Kimkim Trip Reviews

The Guayaquil hotel was adequate & for $100/night incl breakfast & some drinks a "good buy". We even had dinner there every evening

The pool was out of commission.

In the heart of downtown. Do not stay here if you are trying to commute to the airport the next day as you will encounter crazy downtown traffic. Room was standard and comfortable enough for one night. There was a hooker working the corner 2 minutes from the hotel. Would not have wanted to walk around at night.

Standard. Clean. nothing special. Close to airport and all car rentals

wish we could have stayed here longer. I would move in permanently if I could haha Sprawling property with tons of resort exclusive activities mom and baby sloth sighting as well as toucans seen on property great view good food (expensive) clean no bugs (they spray twice per month for mosquitoes etc!) No need to leave the resort for anything. You will be comfortable and well taken care of here!

clean, comfortable and new. Tons of wildlife around the property and we especially loved the dining area that had floor to ceiling windows with bird feeders all around them. Magical! Our only complaint was that the room didn't have a TV. But hey, it was a sign we needed to unplug I guess!

We loved the location of this hotel but it was run down and in need of a renovation. The gaudy, fake/cheap look of it reminded me of Orlando, Florida. We had a "superior" room on the 4th floor that overlooked an impoverished housing area behind the hotel. Room didn't feel clean and had mosquitoes in it. Toilet was the only one on our trip we could not flush toilet paper down. Ate at the "Congo" restaurant and got diarrhea (also the only time this happened on the trip). We actually ended up buying day passes at another hotel to get away from this one.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. We kayaked and it was great to get some exercise but we never kayaked "to" anything. At one point we tied all the kayaks together and had to jump off (and later crawl back on) in open water. Needless to say this was a total cluster. Would have been nice to kayak to a beach to relax a little before kayaking back 30 min. Also the snorkeling spot had a lot of fish but the water clarity is poor. I have had much better snorkeling in Hawaii, for example. Big group. Food at the end was nothing special. Wanted to go back to the hotel but had to wait an hour for everyone to finish eating. Then long car ride back to drop everyone off on windy road.

We saw a giant tarantula! Not much else that was exciting though lol. Everyone wanted to see pretty birds, sloths, or cats. Instead we saw some plants and a spider haha. What was worse was waiting for 10 people to look through the same telescope to see something tiny 100 feet up in the air (i.e. we looked for 30 minutes at one porcupine in some dark shadows).

Amazing! We had a private tour and saw so much. Took great pictures. It was the perfect way to get to know the area on our first day.

how could you not enjoy this?

So fun! Especially the night walk. It creeped my husband out but I loved it! My husband wished there would have been more of a coffee tasting part of the experience like there was for the chocolate.

amazing! You'll never have a better experience ziplining anywhere else, I promise.

great guide 👍

Mixed group with 2 language. very hard for the guide and to long for the guest's.

This was absolutely our favorite hotel of all! From the moment we walked in, seeing the multi-story open courtyard, we knew we were in for a treat. So beautiful and almost magical. We just had to take pictures of the atrium. Every level of the hotel was thoughtfully designed --- they retained the original stonework, and carefully augmented what was there. They had sitting areas in every nook, and each one was comfortable and beautiful and provided certain amount of privacy, Every single guest we noticed who just checked in seemed to have the same impression and started taking pictures. Who wouldn't be? It's a stunning boutique hotel.

We loved spending time in the roofop lounge where we had a panoramic view of the lights of the city. The layout of the hotel was quite impressive and we appreciated the open plan, the use of furnishings that appear to highight the local products. They even had a welcoming seating area in front of each elevator. in our room, we were provided our choice of beverages (tea, coffee) and beautiful teapots, mugs. We were surprised with what appear to be a yoga or prayer mat. How thoughtful! The restaurant had wall to wall windows that allowed natural light. We went for breakfast, and liked the various assortment to choose from --- however, we weren't as excited with the flavors of the foods offered there as we were with the food we tasted at the rooftop lounge. Who knew that bar food would be better than the restaurant's?

Loved walking around the neighborhoods, seeing the colorful murals, street decorations. It was fascinating to walk through the historic district and seeing the architectural details on the buildings. Glad that these re preserved for future generations to enjoy. Loved visiting the churches, one of which was such an incredible thing of beauty inside and out, and trumps all others. It was breathtaingly beautiful. Also enjoyed tasting street foods. We also liked that we stoppef to eat ice cream in such a colorful place in the plaza. What a special treat! However, after having gone to the markets in Mexico City and Cholula, we could have skipped going to another in Oaxaca :)

We absolutely loved seeing this old and huge tree, and were happy to walk around the plaza. Our highest praise is reserved for the archaeological sites. Our guide Alex was thoroughly knowledgeable and his commentary interspersed historical facts with folklore that made them so much more interesting. We were wowed by our visit to the petrified waterfalls and the pools, and driving up the mountains so that we can appreciare the countryside. Of course, the visit to the mescal distillery was a revelation. We chose to eat while we were doing the mescal tasting where our young guide was such a credible expert that he made the experience so wonderful.

We enjoyed going to the market ---- but we had gone to a market before in Mexico City and didn't really want to go to another market. This activity could have been taken off our itinerary The place where the proprietor showed us various types of corn, how to grind it, and how to make tortilla was an interesting experience. We liked that we were invited to try our hand in this, and then to eat there.

This was a total bust.... Our original driver was in an accident so they sent a substitute driver who barely spoke English. We were driven to where we were supposed to go the Biosphere, but no one spoke Engligh, and no one seemed to know anything about it, or what to do. What was hysterical is that there was a young man who had Receptionist embroidered on his jacket, and who was standing right in front of a huge billboard promoting Biosfera, but he was clueless about it!. There was not a single English-speaking person or guide who can tell us anything!

We didn't ride bikes, and I wouldn't recommend that to elderly or physically-challenged guests. So we chose to be transported in the car. We were thrilled to actually visit the pyramids, and even walked up to certain areas although the steps could be challenging. Just knowing the existence of such pyramids was a treat in itself, especially being told that there are more pyramids, but they haven't been excavated yet. Rather bothered that many of the murals are uncovered and not protected from the elements. As such they are deteriorating and may disappear someday.

We were thrilled to visit this place, and to know its history. So many fascinating facts, and such spectacular views.

This was probably our favorite of all the things we did during this tour. We were so amazed at the beauty and quality of the museum. Simply fantastic at how every single artifact was presented. This truly stoked our interest in the history of Mexico and we are so happy to be introduced this way. One day isn't enough, but our guide was smart to point out the things that should matter to people who are interested in the history and culture of this country.

We liked going through this experience with our guide Adrian who turned out to be a well-traveled chef with a lot of experience. We loved that he provided a very detailed commetary on every place we visited, every thing we tasted.

Terrific, upscale feel to begin our time in Colombia. Spacious room, delicious breakfasts, very helpful desk staff to guide us to restaurants. Lovely dining room.

Like all Spanish-influenced houses, it's all behind the walls. Lovely grounds, huge room with living room, convenient to the squares and restaurants, delicious breakfast, very attentive staff. Rick was having physical difficulty with his back, and the owner arranged for a massage for him. The experience immediately improved his condition.

Idyllic setting, enjoyed the desert island feel, outdoor dining, private chaises, access to water, good food. very friendly staff.

Very nice boutique hotel, jungle-like setting, very helpful staff, challenge to carry heavy luggage up steps.

Stunning architectural beauty, welcoming and helpful staff

Airport is convenient to downtown. Isaac was the only guide who did not go into the airport with us to help us get situated. Maybe it was because this was an international flight, whereas Tomás and Juan Carlos were able to help us with domestic flights.

Despite its beautiful decor and lovely room, the food was not what we expected. The wait staff was inconsistent, and we felt a bit fooled by the wine selection process in an attempt to have us buy a very expensive bottle of wine.

An excellent activity that we enjoyed thoroughly. French-born Gilles Duport is a wonderful and charming chef, fluent in French, Spanish, but not English. We had a wonderful time with our little bits of both European languages and his armchair English.

Fun place. Good food. Casual, local feel. Met two couples separately that made it more enjoyable. One man invited us to his cafe the next day for more conversation.

We liked Isaac's introduction to Cartagena. For us, it was an incredibly hot and humid day, and waking up the massive fort near noon was exhausting. So we cut the schedule short and returned to the hotel.

Well, if nothing, it was exciting. Full boat of 40 people with luggage. Not balanced well, so this of us on the starboard side literally got soaked through all our clothing. Kind of funny, and uncomfortable. They rearranged luggage and then it was okay. But the adventure was not over. Apparently high winds made the Caribbean approach to Cartagena too dangerous, so our boat, along with several others, entered a very shallow river delta where our propellers were hitting mud. Other boats sped passed us, causing our boat to rock violently. Finally the boatman and first mate raised the engine (?) and we were on our way. Two your ride. It was an unanticipated adventure.

Paradise.

Long drive from Cartagena airport to Barú to get in the Hotel's boat. We appreciated the special arrangements.

Comuna 13 is a living miracle. My body felt jazzed during the entire experience, and with the salsa and other beats filling the air, I could barely stay still. Sunday's crowd was thick, yet again, a friendly vibe. Exciting. Then there is Botero Plaza, with his 24 sculptural voluminous pieces thrilling us.

Charming Spanish village. Villa de Leyva itself is the attraction. The long drive to VdL from Bogotá is marked by a beautiful landscape I never tired of watching. What a discovery of the fossil of Kronosaurus at the Fossil Museum! I tried to wrap my head around the fact that this area was under sea water at one time. We really like the stop of Raquira on the return, a colorful arts and crafts town. Too bad they wouldn't ship purchases.

El Cielo couldn't confirm a reservation.

What a day of exciting discovery. Everything was eye-opening. Juan Carlos was absolutely one of the best guides we've experienced. Guatapé's journey to becoming an artistic jewel, the sad story about the flooding of the original town of Piñol to make the lake for producing hydroelectric power, the boat ride and Juan Carlos' clever reveal of Pablo Escobar's dilapidated mansion amidst the stunning hillside houses. No, we didn't climb El Piñol, though I really wanted to. I was sure I could climb to the top, but I was concerned that my left knee would not have allowed me to descend!

Great vibe. Friendly staff. Good food.

Fun waiter frying to learn English while I practiced Spanish, charming courtyard setting. Tasty barbecue.

We waited 90 minutes to get our food. Language barrier and non-attentive wait staff made for a poor evening. However, we loved the vibe of the place.

Knowledgable Tomás enriched the day's experiences. The market, riding to the top of Monserrate for the city view, touring Candelaria--great introduction to the trip.

Fabulous first dinner in Colombia. Loved the "room." Sophisticated. Food was tops.

Very comfortable, I have a very good sleep

Outstanding experience. The food, the staff and the location were all excellent. I highly recommend this place.

challenging getting in but worth it. Friendly staff. beautiful location.

nice hotel. Staff a bit cold. just stayed one night before taking the plane. Nice pool on the roof with a view.

what a nice remote location. Friendly staff. Lots to do beautiful views and sunset.

the room we had was amazing with a view on the volcano Arenal. Staff very friendly.

Very busy hotel. The staff a big stressed. The facility is beautiful but prefer more boutique lodges.

Great location. We were in a bungalow. Would have preferred to be closer to the core of the lodge avoiding to use the car to go for dinner. It is set close to a river. You can see lots of birds by sitting in front of the restaurant for 1 hr or so.

the staff very friendly. great ecolodge. Beautiful sunset

We had a pleasant tour and learned alot. Saw many birds and a Fer-de -Lance viper , blue jean frogs and 2 slots.

amazing guide - Oscar. he took extra time to show us birds. he is very knowledgeable and we had an amazing time with him.

A great experience. turtles and all sorts of fishes to see. water 25c

the boat navigator was amazing. Spot birds and other wild life along the way. he also did a great job navigating the waves when the river reached the pacific ocean.

Disappointed - no whales to see (although we saw one 3 days later in Osa peninsula). We did see brown boobies chase flying fish - which was amazing to see. We saw some dolphins. The snorkelling - nothing to see really. Best to snorkel at Cano island - lots to see there.

It was a rainy day walking through the area. We managed to see spider monkey much not much more. The clouds were affecting the view. The guide did his best to show plants, trees and insects.

The guide did not seem very knowledgeable of the area.

The best guide- he was just amazing - Andres Martin Chavez Rojas. We spent 7 hrs with him and learn and saw so much. Highly recommended

We saw motmot sleeping, tarantella, and bugs/spider. Not my favorite tour. I would have like to see the beautiful frogs.

did not like spending so much time in the parking lot looking for birds. other than that the guide was knowledgeable and firendly

Very unique experience and do not miss this activity

This was a great hotel with an impressive location, great staff and good food. You need to be in decent shape to handle all the stairs at this hotel built on a cliff. Lots of character and great atmosphere.

Very nice hotel with great staff and very good food. The only problem we found was that the price was excessive for Guatemala.

We had a very nice room and staff was excellent but we ended up asking to move to a sister hotel because the room we were given was facing the street and too noisy for our liking. We moved to the Pensativo Hotel as an upgrade which was around the corner from the Casa Encantada. We were very happy there.

Very nice property but a bit dated. Staff was very friendly and food was good.

Food was very good as well as the service and staff. We were quite comfortable considering you are in the jungle.

Beautiful property with excellent location near caves. One of the hotel gardeners served as our guide to the caves we were able to walk to from the hotel. The caves were quite impressive and definitely worth visiting. As many other places we visited in Guatemala we were the only tourists doing the tour and had the place to ourselves. Staff were all very friendly and food was good. Room was adequate.

Modern hotel in a good, safe location.

Hotel is in a great location, comfortable and clean.

our room facing the courtyard was a bit humid and dark. Not a great experience for us.

We had a fabulous experience at this hotel. We were greeted by the owner who was very kind and made sure we had a great experience. The room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great - we felt like we were at a friends house on vacation.

We walked from the town to the Church which is extremely interesting as it is unique being decorated on the exterior with naive art.

Site was very interesting to see and use the hot spring facilities. Main restaurant was under renovations but we were able to have a nice meal at the smaller cafeteria.

Visited an interesting colourful cemetery where you can also see Mayan traditional ceremonies. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the sites.

This was a worthwhile market to visit. Interesting to see all the animals being sold. Also had many previously owned items as well as new items you would see in a local market.

This is quite a colourful and very large market. Few tourists compared to all the locals shopping.

It was quite a different type of experience compared to a what you know of modern saunas. First a wood fire is started to heat the side wall and then once inside you add water to the hot surfaces to get the heat and steam going. Afterwards we got to use a shower which was next to the sauna. We were supplied with clean towels as well as soap.

We had a great experience learning how to cook a traditional Mayan meal, called Pepian. This was done on a wood stove which brings added flavour to the food.

It was fun kayaking on Lake Atitlan. It was a relatively calm day and we enjoyed the experience paddling around the lake for an hour.

We enjoyed seeing San Juan La Laguna with its colourful arts scene. We walked up to the viewing platform with impressive views. Lots of tourists and locals visiting here. We then went to San Pedro La Laguna where we had a nice lunch.

Our guide Alex was great. We visited his family and enjoyed his grandmothers baked buns. We also got a chance to watch local women weaving. This hike is a spectacular way to see the magnificent Lake Atitlan.

We enjoyed the spa, massage and sauna and pools. Great experience.

Hiking to the volcano was a lot of fun and impressive as the site and views keep changing as you get closer. Amazing to see all the lava rivers and stone formations.

Antigua is a charming, clean and safe city with lots of character. Our guide gave us a great tour by foot.

We liked the feel and character of Antigua. Safe walking around. We visited local markets and had a nice lunch at a cafe.

Very interesting site to visit.

We enjoyed this boat tour. Spectacular nature and lots of birds.

After seeing Tikal we were surprised to see the lack of tourists here. Certainly not as impressive in size or maintenance but nonetheless worthwhile seeing. Near the Uaxactun site we visited a small village which was interesting to see.

Site was very well maintained and impressive.

This is a nice site but maintenance could be better. It was a hard trek to get there. We did the longer harder round trip from the river, but saw that other people used a more simple route.

This is a beautiful location and well worth the visit. We brought our bathing suits and enjoyed the water.

We enjoyed having a chance to get out and hike to a very nice waterfall. I would recommend this hike.

We visited several parts of the city and got a good feel of its character.

I was expecting better food. Otherwise it was a nice view.

Well organized, food was great, equipment was excellent quality, supervision was top-notch, and the views were spectacular.

Hot and tiring, but the guide made it a good experience. The fanny packs with snacks and water were great. The toilets at the rest stops are ---- ummmmm..... an experience. I'm not sure if that could be upgraded since it's a government run thing. I would like to have had a more meditative experience of just "taking it in" when it was still cool first thing in the morning.

The food was phenomenal, the view was spectacular, and the setting was intimate. I enjoyed the astronomy lesson, but I wish the digeradoo player hung out longer (maybe for the duration of the dinner!).

Everything from the Gold Class train ride to the park to the views from the sky train was amazing. Highly recommend.

Poor location, noisy at night and below standard expected in relation to cost of trip.