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Who is Serendipity?

Meet the Serendipity Team

Serendipity Adventures 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 Serendipity grew, mainly by word-of-mouth. Instead of becoming a tour operator — developing tours and selling to travel wholesalers (the middleman 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. Below are some of our principal people you may get a chance to meet:

Charlotte ​Törnqvist

Charlotte (Lotta) is our Managing Director and Senior Travel Specialist. With over 24 years of experience with Serendipity, she is an expert in all things adventure, logistics, and problem-solving. Lotta loves creating personalized trip plans and working with the Serendipity team to exceed client expectations during their vacation.

Nancy Thomas

Nancy is Serendipity’s Reservations Manager. Behind the scenes, she is helping our clients prepare for their trip to Costa Rica, as well as confirming their accommodation, transport, and activities. Nancy’s dedication to her role is why our trips run so seamlessly and our clients can enjoy their vacations stress-free.

Wilman Solano

Wilman is our Operations Quality Manager. With his extensive experience in the hospitality industry in Costa Rica, he ensures that the standard of Serendipity’s vacations remains high. While clients are traveling in-country, Wilman is on call to provide support and help them make the most of their adventure with us.

Mariana Perez

Mariana is Serendipity’s Trip Planner. She works alongside our Travel Specialists to find our clients the very best hotels, transport, and activities Costa Rica has to offer. Dream hotel room? Booked. Special dinner? Reserved. Private tour? Confirmed. Mariana helps turn our clients’ wish lists into unforgettable vacations.

César Calvo

César is our Operations Manager. Having worked with us for many years in the field, he lives and breathes adventure and loves to give each and every client a unique experience with Serendipity. César oversees the day-to-day logistics of our trips, meaning that our clients can simply relax and enjoy their vacation in Costa Rica.

Helen Kidwell

Helen is our Marketing Manager and Serendipity Travel Specialist. With a background in outdoor education and conservation, she is passionate about meaningful travel experiences and creating itineraries that take our clients off the tourist trail. When she isn’t in our main office, Helen is out exploring new hidden gems for our clients.

Bryan León

Bryan is a Serendipity Travel Specialist. As a certified eco-tourism guide with extensive travel experience throughout Costa Rica, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others. Whether you’re interested in nature immersion, cultural experiences, or thrilling adventures, Bryan knows all the best local spots.

Holden Ketchum

Holden is a Serendipity Travel Specialist. His role is to connect our clients with the activities and experiences that will bring them the most joy and long-lasting memories. Holden has been a traveler his entire life, meaning that he can put himself in our clients’ shoes and provide a personal touch to his tailored trip plans.

Elena Mora

Elena is a Serendipity Travel Specialist. With over two decades of experience in the tourism industry, she knows how to craft personalized travel itineraries that celebrate her beloved Costa Rica. Thanks to her background in the hotel business, Elena knows all the ins and outs of creating exceptional stays during your custom-made vacation.

Daniela Garita

Daniela is the Finance Administrator at Serendipity. With a passion for numbers and a keen eye for detail, she ensures that payments and expenses are settled, and our books are balanced. Daniela’s role at our main office keeps our financial operations in order and Serendipity’s wheels turning.

Alex Quirós

Alex is Serendipity’s Dedicated Driver. He is the friendly face who greets many of our clients at the airport and makes sure they travel around Costa Rica safely and comfortably. One of the added benefits of a drive with Alex is that he is a fountain of local knowledge that our clients can tap into during their journey in Costa Rica.

Serendipity Guides

Mariano ‘Sabanera’ Salazar

Principal Guide

> Read more about Mariano

Jose Miguel Calvo Rivera

Principal Guide

Marianela Castro Arguedas

Rafting Guide – Turrialba

Douglas Avendaño Carranza

Rafting Guide – Turrialba

Juan Carlos ‘Juanca’ Arrieta

Principal Guide

>Read more about Juan Carlos

Sergio Calvo Rivera

Principal Guide & Canyoning Guide

Jose Luis Calderon Arguello

Rafting Guide – Turrialba

Carol Coto Mora

Canyoning Guide

Sergio Amador

Principal Guide

>Read more about Sergio

Willy Fransisco Aguilar Camacho

Principal Guide

Juan Carlos Jimenez Loaiza

Rafting Guide – Turrialba

David Murillo Gomez

Rafting Guide – Sarapiquí

Ready to Plan your Serendipity Adventure?

We’ll be with you every step of the way