Kimkim Trip Reviews for Colombia

A nice boutique hotel in a trendy part of Bogota. There was never a security concern and restaurants were all a few minutes walk. The bar and dining room were very nice (although we found that a glass of wine in the bar was a little pricey). The breakfast was excellent and the service was great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the noise. At 6:00am someone outside was shouting something that sounded like he was selling and there was ongoing conversation in the room next door that made me wonder if it was being used as an office. We stayed here again on a different floor the night before our trip home and I had to call the front desk about the noise coming from our neighbor at 11:00pm.

This hotel is located in two large houses across the street from one another. Both have beautiful gardens where breakfast is served and nice lounge areas. While they are right in the heart of a restaurant and bar neighborhood, the gardens made it seem like we were in the country. The hosts were very welcoming and attentive. We met another couple at dinner who were scouting wedding venues and enthusiastically recommended Patio del Mundo as a place to book the wedding party during their stay in Medellin.

We ended up in this hotel because our original choice was booked by the time we pulled the trigger. It turned out to be the No 1 hotel in Cartegena and we were lucky to get it at no extra cost. It is set in a Colonial building that has been completely restored (there is a book in one of the lounges that describes the three year project to bring it back from ruin). The location was in the heart of the old town with bars and restaurants on every corner. We were met on arrival by the manager and checked in while sitting comfortably on a couch with a cold welcome drink. The room was incredible with high ceilings and a period appropriate theme. Breakfast was excellent and served at a community table so that you can meet other guests (however you can also dine privately across the hall). One morning we had an early pick up and the hotel served us a half hour before the usual starting time without a question. There is a hot tub on the roof with a small seating area that made a nice spot to sit outdoors (the hotel also supplied us with plastic wine glasses and a corkscrew so that we coould enjoy some wine we had bought).

People go to Rosario Islands because the beaches in Cartagena are not very nice. This hotel is served by it's own speedboats from the main port. We were fortunate to have a guide and driver take us to the departure point which was a bit chaotic. Our guide stayed outside the fence until we had checked in and were ready to board. It takes about an hour but on the return seasonal winds caused a detour that resulted in a 2 hour trip. Pro tip: sit on the right side on the way to avoid the sun and also on the way back to avoid the spray, some people were soaked. There are 2 boats carrying 40 people each, most of whom were day trippers. When the boat docks there is an orientation and welcome drink and then a stampede for one of two small beaches (one has music, the other does not and both have bars). There are beach chairs and a few Bally beds with curtains. Activities included scuba diving, cycling and kayaking through the mangrove but we found them quite pricey for what they were and in the case of scuba, about twice the going rate (300,000 COP for a 1 tank dive). It seemed more like a community money-maker than paradise lost. A positive was the great service and warm reception at the main desk and would like to cite Evelyn specifically. The service in the dining area was also excellent and the food and drink were good and reasonably priced for an island. A drawback were the ever present flies in the outdoor dining area, there were a couple of propeller type devices to shoo them which sort of worked but at breakfast we actually changed tables to get away from relentless flies. The rooms were little cottages scattered around the property. They were clean and comfortable, with outdoor seating areas and a hammock. We turned off the mini fridge at night as it was a little noisy and the room had a broken towel hook and toilet paper holder. On the whole, nice but in need of an update.

A good hotel owned by Hilton. Great location, the best feature was the rooftop pool with dining/bar area. The room was modern, spacious and clean with separate toilet and shower area and double sinks. A deep and narrow modern building resulted in long narrow halways that reminded us of a movie set for an institution with blank walls holding multiple small wall planters. Breakfast had many options with a buffet and menu choices. The in-house Peruvian restaurant looked cool but we did not dine there.

Arriving at 4:00am we were very happy to have a guide (Tom) and driver to take us to our hotel. When we arrived there was no one at reception and Tom stuck around to make sure we were checked in. Thanks Tom!

We did not do this activity, we did lunch instead

Very authentic local restaurant.

This was a recommendation from a friend who visited Colombia last year. Very cool vibe and filled with locals. We asked Tom to join us and had a great meal and Cervesa. We were told it was better to do at lunch as the location was a bit sketchy at night..

A busy, trendy restaurant we had good food and a fun time. At the end of the evening they provided dry ince and sparklers for eveyone to celebrate the evening.

This was another highlight of our trip. Very cool ambiance, live music and great food.

This was doubled booked to give us an option. We chose Alambique instead and cancelled the reservation.

Manuella was an experienced and enthusiastic giuide who gave us a thorough tour of Medellin. She worked effectively with our driver who made a convenient and fun recommendation for an al fresco lunch in a local spot. We all had a great time.

Tom gave us a great tour of the city and a trip up to Monserrate. He was particularly helpful and interesting during the gold museum tour which I hadn't really been keen to do. Due to time constraints we did an interesting coffe tasting at the end of the day near our hotel. At the local market we tried a number of fruit that we had never seen before.

This was an outdoor dinner spot a short walk form our hotel. At first we thought the reception was a bit abrupt but the waiter warmed up during the evening (picture a rough character from a Bond film). In many of the restaurants we went to we found the portions large enough for us to have 2-3 apetizers and wine.

We skipped this activity, it sounded touristy and busy/expensive. We have seen many sunsets.

A very potpular restaurant, it was big, busy, expensive and touristy. We had a nice meal - mostly appetizers and there were dancers around the tables and live music. We prefer smaller and more authentic local spots.

Very interesting given the history of the city. Oscar was a very competent and enthusiastic guide.

We had very insightful comments from the coffee person and had samples of coffee prepared in different fashions

We were met on time at our hotel and had an uneventful 35 minute drive to the airport. We delayed our departure time to reduce our wait for our flight.

We and boatload of day trippers arrive to a welcome drink and orientation. Then there is a mad dash for the beach chairs at one of the two small beaches. We can check in at 2:00 pm but get in a bit sooner.

The actrivities are good on paper however in practice underwhelming and a little pricey. The cuba diving was twice the going rate so we dove with a local dive shop nearby. The local guides wanted to sell us on the pricey cycling/kayaking in the mangrove tour saying there were no mosquitos (there were). We passed.

The seasonal wind is very strong so they start the boats home early. The wind comes from the left so we boarded 20 minutes early and were rewarded by not getting soaked like those on the left side. Because of the wind the route back was along an artifical river made 300 years ago that adds an hour to the trip home.

we cancelled this reservation

Interesting but not the same as seeing birds in the wild

We had walked by this restaurant earlier and thought it looked cool. There was live music and again we shared appetizers, a main and dessert. Service was very good as was the music. Lot's of locals dining there. It was a block from our hotel.

Live music, a place popular with locals. We shared an apetizer, main, dessert and wine.

Due to confusion at the reception we were led to a table on the second floor which turned out to be exclusively for the 6 course wine-paired tasting menu. We had no interest in that and had some discussion about whether to just leave. Finally, they just accomodated us and we had a very good meal of three appetizers and a main in full view of the kitchen. Very interesting experience. The pastry chef was introduced who recommended a Vegan dessert which was great.

The rooms are a tad small and lacked clothing storage. The hotel atmosphere was relaxing and romantic. Breakfast was awesome. The fact that the hotel was a on a quieter block was a plus but it was also super close to everything. We nejoyed sitting in the courtyard among the breezy palms next to the pool drinking cocktails and playing cards.

A beautiful hotel with a staff that is kind and attentive. The rooms are lovely, the courtyard magical, and the food delicious. There was nothing the staff would not do to make you feel comfortable. It was a quiet retreat in the middle of a bustling city. Once inside, you were transported to serenity.

A lovely, quiet retreat in the middle of the city. Beautiful house with magical outdoor space. Lovely service and care.

A wonderful magical place in the middle of nature. The rooms were large and private and the property was well taken care of. The pool was lovely. My only wish is that they had more umbrellas or created shady pots around the pool. The sun is quite intense and there needs to be a way to stay outside by the pool without getting burned. Other than that, it was a great place to stay and I would not hesitate to go back.

All I can say is go..... Support these amazing musicians, dancers, and artists. I loved the workshop, playing the drum, and dancing with the dancers. They were exceptional, and it is a great way to support their school. A highlight of my trip.

Great breakfast Good location for exploring La Candelaria and nice view of the mountains from the window Room a little warm (in January), no A/C or fan Quite corporate in feel, but good hotel for first night away. Also appreciated the complimentary fruit for our honeymoon!

Friendly, English-speaking staff Good massages and nice spa Good breakfast (less good coffee) Nice room

Gorgeous hotel, excellent service (coffee on arrival), took bags to rooms. Very helpful staff, particularly one young man who went out of his way to assist us and try speaking in English to us (whose name we have forgotten). He even organised a cake for my husband's birthday. Very relaxing and honeymoony experience. Beautiful, big room, big bed. Lovely bathroom. Very clean. Nice pool area. Good massage. Hotel restaurant on site, food ok (but doesn't quite match the standard of the rest of the hotel) We would give this hotel 5 stars if the food and cocktails were just a little bit better.

Overall lovely hotel, nice breakfast, friendly staff who even put rose petals on our bed for our honeymoon which was a lovely touch. Room comfortable and clean, although ours had no window (but looked out into the internal courtyard).

Hotel room clean, but a bit dated and bathroom definitely needed an upgrade. Staff a bit less friendly here than elsewhere and no early check-in, which was a bit of a shame after a long journey to Medellin. Overall location pretty good, in el Poblado. Nice and quiet, could possibly have been a little bit closer to the action.

We loved this hotel! The room was gorgeous and very serene. The staff/owner was very friendly and the food was very tasty. Overall service was great. No complaints, we loved it. Very convenient for visiting the national park (5 mins drive away, maybe less), nearby beaches also easily accessible by bus,

Good location, on a slightly quieter street but very close to the bars. Friendly staff. Overall comfortable room, a little on the small side. A safe in the room would have been nice. Breakfast a little basic and lacking in choice but tasty enough.

Beautiful and peaceful hotel. Food was good, lots of it and decent variety. Beach amazing and the hotel is in a gorgeous setting. Very serene and luxurious overall experience. Nice selection of activities at the hotel (eg snorkelling, walk of the island, massages). Room was stunning, with lovely complimentary bath products. Service was very good. A little information about the room and hotel upon arrival would have been nice (I don't know whether others usually get information about breakfast, check-out, wifi, activities etc but we didn't). Very quiet on a night after dinner, there isn't really any comfortable seating/ atmosphere around the bar area which we would have enjoyed.

Nicholas was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable, excellent English and very friendly.

Interesting and a nice stop on the way to Villa de Leyva. To the point out the obvious, it is a Cathedral, so the sculptures are all religious themed. - lots of crosses, this might not be for everyone. The cave itself is, however, very interesting.

Overall we enjoyed the experience, I think there was a small hiccup with the driver who didn't arrive. But, the tour guide did and she quickly arranged for her husband to collect us from the hotel and take us to the horses. We really enjoyed the scenery around Villa de Leyva, which was beautiful. The horse owners/ guides were very friendly.

Pretty hike, guide was local and very friendly and knowledgeable.

Carlos was AMAZING! He had so much energy and was clearly very passionate about the nature in the area. He had so much knowledge and made the tour a very interesting and enjoyable experience. He was also infectiously entertaining. We would definitely recommend Carlos as a tour guide. Cocora Valley is beautiful and the coffee farm was also a great experience.

This was our least favourite tour. In the pictures beforehand, Penol looked stunning so we were very excited about this. In reality, however, the boulder is just a tourist destination. The boulder itself was extremely busy, the queue in the carpark was long as was the queue up the boulder, the experience was all rather rushed and for our tastes, the natural beauty of the area is somewhat ruined by the overly-touristy feel of the boulder. We get the impression that perhaps once this was a great tourist destination but has now been a little "over-toured". The boulder is surrounded by tacky souvenir shops and fairground type attractions. We preferred the more intimate tours with smaller groups - this was a large bus tour which meant quite a lot more waiting around for other members of the group and less ability to interact with the guides and tailor the experience on the day. Guatape was a nice town, also very busy, but this part of the tour was definitely a much more pleasant experience for us. The restaurant food for lunch was of very average quality, however.

Tayrona is a must-do. This was stunning. The wildlife, the park, the beaches, everything is just beautiful and very relaxing. The guide was friendly, he had worked in the park for some time so was very knowledgeable.

Juan was great. He was super friendly and his English was excellent. The whole experience was really fun, we appreciated the bits of food alongside the rum and the staff member that actually worked at the rum place who led the tour was also very friendly and was a great tour guide.

Palenque was like nowhere else we had visited in Colombia. It was a fascinating place to see and learn about the history. We had a driver, two guides who came with us and a further guide in Palenque, which felt a bit excessive. We were not quite sure why three guides were needed, it made the car journey a little cramped and uncomfortable. But the guides were very friendly nonetheless and we had an enjoyable trip. We really enjoyed the experience in the boxing gym and the local Palenque guides in particular were very good.

This is probably this nicest boutique we have stayed in. The setting was wonderful and it was only a short walk from the central plaza in Salento. The staff could not have been more pleasant.

In a great location. Staff was great. Created from old mansion with great character.

Learned much about history.

Never realized how beautiful and interesting this city would be.

I think the most beautiful area we have seen anywhere.

See movie Wild Colombia and then go this amazing area.

The home and farm were so real. Learned much about life in rural Colombia.

We saw the Grand Isla which was the real thing. Our guide knew so much about area

No history buff like me should miss visiting this town.

Very pleasant.

Loved watching the Colombians enjoy this beautiful place.

Learned much about the history. Not to Be missed.

Just spent one night, quite comfortable and central

A hostel for the Amazons quite comfortable and very centrally located

Nataly was my guide, I enjoyed the visit tremendously. Christian, the driver, was also wonderful

Comfortable ride, unfortunately it was raining heavily in Raquira so we toured it in the car

Lovely visit, we did not walk but went by car, I was happy it was by car because I was tired and jet lagged, so the car was better. Beautiful village

A most enjoyable tour, every location had its charm and beauty., really memorable. Juan a es an amazing guide and I learned a lot from him about the region.

Very interesting experience, I learned a lot about coffee production. The owners of the plantation gave us a presentation and I had a handsome experience.

Wonderful foodie tour, I tried delicious street food

I loved Cartagena and Gestemani, both have wonderful vibes, artsy, musical and lively and enjoyed the food there as well

I was not familiar with Palenque before, I learned a lot from the local guide from the barrio

Wonderful experience with Yubelis, my guide. We also had another local guide who explained to us about the Tairons tribes. We visited an indigenous tribe and learned a lot about them. I did not do the tubing part because I had a backache, instead we did the boat ride which was quite enjoyable

We went on an enjoyable hike to the waterfalls and the cocoa experience was informative

Nice town, the gateway to the amazons, fascinating that you are at a spot where you can be in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

Puerto Nariño is a very beautiful town I was very impressed by its cleanliness. No cars nor motorbikes circulate, all on foot. It is colorful green and beautiful and residents are very friendly

Jhoker was a wonderful guide

This was a fun experience; however I didn't think the coffee was anything spectacular

We could not make it to the hotel as we missed our connecting flight

This was the highlight of our trip - beautiful islands along the way

WOW! What a beautiful lodging. We were in awe at this beautiful hotel and the breakfast was absolutely delicious. My only regret is that we only stay two nights.

Such an adorable, quaint place with such sweet and helpful staff. I would give it a 10/10, but the nightclub on the property was loud enough to keep me up at night, unfortunately. Otherwise the place would be perfect.

Oscar was so sweet and gracious- I had to turn around early because I was pretty sure I was going to die and he so sweetly came up with so many ideas for fun other activities that were a little lower impact. He made sure we had sunscreen and snacks and were comfortable all day. What a sweet guy and he totally saved the day when I felt awful from altitude sickness.

We left early for this activity, it was absolutely packed. We had to wait in line about 45 minutes to look into 1 of 5 telescopes. It's nothing about the guide or anything like that, we just didn't feel like waiting in line so much after a long travel day.

Seriously one of the most interesting days of my life! I cannot recommend this activity enough. We learned so much and had such a beautiful nature walk.

This was our favorite activity of our 11 day trip. Our guide was just the sweetest, the weather was beautiful, the horses were well trained and well taken care of, and the scenery was just breathtaking. And we had stops on the way and met some absolutely lovely people and got to see some history. I can't recommend this activity enough!

Incredible experience. We learned a lot about the history and people of Colombia.

What a lovely spot! The view from the central terrace opens out over the valley, the river and the mountains in the distance and is almost impossibly beautiful. We particularly appreciated the emphasis on sustainability. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere relaxed. Special compliments to the kitchen staff for the very tasty food.

In terms of sheer natural beauty, this is one of the most astonishing places we have ever visited, with every changing vistas and a final view of the Orinoco rapids. Edgar, the guide who took us op the mountain was incredibly friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the area and its flora and fauna.

This was an astonishing and beautiful experience, made possible by Leiner our amazing guide and Oder who drove us so safely. At the heart of it is an encounter with the Waiyuu people. The natural landscapes are incredible, topped only by seeing the turtle project explained at the Punta Gallinas community centre. We watched pelicans at sunset but we most enjoyed learning from our guides.

The Mavecure may be the most beautiful place we have ever seen. The hike is incredible we are told but forgive us as we chose instead to watch the world cup final with the local community. This was unforgettable.

A beautiful boutique property with a stunning garden. Impeccable service.

Christian was a great guide - it was a serious hike but we enjoyed that.

Waterfall was cool - Cacao farm was interesting but the guide for that tour (whom I don’t think is the normal guide) was a bit weird. Christian, our full day guide, was great.

Cocora Valley is breathtaking, Salento is beautiful, and the coffee farm was education - this was a great day.

The rainforest was beautiful but it was a lot of driving time for the experience.

What a great day - the fruit market was amazing, Monserrat Hill was beautiful, the Museo de Oreo was interesting, and the old city was enlightening. Nancy was a terrific guide.

This is a wonderful place the staff and service are awesome had the best time will be visiting there again 😀

The staff was awesome and made our stay special

Amazing

Fun, educational, and interactive!

Very Knowledgeable and friendly guide

Very unique restaurant.

I learned a lot within this half day tour.

It’s the best spot to see the sunset.

Our guide and crew members were very friendly. But they spoke limited or no English which made it difficult to communicate. The other problem was that the engine quit working. We had to turn around to go back to the port. About 45 minutes later, we switched to another boat…… We understood that was out of their control but couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed….especially we paid $800 for this boat tour.

The Guadape and El Penol tour was one of our favorites !

We all agreed this dinner was an unforgettable experience. It was like a therapy!

The tacos are amazing!

The food is good.

The fishermen were very friendly.

Our guide was very knowledgeable,

Great location and seafood.

The food was good.

It was a great experience and fun!

Amazing underground cathedral

My favorite outdoor activity!