Bryan Leon

Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures.

We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our... read more

Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures.

We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our questions. We were in touch with Nancy during our trip confirming pick up times and making schedule changes if needed.

From end to end the private transportation was clean, comfortable and on time. The drivers were friendly, brought snacks for us, and happily stopped for bathroom and lunch breaks. We considered renting a van and driving ourselves and are very glad we chose to leave the driving through winding mountain roads to professionals!

Christmas week was very busy but Bryan was able to find excellent accommodations in the small, locally owned hotels we requested. Each one was different but they were all conveniently located, clean, comfortable and included a hearty breakfast. We felt welcome and cared for by everyone we met.

We now know that the key to seeing wildlife in Costa Rica is getting great guides. Chris and Roy (Arenal Star), Andy (Forest Alive), Chris (Sky Adventures) and Andres (Endemic Bird) were fantastic! We appreciated their vast knowledge of each ecosystem along with its flora, fauna, insects and reptiles. They carried high-quality equipment and helped us capture amazing pictures and videos. We highly recommend them all!

Costa Rica is a beautiful country, rich in natural beauty and wildlife. We are grateful that the friendly people of Costa Rica have chosen eco-tourism over deforestation and are preserving their rain forests, cloud forests, fog forests and beautiful beaches for themselves and those of us lucky enough to visit.

Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge

Fortuna

If you are looking for an authentic ecolodge experience, this is the place for you! Rustic, individual bungalows set in the rain forest. Bungalows were spacious, clean, comfortable with modern amenities. There were howler monkeys in the trees throughout our visit and colorful tropical birds on display at the restaurant. We enjoyed walking the nature trail and were lucky to see a large Fer de Lance off to the side of the trail at a safe distance. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Not for everyone but we loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

10 minutes taxi outside Fortuna.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were large, clean and comfortable but kept rather dark. That might be because they don't want to disturb the wildlife...

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde Costa Rica

Great location at the top of a hill outside Santa Elena. Nice views of the valley. We stayed in 3 family garden rooms in the main lodge close to the restaurant. The rooms were large, comfortable and clean with a big bathroom and walk in shower. The restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner, not open for lunch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy 20 minute walk down hill into town but you'll definitely want to get a taxi for the trip back.

Staff

The staff at the front desk and in the restaurant were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Resort style hotel with two pools and beach access located adjacent to the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Very relaxing place to end our trip. Our standard rooms were large, clean and comfortable on a lower floor. Future guests might chose to be on a higher floor to have a better view of the forest or the ocean. The family pool looked great but we'd highly recommend the adult only pool, bar and sushi restaurant on the 6th floor! Excellent breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We avoided all the traffic in town because we were so close to the entrance to the park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

Excellent location for arriving and departing from San Jose International airport. Very artsy vibe, clean, comfortable, very friendly staff. Nice bar and restaurant, hearty breakfast. We especially appreciated the friendly airport shuttle drivers who picked us up and dropped us off on time at all hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Chris and our driver Roy took great care of us!

Transport

The resorts were gorgeous and had great service. The restaurants in the resorts were excellent. Our guides were superb. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. We loved the whitewater rafting, sea kayaking and hikes. We even enjoyed a night hike. We will definitely use Kim Kim again. We loved the trip in Costa Rica so much we are planning on returning next year. read more

The resorts were gorgeous and had great service. The restaurants in the resorts were excellent. Our guides were superb. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. We loved the whitewater rafting, sea kayaking and hikes. We even enjoyed a night hike. We will definitely use Kim Kim again. We loved the trip in Costa Rica so much we are planning on returning next year.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The grounds are gorgeous and the restaurant is great. We loved the hot springs. Spa was great too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views were awesome.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and pillows aren't the most comfortable and hated the shower/jacuzzi. Very unbalanced for taking showers.

Parador Resort and Spa

Manuel Antonio

Magnificent views, great service and good restaurants with a very talented guitarist. Loved the monkey trail. Very clean. Beds and pillows very comfortable. Great air conditioning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Gorgeous views and Werner was a great guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Kenneth was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very organized. Great guides. Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Great guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Beautiful views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bryan put together a wonderful trip! Everything went seamlessly and the tours and accommodations were amazing. Rental vehicles were picked up our hotel and shuttle service to the airport ordered. There were so many details that were taken care of and it was nice to know that if we needed their help or support while we were travelling that they were there for us. Thankfully the people of Costa Rica were very hospitable and welcoming everywhere we went and the trip was very memorable. ... read more

Bryan put together a wonderful trip! Everything went seamlessly and the tours and accommodations were amazing. Rental vehicles were picked up our hotel and shuttle service to the airport ordered. There were so many details that were taken care of and it was nice to know that if we needed their help or support while we were travelling that they were there for us. Thankfully the people of Costa Rica were very hospitable and welcoming everywhere we went and the trip was very memorable. Thank you Bryan for creating great memories for us!!

Bryan and Charlotte were very helpful in providing the best combination of activities for our family. We liked all the hotel selections and tour operators were excellent. During our stay, our GPS took us down the wrong path one day and we were going to miss our planned boat cruise. They helped us adjust our tour timings on the same day notifying the tour company at short notice. Appreciated the local support when we needed it. We loved the curation of activities and places and it saved a... read more

Bryan and Charlotte were very helpful in providing the best combination of activities for our family. We liked all the hotel selections and tour operators were excellent. During our stay, our GPS took us down the wrong path one day and we were going to miss our planned boat cruise. They helped us adjust our tour timings on the same day notifying the tour company at short notice. Appreciated the local support when we needed it. We loved the curation of activities and places and it saved a lot of time trying to figure out everything on our own. Having someone with local knowledge was great so we got the best hotels and reputable service providers - important when traveling internationally. We will definitely recommend KimKim and would like to use their services again and help customize our trip even more ! Great idea and service

Hotel Reviews

Hacienda Guachipelin Volcano Ranch Hotel & Hot Springs

Liberia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only an hour from the airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Great hotel in the center of activities - nice access to all restaurants and beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa

Helpful staff, natural surrounding with beach access to Playa Hermosa. Not too crowded.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful guides and staff. They helped us change a flat tire while on the boat cruise and helped us find our way back to the main road.

Transport

Access roads to this place are not good - this is in the middle of fields and wetlands. Need better directions and assistance getting there.

Tube Down the Rio Negro

Rincon de la Vieja

Great adventure and unique experience - very scenic down the river

Quality of Experience

Was a unique experience - bit rougher than expected with a bumpy ride although guides were excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guides - very hard working team that takes you through the rapids

Transport

Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall

Rincon de la Vieja

Excellent experience seeing the volcano and rainforest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip and everything worked out wonderfully. Everything planned worked smoothly and on time. Here is a short review:
The car was delivered on time. We did not get to see a lot of Poas as it was very cloudy and raining heavily. The Arenal observatory lodge was great so was the complimentary breakfast and the dinner menu. The pool and hot tub are spectacular. It is 30 minutes away from the touristic La Fortuna area but that was just fine as the little that I did get to see of... read more

We had a wonderful trip and everything worked out wonderfully. Everything planned worked smoothly and on time. Here is a short review:
The car was delivered on time. We did not get to see a lot of Poas as it was very cloudy and raining heavily. The Arenal observatory lodge was great so was the complimentary breakfast and the dinner menu. The pool and hot tub are spectacular. It is 30 minutes away from the touristic La Fortuna area but that was just fine as the little that I did get to see of Lafortuna did not seem very authentic.
The private guide at Arenal was very enjoyable, especially at the beginning of the trip as we got to chat about different subjects and the country and as he pointed out and got us great pictures of animals and insects.
Monteverde was great and we enjoyed Selvatura park and canopy zip lining was very impressive.
All the hotels selected were clean and comfortable and the personnel friendly and helpful. The poco à poco hotel in Monteverde was comfortable and the breakfast very good, the room was clean and comfortable but thin walls and metal roofs made it noisy, although quiet at night. The personnel were nice and helpful and they even found a sweater I had forgotten in the selvatura shuttle and arranged to have it delivered to my hotel in Manuel Antonio.
We did not get a guide at Manuel Antonio which was fine because by that time we could move at our own pace and animals were more obvious than at Arenal. Since our last day activity was unfortunately cancelled (scuba diving) we visited playa dominical which we liked for its smaller local feel.

So overall it was a great experience, and everything worked out perfectly. We visited near the end of the rainy season, and it can rain quite a bit, sometimes all day and all night, the mornings are usually dryer and we managed to get one sunny day on the pacific coast.

We always planned to have plenty of time for travel between cities and that was very useful as the roads are narrow and we came across some traffic every time for different reasons so drivers should plan for extra time when driving just in case.

Excellent service provided by partners even with a few hiccups along the way. Wish we could have stayed longer!!!

read more

Excellent service provided by partners even with a few hiccups along the way. Wish we could have stayed longer!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Riviera Hotel B&B

Heredia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Factory Tour in Rainforest Chocolate Tour.

Arenal/La Fortuna

Sukia - Night Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José Explorer City Tour

San José

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecotermales Hotsprings

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First of all, Bryan was an amazing help in discussing our travel ideas and after confirming everything, he made an awesome job of scheduling the full holiday.

Every accommodation, activity, guide, travel, etc was smooth and punctual. The only thing we had to do was follow the itinerary and enjoy ourselves.

There were several times when arriving at the new accommodation, the guides were already there waiting for us, so we could go immediately if we feel like it, for example, the river... read more

First of all, Bryan was an amazing help in discussing our travel ideas and after confirming everything, he made an awesome job of scheduling the full holiday.

Every accommodation, activity, guide, travel, etc was smooth and punctual. The only thing we had to do was follow the itinerary and enjoy ourselves.

There were several times when arriving at the new accommodation, the guides were already there waiting for us, so we could go immediately if we feel like it, for example, the river tubing in Bijagua. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of our river tubing guide, but he was a really informative, friendly and good guide who made sure we enjoy the river tubing and hiking with him in Bijagua. The Casitas Tenorio B&B in Bijagua was a beautiful and calm resting place for us in the middle of our trip, where we could even spot howler monkeys a few meters away.

One of the most beautiful, calm and nature surrounded and favourite place we stayed at was the Caribbean side, the Congo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica in Puerto Viejo - Manzanillo. Here, you feel like you are inside the jungle, with monkeys above the house, with raccoons trying to steal your food remains in the night and hummingbirds buzzing and flying around you (less than a meter away) while you are chilling on the porch and sipping your coffee. It is beautiful.

In La Fortuna, I would strongly recommend that you would stay in the Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa. While it is really not the cheapest (however not the most expensive either), it gives you a transcendental experience. Here, you will not have any other task just to unwind and relax. They are making sure you will have a perfect time there and nothing to worry about. I would really like to go back there, even if the level of pampering there were so new to me that I was sometimes a bit flustered. :)
I would like to mention two people from Tabacón who were extra friendly and helpful. Diego was one of the chefs (at least at the breakfasts) who made sure that you had everything you wanted, and was willing to go the extra mile to make something for you if you had any wishes.
The other person was Diane, who was the most friendly and cute person we ever had the chance to talk with. She was a joy to speak with. (most of the time she was in charge of greeting and sitting the people at the restaurant reception)

In Monteverde, while the accommodation we selected was nothing special (and even had some struggles to change rooms because the rooms randomly don't have safes), the area is wonderful and filled with animals. The coffee and chocolate tour with the Don Juan Tours was really informative and our guide was one of the funniest on the whole trip, always cracking us up. The next day, in Sky Adventures park, we had two really good guides. The hike in the park was really informative and after that I really enjoyed the Arboreal tree climbing experience. It was challenging and rewarding at the same time and had just enough trees to enjoy it.

And for last but not least, we visited Manuel Antonio and stayed in the Tico Tico Villa which was an another amazing and relaxing experience. It is just a small but well equipped nice apartment with swimming pool, BBQ and etc, meanwhile scarlet macaws are flying above you, iguanas relaxing on the porch, capuchin monkeys are travelling on the trees. The owner is the loveliest person we have met on the trip. This place in details was nothing special, however I would really recommend it because overall it is a beautiful and relaxing experience after travelling through the country.
In Manuel Antonio we went to kayaking in the Damas'Island mangrove forest which is a really nice, relaxing and unwinding experience where Emese even realised how much she likes kayaking.
The next morning, we went to the Manuel Antonio national park with Adrian from Paddle 9, who was one of our favourite guide. He was informative, friendly and helpful and through him, we could get to know a lot not just about nature but Costa Rica too. Later on the same day we had another trip with Paddle 9, however it was less successful. While the activity would have been perfect, unfortunately trying to learn to do Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP) on the ocean is not beginner friendly. Unfortunately our guide misjudged our level and we went to a shore where the waves were over our levels and had to cancel our activity, but I have to mention that they really did their best to let us hike out of that bay through the forest the safest and easiest. As a summary of this activity, it is a good fun, but be sure you are not a total beginner or if you are, you are a confident swimmer in a really good shape.

And for the end, I would like to thank Bryan and the Serendipity Adventures team again for their efforts to make sure we enjoyed this trip. Be it organising everything, giving us travel updates about larger road closures or trying to get back our lost belongings, they always did their best and we are really happy to recommend them. Thank you very much. This 19 days and 1500km round trip was a really amazing holiday.

First time KimKim user and will now be an evangelist. I highly recommend KimKim if you lack time to plan a trip yourself. Bryan was our local specialist, and he helped arrange an excellent introduction of Costa Rica for us, with a detailed itinerary that made our trip entirely stress free. We had a quiet trip that focused on short, guided hikes introducing us to the forests. We loved our two cities (La Fortuna and Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park), though in the future we might look for a more... read more

First time KimKim user and will now be an evangelist. I highly recommend KimKim if you lack time to plan a trip yourself. Bryan was our local specialist, and he helped arrange an excellent introduction of Costa Rica for us, with a detailed itinerary that made our trip entirely stress free. We had a quiet trip that focused on short, guided hikes introducing us to the forests. We loved our two cities (La Fortuna and Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park), though in the future we might look for a more remote beach (we were right outside of the park, which was nice, but that part of Quepos wasn't so interesting). One of our favorite parts of the trip was getting to meet all of the different guides, who each had their own way of showing off their country. We look forward to using KimKim in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Right outside the Manuel Antonio Park entrance, and thus to the park beaches which are incredible. Couldn't be closer, or have better location. We also went to the hotel sushi restaurant and booked a couples massage at the hotel. We enjoyed both experiences.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide Kenneth was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zip Lining Tour

Costa Rica

Good experience, a nice view of the canopies, a bit of adrenaline for those with acrophobia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Very interesting

Quality of Experience

The guide was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

loved this park!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was one of the most knowledgeable guides we had our entire trip; he was also weirdly an anti-Darwin evangelist for Intelligent Design, but that just added some character to the trip.

Transport

we were right next door to the park! Couldn't have better transportation.

Birdwatching in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing diversity of birds

Quality of Experience

Food

I think in future might have been nice to have coffee snack *before* starting (it's 530am!) and then get back for hotel breakfast after birding.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was great!

Really enjoyed how seamless the process was. Our trip was exactly what we wanted. Our rides all showed up on time, the drivers were all fantastic. Our guides were local, knowledgeable. Not associated with any company, which we liked.

Manoa Arenal - oh my god. What an amazing hotel. Stunning. Beautiful. Great service. Would go back.
San Bada in Manuel Antonio - Not my favorite. It sells itself as very convenient as it is attached to the national park. However, this... read more

Everything was great!

Really enjoyed how seamless the process was. Our trip was exactly what we wanted. Our rides all showed up on time, the drivers were all fantastic. Our guides were local, knowledgeable. Not associated with any company, which we liked.

Manoa Arenal - oh my god. What an amazing hotel. Stunning. Beautiful. Great service. Would go back.
San Bada in Manuel Antonio - Not my favorite. It sells itself as very convenient as it is attached to the national park. However, this puts you right in the middle of the tourism central, which isn't the relaxing beach vibe I was looking for. Kinda tacky and stressful. It definitely sells itself as more of a party location, and the facilities are a little run down. Service was excellent. Maybe a good choice for some, but looking back I wish I had spent the money for something a little nicer, especially with the convenient bus system.

9/10 great visit to costa rica, will be back
will use kimkim again

:)

I'd like to split my review into 2, our experience with kimkim and the serendipity team, and Costa Rica overall:
1. We knew nothing about CR prior to this trip, Bryan and the serendipity team built a perfect itinerary for us, adjusted it multiple times based on our preferences and were fast and efficient. Before but also during our trip and sometimes in a very short notice, they were always attentive, available and flexible, this trip could not have been so successful if it wasn't for Bryan... read more

I'd like to split my review into 2, our experience with kimkim and the serendipity team, and Costa Rica overall:
1. We knew nothing about CR prior to this trip, Bryan and the serendipity team built a perfect itinerary for us, adjusted it multiple times based on our preferences and were fast and efficient. Before but also during our trip and sometimes in a very short notice, they were always attentive, available and flexible, this trip could not have been so successful if it wasn't for Bryan and the team, THANK YOU 🙏
2. Costa Rica - how can you not fall in love with this country? Starting with the warm and welcoming people of CR and continue with the amazing nature, and finally the different attractions and things to do, we enjoyed every bit of it, our guides (Kenneth and Pablo in Arenal, Edson in the Sloth territory, Hector and David at Rio Celeste horseback riding, Andy at Monteverde, Juan at Damas) all were absolutely amazing!
We will definitely come back to CR following this great vacation.
Thank you, Pura Vida!
Motti and the family

The trip Bryan planned was great. Overall, we had professional tour guides and felt like the locations we visited were the best for what we were looking for. Pablo, our driver and guide for our first day, was exceptional, had great energy, and left us with many tips that other tourists did not know about. (ie. Soda's are family owned restaurants!)

One room for improvement would be to communicate with local excursions/drivers/and us/tourist if there is a cancellation. For example, our... read more

The trip Bryan planned was great. Overall, we had professional tour guides and felt like the locations we visited were the best for what we were looking for. Pablo, our driver and guide for our first day, was exceptional, had great energy, and left us with many tips that other tourists did not know about. (ie. Soda's are family owned restaurants!)

One room for improvement would be to communicate with local excursions/drivers/and us/tourist if there is a cancellation. For example, our driver picked us up and drove us to the excursion location (50 min away from Nosara to Samara) and back to the hotel upon learning of the cancellation of our diving excursion due to ocean conditions. We thankfully received a refund for the cancellation of the excursion.

Thank you to Bryan and the Serendipity Adventures team for the lovely holiday. Our wonderful trip leaves us with a want to return Costa Rica again in the future.

Everything about the trip was amazing.
Bryan chose excellent hotels and all the activities that we took part in were amazing ways to explore the rich Biodiversity you can find in Costa Rica . Our only regret is that we couldn’t have added an additional week to explore more of the country.
The guides were excellent and incredibly knowledgeable and happy to accommodate anything we wanted to focus on in our trip. The locals are so friendly and genuinely want you to enjoy their country and... read more

Everything about the trip was amazing.
Bryan chose excellent hotels and all the activities that we took part in were amazing ways to explore the rich Biodiversity you can find in Costa Rica . Our only regret is that we couldn’t have added an additional week to explore more of the country.
The guides were excellent and incredibly knowledgeable and happy to accommodate anything we wanted to focus on in our trip. The locals are so friendly and genuinely want you to enjoy their country and appreciate all the wonderful fauna and flora as well as the delicious food and of course the coffee. We weren’t bothered in any way to buy any of the souvenirs or take part in additional activities. If you’re planning a trip definitely pack for two very different climates, sunshine and bouts of heavy rainfall (it gets very humid at times) but the rain is always refreshing. Definitely recommend the hike around Arenal, the hanging bridges and zip wire in Monteverde, as well as the catamaran trip. Sensoria was amazing too and the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs was a fantastic way to finish the hike around the rainforest and waterfalls. This is one trip we will truly cherish and we hope to return to Central America and use the services of KimKim again to help organise our trip. Nilima

I cannot thank Bryan from Serendipity adventures enough!

He helped us to plan the most wonderful trip in Costa Rica! Not only did he give us wonderful suggestions but he also took into account our interests and our desires to see as much as possible in a short frame of time. He planned our activities meticulously and followed up with us throughout the trip to ensure that everything was going smoothly.

All our guides arrived on time and were extremely well trained and informed. Their... read more

I cannot thank Bryan from Serendipity adventures enough!

He helped us to plan the most wonderful trip in Costa Rica! Not only did he give us wonderful suggestions but he also took into account our interests and our desires to see as much as possible in a short frame of time. He planned our activities meticulously and followed up with us throughout the trip to ensure that everything was going smoothly.

All our guides arrived on time and were extremely well trained and informed. Their enthusiasm to share their knowledge about their country, the wildlife and the forests was contagious.

I would like to particularly mention Arenal Star, their service was impeccable. The owner picked us up and had local sweets and chips as well as drinks for us in the car. Not only that he stopped on the side of the road to get us Rambatans so that we could taste them. We made use of his company the next day for a hike and again we had the most incredible experience with fresh fruit being beautifully cut for us after our hike. Our guide was extremely informative and really went over and above to ensure we had an unforgettable experience.

In Monteverde we would really like to mention Andy from Forest Alive. He was by far the most experienced guide we had for the whole trip. He allowed us to freely use his spotting scope so that we could see all the animals. He had an array of specialist equipment that he used to show us so many interesting things that we would have otherwise not seen. He also understood our desire to take it slowly and really "see" the forest. We noticed how other guides were on their second or third trip with clients whilst we were merely completing our first excursion. He really took his time to show us nature at its best. He also showed us how diverse the forest is and gave us an in-depth explanation of the difference between all the various forests (dry, could, rain, dwarf). Our experience in Monteverde with Andy was one of the main highlights of our trip. He really is an exceptional guide and we will be forever grateful to him for everything he shared with us. Not only that he is also a fantastic photographer and he was able to teach us and show us how to take beautiful photos of what we were seeing.

We had an amazing time and we will definitely be using the services of Kimkim in future for all our trips. They make planning your dream trip a walk in the park!

Thank you to everyone for the most unforgettable experience in Costa Rica!

Ours was a mixed experience using Kim Kim. The design and booking process was AMAZING. Bryan was super responsive, very patient, and really dedicated to making sure we ended up with a trip that we loved. The implementation of the plan wasn’t as smooth in all cases. Bryan handed us over to someone else - Charlotte - for on the ground logistics who was also so incredibly responsive and patient. We had to change a number of things because of a tropical storm and Charlotte was quick to make... read more

Ours was a mixed experience using Kim Kim. The design and booking process was AMAZING. Bryan was super responsive, very patient, and really dedicated to making sure we ended up with a trip that we loved. The implementation of the plan wasn’t as smooth in all cases. Bryan handed us over to someone else - Charlotte - for on the ground logistics who was also so incredibly responsive and patient. We had to change a number of things because of a tropical storm and Charlotte was quick to make everything — including new additions and added requests — happen very quickly. Where it wasn’t as successful was in the details. It did not feel as if Bryan or Charlotte had visited the hotels themselves(recently) or had any intimate knowledge on quality. I’ve used numerous travel agents in the past and they are typically able to say, listen, I know the photos on the website are amazing but….in real life the rooms are run down, noisy, etc. Speaking candidly, three of the four hotels we went with were mediocre — one was straight up bad (for which Charlotte got us some credits)— and I would have expected better insight from people on the ground. The hiking excursions they planned were absolutely spectacular — we asked for, and got, private guides that could move at a family pace, engage kids, teach our about ecosystem, and not hassle us over being 15 late with a meal or needing an extra potty break. Truly, the vendors and guides they connected us with made the trip. The local transportation was hit or miss — in some places we could leave a bag in the car while we hiked and in others it was more of a taxi drop/off pick up — which is fine — but the communication about this was spotty and unclear. There was also a catamaran booking where we were on a 90+ person boat that was dirty, had blaring music, and cafeteria food when we agreed to a small group boat, with a guide who would point out wildlife and a BBQ lunch. The whole point of our trip was to be in a quiet setting that respected nature and was as private as possible — so this booking really made us feel like Bryan and Charlotte did not understand the point of the trip — we don’t care about mishaps but this made us feel like we weren’t on the same page about the experience we were looking for and had been talking about. In the future this has made me realize that although Kim Kim is easy to use and so convenient as a platform, if you don’t connect — really connect — with your trip planners on quality and expectations the details could get lost in translation. Normally I select a travel agency or excursion company because of their values and how they describe their trips and partners and so I know I’m working with a company that is on the same page as me in terms of hotel quality or excursion vibe — with this experience I didn’t have that and in the end, felt it in the details. So a mixed bag — lots of learning on my side — and deep respect for much of what I got on the Kim Kim side.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

We found Hotel Costa Verde to be mediocre and, based on our room location, the opposite of a beach vibe. We were in the A block of rooms which is right on the road. It was really loud - lots of trucks and cars and people yelling. If your room is away from the street and near the beach, I could imagine having a different experience. We had two rooms A7 and A8. A8 was upstairs and had a sitting room, high ceilings, kitchenette, balcony with a far away ocean view + 2 queens and a bunk bed. A7 had the same bed set-up, kitchenette, and balcony but had really low ceilings and was dark and depressing. The top bunk in A7 was not usable given the ceiling height and fan placement. Both rooms were run down and dingy — rusted faucets, gross molding and corners, and bedding that could really use an upgrade — the A/C is run by a key so you can’t leave it on, the hot water is super unreliable, and you are supposed to use the same towels for pool and shower. The A block has its own cute pool but requires driving to the beach which, with little ones, is a hassle. Breakfast is made to order and was good — the other restaurants were totally overpriced for the quality — especially when you have such good food at local restaurants nearby. The staff was nice but not really service oriented — the overall experience was more “hostel” than “hotel”.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Riviera Hotel B&B

Heredia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peace Lodge

Vara Blanca

We stayed at Peace Lodge our first two nights in Costa Rica. No words to describe how lovely our experience was — every detail was thought about, from your name on tiles outside your room to the fire going and late night snacks waiting for the kids upon arrival. The rooms have natural indoor living gardens and jacuzzis in the bathrooms. The balconies have hammocks, jacuzzis, hummingbird feeders and the views are staggeringly beautiful. The food — at breakfast and in the restaurants was fabulous — and literally, any change or request was honored without an issue. One of our bags did not arrive and they opened the gift shop after hours so we could buy our son a few things!!! And the grounds are truly spectacular — the exhibits are small but lovely and the waterfall loop a truly perfect hike with kids on day one. Trout lake was also really fun — even in the rain :-) Just can’t say enough good things — it’s about the details — the staff were just absolutely extraordinary and we loved our experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The Springs, like Peace Lodge, gets the service aspect down 100%. They do not miss any details and are totally focused on making sure adults and kids have whatever they need to relax and enjoy. The property is big but they run you wherever you want to go on golf carts. We had two adjoining rooms (610-611) and they put my parents right next door without us even asking. The rooms are nice — not luxurious but spacious and super comfortable. The food was really good — again, nothing out of this world but really solid. The hot spring pools were a hit for everyone and the kids could be in the main one for hours. The large pools weren’t the cleanest which was my only issue but they are heavily used. There is a swim up pool vibe — fun, music, cocktails and so If you are looking for luxury or quiet this isn’t it. We did a lot of hiking and so only used the pools for an hour or so between or after excursions and so it was fine for us for these pop ins. Overall, a really solid comfortable choice for families or groups. If only adults, I would likely look for something a bit more unique.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and restaurants were spotless — the main pool area not as much. Lots of floating hair (no joke) and the area by the swim up bar was rundown and not clean.

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

El Establo was okay. We had two rooms — one was a duplex with two king beds (311), one was a standard room with two queens (204). The duplex would be good for kids but the stairs are totally open so not ideal for little ones. Overall the rooms were dark and rundown. Internet was really bad, hot water was limited, and definitely nothing luxurious about either room but both had nice balconies and lovely views — but no furniture to sit on. Breakfast was really good but the food we ordered from room service after a long day of hiking — pizza and rice stir-fry — was literally inedible (not an exaggeration) and very expensive. The property is huge — and pretty — and there are shuttles to take you everywhere if you don’t want to/can’t walk but the overall vibe is just super disconnected and impersonal. The service was odd — breakfast crew was awesome and helpful but then it took 3 calls and a personal trip to reception to get a room service menu or an extra blanket. There was nothing awful about it and since we spent most days on hikes and tours, we were fine to crash here at the end of the day but we also were not impressed at all. The location is good for views and walkable to butterfly garden and Valle Escondido and a quick taxi from downtown but if I return I would definitely try someplace else.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Catamaran Adventure from Manuel Antonio with Meal

Manuel Antonio

This was terrible! It is a 100 person boat with terrible blaring music and filthy conditions. The floors are gross after two minutes from all the people, spilled food, soggy snacks. Someone vomited and it wasn’t cleaned up for an hour. The food was nasty — packaged cookies and soggy fruit for snacks and awful large plastic cafeteria trays of rice and fish served to people standing in long lines for lunch. There was someone on a loud speaker saying look at this volcanic rock or that beach but no information worth listening to. There was a water slide that was open for an hour and “snorkeling” — which means they handed out life jackets and masks and said if you don’t know what you are doing, don’t go because we are far from a hospital (not joking). Honestly, it was terrible and dirty and we could not wait for it to be over.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bryan was fantastic in organising our trip. The drivers were all excellent especially Pablo who took us from La Fortuna to Manual Antonio. Costa Verde was a very nice hotel with very nice front desk staff especially Marcella. All in all very enjoyable and highly recommended. read more

Bryan was fantastic in organising our trip. The drivers were all excellent especially Pablo who took us from La Fortuna to Manual Antonio. Costa Verde was a very nice hotel with very nice front desk staff especially Marcella. All in all very enjoyable and highly recommended.

Usually, when we travel, I do all the research, book everything, etc. but, with two kids under four in the house and work schedule, I went ahead and checked out KimKim to book a trip to Costa Rica. We ended up using Bryan with Serendipity Adventures, which worked out quite well.

We stayed in Liberia for a couple days, a couple days a Rincon de la Vieja, and then a couple days at Playa Portero. Honestly, our least favorite part was Liberia. However, the night we arrived, Bryan arranged for... read more

Usually, when we travel, I do all the research, book everything, etc. but, with two kids under four in the house and work schedule, I went ahead and checked out KimKim to book a trip to Costa Rica. We ended up using Bryan with Serendipity Adventures, which worked out quite well.

We stayed in Liberia for a couple days, a couple days a Rincon de la Vieja, and then a couple days at Playa Portero. Honestly, our least favorite part was Liberia. However, the night we arrived, Bryan arranged for us to have a coffee experience with Tierras Altas. This was incredible. It was informative and fun. We learned lots about the different type of beans, methods of brewing, and even the about the coffee industry world-wide. We have already ordered coffee beans from Tierras Altas back to the States. Rincon de la Vieja was action-packed- rappelling into canyons, tubing, zip-lining, horseback riding. And, then food was incredible! Those certainly were our favorite days. But, the accommodations at Bahia del Sol at Playa Portero were phenomenal: swim up bar, incredible beach access, and the rooms were great for us as a couple.

We loved Costa Rica! I'm thankful for Bryan putting this together. The best part of working with Bryan was that there were a few times during the week we wanted to make tweaks, and Bryan was quick to contact drivers to make sure we could get it all done. Bryan worked quickly and efficiently to make sure all was smooth.

Hotel Review

Bahía del Sol Hotel

Potrero

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee Experience in Liberia

Liberia

Informative, personal, casual

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Palo Verde National Park Boat Exploration

Costa Rica

Half Day - Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Costa Rica