Family trip to Costa Rica

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in San José

  Upon your arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport, our driver will be waiting for you to give you the necessary documents for the transfer to the Hampton Inn & Suites San José hotel.

• day 2

  Transfer from San José to Monteverde

  At 8:30 am, our driver will be waiting for you at the reception for the transfer to Monteverde. It will take you about three and a half hours to reach your lodge in Monteverde. The last part of this journey is quite challenging, as access to Monteverde must be done via an unpaved road. Once in Monteverde, we will accompany you to the Ficus Monteverde hotel. You can enjoy this afternoon to explore the city at your leisure.

• day 3

  Monteverde: Bridges and Canopy

  At 8:00 in the morning, we will take you to Selvatura Park, where you can first enjoy a (non-guided) walk on the bridges, then end the day with a canopy adventure while catching a bird's-eye view of Monteverde.

• day 4

  Horses and hot springs in Monteverde

  At 9:30 am, we will be waiting for you at your hotel reception to take you to an incredible place (about a 20-minute drive), where you can enjoy a wonderful horseback ride and finish with a relaxing bath. Before returning to Monteverde, you can have lunch. You will spend one last night at the Ficus Monteverde hotel.

• day 5

  From Monteverde to La Fortuna with a stop at Juntas de Abangares.

  At 8:30 in the morning, we will be waiting for you at the hotel to set off for La Fortuna. On the way, we will stop at Juntas de Abangares, where an extraordinary experience awaits you through which you will discover an important part of the history of the lives of the Ticos (Costa Ricans). The mining canton in Costa Rica Abangares is known as the mining canton in Costa Rica. This region has the largest gold mine that Costa Rica has ever had. It is here that Minor Cooper Keith set up his gold processing plant "Gold Fields de Costa Rica." During the gold rush (1884-1931), many people came to this town in search of fortune; some of them came from Jamaica, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Russia, creating a population with multiracial roots. This immigration of Costa Ricans and other nationalities gave birth to the town of Abangares. The mines consisted of a large number of tunnels, narrow passages, and galleries to extract the metal located 100 meters deep underground. With the mines, fields, factories, pharmacies, police stations, prisons, coolers, and mills were built. Electricity was produced thanks to European and American industrial technology, which served not only to produce electricity, but above all to extract and process this precious ore. Our friend Marvin will take care of explaining everything to you about this profession. You will see the whole region and he will personally show you how this mining world still survives and how gold is worked and extracted in Abangares. 75% of the population of Las Juntas works in mining. Lunch will be ready at his home and you will then be transferred to La Fortuna, where you will spend the night at the Observatory Lodge.

• day 6

  Visit to the Fortuna waterfall

  Around 10:00 am, our colleague Raul will come to pick you up to take you to visit the impressive La Fortuna waterfalls. The descent to the Rio Fortuna waterfall consists of 500 steps, along a recently remodeled trail with rest areas. Upon arrival, you will find a spectacular 70-meter-high waterfall where you can swim and enjoy (always with caution).

• day 7

  Arenal - Selva Verde Lodge

  Today at 6:00 am, our colleagues from Callydryas Tours will be waiting for you for a wildlife exploration itinerary in the La Fortuna - Arenal region. The little wild paradise of the Arenal region The region is famous for its wildlife, but also for its two species of sloths: the two-toed sloth and the three-toed sloth. The other most sought-after species for their colors, unique characteristics, and history are the multicolored toucan and the "Blue Jeans" frog. In search of these three beautiful animals, our expert guide will take you, along with other travelers, through the magnificent observation areas of La Fortuna, so you can see more wildlife. Birds, iguanas, and monkeys are some of the animals you will encounter. Breakfast will be prepared by the organizers of this tour. You will be back at the hotel around 9:00 am to collect your belongings and, around 9:30 or 10:00 am, we will take you to the Selva Verde Lodge in Sarapiquí. You will be there in an hour and a half. Find your activity in Sarapiquí Several activities will be offered to you, such as: a guided hike in the Selva Verde rainforest reserve, a night walk in the Selva Verde reserve, a boat ride on the Sarapiquí River, or another morning birdwatching walk at Selva Verde. If you wish to book one of these activities, you can contact the reception staff.

• day 8

  Transfer to Puerto Viejo

  At 9:00 in the morning, we will travel to Puerto Viejo. Upon your arrival, our colleague Olga will welcome you in the Caribbean and advise you on restaurants and places to visit. You will stay at the Indalo Boutique hotel.

• day 9

  Kayaks and walk at Punta Uva

  The morning begins with a panoramic tour at the southern end of the bay, where the kayaking will start in the Caribbean Sea. If we are lucky, we may also see the sea turtles that usually appear in this area. After a brief kayak tour at Punta Uva, we will approach the mouth of the Punta Uva river. This is where the wildlife becomes more intense. Howler monkeys and families of sloths can be observed in the treetops. After kayaking, you will enjoy a break to savor delicious fresh fruit and swim in the Caribbean before starting the hike. We will take you on hiking trails that cross the mountain range surrounding Punta Uva and offer breathtaking views of the bay. The excursion is not difficult and lasts half a day, with kayaking and walking.

• day 10

  Free day in Puerto Viejo

  You will have the day free to enjoy the relaxed Caribbean atmosphere. You can take this opportunity to go for an off-the-beaten-path walk in Cahuita National Park, while exploring its lush vegetation. If you are a rafting enthusiast, we can arrange a rafting trip along the Pacuare River. If you are an animal lover, in Puerto Viejo, you can visit the Jaguar Rescue Center. If you want to discover the country's cuisine, we will be happy to organize a pleasant Caribbean cooking class. You will spend one last night at the Boutique Indalo hotel.

• day 11

  Transfer to Tortuguero and visit to the turtle nesting.

  Today, we will take you to Moin, near Limon, accompanied by our colleague, to catch the 10:00 AM boat that will take you to Tortuguero. The car transfer to Moin takes one hour, and from Moin to Tortuguero, the boat ride takes three and a half hours. Arrival is therefore expected around 1:30 PM. In the evening, at 7:30 PM, we will be waiting for you at the Miss Junies hotel to go see the turtle nesting.

• day 12

  Visit of the canals in Tortuguero

  Today, at the first hour of the morning, our guide will be waiting for you for a pleasant boat ride through Tortuguero National Park. We will use a paddle canoe to go deep into the canals. First, we will go to the place where the entrance fees to the National Park are paid, then we will embark on a beautiful and peaceful adventure through nature. It will take about two and a half hours to cross the canals of Tortuguero National Park. A unique experience that you can enjoy with a specialized guide. You will have free time until your transfer to Tortuguero airport. A flight is scheduled at 15:55 with arrival in San José at 16:25. You will stay at Miss Junies hotel until the time of transfer, which will take place around 15:10. In San José, we will transfer you to the Hampton Inn Suites lodge for an overnight stay.

• day 13

  Flight from Tortuguero to San José and return flight

  After this 2-week family stay in Costa Rica, a country devoted to ecotourism, it is now time to return. You will be transferred to the airport to take your return flight. The price includes: - Certified guide for excursions in Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde, and Puerto Viejo. - All transfers are private, except on August 20th when the transfer will be managed by the hotel. The transfer to Moin will also be on a shared public boat. - The tours will be private except for the Arenal sloth exploration tour. - Mentioned hotels. For a family of 3 people, it will be a double room with an extra bed. For a family of 4 people, it will be a quadruple room, and in some hotels, two double rooms. - The indicated meals. We will advise you on restaurants. - Entrance fees to all national parks. - Entry fees for horseback riding, canopy, bridges, hot springs activities... - International travel insurance with cancellation. - Domestic flight: Tortuguero - San Jose. The price does not include: - International flights. - Food and drinks not mentioned above.