Costa Rica Adventure Family Holiday

All breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners are included in the price of the tour, allowing you plenty of flexibility for non-included meals to be taken as a family or with the group.

Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish and a staple part of the local diet. Soups, stews and fresh fish are also common, and most hotels offer international menus. There is a lot of fresh fruit in the tropics – though the monkeys in the hotel gardens may well want to share your bananas!

Vegetarian and vegan options are limited but food is plentiful and tasty – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Glide downstream on an oar-guided raft for a gentle safari float along the Sarapiquí River. Look for toucans, herons and the remarkable “Jesus Christ” lizard skittering across the water, as your guide shares stories of river ecology.

Ideal for younger adventurers, this calm, scenic ride emphasizes wildlife over white water. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; all safety equipment is provided.

Join a naturalist to explore Manuel Antonio National Park, where tropical forest spills to crescent bays. Watch white-faced capuchin monkeys play in the trees, scan for sloths and iguanas, and end at palm-fringed beaches with calm, swimmable water.

Though compact, the park protects mangroves, coastal rainforest and offshore islets, supporting remarkable biodiversity. Easy trails and photogenic viewpoints make this a family favorite for wildlife and sea-and-sky panoramas.

Follow a shaded coastal rainforest trail beside reef-sheltered shores in Cahuita National Park. Watch for capuchin monkeys, agouti and iguanas, and listen as surf and cicadas blend into the soundtrack of the Caribbean coast.

Protecting beaches, mangroves and one of Costa Rica’s important coral systems, Cahuita balances recreation with conservation. Easy, level paths make this a superb family walk, with sea breezes and reef-protected vistas around each curve.

Head out with flashlights for a guided night walk in the Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Search for the ruby eyes of the red-eyed tree frog, listen for owls and katydids, and learn how nocturnal species navigate the forest after dusk.

Tirimbina supports research and education across lowland rainforest habitats. Under starry skies, your guide reveals hidden micro-worlds—glittering insects, mossy trunks and dew-lit leaves—turning darkness into discovery for curious families.

Step onto a circuit of hanging bridges for a serene canopy walk with sweeping Arenal volcano views. Watch tanagers flit at eye level, listen for howler monkeys, and peer into treetop bromeliads and orchids.

Suspended walkways and forested trails reveal different layers of rainforest life while staying accessible to families. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; distances and heights vary by route.

Explore rainforest paths to a sequence of thundering cascades at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Along the way, enter the butterfly observatory and hummingbird garden, watch toucans flash through the canopy, and learn how rescued animals are cared for within the on-site refuge.

Set in a transitional forest between cloud and rainforest, La Paz showcases Costa Rica’s biodiversity in a compact, family-friendly setting. Trails, platforms and interpretive exhibits make wildlife encounters easy to see and understand.

Walk the sandy paths of Tortuguero village to meet a community defined by canals, fishing skiffs and sea breezes. Visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitor Center to trace a turtle’s epic ocean journey and understand nest protection, tagging and beach patrols.

Founded in 1959, the Conservancy helped turn Tortuguero into a global model for green turtle conservation. Exhibits and guides illuminate how science and local livelihoods work together along this remote Caribbean shore.

Cruise the waterways of Tortuguero as morning light lifts mist from emerald canals. With your naturalist guide, scan for howler and spider monkeys, caiman and iguanas, while herons, kingfishers and toucans animate the banks and branches.

This quiet labyrinth of rivers and lagoons forms one of Costa Rica’s richest wildlife corridors. The slow pace and close quarters with nature invite families to pause for photos and reflection amid rippling reflections and birdsong.

Meet resident two- and three-toed sloths at the original Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica, learning about rescue, rehabilitation and release. Then canoe the Estrella River with a guide to spot wild sloths, herons and basilisk lizards where forest meets water.

Featured on Animal Planet, the sanctuary pairs warm encounters with solid science. Entrance fees support veterinary care and research, while the calm waters reveal the species’ gentle, deliberate movements in their natural realm.

Hike trails through Arenal Volcano National Park, crossing old lava fields and secondary forest for views of the near-perfect cone and Lake Arenal. Guides interpret the 1968 eruption, point out birdlife, and explain how forests rebound after volcanic activity.

Later, soak in mineral pools at Paradise Hot Springs (or Ecotermales on some departures). Lush gardens, warm cascades and gentle steam create an easygoing finale—ideal for weary legs and happy storytellers.

Join certified guides for a turtle nesting night walk to witness female green turtles hauling ashore to lay eggs (late July–October). Follow strict protocols, including quiet, red-light viewing, to protect these ancient mariners while observing from a respectful distance.

This conservation-led experience, operated under local guidelines, is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Seasonality and weather determine departures; sightings, while likely in season, are never guaranteed.

Suit up for family-friendly white-water rafting, paddling Class II–III rapids through lush river corridors. Practice commands, thread boulder gardens and ride playful waves under the watchful eye of professional river guides.

Between rapids, scan the banks for monkeys and kingfishers and paddle as a team through calm pools. This adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; helmets, vests and instruction are included.

Trace cacao’s journey on a hands-on bean-to-bar chocolate tour. Open a ripe cacao pod, taste fresh pulp, roast and grind nibs on a traditional metate, and finally taste rich Costa Rican chocolate in drinkable and bite-size forms.

Amid rainforest plots, guides share cacao’s Indigenous roots and colonial trade routes, plus modern agroforestry that benefits wildlife and farmers. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Board a boat to search for humpbacks during peak migrations and resident pods of spotted dolphins on a whale and dolphin watching excursion in Marino Ballena National Park. Cruise past the park’s famous whale-tail sandbar and dramatic rocky islets.

Prime seasons typically run mid-July to October and mid-December to March. Captains follow responsible viewing guidelines. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; sightings can vary with sea conditions.

Slip into warm Pacific waters on a guided snorkelling tour over Marino Ballena reefs and islets (conditions permitting). Look for parrotfish, pufferfish and angelfish as sunlight patterns ripple across volcanic rock formations and coral gardens.

Within this protected marine area, wildlife and visibility shift with tides and weather. Equipment and instruction are provided. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; exact sites may vary to find the best tropical fish action.

Gather to meet your Tour Director and fellow families before sharing a convivial welcome dinner in Costa Rica’s lively capital. Sample homestyle dishes such as casado, gallo pinto and fresh tropical juices while hearing practical tips for wildlife viewing and family-friendly pacing across rainforest, rivers and coasts.

San José’s food scene blends countryside produce with urban energy, reflecting the nation’s easygoing pura vida spirit. It’s a relaxed introduction that sets the tone for adventure, conversation and curious palates.