Serendipity Adventures: Costa Rica's Respected Travel Operator
Some clients tell us that our warehouse (shown above) is the best "Toy Store" in Costa Rica - rafts and 4x4's, kayaks and ropes and harnesses, duckies and camping gear, balloons and mountain bikes. And the best part of all -- Us!
Serendipity started as an idea, and a place, where we gathered interesting friends and fun equipment.
Serendipity grew as more guides found out about us -- guides who knew the best part of their jobs was the teamwork of their fellow workers and the kind of clients that Serendipity attracted -- clients with genuine curiosity and open minded about trying new things and meeting new people and seeing the alternatives to the life they know back home.
And Serendipity grew, mainly by word-of-mouth. Instead of becoming a tour operator -- developing tours and selling to travel wholesalers (the middle man between the local travel agents and the operators), Serendipity decided to continue speaking directly with the traveler, designing each expedition directly with the people who would be coming with us.
Serendipity is sort of a "co-op". This means that every guide, every person working with Serendipity brings new ideas and discoveries into the company. Our guides love to take the office staff on "exploratories" -- our excuse to go find other more interesting places and things to do.
We all get involved developing new ideas for our guests -- in 1991 we built Costa Rica's first canopy system (never opened to the public, but only our guests). We are the only balloon operator in Central America. We have our own private nature observation platform, and we developed small private inflated boats for exploring jungle rivers. We can camp hanging in trees, and we have ways to accommodate even paraplegics who want to see the forest from above.
As we have grown, we have remained focused on our original philosophy. Simply put, if your Serendipity guide is enjoying your visit to Costa Rica, then you will certainly enjoy your stay with us as well. Nothing gets stale, no one gets "burned out". And BOTH sides will end up learning more about themselves, and another person's world.
Here are some of our principal people you may get a chance to meet:
ROBERTO KOPPER ORLICH, one of the founders of Serendipity, is one of our balloon pilots. Roberto was born a coffee man, but now is the director of the Papagayo Marina project, the largest yacht marina in Central America, under construction near the Four Seasons Hotel on the northwest coast. Roberto served as a member of the Board of Directors of Costa Rica's governing body for aviation -- Aviacion Civil.
SETH O'NEAL -- One of the founders of Serendipity. Seth inspired his partners to offer a completely fresh approach to visiting Costa Rica -- make the visit more like visiting a friend than touring a tourist attraction. The result is Serendipity's intense immersion and delightful adventure leaders, who, first and foremost, love sharing discovery with truly open-minded people.
Seth, currently a medical resident, is demonstrating his recently learned bedside manner to Buttercup, whose grin confirms he's learning well.
BETO (Eduardo Alberto Alguera) -- was the person who figured out HOW to get into ABRAHAM, our platform 110 feet above the jungle floor. He struggled up 80 feet, then shimmied OUT 25 feet on a branch of a neighboring tree and then "leaped" to Abraham, so we have a platform today. Beto literally PULLS you up into Abraham unless you choose to ascend on your own strength.
Thank you, Beto, for making a kid's Tarzan dreams come true...--- Tucker
CHARLOTTE (Lotta) TÖRNQVIST and RICARDO PORRAS-- run Serendipity. Lotta is the logistics master and handles the money. She will guide in Swedish, English, or Spanish. Ricardo, with masters degrees in civil engineering and business, runs everything else. Except Lotta
Ahem -- in Costa Rica, women do not take their husband's surname, so you can't tell who is married to whom. But their children Mattias and Veronca (pictured) and Christian (taking the picture) will confirm, Lotta and Ricardo are quite definitely husband and wife.
MATIAS FLORES -- Adventure racer and safety kayaker, Matias is also quite likely the person who spoke with you when you inquired about Serendipity adventures, and designed your trip as well. Matias is one of the principal decision makers in Serendipity, and oversees a lot of the explorations that permit Serendipity to offer our guests fresh and unique destinations. Matias has a Masters degree in Environmental Management, and conducts the business of Serendipity with the well being of the environment, the people working in the company and our neighbors, as our company's priority.
SARDAR SALAM -- Sardar is in charge of assigning guides, managing everyone who works "outdoors", and keeping all the equipment in top condition (as he was doing for the United Nations in his native Kurdistan after Desert Storm, where he met his Costa Rican wife, Ligia). Will guide canyoning trips in English, Spanish, Kurdish, German and Arabic. In this photo Sardar is reviewing the equipment and installation of the platform in the tree Abraham, and is on his way down the 110 foot rappel to the jungle floor.
ROGER DAVIS -- Roger came to Serendipity in 2001 after working 15 years as a naturalist guide for a hotel. His razor sharp eyes, plus knowing how to see camouflaged animals, means everyone sees more with Roger. Within a few months with Serendipity he discovered he actually really enjoyed horses and high altitudes (especially the naturalist platform 110 feet up in a tree in the rain forest) and white water down a pristine canyon. The adventures allow him to explore places he previously avoided -- and he is very empathetic to people who may be timid about their first high adventure experiences.
JAIME MURILLO -- If it's above the ground, Jaime is there -- with the balloon, with the naturalist platform Abraham, and ascending inside the hollow tree Joseph. Jaime also makes the naturalist float boats work, and is a master horse guide.
MIKAL GUERRERO -- Maikol is normally on a horse, but today he's getting a sense of what it feels like to have a rope that leads you around and a harness wrapped around his stomach. Maikol will be with you when you go riding, to be sure the horse behaves and everyone is moving in the right direction.
EDUARDO BALLESTERO -- Also known as our Energizer Bunny. Eduardo is an adventure racer, can climb a palm tree feet first, and his degree in biology is useful when sharing the flora and fauna of Costa Rica with our friends.
SERGIO AMADOR divides his time between answering sales calls in the office and guiding. Sergio has done about every conceivable legal employment in Costa Rica -- from driving ambulances to selling his homemade brownies. He turns getting stuck in mud into a celebration of life, nature, and authentic adventure. While working on his degree he also lectured at InBio Park, Costa Rica's flagship of environmental education.
In the photo at the right Sergio is trying to eat the water as it attacks him on his bike. He's actually kind of cute....
GERHARD LINNER -- Gerhard's extreme adventure skills are matched by his exceptional naturalist skills. His favorite places are guiding either Serendipity trips or introducing his sons Lucas and Matias to his adventure world. Here he is showing the boys how to float on their backs in white water.
FRED GROTENHUIS - world-renowned balloon pilot and all-around great friend. Ask Fred to join any exploration, no matter how ridiculous, and the answer is always YES. So when the Byrd Institute and National Geographic Magazine selected Serendipity's balloon team to organize carrying ice core samples off a 22,000 ft. mountain in Bolivia in 1997, Fred, of course, was the first to volunteer. Fred made it to the top of the extinct volcano, too!
VIVIAN MENDEZ (far right)- is the third leg upon which Serendipity stands. Vivian handles all the money, and accounting. She will take on any challenge, a long as she is guaranteed to stay dry.
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YAMILETTE VARGAS- does all the food shopping and preparation for river trips, hikes, and company parties. Yami also takes care of all the Serendipity staff - food, laundry, and hugs. Here it's forgivable -- she's hugging husband Franklin, who works with Serendipity as a driver.
LYNNE LARMEE (with husband and Serendipity volunteer Scott) runs the Ann Arbor, Michigan business office. Without Lynne we would all feel totally abandoned down here in Costa Rica
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ALEX FERNANDEZ Alex practically grew up in Serendipity - starting as a raft guide, then principal guide, and now head of sales. Like everyone in Serendipity, the paycheck is probably less important than the chance to share our great
JUAN CARLOS (Juanca) ARRIETA - Juanca enjoys just about anything that puts him together with guests and the outdoors -- rafting, biking, tree climbing, horses, hiking, team building fun. With his degree in Biology, we can hope he is smart enough not to try to kiss the scorpion in his hand.
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TUCKER COMSTOCK -- one of the founders of Serendipity, is the computer whiz and web guru. Tucker is also one of the balloon pilots (and passionate about horseback riding in rain and mud. To the locals she is known as "la gringa salpicada de lodo".)
CAROL VARGAS - when not running rivers with Serendipity, Carol is practicing for the rafting World Championships. Carol has represented Costa Rica in the Pan American games and other international competitions.
FELIPE PEREZ - canyoning and white water and our instructor for advanced first aid. Felipe was a paramedic in the United States before marrying his Costa Rica bride. Felipe guides just about any adventure, and is one of our best for explorations as well.
ESTEBAN ELIZONDO -- our balloon pilot -- when he is not our horse expert. Esteban's background includes way too much time in cities, and a Master's degree in human resources. When he discovered the unique way of life of the San Carlos area it was easy to convince him to run Serendipity's stables.
MONICA ALONSO, Esteban's wife, is before all else the mother of Mariano (in saddle), Carolina and Andrés. When she lets her passions run, however, it is usually on the back of one of Serendipity/Centaura's beautiful mares. If you are VERY LUCKY, or SUPER SPECIAL, Monica will join you as your horse guide.
Everyone who loves watching beautiful horses (and the women who master them) wishes they could chase Monica from the saddle. In this case it is Sebastian Alonso, horse guide and also Monica's brother, mounted on Estrella, our white stallion.
MARIANO SALAZAR - one of Costa Rica's first river guides, Mariano not only trained many of today's river guides but their bosses as well. An expert chef and Latin dancing and walking encyclopedia on Costa Rica history and culture, Mariano works well with just about anyone who is eager to try new things..
SILVIA SOLANO is the bright smile behind the phone when you have questions about payments, reservations, what to wear, and if you need anything not on your Serendipity checklists.
ANDRÊS VALVERDE - raft, bike, kayak, canyoning, and working on his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Andrés has a great way with people, a close relationship with animals, and is such a natural athlete that he brings out the best in all his guests.
Note, however, that Andrés ended up with one of his friend's tail feathers...
CATALINA ELIZONDO -- principal guide, spends spare time dressed as Tinkerbelle and spreading fairy dust (here at Serendipity's halloween party). Cata is finishing her degree in architecture. When not studying or guiding, Cata runs rivers, rides wild horses, and throws mean punches (boxing ring style).
MOISES TORRES - to know him is to love him. Moises is certainly Costa Rica's most revered white water guide, and Serendipity is lucky to have both his extreme wisdom, good cooking, and exceptional good sense of humor to get us down the rivers.
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JONATHAN MORALES is a really strong leader on the river, and so it has been pretty easy for him to transition to principal guide, being the person in charge of your whole adventure. Jonathan is 100% Costa Rican, a natural athlete, and really aware of everyone's comfort level in water, on canyon walls, on horses or zip lines.
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PAMELA CARAZO joined Serendipity in 2010, and quickly became one of our favorite guides for families with younger kids. Her education in industrial engineering helps kids and parents organize themselves and march in the right direction.... all with a wonderful sense of humor.
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JOANNA DOWBIGGINS -- she is the Canadian answering the phone and helping you to design your adventure trip to Costa Rica. She joined Serendipity in 2011 and is doing a great job in the sales department. In the office we love every time she bring us delicious brownies or a tasty banana cake...
LUIGI SANCHEZ -- started his Serendipity career as a whitewater guide and kayaker and adventure photographer and is now a principal guide. Naturally we match Luigi to families and groups who love white water challenges.
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JUAN PABLO SOTO PÉREZ --One of our principal canyoning guides and kayakers, Juan Pablo joined Serendipity in 2010 after extensive work in canopy tours around Costa Rica. His smile brightens your day, and his keen eye for the security aspects of descending rock faces and walking in slippery waters gives our guests great confidence in a high adrenaline activity.
BRINKA and MILLI -- our second-class lifeguards and swimming instructors, here keeping watch on a 2-year-old who loves the water and loves being with wet dogs.
These dogs have found the ONLY class of human beings on the planet who love being with wet dogs.
The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure is to contact us.
