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Karen Quintero

Holaaa! I'm Karen, proudly Mexican and native from a small city called Tlaxcala. In the last 4 years, I’ve been exploring Mexico and I love to share with the world the authentic Mexico that I’m in love with, full of culture, nature and wonderful people, but most importantly I love traveling with a positive impact and connecting
I’ll be more than happy to share my experiences and knowledge to help you design an authentic trip in Mexico

How did you get involved in travel?

"I studied international tourism with the idea of traveling around the world, and while I was studying I realized I was missing out on so many incredible places in Mexico, how was I going to tell the people how incredible my country is if I haven’t seen it? So, I decided to plan my first trip alone at eighteen, I went to the Riviera Maya for 2 months and I fell in love with the feeling of being whoever I want to be, the feeling of being in a place for the first time and getting surprised.
The best part is that now I’m part of Rutopia and I want to connect travelers with the authenticity of my country by getting to know the local communities.
"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Last year I had the opportunity to go to Chiapas, to be honest, it wasn’t my favorite state nor on my top list, but at the end of the trip, I was stunning by all the beauty, history, archeological sites, the food, the incredible people, the nature and the incredible views.
The best part was at Las Tres Tzimoleras, I don’t even know how to start to describe this activity, but I jumped in a waterfall, I saw an incredible view of the forest and the waterfalls and I rappelled in a waterfall, all these incredible things in one day, what a crazy thing, but it was awesome. "

Karen is part of the following groups: Mexico Travel Agents
Colorful streets in Puerto Vallarta's historic center near Malecon and Playa de los Muertos
2 Weeks in Mexico - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With two weeks in Mexico, you have plenty of time to delve into more than one region—pair Mexico City with the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, for example—and to build your trip around a particular interest. Spend two weeks touring Mexico's top highlights, focus on seeing as many UNESCO-honored ruins as you can, take a family-oriented trip that features outdoor activities like swimming with dolphins in Puerto Vallarta, or eat and drink your way around Mexico on a foodie tour.

Street tacos in Mexico City
Culinary Tour Through Mexico City, Puebla & Oaxaca - 7 Days

On this food-focused tour, you'll discover authentic Mexican cuisine at marketplaces, family-run restaurants, street food stands, and indigenous farms. The itinerary isn't only about food, though: the schedule features visits to archaeological sites and other places of interest, including the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the colonial city of Puebla.

Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Discover Central Mexico: Mexico City, Cholula, Oaxaca, Mazunte, & More - 13 Days

If you want to experience Mexico's culture and leave time for adventure, look no further than this packed 13-day trip. From the buzzing streets of Mexico City to the ancient archaeological ruins that emerge from the rainforest, you'll see the best of the region and enjoy insider experiences, like a traditional Temzacal steam bath.

The pyramids at Teotihuacán, Mexico
Cultural Tour of Mexico - 7 Days

The largest pyramid in the world is in Mexico, as are some of the world's mysterious pyramids—at Cholula and Teotihuacán, respectively—and you'll visit both places on this wide-ranging cultural tour. Learn about pre-Hispanic, Mayan, and Aztec cultures as you explore Mexico City, Mérida, Puebla, and Chichén Itzá, and take a break for a refreshing dip in a cenote. And a taco or two, of course.

Recent trip reviews for Karen

Extremely professional coordination and guide...
Mexico | Dec 27 - Jan 6, 2023

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Priya R.
Gainesville, FL | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2023

Extremely professional coordination and guides. We had a wonderful time. We felt safe and impressed by the degree of timeliness and punctuality of all the folks who tended to our needs. read more

Extremely professional coordination and guides. We had a wonderful time. We felt safe and impressed by the degree of timeliness and punctuality of all the folks who tended to our needs.

Hotel Review
Casa Pepe Puebla
Puebla
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Narvarte At Night: Tacos, Chelas & Mezcal
Mexico City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gastronomic Workshop in Coyoacán
Mexico City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking Tour in Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"
Mexico City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hiking in Popo-Izta National Park
Mexico
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
History, Culture & Gastronomy on the Streets of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, Hierve el Agua, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle
Oaxaca

We couldn't go to this tour due to illness.

Local specialist: Karen Quintero

Highlights of Mexico with an eco-tourism focus
Mexico | Aug 1 - Aug 11, 2022

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Grainne A.
Ireland | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2022

Karen helped us plan our honeymoon to Mexico and we couldn't be happier with our trip.
She took everything we discussed on board and planned our 11 day trip with all our specifications in mind. The process of planning was very smooth and we had regular contact with Karen with additional updates to the itinerary. She was very receptive to any changes we needed to make and was extremely helpful in reorganising part of the trip when I made an error with flights.

The holiday itself was... read more

Karen helped us plan our honeymoon to Mexico and we couldn't be happier with our trip.
She took everything we discussed on board and planned our 11 day trip with all our specifications in mind. The process of planning was very smooth and we had regular contact with Karen with additional updates to the itinerary. She was very receptive to any changes we needed to make and was extremely helpful in reorganising part of the trip when I made an error with flights.

The holiday itself was exceptional. We knew at all times who we needed to meet and where we needed to meet them and had daily correspondence with Ximena over What's app.
The mix of activities and excursions was exactly what we had hoped for and I feel like we got to experience a broad view of Mexico.
Our personal highlights were the food tasting and historical tours in Mexico City where we had private tours with some very experienced chefs.
We also got to experience some eco-tourism on the Yucutan and get an idea of modern Mayan culture. One of the best parts of our trip was the cultural emersion tour in Nuevo Durango. Because of these small tours we got to visit lots of hidden cenotes and small villages that we would otherwise never have been aware of.

Every day of our trip had an excursion planned but left plenty of time to explore locally in the evenings. I cannot recommend kimkim, and Karen in particular, enough. I would never have been able to plan such a varied trip without her.

Hotel Reviews
Cabins in Nuevo Durango

We stayed in one of the cabins in Nuevo Durango as part of a cultural tour of the area and it was one of the best nights we spent in Mexico. The cabin itself is rustic and sparse but very clean and the bed was incredibly comfortable. The cabins each had a toilet and shower and mosquito net for protection. The wifi didn't stretch to the cabin but this didn't limit the experience in any way, and moreso created an unplugged, relaxing night. We had delicious lunch, dinner, and breakfast, all cooked locally and our guide, Jose, was really excellent at showing us around the area and bringing us to the cenote in the centre of the town.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa González
Mexico City

Great location with easy access to town and nice local restaurants. We felt very safe in the area and there were always plenty of people around. The room was beautiful and comfortable and the staff at the front desk were very helpful. Breakfast each morning was delicious with a good variety of Mexican and international food on the menu. Our only issue was with the timing of the room cleaning. We arrived back from trips late in the afternoon most days and our room hadn't yet been cleaned and on one occasion the cleaner arrived while we were in our room (around 4pm) and we had to leave for half an hour while the bathroom bins were emptied and the room cleaned. Despite this we really enjoyed our stay and would happily visit again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Gayser
Valladolid

Great location that was a short walk to the main square and restaurants. The room was clean and comfortable and the air-con was great. We were on the ground floor and there was a lot of noise with music playing in the lobby at night which made it very hard to sleep. The breakfast was limited, just toast and fruit, so we wouldn't have relied on it as a full meal for the morning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
too much noise from music playing in the lobby at night
HM Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen

Beautiful and clean hotel with a great pool and bar service. Check-in was very straightforward but there is no elevator in the building so we had to carry heavy suitcases up 2 flights of stairs. Location was great and just a few minutes walk away from the main strip but far enough away that there was no noise at night. There's also a secure carpark which was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fiesta Americana Viaducto Aeropuerto
Mexico City

Brief overnight stay between flights. Very nice and clean hotel with great airport shuttle service. Check-in was very straightforward and the staff were very helpful. Very clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews
Biking in Teotihuacan, "The City of the Gods"
Mexico City

Really pleasant morning biking around Teotihuacan with our guide. We got to visit one of the nearby caves and learn a bit about Aztec customs and auras which was fun! A light lunch was included which was enjoyable before heading back out in the sun. We also had a visit to a local craftsman who showed us how some of the obsidian ornaments are created. Our guide was great and full of information about the mathematics and construction of the pyramids. Really enjoyable tour overall

Float in the Muyil Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve
Mexico

Cannot recommend this tour enough. The reserve has a gentle current so we spent 40 mins in a very relaxing natural lazy river. Our guide filled us in on how the Mayans used the lagoon and pointed out native plants and fossils as we drifted along. We really didn't want to leave!

Local specialist: Karen Quintero

Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to...
Mexico | Dec 28 - Jan 3, 2023

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Kris S.
Seaside, CA | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2022

Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to plan my trip to Mexico. Marisol helped me figure out the best options fand booked everything. Melina was my in country support. Rutopia (the company through Kim Kim) is great and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take the burden out of vacation planning. My son and I truly enjoyed the trip knowing everything was taken care of and we just had to have fun. Thanks! read more

Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to plan my trip to Mexico. Marisol helped me figure out the best options fand booked everything. Melina was my in country support. Rutopia (the company through Kim Kim) is great and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take the burden out of vacation planning. My son and I truly enjoyed the trip knowing everything was taken care of and we just had to have fun. Thanks!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel El Moro
Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

We went with this hotel as we were only staying a night and wanted quick access to the snorkeling at Puerto Morales. It's a small homey hotel. It's not fancy but the staff is great and had a good feel to it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holbox By Xaloc
Isla Holbox
Activity Reviews
Snorkeling in the beautiful marine park of Puerto Morelos
Mexico

Really enjoyed the company and the guides. Being an avid snorkeling, I would have liked knowing ahead of time that you are required to wear a life jacket while snorkeling. I understand it is to protect the coral but for me, I would have liked to know about it to determine if I would have chosen to snorkel somewhere else.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coba and the sacred Mayan roads.
Mexico

Manual is an amazing personable guide. Both him and his son were just really nice and helpful. My son and I really enjoyed biking through the ruins.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Float in the Muyil Sian Ka´an Biosphere Reserve
Mexico

I really enjoyed this adventure. Eddie the guide was just great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Too many stops to pick up others. It was supposed to be a 7 hour trip and it was 10hours. The transportation was just too long and too many pick ups.
Local specialist: Karen Quintero