Personalized trips to Costa Rica
for independent travelers

We had an excellent experience working with kimkim. Holden and Wilman from Serendipity Adventures were great to work with. They helped create an incredible 6-day trip in Costa Rica.

From beginning to end, Holden and Wilman were responsive, answered all our questions in a timely fashion, offered super helpful suggestions before and during our trip. The trip they put together for us was perfect! Our lodgings (Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde, and La Mariposa Hotel in Manuel Antonio) were incredible. The rooms were excellent, comfortable, clean, and the views were amazing. The staff at both hotels were so nice, friendly, and accommodating. We would highly recommend both hotels. We are vegan, and Holden made sure both hotels offered vegan options, which was so helpful and really appreciated. During our trip, Wilman sent us vegan friendly restaurant recommendations, which was so thoughtful and really helped save time!

All of the tour guides were super knowledgeable, friendly, and provided an excellent sightseeing experience. All of our guides were on time and highly professional. They were also very caring and respectful to the animals and to the forests. We learned a great deal from them, and we saw so many incredible animals.
--Andrés from Monteverde Outdoor Center provided an amazing tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where we saw many animals including Quetzal.
--Ed from Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience Tours was super friendly, and we learned a lot about the coffee making process.
--Jorge and Gerardo from Finca Madre Tierra, along with all of the other people who worked there, were warm and welcoming; so were all the farm animals! You could tell they cared deeply for their animals. We had a great horseback riding experience.
--Guillermo from Children's Eternal Rainforest Night Walk gave us an awesome night tour where we saw many interesting insects, spiders, and leaf cutter ants, to name a few.
--We also traveled to Manuel Antonio National Park, where our guide Eidersen from Endemic Bird tours, brought so much enthusiasm and care; we saw sloths, coati, howler monkeys, to name a few. It was an excellent tour!

Thank you, Holden and Wilman, for organizing this amazing trip! It was everything we hoped for. We definitely want to make a return visit!

We decided to go to Costa Rica for a week's vacation, and struggled with all of the options: Where to stay? What to do? How do we navigate international travel? Then we found Kimkim. We worked with Holden, a Costa Rican resident. He asked us many questions, and was so patient with ours! He helped us plan the trip of a lifetime (working with our budget) and took care of all of the reservations--car, hotels, and excursions--with knowledge of all the nuances. As we got closer to our departure date, we were connected with Wilman, who helped us while we were in-country with responsive (sometimes immediate) communication. Wilman added an excursion for us, gave us dining recommendations and navigated a hotel issue. We literally worried about nothing. I cannot recommend Kimkim, Holden, Wilman and their team enough. Whether you are a first time traveler or experienced and looking for other ideas, Kimkim is an incredible resource!

Hotel Reviews

Nayara Springs - Adults Only

Fortuna

Where does one even start when reviewing this gem? Their reputation is well earned as one of the leading resorts/hotels in the world. First, the staff. Every person we met had one goal--to make our stay unforgettable. The Welcome Center staff, assistants, golf cart drivers, staff at the bars and restaurants, and housekeeping were all positive and approachable. Next, the grounds. Nayara is nestled in the heart of the rainforest, with lush vegetation and wildlife. It is beautifully kept, with stone paths, bridges and muted lighting that is breathtaking. Finally, the accommodations. We stayed in both a villa and a tent, and each space was beyond all expectation. Each had defined areas: A luxurious bath, with indoor and outdoor dual showers. A well appointed sleeping/living area with canopy netting over the bed. Each villa/tent had its own private hot springs plunge pool with jets for extra relaxation. The complimentary well-appointed mini-bar. In addition to all of this, there are numerous restaurants, hot springs, infinity pools with swim up bars, spas, exercise options, and gift shops. Our stay was a dream and we are so happy we made the investment to stay there. We were sad to leave, and will be back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was so positive and made us feel like we were valued.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daily housekeeping and turndown service in the evening. A shout out to Erika for her towel origami.

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

A boutique hotel that redeemed itself after our first impression. As we exited the car the first time to check in, there was a stench of garbage(sewage), and the pool/spa was in need of cleaning. We were concerned. The next morning (and for the rest of our stay), no smell, and the pool/spa area was cleaned daily. Because of reviews we had read, we requested a room on the second level for more privacy. We arrived right around sunset, and were given the last room on the grounds--main floor, on the main walkway with no privacy unless the blinds were drawn. We decided that we would talk to someone about it in the morning. The broken toilet seat was fixed immediately. Dinner in the ocean front restaurant was very good, with the menu having a varied selection of entrees. The next morning, Maite', the general manager, greeted us personally and moved us to a second floor room, as we had requested. She was fantastic, and checked in throughout our stay to make sure everything was OK. The wait staff in the restaurant were very personable, willing to chat and laugh with us. There is service from the restaurant on the beach, which was very nice. We used paddleboards and a jet ski that were available for rent at the front desk, and our Kuna Vela sailing excursion (highly recommend) picked us up on the beach in front of the hotel. Not a touristy area, which was a positive for us. Family friendly, nice beachfront for swimming and playing. Grounds were quiet at night. Parking was lit and secure. Many dining options in the vicinity.

Authenticity & Character

A boutique hotel with buildings surrounding the pool area. Lots of vegetation and birds. Make your preferences known when reserving your room.

Location

Not a heavy tourist location. Located on the beach. Located about 30 minutes from the airport in Liberia. We rented a car and drove ourselves. The road was well maintained. No worries driving.

Staff

Maite' was amazing. Carlos and Alexis, waiters in the restaurant, were fun to interact with. Everyone was helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean. It would be nice to have a towel station right on the beach. If the website says 2 double beds in the room, our experience was that they were queen beds (like in the US).

Activity Reviews

Organic Coffee Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

We were so lucky to be the only 2 people with Grady, our guide. He was knowledgeable about everything on the farm, and made it a very personal experience. So much more than a coffee farm. There was cacao, fruits, flowers and many medicinal plants as well. Grady told us about them all. We crushed sugar cane, and sampled the juice (and fermented juice as well--yum). The brewed coffee and treats were the perfect way to end the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grady was a wonderful guide. On the way to the farm, the driver stopped so we could look at the volcano, which had cleared for a few moments. We were so grateful, as it was the only time we saw the top of the volcano during our stay.

Transport

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline + Tractor

Arenal/La Fortuna

A very beautiful and well managed experience. As someone who had never ziplined before, the staff were so professional and helpful that I didn't worry for a moment.

Quality of Experience

Very safe, well maintained and managed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were excellent. Very professional, empathic, and patient.

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

A wonderful place to view the nature of Costa Rica. As advertised.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was super friendly and engaging. He shared his knowledge with us and took photos of us on the bridges and by the volcano.

Transport

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

A personalized ocean experience. Small group, drinks, and snacks. They were open to the group's wants (whale watching vs. snorkeling). We were able to go ashore on a beach to explore caves during our sail as well.

Quality of Experience

Very positive. Such a great feeling to be on the ocean in a sailboat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skipper and first mate were personable, attentive and knowledgeable.

Transport

Very nice 47 ft. sailboat. Full galley and head (bathroom) on board.

Our trip to Costa Rica was an absolute dream come true, all thanks to the outstanding planning and support provided by Serendipity Adventures through the KimKim platform. From start to finish, their team ensured that every detail was perfectly tailored to our needs, and their expertise made our experience nothing short of extraordinary.

A special shoutout goes to Bryan, Nancy, and Wilman from Serendipity Adventures. Bryan and Nancy did an incredible job organizing an itinerary that captured the very best of Costa Rica—combining breathtaking natural beauty, thrilling activities, and cultural immersion. Every recommendation and arrangement felt thoughtful and personal, making us feel like valued guests rather than just tourists.

Wilman, our go-to guy during the trip, went above and beyond to make our journey smooth, fun, and memorable. His dedication to ensuring we had the best time was unparalleled.
Serendipity’s meticulous planning ensured we could relax and immerse ourselves in Costa Rica's magic without a single worry.

We’re deeply grateful to Serendipity Adventures and KimKim for creating an unforgettable journey. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s perfectly curated, filled with personalized touches, and guided by the most wonderful people, we wholeheartedly recommend them!

Pura Vida! 🌴✨