Connecting in Costa Rica.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: From the capital of San José, we’ll drive to the outskirts of the city and enter the forest of La Paz, rich with waterfalls that cascade a scenic canyon. Our guide will take us to the heart of the action, along a path that leads to a viewing platform. Touch the gushing waters and feel the flutter of over 4,000 butterflies flitting around you in the observatory. Step into a hummingbird garden where 26 species hover and weave from blossom to blossom. Rest up at our luxury hotel cradled at the base of Arenal Volcano. It might be dormant, but there’s still action rumbling beneath the surface. The proof? Soak in one of the hot springs heated by molten rock deep in the earth. Cap your first day in Costa Rica with our welcome dinner, the first of many meals to remember.
Day 2: Over breakfast, soak in views of Arenal Volcano, and then head to its lower flanks for a close-up of petrified lava fields. From there, we’ll head to the treetops of the old-growth tropical forest for ziplining in the canopies, where you can slide from platform to platform. For less adrenaline, join our naturalist guide for a walk on the hanging bridges that stretch between the trees. With 2,500 plant species, 300 types of orchids, 200 kinds of ferns, monkeys and more, there’s plenty to see between the branches. Your family can split up – some on the zipline, some on the platforms —and there is no extra cost for either option. Either way, you’ll get an unforgettable firsthand look at the rainforest.
Day 3: Native Costa Ricans, known as Ticos, are hospitable, warm, and welcoming. We’ll introduce you to a new generation during our visit to a village school where children will share their interests and connect with your own little travelers in rural Costa Rica. From culture to crocodiles, we’ll shift gears and board a boat on the Tárcoles River where these massive reptiles glide through the estuary. This area is also one of the best places to spot birds, including scarlet macaws, kingfishers, and hawks. We’ll arrive at Manuel Antonio Park, your home for the next three nights. Overlooking the Pacific, this park spans from cloud forests to coral reefs. Your hotel sits on a promontory a few hundred feet above a crescent beach, where monkeys dart from branch to balcony. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, get ready for Costa Rica’s tangerine sunsets.
Day 4: Wildlife awaits in Manuel Antonio Park, and the adventure begins without even leaving your room. Wake up to the sound of howler monkeys and keep an eye out for iguanas and squirrels while you eat breakfast. After you fuel up, the day is yours to experience Costa Rica from the water. For an adrenaline rush, join us for whitewater rafting on a Class II through IV river. It’s a wet ride with beautiful vistas and wildlife viewing, complete with a shoreside snack along the way. Prefer something more mellow? Team up with our naturalist guide and paddle through the mangrove trees in a scenic tidal estuary. Or let our crew propel you aboard a flat-bottom fishing boat. Either way, the monkeys will greet you from the banks, and there’s a chance of spotting anteaters, egrets, and basiliscus lizards— the velociraptors of Jurassic Park. Later, we’ll visit the village of Quepos for shopping, followed by a dip in the pool or a lounge at the beach. It’s your choice, before we cap the night with a traditional dinner.
Day 5: Costa Rica has always valued eco-tourism, and you’ll see firsthand the conservation efforts that allow Manuel Antonio Park to thrive since it opened in 1970. The lush park is rich with flora and fauna, yet it is easily explorable due to its size at 1,685 acres. Your guide will point out squirrel monkeys, sloths, toucans, coatis, and white-faced monkeys. The trail spills onto Cathedral Point, where you can view Mogote Island, the site of pre-Columbian native burials. From lush forest and mangrove swamps to marshland and lagoons, the terrain varies at nearly every step, with the stunning Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. Relax on any one of the three horseshoe-shaped beaches, ideal for swimming, boogie boarding, or just napping away the day. That evening, we will gather for our farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants on the Pacific Coast.
Day 6: What better way to perk up than with a coffee tour in Costa Rica. We’ll visit an organic coffee plantation where you’ll see the process from growing and harvesting to roasting and packaging. Sample some of the world’s best coffee during a tasting of fresh-brewed beans. From here, we’ll return to San Jose in time for mid-afternoon flights back to the U.S. If you are continuing with us on the Tortuguero extension, you’ll spend the night in San Jose and head for the Caribbean side of Costa Rica in the morning.
Welcome Back to Family.
6-Days & 5-Nights
A family vacation in Costa Rica is the trip every child dreams of. This rich country has everything for budding nature-lovers and adventurers, from volcanos and hot springs, to rain forests and beaches. Spend your days birdwatching from suspended bridges in forest canopies; interacting with white-faced monkeys on the beach; overnighting in treehouses; kayaking down pristine rivers; or surfing the best waves in Central America. Our local guides and naturalists put the fun in travel, specializing in family adventures that offer the best of Costa Rica in one unforgettable week
$3,795* per person
Your Experience Includes:
5-night accommodations at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort (2 nights) and Parador Resort & Spa (3 nights)
All breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners
Full-time experienced guides
Admissions to scheduled events
Gratuities for hotels, meals, and baggage
All land transportation during the trip
Because Family Matters.
jeff@jefflavender.com | +1 310.774.7611
This experience is brought to you in partnership with Classic Journeys.