Felipe Rico

From our initial conversations several months ago to our return to the U.S. from Colombia a few days ago, Felipe and his team "escorted" us through their beautiful country, always in touch with us to make sure our experiences were memorable. We enjoyed all of our knowledgable and engaging guides, especially Tomás Vargas in Bogotá and Juan Carlos Vandergast in Medellin, both with whom we spent considerable time. We also enjoyed Isaac in Cartagena, with his enthusiasm and command of his... read more

From our initial conversations several months ago to our return to the U.S. from Colombia a few days ago, Felipe and his team "escorted" us through their beautiful country, always in touch with us to make sure our experiences were memorable. We enjoyed all of our knowledgable and engaging guides, especially Tomás Vargas in Bogotá and Juan Carlos Vandergast in Medellin, both with whom we spent considerable time. We also enjoyed Isaac in Cartagena, with his enthusiasm and command of his city's history, though we only spent a morning with him, because of some confusion on our end.

What an unfair question when asked about favorite experiences! Through KimKim, Aracanto provided us with a myriad of exciting opportunities. How about Monserrate, Candelaria, Villa de Leyva, Kronosaurus, Raquira, Medellin's Commune 13, Fernando Botero, Guatapé, El Piñol, Rosario Islands, walled old city Cartagena, Gethsemane, the cooking class with Gilles Dupont? They all tumble around inside our heads as memorable events of the trip. And I can't forget the friendliness of the welcoming Colombian people we met everywhere.

Two thumbs up to everyone involved and hands down for an incredible twelve days discovering another favorite country.

Thank you, KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Quadrifolio

Cartagena de Indias

Stunning architectural beauty, welcoming and helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Outstanding renovation, seemed true to the original design, elegant, sophisticated

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coralina Island

Isla del Rosario

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa Terra

Villa de Leyva

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa Medina Four Seasons

Bogotá, Cundinamarca

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.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants, far from sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner Reservation at Harry Sasson

Bogotá

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

City Tour of Bogotá with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill

Bogotá

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Tierra Cocina de Entorno

Bogotá

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.

Quality of Experience

Dinner Reservation at Mercado Municipal

Villa de Leyva

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Villa de Leyva Tour

Villa de Leyva

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Dinner Reservation at OCI.Mde

Medellín

Great vibe. Friendly staff. Good food.

Guatape and El Peñol

Colombia

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!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at El Cielo - Please confirm on your side

Colombia

El Cielo couldn't confirm a reservation.

City Tour of Medellín (Comuna 13)

Medellín

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to the Islands

Rosario Islands

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at the Islands at Coralina Island

Rosario Islands

Paradise.

Quality of Experience

Departure from the Islands

Rosario Islands

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.

City Tour of Cartagena (Half Day)

Cartagena

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.

Dinner Reservation at La Mulata

Cartagena

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.

Private Cooking Class and Lunch

Cartagena

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.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Reservation at Alma

Cartagena

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Depart Colombia

Colombia

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.

We had never been to Colombia before and in fact some friends asked us why we were going there. Felipe, our local specialist was very attentive and on each leg of our trip we were met at the airport by a greeter and a driver (very welcome on our arrival at 4:00am). Anytime we had a question through Watsapp, Felipe or a member of his team would reply within minutes even late at night. For each transfer Felipe confirmed the pick up details and gave the name of the people meeting us. We are now... read more

We had never been to Colombia before and in fact some friends asked us why we were going there. Felipe, our local specialist was very attentive and on each leg of our trip we were met at the airport by a greeter and a driver (very welcome on our arrival at 4:00am). Anytime we had a question through Watsapp, Felipe or a member of his team would reply within minutes even late at night. For each transfer Felipe confirmed the pick up details and gave the name of the people meeting us. We are now spoiled by the handholding but it absolutely eliminates the stress of travelling to a new place. A minor issue in the booking was sticking to the budget we had given for the trip.
We had guides in Bogota (Tom), Medellin (Manuella), Cartagena (Oscar) and the 4 hr drive from Taganga to Cartagena (Javier, who gave us an impromptu seminar on Colombian music). The latter was a pleasant no-cost surprise as the drivers rarely spoke English. In every case, the guides gave us a thorough overview of their cities, made restaurant recommendatons and were a very time efficient way to learn about Colombia. All were very enthusiastic and proud to teach us about their country.
The accomodations were all well selected boutique hotels, even the ones owned by Marriott and Hilton in Bogota. The locations allowed us to mostly walk to dinner and we never felt any security concerns. The restaurant bookings were excellent and made for some memorable evenings.

Hotel Reviews

The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection

Bogotá

A nice boutique hotel in a trendy part of Bogota. There was never a security concern and restaurants were all a few minutes walk. The bar and dining room were very nice (although we found that a glass of wine in the bar was a little pricey). The breakfast was excellent and the service was great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the noise. At 6:00am someone outside was shouting something that sounded like he was selling and there was ongoing conversation in the room next door that made me wonder if it was being used as an office. We stayed here again on a different floor the night before our trip home and I had to call the front desk about the noise coming from our neighbor at 11:00pm.

Authenticity & Character

Cool design of the room and very nice bar and restaurant

Location

Safe and trendy, near restaurants and bars

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

This hotel is located in two large houses across the street from one another. Both have beautiful gardens where breakfast is served and nice lounge areas. While they are right in the heart of a restaurant and bar neighborhood, the gardens made it seem like we were in the country. The hosts were very welcoming and attentive. We met another couple at dinner who were scouting wedding venues and enthusiastically recommended Patio del Mundo as a place to book the wedding party during their stay in Medellin.

Authenticity & Character

Every room has a theme, we were in Argentina. There was no TV in the room but we didn't miss it and has a nice time on the patio of our room surrounded by tropical gardens.

Location

we only took an Uber for dinner once and walked to our other dining spots.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Quadrifolio

Cartagena de Indias

We ended up in this hotel because our original choice was booked by the time we pulled the trigger. It turned out to be the No 1 hotel in Cartegena and we were lucky to get it at no extra cost. It is set in a Colonial building that has been completely restored (there is a book in one of the lounges that describes the three year project to bring it back from ruin). The location was in the heart of the old town with bars and restaurants on every corner. We were met on arrival by the manager and checked in while sitting comfortably on a couch with a cold welcome drink. The room was incredible with high ceilings and a period appropriate theme. Breakfast was excellent and served at a community table so that you can meet other guests (however you can also dine privately across the hall). One morning we had an early pick up and the hotel served us a half hour before the usual starting time without a question. There is a hot tub on the roof with a small seating area that made a nice spot to sit outdoors (the hotel also supplied us with plastic wine glasses and a corkscrew so that we coould enjoy some wine we had bought).

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully renovated colonial building with a central courtyard. This was the highlight of the trip.

Location

The heart of the old town a quick walk to dining and bars.

Staff

Friendly and attentive, met ou every request including where to buy wine and water.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Pedro de Majagua

Isla Grande

People go to Rosario Islands because the beaches in Cartagena are not very nice. This hotel is served by it's own speedboats from the main port. We were fortunate to have a guide and driver take us to the departure point which was a bit chaotic. Our guide stayed outside the fence until we had checked in and were ready to board. It takes about an hour but on the return seasonal winds caused a detour that resulted in a 2 hour trip. Pro tip: sit on the right side on the way to avoid the sun and also on the way back to avoid the spray, some people were soaked. There are 2 boats carrying 40 people each, most of whom were day trippers. When the boat docks there is an orientation and welcome drink and then a stampede for one of two small beaches (one has music, the other does not and both have bars). There are beach chairs and a few Bally beds with curtains. Activities included scuba diving, cycling and kayaking through the mangrove but we found them quite pricey for what they were and in the case of scuba, about twice the going rate (300,000 COP for a 1 tank dive). It seemed more like a community money-maker than paradise lost. A positive was the great service and warm reception at the main desk and would like to cite Evelyn specifically. The service in the dining area was also excellent and the food and drink were good and reasonably priced for an island. A drawback were the ever present flies in the outdoor dining area, there were a couple of propeller type devices to shoo them which sort of worked but at breakfast we actually changed tables to get away from relentless flies. The rooms were little cottages scattered around the property. They were clean and comfortable, with outdoor seating areas and a hammock. We turned off the mini fridge at night as it was a little noisy and the room had a broken towel hook and toilet paper holder. On the whole, nice but in need of an update.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms need an update, service was excellent

Location

Staff

Evelyn at reception was a standout and spoke excellent English

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were clean but had a few issues

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

A good hotel owned by Hilton. Great location, the best feature was the rooftop pool with dining/bar area. The room was modern, spacious and clean with separate toilet and shower area and double sinks. A deep and narrow modern building resulted in long narrow halways that reminded us of a movie set for an institution with blank walls holding multiple small wall planters. Breakfast had many options with a buffet and menu choices. The in-house Peruvian restaurant looked cool but we did not dine there.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and nice but could have been in any city.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Arriving at 4:00am we were very happy to have a guide (Tom) and driver to take us to our hotel. When we arrived there was no one at reception and Tom stuck around to make sure we were checked in. Thanks Tom!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Shops Usaquen recommendations (no transportation and activity not included)

Bogotá

We did not do this activity, we did lunch instead

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch Reservation at Abasto (Usaquén area)

Bogotá

Very authentic local restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Bogotá with Gold Museum, Local Market and Monserrate Hill

Bogotá

Tom gave us a great tour of the city and a trip up to Monserrate. He was particularly helpful and interesting during the gold museum tour which I hadn't really been keen to do. Due to time constraints we did an interesting coffe tasting at the end of the day near our hotel. At the local market we tried a number of fruit that we had never seen before.

Quality of Experience

Tom was very knowledgeable and personable. He gave us a restaurant recommendation that turned out to be a highlight of our trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch Reservation at Madre

Bogotá

This was a recommendation from a friend who visited Colombia last year. Very cool vibe and filled with locals. We asked Tom to join us and had a great meal and Cervesa. We were told it was better to do at lunch as the location was a bit sketchy at night..

Quality of Experience

Very cool, set in an area between two buildings with a roof.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Tierra Cocina de Entorno

Bogotá

A busy, trendy restaurant we had good food and a fun time. At the end of the evening they provided dry ince and sparklers for eveyone to celebrate the evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Alambique

Medellín

This was another highlight of our trip. Very cool ambiance, live music and great food.

Quality of Experience

You would not find this place if your didn't look for it. It is down a long hallway in an old building on a busy street. Very cool,

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we went on our own, the restaurant staff were excellent

Transport

we took and Uber

Dinner Reservation at Andrés Carne de Res

Medellín

This was doubled booked to give us an option. We chose Alambique instead and cancelled the reservation.

City Tour of Medellín (Comuna 13)

Medellín

Manuella was an experienced and enthusiastic giuide who gave us a thorough tour of Medellin. She worked effectively with our driver who made a convenient and fun recommendation for an al fresco lunch in a local spot. We all had a great time.

Quality of Experience

We visited a local marketn took the metro, the goldolas and explored the hilltop communities and graffiti art of Medellin.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver was particularly personable and made a great recommendation for lunch. He seemed happy in his work and we requested him for our trip to the airpiort

Dinner Reservation at Rocoto

Medellín

This was an outdoor dinner spot a short walk form our hotel. At first we thought the reception was a bit abrupt but the waiter warmed up during the evening (picture a rough character from a Bond film). In many of the restaurants we went to we found the portions large enough for us to have 2-3 apetizers and wine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we walked

Sunset Drinks Suggestion at Café del Mar

Cartagena

We skipped this activity, it sounded touristy and busy/expensive. We have seen many sunsets.

Dinner Reservation at Candé

Cartagena

A very potpular restaurant, it was big, busy, expensive and touristy. We had a nice meal - mostly appetizers and there were dancers around the tables and live music. We prefer smaller and more authentic local spots.

Quality of Experience

The location was convenient and the restaurant was nice.

City Tour of Cartagena (Half Day)

Cartagena

Very interesting given the history of the city. Oscar was a very competent and enthusiastic guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Coffee Tasting

Cartagena

We had very insightful comments from the coffee person and had samples of coffee prepared in different fashions

Quality of Experience

Depart Colombia

Colombia

We were met on time at our hotel and had an uneventful 35 minute drive to the airport. We delayed our departure time to reduce our wait for our flight.

Arrival to the Islands

Rosario Islands

We and boatload of day trippers arrive to a welcome drink and orientation. Then there is a mad dash for the beach chairs at one of the two small beaches. We can check in at 2:00 pm but get in a bit sooner.

Quality of Experience

A bit crowded and impersonal, a tourist event but for locals

Transport

A 40 person sppedboat, check in and boarding is a bit chaotic and time consuming

Day at the Islands

Rosario Islands

The actrivities are good on paper however in practice underwhelming and a little pricey. The cuba diving was twice the going rate so we dove with a local dive shop nearby. The local guides wanted to sell us on the pricey cycling/kayaking in the mangrove tour saying there were no mosquitos (there were). We passed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff at the hotel were excellent

Transport

The trip home took 2 hrs because of the wind. The left side of the boat was soaked, fortunately we had chosen well.

Departure from the Islands

Rosario Islands

The seasonal wind is very strong so they start the boats home early. The wind comes from the left so we boarded 20 minutes early and were rewarded by not getting soaked like those on the left side. Because of the wind the route back was along an artifical river made 300 years ago that adds an hour to the trip home.

Quality of Experience

Dinner Reservation at Marea

Cartagena

we cancelled this reservation

Bird Sanctuary

Cartagena

Interesting but not the same as seeing birds in the wild

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar was very enthusiastic

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Juan del Mar

Cartagena

We had walked by this restaurant earlier and thought it looked cool. There was live music and again we shared appetizers, a main and dessert. Service was very good as was the music. Lot's of locals dining there. It was a block from our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Dinner Reservation at Mistura

Cartagena

Live music, a place popular with locals. We shared an apetizer, main, dessert and wine.

Quality of Experience

Dinner Reservation at El Chato

Bogotá

Due to confusion at the reception we were led to a table on the second floor which turned out to be exclusively for the 6 course wine-paired tasting menu. We had no interest in that and had some discussion about whether to just leave. Finally, they just accomodated us and we had a very good meal of three appetizers and a main in full view of the kitchen. Very interesting experience. The pastry chef was introduced who recommended a Vegan dessert which was great.

Quality of Experience

Felipe was excellent from start to finish. My family and I had a wonderful trip to Columbia. Felipe was so helpful in putting together a trip that made all of us with different needs and desires happy. The hotels were steller, the guides lovely and knowledgable. We loved the drumming workshop in Cartegena - a real highlight. We needed to change directions on our trip several times as I had an injured leg. Felipe arranged for me to have an appointment with a physician and had... read more

Felipe was excellent from start to finish. My family and I had a wonderful trip to Columbia. Felipe was so helpful in putting together a trip that made all of us with different needs and desires happy. The hotels were steller, the guides lovely and knowledgable. We loved the drumming workshop in Cartegena - a real highlight. We needed to change directions on our trip several times as I had an injured leg. Felipe arranged for me to have an appointment with a physician and had medication delivered to my hotel. Also, when my daughter got a bad cold, he sent supplies and checked in daily. I always felt there was someone there if I needed anything at all - from something small to larger requests. This was the first time I used an agency to plan a trip. I researched many companies. This one was the only one willing to do as much or as little as I wanted and was not pushy about having us do more touring than we like.

Columbia is a beautiful place to visit. The people were kind and helpful. I learned so much about the history, and culture, and got to spend time in both cities and nature. I would love to go back. A shout-out to Margoth and everyone who helped make our trip easy and fantastic.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa San Agustin

Cartagena de Indias

A beautiful hotel with a staff that is kind and attentive. The rooms are lovely, the courtyard magical, and the food delicious. There was nothing the staff would not do to make you feel comfortable. It was a quiet retreat in the middle of a bustling city. Once inside, you were transported to serenity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

A lovely, quiet retreat in the middle of the city. Beautiful house with magical outdoor space. Lovely service and care.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

A wonderful magical place in the middle of nature. The rooms were large and private and the property was well taken care of. The pool was lovely. My only wish is that they had more umbrellas or created shady pots around the pool. The sun is quite intense and there needs to be a way to stay outside by the pool without getting burned. Other than that, it was a great place to stay and I would not hesitate to go back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Drums and Music Workshop

Cartagena

All I can say is go..... Support these amazing musicians, dancers, and artists. I loved the workshop, playing the drum, and dancing with the dancers. They were exceptional, and it is a great way to support their school. A highlight of my trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible family vacation in Columbia with our guides Alba (Medellin) and Santiago (Bogota). Felipe was incredibly helpful in arranging an itinerary and trip plan based on our specific needs. Memorable experiences in Medellin were a coffee farm tour, and visiting Guatape and climbing El Penol. In Bogota we loved the Salt Cathdral at Zipaquira and the Guatavita Lake tour, Gold Museum, Monserrate, and chocolate experience. The transporation and dining arrangements were seamless. I... read more

We had an incredible family vacation in Columbia with our guides Alba (Medellin) and Santiago (Bogota). Felipe was incredibly helpful in arranging an itinerary and trip plan based on our specific needs. Memorable experiences in Medellin were a coffee farm tour, and visiting Guatape and climbing El Penol. In Bogota we loved the Salt Cathdral at Zipaquira and the Guatavita Lake tour, Gold Museum, Monserrate, and chocolate experience. The transporation and dining arrangements were seamless. I highly recommend using this service if you don't have extensive knowledge about your destination -- it is money well spent.

Hotel Reviews

Medellin Marriott Hotel

Medellín

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Bogotá Teleport Royal

Bogotá DC

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour

Bogotá

Incredible experience. We learned a lot about the history and people of Colombia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Felipe did an incredible job helping us plan our trip. He was very patient as we amended our itinerary a few times and recommended great places to see and restaurants. Couldn’t have made our trip to Colombia any easier and more enjoyable! read more

Felipe did an incredible job helping us plan our trip. He was very patient as we amended our itinerary a few times and recommended great places to see and restaurants. Couldn’t have made our trip to Colombia any easier and more enjoyable!

Activity Review

Cocora Valley,  Salento, & Coffee Farm Visit

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative

Transport

Nice clean transport

We had a great trip to Colombia. Both Felipe and Margoth helped us during the entire vacation and took care of everything from start to finish. All was outstanding but we especially liked our travel guide Pablo in Medellin, our tour to Cafe de la Cima, chocolate tasting at El Arsenal The Rum Box, Cartagena and the cooking class at Oh La La also in Cartagena. We would not hesitate to recommend Felipe to anyone that wants to visit Colombia. read more

We had a great trip to Colombia. Both Felipe and Margoth helped us during the entire vacation and took care of everything from start to finish. All was outstanding but we especially liked our travel guide Pablo in Medellin, our tour to Cafe de la Cima, chocolate tasting at El Arsenal The Rum Box, Cartagena and the cooking class at Oh La La also in Cartagena. We would not hesitate to recommend Felipe to anyone that wants to visit Colombia.

Activity Reviews

Coffee Farm Day Tour

Medellín

Wonderful! We loved it! Great visit with the family at this coffee farm.

Quality of Experience

Great coffee. Wonderful family.

Food

Excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing!

Transport

Great transportation.

Rafting Tour at Rio Claro

Medellín

So much fun! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class and Lunch

Cartagena

Very fun cooking class and great food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

City Tour of Medellín (Comuna 13)

Medellín

Great tour! A must!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful!

Transport

Guatape and El Peñol

Colombia

Great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful staff!

Transport

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Just great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Andrés Carne de Res

Medellín

Loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alto de San Miguel Forest Reserve Birdwatching Tour

Medellín

Great tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bird Sanctuary

Cartagena

Very nice!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Colombia

Colombia

Went great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time and it was planned well. We never would have done as much or see so much without your service. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Oscar when we arrived at Bogota. He has so much knowledge and knew so many people along the way that made the trip extra personable. Gustvo made the coffee region exciting, fun and full of local greetings everywhere we went. Sebastian toured us throughout Medellin hitting every aspect of the city while explaining both the successes and... read more

We had a great time and it was planned well. We never would have done as much or see so much without your service. It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Oscar when we arrived at Bogota. He has so much knowledge and knew so many people along the way that made the trip extra personable. Gustvo made the coffee region exciting, fun and full of local greetings everywhere we went. Sebastian toured us throughout Medellin hitting every aspect of the city while explaining both the successes and challenges. For us, Cartagena was to be more relaxed as we had already seen and done so much. The walled city was vibrant at every hour of the day and night. Martin shared the beautiful history of the city and we felt his pride.
Kimkim experience was beyond our expectations, all of the planning, coordination and thoroughness of both drivers and guides made our travel full and rich. Thank you all

Our family of four recently enjoyed the best trip to Columbia, planned and facilitated by Felipe and team. Upon deciding to visit this part of South America, I discovered KimKim and was impressed by the reviews. I sent a message and very quickly received a warm and helpful response from Felipe. While the initial itinerary was beyond our budget, he was more than happy to work with us.

Columbia is a tremendous destination, rich in history, culture and otherwise. The people are kind,... read more

Our family of four recently enjoyed the best trip to Columbia, planned and facilitated by Felipe and team. Upon deciding to visit this part of South America, I discovered KimKim and was impressed by the reviews. I sent a message and very quickly received a warm and helpful response from Felipe. While the initial itinerary was beyond our budget, he was more than happy to work with us.

Columbia is a tremendous destination, rich in history, culture and otherwise. The people are kind, welcoming and helpful. The trip itself was flawless in its planning and execution. We had just the right amount of time in each destination, excellent guides (a special shout out to David Suarez), tours, hotels, restaurant recommendations etc. When there was a slight hiccup, Felipe and team couldn't have been more helpful and beyond working hours. All in all, it was exceptional.

In short, I very highly recommend KimKim, Felipe and team. We hope to have opportunity to work with this tour company again!

Hotel Reviews

The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection

Bogotá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Pedro de Majagua

Isla Grande

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half-Day City Tour of Bogotá with Local Fruit Market and Monserrate Hill

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family of 5 had an awesome trip to Colombia with the help of Felipe and the arrangements we made through kimkim. Felipe made the planning process easy by suggesting an itinerary and being very responsive to changes I requested before we finalized. Alba, our guide in Medellin, made us feel like family from the moment we arrived. Diva was also terrific for our time in Santa Marta and Tayrona. Staying in historic Cartagena was fun for the kids, and Eduardo was a very informative guide. The... read more

Our family of 5 had an awesome trip to Colombia with the help of Felipe and the arrangements we made through kimkim. Felipe made the planning process easy by suggesting an itinerary and being very responsive to changes I requested before we finalized. Alba, our guide in Medellin, made us feel like family from the moment we arrived. Diva was also terrific for our time in Santa Marta and Tayrona. Staying in historic Cartagena was fun for the kids, and Eduardo was a very informative guide. The drivers were great and it was so nice to have all the domestic travel arrangements taken care of for us. We also appreciated the restaurant reservations, and all the help we got with needs that arose during the trip. We would all love to go back to Colombia, and if we do we will definitely book through Felipe and Margoth again.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the country of Colombia. Felipe and his team planned an itinerary for us that was perfect. We had outstanding guides and drivers. In particular Diva, in Santa Marta and Jose in Medellin were excellent for learning the culture, the food, the history, and all the natural beauty that their regions had to offer. Having a professional driver throughout the country was critical to a relaxing trip. The roads are good but crowded with many different types of... read more

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the country of Colombia. Felipe and his team planned an itinerary for us that was perfect. We had outstanding guides and drivers. In particular Diva, in Santa Marta and Jose in Medellin were excellent for learning the culture, the food, the history, and all the natural beauty that their regions had to offer. Having a professional driver throughout the country was critical to a relaxing trip. The roads are good but crowded with many different types of vehicles and people. We felt very safe everywhere in the country and the local people clearly enjoy having Americans among them.

Hotel Review

Hotel Casa Medina Four Seasons

Bogotá, Cundinamarca

Beautifully renovated property in downtown Bogota. Staff is excellent and speaks English and super comfortable beds! Breakfast included were delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour

Bogotá

One of the most unique tours we have seen. This former salt mine converted into a very creative and sacred Cathedral. Definitely worth visiting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colombia was phenomenal - we had such an authentic, local experience due to the effort and care put into our trip plan by our local guide, Felipe. KimKim made it easy to communicate with updates constantly through WhatsApp while we were in the country, and catered to every need we had that popped up.

Medellin was like a tropical, Spanish-speaking San Francisco - a must see! Cartagena was an enchanting colonial Spanish town. I hope to have those wooden windowsills and white walls on a latin... read more

Colombia was phenomenal - we had such an authentic, local experience due to the effort and care put into our trip plan by our local guide, Felipe. KimKim made it easy to communicate with updates constantly through WhatsApp while we were in the country, and catered to every need we had that popped up.

Medellin was like a tropical, Spanish-speaking San Francisco - a must see! Cartagena was an enchanting colonial Spanish town. I hope to have those wooden windowsills and white walls on a latin ranch someday :).

Hotel Review

Hotel San Pedro de Majagua

Isla Grande

Charming and comfortable, and surrounded by massive local trees, the hotel is adorned with hammocks and private outdoor living rooms attached to your hotel room. Can sit in the evenings and look out over the coast, with the sea breeze and waves all around you.

Tips for future travelers

Use the bikes to get to town!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

City Tour of Medellín (with Parque Arvi)

Medellín

The cable car trip is amazing. Stunning views, and you interact with friendly locals the entire time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have never heard of KimKim or used it before, but it worked out very well. Felipe and his associate were very responsive and available at all points, checked in with us to make sure things were running tight and we’re just super helpful. We loved Medellin and our city tour there. The restaurant reservations everywhere worked well and were appropriate for what we wanted. Cartagena was more heavily touristed than we expected but our city guide Manu was great, and the hotel was very nice,... read more

We have never heard of KimKim or used it before, but it worked out very well. Felipe and his associate were very responsive and available at all points, checked in with us to make sure things were running tight and we’re just super helpful. We loved Medellin and our city tour there. The restaurant reservations everywhere worked well and were appropriate for what we wanted. Cartagena was more heavily touristed than we expected but our city guide Manu was great, and the hotel was very nice, conveniently located, much nicer for us than a big hotel would be. We absolutely loved staying at Isla Grande. (The boat ride back was a bit choppy and wet but fun anyway.) We loved our first trip to Colombia and are so pleased with how all of the planning worked out. Thanks again!

Hotel Review

The Click Clack Hotel Medellin

Medellin

Very stylish, playful, great location, terrific service although breakfast could be a bit slow some days.

Activity Review

Dinner Reservation at OCI.Mde

Medellín

They took such good care of us. They didn’t immediately have a table ready but apologized and more than made up for it by sending complimentary dishes. The food was our favorite of the whole trip. Great place

WOW! A truly special and personalized trip to a beautiful and diverse country. From start to finish, this experience with the Colombia kimkim team made every detail easier and unique. Special thanks to Felipe, Margoth, and the whole team at Aracanto for paying attention to all my special requests, detailed questions, and connecting me to guides/excursions to fit my interests.

The kimkim team were attentive to detail and knew the logistics of each day to the minute. I felt safe, listened to,... read more

WOW! A truly special and personalized trip to a beautiful and diverse country. From start to finish, this experience with the Colombia kimkim team made every detail easier and unique. Special thanks to Felipe, Margoth, and the whole team at Aracanto for paying attention to all my special requests, detailed questions, and connecting me to guides/excursions to fit my interests.

The kimkim team were attentive to detail and knew the logistics of each day to the minute. I felt safe, listened to, and even surprised by extra gifts the team setup. They made my visit to Colombia a memorable one. Thank you for sharing your country with me. ¡Fue un viaje bastante bacano!

Hotel Reviews

AC Hotel by Marriott Santa Marta

Santa Marta, Magdalena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Click Clack Hotel Medellin

Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Minca Tour and Cacao Farm and Coffee Farm

Colombia

Este dia fue mi favorito de todos vacacciones. I felt like I was visiting with an old friend instead of a tour guide. The coffee farm and coffee demonstration was educational and the location in the mountains of Cierra Nevada was amazing. But my favorite was the lunch spot where me, my tour guide (Diva), and my driver (Sr. Juan) enjoyed delicious food together overlooking the view. Diva and Sr. Juan shared stories with me, and we even practiced my salsa dancing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day trip to Nature Reserve Cerro Bravo

Medellín

This hike was SO fun because it was hard & challenging, but the summit was WORTH every hard step of the amazing view of Fredonia/Cerro Bravo. Even more so, my guides (Pablo and Luis) were fantastic. I felt like I was hiking with 2 mates, rather than 2 tour guides. 13K feet climb! Then to finish, a beer together in Fredonia to celebrate!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Felipe did an outstanding job working tirelessly to customize our trip to see as much as possible in 9 days. Once in Colombia, he remained in constant contact and responded immediately 24/7 to any issues that arose. We had a wonderful time with memories that will last a lifetime. read more

Felipe did an outstanding job working tirelessly to customize our trip to see as much as possible in 9 days. Once in Colombia, he remained in constant contact and responded immediately 24/7 to any issues that arose. We had a wonderful time with memories that will last a lifetime.

Hotel Review

Sofitel Santa Clara

Cartagena

Activity Review

Airport Transfer: {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} & Guatape and El Peñol Tour

Colombia

Guatape and el penol are must sees