Michael Gold

Our entire trip was absolutely amazing and so much more than we expected. Michael and his team were with us every step of the way from start to finish, and provided a diverse itinerary that somehow met the needs of our entire family including 2 young children. We were very impressed at their communication throughout the trip as well as the experiences they provided. All of the hotels were perfect too.

We were so grateful our trip included guides and drivers because we learned so much more about the country and its people because of them and never needed to worry about getting a cab anywhere. They made the trip so much easier and more fun than it would have been if we did it all ourselves. A few highlights were playing Tejo with Mari Luz in Bogota, drinking coffee with Carlos in Salento, our coffee farm tour, walking the streets of cartegena and drumming at sunset with Roberto.

Too many amazing experiences to name. We hope to come back to Colombia again and will definitely use KimKim to provide our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Muisca

Bogotá

Great hotel in a quiet area. Perfect for walking down to the Candeleria neighborhoods. The chefs were amazing and the front desk staff were always very helpful and patient. You’ll definitely want to bring ear plugs because the walls are thin, but we’re always prepared for that so it wasn’t a problem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

The location was perfect because it was walking distance to everything we needed for food and shopping. The rooftop pool and restaurant worker perfect for our family. The staff was very kind, helpful, and service was great. We want to come back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finca Hotel del Cafe

Santa Rosa de Cabal

Very nice hotel off the beaten path. It was a nice place to rest between cities with great views from the restaurant area.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel part was fantastic, but the American music from the 80’s in the restaurant view area made it feel a little corporate. Luckily the restaurant area is a 5 minute walk up the hill from the hotel.

Location

Staff

They were very helpful and set up the jacuzzi so we could use it one evening.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ecohotel Piedemonte

Very peaceful and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Juliana was very helpful and went above and beyond to get our laundry service done earlier in the morning so we could have them for our 8:30am excursion. The chefs also cook to order.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fruits of Colombia at a Local Market

Bogotá

It was perfect and we learned so much. Only tip would be to provide a handout with the fruit on it because we couldn’t remember any of the names.

Quality of Experience

Leaning how to cut and eat the fruit and learning about the impact of fruit in Colombia were the highlights.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colombian History with Street Art

Bogotá

Bogotá Museums Tour

Bogotá

Tejo Game in Bogotá

Bogotá

Very fun. Family favorite.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Absolutely amazing behind the scenes tour of Cartegena with Roberto.

Quality of Experience

Our guide Roberto.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour to Nemocón's Salt Mine

Bogotá

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Farm Tour in Finca Buenos Aires

Salento

We loved seeing the process from start to finish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

Beautiful location.

Quality of Experience

Nothing. It was just really crowded because the local families were on vacation.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much in our drive from Salento to the hot springs. The guide was great. It was also really nice to have someone to watch our stuff.

Transport

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

Absolutely beautiful place. It was more than we were expecting.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was so passionate and went above learned a lot.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Willy Jeep was fun.

Rosario Island Beach Day (Coralina Island)

Colombia

Very relaxing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

It was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Realizing that this was a music school and watching the sun set during a song. It was all very interactive and engaging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks a lot. You guys were amazing. we all had a wonderful time with unique experiences.
Your team was wonderful. We did not have any issue... there was minor breakdown but your guide Eddie was on top of it. he arranged back up very fast and everything was just perfect. Eddie was very informative and very nice..
Again thanks to you Michael and Kimkim.. Michael you always answered any of our question/concern with utmost urgency and respect. Thanks for your guidance. We look forward for another trip with you guys in the future.
Cheers,
On behalf of our group many many thanks.
pankaj

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Park 10

Medellin

OK. not the best.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I was expecting modern hotel in spirit of modern Columbiam style...

Hotel Caribe Faranda

Cartagena

I had a very bad experience. The AC was not working. At late night I was going for a food to 24 hour restaurant and they would not put a tab on my room. I had to pay cash or credit card... I had to husstle.. It was not nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

very old property.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paragliding in Medellín

Medellín

It was very nice however we had to climb a lot before we can reach for paragliding. As I mentioned few guys had trouble walking. And when we finished we saw a second spot very close in walking distance had the same service but one did not have to climb. I wish other guys would have enjoyed this spot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

really woth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

nice. Learned about the history and transformation was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Trip to Rosario Islands

Colombia

Really nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salsa Experience

Cartagena

amazing..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We went as a family of four (2 kids, 11 and 12) this past August. We loved all our tours and are very grateful to Kimkim and Michael and the Chaska Tours team for an incredible experience. Starting with the tour of Bogotá with artist Luís, we were captivated by the street art, the culture and the food of Colombia.
A high point for the kids was seeing pink dolphins and grey dolphins in the Amazon river. My daughter's dream realized! We also loved Leticia and the park with the parakeets and swallows. We enjoyed the ecotourism projects of the local people, especially supporting conservation efforts with sloths and monkeys. Our dedicated and engaging guide Sergio made our time in Amazonia unforgettable, including a night hike to see weird and rare caterpillars and spiders!
My husband and I especially enjoyed the vibe in Comuna 13 in Medellín, which we toured with our knowledgeable and friendly guide Valeria. The incredible transformation of this neighbourhood inspired hope and admiration. We then went on to visit a flower farm and learned about Silletera culture (such a lovely host at the Casa de las Flores), and a family-run coffee farm (another wonderful welcome) along with a the colourful town of Guatapé.
On to Cartagena, where we had a fascinating tour of the lively Getsemaní neighbourhood and the colonial part of the city with our wonderful guide Gustavo. My son loved fishing for crabs and cooking them up for us. Everyone was so gracious and welcoming. The day concluded with young people singing and drumming in celebration of the Afro-Caribbean culture of that part of Colombia. I danced to embarrass my children.
A few days to recharge on Isla Baru were a great end to the holiday. We enjoyed the ocean and delicious seafood.
We loved everything about this trip.
All the drivers and guides were excellent: always so caring, engaging and fun. Michael did a great job of tailoring our tours to our interests and those of our kids. We also loved the accommodations arranged for us.
Highly recommend our tour with Chaska to everyone interested in cultural diversity, art, ecotourism and family time!

Hotel Reviews

Waira Suites

Leticia

Waira Suites was an especially sweet place. It's family-run, and the staff were incredibly kind, going out of their way to accommodate my kids' meal restrictions. The environment was beautiful, surrounded by nature, which added to the charm of the stay. It truly stood out among the accommodations we visited during our trip.

Hotel Isla del Encanto

Cartagena

Hotel Isla del Encanto was a perfect getaway at the end of our trip. We did nothing but relax for a few days, enjoying the beautiful resort. The seafood was especially amazing, and my husband and I loved our dinners there. It was a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy the serene island atmosphere.

Activity Reviews

Daytrip: Silletera Culture in Santa Elena & La Piedra de Guatapé

Medellín

The Casa de la Flores tour was one of my favorite activities in Medellín. Our guide Valeria was fantastic, and the person who led us through the tour was incredibly engaging, especially with the kids. The family's achievements in the flower fair were impressive, and the whole experience was both informative and enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

The Coffee-Culture Tour was wonderful. We were greeted with delicious cake and coffee, and the people running the tour were lovely. They shared insightful stories about the land, which was truly inspiring. It was a great experience for both adults and kids, and my son particularly enjoyed planting a coffee plant. A highly recommended experience.

Michael organised an incredible itinerary for our first visit to Colombia, with a great mix of history, culture, food and outdoor activities. The planning and organisation from Michael and the Chaska team was seamless and we appreciated how responsive they were from booking/planning to the actual trip. We would highly recommend Michael and Chaska for a visit to Columbia. Thank you for an unforgettable holiday!

Hotel Reviews

Masaya Bogotá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Viajero Hostel Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manila Hotel Boutique

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Moraira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogotá Walking Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm & Salento

Salento

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael planned a great trip for us. It was pretty complicated, with intra-country flights, and a lot of driving. All the guides were prompt, kind, and informative (and English-speaking, which we needed). In Bogota, Michael arranged a dinner with a private chef, with a host who was very friendly and so knowledgeable about native foods and sustainability. In Pereira, we had an amazing trip/hike to the Cocura Valley and the Santa Rosa hot springs. Our guide in Guatape was flexible when we asked to re-arrange the tour a bit, and then actually climbed all 750 steps with us so she could take our picture and make sure we were all comfortable. And in Tayrona, our guide took us to some amazing local restaurants and guided us on a great hike. He also got up early and arranged our park entrance in advance so we could save time and not wait in line. And finally, in Cartagena, our guide took us to some great street food places (including a top-notch ceviche stand). We also learned about George Washington's older half-brother's role in Cartagena -- which was fascinating. Overall, we highly recommend working with Chaska.

Activity Reviews

Traditional Dinner - Top Chef Private Dining

Bogotá

Level of knowledge of the host and quality of the food.

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

The guide was great and knowledgeable

Tejo Game in Bogotá

Bogotá

We asked for this and weren't disappointed. If you like to play cornhole, this is the sport for you!

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

It was nice that the guide watched our bags while we soaked and hiked.

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

Valle Del Cocora was outsanding - probably only needed to see one town since we weren't into shopping, but if you like shopping, doing both would be good.

Guatapé Day-Trip

Colombia

Tubing on Don Diego River

Colombia

We loved our lunch before the tubing. Our guide was excellent, and the local tubing person helped keep us on track.

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

The guide took time to get our wristbands for entry in advance, which gave us more time to hike. He took us on a good trail, and spotted some wildlife that we would have missed.

Nueva Venecia and the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (On the Way to Cartagena)

Colombia

What's great about this trip is the history and current situation in this area. It's a great cultural experience, especially with the guide we had, who was thoughtful and informative.

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Our guide was very knowledgeable on history, and took us to some great local stands.

We had an amazing adventure throughout Colombia over the course of our 8 day trip. Michael did a fantastic job of creating an itinerary for us based on our specifications (tastes of culture with an emphasis on nature and birding) and the final product was a tour de force of the many riches of the country. All of our transportation occurred seamlessly and every hotel selected for us was excellent. We were met by nothing but warmth and patience by our tour guides and drivers throughout the trip grounded in a genuine pride in the country. A few notable highlights include the private tour of the Don Manolo coffee farm in Pereira and our exceptional day in Tayrona National Park with the guide, Danilso.

Michael and the KimKim team were extremely responsive in the days leading up to our trip as well as throughout the experience. We are grateful for their guidance in planning our rather complex trip and highly recommend KimKim for anyone considering a similar experience in Colombia.

I am usually not one to use the help of a travel agency. We had a few trips this summer and I was especially nervous about taking kids age 9 and 6 to a developing country where we not speak the language very well. Michael from KimKim was responsive and helped me secure hotel stays with suites so our family of 4 could comfortably enjoy our stay. Michael helped pick out specific activities (and then rearrange when kids and my husband had new ideas) that were fun, educational and unique to Colombia. One of our favorites was making coconut crafts with the Damartes, an organization of women that receives micro-finance loans from the government to lift families out of poverty. The actual workshop was fairly limited on the number of items that could be made but the concept really opened the eyes of my privileged kids. Although Cartagena and Medellin (especially where the tourists stay) are now fairly safe, it was nice not to have one adult constantly have their phone out and tracking an uber. The car transfers were safe and efficient. Michael also booked a local one way flight from Cartagena and to Medellin, which was a breeze. Our guides Eddie (in Cartagena) and Pablo (in Medellin) were fantastic with children motivating them with ice cream breaks and keeping our conversation interesting to little minds. We truly enjoyed the help of KimKim to help curate and organize an incredible family trip to Colombia we could not have planned ourselves!

Hotel Reviews

Estelar Cartagena de Indias

Cartagena

Great pool, in Bocagrande away from the old city but only a few min away.

Authenticity & Character

Fairly standard hotel, not authentic to Colombia

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sites

Medellin

Great location, loved the 2 bedroom apartments for the family.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Street Art & Graffiti Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coconut Workshop

Cartagena

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Salsa Dance Class in Medellín

Medellín

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

I recently returned from a trip to Colombia organized by Michael, and I truly cannot find the words to encapsulate how wonderful the experience was and how grateful I am to the kimkim team and all of the guides they coordinated with to make this trip so meaningful and memorable. They were able to get my friend and I connected with staff from Tayrona Birding for a tour of Tayrona National Park, and each of the staff we interacted with were kind, professional, knowledgable, and warm. The lodging at the Senda Koguiwa hotel in Santa Marta was also so wonderful. The food was phenomenal, the grounds were beautiful, and the staff was so kind. I truly hope this review helps encourage anyone who is on the fence about booking with kimkim to move forward with it. I am already looking forward to booking future experiences with kimkim!

Hotel Review

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Friendly staff, delicious food, beautiful grounds, and comfortable rooms that kept us cool and safe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Conveniently close to Tayrona National Park.

Staff

The staff were so kind and helpful, and they seemed to genuinely care about making the experience special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and kept at a comfortable temperature.

Activity Review

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

The park itself is gorgeous with lots of breathtaking views and diverse wildlife housed within, but the thing that made it even more wonderful was the hiking guide and the experience he created based on his own knowledge of the park.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Comfortable, on-time, and felt safe the entirety of the nearly 3-hour long transfer from Barranquilla to Santa Marta.

I just returned from an absolutely incredible 10-day trip to Colombia, and I cannot praise this travel company enough for organizing such a seamless and memorable experience. From the moment I arrived in Bogotá to my final day in Cartagena, every detail was perfectly coordinated. The guides were exceptional - particularly Jose in Bogotá, who was incredibly knowledgeable and made the walking tour of Montserrat and the Gold Museum truly fascinating, and Roberto in Cartagena, whose perfect English and animated personality made exploring the city an absolute joy. The accommodations were outstanding, especially the stunning resort in Tayrona Park with its gorgeous cabañas and that amazing lighthouse room at the Rosario Islands with breathtaking ocean views. The variety of experiences was perfect - from hiking through Tayrona's beautiful beaches to the unique river tubing adventure, the fascinating cultural immersion in Palenque, and even the unforgettable mud volcano experience. The drivers, particularly Carlos, Emerson, and Jose, were not only professional but helped me practice my Spanish and made the long drives enjoyable. Every aspect of the trip exceeded my expectations, and I'm already planning my return visit next year. This company truly knows how to create magical travel experiences in Colombia! Many thanks to Michael especially, who worked tirelessly to make this one of my best trips ever! He really went above and beyond for months with me as we went through and tweaked my itinerary and made changes and additions. He and the team were also there every step of the way when I ran into problems (my first hotel was not able to host me, and another hotel had no water for 3 days!) It is at times like these when you really appreciate Michael and the folks at Kimkim/Chaska stepping in and advocating for you. It would not have been as wonderful a trip without Michael and all his expertise with planning. 11 out of 10 stars! :)

Hotel Reviews

Hotel De La Opera

Bogotá

I love this hotel just sadly did not get to stay there because of plumbing issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Loved this hotel! So peaceful and quiet. Great staff and food, great services, amazing pool. Very clean (despite the 3 cockroaches I found!)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Despite having no water most of the week, I still loved this hotel. :) Great staff, and the first 3 nights I had a beautiful room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fragata Island House

I really loved especially my lighthouse room at the Fragata house. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santa Marta City Tour

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Museums Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monserrate Hill Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to San Basilio de Palenque

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tayronaka Natural Reserve

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nueva Venecia and the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (On the Way to Cartagena)

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the National Aviary of Colombia

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

My only negative comment would be that it's swarmed with people begging to make money off of your experience. I did not need to pay someone to take my picture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour exceeded our high expectations. We had seen a small slice of Colombia on a prior trip and were eager to see more.

The country is so beautiful and the Chaska Team and their tour guides and drivers provided a wonderful experience with lifetime memories . Arrangements practices and drivers and guides routinely waiting for us.

Great activities and sights. Tour guides had great knowledge and were attentive and helpful. The kimkim/Chaska Team was a pleasure to work with during the planning period and delivered on the plan.

Well done!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel y Spa Getsemani

Villa de Leyva

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Misión Santa Bárbara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

Good location andjace t to Old Town. Modern and nice restaurant. Great rooftop pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Hotel Bucaramanga

Bucaramanga

Superb world class new hotel adjacent t to an amazing shopping mall with some great stores and good restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero

Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira

Colombia

Amazing to see. What a creation 400 feet below the surface. And so expansive and grand, that there is no feeling of claustrophobia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour of Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva

Tour to Ráquira pottery town & La Candelaria Monastery

Villa de Leyva

Wonderful experience with the lead priest who shared deep knowledge of history and traditions with a wry smile and sense of humor. Ráquira has what must be the world’s largest pottery shop with an amazing diversity of items.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide Manuel had to chastise the driver for starting g out like a race car driver on the typically twisty mountain roads. After that he was fine.

Barichara Walking Tour

Barichara

Our guide Oscar seemed to know everyone in Town and knew just where to take us on an abbreviated tour due to a late arrival because of weather issues on roads.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Chicamocha Park

Colombia

Fun to hike to the view at the top and see the sculpture paying tribute to peasant heroes of the revolution to establish independence. Cable car ride to the bottom of one of the world’s deepest canyons was a thrill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Smooth driving on a crazy road with twists and turns and sheer cliffs.

Charming Villages and Special Coffees

Colombia

Great scenery coupled with understanding and appreciation great coffee snd the challenges in producing it.

Quality of Experience

Packed a lot of fun and I for stop. And scenery in one day.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The he Jeep visit on narrow roads to remote villages with incredible views and quaint towns.

Visit of Cocora Valley, Filandia & Salento

Salento

East see why Disney filmed scenes for e Encanto here in this other world setting. What lush growth and scenery with the world’s tallest palms . Nice ecological success story.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport