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Our first Costa Rica Trip
Costa Rica | Jan 22 - Jan 30, 2025

J
Junghee P.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2025

Our family of four adults chose Serendipity for our first trip to Costa Rica, and it exceeded our expectations. The trip was well-organized, with a nice mix of activities that perfectly matched our interests. We especially loved our stay at Royal Corin in La Fortuna. Some of the highlights included the scenic float trip in Arenal, hiking in Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and the fascinating coffee and chocolate tour. Everything was thoughtfully paced and seamlessly planned. We highly recommend Serendipity for an unforgettable Costa Rica adventure!

Hotel Reviews
The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only
Fortuna

We loved staying here. The staff were attentive and the thermal hot springs were beautiful. Breakfast had some gluten-free options.

Authenticity & Character
Thermal hot springs were beautiful and enjoyable.
Location
Staff
Very attentive and helpful staff,
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ecotica
Manuel Antonio

The hotel was not close to the beach but was conveniently located near many restaurants and shops. The hotel grounds attracted birds and monkeys, making for some very entertaining wildlife watching. Manuel Antonio and the beach were just a short drive away. Breakfast was made-to-order, which often took 20-30 minutes after ordering our food, so we had to plan accordingly.

Authenticity & Character
Our room was spacious and beautifully decorated. It had no views though.
Location
Not too far from the town and had many restaurant choices closeby. Monkeys and exotic birds visited every evening and watching them was lots of fun.
Staff
The staff was very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde

The views from the room was amazing and we enjoyed the trails on the hotel grounds. However, the overall amenities of the hotel (like breakfast) was just average (when compared to other places that we have stayed).

Authenticity & Character
Our room had a nice view of the mountains.
Location
The hotel sat on a forested mountain slope and had hiking trails on the premises. Some rooms were located extremely high on the mountain and required a shuttle. While the location afforded beautiful views, people with mobility issues could find this hotel challenging.
Staff
The staff were friendly and were happy to engage in spanish language conversations with a non-native speaker.
Cleanliness & Comfort
At night, an upstairs banging noise (caused by a door or window perhaps?) during a windstorm was very noisy and it disturbed our sleep. The quality of breakfast food was average, when compared to other similar hotels worldwide.
Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Feb 01, 2025

Hola Junghee,

Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted that your first trip to Costa Rica with Serendipity exceeded your expectations. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the perfect mix of activities and had great stays at your hotels. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure!

Pura Vida!
Bryan

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