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active 6 hours ago

Yenyi Fu

I love exploring new destinations and new cultures, I feel it is a way of opening myself up to new ways to think about the world and new ways to interact with people.

When I travel, I love mixing up off the beaten track adventures on parts of the trip, with a beautiful hotel or restaurant experience - why not experience all the aspects that the destination has to offer!

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I spent 2 months in Guatemala, and in the two-month there, I learned so much about the culture of the country.

My most memorable experience is going to Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey, is a set of turquoise pools flowing through the dense forest. I knew it was going to be an adventure getting there from my base in Antigua, but it was even more than I expected. The roads are shockingly bad on the way to Semuc Champey. Our little shuttle van (license for 12 people), had at least 25 people crammed inside, with 5 additional people sitting on the roof. The van would often go off the road, to avoid parts where mudslides from previous winters had covered the paved road.

The van arrives at Lanquin, the closest "big town" to Semuc Champey. When we arrive, there are lots of men and boys yelling destination to smaller towns nearby, including Semuc. We follow a young boy of 12 or 13 years old to a pickup truck. We jump into the pickup truck, luckily, they had added a handle bar to the middle of the truck bed, and we hold on for dear life as the truck takes us down rocky roads to the hostel.

We woke up the next morning to the sounds of the jungle, different birds singing. A short hike from the hostel takes us to the Mirador overlooking the seven limestone pools below. We hiked down to the pools and just swam and relaxed in the waters.

The amazing thing was that we were in such a magnificent location, surrounded by nature, yet there were very few tourists around us. We felt privileged to have been able to experience this location before it is "discovered" by the rest of the world, and the adventure involved in getting here made it all the more memorable."

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Yenyi

Yenyi and Jessica were amazing! My mom and I ...
Costa Rica | Nov 16 - Nov 25, 2022

Monica
Monica F.
Florence, TX | Reviewed on Nov 26, 2022
Yenyi and Jessica were amazing! My mom and I planned this trip back in 2020. They checked in with us consistently until we were able to book again. The communication was fantastic, activities were perfect and the private transportation was just what we needed. My mom and I are extremely happy with all the accommodations they made for us. Everything was so thought out and planned great, We were able to participate in activities but also have private time to explore ourselves! Highly recommend... Read more

Yenyi and Jessica were amazing! My mom and I planned this trip back in 2020. They checked in with us consistently until we were able to book again. The communication was fantastic, activities were perfect and the private transportation was just what we needed. My mom and I are extremely happy with all the accommodations they made for us. Everything was so thought out and planned great, We were able to participate in activities but also have private time to explore ourselves! Highly recommend and will be using them again!!

Hotel Reviews
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

The room was clean and perfect for my mom and I. The exclusive beach access was wonderful, it is a bit of a hike up to your rooms. But Costa Rica is very hilly. Service was wonderful and anytime we needed a taxi they would call and get one to us quickly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The beach access
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
AC is not very common, the room kind of smelled wet when we entered.
Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco
Monteverde Costa Rica

Fantastic hotel. Very clean and aesthetically pleasing. Beds were soft and towels were soft, I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right next to town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner
Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a very personal and delicious meal. My mom and I got a private lesson and our chef was very personal. She made us feel right at home! She also sent us the recipe to make! Loved it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest
Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest
Monteverde

It was very very dark. I think I underestimated nature at night, but the guide was helpful. I don’t think I would’ve spotted any of the animals without him. We got to see a snake and birds. The hike was easy and our guide was very knowledgeable!

Quality of Experience
This is a great way to see sleeping birds
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide and driver were timely
Transport
Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna

I definitely recommend not skipping this event. The hike was fantastic, the Hot Springs were perfectly warm. We got to experience them in the evening followed by a dinner.

Quality of Experience
The Hot Springs were fantastic
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable about plants and animals
Transport
Local specialist: Yenyi Fu

Week in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Feb 10 - Feb 16, 2022

K
Katie W.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2022
We had a *wonderful* time in Costa Rica- many thanks to Yenyi! Yenyi helped us curate an itinerary that fit our travel style, adventure level, and budget. We felt supported and equipped with all the necessary resources every step of the way (confidence in every transfer ride, guidance on tipping expectations, a clear list of country entry requirements- nothing was missed!). We loved our self-guided tour of La Fortuna Waterfall alongside our own independent exploration of downtown La... Read more

We had a *wonderful* time in Costa Rica- many thanks to Yenyi!

Yenyi helped us curate an itinerary that fit our travel style, adventure level, and budget. We felt supported and equipped with all the necessary resources every step of the way (confidence in every transfer ride, guidance on tipping expectations, a clear list of country entry requirements- nothing was missed!).

We loved our self-guided tour of La Fortuna Waterfall alongside our own independent exploration of downtown La Fortuna. Our tour guides on the Sloth Tour, Hanging Bridges Tour, and Volcano Tour were wonderfully passionate and knowledgeable. And even though it was a small group, we really enjoyed getting to know the culinary instructor and one other tourist who joined the local cooking class. But our favorite had to be the evening pass and dinner reservation at Tabacon Thermal Resort!

Can't wait to come back! Thank you, Yenyi!

Hotel Review
Arenal Paraiso Resort & Spa
La Fortuna

This hotel has an unbeatable view of the volcano and a few nice pools to lounge in on lazy days. Staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating. And the breakfast buffet will fill you up for a day of activity. The location is also great- no more than a 15 minute drive from most activities. Room quality, food and drink quality, and poolside amenities do not have quite the same level of "wow" factor. So this hotel is a great "home base" for travelers hoping to get out and explore every day, but perhaps might not be a top choice for a resort-only stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Yenyi Fu

Helpful and responsive every step of the way
Costa Rica | Dec 18 - Dec 26, 2021

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Glen G.
Lafayette, CA | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2022

Yenyi was helpful and responsive every step of the way during trip planning, rescheduling twice because of Covid cancellations, and when we were finally in Costa Rica. When we had an issue in-country with one of the scheduled tours, Yenyi was on it immediately once contacted, helping to resolve things and get us on our way. My family loved every part of the trip. I highly recommend Yenyi and kimkim.

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on Jan 23, 2022

Thankyou Glen for the great review, and I am happy to have been able to help your family finally visit Costa Rica.

Hope you will travel with kimkim again in the future!

Best,
Yenyi

The best customer service during a challenging time
Costa Rica | Dec 1 - Dec 15, 2021

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Kathryn P.
Amesbury, MA | Reviewed on Dec 20, 2021
This trip was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. Thankfully kimkim and Yenyi took care of everything for us, even making changes to our excursions while we were in Costa Rica. This was a complicated trip and throwing in the pandemic further complicated it. This would have been overwhelming had we had to make all of the changes ourselves. We highly recommend kimkim for their excellent customer service during a very challenging time. Thank you! Read more

This trip was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. Thankfully kimkim and Yenyi took care of everything for us, even making changes to our excursions while we were in Costa Rica. This was a complicated trip and throwing in the pandemic further complicated it. This would have been overwhelming had we had to make all of the changes ourselves. We highly recommend kimkim for their excellent customer service during a very challenging time. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only
Manuel Antonio

We had a lovely room overlooking the jungle and the bay. The grounds of the hotel were very unique and we felt like we were definitely on vacation each time we stepped outside. You see monkeys and birds all around the property - monkeys even showed up for breakfast - just be alert because they'll try to steal your food! The staff was very helpful and accomodating. There is even a private beach area at the bottom of the hill that staff will gladly take you to and from via golf carts. We happened to be there at the end of the rainy season so the walkways are slippery if you're not wearing shoes with soles that grip. The food is excellent as well. Makanda was just was a wonderful getaway from reality.

Tips for future travelers

Bring shoes with soles in case of rain....also pack a rain coat.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas
Guanacaste

We were very lucky in our room assignment - off the walkway, toward the back to allow for more privacy (and a place to dry our laundry with it not being in the public view). The food is excellent and I highly recommend the farm to table dinner that's offered. The farm is owned by the hotel owner and they grow all the vegetables and herbs for the hotel, organically. That dinner is a unique experience and everyone should try it. A short walk to the beach and you have access to tidal pools deep enough to swim in. You can walk for miles along the shore - just remember your sunscreen! There are a couple of cabanas by the pool that we employed during the hot afternoons and we enjoyed drinks and lunch by the pool as well. That's a great way to spend a warm day. The hotel is within walking distance (if you don't mind walking a mile or two) to downtown and amenities. I had a medical emergency our first night there and the night clerk was very helpful in finding a 24 hour urgent care clinic that was open for me to go to. All was well in the end and really, we can't say enough good things about Cala Luna. I think the villas with the plunge pools would be an excellent place to stay here, had we planned a bit better - more privacy, private pool. All in all, Cala Luna is an oasis in very busy Tamarindo.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you fully shut the door when going to bed or one of the resort cats might pay you a visit in the middle of the night. It was a surprise but makes for a very funny story.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nayara Springs - Adults Only
Fortuna

Perfect!!! This was a trip postponed twice due to the pandemic and was originally scheduled to celebrate a milestone anniversary. When the staff asked us if we were celebrating anything, we told them that story. When we arrived at our room, there was a rose petal display on the floor, champagne, chocolates and fruit to help us celebrate! It was so very wonderful and thoughtful! Laundry is included, which, toward the end of a two week vacation, is very necessary. Food at every restaurant was over the top delicious and the staff is spectacular. The grounds are gorgeous too - take a walk up to the tented camp area and take advantage of the hot springs and the freezing cold plunge pool. Our room was perfect - huge, outdoor shower (as well as an indoor one), large bathroom and a fabulous hot spring warmed plunge pool! We used that quite a bit. We stayed here at the end of the raining season so it, of course, rained. That shouldn't deter you - there are umbrellas everywhere and if you don't feel like walking in the rain, you can call the front desk for a golf cart ride to wherever you need to go. The staff is very helpful with anything you need whether is be making reservations for dinner or setting up an excursion. They are happy to help so don't be afraid to ask. We actually based our entire trip around this resort - I had read about it and how wonderful it was so we had to stay here....the article was spot on!!! We would go back in a heart beat!

Tips for future travelers

Celebrate whatever here - they really make your special day even more special.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close for an inexpensive taxi ride to town
Staff
Personal attention
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

Our guide was extra friendly and informative, he had a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna plus he was very adept at taking photos with cell phones through the viewfinder of his telescope. We had some free time during the tour to explore the beach on our own before heading back through the jungle. The park is gorgeous and they are very strict about handwashing and mask wearing through the entrance gate. There is so much to see in this national park - it should be a national treasure! We saw birds, monkeys, iguanas, caimans....just a great place to explore!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Catamaran Adventure with Meal
Catamaran Adventure with Meal
Manuel Antonio

I'm glad the boat wasn't filled to capacity - we wouldn't have been able to interact so easily with our other snorklers as much. Drinks were delicious as well as dinner - and the sunset was amazing. The crew guided us around the bay before we started snorkling and we encountered a pod of spotted dolphins who swam along with the boat. There weren't a ton of different fish to see but it was calm and the water was warm. The boat has a slide that nearly every passenger went down! It was a very pleasant and relaxing time spent on and in the water.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on Jan 04, 2022

Thanks for the great review, and I am happy that we were able to make this happen! Hope to help you plan a future trip soon!

Best,
Yenyi

We had such a great trip. Everything was plan...
Costa Rica | May 8 - May 14, 2021

J
Jewel B.
Tampa, FL | Reviewed on May 17, 2021

We had such a great trip. Everything was planned out for us and our local specialist Yenyi helped us with everything we needed including rescheduling multiple times due to the pandemic, arranging our covid testing and providing us with great recommendations while in Costa Rica. Would use kimkim again and recommend to others.

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on May 24, 2021

So happy to hear that you had a great time in Costa Rica! Looking forward to helping you with your next trip soon!

Best,
Yenyi

Our first driver Otto with Desafio was great!...
Costa Rica | Mar 10 - Mar 15, 2020

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Robert S.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2020
Our first driver Otto with Desafio was great! He practiced Spanish with us the whole time so we could converse better the rest of the time. Loved our white water rafting with Steven as our guide. Then Otto safely got us to the Baldi Hotel with s restaurant recommendation in LaFortuna—LaStreet—which we tried one night—wonderful. Really enjoyed the Hot Springs at the hotel! Had a nice hike on the lava flows of the volcano and then a nice dinner at Tabacon Springs and enjoyed their springs... Read more

Our first driver Otto with Desafio was great! He practiced Spanish with us the whole time so we could converse better the rest of the time. Loved our white water rafting with Steven as our guide. Then Otto safely got us to the Baldi Hotel with s restaurant recommendation in LaFortuna—LaStreet—which we tried one night—wonderful. Really enjoyed the Hot Springs at the hotel! Had a nice hike on the lava flows of the volcano and then a nice dinner at Tabacon Springs and enjoyed their springs for an hour—not as hot as Baldi and more crowded. Crowded bus to Monteverde and very bumpy !! But got to Fonda Vela Hotel and enjoyed our Noctural Hike—didn’t think we got to see as much as we expected after we compared our evening with other at our hotel that had done a hike with another company, Really enjoyed the zip lining and since we were the last stop for the bus driver he kindly drove us another 1.5 km to the entrance to the Cloud Forest so we could see it and get a hike in. Were sad to have to head home—but in light of COVID-19 we timed our visit perfectly.

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on Dec 10, 2020

Hi Robert,

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Costa Rica. It was really timed to perfection, such that you were able to see everything on your list.

Best,
Yenyi

Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Mar 12 - Mar 19, 2020

N
Nancy A.
East Ridge, TN | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2020

Kimkim made my trip to Costa Rica a dream come true. I will be using them for my next trip—for sure!! My transportation, hotels and activities were first class, and they were not possible without Kimkim’s guidance and expertise.

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on Dec 10, 2020

Thanks for your lovely review, Nancy. I hope we will have a chance to help you with another trip soon.

Best,
Yenyi

Best of Costa Rica in 7 Days: Explore Jungles, Volcanoes and Beaches
Costa Rica | Apr 13 - Apr 21, 2019

Nitin
Nitin A.
Van Nuys, CA | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2019
We had a great family spring break adventure vacation in Costa Rica. Yenyi was instrumental in planning all details from hotels, excursions, transfers between citis and local restaurant recommendations. Kids really enjoyed the hotels and excursions in:
> La Fortuna (Arenal) - hotsprings and coffee and waterfall tour
> Monteverde - nocturnal animal tour and hanging bridges and zip line
> Manuel Antonio - catamaran and snorkeling tour
with all the upfront planning and detailed itinerary, all...
Read more

We had a great family spring break adventure vacation in Costa Rica. Yenyi was instrumental in planning all details from hotels, excursions, transfers between citis and local restaurant recommendations. Kids really enjoyed the hotels and excursions in:
> La Fortuna (Arenal) - hotsprings and coffee and waterfall tour
> Monteverde - nocturnal animal tour and hanging bridges and zip line
> Manuel Antonio - catamaran and snorkeling tour
with all the upfront planning and detailed itinerary, all we had to do was show-up and follow the plan. Great way to enjoy the vacation and not worry about the logistics.

We will definitely work with Yenyi and the KimKim Team to plan our next vacation soon.

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on May 03, 2019

Thanks for the great review! Can't wait to help you with your next adventure with the family!

Trip to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Feb 10 - Feb 17, 2019

E
Elizabeth E.
Brooklyn, NY | Reviewed on Feb 24, 2019
The trip was marvelous. Yenyi was very responsive, attentive and made a real effort to understand what we were looking for and arrange it for us.
Our particular favorites were the all day ride through the countryside around Monteverde with Horse Trek Monteverde. Flavio, who rode with us, was friendly and informative and pleasure to spend the day with. The owner, Marvin, was very generous in showing us the stable and his horses at the beginning of the day. He is a skilled, knowledgeable,...
Read more

The trip was marvelous. Yenyi was very responsive, attentive and made a real effort to understand what we were looking for and arrange it for us.
Our particular favorites were the all day ride through the countryside around Monteverde with Horse Trek Monteverde. Flavio, who rode with us, was friendly and informative and pleasure to spend the day with. The owner, Marvin, was very generous in showing us the stable and his horses at the beginning of the day. He is a skilled, knowledgeable, passionate, charismatic horseman and was incredibly fun to talk to. And, the country side was magnificent!
Another highlight was a rafting trip in the tenerio area which was super fun with a great guide.
With one small exception which was quickly remedied, all of the plans and pick ups worked perfectly.
Thanks, Yenyi!

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu

CR
Costa Rica | Dec 25 - Jan 1, 2019

D
Denise M.
Piscataway, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2019
What an incredible first time ever experience with a travel agency and to luck upon Kimkim and Yenyi in particular was a real dream come true. Yenyi was available 24:7; was incredibly resourceful and pleasant all at the same time. Her ideas and creativity made our excursion to Costa Rica an incredible vacation. It's not easy traveling with almost grown children but Yenyi made suggestions (including separate rooms) and fun activities like rafting into and out of an eco lodge one of the best... Read more

What an incredible first time ever experience with a travel agency and to luck upon Kimkim and Yenyi in particular was a real dream come true. Yenyi was available 24:7; was incredibly resourceful and pleasant all at the same time. Her ideas and creativity made our excursion to Costa Rica an incredible vacation. It's not easy traveling with almost grown children but Yenyi made suggestions (including separate rooms) and fun activities like rafting into and out of an eco lodge one of the best family experiences ever. She and Kimkim are the true dream makers. Thank you Yenyi (and Kim Kim) we won't travel anywhere without you!

Local specialist: Yenyi Fu
Yenyi
Yenyi Fu
Local specialist in California | Replied on Jan 25, 2019

Thanks for your kind words! We look forward to helping you with your next vacation!