Michael Gold

We spent a wonderful 10 days in Colombia looked after by Michael and his team at Chaska Travels.
A special mention about our guide Marylin in Bogota who went that extra mile to look after us personally especially when my wife and daughter were a bit under the weather. All the tours and travel arrangements went without a hitch and frankly there was no part of our trip that we had any negative experience. We loved Colombia as a country, its people and of course its amazing Geography.
The highlight of our trip was our stay at the Sofitel Santa Clara where we could not have asked for more. The service and facilities were wonderful.

Our trip was amazing. Michael was incredibly responsive and helpful, I was travelling alone with my daughter AND trying to coordinate with a first leg of the trip already planned with friends, and he made it all go smoothly and answered all of my many questions. Our guides were fantastic, Freu and Cielo, and the scheduled activities were wonderful. The hotels were also lovely. I think the highlight for me was visiting the village outside Cartagena, where we made jewelry with an amazing group of women (Damartes) who have created a business making items from coconut shells and hosting workshops with tourists; took a boat tour through mangroves and learned a lot about the people who live there; got to drum with a group of local musicians. We also did a chocolate making workshop in Cartagena that kept my 11 year old engaged most of the day. In Medellìn the food tour through the market and to a few small food shops was amazing, there is no way I could ever have known to go to those places on my own. I really was blown away by the quality of the activities, and I really liked the businesses and initiatives connected with those activities, and felt good about having the opportunity to learn about them and support them. Colombia is by far one of the most amazing (if not THE most amazing) places I've travelled to, and while I do speak Spanish it was reassuring being accompanied by local guides and it was amazing not having to coordinate and organize all the finer details of the trip. I was able to actually enjoy myself; Cielo in particular kept my daughter engaged, so I didn't have to translate for her and could participate in the activities myself; Freu was delightful to talk to and I learned so much about Medellìn and its history from him. Not having to worry about arranging all the transportation etc meant I could focus on the trip and be present instead of constantly staying on top of logistical details. And as a very obvious tourist alone with a child, I felt safe, both because of the guides' confidence and connection with the people around us and because I knew that someone was checking in with our accommodations and with me to make sure everything was going well. I absolutely recommend Kimkim, and Michael, for planning a trip to Colombia. There's so much more of the country we haven't visited, I hope to be able to book another trip very soon.

Great experience, great staff, everyone from Michael to the drivers were excellent.

Activity Reviews

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

We suggest you delete this tour from your options. Awful, dirty, smelly. not one good thing about it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

all great. very professional and knowledgeable

Transport

everything, the people, the punctuality.

Cartagena City-Tour by Bike

Cartagena

not too safe, very chaotic city to ride bicycles. more stress than fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time. Every place and every tour we had was a nice experience. We learn so much from the places we visited. We highly recommend your agency.

Hotel Reviews

14 Urban Hotel

Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa Tere

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Isabella, a Kali Hotel

Santa Marta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit the Salt Cathedral at Zipaquira

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City-Tour by Bike

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Bay Cruise

Santa Marta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tubing on Don Diego River

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Walking Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Increíble once in a lifetime trip! Our guide heraldo was excellent - Very knowledgeable and helpful along the way. Hands down the most adventurous trip we’ve ever taken. The untouched nature was amazing.

Many thanks to Michael and the kimkimteam for making my tailored excursions to the Tatacoa Desert and Cocora Valley a wish come true. Your patience and accommodation has truly contributed to making my trip to Colombia a memorable one. And for this, I give many thanks!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Salento Real Eje Cafetero

Salento

Centrally located to shops and restaurants, beautiful aesthetic with clean, comfortable rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

TATACOA STAR ECOHOTEL

Villavieja, Huila

Encanto, treehouse themed hotel with comfortable bathrooms, A/c and cable television. Staff were friendly and easy to communicate with. Breakfast was made to order.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Tatacoa Desert's Astronomical Observatory

Villavieja

What better way to experience the solar system then out in nature under the desert skies? Guillermo was enthusiastic and informative about the locations of the constellations, we were able to see Saturn, Alpha Centuari stars, the moon up close and the positions of the stars through his telescope.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Tatacoa Desert

Villavieja

This is a breathtaking desert! During this trip I learned about the prehistoric animals that roamed these lands and the current animals and plants that thrive there. I got to experience the juxtaposition of the red desert and the grey desert. This is a unique experience to walk through a remarkable landscape. It's an easy walk and the cool breeze in the morning made the walk comfortable, especially at the grey desert.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I rode in a tuk-tuk to get around and the experience felt much more authentic as you can feel the road below and take in the air.

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

I road in an open top jeep along open farmlands to get to the Cocora Valley and it was very scenic and liberating. There are different hiking trails and it's not difficult, but the incline up the hill is noticeable. My guide, Carlos, was informative and I learned about the background of the wax palms, its history and preservation. The nature is beautiful. The area is so green and the trees have to be experienced firsthand to see their remarkable endurance and height. The weather was excellent in the morning with a breeze.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible experience during our recent trip to Colombia. From start to finish, every aspect of the journey exceeded our expectations.

Hotel Reviews

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Comfortable and local charm

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable stay reflecting local culture and very friendly and helpful staff

Location

Staff

Eager to help with finding local places to eat and very cooperative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The property maintained its local decor with much hygiene and cleanliness.

Villa Maria Tayrona, a Kali Hotels

Los Naranjos

Great experience in staying in the log cabins in this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Although the resort is in the deep forest, we never felt short of any supplies. The kitchen offered various choices of meals and breakfast was sooo amazing.

Location

Very comfortable and luxurious amidst the wilderness of the dense forest. Easily accessible and close to hiking places.

Staff

Very very friendly staff. It felt like returning home every time after the day out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and blankets were clean and comfortable.

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Excellent location, close to malls and shops .

Authenticity & Character

We flew from Santa Marta early in the morning, and reached the hotel a few hours early before the check in time. We would appreciate if we could get our rooms a bit early and not wait until 4 pm.

Location

Excellent location, close to shopping and accessibility to bus, metro and train stations is very convenient.

Staff

Fairly friendly staff. The staff at the restaurant were amazing though.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

The location of this hotel was superb. Within walking distance from the main attractions, shopping and promenades. Security was very tight and overall service was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable stay and well attended to every details.

Location

Great location.

Staff

Super friendly and helpful. The staff at the reception helped us book Uber and their suggestions about places to eat was super helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable. The housekeeping was very efficient and attentive.

Activity Reviews

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Amazing experience. Carlos the owner of the farm was a very humorous person. He showed us how the flowers were arranged and millions of flowers carried on the backs of silletas ,for the show . He also took pictures with us that we will cherish later in our memories.

Quality of Experience

The vibrant flower displays, showcasing the beauty and creativity of Colombian culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia was our tour guide and she was simply amazing. Carlos the guide of the Silletas was very humorous and fascinating.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle was provided to us .

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Amazing and very motivating. Our journey to Comuna 13 in Medellín, a neighborhood known for its transformation from violence to vibrancy. The guided tour showcased the community's resilience and creativity through street art and local stories. The colorful murals depicted themes of hope and renewal, and we were inspired by the community's spirit. The visit also included a ride on the famous escalators, which have made the area more accessible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia was our tour guide in Medellín. She was exceptional and her knowledge of the history and local customs truly enriched our experience.

Transport

Awesome and comfortable

Michael, our advisor and chief planner was excellent throughout the process. Thank you.

Each of our guides and drivers chosen by Chaska tours was excellent. They were efficient and did more than was needed without hesitation.

Sandra in Cartahena, and Claudia, in Medellin were both excellent. Claudia warm, shared many stories and the history of Medellin, and we enjoyed her company.

One of us felt tired on our hike in Tayrona. Our guide helped us back via a short cut when we needed to come back.

Hotel Review

Villa Maria Tayrona, a Kali Hotels

Los Naranjos

Authenticity & Character

Constructed from locally sourced material, the cottages blend in.

Location

In the jungle.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

We used public transportation for this tour. It was a transformative experience. Medellin and Communa 13 was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Booking our trip through Kimkim was incredibly easy. For many years now, I've wanted to go birdwatching in Colombia but knew so little about the country and where to go. Michael put together an amazing itinerary starting in Bogota, ending in Santa Marta, and including Manizales in the "coffee triangle". We saw over 200 species of birds, most of which were lifers, and stayed in some of the most beautiful places I think I've ever seen. Hacienda Venezia was a spectacular historic home on a coffee plantation; El Dorado had "glamorous" huts on the top of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with panoramic views of the entire planet, it felt; and Senda Koguiwa felt like a luxurious tropical resort. Even the HAB hotel, where we stayed in Bogota, was chic, comfortable, and upscale. The guides were incredibly knowledgable and everyone was kind and attentive. There were some live changes to the itinerary, but that's par for the course.

There were just a few issues, all of which could be ironed out with a few adjustments:

1. The breakfast box supplied by Senda Koguiwa was awful: a dry bread roll with tasteless cheese and ham, and nothing else. It was clear to me that they don't usually put these together for guests.

2. The accommodations at El Dorado were beautiful but they were dangerous. The pathways that lead from the huts up to the main restaurant were loose, slippery, and muddy and didn't have any hand railing to help people stabilize themselves. The wooden boards that were used to create steps in the mud were rotting and collapsed when stepped on. Someone literally could break their leg hiking this path. They also haven't strung up any lights along these pathways and so when you walk back from the restaurant at night (it's a good 8-minute walk to the furthest cabins!) you essentially do that in the pitch blackness. We weren't prepared for this: no one told us to bring torches for the journey.

3. Our final guide for the trip (and I won't mention his name here) was extremely knowledgeable but he lacked experience actually GUIDING people, particularly larger groups. He didn't really look after us at all but rather walked ahead, birded, and told whoever was closest to him what they were seeing. He didn't explain anything, didn't make sure the whole group had seen the birds, and didn't wait for the stragglers to catch up. We had some older folks in our group and he never waited to help them up/down slippery slopes or difficult obstacles. He just forged ahead and if someone had dropped off the edge of the mountain, he probably wouldn't have noticed. I learned how to work with him—by sticking closely to his side and asking him relentless questions—but the rest of the group struggled. He also never explained what we were doing or what to expect so we were often ill-prepared for the activities we were doing. I'm able to say these things about him because the other guides we had were so wonderful with the group.

4. Finally, birding is a long and physical activity. It would be nice if all the guides kept a cooler in the back of the van with bottles of cold water, soft drinks, and perhaps some snacks (health bars / fruit or whatever) on trips that are longer than 3 hours. There were many early mornings we left to bird and weren't given any coffee or tea at all, and had to wait until mid-morning breakfast or lunch to eat or drink again. It would take so little to address this and it would have a major impact on the happiness of your future birders.

5. Recommendation for Senda Koguiwa: put up bird feeders! They have such a gorgeous property with so many birds already but with feeders, you'd attract birdwatchers by the thousands!

None of these are criticisms but rather intended as feedback to help Kimkim fine-tune its services for birders. Overall, we had the adventure of a lifetime and it was wonderful to sit back and enjoy the ride!