From beautiful beaches to wondrous cloud forests, Costa Rica provides the perfect spaces to relax and play. Monkeys howl, volcanos impress, and you can lead your family on an adventure through the trees. By balancing laid-back relaxation with thrilling activities, this adventurous two-week Costa Rica tour is expertly handcrafted for families with children of all ages. This is a safe and serene place to travel together, and you will discover the best of it, including Arenal, Monteverde, Tamarindo,...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
San Jose – Easing Into Costa Rica
To begin your adventure, you will touch down in San Jose, and the Costa Rican capital may feel a little different to your preconceptions. This is not a place of bustle, but it is a low-slung capital that is easy to explore on foot in addition to being very safe for families. The historic center and oldest neighborhoods of San Jose can prove extremely relaxing places to ease into Costa Rica and to make first impressions of the country. After landing at the country’s major international airport, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to a luxurious boutique hotel in the city’s center.
Your guide will discuss different options in San Jose, so you can plan the afternoon based on your energy and interests. By indulging in a stroll through the city center, you can admire wonderful 19th-century mansions and a string of plazas that have been enlivened by street traders and locals. There’s an exotic atmosphere here, and it is easy to see that you have landed in a place very different from home. San Jose is also symbolic of the country as it is safe, welcoming, and easy to feel at home. For dinner, you may want to try a restaurant that serves up traditional cuisine alongside dance and entertainment from around the country. Your guide can also lead you to a restaurant that serves more Western-style dishes.
What's Included:
Day 2
San Jose – Standing on the Rim of an Active Volcano
Day 3
La Fortuna – Hot Springs and Activities Next to Arenal Volcano
Day 4 - 5
La Fortuna – Ziplining and Family Adventure in the Trees
Day 6
Monteverde – A Thrilling Journey over Land and Water
Day 7 - 8
Monteverde – Walking on Hanging Bridges and Intimate Wildlife Walks
Day 9
Tamarindo – Close-Up With Sloths and Pacific Escapism
Day 10 - 11
Tamarindo – Learning to Surf and Relaxing on the Beach
Day 12
Manuel Antonio National Park – Stunning Wildlife Encounters
Day 13
Manuel Antonio National Park – Sailing into the Sunset
Day 14
Manuel Antonio National Park – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Soothe your body and mind by lounging in natural hot springs beside Arenal Volcano
- Experience the thrill of the treetops by walking with your kids on Monteverde’s hanging bridges
- Venture up-close with sloths and monkeys during two days of wildlife explorations in Manuel Antonio National Park
- Stand on the rim of an active volcano and experience the sheer power of nature
- Relax on beautiful Pacific beaches, especially with three days in Tamarindo
- Indulge in a ziplining adventure through the Monteverde forest and search for unusual animals on a nighttime walk
- Explore the best of San Jose, which is a low-slung city that is easy and safe to traverse as a family
- Sail into the sunset and go snorkeling on Pacific reefs, which are both perfect activities for culminating your two weeks in Costa Rica
Detailed Description
Costa Rica can mold to your mood. You can lounge in hot springs and spend lazy hours on pristine beaches. You can also walk across hanging bridges and zipline through the treetops. One day can be dominated by soothing water and relaxed scenes, while another day can bring the thrill of watching your kids come face to face with wild monkeys and sloths. With nature providing the settings, Costa Rica will be the destination where you can get active or completely relax. It is also an incredibly safe and easy place to travel, especially when you are on a private tour.
Two weeks is ideal for a Costa Rica family vacation. It allows enough time for you to visit different destinations, so you can enjoy the classic combination of city, volcano, cloud forest, and beach. This is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, and nature will encourage you to slow down and appreciate the details, especially unusual and rare wildlife. With two weeks, there is more than enough for your children to do without getting bored, and you will be able to find time to truly relax. Everything is customizable on this tour, so you can take each day as it comes, mixing up the adventure and downtime.
Over two weeks, you will follow an iconic route through Costa Rica, visiting five of the country’s most enchanting destinations. You will begin in San Jose, which is a charming capital city where you can spend a day getting used to a new country. The following day, you will safely explore an active volcano. La Fortuna basks in the shadow of Arenal volcano and is an idyllic place to combine outdoor adventure with comfortable hours in hot springs. You will have three nights at a luxury lodge that has its own thermal pools and springs. A private guide will customize your daily itinerary, so the hours can be active or laid-back, depending on the interests of your family.
From La Fortuna, you will travel across the water for three nights in Monteverde, which is a breathtaking cloud forest, where you will be walking on hanging bridges and admiring an incredible variety of wildlife. Again, with three nights, you can take your time, try different activities, and tailor daily trips that suit your moods and interests. You will conclude your vacation with five nights on the Pacific coastline: first, in Tamarindo, then in Manuel Antonio National Park. Tamarindo is a classic beach town, where your kids can try surfing and the sand provides serenity. Manuel Antonio will combine wild monkey encounters with sunset sailing and more pristine beaches and bays. Flying between these destinations will mean that you see more of Costa Rica while preserving the laid-back atmosphere of this family vacation.
Starting Price
$4,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
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