Amazilia Travel

Yuliana prepared a great trip for us. She adjusted the plans to our needs and preferences according to the number of days we were in Costa Rica. The places she suggested to stay were very comfortable and easy to reach, and the activities she planned were exactly what we wanted. Thanks Yuliana, Adrián, and Graciela for our wonderful vacation in Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

Hotel Review

El Silencio del Campo Hotel

La Fortuna

Charming place, excellent service, very clean, and good food. Highly recommended!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

David is an amazing guide. His explanation and tour was fun and educational at the same time. Thanks!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano to El Castillo Mountain Bike Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

It rained a bit at the beginning, but we decided to continue and it was a very good decision. It was an excellent tour and the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica, visiting Arenal Fortuna and Manual Antonio. We enjoyed our stay at the Volcano Lodge and were blown away by how beautiful Los Altos Hotel was. Everywhere we went we were met with polite, friendly and helpful staff. The Kimkim team was very helpful in planning our trip and making the vacation relaxing.

All in all we had a great experience. Planning the trip with Yuliana was a stress free experience. She was very prompt with her replies and always very helpful. She was also easy to connect with over the phone. All our excursions were great. We had a slight issue with one of the excursions but Yuliana resolved the issue and we received a refund. I would highly recommend Yuliana and her team to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Nice and clean hotel and great staff. Jordan and his waiting staff are wonderful. He remembered all our names and would greet us by our names every time he saw us. They make sure you have a customized wonderful experience and they tend to hear every need to ensure that things are just the way you like them. They will go above and beyond to make sure there’s a smile on your face and they were the bright part of my day every day when I went for a meal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is on top of a hill which is so cool. You definitely need a car if you are staying at this hotel.

Staff

The staff, especially Jordan was so sweet and friendly. He made sure to learn all our names and would greet us by our name every time he would see us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful trip.
Especially enjoyed Arenal Observatory Lodge and the Wilderness Resort Lodge at Drake Bay.
The food was fabulous and the service was splendid.
The La Paz Falls visit on the last day was a perfect ending before our late night departure.
I am already thinking of my next visit to Costa Rica and what new areas I would like to visit.
Thanks for all your suggestions and for making the arrangements.
Blessings,
Debbie from Alabama

I want to first thank Yuliana and the Kimkim team for all of your help in planning this trip for my wife and I. We are truly grateful for such an unforgettable experience.
Every guide from Julio in Tortuguero to Alex (our Pacuare River rafting guide) were amazing. Also every driver that helped transport us from place to place were very hospitable.
We absolutely loved the time that we spent in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, especially the gorgeous Punta de Uva Playa. One of our favorites was the serene Pacuare River Lodge. Next time we definitely have to spend more than one night there.
Well, until next time. Thank you for everything!!!

Our trip to Costa Rica with Kim Kim was amazing! Everything was done exactly as it was described. All the transportation arrived as expected exactly on time. We stayed at four different hotels or resorts. Each one was unique, beautiful and comfortable, even luxurious in the case of the resort -Manao- we stayed at in La Fortuna, under the Arenal volcano. There we watched hundreds of egrets roosting in the trees across from our dinner table and relaxed in a few of the many hot spring pools located on site. The nature tour we took just outside the town was the best among all the many excellent opportunities we were booked into. The guide was super knowledgeable and helped us get fantastic pictures of sloths, birds and crocodiles with his spotting scope. We even got to spot a gorgeous trogan which was the bird my husband had hoped to see. The cooking class and tour of the organic farm was also so much fun and educational and both our tour guide and cooking instructor were full of fascinating info about plants and the locale cuisine which was even more delicious because we helped prepare it. I loved making tortillas!
All that being said, my favorite place was Sarapiqui. We stayed at a marvelous gem of a resort called Ambigua, which is surrounded by a jungle like garden. In the evening the red eyed tree frogs come out all around the dining area providing me with amazing photos. The night hike we were booked into on the grounds was magical. The guide, Tavo , went out of his way to make our time with him full of glimpses of all sorts of night creatures from bulletin ants to kinkajous. The pool was lovely and refreshing and the reflexology in their spa was the best I have ever had. Our nature tour at a local ecological institute was full of toucan and parrot sightings as well as many other birds and sloths. The guide was most excellent.
Our stay at Tortuguero was awesome as well with special kudos to our two day guide there- Raymond, who clearly knows his stuff and has a great affinity for the natural bounty of his country as well as a great sense of humor. The only disappointment was that an optional hike was too rigorous for me to attempt and we wished there was an alternative choice.
A huge thanks to Kim Kim, Olman and the team in Costa Rica (Aleska Tours I think was the name and they were able to change our airport pickup time with one phone call), for creating and managing our unforgettable and magical visit to Costa Rica ! Everyone and everyplace was no less than fantastic!

Hotel Reviews

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Our first encounter with the natural wonders of Costa Rica. When we arrived we were all greeted with a refreshing drink and welcoming faces. Considering it is located very remotely, the resort has the routine well organized but still feels relaxed. Service at the desk was excellent and always cheerful. The hotel is nestled within the jungle and has a few trails right around itself., but it carries off a luxurious feel as well with a lovely pool and bar and patios right on the river. All personnel were lovely and our guides were exceptional. Food was similar from meal to meal but always fresh and tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Jungle canopy and location

Location

Very near to National Park and preserve and within an actual jungle complete with howler monkeys

Staff

Our guide Raymond

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spa was squeaky clean as was everything (except the nationwide toilet paper disposal system which was never explained adequately in terms of how to properly handle toilet paper in a sanitary manner and was cause for smells in the room)

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Beautiful pool and dining area. Outstanding service and exceptional food. Lobby a bit small and room adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful garden around pool and delicious typical dishes.

Location

Close to airport but far from other sights

Staff

Service outstanding even gave us a box breakfast when we left too early for dining room to be open.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was clean and adequately comfortable

Ara Ambigua

Heredia

This hotel is the home of our fondest memories of Costa Rica and a prime example of Pura Vida! Surrounded by beautiful gardens blooming vegetation, and much wildlife. This is a magical place! We watched red eyed tree frogs come out at night while we ate dinner and were able to experience a night hike right on the grounds. This unforgettable trek with Tavo gave us a sneak peek at many nocturnal creatures we would never see on our own. The pool was lovely and relaxing, the spa provided me with the best reflexology I have ever had and the staff was exceptional in helpfulness. Highlights were the frogs, birds , iguanas, and basilisk lizards, and lovely murals.

Authenticity & Character

Nature, architecture and delicious food

Location

Close to chocolate factory and nature preserve. Quiet set back from road.

Staff

Friendly , patient, helpful, speak excellent English

Cleanliness & Comfort

All was clean and comfortable

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This place is awesome! It sits back well off the main road which provides the guests with an amazing view of the volcano, and also some exquisite natural settings all around. Our first dinner there we were seated where we could see hundreds of egrets roasting in the trees for the night, which was unforgettable. The front desk was quite helpful in managing our connections with our tours that we were taking in the area. our room was absolutely perfect and unique. We could see Arenal volcano from our patio and at the same time experience the natural beauty of the area and local vegetation. The bathroom of the room was most amazing with a tropical plant in the floor and a luxurious shower. During the day when we weren’t taking a tour, we were relaxing in the many beautifully designed thermal springs on site. The pools are phenomenal and one day we had lunch served at the bar actually on the edge of the pool . The restaurant is pricy but the food is excellent. The included breakfast was a huge buffet with more choices than can be named- all fresh and tasty. The only downside is that the lobby is not very comfortable and there was no way to get any forgotten toiletries at the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting, architecture,food

Location

As I said great view of volcano and access to hot springs. Downside was that it was far from town and there is no shuttle, so without a car we were unable to see the town unless we wanted to pay dearly for taxi ride.

Staff

Everyone tried to be helpful but service wasn’t quite as personal as elsewhere. Quickly rectified problem with laundry, though and cleaning staff did amazing job on room.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fantastic level of cleanliness- not sure how they do it in such a big place

Activity Reviews

Birdwatching Tour at La Selva Biological Station

Sarapiquí

Guide was exceptional knowledgeable and well spoken. The center was fascinating-I especially enjoyed seeing toucans and walking on the bridge across the river and seeing the nesting birds there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was a woman with a kind and relaxed manner who made us feel welcome. She even presented us with little souvenirs of Costa Rica!

Transport

Always on time and courteous

Guided Nature Walk at Danaus Ecological Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite guided hike and preserve. The guide had exceptional knowledge and great enthusiasm for what he was doing. He helped us take pictures using his spotting scope and found many birds. He was never in a hurry and told us one of the most memorable stories we heard on our trip. The preserve is outstanding with so much to see from alligators to shunting and so many birds!

Quality of Experience

We were delighted to be served fresh fruit and water at the end of the hike. Also loved the native craft area and learning about the art and the people who craft it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So much enthusiasm and knowledge

Transport

On time comfortable communicative

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic way to get closer to the people, food and customs of Costa Rica. Also delicious! We also got unexpected presentation on sugar cane which was fascinating!

Quality of Experience

The cook was a lively woman who did not speak much English but managed to communicate with us well enough and with enthusiasm. She had so much energy and skill!

Food

Loved eating what we had a part in preparing.everything was so fresh and very delicious and all typically prepared.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much from our guide about the plants. Our favorite part was his humorous presentation about sugar cane!

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Absolutely amazing! Raymond our guide . Was extremely competent and patient as our leader for three days. He made every effort to provide us with knowledge and opportunities to see even rare wildlife. His affinity and understanding of the natural wonders of his country and his sense of humor made it all very special. His command of English is also quite impressive. Ray is a great example of Pura Vida and a Costa Rican we won’t forget!

Quality of Experience

Ray and jungle location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always eager to help, friendly and cheerful. Captains of boats went out of their way to show wildlife.

Transport

Always on time. Captains and Drivers were friendly and communicated well. Vans and buses and boats were clean and comfortable with the exception of life preservers which were bulky and hot.

Olman was very prompt and responsive to our requests and organized a good itinerary for us, a party of 3. All the hotels were great with very comfortable beds and good breakfast. All our Costa Rica guides were top rates as were the drivers. Only one main feedback is, we wished we were advised of the terrible traffic back to San Jose from Monteverde leaving around noon. We could have left earlier with private transfer.

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide on history of volcano and nice short hike. Not outstanding beauty

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Rainforest Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

The best activity with great guides and nice boat rides. Our main guide was outstanding in showing the wildlife..we saw very nice birds and different types of monkeys. The boat driver and guide were instrumental in these experiences. Food were great too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip with great guides, perfect arrangement of pickups and drop offs. Itinerary was fantastic