Kimkim Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

Our departure from San Jose was delayed by an hour and a half causing us to miss our first adventure to the Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Dinner - big disappointment. The Sloth Observation the following morning was great thanks to our excellent guide - can't remember his name. The Costa Rican cooking class with Scott that evening was outstanding - perhaps the highlight of the trip. The very lengthy transfer from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio the following day was further complicated by significant and time consuming road closures resulting in close to 8 hours on road - much too long. Big mistake in scheduling resulting in loss of confidence in our ability to get back to San Jose in time for our return flights, resulting in resorting to booking a private flight to San Jose. The La Mariposa Hotel was OK. We were disappointed with the food and beverage service and lost power for a while. The Guided Manuel Antonio Park Hike was great thanks to our expert guide, Aerial. Lunch following at Cafe Agua Azul was great. The Savegre Whitewater Rafting the following morning was outstanding thanks to our guides, Nicholas and Leandro. All in all, the trip overall was really good and the closeness of our group with lifelong friends hasd a lot do with that. Nothing rattles us. Thanks for your great support through all of its ups and downs.

We had a great time in Costa Rica! Despite vague instructions from us (we want a winter getaway - active, fun, and relaxing), Holden was able to put together an itinerary that suited us perfectly. Nancy and Wilman provided operational support, with Wilman checking with us several times during the trip to make sure we were satisfied. All the vendors used (transport, tours, hotels) were prompt, friendly, helpful. Thanks to the entire team at Serendipity Adventures for an awesome trip!

It's been almost a year since our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we've had an extremely hectic year and have been delayed in writing this review for many many months. But we still talk about how amazing our trip to Costa Rica was and all the amazing memories we made there. Our trip was very well planned, we loved all of our accommodations and excursions. We personally got a little zealous about how much we could do at a time, and didn't realize how much travel there would be to some of the excursions, but that was on us. We wish we would have spent some more down time at the amazing resorts, but other than that our trip was perfect and all the recommendations from Kim Kim were great! I would highly recommend their service to other people and we will definitely be using them again in the future. Every single shuttle/transportation service was excellent and every person we encountered on our trip was super friendly and welcoming. Everything was on time and all the tours and guides were super knowledgeable and fascinating. We saw all types of animals and wild life. KimKims flexibility in building your itinerary is great and it was the perfect level of assistance while also making it super personal to you. Thank you for a great trip!!!

Hotel Review

Arenas del Mar Resort

Manuel Antonio

This was our favorite hotel on our trip. I was blown away by the ocean views when we arrived and were taken up to the lobby. The property is stunning and cozy. The entire staff is amazing and by the time we left we were sad to go. They had great amenities, the food was excellent, the views were incredible, and they have their own private beach access. It was a perfect mix of luxury but also felt intimate and familiar. We saw so many wild animals on the property and the staff went out of their way to make sure we got a chance to witness the wild life. We did yoga which was amazing, and when we called for a ride, the response was almost immediate. We cannot recommend this property enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

People are absolutely incredible.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided Visit to Nauyaca Waterfall

Costa Rica

This was our favorite activity on our trip. Potentially because it was our first, however it's still stands out as one of the best experiences. Our tour guides were super friendly and knowledgeable and I felt with them the entire time. They made the experience personal and special and guided us to jump off the cliffs in a once in a lifetime experience. Cannot recommend enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family of four adults chose Serendipity for our first trip to Costa Rica, and it exceeded our expectations. The trip was well-organized, with a nice mix of activities that perfectly matched our interests. We especially loved our stay at Royal Corin in La Fortuna. Some of the highlights included the scenic float trip in Arenal, hiking in Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and the fascinating coffee and chocolate tour. Everything was thoughtfully paced and seamlessly planned. We highly recommend Serendipity for an unforgettable Costa Rica adventure!

Our Costa Rica trips involved visiting three areas; La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manual Antonio. This is a good combination of the most interesting parts of the country.
The Najara Tented Camp in La Fortuna was one of the most amazing resort hotels we ever stayed at - right behind the Manadarin Oriental in Bodrum (Turkey) and the Four Seasons Sayan in Bali. There was a nice private thermal pool, access to five restaurants with very good food, and overall excellent service. We took three excursions - the Hanging Bridges and Butterfly Garden were both really good, but we would not recommend the Arena Volcano/La Fortuna Fall excursion, which was difficult and not worth seeing.
We stayed at the Monteverde Lodge and Gardens in Monteverde. The hotel was a little dated and can use an upgrade. However, the restaurant has unexpectedly good food and the staff there provided excellent service. After a while, we grew to enjoy the place. We took another Hanging Bridges tour, which turned out to be a self-guided tour instead of a guided tour as specified. But it was OK and we really enjoyed the excursion.
At Manual Antonio, we stayed at the Arenas del Mar Resort. Overall, this hotel was excellent, with the exception of the Beach Restaurant, which was terrible. We do not understand how the main restaurant served such good food especially the fish dishes) while the Beach Restaurant served such subpar food. The staff were very good, and even arranged a coffee bean roasting demonstration in the hotel and a tour of the hotel lab where ginger beer and beer were made. We had two excursions there - the Manual Antonio National Park walking tour and a waking tour of a Biological Reserve tour. We recommend both excursions.
Our Costa Rica tour was a custom private tour worked out with Kim Kim. Overall, it worked out well for us. There were several mishaps though. The first was that the detailed itinerary was sent to us very late, just 4-5 days before our departure. As a result, we were not aware of the early starting times of the local excursions. We are not early risers and the starting times have to be reworked, and some of the new starting times were not confirmed until the day of our departure. Tis caused lots of confusion. The second was not some of the local excursions were not the same as described in our itinerary, such as the Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna. It was actually better than the one described.
Kim Kim was good in making all the right hotel arrangements and private transfers.
Would we recommend using Kim Kim for Costa Rica trips? Yes, we would, but with the stipulation that the final detailed itinerary will be sent out no later than 2 weeks before departure, and the understanding that not everyone is an early riser. We have been in over 50 tours, and mot tours start at 9 am, and we consider a starting time of 6:45 am simply unacceptable for us.

Incredible trip to Costa Rica with all its varied ecosystems and wildlife.

Our guide, Gustavo, really hooked it up. We were deeply impressed (and grateful) when he and the KimKim team arranged to get our passports couriered to us after we left them at our hotel. Top notch service!

We just completed a trip and had such a wonderful experience! Elana and Wilman were tremendous and so pleasant to interact with. I definitely felt that they really cared about our experience. Elana put together an incredible itinerary and my dad and I had so much fun. Each activity was awesome and our schedule was thoughtfully put together so everything flowed. It always felt like we got the very best rooms at each property. The people working at the zip line at Selvetura Park were so awesome, as we’re the river rafting crew. We had a blast and also felt very safe. Our drivers were consistently kind, fun and informative. The only change I would make is to not stay at L Establo. The property was too large and spread out and the breakfast was a cattle call with tour bus attendees. I would absolutely tap into this entire team on a future trip and refer kim Kim and serendipity to any and all of my friends and family!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Very friendly and wonderful service. Pristine property that has a lot of nice walking and animal viewing right from the property. Delicious food and amazing Hot Springs

Authenticity & Character

It is well laid out and thoughtfully designed

Location

The view of the mountain is so beautiful and the property is lush. There’s a lot of fun things to do for couples or families.

Staff

Amazing service

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were pristine

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

The design is very modern and clean and it is a huge and beautiful property. It is so steep and large that moving from place to place requires a shuttle even for people who love physical activity. We had to pay $20 each, just to take a walk on the trails above the property And this seems odd to me The breakfast was also chaotic and stressful with tons of people from tour buses. We did not find it, relaxing at all

Authenticity & Character

It’s very nature oriented with beautiful views

Location

The location is walkable to downtown and in a beautiful setting with tremendous views. It’s just such a steep and spread out footprint.

Staff

The front desk staff were wonderful and the shuttle drivers were very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were pristine

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport

San Jose

We were extremely surprised by how nice of a stay it was here. They had a beautiful hotel with lush environment. The rooms were very basic, but nice with comfortable bed and great shower and very clean. There is a Denny’s adjacent to the property and we were extremely close to the airport with a free shuttle. I would absolutely stay here again for proximity to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

It is what it is and it does practical well

Location

Close to airport! Beautiful sunset as well

Staff

Friendly and prompt

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed and linens were very nice. The room was extremely clean. There was a comfortable chair in the room to lounge in.

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

I wish I could give it six stars. The hotel is in the most beautiful setting with incredible views There are lots of good restaurants that someone can walk to from the hotel. They make amazing food and drinks, and the breakfast was spectacular I loved that they had a resident cat! The air conditioners worked great, and the rooms were spacious and well designed. There were macaws flying around in the trees on the property! This was my favorite hotel

Authenticity & Character

It’s incredibly charming and beautiful

Location

The views! It’s also close to a lot of things and desirable places to walk to, including a mini grocery store and ATM.

Staff

Everyone we spoke to was wonderful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very beautiful inside and outside, and the views were epic

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was an enjoyable day, but I wish we had only done two of the three activities. The hanging bridge tour took far far longer than was expected and went on too long. We did like our guide though. The waterfall was beautiful and I’m glad we saw it. I would pass on the hike because the visibility is often so poor and the hike was really just a steep short walk.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was delicious and it was fun to talk to the other guest

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

I really enjoyed this experience and the guide was very knowledgeable. It was fun to see a tarantula and scorpion and many other critters and learn about the background of the forest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I’m

Transport

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

Costa Rica

The zip line guides were incredible! They made us feel so safe and they were very attentive. I loved spending the time with them. The guy who took us around the butterfly reptile area was wonderful as well.

Quality of Experience

O

Food

Beautiful setting, nice service and delicious food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

We were pleasantly surprised by how nice of an experience this was. There weren’t a ton of the people on the boat and the people joining us were so fun to talk to. The team manning the ship played great music And yummy food. We saw a gorgeous sunset and snorkeling was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide was amazing and taught us so many things. We saw an incredible variety of plants, animals, and reptiles. Including a Ferdinand’s (sp?) snake! The activity was tailored to suit our time commitment, which was perfect.

Quality of Experience

It’s a national park for a reason. It’s stunningly, beautiful and not too large. You will see a huge variety of animals.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Savegre Whitewater Rafting

Costa Rica

We had such a good time. This was my dad’s favorite activity.. The river was so beautiful and our boat guide was super knowledgeable about the environment and birds. He handled the river with strong mastery of the currents and made us feel extremely safe. The other guys on the team were hilarious and so fun to be around. We saw the sunset from the river and it was gorgeous!

Quality of Experience

I wish that dinner was not included in this event. The meal afterwards was awkward because everyone just wanted to go home.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} - Visit La Paz Waterfall

Costa Rica

This was better than I expected. The waterfall walk and walk around the animal habitats was really fun. We loved the hummingbirds so much. It’s very lush and beautiful. It can be really chilly with the strong mist so bring a good jacket and definitely a raincoat.

Quality of Experience

Food

It was nice that lunch was right there so we didn’t have to go somewhere else, but I would opt out of eating there next time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were lucky to have this driver twice and he was so kind and knowledgeable. He took us to great stops along the way and made the drive fun. We really enjoyed the smoothie and such that he pulled over for us. He was a very safe driver.

Transport

I am happy I did this trip, but there was no cultural activities, no gastronomical activity, no great architecture, no museum at all, no connexion with the locals. It is checked off my list, but will never return. All is formatted for americains, so we loose the costaricain feel. Food is very average. The facilities are not up to date in terms of hotel offering. At at the end, it is not worth theEXCESSIVE amount of money it requires to be visited. There are planty of places around the world to visit beside Costa Rica and that would be equivalent or more offering for the price paid....

Hotel Reviews

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

very noisy. But clean, close to the airport. Close to americain standards.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditionning so noisy, dont expect to sleep!

Auténtico Hotel

San José

ok, not more, we stayed there only few hours. Basic offering.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aninga Lodge

Limón, Tortuguero

It is always interresting to sleep in the jungle, but when it is raining 24 hours per day, it would have been noce to be able to close the windows, to allow to dry and to sleep. There are no hooks to let our clothes dry or to hang our luggages.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham

Tamarindo

the best of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

a bit far from the downtown, but it was ok for us since we have a car.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villas del Caribe

Puerto Viejo

AC not too noisy. Clean, close to ocean. Staff nice, restaurants nearby. Miss some hooks to hang our clothes, jackets, etc. We have to put our stuff ont the floor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

This hotel requires serious renovation. Mold in the shower. Windows and doors broken. Again, we have to put our stuff on the floor since there are no place to habg or put it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cipreses

Monteverde

very disapointed with this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

lodge very cheap, not service no AC, no fridge no hooks, amenities are very minimal. Breakfast very fade.

Location

Staff

they try to accommodate, but the hotel does not offer much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

the roof is made of corrugated steel and since it rained, we were not able to sleep at all. We left as early as we could.

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

noce hoel near beach,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands was enjoyable, but it felt like the local customer service in Tamarindo was lacking. It seemed like the staff took tourists for granted, which affected the overall experience.

Yuliana was amazing-all our transportation went smoothly and the information she provided before was very helpful. I especially loved the cooking class and organic garden tour with information on medicinal plants. Our tour was just the 2 of us and we had much more hands on than other tours that came through at the same time and the food we made was amazing. We saw lots of wildlife especially at Cariblue on on the Cahuita Park hike. Our lodging in Monteverde was in town and allowed us to explore. Yuliana did a great job of prioritizing everything we hoped to do on this trip.

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

Very helpful staff and nice rooms. Good breakfast. Easy to get transportation from the hotel to explore.

Authenticity & Character

Location

had only 1 night here not a lot of time to explore around the hotel

Staff

Very friendly and helpful at recommending places to eat and transportation

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quiet room and nice bath/shower although the sliding door on the bathroom was noisy

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

Saw sloths in the trees. Expect the early morning Howler monkey wake up call but that made us feel closer to nature. Easy walk to the beach and good restaurants-especially Beach Break. Good breakfast. Nice to have filtered water dispensers all around for easy access. Pleasant bar staff.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like we were in the jungle

Location

Great wildlife on site and easy walk to beach

Staff

Very pleasant staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean comfortable spacious bathroom and room

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Rooms were beyond tired. Our first room lacked hot water and the shower and tub faucets didn't work. Very odd layout in both rooms. Second room had tepid water but the shower was above the jacuzzi tub which had a crack in the bottom and was hard to stand in but since there is no partition next to the tub the tile floor got wet and was perilous. The second room was nest to a busy highway and there were people near the highway cheering late at night. There was no WIFI in that portion of the property so we had to walk back to the office to access. The thermal pools were cool but that was probably due to the persistent rain. Nice walking trails although challenging in the mud. Found monkeys in the trees and lots of birds-saw Toucan at the pool, turkeys in the trees, hummingbirds

Authenticity & Character

The pool area was lovely and the staff delightful. The thermal pools were cool due to rain. Worth hiking to the Maleku Village & learning about indigenous culture

Location

Arenal came out from under the clouds one morning-nice view

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

See description of rooms above

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Loved the proximity to St Elena and walkability. Lots of steps up and down on property-could be a problem for some but not for us. Pleasant and helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Nice grounds and gardens

Location

Walkable to town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

spacious room and bathroom

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Good location and beautiful grounds. Room was small and AC unit made a ticking noise which was distracting. Cramped bathroom/shower

Authenticity & Character

A tour hotel but nice restaurant/breakfast

Location

able to walk in the area and explore parks, coffee shops

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Noisy AC unit and small bathroom but adequate. The shelves next to the desk helped organize since the bathroom was small and not much space for suitcases

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide and we learned a lot about medicinal plants. Unfortunately if was raining so not much wildlife but that can't be controlled-hike was shortened because of rain.

Quality of Experience

Weather dampened the experience-views were gone

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was personable and informative

Transport

organized and efficient

Cahuita National Park Snorkel & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

We were expecting the possibility of snorkeling per our itinerary but were told we were only registered for the hike-as it turns out the weather did not allow anyone to snorkel. The guide was amazing and we saw lots of white faced monkeys, Jesus Christe lizard, howler monkeys, learned about local plants and had a lovely time cooling off in the water on the beach

Quality of Experience

great guide and lots of wildlife

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide

Transport

organized and convenient

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Enthusiastic guide who was quick to find things for us to see with her spotting scope. Loved the waterfall

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views from the bridges

Guides, Drivers and Staff

great guide who was sensitive to members of group with anxiety about the bridges

Transport

accommodating

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Private garden tour was amazing with more information about native medicinal plants. The cookiong class was very hands on and we loved the food we made-can't wait to make gallo pinto at home! The chef did not speak much English but fortunately I speak a fair amount of Spanish so it worked out.

Quality of Experience

Loved the hands on

Food

The food we made was excellent although I need more practice on the tortillas

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great garden tour guide who was also our driver and we had enjoyable conversation to and from the farm

Transport

see above

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)

Monteverde

Our guide did not drink coffee so emphasized the chocolate and sugar cane more but informative. Enjoyed tasting all the coffee roasts in the visitor center. Loved seeing the coffee beans on the trees. Very interesting to see the steps in cocoa bean processing and chocolate

Quality of Experience

The tasting in the chocolate part and cane joice was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pleasant guide

Transport

organized

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Learned about bromelias and tree ferns. Heard more birds than we saw but did get to see a Quetzal and went to the hummingbird cafe at end and saw 4 species of hummingbirds. Saw enormous tree ferns and learned about the filming of Jurassic Park in Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guide was informative, beautiful area-lush

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative, pleasant

Transport

organized

We had an excellent experience working with kimkim. Holden and Wilman from Serendipity Adventures were great to work with. They helped create an incredible 6-day trip in Costa Rica.

From beginning to end, Holden and Wilman were responsive, answered all our questions in a timely fashion, offered super helpful suggestions before and during our trip. The trip they put together for us was perfect! Our lodgings (Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde, and La Mariposa Hotel in Manuel Antonio) were incredible. The rooms were excellent, comfortable, clean, and the views were amazing. The staff at both hotels were so nice, friendly, and accommodating. We would highly recommend both hotels. We are vegan, and Holden made sure both hotels offered vegan options, which was so helpful and really appreciated. During our trip, Wilman sent us vegan friendly restaurant recommendations, which was so thoughtful and really helped save time!

All of the tour guides were super knowledgeable, friendly, and provided an excellent sightseeing experience. All of our guides were on time and highly professional. They were also very caring and respectful to the animals and to the forests. We learned a great deal from them, and we saw so many incredible animals.
--Andrés from Monteverde Outdoor Center provided an amazing tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where we saw many animals including Quetzal.
--Ed from Don Juan Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience Tours was super friendly, and we learned a lot about the coffee making process.
--Jorge and Gerardo from Finca Madre Tierra, along with all of the other people who worked there, were warm and welcoming; so were all the farm animals! You could tell they cared deeply for their animals. We had a great horseback riding experience.
--Guillermo from Children's Eternal Rainforest Night Walk gave us an awesome night tour where we saw many interesting insects, spiders, and leaf cutter ants, to name a few.
--We also traveled to Manuel Antonio National Park, where our guide Eidersen from Endemic Bird tours, brought so much enthusiasm and care; we saw sloths, coati, howler monkeys, to name a few. It was an excellent tour!

Thank you, Holden and Wilman, for organizing this amazing trip! It was everything we hoped for. We definitely want to make a return visit!

We decided to go to Costa Rica for a week's vacation, and struggled with all of the options: Where to stay? What to do? How do we navigate international travel? Then we found Kimkim. We worked with Holden, a Costa Rican resident. He asked us many questions, and was so patient with ours! He helped us plan the trip of a lifetime (working with our budget) and took care of all of the reservations--car, hotels, and excursions--with knowledge of all the nuances. As we got closer to our departure date, we were connected with Wilman, who helped us while we were in-country with responsive (sometimes immediate) communication. Wilman added an excursion for us, gave us dining recommendations and navigated a hotel issue. We literally worried about nothing. I cannot recommend Kimkim, Holden, Wilman and their team enough. Whether you are a first time traveler or experienced and looking for other ideas, Kimkim is an incredible resource!

Hotel Reviews

Nayara Springs - Adults Only

Fortuna

Where does one even start when reviewing this gem? Their reputation is well earned as one of the leading resorts/hotels in the world. First, the staff. Every person we met had one goal--to make our stay unforgettable. The Welcome Center staff, assistants, golf cart drivers, staff at the bars and restaurants, and housekeeping were all positive and approachable. Next, the grounds. Nayara is nestled in the heart of the rainforest, with lush vegetation and wildlife. It is beautifully kept, with stone paths, bridges and muted lighting that is breathtaking. Finally, the accommodations. We stayed in both a villa and a tent, and each space was beyond all expectation. Each had defined areas: A luxurious bath, with indoor and outdoor dual showers. A well appointed sleeping/living area with canopy netting over the bed. Each villa/tent had its own private hot springs plunge pool with jets for extra relaxation. The complimentary well-appointed mini-bar. In addition to all of this, there are numerous restaurants, hot springs, infinity pools with swim up bars, spas, exercise options, and gift shops. Our stay was a dream and we are so happy we made the investment to stay there. We were sad to leave, and will be back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was so positive and made us feel like we were valued.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daily housekeeping and turndown service in the evening. A shout out to Erika for her towel origami.

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

A boutique hotel that redeemed itself after our first impression. As we exited the car the first time to check in, there was a stench of garbage(sewage), and the pool/spa was in need of cleaning. We were concerned. The next morning (and for the rest of our stay), no smell, and the pool/spa area was cleaned daily. Because of reviews we had read, we requested a room on the second level for more privacy. We arrived right around sunset, and were given the last room on the grounds--main floor, on the main walkway with no privacy unless the blinds were drawn. We decided that we would talk to someone about it in the morning. The broken toilet seat was fixed immediately. Dinner in the ocean front restaurant was very good, with the menu having a varied selection of entrees. The next morning, Maite', the general manager, greeted us personally and moved us to a second floor room, as we had requested. She was fantastic, and checked in throughout our stay to make sure everything was OK. The wait staff in the restaurant were very personable, willing to chat and laugh with us. There is service from the restaurant on the beach, which was very nice. We used paddleboards and a jet ski that were available for rent at the front desk, and our Kuna Vela sailing excursion (highly recommend) picked us up on the beach in front of the hotel. Not a touristy area, which was a positive for us. Family friendly, nice beachfront for swimming and playing. Grounds were quiet at night. Parking was lit and secure. Many dining options in the vicinity.

Authenticity & Character

A boutique hotel with buildings surrounding the pool area. Lots of vegetation and birds. Make your preferences known when reserving your room.

Location

Not a heavy tourist location. Located on the beach. Located about 30 minutes from the airport in Liberia. We rented a car and drove ourselves. The road was well maintained. No worries driving.

Staff

Maite' was amazing. Carlos and Alexis, waiters in the restaurant, were fun to interact with. Everyone was helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean. It would be nice to have a towel station right on the beach. If the website says 2 double beds in the room, our experience was that they were queen beds (like in the US).

Activity Reviews

Organic Coffee Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

We were so lucky to be the only 2 people with Grady, our guide. He was knowledgeable about everything on the farm, and made it a very personal experience. So much more than a coffee farm. There was cacao, fruits, flowers and many medicinal plants as well. Grady told us about them all. We crushed sugar cane, and sampled the juice (and fermented juice as well--yum). The brewed coffee and treats were the perfect way to end the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grady was a wonderful guide. On the way to the farm, the driver stopped so we could look at the volcano, which had cleared for a few moments. We were so grateful, as it was the only time we saw the top of the volcano during our stay.

Transport

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline + Tractor

Arenal/La Fortuna

A very beautiful and well managed experience. As someone who had never ziplined before, the staff were so professional and helpful that I didn't worry for a moment.

Quality of Experience

Very safe, well maintained and managed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were excellent. Very professional, empathic, and patient.

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

A wonderful place to view the nature of Costa Rica. As advertised.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was super friendly and engaging. He shared his knowledge with us and took photos of us on the bridges and by the volcano.

Transport

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

A personalized ocean experience. Small group, drinks, and snacks. They were open to the group's wants (whale watching vs. snorkeling). We were able to go ashore on a beach to explore caves during our sail as well.

Quality of Experience

Very positive. Such a great feeling to be on the ocean in a sailboat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skipper and first mate were personable, attentive and knowledgeable.

Transport

Very nice 47 ft. sailboat. Full galley and head (bathroom) on board.

Tree top walk was extremely difficult for someone our age especially with the heavy rain and wind at the time.

The Coffee/Chocolate Tour was excellent. A mix up in the schedule made our check out at the hotel trying.

The Safari River Tour was also great.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Excellent hotel with great staff, food and lovely rooms.

Authenticity & Character

The staff was fantatic!

Location

Close to town

Staff

Awesome!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms very clean.

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Nice room with a great view. Because of multiple unit levels getting around was time consuming as you had to wait for van transport. Dining room good and food tasty. Staff very polite.

Authenticity & Character

Nice modern design.

Location

Close to some shops.

Staff

Very polite.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room nice but decorated very plainly.

Activity Reviews

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Raining too heavily and difficult walk for someone my age.(75)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very polite!

Transport

Good drivers and very safe

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Great guide.. extremely interesting tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very enjoyable with much to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was an absolute dream come true, all thanks to the outstanding planning and support provided by Serendipity Adventures through the KimKim platform. From start to finish, their team ensured that every detail was perfectly tailored to our needs, and their expertise made our experience nothing short of extraordinary.

A special shoutout goes to Bryan, Nancy, and Wilman from Serendipity Adventures. Bryan and Nancy did an incredible job organizing an itinerary that captured the very best of Costa Rica—combining breathtaking natural beauty, thrilling activities, and cultural immersion. Every recommendation and arrangement felt thoughtful and personal, making us feel like valued guests rather than just tourists.

Wilman, our go-to guy during the trip, went above and beyond to make our journey smooth, fun, and memorable. His dedication to ensuring we had the best time was unparalleled.
Serendipity’s meticulous planning ensured we could relax and immerse ourselves in Costa Rica's magic without a single worry.

We’re deeply grateful to Serendipity Adventures and KimKim for creating an unforgettable journey. If you’re looking for an adventure that’s perfectly curated, filled with personalized touches, and guided by the most wonderful people, we wholeheartedly recommend them!

Pura Vida! 🌴✨

We had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica, and Gustavo was knowledgeable and patient as we worked out an itinerary to work with teens, parents and grandma. Kimkim was quick to respond when we had in country questions about booked activities and any issue was resolved quickly.

We enjoyed the guided nature tours we took in all locations, having a guide really ensured you got to see the animals, birds and insects.

We spent on afternoon ziplining and walking on hanging bridges. If people in your party are doing the ziplining I would recommend that you not also book the gondola ride too, as you take it up to get to the start of the pipeline, had we known this we would not have booked separately the gondola ride.

We choose pretty basic accommodations which met our needs. We had one issue with stinging insects in Monte Verde getting into the cabin and had to prompt the staff twice to deal with the matter. We also had a issue with a rodent in our hotel in Manuel Antonio, built of shipping containers, and the hotel did move us to another room. The location however was excellent, right at the entrance to the National Park!

All our drivers between locations were excellent!

We had a memorable trip and would love to visit Costa Rica again. We have recommended KimKim to several friends and colleagues who are considering upcoming trip in different locations around the world. We will certainly be using KimKim services in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Great Breakfast buffet and lovely cabins, we had ones at the back of the hotel, perfect for us as they were looking out into the jungle where we saw howler monkeys and other wildlife. The free hot spring pools on the grounds were nice to relax in. The hotel also has options for activities on site and they were able to accommodate our last minute request to zipline and horse ride. The horse riding ended up being a private session and we were taken to a river and waterfalls with a very knowledge guide.

Authenticity & Character

Cabins were clean and quiet

Location

Has own activites and hot springs

Staff

Very accommodating, especially when we booked last minute activites late one evening for the next morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport

San Jose

Staff were friendly and helpful. We arrived into the country late due to a delayed flight and they got us into our rooms quickly. Breakfast the next morning was a good choice for a buffet. The staff observed that I was interested in some of the fresh fruit that had not been cut up (mangos etc) so I did not select the items. However, the staff came to our table with a plate of cut up prepared mango for us along with other fruits we had never tasted.

Authenticity & Character

Nothing, it is perfect for a hotel close to an airport

Location

Super close to the airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Pinos - Cabañas & Jardines

Monteverde Costa Rica

The cabins are cute and located in the forest. We had some issues communicating with the staff over stinging insects entering the cabin from the roof. It was eventually sorted. They have greenhouses on site which apparently you can purchase salad items from. However, after hiking up to the greenhouses we could find no one to help us and it did not look like you could help yourself in anyway, certainly not any direction for guests. The hotel is in a good location and you can walk the 15 minutes to town. There is a steep hill on the walk.

Authenticity & Character

Plenty of character, nice cabins in a lovely location. They are self catering.

Location

Staff

Friendliness and prompt attention to issues raised by guests

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Faro Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The hotel is up a very steep hill! The views out over the ocean are amazing. The location is great, on the edge of the National Park and 5 minutes to the beach and 1-2 minutes walk to several restaurants. Rooms are small and basic, and the Beds were not comfortable, and the AC unit drips water on your head at night. You have to watch for the monkeys that will try and get in your room, have no food unattended outside.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of character being built from shipping containers.

Location

One of the best locations for view and proximity to things

Staff

Were polite. There are no phones in rooms so you have to use an app to contact them if you have any issues

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds are not comfortable, and we had a rodent in one of our rooms that was eating the creamer packets behind the mini fridge in the night. We had thought it was a lizard but discovered after a few days it was a rodent...

Hotel Presidente

San José

Great location for exploring the city. Comfortable rooms and good breakfast. They have a restaurant on the roof too which has a nice view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private: Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

We had a private tour and the guide was engaging for all of us. He explained the chocolate making process and we got to sample some of the best hot chocolate I have ever had. The night hike to see the wildlife was fun even in the rain! We got to see the release of a baby snake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Manuel Antonio Beaches

Manuel Antonio

The beaches in the park are beautiful, plenty of iguanas and monkeys.

Quality of Experience

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

The hanging bridges and trails make you feel you are in the canopy of the jungle. The guide was knowledgeable and pointed out things of interest. The zip lining staff were fun and engaged my teen with his little Spanish and taught him a few new phrases. I was nervous of hights and the staff put me at ease with the very easy to use system.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown San José

San José

We enjoyed our day in San Jose and visited the national museum, which has a butterfly room and national history including indigenous history. We also visited the market, it is pretty crowded with narrow walk ways between stalls which can be overwhelming. I would not spend any more than 2 days max in the city, unless you want to see all the museums

Quality of Experience

This was our second trip to Costa Rica with KimKim, and it didn’t disappoint! The first time, a few years ago, was just me and my husband. When we decided to take a family trip last year, Costa Rica was the obvious choice, and everyone was on board.

We traveled over Christmas with our four adult kids, my mom, and her friend, ranging in age from 21 to 75. Our travel agent, Holden at KimKim, and Wilman at Serendipity were amazing! They planned and booked everything perfectly, and even helped us with a few changes while we were there.

Amazing Hotels
The hotels were incredible. Hotel Bosque del Mar was right on the beach, but it felt like we were in the jungle. We watched monkeys swinging from the trees right outside our balcony. The rooms were beautiful—like treehouses in the jungle.

Our second hotel, Hacienda Guachipelin, was more remote and surrounded by nature, right next to Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It had an adventure center on-site, which made it easy to book activities like ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, and river tubing.

Unforgettable Activities
We had a blast on every excursion! Some highlights:

Wetlands Boat Ride and Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo: We saw so many crocodiles on the boat ride, and the ranch was gorgeous. Lunch there was the perfect break before rum tasting.
Fishing Charter with Patron Ocean Experience: This was everyone’s favorite. The girls won the fishing contest with a 55–60 pound roosterfish! We also caught enough Spanish mackerel for lunch, and a beachside restaurant cooked it for us. We had so much fun we did it again on Christmas Day!
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving: We split up for this one, and everything went smoothly.
The Perfect Family Christmas
This was the perfect first family Christmas trip. We loved the mix of activities and downtime to just enjoy nature and each other.

We can’t wait to go back to Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

This hotel exceed our expectations. Great location right on the beach, but the hotel was in the jungle and the rooms felt like treehouses.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff was always friendly and helpful. The food was delicious.

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

Loved this hotel for a variety of reasons. It was remote and in the jungle away from everything. Since we brought adult kids with us it gave us lots of down time to connect. They got to enjoy the happy hour at the bar every evening and we enjoyed all the activities we did as a group through their adventure center, including zip lining, hiking, tubing in class III and IV rapids, and horseback riding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little more remote than we expected, but then again that brought a lot of additional benefits.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half Day - Fishing Charter

Costa Rica

Our favorite activity of the trip. So much fun we booked it again later in the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First time using a service to plan our family trip and serendipity travel in Costa Rica did not disappoint! I found them through KIMKIM and the team was awesome. They helped meet all our needs and helped make adjustments along the way as our needs changed. Highly recommend.

We have just returned home from our 2 week trip to Costa Rica and we can't say enough positive things about our experiences as well as the expert planning and support from KimKim and Serendipity Adventures. KimKim and local specialists Serendipity Adventures helped plan, organize, and manage our trip every step of the way- Holden, Nancy, Wilman and Mariano among others, worked diligently to make sure everything ran smoothly to ensure we had the trip of a lifetime.

Holden's expertise and knowledge of his beautiful country was invaluable to us for maximizing everyday of our adventure. He planned out a trip for us that was a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, customized an itinerary specially designed for our family of 4 (2 teenage kids) and used our input to curate an experience that we would all enjoy. Everything from the accommodations Holden chose (ecolodge, beach stay, rain forest bungalow and a treehouse) were perfect as well as all the adventure activities planned out for us (kayaking, hiking, hanging bridges, zip lining, chocolate making, waterfall swim etc). Every transfer from one location to the next was taken care of which meant zero headaches and stress from when we arrived in San José to when we left. A bit of unpredicted rainy weather meant a few of our activities were cancelled but Holden and Wilman were on it instantly to alter our day with new plans to ensure we didn't have any wasted time.

Trip Highlights: Tortuguero / Mawamba Lodge. This was our families favourite stop of the trip. So much wildlife to see and our experience kayaking though the rainforest canals (tons of monkeys and caimans) was a trip highlight. Mawamba Lodge was top notch in terms of service and amenities and the whole family really enjoyed rustic bungalow living. We all agreed this is a spot we would love to return to on a future visit to Costa Rica.

Best Food: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. The bustling little surf town of Puerto Viejo has great food with a ton of Jamaican influence which made every meal super flavourful with just the right amount of spice. Loved the rice and beans down south!

A must do: chocolate making and waterfall swim outside Bribri with Tirza (of Life Culture & Travel). Our visit with an indigenous family to learn about how they grow and process cacao was super interesting followed by a dip in a beautiful waterfall.....great day that we all enjoyed.

Most unique stay: Treehouse @ Maquenque Ecolodge. It takes a lot to impress teenagers and this was it. Like something out of a dream, our treehouse stay will be talked about for years to come. We never thought we'd be sleeping up in the trees amongst the monkeys (very vocal howlers), our treehouse was incredible and even offered a 2 person jacuzzi....we never wanted to leave!

Best wildlife encounter: a sloth wandering though our resort at Puerto Viejo gave us an up close and personal greeting- beautiful (and very slow moving) creatures.

Best relaxation: The hot springs at Arenal Spring Resort and Spa in Arenal/La Fortuna. This portion of our trip ended up falling at the end of our 2 weeks (we were ready for some slower days) and the hot springs was just what we needed. We also got hit by a few days of heavy rain so again, the hot springs were exactly where we wanted to be. The swim up drinks/ sushi bar was well utilized during our last few days!

If we were to do it all again I don't think there would be anything we would change. We certainly wouldn't hesitate to call of KimKim and Serendipity Adventures to plan a future trip for us and we have been telling everyone back home of our incredibly positive experience. Thank-you so much to everyone involved for making this 2 week Costa Rica trip an experience of a lifetime for our family- it was one we won't forget!

Hotel Reviews

Maquenque Ecolodge

Boca Tapada

The deluxe treehouse suite featuring a 2 person jacuzzi was unbelievable. Super well maintained and solidly build, we never wanted to leave this beautiful treehouse. More than enough space for a family of 4 (2 teenage kids). Don't expect super great sleeps however as the rain and howler monkeys on the metal roofs comes though in stereo at night (which we really didn't mind).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mawamba Lodge

Tortuguero

Loved our stay at Mawamba Lodge. This was our families favourite stop of the entire trip. So much wildlife to see and our experience kayaking though the rainforest canals (tons of monkeys and caimans) was a trip highlight. Mawamba Lodge was top notch in terms of service and amenities and the whole family really enjoyed rustic bungalow living. The staff were excellent and accommodating with anything we needed during our stay. We all agreed this is a spot we would love to return to on a future visit to Costa Rica.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful pool and lounge area that was comfortable for afternoon relaxing. Not loud or crowded so a really peaceful spot to spend a lazy afternoon post adventures.

Location

Loved that it was boat in only and set in the middle of the rainforest. Made for a once in a lifetime experience.

Staff

Staff (especially dining staff) were excellent and super attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great little rustic bungalow that was well maintained.

Activity Reviews

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

A top experience during our 2 weeks in Costa Rica. We especially loved our guided kayak though these canals where we saw more animals and birds than we could have ever imagined (so many caimans!).

Quality of Experience

super knowledgeable guides

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cahuita National Park: Snorkeling & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Super fun day of snorkelling (even though the visibility was poor) and guided walk though Cahuita National Park. Our guide was great and we got to experience and interact with a ton of monkeys, racoons, and birds. Even saw an eyelash viper

Rainforest Hiking in Boca Tapada

Boca Tapada

So many Toucans!

We’ve traveled to many locations around the world and had many different travel groups set things up. No one even compares to the Kim Kim team and the Serendipity group from Costa Rica. Everything was perfect. Did everything we requested plus added many things that were a real bonus. Accommodations were all well above what we were expecting. I couldn’t give a higher rating to this group 10 for 10. Thanks again Kim Kim for your constant correspondence and professionalism.

Hotel Reviews

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Incredible hotel room overlooking the ocean 180° view all glass windows, beautiful pool credible restaurant. Truly a five star setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mountain Paradise

Fortuna

Had our own separate conceited with two full bedrooms and our own pool. Also a beautiful view of the volcano. Excellent hotel five star.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Private location just outside of town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Incredible room, large two full bedrooms separate unit close to the pool spa. Very secluded beautiful five star.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff here couldn’t have been more helpful. And their system to communicate by WhatsApp was very easy to use. Marco, the manager was very helpful as well as Raquel

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal ATV Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great terrain from large mud holes through the rivers and also seen sloths and monkeys. Great guides. Very modern machines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very calm and peaceful float. Saw a crocodile bats monkeys. The guide was very informative and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Very knowledgeable guide with a great personality. Did a wonderful job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

We are senior citizens and enjoyed this tremendously. It was supposed to be a 2/3 class ended up a class 3/4 but Carlos was incredible and was very helpful.. Carlos was the best river guide we’ve ever had around the world

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)

Monteverde

Learned a lot about coffee and chocolate. Very enjoyable tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Manuel Antonio

Wow, what a great experience to go out off the coast and such a beautiful boat. Crew was super helpful and enjoyable, friendly.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was perfectly calibrated for our family of four. Every guide we had in Monteverde, fortuna, and Tamarindo was excellent. Kimkim beautifully facilitated a minor adjustment we needed. We’ll be back!

This was my first experience with kimkim and overall everything was great!To start, the communication with Yuliana was smooth, complete and efficient.
Both properties were excellent: Naturalista Reserva was very comfortable, the food excellent, and the staff extremely accomodating and friendly.
Taylor at Naturalista, although quite young, was an excellent guide. I think in one day I was able to photograph over 40 bird species!
Sagreve, in San Gerardo de Dota, was truly high end, being luxurious without being pretentious.
My guide Melvin, quite experienced, was responsible for me seeing and photographing Quetzales for the first time!
In additon, his range of knowlege was over the top!
I can't forget the drivers: all 4 were quite friendly, courteous, and above all, on time.
All in all my experience in fantastic!