Gustavo Camperos

Highlight of our trip this year was the Osa Peninsula. The Drake Bay Wilderness Lodge was a wonderful place where we stayed for 5 days/4 nights.
The food was excellent: a culinary and aesthetic delight. Cudos to the chef cook!
The heart of the whole place is "Henry" the waiter. He is a natural talent and his welcoming and friendly and kind attitude makes the stay at the Lodge special.
For the 3rd Tour we didn't want the Cano Island and were given the advice to go to see an⁶ Animal Farm including a Nightwalk."
What it turned out to be was the so-called "Tapir Trail", a great trail, but definetly in the category of strenuous with a lot of exposure. A small trail , steep, partly slippery ending up at a waterfall. We didn't put on the rubber boots which we were offered - without explanation- at the Entrance but the guide assured us that we could keep on our (Keen) hiking shoes.
Glad that we did that, since it gave us a better footage on the trail versus oversized rubber boots..Again, a great hike, but it would be very advisable if the Manager at the Lodge would give his customers ( also considering the age group and the temperature of the day)detailed information about this hike ( and not naming it an Animal Farm Tour).
After return , in the evening, we had to remove some tics from our body!
We signed up for 3 tours: the Corcovado NP and the Mangrove Tour were each excellent Vincent was a great naturalist guide and the captain was superb.

Overall: a wonderful place to stay.
Sure, if the manager or the person in charge there, would have an attitude like Henry the place would even be better.

Overall Transportation from one place to another was always on time, with friendly drivers and very good vans! Big plus!

Alex, the captain , who brought us to Sierpe for the transfer to Manual Antonio, was a real professional and seasoned captain.

Manual Antonio: Ariel was a very good guide in the National Rainforest there.

Karake Hotel: good location. We were there in 2024.

Drive to La Fortuna: Oskar was an excellent driver on these windy roads.

Hanging Bridges Tour a must and great experience. Guide David was very good.

Ecotermales: great place. Have been there in 2024.
The issue with the wrong time on the clock of the piscinas was discussed with Greg
and resolved.

Again: all together a wonderful trip for us.
A big Thanks!
A big Thanks also to Greg ( and Gustavo) who helped us getting the trip together on short notice. Greg was in touch with us along the trip and made sure that everything was happening smoothly what it did indead! Great customer service!

Hotel Reviews

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

A good place to stay. Downtown. But be aware of robbery on the streets, as we have heard from fellow guests. Restaurant: good. But we had to wait a very long time before being served because a group was there ( came even after us). I talked to the manager after ~ 2 hours waiting ( not even water was served) and he apologized and reimbursed our dinner. Lesson learned: go in restaurant when no group is there.

Authenticity & Character

Restaurant waiting time

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lavas Tacotal

Fortuna, San Carlos

A nice place outside of La Fortuna. More in the country side. We enjoyed that is was not in the center of Fortuna and more quiet. It is a rather big place, but the individual Bungalows are well placed and provide privacy. Nice landscaping with native plants and trees. Had the Deluxe Garden Bungalow which was huge and something smaller would have been good enough for us. Nice swimming pool. Restaurant: since it is basically a very big place, we had to decide about a time slot for breakfast ( every 15 minutes). So it is a very busy and a rather crowded breakfast situation. Not for a relaxed breakfast. We were in La Fortuna in 2024 and stayed at the Campos Hotel. We learned that kimkim is not working anymore with this place. We loved it! Spacious room had a very special character, unlike seen anywhere else. Great swimming pool a little separate from the building. Good location. Good breakfast. Breakfast room not crowded. 10 minute walk to town with panderias on the way. There was a bridge beeing repaired, so cars had to take a detour. Maybe that is why it was taken off the list. I highly recommend adding it again. We would have loved to stay there this year also.

Authenticity & Character

Location of Bungalows and landscaping

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast situation not ideal. Outside of La Fortuna for people like us who want to avoid the huzzle and buzzle of the city and be more in nature. Free laundry when you stay 3 nights.

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Ariel was a great guide. Park was happily less crowded then last year. Had afternoon tour. Overall it is certainly advisable to go as early as possible to have the chance to see more animals.

Quality of Experience

How intuitively Ariel discovered animals!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time, friendly driver

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Were there in 2024. This year we choose the morning spot and could enjoy the surrounding nature. At the evening spot it is dark outside! Different pools with different temperatures . Bring your own watch to observe the time since the official watch gave the wrong time .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Hanging bridges Tour is a must. Would have liked to learn how they were built. Maybe showing a video of the construction process, since it it so unbelievable! David was a great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the driver service in San Jose know that we would be late and once we landed in San Jose we were already in communication with each other so very comforting. From the moment of that first transport at the airport to all of the other transport throughout our 8 days, we were very pleased with the promptness, cleanliness, professionalism and bilingual abilities of all of our drivers. Our hotels(Hotel Presidente in San Jose, Arenal Kioro and Parador in Manuel Antonio were all great with the latter two having exceptional views. Hotel Presidente is in an urban area in close proximity to a lot of nearby activities so of course we didn't care about the views. All hotels were very clean and had great breakfast buffets. We only ate two other meals at the hotels during our trip. One dinner at Arenal Kioro was a seafood medley for two that probably could have satisfied a family of four. Our other meal was a quick grab at Parador which was just fine before our next tour time. All hotel staffs were courteous and bilingual so easy to communicate with during our stays. The three hotels were all very different with Hotel Presidente being in an urban setting close to major attractions which is what we wanted there. Arenal Kioro was on beautiful grounds more in a rain forest setting with sweeping views of the volcano. Parador took advantage of beautiful ocean views and definitely had more of a resort feel. There were many families there and maybe someday we'll come back with our own extended family as it seemed like a great place for both adults and children. All hotels were safe with appropriate security at all gates.
Before I review our activities, I just want to make a comment about Greg and others that we worked with in planning this trip. They were all excellent about keeping us informed as we did have a couple of cancellation issues. Greg either found us a beyond expectations alternative or promptly refunded us money, One of our concerns going into this trip was that we would largely be on our own once we got to Costa Rica. Let's just say that to the contrary, we felt Kim Kim was there every step of our trip.
Starting with the two activities we did not get to experience through no fault of Kim Kim. The second day of our trip we were supposed to go on a Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine Walk in San Jose. Greg let us know well ahead that the operator cancelled but in doing so refunded our our money and also arranged for a phenomenal alternative beyond our expectations. The only other activity that cancelled on our trip was on our very last day. Regarding Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary-Our transport never showed and we called the organization several times that morning. Our hotel staff even tried on our behalf and they never answered the telephone. Being that this was our last day, there was nothing we could do about an alternative but our money was promptly refunded . We still don't know what happened but it is what it is or Pura Vida.
Review of Activities-
Self-guided activities(Kim Kim did not schedule for us)-Nature walk in Ecological Park and Butterfly Park Danaus-This park was a pleasant enough walk but would not recommend it without a guide. Fortunately, the park staff realized after we returned from a fairly short walk that we probably did not take full advantage of the activity. A staff member was kind enough to take us back out to see sloths, caimans, and toucans although not a formal tour so our trip there would be more memorable. The second self guided trip we did was to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Doing this self-guided was just fine as it was basically a walk down 500 steps to the falls and then a swim. There are lockers near the entry, to store dry clothes so assuming someone can make the 500 step walk, it was fairly easy to do on our own and worth the trip. The third self-guided piece of our tour was to visit Manuel Antonio Beaches after the guided Manuel Antonio Nature walk. We basically stayed a couple of hours in the National Park to enjoy the beautiful beach. We found a quieter side of the beach after our tour and it was well worth spending that time there.

Wildlife Rescue Center Tour-San Jose-We found this to be a very relaxing introduction to the wildlife we would see throughout the rest of our trip. We would recommend this as it was not only enjoyable with our guide but also gave us an opportunity to see a caring organization rehab and take care of wildlife that will never be able to be reintroduced into the wild. Well worth it to see and a wonderful cause.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-La Fortuna. The night walk was easy to navigate and the guide was enthusiastic but we did not see much in the way of wildlife. We do realize that this is not a zoo so every night-wildlife observation will be different. The Costa Rican Dinner was excellent and the family was very hard-working and hospitable. Even though if the walk itself was not that great, the dinner more than made up for it and made the trip out here well worth it.
Arenal Volcano and 1968 Reserve Guided Hike-La Fortuna This was a great hike with a wonderful guide that stopped and spoke with us a number of times. Half the trail was easy to walk and navigate. The other half as we ascended through more of lava flow-rocky areas was a little more challenging. We certainly enjoyed but those with younger children or seniors with mobility challenges may find the second half of this walk difficult. I will also say that our guide took the extra step not only to provide us with fruit in the end but lay it out on a table and table cloth that was above and beyond our expectations.

Rio Penas Blancas Safari Float-La Fortuna
This was a very relaxing float down the river in a six person raft perfect after our hike in the am. The guide was great and there was really not any work to do other than the occasional paddle. The current really did the work. Although the wildlife that day wasn't particularly abundant, we did see sloths, monkeys, and a number of birds. Enjoyed the scenery and nature and would recommend this for a relaxing afternoon.

Sky Tram, Ziplines, and Skywalk Adventure-La Fortuna
We had a great trip with a lot of enjoyable activities but this was our favorite excursion. My wife was a little hesitant about the zipline. We have done them a few times in the past but it had been several years since our last one. Let's just say we both loved this activity as it was extremely safe and well organized. The staff also was sensitive to taking care of the younger ones in our group and would either assist them across or have them go together. The guided walk through the rainforest and over hanging bridges was extraordinary as well. It was an easy enough walk and a great way to get us out of the rainforest.
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour-La Fortuna
This was exactly we we expected and what we wanted on this afternoon. An educational and easy walk through sugar cane, cacao and coffee fields along with tastings along the way. The coffee and chocolate tastings were well done as they showed those important products to Costa Rica in their various processing stages.
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Walk-This was probably the one activity during the whole trip that I'm not sure we could recommend. We realize that every night could be different in terms of wildlife you could see. The setting was a little strange as it was literally outside of a busy restaurant parking lot. With that said, certainly every portion of rainforest could be fascinating. As we walked through the forest, we mostly saw insects and spiders and although we all had flashlights to help spot, I'm not sure that our guide was all that excited to be on our tour. The walk was simple enough to navigate but we left the forest without seeing much at all. I guess we had higher expectations after our volcano walk of the fruit served at end but even that seemed like a less organized and not well-thought out presentation.
Manuel Antonio Nature Walk-We didn't realize how busy this park was but we had a guide that really made this tour special. He was enthusiastic, willing to take the time with us to take excellent pictures and he was an excellent spotter. He also was extremely personable not only with us but with other guides who clearly were keeping each other informed about wildlife sitings. This was also an A+ experience and highly recommended.
Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue-This was the largest group activity that we did the whole trip and as such could have been really chaotic. It was everything but chaotic and very well organized from start to finish. It was the only time that rain interfered at all with our trip but was not that big of a deal since there was more than adequate covered space on the boat. The only downside was that the boat parked a fairly long way from the snorkeling opportunity. We have snorkeled in the past so were looking forward to it but once we got there, it didn't quite seem worth the swim on a rainy choppy sea day. With that said, we know this wasn't a snorkeling trip and certainly enjoyed everything else about it. There was no skimping on drinks and food was great and served in a very organized way and we were truly amazed at how quickly that all the people on the boat got served. Add to that we saw a whale and dolphins and you have a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.
The last activity review is not one that was recommended by Kim Kim and I appreciated your staff professionally telling me they did not have a recommendation for this activity. We were originally wanting to do a Las Dumas Mangrove boat tour but because of the tides and our schedule it could not be accommodated. I booked a Night Mangrove Safari Tour through trip advisor/Costa Rica Jade Tours not knowing what to expect. They picked us up promptly and took us to a boat dock where we had a private tour. There were other boats on the mangrove (Las Dumas) river that night with more passengers but we were by ourselves. Let's just say this trip was truly fascinating and an adventure at the same time. The driver and guide were able to spot some incredible snakes, birds, insects and small mammals. While we thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, it was a little on the rougher side and none-the-less could potentially be seen as less professional than everything else Kim Kim recommended to us. We also had dinner as part of this excursion and had a quick stop at a cute little restaurant with our guide in Quepos. Personally, I would highly recommend this tour but leave that up to your expert trip planners.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide you with our tour insights. We truly enjoyed working with you.

Our other day two activity in San Jose was the Wildlife Rescue Center.This was a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience and a great introduction into the wildlife we would be experiencing throughout the remainder of our trip. This is also a caring organization that is focused on the wonderful cause of rehabbing animals and taking care of those animals that could not be released in the wild. Definitely worth a visit.

Day 3-We did two self-guided trips in the morning and afternoon so Kim Kim did not arrange. The first was a self-guided walk through Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Danaus. This was a pleasant and easy trail walk but I would definitely do a guided tour here because otherwise you will miss much of it. We finished after a short time on the trail and I think the staff realized that we missed much of the experience. A staff member kindly took us back out to see caimans, sloths and toucans that we would have otherwise missed. We really appreciated their kindness towards us. We also did a self-guided tour of the La Fortuna Waterfall. Assuming that you can do the 500 steps, this was certainly worth it. They have lockers to store dry clothes if you want to swim at the base of the falls. This is something you can do self-guided.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-The frog excursion itself was little disappointing since we only saw two frogs on the hike. However, we know that this is not a zoo so some nights, I'm sure you would see more wildlife than others. The dinner afterward however was fantastic and the hosts were great so that in itself made this a worthwhile time investment.

Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then, staying at the Karahe by the ocean was very nice but very hot!! The capuchin monkeys hung around all the resort. It was so entertaining to watch them!! So it was a very memorable trip. We’re just home and it feels like it was all a dream!! What stands out the most to me was my beautiful birthday dinner with champagne on the Katonga, the floating restaurant going down the river, with soft music playing, seeing all the lights of Tortuguero. Your company gifted us with that and we won’t forget it. Thank you so much! And thank you Gustavo for being so patient and knowledgeable with me to plan this trip. We love you all! ♥️

Gustavo and Greg did a great job meeting our primary request for amazing eco-resorts where we could kick back in a jungle environment. The first property was so relaxing that we blew off a nearby hike that we'd scheduled just to sit around by the hot springs all day. At the second property we did get to do the fun excursions they recommended, but the hotel itself was also so nice that we would have been happy just to hang out and explore the grounds.

My family just returned from 8 days of fun filled trip from Costa Rica. Thanks for Gustavo and Greg, the trip was a success. Gustavo planned an itinerary to accommodate all of our wants and wishes. Greg was there to attend to all of the travel logistics. Both Gustavo and Greg were attentive, responsive and met all of our needs through out the trip.

Our trip started out on a bad note with one of our traveler pulling out at the last second, and a missed connection flight due to American Airline mechanical issues. We ended up missing our first full day of white water rafting due to the flight delay. Greg responded to my email immediately, assured us that everything was going to be OK, and took care of all the changes necessary to continue our trip in Costa Rica. Fortunately, the rest of our trip continued without a glitch. The Arenal Volcano hike, La Fortuna waterfall, the night hike, Cloud forest, Tree top dining experience, and Manuel Antonio National Park were all as amazing as we imagined.

Needless to say, we can't thank Gustavo and Greg enough for a job well done. We will not hesitate to use them again for our trips.

Hotel Reviews

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. The rooms were perfect for family vacations. The room backed up to the Arenal Volcano, giving us an awesome view every morning. The restaurant on site was good and we really enjoyed our meal there. The more remote location of the resort allowed us to feel disconnected from the daily hustle and bustle of the world. But it was difficult to go out to eat without taking a taxi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Lodge

Monteverde

This was a nice older resort than some of the other ones we stayed at. However, it was full of character and charm. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. There was a nice short hike on site. We saw a variety of birds just from the outdoor deck. The lodge was located close enough to town that we were able to walk to restaurants in the evening. However, it was also far enough from town that we always woke up to the sound of the forest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Hotel & Casino Kamuk

Quepos

pretty standard Best Western Hotel. It was clean and overall comfortable. It was located in the center al Quepos, as we wanted to experience the local life. While it was extremely easy to walk around, see the various shops, marina and the ocean, the noise from the constant traffic was quite an adjustment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente

San José

nicely located in San Jose. We were able to walk around and do a self guided tour of San Jose. The room was quite small,, just enough to fit 2 queen size beds. But really that was all we needed for the one night stay prior to our departure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

nice experience with our guide Bernardo. He was very knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Diego was a wonderful guide with excellent knowledge relevant to the excursion. He was very friendly, and always willing to answer any questions. He was able to locate 6-7 differently species of frogs and toads. We even saw a Costa Rican tree porcupine. the evening traditional Costa Rican dinner was delicious. The entire experience was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetop Dining Experience with Wine Pairing

Monteverde

This was definitely the highlight of our trip. This was not just dinner in a stunning setting of glass tree top room. It was an entire experience that our family would not forget for a time. From the moment we arrived the restaurant, we were greeted by professional and knowledgeable staff. The restaurant must having ordered up the most incredible sunset for the evening. every course of the meal represented a region in Costa Rica, and this was explained in detail by out waiter. The wine pairing just added to the incredible flavor of each course. Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed if your budget allows for this excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The KimKim team was on top of it all from the get go. They very much listened to what we wanted and we got a great itinerary. Besides the beauty of the Greek landscape, the sights we saw were sublime. What made it all even better were the wonderful guides we had. Special shout outs to our hiking guide Helen who provided us with a country lunch of home made goat cheese, olives and bread, Maria who shared her incredible knowledge during our 6 hour tour of Athens and the Acropolis, and Ekaterina who was an enthusiastic fountain of knowledge for our tours of Mycenae and Epidaurus. Our drivers were great and very service oriented. And the hotels were well located and well appointed. KimKim was with us every step of the way. We will definitely use the service again.

Activity Reviews

Guided Olive Grove Hike to Chrisso Village

Delphi

The guide was amazing and we had a wonderful day absorbing the countryside. It was a terrific counterpoint to the afternoon that we spent at Delphi. One of the best days we have ever had on any vacation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis & Highlights Walk with Food Tastings

Athens

Our guide Maria was terrific. She had a degree in the Classics so was incredibly knowledgeable. Her explanations were so great that they served us well when we came back to Athens for our last evening and went to the Acropolis museum. She was an excellent guide who spends her free time going on other tours so she can learn and grow in her job. The dedication paid off for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Mycenae & Epidaurus Day Trip

Nafplio

Ekaterina was a stellar guide. Deeply knowledgeable, very enthusiastic and a lot of fun. She was incredibly dedicated and we learned so much from her about the architecture and how the Greeks did it (or how we still often do not know how they did it). We appreciated the time allotted to tour the ruins on our own, armed with the thorough overview. It was a good way to do the tours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport