Kimkim Trip Reviews for Guatemala

From the beginning, Eduardo was so responsive and helpful. He really listened to our ideas for travel and crafted an amazing trip. We packed in so much to our two weeks and all his recommendations were so good. Chocolate making, volcano horse back riding, mountain bike trip, village visiting, textile lesson, ruins, snorkeling…. We did it all! We felt very cared for and safe in their hands. Sebastian was a great bike guide. And Pablo, our main tour guide was above and beyond great. His knowledge and love of local history and culture added so much to our experience. It really helped us to understand and appreciate what we were seeing. We feel lucky to have worked with him on this trip

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Chocolate Museum Tour

Guatemala

So fun to learn about the chocolate making process and get to make our own flavors!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Such a cool trip. Kids went on horseback and we walked. Wild to be on top of a lava field (though kids were hoping to see lava) roasted marshmallows from volcanic steam on top, delicious lunch and knowledgable guides. There are kids there to rent walking sticks- bring some money for them, they we’re useful on the walk.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Double Down Mountain Bike Tour

Antigua

My husband loves this trip- he said it was such a unique way to see the country. You are right up next to the farms of the locals and using the same trails they work on, so you need to be respectful of being a traveler in their place of living and working.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef

Caye Caulker

Guides were great and knowledgable. So more than we could have hoped for- manatee, sharks, rays, turtles and fish. Great food. And respectful program- they didn’t feed the sharks to bring them in but we still saw a bunch. And they were conscientious of sunscreen on the reef and reminded people of how to protect it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hello...Let me start off by saying that we had the best time. I was very apprehensive about going to Guatemala and had a bad experience with the transfer I had booked. And so i decided to look for a service that will give me end to end experience and I found Catherina. She was amazing in understanding my requirements as we were a family with 2 young kids. she understood the requirements and also our dietary needs and planned an itinerary that will work perfectly. We went back n forth on the requirements and once the itinerary was nailed down I booked it. When we landed in hotel, the next day our Guide JJ arrived and picked us at the hotel for the wonderful flower festival. I must say that our trip would not be half as successful if we didnt have JJ as our guide. He was very prompt, always on time, helped interact with kids, made sure we enjoyed the activity we were doing, always gave recommendations that were perfect. Also all our transport were private...be the chicken bus, the boat or the car...all to our ourself :) which made the whole expereince very private and personal. Thank you to Columbus Travel, Catherina and JJ for your awesome service ! Bravo !!!!!

Activity Reviews

Pacaya Volcano Hike & Picnic

Guatemala

The hike to Pacaya is a must. The hike is steep , but we all could do the hike. The lunch provided was so yum and added to the whole experience.

Walk Antigua Like a Local

Antigua

We had the lovely flower festival on this day and so it added to the whole experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tremendous trip, great planning from Chris. Also, included some last minute itinerary changes that Chris kept us well appraised of and was extremely helpful in planning.

Antigua for 48+ hours (Casa Encantada) and Lake Atitlan (La Casa del Mundo) for 3.5 days were beautiful places to stay, staff was always helpful.

Our local guide, Josias, was incredible.

Would highly recommend travel plans with kimkim

Hotel Reviews

Casa Encantada

Antiigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This review is long overdue but this was, by far, the best experience I've had of any tour I've had or been on in my life.

Communication:
From the get-go, Eduardo was extremely responsive to any/all of our questions. His responses were immediate and thorough.

Patience:
We were a difficult group to coordinate since there were 6 of us - all with varied levels of comfort and ideas of fun. Eduardo, took all of this in stride - regardless of last-minute changes or peppering him with questions - he was so incredibly patient with us! He should win an award for this - truly.

Helpfulness / Consideration:
Outside of just being extremely responsive and patient, he always took our questions and feedback into consideration to come up with a few varied options.

Tours/Guides:
I loved all of the guides Eduardo paired us up with - our absolute favorite guide was Pablo - who showed us around Lake Atitlan. Not only was he knowledgeable but he was also adaptive and he has quiet confidence throughout the tour. Everyone seems to know him also! We felt like we were walking around with a celebrity! He allowed us the time to review different spaces and took us to places we likely never would have seen or encountered without him. We only got to meet with Alex briefly (<1 hour) but he has great energy which is infectious! He's great as well

Driver: Antonio is THE BEST. He is so kind, so patient, and so helpful. Even though he didn't know how to speak a lot of English we were able to communicate with him a bit and he was so warm and thoughtful. In once instance, we were trying to get into the house but had issues getting into the gated community - Antonio spent a good 20 minutes working with us to get in touch with our friend who owned the home. Even if he was frustrated (I would be!) he never showed it and was so patient.

I know there must be SO many things Eduardo must have done behind the scenes that our group didn't even see to make our stay great. He even came by the house to sync with us on plans - he got us COVID testers to come to the home.

Again, I couldn't recommend this service or the team we met in Guatemala more. It was THE BEST tour experience I've ever had!

I am very grateful to Eduardo and his team for helping me plan my solo birthday trip to Guatemala and for sharing the food, customs and culture of this magical and historical place and also for encouraging me in my Spanish Language acquisition journey! It was wonderful, safe and I felt very supported. Thank you very much ☺️ I enjoyed my trip mostly because i fell in love with the people from Guatemala - friendly, gregarious, happy, creative, humorous, thoughtful souls with the most amazing history. If I am ever to return to Guatemala, el corazón del mundo Maya, I’ll pack an extra stomach for the food, an extra suitcase for the art and an extra heart chamber for the love…

We had exactly the vacation we wanted - a great mix of new experiences and natural beauty. We were always just far enough outside our comfort zone to keep us fully present and engaged. Chris did a fantastic job of understanding what we were after. Starting with a stay at the Camino Real was perfect: international luxury, poolside dining and opulence. Then, a hotel that doubles as a working horseracing track and some time in Chiquimula, a town that feels like one huge, endlessly bustling market. Next, a boutique garden hotel in the heart of Antigua, so we could soak up the architecture and history of the old capital. Finally, a couple of days in a cliffside hotel dangling over Lake Atitlan, maybe the most beautiful location in Central America. Our drivers and guides were warm, helpful and fun, and great with our kids. We are so, so happy that we booked this trip through KimKim.

We scheduled a one week trip to Belize and Guatemala on a whim, and I’m so glad we did!! Eduardo Celada was our specialist and made everything perfect and seamless. We had a lot of moving parts, and he had everything arranged perfectly. He put together a flawless itinerary and scheduled excellent drivers and guides to help us along the way. Our accommodations were exactly what we expected. Thank you to our drivers Cameron, Floyd, Fernando, and Ivan. Our guides were incredibly informative and helpful too. Thank you Olivero and Viny. If you want a fun-filled trip, let Eduardo at Adventure Guatemala arrange it for you!!

Hotel Review

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

We loved being in the jungle! Our room was perfect, and the food was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef

Caye Caulker

We enjoyed our snorkeling trip! We swam with sharks and sea turtles!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cave tubing tour

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

San Ignacio

Wow! This place is pure magic! We made it to a sunset on top of a pyramid, and what a view. We saw animals and birds and appreciated being amongst some of the greatest Mayan ruins.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Olivero is very proud of his culture, and it showed. He knew so much about the Mayan culture!

Transport

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

This experience showed us Guatemalan culture at its finest. Our boat trip to three different villages was a highlight of our trip! We saw festivals, a parade, and beautiful locales. Viny and Ivan were a great driver and guide team. We appreciated their knowledge and sensitivity to our safety. They always made sure that our safety came first.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Viny and Ivan were amazing! We would recommend them for everyone!!

Transport

Ivan was careful and considerate of our safety.

Our entire trip that was planned through Old Town was incredible. Chris was helpful with the logistics and ensuring our trip was easy to navigate. Our driver, Ivan, and our guide, Jossua, were both incredible and engaging. We already miss them !We loved the hot springs we spent the night at, and the lagoon hike outside of Zunil. Thank you to entire team who made our trip memorable and easy.

Recently traveled to Guatemala with 10 other family members ranging in age from 8y.o to 67y.o. Having a great team of people that responded quickly to all communication and 2 tour guides by our side for all our adventures was hugely positive! We completed a custom 10 day tour and made great memories! Crista and David were very knowledgeable and personable- we totally recommend them.

Extremely grateful and happy with how our family trip to Guatemala turned out! Our guides Christa and David went above and beyond to make sure we'd have a great time and enjoy each place we visited. They became part of our family for the week. Every one of our 10-days was special. One of the most memorable activities was the cooking class at CusCun at the lovely rooftop with the amazing view and having everyone pitch in to make a delicious traditional dinner. ¡Gracias a nuestro especialista Eduardo y Old Town Outfitters por siempre estar disponible para contestar nuestras dudas y preguntas! Super recomendado.

I had been to Antigua 23 years ago as a backpacker and I couldn't wait to take my family there, but in a more structured way. Edouardo streamlined the whole process and I felt safe and taking care of. As early as the first email (which came in very quickly), he had taken the time to organize a trip with a variety of activities (from challenging to informative) based on our likes and dislikes. We had to tweak it a bit and within 2 weeks, we had a plan and we were booked. Our driver Vinni was full of energy and radiated positivity. His English was surprisingly good and we got a ton of information about the area. Our Guide Pepian (which is a nickname based on the most delicious food ever!) was very kind and patient with us and our kids. He checked on us multiple times during the activities and was participating like it was his first time. His enthusiasm and love for his country were contagious and we had the best time. They also were very good at accomodating our diet restrictions (GF, DF). After a couple of days, we all agreed that to hike Acetenango was maybe too challenging for our daughter, so at that point, Eduardo, with the help of Pepian, pivoted quickly, booked us a hotel (we were originally supposed to camp on the volcano) and found other activities for us to do instead. We don't feel like we wasted time at all. It was amazing and I don't regret using kimkim and we feel like we now have friends in Guatemala.
If you go to Guatemala and you can only do ONE activity, do the coffee farm from De La Gente. But honestly, I would rate all activities above a 9/10 (hike, bike, kayak, tours). We will be back for sure!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Antigua

Antigua

It was nice and clean. The breakfast was great! The internet wasn't very good however. The beds were super hard, but I think that is just how mattress are in Guatemala.

Tips for future travelers

Choose a room towards the front to get the best WIFI.

Authenticity & Character

Loved how pretty it is in the courtyard

Location

Close to everything and fairly quiet

Staff

Their English was very good

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds had sand on and were very hard and WIFI was very spotty

San Buenaventura Hotel

Panajachel, Sololá

It was damp and there was no sheet on the couch/beds for our kids. However, they were quick at bringing some. There was a lot of cobwebs and spiders in the beds. It's kind of expected given its Guatemala but still... Water came through the door upstairs during the rain. I am glad we were there for only one night. Also, make sure you shower at night because there is no hot water in the morning.

Tips for future travelers

People with pretty much low expectation

Authenticity & Character

it seemed old and dingy

Location

We had to have our driver to take us to a restaurant

Staff

very responsive but their English was limited

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean cobwebs and seal doors, also insure beds are made

Hotel Casa del Parque

Antigua

This hotel is right in the middle of a couple bars and it is very loud until 1230. We didn't sleep much even with earplugs. The WIFI was good. The layout is weird as the shower opens directly in the room so there is little privacy. It does have a pool but its cold. We enjoyed the sauna though. The fountain is missing so it makes it look run down. We enjoyed the breakfast and the staff was kind and helpful. Our room had amazing views of the volcanoes.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you don't require a lot of sleep or a lot of quiet time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

too many bars/parties close by

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds were hard and no privacy to change

Activity Reviews

Antigua Walking Tour

Guatemala

Marybel was knowledgeable and very kind.

Zipline Tour at Santo Domingo del Cerro

Antigua

Very cool views and the guides were nice. They could have loosen up, but we liked it anyway.

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

The marshmallow and the pizza toped it off nicely. Because its rainy season, we didn't have the best views, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Coffee Tour by Bus with De La Gente

Guatemala

By far, the best experience of our trip. Eating with them in his house and getting to grind our own cup the artisanal way is something we will remember forever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Chocolate Museum Tour

Guatemala

Spa day at Santa Teresita

Guatemala

Mountain Biking at Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Day Trip to Earth Lodge & Nature Hike

Guatemala

Aguacate tour in Finca Paseo de las Nubes

Guatemala

I cannot sing Eduardo's praises highly enough! He was so responsive, right from the initial email conversation. He listened to my values and budgetary concerns in planning the perfect itinerary and the selection of hotels. He was so patient and responsive with all my questions-- most particularly during the trip. I was traveling alone and without cell coverage-- he was my only safety net. We would communicate through WhatsApp when I had WiFi at a hotel. I felt like I was always on his radar screen. I had so enjoyed our conversations in planning the trip, that when I got to Antigua, I asked if I could meet him. We ended up having dinner together, and now I have a new friend! The drivers he arranged for me, Danilo and Fernando were kind and delightful. And I especially enjoyed my guide Luis Galindo, with whom I spent 4 days-- biking, hiking, kayaking. For me the richness of a travel experience, particularly when it comes to guides, is the relationship, my experience with the guide-- not the facts. I can get facts from a book, and likely won't remember them anyway. But the willingness to talk and be connected-- to laugh, to hear about one another's life is everything. And that's what I will remember. I believe I have made a new friend in Luis as well. Most impressive to me about Eduardo-- my last night was a late night stay at an airport hotel, having just flown into Guatemala City from Flores/Tikal, and leaving for home early the next morning. The hotel isn't 5 minutes from the airport, and they have a shuttle. Still, he insisted on driving all the way from Antigua, late at night, taking time away from his family to pick me up at the airport and taking those five minutes to drive me to the hotel. "I just like to make sure my clients are OK and had a good time." I have never planned a trip so quickly, almost impulsively. I had never heard of KimKim-- didn't understand how it worked exactly, but it popped up on my initial google search about Guatemala. Eduardo went full-steam ahead with the planning, and I sent my money. I would catch myself thinking-- "You don'y know ANYTHING about this operation! If it's even legit or is it a scam?" But I trusted Eduardo. I would absolutely use KimKim again as well. For anyone planning a trip to Guatemala, you cannot go wrong with Eduardo. I still can't quite believe how dense and rich a weeklong trip could be.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa del Parque

Antigua

This hotel is modest, sweet, small, and charming, with an enchanting garden-- and it could not have a better location, just 50 yards away from the Central Park/Plaza Mayor. I am a daily swimmer, and though while small, I appreciated the pool for an afternoon dip. It is a bit tattered around the edges, but in a way, that only adds to its authenticity and charm. It is not a sleek, spa-like experience. On the downside, it is next door to a bar, that on Saturday night was a little loud-- but not terrible. The other odd thing was that none of the windows in my room opened. As it could be quite humid in Antigua, the room felt a little stuffy. But with the ceiling fan on, and leaving my door open for a bit-- it was fine. It was perfect for me.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

Stay there!!! I cried when I climbed the stairs and was led to my room and saw that view for the first time. The food was delicious. The service, very solicitous. This is an enchanted spot I will never forget. It is a significant climb of irregular stairs to reach the hotel from the lake's edge, and then more steps to get to one's room. So older, movement impaired or disabled folks may find it too challenging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

It is a luscious and thrilling spot. Beautifully appointed. Delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Barcelo

Guatemala City

Perfectly adequate for what it is-- a businessy, airport hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Valley Ride - Bicycle Tour of Antigua's Villages, Farms, and Ruins

Antigua

It was a push for me physically. (But I'm a fit 67-year-old.) Those big balloon tires are a good choice for riding over all those cobblestones! Still a bumpy ride in places. A couple challenging hills. But so lovely to see villages and squares there I would never likely visit. Made me want to linger in each one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

The hike was not nearly as challenging as I had imagined. A lovely day getting acquainted with Luis and admiring constantly shifting vistas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Such dramatically different atmospheres in villages not a half mile apart. I loved Santiago Atitlan, and San Juan de Laguna was utterly charming offering a magnificent view, if willing to climb a steep hill. So much art everywhere! San Pedro was interesting enough, but if time were tight, I would say one could skip it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

This was one of the trip highlights for me!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

San Ignacio

A whole other world and experience! Only because someone I met at the gate at LAX waiting for the same flight to Guatemala suggested it-- I asked Eduardo about a sunrise tour of Tikal. He then happily arranged it. It made ALL the difference! I only saw perhaps 5 other tourists the whole morning, and it was much cooler than later in the day. It was like having the acropolis or the Sistine Chapel to oneself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eduardo did a fantastic job booking our trip! We particularly loved Caye Caulker and Antigua!
It was amazing exploring the Mayan ruins and hearing the local guides explain the Mayan culture.

Hotel Review

Jan's Hotel

Caye Caulker

Great hotel in a fantastic location. Clean and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the beachfront, easy walking distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef

Caye Caulker

Amazing snorkelling, great staff and the food was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We found Guatemala to be more friendly, cheaper, more interesting and way, way safer than the other Central American countries that we've toured, especially Mexico. We felt safe walking anywhere, excluding Guatemala City, including night. People are smiling and unusually kind, both to us and to each other. We did the standard Antigua, Tikal, Atitlan route. The latter was the most interesting, especially when we took an extra day to go to the villages the tourists don't normally visit. And though all guides and drivers were fine, Pedro in Atitlan was the best.

Special thanks to Eduardo at kimkim. He had to plan our trip 3 times (twice delayed due to Covid restrictions.) I ask lots of questions and requested many particular changes to the itinerary. He always responded quickly. During the trip he was very attentive, coming to our hotel to review things and always available on the phone. The only two issues we encountered occurred on Sunday nights and he was available and on top of it even then.

In Flores near Tikal, recommend staying at a hotel on the island, not the other side of the bridge and definitely not the El Patio hotel (we were moved upon request.) The 5 star hotels in Antigua, Camino Real and the Casa Santa Domingo (the latter built around museums and not to be missed) were fantastic. Every hotel, including the $50/nite Regis in Panajachel, included great breakfasts.

Tourism is still down 50% or more in Guatemala so take this opportunity to
Visit.

What an amazing trip. We cant say enough good things about the experience. Guatemala was definitely a very special place and by the 5 th day we were already planning our next trip back!
Eduardo had the trip so nicely set up. We flew into Guatemala and spent the night ( Eduardo was right that we should have just gone on to Antigua but we wanted to see the city) We walked a few streets in Guatemala city and then headed to Antigua that was amazing. La Porta hotel was beautiful. The to the Lake Atitlan that might be the most beautiful place we have ever stayed. Laguna Lodge was lovely and a really great experience. Casa del Mundo was beyond beautiful. Our boats and transportation worked great and for 6 people people that is saying a lot! Especially as two were seniors and all learning the language. We always felt within phone call of Eduardo and he checked on us if we didnt check in. He is amazing and cant say how much we appreciate him.

We had a fantastic and convenient experience booking with kimkim. The staff was helpful and promptly answered all of our questions. I would definitely book with kimkim again in the future!

We found out about Kimkim originally trying to plan a Morocco trip back in 2020 but that fell through so thought we'd give them a try in Guatemala. Of course it is different guides in each country for Kimkim, but sooo glad we did as Eduardo made our trip in Guatemala! He was so easy to work with, helped that he spoke English (my Spanish is rustier than I thought ha) , very accommodating for our changing plans, and super knowledgeable about the area.

He adjusted our itinerary to what we were interested in and also was able to recommend activities that we should consider on our short 5 day stay in Guatemala. Didnt make it easy for him with the back and forth and he was very understanding, patient and kind!

We went to Lake Atitlan for few days , one more day there made it for us since we cancelled the overnight Acatenango volcano hike (due to a massive earthquake a few days prior that made us unsure to go), did a boat tour to see villages in the area with a coffee co-op tour and a women's textile tour, Chichicastenango and for the 3 of us ,Iximche Mayan Ruins tour, and a last minute zip lining trip! The clutch part of changing our itinerary was that it allowed some extra costs to go to COVID tests - Eduardo scheduled a COVID test tech to come to our accommodations , and send our results that same day so we didnt have to worry about where to go and take it before our flight.. sooo helpful and saved us headaches! And also scheduling shuttles to get us to the airport on time the next day.

All in all, our favorite was Pablo the guide with Old Town Outfitters as our guide for Lake Atitlan as he was humble, knowledgeable, funny and warm, and never pressured us to do anything . He was truly genuine in trying to educate us about the Guatemalan / Mayan culture and took joy when we found joy in learning. He was amazing! It made the part of the trip with him, and all the tours that much more enjoyable. Stay at the Hotel San Buenaventura de Atitlán in Panajachel - the property there is just perfect - with beach waterfront and a pool, breakfast included and tap water that was drinkable! (GAMECHANGER). Lake Atitlan is wonderful! Make sure you take a dip in it - and float to soak in the magic of being surrounded by all the volcanos, a blue sky, and birds chirping all around you! Alex our guide for Iximche Mayan Ruins was also our favorite - he shared the same enthusiasm as Pablo for educating us on his Mayan culture to us and we wish he had more time with him. Ask to taste the corn "moonshine"!

Also cant forget our driver Antonio - who was personable, excited to educate us more about Guatemala and converse with us and our choppy Spanish. He was great as well.

Can't highly recommend Eduardo and Kimkim enough. It would be the easiest and best way to get around the country, seeing everything you want to see and more :)

Hotel Review

San Buenaventura Hotel

Panajachel, Sololá

this was my favorite hotel stay! There are two types of rooms - when you go into this entrance -the left hand side is the 1 room - 2 twin size bed standard stay with access to this back patio with a table/chairs and access to the lush property. the right hand side door is the suite - that has the 1 room 2 twin size and an upstairs which has two sofa that turn into beds if need, a kitchenette and microwave and mini fridge. There is also an outdoor patio there. I stayed in both and they were both lovely. The best part is that the faucet water is drinkable and pretty good tasting ( I drink filtered water at home in San Francisco and it is pretty close!) Crowd: not crowded, and it seemed like it was more of a local staycation spot which I loved! quiet, not rowdy or anything although we were in between two hotels that seemed crazy on the weekends - bass and loud late music Decor: simple yet guatemalan colors and textiles were represented. Beds: were a bit more firm for my taste but I dont sleep in tempurpedics, I am convinced the Guatemalan people need these firm beds! Cleanliness: pretty clean, in the room and property all throughout Friendly Staff: super friendly, front staff speaks english and also staff for breakfast Onsite Ambiance: beautiful and amazing! It is like a mini lush forest/garden! and a onsite beach front, with a pool (more like a wading pool) but so beautiful and relaxing! This was one of the highlights for me - swimming in the lake and being surrounded by all the volcanos and blue sky. Notes: it is pretty close to town and you can have the front desk call you tuk tuks to get you there. mostly for food but we didnt do much else as we did a village boat tour.

Tips for future travelers

all the beds are a bit firm - although the sofa beds upstairs in the suite is more soft if that is a concern for you!

Authenticity & Character

simple decor but still vibrant with the Guatemalan colors

Location

secluded but close to town

Staff

all friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

we loved having Pablo as our guide! the boat crew were amazing as well. The boat ride to each village was somewhere between pleasant to splish splash, and slight nausea as it was windy when we went at end of February (which apparently is the windiest time of the year). Nonetheless, the crew was great and especially Pablo who is super knowledgeable, spoke English, and has this calm and friendly demeanor!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antonio was super friendly and funny! and drove carefully especially on the windy roads, which we appreciated

Coffee Tour at San Juan la Laguna

Guatemala

Pablo was our guide who took us to see Lucas who was one of the owners of La Voz. This was one of our favorite tours on the village tour trip! Lucas is amazing- and we were able to tour the entire property from taste testing (soo good!) to procuring the beans, to roasting to packaging . We loved how we were able to see the entire process and see how dedicated and enthusiastic they were in showing us around. You can really tell they care and love what they do. We each bought at least a bag of medium roast beans home - some for souvenirs. Make sure to ask for their freshest bag! The only thing I wished was getting that banana cake - it looked good to pair with the coffee haha

Quality of Experience

seeing the entire process, walk and see and smell everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

their enthusiasm, and care

Transport

Textile-Weaving Tour & water activity at Cristalinas

Guatemala

Another one of our favorite tours! Although we didnt sense the same enthusiasm in these women - we probably caught them doing the 238947 tour of the day but we loved it nonetheless, so understandable. I was pulled in on understanding more of the Guatemalan and Mayan culture in women supporting their lives by contributing in making textiles! the colors, the process , and the traditional of passing it down from mother/grandmother/female mentor down to the next generation - was all fascinating. Especially the part where they use all natural ingredients to dye the cotton, and some with changing hues of color depending on when you pick the plant whether close to full moon or not. Amazing! We were able to test out how to spin the cotton into yarn, and crushing some herbs for dye, and also see them dye the yarn. At the end of the tour, we were able to see everything that they made and even purchase some. I personally purchased this bright multicolored shirt, that had hand woven mayan calendar in the front and i love it! Even after we went into other shops that sold similar items after this tour, this shop still had the highest quality. Pablo shared this with us after we asked about Chichicastenango textiles there - and I have to agree! And this properly supports the co-op they started here and they invest it back into the people and the community, so keep this in mind! :) Support the women here and their lovely hand made items. Oh and they take CC - make sure to use one that doesnt have foreign transaction fees :)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We leveraged kimkim for a Guatemala trip and they made our stay so smooth and convenient. Eduardo organized transportation (to/from the airport and local tour destinations), COVID-19 testing, lodging, and hooked us up with some of the best local tour guides I've experienced. What was great about the itinerary was that it provided a nice structure while being very flexible. We made a few changes in plans and Eduardo navigated those changes with finesse. With kimkim, we had the luxury of worrying less about travel logistics and could really focus on enjoying the finer parts of the stay.

Overall, working with kimkim was an exceptional experience during our visit.

Exceptional Service during Exceptional Times

Traveling during COVID means uncertainty and ever-changing plans. We made changes to our itinerary until the night before we landed in Guatemala City! It could have been a disaster but it wasn't - we were able to do everything we wanted to do. We were even able to arrange for COVID tests to be administered at our place in Antigua the day before we flew back to USA.

Eduardo was incredibly kind, patient, compassionate and flexible with our group of six. Shortly into our trip, I knew we were in the absolute best hands. He was also so knowledgeable about the best places to visit and activities to do for our 1 week stay without feeling over-exerted or uncomfortable. One of my favorite highlights was the 2 night stay in Lake Atitlan where Eduardo booked us the most beautiful stay at Hotel Sanbuenaventura in Panajachel and connected us to the best tour guide of our entire trip, Pablo Chumil. Please request Pablo if you want an expert in Guatemala nature (especially birds), local history and safety - great guide, great human all around.

Antonio was our trusted and only driver for all the many hours we spent exploring Guatemala. As a driver, he was prompt and drove safely at all times. We cherished our time together laughing, using broken Spanish and sharing snacks and a meal - we miss you Antonio, thank you for keeping us safe always!

Before I went, I did not know much about Guatemala or its culture and people. However, thanks to the kind and warm-hearted people, both from Kimkim and the locals we met, I am left with the best impression of Guatemala and would no doubt visit again.

Hotel Review

San Buenaventura Hotel

Panajachel, Sololá

If and when we return to Lake Atitlán, I would 100% book a stay at the Hotel Sanbuenaventura. We got to stay in a standard double bed room one night and upgraded to a two-story suite the following night. Both rooms were very clean with comfortable beds, FILTERED TAP WATER(!), delicious breakfasts (we did not eat lunch and they do not provide dinner). The property feels very tropical with lush landscaping, a beautiful heated pool and many lookout points and green space where you can admire the beautiful lake and volcanos on the horizon. We were always looked after by the hotel staff, they called tuk tuks every time we needed to go into the city center (takes about 15 minutes for them to arrive so plan accordingly).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Over 2 days, Pablo Chumil and his expert boat captains took us to 3 villages - San Juan, San Pedro and Santiago Atitlan. We spent the majority of time in charming San Juan, visiting it over 2 days. At first I didn't know why we would go to the village twice but I am so glad we did - we spent 1 day touring an organic coffee cooperative, LA VOZ QUE CLAMA EN EL DECIERTO, SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA and the next day at a women's owned textiles coop, Artesania La Voz De Los Tzutujiles (coincidence in naming). We only made a brief stop in San Pedro so I can't comment on my experience there. Santiago Atitlan was so rich in Mayan history - we visited Maximon, ate the best traditional Mayan/Guatemalan lunch, and enjoyed soaking up the sights and sounds of their culture. I would highly recommend spending an afternoon here. To quote Jurassic Park, "hold on to your butts" during afternoon boat trips across the lake - the water is surprisingly choppy and some rides can be ~30-40 minutes if you're going across the lake. Calm in the mornings, but it was a fun experience! A few of us get sea sickness so we were prepared (turns out natural non-drowsy Dramamine = ginger pills) but we didn't get it too badly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drivers were so exceptionally skillful at navigating a particularly windy afternoon - our boat was top notch as well!

Transport

Great trip to Belize and Guatemala. Really enjoyed most of the places we stayed at and visited. The Tikal jungle lodge was not my favorite but it was decent for a one night stay. Really enjoyed Casa Santo Domingo hotel, Ramon’s village, and sweet songs Hotel. Casa del mundo was also gray for the views and up keep of the facility. The room wasn’t the best because we did find a lot of bugs crawling around in the room that is hard to avoid with the cracks in the walls, windows, and doors and the location was next to a public bathroom, shower, and walk way so it was not very peaceful. There was also construction outside of our window where they were building a platform as an extension on the window and we’re working on it during our stay. The food was great and the shuttles to the other villages were amazing. The drivers were great and on time. I loved the cooking option with cuscun but I think the extra translator was not needed. It was hard for us to budget with so many guides to be able to give tips as well that we will prob consider setting the sites without guides to save money. Also to have more time at the sites to explore rather than the guided tour. Nothing wrong with the guides because they were all amazing but it is harder to take in the sites with guides trying to get you through the tour and on to the next site so you only hear so much when they are talking especially when you want to explore more on your own. Overall the trip was amazing.