Costa Rica with your children – 13 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Welcome to San José

  Welcome to Costa Rica! Meet and greet by our French-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel located in the capital, San José. Delivery of your travel booklet.

• day 2

  Direction Tortuguero

  Meet your local Spanish-English speaking driver at your hotel reception, then head towards the Tortuguero dock in a semi-shared transfer (only with guests staying at the same Lodge as you in Tortuguero). Arrival in the town of Guápiles and breakfast in a local restaurant, before boarding a boat to Tortuguero National Park. You will navigate the canals, in the heart of the rainforest. Continue by boat to the small Caribbean village of Tortuguero and visit it, before heading to the Lodge. Free afternoon to enjoy the Lodge's facilities and walk around the surroundings. Between March and October, you can join a night excursion to observe the nesting of green, loggerhead, or leatherback turtles.

• day 3

  Discovery of the village and Tortuguero National Park

  Boat trip to visit the canals of Tortuguero Park: it is a different and very fun way to discover this impressive panorama. Later, you can visit the surroundings of the Lodge, accompanied by the local guide, to discover this very humid tropical forest, its fauna and flora. Return to the Lodge for lunch. You have the rest of the day free to enjoy the facilities and activities offered on site.

• day 4

  On the way to the Southern Caribbean

  Return to Guápiles by boat, then have lunch in a local restaurant. The car rental agent will meet you at the restaurant to hand over your rental vehicle. Continue towards the Southern Caribbean. You will pass through Siquirres and the port city of Limón before reaching the seaside, where the villages of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo... are located. Settle into your room in the small town of Cahuita.

• day 5

  Discovery of the Cahuita area

  Activity included in the program: This morning, visit to an animal shelter, the Jaguar Rescue Center, with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide. Rest of the day free to enjoy the beautiful nearby beaches. The best way to get around locally is by bicycle, which you can rent in the village. You can also take an optional excursion in the region: Visit to Cahuita National Park with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide (approximate price as of today): discover one of the must-see natural sites on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Walk along the seaside trails, dotted with pretty little bays lined with coconut trees and protected by coral reefs. Wildlife is easy to spot: monkeys (howler and capuchin), birds of all kinds (tanagers, green ibis, trogons...), iguanas, raccoons, agoutis, sloths. Excursion within the Bri-Bri indigenous community with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide: you will visit the iguana farm and the medicinal plant garden. You will also learn more about cacao, a very important plant in Bri-Bri Indian culture for its healing, spiritual, and of course, taste properties! Finally, you will go to a small waterfall located in the forest where you can swim. Typical Caribbean lunch with the community.

• day 6

  Sarapiquí Region - Local Welcome

  Once breakfast is over, departure towards the northeast of the country, to Sarapiquí, a rich agricultural region (pineapple, heart of palm, pejibaye, soursop…). You will arrive at the home of Don Rodolfo and his wife, Doña Rosa, who are the owners of a small "finca" (small farm). Don Rodolfo combines his activity of producing organic pineapples and other tropical fruits with ecotourism, by showing his farm to passing visitors and sharing with them a bit of his daily life.

• day 7

  Sarapiquí Region - Local Welcome

  Don Rodolfo will take you through his finca for a pleasant walk of about 45 min, where you will have the opportunity to taste pineapple and other tropical fruits. In the pineapple plantation, Don Rodolfo will explain the sustainable practices used to produce this fruit on a family scale. To finish, Doña Rosa will teach you how to cook the tilapia caught earlier, accompanied by a plantain cake and fried cassava. You will enjoy the lunch you have prepared with the family. Free afternoon to relax at the finca.

• day 8

  Heading to the Arenal volcano

  Continuation northwards in the country to reach La Fortuna, a town located at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Despite a decrease in volcanic activity over the past 3 years, the Arenal volcano offers an unforgettable spectacle to its visitors, who can see fumaroles escaping from the crater on clear days. Rest of the day free to enjoy the lodge or walk around the surroundings.

• day 9

  Walk on suspension bridges and thermal waters

  Activity included in the program: This morning, walk on hanging bridges (self-guided walk without a guide): this takes place in the private natural reserve of 250 ha of primary tropical humid forest, for observing the fauna and flora at the canopy level; different viewpoints of the volcano. 3 km of easy trails, accessible to all. You will cross 15 bridges at different heights, measuring from 5 to 100 meters. Free afternoon to enjoy the Lodge or take an optional excursion in the region: Arenal Volcano National Park: guided tour with Spanish/English-speaking guide available (64 US$ per person, approximate price as of today): walk on the national park trail. La Fortuna River Waterfall: walk down (500 uneven steps in the forest) to a superb waterfall over 70 m high. You will find yourself in a lush setting and you can swim in this luxuriant environment. Activity included in the program: At the end of the afternoon, you will go to the Baldi hot springs, where you will enjoy a relaxing evening in the pools naturally heated by the Arenal volcano. You will also enjoy a delicious dinner on site.

• day 10

  On the way to the seaside resort of Samara.

  Drive in the morning towards the Guanacaste Peninsula. You will pass through Liberia as well as Nicoya, and finally arrive at the small, quiet seaside resort of Samara, ideal for families with children. Free afternoon to enjoy the lodge and the nearby beach.

• day 11

  Boat tour to observe marine wildlife.

  Activity included in the program: This morning, boat tour to observe dolphins, with a local Spanish/English-speaking guide. You will start the tour on Samara beach. The captain of your boat will welcome you on board (capacity of 6 to 7 people). He will take you to navigate in search of dolphins, then take you to Isla Chora or its surroundings, where you can go snorkeling and observe various exotic fish. During the trip, the captain will offer you water and fruit. Tours are generally conducted in the morning due to the weather.

• day 12

  Alajuela Region

  Route to the province of Alajuela, where the Poás volcano is located. Coffee, fern, and strawberry plantations, as well as flower gardens and a path dotted with hydrangeas, offer you a beautiful palette of colors and textures.

• day 13

  Return to the capital - Airport

  Continuation to Juan Santamaria International Airport. Return of the vehicle to your rental agency's branch near the airport; you will reach it thanks to a free semi-collective shuttle. You must arrive at the airport 3 hours before your departure flight.