Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Overall amazing trip planned by Randall. Would highly recommend. All the transports were almost flawless. My son even lost his suitcase at a restop and chris from kimkim found it and got it delivered to us.

First andlast night in san jose, hotel was great. We took a tour of san jose on our own which was nice.

Only major issue was Tortuguero. Hotel was horrible (no AC (sweltering hot temps) room full of bugs/lizards, stray dogs everywhere (including every meal) and kids hated the food). It was a cabin, not a hotel. Nobody slept for two nights due to heat and bugs. Worst part was that turtle nesting season not until July, so there was nothing to see.. was a horrible experience. We went kayaking on our own there which was fun.

Arenal was fantastic, the hiking tour to volcano was just average. The rio celeste tour was amazing. Wished we had gone tubing/rafting, many other families had done that.

Trasnfer to monteverde was interesting. A boat ride to a muddy area and we all dragged our luggage through puddles and mud to get to a bus. Monteverde was beautiful, hotel poco a poco was amazing. Zipline and night tour fun. We did a coffee/chocolate tour on our own which was great.

Manuel antonio was also beautiful. The hotel costa verde was fine. We paid for middle of the range hotels, so couldnt ask for anything amazing. The guided tour if national park was fun, but we had done so many hiking/walking tours that kids were a bit restless by the time we got to that tour.

We enjoyed an amazing family vacation in Costa Rica thanks to Fiorella's trip planning guidance. Our teenagers loved the adrenaline rush of white water rafting on the Pacaure River's long rapids, including a class IV section as well a howling with the howler monkeys while hiking on the Arenal 1968 Volcano hike. We saw a lot of wildlife in Manual Antonio, were surrounded by Capuchin monkeys, swam in the ocean under the Toucans, and with the help of our guide had some excellent views of sloths and roosting bats. My husband and I most enjoyed the biodiversity in the rugged Corcovado National Park. It took a boat ride through a mangrove forest to get there and a small plane to return to San Jose, but was worth the effort. Our guide Manfred with the Corcovado Wilderness Lodge was an excellent storyteller about the interdependence of the wildlife in the rainforest. Our family was lucky to spot an immense mother and tiny baby tapir on our gorgeous hike. Many great memories of our 12 day adventure.

Our trip to Costa Rica was even dreamier than I imagined. Our specialist provided a great itenerary, including several adjustments I requested and he also answered all my questions about logistics, the culture, expectations, etc. The lodging options we ultimately landed on were wonderful, really unique spaces with decent amenties, great food and high quality service. He provided a couple of different options for the hot springs near Arenal volcano and we opted for the more luxurious option for our anniversary, sooooo glad we did! He also recommended great sites to see like the Fortuna waterfall, and suggested a bike company to rent our own bikes since we didn't want to do any group tours and be on our own schedule. He was very patient and understanding through the planning process and we had absolutely no hiccups on our travels. The wildlife park in Manuel Antonio was also really cool, and the beaches there as spectacular as he described. It was truly a trip in paradise!

Hotel Reviews

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

I like the local, unique feel of this hotel. The room was basic but nice and clean. The typical Costa Rica breakfast was decent. The surrounding streets in the area were a bit rough and it is near a busy/loud road, though we didn't hear it at night and they have locking gates/fence all around so we felt safe. We had a view of the town and mountainous backdrop from our room. There was a causal and tasty restaurant within walking distance, also a bank to exchange local currnecy

Authenticity & Character

older hotel but nicely maintained.

Location

in the center of several activites, near a big park with art museum

Staff

very nice and helpful people

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

This place is VERY cool. It was slightly separated from the town La Fortuna, but only about 3 min. drive - wiht its own private road that leads you through the tropical forest and to a beautifull landscaped paradise. Each dwelling is a lovely mini house with 2 very comfy beds, tv, min fridge and coffee maker, many outlets including USB, good tv, big closet & drawers, AC, large bathroom with huge shower area and bidet. Best part is covered porches front and back with seating to observe the wildlife, view the volcano, eat and relax. There is also a nature trail at the end of the property into the forest, we saw toucans and heard the howler monkeys here! The pool with waterfall and big spa/jacuzzi is fantastic, the bar and restuarant was great with a tremendous breakfast buffet with both American and Costa Rican foods, pastries, custom chef bar, and fresh juices and fruits. Excellent service! We didn't have time to try the spa services but be sure you visit a hot springs at a neighboring hotel and also the Fortuna waterfall.

Authenticity & Character

submerged in local foliage that is well manicured

Location

secluded and lush surroundings, RIGHT at the base of the volcano with amazing views!

Staff

room was sparkling, front desk very nice, funny and great bartender

Cleanliness & Comfort

cozy beds, just enough amenities, private space

Espadilla Ocean Club

Manuel Antonio

This place was really cool and unique. We had our own 2-story house, with AC, two bathrooms & bedrooms, outdoor shower and rinse areas to clean off after the beach, and full kitchen. There is a great covered patio in the back outdoor dining set, hammock and a fun, cool little splash pool with jets! Lovely local flora and well lendscaped yards in between the bulidings. Nice open, covered hangout pad with basket chairs, games, grill, and security. They even have onsite laundry machines for you to use. The trail leads right to the beach through a short forest path. We heard howler monkeys in the surrouding trees each morning.

Authenticity & Character

cool decor, very tropical feeling

Location

close to beach and restuarants, also walking distance to the national park

Staff

The host was amazing, giving us great dinner recommendations and ordering a taxi for us. Security greeted us every day, helped us park and made sure the gate was open/ closed when we needed it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean service daily, even did the dishes.

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

pretty standard for a hampton.

Authenticity & Character

Location

easy shuttles to the hotel, nearby resturants in walking distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit Club Rio Hot Springs

Costa Rica

This place is TOTAL WOW!!! We lived like kings, enjoyed every single unique, beautiful and relaxing pool. The luxurious faclilites and amenities were out of this world and unlike anything we have experienced. Comfy seating and chairs everywhere, wide open spaces. We had a day pass and opted for the dinner package, the food was delicious. - a 3 course menu including dessert with plenty of tasty options. We orderd two differnt dishes and tasted eachothers, both were fantasitc. The swim up bar had good drinks, not too outrageous in cost and there were tvs everywhere. They also gave us second day access and we were happy to return.

Quality of Experience

This is a very special place, a windy road through the forest leads you here and reveals a world of luxury with views of the volcano and surrounded by lush forest.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SkyTrek Monteverde: Wonderful! Transportation picked us up right on time. Check-in was easy and when my youngest was nervous about zip-lining they were supportive and kind. All the guides were excellent, instructions were clear, and safety measures were great. Zip-lining about the cloud forest, with a few birds flying near was beautiful. I only wish they had given notice in advance that the last zip line is tandem for anyone <200 pounds. My teenager was not excited to have to tandem ride with his mom ;)

Activity Review

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

Wonderful! Transportation picked us up on time. Check-in was easy and when my youngest was nervous about zip-lining they were supportive and kind. All the guides were excellent, instructions were clear, and safety measures were great. Zip-lining about the cloud forest, with a few birds flying near was beautiful. I only wish they had given notice in advance that the last zip line is tandem for anyone <200 pounds. My teenager was not excited to have to tandem ride with his mom ;)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow--what an incredible holiday in Costa Rica! We had a wonderful experience and are very pleased with kimkim--we would definitely recommend working with their team again. Fio was attentive to our requests and connected us with a fantastic local travel agency and expert, Nancy (Serendipity Adventures). Both Fio and Nancy were prompt to answer questions and help facilitate our travel needs--even when we were in the middle of traveling.
-3Monkies transportation was excellent. Drivers were always on time (usually 5-10 minutes early). Vans were spotless. Drivers were all very friendly and willing to accommodate any unscheduled stops. They were knowledgeable local resources and could answer any questions we had.
-Hacienda Guachipelin was EXCELLENT. Accommodations were very comfortable, restaurant options and food were fantastic, staff was very friendly and helpful. It was so convenient to have the activity center on the property--there was absolutely no feeling of a "vacation factory" (as I had read ahead of time). The activities were well organized and were thoughtfully integrated into their natural settings. The zip line through he canyon was fantastic. Waterfalls felt like a Costa Rican Shangri-La. Edward was a fantastic guide on the Las Pailas loop hike. The tubing was a blast.
-Hotel Mosque del Mar and Playa Hermosa was lovely. The pool area felt like a jungle oasis...but was dense with mosquitos.
-Kuna Vela sailing was NOT a catamaran...but rather a very nice sailboat. Our reservation was incorrectly made for 2 (instead of all 4 of us), but the staff was very accommodating and welcomed us all aboard. We had some higher swells on our sail, so the kids stayed in the back of the boat with the captain. He-and the entire Kuna Vela staff-were so friendly helpful, they really made the trip a hit with our family.
-The estuary mangrove tour in Tamarindo was excellent. The naturalist/boat captain was very knowledgeable and was able to point out many birds, plants, and crocodiles that we would have missed! This was a great activity that felt off the beaten path.
-Coco tours transportation was also excellent. Our driver was able to make a great lunch recommendation for us in Tamarindo.
-Nummbu Bungalows on Playa Carrillo was absolutely beautiful. Hotel staff was very friendly. Unfortunately our stay coincided with a group fitness retreat that dominated the property for the weekend--including a late night, thumping DJ party. Not the vibe we were hoping for. We were told this retreat is annual, so keep this in mind when booking in early June.
-Isla Chora ocean kayaking and snorkeling with Samara Adventures was a highlight!! We loved the open-air ride to the beach. The paddle to Isla Chora was so fun--we had turtles popping up to greet us along the way. The guides were very safety oriented and friendly. This was a fantastic family excursion--would highly recommend this.
We had such a wonderful time--Costa Rica, the beauty of the land, ocean and people, is truly a treasure of this planet!!

Hotel Reviews

Nammbú Beachfront Bungalows

Sámara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

Excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day of Adventure in Hacienda Guachipelin

Costa Rica

Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall

Costa Rica

Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour

Costa Rica

This was NOT a catamaran tour, rather a sailboat

Tamarindo Mangrove & Estuary Boat Tour

Gulf of Papagayo

Isla Chora Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Sergio from kimkim and Charlotte (Lotta) from Serendipity Adventures were outstanding. I was so happy with all of the attention to details. Everything was on point.
Thank you so much for making our trip such an epic memory!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The view of the volcano from your villa is just breath taking. The breakfast is amazing. A quick cab ride into town.

Authenticity & Character

Fancy resort. The thermal springs pool with bar was heavenly.

Location

A quick cab ride into town!

Staff

Above and beyond staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uber clean. There was a rainforest type feel in the bathroom. So healing and pretty!

Punta Uva Bungalows

Limon

Authenticity & Character

The beach/cove is beautiful, like a movie scene. Cleanest water.

Location

A good 15/20mins from Puerto Viejo town in the Tuk Tuk. $10 each way.

Staff

The restaurant staff was amazing. A little hard to communicate with the front desk staff but everyone was super kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rainforest Immersion Massage and Tropical Facial

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

I was so impressed with the Jungle Spa! The ambiance and the skilled professionals really made the massage and facial remarkable. I would HIGHLY suggest adding this as a part of your trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tirza in PV was the best! She was so knowledgeable and full of life. I would recommend her company and services to everyone!

Transport

The charter plane worked out well! I do wish we didn’t have the 5.5 hr drive from Fortuna to PV. Felt like a whole day was wasted.

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing views! Got to see so many wildlife species. And the waterfall hike was worth it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey into the Mystical Costa Rica: Shaman, Medicinal Plants & Waterfall Adventure

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

From feeling the energy of the Bri Bri tribe medicinal shaman to grinding your own chocolate, this was an amazing day trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tirza was amazing!

Transport

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica. All of the activities we reserved--white water rafting, hiking in Arenal, the cloud forest self-guided tour in Monteverde, and the sunset catamaran cruise with snorkeling--were so much fun and top-notch quality. Everything was very well-organized except for our arrival in San Jose. We had rented a car from the airport but we were sent information about meeting a driver upon arrival. There was no driver waiting for us and my father was extremely confused about where to go. Luckily we called the customer service number and they told us to go to the car rental desk. Any time we needed to call the customer service number they were very helpful.

Everybody was kind and considerate.
Our guide for one day was Wilbur. He was great and my wife and I were comfortable with our interactions.
Our guide for 3 days was Jose. He was beyond great. His wealth of knowledge was amazing and we really enjoyed our time spent with him.
All the people at every resort we stayed at was excellent. I have never enjoyed a vacation more then this one.

Hotel Reviews

Poas Volcano Lodge

Vara Blanca

Our stay at Poas Volcano Lodge was peaceful and quiet. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We loved our stay at Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs. The hot springs were relaxing, the food was excellent, and the staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aguila de Osa Rainforest & Marine Adventure Lodge

Drake

Our stay at Aguila de Osa Inn was great. The staff was very accommodating and concerned when my wife came down with food poisoning. The resort was remote but beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center

San José

Our stay at Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center was pleasant. We enjoyed exploring the city, visiting museums, and picking up mementos to take home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

Senda Monteverde Boutique Hotel was lovely. The staff was attentive and went above and beyond to help when I lost my cell phone during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour to Poas Volcano

Costa Rica

I had an amazing time during the Poas Volcano tour. The guide, Wilbur, was really good, and the experience was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zip Lining Tour, bridges, and Fauna Exihibitions at Selvatura

Monteverde

Our visit to La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, and Arenal Volcano was incredible. The Hanging Bridges tour was one of the top experiences, and the wildlife we saw was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

The Chocolate & Night Hike Experience was enjoyable. We had a great time exploring and learning about chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caño Island Snorkeling Excursion

Corcovado National Park

I had fun snorkeling at Caño Island. The excursion was enjoyable, and I saw beautiful marine life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maurice our guide for hiking nearby La Fortuna / Arsenal was the high point of the trip., I recommend him highly bec his knowledge of the area flora and fauna was amazing. Now I know what really big Howlers (monkeys) sound like - not for the timid!
The La Fortuna Hotel was very nice but spartan (facial tissues?). Breakfast was very good, we chose the restaurants in town rather than than dinner at the resort. The weather was perfect all week and beautiful sunsets in Tamarindo and Monteverde. A little too warm in Monteverde but if you don’t mind bugs the night air is very cool with the huge sliding doors open. There are no screens on the doors so I recommend the hotels offer mosquito drapery around the bed to get a restful sleep.
Tamarindo was nice with the beaches and pools and we enjoyed the catamaran team that ran things - very friendly - I recommend folks use them. My daughter accompanied me and she had a great week.

It didn’t rain which was good and bad. Beautiful Weather. WAVE Adventures is a top-notch company with many guides who were very entertaining, I recommend them. But the whitewater rafting was disappointing from the low water flow, mostly class 1 with a couple class 2. I was also in Panama and whitewater rafting was much better.

PS: We rented a car as we used different airports and got to see more, driving off the beaten path had some beautiful sights but leave extra time as about 50% of the roads were paved. I personally enjoyed driving like the locals, you get around faster.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

Very good hotel and grounds for the middle-tier resort. You should walk everywhere and skip the shuttle - burn some calories as the resort is on a steep vertical hillside. The best feature is the landscaping and water features. Don’t expect rooms like a Marriott, it’s spartan so spend your time exploring the outdoors. Good breakfast every morning. The town is close by if you desire a dinner out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ficus

Monteverde Costa Rica

Beautiful complex of suites along the hillside, we stayed in the sunset rooms at the top and the views were worth it. Rolling back the huge glass doors allows the cool night breezes to make the rooms great for sunsets and sleeping. As there are no window or door screens, I recommend the Ficus Inn install mosquito netting drapes over / around each bed so patrons can enjoy a restful sleep with the lights out. Unless you love flying bugs keeping you company! A nice eco-friendly hotel at the edge of town at a steep uphill road. Good parking, breakfast, and wi-fi. Pleasant staff.

Authenticity & Character

Eco-friendly

Location

Sunset views. Sound of big rigs struggling up the hill was distracting, I guess that’s what earbuds are for.

Staff

More knowledgeable staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Netting around/ over beds to keep flying bugs out of your ears.

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

On the ocean, great sunset views from the balcony patio

Authenticity & Character

Huge complex, we stayed in the older part close to the lobby and restaurant

Location

Staff

Just the nicest helpful people

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great bunch of guides. Unfortunately water level too low, mostly class 1 with a couple class 2

Quality of Experience

See above

Food

We were hungry! I liked the cookies and beer!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The guides

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Maurice (guide) and Paloma (driver) were the high point of our trip

Quality of Experience

Small group, 4 people + guide was perfect size.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledge imparted to us and seeing our guide show us so many plans and their uses.

Transport

Paloma the driver- and a very good singer!

Olman did an excellent job planning a 10-day trip to Costa Rica that delivered the kind of experience my family of four (2 adults, 12 and 17 year olds) was looking for. We visited 3 locations (La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio) with a balance of nature-based adventure and relaxation. The recommended accomodations were great. The vendors for all tours were professional and experienced and the guides were top notch. Olman worked with me ahead of the trip to tweak the agenda to fit our needs. He was flexible and patient and provided so much information that I felt I knew exactly what we would be paying for prior to needing to send any money. I have never before worked with a travel provider to help plan my trips and I typically spend many hours over weaks and months putting together an itinerary. I was anxious about relying on someone else - but Olman made it easy, enjoyable and the delivered product was fantastic. For future travelers, my one recommendation is to start every day as early as possible. This will maximize your time enjoying what Costa Rica has to offer in the morning/early afternoon, avoid afternoon rainshowers and also allow late afternoon evenings for relaxing and meals (as well as early bed-times earned during adventurous mornings!). To that end, the only change I would have made to my schedule was that our zip-lining day in Monteverde did not commence until the vendor picked us up at 10:20 am- which kind of killed the whole day. I would highly recommend starting the day earlier - and driving yourself to the vendor's location so that you are not reliant upon their return transportation schedule.

Planning our trip with Randall was such a good experience. We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica everything ran so smoothly. All of the hotels were great and the room booked in Manuel Antonio was absolutely fantastic. There was a good balance between travel time, activities and down time. Highly recommend! Thanks Randall for all of your assistance.

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Great hotel with amazing views. The staff were great and the restaurant was very good. We enjoyed the hot pools and the swimming pool, this is a very relaxing place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing view of the volcano

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

We had a studio with a 180 degrees view of the ocean, absolutely gorgeous with a big balcony. It was so relaxing to sit and watch the birds and monkeys. The hotel restaurants are spread across the resort which is very hilly, but they have a car that will ferry you from your room to the pool or one of the restaurants. We ate at two of the restaurants and the food and service was great.

Authenticity & Character

We really enjoyed the wildlife and watching the monkeys over breakfast! Also breakfast menu was great!

Location

Staff

Really friendly and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana

San José

Functional airport hotel. Rooms were a good size and immaculately clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good hotel close to the airport

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

A lovely boutique hotel with fabulous service. We ate in the restaurant a couple of times and the food was delicious. The pool was lovely and relaxing and the cocktails were great. Great activities to do in the area, we really enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tubing Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic activity we had so much fun. A great experience to float down the river in this amazing place. The rapids were lots of fun and nothing too scary!

Quality of Experience

The location is so peaceful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were great and made sure everyone had a safe experience.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Firstly this is not a gentle hike as we were led to believe, as a couple in their late fifties)early sixties we found it challenging there are lots of big rustic steps to climb which was exhausting in the heat. The guide however was fantastic and very passionate, the view was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

We were served delicious pineapple after the hike down, which was so fresh and delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Passionate about nature

Transport

Comfortable bus with good driver

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

A great activity which was really interesting The guide was fantastic I can't remember his name but he delivered information in such a fun way he was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Great for the whole family

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Such a fun guide

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

This was such a lovely relaxing activity, a gentle hike through the forest. The guide was so knowledgeable and very passionate, and took us to some great spots to see the beautiful birds that live in the forest.

Quality of Experience

A special place to visit

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So knowledgeable and engaging

Transport

Very comfortable

Hanging Bridges at Selvatura Park

Monteverde

Didn't see a lot of wildlife but plenty of vegetation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver was so friendly

Catamaran and Snorkeling near Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Well organised and good fun. The staff were friendly.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim was recommended by one of my friend.We wanted to make Costa rica trip a unforgettable one. We are so happy to work with Jessica. She understood our family requirements and she had provided more detailed by each and organized each activities/tours with great tour guides. She was available all the times and responed so quickly. she had worked with great tour companies in costa rica -Jacabar Naturasist tours and provided great help .

Overall we had an amazing trip and felt very safe in new country . we are fortunate and extremely lucky to work with Jessica for our Cost Rica trip.
we would strongly recommend to use Kimkim for your trip planner/orgaziser

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano Hike & The Springs Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Must do acitivites in Costa Rica. we thoroughly enjoyed the hikd and Hot Springs

Quality of Experience

We enjoyed natural hot at Springs Resorts

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jacamar Tours guide is very knowledgeable

Transport

Had an amazing trip to Costa Rica thanks to Olman. I would never have figured out the logostics myself with rental cars pick up and how to get around costa rica effectivly. Will recommend the white water rafting to everyone. That is an amazin 30 km trip down the pacuare river.

Terrific trip: Lake Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio
Olman planned the perfect trip for us. We had a wonderful time and visited La Fortuna/Lake Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio. We got to see rainforest, jungle, the beaches, and everything in between. I was nervous about all of the driving, but we approached it as part of the adventure. Our trip was heavy on nature and animals, some adventure, and a little bit of relaxing, which is exactly what I asked for when reaching out to KimKim.
I was especially impressed with the Tabacon Resort and thermal springs and the Los Altos Resort. We also really enjoyed the bike ride around Lake Arenal and the ziplining/hanging bridges in Monteverde.

Thanks for a terrific trip!
Erica Z

Nuria went way beyond in helping me plan trip. She even made several suggestions that were definitely much needed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

The location and setting were amazing with views of Arenal Volcano. I stayed in a stand-alone bungalow that was very comfortable. The staff were simply wonderful. The only negative was that the jacuzzi was drained but the natural hot mineral pools were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views of Arenal Volcano nestled in the jungle.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham

Tamarindo

The hotel is on a hill over looking the ocean. They offer an hourly shuttle but only to two different inconvenient locations. Also because it faces west for the incredible view there is no shade around the pool. The bed was very comfortable but the only covering was a very thick comforter so I asked for a lighter cover and they brought another heavy comforter.

Authenticity & Character

A very upscale hotel but not a lot of authenticity.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding at the Base of Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

So so ride mostly through a flat open field.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was by far the best zipline experience I've had!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

I was pleasantly surprised to be the only one on the raft with the guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, pointing out things along the way I never would've seen. He also went into detail about these sights. At the end of the very relaxing float he took me to an eco farm for snacks made entirely from ingredients from the farm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

This was billed as snorkling but really was a scuba trip that catered mostly to the scuba divers. The snorklers felt unimportant. There was no instruction on using the equipment.

Quality of Experience

This is the fault of the tour but the water was extremely choppy and not clear at all. I sat out the 2nd snorkle due to the water choppiness.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More attention to the snorklers. My tube was faulty and the guy in the water with us didnt understand and kept trying to adjust the mask.

Transport

Palo Verde Jungle Boat Tour & Guaitil Pottery

Costa Rica

The boat engine was so loud and the guide sat at the front talking with a group of photographers. I had to ask many times what he was talking about. Also it was billed as visiting an authentic Guantil Village to observe the generations old pottery making. There was no visit but a single guy who set up a table in the cafe where we lunched. He made a small clay pot and showed us photographs of the painting process. Very lame.

Quality of Experience

Food

The authentic meal at the end of the boat ride was very tasty (chicken, rice, beans) but by the time the chicken dish came to me there was only a skimpy leg. I asked for a bigger piece that all the others had but there was none.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver informed us there would be 1 maybe 2 stops. The 1st stop was a quick restroom break where he announced 10 minutes. The 2nd was at a souvenir shop/cafeteria. I thought it would be another 10 minute restroom stop but after a long time I couldn't find him so I asked another tourist and she said she didn't know how long the break was but the driver was in the cafeteria having lunch!!!

Transport

Jean Carlo really made sure our honeymoon was planned perfectly! Everything went very well and we had the best time in Costa Rica! Can't believe it's over already :(

Hotel Reviews

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the airport but not very close to the city

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

The lodge itself was really nice, but not as much privacy as we would have liked. You can hear your neighbors extremely clearly and the wall dividing the rooms don't go up all the way. Other than that, the pool was really nice to relax at and we were able to see plenty of wildlife at the lodge itself. We were greeted by some monkeys right outside of our room which was a pleasant surprise!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

The resort was so nice! We had issues with the key card when we first checked in, but the hotel staff resolved the issue right away and had someone come up to the room to give us our new key cards. The room itself is a bit away from the restaurant, pools and main lobby but they had shuttle come around and pick us up and we didn't mind walking a couple times to get a nice workout in. The food was amazing and the hot springs at the resort was so much fun to relax and visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

This hotel was so nice! It was extremely clean and the staff were all so nice and helpful. We loved feeling like we were out in nature but also was just a few minutes walk from restaurants and souvenir shops. The wifi was spotty at our room, but the staff told us in advance that they were having some wifi issues due to the high winds the area had been impacted by. It wasn't too much of a problem and was nice to disconnect from the outside world for a few days while we stayed here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Zip Line (Canopy) Monteverde

Monteverde

I love heights and getting an adrenaline rush so this activity was right up my alley. I had done zip lining before but this was really a great experience. The longer zip lines was truly amazing and really felt like you were flying across the forest. They also have different options for those who are more adventurous called the Superman where you zip line on your stomach and the Tarzan Swing which is like a mini bungee jump almost.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to the Tortuguero Village

Tortuguero

The visit to the village was nice. I think we were just exhausted from the travel that we would have liked to be able to get settled in a bit more before we had to go on the guided visit. Also because it is not the busy tourist season, it was a bit sparse and we probably would have been ok if we stayed for only an hour instead of the full two hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Exploration of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

The Tortuguero national park was a fun tour to check out. We saw a lot of different animals and birds. We weren't prepared with binoculars so we didn't get the best views of the animals. It was very impressive that the guide was able to spot animals from so far away. Being on a boat for the tour was a nice little touch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall & Arenal Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was probably our most favorite tour during our entire Costa Rica trip! Our guide, Alfredo, was the best! He was able to give us so much information and spot all kinds of snakes and animals. He was also very friendly and would joke around a lot which made the whole experience very enjoyable. He also recommended we eat at the end of the day which we greatly appreciated because the food was very heavy and we probably wouldn't have been as comfortable with the Waterfall if we had eaten before. The food was very delicious! Alfredo also made sure to pack some fruits and drinks for us as well as towels which we weren't expecting, so that was such a nice little touch!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

We had such a good time on this tour. We told our guide Carlos that we wanted a more active hike so he was able to find the best route for us. At the beginning of our hike we saw two rare birds, the Quetzal. They were so beautiful and Carlos told us that about 10% of folks who come to the forest ever get a chance to see them so we were pleasantly surprised! It was also great seeing how excited he got when he spotted the birds! I told Carlos I also wanted to see the clouds and he said it might be tough but was able to find a good place for us to see the clouds which was really nice. We ended the hike at the cafe which also has hummingbird feeders and there were hummingbirds everywhere which was really cool to see up close!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Never would have been able to put this together myself. When I tried to determine where to go/what to do on my own I just got overwhelmed, but Yuliana put together an unforgettable trip. We had a great time with Mauricio (guide) and Fernando (transport). Really appreciate the expertise of all involved in planning and execution of this trip. Thanks so much!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Loved the atmosphere and the individual cabins. Walking the hills to the cabins was the only drawback, when you were already sore from hiking.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the atmosphere and the individual cabins

Location

seemed pretty centrally located to the activities that were planned

Staff

all were very kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

were very clean, beds creaked a little and the hills to walk to the cabins were a little steep when sore from hiking

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Was everything you wanted in a vacation stay -- food, drinks, pool, beach access, central to other places you might want to visit

Authenticity & Character

It was very comfortable even for a large "upscale" environment

Location

Central to area places to visit

Staff

Very kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

Cute little hotel for an overnight stay. Didn't get the opportunity to explore the area, so unable to report anything outside of rooms, receptions, and restaurant. Rooms were a little small for the amount of furniture in the room, but not a significant negative, just an opinion. Dinner in the restaurant was REALLY GOOD!!

Authenticity & Character

Staff

kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had a good night sleep and was clean

Activity Reviews

Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was my favorite feature although the steps to get there and return were intimidating, it was worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The amount of knowledge of the area and the history....it was an educational experience

Transport

Fernando our driver

Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hot springs were awesome and relaxing, especially after 2 days of hiking. Was less impressed with the Arenal 1968 Hike, if I had know what it was fully, I would not have opted to do it, but thought it was a "had to do" activity....spent most of the time watching my steps to make sure I didn't slip and fall so even if there was a lot to see (which I don't think there was) I wasn't seeing anything but my feet. One of the younger member of our group did fall

Quality of Experience

Hot Springs was fun; 1968 Hike, not so much

Food

Dinner was good, but wasn't fully ready for a 6pm dinner (we had not eaten since breakfast) and some items were not at a proper temperature.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mauricio and Fernando were great!

Transport

Catamaran Adventure with Snorkeling

Manuel Antonio

Always love these...so relaxing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Although it is stated that drivers may not be bilingual, if the tour group is not bilingual, would be great to try to be sure there was a way to communicate. Makes it difficult to know what is going on when you can't converse with the person driving you to and from locations.

Transport

There was a mishap with the transport from the hotel where we were ready to go at the designated time and got picked up 45 minutes later. I had the hotel call to find out what was going on and had we known we could have stayed in the air conditioned room vs waiting in the open air (pretty warm) reception area. That transport took us to the Rescue, then we changed to another transport that was unmarked -- a little creepy when neither driver was biligual and we were not, so we really didn't know what was going on.

This was my first time using KimKim to plan my trip and I travel to over 20 countries so far.
Pros: I can say there is a huge advantage by using KimKim cause they connect you with a local travel specialist who knows the county very well and can advise on best things to do, best tours to take and get you the best deals!
Nuria, is a great specialist and she takes the time to customize your trip to what you like and want to do and tries her best to accommodate all your needs. We went back and forth several times to update and customize my itinerary and she replied very quickly in short notice and without any hesitation to help me plan my trip and answered every question I had. If you are lucky enough to work with her, I highly recommend her.

Cons: the only main downside I see with KimKim and honestly only thing that might prevent me from using it again is that they do not allow the travel specialist to provide the cost break down of your trip. This was a huge downside for me as it would not allow me to make informative decisions as what I would think is worth for the activities or tours I want to do. All I see is a package deal and cannot make informative decisions. For example, we love to do ziplining, but there would be decision making that I would want to do it, if I know the activity is $50 or $200! However, you can't see the breakdown, therefore you are making decisions blindly.

Tips: We loved the "El Tiger Waterfalls" in Monteverde and is a most see! As Nuria suggested, we did a by ourselves and did not get a guided tour. Because you want to take your time and really enjoy this wonderful place as you go through ~6 large waterfalls and several mini ones. Do the complete tour which comes with a 3km hours back ride at the end which is wonderful.
We also loved the "Manuel Antonio National Park", however, we felt a little rushed by using a guide. I would preferred doing by myself to take my time and really enjoy the amazing park. Although, having a guide is nice and they explain many things you counter, I would just suggest if you do use the guided tour just leave them at the "Manuel Antonio Beach" and do not continue with them the rest of the way back as it will be a rush walk back anyway. 10 to 15 min beach time at this wonderful beach does not do the justice and you want to kick back and relax and enjoy it.
Lastly, I suggest making it further south to the "Parque Nacional Marino Ballena". This National park has an beautiful very large beach that you can enjoy (check out the pictures on Google for yourself".

Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Amazing and friendly staff and service. Loved the view and how this wonderful hotel looks and how the rooms are set up. Breakfast was local and very good as well. Hot Springs were daily filled, the hot spring water would be pumped from the underground to fill up the nice springs and then they dump it later on after midnight and get it ready for next day, which was great. Overall great hotel and loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the down and all other activities you would want to do.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Lodge

Monteverde

Over all great. Clean and nice rooms. Views were great and loved how the building was made. Loved the breakfast area and the view as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Espadilla Gardens Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We absolutely loved it. Very friendly staff. Clean room and amazing service. Not that many people and the pool area was great. Had everything we needed and could chill 24/7 by the pool if we wanted to, so a late night deep in the water was no issue and very enjoyable cause the water remained nice and warm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Also a short walk to the beach, etc.

Staff

Leo was great and answered every question we had!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Diana our room service was great. She would make animal shaped with towels or do little surprises for us everyday!

Activity Reviews

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike and the tour guide was nice to explain to use regarding the area and show us all the cool things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private: La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

You really don't need a guide for this hike. Do it by yourself and take your time to enjoy this amazing waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was a great person, however there is not much to explain for this area and does not require a guided tour.

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing, and you get to see so many animals. If you came to Costa Rica to see different animals and spices, this tour is for you.

Quality of Experience

Food

I really enjoyed the testing after lunch and get to try the locally made Guaro, which is stronger but much smother what you can get at the stores. You get to learn about it too!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

The tour guide was great, however the season was not right as we could not see all the coffee making in action. Also, we were not lucky enough to see many things at the Nature Walk and you never know what you get to see, but overall was good experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Amazing, and you need a guide to explain you about the importance of these forest and all it has to offer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Amazing zip lines and hanging bridges! You even get to do a Tarzan swing! Go Big or Go Home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Felt little rushed by using a guided tour. Would have loved to enjoy more time specially at the beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We took a beautiful two-week trip in Costa Rica for our honeymoon. Our goal was to be able to have a memorable trip without all of the stress associated with booking guides, hotels, rental cars, etc. Nuria made it super easy for us to enjoy ourselves while still have a unique and amazing experience.

Would highly recommend our itinerary for anyone who has a passion for adventure. Great balance between relaxation and experience.

We had an excellent experince from beginning to end with Kim Kim and all those we met along the way. The hotels, experiences, guides, transportation, all were thought through well. My sister and I took my mom to Costa Rica for her 70th birthday and everything they planned for us was exactly in alignment with what we hoped this trip would be. We had the adventure, luxury, comfort aspects and most importantly excellent guides to elevate our experince even more so. The communcation with the Kim Kim team from the start was above par and they truly cared in providing us a great experience. I will be using them again!

Maria