Costa Rica Family Experience

4.9Based on

Carbon neutral

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.

Starts

San Jose, Costa Rica

Ends

San Jose, Costa Rica

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 , La Fortuna Waterfall Swim , Hanging Bridges Suitable for all ages

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: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, Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit

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 , Horseback Riding MODERATE, CASEM Coop Visit , Hanging Bridges Monteverde Easy, Monteverde Butterfly Garden Visit , Santa Elena Cloud Forest Guided Tour , 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:Manuel Antonio Catamaran Tour , 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. , 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

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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

Tour Availability

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