Amazing 20 day Costa Rica Adventure!
Costa Rica | Feb 13 - Mar 4, 2023

Jane
Jane R.
Newburgh, NY | Reviewed on Mar 08, 2023

When we were starting to look into a 20 day trip to Costa Rica, a friend recommended we check out kimkim. That was the beginning of our amazing coast to coast adventure in Costa Rica! Kimkim connected me to Sergio, one of the local specialists with Serendipity Tours. Sergio spent a lot of time getting to know us...what we like to do and what we're looking for, our age & level of fitness and adventure, the length of stay, etc. Without his expertise and knowledge, we wouldn't have been able to come up with and coordinate the many places and excursions along the way. It took a few weeks of going back and forth to refine the itinerary as best we could. We were in constant communication. Working with Sergio eliminated much of the stress associated with exploring another country. He suggested places to visit, selected the hotels, arranged the excursions including transportation, booked the rental car, and offered many restaurant recommendations throughout our stay.

After we booked the trip, Sergio sent us preparation & packing tips, which were incredibly helpful. Even though plans were in place, we could still modify & adjust if necessary.

From the time we arrived at the airport, we felt as if we had a personal guide just a whatsapp call or text away! Once we arrived in Costa Rica, we could contact Charlotte with Serendipity pretty much 24/7 if necessary. She was our logisitics coordinator and was always available in a pinch; for instance, if we had to reschedule or cancel an excursion, if our pickup was late, she would call on our behalf, if we were running late, she would contact the transport company. We could reach out with questions about tipping our drivers and guides, and any other issues that might arise.

Because of the many places we were going, Sergio recommended that we rent a car and drive everywhere. That was definitely part of the adventure and we enjoyed the breathtaking views along every bend of the road (and there are many bends and switchbacks!). The trip exceeded our expectations and we are grateful for the team of Sergio, Nancy and Charlotte who attended to us for these many months!

Hotel Reviews
Amor Arenal
La Fortuna, San Carlos

One of the most beautiful places to stay! A place to feel pampered & peaceful. The design of the individual casitas incorporated into the lush foliage and rainforest landscape is amazing. The restaurant is outstanding and sits at the foothills of the Arenal Volcano; the views are spectacular.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff was over the top in every way! They couldn't do enough and anticipated our every need. We felt like we were leaving family by the time we had to depart!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas
Las Catalinas

Beautiful hotel and location right on the gulf. When you're there, you feel as if you've been transported to the Mediterranean coast! The restaurant was excellent; breakfast was included daily and we had a few dinners there as well.

Authenticity & Character
Las Catalinas is very different than other areas. It's totally self-contained and the architecture has a whole different feel. It's built into the mountains and very beautiful; it doesn't have a local feel if that's what you're looking for.
Location
Beachfront location. Walkable to restaurants in addition to the hotel's. Beautiful hiking trails along the coast.
Staff
Fantastic service; everyone was incredibly attentive, friendly and responsive!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fonda Vela Hotel
Monteverde

Nice location in the cloud forest. The room was lovely. Unfortunately, the steep road up to the hotel was filled with many potholes which made it difficult to navigate, especially at night. We found that the restaurant was understaffed at breakfast, which created issues with pickup times.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Most of the staff was attentive and responsive to our needs and requests.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hacienda La Esperanza, Boutique Coffee Farm House
Cartago

This is a small hotel (real feel is a b & b). We loved the intimacy and feel of being in the home/hacienda of a local family. And we felt warmly welcomed by the staff. The hacienda sits above the small town of Aquiares and the views are spectacular! A delicious breakfast was included daily, but we were pleasantly surprised by the 5 star dinners that were optional, but available daily! We decided to take advantage of the chef's amazing cuisine!

Authenticity & Character
We loved the local flavor and experience. This is the hacienda of the families that own the coffee farm. It's furnishings, artwork, accessories have pesonality. The views and gardens are magnificent; we dined outdoors when we could.
Location
Staff
The staff was so welcoming, friendly and accomodating! They made it feel very special during our stay.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laguna Lodge
Tortuguero

Rustic cabins in a beautiful location. The pool area was beautiful. All meals were served buffet style at the hotel and the food was very good. Bathrooms could use some updating and hot water in the sinks.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Banana Azul
Limón, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

We had a great stay at this beachfront resort. It was very close to Puerto Viejo & other beaches, yet in a private & secluded location. We loved the relaxed & casual vibe; the restaurant served breakfast, lunch & dinner. During the day, you could sit at the beach and get served if you wanted. The hotel was beautifully designed and thoughtfully integrated into the lush foliage & landscaping of the grounds.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to town, but located in a quiet location.
Staff
Every staff member was fantastic...from the first person who welcomed and oriented us, the housekeeping staff, to everyone who worked in the restaurant. They were amazingly attentive and responsive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Studio Hotel
San José

We stayed for one night at the end of our trip. The hotel was very comfortable and we enjoyed all the unique artwork and artifacts. Rooms were nicely furnished and very clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We needed to get to the airport in the morning, so this was a good location.
Staff
The staff was very helpful addressing any of our needs. The restaurant staff was amazing; I was sick upon arrival and they prepared chicken soup!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour
Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour
Costa Rica

Catamaran was beautiful, clean & well maintained. We were expecting to sail on this excursion (it is titled 'Sunset Sailing Tour'), but unfortunately, the sails could not be raised due to mechanical issues, so we had to motor the whole way. We didn't find this out until we were on the boat. The other disappointing issue was that it turned out to be a 'party boat' because of crowd and the unlimited drinks/alcohol that were being served. The sunset part of the excursion was lovely, but I would prefer a less roudy group if doing an excursion like this again.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver was great, the staff on the boat were outstanding.
Transport
Treetopia Tram & Hanging Bridges
Treetopia Tram & Hanging Bridges
Monteverde

Handging bridges hike was fabulous; the guide was exceptional and very knowledgeable. He pointed out things we would have never noticed on our own. We learned about the cloud forest and were introduced to the flora and fauna. We even saw a quetzal! It was raining and cloudy, so the tram ride was disappointing because we couldn't see much along the way. We stopped at the top and had delicious hot chocolate.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
 El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration
El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration
Monteverde

Beautiful hike with many hanging bridges and waterfalls. Lots of wildlife that our guide pointed out. We took horses back up the mountain at the end.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike
Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna

Outstanding experience! Such a beautiful hike along the bridges and then to the waterfall. We had an unexpected treat and had lunch at a local soda in La Fortuna.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide and driver were both fantastic!
Transport
Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River
Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River
Arenal/La Fortuna

Delightful rafting/floating along the river which was filled with so much wildlife that our guide pointed out continually.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Enjoy the Thermal Hotsprings at your hotel
Enjoy the Thermal Hotsprings at your hotel
Arenal/La Fortuna

There were no thermal hotsprings at the hotel we stayed at. The hotel was

Hike Turrialba Volcano
Hike Turrialba Volcano
Turrialba

This was an incredible experience starting with the breathtaking ride up the mountain! We had a fabulous hike with our guide; we were the only two in the tour, and we thoroughly enjoyed the intimate nature of this excursion:)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide was terrific; she was highly engaged throughout our time together, wanted to get to know us and we forged a friendship by the time things wrapped up.
Guided Boat Tour through Tortuguero Canals
Guided Boat Tour through Tortuguero Canals
Tortuguero

Our guide and captain guided us through the canals pointing out so many birds and wildlife. Even though it was pouring rain, we had a great experience and also learned about the history of the area along with the flora and its unique characteristics.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Exploring the Underwater Wonders of Cahuita National Park
Exploring the Underwater Wonders of Cahuita National Park
Costa Rica

Unfortunately, we weren't able to snorkel due to the currents & rip tides in the Caribbean. So, the excursion was modified and we took a boat out to the furthest most part of the park so we could hike back through the jungle along the beach. It was an easy & enjoyable hike and our guide kept us engaged as we spotted white faced and howler monkeys and sloths, along with other wildlife. There were some beautiful beaches along the way where the water was calm and inviting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sergio Bolaños
Sergio
Sergio Bolaños
Local specialist in Limon, Costa Rica | Replied on Mar 10, 2023

Hi Jane, thank you so much for your kind words. I am very happy that we were able to provide you with a memorable experience, and that you enjoyed the many places and excursions along the way. We truly appreciate your feedback, and it was our pleasure to be able to assist you during your trip. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever plan on returning to Costa Rica, as we would love to assist you again. Pura Vida!