Yuliana Valverde

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

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!

All guides good. All drivers good. Hanging Bridges guide exceptional; named Gabby.
Catamaran guides exceptional; saw whales!

Would recommend more hotel options be given rather than only one within the overall plan so customers can have flexibility in choosing given amenities and price range (we just took what was offered due to lateness of planning our trip; however we would have liked to have had different choices for our stays in San Jose and Samara).

Hotel Reviews

Auténtico Hotel

San José

First night poor, no air conditioning, mechanical building noise and outside noises that of course the hotel cannot control. 2nd night good enough.

Authenticity & Character

No comment

Location

Let customer know location. This hotel was not in a good location for walking to see any central areas.

Staff

The men were friendlier at the reception than the women. Welcoming treat was awful, but nice to be offered one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overall ok

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

For being in an isolated area, very nice. When not touring one has few options. Lodge could provide more activities, especially due to rainy weather, (when the swimming pool was not always suitable) and an ‘iffy’ internet connection in the rooms. In the public areas of the lodge, internet was ok if not always at its best, but then, one is in the isolated tropical forest, We enjoyed lying in hammocks under a covered, open space while it rained. Some tourists brought cards and games with them, which was a great idea for the free times.

Authenticity & Character

Nice lodge feeling. Nice wood architecture. One drawback, was that one can hear human neighbors due to open layouts. Saw monkeys, and sloths in trees at the lodge. Always had hot water, which was pleasant… and food was good.

Location

For the park and tours.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

Ok place, but too musty for me. Make sure room is accommodating for your age and physical needs. We had two stories with very steep stairs. Restaurant ok.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel should remodel.

Location

Too close to busy main road. Beach across busy road. Nice beach.

Staff

Attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

They do the best they can inside of room given the age of the structure.

Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel & Spa

Fortuna

Nice and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Choice of hot springs.

Location

Good for being picked up for tours; but not that close to towns restaurants etc.

Staff

Front desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

They say they make sure hot spring waters and pools are kept clean and safe for people.

Montelaguna Boutique Hotel

Samara

Simple place. Nice enough.

Authenticity & Character

Building ok. Could provide foldable chairs and hammocks to take to the beach.

Location

Close to beautiful Carrillo Beach but have to walk on narrow busy road and cross road to get to beach. Would be nice if road had shoulders.

Staff

Conversational and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best they can do for hotel age.

Activity Reviews

Cahuita National Park Snorkel & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Loved!

Quality of Experience

Beauty and friendly guides

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Jose - Tortuguero

Costa Rica

Long trip. Food stop area pleasant. Transfer point from bus to boat is rustic, including bathrooms. Final boat trip to park is fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Despite the rain which fortunately let up, wonderful experience. Friendly knowledgeable guide!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pura Vida in practice!!!

Transport

Catamaran Ocean Safari & Snorkel Trip

Sámara

Saw Whales! Extra special guides as hosts who kept us safe and provided levity!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was truly wonderful - This was our 1st time visiting Costa Rica and we felt welcomed and well taken care of throughout our time there.
Planning and booking: My experience working with Yuliana was great. Her model of asking for our input and then providing suggestions and guidance was super helpful. We planned a 9-10 day tour (flying in and out of Liberia), and our group of 8 included family members in their 80's, 70's, 50's, and a 20 year old. We wanted to get a sense of different parts of the country so we visited Arenal, Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo, San Jose, and Monte Verde. Yuliana helped plan accordingly and found both accommodations and activities to meet a wide range of interests and abilities. Yuliana was patient and very flexible as we made adjustments and tweaked travel plans. She went above and beyond our expectations with some last minute add-ons that really made our experience memorable. She responded quickly and answered our questions and addressed our concerns. We had a detailed itinerary in hand with activities, travel, and lodging clearly laid out in advance of the trip for everyone to review. The itinerary included confirmation numbers for lodging and activities and phone contact numbers. (I would encourage anyone traveling to Costa Rica who has a similar itinerary to print a hard copy to take with you as part of the wonder of our trip was being in remote natural areas where there is not always internet or cell service).
Trip Itself: Once we arrived in Costa Rica Yuliana had arranged for our transport and drivers through a company called Amazilia Travel. I cannot say enough good things about this company. Graciela was out point of contact in the office with Amazilia Travel and was excellent. She was available when needed, answered questions quickly, and anticipated our needs during the trip. During our trip we had 2 drivers, Leo and Adrien. They were fantastic. I recommend both without hesitation. Not only are they talented drivers, they have vast knowledge of the country and areas in which we traveled and were happy to engage in conversation and answer questions. While most of the trip went very smoothly we did run into a few minor issues. That said, both Leo and Adrien went out of their way to resolve the issues quickly making extra calls and inquires as needed.
Overall a fantastic experience.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

The character of this hotel with the view of Arenal, the lush grounds filled with tropical plants and the hots springs gives the whole lodge/hotel a feeling of natural beauty and awe. We saw birds on the hotel grounds that we didn't see anywhere else during our trip.

Location

The view of Arenal from this hotel is spectacular.

Staff

Everyone was attentive and willing to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

The lodge is designed in a way that you feel you are in the jungle. We saw both Howlers and Spider monkeys up close on the lodge grounds. Additionally we saw sloths, Jesus Christ Lizard, Toucans, Bare Throated Tiger Herons, and leaf cutter ants without leaving the lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff here went out of their way to take care of us. Very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keep in mind the lodge is in the middle of a jungle, so if you don't want to hear the sounds of monkeys and other creatures at night, this is not the place for you - that said our rooms were clean and spacious, and the beds were comfortable. The rooms do not have A/C, but at least in December when we were there, the evenings cooled off nicely and the ceiling fans kept us comfortable.

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

The combination of location (in the jungle, but right across the street from the beach) and the beauty of the grounds itself make it a wonderful place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We loved the location! That said, if you want to be within easy walking distance of town, this hotel is a bit far out.

Staff

Staff was helpful, polite, and professional. They spoke bot English and Spanish which was helpful for our group most of whom have very limited Spanish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel location is good. That said it is not close to downtown and it is not on any public transit routes, so unless your group has a private driver, be ready for a lengthy walk (took us 40 minutes to walk to Central Market) or to pay for an uber or taxis.

Staff

Staff were friendly and professional, very welcoming and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Country Lodge

Monteverde

This lodge is absolutely beautiful. The grounds are picturesque and the birds that we saw (toucans, toucanets, motmots, bluegrey tanagers) were fantastic. Staff was fantastic, food was delicious. We were truly welcomed and made to feel at home and cared for.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful, quaint, relaxing and comfortable. Excellent restaurant.

Location

We loved the location. We were not, however close to town. This made for a wonderful feeling of being out in the wild and for seeing birds and creatures right on the grounds. However, if you don't have a vehicle or a private driver, it could be difficult to get back and forth to town.

Staff

Some of the more friendly, courteous, professional, and helpful people we had the pleasure of meeting on our trip.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

We toured with Franklin, he was fantastic. Knowledgeable and entertaining, he providing facinating facts and information about the volcano and the plants and animals we encountered on the hike. We would absolutely recommend him. He also helped us spot both toucans and sloths while in transit from the park to our restuarant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Provided an experience were we truly felt we were out in the jungle and interactions with animals we didn't find anywhere else. We absolutely recommend a boat tour of the park. It is the only location in Costa Rica where we saw Spider, Howler and Capuchin monkeys all in the same day. It was also a great way to see both cayman and crocodiles. Our guide, Marco, and the captain of boat, Michael were both excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour: Cahuita National Park Excursion

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Our tour guide Carlos was excellent. Very knowledgeable and helped us see so many things we would not have if we had gone on our own. The wildlife and plant life were stunning. The only thing we were not able to do was to try snorkeling - but we knew the odds of doing that were low given the time of year of our visit (Dec).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Our guide, Andrey was phenomenal. Knew so many things and was able to show us a huge variety of both animal and plant life on the way. As with other hikes, we would have missed so much if not for him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had a great experience booking the trip with Kim Kim. Yuliana was amazing to work with. She was very patient as we planned with various options and extremely prompt in responding to our queries.

Our trip was very memorable. Kim Kim travel transportation partners were always on time and the guides were knowledgeable and ever so friendly.

Thanks to Kim Kim and the entire staff in making the trip memorable that we will cherish forever.

Also want to thank Graciela who responded promptly my questions during the trip and especially to accommodate our request to go to San Jose airport earlier to enable us to return back a day earlier.

Only feedback is to to set expectations for waiting for checkin at the hotels as 2 of the 3 hotels we reached earlier than 3 pm check in time and had to wait in the lobby and store our bags with reception.

Thanks again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Some were friendly but some not so much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, comfortable rooms

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

A little dated hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ac was very good

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Very good premises and restaurant was excellent. Loved the thermal pool. Staff was very attentive and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Secluded quiet rooms

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Slightly dated

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent entertaining guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent experience. Was comforted with safety aspects

Quality of Experience

Food

The include lunch was very basic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Liked that the guide took the time to show the wildlife

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

T

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Almost everything was perfect with the trip, all the hotels were great. Enjoyed all the tours we went on except the kayaking, the guide was only ok

Activity Reviews

Damas Island Mangrove Kayaking

Costa Rica

The guide was not that good, he did not give us clear instructions were we were going and what we wanted to see. There was just me and my partner so there was no excuse for him not paying attention to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were great except the kayaking one

Transport

They came on time and got us to where we needed to go

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was very good and the tour was interesting, my only complaint was it rained the whole time

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River - Transfer to La Fortuna

Costa Rica

Guide was excellent the instructions we get were very helpful.the trip was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Impeccable choices by our friend, Yuliana, starting from pick-up at the airport. Her planning and attention to detail allowed my family to enjoy a vacation free from arguing, uncertainty or poor planning. Thank YOU!

Costa Rica for a family of four to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. Our two sons (16 & 13)came along for their second international trip. We started in San Jose to acclimate and pick up a rental. Hotel was perfect for one night with teens. Service was excellent and super helpful with car rental communicators. Alamo provided a new Toyota Rav 4 for our journey.

We ventured to La Paz Waterfalls for a stop off on the way to Arenal / La Fortuna. Fantastic spot and worth the time to explore the waterfalls and zoo.

Next stop was Arenal Parasido Resort in La Fortuna. Stayed in a villa ( 2 bd/ bath house with micro kitchen). Private and spacious with beautiful grounds. Zipline, safari river tour, eco thermal springs are some of the amazing activities we enjoyed. All companies provided were top notch!

Next area we explored was Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Parc. We stayed at Los Altos Resort in Quepos which was pure luxury! Accommodations were stellar including our own elevator, balconies off all rooms, 3 bd 3 bth, concierge service! Wildlife on the property rivaled the national park! Sloths, monkeys, macaw, agouti, toucans, hummingbirds and much more all on the property. Some of our favorite moments were observing the natural beauty poolside and experiencing wildlife completely free. Stunning views across the property. Staff was legendary and a pleasure to get to know. Breakfast was another standout.

Amazing trip with amazing people! Second KimKim trip - both great!

This was our first experience using a travel agent and will be our last! Although Costa Rica is a beautiful country, our vacation felt very much like a pre-package, impersonal trip comprised of very touristy activities selected from a pre-approved list (no variations, no deviations, no personalizations). Costa Rica, or at least the regions we were sent to, were just huge tourist meccas, overflowing with garish billboards, cheap souvenir shops and ramshackle hotels.

We stayed at two resorts - Los Lomas del Volcan in LaFortuna and The Parador Nature Resort in Manuel Antonio. Both were a bit dated but nice. But without a car, you were at the mercy of the local cabs ($10 to drive the 1.5 km into town on the un-walkable road) or the capricious shuttle schedule offered by the resort. We had to spend almost all your time within the confines of the resort.

Which I guess is fine and might be what many people like. And if that is your vacation objective, then these two properties would be fine.

The adventure activities were, once again, very touristy and focused more on “schlock” than really giving any sort of education about coffee growing or chocolate production. We did a safari raft adventure through Canoa Adventure that was fun. But that was followed by a “hike” to la Fortuna falls which consisted of a young man just driving us to the falls and letting us walk to the falls. Not sure that was worthy of any sort of fee.

BUT - if you are into zip lining and lying around a pool, both resorts would be just fine.

The biggest disappointment was the service provided by KimKim. I am just going to give one example (there were many others). Our last day at Manuel Antonio, we had to check out of the room by 11:00 but our shuttle was not arriving until 3:00. Everything was packed. No air conditioning in the resort (other than the bedrooms which we had to leave). Restaurants on the resort did not open until noon (also not air conditioned). We asked at the front desk if there was something we could do or a place to go. They had no suggestions. Total waste of a day, just sitting around, trying to stay cool and waiting for the shuttle.

And then, the shuttle takes us to downtown San Jose for the night - we had an early morning flight the next day. But we arrived so late we could not do anything in San Jose. So why not just have us stay at an airport hotel, complete with a free airport shuttle, and allow us to 1) sleep a little more in the morning 2) take advantage of the free breakfast and 3) not have to pay the cab fare to the airport.

Terrible planning. If I had planned this myself, I would have taken these timing issues into consideration. But clearly, KimKim did not care. And when I mentioned something, I received a tepid response, thanking me for my patience and saying they would take this into consideration for the future.

Sigh!!!

I know I sound like a complainer - and I am not. I was just expecting (hoping) that when you pay for a travel agent, more care would have been taken and the responsiveness would be greater. In the future, i will go back to doing my own research, booking my own hotels and excursions and mapping out the vacation myself. It just seems, for me at least, the travel agent offered little or no value.

Sorry.

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

I don’t know why anyone would stay here. The hotel itself is nice enough but it is in a horrible location - not walkable to much of anything. Just a place to sleep.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Very nice property. But it is located 1.5 km from the main road, and the access is along an unwalkable road. You are forced to take a $10 cab to get into the town. But the property itself is very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just not near anythign

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We never did get hot water in our shower and despite repeated requests, the staff did not really seem to care!!

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Very beautiful setting. Our stay was somewhat marred because it was very hot and we were just not used to 100 degree temps. Other than the rooms, nothing is air conditioned. Yikes. But beautiful vistas. Nice pools. No beach access (except along a rather rocky path)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioning went down for a bit but they were very quick to repair and gave us a tray of chocolate covered strawberries for our trouble. Extremely nice gesture.

Activity Reviews

Travel to Arenal - Doka Coffee Tour

Costa Rica

Very package, tourist activity, but the guide was knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide was very knowledgeable. Excellent experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainforest Chocolate Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Just too “schlocky”. Too much time was spent with the guide trying to be cute/funny/whatever. Spitting the chocolate seed??? Too much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Good experience and we were able to see many animals. Our guide did a great job. But they sort of dragged the whole thing out to make the “experience” last about an hour longer than necessary. However, that seems to be typical of much if everything we did in Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Costa Rica stole my heart with its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and endless adventures. My trip was packed with highlights, each offering a unique taste of this incredible country.

Chill Beach Vibes in Carrillo & Samara:

First, I traded city noises for the gentle sounds of waves at Carrillo beach. Relaxing on the pristine sand, soaking up the sun, and swimming in the turquoise waters was pure bliss. Kayaking in Samara allowed me to explore hidden coves and marvel at colorful fish while snorkeling. These laid-back beach towns set the perfect pace for unwinding and connecting with nature.

Thrills & Spills in Tamarindo & Catalina Islands:

Tamarindo brought a touch of energy to my trip. Its lively atmosphere, delicious restaurants, and beautiful beach kept me entertained. But the real adrenaline rush came underwater! Scuba diving in the Catalina Islands unveiled a mesmerizing world of coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. This experience left me awestruck by the ocean's hidden beauty.

Rincon de la Vieja: A Journey into the Wild:

Rincon de la Vieja National Park transported me to another world. Lush green forests, majestic volcanic mountains, and a sky ablaze with stars created an unforgettable backdrop. Here, I embarked on several adventures, each exceeding the last.

First Horseback Ride: I felt invigorated exploring the trails on horseback, immersing myself in the wilderness.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: Following a surreal path through a sulfur-water river devoid of life, the thundering La Leona waterfall was a sight to behold.
Tubing Bliss on the Colorado River: This was a fun and relaxing way to cool down, surrounded by stunning scenery.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Hike: This diverse hike encompassed waterfalls, volcanic activity, and a variety of ecosystems, leaving me awestruck by Costa Rica's rich natural tapestry.
Overall:

My Costa Rican adventure was more than just a vacation; it was a transformative experience. From the serene beaches to the adrenaline-pumping activities, the wild beauty to the welcoming locals, this trip had something for everyone. I highly recommend Costa Rica to anyone seeking relaxation, adventure, and a connection with nature. Pura vida!

Additional Tips:

Tailor your trip: Costa Rica offers something for everyone, so plan your itinerary based on your interests.
Embrace the culture: Learn some basic Spanish phrases and immerse yourself in local customs.
Support local businesses: Choose eco-friendly tours and stay in locally-owned accommodations.
Pack wisely: Be prepared for both sun and rain, and bring appropriate footwear for diverse terrains.
I hope this review inspires you to plan your own unforgettable adventure in Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazilia Guest House

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Pasatiempo

Tamarindo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff could be more polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

the room could be more comfortable, we got a corner room

Activity Reviews

Isla Chora Kayak and Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cowboy Horseback Riding Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colorado River Tubing

Rincón de la Vieja

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Trail Lovers: Rincon de la Vieja Volcano & La Leona Waterfall

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba Diving Catalinas Island – Discover Diving Non-Certified

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport