Costa Rica Family Adventure | Trip Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door where you will meet our local representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to the Hotel Bougainvillea in San Jose. Check-in for an overnight stay.

Day 2: TRANSFER TO ARENAL; LA FORTUNA WATERFALLS & ORGANIC FARM VISIT W/LUNCH
Morning pick-up at your hotel by your private naturalist guide with air-conditioned van for a scenic drive to Arenal. Upon arrival visit La Fortuna Waterfall. Located just 3 miles away from the town of La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, this beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail to the waterfall goes down through dense, lush rain forest where one has the opportunity to see parrots, toucans and tropical hummingbirds. In addition to seeing a majestic waterfall in a beautiful setting, visitors to the falls are helping the local community. The fees collected are used for important community projects such as supporting area schools, buying books, and helping cover some of the expenses for the town orphanage. Additionally funds are used for recycling projects, maintenance of the community water supply, improvement of the local roads and sidewalks and construction of an educational center.

Afterwards, visit Vida Campesina (Country Life). This organic farm lets you experience life in the Costa Rican countryside with a farming family that grows typical crops and are practicing newer sustainable agricultural techniques. Enjoy a traditional lunch with freshly harvested vegetables, and a hands-on demonstration on tortilla making.

Continue to your hotel, and check-in to the Arenal Observatory Lodge for a two-night stay. (BLD)

Arenal Volcano is located on the north plains of Costa Rica, province of Alajuela. Following a 40-year period of activity emitting molten lava and red-hot rocks accompanied by occasional eruptions, Arenal continues to steam and heat area waters. The area is surrounded by lush rainforest that harbors abundant wildlife and many bird species like toucans, motmots, parrots, parakeets, jacamars, tanagers, honeycreepers and hummingbirds. While Arenal Volcano continues to be the main attraction in this region, in recent years many optional activities have been developed which visitors can enjoy during their visit. Recommended activities in Arenal: forest canopy tours, and treetop suspension bridges, rafting class II & III, canyoning, birding, caving, sport fishing, nature hikes, lava hikes, horseback riding, waterfalls, butterfly gardens, thermal springs, organic farms and more.

Day 3: LAVA WALK, HANGING BRIDGES & THERMAL SPRINGS
Optional early morning bird watching with your guide at the lodge gardens. This morning travel with your guide to hike a trail that brings you to the top of a 50 foot tall lava flow from Arenal Volcano that was formed in 1992. On your hike you will have an opportunity to see a variety of rainforest wildlife and view the volcano from a safe vantage point while your guide explains its fascinating history.

After the tour enjoy a delicious lunch in the area. Afternoon visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, entrance fee included. This is a complex of suspended bridges and trails through a beautiful rain forest. These allow the observation of flora and fauna from the ground level to the top of the trees.  As you walk through, you may encounter toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howling monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys.

Late afternoon, visit the Ecotermales Hot Springs. There are four hot spring pools to relax in, filled with hot mineral water heated from the volcano. Receive a natural massage from the small cascade. Traditional dinner included. (BLD)

Day 4: TRANSFER TO MANUEL ANTONIO; OUTRIGGERS AT AGUJITAS BEACH
Optional early morning bird watching with your guide at the lodge gardens.  Morning depart from Arenal and drive to Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. Stop enroute at the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles to view the crocodiles basking on the river shore.  Enjoy lunch in Tarcoles Beach at the home of a Costa Rican family.

Later enjoy the famous Outrigger Canoe Tour along the Pacific Coast. Outrigger canoes use lateral support floats to increase stability while maintaining most of the streamlined efficiency of a narrow craft.  These vessels have been used by people of Polynesian cultures for sea travel for untold centuries both within coastal waters and to migrate to remote islands far out in open oceans.  This tour runs alongside the coast with spectacular scenery and also offers visitors an opportunity to swim (and snorkel when conditions permit) in waters off beautiful secluded beaches.   The equipment is top notch and the canoe is incredibly stable, comfortable and easy to paddle offering visitors a fun “no experience necessary” activity while visiting the beach area.   The outrigger holds up to 7 paddlers and is perfect for small groups and families who want to share laughs and adventure together.

After the tour continue on to Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio is a community which is composed largely of hotels, separated by trees on a hill overlooking beaches and the coastal Manuel Antonio National Park with rainforest growing to the edge of its beautiful cream colored sandy beaches.  The forest is home to a variety of wildlife that are accustomed to people and readily seen including sloths, monkeys, armadillos, scarlet-legged land crabs, iguanas, agoutis, pizotes, raccoons, parrots, and parakeets.  The ocean water temperature is always near a comfortable 80º F and great for swimming and other water sports.  The region offers numerous other activities such as boating, river rafting, fishing, snorkeling, diving, canopy tours and more.  With a large number of excellent hotels and restaurants in the area outside the Park, visitors are assured a comfortable stay and a diverse offering of local and international cuisine. Check-in to the Hotel El Parador for a 3-night stay. (BL)

Day 5: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK HIKE 
Today you will take a hike with your naturalist guide through the Manuel Antonio park’s forest.  Visitors frequently have up-close views of white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys, sluggish sloths, racoons, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, and black iguanas.

Some birds possible to see in the park are Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker, White Hawk, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Orange-collared Manakin, Chesnut-backed Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan. After hiking you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the park.

Enjoy local with your guide, with free time this afternoon to return to the park (your entrance fee is good all day) or enjoy other activities (BL)

Day 6: CATAMARAN ISLAND TOUR
This morning enjoy the Catamaran  Island Tour.  Marvel at the mysterious islands with their jagged rock formation, towering cliffs and nesting grounds with numerous species of marine birds and their young. Listen to the blowholes; whistle with each surge of the waves. Count the varies types of dolphins, and whales that frolic just beyond the islands, and learn interesting facts about Manuel Antonio National Park and some history of the Quepoa Indians. Witness unforgettable vistas, taking a moment to relax and enjoy another beautiful day in paradise. Lunch included. Free afternoon.  (BL)

Day 7: DEPARTURE
Pick-up at your hotel for a transfer from Manuel Antonio Beach to San Jose’s International Airport on time for your departure flight. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. (B)
Note:  If your flight schedule requires early morning departures, we can arrange for an additional night with hotel in San Jose on request.

Additional days at the beach can be added on request!

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner