Costa Rica Family Nature & Wildlife Tour
9 Days and 8 Nights
This Family Adventure strikes the perfect balance of thrill and chill. Enjoy eight blissful days in Costa Rica – a paradise of volcanoes, activities and amazing beach.
After your first night in San José, travel to the Central Mountain Range and visit the authentic Costa Rican Sarapiqui region and enjoy a jungle safari and chocolate tour.
Then continue to Arenal, a steaming volcano whose steep dark conical slopes rise out of vast rainforests. Stay two nights in the Arenal Volcano area enjoying local rainforest hikes, a visit to a farming family farm, a sloth tour, and a Zip Line Canopy Tour through lush rainforest!
Then, travel to laid-back Playa Carrillo to immerse yourself in sun and sea. Depending on the tides, you will enjoy the coral reef via kayak, snorkel or stand up paddle board. We’ve included free time to soak up the sun or read in the shade with an ocean breeze – whatever your pleasure for that pura vida feeling.
Highlights
- Floating tour down Sarapiqui river with excellent chances to spot animals
- Energizing waterfalls
- Enjoy the sweetest rainforest experience, discovering the ancient secrets of chocolate!
- Look for sloths in the wild!
- Zipping in the rainforest canopy treetops
- Stand up paddle boarding and sea kayaking in Chora Island
Itinerary
SAN JOSÉ
Arrival at the Juan Santamaria International Airport.
As you exit the airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Your driver will provide you with the travel information for your services and review them with you at this time.
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
- Arrival transfer
INCLUDED
- Arrival transportation
- 1 night’s accommodation at Park Inn Hotel. Standard room (Breakfast Included)
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUÍ
Travel to Sarapiquí region
After breakfast, a private transfer is provided to Sarapiquí region. (approximate 2 hour transfer)
Stop en route for a visit to the Pierella Ecological Garden, for a guided tour and some cultural photography opportunities. Delicious traditional lunch included . Continue your trip to the hotel.
- Dinner included at the hotel.
EXPERT TIPS
- Bring: comfortable clothing, hiking shoes, camera, binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen and rain gear.
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Entrance fee to Ecological garden
- Lunch and dinner
- 2 nights’ accommodation at Ara Ambigua hotel. Standard room (Breakfast included)
- 8 days with a private, bilingual guide.
- Transportation with driver.
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUÍ
Sarapiquí Jungle Safari tour and Chocolate tour
After breakfast, enjoy the Sarapiquí Jungle Safari tour. This tour follows the Sarapiquí River as it descends from the central mountains into the Caribbean lowlands passing through lush rainforests and farmlands. An adventure for the experienced paddler! Stop for lunch a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit the Costa Rica Best Chocolate tour. It is an educational and enjoyable activity, for all ages. Explore two acres of cacao plantation, learn all about the cacao plant, flowers and pollination, and then to the Cacao Rancho.
Dinner included at the hotel
EXPERT TIPS
- Recommended: Shorts, tennis shoes or rubber sole sandals, t-shirt and bathing suit and camera!
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Entrance fee to safari tour, equipment and local bilingual guides
- Entrance fee to chocolate tour
- Lunch and dinner
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
Travel to Arenal Volcano, Fortuna Waterfall and hot springs
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Arenal volcano. (approximately 2 hour transfer) Stop en route to hike to La Fortuna Waterfall. Located just 3 miles outside the town of La Fortuna, the 200-foot tall waterfall receives its cool clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal Volcano National Park.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Arenal Vida Campesina local organic farm. Experience life in the Costa Rican countryside with a farming family that grow typical crops and are practicing newer sustainable agricultural techniques.
Continue your day visiting the Ecotermales Hot Springs. This is a family-run hot spring resort features volcanically heated pools ranging in temperatures. To assure personal service, several family members attend to the needs of visiting guests.
Dinner is included at the hot springs and features typical cuisine of Costa Rican country cooking.
EXPERT TIPS
- Bring: hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, poncho or umbrella, binoculars and camera.
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Entrance fee to the waterfall
- Entrance fee to hot springs
- Lunch and dinner
- 2 nights’ accommodations at Arenal Springs Resort. Junior Suite room (Breakfast included)
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
Combination Sky Tram and Sky Trek Zipline Canopy and Sloth tour
After breakfast, prepare for adventure and enjoy the combination Sky Tram and Sky Trek Zipline Canopy Tour.
The Sky Tram is a 20 minute gondola ride up the mountain which includes a stop on an observation platform where you can admire incredible views of Arenal Lake, and the mountains covered by rainforests. The Sky Trek is a 3,280 foot long zip line system that gives you an exhilarating ride back down the mountain through the rain forest.
Stop for lunch (included) at a typical restaurant en route.
In the afternoon enjoy the Sloths Tour. This tour will bring you up close and personal with some of Costa Rica’s most adorable, furry critters, as they simply hang out among the treetops near the Arenal Volcano.
The sloth is one of our most-endearing icons here in the rainforests of Costa Rica and this tour has been developed for nature enthusiasts who would like to take an easy going drive around the picturesque Arenal Volcano area as your eagle-eyed, professional, bilingual guide finds the favorite hiding places of the 2-toed, and 3- toed sloth
EXPERT TIPS
- Bring: hiking shoes, comfortable clothes, jacket, insect repellent and sunscreen.
ARENAL SKY TRAM AND SKY TREK ZIPLINE CANOPY
Enjoy the combination Sky Tram and Sky Trek Zipline Canopy Tour. The Sky Tram is a 20 minutes gondola ride up the mountain which includes a stop on an observation platform where you can admire incredible views of Arenal Lake, mountains covered by rainforests. The Sky Trek is a 3,280 foot long zip line system that gives you an exhilarating ride back down the mountain through the rain forest.
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Arenal Sky Tram and Sky Trek Zipline Canopy
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Entrance fee to the zipline, equipment and local guides included
- Entrance fee to Sloth sanctuary
- Lunch and dinner
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
PUERTO CARRILLO
Travel to Carrillo beach, North Pacific coast.
After breakfast, depart to Carrillo beach, Guanacaste area. (Approximate 4 hours driving)
Stop for lunch (included) at a typical restaurant en route.
Afternoon at leisure
Dinner at the hotel
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Lunch and dinner
- 3 nights’ accommodations at Nammbú hotel. Deluxe room ( Breakfast included)
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
PUERTO CARRILLO
Ocean Kayak and Snorkel to Isla Chora Tour.
After breakfast, set off for the Ocean Kayak and Snorkel to Isla Chora Tour. Just off Samara’s coast lies Chora Island a heaven of white sand beach and aquamarine water. This kayak and snorkel tour allows you to easily paddle to Chora Island, where you can dive in the water, snorkel, and experience Costa Rica’s rich sea life.
Stop en route for lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon at leisure.
Dinner on your own
OCEAN KAYAK AND SNORKEL TO ISLA CHORA TOUR
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Ocean Kayak and Snorkel to Isla Chora Tour
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
- Equipment and local guides.
- Lunch.
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
PUERTO CARRILLO
Sea Stand Up Paddle tour
After breakfast, continue the adventure and try the Sea Stand Up Paddle tour – a perfect outing for the whole family as it is designed for all ages and abilities.
The amazing views from the open waters of Playa Samaras beautiful bay will make you wonder why you haven’t tried SUP earlier. The beaches of Samara and Carrillo have some of the most tranquil waves in Costa Rica.
STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING -SAMARA
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Stand Up Paddle boarding -Samara
INCLUDED
- Local guides and equipment tour included
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
END OF ITINERARY
Departure transfer to the Liberia International Airport.
After breakfast, Early Departure transfer to the Liberia International Airport. Approx. 2 hours driving. Check in 3 hours prior to the scheduled flight time. (B)
INCLUDED
- Transportation and guide services.
EXCLUDED
- Incidentals like: laundry, phone calls, alcoholic drinks, spa services, tours, meals not specified on the itinerary.
