Explore Costa Rica with Kids
8-9 Day Rainforest, Volcano and Cloud Forest
8-9 Day Volcano, Rainforest and Beach
All tours include a Private Naturalist Guide for your family
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. Hotel shuttle to Hotel Buena Vista located in a quiet spot on the mountainside looking over the capital city of Costa Rica.
Your private guide picks you up in the morning for the transfer to your first location (2 hrs). The tour begins! You arrive with your bilingual naturalist guide in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, nestled in the lowland tropical rainforest. Andrea Cristina Bed & Breakfast, La Quinta Inn or Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve.
Choose your optional activities with your guide. You can cross the longest suspension bridge in Costa Rica to explore the rainforest at nearby Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve. Majestic tall trees, birds and colorful tiny frogs abound! Early-risers can opt for a guided birding walk. Visit the rainforest at La Selva, one of the top tropical ecology research stations in the world, or take a thrilling whitewater rafting trip on the Rio Sarapiqui (Class 1-5 rapids). The morning family boat ride on a slow, shady boat to look for monkeys, sloths, toucans, caiman and crocodiles is always a hit with kids who might get worn out on a hike!
Afternoon transfer to La Fortuna (2 hrs), at the foot of a spectacular classic cone-shaped volcano. Settle in at cabinas outside of town and enjoy dinner. La Catarata EcoLodge, Arenal Oasis Lodge or Arenal Observatory Lodge. Stay 1 night here for the 8 day tour and 2 nights for the 9 day tour.
Choose your optional activities with your guide. If skies are clear and conditions right, see the lava flow from Volcan Arenal against the night sky. Those interested in adventure and scenery can opt for the steep hike to a spectacular waterfall (La Catarata de la Fortuna) with refreshing swimming holes. An afternoon family visit to Baldi Thermal Hot Springs with 10 volcanically heated springs is fun too- there are two pools that are cool enough for even babies. There's a great hanging bridges walk or tram ride through the rainforest canopy here for everyone and a zipline for those over 8.
Leave Arenal Volcano for Monteverde. Take the scenic drive around Lake Arenal with your guide (4 hrs) or sign up for the Jeep/Boat/Jeep transport ($25pp, 3 hrs) and take a shortcut across the lake. Monteverde is a cloud forest community settled by Quakers that boasts a large forest preserve with some of the most diverse plant and animal life anywhere in the world. You have 2 nights here. Arco Iris EcoLodge, Hotel Atardecer, or Monteverde Villas.
Choose your optional activities with your guide. A naturalist guided hike at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve or neighboring Santa Elena Cloud Forest Preserve is a must. The frog zoo is a hit with younger kids and everyone enjoys the hummingbirds zooming around the Hummingbird Gallery. Families with older kids may enjoy the adventurous horseback ride to San Luis waterfalls. Stop in at CASEM, a women's cooperative selling local art and souvenirs. Sample 6 roasts of organic coffee at neighboring Café Monteverde. Check out the cloud forest canopy from a bird's-eye view from the hanging bridges or zipline.
Time for one more activity at the cloud forest in the morning. Then head back to Hotel Buena Vista in Alajuela near the airport (about 3 hours) with your guide. The guided portion of your tour ends here.
Transfer (15 minutes) to Airport by hotel shuttle.
Please note: Global Family Adventures strives to follow the schedule, but changes may be made due to weather conditions and interesting new opportunities.
All tours include a Private Naturalist Guide for your family
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. Hotel shuttle to Hotel Buena Vista located in a quiet spot on the mountainside looking over the capital city of Costa Rica.
Your private guide picks you up in the morning for the transfer to your first location (3 hrs). The tour begins! Transfer to La Fortuna, at the foot of a spectacular classic cone-shaped volcano. Settle in at cabinas outside of town and enjoy dinner. La Catarata EcoLodge, Arenal Oasis Lodge or Arenal Observatory Lodge.
Choose your optional activities with your guide. If skies are clear and conditions right, see the lava flow from Volcan Arenal against the night sky. Those interested in adventure and scenery can opt for the steep hike to a spectacular waterfall (La Catarata de la Fortuna) with refreshing swimming holes. An afternoon family visit to Baldi Thermal Hot Springs with 10 volcanically heated springs is fun too- there are two pools that are cool enough for even babies. There's a great hanging bridges walk or tram ride through the rainforest canopy here for everyone and a zipline for those over 8.
Transfer with your bilingual naturalist guide to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (2 hrs), nestled in the lowland tropical rainforest. Stay here 1 night for the 8 day tour and 2 nights for the 9 day tour. Andrea Cristina Bed & Breakfast, La Quinta Inn or Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve.
Choose your optional activities with your guide. You can cross the longest suspension bridge in Costa Rica to explore the rainforest at nearby Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve. Majestic tall trees, birds and colorful tiny frogs abound! Early-risers can opt for a guided birding walk. Visit the rainforest at La Selva, one of the top tropical ecology research stations in the world, or take a thrilling whitewater rafting trip on the Rio Sarapiqui (Class 1-5 rapids). The morning family boat ride on a slow, shady boat to look for monkeys, sloths, toucans, caiman and crocodiles is always a hit with kids who might get worn out on a hike!
Transfer to the lovely Playa Negra beach (3 hrs), a quiet swimmable black sand beach just a 15 minute walk from the town of Cahuita and the Cahuita National Park, a beautiful stretch of undeveloped white sand beach with a strip of jungle home to monkeys, sloths and birds. Relax on the beach and play in the sand. Stay at a small family-owned lodge with a pool, just steps from the beach! No big noisy resorts with bars and discos for us! We've found the quiet gems perfect for families with young children. Playa Negra Guesthouse or Bungalows Malu.
Time for one more dip in the ocean in the morning. Then head back to Hotel Buena Vista in Alajuela near the airport (about 4 hours) with your guide. The guided portion of your tour ends here.
Transfer (15 minutes) to Airport by hotel shuttle.
Please note: Global Family Adventures strives to follow the schedule, but changes may be made due to weather conditions and interesting new opportunities.