Serendipity Adventures

OMG what an amazing trip we had! Bryan helped us to sort out our itinerary to stay within our budget while ticking all our vacation boxes!! We were celebrating a birthday and our 30th anniversary and boy did we get celebrated! No less than 4 cakes were had between our different spots! At the Villa Florencia the owner made the most super delicious chocolate banana cake just for us! Highlights were the whitewater rafting in Pacuare River with the BEST guide that kept me from tumbling out of the raft! The Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero was a fantastic hotel with a very warm and welcome pool and great food! Saw turtles nesting! And so many birds and caymans on the grounds and on our guided excursion through the canals with Miquel (the best!) tour guide. Our last stay was the Almonds and Corals Hotel in Manzanillo which was -- beyond. Like waking up in the jungle but super posh. Our local contact Adrain was beyond in helpful and there for us all along the way-- from packing tips to any questions. Every driver/guide/excursion was on time and knowledgable and friendly and funny and perfect! We love Costa Rica and grateful for Kimkim to help us have this experience!! Pura Vida!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Villa Florencia

Turrialba

Such a beautiful spot. We woke up with some birds and monkeys chatting about but it was deliciously appropriate! Our view out of our room was amazing-- will be painting that scene in the days to come. We were celebrating birthday and the owner made us the MOST delicious chocolate banana cake and I can't describe how good it was.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laguna Lodge

Tortuguero

We loved this hotel! The grounds are so so lovely with sooooo many birds and beautiful flowers and plants! And tree frogs! And the beach with the turtle nests! The pool was divine and was a welcome dip during the day and at night. We were there in October and the temperature couldn't have been more perfect. The food was super good (gallo pinto superb) with yummy pineapple and papaya. The pina coladas also tops!! Our river cruise through the Tortugeuero Canals was otherworldy with our funny and sassy guide Miguel. We were very entertained.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Almonds and Corals Boutique Hotel

Manzanillo

Stay here! This hotel is an incredible experience. It is literally sleeping in the jungle but with beautiful sheets and a lovely shower and a deck to listen to the birds and monkeys. The beach with bar service is RIGHT there and the restaurant is good and friendly with a pool table to boot. I only with we had another day there!! On the trail surrounding the property we saw armadillos, agoutis, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys-- they are all nutty nutty! The staff is excellent-- we had an early flight and they prepared a breakfast box for us!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting in Pacuare River (Class III - IV)

Costa Rica

Soooooo fun!!!!! The time (3 + hours) was perfect. Not too long, not too short.

Quality of Experience

Food

the very best golden pineapple!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

sort of more terrifying on the road there than the rafting itself!!

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Miguel was a superb guide. And our boat captain had the eagle eye! How he spotted the birds in the sea of green leaves was amazing! I really love and admire how knowledgable the people who took us on our excursions were about the animals and plants and history of Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Pedro was a perfect guide! So funny and knowledgeable and happy to share everything and anything about the culture and history of Costa Rica!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fabulous trip to Costa Rica all thanks to Bryan, who planned it, and the local Costa Rican team with Serendipty Adventures led by Adrian, who helped make it happen. The trip was so unique and a special way to celebrate our anniversary. We went to Tortuguero, La Fortuna, and the cloud forest. Adrian, who was in regular contact with us, seamlessly pivoted behind the scenes to change the itinerary when flooding affected the coast. Our driver Alex was a wonderful guide throughout the trip and taught us about local history, agriculture, flora and fauna. He had an eye for the camouflaged sloths and numerous birds. He added special touches by stopping to purchase traditional snacks.

All of our guides were exceptional in their kindnesss, thoughtfulness and knowledge.
Ricardo knew just where to find two-toed and three-toed sloths and taught us about their uniqueness.
We went bird watching with David, who carefully traversed the muddy forest to find a variety of beautiful birds.
Uber gave us a tour of his family's organic farm where we learned the Spanish names for all of the roots and herbs and pressed sugar cane for juice. His mother guided us in cooking a delicious traditional meal, and his father made a special chocolate heart for our anniversary! Finally, Luis took us on a river trip in Tortuguero where he found monkeys, iguana, sloths, and numerous birds.

This was a one-of-a-kind trip arranged and executed by a talented team where we met some of the nicest and knowledgeable people who really took pride in sharing their country with us.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

The hotel is beautiful, rife with local plants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is centrally located in San Jose.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manatus Hotel

Tortuguero

This is a beautiful hotel right on the river. We loved seeing the monkeys swinging from the trees!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

This hotel is really a resort at the base of the volcano. It is a gorgeous property with a large heated pool, heated jacuzzi, and cold pool. The rooms are individual cabins that are truly luxurious. The breakfast buffet is the best we had with delicious local fruits, all kinds of breads and pastries, an omelet station and waffle iron with fresh juices and coffee. They gave me gluten free bread and delicious gluten free pancakes, which was an extra special treat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The location near the volcano and numerous parks for walking, ziplining, horseback riding, and sloth seeing is ideal.

Staff

The staff was very helpful and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Ricardo was very knowledgeable about the animals and astute at finding monkeys, sloths, iguanas and birds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Birdwatching in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

We arrived at 5:30 in the morning for a private tour led by David. He deftly brought us through the park, a virtual forest, and found numerous birds that we had never seen. He was very kind to take stunning pictures through his binoculars to keep for memories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our drive Alex was always prompt and happy to see us.

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Costa Rica

The springs were beautiful and delightful after a long day of travel.

Quality of Experience

Food

The buffet had a wide variety of food, but most was pretty bland.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

This walk was very exciting as we got to see several two-toed and three-toed sloths.

Quality of Experience

The guide Ricardo was very knowledgeable and taught us about the sloths lifecycle, digestive system, and habits.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

The walk through the farm led by Uber was thoroughly enjoyable as he picked several roots and had us figure out what they were by feel and taste and then taught us their Spanish names. We then pressed sugar by hand and drank the juice. Later we went to his family's home, where his mother guided us in making tortillas and a traditional meal. We were touched at the end of the meal when they gave us a chocolate heart made from their own cocoa beans for our anniversary.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food we prepared was the best Costa Rican meal we had during the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uber and his family were so welcoming and informative.

Transport

The sales and operations team were amazing and made an entire trip seamless and fun!

Our trip to Costa Rica was wonderfully amazing. Huge credit to all the team at KimKim and Serendipity! We have already recommended many times.

We started off with amazing personal service on arrival, outstanding bookings in Cloud Forest at Savegre Resort where the room had a private enclosed balcony with jacuzzi tub and views of the river. They also had a special anniversary table and dinner for us, that we did not know KimKim had even set up. Beautiful and very thoughtful.
Bird watching was great with local guide and we managed to see the bashful quetzales. Horseback tour was a wonderful outing through river and up into hills. Our planned coffee tour was great and gave us unique perspectives into local growing cooperative.
We moved on to the Pacific coast and Uvita where we had another amazing balcony room at Cristal Ballena overlooking the ocean. With monkeys and toucans out our window it was a wonderfully natural landscape. Plus the afternoon in the pool was so relaxing and the staff took amazing care of us.
Our whaling tour actually saw humpback whales and dolphins so that was a bonus.
Kimkim set up everything and Serendipity was right there to answer any questions in real time. The service was outstanding! We can’t say enough great things for all the assistance. So easy to work with and everything came through even better than expected.
Would HIGHLY recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Páramo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Ballena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding Along the Savegre River

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Birdwatching and Natural History at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marino Ballena National Park: Boat Trip

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and the entire experience felt seamless, safe, and beautifully curated.
Arenal was one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had. We loved our stay at Casa Luna Hotel & Spa, peaceful, lush, and welcoming. The Arenal Volcano short hike was wonderful, offering stunning views and a comfortable pace. The food throughout the region was excellent, and the organic cooking class was a standout: part farming lesson, part cultural immersion, and entirely memorable.
The boat ride across Arenal Lake to Monteverde was serene and scenic, and our stay at Sibū Boutique Hotel was modern, comfortable, and perfectly located. Although the Monteverde night hike didn’t reveal many animals, we still spotted a few rare creatures, and the guide made the experience worthwhile. The Bat Jungle was surprisingly unique and educational. Monteverde itself offered a very special mountain atmosphere, misty, quiet, and full of character.
Overall, the trip was beautifully planned, stress‑free, and full of meaningful experiences. We are grateful for the care and expertise that went into creating this itinerary.

We had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. Serendipity Adventures, the local tour company we worked was, did a fantastic job planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. We highly recommend their services! Everything was so seamless and ran so smoothly. We would love to visit Costa Rica again and would love to use their services.

Everything went really smoothly. All of our adventures were amazing. Just as described. The little hiccups, which were not anyone swallowed were made right immediately. Thank you, Alina and team. One more note, all of the guides and people who hosted us were exceptional. So nice, knowledgeable that you felt like you were at home.

Our family trip to Costa Rica was absolutely incredible, and KimKim Travel and Serendipity Adventures, local travel specialist, delivered exceptional value every step of the way. They created a thoughtfully planned itinerary that was perfectly tailored to our family, saving us time, stress, and uncertainty while making the entire experience feel effortless. Bryan, Nancy and Adrian, among others at Serendipity Adventures, worked diligently to make sure everything ran smoothly and worry-free. A special shoutout to our private chef, Sarah, and his assistant, Natalia, whose delicious meals were one of the highlights of our stay at Casa Fantastica. Their food and warm hospitality made us feel completely at home. We had fantastic tour guides and drivers such as Alex our driver who was a wealth of local information. Brian at the Sunset Sailing Cruise made our sailing adventure so much fun with an excellent dinner and drinks. Tucanes Tours made our horseback riding adventure so much fun and we felt safe and well taken care of. The people at Villa Vanilla Spice Tour were so knowledgeable and the vanilla and other products we purchased were such high quality. Very informative tour. Champions Surf School made our surf lessons so much fun and we had a wonderful day at the beach. Casa Fantastica has a wonderful staff from the concierges, Carlos and Sarah, to the cleaning and laundry services people. Very professional and friendly. Again, Chef Sarah at Casa Fantastica was truly remarkable and really made our trip one to remember.

Hotel Review

Casa Fantastica

Our family trip to Costa Rica was truly one we will never forget, and Casa Fantastica played such a special part in making it so meaningful. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed, relaxed, and cared for. Carlos and Sarah, the concierges on the property, were so helpful. The beauty of the home, the incredible views, and the peaceful surroundings gave us the perfect place to slow down and enjoy time together as a family. The cleaning staff, laundry staff and maintenance people were great and so attentive to our needs and requests. A huge part of what made our stay so memorable was Chef Sarah, and her assistant, Natalia. Sarah wasn't just an amazing chef, she became part of our experience. Her warmth, kindness, and attention to every detail made us feel like we were being cared for by a friend. Every meal was absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared. Sitting around the table sharing those meals became some of our favorite moments of the entire trip. Casa Fantastica gave our family the gift of unforgettable memories, laughter, connection, and time together that we will always treasure. We are so grateful for the hospitality and care that went into making our stay extraordinary. Costa Rica will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we hope to return to Casa Fantastica again someday.

Authenticity & Character

This was a luxury home with beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms, an infinity pool and hot tub, and all the amenities you need.

Location

This luxury home is located in Manuel Antonio down a very steep street. Difficult to walk into town from here but a short Uber ride.

Staff

Chef Sarah was amazing. Her meals were so delicious and creative. Her assistant, Natalia, also did a fantastic job. The cleaning staff, laundry staff, and maintenance staff were also great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This luxury home had everything you could want available to you and the location was great.

Activity Review

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Costa Rica

This was a wonderful family activity. Sailing aboard a pirate ship in the ocean. What could be more fun. Brian on the staff made our time at sea an adventure and so much fun. We had a wonderful dinner and drinks. Took time out to enjoy the ocean snorkeling, or paddle boarding, or just lounging in the ocean with a pool noodle. We were also able to see dolphins swimming next to our boat. Highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Fun family adventure.

Food

We had a delicious dinner on the boat and drinks were flowing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain and staff were all fantastic. Brian made our trip so much fun.

Transport

Sailing around the ocean for hours was so much fun.

We spent 10 fantastic days in Costa Rica. We started in Arenal and stayed at the Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, great staff and a beautiful property. We had three tours, a volcano tour with Mariano, a bird tour with Mau, and a night tour with Pablo. Loved all three. The guides were really friendly and informative. We learned a lot.
Next we went to Monteverde, we drove route with the new bridge. The view was worth it but make sure you have a 4x4 and check water levels at the rivers. We stayed at the Koora. I would go back to Montverde just to stay here. The staff here is the best I've met in all of my travels.
We ended our trip in Tamarindo for a few days of sun and relaxation. It was our first time having a close up look at Howler monkeys. We will be going back to Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Beautiful property, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

This hotel has the best staff of any place that I've stayed. I wanted to hug them when we left. This will make me seek out more Seaglass properties.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They are so friendly and so professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Sloth Observation Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really appreciated how experienced they were. Showed us how to locate them in the wild.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

We spent five hours with Mariano. We learned so much about the history of Costa Rica, the plants and the animals. We had lunch together at the Red Frog, great casual food. Loved the coffee!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Birdwatching in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mau is a great guide! His passion for birding is contagious. My husband and I have now downloaded the Merlin bird app to use in every place we visit. Take this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary

Arenal/La Fortuna

I love frogs and lizards, I do not love spiders and snakes. I left this tour feeling more comfortable and more educated. Pablo was an excellent guide, extremely knowledgeable and answered my five billion questions. He even spotted a juvenile Sloth for us to see, we were able to see it moving around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim and Serendipity Adventures were fantastic to work with! Bryan, Adrian and Nancy did a fantastic job planning the trip, adjusting it for me and the supporting us during the trip for anything we needed. Our family vacation was fun and seamless due to this team. Thank you!