Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Horrendous 1.5 hour overlap in schedule one day.
A citied activity was not provided.

We had an excellent time. It was just enough nature and luxury combined. Kokoro hotel was very rustic and natural. We saw lots of animals, like sloths, monkeys, and birds right on the property . The natural hot springs were amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was good. One day we forgot to make a lunch reservation and they came and made us lunch anyway and were extremely accommodating and kind. All the kids (3) had separate beds in our bungalow and all the beds were comfortable. The rainforest tour was amazing. Jacaro tours were great, specifically we really liked Nelson. We did hanging bridges with him and the volcano tour was very nice too. The lunch that came with the volcano tour through the Jacamar owed farm was fantastic, probably the best we had. Everything was fresh and grown on site. Because our own hotel came with the natural hot springs , we could have passed on the paradise springs hotel. If we didn’t have our own springs this would have been nice. The waterfall tour was beautiful.

Our next stop was Koora hotel in the cloud forest of Monteverde. The hotel was amazing. Everyone was so kind and very helpful. The front desk staff were fantastic. The food was very good. Lots of fun animals to see and they have a nature trail right on site. Our zip line tour was very fun.

Our stop in tamarindo was very nice. Surf lessons with the iguana surf shop were fantastic. Luis, David, and Viola taught everyone great lessons. Our snorkeling tour got off to a rocky start due to pick up confusion with pacific coast company. The wild life was great! Snacks were ok and equipment needed updating. This company appeared to be more diving focused than snorkeling. Our hotel was good. The actual pool could have used some updating but the view was amazing and all the service was great and staff were very friendly. The beach club included in the hotel was a very nice addition it gave opportunity to have beach access w a restaurant and pool while the hotel was more tucked into the mountain for spectacular views of ocean. Every room had a balcony w an ocean view. There was a shuttle into the town and the beach club that left every hour .

In San Jose w took a historical tour with Paula who was a wealth of knowledge and was super kind. She had a passion for history and people. The traditional food at the end of the tour was fantastic.

The Delta by Marriott was not great. The hotel messed up our reservation and gave us a king room w cots for our three kids. They were very confused at the front desk and tried to charge us for our stay which was prepaid. While this is true, Kim Kim went above and beyond to try to fix it for us.

All the drivers we had were kind, knowledgeable and pointed out interesting things on the way.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

The place was rustic and great for seeing animals and nature. Staff was very accommodating and kind. Beds were comfortable. Food was good! General maintenance of hut could have been a little better

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just upkeep on maintenance

Koora Hotel at Monteverde

Monteverde

Beautiful, clean, new, fresh, lots of nature to look at. There was an onsite trail to explore, pools and restaurants great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Loved the ladies at the front desk!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham

Tamarindo

Beautiful views, good food, great staff, very comfortable, beautiful lobby. Pool was really cool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn San José-Aurola

San José

Staff was very confused at front desk, gave us wrong room .. one king for 5 people and brought cots in for our kids. Room was humid, climate control not great. Food was just ok carpet was stained . Needed updating

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff were not helpful but the bell hop was very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

The correct room and cots with mattresses with poking springs

Activity Reviews

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Surf Lessons at Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis, David, and Viola were fantastic teachers!!

Transport

Costa Rican Culture & Cuisine – Nighttime Guided Walk in San José

San José

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paula was amazing. So much knowledge. You can tell she loves her job, history and people!

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Nelson was an amazing tour guide. He showed us so much and was very kind and funny.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

Nature on the way to the snorkeling places was fantastic. The Pacific Ocean co concentrated on more the divers than the snorkelers . The equipment could have been updated and cleaner. The locations were better suited for the divers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well organized with efficient logistics for all activities (park tour, white-water rafting, horseback riding) in Manual Antonio. Guides were all excellent. Tulemar Resort with excellent food, helpful staff, and incredible views from the tree-tops over the Pacific. Hotel Cerro Lodge staff very friendly and helpful. Amazing birding there. Excellent guides Silvia for Cararra National Park and Hansel for Tarcoles River cruise.

We just came back from a fantastic week in Costa Rica.
Holden was very helpful in organizing it. He carefully listened to our wishes and expectations and proposed us a complete itinerary. We then adjusted it through various iterations and he was very flexible all the way.
Once we arrived, we were put in touch with the local contact that helped us navigate a few questions and changes. He also kept checking with us to make sure that everything was going according to expectations. We felt pampered!
I highly recommend KimKim and their local partner Serendipity!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is overall a bit old so the rooms are quite noisy. But they are very big and comfortable otherwise

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My trip to Costa Rica with my two sons (10 and 12 years old) was magical! Every place we stayed (recommended by Holden at Serendipity Adventures) was perfect for us and we enjoyed every activity they planned for us. We saw so many animals, connected over fun adventures and enjoyed amazing views and food. I can't recommend the Serendipity Adventures team (Holden, Nancy and Wilman) enough!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ficus

Monteverde Costa Rica

This hotel is located on a ridge with wonderful views of Monteverde. Our room was spacious and comfortable with panoramic views and the hotel is in walking distance of the main town center (although down a little hill).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tulemar Resort

Manuel Antonio

We loved our bungalow (number 121) at Tulemar. We had our own balcony with views of the jungle and the Pacific ocean and lots of wildlife. I told our travel planner (Holden at Serendipity Adventures) that I wanted to see wildlife from our room and he found us the best room in the whole resort (in my opinion). Our balcony was on the feeding route of different monkey troops and so every day between 3 and 4 pm monkeys would climb trees right next to our balcony. One day 10 squirrel monkeys even climbed onto the balcony right next to us and wrestled and played with each other while we looked on! It was truly magical! We had our own concierge (Miguel) who was available via WhatsApp to answer questions and book reservations for us. Since the phone in our room wasn't working he also called shuttles for us and placed room service orders for us. He was extremely responsive. The service was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Our guide was enthusiastic and so knowledgeable. He was able to help both the 77-year-old avid photographer and the 10-year-old boy in our group spot, photograph and learn interesting facts about the flora and fauna in the park. We saw everything from grasshoppers and spiders to rare coatimundis, sloths and howler monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This tour was fun and educational. We all enjoyed learning the details of how chocolate is made (and the history of how it became the sweet we know today) and about how sugar cane is turned into sugar (and sugar cane juice, which we all got to drink). The last part of the tour covered coffee (at which point my youngest got a little antsy) but it too was interesting without being too lengthy and didactic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Our guide was great and found a family of coatimundis for us to observe. Watching the mothers and babies climb trees and walk across the path right in front of us was a highlight of this hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time and the staff was so helpful and accommodating. When my youngest froze on top of the ziplining platform and refused to continue (even though his older brother had already gone and was fine), they helped me get back to the base lodge with him and gave us a refund, radioed ahead so the staff could tell my older son what happened and help him continue on the course, and showed us where to wait at the end of the course for my older son to arrive. My older son said the ziplining was beautiful and exhilarating. We all enjoyed the views from the hanging bridges, the beautiful butterflies and the sloth sanctuary. Seeing sloths up close was really amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Costa Rica

We had a wonderful time! The river was exciting but not too scary and the views from the raft were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding through the Jungle from Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

The ride through the rainforest was beautiful and so fun. It poured rain on us, but because it was so hot, it was actually really refreshing. The horses were well-trained and gentle and they matched the people well to the horses.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not knowing much about Central America, Costa Rica wasn't on our list. However, we heard so much from people who visited CR and loved it so it was worth the consideration. Now, we can say we loved CR as well and our trip focused on the rainforest of Manuel Antonio and its nearby beaches was the perfect itinerary that allowed us to limit our time on the road to just the 3 hours to and from SJO. All and all, a great trip...and perfect weather and less crowds despite the wet season.

Activity Reviews

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

This was a fun excursion to learn about the unique mangrove ecosystem. It was cool where the mangrove then opens up to the ocean. A great learning experience for the kids. Unfortunately, we didnt see much wildlife but that's just nature for you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Manuel Antonio

First time rafting for the entire family and was rightfully nervous. The rapids were Class II and III and the guides on each raft were in complete control that all of us felt safe. Again, it is the wet season which made the water level perfect for rafting! The ride up to the launch area was bumpy and the truck got stuck in the mud that the guides all worked together to resolve. We saw some wildlife on our way up and the scenery was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Best to hire a guide when you visit MA National Park. They have the ability to spot animals that camouflaged so well with the environment and they have equipment to zoom in. We were able to see a couple of sloths! It's not really a hike as the first half of the park has a deck walkway. The park leads to the beach and then we went back on the trial that is mostly dirt and small rocks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gustavo created a perfect trip for us! Our favorites were Paddle 9, Arenal hike, boat/car ride from La Fortuna to Monteverde, and not having to worry about any transportation. We felt comfortable and safe and were had so much fun. It was such a pleasant surprise to arrive to the airport and receive fun local gifts too, thank you!

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved it! So glad it was self guided, we did the long hike and it was perfect. What a beautiful place!

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fun area! Wildlife on the walk down and up. Loved swimming in the water. Walked there from our hotel and coffee shop across the street was great!

Quality of Experience

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Beautiful day! So happy to do zip lining in Costa Rica. Of all places we visited glad we did that at Monteverde. Guides were helpful and fun. Very adventurous. Two of us are scared of highs and we did great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Manuel Antonio Beaches

Manuel Antonio

My friends/family liked it ok. Not my favorite beach. It was nice.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio

We got a guide and we are glad we did. Would not have seen 85% of the wild life on our own. Beautiful place.

Quality of Experience

Full Day Waterfall Adventure

Costa Rica

Highlight of our trip! No words! It rained day before, entire night, and the day of the activity. We didn’t really want to go. Considered canceling or not going and taking a hit. So glad we went! It was all of our favorite adventure.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from an incredible trip to Costa Rica! It was superb—we got to check off everything on our bucket list (ziplining, scuba, white water rafting, hikes through the forests, animal and bird spotting). We spent 11 days and everything that Jessica and Gustavo planned for us was perfect, from the private transportation to the impeccable hotels to the activities. Thank you to them and to Kimkim! This is our second time using Kimkim and you better believe it won’t be the last!

Everything went very well! Costa Rican people are very friendly and helpful. Olman adjusted my itinerary to fit my wishes. I also met many pleasant fellow travellers during the tours.

The guides on guided nature hikes are incredible. They can locate birds and other animals in the canopy or insects on trees that we would miss. Some could even imitate bird sounds enough to interact with the birds.

One of the drivers on the shuttle buses between places in CR was especially interesting to talk to and gave us many good tips. He worked for Interbus and his name was Alex. He speaks English fluently. With luck you'll he'll be your driver too.

The ziplining in Monteverde was fun and I highly recommend paying extra for the "Superman" harness that lets you lie prone as you zipline over the forest.

I miss the fruit in Costa Rica! It's something you can't take back with you. You can only encourage others to go there to try it.

Hotel Reviews

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

This is a modern hotel which is very convenient to the airport. The shuttle runs regularly. If you have a room which faces the railway line expect some noise, but there are few trains and it finishes early enough. A good restaurant with Costa Rican food a short walk away is "Rosti".

Authenticity & Character

For this type of hotel I don't expect authenticity and character.

Location

Good location if you want to be close to the airport. You can also take the train to/from the city although it doesn't run often.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dreams Lodge Monteverde

Santa Elena

This is a small family owned and operated hotel with a super friendly and helpful staff! If you have your own wheels it's easier to go to the center of town, otherwise it's a taxi or long walk. But it's also quiet so you will probably sleep better than at a hotel in town. The freshly prepared breakfasts (no buffet) were also good.

Authenticity & Character

This is a small family owned and operated hotel away from the center of town. I liked it.

Location

Far from the main town area but quieter and closer to nature because of that.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff. They really make you feel welcome and give you good advice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only problem was that the small refrigerator in the room was noisy. So I unplugged it.

Hotel Magic Mountain

Fortuna

Spectacular view of the volcano from the room! The view changes depending on the cloud cover and the sun angle. The room was clean and comfortable. The music and partying at the swimming pool can be loud sometimes but it stops early enough that you can sleep. Fantastic breakfast buffet. Easy walk into town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Spectacular view of the volcano. Easy walk into town.

Staff

I wanted to leave a tip for housekeeping but the front desk could not make change for Costa Rican money.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

I have the impression that part of the hike was skipped because it was raining. Part of the group returned to the van early and the guide took us somewhere on a normal road, not a hiking trail.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic! Saw many animals. The "surprise" at the end (after lunch) was also good but I don't want to spoil it here.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch was too rushed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Very good tour. I would do it again and hope to see different animals next time. There are many people on other tours in the same area at the same time, so be prepared to be on a crowded trail. I would like to suggest a night tour with night vision glasses in a less crowded forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

The zip lining and the hike through the forest and over the hanging bridges was fantastic! I highly recommend paying extra to be put into the "superman" harness for the last zip line so you can lie flat as if you are flying. A pity that they don't make a video of that for you, only the regular zip line at the beginning. The zip lining is rather rushed but they need to run many people through the system. Try not to lean back when you are zip lining because then you will start to brake with your brake hand to prevent yourself from leaning back further.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The road to the activity is in terrible condition.

Celeste River and Tenorio National Park Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent guide! (Sorry, forgot his name.) And finally a good strenuous hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

The freshly made chocolate paste was amazingly delicious!! I wish there was more chocolate tasting instead of just coffee tasting (with 1 hot chocolate).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Great guide, wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We highly recommend our Kimkim team in Costa Rica. We did an impromptu trip and received amazing services from Gustavo and Jessica. Gustavo was able to formulate our trip itinerary and book everything with a turn around time of 6 hours. Thank you for making our trip so memorable, he organized the trip based on our preferences. Jessica was great at navigating our day to day plans and was quick with her communication. We will definitely use Kimkim for our future travels.

We recently returned from an amazing family trip to Costa Rica, all thanks to Priscila. Her meticulous planning and attention to detail ensured a smooth and enjoyable experience. When unexpected events arose, Priscila swiftly handled them, keeping our trip stress-free. She was always available to answer questions and provided invaluable tips throughout our journey. Her dedication and local knowledge made our adventure truly unforgettable. We highly recommend Priscila for anyone looking to create lasting memories.

Family adventure:Arenal/La Fortuna, Golf of Papagayo. This was relatively last minute trip with one adult (me) & 2 kids. It was a week filled with zip lining , nature walks, snorkeling and good ol ‘beach time. First time for all 3 of us in Costa Rica and I think we all are a little bit in love. Wilman picked us up from our hotel in San Jose in his nice clean car & drove us to Arenal. Wow what a beautiful place. Hotel room is on the foot of the volcano with our private hot spring. Mistico Park hike: so many hanging bridges through pristine jungle: it’s hot, loud and beaming with life: toucans, sloths, all kids of insects. Mundo Aventura zip lining was combination of adrenaline rush and amazement of zipping thought forest canopy. Staff were all so nice to my 9 and 14 yo sons. Night hike at wild frog sanctuary did not disappoint either, but we were really tired at this point:so many tiny frogs, huge spiders, sloth, and snakes. Next day we were picked up by Alex who drive us to Golf of Papagayo with a stop at Danaus eco park and butterfly garden. We saw crocodiles and more rainforest frogs. We arrived late in evening at our beachfront hotel just in time for quick swim before sunset: sun sets at 6: then pitch dark night.(which was amazing to us, boom, lights out) Next day Snorkeling with Pacific coast dive center was probably the top highlight in an action packed week. This was really unforgettable. Last day we enjoyed the beach and pool at Bahia del Sol, which was perfect. Transfer to Liberia airport was with Genaro who took different route:main road was flooded (rainy season). Big thank you, he knows how to navigate those muddy hills. When we could, we tried to eat at Sodas: family run restaurants serving Costa Rican dishes. I can’t really describe how beautiful Costa Rica is without mentioning the immense kindness and warmth of all the people we met during our trip. I feel very grateful I was able to experience this with my two kids. Thanks so much🙏I sincerely hope to be back and see more

We had an amazing experience. The drivers were all great, shuttle service was reliable, Priscila did an awesome job putting together our itinerary and was super responsive if we had questions. She checked on us every day and made sure we had a stress free and enjoyable trip. HIGHLY recommend KimKim - we will use this service again.

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Friendly staff, good food. Room could use a little repair, but would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Country Lodge

Monteverde

Great staff, clean, quiet and comfortable. Great location. Everything was walkable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Playa Espadilla

Manuel Antonio

Clean, cozy, quiet, great location, pool was super nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Canyoneering Tour by the Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

So much fun - not hard, little scary at first (if you’ve never done this), but very safe and an 8 year old did it with us. You will get wet!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Roll was very knowledgeable and personable. Very informative and bonus night hike if you do a later tour. Learned a lot and saw all sorts of wildlife - Boa, sloth, tarantula etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rollo was great

Transport

100% Aventura Zip Line Monteverde

Monteverde

So much fun - safe for anyone. 5 year old was doing it with us - in tandem with a guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great insight on the geological history of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ok

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

Awesome - saw wildlife, beautiful, great intro to the area.

Quality of Experience

Daniella was a great guide - very knowledgeable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Manuel Antonio

Absolutely amazing - highly recommend it. Great business, Kim was awesome, saw a ton just snorkeling - including a humpback whale, turtles, all sorts of different species of fish. The lunch on the boat was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Professional and knowledgeable - fast boat. Captain and crew knew what they were doing.

Transport

Good bye Costa Rica!

Costa Rica

Fast and easy check in. Plenty of food options at the airport. Buy your souvenirs before you get to the airport - WAY expensive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christian was awesome. Gave us a little bonus sightseeing tour around San Jose and took us to a local spot for lunch.

We recently had the pleasure of working with Holden and his team to plan a trip to Costa Rica, and we cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From start to finish, Holden provided exceptional service, attention to detail, and a deep knowledge of the destination that made our trip truly unforgettable.

First and foremost, Holden took the time to understand our interests and preferences, ensuring that every aspect of our itinerary was tailored to our needs. We had a good idea of where we wanted to visit and what we wanted to do. However it was Holden’s recommendations of lodging accommodations and activities we had not even thought of that made the trip extra amazing.

Holden and his team’s expertise was evident in the seamless coordination of all our trip arrangements, from accommodations and excursions, to even arranging the rental car to be dropped off and picked up from our hotel. Throughout the planning process, Holden was always available to answer our questions, provide valuable insights, and make adjustments to our itinerary as needed. We had several changes in our itinerary over the few months prior to finalizing our trip, and each time the charges were made without hesitation.

Whether it was recommending the best lodge for hot springs near the volcano, arranging thrilling adventure activities like zip-lining and ocean kayaking, or suggesting serene beaches for relaxation, Holden had us covered. Our group of five included two almost-adult kids and Holden found the perfect accommodations that provided us just the right amount of privacy and togetherness.

We were particularly impressed with the local guides and tour operators they connected us with, who were not only knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing the beauty and culture of Costa Rica.

One highlight of our trip was the personalized wildlife Safari Float tour in La Fortuna, where we had the chance to see an incredible array of animals, including sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, a porcupine and tropical birds. Thanks to Holden’s recommendation, we also enjoyed a top notch hike through the Monteverde Cloudforest and were lucky enough to see not one but two of the elusive Quetzal birds.

While we were in Costa Rica, Holden checked in with us a few times to make sure everything was going well and his colleague, Wellman, reached out multiple times to prepare us for the next day’s adventure.

I wholeheartedly recommend Holden to anyone looking to plan a trip to Costa Rica or any other destination. His personalized service, extensive knowledge, and genuine passion for travel made our adventure extraordinary.

Mariano, Socio and everyone were incredibly knowledgeable, kind and enthusiastic! Kimkim and especially Serendipitious Adventures were excellent. Master logisticians. Our trip was seamless and ran like clockwork. Thanks very much! Book with confidence.

Whitewater was excellent especially our guide Roberto
Arenal Hot Springs Hotel was amazing as were all our activities there.
Manuel Antonio Karahe Hotel is very dated but a beautiful place outside of the rooms. Our guide on the hike through the National Park was beyond spectacular

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente San Jose City Center

San José

Nice place for a stopover. Rooftop bar is spectacular despite the rain

Authenticity & Character

Location

good location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No place to sit and relax with a desk

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We loved this place. Best staff I've ever seen. So friendly and helpful. Great room and great views of Arenal. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I'd give a six if I could

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Disappointed especially after Arenal Hot Springs. Too many steps to get to the room. Food selection/quality was not good. Pool was loud with a bunch of kids. Hard to relax. Courtesy transport was very good. Disappointing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Rooms are dated and need an upgrade. Property needs a facelift. However, the grounds are beautiful. The pool was fun as was the bar/restaurant. Needs mor food selection at breakfast. Stunning beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

This was a dumpy old hotel. Horrible food and beverage selections. Do not recommend.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

A very well run, fun day on the river

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

ROBERTO!!!

Transport

Treetopia Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

A very cool experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hiking Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very strenuous but worth it!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arenal Volcano Guided Walking Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Tougher hike than described but well worth it!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching tour by the Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

A nice easy hike but unfortunately didn't see a lot on this particular day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Costa Rica

If I could give a six I would.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

ours was a 7

Transport

Catamaran Adventure with Meal

Manuel Antonio

A nice relaxing way to end the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We (family of 4) traveled to Costa Rica in Dec 2023 for 8 days, and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Adam worked patiently with us and proposed an itinerary that fit our budget and our Wishlist. There were quite a few back and forth (only because I changed my mind very frequently), but Adam was very patient and adjusted the trip. In the end we were able to experience all that we wanted. My daughter (11) is very much into understanding the local tradition, and Adam signed up for "Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve", and the whole family enjoyed the various activities they offered - that was one of our memorable times.
All the group and private tour organized went extremely well, and they were always on time and had no surprises. We had one misunderstanding with our hotel at Monteverde, but Adam was just one kimkim chat away, and resolved the issue in less than 20 minutes. I was very impressed.

Activity Review

Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Arenal/La Fortuna

My daughter (11) is into history and was very interested in learning about the local history and tradition. We were offered this private tour. It is nearly 4 hours tour - we learned about their cultural beliefs, then had a live demo session of making clothes from tree barks. We did some carvings, tried archery and finished the trip with a warm traditional home cooked meal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time in Costa Rica. The team at Serendipity Adventures was phenomenal. We loved Alex! He was kind, patient, and knowledgeable. Our guide at Manuel Antonio National Park, Andres, was so passionate and enthusiastic. We loved our time with him -- we saw so many animals and had a wonderful time! Our kids loved Selvatura and ziplining. We all loved the wildlife. Our lodging was great, with incredible views of the surrounding wildlife. The staff at Koora were the most kind and attentive team we experienced. Overall, we had a fantastic visit and highly recommend it!

Hotel Reviews

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel at Monteverde

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

If I could give 6 stars, I would!

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introduction to La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sloth Observation Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Night Walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Adventure from Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you Holden and the rest of the gang from Serendipity Adventures! Me, my wife, my 8 year old, and especially my wildlife loving 10 year old all had an awesome time!

First, during the months before finalizing the trip, I appreciated being able to continually customize my itinerary. I sent a lot of messages, questions, late night thoughts, etc, and Holden would immediately answer every message.

My goals were to have a week that was half jungle, half beach with a variety of activities along the way. I chose La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, and they worked in all kinds of excursions from hanging bridges, zip lining, a chocolate and coffee making tour, beach time, and lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. They arranged all of the transportation, and everything was spot on punctual.

The two hotels they recommended worked out great. In a single evening at Volcano Lodge I could watch steam rising out of Arenal Volcano, keep an eye on my kids in the pool, soak in thermal springs, and have a fancy dinner all in one comfortable spot. And my stay at Costa Verde included a room and multiple restaurants with beach views, as well as a fun airplane atmosphere that the kids enjoyed.

Also want to give a shout out to Alex from Serendipity Adventures, who picked us up from the airport and drove us all the way to La Fortuna. And several days later he met us again and drove us the five hours to Manuel Antonio. We spent a lot of hours chatting and learning about his country!

Overall, the personal touch made the difference. They even provided their contact info and kept in touch with us for the duration of the trip. I highly recommend them for a family with young kids!

The folks at KimKim were very easy to work with and were able to put together a wonderful family trip that met our budget. We loved the hiking, the food, the hot springs, the rain forest and, of course, the zip lining. We absolutely enjoyed almost every aspect of our time in Costa Rica but we would let future travelers know that June is definitely rainy season so book plans in the morning rather than the afternoon and inquire about the septic system in places you will be staying. Two of our hotels didn't let you flush the toilet paper, which some folks may find unacceptable.

Hotel Review

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

The location was wonderful, the amenities were very good, the staff was very friendly and helpful. In fact, the best meal we had was at a local restaurant across the street in the commercial center (2nd Floor) which someone recommended. We used the spa, which was well priced and a nice treat. The rooms were large and comfortable and ours had air conditioning. The negative which keeps them from 5 stars is that you cannot flush the toilet paper in the toilets. They should upgrade the system to handle that.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy location right near everything.

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our tour guide was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff