Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica .We planned the trip with Brittany’s help and she did a wonderful job. The people are very nice in CR. We felt very safe. Our accommodations were top notch - clean and excellent service .

Hotel Review

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolute paradise

Tips for future travelers

Just enjoy the view and the ambience

Authenticity & Character

Privacy, facilities, fabulous breakfast and restaurant

Location

View is fantastic though a little far from the town. .

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Activity Review

Shuttle Transfer with Rafting on the Sarapiqui River En Route

Costa Rica

Just do it though you better be a strong swimmer and in good health

This was one of our favorite family vacations ever. Diego was a HUGE help in planning it and making sure everything was exactly as I dreamed.

We were able to hit all the highlights we wanted to and the hotels were nothing short of spectacular. Everyone in my family had a different group of favorite activities from the trip! The zip lines and hanging bridges were a universal top-3, but we also loved all of the other excursions Diego helped plan for us. In 8 full days of vacation we managed to tour the Rio Celeste (my favorite), hike around the Arenal Volcano eruption site, float down the Arenal River, relax in some hot springs, take a horseback ride over the cloud forest mountains of Monteverde, hike through Monteverde, visit a sugar cane/cocoa/coffee plantation, go on a night hike, do zip-lining and walk the hanging bridges, and hang out at the beach finishing off with a sunset cruise on Tamarindo Bay. There wasn't a day we didn't enjoy ourselves. I just wish I had more days available where we could just relax and enjoy the beautiful country.

Everything was extremely well organized as well. The car rental went smoothly and every tour picked us up as scheduled with absolutely no stress on our parts. It was so nice to have a trip where I wasn't worried I had missed something or gone to the wrong location. Most tours were either just my family or my family a few other people - you never felt like you were part of a huge group and unable to hear the guide.

In fact, literally the only concern we had the whole time was when we landed in Costa Rica and tried to find our car rental. The directions said to find an agent from the car rental company at the airport, but there were 4 companies directly in the terminal so we assumed it was supposed to be one of those. When we asked one of the airport workers, they told us our company was a few kilometers away and we would have to rent a taxi which obviously concerned us. However, once we made our way out of the terminal the company's agent was right there and got us taken care of. May just want to change the directions to go out of the terminal and find your agent there.

Thank you for a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

OK hotel but very touristy and busy. The parking lot and most of the accomodations are across the street from the hotel so expect some walking. The pools themselves were great and it was wonderful having straight access to the beach (which is obviously it's main attraction). There is no room service so if you want to get something in your room you have to order it at the restaurant, wait for it, and then carry it across the road and to your room. Staff were also very impersonal compared to the hotels we stayed at in Arenal and Monteverde.

Authenticity & Character

not much character - just a Vegas-like hotel to get as many people as possible into the limited space

Location

beach-side access was wonderful

Staff

not very personal, had to ask them for what amenities/activities the hotel offered, laundry was a day late getting back despite dropping off at 8AM the day before

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Absolutely beautiful hotel and great service. The room had a balcony opening right into the rain forest and a private outdoor shower in the back (along with a normal indoors one) where you could just listen to nature around you. Our kids loved eating here - they had fruit stands around the dining area so animals would constantly be climbing them to grab a bite to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel at Monteverde

Monteverde

Koora was a quiet, beautiful hotel to relax and enjoy the cloud forest in. Our bungalow was surrounded by the cloud forest and we enjoyed the privacy and having nature all around us. While it doesn't offer as many amenities as other hotels, we enjoyed the quieter tempo and more personal atmosphere. Every one of the staff knew us by name and would check on us to see how they could best help us. We'd have our table for breakfast and dinner ready every day and, if we had any questions, they would quickly respond to a message through WhatsApp. Would love to return again and just spend days relaxing and enjoying their nature trails and atmosphere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Definitely a must-visit hotel. Extremely high-quality service. Many of the staff would call us by name despite us only being there 3 days. The hot springs were terrific - definitely try the ones down in Club Rio. They are surrounded by the rainforest and much more natural than the ones by the hotel. Our kids loved Club Rio, especially the rock climbing. We also all loved the entertainment room - our teenagers would happily go here to play some PS5 or other games while my wife and I could get some peace and quiet ourselves. You could spend a week here easily and not do everything they have available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike around the volcano. Guide was very knowledgeable from everything of the local plants to the volcano and it's eruption itself. Great visual aids to help in teaching. We got some absolutely beautiful views of the volcano from the closest you are legally allowed to get to it. On the way back he led us off the usual path up the mountain side and you really felt like you were exploring the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

Extended horseback ride through the cloud forest. You go through a variety of areas, from shrubs, to mountaintops, to the cloud forest itself. We ended up on the mountaintop as the sun started to set with an amazing view of the surrounding mountains I will never forget. Longer trip than I thought it would be, but that was a good thing and it wasn't so long I was sore the next day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Trapiche Sugarcane Mill Tour

Monteverde

Very fun tour that both we and our kids enjoyed. The guide showed us how they grew sugar cane, coffee, and cocoa and how each was processed. You saw everything from plant to machinery to process. Along the way we were able to taste the coffee beans, raw cocoa seeds, and processed chocolate and we made our own raw sugar candy. Definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent chance to see many of the animals in the rainforest. Guide had an amazing ability to spot them and then get us to see them. We saw iguanas, bats, owls, monkeys, and TONS of different birds. One highlight was definitely when the guide managed to get the howler monkeys to start calling back to him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a ton during the hike and had a great time. We worked well with our kids, even when our youngest started getting a little tired of the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

This was my must-do adventure and it was exactly as I hoped. The hanging bridges tour was awesome - our guide was a lot of fun to talk to and always open to questions. We saw quetzals, tarantulas, hummingbird nests, and lots of other creatures. The hanging bridges themselves were terrific - we went across 6 of them, the largest spanning quite a long ways with beautiful view of the cloud forest around and under you. Zip-lining was awesome. You go on 7 total lines with the longest being 1/2 a mile. Sometimes they'd have my kids go separate, and others they ride paired. Everyone was very great and you always felt safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing! All the transportation, lodging, and activities were seamless and there was very little additional work on my end once I arrived. Diego was also extremely accessible and helpful with any of my questions/concerns during the trip itself. Highly recommend both the country and this tour agency.

Hotel Review

Evergreen Lodge

Tortuguero

Amazing food

Tips for future travelers

Be aware that the windows are just covered in screens and some bugs may get inside your room

Activity Review

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

Tour guides were awesome and very informative while also keeping us safe. The food provided was also really good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brittany was great to work with and was very accommodating while we asked for modifications. It was also great to have her support during the trip!

Activity Review

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Gustavo, was incredible. I’ll never forget this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gustavo was one of the best guides I’ve ever had

Transport

Amazing family trip that we completed for spring break to Costa Rica. Adriana helped with the planning and produced options that would be fun for kids of different ages, also while making sure that we had time to relax as a family.

I first thought that this may be some sort of internet swindle, since I had never heard of KimKim before, but everything was exactly as promised. Every driver showed up on time, and every rental was organized, and excursions were as described.

I would recommend Adriana and KimKim without hesitation.

Rizwan Pasha, M.D.

Hotel Review

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Very nice hotel and furnishings. Very good location, but food was better in the town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alberto arranged an incredible holiday for us. All the transfers and activities went very smoothly and we found Costa Rica to be a beautiful and friendly country with so much to see and do.

We visited Arenal, Tortuguero, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and Bahia Drake and we enjoyed each and every one of them. The local guides are excellent and very knowledgeable.

In terms of accommodation Las Caletas in Bahia Drake is paradise.

Thank you for arranging such a fantastic holiday Alberto!

Hotel Review

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

Perfect location with gorgeous gardens, friendly staff and a beautiful beach. Great food. Highly recommended

Tips for future travelers

You will arrive by boat be prepared to get your feet wet!

Authenticity & Character

Stunning location

Location

So beautiful it's hard not to love it.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

We got the honeymoon suite with its own hammock. Lovely balcony

Activity Review

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

We swam at the base of the waterfall. Beautiful! And the hanging bridges are a great way to experience the canopy in primary rainforest

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing. We visited Tortuguero, Arenal and Manuel Antonio.
We liked all three locations but we will not forget Tortuguero and the amazing hotel where we stayed, Tortuga Lodge & Gardens - truly outstanding location, view, service and food. Thank you to our guide Miguel.
In the Arenal area, Nayara hotels are a must if you are a foodie!
All the tours and transfers were on time with great guides. Everything worked flawlessly.

This was also my first experience with Kimkim and it will certainly not be the last. The degree of customization it allows is unparalleled. Also, Adriana was the perfect specialist for our first experience with Kimkim. Very friendly and responsive, her work was great creating a perfect trip and adjusting all the details we needed. She deeply understands the locations and activities, and gave us important suggestions. Thank you, Adriana!

TIP: always do your tours in the early morning. At first, we were afraid that the tours were too early (7-8 AM) but I glad we kept it like that. We soon adapted to do everything very soon in the morning (when it's fresh and the nature is more active) and then keep the afternoons to yourself and relax.

Hotel Reviews

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Superb location and views, awesome design, great pools. Poor service at the restaurant - certainly doesn't match the price and profile of the hotel. Also, poor noise insulation in the rooms - you can hear everything that's going on outside and in other rooms. The music in the pool areas should be avoided and certainly affects your experience. We asked for a volume decrease, which happened during our presence by the pool, but the volume was turned up again as soon as we left. Would not return here unless a deep review of the service happened.

Tips for future travelers

Request a room far from the pool areas. Our room was next to the pool, and we could not rest/relax during the day due to the music.

Authenticity & Character

Location

awesome sea view

Staff

Staff in restaurants were not professionals, and some were unfriendly. The staff from front office and transport cars were nice, though.

Cleanliness & Comfort

room insulation in the rooms.

Nayara Hotel Spa and Gardens

Fortuna

Great hotel. Awesome food with lots of choices. It's not cheap, but if you can afford it and appreciate good service and food, go for it.

Tips for future travelers

Try to request a room with view of the Arenal vulcano.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Great hotel, great design and breakfast. Central location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens

Tortuguero

Amazing hotel, one of the best we've been. Great service and food. Location and views are breathtaking.

Tips for future travelers

Arrive by boat and leave by plane, so you can have both experiences. The small airport is right across the canal. We upgraded to a room with A/C but we didn't really used it. The ceiling fan is more than enough. Book a Miss Evelyn suite - you won't regret it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shuttle from San Jose to Tortuguero

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an absolutely fantastic time in Costa Rica. My daughters (ages 7 and 9) loved everything about the trip. The Arenal, Monteverde, Manual Antonio itinerary was perfect -- we felt like we got to see a lot of biodiversity in a relatively short time. The visit to Proyecto Asis, the animal rehab center, was a highlight for our animal lovers!

It was an absolute pleasure working with Brittany. She crafted an itinerary that worked really well for our family, and once we were on the ground in Costa Rica, everything worked seamlessly.

When my wife and I started our search for a travel agent for Costa Rica, we specifically looked for agents based in Costa Rica to ensure we would have the best experience possible, and I am extremely grateful we found Olman and Kimkim!! Olman was friendly, knowledgeable, and very responsive!!! Prior to the trip,( “the planning/booking everything” stage) Olman was great about booking the best tours in each of our destinations, whether it was the canyoning in Arenal, the zip lining and Don Juan coffee tour in Monteverde, or the nature walk in Manuel Antonio! While planning we hit a few snags and Olman presented us with options to make sure we were getting the best experience!! He kept in touch and answered all of the questions we asked! He made this stage painless and made us feel like we could relax as he booked everything from transportation and hotels to the excursions!! During the trip he could be reached at any time and was quick to respond if any issues arose!! He communicated and set up our Covid test and accommodated any unforeseen changes!! He was truly great and our 17-day Honeymoon was fantastic!!
Now a little more detail about our trip:
The Hotels: (Caveat, we chose most of these hotels, so these were not Olman or Kimkim’s fault, we just want to provide feedback for future travelers)
Park Inn by radisson in San Jose- was modern and clean. We would give it a 4/5.
Arenal Manoa in Arenal/La Fortuna-(our absolute favorite) was authentic, friendly, delicious food, absolutely stunning views, great pool, great spa, great service, just all around great and set our tone for the whole trip! (Beds were uncomfortable:beside that it was amazing) we give this hotel a 5/5!
Noah’s Forest in Arenal/La Fortuna- has the makings of a great hotel but the construction, broken pool, and meh food really took away from the experience…though the rooms were very nice—-they were modern, clean, and the bed were fantastic!! Every other hotel we stayed at had sucky beds, but these were great! We give This hotel 4/5
Poco a Poco Hotel in Monteverde- this hotel was not good…it was over hyped and we would definitely not recommend it. The hotel is beautiful and has the framework to be great, but the beds were uncomfortable, there was no privacy, it was very noisy, and the food mediocre at best. This hotel gets a 1/5.
La Mariposa Hotel in Manuel Antonio- This place has unparalleled views! We stayed in the full ocean view room and it was amazing! The views from our balcony were amazing, complete 180 degree view of the ocean and surrounding greenery/beaches! Amazing sunsets from our balcony as well! They have an incredible infinity pool with amazing views of the ocean and sunset! We had white face capuchin monkeys on our balcony and around the hotel, and each night at sunset we saw mated macaws fly overhead and land in nearby trees! It was amazing! The beds were horrid but the rest was great!!
Our absolute favorite experiences were:
Canyoning with Pure Trek in Arenal! This was absolutely incredible and extremely safe!!! Would 10 out of 10 recommended!! (We terrified of heights and we seriously LOVED this!)
Zip lining at Selventura Adventure Park in Monteverde: this was also incredible!! Very safe and best part is there stopping system which is WAY more gentle than any other zip lining I’ve ever done!
Our other top tours:
La Paz waterfall and Gardens
Horseback riding with Esteban to La Fortuna waterfall (absolutely worth the 500 stairs!)
Celeste River and Tenorio Volcano guided tour! Our guide went above and beyond in every way! After the hike he took us to a family owned restaurant,Posada River Celeste! It was absolutely incredible and we are kicking ourselves for forgetting his name because he was fantastic!
White water rafting with Jimmy(costa rica descents) was very fun and everyone was very friendly!
The coffee and chocolate tour in Monteverde was awesome! Very informative, delicious, and was able to meet Don Juan himself!! This organic family owned farm was well worth the visit!!!
All in all Costa Rica was amazing and was extremely welcoming!!! It had everything relaxation, beauty, and adventure!! We are definitely coming back and will definitely be booking with Olman and Kimkim again!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

Overrated—-noisy, no privacy, bad massage, bad food…good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were not good, but it was clean

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

Modern, clean, beds were comfy enough, hot water was good, food was good. Not a lot of character.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Amazing views, authentic, genuine, great services, extra friendly and helpful, great spa, great pool, just all around amazing! Beds were not comfy but the rest seriously outweighed it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, beds not good

Activity Reviews

San José - Arenal - Visit to La Paz Waterfall & Gardens

Costa Rica

We were able to see a lot of animals and saw beautiful waterfalls!! (Macaws, parrots, ocelot, snakes, puma, jaguar)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike! Saw a yellow pit viper, it was a baby, toucans, great volcano views, leaf cutter ants, and lava rock fields! The hot springs were awesome! Just wish we would’ve had more time!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was awesome! Not the boring trail horses you imagine! These horses had spirit and we were able to trot! The waterfall was absolutely stunning and you can swim there!!! The fresh pineapple afterwards was awesome!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Celeste River and Tenorio National Park Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a beautiful tour!! Hard to explain the river beauty!! Our guide was incredible and went above and beyond! Went to a family owned restaurant called Posada River Celeste! Delicious food!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Canyoning Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite excursion! We both are terrified of heights and psyched ourselves out, but we are SOOO GLAD we did this!! It was incredible! It was also super safe! They have guides at the top and bottom to take control of anything we’re to go wrong!! Do this! So worth it!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

The zip lining was so fun!! Very safe and the stopping was way more gentle than any other zip lining I’ve ever done! We got to do two lines together which I had never done and was truly awesome! The bridges were very cool too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Monteverde

Monteverde

Great coffee and chocolate!! Very informative! Great guide!! Was able to meet Don Juan! Love that it is a small family owned, non touristy tour!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was relaxing and exciting!! Great fresh fruit and awesome farm tour afterwards! Loved the food!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was absolutly perfect experience from the moment of planning the trip till the last day. Planning, thanks to Olman, was a smooth process and within a week we adjusted all hotels and activities. We travel a lot, but for the first timne all hotels were perfect-good value for money. When in Costarica we were still ocasionally in contact with Olman or local agency and they were very responsive. Once again we would like to thank Olman and Kimkim for fantastic vacations

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Activity Reviews

San Jose to Tortuguero - Manatus

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a trip with Jose and he was amazing! He always went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for our vacation. He always went the extra mile beyond just the tours from helping with dinner reservations, to booking covid tests, helping book hotels after flight cancellations, everything! We are so happy to have had such an amazing tour guide and would highly recommend him to all our friends and family.

Charlotte was amazing and always responsive on Kim Kim and we will definitely be utilizing Kim Kim for future vacations!

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica!! Olman really understood what we were looking from not only with the various excursions he helped us book, but for the hotels we stayed in as well - right up our alley! Olman took care of everything we needed and ensured we had a great experience. The only negative was that I wished the itinerary listed out which tour company was picking us up from the hotel for the excursions so we knew who to look out for and/or call to check in on status

I cannot thank Randall enough for the amazing itinerary he put together for us. He made suggestions and changes and nothing was too much for him. The trip was incredible and all to plan. Brilliant communication and choice of accommodations.

We travelled to Costa Rica with Kimkim in February this year and it was a trip that will stay with us forever. This was our first international trip in 2 years since the pandemic hit us and we approached it with a fair bit of apprehension. My partner and I knew that we wanted to travel but did not have the bandwidth to research and build a trip of our own given our busy work schedules. Enter Kim Kim! Over the past few weeks....everytime our friends ask us how our trip was, we have one answer - We just showed up and it was phenomenal!  I am someone who likes to research and ensure I have a heady mix of different activities combined with time to relax built into my trip. Yenyi and Brittany at KimKim made sure to listen to what I had in mind and worked with me to build a trip that was beautifully tailored to the experience we were seeking and at a budget that was conducive. Given the uncertainties with the pandemic, I will forever be thankful to a team that aims to have the customer at the center of everything they do - they not only helped us schedule and reschedule the trip but also were available for us every step of the way before and during our vacation. Imagine being in a foreign country but knowing you have a person you can reach out to, should you need anything at all - be it suggestions to eat if you are standing in a town square and are unable to make up your mind, or need someone to book you a last minute night hike that you decided to take. That was exactly how our experience was - we showed up and we knew the entire vacay was planned and taken care of. All while ensuring we get to enjoy the country with its local flavour. Right from travel, hotels, experiences, pre-travel covid tests et al. Over the past few weeks, I have been raving about our vacay and our wonderful experience with this team and realized it was only fair to share this review with all of you. Our highlights on the trip: - Hikes in La Fortuna & Monteverde where we saw a ton of wild animals. - The most perfect beach day in Manuel Antonio- Ziplining through the forest canopies in Monteverde - And the hot springs in the Arenal area in La Fortuna

Hotel Review

El Faro Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

They were fantastic and helped us book our pre-travel covid tests. The front desk was so helpful.

Tips for future travelers

It is a very basic hotel and is sufficient if you plan to stay out all day and just crash at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

100% Aventura Zip Line Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brittany made great suggestions on hotels and activities, was quick to make the changes we asked for, guided us through decisions, and went above and beyond to find alternatives when things were already booked due to a very busy travel season. Highlights were the zip line in Monteverde and the nighttime turtle experience with a licensed guide.

Hotel Review

The Coast Beachfront Hotel

Tamarindo, Guanacaste Province

A lovely and serene hotel off a busy beach, very attentive staff. A highlight was breakfast delivered to the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim , via Charlotte Tornquist and Nancy, planned and carried out a very special and smooth operating vacation plan for the 3 of us in Costa Rica in 2022. We visited Sarapiqui, Siquirres / Pacuare, La Fortuna / Arenal, San Jose and the OSA peninsula over 21 days. Absolutely no travel hiccups or problems as all of the connections, transfers and pick ups worked flawlessly throughout. Pricewise KimKim bested other agents, as well as my attempts at a self directed trip - and assured a local connection of all of the involved entities. That was reassuring and made the trip problem free. I've traveled most of the world and have used many different agencies in doing so. I can say that KimKim rates right at the top for service, pricing, diversity, communication, congeniality and skill. You'll enjoy booking your special vacation with KimKim and leave your worries behind.

Hotel Review

Pacuare Lodge

Pacuare

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Adventures and enjoy the surroundings at Pacuare Lodge

Río Pacuare

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I truly had a special experience made possible by our excellent guide Chris. Chris made our cycling adventure unique and exciting throughout our journey. Chris was always available to handle all our needs and expectations. Chris ensured our safety and the perfect guide for the beautiful Costa Rican coast line. We are ready to go back and Chris will be the perfect guide again. Really a quality trip. Highly recommend your services and of course Chris made it possible. Cheers, Brian

Hotel Review

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

Best view and quality room and hospitality!

Tips for future travelers

plan ahead and book activities in the surrounding areas.

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

Bike Ride Playa Hermosa to Playa Grande

Costa Rica

KimKim and Adriana were easy to work with, responsive and helped us create a fun trip. All transportation was on time. Our drivers were very nice. Some of them were even able to provide information along the way of what we were seeing. Hotels were nice and well situated for what we wanted to see and do. Our travels were to Monteverde, La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo and BriBri.

Hotel Review

Studio Hotel

San José

Best place to see a lot of diverse art work without going to a museum or art gallery. It was nice to have a full restaurant and bar in the hotel but also check out the taco place just down the street.

Tips for future travelers

You have to pay for coffee in your room. But staff was nice enough to let me bring coffee up from the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

The art work and comfortable rooms.

Staff

Very accommodating even if we struggled through some communications.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bribri Indigenous One Day Experience

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

First of all, getting there is an experience in itself. Quite exciting! It was a privilege to share the indigenous culture. The people, the meal, the archery, the roof making and to hear their story (a bit of a challenge with the language barrier). We felt welcomed.

Quality of Experience

The family/community feeling.

Food

It all was great and the banana flatbread before lunch was out of this world.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Smiling faces

Transport

The boat ride was a hoot!

Kimkim was an easy way to customize a group visit to Costa Rica, focusing on desired types of activities on specific dates while staying withing budget. Kimkim removed the responsibility of doing research and legwork to execute a fun filled activity trip. I will use it again when appropriate.

Hotel Review

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

Nice

Tips for future travelers

Do it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast

Activity Review

Biking & Kayaking Around the Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

The kayaking was a mazing. The biking was bad. It was a the least favorite activity on the trip for the whole group. The level of difficulty was simply too much for the average person, unlike the rest of the activities. 25 KM in (bad) bikes over unpaved roads/hills was too much. Should be half the distance in the future for average folks like us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We booked an incredible 7-day Costa Rican vacation inclusive of daily private excursions with Tachiz Travel, through KimKim. It was truly by far one of the easiest and most professional travel agencies we have had the pleasure to work with over many years traveling across the world. From first contact to our final farewell, Alex and Francisco went above and beyond to ensure our adventures in Costa Rica were well organized and memorable utilizing the best tour operators in country.

Due to our last-minute decision to travel to Costa Rica for vacation, the accommodations we had selected were unfortunately not available for our entire stay. Therefore, Francisco recommended The Springs Resort & Spa overlooking the Arenal Volcano; what a fabulous resort! It is centrally located to the many activities available in the area including hiking, rafting, ziplining, bird watching, horseback riding, ATV excursions, or just relaxing in the hot springs. The Springs staff was not just accommodating but very friendly and happy to share incredible stories of their beautiful country and make sure our needs were met every step of the way. The resort has several onsite restaurants that are world class. Specifically, La Ventana restaurant, was phenomenal with an incredible chef (Jason Roja), sommelier, and staff. Maikol and Armando went out of their way each day to make our dining experiences special. The menu was extraordinary, creative, and diverse to meet anyone’s palate. We enjoyed every meal and experienced many customary dishes.

Francisco, Tachiz Travel, really listened and understood our interests and goals for the trip. He and Alex developed the perfect itinerary personally design for us. Every excursion guide and driver were exceptionally knowledgeable and spent quality time explaining the local history, customs, culture, and significant landmarks. The guides were true subject matter experts sharing their knowledge and showing us amazing birds, wildlife, and topography. It was one of the best vacations we have ever had. World-class trip.

We are planning on returning to Costa Rica soon and will leave the planning once again to the incredible team Tachiz Travel Team.