Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Costa Rica – San Jose – Sarapiqui – La Fortuna – Bijagua – Tambor –Tarcoles – Uvita
100% customisable for you
Your Costa Rican family adventure begins today with an 11-and-a-half-hour direct flight to San Jose, the country’s capital. Head to the airport, breeze through security, grab some snacks and bundle the little ones onto the plane. Then settle in for the long journey with a mix of movies, games and the occasional round of “are we there yet?” – keeping everyone entertained.
Upon arrival, you’ll be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel near the city. After a long day, your youngsters (and probably you too) will be ready to rest. Enjoy your first night of Costa Rican cuisine at a nearby restaurant recommended by our local Concierge, then head back to your room for an early night.
Pick up your hire car this morning and drive two hours to Sarapiqui, winding through pineapple, cocoa and banana fields, and passing pockets of protected flora and fauna. The scenery alone is enough to keep your family wide-eyed; no iPads required.
Once you arrive in the Sarapiqui lowlands, stretch your legs and explore – the rest of the day is yours for the taking. Either head to Frogs Heaven, home to nearly 20 species of amphibians, or visit the Snake Garden, where you can gawk at the gigantic Burmese phyton, one of the star residents of the centre. For a history lesson, stop by the Rainforest Museum of Indigenous Cultures, which celebrates Costa Rica’s native communities with its collection of barkcloth paintings, ceremonial masks and ritual objects.
Come afternoon, beat the heat and head to Rio Sarapiqui, an ideal spot for rafting. Wildlife occasionally steals the show here too, with howler monkeys calling from the treetops.
If your little ones aren’t too tired, set out after dark on an observation walk along Sarapiqui’s trails, just as the nocturnal animals begin to stir. Expert guides lead the way, so keep your eyes peeled – who can be the first to spot a kinkajou? And after a jam-packed day, bed down for the night in a hacienda, a charming colonial-style house.
Hit the road again this morning after indulging in a traditional Costa Rican breakfast (gallo pinto with eggs, fresh fruit and local coffee) then set off for the La Fortuna region, a one-and-a-half-hour drive away. When the Arenal volcano dominates the horizon, standing at a staggering 5,400ft tall, you’ll know you’re close.
When you arrive, head out for an easy-going hike along one of the local trails at the base of the volcano. There are short, well-marked paths – such as the Las Heliconias Trail – that wind through open forest and lava-flow terrain, perfect for exploring together without complaints of aching legs. Are your family keen hikers? Try out the Los Miradores Trail, which climbs to several viewpoints with impressive views of the volcano and jungle. It’s a little steeper, but the views are worth the effort (and a great excuse for a snack break at the top).
After a day of discovery, settle into a bungalow in the middle of the countryside, opposite the Arenal volcano, your home for the next two nights. Kick back, relax and let the family unplug for a while. Screens – what are those? Only needed for snapping photos, capturing moments for years to come.
Rise and shine, it’s another day in Arenal and today you’ll meet the sleepiest creature of the jungle – and no, we’re not talking about any teens on the trip. Join a sloth-searching tour with an expert nature guide and watch these tree-dwellers shuffle through the forest, nibbling leaves and hanging from branches. Your youngsters are likely to delight in discovering just how lazy a sloth can be.
Sloths and their laid-back attitude might just rub off on you. But to ramp up the action, advance into the treetops by cable car for panoramic views of the rainforest and volcano, then zipline back down for the ultimate adrenaline boost.
All this excitement is bound to leave stomachs rumbling. Try out local cuisine, including classic casado (a plate of rice, beans, plantains and meat), or a crispy enchilada tica (a tortilla filled with potatoes and a chilli kick). Costa Ricans are big on flavour, so for your youngsters, just ask your server to tone down the spice a notch.
Come evening, enjoy a restorative dip in the Arenal hot springs, where the whole family can soak in the pools, wrapped in the sounds of the jungle.
Buckle in for a two-hour drive today as you step off the beaten track, and head to the misty landscapes of Bijagua.
When you arrive, make your way to the Heliconia private reserve. Accompanied by a nature guide, brave the 100ft-high hanging bridges which are suspended above 185 acres of primary rainforest with views stretching all the way to Lake Nicaragua. It’s the perfect setting for the best game of I-Spy your children have ever played, with monkeys, sloths, toucans, myriad insects and, if you're lucky, some tapirs along the way.
For the next two nights, stay in a bungalow at the foot of the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. Here, you can enjoy a true digital detox, and with almost no light pollution in the valley, you and your family can settle in for a blissful night’s sleep under a blanket of stars.
Today is all about exploring Tenorio Volcano National Park with a private guide, one of the country's finest trails covering jungle, waterfalls and natural hot springs. The Rio Celeste waterfall is renowned for its turquoise hue, caused by the minerals in the waters contrasting with the deep green of the surrounding tropical vegetation. But there’s also a much more magical explanation. Local legend says the river turned blue when God washed his brushes here after painting the sky.
Head back to your bungalow afterwards and enjoy a quiet night in. Tomorrow brings a longer drive and the next chapter of your Costa Rican adventure.
Bundle back into the hire car and drive four hours to Tambor at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast. To break up the journey, pause at the impressive Rio Tempisque or the Colorado Gulf, a great spot to stretch your legs and snap a few photos before continuing on. Soon you’ll arrive at your seaside hotel in Tambor, known for its black sand beaches.
Your first day on the coast is all about easing into beach life. After days of rainforest adventures, kick off your shoes and enjoy the sand between your toes. The calm bay at Tambor makes it a great place for youngsters to splash about, while budding architects can get stuck into building the ultimate sandcastle (parents, feel free to act as judges from the comfort of your beach towel). With the gentle sound of waves rolling onto the shore, it won’t be long until the whole family is in full relaxation mode. Between snoozes, glance out to the bay; in the dry season, whales can sometimes be spotted frolicking just offshore.
The next day, venture out to explore Curu Reserve, a refuge for crabs, sea turtles and thousands of bird species. If the sea is calling, hop on a boat to Isla Tortuga, a protected marine zone. Snorkel mask and flippers on, discover a whole new world beneath the waves – colourful shoals of fish darting through the water, barracudas cruising past, moray eels tucked into rocky corners and even the occasional porcupine fish drifting by. Your youngsters are sure to pop up every few moments to report on their latest discovery.
In the evening, spend some time in Montezuma, a picturesque seaside town with a laid-back atmosphere and a lingering hippie spirit from the 1970s. Think charming cafes, artisan shops, street musicians and sunset beach walks with views over the Pacific. Who wants an ice cream?
Another day, another adventure. Make your way to the quay in Paquera and drive your hire car onto the ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya, before arriving in Puntarenas. Then head for the Central Valley and follow the southern Pacific coast to Tarcoles, a one-hour drive away. Check into your hotel, surrounded by nature, where a fresh coconut makes the perfect welcome.
The real highlight today? Climbing abroad a private boat on the River Tarcoles, home to some of the largest crocodiles in the world – measuring a jaw-dropping 20ft long. Expect plenty of gasps from the kids as they spot these prehistoric giants lounging on the riverbanks. Your expert guide will safely navigate the waters, so don’t worry – you’ll be keeping a safe distance while watching these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. If you can tear your eyes away, look to the surrounding mangroves, which are alive with tropical birds, including the famous scarlet macaw.
Just can’t get enough of Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife? The nearby Carara National Park is well worth a visit. Its lush forest is renowned for its populations of scarlet macaws, parrots, parakeets and hummingbirds. Binoculars in hand, see if your youngsters can spot peccaries, agoutis and kinkajous. The first to spot one of these incredibly camouflaged creatures gets to ride shotgun tomorrow…
This morning, head south along the Pacific coast, enjoying the scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive to Uvita where you’ll spend the next couple of days. Along the way, visit Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most beautiful in the country. Walking along the forest trails, you'll find capuchins and squirrel monkeys, sloths and raccoons. And keep an eye out for stick insects and chameleons – the person with the sharpest eyes usually spots them first.
Wander the paths, then emerge onto quiet beaches for a refreshing swim. Afterwards, continue to Uvita and check in to your final hotel of the trip, with views over the jungle and sea.
Your last day is pure Pacific coast peace. Paddle in the gentle waves, try a family surf lesson and hunt for crabs in hidden tide pools. Challenge each other to beach frisbee, or lounge under a palm while debating which wildlife encounter was the best. Cap off the day with a final feast– ask your Concierge for the best local spot to mark the final night of your adventure.
Sadly, it’s time to say adios to Costa Rica. Leaving the beach behind, drive to San Jose Airport, just under four hours away, to return your hire car ahead of your flight home. Travelling overnight, the flight takes around 11-and-a-half hours.
By the end of your holiday, your youngsters will have (hopefully) forgotten what an iPad looks like and will be bursting with stories, laughter and memories. You’ll return with enough photos and experiences to keep the thrill alive… until the next adventure calls.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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