Company Logo for Coast to Coast Adventures
Specialists
Reviews for Coast to Coast Adventures
Traveler Photos

Coast to Coast Adventures

We are a small, dedicated team of 20, resident in Costa Rica with our head office and a warehouse based in the capital, San Jose, two camps bordering the Pacuare River and our rafting warehouse nearby at Guayacan. We design, organize and run multi­activity travel within Costa Rica, Panama, and nearby Nicaragua and are expanding to include other Central American countries. Established in 1994, we have assisted many adventurers in exceeding their expectations while connecting with nature and the elements.

Coast to Coast Adventures is part of the following groups: Costa Rica Travel Agents

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Coast to Coast Adventures

Pura Vida!!!
Costa Rica | Feb 9 - Feb 15, 2025

Brett
Brett F.
Asheville, NC | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2025
The only part of this trip I didn't like was not being in Costa Rica longer! What a beautiful country and the wildlife lives up to all the hype without question!
Randall was extremely helpful and responsive in planning this trip for us and all of our guides were fantastic, especially Alan at Manuel Antonio. Our accomodations were beautiful and we saw just about all the animals we had hoped to, including 2 momma sloths with their babies- talk about cuteness overload! Besides the animals, the...
Read more

The only part of this trip I didn't like was not being in Costa Rica longer! What a beautiful country and the wildlife lives up to all the hype without question!
Randall was extremely helpful and responsive in planning this trip for us and all of our guides were fantastic, especially Alan at Manuel Antonio. Our accomodations were beautiful and we saw just about all the animals we had hoped to, including 2 momma sloths with their babies- talk about cuteness overload! Besides the animals, the landscape is epic and Baldi hot springs was hands down the most incredible facility of that type I imagine there is in the world! Definitely will be returning and hopefully will have even more time for my next trip. Big thanks to all our drivers, guides and to Randall for the wonderful experience! Pura vida 😊

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Arenal Montechiari
La Fortuna

This hotel was absolutely beautiful! The landscaping and all the birds and sloths on the property were so incredibly captivating and the food for breakfast was delicious as well. Highly recommend staying here 100%

Authenticity & Character
Adorable wood cabins with some of the most beautiful tropical landscaping on the grounds I have ever seen!
Location
Walking distance to the town plaza yet removed enough to be able to see a ton of wildlife all around the grounds of the property
Staff
Very kind and personable
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio

This facility is very large with many different parts to it. It was perfectly inlaid in to the jungle and seeing all the converted planes was surreal feeling. We also wound up seeing just as much if not more wildlife on the property than we did at any of the parks we visited, which was amazing! The food was great, rooms were clean and beds were comfy. The views from the pool and restaurants can't be beat either- definitely a great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character
I mean, all the converted planes... If that doesn't scream unique/character I don't know what does!
Location
Very close to Manuel Antonio park with stunning views and tons of wildlife everywhere you look
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hiking Waterfalls & River Swimming in La Fortuna
Hiking Waterfalls & River Swimming in La Fortuna
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the rainiest day of our trip so the waterfall was a little chilly BUT so worth it! Not only was it extremely beautiful but our guide was amazing at pointing out things the entire time (I was so impressed he even saw some things like the toucans in a tree on the drive there when he suddenly told the driver to pull over).

Quality of Experience
It was about as much activity as you could possibly ask for in a relatively short excursion and every bit of it was enjoyable!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Both our driver and guide were very kind and our guide was very knowledgeable and fantastic at spotting and pointing things out to us from the moment we met him until the moment we parted ways.
Transport
Relatively short drive with no issues and a kind, safe driver.
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

I absolutely loved this experience and it was quite the full day! The volcano was beautiful and the hot springs were absolutely epic!!

Quality of Experience
The nature of Costa Rica alone makes any experience like this amazing but add on friendly, knowledgeable guides and good, safe drives = perfection!
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very kind and amazing qt providing information and pointing things out to us.
Transport
Our driver was very nice and I felt comfortable and safe
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio

I loved our experience in the park! The park is incredibly beautiful with a wide range of different views/animals/flora & fauna. Our guide was not only kind and knowledgeable but also had a great sense of humor + tried his best to give us space from other groups so that we could see more wildlife. The only feedback/suggestion I have (which may really be the park's policy so I'm not sure if anything can be done) is that it seems silly and not ideal having all of the guided group tours arriving at the same time i the morning as it makes a big line to get in and then it is harder to experience the park without being surrounded by a large crowd (though again, kudos to our guide Alan for doing his best in mitigating this for us).

Quality of Experience
The animals and location are unbeatable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our drive was not very long and our guide was very nice, funny and not only pointed things out we never would have seen on our own but also was a great advocate for the wildlife (he had to scold some people that were getting too close to some animals and intimidating them)
Transport
Manuel Antonio - Jungle Night Walk
Manuel Antonio - Jungle Night Walk
Manuel Antonio

This was a small group and we saw quite a variety of animals in a relatively short time span. It was really neat as we all took turns finding then sharing with the others in our group the animals we discovered.

Quality of Experience
It was awesome seeing the different animals in the night time jungle!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was very good and showed us a lot of things we would not have seen without him.
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 18, 2025
Hi Brett, Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback about your recent trip to Costa Rica! I’m thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience and that the wildlife exceeded your expectations. It sounds like you had some amazing encounters, especially with the sloths! I’m glad to know that you found the accommodations beautiful and that our guides, particularly Alan at Manuel Antonio, contributed to your memorable journey. Your appreciation for Baldi Hot Springs is music... Read more

Hi Brett,

Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback about your recent trip to Costa Rica! I’m thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience and that the wildlife exceeded your expectations. It sounds like you had some amazing encounters, especially with the sloths!

I’m glad to know that you found the accommodations beautiful and that our guides, particularly Alan at Manuel Antonio, contributed to your memorable journey. Your appreciation for Baldi Hot Springs is music to my ears—it's truly a magical place!

I completely understand your wish to have spent more time in such a beautiful country. Costa Rica offers an abundance of stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife, and I would love to assist you in planning your return trip to explore even more.

Thank you once again for trusting me to organize your adventure. If you have any specific ideas or places in mind for your next visit, feel free to reach out anytime.

Pura vida!

Best regards,
Randall

A 2 week fun vacation in Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Dec 20 - Jan 1, 2025

B
Beth K.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2025
Just came back from a fantastic vacation in Costa Rica that Randall, our agent from KimKim, booked for us. All the hotel checkins and excursions went seamlessly smooth. La Fortuna - we stayed at the Montañad de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa. Nice rooms but probably wouldn’t recommend as to the paths to our bungalow were not lit and it was easy to trip along the way. The “thermal” pools are warmer at my home. We did the Arenal lava hike and that was good although we never did see the top of... Read more

Just came back from a fantastic vacation in Costa Rica that Randall, our agent from KimKim, booked for us. All the hotel checkins and excursions went seamlessly smooth.

La Fortuna - we stayed at the Montañad de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa. Nice rooms but probably wouldn’t recommend as to the paths to our bungalow were not lit and it was easy to trip along the way. The “thermal” pools are warmer at my home. We did the Arenal lava hike and that was good although we never did see the top of Arenal due to daily cloud cover. Baldi Hot Springs were fantastic as was the cano negro boat tour.
Our next stop was in Monteverde where we stayed at Poco a Poco. Loved this hotel and highly recommend it. Hanging bridges were great as was the zip lining. Really enjoyed the coffee, chocolate and sugar cane tour.
Our last stop was in Tamarindo and we stayed at the Wyndham. Very nice hotel although they would run out of clean towels (both in room as well as pool). Did a catamaran snorkel tour through Marlin Del Rey. Snorkeling was poor due to all the rain but the unlimited drinks and food were really good.

Hotel Reviews
Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa
La Fortuna

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa had very nice rooms, but I was surprised by the lack of lighting on the paths, making it difficult to walk at night. The thermal pools were also not as warm as I expected. The garden was beautiful though, and the facility itself was lovely.

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco
Monteverde

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco in Monteverde was a quaint hotel with great service. The staff were lovely, making the stay highly recommendable.

Wyndham
Tamarindo

The Wyndham had a great location with a nice view over the city and beach. However, they routinely ran out of towels, both for rooms and the beach. At times, the rooms weren't serviced even after requesting housekeeping.

Activity Reviews
Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Guided Hike & Zip-lining tour
Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Guided Hike & Zip-lining tour
Monteverde

The Hanging Bridges Guided Hike was a wonderful experience. Although I didn't do the zip-lining due to my knee, I exchanged my ticket for the Sloth tour, which I really enjoyed. The park was well-maintained, and there were plenty of activities available for everyone.

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Monteverde

The Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience was a delightful and educational tour. It was fascinating to see the process and try various samples. Walking through the plantations and learning about these products was a wonderful and tasty experience.

Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 03, 2025

Dear Beth,

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback. I truly appreciate your insights and have already noted your comments regarding Montaña de Fuego. I will be sure to follow up with them to help enhance their product.

This December has certainly been unusual, with more rain than we typically experience at this time of year. The tropics never cease to surprise us!

We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to our beautiful country in the near future.

Warm regards,
Randall

Everything went fine with the exception of ...
Costa Rica | May 7 - May 24, 2024

Antonio
Antonio B.
Portugal | Reviewed on May 29, 2024
Everything went fine with the exception of hotel El Faro in Manuel António which was very bad and is not a 4 stars hotel whatsoever. Even the guy on the reception was very antipathetic (despite many others being friendly)! My recommendation is straight forward: dont sell this hotel!| Read more

Everything went fine with the exception of hotel El Faro in Manuel António which was very bad and is not a 4 stars hotel whatsoever. Even the guy on the reception was very antipathetic (despite many others being friendly)! My recommendation is straight forward: dont sell this hotel!|

Hotel Reviews
El Faro Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

The Hotel has a nice view. Most of the staff is helpful but one guy on the reception was very unfriendly. This hotel is not 4 stars whatsoever. Kimkim should not sell this hotel which is very bad, really bad.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Because of one guy on the reception I have to rate the staff as very bad.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nothing, no improvment is possible in containers!
Laguna Lodge
Tortuguero
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
San Bosco Inn
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Cipreses
Monteverde
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
San José
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Azania Bungalows
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on May 30, 2024

Hi Antonio,

Thank you for sharing your feedback and photos from your recent trip to Hotel El Faro. I value your information as it gives me a firsthand look at the hotel's current condition. Given the rapidly changing nature of hotels in Costa Rica, your feedback is invaluable in helping me make informed decisions about future stays.

On the other hand, it is great to read you enjoyed the rest of the trip completely.

All the best,
Randall

We had a terrific time on our trip to Costa R...
Costa Rica | Apr 10 - Apr 15, 2024

Catherine
Catherine L.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Apr 30, 2024
We had a terrific time on our trip to Costa Rica. Randall was very helpful and everything he organized happened like clockwork. Read more

We had a terrific time on our trip to Costa Rica. Randall was very helpful and everything he organized happened like clockwork.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Country Inn
La Fortuna

Beautiful hotel grounds with individual bungalows for rooms. Loved all the gorgeous plants and flowers. The staff was super nice and friendly. They went out of their way for us. We arrived very late at night, but someone was there to greet us and take us to our room. The front desk staff was very helpful and friendly, too.

Authenticity & Character
Gorgeous plants and flowers and individual bungalow rooms.
Location
Very close to downtown
Staff
Super nice and friendly staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable rooms.
Mar Inn Costa Rica
Monteverde Costa Rica

Great place to stay in Monteverde. Big, clean and comfortable rooms. Balcony with a view. Fun, friendly, informative staff.

Authenticity & Character
Cute place with nice staff. Loved the sister hotel next door where we had breakfast was call Hotel Don Taco and they had a good bar with unique drinks. The resident dogs were the best!
Location
Very close to downtown. Need to climb a hill to get back to hotel, but not a big issue.
Staff
Super friendly staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean, big and comfortable rooms
Activity Review
Maleku Tribe Village Visit
Maleku Tribe Village Visit
Arenal/La Fortuna

I enjoyed learning about the culture of the tribe. What they eat, how they dressed, their music and their language.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on May 03, 2024

Hi Catherine,

Thank you for your review, I am so glad to hear you had a good time with the people you met and the places and areas that you visited.

We hope to have you again in our country soon.

Best,
Randall

It was a wonderful trip overall! We started o...
Costa Rica | Mar 9 - Mar 16, 2024

sagarika
sagarika r.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024
It was a wonderful trip overall! We started our trip at Arenal, and went on to visit Monteverde, Manual Antonio and San Jose. The first hike at the lava rock trail at Arenal Volcano was a difficult one for us, I wish Randall had warned us appropriately. This was genuinely not for our fitness level and I ended up injuring my knee in the process. But the other activities were fine and we enjoyed our trip to the cloud forest reserve at Monteverde. The guide at the cloud forest was young but very... Read more

It was a wonderful trip overall! We started our trip at Arenal, and went on to visit Monteverde, Manual Antonio and San Jose. The first hike at the lava rock trail at Arenal Volcano was a difficult one for us, I wish Randall had warned us appropriately. This was genuinely not for our fitness level and I ended up injuring my knee in the process. But the other activities were fine and we enjoyed our trip to the cloud forest reserve at Monteverde. The guide at the cloud forest was young but very knowledgeable and took time to explain what we saw and also answered our questions patiently. Randall chose very good hotels for us and the transportation and pick ups arranged were always on time. This was our first time booking thru Kim Kim and we will certainly consider this again in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Beautiful resort with lush greenery and epic view of the Arenal Volcano from the resort room. Staff was amazing and very friendly and always willing to help. I wish we had more english language channels for the TV and the hotel had shuttle services to the downtown area..

Authenticity & Character
Location
The resort is in a quiet setting for a peaceful getaway but a bit far from the downtown area
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola
San José

Location of this hotel is great, but everything else was just average.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco
Monteverde

Beautiful landscapes, comfortable stay, room was very nicely prepared for the stay

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Coffee & Chocolate Experience
Coffee & Chocolate Experience
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
It was a difficult hike for us
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
Best experience at Costa Rica
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Mar 27, 2024

Thank you Sagarika for your review. We are so glad to read that you had a good time in our country.

I am sorry to hear about the knee injury during the hike to the volcano's base. This is a route that many families with kids do all the time, that is why I suggested this hike for you because it is an easy hike, done even for seniors, sometimes it is difficult for us to know exactly what the fitness level of each person, nevertheless, I am glad you enjoyed the rest of the hikes included on the itinerary.

Regards,
Randall

The trip was amazing. The guides were knowle...
Costa Rica | Mar 10 - Mar 14, 2024

C
Carol W.
Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2024
The trip was amazing. The guides were knowledgeable and interesting. Monica was excellent.
The places picked with the help of Randall were great.
Our hotel, Volcano hotel spa and thermal experience room had tiny ants in the bathroom. Not so good.
The hotels in general were good. Helpful and accommodating.
Read more

The trip was amazing. The guides were knowledgeable and interesting. Monica was excellent.
The places picked with the help of Randall were great.
Our hotel, Volcano hotel spa and thermal experience room had tiny ants in the bathroom. Not so good.
The hotels in general were good. Helpful and accommodating.

Activity Reviews
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall with lunch
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall with lunch
Arenal/La Fortuna
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
I
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Mar 21, 2024

Hi Carol,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about the trip that we organized for you and Peter in our country! We did share this with the Volcano Lodge Hotel, to let them know about the ants situation in your bathroom.

We hope to have the chance to welcome you again in the future.

Best,
Randall

PURAAAA VIDAAAA
Costa Rica | Aug 20 - Aug 30, 2023

O
Orla O.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024
We had a really amazing trip, that was well-planned and organised with our wants in mind. Thank you so much Randall, we really appreciate your help and that you made yourself available to us on this trip! Pura Vida :) Read more

We had a really amazing trip, that was well-planned and organised with our wants in mind. Thank you so much Randall, we really appreciate your help and that you made yourself available to us on this trip! Pura Vida :)

Hotel Reviews
San Bosco Inn
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Best Western Hotel & Casino Kamuk
Quepos

Great hotel, but poor location

Authenticity & Character
Location
unsafe and bad vibes
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
San José
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mar Inn Costa Rica
Monteverde Costa Rica
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Mar 21, 2024

Hi Orla,

It is good to hear from you after the trip we organized for you and Adam last year in our country.

We are delighted that you enjoyed your time in Costa Rica and we look forward to seeing you again soon exploring some other exotic areas in our country.

Best,
Randall

Randall did an amazing job tailoring our week...
Costa Rica | Feb 23 - Mar 2, 2024

Andrea
Andrea B.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 07, 2024
Randall did an amazing job tailoring our week to meet our needs. Everything was completely seamlessly designed. Every excursion selected by Randall was top notch. Accommodation were exactly want we were looking for. This is our second time using KimKim and it won’t be our last. Read more

Randall did an amazing job tailoring our week to meet our needs. Everything was completely seamlessly designed. Every excursion selected by Randall was top notch. Accommodation were exactly want we were looking for. This is our second time using KimKim and it won’t be our last.

Hotel Reviews
Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport
San Jose

Perfect stop by the airport. It was exactly as you would expect and super new and fresh.

Location
Less then ten minutes from the airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

This is a real little paradise in the jungle with direct view of the volcano. Wildlife all over the resort. Amazing breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right under the volcano.
Staff
They were exceptional. Always pointin g out wildlife
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio

More monkeys than people!!! Fantastic

Authenticity & Character
Very unique. Just how we like it.
Location
In the jungle but moments from the beach.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Transfer to Arenal Volcano - Whitewater Rafting on the Sarapiquí River
Transfer to Arenal Volcano - Whitewater Rafting on the Sarapiquí River
Arenal/La Fortuna

We can’t say enough about the guides. They were exceptional. We did class 4 rapids

Quality of Experience
I can’t say enough. This one really stood out.
Food
Great local meal. ❤️
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Timely , helpful, safe.
Canyoning Tour
Canyoning Tour
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a real standout experience! Very well organized with very skilled guides. I was very nervous and they made me feel very safe and helped me build my confidence. I’m so glad I did this.

Quality of Experience
I’ll never forget this one!
Food
Fantastic windup space with meal. Just fantastic
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vida Campesina Cultural & Cooking Class
Vida Campesina Cultural & Cooking Class
Arenal/La Fortuna

We learned so much! Loved the tour of the gardens. A little less cooking then I was hoping for but overall it was a great learning experience

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fantastic. Guide
Transport
Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio
Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio

Beautiful large boat with excellent service.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Zip-Lining Tour
Zip-Lining Tour
Arenal/La Fortuna

We felt very safe. Beautiful tree canopy.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Horseback Riding and Hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall
Horseback Riding and Hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

Such a lovely day! Great guide, wonderful horses. The falls was beautiful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Arenal/La Fortuna

Such a wonderful guide! So well informed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio

So many animals!!!! Simply amazing. The guide was brilliant. You must have a guide for this walk.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Mar 09, 2024

Hi Andrea,

Thank you so much for your review. We're happy that you're happy with the trip and watching the amazing pictures that you shared, I can see that Carl and Anna had a good time too :)

We're looking forward to your next visit to our country!

Regards and Pura Vida!
Randall

All was good until the last transfer with Rid...
Costa Rica | Jan 20 - Jan 26, 2024

G
Ghada E.
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2024
All was good until the last transfer with Ride CR. The bus arrived 2.5 hours late and the office kept on lying and saying it will arrive in 10min. At the end it turned out that the office have the driver the wrong address… the office will start talking to us and suddenly will hang up on us. Very rude. Read more

All was good until the last transfer with Ride CR. The bus arrived 2.5 hours late and the office kept on lying and saying it will arrive in 10min. At the end it turned out that the office have the driver the wrong address… the office will start talking to us and suddenly will hang up on us. Very rude.

Hotel Reviews
San Bosco Inn
Fortuna

Location is great, hotel is basic

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to the downtown
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

Clean and nice beach

Authenticity & Character
Offering some ice. You have to walk to the reception every time you need towels
Location
Staff
Helpful when we had an issue with the shuttle
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
San José
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Zip-Lining Tour
Zip-Lining Tour
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

You cannot see the volcano

Quality of Experience
Food
Better food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide very kindly
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide very knowledgeable but cannot see the animals with bare eyes
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 29, 2024

Hi Ghada,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a rating, that is very important to us as this is the best way for us to improve the service that we offer and make adjustments about the local tour operators, hotels, and/or transportation companies we work with.

We presented a formal complaint to the transportation company for the unacceptable service that you received that day and requested a refund for that service, I will be in touch with you directly about how the process is going.

Regards,
Randall

Great Sampler for First Trip to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Jan 13 - Jan 24, 2024

christy
christy l.
Saint George, UT | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2024
This was our first trip to Costa Rica so we didn't know anything. I liked going back and forth with Randall about ideas and options. We chose 4 nights at the very high end Amor Arsenal which we loved the most, then 2 nights at Hotel Belmar in Monteverde which was a cool old hotel with amazing views, and then 3 nights at Arenas Del Mar at Manuel Antonio. We opted for the small room at Arenas Del Mar and were disappointed with that - it was really too small. Because we got in so late on... Read more

This was our first trip to Costa Rica so we didn't know anything. I liked going back and forth with Randall about ideas and options. We chose 4 nights at the very high end Amor Arsenal which we loved the most, then 2 nights at Hotel Belmar in Monteverde which was a cool old hotel with amazing views, and then 3 nights at Arenas Del Mar at Manuel Antonio. We opted for the small room at Arenas Del Mar and were disappointed with that - it was really too small. Because we got in so late on our first night, we had just a brief stay at Grano in San Jose and it was very nice. Coming home from Manuel Antonio, we stayed one night near the airport at Xandari Resort which is a very charming place with colorful painted villas, pools, amazing landscaping, and a great trail to waterfalls. You can hear quite a few planes going over but it wasn't too bad. The only negative there was that the mattress and the pillows were very hard and uncomfortable.

Our activities included volcano hikes, nature walks, zip line, chocolate/coffee/sugar cane tasting, beach walking, and swimming.

Hotel Reviews
Amor Arenal
La Fortuna, San Carlos

Our casita was lovely - the best of the trip. Gleaming wood floors, ceiling, and window frames. Great views. Our own jacuzzi. The staff were very helpful and friendly. Yoga was good and the facilities lovely. Nice but short trail for walking. Hard to get a long (as in 4 miles) walk in on the property though. The food was good but a bit overpriced. Loved sitting outside on the deck at the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
We liked the emphasis on conservation and ecology.
Location
Staff
The guys running the golf carts were super friendly and pointed out a sloth and some birds. We chose to walk but the walk is quite steep - not for everyone, that's why they offer the golf carts.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed creaks quite a bit - one person can't get up without waking the other.
Grano de Oro Hotel
San José

We were there only from 11pm to 10am. It was a beautiful hotel and the breakfast was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Xandari Resort & Spa
Alajuela

Beautiful painting job of every wall, gate, and decoration - so colorful. The landscaping is gorgeous - really enjoyed walking through all the paths. Enjoyed the walk to the waterfalls. We had a big villa which was nice. There was a little mildew odor in the bathroom. The mattress was very hard - like a futon - and was uncomfortable. The pillows were also very stiff and too firm. This is a charming place - they just need to work on a few details in the rooms. Planes take off nearby but they are not constant and they didn't really bother us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Better mattress, better pillows, elimination of mildew odor - couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from.
Hotel Belmar
Monteverde

We had the best room - fantastic views. There was a huge, round bath tub in the room which we didn't use (would feel guilty using that much water!). It is a windy place and cool but that was fine. We enjoyed walking everywhere around the nature walks and to the beer garden. The nature path is very short - would have liked a longer path to walk. The road to the hotel is very steep so we never did walk into town. The restaurant is very nice and the staff were just great. One night we had live music which was fun.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The views, the privacy
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenas del Mar Resort
Manuel Antonio

Our room was too small - we wish we had booked the larger room. The only place to sit in a chair was out on the deck which was sometimes too hot. This is a beach experience and it was hot and humid. The pool near the reception area was particularly lovely. We enjoyed walking along the public beach which is longer. We are not ocean swimmers. We enjoyed the tour of the park but there were many people and we really didn't see that many animals. We liked our tour guide Raphael who was very knowledgeable. This hotel has a steep path from rooms/reception to the beach but they offer golf carts for those who don't want to walk. There is a short nature path. We didn't do as much hiking as we had planned because of the heat.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano
Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide, Eduardo, was excellent. He pointed out many animals and birds. He was very fit and animated. We enjoyed being with him.

Quality of Experience
Eduardo was good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super nice people
Transport
On time and safe
Burrito Hike
Burrito Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a good challenging hike but could have been longer. They used to call it the burrito hike because they took you to make burritos but now they took us to chop vegetables and make empanadas. It was okay but we would have rather hiked more. We enjoyed the people we were with and the guide was great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Not my favorite food - a lot of fried items.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Eduardo was very knowledgeable and a good hike leader.
Transport
On time, safe, and friendly.
Monteverde - Zip-lining tour at the Selvatura Park
Monteverde - Zip-lining tour at the Selvatura Park
Monteverde

We loved this activity. There were 13 zip lines (some were very short). It was pretty and good to be in the fresh air. Felt very safe. The only negative is how many people there were - some long lines on occasion.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)
Monteverde

Fun activity, learned a lot. There were a lot of people - pretty touristy.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

Very touristy. Tons of people everywhere. Waiting in lines. Actually walking on the hanging bridges was fun. The La Fortuna waterfall is a staircase that you walk down and then back up. Not a hike at all.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio

Very tame walk. We were in a group of 10. Not a lot of exercise. The guide was very good - Raphael. He knew a lot and was good at explaining. We didn't see that many animals due to the time of day and the crowds. Tons of tourists.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 29, 2024

Hi Christy,

I appreciate the feedback shared about your trip to our country a few weeks ago, it is great to confirm that you had a good time on the vacation that we organized for you...and as far as the beds' condition at Xandari, we will make sure to pass your comments to them too.

Have a good day and we hope to see you again anytime soon.

Best,
Randall