Travel to Costa Rica: Costa Rica Active Family Adventure

This action-packed Costa Rica family adventure is designed for families with children 9 and up to explore the diverse habitats,  exotic wildlife and fun-loving culture of Costa Rica. Our expert Costa Rica guides share their skills and passion with you hiking in the rainforest, rappelling down waterfalls, walking on canopy bridges, and riding a sky tram through the forest. We'll taste traditional meals from Costa Rican families, learn to milk a cow, harvest tropical fruits, or mill sugar cane and savor its sweet juice. Our Costa Rica family tour concludes on the stunning beaches of Manuel Antonio where we hike in the rain forest, kayak, and swim in the shimmering turquoise water. Travel in Costa Rica will bring out the Pura Vida in you, a local saying that literally means Pure Life, Full of Life, Going Great, or This is Living!

DAY 1 :  SAN JOSE - COSTA RICA

We begin our multisport Costa Rica adventure with a warm Tico welcome after passing through customs. Transfer and overnight at Hotel Bougainvillea or similar.

	Bingle is laid back on this Costa Rica adventure rappelling down a waterfall!

DAY 2 :  ARENAL DON JUAN BAUTISTA'S FARM, WATERFALLS AND HOTSPRINGS

After a welcome orientation breakfast to meet our guide we board our private vehicle for the journey overland through scenic mountains and rich agricultural land. Stop to visit Sarchi, a quaint artisan town well known for its charming hand-painted carretas (oxcarts).  

At El Bosque, a small town near the Arenal Volcano we visit Don Juan Bautista, a local farmer who loves to teach visitors about tropical farming, native and introduced plants, including their medicinal uses. He is especially proud of his bio-digester methane gas production system that uses cow manure as a fuel source to produce methane gas for cooking! Well have fun with a tortilla making challenge while lunch is prepared by Don Juan's wife, Yamileth, using our freshly picked produce.

Further into the Central Highlands we hike through a lush rainforest canyon for a refreshing swim under La Fortuna waterfall. We continue on to La Fortuna Hotsprings, a piece of paradise owned by Dona Mireya and her family. Overnight at Hotel Montana de Fuego, Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar.   [BLD]

Louis decides to mountain biking back home after riding with his Costa Rica guide Moises.

DAY 3 :  ARENAL SKYTRAM/ZIP-LINE AND MOUNTAIN BIKING

Prepare for an exciting day of adventure as we board the Sky Tram gondolas for a ride upward through the forest to the highest point of Arenal Reserve to begin the Sky Trek, one of the most exhilarating zip-line canopy tours in Costa Rica. The system includes 8 cross-sectional cables with a total length of 1.75 miles and 66-660 feet above the ground. We will recount our experiences on the zip line over a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in La Fortuna.

In the afternoon we cycle along a road connecting Arenal Dam with the main entrance to Arenal Volcano National Park.  From there we head toward the village of El Castillo, biking on a quiet lane surrounded by dense forest and cattle farms. Along the ride there are excellent opportunities to see howler monkeys, coatis, and birds such as toucans, egrets and king fishers.  Well stop to rest and enjoy some snacks.  The volcano is visible during the ride and you can usually hear its thundering activity on our scenic 16 miles ride. (bikes, helmets, van and guide assistance provided throughout the biking tour).  Overnight at Hotel Montana de Fuego, Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar. [BLD]

	Aunt flies through the jungle on her family vacation to Costa Rica!

DAY 4 :  ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES AND CANYONEERING

We continue our Costa Rica adventure exploring the rain forest canopy with our guide on a series of hanging bridges winding through the old growth forest surrounding the Arenal Volcano. Keep your binoculars and camera handy as our guide shows us an abundance of wildlife, including up to 250 species of birds and animals including the White hawk, Great curassow, Rufous motmot as well as howler monkeys, coatimundis, sloth and White-collared peccary. 

Children and adults will be thrilled with our next adventure! Prepare to get wet this afternoon while we rappel down a mystical jungle canyon filled with tropical waterfalls. We are assisted by a team of experienced guides using safety equipment before setting off down a series of stunning waterfalls that get bigger and Bigger and BIGGER; the grand finale is a 210 ft, 3-stage waterfall! We highly recommend disposable water-proof cameras for this trip.

Return to our hotel to rest and relax pool side or take a short hike with our guide.  Overnight at Hotel Montana de Fuego, Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar.  [BLD]

Travel in Costa Rica by outrigger canoe along the tropical coastline.

DAY 5 :  TO MANUEL ANTONIO OUTRIGGER KAYAKING

Let's pack up our belongings and head to the beach!   En route we stop to view the huge American Crocodiles basking in the sun at the Tarcoles River bridge.   Later join a fun and unique outrigger kayak excursion on stable eight-person boats that have been used for centuries for exploration and ocean-going transport.  We glide beneath sea cliffs filled with pelicans and frigate birds. Weather permitting, we relax at a secluded beach where we enjoy a picnic lunch and some of the best snorkeling on the central coast. For those interested, personal and double kayaks are also available (available on request them in advance).

Arrive late afternoon at Manuel Antonio and our family friendly Costa Rica hotel.  Overnight at Hotel El Parador, Villas Si Como No, Tulemar Bungalows or similar. [BL] 

	The McNeils hike into a waterfall on their Costa Rica rainforest tour.

DAY 6 :  MANUEL ANTONIO CAMPESINOS RESERVE HIKE

Grab your hiking shoes and daypack for the short drive to the town of Londres. After enjoying fresh fruits and coffee at Vikis Restaurant we depart for the 4 mile hike to the Campesinos Private Reserve. The hike begins at an old farm road passing creeks and waterfalls and offering beautiful views and great opportunities for wildlife and bird watching.

Our hike ends at The Campesinos Reserve, located on a beautiful mountain range that is part of the community of Quebrada Arroyo, managed by Don Miguel Mora, his brother Visa and his wife Dona Juanita.  These three local Costa Ricans love to share their experience and knowledge of Tico traditions, great food and the rain forest.

A highlight of the Reserve is the system of suspension bridges over a deep river gorge. After lunch, a 1.5 mile hike takes us to the Savegre River where, with the help of the local guides we use a traditional manual tram (metal tram suspended by ropes) to get across the River. After the tram and river crossing we return to Manuel Antonio.  Overnight at Hotel El Parador, Villas Si Como No, Tulemar Bungalows or similar. [BL]

The Alfieri and Briggs friend families pose at Arenal Volcano on their Wildland Adventures family trip to Costa Rica.

DAY 7 :  MANUEL ANTONIO PARK AND BEACHES - MONKEY SEARCH AT THE PARK AND FUN TIME AT THE BEACH!

Pack your water bottle, sunscreen, and binoculars for an exciting Costa Rica eco tour exploring Manuel Antonio National Park. The small, but biologically diverse rain forest reserve is composed of three long strands of magnificent white sand beach bordered by a vine draped jungle filled with wildlife. Be on the lookout for a slow moving sloth perched in a tree. A rustle in the branches above probably means there are Howler, White-faced capuchin and Spider monkeys looking down at you. A sharp eye may catch the Central American Squirrel monkey, locally called the mono titi, found in very few parks around the country. 

After a goodbye lunch, your Costa Rica tour guide will bid you farewell.  The rest of the day is free to enjoy the beaches, try standing up on a surf board, hop in a kayak and explore the Pacific coastline, mount a horse for an afternoon ride at a local reserve or just relax poolside and catch a tan (additional activities not included).   

Note:  Those who wish to extend their stay at Manuel Antonio are welcome to add additional nights (subject to space availability); there are no additional charges to change your departure flight back to San Jose to a different date.  Other additional extensions are available upon request.  Overnight at Hotel El Parador, Villas Si Como No, Tulemar Bungalows or similar. [BL]

DAY 8 :  QUEPOS, MANUEL ANTONIO - DEPARTURE

Its time to say goodbye to our new friends. A short transfer will take us to the Quepos airstrip where we board a twin engine charter flight (25 minutes) direct to the San Jose International airport. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to the terminal.  [B] 

Note:  In order to connect the local flight with your international flight back home you need to depart no earlier than 10:00 a.m. from the San Jose Juan Santamaria International airport (SJO).

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Grettel Calderon 1(800)345-4453