Serendipity arranged our trip. Everything as expected. Drivers on time, safe. Kioro and Senda best accommodation. Needed to do our own research for Guanacaste, Playa Hermosa. Travel logistics, time spent driving, hotel Bosque, area around not as good. Would be nice to also be given a time frame for tour days, rather than just a pick up times. Ie, 9am to 2pm or 7am to 930am so we could plan open time. Serendipity was fabulous when had questions. All of our drivers were great.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Tucked away, peaceful
Location
Lush, Gardens, View, Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Extremely clean each day
Senda Monteverde Hotel
Monteverde
Perched up on hill, room great, views incredible. Deck area great. Restaurant & Bar enjoyed
Hotel Bosque del Mar
Playa Hermosa
Agency booked. We needed to do more homework about hotel and location.
Authenticity & Character
Right on the beach, pool didn't seem clean as under tree canopy.
Location
It is located next to houses, chickens, loose dogs, constant vendors selling stuff, like 8x an hour, burning fire garbage, people take beach chairs. Nothing else around. Other restaurants, stores, town. Just accommodation.
Staff
Clarence made our stay more fun. Check in experience poor.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms not ready or cleaned had to wait
Activity Reviews
Nature Safari Float and Tortilla Making
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Tortilla making very quick, like 5 minutes, then lunch. Float was awesome.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Hike at the Arenal Hanging Bridges
Arenal/La Fortuna
We kind of raced through as busy with large groups blocking way. But still fun
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus
Costa Rica
Private and thoughtful guide, learned lots, saw lots.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions
Costa Rica
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wetlands Boat Ride and Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo
Costa Rica
2 hour drive each way. Tour guide not available when arrived, lots of sitting and waiting. Almost 8 hr day for 1.5 hour tour + lunch. Place was amazing though once got going.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit to the Monteverde Orchid Gardens
Monteverde
Short 45 minutes but learned lots.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Excursion to Guaitil Pottery Town
Costa Rica
Should be added to Hacienda Day as basically in same area, repeat long drive. Pottery demonstration was fabulous.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guide Minor spoke great English so we learned lots while driving
Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall
Costa Rica
We did not do due to extremely long day prior
Local specialist: Bryan Leon
