trip specifics

price

2012

Costa Rica is one of the world's most adventurous family-friendly places, widely known for its dedication to peace, cultural exchange, and environmental education. Our Costa Rica family adventure visits areas that exemplify these qualities creating wonderful shared memories for years to come. All aspects of this tour, from more spacious accommodations to less rigorous transfers to the planned activities, have been designed with the traveling family in mind. Starting with Arenal Volcano, with it's picture perfect cone and active lava flows, we explore this geologic wonder and the rich surrounding rainforests filled with waterfalls, wildlife, and opportunities for exploration. In Monteverde we hike through the lush Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, walk the nearby platform bridges for an aerial view of these incredible forests, and visit the shining example of sustainable tourism in the town of Santa Elena. Conclude with mangrove kayaking, turtle sightings, and beach combing in Costa Rica's coastal playground of Tamarindo. Accommodations for this active adventure include wilderness lodges and boutique hotels.

Day 1 - Arrival

Upon arrival at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in San Jose.

Accommodations: Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
Included Meals: n/a

Day 2 - Arenal Volcano

Start your tour with a scenic drive to Arenal Volcano, stopping en route at La Paz Waterfall Gardens for lunch and an up close view at a system of 5 different waterfalls. The gardens also include child friendly butterfly, hummingbird, and frog gardens. After lunch continue on through the scenic highlands to Arenal. From the lodge, which is situated safely on a high ridge only 1.6 miles south of the volcano, visitors have an impressive view of this "giant which rumbles" and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava. The lodge is the only property located within the Arenal Volcano National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife.

Accommodations: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 3 - Arenal to Monteverde

Enjoy a morning hike to a nearby waterfall and an up-close exploration of a lava flow prior to the drive Monteverde. Crossing Arenal Lake by boat and then driving on, we make our way to Monteverde, one of the most diverse and richest tropical cloud forests in the New World is best known as home to the Resplendent Quetzal but includes hundreds of other birds, mammals and plant species. Arrive in time to explore the nearby town of Santa Elena.

Accommodations: Hotel Fonda Vela or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 4 - Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Morning guided hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve viewing the wet forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees. The perpetually misty forests of the Reserve encompass eight distinct ecological zones and protect more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. In the afternoon visit the SkyTrek, a system of suspended cable zip lines constructed within the cloud forest, that give the participant a unique thrill and vantage point high in the forest canopy. For those not interested in Zip Lines, the Sky Walk, a hiking system of suspended bridges, may be substituted at no additional cost.

Accommodations: Hotel Fonda Vela or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 5 - Mountains to Coast

Our representative will transfer you in an air conditioned vehicle on a scenic drive through the dry savanna of Guanacaste to the North Pacific Coast, and on to our luxury beachfront accommodations just outside of Tamarindo. The remainder of the day is yours to stroll the beach or relax by your hotel's pool.

Accommodations: Capitan Suizo or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Days 6-7 - Tamarindo Beach

Spend your days in Tamarindo simply soaking in the Pacific views, or opting for several activities available to your family at additional cost, such as snorkeling, horseback riding, surfing lessons, kayaking, and more!

From mid-November though mid-March a miracle of nature occurs along the Guanacaste coast when thousands of Leatherback turtles come to nest on the beaches. During this season guided night walks are offered (at additional cost) along the beach to witness these massive females emerge from the sea to lay and bury their eggs. Later in the season, guests can witness hundreds of baby turtles hatch and scurry to the safety of the seas.

Accommodations: Capitan Suizo or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 8 - San Jose

Return by plane to San Jose where a representative will take you to your hotel in Costa Rica's capitol. Spend your last afternoon in Costa Rica taking in a museum or exploring one of San Jose's several colorful markets.

Accommodations: Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 9 - Return

Transfer to the international airport for your return flights home or begin your trip extension. See our Costa Rica Ala Carte Adventures for Trip Extension ideas.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

2012 Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose.

Accommodations: Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
Included Meals: n/a

Day 2 - Cocora Gardens; Transfer to Arenal Volcano

Your journey begins by traveling northwest along the Interamerican Highway to head north through the town of San Ramon. Take a short break and visit the community’s agriculture town market which offers a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables, including some that are rarely seen outside the tropics. Continue on with a visit to the Cocora Private hummingbird and butterfly gardens.

After a traditional lunch at Doña Mara´s house, you will continue on to your Arenal area hotel, traveling in the north central lowlands of Costa Rica among farmlands of tropical crops and cattle ranches.

Accommodations: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 3 - Arenal Hanging Bridges; Monteverde

Today in the morning you will visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges. This is a complex of suspended bridges and trails through a beautiful rain forest. As you walk through the forest, you may encounter a variety of the forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howling monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys.

After your rainforest bridges walk, you will travel up into the mountains on your way to the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. A place that has been intensely studied by scientists since its founding in 1972, and is the site of important pioneering research on the effects of climate change in tropical ecosystems. Outside the reserve the most important farm products around are organic coffee and milk for the local Cheese Factory. The factory has been producing a variety of high-quality cheeses in Costa Rica since shortly after Quakers from the United States settled the area in 1950´s. Near and around the community centers, a large selection of restaurants, and other visitor attractions are found, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, treetop forest canopy tours, an orchid garden, art galleries, and a bat exhibit among others.

Accommodations: Hotel Fonda Vela or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 4 - Monteverde Reserve, Sugar Mill and Coffe Tour

Today in the morning visit the Trapiche (‘sugar mill’) and coffee farm, that first began operation in 1948. The Monteverde Trapiche is run by a local family, and on your tour you will not only learn about the local process of making sugar, but also about the other most important agricultural product of the region, “café”. There you will enjoy a refreshment of sugar cane juice or lemonade, eat picadillo de arracache (a typical Costa Rican food) and make candy out of sugar cane (everyone makes their own candy!).

After lunch enjoy a guided visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the premier natural history destinations in Costa Rica. The forest consists of lush, verdant vegetation containing understory palms, majestic canopy trees, arching “ropy” lianas, bizarre “strangler” fig trees and epiphytes-small plants that grow on the trees. As you walk through the forest, you may encounter a variety of wildlife including white-faced capuchins, white-nosed coatis and two-toed sloths. Among birds, you may see the Resplendent Quetzal, hummingbirds, toucanets, guans and solitaires.

Accommodations: Hotel Fonda Vela or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 5 - Guanacaste & Tamarindo Beaches - Sky Trek

In the morning visit The Sky Trek, a system of zip lines ranging from mountain to mountain, that gives you the opportunity to fly through a cable and have a unique experience of adventure and adrenaline at speeds up to 40 miles per hour with distances ranging up to 2500 feet and heights of 524 feet. In addition the tour offers 5 observation towers that exceed the cloud forest treetops providing a panoramic view. The tour starts with the Sky Tram that will lead you up to the Continental Divide.

Later, depart from the Monteverde cloudy mountains and travel through the drier northwest Guanacaste province lowlands. This is beef country and you may see Costa Rican cowboys riding behind herds of massive long-eared brahma cattle as you pass through large savannas on your way to the coastal beach community at Tamarindo on the north Pacific Coast.

Accommodations: Capitan Suizo or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 6 - EL Viejo Wetland and Traditional Casona

Today in the morning you will visit El Viejo Wetlands and the traditional Casona de Guanacaste. Located in Filadelfia, Guanacaste, this magnificent 5000 acres of Wildlife Private Refuge called El Viejo Wetlands will introduce you to an exciting place recognized internationally for its exuberant wetland and dry forest flora and fauna. In the same place you will see The elderly “Casona”. This house of ancient lineage proudly represents the hard working spirit of those who lived and died by the midst of the 1800s in a faraway era of colonial Costa Rica. In the afternoon your guide goes back to San Jose.

Accommodations: Capitan Suizo or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 7 - Free Day at the Beach; Optional Activities

Free day to explore or relax on the beach. There are many ecological friendly optional activities in the area, including watching turtles during the nesting season at night, diving, snorkeling, body surfing, zip-lining, estuary trips, horseback riding and fishing.

Accommodations: Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 9 - Return

Transfer to the international airport for your return flights home or begin your trip extension. See our Costa Rica Ala Carte Adventures for Trip Extension ideas.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Notes on Itinerary: This itinerary is designed for families, however is appropriate for any individuals looking for an adventure that highlights some of the best attractions that Costa Rica has to offer. Child rates are applicable to children 10 and under who are sharing rooms with parents.

Single Travelers: Single supplement added if single accommodations are requested, otherwise single travelers may request to share a same sex room. If another single traveler is assigned the single supplements will be waived.

Land Cost Includes: Eight nights lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Costa Rica, all airport/hotel transfers when arriving and departing on the stated arrival and departure dates of the group, meals as specified in the itinerary, hotel taxes, entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest in effect at the time of booking are included unless otherwise specified, guide services as specified in the itinerary, guides' expenses.

Not Included: Airfare to Costa Rica, excess baggage charges, taxes and port fees, gratuities to transfer and naturalist guides, guided turtle nesting tour($25), items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, and insurance of any kind.

Arrival/Departure: The Costa Rica Family Adventure begins and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica. Plan flights to arrive in San Jose any time on day 1 and depart any time on day 9 of the itinerary.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Qualifications: This trip is available to any individuals or families with a love of nature and sense of adventure.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips on one of our Costa Rica A La Carte Adventures and more.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations 'Terms & Conditions'. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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