Making Memories Costa Rica Family Holiday

Welcome to San Jose, Costa Rica! Reception at the Juan Santamaria International Airport and transfer to your hotel in San Jose. The capital city of San Jose, considered to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Latin America, is located in the middle of the Central Valley in the center of the country. The city features popular tourist attractions, such as historical buildings, museums, theaters, artisan markets, beautiful parks, shopping centers, and a varied gastronomic scene. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Today you will travel from San Jose by ground transfer, crossing the immense Braulio Carrillo National Park, to reach Guapiles. There you will enjoy a delicious typical breakfast. Afterward, you will continue driving past banana and pineapple plantations until you reach the pier where you will board your boat to Tortuguero. The boat ride along rivers and canals takes approximately an hour and a half to arrive at your lodge. You will be just in time for lunch! In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided visit to the picturesque town of Tortuguero. Dinner is included at the lodge. Accommodation is in the lodge of your choice.

Breakfast in the lodge. This morning you will walk along the lodge’s private trails with a naturalist guide, and then have free time to enjoy the facilities before lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on a boat tour through the canals of the Tortuguero National Park. Called Costa Rica’s “little Amazon”, Tortuguero National Park is one of the country’s wilderness areas with the greatest biological biodiversity. The canals are surrounded by lush tropical forest filled with abundant wildlife, and the beaches are famous for being the habitat of seven species of sea turtles. We highly recommend the nocturnal turtle nesting excursion (extra cost applies). Dinner is included at the lodge. Accommodation is in the lodge of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Mid-morning you will depart by boat back to the main dock and then travel by ground transportation to Guápiles, where you will have lunch. Afterward, you will receive your 4x4 rental car, or continue by private transfer to the Arenal Volcano in the Northern Plains region. Majestic in its grand stature, the volcano is one of the country’s natural wonders. Along your journey to the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the volcano, you will see agricultural plantations, large ornamental plant nurseries, and cattle farms. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. You will visit a local farm in the morning where they grow organic crops and follow environmentally-friendly practices. You will learn about the importance of preserving Costa Rican rural culture and traditions and the main crops that have strengthened its economy. Then, you will enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch. In the afternoon, you will hike trails in the Arenal Volcano National Park. You will see how the forest vegetation and terrain have been affected by volcanic activity, including old lava flows. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Monteverde. Encompassing rainforest, cloud forest, and spectacular biodiversity, Monteverde has one of the rarest and most unique habitats on the planet, not to mention an astonishing variety of flora and fauna. You will experience beautiful landscapes during your journey and will see how locals live when passing typical small villages. At dusk, you will depart from the hotel for the Night Walk tour. At night, many species emerge that you do not usually see during the day, offering a unique show in the forest. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Get ready for a day of adventure to experience the cloud forest at all levels. First, you’ll go on a zip line tour, crossing the forest canopy while suspended on cables using specialized mountaineering equipment. It’s an incredible experience, comparable to flying through the forest. Next, you will walk trails (3 km) that include eight hanging bridges. From this perspective, you can appreciate a wide variety of flora and fauna. You will have lunch in the park. Afterward, you will visit the butterfly garden that houses more than 30 different species, and a hummingbird garden with more than 14 species. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you will travel to the warm coast of the Central Pacific. If your choice is Manuel Antonio, you will enjoy being next to one of Costa Rica’s favorite national parks. Manuel Antonio is one of the smallest parks yet is the most visited for its beautiful beaches between coastal foothills, lush forest, and abundant wildlife. If Punta Leona is your choice, you will enjoy a fascinating place for nature and bird-watching, with beautiful beaches and calm coves perfect for swimming. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. If you are in Manuel Antonio, today you will visit the Manuel Antonio National Park. In addition to several hiking trails, there are beautiful beaches, picturesque viewpoints, and a high probability of seeing animals, especially the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, sloths, coatis, and raccoons. If you are in Punta Leona, you will take a boat excursion in the Guacalillo Estuary and the Tarcoles River, where you can see many crocodiles and experience the mangroves. The area is home to a high percentage of biodiversity and water birds. It is also one of the primary conservation areas for Scarlet Macaws. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you have free to enjoy your hotel’s facilities and the spectacular beaches. Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you depart to the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose. If you have a rental car, you will need to return it to the agency before your flight. If you are traveling by shared transfer, and your flight leaves before 16:00, you will require a private transfer for an additional amount. Happy return trip! We hope to have you visit us again. END OF SERVICES.