We had an excellent trip to Costa Rica planne...
Costa Rica | Mar 16 - Mar 22, 2025

Jennifer
Jennifer C.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Mar 24, 2025

We had an excellent trip to Costa Rica planned by serendipity Adventures. Representatives Elena, Nancy, and William were wonderful. We could’ve never planned the trip ourselves and would not have felt comfortable planning all the activities without knowing the area.
We stayed at La Mariposa, which was quaint, quiet, secluded, and beautiful in Manuel Antonio. We also stayed at Baldi Springs in La Fortuna, which was quite opposite and a bit more like a Disney World hotel, but nice. It was super busy with daily buses of guests to use the hot springs. The hot volcano Springs were amazing.
Our scheduled events included a volcano, hiking tour, swinging bridges, zip lining, Whitewater rafting, Manuel Antonio National Park with monkeys, sloths, and toucans, waterfalls, and a dinner sunset boat ride with snorkeling. All were great.
Would recommend doing only one hiking day with swinging bridges. Two days of hiking with swinging bridges was too much repetition. We skipped the Trek hiking & swinging bridges after zip lining. The zip lining was no joke. We have zip lined many times in the states and have never been on lines that high or that far. The white water rafting was one of my favorites. We did the 3/4 rapids and loved it.
The drive from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna was long, with curvy parts, and took up a day. But it was worth it to see two different beautiful areas of Costa Rica. The ride from La Fortuna to the San Jose airport was very curvy if you get car sick, pack some Dramamine.
The people of Costa Rico were kind, hospitable, and very prideful. The drivers and activity hosts were kind, hospitable, and fun! We enjoyed getting to know each of them. We felt safe and taken care of the entire time.
We had one hiccup at the second hotel at check-in with five people in our family. However, we notified serendipity and they took care of everything the next morning with a favorable outcome.

We would definitely use serendipity adventures again for a future vacation for our family. We felt the price was reasonable, and the trip was stress-free already planned out with our family preferences

Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
La Mariposa Hotel
Manuel Antonio

Lovely hotel- quaint, charming, modern, and beautiful! Was perfect for a family of five with two adjacent rooms that shared one large balcony. The view was amazing from the room and from the outdoor restaurant restaurant balcony area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Could walk to shops, restaurants, and market.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel & Spa
Fortuna

The hotel was nice and the volcano springs were amazing. The hotel was very busy though and reminded us of a Disney World hotel here in Orlando Florida. Several daily buses unloaded with guests for daily use of the Hot Springs. It made the hotel and springs very busy. They also charged us an additional $100 a day for a 5th person. We booked two rooms both with double beds and one with a pullout couch. However, when we went to check in, they charged us $100 for every night to have the third person in one of the rooms even though there was bedding for the 3 people. I thought this was a rip off and unnecessary. They insisted on the charge and would not budge. We had no choice but to pay it.

Authenticity & Character
It was like a Disney World hotel
Location
We took Ubers to downtown for dinners and to shop. The Ubers were about five dollars and very convenient. However they only have Ubers for 4 people. This was a bit tricky with a family of 5.
Staff
Michael was amazing! He was so helpful and always around when we needed assistance or got lost on the property.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike
Manuel Antonio

We loved this hike. Our guide was very knowledgeable, kind and professional. We were able to see howling monkeys, white face, monkeys, slots, and various birds, lizards, and bats.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)
Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)
Costa Rica

Family of five had an amazing experience on the 3 to 4 rapids white water rafting. Congo was a trip! We enjoyed getting to know him and had a lot of fun. We felt safe the entire time. The nature was beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante
Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante
Manuel Antonio

The boat ride was nice. The workers were kind and fun! The food was fair. The drinks were good! The water was unclear the day we went , so the snorkeling was not good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip line was no joke. We have zip line many times in the United States and have never been that high or gone that far. The staff was nice, kind, and professional. The kids loved it. It was quite an experience.

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

The hiking of the volcano was fair. Our toy guide was great. He shared a lot of information with us. He was kind, hospitable, and professional. We enjoyed getting to know him. We also enjoyed learning from him.

Quality of Experience
Food
Our driver took us to a restaurant for lunch. The food was amazing. We enjoyed the lunch!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Mar 24, 2025
Hola Jennifer, Thank you so much🙏🏼 for sharing your experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! It truly means a lot to us that you had an excellent trip with Serendipity Adventures and that our team— Nancy, William and me—could help make your journey seamless and memorable. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the contrast between La Mariposa’s tranquil beauty in Manuel Antonio and the vibrant atmosphere of Baldi Springs in La Fortuna—each offering a unique experience of Costa Rica. The hot springs, volcano hikes,... Read more

Hola Jennifer,

Thank you so much🙏🏼 for sharing your experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! It truly means a lot to us that you had an excellent trip with Serendipity Adventures and that our team— Nancy, William and me—could help make your journey seamless and memorable.

We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the contrast between La Mariposa’s tranquil beauty in Manuel Antonio and the vibrant atmosphere of Baldi Springs in La Fortuna—each offering a unique experience of Costa Rica. The hot springs, volcano hikes, ziplining, whitewater rafting, and wildlife encounters all sound like incredible adventures, and we’re glad they exceeded your expectations!

Your feedback about the swinging bridges hikes is greatly appreciated, and we understand that balancing adventure with variety is key to an enjoyable trip. It’s also great to hear that our team was able to quickly resolve the hotel check-in issue, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience for your family.

We completely agree—the people of Costa Rica are what make this country so special. Our dedicated drivers, guides, and activity hosts take great pride in sharing their home with visitors, and we’re delighted that you felt safe, welcomed, and well taken care of throughout your trip.

Thank you again for trusting Serendipity Adventures with your family vacation. We would love to help you plan another unforgettable adventure in the future! please ask for me and I will feel honor to welcome you again to Costa Rica!

Thank you so much, Pura Vida! 🙏🏼
Elena Mora and the Serendipity Adventures Team