Kimkim Trip Reviews for Colombia

Our trip to Colombia, which included Medellin, Popayan, San Austin, and Bogota, was great! We had never used a tour company before and were very happy with our experience! David, the contact with Chaska tours, the local company, helped up plan a trip that we wanted that included urban experiences, countryside experiences, and exposure to the culture and people of Colombia. We also had an opportunity to practice our Spanish, as we requested, with guides who were also competent in English for those times when we needed to make the switch. David and other staff were accessible to us via WhatsApp throughout the trip and were responsive, helpful, understanding, and quick to address any concerns that we had. We had, on the whole, excellent tour guides, and the availability and skill of the drivers made the whole experience feel secure and predictable. We are already thinking about what our next KimKim trip will be and we 100% recommend KimKim.

I love Kimkim. It might not be the cheapest option for travel, but it's certainly the easiest and the best. I've worked with other online travel agencies and none have been as helpful and informative as Kimkim and none have been as responsive during the travel process. This time, our travel coordinator, Margoth, set up a What'sApp communication system that allowed us to report any dissatisfaction we had & communicate about changes to our itinerary. I couldn't believe how helpful Margoth & her team were. They changed dinner reservations for us (times & places) at the last minute. They let us know when one of our activities wasn't going to work & immediately recommended alternatives. When we were unhappy with a guide, we had a new one the next day. Most surprising of all, when one of our drivers showed up for a long drive with a vehicle with A/C that didn't work, they refunded us the cost of the entire outing (but assured us that the guides would be paid)! I was amazed with the service we received. I also love that almost all of our tours were private ones, so my kids & I could move at our pace & didn't have to adjust our pace to that of others.

The other thing I love about Kimkim is how patient all the travel coordinators are. I had difficulty making a lot of decisions & Margoth just kept making changes for me. We wanted a trip that was a little more active -- with more hiking -- than a lot of travelers to Colombia appear to request, & Margoth found ways to meet those requests. She was unbelievably patient with me -- even when I went incommunicado for a bit (because of work).

Finally, the people Kimkim hires are fantastic. We had 4 guides in 3 different cities, & 3 of them were absolutely phenomenal (&, as I said, when I complained that our 2nd guide wasn't very informative or engaged, that guide was quickly replaced). The 3 guides -- Byron in Bogotá, Omar in Pereira, & Diego in Medellín -- enhanced our overall experience in Colombia and helped us to fall in love with the country. All 3 wanted to share their love of their country with us and did so effectively. Byron knew so much about Colombia's history that I assumed he was a history or political science major in college. I wasn't entirely surprised to find out he had studied biology, though, because he also knew a remarkable amount about the flora & fauna of the region. I don't think there was a plant, fruit, or flower he couldn't name. Diego also knew a lot about history & the flora & fauna, but what we most enjoyed about him was his wonderful sense of humor. You have to be impressed by someone who can do puns in a language other than their native one. And who better to take you on a tour of a coffee farm that someone who, before he began working in tourism, had worked for the Colombian national coffee growers association (Omar)? The visit to the coffee farm was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

In addition to the coffee farm, we especially enjoyed the amazing palm forest (despite the crowds), the view of Guatapé Lake from the top of El Peñol (again, despite the crowd), some of the small towns (Salento, Guatapé, Filandia) & the crazy hike up through the river to the El Retiro waterfall. None of us (except the local guide in the town) realized that we would be hiking up the river, but Diego -- who had never been on the hike before -- was a great sport about not having spare shoes to replace the ones that got wet.

If you're worried about old stories about the dangers of Colombia, don't be! I felt as safe there as I have anywhere around the world, and I even walked alone in the mornings, as I do at home in Michigan. The only scary part was crossing some of the streets, thanks to the crazy motorcycle drivers, but none of the 3 cities was comparable to Hanoi when it came to motorcycle-induced, street-crossing terror.

Hotel Reviews

Residence Inn Bogotá

Bogotá

he Residence Inn Bogota was a fabulous place. It was beautiful and provided top-notch service. Strongly recommend this place for a comfortable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Movich Hotel de Pereira

Pereira

The Movich Hotel was nice, but the air conditioning wasn't great, which was a bit disappointing. Nonetheless, the service was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sites

Medellin

The hotel in Medellin was absolutely adorable and the free laundry service was a lifesaver. The service was phenomenal, making up for any minor shortcomings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monserrate Hill Afternoon from Airport

Bogotá

The trip up to Monserrate was a pleasant experience, though it was short. The city view was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Bogota with Gold Museum, Botero Museum and Fruit Market (No Monserrate Hill)

Bogotá

Bogota wasn't my favorite, but the Gold Museum was enjoyable and my daughter enjoyed the fruit market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Los Frailes Hike and Waterfall

Colombia

The waterfall hike was fantastic. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cocora Valley, Salento, and Filandia Coffee Town

Colombia

The outdoor activities near Pereira, including the visit to the coffee farm, were a definite highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Farm Visit

Colombia

This tour was a highlight of the trip. Omar was an exceptionally knowledgeable guide. Loved every moment of it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day City Tour in Medellín

Medellín

The city tour in Medellín was not my favorite. The long gondola ride didn't offer much interest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Retiro Hike

Medellín

The final day hike was so much fun. Even though it was unexpected to walk about a kilometer in the river, it was a great adventure. The guide was incredibly kind and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family trip to the Tayrona and The Sierra area near Santa Marta was memorable. Erik Ramirez our guide was terrific. His knowledge of flora, fauna, animals and archeology was superb and he maintained the children’s attention with his information. All three adventures were fantastic but Tayronaka and the inner tube floating experience down the Don Diego River left a special place in our heart. We are still waiting for the photos that Erik promised us.

In Cartagena Jose Miguel was fantastic. The temperature was quite high and he made sure to keep us cool and entertained. He was also very knowledgeable . Most memorable for both children and adults was the music and drum workshop at La Boquilla

Overall we were very happy with our guides and experience.s…Transportation to all locations was very comfortable with luxury air conditioned vans….Thank you Kim Kim, Felipe, Erik and Jose Miguel and all of the drivers and guides for a truly memorable experience.

Where to start -- my husband and I were very skeptical about using a tour agency. We've traveled all over the world and never needed an travel agent. But now we have kids (ages 2 and 4) and we wanted to maximize our time in Colombia (a place we'd never been). So we cautiously decided to work with Michael.... The experience was so amazing that now I want Michael to plan EVERY trip ever ever take -- he's that good.

Michael prepared our entire trip with tons of amazing options. It was a bit out of our budget so we asked him to pair down...then we got cold feet and thought "oh we can do this ourselves". So we limited our trip plans even more. Well, we arrived in Bogota and Michael had helped us with the first leg. We were so blown away by the people he had selected for us and how smoothly everything went that throughout our trip we had him add back in more and more from his original itinerary. And honestly, I wish we had taken his advice on a few more tours. We skipped out on doing the food, fruit and market walking tours and my friends who did do them, loved them.

Michael was so patient with us, so kind, and so understanding as we made decisions and then changed our minds. He was on call while we were in Colombia and his response time was incredible. I always felt like we had back up support for whatever we wanted. The PDFs KimKim provides are worth the investment. You know exactly what you are getting into. We had ton of questions and Michael answered everything.

You will not regret working with Michael! I just gave my Mom his info, lol.

Hotel Review

Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos

Beautiful and some of the best salads I've ever had.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Loved, loved, loved our drive and tour guide! Cauldia and William were great for our entire trip and we were with them all day. They shared amazing stories and we just really enjoyed their company the whole time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

David and the team made our "Adventure Honeymoon" so special! David was so helpful and responsive, from breakfast suggestions to helping us manage a last minute change in our schedules. We felt like we had a friend helping us along the way, ready to step in if we needed help. We had a magical time with our guide in Bogota, who even arranged for vegetarian-friendly options on our bike/walking tour. We had never worked with kimkim before but will certainly come back for more. Thanks for everything David!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kartaxa Cartagena

Cartagena

Super beautiful hotel in the heart of Cartagena. We loved the courtyard, breakfast, and rooftop view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Beautiful location, friendly staff, very relaxing place to hang for a few days :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Isla Mucura

Isla Mucura

Beautiful location and friendly staff! We loved that the rooms had AC and had a great time snorkeling and on the jellyfish tour. Took off one star for two reasons: 1) it was difficult to schedule snorkeling and other tours (but we really enjoyed them once we were scheduled!) and 2) we got food poisoning (probably from the buffet). Overall though I'd still recommend this spot -- especially if you're traveling with kids!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Biking in Bogotá

Bogotá

We love bikes and bike tours so this was a perfect way to kick off our time in Colombia. Our local guide (she was amazing!) and her colleague (who had biked all over Colombia!) took us all around town, sharing Bogota with us. Really an unforgettable experience learning about the local art, history, and food. Thank you for making this day so special!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

At very short notice Margarita helped me plan an unforgettable intensive one week trip with key highlights including a street-art tour in Bogotá, hiking in the Cocora Valley, immersion in the coffee production process, and a guided visit to Comuna 13 in Medellín. The travel arrangements, local guides and drivers were all excellent. I would definitely recommend Margarita and her team.

Loved the support from our guides who helped us navigate Colombia and see the best of this amazing country! Michael was super helpful putting together our ambitious itinerary and everything ran smoothly!

Hotel Reviews

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

This hotel was AMAZING! Gorgeous setting! Relaxing and quiet, delicious food, perfect massage experience, great value, fabulous staff!

Authenticity & Character

Aligned with nature and indigenous history

Location

The setting was absolutely gorgeous and literally set in nature.

Staff

So helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very tidy and comfortable. Loved the private balcony and pool.

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Great location, helpful staff, delicious breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy access to shops and restaurants within walking distance

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa de La Vega

La Candelaria, Bogotá

Hotel staff was amazing, helpful, kind. The location was great. The room itself was a bit shabby with a floor that seemed at any moment we may fall through. The location of our room was adjacent to the reception desk which meant bells dinging and doors clanging while travelers returned all hours of the night. But the staff, so nice and lovely!

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic to the area and quaint. Felt European.

Location

Great location for those wanting to explore the old city. Can get a little seedy at night.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very creaky. Seemed like we would fall through the floor.

Activity Reviews

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

So fun! Loved the relaxing environment and opportunity for yoga, massages, snorkling.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great boat driver! So personable and helpful! Made sure everyone was happy.

Transport

Day Trip to Tayrona Beaches

Tayrona National Park

Really great trip. We were the only people at the beach which was great but could have been nice to have access to more activities and refreshments. The snorkeling guide was really knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature, Waterfalls & Coffee Farm in Minca

Colombia

Great trip and our guide was lovely. The amount of time devoted to the waterfall was quite long (2 hours) for just a quick viewing and walk. Perhaps that amount of time would be good if you took advantage of the swimming. We learned a lot about the coffee plantation and saw out guide's family home, which was delightful and inspiring. I would suggest that guests know that the tour was not during harvest time so mostly hearing the background and seeing the machinery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide! She was amazing and so sweet!

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Such a fun trip to the Boulder! Gorgeous views from the top. Loved the visit to Guatape! The boat trip was nice and the visit to the replica just so so. Just touristy chatchkeys. Would have preferred more time on the boat or Guapate.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide! So friendly, knowledgeable, fun!

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Loved seeing the Botero statues, the cable car, and communa 13. I wished we had more time to enjoy the street performers in communa 13.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Same guide! Great to have her again!

Transport

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

Loved Monserrate and walking the city. The Gold Museum was cool. Our guide found us a really lovely spot for lunch and was very knowledgeable. The market experience was amazing. We tried most of breads and local fruits and juices. Doing more than listening was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide! Super helpful and knowledgeable. Was flexible and engaging!

Transport

What an awesome car we had. Very comfortable.

Our local specialist Margarita was helpful throughout the entire booking and travel process. Our local guides Aura (Cartagena), Valentina (Cartagena), Sol (Medellin) and Jimmy (Leticia) were all exceptionally kind and knowledgeable. All of the cities and experiences we encountered were memorable.

This was an amazing trip in a truly special country. Forget your prejudices and views from the past of Colombia, this is an amazingly beautiful country, with wonderfully warm people and as safe as any other country or city I visited in Europe, Asia or the Americas ..... its not perfect, but the risks in my experience are similar to anywhere else I travelled - you just need to be aware and sensible ....
The support from the KimKim team was incredible - from my very first contacts with Margoth to created the trip, nothing was a problem I could change my schedule and she always came back with options and solutions, during our trip Margoth and her fellow their team members Felipe & Marcela were super responsive and always available to support with any question.... I mean any questions..... their guides Juan Fernando, Santiago, Juancho, Jose Miguel all professional, humble and knowledgeable guys who love what they do and love their country.
It was my first time working with KimKim and I was very impressed with the support they gave us..... If I go somewhere "new" and "different" again, I will definately consider them...... and I Do recommend them.

Margoth and the team were fantastic. They provided us with an amazing trip. All our tour guides and drivers were excellent. Everything went smoothly and we enjoyed it all. Margoth and the team were available to us throughout to answer any questions we had and help us with bookings. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you!

We had a really lovely experience in Colombia, and can't wait to return. In hindsight, we may have not moved from place to place quite as often, but given the amount of time we had in the country, I think Michael did an excellent job of maximizing our time while there. There were amazing things in every area, but the magic of El Dorado Nature Reserve and Venecia House cannot be overstated. Fred, at El Dorado Nature Reserve is one of the kindest and most lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His energy was so calm, warm, and sweet. Everyone at El Dorado works so incredibly hard, and it did not go unnoticed and was so appreciated by my partner and I. The food was delicious, the rooms were lovely, and we really enjoyed sitting out on our balcony in our downtime. It's truly one of the most beautiful places, if not the most beautiful place, I have ever been to. The view from the restaurant is jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Though Tayrona National Park was very hot and humid, our day exploring with our guide had lots of rewards. From the beautiful park itself to the birds, to the adorable monkeys. It was a really incredible place, and our guide, Juaren, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and even went above and beyond to help us find one of our favorite birds! He was also our guide the previous days in Minca, where we went to a beautiful waterfall and on a morning birding hike with him.

Cesar, our guide for our Santa Marta city tour was also excellent. He braved a very very hot day in Santa Marta with us and made it enjoyable despite the scorching sun. (Which was no easy task!) We learned so much from him and really enjoyed our time with him and getting to know more about Colombia's history.

Heading to Manizales and the Venecia Coffee Farm House was a welcome respite from the heat of Santa Marta. We instantly felt relaxed upon arriving to the house. From the beautiful open rooms to the beautiful views from the wrap-around porch. Hammocks can be found in various spots around the porch, perfect for a nap and relaxing. The ladies who work at Venecia are so incredibly kind, and make some of the most delicious food. I am still dreaming about one of the soups we had while there.

While in Manizales we really loved our amazing guides at the Tinamou reserve. Another magical experience. The place was beautiful, and we saw many species of birds while there. The breakfast and lunch were very tasty and our guides were very knowledgeable and kind.

We also visited Finca Romelia which was also really nice. The owners, Jose and Marisa, were so welcoming. Jose's passion for the orchids, his home, and the nature around him was infectious. We loved getting to chat with him about his beautiful plants and home and felt inspired by the passion he has for this amazing place. Marisa prepared a fabulous lunch and breakfast for us, and easily accommodated us being vegetarian. Adrian, our guide, and his brother Juan, were the sweetest. We had a really nice time walking the property looking at birds, but also just chatting with them and getting to know them and the family more. It was a more relaxing day which was welcome and treasured.

The very minor issues we did have (and they were very very minor, such as not being able to locate our driver at one spot for a few minutes) were always quickly resolved by Michael. He was very responsive and helpful to any questions we had, though everything ran very smoothly and we didn't need to reach out very often. All of our drivers were great as well. We were very sad to leave Colombia and can't wait to return for even more adventures.

Hotel Reviews

El Dorado Nature Reserve

Minca

The magic of El Dorado Nature Reserve cannot be overstated. Fred, at El Dorado Nature Reserve is one of the kindest and most lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His energy was so calm, warm, and sweet. Everyone at El Dorado works so incredibly hard, and it did not go unnoticed and was so appreciated by my partner and I. The food was delicious, the rooms were lovely, and we really enjoyed every minute of our stay at El Dorado. It's truly one of the most beautiful places, if not the most beautiful place, I have ever been to. The view from the restaurant is jaw-droppingly beautiful. We saw so many amazing birds, creatures, and plants during our stay. Our balcony provided a great bird-watching post, as did the restaurant when we wanted to take a break from hiking and relax. I definitely would love to go back!

Authenticity & Character

The people that work here, and the nature that surrounds you is absolutely magical

Location

It's one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I like that it's hidden up in the mountains away from everything.

Staff

The entire staff was so lovely. Fred was absolutely amazing and made us feel so welcome and cared for.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean and the beds were comfy. Loved our balcony!

Hacienda Venecia Coffee Farm

Manizales

Heading to Manizales and the Venecia Coffee Farm House was a welcome respite from the heat of Santa Marta. We instantly felt relaxed upon arriving at the house. From the gorgeous open rooms to the beautiful views from the wrap-around porch. Hammocks can be found in various spots around the porch, perfect for a nap and relaxing. The ladies who work at Venecia are so incredibly kind, and make some of the most delicious food. I am still dreaming about one of the soups we had while there. Everything was very clean, and we loved being surrounded by such amazing nature and wonderful people.

Authenticity & Character

The house itself is really beautiful, and I love that they have preserved and maintained the property from it's original design. The colors are cheery, and look so lovely against the greens of the plants surrounding it. The people who work here are so kind and wonderful.

Location

Absolutely beautiful house, gardens, and views.

Staff

Some of the kindest people ever. The ladies are so incredibly kind and talented.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds and very clean rooms.

Activity Review

Santa Marta City Tour

Colombia

Cesar, our guide for our Santa Marta city tour was also excellent. He braved a very very hot day in Santa Marta with us and made it enjoyable despite the scorching sun. (Which was no easy task!) We learned so much from him and really enjoyed our time with him and getting to know and see more about Colombia's history.

Quality of Experience

Cesar was very friendly, knowledgeable, and entertaining.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so friendly and kind. Both the driver and Cesar were so nice.

Transport

Comfy car, with cool air conditioning, and always ready to pick us up to move on to the next spot.

This was my first time planning a trip through KimKim. Normally I enjoy doing the travel planning myself, but I thought I'd give KimKim a try. I'm so happy they connected me with Michael and the Chaska Tours team. Planning with Michael was a breeze, and he was very patient with all of my questions and itinerary changes. Not only did they take care of all the mundane logistics (e.g. airport transfers, a driver to transfer us 5 hours to our next hotel, in-country flights, etc.), but they also set us up with some fantastic guides in each city. Luis Miguel in Medellin was especially knowledgeable about the local history, and our guide in Parque Tayrona jogged in the sweltering heat to find a medic for my husband who had a sudden illness (husband is OK, but it was a little scary at the time!). Michael also suggested activities that I don't think I would've found on my own; for example, in Bogota we did a lovely dinner with 2 amazing ladies who are seeking to build cultural connections over food. The service from everyone they booked us with was top-notch - everyone was on time, super friendly and we had an amazing vacation.

Activity Reviews

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

This was a perfectly fine tour, not a bad way to spend a few hours if you have them. It was different than other coffee farms we had been to, so it was interesting to see the difference in farming methods.

Quality of Experience

The farmer seemed like he really knew his stuff about coffee. However, he spoke quite softly so it was hard to hear and understand him at times. We were grateful to have our local guide there with us as well, as he was able to add in additional commentary

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tubing on Don Diego River

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Walking Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monserrate Hill Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Social Dinner-Experience: Colombian Food

Bogotá

This was such a great experience and warm welcome to Colombia! We thought we were going to a restaurant, and were quite surprised to be dropped off at an apartment. But we felt instantly at home with a warmest welcome and shots of aguardiente. We learned a lot about Colombian cuisine and the value of food diversity. It was so great to get away from the touristy parts and to meet some Bogota locals. This was one of our most personable, memorable experiences of Colombia and I'd highly recommend it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traffic in Bogota is no joke! It took us longer to get there than expected (but not the fault of our driver)

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

The hike itself is beautiful and we saw many animals along the way - monkeys, iguanas, crabs, lizards, etc. We are all in pretty good shape and hike with some regularity. However, we weren't prepared for the humidity - it was HOT - and that made the trip a bit miserable to be honest. Our guide was great and very patient, and adapted the schedule to our needs. But I would definitely check the weather before doing this hike again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Honestly, I wasn't sure that I was going to like this. Many of the videos I'd seen online showed the Rosario Islands as a complete party destination, and that wasn't really what we were looking for. But it was actually quite peaceful and relaxing. We went an hour by boat from Cartagena to a small cove on an island. We were assigned our own shaded lounging bed on the beach. There were maybe 25-30 other beds and lounges, somewhat close together but it didn't feel too crowded. Lunch was included, but snacks and drinks were available to order; while they were more expensive than what'd you'd see on the mainland, they weren't ridiculously overpriced. The biggest drawback was that there were a lot of jellyfish in the water, which really discouraged everyone from swimming. Plus, it was so hot and humid going in the water and braving the jellyfish was the only way to cool off.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guatavita, Zipaquirá & Salt Mines Day Trip

Bogotá

I revisited the Salt Mines on this trip as I wanted to show it to my family. It was worth going back to, although some of us felt a little carsick from the road and exhaust. This was just a minor inconvenience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Our guide was phenomenal, providing a wealth of information about the city's history and politics. The tour highlighted the city's transformation, which was quite fascinating to learn about. Definitely one of the best guides we had on the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

This was a great experience. The area was absolutely gorgeous, making me wish we could have spent a night there. Lunch was included at a restaurant in town, which was a nice touch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate & Rum Tasting

Cartagena

This was run by the same company that handled the chocolate workshop. The rum tasting was a fantastic experience which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Workshop

Cartagena

This was a hit with both myself and my daughters (ages 23 and 16). The air-conditioned environment was a definite plus in the heat. It was a fun experience and one of our favorite activities on the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks to Michael and his team for planning an amazing trip in Columbia. Communication was excellent throughout and Michael made sure everything went smoothly for us. He did a great job customizing the trip to our interests and finding unique accommodations. The guides and drivers were all very good.

My friends and I just returned from a 9 day adventure in Cartagena, Columbia. Everything was arranged by Michael at KimKim. When we arrived at the airport, we had a driver waiting for us.
Our guide in Cartagena, Lee was fantastic and was funny and informative. We did the Toluma volcano mud bath and it was awesome! We traveled North to Santa Marta, Riohacha & Cabo de la Vela. We hiked in Tayrona National Park. It was so beautiful, but VERY HOT AND HUMID!! the hike in was 2 1/2 hours and pretty easy. But after swimming and having wet/sandy feet, I developed blisters and so we opted to ride the horses back out. This was an amazing choice, the horses were very well behaved. We drove further north and visited a Wayuu village and were welcomed into their rancheria in Manaure. We then ventured to Cabo de la Vela in a very remote area. The rustic accommodations were charming and clean. The food was delicious. Our guide Estephanie, was so nice and took really good care of us. Our driver (Jr,) was also very nice and knew the local language and we felt very safe. Our last day back in Cartagena, we met up with Lee again for a local market tour and a visit to the Fort Castle San Felipe de Barajas.
Everyone says Colombia 🇨🇴 is not safe, however I felt very safe here, the people were friendly, the food was delicious and the old walled city is AMAZING with its colonial architecture. It has a Caribbean vibe, the streets are colorful and the music has a great beat.

There is one thing to be aware of though. Twice on our drive to Santa Marta and Riohacha, we were stopped by unannounced road protests. Groups of people will block the roads in protest of something the government is doing. It just depends on how long it takes the police to arrive and open the roads. The first time, we were stopped for approximately 45 minutes. Our driver had been stuck there before for over 4 hours! Then on the way to Riohacha, they blocked a bridge and were only letting 40 cars cross each hour. We were about 100 cars back so we thought we’d be stuck for a long time. But after about an hour, the police cleared the protesters. So just be aware that those types of things can happen at any time. We did not have any issues returning to Cartagena thankfully!

Thank you Michael, Lee, Estephanie & Jr for an amazing time in Colombia 🇨🇴

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Tere

Cartagena

Great location for walking in the old walled city! Great breakfast, cute rooftop pool and very clean. It is located in the Getsemani area. I did end up in the shower (covered in soap and shampoo) when the water ran out and they had to activate the reserve tank which took about 10 minutes.

Authenticity & Character

Charming

Location

Great location to walk everywhere in the walled city.

Staff

Everyone!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had 3 queen size beds for the 3 of us which was really nice.

Hotel Akuamarina

Santa Marta

This hotel was in a good location for walking to the bay and shopping, restaurants etc..

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is very basic. It was clean and the breakfast was good, but had no hot water for showers. It’s a good thing it’s very hot there so the cool water was tolerable.

Location

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vey basic amenities.

Hotel Taroa

La Guajira

This hotel was great! They couldn’t accommodate the 3 of us together so we each got our own room. I slept so well there. Shower had hot water and the rooftop restaurant was very nice with great views!

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and clean.

Location

Right across the street from the beach.

Staff

Very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was very comfortable. They did shut off the AC in the middle of the night though.

Ranchería

A VERY Rustic place. It’s in the middle of nowhere. Right on the beach in Cabo de la Vela. The dinner was delicious, but the breakfast was very small and just ok. There is no electricity during the day or hot water. They finally turned on the generator after it was pitch dark for about an hour. Great for stargazing as there is no light pollution.

Authenticity & Character

Minimalism at its finest. Basically camping.

Location

The journey to get here is very treacherous. There are zero paved roads and it’s very bumpy.

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking tour in Cartagena's Historic Center

Cartagena

Lee did a fantastic job of giving us the history of this beautiful city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lee was amazing !!

Transport

AC!

Tour to Totumo Volcano

Cartagena

We love a spa treatment so we were excited to bathe in the 51 healing minerals of Totumo. You need to be able to climb up and down a slippery ladder into and out of the mud pit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

The hike is about 2 hours to the beach. It’s a moderate hike but the heat and humidity make it more difficult. Stay hydrated and take your time. The beaches are beautiful and we swam for a good amount of time. The food was delicious. We opted to ride the horses back out as I developed blisters from my wet water shoes. The horses were very well behaved and they handled the steep terrain very well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great! He showed us frogs and lizards and crabs. He was knowledgeable about the indigenous peoples that live in the national park. He secured horses for us when my feet were hurting from my blisters.

Transport

Door to door service with AC!

Tour to Cabo de Vela (2D/1N)

La Guajira Desert

This place is difficult to reach! There are no bathrooms and it’s about a four hour trek on bumpy dirt roads.

Quality of Experience

Food

The fried fish was 10/10

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Estephanie & Jr. were outstanding.

Transport

Very bumpy and dirt roads for hours.

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

Lee is a great guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a very smooth trip to Colombia thanks to Margarita and the local guides we worked with in Cartagena and Medellin. Would definitely recommend this service and use it again!

Colombia was one of the most fantastic places we have visited, a cultural melting pot that is energetic, exciting and full of promise. During our trip we visited Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, with each feeling like their own unique cultural microcosm. We visited art museums, underground cathedrals, immense beer halls, walked in an energetic pride parade, played Tejo, drinking with locals, walked graffiti covered sidewalks, snorkeled in blue water, and danced the night away in sweaty bars with giant grins on our faces. We barely scratched the surface in our 10 days here, so we look forward to coming back to visit with guides Andrea, Sol and Isaac and the excellent organisation and planning of trip curator Margarita so we can see even more of what this paradise has to offer.
Margarita planned an amazing time for us, with all of our wishes and limitations in mind. She was always available and matched us with guides who were kind, knowledgeable, and lots of fun. We felt looked after at every turn, they went above and beyond.

I want to commend Margoth and the entire team we worked with for the wonderful work they do. I was looking to plan a vacation with my mom when I came across the KimKim website. From the curiosity phase they were quick and friendly. Once I committed, they made sure we were prepared for our trip by contacting us ahead of time with important details like immigration forms and a summary of what to expect ahead of the trip. The hotels as guides were A+. David the guide in Bogota was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and kind. All of our drivers were also very punctual and made sure to stay on schedule. The restaurant recommendations we also superb. On our second leg, we went to Cartagena where again we were met with a great guide. Jose Miguel was very warm and also very knowledgeable. We arrived before check-in and he made sure to wait with us until we were able to get up to our room. We were also connected with the same driver for the entirety of our time in Cartagena and Emerson was a charming and funny guy. He made great conversation and like all the other drivers he was always punctual. There were 2 small instances when we had different drivers and this is when we started to see how how much care Margoth and her team had for our trip. On our trip to a beach club, we had some rain and the driver was late so they made sure Jose Miguel was there to meet us upon our return. He ensured we safely got back to our hotel with a Taxi. He made sure to take down the Taxis info and he ensured a safe arrival. Our favorite activity in Cartagena was the dance class. I would definitely make it longer or make it a multi-day activity on another trip. The last leg of our trip was to Baru. On the way to the dock, I left my cell phone in the back seat of the car and the driver returned immediately to return it. Again, the best service and care from this team. At the Sofitel, we ran into a small medical issue and I reached out to Margoth and her team after hours she immediately escalated the issue and got us some help. Last but not least, we had purchased some jewelry and she had Felipe send us all the info. We arranged to get to the airport and bit earlier to process the tax refund however, the counter would not take our digital copies and they rushed a messenger to the airport with hard copies so we could claim our refund. Again, this team went above and beyond. We were able to process the refund which was about $700 and we made our flight. I had never used a travel agency before and now I may never go back to planning my own trips. This was an incredible experience. Thank you for helping me create wonderful memories with my mom.

The care and professionalism of KimKim staff and guides were evident and much appreciated! Our first guide, Lina, was personable, patient and informative. We really enjoyed her energy and passion for us to learn about Colombia. Her suggestion to visit district 13 was an excellent suggestion! We are an antistatic family, so it was a memorable experience! We wish her all the best with her future endeavors; she has a gift! on our next destination, we briefly met Jhovanny who was briefly filling in for Juan. He was awesome with his bird knowledge and leaving a great impression on us for such a brief moment with him. Out final guide, Juan was personable and humble. He was also knowledgeable about the part, the horses (which he helped us to feel comfortable to touch one!) He and Anderson were very helpful with us arriving to the airport.

My family's biggest gripe was having to get up at 3am, so we would be ready for our pick time. When we arrived to the airport, we waited nearly an hour to check in. It appeared that we could have arrive later since the airport itself wouldn't even be open until 6am! Having to get our children ready for such an early departure was frustrating since we waiting once we arrived.

All in all, the hotels were really beautiful, but please keep in mind that two bathrooms makes far more sense for a family of four.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Terasu Salento

Salento, Quindío

such a beautiful place, great host and relaxing experience overall

Authenticity & Character

Location

We were walking distance from market square.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The pillowcases were damp, but everything was clean and tidy

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

A bohemian vibe that was fun to experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The lack of space for a family of four was not desirable..

Activity Reviews

Social Transformation In Medellín

Medellín

We were very happy to support such a creative neighborhood.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cócora Valley, Salento & Coffee Farm

Colombia

The best part was learning about the high quality coffee and touching the horses that roam free.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What a great trip. The itinerary that Dean helped me create was a perfect way to visit Colombia. In less than 2 weeks I enjoyed a wonderful introduction to an under appreciated country. Between the gorgeous natural scenery and stunning street art Colombia is an outdoor visual feast.

The tours were excellent with a good mix our outdoor activity and culture. Every guide and driver was a pleasure to meet. All were professional, punctual and knowledgeable. Their passion for Colombia was infectious. I especially enjoyed my time with Lina and Martin in Medellin. Almost immediately I knew I was traveling with friends.

Finally, I’m happy I organized this through kimkim. As soon as I landed in Bogota to start my trip I was greeted by Wendy who graciously escorted me to the hotel, briefly showed me the neighborhood and offered suggestions where to eat. Every step of the way Dean and Wendy communicated travel arrangements (usually boarding passes for in country flights) or just to check in.

Hotel Review

EK Hotel

An excellent hotel with a boutique character. The room was spacious and the bed comfortable. I slept well. Excellent location with many restaurant options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogota's vibrant street art.

Colombia

If you like street art you will love Colombia! Having a guide like Daniel tell you the back story of some of these wonderful pieces of street art adds so much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional.

Transport

Salento, Filandia, & the Valley of Wax Palms

Colombia

An amazing landscape.

Quality of Experience

Are you kidding? Look at the pictures. This place is special.

Food

A very good choice of restaurant. Very festive atmosphere in the pretty town of Silento.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional. Filip was a great guide. He was attentive to my hiking pace while also providing information. I really enjoyed that he did not over talk as some guides may do allowing us both to enjoy some moments of serene silence to soak in this amazing place.

Transport

We avoided the inevitable traffic snarls and crowds. A great job!

The City of The Eternal Spring & Street Food In La Comuna 13

Medellín

Unfortunately the area around Botero park is not that nice, but really it is no different than other cities. Fortunately, it was but a small distraction from the rest of the tour. The Botero statues are worth seeing and Comuna 13 is special. What the people of this community have done for s an inspiration. I loved being there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lina took me to berracas de la 13. The service and food was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My first day with Lina and Martin. Within an hour or so I felt like I was traveling with friends. Lina was very knowledgeable in the history of Medellin - the good, bad and infamous. But it was her infectious optimism about the people of Medellin that made this day really special.

Transport

Martin!

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

Colombia

Another great outdoor tour. A great combination of boat ride to see the surroundings from the water, a climb up El Penol for a Birds Eye view, and a stroll through a colorful small town.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My second day with Lina and Martin. I was with friends.

Transport

Martin!

Full day Coffee Workshop - "From the plant to the cup"

Colombia

One of my favorite days in Colombia. I have a new appreciation for the skill, dedication and hard work that goes into my morning coffee. Learning this at Cafe de la Cima was a great experience. They were fantastic hosts and produce great coffee. I’m glad they ship to the US!

Quality of Experience

Food

A great home cooked meal. The arepa with cheese! So delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I really enjoyed sharing a fantastic lunch with Lina and Martin. Lina introduced me to the famous Colombian cheese bread. I want more. She was right. My life would not be same after the cheese bread. :)

Transport

Martin!

Hiking in the Tayrona National Park

Colombia

I expected this to be spectacular and it was. If I were a poet I might be able to do justice with words.

Quality of Experience

The location was worth putting up with the heat and humidity which I normally try to avoid.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very professional and knowledgeable.

Transport

Walking Tour

Cartagena

I really enjoyed walking through the Getsemani neighborhood. Lively and colorful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Isaac was great guide. Very professional. His enthusiasm was infectious and welcome on a hot and humid morning.

Transport

Palenque: The first “free town” for Africans in the Americas

Cartagena

Very interesting tour of a landmark of freedom in the Americas. Glad I visited and I really appreciate the work the people of this community are doing to keep this unique culture alive.

Quality of Experience

Food

One of the best fried fish meals I’ve had. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We planned this trip inspired on the movie Encanto and it paid off! Our group included two seniors, 2 adults and 2 kids (7,8 y/o). We started in Medellin and then visited the Eje Cafeteo. Everything was taken care of. All tours were gear to both adults and kids. My daughters loved the visit to the Silletera Farm. Don Nacho showed them how to build their own flower arrangement. The coffee tour was also super interesting and the whole process kept the seniors and children engaged. It was a little difficult for my mom due to mobility issues but overall Hacienda Combia was an excellent choice. We also went to a chocolate farm (El Turpial), where we learn how to make our own bar of chocolate from scratch, a wonderful hands on experience. We also planted palm trees at Cócora Valley and made baskets in Finlandia. The meals that were included were delicious. Communication was excellent. Overall, I highly recommend going to Colombia. It was an unique lifetime experience for my kids to enjoy w their grandparents.

Hotel Reviews

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Close proximity to all and very convenient to access food and entertainment.

Location

Next to Santa Fe shopping Mall

Staff

Breakfast was served with delight!

Hostería Mi Mónaco

Armenia

Family own and away from the noise. Peaceful. Well kept.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little tricky to come and go from but if you plan ahead or if you have a car it would be perfect.

Staff

Always willing to help w a smile!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

I would consider this luxurious. Because it is an eco g friendly hotel it does come w some bugs, but nothing that would stop me from staying again. Rooms were clean, beautiful and spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Streetfood & Market Experience

Medellín

Our experience was limited due to my mom’s mobility issues . What we had was great. We wish we would have been able to do more.

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Amazing! Don Nacho was one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interactive Coffee Tour in Hacienda Combia

Armenia

The tour and experience were amazing. Very informative and engaging. The walk is not for anybody who has mobility issues though, but for those able it is a most do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Parque del Café

Colombia

A most do if you have kids. Following the recommendations from our tour guide Carlos, we got there early and were able to do w/o lines. The cafe show was very colorful and professional.

Pablo Escobar History Tour

Medellín

Without glorifying Pablo Escobar, the story behind the recovery after the damage he did was interesting and enlightening. From a historical and educational point of view, we enjoyed learning how Medellin grew to be the city it is now.

Quality of Experience

Lina, our guide was very knowledgeable and was always attentive to our needs. She adjusted the tour based on our preferences and capabilities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both Fabian and Lina made the tour interesting. We felt comfortable and at home with their grace and kindness.

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

A most do. Bringing to my children the aspects of different ways of living in other countries was refreshing and educational for them. We really enjoyed the art and the culture behind Comuna 13.

Quality of Experience

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Beautiful sightseeing. Some of us were unable to do the hike to the top but were able to enjoyed the views from the Mirador while enjoying snacks. The boat was a surprising experience that we were not expecting. The boat guide was very entertaining!

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed our lunch. We met the owner and chef of the restaurant and were very please with his offerings. He went out of the way to please our picky eaters.

Visit of Cocora Valley, Filandia & Salento

Salento

Carlos, our tour guide, was amazing. His knowledge of the fauna and flora of the area was very educational. The views were stunning. Planting a palm tree was one of the highlights for my children

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We love Carlos and Guillermo. They made our experience fun.

Transport

Cacao Experience - Finca El Turpial

Colombia

We love the Turpial. Mr. Pierre was wonderful and the experience was amazing for all ages. Not only we were able to enjoy making chocolate from scratch but also other fruits from his farm.

Quality of Experience