Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Our 14 day trip to Costa Rica was the best vacation we have ever had! Diego planned a trip that had a perfect balance of fun, adventure, relaxation, beauty, and learning! He was very easy to work with during the planning stages - and very kind and affable. Diego was also very accessible and responsive during the trip. I would highly recommend KimKim for planning your next trip and for working with Diego if your plans take you to the incredible country of Costa Rica!

Hotel Review

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Transfer San José to Arenal with Rafting on the Balsa River en Route (Class II & III)

Costa Rica

Everything went smoothly. It was nice to have someone overlooking everything.
Highlights were the day tour in Manuel Antonio, canyoning, white water rafting and surfing lessons.
All drivers were on time
Negatives
1) aggressive passing and driving from Monteverde to tamarindo (I didn’t complain but was very nervous)
2) hotel in tamarindo was right beside night club. Could not sleep at all until after 1 am.
3) night tour in Manuel Antonio was disappointing and our guide Carla was scared of spiders.

This was just an overall incredible experience for us. Diego really listened and set up an extraordinary 7 day trip for our family. It was an outstanding blend of fun, culture, relaxation, and excitement.

There was one little hic-up with one of the drivers, but Diego and the team responded very quickly... we didn't miss anything.

My 7 year old daughter could not have enjoyed it more. We'll be going back and will trust Diego with all our plans.

Trip was as planned. All scheduled transfers showed up within (10 to 20 minutes) of the scheduled times. Organization of the trip was easy with Alberto.

As far as the trip itself, Costa Rica is a great place to visit, however; going from place to place is taxing. Our normal car ride was 3+ hours. This was expected for the places we choose, however; looking back on it we spent too much time getting from place to place and not enough time seeing relaxing on our vacation. For a week long trip, we estimated that we were in a vehicle for 30+ hours in total. This is not the fault of the company we choose, they did a great job, just a thing of note for others following in our footsteps.

Beer was cold, weather was ideal, people were friendly, food amazing and Costa Rica was beautiful.

What an amazing vacation through kimkim! Right from airport pick up to drop off and everything I’m between we had the best experience at Costa Rica. The outfitters they arranged for the activities such as zip lining, canyoning & rafting were perfect. A special mention to Olman who was our advisor. He’s been nothing but awesome! We had some changes to itineraries, flight cancellations etc and he helped our group throughout!

Would Highly recommend kimkim for anyone looking for future trips!

Thanks
Tina

Loved the service and customized package!

Hotel Review

Shana By the Beach Resort

Manuel Antonio

Incredible location with spectacular view. A bit dated but still worth going

Tips for future travelers

The property is on a high cliff above the ocean. Great view. But remote beach access requires a vigorous walk

Authenticity & Character

Charm

Location

Cliff based view of ocean

Staff

Friendliness

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness; simplicity

Activity Review

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Costa Rica

Seeing wildlife through the guide’s eyes was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Expertise of guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knew their subject cold

Transport

Comfortable

We trusted Alberto, Diego (with GWA, who will be one of your main contacts once you're in CR), and KimKim as a whole with our honeymoon, and they knocked it out of the park. Booking everything was seamless, as we were able to adjust lodging and activities to fit our desired budget and pacing of the trip. Alberto was exceptionally responsive and accurate with his information. Every tour guide, every transfer/ride, and every hotel/resort were exactly what we'd hoped for. We ended up with the honeymoon of a lifetime, rich with wildlife, adventurous experiences (including horseback riding through the cloud forest and countryside, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and swimming in a waterfall), and most importantly, ease. I strongly recommend using KimKim to book your Costa Rica experience without hesitation.

He was fantastic! Planned an amazing trip for us that kept us busy but also had some downtime to enjoy and relax. The selected tours were top notch and we highly recommend them to anyone looking to see the best of Costa Rica!

This trip was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. Thankfully kimkim and Yenyi took care of everything for us, even making changes to our excursions while we were in Costa Rica. This was a complicated trip and throwing in the pandemic further complicated it. This would have been overwhelming had we had to make all of the changes ourselves. We highly recommend kimkim for their excellent customer service during a very challenging time. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

We had a lovely room overlooking the jungle and the bay. The grounds of the hotel were very unique and we felt like we were definitely on vacation each time we stepped outside. You see monkeys and birds all around the property - monkeys even showed up for breakfast - just be alert because they'll try to steal your food! The staff was very helpful and accomodating. There is even a private beach area at the bottom of the hill that staff will gladly take you to and from via golf carts. We happened to be there at the end of the rainy season so the walkways are slippery if you're not wearing shoes with soles that grip. The food is excellent as well. Makanda was just was a wonderful getaway from reality.

Tips for future travelers

Bring shoes with soles in case of rain....also pack a rain coat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Guanacaste

We were very lucky in our room assignment - off the walkway, toward the back to allow for more privacy (and a place to dry our laundry with it not being in the public view). The food is excellent and I highly recommend the farm to table dinner that's offered. The farm is owned by the hotel owner and they grow all the vegetables and herbs for the hotel, organically. That dinner is a unique experience and everyone should try it. A short walk to the beach and you have access to tidal pools deep enough to swim in. You can walk for miles along the shore - just remember your sunscreen! There are a couple of cabanas by the pool that we employed during the hot afternoons and we enjoyed drinks and lunch by the pool as well. That's a great way to spend a warm day. The hotel is within walking distance (if you don't mind walking a mile or two) to downtown and amenities. I had a medical emergency our first night there and the night clerk was very helpful in finding a 24 hour urgent care clinic that was open for me to go to. All was well in the end and really, we can't say enough good things about Cala Luna. I think the villas with the plunge pools would be an excellent place to stay here, had we planned a bit better - more privacy, private pool. All in all, Cala Luna is an oasis in very busy Tamarindo.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you fully shut the door when going to bed or one of the resort cats might pay you a visit in the middle of the night. It was a surprise but makes for a very funny story.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Springs - Adults Only

Fortuna

Perfect!!! This was a trip postponed twice due to the pandemic and was originally scheduled to celebrate a milestone anniversary. When the staff asked us if we were celebrating anything, we told them that story. When we arrived at our room, there was a rose petal display on the floor, champagne, chocolates and fruit to help us celebrate! It was so very wonderful and thoughtful! Laundry is included, which, toward the end of a two week vacation, is very necessary. Food at every restaurant was over the top delicious and the staff is spectacular. The grounds are gorgeous too - take a walk up to the tented camp area and take advantage of the hot springs and the freezing cold plunge pool. Our room was perfect - huge, outdoor shower (as well as an indoor one), large bathroom and a fabulous hot spring warmed plunge pool! We used that quite a bit. We stayed here at the end of the raining season so it, of course, rained. That shouldn't deter you - there are umbrellas everywhere and if you don't feel like walking in the rain, you can call the front desk for a golf cart ride to wherever you need to go. The staff is very helpful with anything you need whether is be making reservations for dinner or setting up an excursion. They are happy to help so don't be afraid to ask. We actually based our entire trip around this resort - I had read about it and how wonderful it was so we had to stay here....the article was spot on!!! We would go back in a heart beat!

Tips for future travelers

Celebrate whatever here - they really make your special day even more special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close for an inexpensive taxi ride to town

Staff

Personal attention

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide was extra friendly and informative, he had a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna plus he was very adept at taking photos with cell phones through the viewfinder of his telescope. We had some free time during the tour to explore the beach on our own before heading back through the jungle. The park is gorgeous and they are very strict about handwashing and mask wearing through the entrance gate. There is so much to see in this national park - it should be a national treasure! We saw birds, monkeys, iguanas, caimans....just a great place to explore!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Adventure with Meal

Manuel Antonio

I'm glad the boat wasn't filled to capacity - we wouldn't have been able to interact so easily with our other snorklers as much. Drinks were delicious as well as dinner - and the sunset was amazing. The crew guided us around the bay before we started snorkling and we encountered a pod of spotted dolphins who swam along with the boat. There weren't a ton of different fish to see but it was calm and the water was warm. The boat has a slide that nearly every passenger went down! It was a very pleasant and relaxing time spent on and in the water.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time during our days in Costa Rica. Our local specialist, Diego, did an awesome job planning our trip, all our days and activities. Prior to going, he was always available and patient answering our questions and adapting the trip to our preferences and needs. We lost our connection flight and consequently our first day in Costa Rica, I alerted Diego and he was super fast in answering and adapting everything, and we ended up only missing a small activity at the first place we visited, Tortuguero. Regarding the trip itself, we fell in love with Costa Rica and had the time of our lives. All the activities we did were awesome and aligned with what we like. We had a mix of adrenaline, adventure and relax, which was perfect. We got to try things from zip lining, to rafting (which was our favorite thing), a night tour in the jungle, snorkeling and hot springs! Costa Rica feels like a country in the middle of an amazing jungle and Diego at Green World made sure we had an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend his services! All our guides knew what they were doing and we had a lot of fun. The hotels we stayed at were super nice and all activities we did were very well organized. Everything went smoothly and we didn’t need to worry about a thing, it was completely hassle free! Costa Rica blew our expectations and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Costa Rica is a true tropical paradise with an incredible flora and fauna. Our trip was filled with endless breathtaking views and experiences. And the people were incredibly friendly, courteous and helpful. Thank you so much to Alberto, all of our guides and drivers, and Kimkim for making our trip to Costa Rica so well-planned and smooth. Everything went according to plan. The communication with Alberto was without any problems, and he came up with a really nice itinerary for us after two days. He managed to squeeze in so much in just 10 days, but without it being too much. It was the perfect balance between activities and leisure. Our drivers David and Felipe, were exceptionally nice, and we had so many good conversations with them. Our other guides and drivers were all really nice and knowledgeable too. Our guide, Donald, in Monteverde's cloud forest was especially knowledgable and enthusiastic. He was also really good at spotting quetzals! Everywhere we went, the wildlife was in proximity: macaws flying by at breakfast, monkeys coming up to the pool, a beautiful blue bird joining us for lunch at the beach, snorkling and seeing reef fish and a turtle, passing by a crocodile in a river on our way back to the hotel from the beach.

We had a mid-range budget, and the hotels Alberto picked out for us were all great. We had big rooms/bungalows with two BIG twin beds. Hotel Lomas del Volcán in La Fortuna was particularly nice, and the food there was delicious. Hotel Nimmbú in Playa Carrillo (Sámara) was also beautiful, but the food could have been better. It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite live up to the standard that we expected from such a nice hotel.

We loved La Fortuna and its volcano. Monteverde was breathtaking and perfect to see from the horseback. The cloud forest there is also absolutely a must to see. It was perfect to end our holiday at the beach in Sámara, which was such a quaint little community with breathtaking and almost empty beaches.

We will definitely visit Costa Rica again! Also because we didn't get to see a sloth which we really really wanted to see :)

We really really enjoyed the trip that Olman set up for us! He listened to our needs and asks and executed everything so well!

Orlando, Alberto, Minor, Andres are just a few of the many great people/guides we met on our trip! Thank you so much to them.

The trip was great, we stayed at amazing hotels and had very good activities in general.

We stayed in an absolutely beautiful treehouse that was chosen by Diego.

I think the follow-up during the trip could have been better, and the details in the trip guide were not as accurate, for example, in one activity that included swimming it wasn't stated that we should have brought swimming suit!

Thank you kimkim and our guide Olman. We had a wonderful 10 days trip to Costa Rica. Our guide worked with us with in a very short period we had and planned any amazing vacation. We had the best hotels and best adventures. Just as we expected.

Every place we visited had its own special memories. The very first, Guachipelin, interesting as a working farm, complete with oxen team. We loved the freedom of walking to the beautiful waterfall onsite, made unforgettable partly because of the blue morpho flitting about!
Our driver Roy was very well spoken and knowledgeable, answering all our questions en route from Rincón de la Vieja to La Fortuna. Super food stop at Café y Macadamia.
Wildlife tours, especially the night one, were eye openers! Our night tour guide was so excited it was contagious. Finding a tiny hidden rufous-eyed green frog by its sound blew me away! The pit vipers were very cool too.
Canal Négra tour guide, Joe, was super keen and full of info.
Tabacón Hot Springs on a cool evening - heaven!
My personal fave was The Monteverdi Eco Lodge. We were offered a complimentary upgrade with a second floor balcony. Staff was super friendly and professional. Food was exceptionally fresh and tasty! The pool was beautiful and private and not busy at all during our stay.
Having a driver take us to and from La Fortuna made for a nice change of scenery and gave us lots of time to eat at Viquez Soda and walk around the town. ( check out the chocolate shop!)
The final five days at Tulemar and Manuel Antonio Park, were unforgettable! Beautiful gardens, old growth tree forest, hanging bridges, a glorious beach, and enough stairs and hills to get anyone in shape! Raúl, the concierge at our villa studio, was invaluable.
Almost forgot - The cooking class afternoon with Stephanie and our guide Henry, was great fun - and a whole new area for beautiful scenery!
Also, the coffee plantation tour with Andrès (at Don Juan)kept us engaged and laughing the whole while. Can he bring out the fun in everyone!
All in all,
Olman did a terrific job getting us prime accommodations in every location. The balance of tours, travel and chill time was good for us. Our first trip to Costa Rica! Hopefully not our last!
Many thanks to the Ticos and Ticas who made this trip so special!
PURA VIDA!

Adriana created such a memorable 2 week anniversary trip for us and will definitely use Kim Kim again for touring countries. The Costa Rican hospitality is so special, the genuineness of the people made all the difference at every place we stayed. We went from coast to coast experiencing such different environments and wonderful adventures. We decided to not rent a car ourselves and splurge on private transfers between the towns and we are so glad we did. It was a very surprisingly special part of the trip meeting so many more lovely people and made it zero stress. The boat transfer across Lake Arenal was like adding another adventure plus it cut an hour driving time! I was surprised by the quality of the guides we had at every location. The guides at Mawamba Lodge were incredible with their knowledge base of botany and zoology, Piedro took us on an unforgettable night hike. I was really hoping to see a sloth on the trip in their natural environment and we saw several in each location with the help from our guides from Mawamba, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Really made my trip! We have had many discussions about our 'favorites' but it was too hard, it was that great of a trip - each place was so unique and special in different ways! My husband would say the top of the trip was the side striped pit viper in the cloud forest of Monteverde, that was exhilarating! Our guide was incredible at spotting such a variety of creatures after dark! Mine was one of our guides in La Fortuna pulling over on the side of the road as he spotted a sloth climbing in a tree, he got me some amazing pictures with the help of his binoculars up to my phone! Each place Adriana planned for us was so special and we loved ending at Jardin del Eden Hotel in Tamarindo, it was perfect for us. Small and intimate, just an amazing place to truly exhale and I came home just a noodle of relaxation! Looking forward to using Kim Kim again, they really catered the vacation to us and what we wanted and the result was a life lister vacation for sure! Thank you for the unforgettable experience!

Hotel Review

Jardin del Eden Boutique Hotel

Tamarindo

We loved the smaller more personal experience. Staff knew our names and were really attentive. The dining area was gorgeous and the food was really good. The day beds were awesome at the pool and the beach and never had an issue getting a great spot. The outdoor hot stone spa massage was excellent.

Tips for future travelers

I wish I booked less activities and spent more time enjoying their beautiful grounds.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds around the pool were gorgeous with iguanas enjoying the paradise.

Location

I loved being in a secluded area away from the noise but a short walk to the noisier beach area. I thought the beach access was perfect that way.

Staff

They were attentive at all meals, pool drinks, etc. Most made the effort to learn guests names and make it more personal.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean.

Activity Review

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

We got an amazing guide that really made me appreciate the care and work that goes into making great beans. I was not a coffee drinker but am now! It was like going wine tasting. It was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you so much to the kimkim team and Alberto for organizing such an amazing trip to Costa Rica! We got to go to 3 amazing and beautiful areas ( Fortuna, Monteverde and Playa Carillo) and try a number of fun and exciting activities. Transports, transfers and activities were extremely organized and easy. We loved Rob our hilarious guide for the Pacuare river rafting and 1968 hiking tour in Arenal with Hansel through Desafio - just incredible. Playa Carillo was gorgeous and not crowded. We got treated extremely well by all guides and hotel staff. I highly recommend kimkim and Alberto. They made planning a breeze and we didn't have to worry about anything. We will definitely recommend kimkim to our friends and family and use them again as well. Pura Vida!

Everything was amazing !! From our drivers, to food, to the resorts, excursions, etc. everything was perfectly scheduled and prompt. Thank you!!!

I just wanted a getaway with my son and told Olman that I was interested in natural attractions. Olman did an outstanding job right from responding to all my questions, to picking up from the airport, the local hotels, guides, attractions, food arrangements and last but not the least Covid testing services for us to fly back to USA. I have nothing but praise for the way the tour was organized. I’m a pure vegetarian and Olman took care of that and provided guides who could speak English all the way. Outstanding trip filled with memories. Thank you Olman

This is my first time using KimKim. I was a little hesitant at first, but once I filled out the questionnaire and got matched with Green World Travel, we were in good hands. Our specialist was Diego and he was fantastic. He was very quick to respond to all of our questions and comments. The itinerary he planned for us flowed very nicely and all the activities were great. Starting off with our driver who picked us up from the airport Felipe. Felipe was great! We had a 3 hour car ride to Arenal, and during this ride he told us all about Costa Rica. It was a great introduction! After that we spent 3 days in La Fortuna. Diego suggested we go waterfall rappelling and zip lining; activities I would have never picked for myself. I am happy we did them. The rappelling was great and the zip lining was a true adrenaline rush. The companies Diego picked for our activities were awesome and their equipment was high quality. After La Fortuna we went to Tortuguero. This was the highlight for my trip. Diego picked out great accommodations (Mwamba). The wildlife in Tortuguero is fantastic and so were our guides from the hotel especially, Mariso. In Tortuguero we were able to see spider monkeys, white face monkeys, howler monkeys, and many other animals as well as see the sea turtle nesting which is a once in a lifetime experience. After Tortuguero we went to Puerto Veijo absolutely stunning beaches. There we went on a tour of Cahuita. This was the only hick-up of our trip because we were unable to snorkel because the ocean was too cloudy and rough. Diego and the tour company did a fantastic job of communicating with us the changes that were needed. Last and best activity we did was going rafting on the Pacure river. I highly recommend this activity had a great time and our guide Andres was fantastic! Throughout this entire experience the Covid per cautions were fantastic. Everybody was wearing mask and there were hand washing stations at every restaurant and every where in the hotels. I felt very safe. Diego was also very helpful in helping us organize our Covid test to come back into the USA. Overall, I would high recommend booking a trip to Costa Rica with Diego!