Bryan Leon

OMG what an amazing trip we had! Bryan helped us to sort out our itinerary to stay within our budget while ticking all our vacation boxes!! We were celebrating a birthday and our 30th anniversary and boy did we get celebrated! No less than 4 cakes were had between our different spots! At the Villa Florencia the owner made the most super delicious chocolate banana cake just for us! Highlights were the whitewater rafting in Pacuare River with the BEST guide that kept me from tumbling out of the raft! The Laguna Lodge in Tortuguero was a fantastic hotel with a very warm and welcome pool and great food! Saw turtles nesting! And so many birds and caymans on the grounds and on our guided excursion through the canals with Miquel (the best!) tour guide. Our last stay was the Almonds and Corals Hotel in Manzanillo which was -- beyond. Like waking up in the jungle but super posh. Our local contact Adrain was beyond in helpful and there for us all along the way-- from packing tips to any questions. Every driver/guide/excursion was on time and knowledgable and friendly and funny and perfect! We love Costa Rica and grateful for Kimkim to help us have this experience!! Pura Vida!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Villa Florencia

Turrialba

Such a beautiful spot. We woke up with some birds and monkeys chatting about but it was deliciously appropriate! Our view out of our room was amazing-- will be painting that scene in the days to come. We were celebrating birthday and the owner made us the MOST delicious chocolate banana cake and I can't describe how good it was.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laguna Lodge

Tortuguero

We loved this hotel! The grounds are so so lovely with sooooo many birds and beautiful flowers and plants! And tree frogs! And the beach with the turtle nests! The pool was divine and was a welcome dip during the day and at night. We were there in October and the temperature couldn't have been more perfect. The food was super good (gallo pinto superb) with yummy pineapple and papaya. The pina coladas also tops!! Our river cruise through the Tortugeuero Canals was otherworldy with our funny and sassy guide Miguel. We were very entertained.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Almonds and Corals Boutique Hotel

Manzanillo

Stay here! This hotel is an incredible experience. It is literally sleeping in the jungle but with beautiful sheets and a lovely shower and a deck to listen to the birds and monkeys. The beach with bar service is RIGHT there and the restaurant is good and friendly with a pool table to boot. I only with we had another day there!! On the trail surrounding the property we saw armadillos, agoutis, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys-- they are all nutty nutty! The staff is excellent-- we had an early flight and they prepared a breakfast box for us!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting in Pacuare River (Class III - IV)

Costa Rica

Soooooo fun!!!!! The time (3 + hours) was perfect. Not too long, not too short.

Quality of Experience

Food

the very best golden pineapple!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

sort of more terrifying on the road there than the rafting itself!!

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Miguel was a superb guide. And our boat captain had the eagle eye! How he spotted the birds in the sea of green leaves was amazing! I really love and admire how knowledgable the people who took us on our excursions were about the animals and plants and history of Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Pedro was a perfect guide! So funny and knowledgeable and happy to share everything and anything about the culture and history of Costa Rica!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fabulous trip to Costa Rica all thanks to Bryan, who planned it, and the local Costa Rican team with Serendipty Adventures led by Adrian, who helped make it happen. The trip was so unique and a special way to celebrate our anniversary. We went to Tortuguero, La Fortuna, and the cloud forest. Adrian, who was in regular contact with us, seamlessly pivoted behind the scenes to change the itinerary when flooding affected the coast. Our driver Alex was a wonderful guide throughout the trip and taught us about local history, agriculture, flora and fauna. He had an eye for the camouflaged sloths and numerous birds. He added special touches by stopping to purchase traditional snacks.

All of our guides were exceptional in their kindnesss, thoughtfulness and knowledge.
Ricardo knew just where to find two-toed and three-toed sloths and taught us about their uniqueness.
We went bird watching with David, who carefully traversed the muddy forest to find a variety of beautiful birds.
Uber gave us a tour of his family's organic farm where we learned the Spanish names for all of the roots and herbs and pressed sugar cane for juice. His mother guided us in cooking a delicious traditional meal, and his father made a special chocolate heart for our anniversary! Finally, Luis took us on a river trip in Tortuguero where he found monkeys, iguana, sloths, and numerous birds.

This was a one-of-a-kind trip arranged and executed by a talented team where we met some of the nicest and knowledgeable people who really took pride in sharing their country with us.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

The hotel is beautiful, rife with local plants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is centrally located in San Jose.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manatus Hotel

Tortuguero

This is a beautiful hotel right on the river. We loved seeing the monkeys swinging from the trees!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

This hotel is really a resort at the base of the volcano. It is a gorgeous property with a large heated pool, heated jacuzzi, and cold pool. The rooms are individual cabins that are truly luxurious. The breakfast buffet is the best we had with delicious local fruits, all kinds of breads and pastries, an omelet station and waffle iron with fresh juices and coffee. They gave me gluten free bread and delicious gluten free pancakes, which was an extra special treat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The location near the volcano and numerous parks for walking, ziplining, horseback riding, and sloth seeing is ideal.

Staff

The staff was very helpful and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Boat Excursion Through the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Ricardo was very knowledgeable about the animals and astute at finding monkeys, sloths, iguanas and birds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Birdwatching in Arenal Mundo Aventura Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

We arrived at 5:30 in the morning for a private tour led by David. He deftly brought us through the park, a virtual forest, and found numerous birds that we had never seen. He was very kind to take stunning pictures through his binoculars to keep for memories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our drive Alex was always prompt and happy to see us.

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Costa Rica

The springs were beautiful and delightful after a long day of travel.

Quality of Experience

Food

The buffet had a wide variety of food, but most was pretty bland.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

This walk was very exciting as we got to see several two-toed and three-toed sloths.

Quality of Experience

The guide Ricardo was very knowledgeable and taught us about the sloths lifecycle, digestive system, and habits.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

The walk through the farm led by Uber was thoroughly enjoyable as he picked several roots and had us figure out what they were by feel and taste and then taught us their Spanish names. We then pressed sugar by hand and drank the juice. Later we went to his family's home, where his mother guided us in making tortillas and a traditional meal. We were touched at the end of the meal when they gave us a chocolate heart made from their own cocoa beans for our anniversary.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food we prepared was the best Costa Rican meal we had during the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uber and his family were so welcoming and informative.

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica was wonderfully amazing. Huge credit to all the team at KimKim and Serendipity! We have already recommended many times.

We started off with amazing personal service on arrival, outstanding bookings in Cloud Forest at Savegre Resort where the room had a private enclosed balcony with jacuzzi tub and views of the river. They also had a special anniversary table and dinner for us, that we did not know KimKim had even set up. Beautiful and very thoughtful.
Bird watching was great with local guide and we managed to see the bashful quetzales. Horseback tour was a wonderful outing through river and up into hills. Our planned coffee tour was great and gave us unique perspectives into local growing cooperative.
We moved on to the Pacific coast and Uvita where we had another amazing balcony room at Cristal Ballena overlooking the ocean. With monkeys and toucans out our window it was a wonderfully natural landscape. Plus the afternoon in the pool was so relaxing and the staff took amazing care of us.
Our whaling tour actually saw humpback whales and dolphins so that was a bonus.
Kimkim set up everything and Serendipity was right there to answer any questions in real time. The service was outstanding! We can’t say enough great things for all the assistance. So easy to work with and everything came through even better than expected.
Would HIGHLY recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Páramo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Ballena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding Along the Savegre River

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Birdwatching and Natural History at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marino Ballena National Park: Boat Trip

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and the entire experience felt seamless, safe, and beautifully curated.
Arenal was one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had. We loved our stay at Casa Luna Hotel & Spa, peaceful, lush, and welcoming. The Arenal Volcano short hike was wonderful, offering stunning views and a comfortable pace. The food throughout the region was excellent, and the organic cooking class was a standout: part farming lesson, part cultural immersion, and entirely memorable.
The boat ride across Arenal Lake to Monteverde was serene and scenic, and our stay at Sibū Boutique Hotel was modern, comfortable, and perfectly located. Although the Monteverde night hike didn’t reveal many animals, we still spotted a few rare creatures, and the guide made the experience worthwhile. The Bat Jungle was surprisingly unique and educational. Monteverde itself offered a very special mountain atmosphere, misty, quiet, and full of character.
Overall, the trip was beautifully planned, stress‑free, and full of meaningful experiences. We are grateful for the care and expertise that went into creating this itinerary.

Our family trip to Costa Rica was absolutely incredible, and KimKim Travel and Serendipity Adventures, local travel specialist, delivered exceptional value every step of the way. They created a thoughtfully planned itinerary that was perfectly tailored to our family, saving us time, stress, and uncertainty while making the entire experience feel effortless. Bryan, Nancy and Adrian, among others at Serendipity Adventures, worked diligently to make sure everything ran smoothly and worry-free. A special shoutout to our private chef, Sarah, and his assistant, Natalia, whose delicious meals were one of the highlights of our stay at Casa Fantastica. Their food and warm hospitality made us feel completely at home. We had fantastic tour guides and drivers such as Alex our driver who was a wealth of local information. Brian at the Sunset Sailing Cruise made our sailing adventure so much fun with an excellent dinner and drinks. Tucanes Tours made our horseback riding adventure so much fun and we felt safe and well taken care of. The people at Villa Vanilla Spice Tour were so knowledgeable and the vanilla and other products we purchased were such high quality. Very informative tour. Champions Surf School made our surf lessons so much fun and we had a wonderful day at the beach. Casa Fantastica has a wonderful staff from the concierges, Carlos and Sarah, to the cleaning and laundry services people. Very professional and friendly. Again, Chef Sarah at Casa Fantastica was truly remarkable and really made our trip one to remember.

Hotel Review

Casa Fantastica

Our family trip to Costa Rica was truly one we will never forget, and Casa Fantastica played such a special part in making it so meaningful. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed, relaxed, and cared for. Carlos and Sarah, the concierges on the property, were so helpful. The beauty of the home, the incredible views, and the peaceful surroundings gave us the perfect place to slow down and enjoy time together as a family. The cleaning staff, laundry staff and maintenance people were great and so attentive to our needs and requests. A huge part of what made our stay so memorable was Chef Sarah, and her assistant, Natalia. Sarah wasn't just an amazing chef, she became part of our experience. Her warmth, kindness, and attention to every detail made us feel like we were being cared for by a friend. Every meal was absolutely delicious and beautifully prepared. Sitting around the table sharing those meals became some of our favorite moments of the entire trip. Casa Fantastica gave our family the gift of unforgettable memories, laughter, connection, and time together that we will always treasure. We are so grateful for the hospitality and care that went into making our stay extraordinary. Costa Rica will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we hope to return to Casa Fantastica again someday.

Authenticity & Character

This was a luxury home with beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms, an infinity pool and hot tub, and all the amenities you need.

Location

This luxury home is located in Manuel Antonio down a very steep street. Difficult to walk into town from here but a short Uber ride.

Staff

Chef Sarah was amazing. Her meals were so delicious and creative. Her assistant, Natalia, also did a fantastic job. The cleaning staff, laundry staff, and maintenance staff were also great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This luxury home had everything you could want available to you and the location was great.

Activity Review

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Costa Rica

This was a wonderful family activity. Sailing aboard a pirate ship in the ocean. What could be more fun. Brian on the staff made our time at sea an adventure and so much fun. We had a wonderful dinner and drinks. Took time out to enjoy the ocean snorkeling, or paddle boarding, or just lounging in the ocean with a pool noodle. We were also able to see dolphins swimming next to our boat. Highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Fun family adventure.

Food

We had a delicious dinner on the boat and drinks were flowing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain and staff were all fantastic. Brian made our trip so much fun.

Transport

Sailing around the ocean for hours was so much fun.

Kimkim and Serendipity Adventures were fantastic to work with! Bryan, Adrian and Nancy did a fantastic job planning the trip, adjusting it for me and the supporting us during the trip for anything we needed. Our family vacation was fun and seamless due to this team. Thank you!

We had a great time in Costa Rica. The trip was worry-free and well planned. We went on the mountain hike and loved it. Our guide, Oliver, was wonderful. He was knowledgeable and made it fun for us older folks. The river adventure was awesome as well. Our guide, Henry, was great. The food was amazing and the people were so friendly. Three Monkeys were always early to take us on the next adventure. Our drivers were friendly and kept us informed of where were and where we were going. We hope to return to Costa Rica in the future and will use Serendipity again. Thank you for a wonderful trip.

Loved the trip! The hotels were comfortable & well chosen for locations. Transports we're on time & professional - that was sooo nice to have. The tours were really great! Snorkeling was great & the guides really assisted my sister who needed extra care. Very impressed with care & knowledge. Merino in Da Dota was an exceptional birder. We enjoyed every place we went!

Incredible guides for all excursions. Everyone was so helpful and friendly

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

So pretty! It was advertised as a place to see the volcano, but sadly, rain and fog obscured it. The restaurant meals were good. Their breakfast was amazing. Not a negative thing to say about the Lodging.

Authenticity & Character

The surroundings, staff, cleanliness of facilities.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

A bit disappointed in the room. No coffee maker, not always hot water. Ceiling fan very dusty. We didn’t spend much time in the room, so it was satisfactory.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure (Class II-III)

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was fun. Water was low on the river, so maybe not as exciting as other times of the year. But still worth it. Fresh fruit served to us in the middle of float and a good meal after was included

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Costa Rica

It was so good. Beautiful sunset, plenty of time to jump in the water and enjoy the ocean great dinner and drinks.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

I learned a lot about herbs and organic gardening. Guide was so knowledgeable and shared much information with us. We collected many of the items found on farm. They were added to a sugar cane drink. Dinner was good. We cut up the items for our meals. Made corn tortillas. Fun

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Sloth Observation Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Personal guide worked very hard to find the sloths and birds in area. Refreshing fruit during the tour. Take bug spray.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Adventure Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

Because there was a miscommunication with the pick up time with the driver, we missed the tour. Requesting a refund. Except for this bump, everything was very smt

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Because of driver not on time, we were unable to do the adventure

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was so good! Equipment was top notch. Exciting. Even as an 80 year old, I was able to experience the thrill of it Staff so good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

L

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

A great guide! He loved what he does! Very informative tour. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Let us choose our time for pick up so we’re able to shop and eat in the area.

This trip was amazing. I was not sure what to expect going through KimKim and the local specialist, Serendipity Adventures, but was thoroughly pleased with everything. Our tour guide during the Turrialba Volcano Hike, Gloriana, was amazing, well informed and an absolute delight to hike along side. Living in the community brought real stories and experience to our hike. She was most accommodating. We had a tour of the National Monument with Manuel and he was extremely knowledgeable as well. He informed us of the history and brought his scope and found a sloth for us to see. I was so excited as I have never seen a sloth up close. Our next adventure was a night tour at Catie Botanical Gardens. I was amazed at the amount of Costa Rican wildlife. Jorge and Gato were exceptional guides. Our accommodations were outstanding and all the support staff were friendly and most spoke English. We moved from Turrialba to San Geraldo de Dota and had amazing views at the Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge... loved the weather. Early in the morning we went birdwatching with Carlos, an extraordinary guide, who grew up in the area. His knowledge about birds was amazing and he knew the Quetzal patterns which allowed us to see our first Quetzal. The horseback riding is a must to the waterfalls. We are avid riders and loved every minute. Our last visit was to Uvita.... the weather was just like Louisiana, hot and humid but we're very used to it. The view from Tiki Villas Rainforest Lodge and Spa was breath taking. We added spa treatments for us 4 and it was incredible. Tired after 7 days of hiking, horseback riding and tours, we were soooo happy the Mangrove & Wildlife tour was in a boat. It was so peaceful and we were able to see all the birds we wanted to. Exceptional as well.

Booking through KimKim and Serendipity was the BEST decision we ever made and will most assuredly be recommending this group to everyone. As a retired military member, I like order and punctuality and that is exactly what we had... no hiccups. The only way to visit going forward. I can't wait to book my next country visit with them.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Turire

Turrialba

Great lodging, friendly staff and wonderful location

Authenticity & Character

Lush landscaping

Location

Beautifully tucked away but close to the city.

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and spacious.

Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge

Copey

Amazing views, wonderful spa bathtub and great restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Incredible views and walking paths.

Location

Location near our tours which was awesome and a great cafe for birdwatching and a pizza cafe too.

Staff

Fabian and Selena were fantastic.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great support staff and very clean.

Tiki Villas Rainforest Lodge & Spa

Uvita

EXCEPTIONAL!! Amazing view, massages in room when purchased and great ambiance.

Authenticity & Character

Fantastic pool and view..... EXCEPTIONAL.

Location

Very close to tours and beaches.

Staff

Friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent king size beds and very cool outside shower and bath. MUST STAY AGAIN.

Activity Review

Private Hike Turrialba Volcano

Costa Rica

Our guide was Gloriana who lived around the tour area which made the hike even more interesting as she was able to share her childhood experiences along the way. The hike was the perfect amount of exertion and exercise and the view was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Knowledgeable tour guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gloriana was exceptional.