Kimkim Trip Reviews for Colombia

My husband and I spent 8 days traveling in Colombia in August. This was our first time using a travel agency or service such as kimkim, and we are so grateful that we did! From the very beginning, our specialist Andrea developed an exciting itinerary that fulfilled our travel wishes; when I asked if she could lower the overall cost, she was able to make adjustments without sacrificing too much of the fun and comfort.

All of our local guides in each city (Andrea in Bogotá, Juan and Ivan in Pereira, and Aura in Cartagena) were all spectacular! It was so special to have guides who were both passionate about their regions and excited to share it with others through tourism. We learned so much from our conversations with each guide (all of whom spoke exceptional English)!

Some other general comments include that most of the trip was already paid for once we arrived in Colombia, that we really didn't have to worry about having cash on us - from activities to transportation! Additionally, our specialist Andrea was extremely responsive through WhatsApp and answered any questions we had very promptly and thoroughly.

Colombia is a beautiful country, the people that we encountered were so warm and friendly, and the food is just delicious! 12/10.

Hotel Review

Casa San Carlos Lodge

Pereira

Casa San Carlos is absolutely stunning and we are so happy we were able to stay here during our visit; we even had a free day that we were able to spend by the pool. I did, however, want to share some feedback surrounding the food and hospitality: things were a bit disorganized. Staff seemed eager to please but, as culminating example, when we were checking out and settling the bills for meals (which we had charged to the room each evening) all but one or two items were incorrect. The front desk worked with us to go through and correctly itemize, but it felt very messy and I ultimately feel like we payed less than we ought to (could have easily been the opposite problem, as well).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Farmers Market

Bogotá

Maria, who leads the food tour, is just wonderful! We learned so much from her about the diversity of fruit in Colombia and sustainability efforts. We really enjoyed this; however, the quantity (not quality!) of fruit did manage to give me indigestion so be sure to prepare your gut accordingly!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in the Cócora Valley up to "The Hummingbird House" & Explore Salento & Filandia

Colombia

This hike is not for the faint of heart! I was sore for the following two days but WOW what a gorgeous vista and awesome experience. Our guide Ivan saw that we only had sneakers and helped us rent rain boots to hike in, which I am grateful for since the trail can be very muddy!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rum & Chocolate Tasting

Cartagena

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would! Jesus is so charming and conversational, and the rums were very delicious. Really fun way to have a taste of Cartagena.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver in Cartagena, Emerson, was one of our favorites! He was so kind and accommodating!

Transport

Knowing Cartagena to the Rhythm of Salsa

Cartagena

Wish we had enjoyed this more, but it was very basic and took place in a pretty bare bones dance studio in what felt like an apartment building. If you have any salsa experience already, this is probably not for you - but it might be if you are total beginner.

Quality of Experience

Cesar who went on several trips with me was amazing and passionate about his country and the culture, and mostly the history as to what makes Colombia what it is today. Harem was equally amazing whilst visiting Tayrona Park and the Sierra Nevada, This is such a beautiful place and I enjoyed hiking in the mountains to get to the beach. The views and water are spectacular! I had a guide to match in Jaruem😁. Emerson was the best driver and I was lucky to have him navigate between several destinations. The perfect, most patient and caring driver I have come across. Cartagena was a blast! Loved the mud bath at Volcan Totumo!!!!I went to Rosario Island on my own and it was amazing!
I loved Colombia so much that I extended my flight and went to MEDELLÍN and that was the best decision ever!

Hotel Review

Villa Playa Tayrona

Magdalena

Room was spacious and clean, keyless entry. The bathroom was gorgeous! The balcony was used for me to take salsa lessons. Cannot comment on food since I did not eat there. My shower door did not close. I also had an issue with the safe several times, but staff was extremely courteous and helpful. Did not have an opportunity to indulge in spa services. Room service is limited and the chicken closed by 6pm

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful guides

Location

I’m the middle of squares, shops and nightlife

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Excursion to Tayrona National Park - Relax on Gairaca Beach

Tayrona National Park

The beauty of the beaches of Tayrona are compared to Seychelles. There is a lot of walking, but that’s perfect for me.I had the best guide in Jaruem!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

Visit to San Basilio de Palenque

Cartagena

Definitely another one of my favorites. To learn about the people from Palenque was a special treat. I feel blessed to have seen where Graciela was from and to see where Afreneto’s beats began and the famous boxer Pambele and how he gave back to his home town . This is the place for roper who truly appreciates history and culture. By far one of my favorite experiences!!!!

Quality of Experience

Taught words and phrases in Palenque language, made famous candy, and danced at the museum.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best guide in Cesar, and Emerson is the best and most courteous driver I have come across in all my travels around the world. These gentlemen made my trip. Love them!

Transport

Driver is second to none. Helpful, courteous, patient and he even drove me from Cartagena to Tayrona which is quite a distance, but he made stops as necessary and explained more about the areas who drove through on the way there( such as Barranquilla and the Venezuelan communities

Cartagena Dance Class

Cartagena

I had a personal salsa lesson with Anyerson and boy was it fun, a bit challenging toward the end, but with a patient instructor well versed in dancing and having an easygoing personality all went well and I am a better salsa dancer than I ever thought possible.

Quality of Experience

Dancing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Personality

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

Best two days withJaruem. We had a blast and he took the best photos of me in the nicest parts of the park. I am beyond pleased with my entire experience. Passionate about animals and pointed out cotton top monkeys to me. Bought coonut water from Indigenous people and even took a photo. I couldn’t have dreamt of a nicer person. He went above and beyond for me and I am forever grateful.

Quality of Experience

My guide. I lucked out during my entire trip with guides.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My driver back to Cartagena was really sweet, but she had some issues finding my hotel in Cartagena( understandably because streets in Getsemani are narrow) and the ride was just mediocre. There was an issue with her trunk not opening both in Yayrona and upon arrival in Cartagena, but it all worked out. Nothing bad and nothing special.

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Trip selections were excellent. Felt like I saw and experienced the best of Colombia. People were nice and friendly. Guides and drivers were knowledgeable and made us comfortable and safe. Special mention to David in Perreria and Sol in Medellin. Now I understand why we had to take 3 plane rides inside the country. So we can see the best places at such a limited time. Most notable experience and sights for mr include Gold museum, Monserrat Hill, Horse back ride, Cofee plantation, Climbing the rock in Guatape, Communal 13 walking tour, Islabela beach tour, the Cartagena walled town and its plazas and dancers, the gourmet meals we tasted suggested by our guides, seeing Botero paintings and Sculptures, Food tour, and many more . And Thank you Michael for being accommodating and flexible to our schedule as well as David who subbed for you while you were away. KimKim is one of the best tour org. I have seen. Very organized and detail oriented. Thank you Chaska team for a wonderful experience.

We had a fantastic time in Colombia, and Wendy and our wonderful guides were such a huge part of that! Wendy did a great job of designing our itinerary and responding to our requests and interests, and each of our guides-- Andrea in Bogota, Andres in Medellin, and Oscar in Cartagena-- were warm, knowledgeable, and totally organized. As a single mom of 2, I'm usually the one handling all the logistics, tickets, emergencies, et cetera. With Kim Kim, I was able to relax and just enjoy an engaging, energizing vacation. Thank you!

Wendy did an amazing job coordinating everything on our trip to Colombia. There were lots of moving pieces and we visited multiple cities. Great trip thanks to Wendy and her team! We will definitely use Kim Kim again. Thanks for everything!

Hotel Reviews

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

Wonderful hotel. Very personal service and great location. Restaurant and service were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice boutique hotel.

Location

Very centrally located.

Staff

Service was impeccable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Origen

Santa Marta

Loved this hotel. Was a bit of a transition given what we are used too. But really enjoyed the stay. The ladies in the kitchen were wonderful. Very nice quiet place that has great access to the park and just a quick walk to the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice setting.

Location

Isolated - but that is what made it charming.

Staff

Excellent service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Remember fit is an Eco Lodge (not a 4 seasons). So, when visiting, keep that in mind. We had a blast.

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Excellent hotel. We stayed in the 2nd building (which I would recommend - quieter and nicer rooms). Food was very good and the hotel is close to everything. Service was impeccable.

Authenticity & Character

Excellent.

Location

Great location - central to everything.

Staff

Staff is very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very good.

Activity Reviews

Discover Santa Marta

Colombia

Jovan did a wonderful job.

Quality of Experience

Excellent.

Food

Very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jovan and our driver were excellent.

Transport

Very good.

Taironaka & River Tubing at Don Diego River

Colombia

Nice relaxing float trip. Gave us a break after a lot of walking tours. Guides were great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free availability of transportation service

Colombia

Jimmy and our guide did a great job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the iconic Comuna 13 & Medellín

Medellín

Mario and Jimmy (driver) did an excellent job. Lunch could have been a bit better - but overall wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mario and Jimmy did a stellar job!

Transport

Jimmy was excellent!

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

Nice trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Magical City of Cartagena & Getsemaní

Cartagena

Driver was excellent - guide was a bit average. This was the only part of a trip that was “average.”.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was excellent - guide was average.

Transport

Driver did an excellent job.

Trip of a lifetime! My husband and I decided to go to Colombia for our 15 yr anniversary. We didn’t know much about the country and decided to try KimKim. This was a huge game changer!! Margoth was absolutely amazing in the planning. She knew we wanted to see the coffee region and suggested we try Hacienda Bambusa. With only 8 rooms it can fill quickly. From there the rest of the trip was planned.
We started in Bogotá and had the most knowledgeable tour guide Byron. Being a history major he knew the city well. Even showed me the best spots for picture taking. If you are into hiking I highly recommend taking one of the hikes in Chingaza. The local guide was able to give us such a deep understanding of the indigenous Colombian people.
In Armenia we had the best hospitality. Cocoa tour, horseback riding. So many surprises along the way. Our guide and driver here were top notch talking us to some amazing coffee shops and restaurants off the main tourist streets.
One of the best parts about Kim Kim was having amazing guides and drivers in each city. We were able to cover so much ground and have a deeper cultural experience. It completely changed my outlook of foreign travel. Thank you Margoth!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Medina Four Seasons

Bogotá, Cundinamarca

So comfortable and charming. This hotel was absolutely stunning. We loved the breakfast each morning in the lovely atrium style restaurant. At night we chatted it up with the bartender who taught us more about the local area and drinks. His English was great and we were able to practice our Spanish. Spa services were great too!! Liked that it was in a safe neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Bambusa

El Caimo

This place makes you feel like royalty. They greet you by name from the moment you arrive. Even staff members I had not met were able to greet me by my first name, so impressive. The rooms were beautiful with hammocks and hummingbirds. The flora and bird watching made me want to stay forever.

Authenticity & Character

Loved everything!

Location

Close to airport but they need to work on the roads.

Staff

Greeting us by name. Waiting with fresh cool towels when we arrived back from excursions. Surprise picnic table and drinks in the bamboo forest.

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the turn down service with the yummy treats.

Activity Reviews

Coffee Shops Usaquen recommendations (no transportation and activity not included)

Bogotá

This was one of my husbands favorite meals in Colombia and he is a foodie. Cute patio. Seafood soup and Sangria are recommended.

Chingaza Natural National Park Tour

Bogotá

Hands down the most informative hike I have ever done. Our local guide Gabrielle was from Muisca descent. His love for the culture and environment was inspiring. We hiked to the infamous lagoons, touched the sacred rocks. Loved it despite the rain and mud. We stopped for lunch in Guasca. Felt good to discover the smaller cities with so much culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cocora Valley,  Salento, & Coffee Farm Visit

Colombia

This was a bit of a drive from our hotel but well worth it. We were lucky to see the Colombian condor close up. The walk was easy and breathtaking. Fun picture spots. Salento was colorful and had great shopping.

Cacao Tour (Hacienda Bambusa)

Armenia

Loved this tour and learned a lot about cacao farming. My only wish is that the tour was a bit longer so it could include the end stages of cacao production and to actually taste some of it. Cacao tour without actually tasting any chocolate was a little disappointing. Best part was hands down the guide. Sebastian was informative and easy to talk too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Colombia was amazing. I whole heartedly recommend this trip to anyone seeking an interesting, inspiring and fun vacation. Wendy was a fabulous specialist - very responsive, helpful and kind. We enjoyed so many activities! In Bogota we loved visiting the Traditional Farmers Market with Maria Jose. She was so passionate about Colombia and her work. We learned so much and enjoyed the fruit and market. We had a blast dancing during a LBGT night in Bogotá! Our guide throughout, Andrea, was absolutely lovely. We learned so much about the city, Colombia and a bit about what it is like to live there. We loved our experience in Medellín. What a beautiful city. Our guide Andres was awesome. We were in awe of how this city and the community has transformed after so much suffering. The vibrancy and passion we felt in the Comuna 13 was amazing. I think I will most remember the moving stories, hopefulness and how much incredible work performed by the community has transformed this city. We also had a fun evening out to a gay bar with Andres. Great conversations! The visit to the “silletera” farm was lovely as well. Our last days were spent in Cartagena. Really had some great meals! Also had a blast with the rum and chocolate tasting! As I write this review, I feel a longing to go back! It truly was amazing. My impression is mostly of the people we met, our guides and others we spoke with. I feel so grateful for how much I learned and got to experience in this beautiful country with such amazing people.

Activity Reviews

Traditional Farmers Market

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The City of Eternal Spring and Its Story of Transformation

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

LBGT Night in Bogotá

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Medellín Nightlife

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rum & Chocolate Tasting

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an incredible experience!

Michael was attentive and listened to my needs on the trip. Each guide, Jose and Roberto, were kind, accommodating, and knowledgeable. Each excursion and outing brought my spouse and I a little closer to the amazing spirit of the people of Colombia. Each accommodation was comfortable and sustainably minded. I cannot say enough great things about this trip and I cannot recommend this once-in-a-lifetime experience enough. Go to Colombia and experience its wonders!

Hotel Reviews

La Campana Hotel Boutique

Medellín

Delicious breakfast options and a really unique experience. I felt like I was part of a family! Rooms and beds were so comfortable. Bathrooms were a bit small, but that's the American in me.

Authenticity & Character

Location

About a ten minute walk from tons

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Don Pedro De Heredia

Cartagena de Indias

What a cool building and the staff was so kind. The room had lots of old world charm, including a tiny bathroom and gaps in window frames just small enough for mosquitoes. Would have loved a mosquito net in my room for the stay, but other than that, it was a wonderful place AND really close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could not beat this location.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mosquito nets, please!

Activity Reviews

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

Wow! What a fun experience. This was my husband's favorite stop. We learned a lot, interacted with the landscape, and had great coffee/juice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daytrip: Silletera Culture in Santa Elena & La Piedra de Guatapé

Medellín

Wow! I loved every minute of this day! The drive was beautiful, the monolith was such an adventure, Guatape was SO BEAUTIFUL, lunch was DELICIOUS, and the floral farm was such a fun cultural experience. This was my favorite day of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Oh wow! I will think about that lunch a lot!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

What a fun experience, but too many tourist traps. I ended up tipping so many people and while we were somewhat warned about it, it was still a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

An incredible experience! I wish it wasn't fresh off a flight and I had more energy. It went so quickly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was INCREDIBLE. I learned so much

Transport

Cartagena Bike Tour

Cartagena

I would have loved this more had I not been so tired and had it not been so hot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We LOVED our time in Cartagena and really appreciated the care Michael took to make sure each detail was thought out. The Armeria Real hotel suited our family well and the sleeping loft gave our daughter somewhere to hide away when she wanted a moment alone.

We particularly enjoyed the chocolate workshop at ChocoMuseo with Cindy. Our active 9-year-old was involved in every step. The owner, Abe, stopped by and gave us a bit of a taste of the rum experience from his other property Rumbox across the street. We went there later for dinner. That was a highlight but the workshop with Cindy was a wonderful, intimate, personalized way to kick off our adventure in Cartagena. She was knowledgeable and patient. We bought rum and chocolate to bring home to share with others.

We also loved the bike tour with Oscar. What a GREAT tour guide! So warm and a great story teller. We were not the steadiest on our bikes but he matched our pace and was reassuring. He sought out a great little coffee shop, which was a highlight for my husband. He helped our daughter make connections between Colombian history and what she'd already learned of US history. And he knew everyone all over town. I felt like we were rolling along with a local celebrity.

The dance lesson was a bit less successful - we learned how to dance but using the dining room at our hotel wasn't really the ambiance we were looking for. The instructor was great but it would have been nice to go out somewhere more lively. I suppose that's too much to ask at that time of day. Dance culture doesn't likely pick up until later at night. I did see Oscar took a video of us dancing - perhaps you could ask him for a copy and send it on to us?

The trip to the islands was lovely and I really liked IslaBela. It was not overrun like many of the reviews I'd read of other Rosario Island destinations.

Overall, a wonderful trip and using KimKim and Chaska helped us find the right balance between independent travel and expert on-the-ground guidance and support. Very satisfied!

Hotel Review

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

The location in Getsemani was perfect and the rooftop pool is a great place to relax after a day of sightseeing. Take in the view of the city walls and the skyscrapers on the peninsula beyond as you lounge with a mojito from the bar. The room smelled a bit musty but the air conditioning was effective and the sheets were clean. They really need to boost the lighting in the interiors. The decor is charming and authentic to the neighborhood. For our family it was really perfect to have the two beds split into separate spaces, with a living room bedroom, and bathroom on the first floor, and another bedroom and bathroom in a sleeping loft above. This provided a little getaway for our daughter to decompress within shouting distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of Getsemani. Walkable to so many destinations.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chocolate Workshop

Cartagena

This was amazing. Cindy was a wonderful tour guide through the process of making chocolate. She let us be hands-on for several steps of the process, handling the cocoa beans, shelling them, mashing them and finally pouring them into molds. She even customized our mixture so that it would not contain milk since I had an allergy. We learned so much and were inspired to eat dinner that night at their restaurant across the street - Rumbox - where they have a lovely rum-tasting experience that is also infused with chocoloate. This experience was everything we could hope for - personalized, sensory, informative and fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked - so not much to say about that.

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Lovely trip to the islands. It's so nice you get your own little cabana/bed upon arrival. The food was tasty. The vibe was relaxed. The snorkeling was a little bit of a disappointment in that the water was a bit rough. Not much they can do about that as tour operators, though. And there were lots of pretty fish.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City-Tour by Bike

Cartagena

Oscar was a wonderful guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. He was greeting folks all over the city. He customized the tour to our interests. He worked with the bike rental place to make sure we got a tandem bike that suited our family. He scouted out a great coffee shop where my husband got to sample tasty coffee.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena Dance Class

Cartagena

The instructor was great. We learned how to dance. I somehow thought we'd do so at a more lively venue where we'd then be able to continue dancing. Doing the dancing in the empty dining room of our hotel was not an ideal location - especially since we were such a small group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A quick review for your quick reminder. Despite our COVID set-back, we have positive feelings about our trip. In fact, it was having KimKim’s arranging of our need for an altered itinerary that was especially helpful. Both of our guides, Yube and Roberto, were good, but Yube was especially good. We liked the way she talked about a wide range of subjects, something that gave us a sense of Colombia today. And our best day was the one where we went up to the mountains with her (although we never understood why we used a boat instead of tubes).

We love Colombia! It was a romantic, elegant cultural experience that gave us 10 days of non stop fun. Margoth was incredible. She planned a trip that was customized to us. I was not an easy client. Due to illness I had to cancel a big hike and Margoth saved our trip. She gave us smaller hikes including one up a rain forest river, a beautiful raft down a remote river and 2 nights in an elegant resort on exotic Baru. She chose incredible restaurants, found us the best guides and made every airport pick up a pleasure. I felt we got incredible value. The hotels were just lovely. Margoth went above and beyond on so many occasions I can’t imagine ever going to Colombia without her. I can’t imagine ever travelling again without her - I am spoiled. She was always available to answer questions and ensure we were on time.

This trip opened our minds and our hearts to this stunning country. It was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you so so much Margoth. When you come back to Canada and I would love to meet you.

Hotel Reviews

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Terasu Salento

Salento, Quindío

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kawa Mountain Retreat

Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It’s incredible. Bugs are there. We got used to it.

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Dinner Reservation at OCI.Mde

Medellín

Best food in a restaurant in Colombia hands down.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Raft Down the River ‘La Vieja’ (and local Picnic Lunch)

Colombia

Rosco was fun. Laura our guide was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Colombia. Both Felipe and Margoth helped us during the entire vacation and took care of everything from start to finish. All was outstanding but we especially liked our travel guide Pablo in Medellin, our tour to Cafe de la Cima, chocolate tasting at El Arsenal The Rum Box, Cartagena and the cooking class at Oh La La also in Cartagena. We would not hesitate to recommend Felipe to anyone that wants to visit Colombia.

Activity Reviews

Coffee Farm Day Tour

Medellín

Wonderful! We loved it! Great visit with the family at this coffee farm.

Quality of Experience

Great coffee. Wonderful family.

Food

Excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing!

Transport

Great transportation.

Rafting Tour at Rio Claro

Medellín

So much fun! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class and Lunch

Cartagena

Very fun cooking class and great food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)

Medellín

Great tour! A must!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful!

Transport

Guatape and El Peñol

Colombia

Great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful staff!

Transport

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Just great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Andrés Carne de Res

Medellín

Loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alto de San Miguel Forest Reserve Birdwatching Tour

Medellín

Great tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bird Sanctuary

Colombia

Very nice!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Colombia

Colombia

Went great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip planning and customization was easy and well managed. The overall trip plan was organized well. The itinerary was well thought out, covering some of the most essential areas of the country given our interests. The plan and communication around hotels, drivers, daily activities and travel were all communicated well. Most of the local guides were excellent. One, in Medellin, seemed a bit less well-versed and enthusiastic than the others, but was sufficient for the tours.

The country and its people are amazing. The natural beauty, culture and the Colombian spirit are inspiring.

Our one criticism was about the communication of what Tayrona Park promised to be versus what we experienced. For us, as experienced outdoors people who relish the solitude and wild aspects of natural places, the park was not what we had anticipated. It is a walk to several beaches, not a wilderness experience. To be fair, we arrived on a 3 day national holiday, so the park was full. But, we were quite unhappy with the day. Our local guide, with support and approval from our Kim Kim liaison made things right by swapping out an alternative for us. We had one other wrinkle, when bad weather prevented us from visiting one of the islands off Cartagena. Our liaison changed the itinerary easily for us to make sure we were happy.

This is our second trip with Kim Kim. In the end, they work hard to give you the experience you want and to take over the heavy lifting. They are solid communicators who work at those goals.

We had a remarkable family trip to Colombia recently. Michael from Chaska Travel was incredibly flexible, attentive to details, and prompt in getting us information and making adjustments to the itinerary to match our interests and needs as a family with 3 kids ages 4-10. Very much appreciated arrangements for all internal travel as well. With Michael's help, we had a seemless trip that started in Medellin, including a day trip to Guatape and Penol Piedra with our wonderful guide Will and continued in the coffee region. Will even provided us a list of recommendations for vegetarian-friendly restaurants for later in our trip in Cartegena; we went to several and all were delicious! Our guide Jose was terrific and knowledgeable as was our driver Mario who knew so much about birds! Jose even checking in with us after we had left his company to make sure we we had reached Cartegena and were continuing to enjoy our trip. The coffee region was beautiful and lush and we enjoyed our hike to the waterfall with a nature guide. Cartegena is beautiful and our hotel was perfectly located. A bike tour was the perfect way to get around and learn the layout of the old city and much better for the kids than walking! We are thankful to Michael for finding a way to get us to Hotel Las Islas which was a truly wonderful experience in terms of service, activities, food, and the setting. A truly memorable trip that was a pleasure to plan and take with the help of KimKim and Chaska tours!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Las Islas

Barú

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Park 10

Medellin

Great breakfast, very friendly staff! Rooms are large, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finca Hotel del Cafe

Santa Rosa de Cabal

Beautiful setting on a coffee farm surrounded by lush vegetation, the hotel has a lovely central courtyard and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero

Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Excellent location in the Old City of Cartagena with clean and comfortable rooms and friendly staff, great morning breakfast on rooftop.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour of Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

The Santa Rosa Hot Springs are an impressive setting and the hot springs were fun, although crowded when we went as it was a holiday. Getting in at first was confusing due to the crowds but once in, all was straightfoward. We had some issues with dinner as almost no vegetarian items on their menu were available and arrangements had to be made for our driver to stop at a restaurant in town with us so we could eat. Worth considering in determining the timing of when to go to hot springs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Frailes Waterfall & Salento & the Cocora Valley

Salento

Great hike -- thank goodness for the rain boots provided by the nature guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena Bike Tour

Cartagena

Great way to get a sense of the old city and see the main historical sites before exploring further by foot although a little hard to navigate on bikes with traffic and narrow streets. Guide was a little nervous with our kids but they were fine. The vendor for the bikes would benefit from improving their helmets which did not adjust/fit well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Bioluminescence Tour

Isla Barú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the National Aviary of Colombia

Colombia

The aviary is impressive but it was just too hot and humid to fully enjoy on the day we went. The educational show at the two set times is okay but not a huge loss if missed (especially if not fluent in Spanish). We rushed through the last several exhibits before the arena to get to show in time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall we had an amazing experience on our trip. Everything was well organized and planned with detail which was a relief. I was surprised to have the same guide for all the days we’d stay in each city but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fabiola, Jose and Oscar were knowledgeable and fun. A few improvements with choice of hotel and preparation for tours could be made but nothing extreme. We will definitely be using Kim Kim for our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Deco

Bogotá

Great food and clean rooms. Location has pros because it’s walking distance to everything but loud at night if you want sleep.

Tips for future travelers

Take ears plugs for the noise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Overall very pretty, our experience may have been bad luck but we could not sleep at night because there was very loud music next to our room coming from another building. Police had to be called twice to address the issue at 4am. Breakfast is sufficient but a bit bland, location is close to many touristy areas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Campana Hotel Boutique

Medellín

Great location, clean and good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Punta Faro

Isla Mucura

Beautiful grounds, very clean rooms. Environment is relaxing. Only con would be overall size and amenities offered. Beach is not very big but not many guests stay at the hotel in general. Only one restaurant but offers tasty buffet. More than two days might start to seem repetitive.

Tips for future travelers

The location prohibits music

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car was a bit small in the back, not much leg room for long trips. Driving was also a little choppy for those who get motion sickness.

Day Hike in Chingaza National Park

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecological Walk - "La Miel" Waterfall

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time and it was planned well. We never would have done as much or see so much without your service. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Oscar when we arrived at Bogota. He has so much knowledge and knew so many people along the way that made the trip extra personable. Gustvo made the coffee region exciting, fun and full of local greetings everywhere we went. Sebastian toured us throughout Medellin hitting every aspect of the city while explaining both the successes and challenges. For us, Cartagena was to be more relaxed as we had already seen and done so much. The walled city was vibrant at every hour of the day and night. Martin shared the beautiful history of the city and we felt his pride.
Kimkim experience was beyond our expectations, all of the planning, coordination and thoroughness of both drivers and guides made our travel full and rich. Thank you all

Mike did a superb job regarding the coordination of transportation, guides, several trips and accommodations!!

I greatly recommend Mike to help navigate a trip to Colombia. The service Mike provided was astounding!

Colombia is a beautiful country with abundance of natural beauty. Foreigners will benefit from the assistance of guides and a reputable tour agency.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos

Beautiful views! Staff was friendly. Definitely would go back!

Reserva Guadalajara- Cocora Valley

Salento

Highly recommend the “hacienda”. Great views. Felt like being “home”. The owner of the hotel was so friendly. I would go back again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trekking to Ciudad Perdida

Santa Marta

This was an amazing trek if you love the jungle. The guide was knowledgeable. Learned about the indigenous and the overall history of the region. This is a difficult hike.

Visit Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm & Salento

Salento

The guide was very knowledgeable regarding the palms of the area. It was interesting to learn about the adaptation of the palm tree and glad to observe conservation of the trees. Beautiful area in Colombia!

We just returned from a magnificent vacation in Colombia planned by the amazing local specialist, Wendy. Wendy planned the perfect itinerary for us in Medellin, Zona Cafetera (coffee region) and Cali. She was so easy to communicate with leading up to the trip and checked in all the time during the trip to make sure all was going well. She coordinated amazing tours for us with local guides Samuel and John who had so much passion as guides me helped us truly appreciate the beauty of Colombia. I have to admit I was a bit nervous using an unknown specialist on the internet but after this trip and everything Wendy planned for us I would 100% definitely use KimKim again for future travel! Thank you for a truly memorable trip!

I was skeptical at first, having never heard of KimKim before but Andrea was very reassuring and responsive to all my questions throughout the planning. Oscar was a phenomenal guide! He is so knowledgeable, interesting, and not boring at all! We had an awesome time. The activities were also really great. Colombia is such a beautiful country and the food is magnificent! We also had an awesome and relaxing time at Punta Faro, everyone was so attentive and accommodating. I was especially glad we didn't have to worry about food there. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Will definitely be back!

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

Cartagena

Excellent service. Beautiful accommodation. Awesome staff.

Authenticity & Character

Loved they kept the original structure. Made you feel like you were part of history.

Location

Close to pretty much everything.

Staff

Everyone was super nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything.

Hotel Punta Faro

Isla Mucura

The perfect relaxation spot. Awesome food. Amazing staff. Excellent service.

Tips for future travelers

Brush up on your Spanish - although, Google Translate saved me.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like an islander.

Location

The isolation. It was perfect for quiet relaxation.

Staff

Amazing people. Made some great friends.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything.

Activity Reviews

Afternoon-Night Walking Tour

Cartagena

Oscar is such an excellent guide! He was intentional about changing misconceptions about Colombia but was also very honest about some of its brutal past. I learned a lot and enjoyed touring the City.

Quality of Experience

The beautiful city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar was amazing.

Transport

We walked. It was perfect.

Discover the Magical City of Cartagena & Getsemaní

Cartagena

Getsemani was a dream! I mean the murals, the colors, the art! So beautiful!

Quality of Experience

The art everywhere.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar was amazing.

Transport

Very comfortable.

Drum Safari - Sounds of Cartagena

Cartagena

We had the absolute best time!!!!!! We drummed, we sang, we danced! Whoo! What an experience!

Quality of Experience

The school.

Food

PHENOMENAL.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar was amazing.

Transport

Comfortable.

Thank you Michael for planning an amazing trip for our family. We packed so much fun and adventure into each day and everyone had a blast. We really appreciated the help with a last minute request for horse back riding. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

The accommodations recommended were all really lovely. Especially the eco hotels. Great service and kind people everywhere we stayed.

We really enjoyed the company and skills of our drivers and a special thank you to Andreas for being so kind and helpful with our daughters. Our guides Jose, Carlos, and Edgar are very knowledgeable about Colombia and were happy to chat and answer all our questions. Having them with us not only made the trip easy, but also we learned so much and had a lot of laughs.

Activity Review

Horseback-Riding Tour

Pereira

A great family experience. The horses were gentle and calm which was great for my inexperienced kids and I. The scenery was beautiful. A very kind host who allowed us to relax on the veranda and wait for the rain to let up before heading out for our ride. My kids also loved meeting all the dogs at the property. Our guide Jose spoke perfect English, was knowledgeable about the area and was also an experienced horse rider which was so helpful. He was so kind and helpful, helping to get the kids on and off their horses and keeping everyone moving along the path. The road to get to the property is a bit rough, our driver did a great job navigating the muddy bumpy road.

Quality of Experience

Horses are well cared for. Beautiful scenery

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport