Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Bryan did a great job in mapping out our first trip to Costa Rica. It was an amazing experience to say the least. He certainly helped us get a flavor of the country and we are looking forward to our return!

Hotel Reviews

Amor Arenal

La Fortuna, San Carlos

Absolutely amazing service, food, accommodations... amazing everything! We will stay here again. Top notch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gaia Hotel & Reserve—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

The hotel is dated, the rooms aren't clean and the grounds are somewhat unkempt. The restaurant serves a mediocre breakfast and I would avoid dinner or other meals -- it just isn't good at all. We also encountered our first instance of bed bugs. We didn't know until the last day that we had been terribly bitten. We addressed this with the concierge so that they could remedy the situation. Both the concierge and the manager brushed it off and told me that I must have been bitten by something else. I also sent pictures of my bites and urged them to take my statements seriously. In return, I received an email from the manager saying that it was not an issue. I would not recommend this hotel and would also suggest those choosing to stay there to check for signs of bed bugs before occupying the room. This was an overall bad experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It isn't really in walking distance to anything.

Staff

The only saving grace for our stay was Clarence. He was attentive and amazing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

If I could give this zero stars, I would.

Buena Vista Chic Hotel

Alajuela

Decent hotel, clean but a little dated. It isn't really near anything and is somewhat off the beaten path. But, there are amazing views of San José from this hotel. The restaurant is just "ok."

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike and included lunch were both amazing. We loved our guide and would definitely recommend this trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

the Casado at the local Soda was incredible!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was decent, but there are likely better tours with better tasting coffee and chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Costa Rica

The hot springs and facilities are both really nice. The food is not that great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Our guide made this trip! It was absolutely outstanding and beyond my expectations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Flavors Cooking Class

Manuel Antonio

Our guide and the ranch were both awesome. It was fun to pick our own produce and make our own dinner from the goods.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Costa Rica

A wonderful and vast experience. You can spend a couple of hours or easily an entire day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I love KimKim and would use the platform from now on, travel was easy, you can trust their reviews and the staff responds quick and made excellent recommendations for my friends 30th birthday. It was a blast!

Activity Review

Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

We had the best time horseback riding to La Fortuna waterfall. Our guide Cell was amazing and the horses were beautiful. I will say the hike is not for the weak, the horses gallop don't walk, and water shoes are needed, but the waterfall was absolutely breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate and Night Hike was such a wonderful experience! I did not anticipate learning as much as I did about the processes. Our guide Monica was lovely, knowledgeable and energetic. She answered questions with ease and engaged intelligently in political matters as they pertained to the agricultural sector. The night hike was a pleasant contrast to the experiential learning of coffee and chocolate production. While we did not see a few animals (a frog, a banana leaf spider, a sleeping Mutmut in a tree, and a roaming kinkajou), it was less exciting than I had anticipated, but walking in their forest provided a fun activity. Thank you to Gustavo and Jessica at KimKim for the recommendation! Pura vida.

Activity Review

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our return driver was so kind! I am sorry not to remember his name!

Transport

Patient and attentive drivers in clean and large vehicles

I had never used a travel agency before while planning a trip. I will never not use one. KimKim was outstanding from beginning to end. The planning was easy and their assistance on the trip was invaluable (arranging transfers and even facilitating refunds when a tour got canceled).
All the guides were great but especially Kenneth, our hiking guide, around Arenal and Hector our guide with the horseback riding in Uvita. Hard to pick out favorite experience, but repelling down the waterfalls in La Fortuna, zip lining in MonteVerde and the horseback riding in Uvita were all fantastic and memories to last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Excellent place to stay for a family. Great views. Great pools. Breakfast is superb. Even saw a sloth on campus. Only downside for some of that it is far from downtown, so if you don’t have a car, you have to only eat at resort or take a taxi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Amazing views. Beautiful rooms. We were a little worried when we hear no AC, but is was fine at night as it gets breezy and cool there even in the hottest part of the year.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Playa Ballena

Nice views. Rooms are nice. Breakfast is ok. It is a boutique hotel so feels a little dated. Main issue was being hot in the room. It was very hot when we were there and our AC never got our room cool. The power would frequently blink off for a few seconds or even a few minutes. This would reset the AC and we would wake up sweating and have to turn the AC back on.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The AC

Activity Reviews

Cowboy Experience, Rancho La Merced

Costa Rica

Super fun for the whole family. Hector was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Kenneth was the best of our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Biking Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nice ride with nice bikes. Guide was great. First half is nice and flat. Gets quite hilly after the snack break. It was hot that day. They have support van following so my daughter was able to get in van when the hills got too steep.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal ATV Wheels

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very fun. My son’s favorite part of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Pop

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All Day Adventure at Selvatura, including Zipline, Hanging Bridges, and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Zip lining is the best you’ll ever do.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Walk in Ballena National Park

Uvita

Transport was a very old, dirty van complete with cut toenails on the floor. We waited an hour the guide to show up at the center. We were repeatedly told to wait 10 more minutes. After 70 minutes we had to beg them to let us leave and take us back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding Playa Hermosa, Uvita

Uvita

My favorite part of the whole trip. Once in a lifetime views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in the Lost Canyon

Arenal/La Fortuna

Super fun and memorable. Don’t miss it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waterfall was our favorite followed by the hanging bridges. Our guide, Mau, was amazing. Sloth tour was great and so was our guide. Zip line was safe and efficient, but felt more like an exercise and rushed. Night tour was too crowded with many large groups. Loved the beach at Carrillo. The snorkeling is nothing like the pictures. There are few fish and only dead coral. Our guides were very nice though and the kayaking was not difficult. Our last private transfer back to the airport was pleasant and the only ride we had that wasn’t nausea inducing.overall, a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

The rooms are very far away from the pool and restaurants with very steep hills. The transportation service is slow to respond for requests for rides. Views are great from the room but you can hear conversations in the rooms next door and below you. I would not stay here again

Authenticity & Character

Seeing lots of birds and a few animals

Location

Better transportation

Staff

Very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Queen size bed would be better

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Loved walking to breakfast and dinner. Room was big and clean. Lots of birds to view especially from the hot springs area and hummingbirds from our room. Food was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little removed from activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nammbú Beachfront Bungalows

Sámara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the beach!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds could be bigger.

Activity Reviews

Zip Line (Canopy) Monteverde

Monteverde

A bit rushed and robotic but fun to fly over the trees

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla Chora Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour

Sámara

The reef is not like the pictures. It is a dead reef so the fish are few but did see two eels.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall & Arenal Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Mau, made this a great trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The jerky lotion of the stick shift car is difficult for those with car sickness. The rods are full of potholes and are very curvy

Sloth Tour (Sloth Territory)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved our guide and small group. Made it nice and quiet to hear the forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk

Monteverde

Way too many people in our group and other groups. Could here more humans than the night sounds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very friendly and knowledgeable

The details and the planning for the trip were excellent. We changed plans many times prior to finalizing - I loved the flexbility of the planning - I was in charge. However, about 2 weeks prior when I was emailing Paulina, she never responded. A new person was assigned to my account and that went fine after that, but I had to escalate. During the trip, there was one hotel where our rooms were on 2 different floors - we were travelling with 3 kids. The hotel said there was no comment in the reservation that said they had to be together - so either the hotel was being difficult or there really wasn't a note. That was the only hiccup. The only other issue was the pick-up times for our events were so early - and I didn't realize that until one week prior. I should have asked more questions as to WHEN the trips were planned so I could have modified them. We were being picked up twice at 6:30 a.m. when the hotels' free breakfast didn't start until 6:30 a.m. - making it as if we really didn't get a free breakfast. I would look into those details if I were to use them again. Having said all that - the service of the drivers was excellent - everything went off without a hitch.

Olman was super helpful and accommodating based on our various requests.

Charlotte was a great help in crafting our itinerary for our second trip to Costa Rica. The activities in Turrialba with the Serendipity team were top notch in terms of experience, safety, and feeling cared for by the guides. Andres ensured that all elements of our trip were safe and that we had a great experience. He's clearly very seasoned and professional. Sergio, Cesar and Daniel were great with canyoning, and the meal we shared together at Sergio and Cesar's mom's house was exceptional. It was so nice to learn about their family. They were very very careful and followed strong safety practices. For our river rafting overnight trip, Andres continued to be at the helm and ensuring all went smoothly. Alejandro was an exceptional guide, extremely positive and knowledgeable, and so so skilled with the raft. Jose Luis was a great guide, taking us on an unforgettable hike at the camp that took us through creeks and then met with the river. Douglas was great at navigating the ducky, it was a fun experience to ride with him. Alex was great at helping with it put-in, camp, and put-out. Overall the team worked so well together, we had great food and great experiences with them. Thank you to the Serendipity team!!! The rest of our trip in Puerto Viejo was not as great as Turrialba, the chocolate tour was a bit too long and we got bit by a lot of bugs. The snorkeling trip was not as small a group as I expected, and there wasn't a snorkeling guide. The hotel was great location and the room was very good for our family, that was a great suggestion from Charlotte. If I were to redo the itinerary, I would keep all of the Turrialba activities, skip the chocolate tour, and see if we could book a smaller snorkeling trip with a snorkeling guide. The airport hotel was great for us, too. Overall the Serendipity team was fantastic!!!

First time using KimKim and had a great experience using the platform. Kudos to Bryan, Nancy, Charlotte and the rest of the Serendipty Travels team for helping us coordinate an itinerary for a multigenerational trip to Costa Rica with travelers flying in from different cities on different days. The hotel and activity recommendations were spot on for our families (each with 3+ school aged kids). The transfers from airport, hotels, and activities were seamless. We felt we were taken care of and in good hands. The team was also very responsive when we had inquiries during our trip. Thanks to KimKim and the Serendipity Travel team for making our Costa Rica trip a success!

Costa Rica is a stunning country, full of natural beauty and adventure opportunities. Our customized itinerary took us through 3 major areas with specific activities, hikes and adventures planned and tailored by the travel experts at KimKim. Jessica and Brittany did a phenomenal job of curating the activities based on out likes and dislikes and made excellent recommendations for hotels and going out of the way to help us get the accommodations of choice .

Arenal:
The Arenal area is known for its impressive volcano and hot springs. The volcano, while currently dormant, is still a breathtaking sight, especially when viewed from our Hotel Room (Manoa Hot Springs). Just sitting outside in patio, immersed in nature, we could experience the timelessness this place provides. The natural hot springs are the perfect way to relax and unwind after a day of exploring the surrounding area. Other popular activities in the Arenal area include hiking, ziplining, and white water rafting. We didnt engage in the latter but enjoyed the hikes and nature walks immensely. The Ziplining is at a whole other level and elevation... a must do.

Monteverde:
Monteverde is a cloud forest region known for its biodiversity and stunning scenery. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a must-visit for any nature lover, with miles of hiking trails that wind through the misty forest. The whole atmosphere is surreal and out of a movie. The weather is unpredictable but still fun with a constant mist that ever pervasive. During our visit here took a guided night hike and saw an incredible array of animals, including tarantulas, snakes, and sloths. Another highlight of our time in Monteverde was visiting a coffee plantation and learning about the process of growing and roasting coffee, Chocolate and and Sugar. Costa Rica produces some amazing coffee BTW.

Manuel Antonio:
Manuel Antonio is a coastal area known for its beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife.
Our Hotel - La Mariposa, gave us a lovely room on the top floor with sweeping views of the gulf and beyond. The Manuel Antonio National Park was the highlight of our trip, with hiking trails that lead to stunning views of the coastline and plenty of opportunities to spot exotic birds and animals. We spent most of the day lounging on the beach , swimming in the clear blue water, and watching monkeys and iguanas in the nearby trees. The kids especially had a blast with the monkeys.

Hotels: With the exception of a Hotel near the Airport which was decent, all other stays were excellent and we were totally satisfied.

Special props to the Staff at Hotel Ocotea for a memorable stay. Folks there went out of their way to make sure we had a good time.

Activities - perfectly planned - all tours went exactly as described and on time.

Transfers: On time, everytime. Comfortable most times and great drivers who took care of any issues.

Bookings/cancellations/changes: KimKim was very responsive in accomodating all our needs and communication was excellent throughout.

Overall, our Costa Rica trip was an unforgettable adventure filled with natural beauty and thrilling activities. Thanks to Kimkim for making it a memorable trip

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Great hotel - awesome location and views. Great breakfast. Nice rooms and feel close to nature . Only downside is distance e to La Fortuna restaurant activities - have to take a taxi .

Authenticity & Character

The view and the layout - each room feels like a part of nature

Location

Beautiful volcano view

Staff

Excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful location and amazing views . Very kid friendly . Close to good places .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Nice airport hotel - shuttle runs 24 hrs every 15 mins

Ocotea Boutique Hotel

Santa Elena

Amazing boutique hotel - absolutely loved it . The view from the roof top bar is breathtaking. Staff is the best we have ever encountered. Close enough to town to walk to great restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful sunset view - surreal

Staff

The best ever

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

The best activity we had in arenal - kids loved it . Manageable trail with tons of animals and birds . Great guides

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing experience- well run , great guides for the hike and e tire zip line part feel safe and exhilarating

Quality of Experience

Hi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Excellent tour with very informative guide . Loved the history of the products . We had a great guide

Private: Night Walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

Amazing experience at night in the forest - amazing guide from the rainforest reserve - very knowledgeable and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

The biodiversity is astounding . Saw amazing birds and animals . Guide was great and informative

Visit Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary

Manuel Antonio

Did not do the activity- we cancelled

I have just returned from an amazing trip to Costa Rica.
Bryan was our local specialist and was on hand to organise everything.
HIs advice, planning, flexibility and response speed was outstanding and I cannot recommend the service enough.....and I am fussy!
Costa Rica was fabulous for our family with a 7 and 10 year old, we had apacked set of activities but it all worked out perfectly.
Any small issue we had, which was frankly minor, the local team addresses within 20 minutes and always responsive.

So all in all thank you Bryan and team....will definitely book again .

All the best Daniel

We had the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica. Charlotte organised our itinerary to our exact needs, and we had some fantastic local guides including Eddie who took us sea kayaking and guided us through Manuel Antonio. We saw more wildlife in a day than we would see in a lifetime elsewhere.
We were also very lucky with the weather, and the kids showed the adults the way during activities such as white water rafting and canyoning. A first for the whole family.
I can't recommend Costa Rica enough, and if you are looking for further inspiration then Charlotte will be sure to have plenty of suggestions. We will be back.

AMAZING! Working with Randall to plan the trip was only the tip of the Iceberg of Awesomeness! He listened to what kind of trip we were looking for (Birding) and gave it to us. Having never been to Costa Rica I depended on Randall to set us up in the right places with the right guides. And he did! This was a completely flawless trip. The lodging was great. Each place was very comfortable and welcoming. All the transfers were on time, safe, comfortable, and friendly! The tour and birding guides we ended up with were all friendly and knowledgeable. Every one of them were able to answer all our questions, about birds, animals, plants, and Costa Rica in general. I will recommend working with Kimkim and Randall unconditionally!

Hotel Reviews

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

This is a nice conviently loacted hotel. The shuttle to and from the airport were very dependable - every 15 minutes! Breakfast was included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Every person was very friendly!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amor Arenal

La Fortuna, San Carlos

This was one of the most amazing hotes I have ever stayed in

Authenticity & Character

The food and drinks were all local and the location can NOT be beat!

Location

Staff

Friendly, amazing and helpfull

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

Monteverde

We really enjoyed this lodge. The location is amazing. There are a lot of trails and birding on the property. The food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is an easy walk to town!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

A beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting. The rooms are very comfortable. Walking to the beach was easy! Everyone was very friendly!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a really fun 2 part hike. The first part was up a bit on the sholder of Arenal Volcano. The second part was though a meadow and forest area. We were there in March and the bugs were not an issue! The trail was rough and uneven. That is not a problem - just FYI.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano - Unique Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Trip

Arenal/La Fortuna

This is a Must! The number of different birds, animals, and plants we saw was incredible. The knowledge of the guide and boat driver was unbelievable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Ronald was an amazing guide. He really knew his birds. The area was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eco Garden Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

So many frogs and a few snakes. The knowledge the guide had of the different frogs in the area was amazing. I learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Hike in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

Oscar was a really good guide. He knew where to look and how to explain where the frogs and snakes were. We were able to see quite a lot on this hike!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

What a beautiful area! Henry was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about the birds and he was able to point them out to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching Half-Day Tour

Monteverde

Kevin could find the most hidden of birds! He was then able to explain where they were. We had a blast wandering about looking for birds. There were times when we could not keep up with all the different birds around us! What an experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling Tour

Manuel Antonio

This was a fun way to spend a morning. All the gear was provided and fitted for us. The boat was nice and roomy. We were taken to 2 different places to explore. Lots of fun fish an octopus and a couple eels! We ended with a tour of the mangroves!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer Hotel - Pez Vela Marine - Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

What a beautiful park. There is a lot to see, the guide was knowledgeable and friendly! The beach is beautiful and there is time for a quick swim if you want. There are a lot of people in the park and lot of groups.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am speaking for my whole family when I say this was a 5 star experience. The lodging and activities planned by the Kim Kim Group from initial selection to the actual experience were excellent. What was particularly amazing was how well everything was coordinated and how prompt all the guides/activities were. It would have been very difficult to put such an itinerary together especially when visiting a location for a first time. We look forward to using Kim Kim again in the near future.

Pura Vida

BOB

My family (2 adults, 2 kids ages 9 and 11) spent 9 days in Costa Rica. We started in Arenal/La Fortuna. Our hotel, Tifakara Lodge, was amazing. The room was very private and comfortable, the included breakfast was wonderful, and the pool/hot tub area was very relaxing. While we were there, we went to Sky Adventures for zip lining. It was very fun, but we all felt like we had missed out on some of the amazing views because it was raining and pelting our faces as we made our way down. I would definitely do it again though. We also did a hanging bridge hike there that was great, and then had lunch at their cafe. The second day we went on a tour of the Arenal volcano and the lake. Again, it was raining, so our view of the volcano was limited but the guide was interesting and we all enjoyed it. The third day we traveled to Monteverde, but before we left we walked up to the La Fortuna waterfall from the hotel. The trip to Monteverde took about 3 hours, and included crossing Lake Arenal by boat. We stayed at El Establo Mountain resort. Our room was a family suite, and had a good amount of space. However, the hotel is on a hillside and requires either very steep walks to the room or other buildings, or waiting for a shuttle. I would not recommend this hotel for anyone with any kind of mobility issues. Otherwise, it was very large compared to our first hotel and felt less special and more like a large (somewhat rundown) resort. The next day we toured the cloud forest with a guided group, and then went to Don Juan’s chocolate tour in the evening. It was so much fun, and my kids loved all of the chocolate and coffee samples. We also did a little night hike there and saw some different wildlife. The following morning we toured the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in the morning with a guide. He showed us some very unusual birds, snakes, and plants and helped us get pictures of everything. In the afternoon we were driven to Manuel Antonio. There we stayed at La Mariposa hotel, which was lovely. We had a two bedroom “apartment”, which included a kitchen area that we didn’t really need, two bedrooms, and a large balcony overlooking the pool/ocean. The view was amazing. This was the only hotel that did not include breakfast in the price, but they did offer a large buffet breakfast where we ate both mornings. The first day there we spent the morning in the national park. This tour was a little disappointing because our guide was asked by someone to add several people to our group while we were getting started, so our group went from 8 people to 15 in about 5 minutes. That’s a lot of people to look through a scope anytime he spotted something interesting- most of the time the animal had moved before everyone got to see whatever it was. Also, it was very hot and crowded in the park. For what ended up being a fairly short tour, I felt really drained afterward. The tour rather abruptly ended at the beach, and we were left on our own there. We stayed and swam for about two hours, then took a taxi back to the hotel. Be aware that this was by far the most chaotic city that we visited - but it was Holy Week before Easter and we were told that everyone was on vacation. On our last full day we toured the Kids Saving the Rainforest facility. If you have young children, possibly 8 and younger, this is a great tour for them to see some wildlife in a more zoo-like setting. Most of the tours we went on involved looking through a scope at wildlife, but this is a rehabilitation center where the animals are in large cages. It’s not a long tour either, but I found their program interesting and was impressed by what they are accomplishing. From their we had one last drive to San Jose, and flew home the following morning.

Hotel Review

Tifakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

This hotel is beautiful, the employees are so friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are private. The breakfast is amazing - not the standard buffet. You choose off of a menu, plus there is a buffet of breads, juice, etc. There is a fancy coffee machine available all the time. We all took advantage of grabbing a coffee and sitting by the pool in the afternoon. They also include a night walk every evening, where you can see amazing frogs and insects. My only negatives- the rooms have metal roofs, and it gets really loud when it rains (often). Bring ear plugs. Also, the bathroom includes an outdoor shower, which we loved, but it essentially means that the bathroom is always damp and humid, so nothing dries. Neither of these things would keep me from going back - this was my favorite hotel that we stayed in.

Authenticity & Character

The landscaping is beautiful, the wildlife is right there, and it felt very relaxing.

Location

The hotel is not “in town”. It costs us $10 per taxi ride to go to La Fortuna for dinner. That was a fair trade for getting to be in a serene location.

Staff

The staff were accommodating and friendly. Everyone spoke to us as we walked around. I used the WhatsApp number to ask several questions, and always got a prompt response. They arranged taxis, etc. whenever we asked.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean, and housekeeping did a good job every day. The furnishings, etc. are pretty basic, but comfortable. The outdoor shower was open to the bathroom, which kept it quite humid and nothing ever got dry in there (bathing suits, towels, etc.).

Activity Reviews

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

This was so fun - probably my kid’s favorite tour of the trip! Our guide was great. In addition to learning all about making chocolate and coffee, there were lots of samples. We also did a little night walk and saw sloths, kinkajous, a snake, etc. There is also a store for stocking up on chocolate and coffee.

Quality of Experience

Fun, guide had great energy, included my kids

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This was my least favorite tour of our trip. There were too many people in our group - most tours we had between 4-8 people, this was 15. Every time the guide stopped to show us something, it took forever for everyone to take a turn looking through the scope - many times the animal had moved before everyone saw it.

Quality of Experience

Limit group size to 10 max

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It seemed like we were left at the beach. Fortunately it was easy to get a taxi, but tge tour ends pretty abruptly.

The transportation team was great, they gave us enough time to gather together; mostly on time.
Tacotel receptionist was most helpful; I believe she is the assistant manager. She made sure everyone was taken cared off; she helped us book extra tours; the kids love the Baldy Hotspring side trip; overall they enjoyed every moment.
Maria one of the tour guides on the rainforest hike in Fortuna, left in the middle of the hike and just directed us to go to the waterfalls.
Be that it may we made it back

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

We had a hard time with the door locks, need to turn 4x clockwise or counterclockwise to open the room; otherwise everything was great

Authenticity & Character

Away from the main city, nice quiet

Location

Beautiful scenery, away from crowds, best sushi and ramen place next door

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Garden maintenance was superb, laundry room not for guest -needs organization; pools were fun

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde Costa Rica

Stunning views, sunset was amazing seen from balcony;, saw some exotic birds, from the balcony and from the dinning room ; food was excellent

Authenticity & Character

Love the architecture,

Location

Quite, away from main business areas

Staff

Friendly and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleaning ladies came in everyday, spa was excellent

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Spacious rooms, front desk smells like chlorox

Authenticity & Character

Spacious rooms and bathrooms

Location

Close to airport 10-15 minutes, walking distance to Dennys

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom is clean

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport

San Jose

Clean and spacious

Authenticity & Character

Easy access to elevator

Location

Close to airport 10-15 minutes

Staff

Friendly and accomodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean bathroom

Activity Reviews

Venado Cave Spelunking & Exploring

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mainly the kids enjoyed it; I’m basically claustrophobic; I did not finish the entire route; but the guide was nice enough to come back for me and Protima Beautiful cave though

Quality of Experience

Natural rock formations inside

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was fun and entertaining

Transport

On time

Horseback Riding at the Base of Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Kids loved it, it was one of his favorite things to do

Quality of Experience

Perfect shape of the volcano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and knows the types of fruits that grow around

Transport

On time and clean

Sky Adventures Hanging Bridges

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fun and beautiful, hanging bridges were a treatsa

Quality of Experience

A chance to connect with nature and reset perspective of life

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly

Transport

On time,friendly

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

The local term for jip-bo-Jip - means land to water to land; Fortuna to the lake to Monteverdi; delightful ride, with the sailor stopping at interesting points to show us more birds and fauna

Quality of Experience

Fun, refreshing and great sight seeing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendliness and points out interesting sighting along the way, birds

Transport

On time , clean and friendly have extra water for passengers

Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

Fireflies, frogs, dense forest exciting night walk

Quality of Experience

Worth the walk and experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and enthusiastic

Transport

On time

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Did not see much sloth

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Guides were good at pointing out interesting birds, tarantulas and fauna

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

3 in one tour is the best coffee, chocolate and sugar cane; we even get to meet Don Juan the owner of the ranch; educational, fun and tasted sugar cane; freshly made chocolate from the seeds

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica! Our guide, Bryan, was fantastic. He was super responsive before and during the trip, and he was very patient in answering all of our questions. The KimKim service was well worth the fee and led to a more relaxing, enjoyable vacation for our family. We would not hesitate to use KimKim again for our next trip!

Our trip was a father/son adventure entitled Passion Pursuit. It was conceived to explore the natural and environmental interests of my 14-year-old son, Theo. Given the incredible breadth of what's on offer in Costa Rica, we quickly became overwhelmed with how to put this trip together. Then we discovered kimkim and were introduced to Charlotte. With her tenured experience in the area and her responsiveness to our preferences, she built out a dream trip for us spanning from the Osa Penninsula and Corcovado, up the coast through Manuel Antonio and on to Monteverde, and ultimately concluding in the Arenal volcano region. Over 16 days we enjoyed a perfect balance of scheduled activities and time to explore and chill out on our own. I could write a novel to describe the details, but here are some of our trip highlights:
- Flying in over the beach at Drake Bay between the palm trees and watching the horses run alongside the old runway as we touched down. Following this our driver told us to hang on as we crossed the bridge. Of course there was no bridge and we drove the 4-wheel-drive through the river to the other side. This was exactly the kind of adventure we were after.
- The stunning hotel Copa del Arbol (water access only)became our base as we explored the region with guided experiences for the next four days — all beginning with being scooped up off the beach each morning around 6am for jungle hikes and snorkelling adventures. Two days straight we found ourselves surrounded by pods of False Killer Whales, an incredibly uncommon experience. One amazing highlight was to watch flying fish skimming the surface alongside our boat, only to see them being chased by a Sailfish — the beautiful translucent purple fin flying at full speed alongside us. We finished each day body surfing along one of the many pristine beaches reached by short trails from the hotel.
- We then picked up our car in Sierpe and started our self-guided drive up the coast. More wonderful wildlife sightings and amazing kayak adventures in the mangrove forest outside Manuel Antonio. Stunning clean beaches and beautiful views. All of the locals we encountered were very friendly and helpful. It became clear to us that Pura Vida was not simply a marketing tagline but an authentic descriptor woven into their way of life.
- About midway through the trip I started to experience a loss of hearing. I texted Charlotte before 8am on a Sunday morning and within the hour I had an appointment at a modern full-service clinic in Uvita where the staff were waiting for me. A quick procedure and all was well — apparently this is quite common with the heat and humidity (and the surf play) to cause the ears to plug. I was so impressed with Charlotte's attention and responsiveness. This was unexpected and really appreciated.
- Leaving the coast behind, the drive through the foothills up to Monteverde was stunningly beautiful. Our base for the following days was the lovely Hotel Belmar and it felt as though we had entered a completely different world in the mountains. Cool, breezy and with sunset views for hundreds of miles. We really enjoyed this portion of the trip. We had super informative guided experiences and many significant bird sightings.
- On our tour of the hanging bridges through the tree canopies, we spotted the amazing Resplendent Quetzal. Over two days we were so fortunate to spot both a male and female! An addition, our guide Andreas brought us on a tour of the jungle after dark and, as a bonus, gave us a lesson on nighttime photography which made our images remarkable.
In conclusion, we found Costa Rica to be safe, friendly and easy to navigate. We loved how each area was unique and unspoiled from tourism development. Charlotte put together an amazing and diverse itinerary with truly lovely hotels (we often found that we had the best rooms on offer) and terrific culinary experiences. It was a trip to remember and I would highly recommend kimkim to anyone.

Sergio and KimKim did a fantastic job personalizing a trip for us. They listened to what we preferred and tweaked our itinerary to match our preferences. They found great local tour guides for a couple of our hikes (Kenneth and Oscar), which made the hikes more interesting and see more creatures. The hotels they picked our were very nice -- especially the Rio Celeste Hideaway.

It was an amazing time!

Hotel Reviews

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

BEAUTIFUL ground and rooms (bungalows.) Everything was beautiful, staff was very friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is really good. Favorite place we stayed in Costa Rica. The no toilet paper in the toilet (instead a garbage can) was a bit weird, but understand. They should install exhaust fans.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Our back patio was literally in the rainforest.

Staff

Very friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Great view of Arenal! Staff were friendly and accommodating. The hot springs weren't that "hot," unfortunately.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center

San José

Great location and very comfortable. The rooftop restaurant had great views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

W Costa Rica - Reserva Conchal

Guanacaste

Typical resort. The bar area and views of the beach were great. The beach was not that large and was grown over a bit. Everything is pricey (as expected at a W resort).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sky Adventures Zip Lines

Arenal/La Fortuna

I believe seven zip lines in total. Great views. Staff friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a tour guide go with us -- highly recommend that. He was able to find creatures we would have never seen and gave great background.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour

Costa Rica

The beverages and food were great -- staff very accommodating. We didn't expect the cruise to have 25-30 people. The views were amazing -- got great pics of the sunset.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Hike in the Forest

Arenal/La Fortuna

Got to see many creatures -- spiders, snakes, and frogs. It was not an intense "hike" -- more of a walk around the hotel grounds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Guided Rainforest Hike

Costa Rica

A really great hike in the rainforest. We had a guide, which helped a lot. This is an intense hike—lots of steps. But the views are worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great family trip to Costa Rica at the end of March 2023. KimKim made the planning process a LOT easier. We were a bit overwhelmed when we started to plan it because there are so many different options, and the good hotels (if you can identify them) also fill up fast. KimKim helped us narrow down options, book hotels and activities, and made the process significantly less stressful overall.

We – myself, my wife, and our two kids who are 7 and 5 – spent four nights at an all-inclusive resort at Playa Conchal (the Westin, which we booked before contacting KimKim) and then two nights in a hotel near Rincon de la Vieja (Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel, which KimKim recommended). We did activities almost every day (and one at night) which KimKim recommended and helped arrange. Here are our impressions of each one.

• PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK BOAT TOUR. This activity was highly recommended, but we were underwhelmed, mostly because the trip to the launch point was 2.5 hours and we had to take two buses each way (and we also stopped at a ceramic workshop on the way back, which was fine but lengthened the trip). That was a lot of travel for my five-year-old, especially on bumpy roads. The boat tour itself was fine but you are rarely out of view of the dock and it would have been nice to go deeper into the park, or perhaps get out of the boat at some point. But we did see lots of wildlife.

• NIGHTTIME PACIFIC GREEN TURTLE NESTING. This was great and a truly memorable experience (and a short trip from our hotel). First, it is rare to hike on any beach at night with no man-made light around, and it was great to see so many stars. But most importantly, we saw both adult sea turtles coming ashore to try and lay eggs as well as some newly hatched turtles heading to the ocean. That is a once-in-a-life time wildlife sighting. The guides (appropriately) took their jobs of making sure the turtles are comfortable (e.g., no flash photos, do not get close) very seriously, as they should.

• KAYAY AND SNORKEL TOUR IN TAMARINDO BAY . This was a pretty standard tour – a 20-minute canoe ride from a beachside resort to a small island and then snorkeling around it – but it was perfect for a 5- and 7-year-olds first snorkeling experience. The guides were also great. So a good recommendation for our family.

• VANDARA HOT SPRINGS ADVENTURE. This was the highlight for my kids. The park was not very crowded at all, which was great, and they have also recently redone many of the attractions so everything was modern and professional. We did the ziplines (8 in total), horseback riding, long water slide (440 meters), and hot springs. Again, a bit of a trek to get there on back road (which was rough for my 5-year-old) but my kids called it “the best day ever”. Their only disappointment was not being able to do the water slide twice.

The logistics that KimKim organized were also pretty perfect - on-time, reliable, and professional. My only mild frustration with KimKim is their technology platform -- it not super-intuitive and seemed to have errors at times, which frankly made me question the service overall. But once you are in touch with a travel planners that problem is manageable.

I would definitely use KimKim again. In my view, they fill a gap between offering cookie cutter tours and DIY travel, and my experience they were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Westin Golf Resort and Spa, Playa Conchal

Playa Conchal

Great location, pool, and rooms, and the all-inclusive approach made it very easy for us to relax and get around. But very much like other all-inclusive resorts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

Costa Rica

This was highly recommended, but we were underwhelmed, mostly because the trip there was 2.5 hours and we had to take two buses (and we also stopped at a ceramic workshop on the way back, which was fine but lengthened the trip back). That was a lot of travel for my five-year-old. The boat tour itself was fine but you are rarely out of view of the dock and it would have been nice to go deeper into the park, or perhaps get out of the boat at some point. But we did see lots of wildlife. I would give the guides a five though, and my three stars is largely a function of the distance and the age of my kids.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

This was great and a memorable experience (and a short trip from our hotel). First, it is rare to hire on any beach at night with no man-made light around and it was great to see so many stars. But most importantly, we saw both adult sea turtles coming ashore to try and lay eggs as well as some newly hatched turtles heading to the ocean. That is a once-in-a-life time wildlife sighting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak & Snorkel Tour in Tamarindo Bay

Costa Rica

This was a pretty standard tour – a 20-minute canoe ride from a beachside resort to small island and then snorkeling around it – but it was perfect for a 5- and 7-year-olds first snorkeling experience. And great guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day at Vandará Hot Springs & Adventures

Rincón de la Vieja

This was the highlight for my kids. The park was not very crowded at all, which was great, and they have recently redone many of the attractions so everything was modern and professional. We did the ziplines, horseback riding, long water slide (440 meters), and hot springs. Again, a bit of a trek to get there on back road (which was rough for my 5-year-old) but my kids called it “the best day ever”.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport