Kimkim Trip Reviews for Panama

4.8
Based on 11 ratings
Read 11 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

What started off rough, turned into the trip of a lifetime!
Panama | Oct 24 - Oct 30, 2022

Nick
Nick B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2022

Working With KimKim stared off rough. We had an agent who could not seem to connect with us nor was able to build an itinerary around our interests. Then we were given a new agent, cue Zulmy! Zulmy! was amazing! She saved our trip! She built a great itinerary with all of the activities we asked for! She was communicative and gave us a comprehensive outline of our trip. She was able to totally match our vibe to the locations. When arriving, transportation was seamless. All of the... read more

Working With KimKim stared off rough. We had an agent who could not seem to connect with us nor was able to build an itinerary around our interests. Then we were given a new agent, cue Zulmy! Zulmy! was amazing! She saved our trip! She built a great itinerary with all of the activities we asked for! She was communicative and gave us a comprehensive outline of our trip. She was able to totally match our vibe to the locations. When arriving, transportation was seamless. All of the accommodations were beautiful, the Food was spectacular, and the activities (including tours) we fun and informative!

Overall it was a great trip!

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2022

Hi Nick

Thanks a lot for this beautiful review!

It was a real pleasure to organize your itinerary in Panama. I am happy to know that you had a great time and that the trip was perfectly adapted to what you were looking for. I hope to be able to plan another trip for you in another of our destinations (Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia or Venezuela!)

3 Weeks in Panama
Panama | Aug 7 - Aug 28, 2022

Lara
Lara S.
Germany | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2022

Zulmy, our local specialist, did a brilliant job - she was friendly, responsive and helped us have an unforgettable three week trip to Panama! We started in Darien (and would highly recommend Ecotours Darien) and spent some time with the local Embera community, before visiting Santa Catalina, Boquete, Bocas del Toro and finally Panama City.

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on Sep 22, 2022

It was a great pleasure to organize this trip for you and I thank you for your confidence during the preparation of the trip. And I also thank you for the comments you have sent us by mail as they allow us to improve our service! :)

Best

Zulmy

It was a great tour and a wonderful experienc...
Panama | Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2022

Claudio
Claudio B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 08, 2022

It was a great tour and a wonderful experience. Reyna was great in accommodating our requests to go to San Blas and spend a night there. The trip to the tropical forest and Canal was great as well read more

It was a great tour and a wonderful experience. Reyna was great in accommodating our requests to go to San Blas and spend a night there. The trip to the tropical forest and Canal was great as well

Hotel Review
Tryp Panama Centro by Wyndham
Panama City

good but somehow run down hotel. Good value for money, excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
two lifts in the entire hotel - easier to use the stairs...
Activity Reviews
Rainforest boat tour OR Soberania national park
Panama City

wonderful - very informative guide. The tour was a success

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
One day to San Blas
Panama City

We changed this into two days - one night. This was by far the best part of the holiday. A wonderful, highly recommendable experience.

Quality of Experience
the islands were amazing; the accommodations basic but lovely. A real experience.
Food
wonderful lobsters, red pargo and other fish. Authentic food, delicious.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
sorry - I have to be critical here. First time ever i did not leave a tip. If it is a private tour, you cannot say "I will be there between 5 am and 5.30 am". We were ready at 4.59 am and the driver arrived at 5.35. We could have taken it more easily.
Transport
The driver spent way too much time on the phone while driving (he was excellent driving with one hand on the terrible road, but still....I would prefer someone looking at the road rather than at the messages on the phone.
Casco Antiguo tour
Panama City

We did it by our own, as we changed the program to have an extra day at San Blas. Casco Antiguo was really beautiful

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Reyna Ulloa
Reyna
Reyna Ulloa
Local specialist in Managua | Reviewed on Nov 21, 2022

Hi dear Claudio, nice to hear from you.

Thank you very much for your kind review :)
It was a truly pleasure to assist you with your trip to Panama.
Our best wishes for you and your family!

Best regards

Even a better trip than we had hoped!
Panama | Jun 23 - Jun 26, 2022

david
david g.
Greenville, SC | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2022

Working with Zulmy was a great experience as together we were able to setup a fantastic, first time trip to beautiful Panama. The balance of tours, and sight-seeing expeditions was a perfect balance. We had some organized excursions where our Guides and Drivers handled all details, tickets, admittances, getting to the front of the lines, and even a meal here and there. However, we also had our own free-time to pursue what we wanted, and didn't want, to do.

Definitely recommend Panama... read more

Working with Zulmy was a great experience as together we were able to setup a fantastic, first time trip to beautiful Panama. The balance of tours, and sight-seeing expeditions was a perfect balance. We had some organized excursions where our Guides and Drivers handled all details, tickets, admittances, getting to the front of the lines, and even a meal here and there. However, we also had our own free-time to pursue what we wanted, and didn't want, to do.

Definitely recommend Panama as a MUST see and do to every traveler. Can't say enough about how well that KimKim coordinated our trip. It was smooth and flawless so that we could just enjoy being there and taking it all in.

Thanks again, Zulmy!

Hotel Review
Riande Granada Urban Hotel
Panama City

It is a nice, clean, comfortable hotel located within walking distance of stores & restaurants. Our room was rather small with 2 beds taking up most of the space, a walk-in closet that was really unnecessary and could've provided more space for guests and also had a nice large shower though. We enjoyed the pigeons coming up to or 8th story room. There are many hotels in the area so would look to stay at a different place next time, however.

Authenticity & Character
Larger rooms. The outdoor "Hot Tub" was anything but Hot. Would be nice to be able to control the Temperature locally without having to go to the Front Desk to have them turn it On & Off. Also, to have hot coffee in the AM ready-to go for traveling would be a nice benefit. We had to order, then wait for coffee, which weren't in styrofoam or other types of traveling cups.
Location
Walking distance to stores and restaurants
Staff
Very pleasant staff and eager to help with everything.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were comfy, the in-house restaurant was OK, nothing special.
Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on Aug 09, 2022

Hi David, Thanks a lot for this review. It was a real pleasure helping you create this trip to Panama.!

Best.

Zulmy

8 Great Days in Panama
Panama | Feb 4 - Feb 12, 2022

Ellen
Ellen S.
Depew, NY | Reviewed on Feb 13, 2022

We had a marvelous 8 days in Panama. Thanks kimkim! Our local specialist Zulmy was with us every step of the way. We had a much delayed flight in and she instantly rearranged a tour for us, she set up Covid tests before our flight back and even sent condolences about a sudden death in the family we had just found out about. Our driver Juan was such a pleasure - super punctual, pleasant and informative. (He claimed his English was terrible, but we were impressed.) We felt very well taken... read more

We had a marvelous 8 days in Panama. Thanks kimkim! Our local specialist Zulmy was with us every step of the way. We had a much delayed flight in and she instantly rearranged a tour for us, she set up Covid tests before our flight back and even sent condolences about a sudden death in the family we had just found out about. Our driver Juan was such a pleasure - super punctual, pleasant and informative. (He claimed his English was terrible, but we were impressed.) We felt very well taken care of by both Zulmy and Juan.
Highlights of our trip in Panama City were the Panama Canal tour and exploring Casco Viejo. The rooftop pool at our hotel that overlooked the Panama City skyline was a hit as well. We also enjoyed the laid back vibe of Bocas del Toro - the snorkeling/dolphin tour was super and also hanging out at Starfish Playa on our own. The food was excellent in Panama, we especially loved the ceviche. The warmth was felt weather-wise and from the people of Panama. We were impressed with the collective Covid precautions taken by everyone. We definitely recommend kimkim and this trip.

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on Feb 14, 2022

Hi Ellen.

Thanks for this beautiful review! All my team had a blast just preparing all the details for your trip. It was a pleasure helping you with the coordination of your services.

Hope you had a nice return. We remain available if you want to visit one f our destinations (Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Best.

Zulmy

Thank you Zulmy, the guides at Tucaya, and Nadia
Panama | May 12 - May 20, 2021

S
Sabena K.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on May 21, 2021

Thank you Zulmy, the guides at Tucaya, and Nadia for planning and executing my vacation in Panama. They all did a wonderful job putting together an itinerary. They were all available for me if I had any questions or needed assistance. I was a little hesitant traveling internationally due to COVID but they helped me navigate any obstacles. Also arranged for me to get a PCR COVID test prior to returning to the US. The process was very efficient. I had a wonder time exploring Panama in the... read more

Thank you Zulmy, the guides at Tucaya, and Nadia for planning and executing my vacation in Panama. They all did a wonderful job putting together an itinerary. They were all available for me if I had any questions or needed assistance. I was a little hesitant traveling internationally due to COVID but they helped me navigate any obstacles. Also arranged for me to get a PCR COVID test prior to returning to the US. The process was very efficient. I had a wonder time exploring Panama in the short week I was there. They have me a glimpse at all the wonders and beauty of Panama. Thank you again for helping me create wonderful memories!

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on May 28, 2021

Hi Sabena. It was a pleaure for us to create this beautiful trip to Panama! Thanks for your confidence in our service!

Panamà 2019
Panama | Dec 15 - Dec 22, 2019

Penny
Penny M.
Canada | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2019

Our trip to Panamà went very smoothly, due to the organization of the trip by Kim Kim. We especially appreciated that Kim Kim works with local groups. YeYe was an excellent tour guide and understood our needs and interests. Our driver, Julio (sp?) was excellent. Ankhill (sp?) was an excellent guide on our boat tour. The guide and driver for our adventure to Gulan Yala were both really good. Monique was excellent and was always available whenever we needed help and/or had questions. Delicious... read more

Our trip to Panamà went very smoothly, due to the organization of the trip by Kim Kim. We especially appreciated that Kim Kim works with local groups. YeYe was an excellent tour guide and understood our needs and interests. Our driver, Julio (sp?) was excellent. Ankhill (sp?) was an excellent guide on our boat tour. The guide and driver for our adventure to Gulan Yala were both really good. Monique was excellent and was always available whenever we needed help and/or had questions. Delicious food, great adventures, lots of knowledge exchanged and great weather all made for a fabulous trip! Thank you for everything. I would recommend Kim Kim to everyone. Regards, Penny

Local specialist:
Nadia
Nadia H.
Panama | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2019

Hello Penny,
I am contented that you and your daughter enjoyed your custom-made trip plan and you had excellent experiences in Panama.
I like you had a great cultural and knowledge exchange about Panamanian history, culture, food and fauna & flora.

Happy New Year!

I would recommend KimKim to anyone traveling to Panama
Panama | Dec 20 - Dec 25, 2019

J
Jacqueline S.
West Falls Church, VA | Reviewed on Dec 28, 2019

Monique not only put together a wonderful itinerary for our visit to Panama, she met us at the airport, reviewed our plans and checked in with us daily. We saw locks in action at both the Caribbean and Pacific, took in the beauty of the rainforest and its inhabitants, and learned of the country’s diverse history.
Our guide, Jose, was friendly, knowledgeable, energetic and flexible. He made sure each day was special and tailored to our interests.
Both Monique and Jose provided good... read more

Monique not only put together a wonderful itinerary for our visit to Panama, she met us at the airport, reviewed our plans and checked in with us daily. We saw locks in action at both the Caribbean and Pacific, took in the beauty of the rainforest and its inhabitants, and learned of the country’s diverse history.
Our guide, Jose, was friendly, knowledgeable, energetic and flexible. He made sure each day was special and tailored to our interests.
Both Monique and Jose provided good suggestions for local restaurants.
Carlos, our driver, was courteous and patient. His vans were clean and comfortable.

Local specialist:
Nadia
Nadia H.
Panama | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2019

Hello Jacqueline, I am delighted that you enjoyed the trip plan that I designed for you and your family and that your kids were very interested in Panamanian History and Culture specially the "Molas".
It was important for me that you and your Family visit Panama City, the outskirt of this city, and the Caribbean side.
I will pass your message to Jose and Carlos.
Happy Holidays!

The Wonders of Panamá - 7 Days
Panama | Aug 12 - Aug 18, 2019

Eca
Eca B.
New York, NY | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2019

My trip last week included retracing family history on the maternal side of both my mother’s and father’s side of the family, celebrating 500 years of the founding of the oldest city in the Pacific, being singularly called out to belly dance in a Lebanese restaurant (and convincingly holding my own) in the middle of Panamá City, thence to receiving the warmest, kindest, globalist, most beautifulest birthday greetings from around the world on my seminal 25th-again-for-the-62nd-time-birthday... read more

My trip last week included retracing family history on the maternal side of both my mother’s and father’s side of the family, celebrating 500 years of the founding of the oldest city in the Pacific, being singularly called out to belly dance in a Lebanese restaurant (and convincingly holding my own) in the middle of Panamá City, thence to receiving the warmest, kindest, globalist, most beautifulest birthday greetings from around the world on my seminal 25th-again-for-the-62nd-time-birthday for which I’m so grateful to be celebrating... what a week, I honestly don’t know where to begin...

So I’ll begin at the beginning. Panamá.

Everything about Panamá is fascinating. It’s so easy to overlook how fascinating it is, but the fates would have it that I would be in Panamá both for my birthday and for the 500th años celebration of the founding of Old Panamá City – there is nothing to overlook about these fascinations! Exploring Latin America is like going into your neighbour’s house for the first time. Your neighbour has always been there but for some reason or another you’ve never entered into their home… and then, for some reason or another you get an opportunity to enter, and for the first time you find yourself crossing over the threshold into an alternate universe and it hits you how remarkable it is to live next door to someone, greeting or commiserating on their news regularly but having no clue about what the inside of their home looks like! I think we have all been there. Latin America is that unseen habitat that you see every day … but until you’ve crossed the threshold, you’ve never seen quite in this way!

My Panamá trip took the form of a well-planned experience with kimkim, crafted to understand the stories of the 80,000+ AfroAntillians (West Indians) who travelled to Panamá before WW1 to seek better since sugar plantations gave them no hope of overcoming impoverishment and the Americans promised work to West Indians with the building the Panamá Canal - the largest engineering undertaking at that time. I visited the museums where their stories are carefully curated, walked along the coasts where their bones are buried, prayed at the churches that gathered their sorrows, celebrated their offspring who stand on their proud shoulders and tell their stories, retraced their steps from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Coast, connected with descendants who have not silenced their songs, learnt to cook their food on their stoves and in their kitchens and soaked up as much as I could about a brave and resilient people who sacrificed life and limb to move mountains and join oceans under the most trying of circumstances at the isthmus of a newly created country called Panamá.

The population of Panamá is only 4 million, much smaller than neighbouring Colombia or Costa Rica. Two million of these inhabitants live in the busy metropolis, Panamá City. A 360 turn brings you views of the Pacific Ocean, the National metropolitan park, colonial buildings in the Casco Viejo district or any one of the 78 international banks jostling for space on the skyline. There is a high standard of living here, despite a very rainy climate, Panamanians enjoy a relaxed lifestyle with a 80% Catholic religion but a freedom to practice various faiths evidenced by the presence of churches, mosques, temples and synagogues. The mixed population smiles easily maybe due to the benefits of their location … at the crossing of the world. With well established ports, plane and sea routes, Panamá is easy to get to and well worth a visit.

On the maternal side, my mothers’ mother’s father, (my great grandfather), shopkeeper, Ren Arthur Brathwaite never returned to Barbados after leaving to seek work in Panamá. Fearing the worst, Adele, on not hearing any news of her husband’s promised return, migrated south with her five children to seek work as a Panamá widow in Trinidad. My grandmother, Angene, at eight years old, was the youngest child of this union. On my father’s side, my grandmothers’ father, George Merritt went to Panamá on a five year work contract, from 1916 to 1920, but was never heard from again. This was my father’s maternal grandfather. It is suspected that George remained in Panamá and started a new branch of the family tree there. The memoirs of both of my great-grandparents are buried with them in Panamá. No one would know if they perished under the harsh, unsafe and unfair labour practices of the time, or if they survived and started new lives and families in Panamá. I do know however that in every geography lesson in secondary school whenever we spoke of the Panamá Canal, I felt that the stories that were being told, were stories that directly linked to me.

Our week in Panamá started with a half day city tour of Panamá La Vieja and Casco Antiguo by Yesenia of Tucaya, one of the warmest and most engaging tour guides that I have ever met on my travels. So knowledgeable, she could not hide her ancestry, love or passion for her Panamá. She brought life to the history of these original spaces.

Even before the Canal, Panamá was a meeting point in the world. The first stop on our second day provided historical context to Panamá’s connections. Portobelo, on the Pacific Coast, was the centre of export from South America to Europe in the 1700s. The mostly leaf canopied two-hour drive with sweetheart Julio (dubbed el Presidente on this trip) brought us to this historic town that is centered around a trifector of ironies. The customs house, for the counting of the precious metals that were stolen from the El Dorados of Peru and Colombia to be shipped to Spain, the two forts that manned the Pacific coast and the ubiquitous Catholic church with a life-sized replica of a Black Jesus which is ornately paraded through the streets of Portobelo every October 21 to the deeply spiritual beats of African drums. At Casa Congo, the miscegenated children of African descendants from the Fundacion Bahia de Portobelo, showed us remnants of a rich culture in song and dance. We did not stay long on the Pacific side and returned to Casco Antiguo the following day to celebrate its 500-year founding, visiting churches and viewing new Panamanians in their ornate Montuno and Pollera attire, clear Spanish derivatives. Before the week ended, we were off to Parque Santa Ana to review food traditions with a cooking demonstration in El Chorrillo, a slum in Panamá, still reeling from an American invasion of 1989. Here, we also visited a popular milliner Mario, who carries on the tradition of the making Panamá hats, erroneously named, since the hats are actually Ecuadorian! We ended the day with a visit to the AfroAntillean Museum of Panamá.

Finally, on the weekend, we made it to the Panamá Canal. We had a tour and partial transit through the Panamá Canal with the boat guide making no mention of the workers who made the marvel possible, but that oversight was corrected at a gala dinner later that day recognizing the contributions of persons who came from all over the world to construct the Panamá Canal. Full circle. Special recognition was made to several persons who contributed to the building of Panamanian culture including Irving Saladino, the only Olympic gold medalist of Panamá. Thanks to mom for accompanying me on this weeklong expedition.

I must make mention of the eeriest part of the week for me and it was not crossing through the Panamá Canal where I envisioned the many West Indian workers at the Culebra Cut as they plowed through mountains by hand to join oceans, but it was walking around the intimate AfroAntillian museum and seeing artefacts of my youth. Symbols that make me West Indian, like the posey, the pressing comb and the coal pot and realizing that the symbols of my grandmother’s house bind me as much to my history as the stories of those who went before me, who took these implements with them on their journey and how they have become our artefacts, compassionately curated in a museum. If I’m being honest, this was my first experience of seeing myself in a museum. I saw people who looked like me with a history that I recognized with experiences that I could relate to. I needed to see this. I didn’t know it before, but I needed these groundings. It was my first realization that as a member of a diaspora, there are things that hold true to who I am, recognizable truths that when you leave home, you never leave your things behind. In some small way, you travel with them and they travel with you.

Panamá turn out to be the morale boost that I did not know that I needed but one that my spirit was greedily craving. I felt this because I cried when I left Panamá, tears of relief and joy. Somewhere along the way, along my way, I had lost my way and this, my first trip to Panamá, was a reminder of what resilience looks like… that no matter what the dream is or where it takes us, or how far away we are, we have things to fall back upon to remind us of who we are, why we do what we do and why we must never ever miss an opportunity to celebrate who we are. We never know what mountains we have to move today to make the world a better place for our future selves tomorrow.

Local specialist:
Nadia
Nadia H.
Panama | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2019

Hello Eca,

I am so happy that you had a great experience in Panama. It was my pleasure to meet you and to hear your maternal family history to the point I got goosebumps that probably you were able to meet a family member here.
When I had finished reading your review, I realized the reason why I enjoy so much to work on tourism and to help clients that a trip plan can become a reality and give them a different perspective of my country, Panamá. It is more than just The Panama Canal, it is... read more

Hello Eca,

I am so happy that you had a great experience in Panama. It was my pleasure to meet you and to hear your maternal family history to the point I got goosebumps that probably you were able to meet a family member here.
When I had finished reading your review, I realized the reason why I enjoy so much to work on tourism and to help clients that a trip plan can become a reality and give them a different perspective of my country, Panamá. It is more than just The Panama Canal, it is the People, the fauna, flora, and much more.
I apologize that I did not realize that your birthday was on August 18th.
Belated Happy Birthday Eca!!!

Warm Regards,
Monique.

Panama
Panama | Oct 4 - Oct 13, 2017

D
Dale S.
Alvin, IL | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2017

The overall experience with Zulmy and Kim Kim went beyond my expectations. Zulmy was nice to work with via the internet, and the resulting trip was excellent and enjoyable. Your planning took all the worry and stress of traveling away so we could enjoy Panama to the fullest. Our driver, Roberto, and our 2 guides were excellent and fun to travel with. I will highly recommend KimKim to anyone wanting to organize a custom vacation experience like we had. Thank you !

Zulmy did a wonderful job for us. She understood our requests and provided good options. I think she did a great job.

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette
Zulmy
Zulmy Revette
Local specialist in Panama | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2017

Hello Dale and Gary.

We really appreciate your comments about your travel. Working with you guys was very fun and interesting. We are glad that you had a wonderful trip full of experiences.

We keep in touch if you want to comeback!

Nice regards!

Panama
Panama | Oct 4 - Oct 13, 2017

G
Gary I.
Normal, IL | Reviewed on Oct 14, 2017

We felt the length of the trip, the schedule, the accommodations, the personnel, etc. were all top notch. We knew essentially nothing about Panama before we went, so we weren't sure whether we were signing up for and engaging in things that would be meaningful or not. But, with Zulmy's help we together came up with a great itinerary that kept us happy and entertained and informed the entire time.

The only disappointment was that there were a couple of times where we were working together... read more

We felt the length of the trip, the schedule, the accommodations, the personnel, etc. were all top notch. We knew essentially nothing about Panama before we went, so we weren't sure whether we were signing up for and engaging in things that would be meaningful or not. But, with Zulmy's help we together came up with a great itinerary that kept us happy and entertained and informed the entire time.

The only disappointment was that there were a couple of times where we were working together on-line and suddenly she would disappear for a few days. In the end the package she helped put together for us was excellent.

Local specialist: Zulmy Revette