We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. The peo...
Costa Rica | Aug 8 - Aug 17, 2023

C
Cosimo F.
West Springfield, VA | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2023

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. The people at KimKim (Fio, Nancy, and Charlotte) that put everything together, answered all of our questions, and helped us while we were there- they were just fantastic. Mariano from Serendipity took us on a hike over the lava fields in Fortuna and to the base of a waterfall to swim. He was incredibly funny and knowledgable and shared a delicious lunch with us at the Red Frog. We absolutely loved our canyoning tour and the whitewater rafting trip that followed. The canyoning gave an amazing perspective of the jungle. Christopher was a great white water rafting guide. The Arenal Manoa hotel was very comfortable and the breakfast was delicious. We enjoyed our time at Monte Verde. The Cloud Forest Lodge was our favorite hotel. The staff were so attentive and the restaurant was amazing. Feeders right outside the dinning area let us watch tons of beautiful hummingbirds while we ate. Wilmer, one of the servers there, was the best and the kids adored him. We really enjoyed the aerial bridges and ziplining at Sky Adventures. We also had a blast going on the night walk in the Children's Eternal Forest. Walter was the best guide and taught us so much. We also really enjoyed our time at the coast at Playa Hermosa. The beaches were beautiful and we loved seeing the monkeys and iguanas in the trees. We had a wonderful snorkeling tour with Brian and Mario where we saw sea turtles and even held an octopus. The only drawback of the trip was that the roads at times were a little rough for driving, but our KimKim reps set us up with the right vehicle, so that it wasn't a big problem.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Bosque del Mar
Playa Hermosa

Good location right on the beach. Wildlife just outside the rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

You can find places with fancier rooms or facilities but you won't find a staff anywhere that's nicer, friendlier and more attentive. Super recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A bit hard to get to especially at night but that's all of Monteverde. Amazing views from the restaurant.
Staff
Everyone was fantastic from the reception to the whole restaurant staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

We only stayed 2 nights but it was lovely. Awesome hot springs with bar. Very friendly and helpful staff.

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

Mariano was awesome. Very knowledgeable and funny, showed us beautiful places and took us to a great spot for lunch. I had told him I really like ceviche so he called the place in advance and they made up a ceviche recipe on the spot just for me! It was delicious :) The waterfall visit was one of our favorite activities.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting
Arenal Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting
Arenal/La Fortuna

Rappelling was so much fun. Thrilling but also felt very safe at all times. The waterfalls and hike through the forest were just beautiful. The whole staff was amazing. Rafting was also great (the favorite by far of our 15y boy). One of us fell off the raft but thanks to Christofer's guidance we were able to pull her back safely and she enjoyed the rest of the trip. Great lunch spot as well (best coffee).

Quality of Experience
Food
Best coffee I had in Costa Rica
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest
Night Walk in the Children's Eternal Forest
Monteverde

We really enjoyed our night walk. Our guide, Walter, was incredibly knowledgable, and we learned so much. We saw a lot of tarantulas which our 11y old daughter was very excited for.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sky Adventures: Sky Trek, Tram, and Walk
Sky Adventures: Sky Trek, Tram, and Walk
Monteverde

We enjoyed the hike and aerial bridges. Our guide was great and we learned a lot about the forest. The zip-lining was a ton of fun. My 60+ aunt and 70+ uncle both loved the experience. And our 15y old son loved the optional free-fall at the end.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Snorkel Tour Catalinas
Snorkel Tour Catalinas
Costa Rica

We loved this activity with Brian and Mario. Smooth boat ride with drinks and delicious fruit and snacks. We snorkel a lot but this was our first time in a tropical location and loved to see different kind of sea life, including holding an octopus in our hands :)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River, Class II-III
Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River, Class II-III
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Charlotte Törnqvist
Charlotte
Charlotte Törnqvist
Local specialist in Turrialba, Costa Rica | Replied on Sep 06, 2023

Hi Cosimo,
It is great to hear you had such a fabulous time in Costa Rica,
It was a pleasure assisting you with this trip.

Kind Regards,
Charlotte