just a nice city center. Leslie did a great job of being available when we needed assistance. The Kimkim website saves your trip for viewing, but to access it you need wifi. I ended up saving a pdf of the trip on my phone so that I could follow along without wifi. Our drivers and guides were very friendly and knowledgeable in their arena. All in all a great trip - thank you. n & k

Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Kim Kim never fails
Mexico | Feb 24 - Mar 5, 2023

AnaElvia
AnaElvia S.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2023

Kim Kim never fails read more

Kim Kim never fails

Hotel Reviews
Viva Villahermosa
Villahermosa

The hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the area. Very well located because you can walk to a beautiful park in the back and also to La Venta. The pool area is wonderful but the food for breakfast café is not up to par. The rooms are old and terrible lighting in the bathrooms. They are working with some of the rooms but basically they are not doing a good remodel they’re just painting. It’s as clean as it can be, but I was not impressed by anything. My room unfortunately was in the back and there was some kind of event the first night that kept going till three in the morning. The band was playing people screaming and yelling, so that was a bad night in itself. Would I go back to it , maybe but it wouldn’t be my first choice. I chose this hotel. It has nothing to do with Kim Kim. I don’t think their advertisement is truly honest.

Authenticity & Character
They basically need to remodel everything. It’s one of the oldest hotels which is understandable, but the maintenance is not as great as it should be. It could really be a wonderful place.
Location
Very centrally located with a beautiful park in the back that you can walk along and be very safe. It’s right along the lake so the views are fantastic. I was there on Sunday so it’s very nice to see all the families and groupings of people having a good time, relaxing and enjoying its beauty. It is also very close to la Venta so you can really just walk over.
Staff
I basically use the BILL boy ones and the waiters two days. Everybody was kind and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The place was actually clean, but if they were to remodel, it would look so much better. The bed was very comfortable. TV was working. They had a safety deposit box which is nice to have everywhere. The lighting was horrific. Basically there was hardly any light in the sink area and it could not be improved because they had built over the light fixtures and you couldn’t remove it to replace a lightbulb
Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique Palenque
Palenque

An exquisite place to be. Right in the middle of the jungle. They only serve breakfast, which is kind of a downside because everything else is not a walking distance. But the place is wonderfully decorated super comfortable and just very unique.. I will definitely go back to it.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful settings and perfect decoration for the type of hotel that it is. Very unique.
Location
I chose this hotel because of the set up and the location which is the middle of the jungle or at least it makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the jungle. It is very well decorated extremely comfortable and very clean. They offer massage services and things like that which I don’t usually Use myself, but they are available. They do not speak English at the front, which makes it difficult for some of the tours that are seeking to have the massages. I was the only gas that that time the hotel since it’s low season. The Jacuzzi obviously was not kept at temperature neither the pool which was a little bit disheartening. But all in all it’s a place of 100% relaxation. There is no telephone no TV . Loved it.
Staff
Again, I’m not a person that relies a lot on staff, but whoever I was in contact with was very kind and very service oriented
Cleanliness & Comfort
Immaculately clean
Guayaba Inn
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

I chose Guayaba Inn as well. The surroundings are magnificent, beautifully decorated rooms are immaculately, clean and super comfortable. They do have TV and a bar. One of my favorites.

Authenticity & Character
Gorgeous, decorations and colors of walls. Walkways little hidden corners trees everywhere just truly a place that one should have time to enjoy while staying there. The patio, are lovely and the attention to detail it’s right on
Location
It’s located a little bit away from downtown but you can still walk the streets. It’s very safe.
Staff
No, English is spoken but everybody’s very kind and a service minded
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wonderfully clean, organized and extremely comfortable. It has its own unique elegance about it. My room was lovely and I didn’t really want to leave.
La Catrina de Alcalá

If you want to stay a few blocks away from Zocalo and the excitement of the city. This is a place to go. I did not like the fact that it’s in a pedestrian area so cars cannot come in and if you have suitcases and things like that, it makes it very difficult for the drivers to park the cars a block around and try to help you. I tend to like hotels that have patios and gardens. This one is an old Casona which does have an atrium, but does not have any green areas. Regardless, it is extremely clean comfortable very spacious and wonderful lighting in every room. I still would recommend it. I’m just picky about having green areas and feeling like I can be outdoors when I come to the hotel in the afternoons to take a break.

Authenticity & Character
This is an authentic Casona, wonderfully decorated with bright colors in the rooms and white walls with a beautiful contrast.. they’re breakfast or a huge, so be prepared for that. They are pretty Atlantic to the area as well. Even though they were short of personnel, you would’ve never been their breakfast or a huge, so be prepared for that. They are pretty Atlantic to the area as well. Even though they were short of personnel, you would’ve never been able to tell because they went beyond the 2 miles to take care of you.. again one thing I have to mention is that none of the hotels or places that I have been are easy to maneuver if you have a handicap
Location
Like I said, the location is great because you are in walking distance of all of the downtown areas. It is very safe and easy to walk around.
Staff
Everybody was helpful and kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
Immaculately clean
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Oaxaca, Mexico
Mexico | Feb 15 - Feb 21, 2023

T
Tracey B.
Marysville, OH | Reviewed on Feb 24, 2023

The trip was amazing, I knew virtually nothing about Oaxaca so the tours provided were perfect, giving me a good overview of the city and region. The hotel was unique, a bio friendly set with a rather novel toilet arrangement that may not be good for everyone but it was clearn, safe and centrally located so easy to get around on foot. Very good experience. read more

The trip was amazing, I knew virtually nothing about Oaxaca so the tours provided were perfect, giving me a good overview of the city and region. The hotel was unique, a bio friendly set with a rather novel toilet arrangement that may not be good for everyone but it was clearn, safe and centrally located so easy to get around on foot. Very good experience.

Hotel Review
Niyana Biocultural Hotel

It was a unique set up with a novel toilet arrangement tat may not be suitable for everyone but was clean and centrally located which was nice. Hosts were friendly, I like that we connected by WhatsApp so they were available quickly for any questions, issue.

Authenticity & Character
Simple, clean, friendly
Location
Walking distance to key areas.
Staff
Didn’t interact that much, but nice and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dry toile a bit unique, not a problem but not sure I would use it again.
Activity Reviews
Biking tour and street art
Oaxaca

Really likel this, didn’t know about this aspect of Oaxaca .

Quality of Experience
I loved looking at the different art and stories behind them
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very knowledgeable, friendly
Transport
Biking was fun
Explore the history and crafts of Oaxaca through Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec.
Oaxaca

I love learning about ancient history of areas, this was very interesting, a lot of time allowed to explore.

Quality of Experience
Like the topic
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Good knowledge of the issue
Transport
Comfortable, clean
Oaxaca's Hidden Gems: Discover Mitla, Hierve el Agua, Teotitlán & Mezcal!
Oaxaca

I didn’t know about any of these areas so I like learning about them.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I only have an issue with the tequila tour- the English speakers were taken by an English guide who, frankly, had a poor command of the language. I felt we (only 2 English speakers) did not get a good overview of the history of tequila, how it was made, etc.
Transport
Comfortable, clean
Walk through the enchanted forest of Ixtepeji
Oaxaca

Didn’t happen, mixup in depart times, not a problem, got refunded.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Highly recommend Kimkim to help plan your next adventure!
Mexico | Feb 3 - Feb 11, 2023

Martha
Martha H.
Boone, NC | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2023

Leslie was awesome at planning our trip. She took all my requests into consideration and was patient when I wanted to change some things at the last minute. The hotel choices were excellent, well located, safe and clean. Ximena and Melia took great care of us while we were in Mexico. They were easily available via text when I had questions. They were in touch with our transport and local tours guides all the time, so well that they could give us 5 minutes notice. As in "your transport... read more

Leslie was awesome at planning our trip. She took all my requests into consideration and was patient when I wanted to change some things at the last minute. The hotel choices were excellent, well located, safe and clean. Ximena and Melia took great care of us while we were in Mexico. They were easily available via text when I had questions. They were in touch with our transport and local tours guides all the time, so well that they could give us 5 minutes notice. As in "your transport will arrive in 5 minutes", and they were always right! The tour guides they organized for the ruins, bike tours, etc were all top quality. All transports were safe and efficient. I would highly recommend using Kimkim to plan your next adventure.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Catedral
Mexico City

Excellent staff. Clean rooms. Great location. Yummy breakfast. They even packed us a fruit salad for our departure day when we left earlier than the buffet breakfast opened. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Pepe Puebla
Puebla

Great location for walking around Puebla. Such a cute street that a car commercial was being filmed there one day! Good breakfast, cute vibe. Very clean. The upstairs area has some spacious seating areas with nice rugs that I was able to use to get my workouts in each day. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
so convenient to walking around Puebla
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Niyana Biocultural Hotel

Very cute hotel focused on sustainability and being kind to our planet. Plants everywhere, a small pond with swinging seats around it was so peaceful. Roof top terrace was a quiet space to hang out and I was able to use it to get my workouts in each day. Don't be scared of the dry toilets, they really do work! Even my mom and me, age 80 and 50, had no problems-I guess you can teach old dogs new tricks. There a kitchen open for use. Make your own coffee etc. The staff were super helpful. They called us taxis when needed, even to pick us up at a restaurant and bring us back to the hotel. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Learn how to prepare delicious traditional food
Mexico City

This was described in my itinerary as a "gastronomic experience". I didn't really know what that meant, but I like food, so I figured it would be good. It is actually a cooking class where your group can be interactive in helping prepare the meal. The chef was great and the food turned out delicious! He is also the owner of the coffee shop next door and gave a some tastings, history and education about Mexican coffee. He is so proud of Mexico and it made our experience really great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lucha libre experience & mezcal tasting
Mexico City

Our guide was great! He used to be a Lucha Libre wrestler and knows so much about the sport. He made our walk fun and engaging. I wasn't too sure about this one because I am not that into wrestling, but after reading a few reviews, I decided it sounded pretty fun. It was so fun and funny and great. Our group was small, 7 people, and we all had fun together wandering the neighborhood, tasting the mezcal, and cheering for the wrestlers. This is a great tour; you should go even if you think you don't want to!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Between markets and corn in the magical town of Cholula
Puebla

Our guide was amazing! Born in Mexico, lived in Chicago, moved back to Mexico. Thus excellent English and Spanish. She adapted to our pace very well. Was very kind to all the vendors in the market. Showed us foods we had never tried before and really like. Explained how the market works, how to purchase, how to turn it into a meal. We also went to a restaurant that uses the local corn to make all their dishes and drinks. We tried our hand at making tortillas and tried some of their ice cream. It was a fun day. Our driver was also amazing. He kept in touch with us via text to make sure we had everything we needed. He was super kind and gave us a safe ride and was fun and chatty along the way.

Quality of Experience
Food
Pineapple tamales! Who knew there was a dessert version of tamales?
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the history and crafts of Oaxaca through Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec.
Oaxaca

Our guide for Monte Alban was excellent. Very knowledgeable about he history of the inhabitants. Carefully explained some complicated astronomy. Was super kind and helpful. Our driver was also awesome. We had a great bufffet lunch with so many food options. The experiences at the pottery place and the artistic painted animal place were not super salesy which I liked. We were able to see the wares, learn about the process, but then weren't pressured to buy anything. The people were helpful with our purchases, don't get me wrong, but they managed to do that without being annoying. I like that much better than the higher pressure sales tactics you get some places. Both locations packed up people's souvenirs very carefully so they could travel.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Wonderful experience due to competent guides, excellent lodging and delicious food....
Mexico | Feb 1 - Feb 7, 2023

Earl
Earl W.
Haslett, MI | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2023

I found it confusing before the trip commenced because you had my name mixed up with Earl our trip organizer. I did not get all of the emails and had trouble paying the balance of my trip.

I did look me the organization of the actual trip. The hotels, transportation , food and guides were first rate. Was surprised, however, when the bicycling was suddenly dropped and switched out for a cave and a palace without explanation.
I am not certain who decided to suggest a week containing a three... read more

I found it confusing before the trip commenced because you had my name mixed up with Earl our trip organizer. I did not get all of the emails and had trouble paying the balance of my trip.

I did look me the organization of the actual trip. The hotels, transportation , food and guides were first rate. Was surprised, however, when the bicycling was suddenly dropped and switched out for a cave and a palace without explanation.
I am not certain who decided to suggest a week containing a three day weekend national holiday . The first day at the butterfly refuge (Sunday) was totally overrun. Luckily we had added a second day at another refuge which was MUCH less crowded and saved the experience.

Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

The end result from kimkim was outstanding. ...
Mexico | Feb 1 - Feb 7, 2023

Earl
Earl W.
Haslett, MI | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2023

The end result from kimkim was outstanding. Only glip was all the email confusion for payment etc, as we had 3 couples and 3 individuals, which was confusing on every end. But in the end...we received everything as promised and more. Thank you for being flexible with the number of rooms needed, etc. The Hotels in Mexico City were exceptional. Our driver, Guillermo, was extremely exceptional. We paid for his room, so he could stay with of nearby the monarchs, as he was our translator and... read more

The end result from kimkim was outstanding. Only glip was all the email confusion for payment etc, as we had 3 couples and 3 individuals, which was confusing on every end. But in the end...we received everything as promised and more. Thank you for being flexible with the number of rooms needed, etc. The Hotels in Mexico City were exceptional. Our driver, Guillermo, was extremely exceptional. We paid for his room, so he could stay with of nearby the monarchs, as he was our translator and expert in all things local. Worth every peso. Our guide, Jesus, was wonderful with exceptional English. Visiting the Monarch Sanctuary in the early morning was the perfect decision. We beat the crowds, making it a wonderful, quiet experience. I will recommend Leslie and Ximena.

Hotel Reviews
Zócalo Central
Mexico City

Exceptional in value and service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rancho Cumbre Monarca

We loved its authenticity, staff and character. Only drawback, was not knowing in advance they do not take credit cards. This was a problem when we all needed to pay our room bills for dinners, drinks etc. I would advise visitors to BRING CASH.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Santa Josefita Bed & Breakfast
Cholula

Wonderful staff, setting and rooms. Thank you.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Biking in Teotihuacán "The City of the Gods" & Overnight in Cholula
Mexico

We did not do the biking. It, strangely, never was offered. However, we got a wonderful guide and tour and was a great day. Teotihuacan is amazing and a must for anyone visiting Mexico.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit a Monarch Butterflies Reserve
Mexico

The best. The best because we arrived at park opening, and nearly the first ones up the mountain, via horse. It was a quiet, almost5 spiritual experience. I am sure it was not later in the day as more holiday tourists arrived. I highly recommend Jesus the guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Yucatan Roadtrip and City Tour
Mexico | Jan 14 - Jan 22, 2023

A
Abdel S.
Tampa, FL | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2023

This trip was a memorable trip to Mexico starting with a quick tour of Mexico City and then visiting Tiotihuacan the following day. I then flew to Chetumal to visit the Calakmul ruins. My guide through the rest of the trip was Manuel. He was very knowledgeable of every site we visited which provided a better understanding of the history of the area. It was also reassuring to have someone with you at all times who knew how to get around and fond whatever you may need along the way. I would... read more

This trip was a memorable trip to Mexico starting with a quick tour of Mexico City and then visiting Tiotihuacan the following day. I then flew to Chetumal to visit the Calakmul ruins. My guide through the rest of the trip was Manuel. He was very knowledgeable of every site we visited which provided a better understanding of the history of the area. It was also reassuring to have someone with you at all times who knew how to get around and fond whatever you may need along the way. I would recommend a guide like Manuel to anyone who would want to tour the Yucatan peninsula. The rest of the team including Leslie and Ximena were helpful in organizing the entire trip from beginning to end to make the entire experience seamless and easy. I definitely recommend this team to help organize a tour through Mexico and am already looking forward to my next visit.

Hotel Review
Casa Kaan
Campeche

This ws definitely the most memorable of all the hotels i stayed in during my trip to Mexico. Its more like a campground than hotel and is close to Calakmul, which provides convenience in a remote area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

We were a bit skeptical of the whole process ...
Mexico | Dec 29 - Jan 6, 2023

Deena
Deena B.
West Lake Sammamish, WA | Reviewed on Jan 11, 2023

We were a bit skeptical of the whole process at first, but went with it and now that we have returned and reflected on the experience it was amazing to have KimKim there for us every step of the way. We have traveled a lot in Mexico previously and wanted an authentic experience without the stress. Leslie was super kind and accommodating throughout the planning and booking process- I highly recommend using her and KimKim. Then, once we were on our trip Ximena was there on What’sApp to help... read more

We were a bit skeptical of the whole process at first, but went with it and now that we have returned and reflected on the experience it was amazing to have KimKim there for us every step of the way. We have traveled a lot in Mexico previously and wanted an authentic experience without the stress. Leslie was super kind and accommodating throughout the planning and booking process- I highly recommend using her and KimKim. Then, once we were on our trip Ximena was there on What’sApp to help with anything we needed - even sending reminders every evening for the next days activities which included things to think about doing on our free days. We were especially grateful to have Tere waiting for us at the rental car agency to help us navigate that after a long international flight, and to have her there at our departure to make sure everything was correct. It was just such a huge relief to have her and the entire KimKim team available for anything we needed!

Activity Reviews
Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote
Mexico

We visited several cenotes in the area and this one was our favorite. It’s an hour drive from Valladoldid, but close to Chichen Itza. We drove to the cenote for an afternoon arrival and then did the Nights if Kulkulcan at Chichen Itza (to avoid the heat and my 5 year old whining). It worked out great for our family. The only odd thing was that the people who worked there seemed very confused about our entrance including a meal. We were given menus, then they were take away once they knew we had food included, but then they told us pretty much everything was available for us to order… it was a little confusing.

Quality of Experience
Food
The food was awesome! The soup was amazing
Coba and the sacred Mayan roads
Cobá

We enjoyed Coba - especially the biking and the more shaded cover Vs Chichen Itza. Our guide was just ok. We went on New Year’s Day so perhaps he was a little tired from the night before. We picked him up at the Pemex near the entrance and he helped us find parking. He slowly explained some things about the ruins before we went in (he was very patient with my kids asking a ton of questions). When we got the main ruins, we sat under a palapa area in the shade while he told us about the ruins. He then opted to stay in the shade instead of walking with us over to the main ruins. He said it was to allow us to walk around but it would have been nice to have him there (and to have a picture of all of our family in front of the ruins!). Selfies will work just fine.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Eco Center & Traditional Mayan Meal
Mexico

We arrived in Nuevo Durango and Blanca and her family welcomed us in and showed us how to make hammocks. My son, who is 9, absolutely loved it and didn’t want to leave. Blanca offered lemonade and we took turns weaving. I speak fluent Spanish but no one else in my family does, and none of the other hosts spoke English. Thankfully I was able to translate for everyone but I’m not sure how it would work if someone was going that didn’t speak Spanish…? The food we ate was amazing, and my kids loved it. I was convinced they weren’t going to eat it but they did! And they loved it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Float in the Muyil Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with transportation from Cancun.
Cancún

This was the highlight of the trip for me! We loved floating in the canals carved by Mayans 2,000 years ago. Don’t book the ruins option - it’s an hour walk to get to the ruins. Stick with their most popular tour. Our guide Memo was amazing as was the food we enjoyed after. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Mexico Road Trip
Mexico | Dec 21 - Jan 5, 2023

J
Joe K.
Sunnyvale, CA | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2023

This was a great trip filled with very positive and unforgettable experiences. Everything worked out as planned. The itinerary we had was excellent and the gastronomic, geographic, archaeological, and artisanal tours were excellent. The hotels were great with a couple of exceptions. They were all centrally located and we could easily move about on our own and explore the places not included in the formal itinerary. All the guides were knowledgeable and spoke english as promised. The drivers... read more

This was a great trip filled with very positive and unforgettable experiences. Everything worked out as planned. The itinerary we had was excellent and the gastronomic, geographic, archaeological, and artisanal tours were excellent. The hotels were great with a couple of exceptions. They were all centrally located and we could easily move about on our own and explore the places not included in the formal itinerary. All the guides were knowledgeable and spoke english as promised. The drivers that took us on our city tours and long distances from city to city were friendly and drove with great care. All the guides and drivers were very punctual and we could complete all the activities in the time that was planned.

Ximena out travel coordinator was outstanding! She checked in with us every day to ask how the day went and also to inform us about the next day's plan. The couple of times we had an issue with hotels, she was very quick to get them resolved.

Hotel Reviews
Histórico Central Mexico City
Mexico City

Very centrally located with extremely friendly and helpful staff. The breakfast that was included had a lot of choices, and the free food all day long was amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casona de los Sapos Hotel Boutique
Puebla

Very centrally located. The staff were very accommodating even though it was Christmas eve.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Casa Garay
Oaxaca

The hotel is very centrally located and that was the only positive aspect about it. The room was windowless and had very poor ventilation. Unfortunately, to improve ventilation we could not leave the door ajar since it opened directly into the dining area. The room was not serviced well and one morning the water ran out in the bathroom and it took a lot of time to restore. The air conditioning unit was very noisy, but we had no choice to use it since the room had no air circulation. The hotel was understaffed and the couple of employee there were doing multiple tasks and as a result everything took time. We had breakfast at the hotel the first morning, but it was such a bad experience that we decided to eat elsewhere the next day. We were also very frustrated with the wifi which was very very slow and at times we could not even connect to it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Please refer to my detailed review.
Hotel Parador Margarita
San Cristobal de las Casas

Nice hotel. very centrally located. Large rooms. The only issue was that the rooms did not have any heating, but fortunately we could get spot heaters from the hotel. The breakfast was wonderful and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The heating could be improved.
Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique Palenque
Palenque

It is a nice hotel, but it is far from the town center. Also, there are no shops anywhere within walking distance. Continental breakfast was served at the hotel, but besides that the hotel did not have a restaurant and since we did not have a car, the only option was a restaurant that was 75 meters away. We had to eat all our meals at that single restaurant, The room was a bit small and it was strange that the light for the bathroom also switched on a light that was in the bedroom. That did not work out well at night when my wife or I had to use the toilet.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Please see my detailed review.
Hotel Plaza Campeche
Campeche

Nice hotel, very centrally located.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice large room and everything worked.
Hacienda Mérida
Mérida

This is nice hotel, but we had a bad experience. We were assigned a room with clearly had an issue with the plumbing. The water pressure was extremely low and therefore we informed the front desk who sent someone to attend to it. After sometime they reported they had fixed the problem, but the situation was still the same. It is hard to accept that the hotel was not aware that this room had a plumbing issue, but still decided to assign the room to a guest.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
I have mentioned about the issue with the plumbing in my review.
Activity Reviews
Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting
Mexico City

This is a good introduction to Mexico City's historic center and street food. The tour is a bit early in the day to truly enjoy the street food especially after a hearty breakfast.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, friendly and could speak English.
Transport
This was a walking tour and so there was no transport.
Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco
Mexico City

This is a very unique tour. We enjoyed the serene and quite environment and the demonstration of how farming is carried out on the small islands on the canals.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Coyoacán
Mexico City

Very nice neighborhood of Mexico City with its colonial ear houses, markets, and food courts. The zocalo and church are very picturesque.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the archaeological site of Teotihuacan
Mexico City

Must visit archeological site.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Afternoon in Puebla
Mexico

Very charming city with a nice zocalo and cathedral.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Oaxacan Markets: A Culinary Journey through Colors and Flavors
Oaxaca

This is a fun tour, but to do justice you have to start on an empty stomach since there are many stops for food.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the history and crafts of Oaxaca through Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec.
Oaxaca

All wonderful sites and places on this very enjoyable tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to the Sumidero Canyon & Chiapa de Corzo
Mexico

The Sumidero Canyon is amazing!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural Immersion: Cooking in Zinacantan
San Cristobal de las Casas

This was a very very unique tour. The visit to Chamula and especially to the church there was a truly one-of-a-kind experience. The visit to Zinacantan was also special, with an exposure to the milpa form of farming and being invited to the house of a local artisan to see how they create their wears and to share a meal with them.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The beautiful waterfalls of Misol-ha & Agua Azul - Night in Palenque.
Mexico

Agua Azul is beautiful, but Misol-ha is special.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover the Palenque Archeological Site
Palenque

A must visit archeological site of the Mayas.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uxmal, a city with Puuc style
Mexico

A must see archaeological site of the Mayas. It is laid out much better than Palanque, the first Mayan archaeological site we visited.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jícara Engraving Workshop & lunch in a Mayan Community
Mexico

A very unique experience. We loved the hands-on workshop on how to polish and engrave a jicara shell.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World
Mexico

Unfortunately, we could not visit Chichen Itza since the site was closed due to local protests. However we did visit Izamal which was nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Perfect first trip to explore Mexico!
Mexico | Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2023

Annette
Annette G.
Port Chester, NY | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023

Our Christmas Mexico trip was perfectly planned - everything ran smoothly, our guides were extremely knowledgable , flexible and friendly, and the suggested tours and experiences were fun and all worth our time and money! The best guides were our 'Mexico a pied' guide Emilio in Mexico City who showed us the culture and history and food culture in a tour around the historical district, Alex from etnotouristica for our Oaxaca tour of Monte Alban and the crafts people, and the guides from... read more

Our Christmas Mexico trip was perfectly planned - everything ran smoothly, our guides were extremely knowledgable , flexible and friendly, and the suggested tours and experiences were fun and all worth our time and money! The best guides were our 'Mexico a pied' guide Emilio in Mexico City who showed us the culture and history and food culture in a tour around the historical district, Alex from etnotouristica for our Oaxaca tour of Monte Alban and the crafts people, and the guides from Huatulco Salvaje who guided us through the National Park's ecosystems and to the magic waterfalls. We are grateful to them for sharing so much of their beautiful country with us!

Hotel Reviews
Zócalo Central
Mexico City
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Casa Garay
Oaxaca

Images on web are not what the hotel looks like. Rooms are a dark, all face in towards an atrium / common spaces + staircase so you hear when everyone comes home at night. Roof terrace and balcony are not in use. Breakfast is not served until 8:30, which is a problem if you are leaving for tours in the morning. It is generally clean but looks very 'lived-in' and is in need of some upgrading. Def. not a "5 star boutique hotel" and not what could be expected at the price. During our stay there were plumbing problems (black water, water turned off at night on one of our rooms), which eventually got fixed but no extra water, refunds, move to other rooms were offered. Would def. not recommend

Authenticity & Character
Location
right in the middle of center, close walk to cathedral and other attractions
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Las Brisas Huatulco
Santa Maria Huatulco

Great place for beach fun! 3 beaches (1 with water sports) and 5(?) separate 'pueblos' break up the large complex. Recommend to stay in "Mar" section - it has a separate lounge ("Beach Club") for Continental breakfast and happy hour from 5-7. Great service, friendly and helpful. Food is soso (especially the lunch buffet), but La Crocecita with fun (La Crema Bar + Pizzeria) and other good food options and the amazing 'Ocean' restaurant in the Cosmo condo complex next door are only a short taxi ride away. "El MExicano" is the nicest restaurant on site, located on one of the beaches. Be prepared for a lot of walking in the complex - it has beautiful walks along the beaches to get from one end to the other (or hilly walks and steps, depending on where you live), but shuttles can also take you around. Great entertainment with DJ's, bands, cultural groups, evening shows., and kids' crafts. On site store with everything you could need for the beach and your OTC medicine cabinet. Tour into the National Park and surrounding beaches with Huatulco Salvaje!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting
Mexico City

Emilio from 'Mexico a pieds' was amazing. He knew everything....

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the history and crafts of Oaxaca through Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec.
Oaxaca

Alex from etnotouristica was an amazing guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gastronomic Indigenous Roots
Oaxaca

THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD on our entire trip was in Oaxaca!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Wild Huatulco
Mexico

Fascinating tour through the National Park. Our guide knew all fauna and flora and their medical uses. Great snorkeling, too!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Magical Waterfalls Adventure
Mexico

The waterfalls were fun - our guide Raoul was always the first one int he water, unter the falls, climbing through the crevices!

Quality of Experience
Food
Expect local dishes.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the archaeological site of Teotihuacan
Mexico City

Interesting. We had an average guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Overall good tour but with lots of snags
Mexico | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023

SARA
SARA R.
Gaithersburg, MD | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023

The kimkim team (Leslie and Ximena) were very helpful in:
1) Planning my trip, giving me options, suggestions, etc. The trip was well planned (for the exceptions see below).
2) Helping me with any and all issues during my trip. Ximena was very responsive to all my messages and very nice.
3) My tours of Puebla and Oaxaca were very good.

Suggestions for the future:

1) Please book hotels that have a return policy, even if it costs a bit more. Something always comes up, hotel fees need to be... read more

The kimkim team (Leslie and Ximena) were very helpful in:
1) Planning my trip, giving me options, suggestions, etc. The trip was well planned (for the exceptions see below).
2) Helping me with any and all issues during my trip. Ximena was very responsive to all my messages and very nice.
3) My tours of Puebla and Oaxaca were very good.

Suggestions for the future:

1) Please book hotels that have a return policy, even if it costs a bit more. Something always comes up, hotel fees need to be returnable up to 24 hrs before the stay, this is international practice.

2) If a tourist needs to spend a night near the airport, the hotel needs to be near the airport and not in the Historical Center. I feel silly even writing this. I mean, hello? All the traffic and 250 pesos to get to the airport in the morning, for what?

3) That my original flight was cancelled due to the cold weather is nobody's fault. But in the end I was in the MC for the two full extra days. And the team that was SO helpful in planning everything before I bought the tour kind of left me hanging. I went on internet and booked my own tours, one tasting tour in Polanco and one private guide tour through the Historical Center. The hotel staff recommended museums and how to get there. It probably cost me more, I am sure you have your contacts and your discounts. I could not even get into Palacio Nacional because there were no tickets. I was expecting, for this price, that the team would come through and help me plan those two unexpected days with the same care they helped plan the original tour BEFORE I paid. But I guess when you don't have anything else to sell, it's not that important. It left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.

4) Xochimilco is a tourist trap. That was a unanimous opinion of all 18 people in our group. There are no flowers - they say they don't buy them anymore due to the inflation. There were a million of garishly painted cheap wooden boats in dirty water. No flowing at all because there were centimeters between these boats and they kept hitting each other. No views except the aforementioned garish boats and huge crowds. Mariachi that wanted $10 (that's $220 pesos) for ONE song. Noisy sellers of junk and drinks coming over all the time. Nothing to see, really. Maybe it was nice 30years ago but now during the holiday season? Plain awful.

That whole tour was not very successful. The guide gave a saliva-spitting raging rant about the conquista (get over it, it's been 500 years; a guy from Chicago next to me commented, "what sore losers") and kept bragging about his sexual conquests while in college. Coyocan was nice but we spent less than an hour there. Xochimilco, as I said, was awful, long waits, huge crowds... I could have spent my day better.
A good tour would be to visit Coyocan, visit the Frida Kalo museum, visit the Trotsky museum, etc.

Final note: they came at 9:07 am, not sure why I was told to be ready at 8:30 am sharp. I have no problem waiting but I need to be told that there is a time range. I worried they forgot about me.

5) The tasting tour in Oaxaca is a LOT of food. Please tell your guests not to eat anything before. I was told to have a light breakfast and in the end completely missed the last two tastings because I physically could not fit anything else in me. It's a feedback for them, not for kimkim, but it needs to be related to them. Each stop is a lot of food. They need to plan it better. They are very nice people and I really enjoyed working with them, don't get me wrong. But one can only eat so many big pieces of dough stuffed with meat/veggies.
For example, the tasting tour in Polanco in MC had seven stops but was PERFECT in terms of the quantity of food: a small cup of tortilla soup here, a (very) small tortilla with some topping there, etc. In Oaxaca they want to feed you all the good stuff that there is to eat in Oaxaca, in regular portions. It's like eating six lunches in a row. I was almost sick after it.

Again, thank you for all your help. Please take my suggestions with a good heart - I am simply trying to make it better for the next tourist. Mexico is a beautiful country with a lot to see. I will be back.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Punto Mx
Mexico City

This is a VERY nice, borderline luxurious hotel. Fantastic breakfast with a million choices that lasts till noon. Great rooms, great stuff.

Authenticity & Character
It's not authentic or anything. Just a nice hotel that could be anywhere in the world. This is not criticism.
Location
It's right in the historical center, 5 min walk to Zocalo. Taxis there cost a lot though.
Staff
Very helpful, lovely people.
Cleanliness & Comfort
That part was perfect.
Casa Pepe Puebla
Puebla

A nice hotel in the center of Puebla. Clean rooms, helpful staff. The breakfast options are limited. They charged me 25 pesos to add a slice of tomato and a couple of mushrooms to my omelet in the morning (I am serious).

Authenticity & Character
Location
The location is perfect.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Casa Garay
Oaxaca

The location is great, right in the center. The staff is very nice. The rooms are clean. It is probably the most authentic of all the hotels I visited. But it's in the old building, so the bathrooms are old. My biggest issue was the shower. You know how you turn on the water and then wait till it heats? Well, there was no way to wait OUTSIDE. You have to be in the shower to turn on the water. And it's cold for a while, plus adjusting the temperature and figuring out takes time. I kept squeezing against the wall, but still got a bit of a cold shower.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
See above about the shower. Generally the bathrooms are outdated, the drain in the sink does not work well. The room is clean though.
Histórico Central Mexico City
Mexico City

That place was almost too high-end for my tastes. I did not really need it. This is not the hotel's fault of course - I highly recommend it to those who like top-notch hotels and are willing to pay for it. If you need to just stay overnight, you can go with a cheaper and simpler option. This is a fancy-shmancy option.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Wow, what great service!!!! This was the firs...
Mexico | Dec 27 - Dec 30, 2022

Michelle
Michelle D.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023

Wow, what great service!!!! This was the first time I've worked with a travel agency and they made our last minute mother daughter trip an absolute breeze! It was so nice having someone on-call to answer any questions I might have while traveling out of the country. We truly had a seamless experience and I'm SOOO HAPPY I used them. Highly recommend! read more

Wow, what great service!!!! This was the first time I've worked with a travel agency and they made our last minute mother daughter trip an absolute breeze! It was so nice having someone on-call to answer any questions I might have while traveling out of the country. We truly had a seamless experience and I'm SOOO HAPPY I used them. Highly recommend!

Activity Review
Rio Secreto: The Mayan underworld
Cancún

The highlight of our trip!!! It was so cool being underground and swimming! The caves were absolutely beautiful and I felt completely safe the entire time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Great quick trip
Mexico | Nov 10 - Nov 13, 2022

Alexandra
Alexandra S.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Nov 27, 2022

Our team was great in setting up a quick getaway to Mexico City packed with fun, cultural adventures. Would absolutely recommend for anyone wanting to get a good taste of the city. read more

Our team was great in setting up a quick getaway to Mexico City packed with fun, cultural adventures. Would absolutely recommend for anyone wanting to get a good taste of the city.

Activity Review
Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting
Mexico City

Lots of great insight! Fun and good food. Loved the tacos. Would, if anything, mix in some other non-tacos (churros perhaps?). Very fun and informative, though!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

A wonderful Mayan journey
Mexico | Nov 11 - Nov 19, 2022

Vicki
Vicki D.
Quincy, IL | Reviewed on Nov 20, 2022

Our Mayan trip was wonderful. Our guide, Joyce Guia was so knowledgeable and accommodated our need to move a little slower and take breaks. He could also answer our questions about the current culture, flora and fauna. Seeing Palenque and The famous Bonampak murals were a highlight as well as the Olmec sculptures in Villahermosa. read more

Our Mayan trip was wonderful. Our guide, Joyce Guia was so knowledgeable and accommodated our need to move a little slower and take breaks. He could also answer our questions about the current culture, flora and fauna. Seeing Palenque and The famous Bonampak murals were a highlight as well as the Olmec sculptures in Villahermosa.

Hotel Review
Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic
Palenque

The plants were beautiful on the grounds, the restaurant had good food, the pool was lovely and we tried a massage at the spa.

Authenticity & Character
The local food
Location
The tropical plants
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean and pretty
Activity Reviews
Visit to Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Villahermosa

Amazing artifacts that should not be missed if you are interested in archeology.

Quality of Experience
Accommodated our needs
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Joyce Guia was fabulous
Transport
Ancient Mayan Cities of Yaxchilan & Bonampak
Mexico

While it is an effort to get to these sites, it is worth it. The murals at Bonampak are amazing and should not be missed.

Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

This special trip otherwise known as My Dias ...
Mexico | Oct 28 - Nov 6, 2022

Deborah
Deborah W.
Columbine, CO | Reviewed on Nov 09, 2022

This special trip otherwise known as My Dias de los Muertos Birthday Celebration was beyond amazing & was magnificent!! Leslie was kind, helpful, patience & extremely creative with her planning & designing our 10 day adventure! We also were so very impressed with the constant communication from our "Guardian Angel" Ximena Villavicencio. She gave us the comfort of always being there with confirmation info, questions or problems we had. It was like having insurance our entire journey as... read more

This special trip otherwise known as My Dias de los Muertos Birthday Celebration was beyond amazing & was magnificent!! Leslie was kind, helpful, patience & extremely creative with her planning & designing our 10 day adventure! We also were so very impressed with the constant communication from our "Guardian Angel" Ximena Villavicencio. She gave us the comfort of always being there with confirmation info, questions or problems we had. It was like having insurance our entire journey as she was an excellent communicator & problem solver. This is what makes Kim Kim so special and personalized, Leslie's planning & Organizing and Ximena's follow through & communication. As for the entire trip itself, it was a a dream come true. Starting with The Hotel Morales in Guadalajara was perfect in terms of location, onsite restaurant and amenties was perfect. Our driver Ceaser was a sweet heart, kind, gentle & always on time or even a tad early. We knew we could depend on him. Our tour guide Josue was wonderful, helpful & very knowledgeable. Our trip to Oaxaca was a dream come true and our hotel at Hotel La Parra was amazing. The pool & bar side service were wonderful. Our trip to Mezcal country was a special experience. We also were blown away with the rooftop access and terrace at our second hotel in Oaxaca. Our last night was in the cute Mexico City neighborhood of Coyoacan and we loved our quaint b&b at Casa Jacinta, but the showstopper & grand finale Gastronmic workshop & coffee tasting was beyond any experience we could have imagined. It was the best way to end a dream vacation and left us full with happiness!

Activity Reviews
Tequila Distilleries Tour
Guadalajara

Loved our guide & driver and the town of Tequila. I do think there was a little miscalculation of time and we didn't get to go to Jose Cuervo as we had been told. But what I appreciated about the guide was he wanted to make us happy and found a way to get us a tour at Sauza. That really was impressive to see how much they wanted us to have a good experience. The lunch was a little long in time but was a great choice for food & atmosphere. We really enjoyed the day.

Quality of Experience
timing of sightseeing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kind & Helpful
Transport
On time and enjoyed their company. It was great as we got familiar w/ them having them on other tours
Tlaquepaque: "The Magic of Cacao"
Mexico

A mouth watering sensory journey for your pleasure! This was an amazing tasting & educational experience. I learned so much and felt this was a special session that I would highly recommend to anyone.

Quality of Experience
The food, samples, drinks, atmosphere were top notch
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Educational & helpful
Transport
On time and helped with carrying my purchases!
Tlaquepaque: The artisan's route
Guadalajara

This was a magical & visual experience I will never forget. Seeing all the town decorated for Dias de Los Muertos and the vendors and Catrinas was eye candy and made me so happy. I felt like this was my DisneyWorld experience. Loved seeing the town, alters, vendors and more. A special town with a special celebration.

Quality of Experience
Getting my face painted, watching the Brides Parade
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Helpful and knowledgeable
Transport
knew the short cuts to avoid traffic
Archaeological Tour in Monte Albán
Oaxaca

A great place to visit to get the history of the area. It was a hot day and very busy so we cut the trip a little bit shorter. We appreciated the guide letting us cut the trip shorter as the information was alot to absorb.

Quality of Experience
Give options of 2 or more hours
Guides, Drivers and Staff
not sure
Transport
Walk through Oaxaca's colourful streets
Oaxaca

I did not personally do this tour as I wanted to see the Dias De los Muertos parade (we were not told about this by Leslie) but by our hotel and this was a priority. My roomate enjoyed the thour and thought it was great. She left it an hour early to go with me to the BIG parade!

Quality of Experience
seeing the town
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Mezcal Route
Oaxaca

A wonderful day with lots of stops to see many things that make Mezcal country special. Loved the variety of places we visited and the two different type Mezcal Distilleries. They really were informative and the Mezcal was yummy. Our private dinner at a families house was very special and the food was very good.

Quality of Experience
The whole day
Food
Homemade food was wonderful
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Anna was a beautiful lady with a kind heart & very knowledgeable. She just needed to speak a bit louder
Transport
Wasn't so comfortable in the van. The driver never attemtped to talk to us. He wasn't mean just no connection w/ us
Biking tour and street art
Oaxaca

My Birthday Day was kicked off with this amazing Bike Street Art Tour and it did not disappoint! The guide Shai was amazing, kind and spirtual. She made the trip 5 star. Her kindness & help was beyond. Somehow we had no confirmation number and they initially were not going to let us on the trip. I was so upset, but she was kind, patient and spoke to Kim Kim so they could provide an email confirmation. Luckily it worked out. The tour itself was perfect. Plenty of stops to see art, hear explanation and a few stops to galleries as well. A perfect size group too and the best way to cover a lot of ground in the busy city roads of Oaxaca.

Quality of Experience
All
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Shai was the best tour guide ever
Transport
Bikes were comfy and great to have mountain bikes on the cobblestone roads
Learn how to prepare delicious traditional food
Mexico City

This experience was truly one of the highlights of the week and a perfect ending to a perfect vacation! The education & guidance for our cooking experience was superb. We learned techniques on how to chop veggies, prepare food and tricks w/ garlic. The menu that was provided was so much and a great way to learn about Mexican culture and dining. The food was delicious and our Host Chef was excellent. He truly made us feel comfortable and he was very entertaining & engaging. This experience was exciting, enjoyable and full of passion.

Quality of Experience
The Chef, his direction, menu and the whole experience!
Food
The Guacamole, Mezcal, Coffee Drinks, Rice, and putting it all together
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Guadalajara and Oaxaca, Mexico. My friend, D...
Mexico | Oct 28 - Nov 6, 2022

C
Carol G.
Avon, CO | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2022

Guadalajara and Oaxaca, Mexico. My friend, Deb Weed, organized the trip and worked extensively with Leslie on planning and Ximena on the details. So I was along for the ride. From my prespective, the trip was fabulous. Our guide (Josue) & driver (Caesar) in Guadalajara were friendly, prompt, sincere and flexible. We felt like they were our friends when we left. Day trip to Tequila was memorable. In Oaxaca, our guide for our art bike tour (Shai from Coyote Aventuras) and Ximena helped... read more

Guadalajara and Oaxaca, Mexico. My friend, Deb Weed, organized the trip and worked extensively with Leslie on planning and Ximena on the details. So I was along for the ride. From my prespective, the trip was fabulous. Our guide (Josue) & driver (Caesar) in Guadalajara were friendly, prompt, sincere and flexible. We felt like they were our friends when we left. Day trip to Tequila was memorable. In Oaxaca, our guide for our art bike tour (Shai from Coyote Aventuras) and Ximena helped us through a miscommunication issue which was resolved satisfactorily. Ximena was available every step of the way to help. She was awesome. Last night was in Mexico City before our departure, we did a cooking class with Luis Alfonzo, chef of Barra de Cafe de Malinche which was over the top. I will definitely recommend KimKim to my friends.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Morales Historical & Colonial Downtown Core
Mexicaltzingo, Guadalajara, Jal.

We loved this hotel with its rich history. Beautiful courtyards and centrally located. The restaurant was an added plus since some nights we were too tired to venture out. Staff was very accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel De La Parra
Oaxaca

This smaller hotel was perfect for us. The location was perfect and within walking distance for all of the Day of the Dead feastivies and sightseeing. The staff was very helpful. Loved the pool area and the ability to get a cocktail in the afternoon. Breakfast was delightful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Suites de la Parra
Oaxaca

Only stayed one night, but loved the penthouse suite. Large suite with outdoor patio and 360 degree views. Lots of stairs to the penthouse.

Casa Jacinta Guest House
Del Carmen, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México

Only one night here but wish it were more. Property was cute and quaint in a good neighborhood.

Activity Reviews
Tlaquepaque: "The Magic of Cacao"
Mexico

Christina Taylor was amazing with this private experience. You could tell she was passionate about her work and shared that passion with us. Loved the pairing portion of the tasting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Josue (guide) and Casear (driver) were professional, knowledgeable and very friendly.
Learn how to prepare delicious traditional food
Mexico City

Loved this private experience! Luis, our chef, was amazing, friendly and professional. The food we prepared was delicious and we learned that everything is used in one form or another. Highly recommend this experience.

Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

We really appreciated Leslie’s Mazunte recommendation...
Mexico | Oct 21 - Oct 29, 2022

J
John K.
Santa Barbara, CA | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2022

We really appreciated Leslie’s recommendation to visit Mazunte. It was exactly the kind of quiet, private, low key beach getaway we were looking for. Casa Lu hotel was perfectly located, clean, relatively upscale for the area, friendly staff, bar/restaurant on the beach. Loved that the infinity pool was steps away from the sand so you could lounge in the fresh water while taking in the dramatic coastline. Outstanding dinners at Navigante in San Agustinillo and Alquamista in nearby Zipolite.... read more

We really appreciated Leslie’s recommendation to visit Mazunte. It was exactly the kind of quiet, private, low key beach getaway we were looking for. Casa Lu hotel was perfectly located, clean, relatively upscale for the area, friendly staff, bar/restaurant on the beach. Loved that the infinity pool was steps away from the sand so you could lounge in the fresh water while taking in the dramatic coastline. Outstanding dinners at Navigante in San Agustinillo and Alquamista in nearby Zipolite. Also enjoyed our 3 days in Oaxaca city. Excellent tour guide, Leonardo, took us on a private city tour, as well as visits to local archeological sites, a mescal production facility, the giant Tule tree and a small weaving village. A former teacher, he was incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic. the best! Food was ok, but didn’t live up to the foodie capital reputation we’d heard. Only downside was returning with dysentery as we were not particularly careful about ice in drinks, salads, etc. Otherwise, great trip and Kimkim was helpful, responsive and professional.

Hotel Reviews
Los Pilares
Oaxaca

Clean, good location, lush rooftop restaurant for breakfasts, walking distance from town. Pool was tiny, for dipping only. Rooms surround an open courtyard which amplifies sound. So between hotel guests, motorbikes and street partiers, it was quite noisy at times. But that’s pretty typical for the city.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Lu Mazunte

Clean, private, well maintained, excellent location, only property in the area with the pool located right next to the beach so you could enjoy both at once. Beachside bar and restaurant was great for breakfasts, lunch and drinks. large rooms all have spectacular views, A/C and were cleaned and restocked daily. Though a bit pricey for the area, the location and comfort were worth it to us. We’ll definitely return.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez