Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Our driver Alex, from Serendipity was fantastic. His knowledge of culture, the land, and food was vast. His personality was an ease and delight to be around.
Our hotel in Arenal/La Fortuna, Hotel Arenal Kioro was gorgeous. The view from your bed is a beautiful volcano.
The food and hospitality, exceptional.
Our excursions from Serendipity were so much fun with truly knowledgeable guides. Zip lining, national park tours, a nite walk, visiting waterfalls, kayaking through the Mangroves, a boat ride crossing a lake, who could ask for more.
The weather was rainy but the people who we encountered were all sunny and bright. I can't forget to mention the animals we were able to get up close and personal with. ( sloths, white faced monkeys, spider monkeys, Howler monkeys, tucans, other birds( we saw a rare sighting of the Resplendant Quetzal, thanks to our guide Andy ), snakes, and so many more.
We visited Arenal/La fortuna, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. I believe we encompassed all the fun and beautiful zones in Costa Rica, thanks to Kim Kim's recommendations.
Thank you Kim Kim and Serendipity for a lifetime of beautiful memories.

Hotel Review

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Beautiful Hotel. From your bed you have a view of the volcano. Hospitality and food are exceptional. Outdoor natural hot spring, not as hot as I thought they would be but still beautiful and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Each room has a view of the volcano

Staff

So nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

housekeeping did an amazing job

Activity Reviews

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guides made the experience fun and exciting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

We had so much fun learning about coffee and chocolate. Your guide takes you from picking a cocoa bean, roasting, grinding, adding vanilla and cane sugar, to eating. Coffee tour very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

our guide Andy was so knowledgeable !!! From animals to plants, what an experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When we were planning the trip, it was a lot of back and forth but okay overall. But when floods came and we had to make changes, Jean Carlo was slow to react and had no real expertise to offer. I actually said, Jean Carlo, you live here I need your recommendations on this. He would say "we've been in contact with the transport company throughout the day" but then have no updates. Finally, we started communicating with the driver directly.

Basically, the company is fine as a trip consolidator- putting together day trips and transport. Although with how good websites are, we could have actually done that on our own. But if you are looking for real travel expertise and support, look elsewhere.

Alex is an amazing driver! Long rides went fast due to his knowledge and experiences in life. Some other things need improvement though.

Accommodations were very good except at the Lapas Jungle Lodge. While the atmosphere was great, the rooms and meals were below average. Room had a hot water issue, hot tub was not hot and only 1 of 7 jets worked, ongoing construction, and staff morale seemed low. I would not use this hotel until the new ownership has finished refurbish.

Most excursions were awesome, but the descriptions could be better. Even their websites are pretty vague. The night walk was great but our guide was not engaging and seemed impatient. Same with the ATV guide. While nice people, it felt like they were just going through the motions.

The 2nd half of our itinerary was lacking in accurate (or at all) descriptions. We made it work, but wanted to bring it up for future guests.

Finally, Bryan's attention to detail needs improvement. He miscommunicated several times on, what I thought, were some pretty easy tasks. I'm sure it's a fast paced job, but this was the down season.

Overall we loved our trip but would not book through Serendipity again.

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Lapas Rainforest Eco-Resort

Tárcoles

They are in the middle of new ownership and they need to finish their construction before I would recommend. The grounds are great though!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Celeste Mountain Lodge

Bijagua

This is more like a B&B, but that is what's charming about it. Very clean and well maintained. The food is great, and an excellent value! We ate all but one of our meals there.

Authenticity & Character

Very relaxing atmosphere

Location

Don't miss out on their private hiking path, it was the highlight of our trip!

Staff

The staff seemed like family and all did a wonderful job.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and orderly. Quiet and relaxing, I recommend a fan if you are not used to an open air room without A/C, we did just fine with a 10" fan on the days without a breeze. And we slept really well enjoying the night sounds.

Activity Reviews

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nice float and our raft guide was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal ATV Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was fun and we'd do it again with a different trail(s). We could have done without the "back 40" mud drive, it was not very big and not that interesting. Once in the mountains, the views were amazing, but not much of a chance to enjoy (eg slow down, pull over, etc. It was more about the ride than the scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was great, especially the young lady at reception, our guide was nice but could have been more attentive.

Transport

Driver was fun and engaging, in fact he was the one who noticed my phone/rain issue...well done!

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Fantastic experience, the nature reserve has well maintained paths and structures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide seemed overly focused on moving rather than enjoying. Not all tourists want to run at night, in a hot climate, to maybe see an animal. Many of us just want to be out there soaking up the atmosphere. Perhaps ask your group what they value.

Transport

Serendipity manager fumbled the transport. Many thanks to our hotel hosts for finding a alternate driver quickly. But this set off a chain reaction where our tour guide seemed annoyed and in a rush.

River Tubing, Río Celeste

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Great guide, very patient and upbeat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fun guys, went out of their way to give extra time and effort. Well done, gentlemen!

Jungle Crocodile Safari

Costa Rica

We can't review because our Serendipity manager was not very attentive, he seemed disengaged and not too effective at his job.

I had an incredible trip to Costa Rica, and I cannot recommend it enough! My coordinator, Olman, did an amazing job organizing everything. One of the most unforgettable highlights of the trip was witnessing the incredible diversity of wildlife throughout the country, especially in Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, which were absolutely breathtaking.

My driver, Alex, was exceptional. He shared fascinating insights about Costa Rican wildlife, culture, cuisine, and daily life, making the journey informative and engaging. His knowledge and friendliness added so much value to the experience.

Overall, this trip was a perfect blend of adventure and learning. I left Costa Rica with a deeper appreciation for its natural beauty and culture, thanks to the excellent coordination and guidance from Olman and Alex.

Olman was so patient and responsive to all my questions. He listened to our requests about a specific type of itinerary and made great suggestions. The activities he suggested were perfect for my 10 year old and myself. The accommodations in both Puerto Viejo and Arenal La Fortuna were just what we wanted!

Impeccable choices by our friend, Yuliana, starting from pick-up at the airport. Her planning and attention to detail allowed my family to enjoy a vacation free from arguing, uncertainty or poor planning. Thank YOU!

Costa Rica for a family of four to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. Our two sons (16 & 13)came along for their second international trip. We started in San Jose to acclimate and pick up a rental. Hotel was perfect for one night with teens. Service was excellent and super helpful with car rental communicators. Alamo provided a new Toyota Rav 4 for our journey.

We ventured to La Paz Waterfalls for a stop off on the way to Arenal / La Fortuna. Fantastic spot and worth the time to explore the waterfalls and zoo.

Next stop was Arenal Parasido Resort in La Fortuna. Stayed in a villa ( 2 bd/ bath house with micro kitchen). Private and spacious with beautiful grounds. Zipline, safari river tour, eco thermal springs are some of the amazing activities we enjoyed. All companies provided were top notch!

Next area we explored was Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Parc. We stayed at Los Altos Resort in Quepos which was pure luxury! Accommodations were stellar including our own elevator, balconies off all rooms, 3 bd 3 bth, concierge service! Wildlife on the property rivaled the national park! Sloths, monkeys, macaw, agouti, toucans, hummingbirds and much more all on the property. Some of our favorite moments were observing the natural beauty poolside and experiencing wildlife completely free. Stunning views across the property. Staff was legendary and a pleasure to get to know. Breakfast was another standout.

Olman planned a dream vacation for our family. He managed to fit in all the excursions we wanted and all our transportation within the country. We were very impressed!

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Beautiful, well appointed hotel. We loved the thermal pools and the swim up bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

This hotel has beautiful views, but it was a little more rustic than I like. It is situated on a very steep hill, making it very difficult to walk the grounds. Thank goodness they have a shuttle bus to pick you up and drive you to the on site restaurant. The food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel

Tamarindo

My whole family loved Capitan Suizo! Our room was beautiful and had a wonderful sitting area by the front door looking out into the gorgeous landscaping of the resort. The beach was awesome and had surf boards available. We also enjoyed the pool and bar area very much. The food was very good. The restaurant even cooked a tuna that we caught offshore fishing.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds were beautiful

Location

Right on a gorgeous beach! Can walk to stores and restaurants in town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Extreme Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nothing quite like soaring through the jungle over waterfalls! Awesome!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was very informative and we learned so much about Arenal. We had an amazing hike even though it was raining!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hanging Bridges Hike

Monteverde

A must see if you love plants and wildlife. The cloud forest is like no other place on Earth.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

This was so much fun! It is SO dark! The guides are superb!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sailing Excursion & Snorkeling

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Simple beautiful! Worth the hike!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fishing on the North Pacific Coast

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We’ve been used to DIY traveling to North America, Europe and Asia for several years. This year, we decided for the first time to use an agency to do the planning for our Central American travel to Costa Rica. We came across Kimkim in our search, which did all the hotel bookings and activity planning for us based on the preferences we provided them. Kimkim didn’t disappoint us and had, in fact, exceeded our expectations by making adjustments to our needs while we were already in the midst of our Costa Rican adventure. Their quick response to our requests were commendable. The adjustments they made for us due to my traveling partner who developed medical issues during our travel were addressed seamlessly. Jessica, our Kimkim agent who we touched based with till the end, was always responsive and made sure we were getting the most of our travel time. We would not have had a memorable experience without Kimkim’s services and its expertise of Costa Rican life, land, people, and culture. Pura Vida!

KimKim arranged several oustanding small group tours for us. Particularly wonderful was the tour of Hanging Bridges park with Mauricio, He was very informative and went out of his way to make sure we saw all the animals we were interested in. I highly recommend him.

The night excursion in the Wild Frog Sanctuary was also greatly appreciated.

Activity Reviews

Guanacaste Snorkel Adventure

Costa Rica

The boat crew was outstanding and they did a great job of finding animals and habitats for us to see. Unfortunately the snorkeling reef was unimpressive--just coral rubble (none living) with algae overgrowth. Saw a variety of fish but not what would be expected on a tropical snorkeling experience. The rest of the excursion met or exceeded expectations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Out guide, Mauricio was outstanding

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Excursion in Rainforest and Wild Frog Sanctuary

Arenal/La Fortuna

Wide diversity of animals seen.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Costa Rica this September, 2024 during Green Season was amazing. We traveled for a work conference in Papagayo, and decided to use a travel service to organize a trip extension to several other parts of the country. We found Kimkim, and were extremely impressed from start to finish. Kimkim contracted with a local tour company, Serendipity Adventures, which was excellent. We went to Arenal and Tortuguero. Both hotels selected by Serendipity — Moana in Arenal and Mawamba in Tortuguero — were excellent, as was our driver Alex, and our guide in Arenal Mauricio. The communication with Serendipity while in country was outstanding. I would highly recommend our hotels and booking through Kimkim and Serendipity!

Amazing service received by KimKim at the time of booking and with the local agency Serendipity Adventures. Our driver and tour guides were the sweetest most amazing people. They made our trip 10x better! They went above and beyond to make this trip memorable for us.
I highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip!

My son and I traveled to San Jose, Puerto Viejo and La Fortuna. We had a great city tour in San Jose and spent a lot of time shopping around the Mercado central. In Puerto Viejo we surfed and had an amazing time snorkeling in Cauhita National park. The Caribbean coast was a favorite for the culture, beaches and food. During our last stop in La Fortuna we really enjoyed the hanging bridge tour in combination with time at the hot springs. We had a few minor issues with one of the hotels during our trip and Jessica was super responsive and helpful in getting things resolved letting us just spend our time enjoying Costa Rica and the spirit of Pura Vida.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

This was such a perfect spot. Despite one of the pools being renovated and the restaurant being closed, we had a great stay! The staff were friendly and accommodating and offered us excellent restaurant recommendations in town. The landscaping around the hotel was beautiful and made it feel like we were alone at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Costa de Papito

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón

Had difficulty checking in with this hotel, they were not able to confirm the payment from kimkim. They put us in the wrong sized room from what we requested. Breakfast was $8 and was not good- instead go to the hostel across the street for food and ocean views. The location was great, close to the beach and a short tuktuk ride into Puerto Viejo.

Authenticity & Character

Cute bungalows

Location

Staff

Staff were nice but seemed inconvenienced with our check in issues.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn San José-Aurola

San José

Great location, clean and nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to walk to everything downtown. Recommended to not walk around after dark

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Balmoral

San José

Worked for what we needed, one night stay prior to going to airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

San José City Tour

San José

Great tour of the city with a great tour guide via car. Museum tour and food at the end were also great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Surf Lesson at Salsa Brava

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Great surf lesson in a small group! Everyone was new to surfing and everyone was riding waves by the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cahuita National Park Excursion

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Highly recommend this tour! The boat ride and snorkeling were amazing. There is so much aquatic life to see and we went to a few spots. The hike after was also great. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the park, animals and was really friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano National Park Boat & Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nice boat ride across the lake. The walk was underwhelming

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great tour! 10 out of 10 day! The bridge tour was amazing. A beautiful walk through the rainforest with a great and knowledgeable tour guide. The hot springs after were a favorite of the entire trip. Absolutely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently returned from an incredible trip to Costa Rica that Priscilla planed for me. From start to finish, everything was impeccably organized, making this journey truly unforgettable. She was very responsive and tailored the trip to my liking.

Right from the beginning, the planning was seamless. She was helpful and responsive, ensuring every detail was covered. Whether it was answering questions or adjusting the itinerary.

The activities were the highlight of the trip. From thrilling zip-lining through lush canopies to an amazing water rafting tour, each adventure was perfectly planned.
Transportation was top-notch. The transfers were punctual, clean, and comfortable, making it easy to go from one region to the other without a hitch. The attention to detail in arranging smooth connections between destinations was much appreciated.

The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Each hotel was carefully chosen for its comfort, location, and service. Waking up to breathtaking views and enjoying luxurious amenities added an extra layer of enjoyment to the trip. My favorite hotel was Arenas del Mar.
Thank you Prici.
Pura Vida =)

Amazing trip with amazing people! Second KimKim trip - both great!

Bryan put together a great trip for us. we spent 10 days in Costa Rica, including Tortuguero, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio. Nice mix of activities and great guides. For many of the activities, it was just the 2 of us ( I went with my kid) and guide, which was nice, more relaxing and added flexibility vs touring with a group. Awesome nature, ziplining in Arenal is a must, wished we spent more time in Manuel Antonio so we could enjoy the beach and ocean (we were only there 1.5 days, I think it deserves minimum of 3-4 days, although we got in a spectacular hike with lots of wildlife including sloths and monkeys).
Also really appreciated that being an anxious traveler, I had questions every single day, and Bryan and his staff got back to me promptly every question I texted. While I never met them in person, I always felt like they were present and ready to help.

Serendipity Adventures were excellent! It was so helpful to have a local connection on the ground to help with everything from driving directions to restaurant recommendations to confirming our upcoming reservations. Wilman even managed to get us a better room at one resort. Rio Celeste Hideaway and Luna Lodge were two highlights of the trip. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review

Luna Lodge

Hidden gem in the rainforest! Amazing energy, delicious food, and friendly service. A must stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Costa Rica

Super fun, very educational, and very manageable with small kids!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Amazing experience like nothing else in the world.

This was our first time in Costa Rica, and the entire experience was wonderful!

We’re grateful to have worked with kimkim, especially Olman, who made planning so much easier. From the start, Olman was responsive and attentive to our travel requests, and his insights were invaluable when planning our activities. Everything during our vacation went smoothly—our transportation was always on time, our accommodations had amazing rooms with stunning views, and our prepaid excursions made check-in easy. We appreciated Olman’s thoughtful itinerary, which included time to rest after travel and between activities. His planning helped us avoid fatigue and fully enjoy our trip. Graciela also reached out as a point of contact during our stay in Costa Rica, which provided a sense of reassurance even though we didn’t need any assistance.

Here are some specific highlights:

La Fortuna: It took about 2.5 hours to reach La Fortuna from San Jose airport. Our driver, Leo, was incredibly kind, pointing out sights and offering to stop along the way. We loved staying at Los Lagos. Our room was within walking distance of the hot springs with a view of Arenal Volcano. Our tour with North Adventures, led by Monica and Caylor, was exceptional. They even spotted a three-toed sloth on the way to an activity and stopped for photos. Monica seamlessly switched between Spanish and English for our small group and offered great food recommendations in La Fortuna. The included lunch at Restaurante Las Tablas provided incredible casado with fish and chilera.

Monteverde: The lake crossing from La Fortuna to Monteverde was stunning. We stayed at Hotel Ficus, and it was our favorite place during the vacation. The reception staff—Dylan, Aylin, and Anna—were extremely kind and helpful. The town was close enough to walk to and far enough to avoid traffic noise. We were also lucky with our tour guides at Don Juan, Treetopia (Jason, Sebastian, Greivin, Daniel), and the night tour with Cristian.

Gulf of Papagayo: Our hotel, Bosque Del Mar, had beautiful rooms and was just a short walk from the beach, which felt almost private due to the lack of crowds. It was farther away from stores so we needed to take a taxi but it wasn’t an issue. The reception staff was very helpful and assisted us in booking a last-minute catamaran excursion (Marlin Del Rey) on our final day. We saw whales and snorkeled, and it was the perfect way end to our vacation in Costa Rica.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip unforgettable. We look forward to visiting again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

We loved staying at Los Lagos. Our room was within walking distance of the hot springs with a view of Arenal Volcano. The hotel restaurant had delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to hot springs, short driving distance to the town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ficus

Monteverde Costa Rica

Hotel Ficus was our favorite place during our vacation. The reception staff—Dylan, Aylin, and Anna—were extremely kind and helpful. The town was close enough to walk to, yet far enough to avoid traffic noise. It had incredible views of the clouds and was close to amazing restaurants and a delicious panadería.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Dylan, Aylin, and Anna went out of their way to provide us recommendations and to help us with activities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

The hotel had beautiful rooms and was just a short walk from the beach, which felt almost private due to the lack of crowds. The reception staff was very helpful, assisting us in booking a last-minute catamaran excursion (Marlin Del Rey).

Authenticity & Character

Location

We enjoyed how close it was to the beach but wished it had easier access to more restaurants, grocery store.

Staff

In addition to the reception staff, the restaurant staff were extremely kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

The included lunch at Restaurante Las Tablas featured an incredible casado with fish and chilera.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour with North Adventures, led by Monica and Caylor, was exceptional. They even spotted a three-toed sloth on the way to an activity and stopped for photos. Monica seamlessly switched between Spanish and English for our small group and offered great food recommendations in La Fortuna.

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

For the hanging bridge guided walk, Jason was very knowledgeable and pointed out birds we would have likely missed. We greatly enjoyed our time with Sebastian, Greivin, Daniel while ziplining.

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristian was very personable and knowledgeable. It was incredible how he could find insects, snakes, birds in the dark! He was very nice in helping all of us take pictures.

Transport

KimKim team along with Serendipity adventures did a fantastic job in making our vacation a memorable one. We had very little time to plan our trip and they provided several options for itineraries. We ended up picking the one that covered Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna. Both were awesome destinations and offered plenty to explore. All the hikes, horse back rides, beaches, coffee tours, volcano tours, zip lines, thermal springs, are all really enjoyable.

Hotel La mariposa was awesome. It's location and views are out of this world. We got one of the corner sunset suites and it's amazing. Buffet Breakfast (includes omelette station) was fantastic and helped us get our early on time and get on the road. The restaurant is on a terrace with the most beautiful view of the beach and national park. Town of Quepos is a beautiful place. We wish we kept a free day for our selves to explore more of this town. Most of our time was taken by the planned activities/tours. You can walk to many restaurants and coffee shops from hotel, which was wonderful.

Hotel Arenal Kioro suites and spa is an amazing place. Situated close to the volcano with views of it from almost every room. This hotel also has breakfast buffet which was fantastic. This hotel has it's own hot springs. Property is very well designed and provides a lot to explore. Keep in mind that the hotel is about 10 minutes car ride to the town of La Fortuna. Town offers several restaurants and coffee shops etc.

All in all we had a wonderful experience and we will definitely use KimKim and Serendipity again.

Hotel Reviews

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views from the hotel and ability to walk into town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to the Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I usually do all of my own planning for trips to save money. In Costa Rica, I wanted to see the Turtles on the Carribbean side of Costa Rica, my husband is a geologist so the volcanoes were of interest, and our daughter wanted to surf in the Pacific. We had nine days to manage this so we needed a car for a portion of our trip. I knew a boat transfer was necessary to get to Tortuguero but was a bit confused about what to expect and how to book it. When I contacted KimKim, Olman was really helpful. He explained that it was more expensive to book many things on our own and after comparing prices, he was right, it was more affordable to go through KimKim and absolutely less hassle! Olman asked what we wanted to do and he put it all together. The price was a bit higher than what we wanted to spend so I asked for a manual shift car and a hotel change, which brought the price into line. A driver met us at the airport and took us to our hotel in San Jose. In the morning another driver took us to the dock in Tortuguero for our 1 hour and 40 minute boat ride to the eco lodge. A jungle walk, open lagoon boat tour, and boat to town was included with our hotel plus all three meals daily. We booked a night-time turtle tour and saw a 250lb. turtle laying her eggs and then using her flippers to camouflage her nest. It was a dream come true for me to see this. After Tortuguero, we traveled by boat to the docks then to Guapiles by motor-coach for lunch and to pick our car that had all fees paid and was gassed up and ready to go. Our hotel in La Fortuna was at the top of a hill with a wall of windows for a perfect view of Arenal Volcano. We took a mud bath there and swam in mineral hot springs. Our next day took us to 7 zip lines over the tree tops and then a walk with hanging bridges to see the flora and fauna at Misitco Park. After two nights we made our way to Tamarindo where we stayed on the hillside with a cooling breeze and an infinity pool. Our daughter got in 3 days of surfing and we all took a snorkel sunset cruise. All of our accommodations were top notch and the food was great at all of them. Our drivers met us as expected. The tours were all good and safe (zip-lining!). The Costa Rican's are happy, helpful and appreciate tourists. The country is beautiful and still wild. Go to see the turtles, monkeys, sloths and colorful birds. There is so much to do. Contact Olman because he will very graciously work with you to put together an affordable trip of a lifetime. I now need to see the turtle hatchlings make their way to the sea, so I will be booking another trip soon (and I will feel very safe traveling there by myself using drivers) and I will book through KimKim and Olman again!

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

Beds were very comfortable and restaurant food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Pachira Lodge has their own boardwalk through the jungle where you will see monkeys, sloths and poison frogs! Three meals are served here and there is good variety and it all tastes delicious. We sat at each meal with another family to fill our table and it was fun getting to know them. Eco lodges do not have air conditioning but the overhead fan cools the room down at night where you will use a blanket.

Authenticity & Character

It's an eco lodge with monkeys playing in the trees.

Location

Staff

Oliver

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was as expected. Beds were comfortable.

Montaña de Fuego Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The glass walls made for a fabulous view of the volcano.

Authenticity & Character

It was one of the coolest rooms we ever stayed in with the big windows overlooking the volcano.

Location

Staff

Joseph was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great air conditioning and big towels for the springs.

Wyndham

Tamarindo

The room was big and the beds very comfortable. Loved the pool and swim up bar.

Authenticity & Character

Open air lobby overlooking the ocean.

Location

Located at the top of the hill there was a nice cool breeze.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Turtles, Turtles, Turtles. And monkeys, sloths, frogs and colorful birds. I need to go back. Soon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All drivers and staff were very helpful and kind.

Transport

Very efficient.

Arenal Volcano Extreme Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

7 ziplines!!! Lot's of staff to help everyone. They were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This is the first time we have utilized "kimkim" services, and we are absolutely impressed with the level of service, professionalism and how easy they made our Costa Rica travel. We traveled to Costa Rica at the end of July, and it was our first international trip traveling with our kids. Our travel specialist helped us create an itinerary that allowed to see various parts of the country. We went canyoning, horseback riding, we hiked near a volcano, we dove into natural thermal waters, we visited the hanging bridges, kayaked, snorkeled in a beautiful beach and so much more. It truly made our experience an unforgettable one. We will definitely be utilizing their services in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel located at the base of a dormant volcano. Our room had a direct view to the volcano from the back porch. Moreover, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and the place has a heated pool with a jacuzzi for those that enjoy night swim. The food was good, but I recommend everyone to visit "La Fortuna" town, as they offer a vast variety of places to eat at a better price. Finally, the only thing we regret was not staying here longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view and peaceful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ficus

Monteverde Costa Rica

Great location! This hotel is only minutes away from the "downtown" portion of town. Dylan and Ana were extremely helpful, professional and courteous! There was a day we had additional idle time, and they recommended us a "forest night walk", and even helped us set it up. The rooms were very comfortable, and clean and the only time we needed assistance, they responded in very short time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to various coffee shops, restaurants and local shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

We only stayed one night, but the rooms had ample space, were comfortable and clean. Breakfast service was good, with plenty of options and the staff was friendly as it was professional.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty average, but not bad for a short stay.

Location

Close to the airport, but about 30 minutes away from the capital's downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only aspect i would recommend, is to install extractors in the bathrooms.

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Hotel is located about 10 minutes away from the beach. Rooms were comfortable and clean, and the hotel has a nice pool at a very convenient spot. The hospitality staff was very helpful, and extremely hard working as they seemed to do a bit of everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Transportation is limited, but manageable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Canyoning in the Lost Canyon

Arenal/La Fortuna

First time doing this!! Our whole family enjoyed it! The staff was extremely helpful, especially since it can be a bit of intimidating at the beginning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

What made this tour different was out guide, otherwise it would've been just a normal hike. Sergio provided us with a historical background of the park and the composition of the forest as we walked through. He had vast knowledge of the area's flora and fauna, and even provided us interesting details of Costa Rica's drive to protect their natural resources. He definitely connected with us!

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was provided at the end of the tour, and it was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

The farm has a gorgeous panoramic view. It was a peaceful tour, as our guides only helped us control our horses. Maybe I was expecting some information or any background conversation, but I wouldn't want that to take away from how great the experience was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Our guide Dio was great! Very knowledgeable and attentive. We were able to see wild sloths, various bird species, reptiles and mammals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

We loved this tour!! Diego (son of the owner) was extremely attentive to our group. He took his time to answer every question we all had, as he showed us his farm. We loved the ending with freshly made coffee, chocolate and light snacks. 100% recommend this for coffee and chocolate lovers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla Chora Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour

Sámara

If you want to have fun while exercising, i definitely recommend you this tour. The guides take you to a tour to a nearby island full of crabs, and where you can occasionally see wild iguanas. The snorkeling experience was OK, since the water current lifted some sediments from the bottom, and we were not able to see many fishes. It still was a worthwhile fin experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport