Best of Costa Rica Family Holiday Tour by Intrepid Travel

14 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

5 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

San Jose, Costa Rica

Ends

San Jose, Costa Rica

Highlights

Spend time with the Terraba community – an Indigenous group who have survived off the land for more than 500 years – and enjoy a shared lunch of local eats. The kids will love the chocolate-making lesson here!

Walk through the diverse forest and jungle and take an incredible canopy walk along suspended bridges in Cloud Forest – lookout for sloths and various birdlife as you go.

Experience life as the locals do by spending time on a family farm and learning how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food.

Enjoy some family downtime in the seaside town of Dominical at your eco-hotel, surrounded by stunning beaches and a tropical jungle.

Look out for wildlife in the evergreen rainforest of Sarapiqui – a town known for its rich biodiversity – and enjoy some free time to maybe learn about the nocturnal creatures that dwell here.

Itinerary

Ready for a family adventure that brings you face-to-face with Costa Rica’s untamed beauty and welcoming culture? The "Best of Costa Rica Family Holiday" is a 14-day guided trip packed with wildlife encounters, hands-on cultural experiences, and plenty of fun for all ages. Starting and ending in San Jose, this small group tour covers the country’s most breathtaking highlights and some hidden gems along the way.

Explore the wild waterways of Tortuguero National Park, home to rare mammals and nesting green turtles, before heading into the lush biodiversity of Sarapiqui. In La Fortuna, soak in natural hot springs beneath the watchful gaze of Arenal Volcano, then experience the magic of Monteverde’s cloud forests.

Families will love the interactive cooking class in Dominical, where you’ll learn to prepare authentic Costa Rican dishes with the help of local families—three generations strong! The adventure continues with a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park’s beaches and wildlife, and a meaningful encounter with an Indigenous community along the Terraba River, where you’ll discover the traditions of their matriarchal society.

With comfortable accommodations, all meals, and seamless transport, this trip is designed for hassle-free family exploration. Its standout feature is the blend of nature and cultural immersion—ensuring everyone, young and old, walks away inspired and connected to Costa Rica’s wonders.

day 1 - San Jose

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Costa Rica. Your adventure starts in subtropical San Jose, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at the hotel. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to see in this bustling city. Maybe take the kids to the Spirogyra Butterfly Garden – the perfect way to introduce the family to Costa Rican biodiversity (while also getting respite from the clamour of the city). After the meeting tonight, maybe get a taste of Tico food (and get to know the other families and your trip leader) with an optional group dinner.

accommodation:Hotel Autentico or similar

day 2 - Tortuguero

This morning, you’ll travel by private vehicle to the Caribbean lowlands on a scenic (and slightly bumpy) journey that ends at the port of La Pavona – this rustic port is your entry point to Tortuguero. Hop aboard a small boat and journey into the depths of the Costa Rican wilderness. Arrive in the middle of this biodiverse area, where freshwater lagoons rest under the canopy of rainforest bordering the ocean. Many animals call this place home, so look out for jaguars, various birds and turtles as you sail quietly across the water and traverse the lush jungle.

included:Tortuguero - Boat ride to Tortuguero

accommodation:Hotel Tortuguero Beach Front or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

day 3 - Tortuguero

This morning, head to Tortuguero National Park for a boat tour of the canals. This park, established in 1970, is now home to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals, including manatees, ocelots and jaguars. This is also the nesting ground of the green turtle, which comes ashore between July and October to lay its eggs on the beach. The hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle and giant leatherback turtles also nest within the park, but at different times of the year. This afternoon, maybe wander around some of the park’s walking trails or just kick back and relax at your lodge. Tonight, you might want to head out on a turtle-watching tour – part of the cost of this optional activity will support a program to patrol the beach for poachers, keeping the turtles and their eggs safe.

included:Tortuguero - National Park Entrance, Tortuguero - Boat tour of the canals

accommodation:Hotel Tortuguero Beach Front or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

day 4 - Sarapiqui

This morning, say goodbye to the evergreen rainforest and make the journey to Sarapiqui – a town known for its rich biodiversity. When you arrive you'll have time to settle into your hotel. This evening join your leader for a walk through the rainforest, crossing trails as you look out for wildlife, an excursion to learn about the region’s nocturnal creatures – including sloths, howler monkeys, snakes and frogs.

included:Sarapiqui - leader led rainforest night walk

accommodation:La Tirimbina or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 5 - Sarapiqui

Today is a free day to explore Sarapiqui. Maybe you and your family could take a trip down the river on a float or get adventurous and go white water rafting through the rapids. Maybe you’d like to jump in a kayak and discover the lush surroundings on a more leisurely on-water experience. If you need to recharge, maybe you’d like to just relax by the pool at your accommodation.

accommodation:La Tirimbina or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 6 - La Fortuna

Today, you’ll cross west through the north of the country to the Arenal volcano area, which lies beneath the volcano of the same name. Rising from verdant plains, Arenal Volcano shoots up 1633 m in a perfect cone and in certain lights, it resembles a storybook drawing. The landscape is mainly cloud forest and rainforest, cut through with rivers, lakes and (thanks to the volcano’s inner workings) thermal hot springs. For lunch today visit a local rural community where you and your family will take part in an authentic Costa Rican cooking experience set in a beautiful farm environment. This afternoon is free for you to enjoy La Fortuna at your own pace.

included:La Fortuna - traditional tortilla making and lunch

accommodation:El Faro Arenal or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 7 - La Fortuna

Today is a free day to explore La Fortuna and all it has to offer. Maybe grab the kids and head to the La Fortuna Waterfall – at the base of the dormant Chato volcano, the waterfall is surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, and you can even swim at the base of the cascades! Maybe the kids would rather get a new perspective of Arenal Volcano from the 1968 trail, where you can also explore lava trails.

accommodation:El Faro Arenal or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 8 - Monteverde

Today, you’ll take the scenic route to Monteverde. Travel by minibus to Lake Arenal, then cross the water by boat. On the other side of the lake, re-board a minibus and continue to your destination. In 1951 North American Quakers founded the nearby Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve – a sanctuary for the unique flora and fauna of Costa Rica. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call the reserve home, and over the next few days, you’ll get acquainted with some of them. Tonight you will be able to relax in your boutique accommodation on a family-run farm, surrounded by spectacular cloud forest, gardens, coffee fields and views of the Nicoya gulf.

accommodation:Jardines de Monteverde or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 9 - Monteverde

This morning, see the forest from a different perspective on an included canopy walk across the suspended bridges of the cloud forest. The variety of bird life in Monteverde is enough to make an ornithologist out of anyone, so don’t be surprised if younger children have a new answer to the question – what do you want to do when you grow up? While you’re up among the treetops, look (or listen) out for the reclusive quetzal, the blue-crowned motmot or the emerald toucanet. The rest of the day is free to relax or partake in some optional activities. You could visit an orchid farm or whizz through the trees on ziplines. If conditions are right, there might be a chance to hike through the forest at dusk – a unique opportunity to see the area’s nocturnal creatures begin to stir.

included:Monteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance)

accommodation:Jardines de Monteverde or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 10 - Dominical

Wave 'adios' to Monteverde and hit the Pan-American Highway for a southward journey past beaches and palm plantations to the beachside town of Dominical. Along the way, you’ll stop at a local family home where you’ll have the opportunity to see how authentic local Costa Rican food is made and enjoy a delicious lunch. Spend some time with the three generations of Costa Ricans here and learn about their stories as you enjoy the essence of the Pura Vida lifestyle. Your accommodation while in Dominical is an eco-hotel, surrounded by lush rainforest, with all the comforts you could want.

included:Manuel Antonio - Homecooked lunch

accommodation:Villas Rio Mar or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 11 - Marino Ballena National Park - Dominical

Set off this morning on a short drive to Marino Ballena National Park, a vital conservation area know for it's diverse marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles and of course whales! Today your family will enjoy a special experience as you participate in a hands-on coral restoration workshop with a local non-profit organisation. Then the rest of the day will be yours to enjoy as you like. You can hike through the national park, relax on the beach or join in on one of the many optional activities on offer.

included:Uvita - Marino Ballena National Park, Uvita - Coral Restoration Workshop

accommodation:Villas Rio Mar or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 12 - Dominical

Today is a free day in Dominical. Flanked by the Baru River, this town is known for its surfing beach and tropical forest hiking trails, so there are plenty of options if you and the kids want to get outdoors (and who wouldn’t when you’re in this natural paradise?).

accommodation:Villas Rio Mar or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 13 - Manuel Antonio National Park - San Jose

Today on the return to San Jose, you'll make a stop at Manuel Antonio National Park – the most popular national park in Costa Rica, to enjoy a guided walk along the trails with a Naturalist guide. Immerse yourself in nature and learn more about the area’s diverse flora and fauna. Look and listen carefully, and you may just be able to spot howler monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, iguanas and heaps of various birds. Then, continue on to San Jose, arriving to the hotel in the late afternoon. You may like to head out with the other families for a final group dinner together to toast to an amazing adventure.

included:Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide, Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

accommodation:Hotel Auténtico or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 14 - San Jose

After breakfast today your trip comes to an end. As there are no further activities planned you are free to depart anytime. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.

meals:1 Breakfast

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

What's Included

Accommodation

Hotels (13 nights)

Meals

13 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Boat, Public Transportation

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Tortuguero - Boat ride to TortugueroTortuguero - National Park EntranceTortuguero - Boat tour of the canalsSarapiqui - leader led rainforest night walkLa Fortuna - Los Laureles Hot SpringsMonteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance)Monteverde – Hands on breakfast activity & Farm tourManuel Antonio - Homecooked lunchTerraba community - Indigenous Community Visit & Mask Carving LessonTerraba community- Chocolate makingManuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist GuideManuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a PremierThis travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.6 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 162 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6rating.

Tour Availability

Select your preferred departure date and secure your spot

Black Friday Extended SalesUp to 13% off

Loading availability...

Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

Cancellation

Payment

Travel Insurance

Visa

Other Practical Information

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 108+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.Bookmundi is a member of the Danish Travel Fund which guarantees for any payment made via us. Our guarantee covers all travelers, irrespective of nationality.

Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5

Excellent based on 803 customer reviews from

Lauren

I have used this company many times and the prices always bring me back.

1 day ago

Europe

Asia

South America

Africa

North America

Oceania

Polar

Food, wine, events and nightlife

Adventure and sport

Wildlife, landscapes and nature

Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife

Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history

Air tours, road trips and transfers

Beach, romance, getaways and relaxation

Special interests and hobbies

Highlights