Costa Rica Family Holiday for Curious & Adventurous Families
Having lived in Latin America for over 12 years we love recommending Latin American countries for Family Holidays. We love Costa Rica and think it is a top family holiday destination. It has so much to offer families within a fairly small and easily accessible country. Let us take you on a Costa Rica family vacation full of wildlife, rainforests, beaches, nature and culture!
DAY 1: Arrive in Costa Rica
We will meet you at San Jose Airport and transfer you to your hotel of choice. We can help you pick the perfect family hotel for your stay. Suggestions for your San Jose family hotel stay include:
If you have longer to spend in Costa Rica why not spend a couple of extra nights at these great hotels and enjoy some day trips in this area? Tour ideas include Coffee Farm visits, community engagement, Poas Volcano National Park, Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Birdwatching Tours, and Zip Line adventures.
If you are spending more time in the San Jose area we can also recommend one of our favourite Costa Rica Lodges: El Silencio Lodge
Day 2: Transfer to Tortuguero on the Caribbean Coast
At Curious Travel we like to transfer you into Tortuguero National Park by land so that you can experience the scenic boat ride and arrive at your riverside lodge whilst trying to spot local wildlife. We then recommend flying out so that you get an amazing ariel view of the coastline, dense rainforest and unique waterways of this beautiful area. As well as exploring Tortuguero’s waterways to see wildlife we also recommend visiting the local community and learning about how important the coconut has been to coastal communities like Tortuguero.
Tortuguero
Tucked along Costa Rica's northeastern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park was established in 1975 to protect endangered sea turtles. Green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback turtles nest on the beaches from March through October, with the peak green turtle nesting season in August and September. Accessible only by boat or air, the remote park covers approximately 770 sq. km/300 sq. mi with rainforests, mangrove swamps, beaches, and lagoons. Tortuguero's rivers are home to elusive manatees as well as caimans, and crocodiles. Forests hide jaguars, three-toed sloths, lizards, and three of Costa Rica's four monkey species. Its more than 300 bird species include kingfishers, toucans, herons, and parrots. Although this is the third-most visited park in the country, services are limited. Nature lodges, typically accessible by boat via a series of canals, are designed to minimize their impact on the environment.
Explore Tortuguero Town
Nestled along the vibrant Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica Tortuguero Town is a small village with a laid-back tropical atmosphere. Its strong Afro-Caribbean influence gives the zone a unique identity. Here there are no cars and nature is literally in the town´s spotlight. You will leave from the lodge riding a small boat towards the village. Once there you'll walk around the town´s sandy trails and raised cement walkways as you discover the architecture, the colourful artwork on the homes, and get a glimpse into the lives of the locals. On this tour you will also visit the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, an organization devoted to sea turtles. Here you will learn more about all things turtle-related. As this town is quite small, you are not likely to get lost, so there will be some leisure time for you to explore the village. Feel free to buy something at the gift shops or visit the other wildlife attractions in town. Tortuguero offers a varied range of activities, on one side of the village you get to admire rivers and waterways. On the other side, you have a pristine beach that welcomes thousands of sea turtles to nest every year!
Family Hotel and Lodge Suggestions for Tortuguero include:
Day 3: Wildlife Spotting on Tortuguero Waterways plus Coconut History and Cooking Class
Boat Trip to Tortuguero Canals
Situated on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the Tortuguero Canals host incredible biodiversity. On this tour, you will ride along the peaceful canals for about two hours. As you open your way into the river you will have the opportunity to get in touch with all the wildlife and the exotic plants that make this a lush exotic area. This thriving ecosystem is the habitat of sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans, crocodiles among other species of animals. The verdant jungle gives shelter to jaguars, three-toed sloths, and three of Costa Rica's four species of monkeys, the Spider Monkey, the Mantled Howler, and the White-headed Capuchin. Travelling through the canals is an interesting and wonderful experience as you will discover turtles, Basilisk lizards and more than 370 species of birds, including kingfishers, toucans, blue herons, and parrots.
Coconut History and Cooking Class
in the afternoon visit Tortuguero Community and take part in a wonderfully interactive tour where you learn all about the importance of the simple coconut to coastal communities and then learn how to make some tasty coconut treats!
Day 4: Fly Over Tortuguero National Park and Transfer to Arenal Volcano
Arenal / Fortuna
For approximately 40 years, Arenal erupted near-daily, making it Costa Rica's most active volcano. It has been dormant since 2010, but the area around it and the nearby town of La Fortuna still buzzes with activity. Adventurous travellers set out for this region of northern Costa Rica to hike stunning rainforests with hanging bridges, swim in sky-blue waterfalls, and explore fascinating caves. They raft river rapids, horseback rides, zip-line through the jungle, and relax in natural hot springs.
Luxury and Family Hotels in Arenal area that we suggest:
Day 5: Explore the Rainforest with Arenal Volcano Views
Sky tram/ Sky Trek/ Sky Walk
This tour combines three exciting activities: a tram ride, walking along suspension bridges, and zip-lining. With this combo, you will experience the beauty of the lush cloud forest; its beautiful scenes and bountiful nature. It all starts with the Sky Walk and the unique opportunity to enjoy the peacefulness of the forest. As you stroll through the verdant thicket you will come in close contact with the prosperous habitat that defines the area. The trails lead through primary rainforests, including several suspension bridges that span across canyons. There are also observation platforms that let you admire magnificent vistas of the canopy. Along the way, you will encounter striking waterfalls. You will discover nature from a different point of view with the insight from a professional naturalist guide. Next up is the Sky Tram! At this point, you will fly over the towering trees aboard an open-air gondola. The ride is easy and quiet providing an eagle-eye view of the treetops, perfect for animal spotting. You will finally arrive at an observation platform, from where you can contemplate the jungle from above. On a clear day, it is also possible to see the northern lowlands that extend all the way to the Caribbean. At this point, you will get ready and geared up for the adrenaline-fueled canopy zip line journey. After receiving the proper equipment and riding/safety tips from your guides, you are set to go. You will ride 9 zip line cables that stretch across canyons and in-between the canopy. As you slide through the jungle you will have the most impressive panoramic views of this verdant and exotic setting.
Day 6: Transfer to the Beach for Beach Relaxation and Coastal Adventures
There are so many excellent beach options for a family holiday in Costa Rica. You can relax on the beach or take part in a variety of activities and experiences such as horseback riding, sea kayaking, surfing and sportfishing. Depending on the hotel and area there are often additional wildlife and nature tours. Please contact us for help in selecting the perfect family beach hotel for your holiday in Costa Rica.
We can also help you pick between different Costa Rica beach locations such as the Papagayo area, Manuel Antonio, Nicoya Peninsula, Central Coast or even the Osa Peninsula area.
Some Luxury Family Hotels we can recommend include:
Four Seasons Resort - Papagayo
Andaz Costa Rica - Papagayo
Day 7-9: Beach Days
Enjoy as many days as you like at your family beach hotel and explore everything the area has to offer. Contact us to design the perfect mix of exploration and relaxation based on your family’’s interests.
Day 10: Departure
Today we will get you to the international airport for your flight home or why not stay longer and explore more of Costa Rica, neighbouring Nicaragua or elsewhere in Central America?
We hope you found this example of a family holiday to Costa Rica interesting. Search further on our website for more about Costa Rica or other ideas for family holidays. Please let us know how we can help you to design the perfect family holiday for more adventurous families.
