Well-organized trip
Costa Rica | Apr 6 - Apr 13, 2024

Marcia
Marcia J.
Redmond, WA | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2024

Well-organized trip. Having the transport arranged for us let us focus on family and CR, not navigating how to get around. Serendipity Adventures, the on-the-ground subcontractor for KimKim, was superb. KimKim found the perfect place for a family of 7 to stay for a week in Manuel Antonio.

Hotel Reviews
Gran Hotel Costa Rica
San José

Just a Hilton from the Curio Collection. Everything was spectacularly nice (to be expected from a 5 Star hotel), but also quite divorced from a Costa Rican Experience; once inside the hotel, we could have been in almost any country anywhere. Great breakfast. Great location. Interestingly, less-than stellar restaurant staff, some of whom were slow and indifferent. If you value the luxury hotel experience, change this rating to 5 stars.

Authenticity & Character
A luxury hotel that could be transplanted to anywhere in the world. Devoid of authenticity except the building is a bit historic.
Location
Staff
Good front desk, great porters, great room service, and a full sized crib for our toddler, not just a pack-n-play. Restaurant staff a bit indifferent.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio

A wonderful place for families. We were 7 and KimKim found us the perfect house (Casa Quinta) on the property. Multiple great pools. Monkeys everywhere, which we all loved.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It is indeed built on the side of a hill. Plan on uphill hiking or plan on multiple taxi rides (totally worth the extra expense).
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The cleaning staff even washed our dishes!
Activity Reviews
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica

Not suited for young children. Mostly we saw small sleeping sloths only viewable through binoculars, which little kids can't easily negotiate. Defiinitely go early in the morning, before the heat sets in. Nice tour with a naturalist for older children and adults, with lots of teaching and explaining that bores the little ones and is great for others.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Damas Island Boat Tour
Damas Island Boat Tour
Manuel Antonio

Mangroves are cool for those of us with little experience with them.

Quality of Experience
Food
Simple and authentic dinner at an outdoor cafe afterwards.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
One of us left a phone on the bus and they brought it back to us almost before we even discovered it missing. Above and beyond service.
Local specialist: Holden Ketchum
Holden
Holden Ketchum
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Apr 22, 2024

Hello Marcia, I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the hotel in Manuel Antonio, keeping your whole family together. I'm sorry that the national park tour was a little too much for your little one, but it sounds like everyone was ablet to cool off and enjoy the pools at Costa Verde. I'm also glad to hear that there were lots of monkeys to keep you entertained and that your phone was promptly returned to you.
Thank you
Holden Ketchum
Serendipity Adventures