Costa Rica Family Journey: From Rainforest to Coast

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On sale!

£1,687 was £2249

Discount: 25%

Offer end: Jun 06 2025

Duration: 9 days

Begins: San José

Ends: San José

Trip Code: CRSNF

From

£1,687 per person

Angebot anfordern

or Call 01273 099433

    Blanketed in pristine rainforest, lined by golden sands, and brimming with curious-looking creatures, Costa Rica is the ultimate family playground. Explore inland jungles and volcanic wonders in every way possible: soaring on a zip line, riding on horseback, and hiking misty trails. Then head for the Gold Coast on the Pacific Ocean for some sun, surf, and adventures out at sea.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    National Geographic Family Journeys
    Trips for adventure-loving families in search of a meaningful way to discover the world together.
    Service Level
    Upgraded
    Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.
    Physical Rating
    2 - Light
    Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Small Group experience; 20
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Your G for Good Moment: Cafe Monteverde Experience, Monteverde
    • Your Family Journeys Moment: Life Monteverde Community Lunch, Tour, and Cooking Class, Monteverde
    • Your Family Journeys Moment: Monteverde Institute Lecture & Reforestation Project, Monteverde
    • Arrival transfer
    • Naturalist guided cloud forest night walk
    • Canyon canopy tour in Rincón de la Vieja National Park
    • Rio Negro Hot Springs and volcanic mud bath
    • Horseback riding and guided hike in Rincón de la Vieja National Park
    • Palo Verde National Park guided boat tour
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
    Accommodations

    Hotels (8 nts)

    Meals

    8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

    Allow USD270-355 for meals not included.

    Transportation

    Private vehicle, boat, horse, walking

    Staff & experts

    2 CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) throughout, local guides.

    Itinerary Notes

    Prices are based on double occupancy; all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will accommodate triples/quads whenever possible. Please call for further details.

    Family Journeys are designed for groups traveling with children between the ages of 7 and 17. Your group must include a child in order to book, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

    Day 1 : San José

    Welcome to San José–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.

    Costa Rica has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and is a top destination for nature lovers. As such, there is a lot of rain, regardless of the season, allowing for its lush green rain forests and cloud forest, in which flora and fauna thrive. Please come prepared for the possibility of wet weather and variations in temperature.

    Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting

    1h

    The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

    Arrival Transfer

    Juan Santamaría International Airport - San José

    You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Radisson San Jose

    Acommodation

    Hotel Radisson San Jose

    Day 2 : San José/Monteverde

    This morning, travel up into the misty cloud forests of Monteverde, where we’ll visit a working farm and coffee cooperative for an earth-to-table lunch, followed by a property tour. Learn the secrets of Costa Rican cuisine and test your cooking skills at an afternoon class, then attend a coffee-making demonstration. Enjoy some free time to get settled in our hotel. This evening, follow a naturalist into the forest to seek out the fascinating nocturnal creatures that spring to life after the sun goes down, from red-eyed tree frogs to spiny porcupines.

    The town of Monteverde is fairly small with shopping and some great restaurants, but most of the upgraded accommodations in this area are located outside of the main town centre - to take better advantage of the natural beauty and stunning landscapes of the area. Taxis are readily available to take you into town and back and can cost approx. $10USD each way.

    Accommodations tend to be a bit more simple here, with fewer amenities. Its important to remember that the cloud forest sits at a higher elevation and offers a cooler but humid climate - which is why hotels in this area do not have A/C. It can also feel damp in rooms which is unavoidable in such a climate.

    Private Vehicle

    San José - Monteverde 3h - 4h 155km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Cafe Monteverde Experience

    Monteverde

    Enjoy a visit to Life Monteverde, a coffee cooperative made up of 12 local families, dedicated to educating Costa Rica and the world about sustainable farming and conservation. Your visit here directly benefits Life Monteverde's educational programs, which provide free access to local school groups, and training for Costa Ricans. Walk through the plantations of various tropical plants including bananas and pineapples, and learn about coffee growing and production, as well as various sustainable agriculture techniques like converting animal waste to fuel. Also make sure to taste the delicious coffee before you go!

    Life Monteverde Community Lunch, Tour, and Cooking Class

    Monteverde

    Upon arrival, enjoy a brief introduction before having lunch made with fresh ingredients from their organic farm. Afterwards, tour the working coffee farm and meet some of the farm animals that help support this organic land. Then, get hands-on with a traditional Costa Rican cooking class followed by a coffee-making demonstration.

    Guided Cloud Forest Night Walk

    Monteverde

    Join a naturalist guide for a 1.5-2 hour tour in the cloud forest after dark. Learn more about the habits of the area's nocturnal wildlife including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians, and keep your eyes and ears open on this slow-paced walk. You never know what you might see – it depends on the day and your luck!

    Acommodation

    El Establo Hotel

    Acommodation

    El Establo Hotel

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 3 : Monteverde

    Visit the Monteverde Institute, a research and educational organization supported by National Geographic. Hear about reforestation projects spearheaded by the institute, then roll up your sleeves and lend a hand in the tree nursery. The rest of the day is free for poolside relaxation or optional excursions in the clouds, including zip-lining, hiking in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, or a walk through the forest canopy across hanging bridges.

    Free time:

    Monteverde Morning

    Get up early to check out some of the optional activities on offer around Monteverde.

    Monteverde Institute Lecture & Reforestation Project

    Monteverde

    The Monteverde Institute is a base for National Geographic-funded explorers and researchers studying the famed canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. A researcher will present the various projects National Geographic has sponsored including new discoveries, insect and bird studies, and the reforestation of tropical regions. Then, play an active role in this project by visiting the National Geographic-sponsored research plot and getting your hands dirty by either planting trees to restore habitat or assisting in tree care in the nurseries.

    Acommodation

    El Establo Hotel

    Optional Activities - Day 3

    Hanging Bridges Monteverde

    Monteverde 2h30m

    Get up high to see the tree tops of Monteverde’s Cloud Forest from a bird’s-eye view. Cross a series of hanging bridges to discover what biologists once required (ropes and pulleys) to glimpse the lush, green vista accented by bromeliads, vines, and orchids. Wonder at this wet canopy, home to 90% of all the organisms in the forest, including thousands of species of birds, small animals, amphibians, and insects.

    Santa Elena Cloud Forest Visit

    Monteverde

    Pull on your poncho and boots and head into the cloud-covered forest, past over-sized ferns and exotic orchids. Harness your inner Tarzan as you imagine swinging from the forest’s giant vines, trudge along 12 km of trails, watch for wildlife and trek to the top of the observation tower. Be sure to stop and listen too. Hear the haunting hollow call of the bellbird and perhaps catch sight of the brilliant green and red resplendent quetzal. Feel good about protecting the preserve and sustaining the quality of local schools through payment of your park fees.

    Ziplining

    Monteverde 3h - 4h

    Buckle up your harness, don your helmet, and prepare to launch. Glide along cables suspended high above the cloud forest canopy. Dare to let go and reach top speeds as you zip past stunning scenery. Forget your fear as you spot a toucans or exotic orchids in this adrenaline-filled experience. Minimum age: 6.

    Acommodation

    El Establo Hotel

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 4 : Monteverde/Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park

    Today we travel into Rincón de la Vieja National Park, an otherworldly land of smoking volcanoes, bubbling mud pots, and thermal hot springs—all shrouded in thick tangles of rainforest. Channel your inner Tarzan as you swing across zip lines strung through the forest canopy; then visit thermal hot springs and mud baths, where playing in the mud isn’t just allowed, it’s encouraged.

    Private Vehicle

    Monteverde - Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 4h - 4h30m 152km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Zip Line Rincon de La Vieja

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 1h30m - 2h

    Fly through the trees over a narrow river canyon while navigating zip lines, natural rock climbing walls, Tarzan swings, rappelling and hanging bridges.

    Hot Springs and Volcano Mud Bath

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 1h

    Visit natural hot springs which give rise to very hot mountain streams; sulfuric ponds filled with bubbling mud. Dare to step in and get muddy. Soak in the hot, therapeutic waters and feel invigorated and alive.

    Free time:

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park Evening

    Take the evening to relax or opt to visit the local butterfly gardens.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 5 : Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park

    Rise early for a full day of adventure in the national park. Saddle up for a horseback-riding excursion, get introduced to the park’s creatures on a naturalist-guided wildlife hike, and swim beneath the soaring canyons and tumbling waterfalls of the Río Negro. There is also the option to stay back at our hacienda and relax by the pool.

    Free time:

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park Evening

    After the days' activities, enjoy some free time to wander around or lay by the pool.

    Horseback Ride and Hike to the Cangreja Waterfall

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 6h

    Saddle up to ride from our family hacienda on a beautiful path until we reach the entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Set off on foot and hike 5km (3 miles) into the park in order to get to the waterfall. Keep your eyes peeled for iguanas, white-faced howler or spider monkeys, armadillos, and many types of tropical birds. Spot La Cangreja Waterfall flowing down 130 feet from the rocks above. Relax with a picnic lunch as our naturalist guide explains how the volcano's minerals create this unearthly blue pool at the bottom of the waterfall. After lunch take a dip in the clear blue water if you wish before heading back.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

    Optional Activities - Day 5

    Rio Negro Tubing Adventure

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 2h30m - 3h

    Enjoy the great outdoors on an innertube, bouncing and splashing down 5 km (3 miles) of class 2 and 3 rapids on the Black River. There are plenty of quiet pools along the way to appreciate the beautiful tropical scenery. Opt to ride the ranch horses (or you can go by vehicle transport) along scenic trails through the forest to reach the river.

    Hot Springs and Volcano Mud Bath

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park 1h

    Visit natural hot springs which give rise to very hot mountain streams; sulfuric ponds filled with bubbling mud. Dare to step in and get muddy. Soak in the hot, therapeutic waters and feel invigorated and alive.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 6 : Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park/Playa Potrero Area

    Journey toward the Pacific Ocean to Playa Potrero on the Gold Coast of Costa Rica. The afternoon is free to play in the sand and water; or opt to set sail across the bay and around the Catalina Islands.

    Private Vehicle

    Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park - Playa Potrero 2h 110km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Free time:

    Playa Potrero Afternoon

    Spend the afternoon at leisure in this quaint beach town, or opt to go sailing.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Bahia del Sol

    Optional Activities - Day 6

    Sunset Sail

    Playa Potrero 4h

    Set sail in Potrero Bay and around the Catalina Islands on a sailing tour. Opt to snorkel, kayak or zayak with the fish and keep on the lookout for turtles and maybe even a shark! Enjoy sunset over the water from the deck of the boat.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Bahia del Sol

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 7 : Playa Potrero Area

    The day is free to do as much or as little as you like. Relax at the pool or on the beach in this tropical paradise. Opt to join a yoga class, or take a long walk along the beach.

    Free time:

    Playa Potrero Full day

    There's plenty of exploring to do here, opt for a yoga class or choose to play at the beach or pool all day.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Bahia del Sol

    Optional Activities - Day 7

    Horseback Riding

    Playa Potrero 3h

    Throw on some long pants, grab the reins and hop up on a well-trained horse. Trail ride through the tropical forest and across the area’s most beautiful landscape. Look for birds in the trees and admire the ocean views.

    Yoga - Playa Potrero

    Playa Potrero 1h - 1h30m

    Find balance and be in the moment with this Sattva Yoga class in a palapa by the beach. A combination of Hatha and Raja Yoda, focus on your breath, movement and mindfulness.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Bahia del Sol

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 8 : Playa Potrero Area/San José

    Leave the beach behind for our return trip to the capital. Stop en route for a jungle boat cruise through Palo Verde National Park. The river is a wildlife-lover’s paradise: crocodiles glide beneath the water’s surface, monkeys swing through the surrounding treetops, and numerous winged wonders wade and fly at the river’s edge—including ospreys, wood storks, and roseate spoonbills. Continue to San José and celebrate our adventure at a farewell dinner.

    Private Vehicle

    Playa Potrero - Palo Verde 2h 82km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour

    Palo Verde 2h

    Enjoy a boat ride, travelling along the Tempisque River to discover Palo Verde National Park. Learn about the park and the creatures that call this region home from our local guide on board. Keep a keen eye out as the guide helps spot wildlife in the water, trees, and sky.

    Private Vehicle

    Palo Verde - San José 3h30m 180km

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Radisson San Jose

    Acommodation

    Hotel Radisson San Jose

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 9 : San José

    Depart at any time.

    Departure Day

    Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

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