Elena Mora

Elena was incredibly responsive and helpful while we were planning our itinerary. She responded quickly to our feedback regarding hotel rooms and activities and answered our questions about finalizing our planning.

We loved both hotels we stayed at. We booked our trip fairly last minute, and most places were nearly fully booked. Elena got us into two hotels we really liked, and she even managed to get us adjoining rooms in both hotels, which was one of our key objectives.

Serendipity Adventures was our point of contact on the ground in Costa Rica. Wilman was in constant touch with us via WhatsApp, ensuring we had the most current information and confirmation numbers, updating information as it changed, and answering our questions about specific activities. Mariano, our guide in Arenal, was terrific. We enjoyed all of the trips we took.

This was our family's favorite vacation so far and we can't wait to return!

We had such a great trip with Serendipity Adventures. We were well taken care of by Elena and Wilman.

The drive from the airport to our first hotel in Monteverde was wonderfully relaxing as Fernando from RideCR took us to the Cloud Forest Lodge.

Cloud Forest Lodge was everything we could have hoped for in Monteverde accommodations. Nestled in the Cloud Forest the grounds were beautiful. The room was large and clean. I loved the bed and especially the pillows!

We had a fantastic Bird Watching hike in the Curi-Cancha Reserve with Andy from Forest Alive. Andy was so knowledgeable and we got so much out of it. Andy stopped at a local bird watching site early in the morning to point out all of the early riser birds. Then we had a great stop at the Monteverde Coffee Center, where we treated to the Costa Rican method of brewing coffee called Vandola. It is an elaborate method and the coffee was superb. After a rest we proceeded to the Curi-Cancha. I like the Curi-Cancha reserve because it is quieter than the Monteverde Cloud Forest and while different many of the sam birds are at both places.

In the afternoon, we had a Coffee & Chocolate Tour at the Don Juan Monteverde center. The tour was great and very informative. Chocolate and Coffee as well as Sugar Cane were demonstrated with the process for each. These are such important commodities for Costa Rica, that I think you can't really go to Costa Rica without such a tour.

The next day had us up bright and early for another bird watching tour in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. We got to see the Resplendent Quetzal as well as a lot of other birds on our hike.

After an afternoon nap, we were ready for a night walk in the Children's Cloud Forest. We did not see as much as I would have liked, but you can't predict what may be out after dark.

Sadly, it was time to leave Monteverde and travel to La Fortuna. We had a private transfer over the mountain and down to Arenal Lake for a ride across the lake to La Fortuna. Glad we were not driving! The drivers do such a good job of navigating narrow and difficult roads. Loved the boat ride. Our boat captain found a Howler monkey on the way, very exciting.

We arrived at our lodging the Arenal Hotsprings Resport and Spa. It is an amazing place with beautiful grounds. Our suite was perfect. The beds comfortable and the pillows good (not as good as the Cloud Forest Lodge, but I would not complain about them.) We had a great view of the Arenal Volcano from our room.

The next day again started early with Mariano from Serendipity Adventures. We did an early morning hike at the Arenal Volcano and then a hike at Hanging Bridges before visiting the La Fortuna Waterfall. It was an amazing day. We saw so much and Mariano was just a wonderful guide.

The next day we did a canal tour of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge with Canoa Aventura. Our guide, Joda (I think that's right, we called him Jo), did a great job showing us what the Rio Frio had to offer as far as wildlife. Would not have missed this tour for anything.

The next day we transferred to Tortuguero with a private driver. It turned out that Mariano was our driver for the day. He was so much fun and we had a very pleasant trip to the "boat dock" for the boat that would take us to Tortuguero.

The river crossing is a little difficult in March as Costa Rica has not had much rain by then and the river is down making the boat captain really earn his pay to successfully navigate the shallow waters. But Ronny handled the trip superbly. Our hotel, Manatus Hotel, provided the boat, the driver, and our guide for the trip Lilly. It was a great introduction to Tortuguero.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Tortuguero. I just love floating down the canals looking for birds, monkeys, lizards, caman, crocodiles and anything else we run across. It is so beautiful and so peaceful. I don't think I would ever get tired of it. We did early morning canal trips and afternoon canal trips looking for beautiful birds and amazing wildlife. Our guides, Ronny, Bony and Lilly were all so great.

Well all good things come to an end and it was time for the trip back to San Jose for the journey home. The Hotel Manatus provided transportation back to San Jose in a comfortable bus. It was a good trip with our guide providing fascinating information about banana production and information about Costa Rica.

We spent the night in the Hilton Garden Inn, at La Sabana. After our amazing trip, this was a good hotel to relax in before our flight the next morning.

We had a private transfer with Fernando again of RideCR. Can't say enough about have private transfers in Costa Rica. You can drive, but I have seen the roads and the other drivers and just do not think it is a good idea.

We totally loved our trip and can't wait to do it again.

Activity Reviews

Private: Half-day Birdwatching Hike in Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Our guide Andy, made this a very special trip. He was so fun and easy to be with. He really knows his birds and helped us find and identify many that we would not have seen without him. I do like the Curi-Cancha Reserve. It is so beautiful with lots of opportunities for seeing special birds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Forest is just awesome. You can do the walk without a guide, but you get so much more out of it, if you have one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tortuguero Village Visit

Tortuguero

Great little walk around the village. You do not realize how close you are to the Carabean Sea until you walk through the village. A nice fruit milkshake just hit the spot on a hot day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was fun and informative tour. Chocolate and coffee are so important to the history and economics of Costa Rica. It was great to learn about the growing and the processes for making coffee and chocolate. Definitely glad I did this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

The history of how the Children's Cloud Forest was created is amazing. European children were moved to conduct bake sales and other fund raisers to help preserve what is now known as the Children's Cloud Forest in honor of their efforts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Love, love, love touring through the Toruguero Canals. You see something different all of the time. Our guides were great: Ronny, Bony and Lilly did an excellent job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Awesome tour with Mariano! He was just great. So informative. He had a great sense of humor and was just so fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals -Private

Tortuguero

I told you I can't say enough good things about Tortuguero and cruising around the canals looking for wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a fantastic tour. You just see so much more from the vantage point of being on the water. Great tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica! The coordination between Kimkim & our local Costa Rican specialist of Serendipity Adventures, Elena, created a great itinerary for us. We split our time between the La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio areas. Our accommodations in both locations were terrific, as well as the activities that were booked for us by Elena and Wilman of Serendipity Adventures. The transfers to and from the airport, as well as to activities, were seamless. Our guides, including Mariano, Alex, and others were all very helpful & knowledgeable.
We would recommend Kimkim & Serendipity without hesitation to create a great itinerary for anybody travelling to Costa Rica.
Pura Vida
Isaac & Shari Harris

We had an absolutely fantastic trip to Costa Rica! This is our second time using KimKim to help plan a trip, and they knocked it out of the park. We spent time in Arenal, Monteverde and Tamarindo. Our hotels were beautiful. Our activities were just what we wanted…very active, lots of hiking and wildlife viewing and scuba diving. All of the guides were professional and enthusiastic. The trip was organized with Serendipty Adventires and they were great. I was able to communicate via what’s app for things like dining suggestions and the like. It was a fabulous trip and can’t wait to plan our next adventure with KimKim.

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica and fabulous experience from start to finish with Elena Mora, our local specialist, as well as with the Serendipity team, Nancy and Wilman. Elena customized the perfect trip for our family of 5 (including 3 tweens/teens). She answered all messages in a super timely fashion and was very receptive to adjusting our trip dates early on. We went to La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. The Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde and La Mariposo hotel in Manuel Antonio exceeded expectations. All of our transfers and guides were on time and fantastic. We were able to communicate easily via the KimKIm portal and via What's App with the Serendipity team in real time. They were very proactive and receptive in making dining recommendations, answering any questions and offering additional suggestions for activities and assisting with bookings and reservations on the fly. It truly was an unforgettable family vacation. I highly recommend KimKim and Serendipity. We hope to use their services again soon.

Hotel Reviews

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Beautiful piece of property and lodge. The view, trails and wildlife are amazing. My favorite part was sitting on the deck eating a delicous, healthy breakfast watching the hummingbirds, other birds and coatis. We hope to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff in the restaurant were particularly friendly and upbeaet.

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The views are unbeatable. The food is delicious, especially the tres leche dessert. The corner rooms provide a view you won't ever forget. Sunsets in the infinity pool are to die for.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

I really enjoyed all of these activities but the rest of my family felt a little bit too rushed. It is 3 separate activities and you drive with your guide from one to the next. Lunch was at the end of it all. The hanging bridges were probably my favorite part and the waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

This experience was very good, but it is not actually in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve but rather the Children's Eternal Forest. Our guide was very knowledgeable. We saw some beautiful birds - Lesson's MotMot, as well as tarantulas, leafcutter ants, frogs and a variety of other flora and fauna.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Costa Rica

We loved our day at Selvatura. We had tickets to all of the activities and did them all, although we were a little pressed for time. It takes about 6-8 hours to do everything (zipline, hanging bridges, sit down lunch, exhibits (must go with a tour guide) - sloth, butterflies, amphibians/reptiles. Don't skip the Sloth Sanctuary. We got to see 13 sloths up close, many were eating and moving around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide was fantastic. The park is crowded but definitely worth going to. Plan to wear your bathing suit and swim while there. We saw 5 sloths, white faced monkeys, lizards, lots of birds and much more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

The staff was friendly, upbeat and attentive. The catamaran was very nice. There were about 30-40 people and it did not feel crowded. The scenery was gorgeous. We saw lots of dolphins. The food was really quite delicious. The only negative was the snorkeling - pretty murky, one small rock with some more few that you could see, but it was still fun to get in the water and swim around. The slides and jump deck were fun. Spectacular sunset.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was nothing short of extraordinary, filled with unforgettable wildlife encounters, stunning views, and an incredible team that made every moment special. From the moment we arrived, the natural beauty of the country swept us away, and it felt like we were in another world.

Our hotel, perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, offered some of the most breathtaking views imaginable. Each morning, we woke up to the sound of the ocean waves crashing below, and the sun casting golden hues over the water. It felt like paradise, as we enjoyed meals on the terrace, watching the colors change as the day unfolded. It was truly an oasis that allowed us to feel connected to the land in a way we never have before.

One of the highlights of our adventure was our guide, Diego. It was clear from the start that he was not just a guide, but someone who had a deep, almost spiritual connection to the land. Diego was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, always pointing out things we would have never noticed on our own – from the smallest hummingbird to hidden sloths high up in the trees. He explained the delicate balance of Costa Rica's ecosystem and the importance of conservation, leaving us with a profound appreciation for the land.

Our driver, Alex, was a joy to travel with. He was not just a driver, but a passionate ambassador for Costa Rica, eager to share his love for his country. As we drove through the lush landscapes, Alex shared stories of the country’s history, culture, and customs. His pride for Costa Rica was contagious, and we felt so fortunate to have someone so personable and knowledgeable guiding us along the way.

We also had the pleasure of traveling with Oscar, our driver for one of the longer rides. Despite the long hours, Oscar kept us entertained and laughing with his witty humor and charming personality. He had a way of making even the most grueling five-hour journey feel like a fun adventure, keeping us in high spirits the entire way.

And then there was Elena, the mastermind behind our entire trip. She was nothing short of amazing. Elena meticulously planned every detail, ensuring that our trip was seamless and stress-free. When I fell ill before our first planned trip and had to postpone, she didn’t hesitate to reschedule everything for us without a second thought. She worked tirelessly to accommodate us, even adjusting our itinerary with Serendipity after we arrived exhausted, so that we could rest and fully enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica. Elena’s attention to detail and unwavering dedication made this trip unforgettable.

Between the wildlife encounters—like seeing monkeys swinging through the trees, iguanas basking in the sun, and the incredible birdlife—and the stunning vistas, this was a trip that will live in our hearts forever. Costa Rica’s beauty, combined with the genuine warmth and hospitality of the team, made it an experience that we will treasure for a lifetime. We left feeling inspired, grateful, and with a newfound love for this beautiful country.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

The views were spectacular! Like nothing we have experienced. One worker, Oscar, was the only negative and reason for only 4 stars. He failed to tell us that we needed $300 cash to book the excursion, so we scheduled it but when we went to pay, he said it had to be cash. We had our credit card info stolen in La Fortuna so we had used almost all of our cash and could not pay this in cash. He was incredibly rude to use and wouldn't stop telling us that now the guide would have to pay out of pocket because of us. We paid a fortune for this trip so we obviously have no problem paying for our experiences, but this was not explained to us and sadly our last day, he continued to harass us about this even after we added a day because we did not want to leave this beautiful paradise.

Authenticity & Character

unique

Location

breathtaking views

Staff

everyone was wonderful except oscar at front desk, rude as explained above

Cleanliness & Comfort

perfection

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Gorgeous and surrounded by nature. However, if paying to stay at hotel, I don't think we should have to deal with busses full of day pass people using the facilities we are paying for- the crowds were very disappointing and would not have been a thing if the hotel just focused on its guests rather than allowing bus after bus to bring hundreds of people to use the hot springs that should be for hotel guests only. sadly we only got in the springs once due to the crowds

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful- had hoped to see more wildlife

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

oscar was the best driver! we hated to even say goodbye to him. loved him!

Transport

oscar was the best! we hated to even say goodbye to him. loved him!

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

lovely views/fun vibe

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephen was incredible

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Most breathtaking views, guide, Diego was incredible and taught us so much

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diego was one with nature- he taught us so much.

Transport

Alex is a doll

Working with Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip to Costa Rica was a pleasure. Elena, Nancy, Wilman and the team took care of us from planning through the trip, including booking all hotels, drivers and excursions. Wilman kept tabs on us as we traveled through Costa Rica to make sure our drives were comfortable and the hotels were as expected; any bumps in the road were addressed in timely, professional manner. I highly recommend the KimKim process and specifically Serendipity for well planned and executed vacation. We had a great time!

Based on my preferences of where I wanted to go, what kind of tours I prefer (small groups/private), and the type of hotel - Elena put together the perfect itinerary with a great mix of doing things and relaxing. As we were making plans she reached out by phone when decisions needed to be made in a timely manner. All questions/concerns were addressed. We stayed in 3 wonderful hotels in La Fortuna (room with a view of the Volcano), Monte Verde (view of the valley and Pacific in the distance) and Manuel Antonio (corner room with a sunset view of the Pacific) with spectacular views, very good food, and spot on service. While each was a little different, they each showed Serendipity's knowledge of their beautiful country. Our private tour at Arenal that included hanging bridges, a volcano hike and the waterfall with Mariano were a pleasure given his personable nature and knowledge of the flora and fauna. Our day at Sevultura Park in Monte Verde, while a touristy place, offered really great professionally run zip line and hanging bridges. Finally, a catamaran tour and a tour of the national park rounded out our activities in Manuel Antonio.

I loved that they checked in with us most days and made sure we were ok at each destination. This was especially helpful as we were driving a rental car and had some delays due to road issues and KimKim was super helpful in notifying us ahead of time and providing tips along the way