Best Family Friendly Costa Rica Vacation: Adventure in Nature

Day 1: Family Gets Together

Mountains encompass the Central Valley where you find the capital city of San Jose. Jovial people and colorful murals that represent everyday life fill animated streets. Colonial mansions decorate the historic neighborhoods of Amon. The wrap around porches and hand-carved woodwork provides a glimpse into the lavish pasts of old coffee barons. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts the family to a luxurious and comfortable hotel in the heart of the city. The affluent neighborhood of Santa Ana maintains a constant, sweet breeze. Traditional homes are edged by golf courses. Horses trot along the background of the open valley.

In the Central Market, the family can find over 200 stalls organized to create endless rows of shops divided by products. The colors of tropical fruits create a virtual rainbow that shines from the produce stands. Guavas and mangos, jackfruit and rambutan are prominently displayed. The aroma of sweet citrus follows you down the pathway. The culture of the country is shown as much in the decorative murals that line the streets as in the sustainable farming techniques for which its farmlands are known. The kids follow you through the market. You can see them inspired by the differences in the culture. They seem ready to settle in and discover the splendor of Costa Rica together with the family.

What s Included: transfer, accommodation

Day 2: The Southern Peninsula

Osa Peninsula is home to an ambiance that mixes the rainforest with a touch of the Wild West. Locals continue to pan for gold in the lowland riverbeds, and howler monkeys call out in the high canopy. After a delicious breakfast accompanied with the rich layers of Costa Rican coffee, the family makes its way to the peninsula by plane. The landscape is pristine and was rated by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on earth. Puma and jaguar roam through the rainforest underbrush. The Harpy Eagle and Scarlet macaw soar along the treetops.

Your private guide and transfer meets you at the airport and takes you into the remote reaches of the countryside to the edge of the Agujitas River. The emerald water has a calm current. Step onto the boat and the family drifts lazily downstream until you reach your eco-lodge that looks out over the Pacific Ocean. The verdant canopy hides the wooden edifice. The family marvels at the view. The breeze combines the earthy aroma of the rainforest with the brininess of the sea. The family has immersed itself into the wild reaches of the countryside and found stunning scenery and bustling nature.

In the afternoon, you can continue the days adventure by ziplining through the canopy. When you rise, the trees, the canopy, and the rolling hillsides open themselves up to you. The peaks look endless and shimmering with jewel-like greenery. You climb up to 196 feet in the air and travel across 50 acres of rainforest. The wind brushes past, and the leaves are still. The exhilaration of flying through nature fills the landscape with your happy and excited screams. The kids love the action, and you love their enthusiasm.

What s Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, transfer, tour, accommodation

Day 3: Marvels in Sapphire

The sweet aromas of fresh fruits fill breakfast. The coconuts are luscious and the mango provides a cooling citrus. After your meal, the family sets off on a boat ride to Cano Island. The island is less than 10 miles off the shore of Costa Rica proper and filled with hot white-sand beaches, lined with palm trees, and shimmering with coveted coral reefs. The sunlight spreads over the pristine water and provides visibility along the ocean floor up to 20 feet deep.

On the boat ride mist sprays into the air. The cool breeze wafts past the boat. The kids point to the island in the near-distance and the beaches come closer. The warm and opulent water makes the habitat a virtual paradise for a range of dolphins and passing whales. Spinner Dolphins tend to burst from the ocean and flip in the air. They can grow almost eight feet long and tend to have a white or pale gray belly.

The dolphins love to play in the boat s wake and spin twist in the air as they jump out of the ocean over and over again. When you arrive at the beach, you can relax and feel the hot sand cover your feet. The kids venture off to the snorkel. The vibrant coral practically glows underwater. Angelfish swim in and out of the winding and reaching calcite formations. The beauty of the island is breathtaking with something for the whole family to enjoy.

What s Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, tour, accommodation

Day 4: Discovering the Rainforest

In the morning, you can hear the vibrant calls of the howler monkeys pour through the jungle. Their cacophonous cries can be heard up to the three miles away. After breakfast, you embark on a short boat ride to the San Pedrillo Ranger Station. The station sits on the northern edge of Corcovado National Park. The canopy shades the forest floor and filters in the sunlight. The sapphire water of the Pacific borders the front of the station and the rainforest borders the back. The water laps at the beach with serene calm. Your naturalist guide takes you along the beachside trails that wind through mangroves and montane forests.

Sloths sleep up to 10 hours a day and, when awake, slowly move through the trees. Their fur blends into the tree bark and keeps them hidden from predators. You see them sporadically hugging a branch or trunk. You arrive at a waterfall. The uproarious thunder of the falls hitting the lower pool fills the air. The pool ripples and sprays. The water is cool to the touch, traveling down from the mountains and cascading over the small ridge. The day is filled with family and unparalleled discovery. ?

What s Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, tour, accommodation

Day 5: The Sweet Gulf

The sounds of rambunctious wildlife fills the morning air. The family can t help but imitate the howler monkeys and spirited birds at the breakfast table. They smile and call out in their best impression of a deep, guttural call that the monkey makes as the sun rises over the rainforest. Enjoy a morning exploration of the jungle and search for white-headed capuchin monkeys rambling through the trees. Their tails grow longer than their bodies, over 21 inches in length, and coil towards the end. They watch you pass by with curiosity. In the afternoon, you private transfer will take you to the city of Puerto Jimenez, located at the edge of Golfo Dulce.

Scarlet Macaws roost on the cross bar of the local soccer field. Their vibrant red plumage shines against the background of green grass. Their tail feathers dangle behind them like streamers to a length of around half their entire size. Although it is the largest city in the area, Puerto Jimenez maintains a small town character filled with charm and local connection. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Spend time wandering around the Herrera Gardens and Conservation Project or visit the secluded sands of Platanares beach. You could even venture through the mangrove forest that towers over the banks of the nearby Platanares River to continue the daily adventure.

What s Included: breakfast, lunch, transfer, accommodation

Day 6: Looking Inside the Crater

The morning shines brightly over the coast of Golfo Dulce. After breakfast, you return to San Jose on a quick flight and continue northward to Poas Volcano National Park. The lush rainforest trees frame the park s entryway. The family eagerly traverses the hillside in search of the volcano s summit. When you reach the top, you find the open sky filled with nearby and distant fertile mountaintops. Poas volcanic crater is before you. The summit stands at around 8,885 feet above sea level.

The dirt path is firm under you and steam rises from the edges of the Lagunas Calientes. The crater has a depth of almost 1,000 feet and is filled with small geysers. The extinct volcano next to Poas Volcano is lush with dense vegetation and avifauna. The trail takes you around the crater that has a diameter of 1,312 feet. Botos Lake sits at the center of the sprouting trees. The water cold to the touch and colored with jade hue. The stunning scenery and spirited activity of Poas Volcano is enchanting. The raw power of the landscape is inspiring.

What s Included: breakfast, transfer, tour, accommodation

Day 7: Peace, Colors, and Waterfalls

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is located on the slopes of Poas volcanic region and rich in biodiversity. The altitude undulates between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level bringing together cloud forest and rainforest in a tightly knit environment. The waterfall gardens encompass 70 acres of protected landscape. Arrive at the gates and find a collection of atriums that house plants, butterflies, and monkeys. Hummingbirds flutter around the trees and sip nectar out of the birdfeeders. They flap their wings up to 80 times per second. Their plumage is effervescent in the Central Highlands sunshine.

The family walks along the pathway into the depths of the jungle grounds to find the La Paz. The water travels around five miles across volcanic terrain, through the rainforest, and tumbles 121 feet into the crisp natural pool. The walkway winds up the foothill beneath the canopy s shade. Spray rises from the pool and the sound resounds into the sky. You can view the falls from the side and near the mouth of the cascade. The grace of the countryside is embodied in the reserve, providing a glimpse of the wildlife and prosperous nature revered around the world. In the afternoon, you will return to San Jose and settle in for the night in the familiar comforts of a colonial mansion.

What s Included: breakfast, tour, transfer, accommodation

Day 8: A Lifetime of Adventure

The sun rises over the mountains and layers the sky with morning light. Savor the flavors of breakfast and the view of the hotel s central garden. Tropical fruits grace the table with sweet aromas and creamy textures. Rich Costa Rican coffee helps start the day with a flavorful boost. The kids even eat the once unfamiliar dishes that they now seem to enjoy. The family has traversed the edges of the countryside, wandered through rainforest and around volcanic peaks. Soon your private transfer will take you to the airport. Your time in Costa Rica may have come to an end, but the family adventure continues.

What s Included: breakfast, transfer