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Rachel Vita

After so many years working in tourism in Brazil, I know the country very well and, having traveled extensively to many places around the world, I know what tourists expect when they travel. My goal is to make dreams come true!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We are specialists in Brazil. Regardless of the city or type of client, our goal is to offer an unforgettable experience. We have been able to build trips to all kinds of people. The solo traveler, the family, the couple (young and of age), and the group of friends. Brazil has activities for all!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"All my life I have traveled, accompanying my family, due to my father's work. I have lived in 5 different countries. But after getting to know so many different cities, it was time to get to know my country, Brazil.
And over 6 years ago, I had an opportunity to work with tourism and seize it. My family and I opened our travel agency to show the world all the beauty that Brazil has to offer. Since then, I am completely passionate about what I do. Seeing the customers’ happiness after a trip is extremely satisfying."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"All the trips I take are memorable, as I come back from them all happy to have known yet another city and a new culture. But the trip that I have great memories of was the first one I took with my whole family and my son (who was 2 years old at the time). We went to Paraty and until today I remember the feeling of peace while we were sailing on the calm waters of Paraty Bay. "

Rachel is part of the following groups: Brazil Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Rachel

Beautiful trip of northeastern Brazil
Brazil | Jul 28 - Aug 9, 2023

Thomas
Thomas G.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Aug 22, 2023
Beautiful trip to see some of the northeastern parts of Brazil. Among the highlights were spending the afternoon in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and swimming in the lagoons; one of the most jaw-dropping natural wonders we've seen. Also spectacular was watching the sunset congregation of thousands of red guarás in the Delta Do Parnaíba. Our guide in Salvador, Bruno, was particularly informative about the realities of Brazilian life and history and Pedro, our guide in Parnaíba, was... Read more

Beautiful trip to see some of the northeastern parts of Brazil. Among the highlights were spending the afternoon in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and swimming in the lagoons; one of the most jaw-dropping natural wonders we've seen. Also spectacular was watching the sunset congregation of thousands of red guarás in the Delta Do Parnaíba.

Our guide in Salvador, Bruno, was particularly informative about the realities of Brazilian life and history and Pedro, our guide in Parnaíba, was playful and entertaining, helping us with our poor Portuguese pronunciation and creating a playlist for us of Brazilian music.

There were a few minor hiccups along the way but Rachel was able to make adjustments and provided a couple extras to ensure we had a trip smooth.

Hotel Reviews
Casa de Santo Antônio Hotel de Charme
Parnaíba - PI,

The Casa de Santo Antônio Hotel de Charme in Parnaíba was a beautiful hotel. It's a converted hospital and school which added to its charm. We only stayed for a night so didn't get to fully experience it, but from what we saw, it was lovely.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Porto Preguiças Resort
Barreirinhas - MA,

The resort was quite nice. We didn't have any issues during our stay. The environment was pleasant and the service was up to the mark

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Luzeiros São Luís
São Luís

This was a quick overnight so it was more of a short stay than an experience. It's a corporate-type building and we didn't spend much time there. Though the service was great, I can't give much feedback on the overall environment or amenities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Villa Bahia
Salvador

The Hotel Villa Bahia in Salvador was a beautiful place. It's located right in the old part of town among the colonial buildings, which gave it a unique charm. The rooms and the building were gorgeous and the staff was very helpful. However, it was a bit of a ghost town due to the time of year we visited, which detracted from the overall experience.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Miramar Hotel by Windsor
Rio de Janeiro

Very nice hotel with especially good breakfast buffet in Copacabana and right on the beach. This is more of a large corporate hotel and doesn't really have a lot of character but the staff was friendly and the room very comfortable. The beach view didn't hurt either. It's about a 20 minute walk to neighboring Ipanema where most of the nicer shops and restaurants are and, if I were to do this trip again, would prefer to stay in that area (though there are fewer hotels there).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the famous Copacabana beach.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Vila Kalango
Jericoacoara

Easily the best place we stayed in Brazil. Lovely rooms with great use of space. Breakfast buffet was excellent and relaxing. If you stay in main hotel area closer to the entrance I'd recommend a 2nd-floor room as the nice wooden floors tend to create a lot of noise.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel is right on the beach with a nice areas for watching the the sunset.
Staff
Very attentive and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full-Day private tour in "Canto de Atins"
Full-Day private tour in "Canto de Atins"
Barreirinhas

This tour was slightly repetitive, especially after the national park tour. It was a bit less interesting. It would have been nice to have some time to explore on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sightseeing in the City of Salvador
Sightseeing in the City of Salvador
Salvador

We did some sightseeing in Salvador which was quite enjoyable. The city is beautiful and has a lot to offer.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Private Tour through the Old Rio
Full-Day Private Tour through the Old Rio
Rio de Janeiro

We had a full-day tour in Old Rio which was overall interesting. However, there were moments when the tour guide was following us a bit too closely, especially in the shopping areas. It would have been more comfortable to have some space to explore on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Luis - Barreirinhas
San Luis - Barreirinhas
Brazil

Bumpy long ride to get to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park but, wow, so worth it. Stunning initial views of endless white dunes with blue lagoons nestled in between. You can easily find your own private swimming areas and wander into the sand.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tour in the Delta of the Americas
Tour in the Delta of the Americas
Parnaíba

Beautiful trip through the delta on a speedboat to see a variety of birds and crabs. Culminates at sunset with a spectacular congregation of red guarás on a small island. Driving back through delta in near total darkness was oddly calming (if a bit scary). Boat driver was excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Tour of Two Brothers Peak & Vidigal Favela
Half-Day Tour of Two Brothers Peak & Vidigal Favela
Rio de Janeiro

Unique visit into a favela and hike to top of prominent peak overlooking Rio. To start we rode on the backs of motorcycles to get to the top of the favela, where the hike started, and then walked through it on the way down. This is not an easy hike. It's not particularly dangerous but there are some somewhat steep areas and it can take a good hour to get to the top. Bring plenty of water, especially on a hot day, and decent shoes (no flip-flops).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Sep 01, 2023

Hi Thomas,

Thank you for your kind words,

I'm delighted to hear you enjoyed your trip exploring northeastern Brazil! It's great to know that our guides, Bruno and Pedro, enriched your experience. Your understanding of the minor hiccups along the way is greatly appreciated, and I'm glad we could adapt and enhance your journey. Whenever you're ready for your next adventure, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd be delighted to assist you in creating more memorable travel memories.

Warm regards,
Rachel

Dear Rachel and Team ,Thank you so much for ...
Brazil | Jul 2 - Jul 10, 2023

Sandya
Sandya S.
South Euclid, OH | Reviewed on Jul 11, 2023
Dear Rachel and Team ,
Thank you so much for making our trip to Brazil ( Rio de janeiro, Iguazu and Amazon )such a memorable. We really appreciate all your dedication and hard work you put into make it so easy for us. Our guides were incredible and made the experience much more enjoyable. You did a fantastic job and you definitely know how to take of your clients. You can be sure that we will be recommending your service to family and friends alike.
Sandya and Prasad
Read more

Dear Rachel and Team ,
Thank you so much for making our trip to Brazil ( Rio de janeiro, Iguazu and Amazon )such a memorable. We really appreciate all your dedication and hard work you put into make it so easy for us. Our guides were incredible and made the experience much more enjoyable. You did a fantastic job and you definitely know how to take of your clients. You can be sure that we will be recommending your service to family and friends alike.
Sandya and Prasad

Hotel Reviews
Amazon Eco Park Jungle Lodge
Manaus
Hotel Saint Paul
Manaus - AM
Hotel Bogari
Foz do Iguaçu - PR
Windsor Martinique Hotel
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Activity Reviews
Nocturnal tour with animal spotting
Nocturnal tour with animal spotting
The Amazon

We did not participate . We are unable to rate

Forest of the Monkeys
Forest of the Monkeys
The Amazon
Jungle Walk
Jungle Walk
The Amazon
Visit to the native's house
Visit to the native's house
The Amazon
Meeting of the Waters
Meeting of the Waters
The Amazon
Transport
Iguaçu Falls - Brazilian Side
Iguaçu Falls - Brazilian Side
Foz do Iguaçu
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Foz do Iguaçu
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Rio de Janeiro
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Jul 12, 2023

Hi Sandya & Prasad!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Brazil. :)

Thank you for the feedback!

Rio-Falls_Amazon 2022 (November)
Brazil | Nov 15 - Nov 23, 2022

S
S V.
Aurora, IL | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
This was the 1st time that we booked our trip with kimkim. I was bit skeptical initially since I never heard of them before.
I worked with Rachel (Sao Paulo) to plan our entire trip that included visit to Rio, Iguazu falls and Amazon.
It was such a pleasant experience to plan the trip with Rachel. She is fluent in English, and she was always pleasant regardless of the numbers of the changes that were requested. Everything was planned without any hiccups. All the hotel accommodation... Read more

This was the 1st time that we booked our trip with kimkim. I was bit skeptical initially since I never heard of them before.
I worked with Rachel (Sao Paulo) to plan our entire trip that included visit to Rio, Iguazu falls and Amazon.

It was such a pleasant experience to plan the trip with Rachel. She is fluent in English, and she was always pleasant regardless of the numbers of the changes that were requested. Everything was planned without any hiccups. All the hotel accommodation and lodging were to our satisfaction. All the tour guides were excellent.

She even accommodated our last-minute request to include the visit to Iguazu falls, handled luggage issues when going to Amazon and was very accommodating with request to visit Christ second time since the 1st time was completed washed out due to heavy rain. She went above and beyond. I'm greatly appreciative. She wanted us to leave with a such a wonderful memory. We did, Rachel. THANK YOU!!!!

I highly recommend kimkim for your next trip.

Hotel Reviews
Amazon Tupana Lodge
Manaus
Authenticity & Character
Such a unique place
Location
excellent Location
Staff
excellent staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
excellent, staff, cleaniness and food
Hotel Saint Paul
Manaus - AM
Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Bogari
Foz do Iguaçu - PR
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arena Leme
Rio de Janeiro
Authenticity & Character
Location
across the beach; all the amenities
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Canoeing in the Amazon and overnight in the jungle
Canoeing in the Amazon and overnight in the jungle
The Amazon
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cayman Spotting
Cayman Spotting
The Amazon
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Iguaçu Falls - Brazilian Side
Iguaçu Falls - Brazilian Side
Foz do Iguaçu
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Foz do Iguaçu
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted that planning your trip with us was a pleasant experience. It's wonderful to know that everything was well-organized and that you enjoyed the accommodations, tours, and guides. Making your trip memorable was our goal, and we're thrilled we achieved it. Your kind recommendation means a lot to us, and we can't wait to assist you with more incredible adventures in Brazil.

Perfect mix for our Brazil adventure!
Brazil | Jun 23 - Jul 3, 2023

Todd
Todd S.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jul 06, 2023
Amazon Tupana lodge was incredible - Carlos was incredible, and the scenery, excursions, and just hanging out at the lodge was relaxing. Saw monkeys, a tapir, and of course Blue the macaw that hangs around on site. Sunrise and sunset were beautiful!
Foz do Iguaçu was better than we could ever have imagined. Rainbows, waterfalls, and the boat ride into the falls from the Argentina side was so much fun! Pictures will never do it justice!
Rio was fun as well, Alex our guide was amazing...
Read more

Amazon Tupana lodge was incredible - Carlos was incredible, and the scenery, excursions, and just hanging out at the lodge was relaxing. Saw monkeys, a tapir, and of course Blue the macaw that hangs around on site. Sunrise and sunset were beautiful!
Foz do Iguaçu was better than we could ever have imagined. Rainbows, waterfalls, and the boat ride into the falls from the Argentina side was so much fun! Pictures will never do it justice!
Rio was fun as well, Alex our guide was amazing and did an excellent job. He also set us up for the day after, and recommended perfect places on the beach! Great trip all around, the travel was acceptable (we wanted to do lots of things so crammed in late nights) with no delays and easy to get around.
Rachel was wonderful, responsive, and always on top of our tickets and itinerary. Great planning and definitely will share this trip with others!

Hotel Review
Amazon Tupana Lodge
Manaus

Remote, intimate, and great chance to enjoy nature! Everyone was friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful time. The rooms were neat and clean, food was amazing, and the staff always helpful no matter what you required! Saw lots of animals, the trips on the river were beautiful and amazing! Even the night in the jungle was great with the hammock and mosquito net!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Hi Todd, Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled you had an incredible time at Amazon Tupana Lodge and enjoyed the scenic excursions. Your experience in Foz do Iguaçu and Rio sounds amazing too. We're grateful for your kind words and looking forward to assisting you with more adventures in Brazil in the future!

Rachel planned the most amazing honeymoon trip for us in Brazil
Brazil | May 24 - Jun 9, 2023

Manitha
Manitha A.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jun 14, 2023
We had the most wonderful time in Brazil and Rachel from KimKim did an incredible job designing, organizing and arranging our personalized honeymoon. This is the first time we used a travel agency and we got everything we asked for from the trip and within budget!
In Rio, our local guide Luis was wonderful and friendly. He was super thoughtful and even bought us a Brazilian drink we wanted to try. The trip to the Amazon was our highlight, spending some days in the lodge built into the...
Read more

We had the most wonderful time in Brazil and Rachel from KimKim did an incredible job designing, organizing and arranging our personalized honeymoon. This is the first time we used a travel agency and we got everything we asked for from the trip and within budget!
In Rio, our local guide Luis was wonderful and friendly. He was super thoughtful and even bought us a Brazilian drink we wanted to try. The trip to the Amazon was our highlight, spending some days in the lodge built into the jungle was breathtaking. Our guide Jojo spoke amazing English and took us on boat rides. In Foz do Igaszu, we saw the waterfalls from the Argentinan and Brazilian side. Lordes, our guide, was very friendly. We then spent a few days with our friends, which Rachel built into our itinerary. After that we flew to São Luís, from where we were picked up to visit the Lencois Maranhenses for a couple of days. The pousada where we stayed was the best and the guide, Josiel, was great. From there, we went back to Rio and had Luis, the same guide, picking us up.
We had an unforgettable holiday - Rachel was always available when we had questions and checked us into our internal flights. From the moment we decided to have the trip arranged and reached out to Rachel to the time we landed back in the UK, this trip has been brilliantly organized and we cannot recommended Rachel and her tours enough!

Hotel Reviews
Amazon Tupana Lodge
Manaus

The trip to the Amazon was our highlight and the set up of Tupana Lodge and the friendliness of the staff were incredible.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Built into the jungle, the set up was great
Staff
Especially Jojo our guide spoke amazing English
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pousada Encantes do Nordeste
Barreirinhas

This was our favorite place of all to stay. The set up was lovely and thoughtful, the room was very clean and there was much choice for breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
The thoughtful set up and character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean rooms
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Hi Manitha, we truly appreciate your fantastic review! We're overjoyed that your honeymoon in Brazil was an unforgettable experience. Being a part of your journey was a pleasure, and we can't wait to assist you with more adventures in the future. Wishing you safe travels and countless cherished memories ahead!

Great Experience Overall. A few small improvements for the perfect trip
Brazil | Apr 28 - May 2, 2023

Duane
Duane S.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
We chose to book our trip with KimKim following a recommendation from a friend. Overall the trip was amazing and we had a great time following the "Route of Emotions" in northern Brazil. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone wanting to see a different side to Brazil, compared with the usual Rio/Iguazu routes. Booking the trip Rachel provided quick feedback and was able to cater to our various requests. Communication at this point was very strong and everything we needed to do was... Read more

We chose to book our trip with KimKim following a recommendation from a friend. Overall the trip was amazing and we had a great time following the "Route of Emotions" in northern Brazil. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone wanting to see a different side to Brazil, compared with the usual Rio/Iguazu routes.

Booking the trip Rachel provided quick feedback and was able to cater to our various requests. Communication at this point was very strong and everything we needed to do was clear. You have access to a whatsapp number for any questions once you land at your destination.

We travelled from Barreirinhas to Parnaiba, and then onto Jericoacoara, with two different guides for each part of the trip. Our guide from Barreirinhas around the dunes and local areas was Josiel who was lovely and helpful with any questions we had. I would say he acted more as "translator" than guide (reactive vs proactive) but if you are an English speaker on this type of tour, a service such as this is essential to get by in the region.

We were picked up by Jonas, who was our amazing driver all the way through to Jeri. In Parnaiba, Francisco joined us as we took a tour to see the Guara in the river delta. Francisco was amazing, explaining in great detail to us about the region, its wildlife, food and culture. One of the best guides we have ever had for a tour!

We then moved onto Jeri (with some great recommendations from Francisco) and concluded our trip. We loved the whole experience!

One feedback point for improvement - it would have been great to have a daily update message over the WhatsApp channel to avoid confusion. As English speakers some things were unclear e.g. We were surprised when our guide got into the car on the side of the road in Parnaiba, as the driver didn't speak English he hadn't let us know about it, which was a shock to meet a new person unannounced. Small things like this could have been covered by a WhatsApp in the morning.

Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023
Hi Duane, Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled that you had a fantastic trip along the "Route of Emotions" in northern Brazil. I appreciate your kind words and glad that you had positive experiences with our guides. Your feedback about daily updates on WhatsApp is valuable, and we apologize for any confusion. We'll take this into account and work on improving our communication to ensure a smoother experience for future travelers. Once again, thank you for recommending our... Read more

Hi Duane, Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled that you had a fantastic trip along the "Route of Emotions" in northern Brazil. I appreciate your kind words and glad that you had positive experiences with our guides.

Your feedback about daily updates on WhatsApp is valuable, and we apologize for any confusion. We'll take this into account and work on improving our communication to ensure a smoother experience for future travelers.

Once again, thank you for recommending our services. If you plan to explore more destinations in the future, we'd love to assist you with another incredible adventure in Brazil!

It was so easy and lovely working with Rachel...
Brazil | Mar 13 - Mar 22, 2023

Mackensie
Mackensie U.
Borough Park, NY | Reviewed on Mar 29, 2023
It was so easy and lovely working with Rachel especially when we had a missed connection late at night and having to rearrange travel plans. Our favorite day in Rio was because of Vincent the tour guide operator where we walked around together in Santa Teresa & Faevla. The hotels Rachel picked for us in Rio & Amazon were also amazing (and Santa Teresa Gallery hotel had such good food at their restaurant). I would definitely come back and use Rachel again and recommend to friends. Read more

It was so easy and lovely working with Rachel especially when we had a missed connection late at night and having to rearrange travel plans. Our favorite day in Rio was because of Vincent the tour guide operator where we walked around together in Santa Teresa & Faevla. The hotels Rachel picked for us in Rio & Amazon were also amazing (and Santa Teresa Gallery hotel had such good food at their restaurant). I would definitely come back and use Rachel again and recommend to friends.

Hotel Reviews
Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge
Manaus
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Amazônia
Manaus
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Santa Teresa Hotel RJ - MGallery
Rio de Janeiro
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The pool scene and the food quality at the restaurant were so good and made our stay so enjoyable
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Thank you for the lovely review! We're thrilled you had a great experience planning your trip with us and enjoyed your time in Rio and the Amazon. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future!

Brazil continued - The Amazon
Brazil | Jan 2 - Jan 6, 2023

Alison
Alison B.
France | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

This was part of the same trip reviewed above. It was excellent - again Rachel's help was invaluable, she was always available to answer our questions. Our guide at the Amazon Tupana Lodge Dio was outstanding. A highly recommended trip

Local specialist: Rachel Vita

Trip to Brazil
Brazil | Jan 10 - Jan 16, 2023

Alison
Alison B.
France | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023

We had a great trip thanks to the help we received from Rachel. She was always professional, very helpful, easy to contact and, following our requests, she put together a memorable trip for us. We highly recommend the service we received from KimKim and Rachel and are looking forward to using the knowledge local agents can provide through KimKim for our next trip.

Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Hi Alison, Thank you so much for your kind review! I am delighted to hear that you had a great experience planning your trip with us and that you enjoyed your time in Rio and the Amazon. We're glad that Dio, the guide at the Amazon Tupana Lodge, provided an outstanding experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we're excited to have the opportunity to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future. Until then, safe travels and many more incredible journeys ahead!

Disappointing
Brazil | Dec 24 - Dec 30, 2022

S
Stephanie S.
Zanesville, OH | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2023

Trip was overbooked and very exhausting. Communication was lacking. Most of our trip was spent in airports. No accountability taken

Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Mar 06, 2023
1) The itinerary sent to Stephanie included Manaus, the Amazon, Salvador, and São Paulo, although we recommended another itinerary (Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu, and Ilha Grande), taking into account the travel dates and the fact that this would be their first trip to Brazil. Also, despite having been recommended international flights arriving in Manaus and departing from Salvador, they purchased international flights arriving in and departing from São Paulo, which resulted in the need to... Read more

1) The itinerary sent to Stephanie included Manaus, the Amazon, Salvador, and São Paulo, although we recommended another itinerary (Rio de Janeiro, Foz do Iguaçu, and Ilha Grande), taking into account the travel dates and the fact that this would be their first trip to Brazil.

Also, despite having been recommended international flights arriving in Manaus and departing from Salvador, they purchased international flights arriving in and departing from São Paulo, which resulted in the need to purchase two other flights: São Paulo to Manaus and Salvador to São Paulo.

2) Stephanie was unaware of the need to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or to take the PCR test to enter Brazil and had to take a last-minute test at the airport for USD 750.00 which was fully refunded as proof of good faith on our part.

3) On 12/23 I informed our emergency phone number so that Stephanie could contact us whenever needed since during the holidays access to e-mails would be more restricted, and because we always make sure that the traveler feels secure in being able to contact us whenever they need, at any time, a fact praised in other comments on kimkim’s platform.

4) Stephanie arrived in Manaus on 12/24 and one of our drivers was ready to welcome them at the airport with an appropriate sign with her name on it, but when they arrived, they did not look for anyone and took a taxi to the hotel, even though the information that they would have a driver upon arrival was on her trip plan.

The end-of-the-year parties (Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31) are traditional in Brazil and families and friends prepare for Christmas and the arrival of the new year. As we were preparing for Christmas dinner, we did not see the message that Stephanie had sent on kimkim’s platform and, even though she had our number, she did not call. I only found out about the situation because the driver called me saying that they had not arrived yet (we are always in contact with the drivers/guides to follow up with the client during the whole trip). That's when I realized she had sent a message through the platform. I apologized for the mismatch (although we are not responsible, since the transfer information was in the trip plan, and we offered the service just as she had contracted).

As soon as she arrived at the hotel in Manaus, Stephanie sent me a message on WhatsApp saying they were very hungry. I told her to talk to the receptionist so she could recommend restaurants. Strangely, she said she could not communicate with the receptionist, who spoke her language (English). I took it upon myself to help her, in the middle of the night on the 24th.
That’s when she started to complain, saying she had not eaten all day and that they had to run to catch the flight from São Paulo to Manaus, which seemed strange to me since they had a 4-hour stopover, and that even during the flights food and drinks are offered for purchase.

I made a reservation at a restaurant in another hotel, since on the 24th many establishments close to enjoy Christmas eve, as in many other countries. However, she didn't want to wait. I told her the only fast option would be fast food. She accepted.

While looking for food, Stephanie took the opportunity to ask about breakfast the next day, since she had a transfer scheduled for 7 am to the Amazon jungle. I told her she would have time to have breakfast, which started at 6 am. She said the receptionist told her on the 25th there would be no breakfast because it was Christmas. It seemed strange because I am not aware of any hotel that interrupts service during holidays, but anyway, I apologized and said that we would find a solution. In the end, it turned out this information was not true, and the restaurant served breakfast normally on the 25th from 6 am (although she told me that during the trip, she had several days without breakfast at the hotel in Manaus and at the hotel in São Paulo).

5) During their entire trip we were in touch by WhatsApp. We were only unavailable during her stay in the Amazon, where there is no phone signal.

6) On 12/27 she seemed to be very satisfied with the trip, as she sent a message saying that it had been a "great experience". On this day she had the flight to Salvador, and I had already sent her their boarding passes the day before.

Before taking the flight to Salvador, Stephanie sent a message asking already where she could have dinner because they had eaten nothing but breakfast that day. I didn't really understand why they didn't buy something to eat at the airport while waiting for the flight to Salvador, since they spent some time waiting for the flight, but I told her that the hotel in Salvador had room service 24h.

7) At 8 pm, I received a message from Stephanie, saying that she was not seeing the driver who would take her to the hotel. I would only understand later that she was in Brasilia (the transit city where she had a layover) and not in Salvador. She thought it would be a direct flight, even though I had sent her the boarding passes for the Manaus > Brasilia and the Brasilia > Salvador flights. She admitted herself that she did not pay attention properly. The fact that she left the airport made her miss the flight to Salvador. By coincidence, her second flight was overbooked, and the airline re-accommodated her on other flights. This made her arrive in Salvador only the next day and not that same night.

We gave her clear instructions and insisted that she should talk to the airport attendant to board a better flight, putting us at her disposal to talk to the company employee, if necessary, but she refused to listen and said she was very tired and did not want to argue.

8) Despite their late arrival in Salvador, they managed to do the planned tours for that day, losing only 1h30 of the total time initially planned.

9) On 12/29 they took the last flight from Salvador to São Paulo, the last destination before catching her international flight.

10) On 12/30, I received an e-mail from the hotel in São Paulo saying that Stephanie had left the room service bill in our name, for us to bear the expense. No customer had ever done this before. Trying not to believe that one of our customers could do this, I asked Stephanie if it was real, and she told me that she did pay the bill. I asked her for proof of payment so that I could check with the hotel that the charge was undue, but she did not send anything. I told Kimkim's support that if she sent me the proof of payment, I would refund her double the amount she paid, but to this day the proof of payment has not been sent and we had to pay again for this expense.

Finally, we are happy to see that in some way they were able to enjoy the trip, judging by the photos attached, which undermine the testimonial and praise of the experience they had in Brazil.

I love Brazil! The sights, the beauty, the vi...
Brazil | Dec 27 - Jan 10, 2023

Sandra
Sandra B.
Brushy Creek, TX | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2023
I love Brazil! The sights, the beauty, the vibrancy of the people and the culture! I wish I never left!! I was able to visit the best sights and hidden gems of Rio de Janeiro and move along to Salvador and immerse myself in the Afro culture, which was a personal favorite. I relaxed indulged in sand dune activities and saw the most beautiful scenery in Canoa Quebrada and then I visited Iguaçu Falls (experiencing the Argentinian and Brazilian side by boat and helicopter) which is a must for... Read more

I love Brazil! The sights, the beauty, the vibrancy of the people and the culture! I wish I never left!! I was able to visit the best sights and hidden gems of Rio de Janeiro and move along to Salvador and immerse myself in the Afro culture, which was a personal favorite. I relaxed indulged in sand dune activities and saw the most beautiful scenery in Canoa Quebrada and then I visited Iguaçu Falls (experiencing the Argentinian and Brazilian side by boat and helicopter) which is a must for lovers of nature!! Rachel always checked on me and made sure the guides were taking care of me every step of the way. I had wonderful and helpful guides. Guilherme was an extra special gentleman who went above and beyond whilst in Rio. Matcos, Leandro, Gabriel and my guide in Salvador Guia Joao Luis went above and beyond to make my time memorable! Thank you a thousand times over😊❤️

Hotel Review
Windsor Copa Hotel
Rio de Janeiro

Close to everything! The showers were amazing! Some of the staff were wonderful and others were just disinterested, but all in all a good experience.

Authenticity & Character
It’s a nice hotel, but nothing authentic or filled with character
Location
Copacabana beach was literally one street behind the hotel.
Staff
Front desk crew and some of the bell hops were friendly, however customer service can be improved amongst others.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was comfortable and linens were clean and the water pressure was great. Stocked fridge
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Hi Sandra, Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled you loved Brazil and had an amazing time exploring its sights and culture. It's wonderful to know that we were able to make your trip memorable and appreciate your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future! Safe travels and many more incredible experiences ahead!

Every single guide we had was special. They m...
Brazil | Dec 23 - Jan 5, 2023

K
Karthik C.
Pleasanton, CA | Reviewed on Jan 15, 2023
Every single guide we had was special. They made us feel at home, at ease. Beginning with Luis that greeted us at the airport in Rio, the professional knowledgeable, fun Ortiz at Iguacu, Crocidile Dundee realty star Dave at the Amazon.. professionals that made us feel comfortable and safe from their first hello! Rachel ass knows the best team and was in touch every single day to ensure we were having a blast! Read more

Every single guide we had was special. They made us feel at home, at ease. Beginning with Luis that greeted us at the airport in Rio, the professional knowledgeable, fun Ortiz at Iguacu, Crocidile Dundee realty star Dave at the Amazon.. professionals that made us feel comfortable and safe from their first hello! Rachel ass knows the best team and was in touch every single day to ensure we were having a blast!

Hotel Reviews
Amazon Tupana Lodge
Manaus
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Intercity Manaus
Manaus

Hotel looked tiered, old…

Location
No where to go
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sheets appeared dirty. Rooms need to be uodatef
Arena Ipanema
Rio de Janeiro

Convenient location.. average food

Authenticity & Character
It felt kkke another normal hotel
Location
When your backyard is the Ipanema beach with amazing sunsets.. there is no way you can go wrong
Staff
Friendly, courteous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was not cleaned on 2/6 days
Activity Reviews
Carnaval Experience - Half day Tour
Carnaval Experience - Half day Tour
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
City Tour in Manaus
City Tour in Manaus
Manaus
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Canoeing in the Amazon and overnight in the jungle
Canoeing in the Amazon and overnight in the jungle
The Amazon
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side
Foz do Iguaçu
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-day tour Tijuca Forest
Half-day tour Tijuca Forest
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day- Rio by Bike
Half Day- Rio by Bike
Rio de Janeiro
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Feb 03, 2023

Hi Karthik!

Thank you for the feedback. I am glad you enjoyed your time here in Brazil. I hope you and your family will keep great memories of our country. :)

I’ve travelled all my life and this was the f...
Brazil | Oct 7 - Nov 3, 2022

David
David K.
Lafayette, CA | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2022
I’ve travelled all my life and this was the first one that was curated for me. I loved it! I didn’t have a lot of time but it’s a huge country, so I wanted to see as much as possible without having to figure it out for myself and Rachel got it perfectly. On her suggestion I visited the Lencois Maranhenses on the North Atlantic coast which I never would have discovered on my own and yet I’m so glad she guided me there. I had personal boat trips, nature trips in groups and personally, all my... Read more

I’ve travelled all my life and this was the first one that was curated for me. I loved it! I didn’t have a lot of time but it’s a huge country, so I wanted to see as much as possible without having to figure it out for myself and Rachel got it perfectly. On her suggestion I visited the Lencois Maranhenses on the North Atlantic coast which I never would have discovered on my own and yet I’m so glad she guided me there. I had personal boat trips, nature trips in groups and personally, all my accommodations were set and there were zero flaws in my transfers or my accommodations. My trip through the Favela in Rio with a climb up Two Brothers was excellent. My Eco-lodge on the Amazon was great, and all my adventures on the coast were also excellent. Rachel was always available for questions and I always felt I could reach out at any hour. Brazil is an amazing country and definitely worth a visit

Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Nov 10, 2022

Hi David!

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I am very glad that you fully enjoyed your trip. It was a pleasure to help you! I hope to be able to welcome you again here in Brazil. :)

Best,
Rachel

Great trip
Brazil | Sep 12 - Sep 28, 2022

Ellen
Ellen G.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2022
From start to finish Rachel was incredible. She responded very quickly to all our messages before we booked and then while we were away, she was quick to help with any issues, including delayed flights etc ensuring guides met us at the new times. She ensured all the hotels and guides were appraised in advance of our comprehensive dietary requirements. While we were away for the last week the weather forecast was dreadful, with thunder and lightning. We spoke to Rachel, she and her... Read more

From start to finish Rachel was incredible. She responded very quickly to all our messages before we booked and then while we were away, she was quick to help with any issues, including delayed flights etc ensuring guides met us at the new times. She ensured all the hotels and guides were appraised in advance of our comprehensive dietary requirements.

While we were away for the last week the weather forecast was dreadful, with thunder and lightning. We spoke to Rachel, she and her colleague Paulo, didn’t hesitate to rearrange things for us. They got refunds where they could and re-booked the last part of our trip within 24 hours of the initial conversation about it. They could not have been more helpful, understanding and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We were incredibly grateful as it made the last few days of our trip so relaxing and enjoyable.

Rio:
Hotel was nice, staff helpful and the breakfast was good. Plenty of options, including gluten / dairy free products and staff were able to assist with ingredients for other products.
Luis our guide was lovely. Knowledgeable and friendly. He made our tours educational and enjoyable. He mixed humour with information and we always felt very safe with him. His English was excellent and he was very helpful at the airport ensuring we got checked in and staff were able to assist us. Our extra tour with him was a bonus and we enjoyed that given the weather was not conducive to sitting on the beach!
Bike tour: This was the only aspect we were not happy with. The bikes were dreadful. They were very old, unsafe and didn't work properly. The gears kept slipping and the brakes didn't work well. The guide kept cycling off in the distance, not noticing that we had had to stop due to the bikes. He did switch bike with me at one point but it didn't help much as they were all as bad as each other. This spoilt the ride and we had to end it half way through to return the bikes as they were so difficult to ride. We felt as if he had chosen those bikes as the owner was a friend of his rather than they were good quality bikes that would be safe to ride.
We were appreciative of Rachel dealing with the issue swiftly and ensuring we were able to have the extra half day with Luis instead.

Pantanal:
We were disappointed by the condition of the room and dining room at the Pousada Rio Clara. The door handle fell off on the first day and was never fixed. The room itself is probably best described as shabby and in need of attention. There was nowhere to put clothes away, no wardrobe or drawers so we had to live out of suitcases on the floor which is not ideal. The dining room is best described as mess-hall style. The food was reasonable. We had made special requests which weren’t always followed and what was provided was basic and repetitive. It feels as if there is not enough funding, The staff all do multiple jobs on the property and so there are not enough available to ensure things are at a good standard. They are friendly and as helpful as they are able given the difficulties they seem to face.
The guide DJ was great, incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. We really enjoyed the boat trips most of all. The road safaris are a bit hit or miss as far as seeing animals which can’t be helped.

Foz do Iguazu
We were met by the very lovely Lurdes and the driver. She was so friendly and helpful, always trying hard to help us have the best experience, we were sad to say goodbye to her! She made the whole stay in Foz really special.
The Wish hotel was incredible, a huge property with a mix of property styles for the rooms. A lovely pool area and small pools adjacent to the properties. The restaurant was great, excellent choice of food at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Options for gluten free and very helpful staff.
Salvador
The guide was very friendly and helpful, giving advice as to where was and wasn’t safe to go while we were there. He also advised my husband to take off his fine gold chain. This did all make us feel quite vulnerable there as we were obviously tourists. The city was interesting in parts but the deprivation was sad to see.

Prai do Forte
Such a wonderful place to end our trip. Beautiful weather, a lovely hotel with incredibly helpful staff and a very nice local area, in walking distance, and a beautiful beach with white sand, palm trees and water as warm as a bath!

All in all we found that going through KimKim and the local agent worked really well. This was the first time we had used an agent, we usually book everything independently and don't have guides or drivers. We felt this was a really excellent way of travelling around Brazil and would have struggled without Rachel's advice, knowledge and help. We will recommend both KimKim and Rachel to anyone wanting to book!

Hotel Reviews
Wish Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguacu

The Wish hotel was incredible! Huge property with a mix of property styles for the rooms. A lovely pool area and small pools adjacent to the properties. The restaurant was great, excellent choice of food at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Options for gluten free and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pousada Rio Claro
Poconé

We were disappointed by the condition of the room and dining room at the Pousada Rio Clara. The door handle fell off on the first day and was never fixed. The room itself is probably best described as shabby and in need of attention. There was nowhere to put clothes away, no wardrobe or drawers so we had to live out of suitcases on the floor which is not ideal. The dining room is best described as mess-hall style. The food was reasonable. We had made special requests which weren’t always followed and what was provided was basic and repetitive. It feels as if there is not enough funding, the staff all do multiple jobs on the property and so there are not enough available to ensure things are at a good standard. They are friendly and as helpful as they are able given the difficulties they seem to face.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arena Leme
Rio de Janeiro

Hotel was nice, staff helpful and the breakfast was good. Plenty of options, including gluten / dairy free products and staff were able to assist with ingredients for other products. Although our room faced the beach which was lovely, be aware there is street noise all night.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rachel Vita
Rachel
Rachel Vita
Local specialist in São Paulo | Replied on Oct 17, 2022

Hi Ellen!

Thank you so much for the review. Your comments are extremely important for us to improve our services.
It was a pleasure to welcome you here in Brazil. :)

Best,
Rachel