Olman Romero

The perfect honeymoon.

My wife and I just recently arrived back from our amazing honeymoon in Costa Rica. We have never heard of KimKim before, and it was something we stumbled upon as we looked for ideas for our honeymoon. Costa Rica was the perfect destination, as it had plenty of adventure as well as the relaxation we needed. So we reached out with some ideas and we were paired with Olman, one of the local specialists for Costa Rica.

Everything, from hotels, shuttles between... read more

The perfect honeymoon.

My wife and I just recently arrived back from our amazing honeymoon in Costa Rica. We have never heard of KimKim before, and it was something we stumbled upon as we looked for ideas for our honeymoon. Costa Rica was the perfect destination, as it had plenty of adventure as well as the relaxation we needed. So we reached out with some ideas and we were paired with Olman, one of the local specialists for Costa Rica.

Everything, from hotels, shuttles between destinations, and the activities planned were just amazing and beautiful. Olman did an astounding job planning it all and was able to answer all our questions in a timely manner.

We cannot wait to book another trip to Costa Rica! Thank you so much for the best experience we could ever ask for.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The Hotel Bosque Del Mar in Playa Hermosa was our last stop on our honeymoon. Nestled in trees, right on the beach, it was the perfect last stop for us for some relaxation we needed from all the activities we did prior during our honeymoon. We stayed in our water front room, which was worth the splurge. The staff was very accommodating, helping us book additional activities they offered as well as any questions we had during our stay. We would highly recommend a stay here if you are in the area or looking for a nice beach to relax on.

Tips for future travelers

Book the waterfront room and Palo Verde Boat tour through the hotel, it was an amazing experience!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very clean, house keeping would come once a day and make everything look nice and neat again.

Staff

The staff were very nice, genuine, and helpful during our staying. They always asked how we were doing and if there was anything they could help us with.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the beach, any room is steps away.

Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel & Hot Springs

Liberia

Overall Rating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Activity Reviews

Night Tour at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Rincon de la Vieja National Park Hike & Oropendula Waterfall

Rincon de la Vieja

Overall Rating

Activity Review

We had a private guided hike in the national park and to the Oropendula waterfall. Our guide was amazing, and he could easily spot animals and plants we would have never noticed if we just hiked it ourselves.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The best hike on our trip. The views of the volcano are amazing. Our private guided hike included lunch as well and our guide was awesome. Very knowledgeable about the hike, the volcano, and all the animals you could see during the hike.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Monteverde Hanging Bridges + Zip Lining

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The kilometer long zip line at the end was such a rush! The hanging bridges were so cool to walk on and you got the best sights of the cloud forest. This was the only hike that was not guided and we did on our own.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Catamaran Sailing Tour & Snorkeling

Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This tour was so much fun! Food and drinks are included and they take you to a great spot to snorkel and see some of the beautiful fish! We even met another couple who were married on the same day as us and were also on their honeymoon. Overall a great experience and we would highly recommend taking this tour!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Trip was amazing. However, I was a little disappointed not to have gotten to meet Olman in person. He was very responsive to any questions and solved any issues immediately. He was absolutely correct about only needing one night in Jan Jose. I was a little worried about not having air conditioning in Tortuguero but it was no issue and we slept well. All of the meals provided were excellent. Most of the transportation was private - quite a luxury.
I think the one suggestion I might have is... read more

Trip was amazing. However, I was a little disappointed not to have gotten to meet Olman in person. He was very responsive to any questions and solved any issues immediately. He was absolutely correct about only needing one night in Jan Jose. I was a little worried about not having air conditioning in Tortuguero but it was no issue and we slept well. All of the meals provided were excellent. Most of the transportation was private - quite a luxury.
I think the one suggestion I might have is that the hiking around the Arenal Volcano was a little more exertional then described. My 75 year old husband struggled keeping up and it made us late for the hot springs that evening.
I ended up testing positive for Covid at the end of our trip in Tamarindo - what a beautiful place to be stuck! Olman once again assisted us as much as possible with getting testing and letters from the Minister of Health so that we could return to the US. He also assisted with making sure we had transportation back to the airport. The resort had one of the best breakfast buffets - beautifully located that I have ever been to. They were very accommodating delivering my breakfast every day while quarantining. The pools - the beach - just beautiful.

The easiest trip I ever booked.
My original trip to Japan was canceled at the last moment (with another travel company) because Japan is still closed to tourists, and I really wanted to get away from work for a few days. It was so last minute, so I didn't think it would be possible. Luckily, I found Kimkim and they were incredibly easy to work with. After booking everything, I actually didn't think that I was done, I figured it would be more complicated, but it was soooo fast and easy to... read more

The easiest trip I ever booked.
My original trip to Japan was canceled at the last moment (with another travel company) because Japan is still closed to tourists, and I really wanted to get away from work for a few days. It was so last minute, so I didn't think it would be possible. Luckily, I found Kimkim and they were incredibly easy to work with. After booking everything, I actually didn't think that I was done, I figured it would be more complicated, but it was soooo fast and easy to book.
They really included all the things I loved. I would 100% recommend this for anyone that wants to travel but doesn't want to hassle researching transportation, hotels, etc.

From the beginning, Olman listened to our wishes for the trip and worked hard to make our experience a memorable one. There were a few minor issues that were quickly resolved. While we were in Costa Rica, Olman was very responsive to questions we had. The excursions he arranged were great. We especially liked the ziplines in Monteverde. The hot springs of All the accomodations were first rate and contributed to our overall experience of Costa Rica. Would definitely use KimKim again. read more

From the beginning, Olman listened to our wishes for the trip and worked hard to make our experience a memorable one. There were a few minor issues that were quickly resolved. While we were in Costa Rica, Olman was very responsive to questions we had. The excursions he arranged were great. We especially liked the ziplines in Monteverde. The hot springs of All the accomodations were first rate and contributed to our overall experience of Costa Rica. Would definitely use KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Overall Rating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Phenomenal property, would like a little more variety in the breakfast buffet, but the food was good. Loved all the hot pools!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel Koora at Monteverde

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The staff at Koora was second to none. From the moment arrived, they called us by name and made sure we were cared for. The food was great, view was exceptional. The room was like living in a treehouse.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

The staff were exceptional, everyone we encountered was top notch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing view from the restaurant

Espadilla Ocean Club

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The villa had a Bohemian feel, not like a regular hotel. The outside shower and toilet were unexpected, but we adjusted. The beds were not comfortable. The parking was bad, just not enough space for 4 cars. The place was hard to find.

Tips for future travelers

Be sure to get clear directions before going

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds were uncomfortable

Staff

not many of the staff spoke English, so it was difficult to get information from them

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a further walk to the beach than shown in the villa information, had to wade through water to get to the beach, it would be better to have a walkway that goes over the water

Activity Reviews

Monteverde Hanging Bridges + Zip Lining

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Great experience! All the guides were helpful, they paid great attention to detail and safety

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Danny was our guide and took a lot of time to help us to view the animals of the park. It was not a strenuous hike and we had time to enjoy the beach.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Danny was excellent

Quality of Experience

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Interesting to learn about chocolate and coffee, got to make our own chocolate

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Elaina, our guide was amazing, a wealth of information. She clearly loves her job and is very enthusiastic. Miguel was our driver and Juan drove the boat. All were kind, helpful and made sure we enjoyed our visit.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The hot springs were amazing. Beautiful and relaxing. They could have used more help at the bar. There was only 1 bartender, to his credit, he worked quickly and stayed focused. The buffet meal was delicious.

Food

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This is the only experience that we didn't like. It was not what we expected. We saw more of the amimals on the hike than on the boat tour. The breakfast was not good. The food was cold and seemed to be more of an afterthought.

Food

would like to have a made to order breakfast, our food was sitting on the table when we arrived and was not hot.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

First of all, our many many thanks to Olman for organizing our trip and looking after us along the way when we had any inquiries!!!

We enjoyed Costa Rica thoroughly in spite of a lot of driving, we had time to rest and discover each area we went to.
I would highly recommend Tifakara Boutique Hotel as the room and staff were lovely and the chef outstanding! We wouldn't recommend the El Establo Mountain Hotel. Although the grounds are beautiful, the rooms had paper thin walls and... read more

First of all, our many many thanks to Olman for organizing our trip and looking after us along the way when we had any inquiries!!!

We enjoyed Costa Rica thoroughly in spite of a lot of driving, we had time to rest and discover each area we went to.
I would highly recommend Tifakara Boutique Hotel as the room and staff were lovely and the chef outstanding! We wouldn't recommend the El Establo Mountain Hotel. Although the grounds are beautiful, the rooms had paper thin walls and every word, whisper, movement could be heard day and night.
In addition we especially enjoyed Monteverde - and the Hanging Bridges and Ziplining in Selvatura Park as well as the lovely Nammbu Bungalows. I would recommend a great Argentinian restaurant only a 200 meter walk from there. We enjoyed the cocktails by the pool, but were disappointed inthe dinner in their dining room.

We will definitely use Kim kim again!

Hotel Review

Tifakara Boutique Hotel & Birding Oasis

La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Great room, with a feeling of being right in the middle of a forest, outstanding staff and chef. We also enjoyed a free night walk to view colorful frogs on the premises! Well located - away from crowds but easy driving access to all around.

Tips for future travelers

Enjoy!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't ask for more

Staff

Coffee machine, balcony, surroundings

Authenticity & Character

Very friendly and accommodating staff

Location

close to all by car but away from crowds, walking distance to waterfall

Activity Review

Wildlife Boat Tour in Tortuguero

Tortuguero

Overall Rating

Activity Review

It's a longish drive, there from San Jose, so I would consider 2 nights rather than one - or not doing this tour the morning after a flight... But is was worthwhile. It was also amazing that KimKim arranged to have our car rental from a drop off spot so we didn't have to back track to San HOse just carry on travelling from there.

Transport

All connections were quite well timed, just a wait for bus at port on way back

Guides, drivers and staff

On time

Quality of Experience

Hotel was fine and everything went smoothly

Our trip was absolutely lovely. Olman did a great job of working with us during the planning process. He listened to our needs and found just the right properties. We did not get a final itinerary until 36 hours before we left. I am not used to such a short timeline. I have used KimKim before and have gotten our final itinerary at least a week in advance. It made me very nervous and did not allow me to look at the day trips to know what to pack etc. Makanda by the Sea (which Olman had highly... read more

Our trip was absolutely lovely. Olman did a great job of working with us during the planning process. He listened to our needs and found just the right properties. We did not get a final itinerary until 36 hours before we left. I am not used to such a short timeline. I have used KimKim before and have gotten our final itinerary at least a week in advance. It made me very nervous and did not allow me to look at the day trips to know what to pack etc. Makanda by the Sea (which Olman had highly recommended) was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. My son had the most spectacular room, all glass looking over the Pacific Ocean with monkeys and sloths traveling bye all day. The pool was blissful! The Lost Iguana was very nice but paled in comparison to Makanda. Olman did a great job and we had a great time.

Hotel Reviews

Lost Iguana Resort and Spa

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The hotel is on beautiful grounds. The pool is lovely with a heated part that is a swim up bar. The swim up bar was over run with kids on our second day. The lighting in my son's room was very odd. Just one dim overhead light and a tiny LED by his bed with n o windows to speak of. Fortunately the amazing outdoor shower made up for it. The view from our suite was spectacular. The food was fine.

Location

It was very secluded which was nice but a little far for in town dining.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The outdoor shower was spectacular. The lighting in the rooms could definitely be improved upon.

Staff

We didn't have much interaction. But the ones we met were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds were beautiful

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at. The pool was beautiful with a spectacular view. The staff were extraordinary. The food at the restaurant was delicious. We enjoyed the private beach. There were more animals around the pool than we saw anywhere else during our entire trip (monkeys, iguanas, sloths, toucans, macaws). Whatever we wanted all we had to do was ask. Our villa was absolutely breathtaking. My son's room was a glass cube with an amazing view of the pacific and sloths and monkeys swinging by all day.

Tips for future travelers

Don't hesitate.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Reviews

Arenal 1968 Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

We al learned a lot. The view form the top was spectacular.

Food

Loved the local restaurant that we went to. It had authentic Costa Rican fare.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Zip Lining in Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The zip lines were very cool and fast. We had a great time. We would have liked to learn a bit more about the animals and area from the guides.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

It would have been nice if they would have told us more about the animals and rainforest.

Quality of Experience

Kim Kim did everything right and fixed things that needed fixing. I am using them again for my trip to France. They just do it all and then you don't have to worry. I don't think I could have put things together myself. It is so seamless when they do it. It is worth every penny! read more

Kim Kim did everything right and fixed things that needed fixing. I am using them again for my trip to France. They just do it all and then you don't have to worry. I don't think I could have put things together myself. It is so seamless when they do it. It is worth every penny!

Hotel Review

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The Hotel was lovely but San Jose is a rough city. The hotel is across from a nice museum and other is a HUGE park that my husband found for walking , running, biking and all activities. We had to be in San Jose to pick my son up at the airport.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

NIcely appointed

Activity Review

Night Tour: Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Loved it. Just interesting

When my wife and I started our search for a travel agent for Costa Rica, we specifically looked for agents based in Costa Rica to ensure we would have the best experience possible, and I am extremely grateful we found Olman and Kimkim!! Olman was friendly, knowledgeable, and very responsive!!! Prior to the trip,( “the planning/booking everything” stage) Olman was great about booking the best tours in each of our destinations, whether it was the canyoning in Arenal, the zip lining and Don Juan... read more

When my wife and I started our search for a travel agent for Costa Rica, we specifically looked for agents based in Costa Rica to ensure we would have the best experience possible, and I am extremely grateful we found Olman and Kimkim!! Olman was friendly, knowledgeable, and very responsive!!! Prior to the trip,( “the planning/booking everything” stage) Olman was great about booking the best tours in each of our destinations, whether it was the canyoning in Arenal, the zip lining and Don Juan coffee tour in Monteverde, or the nature walk in Manuel Antonio! While planning we hit a few snags and Olman presented us with options to make sure we were getting the best experience!! He kept in touch and answered all of the questions we asked! He made this stage painless and made us feel like we could relax as he booked everything from transportation and hotels to the excursions!! During the trip he could be reached at any time and was quick to respond if any issues arose!! He communicated and set up our Covid test and accommodated any unforeseen changes!! He was truly great and our 17-day Honeymoon was fantastic!!
Now a little more detail about our trip:
The Hotels: (Caveat, we chose most of these hotels, so these were not Olman or Kimkim’s fault, we just want to provide feedback for future travelers)
Park Inn by radisson in San Jose- was modern and clean. We would give it a 4/5.
Arenal Manoa in Arenal/La Fortuna-(our absolute favorite) was authentic, friendly, delicious food, absolutely stunning views, great pool, great spa, great service, just all around great and set our tone for the whole trip! (Beds were uncomfortable:beside that it was amazing) we give this hotel a 5/5!
Noah’s Forest in Arenal/La Fortuna- has the makings of a great hotel but the construction, broken pool, and meh food really took away from the experience…though the rooms were very nice—-they were modern, clean, and the bed were fantastic!! Every other hotel we stayed at had sucky beds, but these were great! We give This hotel 4/5
Poco a Poco Hotel in Monteverde- this hotel was not good…it was over hyped and we would definitely not recommend it. The hotel is beautiful and has the framework to be great, but the beds were uncomfortable, there was no privacy, it was very noisy, and the food mediocre at best. This hotel gets a 1/5.
La Mariposa Hotel in Manuel Antonio- This place has unparalleled views! We stayed in the full ocean view room and it was amazing! The views from our balcony were amazing, complete 180 degree view of the ocean and surrounding greenery/beaches! Amazing sunsets from our balcony as well! They have an incredible infinity pool with amazing views of the ocean and sunset! We had white face capuchin monkeys on our balcony and around the hotel, and each night at sunset we saw mated macaws fly overhead and land in nearby trees! It was amazing! The beds were horrid but the rest was great!!
Our absolute favorite experiences were:
Canyoning with Pure Trek in Arenal! This was absolutely incredible and extremely safe!!! Would 10 out of 10 recommended!! (We terrified of heights and we seriously LOVED this!)
Zip lining at Selventura Adventure Park in Monteverde: this was also incredible!! Very safe and best part is there stopping system which is WAY more gentle than any other zip lining I’ve ever done!
Our other top tours:
La Paz waterfall and Gardens
Horseback riding with Esteban to La Fortuna waterfall (absolutely worth the 500 stairs!)
Celeste River and Tenorio Volcano guided tour! Our guide went above and beyond in every way! After the hike he took us to a family owned restaurant,Posada River Celeste! It was absolutely incredible and we are kicking ourselves for forgetting his name because he was fantastic!
White water rafting with Jimmy(costa rica descents) was very fun and everyone was very friendly!
The coffee and chocolate tour in Monteverde was awesome! Very informative, delicious, and was able to meet Don Juan himself!! This organic family owned farm was well worth the visit!!!
All in all Costa Rica was amazing and was extremely welcoming!!! It had everything relaxation, beauty, and adventure!! We are definitely coming back and will definitely be booking with Olman and Kimkim again!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Overrated—-noisy, no privacy, bad massage, bad food…good location.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were not good, but it was clean

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Modern, clean, beds were comfy enough, hot water was good, food was good. Not a lot of character.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Amazing views, authentic, genuine, great services, extra friendly and helpful, great spa, great pool, just all around amazing! Beds were not comfy but the rest seriously outweighed it!

Location

The views

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, beds not good

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Reviews

San José to Arenal with visit to La Paz Waterfall

Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Activity Review

We were able to see a lot of animals and saw beautiful waterfalls!! (Macaws, parrots, ocelot, snakes, puma, jaguar)

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Great hike! Saw a yellow pit viper, it was a baby, toucans, great volcano views, leaf cutter ants, and lava rock fields! The hot springs were awesome! Just wish we would’ve had more time!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was awesome! Not the boring trail horses you imagine! These horses had spirit and we were able to trot! The waterfall was absolutely stunning and you can swim there!!! The fresh pineapple afterwards was awesome!!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Celeste River and Tenorio National Park Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was a beautiful tour!! Hard to explain the river beauty!! Our guide was incredible and went above and beyond! Went to a family owned restaurant called Posada River Celeste! Delicious food!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Canyoning Adventure in Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was our favorite excursion! We both are terrified of heights and psyched ourselves out, but we are SOOO GLAD we did this!! It was incredible! It was also super safe! They have guides at the top and bottom to take control of anything we’re to go wrong!! Do this! So worth it!!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was relaxing and exciting!! Great fresh fruit and awesome farm tour afterwards! Loved the food!

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Monteverde Hanging Bridges + Zip Lining

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The zip lining was so fun!! Very safe and the stopping was way more gentle than any other zip lining I’ve ever done! We got to do two lines together which I had never done and was truly awesome! The bridges were very cool too!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Great coffee and chocolate!! Very informative! Great guide!! Was able to meet Don Juan! Love that it is a small family owned, non touristy tour!!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

It was absolutly perfect experience from the moment of planning the trip till the last day. Planning, thanks to Olman, was a smooth process and within a week we adjusted all hotels and activities. We travel a lot, but for the first timne all hotels were perfect-good value for money. When in Costarica we were still ocasionally in contact with Olman or local agency and they were very responsive. Once again we would like to thank Olman and Kimkim for fantastic vacations read more

It was absolutly perfect experience from the moment of planning the trip till the last day. Planning, thanks to Olman, was a smooth process and within a week we adjusted all hotels and activities. We travel a lot, but for the first timne all hotels were perfect-good value for money. When in Costarica we were still ocasionally in contact with Olman or local agency and they were very responsive. Once again we would like to thank Olman and Kimkim for fantastic vacations

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Overall Rating

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Reviews

San Jose to Tortuguero - Manatus

Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica!! Olman really understood what we were looking from not only with the various excursions he helped us book, but for the hotels we stayed in as well - right up our alley! Olman took care of everything we needed and ensured we had a great experience. The only negative was that I wished the itinerary listed out which tour company was picking us up from the hotel for the excursions so we knew who to look out for and/or call to check in on status read more

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica!! Olman really understood what we were looking from not only with the various excursions he helped us book, but for the hotels we stayed in as well - right up our alley! Olman took care of everything we needed and ensured we had a great experience. The only negative was that I wished the itinerary listed out which tour company was picking us up from the hotel for the excursions so we knew who to look out for and/or call to check in on status

We had a wonderful trip organized by Olman, who was always there to answer any question. Olman organized beautiful hotels and great activities for us to discover the country. The highlights of our trip were our transfer to Tortugueros with Jonathan, who stopped to show us a sloth on an electric pole, and told us about the banana plantations - I'll never look at a banana the same way! White water rafting with Orlando was amazing. I recommend doing a night walk as well, you get to see sleeping... read more

We had a wonderful trip organized by Olman, who was always there to answer any question. Olman organized beautiful hotels and great activities for us to discover the country. The highlights of our trip were our transfer to Tortugueros with Jonathan, who stopped to show us a sloth on an electric pole, and told us about the banana plantations - I'll never look at a banana the same way! White water rafting with Orlando was amazing. I recommend doing a night walk as well, you get to see sleeping and nocturnal animals, for example a scorpion that shines in black light. In Manuel Antonio, we saw a mother and baby humpback whale on the catamaran tour. The fresh tropical fruit is so tasty! It was a wonderful trip, I highly recommend booking here!

Olman went beyond the scope of his duties to help us have the best trip possible. Also, so responsive and friendly. You can tell that he really enjoys helping people and wants the best for you. He also checked in on us during the trip which I've never experienced with any other agency. read more

Olman went beyond the scope of his duties to help us have the best trip possible. Also, so responsive and friendly. You can tell that he really enjoys helping people and wants the best for you. He also checked in on us during the trip which I've never experienced with any other agency.

Hotel Review

Tifakara Boutique Hotel & Birding Oasis

La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

We loved everything about this place, especially Fernando and Daniella and the kitchen staff. It was quaint, clean, had a lovely little night tour where we saw a ton of frogs (including the poison dart frog), nice breakfast, outdoor shower which was covered so no debris was in there. Saw birds and monkeys outside our room. Walked up the street to the waterfall attraction. Our favorite spot out of the 4 places we stayed in and would definitely go back.

Tips for future travelers

Don't think twice about this place. It's a must-stay kinda place.

Location

Walking distance to waterfall. Free night time tour on premises.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Felt like new

Staff

The sweetest staff we met over our 2 weeks in the country.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic food, local decor, locals working there.

Activity Review

Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

On time, friendly tour guide.

Food

Buffet

Transport

Flexible to our schedule

Guides, drivers and staff

Friendly

Quality of Experience

Ease, accomodating tourguide - we wanted to leave earlier and they made arrangements,

My husband and I enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica very much! We originally scheduled the trip pre-covid and were able to reschedule the trip with Olman when we were ready. Olman was kind, patience and accommodating. His guidance and recommendations were exactly what we were looking for. Thanks Olman! When we plan on another trip to Costa Rica, we will definitely be working with Olman again. read more

My husband and I enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica very much! We originally scheduled the trip pre-covid and were able to reschedule the trip with Olman when we were ready. Olman was kind, patience and accommodating. His guidance and recommendations were exactly what we were looking for. Thanks Olman! When we plan on another trip to Costa Rica, we will definitely be working with Olman again.

Hotel Review

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

The Tabacon resort and spa was the perfect escape for my husband and I. We enjoyed our luxurious suite, spa and thermal hot springs.

Tips for future travelers

No

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was such an amazing experience. We had Ray as our guide and he was such a cool guy with an eye and ear for all things in the jungle. He showed us a lot of wild life and made the hike interesting and fun. The hanging bridges were really cool and the zip lining adventure was a heart-racing, memorable experience. My favorite one was the second to the last zip line which was 1/2 a mile long with beautiful views of the landscape and lake. Highly recommend!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Overall this was a very good trip. Two of the three hotels were extraordinary with excellent meals and service. Costa Rican people are very friendly and helpful. Our only disappointment was that wildlife viewing was very difficult to get good photos. We took several nature tours and all offered much of the same with little chance of capturing good photographs. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and group size was small. There were many good restaurants in every place we visited. We... read more

Overall this was a very good trip. Two of the three hotels were extraordinary with excellent meals and service. Costa Rican people are very friendly and helpful. Our only disappointment was that wildlife viewing was very difficult to get good photos. We took several nature tours and all offered much of the same with little chance of capturing good photographs. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and group size was small. There were many good restaurants in every place we visited. We had no interaction with our local specialist Olman during the week. The schedule he planned for us went very smoothly and almost all the local contacts and transportation services were punctual.

Hotel Review

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Location

Too far from La Fortuna

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Activity Review

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Great views of volcano and interesting geology. Slightly difficult hike but very enjoyable. Guide was very knowledgeable and attentive.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Everything was truly great. Only issue we had was the reservation for the ride back to the airport. Our car came at 8AM when it probably should have come at 10. We were sitting at the airport for 5 hours.

Everything was fantastic! Olman did an incredible job answering all my questions about places to stay and excursions to take. Every detail was planned and made the trip stress free. We had an incredible room at each of our destinations and I would credit Olman in making that happen. I highly recommend using KimKim. It made traveling to a country we weren't familiar with very easy and comfortable. We are very pleased with everything!! read more

Everything was fantastic! Olman did an incredible job answering all my questions about places to stay and excursions to take. Every detail was planned and made the trip stress free. We had an incredible room at each of our destinations and I would credit Olman in making that happen. I highly recommend using KimKim. It made traveling to a country we weren't familiar with very easy and comfortable. We are very pleased with everything!!

Hotel Reviews

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

super convenient airport shuttle! perfect place to stay for quick layover before our adventure. The hotel was very clean and breakfast was perfect

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

This place is absolutely magical!! We truly enjoyed everything about this hotel except for the lack of water pressure in the shower. That was disappointing, but it by no means ruined our trip. The robes to walk around in were a very nice touch. The restaurants on site were really good and the signature drinks were fun to try. Shang ri La Gardens- the adult section for hotel guests only was incredible. We spent a very large amount of time there. We loved the server Adrianna. She was fantastic. The little cabanas to rest in were perfect. It was so quiet and calming. Incredible!!

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

What a view! This hotel was amazing and had the best views in the area. The food was great and the customer service at the pool bar and the restaurant were top notch. We were very pleased and would definitely return to La Mariposa without hesitation. It was the perfect location to get around the area and walking distance to so many restaurants and shops. The free shuttle to and from Manuel Antonio was convenient, and the city bus was great too! We enjoyed our room and the panoramic views it provided us. Every afternoon after our excursions we looked forward to relaxing by the pool for a few hours then up to our room to watch the sunset. Amazing!! Photos don't do this place justice. Andres and Harvy at the pool bar were very attentive and Christian at La Papillion Restaurant went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. Thank you so much for the outstanding customer service!!

Tips for future travelers

Just relax and chose this place. You will not be disappointed at all!!

Location

perfect! we could walk to at least 10 different restaurants and the city bus was so easy and clean to use

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and extremely comfortable, especially the padded sun loungers by the pool under the canopyt

Staff

everyone was so nice and attentive

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully manicured and very clean

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling Tour

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The boat was very spacious and clean. There were 2 waterslides that some enjoyed. Our captain even spotted some whales so we were able to see 2 whales on our sail. That was a pleasant surprise. The lunch they served was phenominal! The food was very good and they served plenty of it.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The guys were so friendly and enthusiastic! I felt safe the whole time in the water and the hike to the waterfall was really nice. We even enjoyed the open air truck ride up to the river. Awesome experience on my 40th birthday!

Food

the restaurant we stopped at for lunch was delicious and the food was nearly ready for us when we got there. The company calls ahead to put our order in. That is a great way to be mindful of time.

Transport

loved the open air truck ride

Guides, drivers and staff

very friendly and enthusiastic

Quality of Experience

great time!

Arenal - San Jose - Visit La Paz Waterfall

Costa Rica

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Absolutely stunning! We couldn't believe how beautiful this park was. The falls, hummingbirds, and landscape was incredible. It was so peaceful.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was a wonderful boat ride and a very relaxing. The hike down to the boat ride was also very nice! We saw some birds and a sloth on the hike.

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

We had a great time! The hanging bridges were so fun! The hike through the rainforest was beautiful! Our guide showed us 4 different poisonous snakes on the way. Super cool! We went for a nice authentic Costa Rican lunch after were was fabulous as well.

Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Surf Lesson

Manuel Antonio

Overall Rating

Activity Review

We had a great time learning to surf! The guys were very patient with me and my inability to figure it out! lol! My husband had a blast and I gave up after about an hour, but that was just fine for me. I sat in a lounge chair and enjoyed a wonderful passionfruit margarita in the shade that was provided by the surf club. No worries;) Pura Vida

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

In Arenal/Fortuna we took a Traditional Cooking Class at the Arenal Vida Campesina, a family-owned organic farm, where we learned to cook "verduras salteadas con pasta de achiote" over a wood-fire stove. We hiked (Canoa Aventura) and rafted (Costa Rica Descents) at the Arenal Volcano and la Fortuna Falls. The Tabacon hot springs with dinner was an amazing, relaxing experience.

Ziplined and hiked the Cloud Forest hanging bridges; and took a Night Walk (Selvatura Adventure Park) in Monteverde.... read more

In Arenal/Fortuna we took a Traditional Cooking Class at the Arenal Vida Campesina, a family-owned organic farm, where we learned to cook "verduras salteadas con pasta de achiote" over a wood-fire stove. We hiked (Canoa Aventura) and rafted (Costa Rica Descents) at the Arenal Volcano and la Fortuna Falls. The Tabacon hot springs with dinner was an amazing, relaxing experience.

Ziplined and hiked the Cloud Forest hanging bridges; and took a Night Walk (Selvatura Adventure Park) in Monteverde. On the trip from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, we took a detour to the Jungle Crocodile Safari (Jose's Crocodile Safari & Bird Watching Tour) a must see, along the Tarcoles River.

We spent our last few days in Manuel Antonio, where we were awakened in the morning with the roars of the howler monkeys. What a story to tell!

In addition to our need for adventure, my son and I wanted some relaxation time, so we stayed at resorts: Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs; El Establo; La Mariposa; and Park Inn San Jose Hotel (1 night). All provided excellent accommodations, service, and restaurants. Breakfasts were included at all accommodations. The Arenal Manoa is a couple of miles from the town on a highway, so no hiking into town. Did not feel we missed anything as our excursions usually included lunch and/or dinner. The Establo hotel is located on a hill, so hotel transport is provided to/from the rooms to the reception/breakfast areas. There was a small glitch in our reservation for the La Mariposa, however, the front desk staff accommodated us with cocktails, while we waited. In addition, they arranged for us to have an in-room COVID test prior to checking out. A shout-out to the front desk clerk at the Park Inn San Jose Hotel, who took it upon herself to provide us a take-away breakfast snack as we were leaving at 5:00am the following morning.

Two changes I would make to our trip: (1) the transfer from Manuel Antonio was a 6.5 hr. drive, which meant we did not arrive into San Jose until almost 8:00 pm. (2) Manuel Antonio is known for the howler monkeys, I think I would have liked to have stayed in one of the cabanas at the Howler Monkey Hotel, near the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.

Hotel Review

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

Great staff, great food, great service, and amazing massages.

Tips for future travelers

We booked a lot of excursions so we were content to be away from town. If someone is planning to spend time in town, they might want to be closer or have access to a car.

Location

Loved that we were in a rain forest with a view of the Arenal Volcano. Great way to start our adventure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean upon entry; rooms were spacious.

Staff

Service at the restaurant was excellent; as well as, the massage therapists.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is located in a tropical forest with a variety of birds and wildlife . We had a celebration dinner at the restaurant, which was 5-star presentation and taste.

Activity Review

Monteverde Hanging Bridges + Zip Lining

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Activity Review

The ziplining crew was amazing. They provided constant support and encouragement for everyone in the group; and they were constantly mindful of creating a positive fun experience.

Transport

Equipment was well-maintained and secure.

Guides, drivers and staff

Knowledgeable and professional on every level.

Quality of Experience

1st timer and I am looking forward to trying this again.

We had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica planned by Olman (through KimKim). From start to finish the whole experience was easy and seamless. Olman was extremely responsive to our requests during our planning and made every modification that we requested. When we were on our trip, every reservation was waiting for us without any issues. KimKim and Olman made this trip absolutely stress-free for us.

First, our driver Roy. We decided to use a driver for our trip so that we didn't have to deal... read more

We had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica planned by Olman (through KimKim). From start to finish the whole experience was easy and seamless. Olman was extremely responsive to our requests during our planning and made every modification that we requested. When we were on our trip, every reservation was waiting for us without any issues. KimKim and Olman made this trip absolutely stress-free for us.

First, our driver Roy. We decided to use a driver for our trip so that we didn't have to deal with renting a car and navigating from city to city (3, 4, 5 hour drives), so we hired Roy as our driver and that was a GREAT decision. Roy was professional, easy-going, and SO FUN. He has a great personality and just made our trip so fun and effortless. Roy drove us everywhere and accompanied us on many of our day trips. He was part of our family for 10 days and we truly loved having him. He definitely gave us space to do our own thing, so even though he was with us a lot it was a good balance. I cannot recommend Roy highly enough - such a gem.

Stop 1: Manuel Antonio. The Parador Resort/Hotel was wonderful. It was a luxurious resort - great food, lovely staff, beautiful property and great rooms. It was a sure treat. Manuel Antonio itself was just okay in my opinion. We went on a sunset catamaran cruise and it was also only ok. It was very crowded, very loud and very party-like (not what we wanted). Overall, we felt that Manual Antonio was very touristy and busy, and after going to Arenal and Monteverde I'd put it last on my list of favorites. Glad we went there first...

We then drove from Manuel Antonio to Arenal (5 hour drive - while long, it's a lovely drive)

Arenal: We stayed at Las Lomas de Volcan Hotel for 4 nights. This is also a lovely property. Our family had our own cabana/room and it was very nice. The property itself was lovely and the hotel restaurant was delicious. The cabanas themselves are comfortable. While in Arenal we did horseback riding to the waterfall and white water rafting - both were very fun. We also spent a day volunteering at Proyecto Asis. My family loves animals so this was really fun for us. We also took a cooking class one evening and that was really fun. We made tortillas and ceviche (and they'd already cooked the rest of the food) but it was a great experience. We really enjoyed Arenal overall. There's a lot to do and it was all really enjoyable.

Monteverde: We stayed at Koora Hotel, which was hands down the most wonderful hotel I've ever stayed at. It is a boutique hotel with only 14 rooms and it was AMAZING. The service, the accommodations, the food, the view... everything was absolutely top-notch. This is not a resort so there's not a pool or other amenities so I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for families with young children. My kids are 12 and 15 and they loved it. We had a two-level family unit so it was extremely spacious and comfortable. It was a splurge for sure, but it was worth it. This hotel was a total highlight for us.

Monteverde was top of our list overall. The surroundings are beautiful and we just really enjoyed being there. We did ziplining and went to a sloth sanctuary - both were family favorites for us.

Overall, it was an absolutely amazing trip. My blood pressure stayed at a constant low level for 10 days so there you have it :)

Hotel Review

Hotel Koora at Monteverde

Monteverde

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

This hotel was hands down the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. This is not a resort (no pool, spa or other similar amenities). It's a boutique property with just 14 rooms and it is absolute paradise. From the second we walked in the door the staff was nothing short of amazing. They exude warmth and professionalism. The family unit we stayed in was so lovely. It had two levels (it's like a mini apartment) and it was just so comfortable, light-filled, and spacious. The food at the hotel was wonderful. The view was breathtaking. The service was impeccable. I cannot recommend this hotel enough.

Tips for future travelers

Do it! It's worth the extra money to stay here. It's a total treat.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Overall Rating

Activity Review

This was a really fun experience. The guides were excellent and really helped us out.

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

What an amazing vacation through kimkim! Right from airport pick up to drop off and everything I’m between we had the best experience at Costa Rica. The outfitters they arranged for the activities such as zip lining, canyoning & rafting were perfect. A special mention to Olman who was our advisor. He’s been nothing but awesome! We had some changes to itineraries, flight cancellations etc and he helped our group throughout!

Would Highly recommend kimkim for anyone looking for future trips!... read more

What an amazing vacation through kimkim! Right from airport pick up to drop off and everything I’m between we had the best experience at Costa Rica. The outfitters they arranged for the activities such as zip lining, canyoning & rafting were perfect. A special mention to Olman who was our advisor. He’s been nothing but awesome! We had some changes to itineraries, flight cancellations etc and he helped our group throughout!

Would Highly recommend kimkim for anyone looking for future trips!

Thanks
Tina

He was fantastic! Planned an amazing trip for us that kept us busy but also had some downtime to enjoy and relax. The selected tours were top notch and we highly recommend them to anyone looking to see the best of Costa Rica!

We really really enjoyed the trip that Olman set up for us! He listened to our needs and asks and executed everything so well!

Orlando, Alberto, Minor, Andres are just a few of the many great people/guides we met on our trip! Thank you so much to them.

Thank you kimkim and our guide Olman. We had a wonderful 10 days trip to Costa Rica. Our guide worked with us with in a very short period we had and planned any amazing vacation. We had the best hotels and best adventures. Just as we expected.

Every place we visited had its own special memories. The very first, Guachipelin, interesting as a working farm, complete with oxen team. We loved the freedom of walking to the beautiful waterfall onsite, made unforgettable partly because of the blue morpho flitting about!
Our driver Roy was very well spoken and knowledgeable, answering all our questions en route from Rincón de la Vieja to La Fortuna. Super food stop at Café y Macadamia.
Wildlife tours, especially the night one, were eye... read more

Every place we visited had its own special memories. The very first, Guachipelin, interesting as a working farm, complete with oxen team. We loved the freedom of walking to the beautiful waterfall onsite, made unforgettable partly because of the blue morpho flitting about!
Our driver Roy was very well spoken and knowledgeable, answering all our questions en route from Rincón de la Vieja to La Fortuna. Super food stop at Café y Macadamia.
Wildlife tours, especially the night one, were eye openers! Our night tour guide was so excited it was contagious. Finding a tiny hidden rufous-eyed green frog by its sound blew me away! The pit vipers were very cool too.
Canal Négra tour guide, Joe, was super keen and full of info.
Tabacón Hot Springs on a cool evening - heaven!
My personal fave was The Monteverdi Eco Lodge. We were offered a complimentary upgrade with a second floor balcony. Staff was super friendly and professional. Food was exceptionally fresh and tasty! The pool was beautiful and private and not busy at all during our stay.
Having a driver take us to and from La Fortuna made for a nice change of scenery and gave us lots of time to eat at Viquez Soda and walk around the town. ( check out the chocolate shop!)
The final five days at Tulemar and Manuel Antonio Park, were unforgettable! Beautiful gardens, old growth tree forest, hanging bridges, a glorious beach, and enough stairs and hills to get anyone in shape! Raúl, the concierge at our villa studio, was invaluable.
Almost forgot - The cooking class afternoon with Stephanie and our guide Henry, was great fun - and a whole new area for beautiful scenery!
Also, the coffee plantation tour with Andrès (at Don Juan)kept us engaged and laughing the whole while. Can he bring out the fun in everyone!
All in all,
Olman did a terrific job getting us prime accommodations in every location. The balance of tours, travel and chill time was good for us. Our first trip to Costa Rica! Hopefully not our last!
Many thanks to the Ticos and Ticas who made this trip so special!
PURA VIDA!

I just wanted a getaway with my son and told Olman that I was interested in natural attractions. Olman did an outstanding job right from responding to all my questions, to picking up from the airport, the local hotels, guides, attractions, food arrangements and last but not the least Covid testing services for us to fly back to USA. I have nothing but praise for the way the tour was organized. I’m a pure vegetarian and Olman took care of that and provided guides who could speak English all the way. Outstanding trip filled with memories. Thank you Olman

It was an incredibly amazing treat to visit Costa Rica – There are so many wonderful things to describe I am not sure where to begin. First of all Costa Rica is in Central America with coastlines on the Caribbean and the pacific ocean complete with volcanos, rain forests and most impressively, Cloud Forests! My camera could not capture the unique view of the cloud forest – I will try to describe it: totally lush forests on the mountainside with the clouds visible and the trees up above the... read more

It was an incredibly amazing treat to visit Costa Rica – There are so many wonderful things to describe I am not sure where to begin. First of all Costa Rica is in Central America with coastlines on the Caribbean and the pacific ocean complete with volcanos, rain forests and most impressively, Cloud Forests! My camera could not capture the unique view of the cloud forest – I will try to describe it: totally lush forests on the mountainside with the clouds visible and the trees up above the clouds! The air is thin because it is a high elevation. This is where the zip lining occurred. This is no ordinary zip line my friends! This is way up high and the lines are very long. I loved to hold on to the middle and turn around to look at the vastness of the cloud forest as I sped past. Again and again Zoila and I zip lined until there were no more lines

But woah! I am getting ahead of things!
We landed in San Jose and were picked up right on time and transported to our hotel. Early morning bus ride to the Caribbean coast to a village called Tortuguero; named because various sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand here.
We view the wildlife from the lagoons in the day time and at night I went out to the beach to view the giant greenback female turtle lay her eggs in the hole that she had dug and then she buried them with her back flippers. The poor girl was quite tired . We also saw a different turtle make her way back to the ocean; her tracks looking like a small tractor passed through. The next day back on the boat to traverse the lagoons – Lush is the only word that applies here if not totally peaceful and serene too.

W We stopped for lunch at this very picturesque stream.
I want to add that I tried new food and I did not have a bad meal once. The food is delicious! From this lovely place a van took us to the base of the Arenal Volcano where we stayed at the Casa Luna hotel and spa.

The volcano from our balcony at Casa Luna.

I am in the back of this raft on the right having a fabulous time!!

Jose was the captain of our raft and was tremendous! So much fun!

Continuing on – the next day I relaxed by the pool and swam laps while enjoying lunch poolside. Later we both had a really interesting chocolate and coffee tour of the Don Juan plantation We got to make our own flavored chocolate! That evening I pampered myself with an aroma therapy massage in the most sublime setting of one wall open to the lush plants with the sound of rain gently falling. Slept really well that night. Then we said fairwell to the volcano and the village of La Fortuna. Everyone was super warm and welcoming. Melvin, at the font desk was the best.

Another on-time transport to take us up to the Cloud Forest of Monteverde! Where I started my story.
An example of the lush path we walked between the zip lines

After the ziplining we visited the butterfly house and the habitat where they care for the sloths that they rescued. This is where I was able to obtain some photos you could actually see what they looked like instead of a bunch of leaves in the trees.

The fellow travelers I met along the way were also part of the benefits of this marvelous journey into Pura Vida – this is the saying heard everywhere which is loosely translated as live your best life and do not worry. Don’t worry be happy Here I was on a night walk with a young couple from Isreal. In Tortuguero a really fun couple from Barcelona. I saw birds and vipers, and spiders but my camera was quite lacking. The air was cool so my sweatshirt came in handy.
Beautiful final view of the cloud forest at breakfast and then we were picked up for the next destination: The pacific ocean and the Manual Antonio park. We were at a hotel where you could walk to the beach and the restaurant had a lovely view and the sound of the waves added to the ambiance. Andreana was my favorite waitress at this locale. I also swam in the ocean and their pool.

It is a very tough decision to decide what, out of all the truly wonderful things we did and saw, was the best, but I have to say it was the humpback whales! Zoila and I were picked up and taken to an office where we went out in the ocean waters and got on a boat to go out to see if we could possibly ee any view whales. And we did!! We saw a male, a female and her baby! Swimming together and surfacing near us then they would move away and surface a little ways out. We watched them for a very long time just transfixed with the sight – everyone yelling when we spyed them! Dylan our guide, was very informative about the whales, turtles, birds and the whole area.
Finally shopping at the marina in Quepos town prior to the transport back to San Jose to a totally modern hotel complete with room service. Then to the airport and home to Chicago. I wish everyone could experience the remarkable Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

We spent the first two weeks of August in Costa Rica. We organised the trip through the KimKim platform which connected us with Olman at the local Amazilia agency. Within a few hours of submitting our request, Olman provided a full program for our trip, across 14 days, 5 regions and 10+ activities. He also helped us with changing some of the hotels and experiences, based on the research we had done online. The KimKim platform was super easy to use, both in terms of the detailed information... read more

We spent the first two weeks of August in Costa Rica. We organised the trip through the KimKim platform which connected us with Olman at the local Amazilia agency. Within a few hours of submitting our request, Olman provided a full program for our trip, across 14 days, 5 regions and 10+ activities. He also helped us with changing some of the hotels and experiences, based on the research we had done online. The KimKim platform was super easy to use, both in terms of the detailed information of the trip, and a chat interface to communicate with the agency. Most of the activities booked were with high-end suppliers (there is a ton of choice for activities in Costa Rica, so it pays to have a local expert), with only one being sub-par (the trip to Irazu)

During the trip, Olman was there to help us at every inquiry, and was genuinely easy to work with and responsive within a couple of hours. There was a couple of miscommunication issues with the local activity suppliers, and they were resolved to our satisfaction both times.

One major area of improvement I suggest is for Olman / Amazilia to provide transparency regarding the activity supplier. In all cases, the supplier was listed as Amazilia, when in practice the activity was subcontracted to a local supplier. That meant we weren't able to research the activity supplier online (and choose a different one, as we did with hotels in some cases). It also meant that we couldn't identify the supplier in case there was a mixup, as there was such a case in the kayak tour in Tamarindo.

Overall, I would highly recommend the KimKim platform and Olman at the local Amazilia agency. We were able to organise a trip on very short notice (practically 2 weeks before), with local expert knowledge. Some transparency on the local activity suppliers used would have made it a 10/10.

I don’t usually use the word “amazing,” but my family and I recently returned from a two week trip in Costa Rica. From the beginning, Adriana and then Olman, were incredibly easy and accommodating to work with. This included having two young children go with us and later adding my parents to our already booked trip. As I said, the trip was two weeks and we went from Tortuguero to Arenal to Monte Verde to Playa Hermosa to San Jose. The trip that was put together for us allowed us to experience... read more

I don’t usually use the word “amazing,” but my family and I recently returned from a two week trip in Costa Rica. From the beginning, Adriana and then Olman, were incredibly easy and accommodating to work with. This included having two young children go with us and later adding my parents to our already booked trip. As I said, the trip was two weeks and we went from Tortuguero to Arenal to Monte Verde to Playa Hermosa to San Jose. The trip that was put together for us allowed us to experience different regions and wildlife in the country. Everyone we worked with, from the drivers that shuttled use from location-to-location to the guides on our excursions were so friendly and genuinely happy that people were visiting their country again. I cannot ever put into words how happy I am with our trip. If this is how KimKim organizes all their tours, we’ll definitely be using them for future travel plans.

Our trip to Costa Rica, planned by Olman and kimkim, was the definition of perfection. From our initial pick up at San José until our final drop off at the end of the week, the days went smoothly with zero effort from us. Our driver and companion for the entire week, Roy, made sure we arrived on time to our scheduled activities and had an endless supply of options for additional outings. He took the time to organize extra expeditions at our request. He also inquired about our food... read more

Our trip to Costa Rica, planned by Olman and kimkim, was the definition of perfection. From our initial pick up at San José until our final drop off at the end of the week, the days went smoothly with zero effort from us. Our driver and companion for the entire week, Roy, made sure we arrived on time to our scheduled activities and had an endless supply of options for additional outings. He took the time to organize extra expeditions at our request. He also inquired about our food preferences and helped us find wonderful, local restaurants for us in which to dine. Roy became like family to us and we would recommend his services to anyone desiring a driver/tour guide in Costa Rica. From his immaculate van to his tremendous knowledge of his culture, Roy made us feel comfortable and secure, even during the pandemic.
Olman included all of our requests for activities, from zip lining, a cooking class, kayaking in the Pacific Ocean to hiking the lava flow at Arenal, and created a wonderfully balanced week of enjoyment and learning . This trip with kimkim was the most perfect vacation!

Thank you to Olman for planning an amazing once in a lifetime experience for us in Costa Rica. All we had to say to Olman is that we wanted to experience volcanos, jungle, cloud forests, and beaches and he planned the most perfect itinerary for us – it was as though he read our minds.

Every activity, every pick-up and transfer, and every hotel booked ran exceptionally smoothly and always on time. Our guides were amazing and so knowledgeable. Olman was always available for any questions and... read more

Thank you to Olman for planning an amazing once in a lifetime experience for us in Costa Rica. All we had to say to Olman is that we wanted to experience volcanos, jungle, cloud forests, and beaches and he planned the most perfect itinerary for us – it was as though he read our minds.

Every activity, every pick-up and transfer, and every hotel booked ran exceptionally smoothly and always on time. Our guides were amazing and so knowledgeable. Olman was always available for any questions and his response time was quick.

We had the adventure we were looking for and all thanks to Olman. If you are wanting a memorable trip to Costa Rica then put your trust in Olman to take care of everything.

In terms of Costa Rica itself - wow what an awesome country! The different environments - rainforests, cloud forests, savanna, volcanos, etc. and the biodiversity that comes with it is unbelievable. The people of Costa Rica are wonderful - always friendly, helpful and smiling. As they say Pura Vida!

My husband and I had an amazing belated honeymoon in Costa Rica thanks to Olman's help. Highlights included white water rafting on the Pacuare, ziplining in the cloud forest and nature walks all over. We did and saw plenty but also had a couple of days of leisure so the pace was just right. We'd love to go back and explore the Caribbean side, and will definitely use Kimkim for that trip, too.

Everything he suggested was perfect and all went extremely smoothly! Our experience with Olman was great, he listened to our thoughts and desires and he made them happen. We had a truly amazing and memorable trip! Even his estimated travel times was spot on. If I go back to Costa Rica, I would definitely contact him again.

We loved our trip that Olman planned for us to Costa Rica. Each place we visited was exactly what we had requested. The Hotels were all unique and very inviting. We were sad to leave. The Lost Iguana Hotel and Arenas del Mar were amazing places to stay. We saw more wildlife at these hotels then we did in the nature park! Being woken at 4 am to a howler monkey above our cabin in Tortuguero is something we will never forget! We have so many great memories from our trip. We only... read more

We loved our trip that Olman planned for us to Costa Rica. Each place we visited was exactly what we had requested. The Hotels were all unique and very inviting. We were sad to leave. The Lost Iguana Hotel and Arenas del Mar were amazing places to stay. We saw more wildlife at these hotels then we did in the nature park! Being woken at 4 am to a howler monkey above our cabin in Tortuguero is something we will never forget! We have so many great memories from our trip. We only needed to contact the travel agency once, but they immediately knew who I was and they were able to answer my next day pick up question. The local guides were passionate about showing us their part of the country. We will definitely be back!

Wow, nothing could have been more fun!! We traveled Costa Rica with our daughter and and two grandchildren, boys who have just completed four years of college. Our agent with KimKim was Olman and we was FANTASTIC. Our trip was wonderful in every way and we experienced an amazing country with unforgettable life time family memories . Our lodging was great giving us a new experience every night. Tours and the guides were wonderful and fun. The timing of each day was perfect, we had extra... read more

Wow, nothing could have been more fun!! We traveled Costa Rica with our daughter and and two grandchildren, boys who have just completed four years of college. Our agent with KimKim was Olman and we was FANTASTIC. Our trip was wonderful in every way and we experienced an amazing country with unforgettable life time family memories . Our lodging was great giving us a new experience every night. Tours and the guides were wonderful and fun. The timing of each day was perfect, we had extra time to explore on our own.
The Costa Rica food was delicious and we felt very comfortable at home with these perfect. Thanks again to this company, it was Great.

Our family travels often and this is the first time that our children (teenager and young adults) unanimously declared that this is the best trip.
Olman was extraordinary from the beginning - he was patient, answered all questions and tailored our trip perfectly to meet our need. From the time we landed in San Jose to our departure gate, all the details, small or big, were flawlessly executed , from transfer to our 4 different destinations to the hotels, to automatically upgrading us to... read more

Our family travels often and this is the first time that our children (teenager and young adults) unanimously declared that this is the best trip.
Olman was extraordinary from the beginning - he was patient, answered all questions and tailored our trip perfectly to meet our need. From the time we landed in San Jose to our departure gate, all the details, small or big, were flawlessly executed , from transfer to our 4 different destinations to the hotels, to automatically upgrading us to get a private guide (Manny) and a great driver (Leo) and arranging for our Covid test to be done at the hotel bypassing need to travel to clinic (all above and beyond our expectation).
Our favorite was the cloud forest zip line! And of course the warm hospitality of Costa Ricans welcoming tourists back. I am already thinking about for our next trip and definitely using kimkim

What an amazing experience we had on our vacation. This could not have been done without the help of KimKim (Olman, our specialist). We had a family of 5 and 3 of them being teenagers. Our excursions and transfers all booked for us made our trip very relaxing not to have to worry about anything. The guides chosen by Olman could not have been better. Hotel Arenal Springs and Resort is amazing. The staff is there for your every need. Highly recommend staying there. Hotel LaMariposa has... read more

What an amazing experience we had on our vacation. This could not have been done without the help of KimKim (Olman, our specialist). We had a family of 5 and 3 of them being teenagers. Our excursions and transfers all booked for us made our trip very relaxing not to have to worry about anything. The guides chosen by Olman could not have been better. Hotel Arenal Springs and Resort is amazing. The staff is there for your every need. Highly recommend staying there. Hotel LaMariposa has what I would say the best view in Costa Rica. The rooms are minimal but the staff and view make up for that. I highly recommend using KimKim for a family vacation.

Absolutely wonderful trip! At the end of May 2021, we traveled to Costa Rica to celebrate our son's graduation from high school. From beginning to end, Olman ensured that our travel plans were both clear and streamlined. We started our adventure in San Jose, where we were picked up by the amazing and knowledgeable Fisroy who drove us to La Fortuna and Arenal. On the way, we stopped at the Doka coffee farm and a beautiful waterfall for local fruit. Once in Arenal, we spent a couple of... read more

Absolutely wonderful trip! At the end of May 2021, we traveled to Costa Rica to celebrate our son's graduation from high school. From beginning to end, Olman ensured that our travel plans were both clear and streamlined. We started our adventure in San Jose, where we were picked up by the amazing and knowledgeable Fisroy who drove us to La Fortuna and Arenal. On the way, we stopped at the Doka coffee farm and a beautiful waterfall for local fruit. Once in Arenal, we spent a couple of days in the area, exploring the volcano via moped, rafting down the Penas Blanca, and participated in a tour of an organic farm followed by a cooking class. All drivers were on-time and every adventure was both fun and educational. We then headed up to the Cloud Forest where we ziplined through the canopy of the rainforest and walked multiple bridges. We also participated in a night walk where we spotted multiple exotic birds and came face-to-face with a pit viper! The accommodations at the Senda were wonderful...amazing organic food and ecofriendly bungalows. I can't say enough good things about this adventure. We experienced the most delicious coffee, saw multiple sloths, snakes, crocodiles, exotic birds, and met so many wonderful people. Many thanks to the KimKim staff. We look forward to scheduling another adventure for 2022 to celebrate our second son's graduation!

Olman was extremely helpful with planning. Both accommodations were just as described with friendly staff and nice rooms. The travel accommodations were also always on time and the drivers from each company were knowledgeable about the country and extremely friendly. The only discrepancy came to the nature hike in Manuel Antonio with Tucson Tours. Our itinerary said pickup time was 7:25; however the actual pickup time was 7:15 and the shuttle almost left without us. All in all it was a great experience. Thank you!

Olman was very helpful in helping me set up an itinerary that best fit my family and I’s wants. I had never used a specialist to help plan my vacation but this time I wanted someone to set it for me since I was going to a new country and was not too familiar with the surroundings. It can be stressful planning activities and hotels on my own but this was such a breeze having someone do it for me! Our transportation to and from the airport/hotel/activities was on time every time. The activitie... read more

Olman was very helpful in helping me set up an itinerary that best fit my family and I’s wants. I had never used a specialist to help plan my vacation but this time I wanted someone to set it for me since I was going to a new country and was not too familiar with the surroundings. It can be stressful planning activities and hotels on my own but this was such a breeze having someone do it for me! Our transportation to and from the airport/hotel/activities was on time every time. The activitie tour guides were very kind to us and knowledgeable. I would definitely use KimKim again. This was my first time using them and I had a great experience!

The planning was excellent! Olman was very helpful, and knowledgeable, with great suggestions, patience with adjusting itinerary, and attentive to our needs. He did an amazing job of arranging things, and dealing with the changes and requirements caused by COVID, including the testing issues. I have already recommended him to several people!
The places where we stayed, and the activities planned, were all good. We were pleased with Tirimbina, as we anticipated, with delicious food ad... read more

The planning was excellent! Olman was very helpful, and knowledgeable, with great suggestions, patience with adjusting itinerary, and attentive to our needs. He did an amazing job of arranging things, and dealing with the changes and requirements caused by COVID, including the testing issues. I have already recommended him to several people!
The places where we stayed, and the activities planned, were all good. We were pleased with Tirimbina, as we anticipated, with delicious food ad friendly staff; We loved the chocolate tour and our tour guide ( a young man) was excellent! and very informative!
We enjoyed the rainforest tour at Tortuguero, the dining area staff at Mawamba was very friendly and professional, the lodging was average. (There was a misunderstanding about the canal tour time, but Laura came and got us out of bed, and was very gracious about it.)
The Azania Bungalows turned out to be the best! with great food and lodging, beautiful gardens and wildlife, and right close to the beach. Staff was great! We highly recommend it! Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, so we didn't get any relaxing beach time.
Jose drove us from SanJose to Tirimbina, and demonstrated much patience when he had to drive his vehicle over rough roads, out in the rural area of Tirimbina, only to find out that the Tirimbina Lodge was in a different location. It was a little rural "detour" but all ended well.
Fisroy was our primary driver, doing all of the airport arrivals and departure, as well as the trip to Puerto Viejo. He made himself available to us at all times and always went the "extra mile" to make sure things went smoothly. He gave us a great guided tour through Cahiuta National Park. He even offered to do Manzanilla the next day as well, but the weather did not cooperate in Puerto Viejo (clouds and rain). He also took the time to search out some restaurants with great local food. He added a real personal touch to all of our time with him. We so enjoyed it !
Thanks to everyone involved, including Alejandro who spoke with me on the phone within hours of our departure for Costa Rica, to assure us that our trip was still going to happen as planned (in spite of unexpected COVID restrictions).I am thankful that KimKim/ Amazilia provided direct phone access!
We look forward to another trip planned through you in the future!

First time in Costa Rica! My 2 teenagers and I went to Costa Rica for 12 days. Olman and Alexander did a great job in scheduling all the places and adventures I requested. From the first day to the last day in Costa Rica went smoother than I could ask. The first official day was guided by Alejandro, he did an amazing job educating us about Costa Rica: the people, culture, animals and different terrain. Alejandro took us to La Paz waterfall gardens. #lapazwaterfall which was full of... read more

First time in Costa Rica! My 2 teenagers and I went to Costa Rica for 12 days. Olman and Alexander did a great job in scheduling all the places and adventures I requested. From the first day to the last day in Costa Rica went smoother than I could ask. The first official day was guided by Alejandro, he did an amazing job educating us about Costa Rica: the people, culture, animals and different terrain. Alejandro took us to La Paz waterfall gardens. #lapazwaterfall which was full of animals and 5 waterfalls. From San Jose we went to Manual Antonio. Manual Antonio was absolutely gorgeous, we went to the beach, kayaking and snorkeling on the Pacific Ocean and had a home made lunch after the advantage, which was delicious. The guide was very nice, pointing out wildlife, such as the Howler Monkey calling, birds overhead and the fish we saw snorkeling. #tucanestours We had a wonderful home made lunch after. We saw lots of different wild life on our own. From Manual Antonio we went to La Fortuna. No words can bring justice to the Arenal Volcano, we got there at night and weren't able to see anything. In the morning I open the curtains to our room and right in front of us was the volcano. Beautiful site, hotel room was amazing and all the wildlife around was crazy! We did a few activities while in La Fortuna, zip line and white water rafting, #waverarafting, with an amazing lunch at an organic farm. The next day was horse back riding to a waterfall #chaveztours and a hike to the farthest point on the volcano that you can hike, #eciterra,costrica. All the transportation, guides and adventures were amazing and happy we did all of them. From La Fortuna we went to Tamarindo. What a view! The sunsets were amazing! We took surf lessons, the surf teacher exceeded my expectations, he was so helpful and passionate about what he does, #surf.every.day. Arranging 12 days with pick up, drop offs, transportation to and from activities, scheduling required Covid testing and transportation to the airport, with an estimated 859.1km ( 533.8miles) only a few minor hiccups, we were always on time to everything and Olman and Alexander responded to messages in a timely manner. I would recommend using Kimkim for any type of travel, I would highly recommend Olamn and Alexander if you want to visit Costa Rica.
Pura Vida

At first I was alittle hesitant to try a traveling agency to help put together my first trip in a long time. I’m glad I made the decision and tried Kim Kim. Olman who was the person helping me with my trip was with me and answered every single question or worry I brought to him. A 5/5 does not do justice for this company simply amazing ! And I recommend Kim Kim to everyone now

The trip was well organized and everything went smoothly.

We organized the trip through Olman, and communication was very smooth (quick replies to questions). Hotels and transportation was all very good (in particular the hotels in Arenal and Manuel Antonio areas).

My wife and I were unfamiliar with Costa Rica but she loves sloths so we selected this location for our honeymoon. With minimal details aside from sloths, Olman was able to plan a beautiful vacation for us. It included a romantic stay for a few nights at a resort as well as a multitude of excursions. Thanks to Olman, we had a great experience in Costa Rica with wonderful memories - we are now planning a trip to Hawaii because of our past experience with KimKim.

We would like to thank Olman for the amazing 11 day trip he planned for us with such short notice. Costa Rica has been on our list of places to visit but we only booked the flights 4 weeks before travelling. I was apprehensive about Travelling in October as it is meant to be the rainy season. Olman explained the weather is normally sunny in the morning clouding over in the afternoon. We seemed to be lucky as we only had 1 evening when we had a real downpour, which was quite an adventure. The... read more

We would like to thank Olman for the amazing 11 day trip he planned for us with such short notice. Costa Rica has been on our list of places to visit but we only booked the flights 4 weeks before travelling. I was apprehensive about Travelling in October as it is meant to be the rainy season. Olman explained the weather is normally sunny in the morning clouding over in the afternoon. We seemed to be lucky as we only had 1 evening when we had a real downpour, which was quite an adventure. The 5 hotels we stayed in were all different but each lovely. Pick ups and transportation excellent all on time and went without a hitch. We got to see so much wild life. Our favourites were the sloths and a turtle laying her eggs. The white water rafting down the Pacuare River and zipline tour in La Fortuna were so exciting and fun through beautiful scenery. Thanks again Olman and Kim Kim for planning a stress free amazing holiday

What a wonderful experience! The hotel was amazing and the staff was so friendly. We loved all of our guides, especially Jose and Cesar. I miss the sounds of the howler monkeys. Also we were very lucky with the weather!

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. The communication with Olman during the planning process was excellent. He was extremely responsive. The trip was extremely well planned and well organized. All the transportation and transitions went off without a hitch. All of the hotels were lovely, but Tabacon was the winner. The rooms and grounds were beautiful, especially the hot springs and the breakfast was sumptuous. All of the tours were great and well run but the wildlife tour and turtle... read more

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. The communication with Olman during the planning process was excellent. He was extremely responsive. The trip was extremely well planned and well organized. All the transportation and transitions went off without a hitch. All of the hotels were lovely, but Tabacon was the winner. The rooms and grounds were beautiful, especially the hot springs and the breakfast was sumptuous. All of the tours were great and well run but the wildlife tour and turtle nesting tour in Tortuguerro were incredible (and Willis, our guide, was extremely knowledgable) and the white water rafting trip with Wave Expeditions was the highlight for all of us. Our guide, Yorjani, was incredible. He made us feel safe and kept us laughing the whole time. And thanks to the kayaking photographer for preserving our memories (and saving our cameras and phones from being submerged). Thank you for a wonderful and well-planned trip. Our kids keep saying how much they miss being in Costa Rica and can't stop talking about all the animals they saw. thanks kimkim!

My trip has been amazing. Olman perfectly understood my expectations and organized it as well as I could have hoped. Strongly recommended.

Olman did a fantastic job arranging our trip to Costa Rica. We were very happy with the hotel recommendations as well as activities that were pre-arranged. Transportation was flawless. Various drop-offs and pickups were all right on time. I changed my plan mid trip , and Olman sent new itinerary within a few hours. Great job.

Every person that we interacted with was amazing and were extremely helpful. The Arenal Lava flow hike, Monteverde river raft, coffee plantation, zip line, and Damas Island mangrove kayaking were all super fun and the tour guides were all very knowledgable about all the questions we were asking them. It was nice that all we had to do was hand over the voucher and were driven around to wherever we were going. There was also a perfect blend of activities to do and relaxing time at a pool or beach.

We loved our experience and would highly recommend anyone else to use KImKim in the future.