Costa Rica Family Experience

4.9Based on
9 daysDuration
Group TourJoin a group of travelers
20 peopleMaximum group size
6 - 100 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Highlights

Kick back on Costa Rica's pristine beaches.

visit a local family to learn to make tortillas.

spot nature in a dense cloud forest.

enjoy the natural beauty of Manuel Antonio National Park.

kayak and paddle-board in La Fortuna.

Itinerary

Spark curiosity and adventure in your family with the Costa Rica Family Experience, a 9-day wildlife trip crafted for curious kids and adults alike. Journey from San Jose to the cloud forests and the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, studying exotic flora and fauna up close, both day and night. The itinerary balances educational activities—like observing wildlife—with active pursuits including rappelling, rafting, swimming, horseback riding, and even surfing. All accommodations, meals, and transport are included, ensuring a stress-free holiday for families. The USP: an engaging blend of hands-on biology, ecology, and adventure, making learning and play inseparable in the heart of Costa Rica.

day 1 - San José

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.
Amid the hustle and bustle of this busy capital, San José has beautiful parks, museums and an ornate National Theatre. Start your exploration of the city in the central plaza, a great place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.

Accomodation:Hotel Radisson San Jose (or similar)
Transport:Arrival Transfer
Included Activity:Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Duration : 1.0 hr

day 2 - San José/La Fortuna

Set off from the capital and enjoy the countryside of the Central Valley. Stop for a tortilla-making lesson, along with a typical Costa Rican lunch.
A three-hour van trip brings us to La Fortuna, near the base of the spectacular Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna is a great base for active adventures. Along the way, stop to meet Doña Mara and learn the art of making (and eating!) tortillas.

Once we arrive, there's time to relax in the hot springs that are heated by the volcano's lava.

During our stay in La Fortuna, there is a wide selection of activities sure to please every member of the family. From river rafting, to rappelling down waterfalls, there is no excuse to be bored!

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch
Accomodation:Magic Mountain (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 3.0 hr
Included Activity:Tortilla Making and Local Lunch
Optional Activities:Whitewater Rafting , Ecotermales Hot Springs , La Fortuna Waterfall Swim

day 3 - La Fortuna

Take to the lake for a morning of stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking on Lake Arenal, before a free afternoon.
Get your adrenaline pumping and pre-book the Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Magic Mountain (or similar)
Included Activities:Stand Up Paddle (Lesson and Tour) Duration : 4.0 hr, Kayak Lake Arenal
Optional Activities:Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping , Whitewater Rafting , Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoning , Costa Rica Adrenaline Bundle , Hanging Bridges Suitable for all ages, La Fortuna Waterfall Swim

day 4 - La Fortuna/Monteverde

Travel by bus and boat through the stunning Costa Rican scenery up into the cloud forest. Take an included guided night walk to learn about nocturnal life in the jungle firsthand.
From La Fortuna, we make our way first by boat, then by van up the rough mountain roads to reach the fresh misty air of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Spend two days exploring the community and nearby forest, truly a bird lover’s paradise.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:El Establo Hotel (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 0.25 hr, Boat Duration : 0.75 hr, Private Vehicle Duration : 3.5 hr
Included Activity:Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk
Optional Activities:Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit , Arenal Horseback Riding Throw on some long pants, grab the reins and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the tropical forest and across the area’s most beautiful landscape. Look for toucans in the trees and admire the ocean views. Visit waterfalls and end your journey with a good gallop., Birdwatching Departure: 5:30am Includes: Transport to/from your hotel, professional bird guidebook, bilingual guide, coffee and fruit snack. Duration Approximately: 4 hours

day 5 - Monteverde

Enjoy a free Day in this lush cloud forest region. Opt to fly above the trees on a canopy zipline tour, go horseback riding in the hills or visit the butterfly garden.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:El Establo Hotel (or similar)
Optional Activities:Birdwatching Easy, Ziplining , Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit , Santa Elena Cloud Forest Guided Tour , Horseback Riding MODERATE, CASEM Coop Visit , Hanging Bridges Monteverde Easy, El Trapiche Tour Monteverde This tour leaves twice daily 10:00 and 15:00. Tour includes: bilingual guide, artisanal candy making workshop, beverage., Monteverde Coffee Plantation Tour No trip to Costa Rica is complete without visiting a coffee plantation. Head to Café Monteverde and learn how this fair trade coffee goes from crop to cup. Pick ripe berries, watch how the beans are separated from the husk, then observe the drying and roasting process. Sample and buy some of these excellent beans. The Santa Elena coffee co-op prides itself on sustainable practices: it recycles processing water, uses coffee pulp for fertilizer, and sends plant fibers and husks to make paper.

day 6 - Monteverde/Manuel Antonio

Travel to Manuel Antonio and enjoy free time for several optional activities like mangrove kayaking, surf lessons, a sunset catamaran tour, or take some time to relax on the beach.
The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters are the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. Manuel Antonio NP offers excellent hiking, spectacular views, and abundant wildlife viewing. An included hike goes deep into the park, to explore everything that can be found here.

Enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches and discover why the warm turquoise water is ideal for swimming, fishing, kayaking, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing - the perfect finale to an exciting family adventure!

Overnight in Manuel Antonio.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Villas Lirio (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 6.0 hr Distance : 267 km
Optional Activities:Fishing Cast a line and (depending on the season) hope to hook a marlin, sailfish, tuna or dorado (mahi mahi). Fishing in Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing. , Kayaking , Sailing Slap on some sunscreen and hop aboard as we set sail along the rugged Pacific Coast of Manuel Antonio National Park on a catamaran. Bask in the beauty of the white-sand beaches and small islands that accent the shoreline. Keep watch for dolphins, rays, and migrating whales. Hop into the warm water and snorkel with more than 50 species of colourful tropical fish., Surfing Slather on the sunscreen, strap on a leash, pull on a rash guard, and get ready to hit the waves. Experience the surf at the beaches near Quepos and Manuel Antonio with their left, right, and well-shaped beach breaks. Take a lesson, learn tips and techniques, then hang ten like a local., Swimming Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing. Depending on the season, hope to hook marlin, sailfish, tuna, snook and dorado (mahi mahi). Slather on the sunscreen, strap on your sunglasses, cast out your line and get ready to reel in a big one.

day 7 - Manuel Antonio

Take a guided hike through the national park keeping an eye out for the wildlife that can be seen through the trees.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Villas Lirio (or similar)
Included Activity:Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Optional Activities:Fishing Cast a line and (depending on the season) hope to hook a marlin, sailfish, tuna or dorado (mahi mahi). Fishing in Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing. , Kayaking , Manuel Antonio Catamaran Tour , Sailing Slap on some sunscreen and hop aboard as we set sail along the rugged Pacific Coast of Manuel Antonio National Park on a catamaran. Bask in the beauty of the white-sand beaches and small islands that accent the shoreline. Keep watch for dolphins, rays, and migrating whales. Hop into the warm water and snorkel with more than 50 species of colourful tropical fish., Surfing Slather on the sunscreen, strap on a leash, pull on a rash guard, and get ready to hit the waves. Experience the surf at the beaches near Quepos and Manuel Antonio with their left, right, and well-shaped beach breaks. Take a lesson, learn tips and techniques, then hang ten like a local., Swimming Quepos, north of Manuel Antonio, is Costa Rica’s most popular spot for blue water sport fishing. Depending on the season, hope to hook marlin, sailfish, tuna, snook and dorado (mahi mahi). Slather on the sunscreen, strap on your sunglasses, cast out your line and get ready to reel in a big one. , Whitewater Rafting Manuel Antonio

day 8 - Manuel Antonio/San José

Free morning to enjoy more time at the beach. Return to San José in the afternoon. Free evening in San José.
After one final morning to soak up the sun on the beach in Manuel Antonio, we return to San José, and have time to enjoy one final evening together with our group.

Meal:Breakfast
Accomodation:Hotel Radisson San Jose (or similar)
Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 5.0 hr Distance : 190 km

day 9 - San José

Depart at any time.

Meal:Breakfast
Costa Rica Family Experience

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What's Included

Accommodation
Hotels (8 nts).
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Note: Allow USD380-495 for meals not included.
Transport
Private vehicle, boat, walkingAll transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Guide
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Included activities
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour Local Living Moment: Tortilla Making and Local Lunch, La FortunaYour Hands-On Moment: Stand Up Paddle (Lesson and Tour), La FortunaYour Hands-On Moment: Kayak Lake Arenal, La FortunaYour Discover Moment: MonteverdeArrival transferKayaking and paddle-boarding in La FortunaGuided cloud forest night walk (Monteverde)Guided hike in Manuel Antonio NP

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Costa Rica Family Experience

4.9

based on 64 reviews
58
6
0
0
0
J
James EVerified Traveler
5.0 out of 5

Excellent

G Adventures provided our family with the perfect adventure we were looking for! Our CEO, Berny, made the experience fun and exciting and safe for our family of five, with kids from 8 to 14. We have already recommended G Adventures, and Berny, to our friends and family!

A
Alexander VVerified Traveler
5.0 out of 5

Excellent

Traveling with G Adventures made the experience of being in a new country where we don’t speak the language very easy and we learned and saw so much in our relatively short time in the country. Our guide Berny was incredible and helped us so much in so many ways from logistics, problem-solving, to local knowledge and it was clear that he cared very much about our enjoyment and also had a passion for the animal and plant-life of the area and the culture of Costa Rica. He always made us feel comfortable and taken care of. We loved that the kids had peers to travel with and the adults were nice companions as well. We would certainly consider doing another G Family Adventure soon.

J
Joanne SVerified Traveler
5.0 out of 5

Excellent

Amazing. We saw so much and did much more than I thought we would. Berny made the trip for us.

E
Eugene SVerified Traveler
5.0 out of 5

Excellent

Amazing guide! Incredible country! Wonderful nature! Brilliant activities! Lovely people! Great food!

A
AdamVerified Traveler
4.0 out of 5

Very Good

Great experience for family group travel

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Emmanuel

Smooth, Scenic, and Superbly Organized I joined a 6-Day Marangu Route hike with Kilisa Tours, and the whole experience was seamless. The accommodations in the mountain huts were cozy, and the support staff made sure we were always comfortable. Our guide shared fascinating stories about the mountain s history and wildlife. Everything ran perfectly on schedule, and the company s attention to detail was impressive. I ve done many treks before, but Kilisa Tours stands out for their genuine care and world-class service. Couldn t have asked for more!
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