Today we will meet you outside of the San Jose airport where your private guide and driver will take you to the La Condesa Hotel. Here you will have the chance to relax and get a briefing of what the week will look like and what to expect during this amazing adventure. (Meals: None)
Day 2 ------ Enter Cavern (Cavern)
Sleeping Behind a Waterfall
Today we will make the drive to the entrance point of the Cavern. This is around a 3 hour drive and the last part will be off-roading to the point where we park the vehicle and our hiking shoes will be ready to take on the rest. This is a strenuous hike but taking our time all will be fine. The views are spectacular of the Pacific coast line and the primary rainforest during most of the hike. We'll arrive to the cavern around lunch time and after lunch we'll be doing an adventurous rappel of a waterfall that measures 140ft high. After the rappel we will take you on a 10 minute hike to where we will sit at the top of the Diamante Waterfall. Here we'll watch the sunset over the Pacific from atop of one of Costa Rica's tallest waterfalls at 600ft. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 ------ Leave Cavern & Drive to Turrialba (Turrialtico)
River Lunch Pacuare
After breakfast behind a waterfall we will make another hike to the nearby pools where you'll be jumping off a 15ft waterfall into a beautiful pool below. This will be the morning activity and the afternoon will be back on the road traveling. We'll drive over Costa Rica's tallest mountain range reaching near 11,000ft in elevation, as we make our way to the next stop of Turrialba where you will have excellent views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 4 ------- Enter Pacuare (Camp Pacuare)
Pacuare Waterfall Break
Today we'll head back to the Jungle as we take you down the Pacuare River. This is a private rafting trip on what National Geographic has listed as one of their top five scenic rivers on the planet. The Pacuare in my opinion is the best adventure in all of Costa Rica and is a must see for those that want to experience the true scenery of an untouched rainforest. We will be starting our adventure in the morning and rafting for half a day. We'll stop and have a river lunch prepared by your CRR guides. Then it's back in the raft for another 40 minutes where we will arrive to camp and you will be sleeping in tents surrounded by rainforest. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Pacuare River
Day 5 ------- Leave Pacuare & Drive to Caribbean (Almonds & Corals)
Today is the day of rafting you will not forget. With the most scenic part of the river and the largest rapids you will be feeling excitement from start to finish. After we make our way down the river of three hours of non-stop action, we will drive to the famous ecolodge, Almonds and Corals. This is one of our favorite stops as it is a lodge filled with wildlife, surrounded by nature, and a nice mix of luxurious amenities. The Almonds and Corals Ecolodge is situated on the beach and is actually located in a wildlife refuge. You will wake up every morning at 6am as the sound of the ocean becomes muffled by the sound of howler monkeys and the rest of nature's morning music. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 6 ------- Nature Hike (Almonds & Corals)
Nature Hike
Today we'll have a great breakfast just steps away from the beach. Afterwards, we are going to take a nature hike to the nearby Manzanillo Beach. Here we'll see even more wildlife and learn about all the different creatures of Costa Rica. This is a great morning of education and fun and a chance to see wildlife and enjoy the beach. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 7 ------- Drive to Arenal (Casa Luna Lodge)
It's beach-time in the morning and then in the afternoon we'll drive to the Arenal Volcano. Our final destination will be the beautiful Casa Luna Lodge where each room has a great view of the Volcano which looks like it is arm-length away from your rooms. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 8 ------- Zipline (Casa Luna Lodge)
With over 70 different ziplines in the country this is by far the best you will find. The cables run almost 1km long and close to 700ft high and is one of Costa Rica's most exciting adventures. We will spend the morning zipping through the rainforest and a chance to enjoy the great views of the Volcano and nearby lake. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 9 ------- Hotsprings (Casa Luna Lodge)
Arenal Volcano View from HotSprings
Today is a day you can sleep-in and relax. There are plenty of activities in the area that can fill up the space but we will be making a visit to the hotsprings in the afternoon where you can spend time soaking in the thermal waters. You will all deserve to relax after such a great adventure! (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 10 ------ Fly Home!
Today we will make the drive to the San Jose airport which is 2 1/2 hours from the Arenal area. (Meals: Breakfast)
Today you will meet your drive and guide outside the San Jose airport (SJO) where you will make the short drive to the Grano de Oro Hotel. This is one of San Jose's finest hotels and you will get a short history lesson on what makes San Jose a great city which not too many people understand. (Meals: None)
Today we will leave after breakfast and make our way south to the tallest volcano in all of Costa Rica. You will get a view of the beautiful landscape of Costa Rica as we drive and hike to the top of the Irazu Volcano. Here you get a chance to look into the crater of the volcano. We'll then head down to the Turrialba area where you will be staying at Casa Turire Hotel with excellent views of nearby Turrialba Volcano. Casa Turire is one of our favorite hotels in all of Costa Rica. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
After breakfast at Casa Turire we'll drive to the Pejibaye River where your adventure will be running the river in a small raft for just two people. The second person in the duckie will be your guide, making it a perfect adventure for younger children as everyone gets a guide. The thrill of rafting down the Pejibaye keeps everyone wet and excited for all two hours on the river. After our river run we will stop at a local village where you'll enjoy an excellent Tico meal and a local dance performance in a rural mountain setting. In the evening you will have time to relax back at Casa Turire. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 4 ------ Enter Pacuare River (Pacuare Lodge)
Life is good in Pacuare
National Geographic has the Pacuare River listed as one of the top five scenic rivers on the planet and everyone we take down seems to agree. With our Costa Rican Resource River Operations you will enjoy a day on the upper part of the Pacuare River with your own private tour. Here we will get the chance to hike to different waterfalls and have a unique river lunch prepared for you right on the river. Our final destination will be the Pacuare Lodge which is one of the most picturesque settings you can imagine, here luxury meets the jungle. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
The second day of rafting on Pacuare is the best. Not only is the scenery breath-taking from start to finish but you also get to experience the larger rapids. Most months out of the year we can still run this section with little kids and can assure you safety is first and our guides are some of the finest you will find on Earth. Well, they did place 6th last year in the world rafting championship. Costa Rican Resource was a proud sponsor of the Costa Rican Team. After we make our way through this beautiful canyon, we will then drive to the Caribbean where you'll be staying in another luxurious setting surrounded by nature at Almonds & Corals Ecolodge. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
The clear blue water and white sand of the Caribbean is something you will not find on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. It is also the best area for snorkeling with 35 different species of coral and 500 different species of fish. We'll be walking right off the shore and snorkeling in some of Costa Rica's most biodiverse jungles but these just happen to be underwater. After we snorkel we can go to the nearby towns where you and the kids can do some trinket shopping for local crafts. A second option for this afternoon would be to rappel one of the nearby waterfalls. Your CRR guide can set you up for an amazing adventure of rappeling a 70 ft waterfall. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
Costa Rican Resource Sponsor of National Team of Rafting
If you are a fan of chocolate you will be a fan of today as we learn the secrets of the Cacao fruit and where it has come from and the process of making it to the sweet tasting candy we all know and love. This tour is done by the local indigenous tribe and very educational for everyone. After the chocolate tour we'll hit the beach where it will be time to take on some waves and enjoy a surf class with the locals. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 8 ------ Fly Home!
Today we drive back to the San Jose Airport and an afternoon flight would work best as it is a three hour drive from the Caribbean to San Jose (SJO)
Eating Termites on Nature Hike
Costa Rican Resource Call Today 1-855-CRR-TOUR info@crrtravel.com www.crrtours.com
Day 1 ------- Arrive and Drive to Pacific (Cuna del Angel)
Today your guide and driver will meet you outside the airport. This will be the same driver and guide you will have for the entire week. We take pride in our service and our personale and being a small company allows us to keep it that way. You will make the drive to the Pacific coast where you will stay at the beautiful Cuna del Angel which is a small boutique hotel with one of the best restaurants in the country. (Meals: None)
Day 2 ------- Surf Lessons or Deep Sea Fishing (Cuna del Angel)
Today you will get a chance to enjoy the warm waters of the Pacific. You will have the option to do a half day of fishing and then some surf lessons in the afternoon or you can just surf all day and enjoy the waves. If you are really in the mood for fishing then you can fish all day it is up to you. In the evening it is back to the hotel to relax and get ready for day 3's adventure. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 3 ------- Enter Cave & Rappel (Sleep Behind Waterfall)
One of the best adventures you will find in Costa Rica. Here we will make a hike to a very scenic area where you will be sleeping behind a waterfall. This is not roughing it as there are bathrooms, beds, and showers. It is like having the ultimate dream machine for the night. When we arrive we will get geared up and rappel down a 100 ft waterfall. After we rappel we will make the short hike to the top of Costa Rica's tallest waterfall where we will watch the sunset at Diamante falls. In the evening we can sit around the camp fire and listen to the sound of the rushing waterfalls. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ------- Leave Cave & Travel to Turrialba (Casa Turire)
Today we hike out of the waterfall and make the drive over Costa Rica's tallest mountain range. We will get to an elevation of 11,000ft and a chance to see the Pacific and Caribbean from the same spot. Our final destination will be the beautiful Casa Turire Hotel which will be quite the luxury after a night of sleeping behind the watefall (although many people miss the waterfall experience after leaving). We will arrive to Casa Turire Hotel and you can relax in the pool and hot-tub and enjoy a great meal. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 5 ------- Enter Pacuare River (Pacuare River Lodge)
National Geographic has this listed as one of the top rivers on the planet and the Pacuare River lives up to all the hype. We like it so much we tell our clients it is worth spending two days on the river. We will start our rafting adventure in the morning and your Costa Rican Resource river guides are some of the best in the country (which is why our members placed 9th in the world championship and was the selected team to represent Costa Rica: not bragging Mike we are just proud!). We will prepare lunch for you on the river and then make our way to the Pacuare River Logde. Here we can hike to a waterfall and you will have the chance to just relax in hammocks with breath-taking views of the Pacuare River. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Pacuare River Lodge
Day 6 ------- Leave River and Drive to Arenal (Casa Luna Lodge)
Waking up to the sound of the river is the best and coming out early in the morning and watching the rainforest come to life is an experience everyone should have. We will be in the lush virgin rainforest and we will enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then make our way down the famous Pacuare Canyon where you will have the chance to run some of the best rapids and enjoy the most scenic part of the river. After we get out of the river we will drive to the famous Arenal Volcano where you will have dinner waiting for you at the Casa Luna Lodge and rooms with excellent views of the Volcano. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 7 ------- Zipline & Hotsprings (Casa Luna Lodge)
Today you will be doing the zipline adventure and with over 77 different ziplines in the country this is by far our favorite. If your not up for the zipline you can enjoy the tram through the canopy. After the zipline it is time to just relax and soak in this amazing adventure. The evening activity will be the hotsprings where they say it takes 30 years off your appearance. I am actually 92 and I look like I am 30 and I give all the credit to the Hotsprings! You will also enjoy a 5-Star meal to end this trip at the hotpsrings. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Today because you get in at 7pm we will make the short drive to the Grano de Oro Hotel. You will be met outside the airport by your driver and guide who will be with you the entire trip. This will get you a good night's rest and the hotel is on the right side of San Jose to make the morning trip to the Caribbean. The Grano de Oro Hotel is a small boutique hotel and one of our favorites for arrivals and departures and no question our favorite in San Jose. (Meals: None)
Day 2 ------- Drive to Caribbean Coast (Almonds & Corals)
Today your driver and guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and get you on your way to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. You will be staying at Costa Rica's top ecolodge which is surrounded by rainforest and plenty of opportunity to take pictures of wildlife. The rooms are luxurious with a low impact on the environment. Some might call this extremely luxurious camping but most don't seem to mind the trade-offs of staying in an ecolodge and knowing you will see much more wildlife. We will arrive after lunch time and have the chance to enjoy the beach and take some walks around the lodge. In the evening dinner will be at the lodge and the food is excellent as you eat in a dining area surrounded by jungle with an occasional monkey making a visit. (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 3 ------- Snorkel & Nature Hike (Almonds & Corals)
The best snorkeling in the country is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. With over 35 different species of coral and March being the best time it makes for the perfect visit to this area. The day will be a short boat ride out to a remote island where you will snorkel and then have lunch on a point that jets out into the sea. After lunch you'll take a nature hike through the famous Cahuita National Park. This park is similar to the Manuel Antonio National Park but much less touristy. In the evening it is back to the Almonds & Corals to shower up and get ready for another great dinner. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ------- Travel to Tortuguero (Tortuguero Lodge)
Hola Alec!
Today we'll drive north and then take a boat ride through the canals. This area has been called the Venice of the rainforest and is a great chance to feel like your off the beaten path, headed deep into the jungle. When you arrive there are some nice lodges that will allow you a bit of luxury amist the wild jungle surroundings. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 ------- Wildlife Boat Float & Kayak in Canals (Tortuguero Lodge)
Tortuguero Canals
This is a full day of nature and mild adventure. First, you'll take an early morning boat ride through the canals with your naturalist guide as you search for wildlife. In the afternoon after lunch you can do the kayaks through some of the more narrow canals which is a nice little float and a chance to see some more animals close up and navigate you way through the canals with your guide. In the evening you'll take a night-hike on the beach where the Leatherback sea-turtles are nesting their eggs. This is a hit or miss type of excursion and sighting is not 100% guaranteed but well worth the chance as you venture out onto 22 miles of protected beachfront in one of the most important nesting sites in all of the Americas.
Day 6 ------- Fly to San Jose and Drive to MonteVerde (El Establo Monteverde Hotel)
Quetzal
The and most efficient way to get to our next stop, Monteverde, is to take a 30 minute flight to San Jose and then drive to Monteverde. This really will not be that bad a day of traveling. You can look at the flight as your first tour of the day as you will get a great view of the layout of the country which is only on average around 55 miles wide. Flying over the top offers amazing views. After you land in San Jose your guide will be met by your driver and take you to the Monteverde area where you will be staying in El Establo which has excellent views of the Pacific slopes and the cloudforest. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 7 ------- Visit Monteverde Reserve (El Establo Monteverde Hotel)
One of the places that made Costa Rica famous was the Monteverde cloudforest which was settled by the Quakers and later discovered by scientists and is now one of the most renown protected areas on the planet. This is a great place to see the famous Resplentant Quetzal bird along with many different species of humming birds. If you wanted to include a zipline tour today we could fit it in, no problem. Another option and interesting activity in the area are the night hikes where you get to learn that just as much is going on in the rainforest at night as there is going on during the day. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 8 ------- Travel to San Jose (Airport Hotel)
Today is a travel day to San Jose where you will be staying in an airport hotel or the same Grano de Oro would be a nice option and way to end the trip. (Meals: Breakfast)
When planning a family vacation it should not be the time when you build up so much stress in your life that you will feel you will need a vacation from your vacation. Here you can find some simple ideas for planning your vacation and some things you might not have thought about when visiting Costa Rica in comparing it to other parts of the world you might have visited.
Educate the Kids Before Arrival
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica you are not only visiting the beautiful beaches and fast ziplines but you are also visiting a biological playground where people from all over the world come to study and learn about the many wonders of our planet. It is a simple task to just break the ice with your kids and give them some basic info on the rainforest, biodiversity, volcanoes and many other wonders.
Tour Companies, Guides, & Hotels
First of all if you are planning a trip with young children, you know they will want to stay active. This is an easy task in Costa Rica as there is much to do for kids of all ages. If you decide to choose some of the many adventure sports don't be afraid to go with the smaller outfitters as they are often much more personalized which is important when traveling with small kids. One idea is to do some research online or ask for references from past clients. You can find out online these days pretty quickly if a company is reputable and what the guides are like.
When you are not enjoying an adventure many parents like to have their kids be able to watch TV for a few hours in the afternoon and many hotels in Costa Rica do not have TV and I have seen in many cases that parents were not aware of that. Don't worry this is not a bad thing and it might actually be a good thing. When looking at the hotel make sure that they have a guide on hand. This is very important and many hotels will often have a guide literally on-call where nature hikes and simple educational things for the kids are always an option. If you have hired a personal guide for your entire week which is highly suggested but is an extra expense, then they will always find something for the kids to do. If you're doing a privately guided tour, just confirm with the company you are booking with that you will have the same guide throughout your trip. Do not get caught with thinking you have a private guide but really it is just on certain days.
Also when looking at hotels do not go by the website. We highly suggest using Trip Advisor. Hotels sites are not always what they appear. Costa Rica is the process of subduction of two tectonic plates and not to sound scientific, but in simple terms that means there are often a lot of stairs and hotels are often built in the side of a cliff. This is important to know if you have a stroller or small kids you have to carry. You do not want to be stuck in a room 200 steps down from where you will eat dinner. Ask where the rooms are located.
Transportation and Drive Time
Costa Rica is a place that is small but very rugid to get around. Even with the new modern highways there are still a lot of mountains and you will always find a dirt road. There are often tourism vans that can be rented and many companies use them. They may provide more room but slower travel times. If you are a family of 4 or 5 you can ask your tour company to use a large SUV which cuts drive time down in half and handle very well on the dirt roads.
Also if you really want to get travel time down, then the in-country flights are very reputable and have a perfect safety record. These airlines are Sansa and Nature Air. If your group is up to 7 people then it makes sense to even charter you own flight and you can leave at the time you choose. Plus this is a great way to see this beautiful country from above.
Also when the kids are young the drives are always twice as long. This is very important if you do not want to do your own driving. Make sure you are aware of driving distances. Many companies will try and do everything in the week long trip but not fill you in on drive time. The trip looks absolutely amazing but when you add in half of it being on a curvy mountain road with no dramamine for the kids it turns into a vacation from hell. Costa Rica is small country but don't make the mistake of looking at a map or asking for distances because that information is irrelevant, it is important that you ask for "drive time". Many tours often include a stop on the way which makes great sense and really breaks up a travel day. Costa Rica has boomed with tourism and you can almost always find something on the way and if a company tells you there is nothing on the way that might be your first indication to look for a different company.
The Beach and the Mountains
When planning a family vacation, I can imagine most might want to go visit the beaches. Keep in mind that Costa Rica is known for its surfing waves. This can be a good thing but there are many beaches where the waves are too rough for kids to play around in. You want to do your research and make sure that the beach you visit is safe for the kids.
When visiting the mountains of Costa Rica there are a number of different places to stay but not always a lot to do for the kids. A good guide can make a walk in the woods really interesting & safe for children. The mountains of Costa Rica are some of the most bio-diverse places on the planet when dealing with plants and animals and they get all this bio-diversity because of the rain. Always when traveling in Costa Rica be prepared for rain and if you visit the mountains two nights is usually all you need because it can sometimes be cloudy both days.
Costa Rica is the perfect country for a family vacation being a fun and safe environment that all kids can enjoy. It is the small details to every vacation that are worth paying attention to and if you have any questions we are always ready give you free advice.
Day 1--- Arrive and Drive to Boriquen Resort (Boriquen Resort)
A Mud Bath & a Massage sounds nice... (Those are volcanoes)
Today we will pick you up from the Liberia airport. We will meet you outside and drive to Boriquen Resort. This is a great place a bit off the touristy path and from what we gather a place you will really enjoy. We will be in the northern part of the country. The Boriquen hotel is around 1:15 minutes from the airport. There are a number of volcanoes in the area and you will have views of all of them. The idea on this itinerary is to start north and head down to the Osa Peninsula visitng different areas. (Meals: None)
Saddle up it is time for a little horseback riding. A beautiful ride in a beautiful area we will take off on the horses. But dont worry if you get sore from the horses we have the mud bath set up for you and you will have the chance to take a natural mud-bath which will make you look 15 years younger and help with the pain from riding the horse. In the evenig you can enjoy a great meal at the Boriquen Resort. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Today we will drive to Hideaway. This place is great and is actually the sister hotel of Nayara Resort in
the Arenal area. Here you will not find the big erupting Arenal Volcano but you will find one of Costa Rica's most best kept secrets and that is Rio Celeste. Ok, it is not a huge secret people know it is there but you just dont see many people there because there is not much going on in the area. What you will be doing on day 4 makes it all worth it though. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 4 --------- Hike to Rio Celeste (Hideaway Resort)
Today we will make the hike to Rio Celeste. This is one of our favorite hikes. It is flat at most parts. We will take our time spending the morning hiking and visiting the different highlights of Rio Celeste. The waterfall is probably the top, and then where the two rivers combined is my second favorite, and then completely natural thermal waters. The amazing part about all this is that the river is sky-blue. It is caused by the nearby volcano and gives this river the most amazing colors even the waterfall is just like nothing you've ever seen. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 5 -------------------- Drive to Villa Blanca (Villa Blanca)
This could be you Peyton!!!
Today we will leave the north part of the country and make our way to the Central area but stop in the cloud-forest. We will be staying two nights in the Cloud-Forest. Also you will get to see plenty of Bromeliads! Well maybe not quite but one of the most peaceful places I've seen in this country is the Villa Blanca hotel. We will travel from the north and arrive to Villa Blanca just after lunch and enjoy the gardens and take some hikes to stretch the legs. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 6 ----- Zipline & Nature Hike (Villa Blanca)
Before we get started with the hikes we will go on the zipline. We will take a nature hike in the morning and maybe even one in the afternoon. This is a day that we plan on educating you on the cloud-forest. We also wanted to mention that in the evening there is only one place to eat and that is the hotel. It has some of the best food I have ever had in this country. (Meals: Breakfast)
Today we will drive to the San Jose airport which is just 1 hour away and then fly South to Corcovado. This is where the adventure begins. You will be arriving to Puerto Jimenez where you will then be transfered to Lapa Rios. The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado happen to be the most bio-diverse place on the planet and from the moment you arrive it is Scarlett Macaws, monkeys, and complete jungle all around. In my personal opinion when you first say Costa Rica and tropical jungle I think Corcovado is what people really imagine. It is such a special place. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 8 -------------------- Day at Lapa Rios (Lapa Rios)
Time to Relax
Full day at Lapa Rios. You will see more Scarlett Macaws today because they are everywhere. We will be doing some more site seeing of nature. Along with visiting nature we will take the kayaks out into the ocean and do some ocean kayaks. In the evening you will just have time to relax and soak it all in. You want to stay active here to see many different things but you must have some just sit still time also. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 9 -------------------- Relax (Lapa Rios)
Well if you have not had time to finish the book you are reading this is now your chance. This will be a full day of relax and plenty of optional nature tours in the area. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 10 ------------------ Fly Home!
We will be taking a flight to the San Jose International airport.
Day 1 ----- Arrive & Drive to Casa Belmar (Casa Belmar)
Today we will meet you outside the airport. If you arrive on an early flight we will have time for an option tour or we will just head to Casa Belmar.
This is a great place that is the perfect size for 5 people. It has 5 bedrooms all with private baths and an infinite pool out overlooking the Pacific. It is just 2 minutes from the beach and surrounded by wildlife. (Meals: None)
Day 2 -----Raft the Savegre River (Casa Belmar)
Rated by National Geographic as one of the top 5 rivers on the planet we will make the day trip to the Pacuare River. We operate our trip privately and you will not be on a large commercial raft trip. We will be at your pace, private transportation, and private raft. This is a full day trip with 3 hours on the river on class III & IV rapids. We will be back at the hotel before dinner and time to relax by the pool and get some rest before the rest of the week's adventures. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
We can take Duckies if you like!
Day 3 ---- Visit Parque Ballena & Sea-Kayak (Casa Belmar)
Today we will visit one of the National Parks known as Parque Ballena. This is a beautiful spot to sea-kayak. We will also have snorkeling gear where you can do some snorkeling around the famous whale-tail. (Meals: Breakfast)
Today you will have breakfast cooked for you in the house so you won't have to worry about getting breakfast done. After breakfast we will head south and do one of Costa Rica's best ziplines. Not only do you have amazing views of the Pacific but you also have a Tarzan swing which is unmatched by any other swing you can imagine. You don't think of a swing as an adrenaline rush but this is right up there with Bungee. With a view over 1,000ft high, this is a must do in the area and one of the most scenice places on the Pacific. The afternoon can be spent on the beach or at the pool. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 5 ----- Rappel Nauyaca Falls & Horseback Ride Out Adventure(Casa Belmar)
We will go off roading for a bit today and come across one of Costa Rica's most scenic waterfalls. This is the Nauyaca Falls and it is a rappel of over 150ft. If the adrenaline is not pumping for the last 3 days then walking over the edge of a waterfall usually does the trick. If I had to pick Costa Rica's most beautiful waterfall this without question would be it. It measures 300ft and is a double decker. We will rappel the top part and then hike down to the bottom and enjoy the swimhole. We then make our way to the top of the falls where you will have lunch prepared for you. (Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
Today we will make the 30 minute drive to the National Park of Manuel Antonio. This is a beautiful area and you will get to see plenty of wildlife. We will make an entire day of this. It is a great hike where the rainforest meets the ocean. We will make a day of this and enjoy lunch at one of the many places to eat in the area. (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 7 ---- Visit Poas Volcano (San Jose Hotel)
Today we will say good-bye to the beautiful pacific coast of Costa Rica and make our way back to the Central Valley. We will visit one of the Central Volcanic Ranges most well known Volcanos and have a chance to look down into the crater. (Meals: Breakfast)
Poas Volcano Crater
Day 8 ---- Drive to (SJO) Airport and Fly Home!!!
Includes: All private transportation with driver/guide, all meals listed, all lodging hotel & house rental, and all tours and adventures.
Day 1, Feb 18th ------- Arrive and Stay at Grano de Oro Hotel (Grano de Oro)
Today we will meet you outside the airport and take you to your hotel Grano de Oro. This was a great option to get into town get some rest and exprience one of the finest hotels in the area. (Meals: None)
We will take our time driving to the Arenal area today making some stops along the way. We like to make driving and travel days a tour in itself. There is so much culture and experience that can be taken in just from making some little stops at local places if your up for it. When it comes to places to stay this is one of the nicest hotels around. It has been open for two years and I absolutely love sending people here. It is small and has amazing views. When sending people to this place I just tell them to look at tripadvisor it has like 900 million reviews and they are all excellent so there is probably a pretty good chance you will like it. It has the best views of the Arenal Volcano.
(Meals included: None)
Day 3, Feb 20th----- Balsa River Rafting & Ecocenter Danaus (Nayara Hotel)
Let’s take the kids rafting. The kids are young and it’s about that time we splashed some white water on them. This is a perfect river nearby for their level of rafting and I know they will love it. We will have time in the afternoon to stop by a locally run private reserve which we can make very educational for the kids giving them a close look at some animals. We won’t bore them but a lot of kids to get excited and it’s a great way to get involved a little with the local community and off the tourist path.
(Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 4, Feb 21st ---- Travel to Monteverde (El Establo)
Today we will make our way to MonteVerde where we will take you on an adventure. Today we will do the hanging bridges at Selvatura along with the canopy tour. We will plan on leaving early in the morning to get you to the
Today we will visit one of the most majestic areas on the planet. This is the Monteverde Cloudforest and your naturalist guide will make it an fun hike and very interesting. This is one of the places that has made Costa Rica famous and they have done an amazing job protecting it. Just being in the area of Monteverde is an incredible experience and you truly are surrounded by nature and a feeling of tranquility from the moment you arrive. The area has many little things for the kids, like frog and spider exihibits if the kids wanted to spend the afternoon after the Reserve visiting these places. We are also including the coffee tour as requested. If you wanted to stay fully active this day we can also do a night hike. It would depend on how the little ones feel but a great hike and lots of critters! From our experience you see a bit more here than at the hotel.
(Meals included: Breakfast)
Day 6, Feb 23rd --------Drive to Manuel Antonio (Arenas del Mar)
Today you will head south and make your way to Manuel Antonio which in my opinion is Costa Rica’s finest beach. I will say it was suggested by you, Lisa, which I have to give you credit for. We can also do the night hike here if your up for it just thought I would mention the Monteverde. The hotel I have you staying in is one of my favorites because it has the best view and you don’t feel like you are in the touristy area of Manuel Antonio. It also has lots of monkeys which is a huge plus for the kids. Take a look at a hike with the CRR Guides.
(Meals: Breakfast)
Day 7, Feb 24th - --------- Tour Manual Antonio National Park (Arenas del Mar)
Today you will visit the National Park of Manuel Antonio. This is a beautiful park and home to the rainforest meeting the beach. Your naturalist guide will be able to describe to you the difference between the reserve you saw in the Arenal area, the Monteverde Cloudforest, and the rainforest at Manuel Antonio keeping it interesting and most importantly fun for the kids with all the animals in and around the park.
(Meals: Breakfast)
Day 8, Feb 25th -------------- Beach Day & hike to Biesanz (Arenas del Mar)
Well this is the official R&R day but first we will get you on the spice tour as requested. You will love this tour as the Spices are incredible and a great place to buy souvenirs. They do an excellent job of operating this tour. After the tour if the kids want to rent some surf boards or boogie boards the waves in the area are often pretty soft. This is your day to relax and enjoy the sun.
(Meals: Breakfast)
Day 9, Feb 26th ------------ Drive to Central Valley and Fly Home!!!
Make the drive to the airport, say your good-byes, and start planning the trip for the class IV rapids of thePacuare River for when the kids are a little bigger and our rappeling down the waterfall and sleeping behind a cave adventure (Well your kids sound pretty adventurous for their age they might be ready if you just want to delay the flight a few days?).
(Meals: Breakfast)
Total Price: $7,825
Package Includes: Private transportation with bilingual guide, all lodging, tours, adventures and meals listed.
Private Transportation: if and when you want to go out to eat you just let us know and we pick you up at the hotel and drop you off, wait for you, and return you to the hotel when you finish your meal.
