Overview of Your Costa Rica Family Adventure

Southern Explorations family trip to Costa Rica adventure combines exhilarating fun, exotic animals and exciting new landscapes to delight the entire family. Zip line over land and water at full speed; explore the rainforest and watch an active volcano smoke from above the tree canopy; swim in waterfall pools; sail along white sand beaches and enjoy restricted sights only available while floating down a river. Spot elusive wildlife, including toucans, crocodiles, sloths and sea turtles. This tour lets you learn more about Costa Ricas rich heritage while exploring its many ecosystems. The whole family will enjoy the hands-on learning and adventure packed into this 8-day tour.

Trip Features
  • 8 Days
  • Starting at $3,495 per person
  • PHYSICAL RATING
    Easy
  • ACTIVITIES
    Hiking, Ziplining, Canopy Walk, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, River Float
  • HIGHLIGHTS
    Arenal Volcano, Tamarindo

Sample Itinerary

Costa Rica Family Adventure

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Meet your guide at the airport and enjoy a private transfer from the Liberia International Airport or San Jose airport to the Arenal Volcano area, about three hours away. After check-in, spend the rest of day getting settled and exploring the area on your own.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and head to the Arenal Ecoglide zip line canopy & Tarzan swing tour. The tour located in the Arenal River canyon, and is considered one of the best in the area. The 13 platforms and 11 cables make up a network of lines more than 350 meters long and 80 meters above the ground, making this adventure unforgettable. Admire the beautiful surroundings and observe monkeys, birds and sloths as you fly over the rain forest canopy. Halfway through the tour youll have the opportunity to enjoy the Tarzan Swing, an unforgettable adventure. Toward the end of the tour, you will fly over the Arenal River to the last platform. A truck will be waiting with snacks to take you back to the starting point and transfer back to your hotel.

Early afternoon you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby and head out for the Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour. This beautiful, environmentally friendly project is located near the Arenal Volcano. It offers a series of trails suspended in the rainforest canopy that span a total of two miles, allowing you to see the rainforest and volcano from above! Your naturalist guide will teach you about Costa Rican culture, history and natural environments, while pointing out different species of plants, animals and birds along the way. These trails bring you into the rainforest and among its inhabitants. You also get access to stunning views of the surrounding landscape. After the tour, spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring on your own. (B)

Morning  departure from your hotel on a fun drive up a country road to the breathtaking 150-ft La Fortuna Waterfall. Once you arrive at the base of the extinct Cerro Chato Volcano, you’ll hike down to the bottom of one of the largest waterfalls in the Northern Zone. The hike is about 300 steps down a well-maintained path, and 300 steps to get back up. It’s quite a good workout! While you’re down there, swim in the crystalline pool beneath the impressive waterfall. Soak up the nature, birds, rainforest, and enthralling sounds and sights of this enchanting La Fortuna attraction. Return from the waterfall and change into your dry clothes. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the town of La Fortuna.  After you are relaxed and refueled head up the road to the cacao plantation to learn about the chocolate making process. In this “hands on” program, you will have the opportunity to learn interesting aspects of cocoa and chocolate, from its origin and history, participating in all the production process, from the harvesting of the fruit, drying and grinding of the seed, also the developing of the traditional drink of our ancestors, and of course enjoying a high quality organic chocolate. Enjoy this journey through the history, culture, traditions and the flavor. (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and meet your private transfer to head to Tamarindo Beach, about 4 hours away. On the way, near the town of Cañas, you will stop for a safari floating tour on the scenic Corobici River. Observe the abundant wildlife that gathers in the lush vegetation along the riverbanks as you float by. During this relaxing nature safari, you will get a chance to see exotic wildlife, such as birds, monkeys and crocodiles, set against a backdrop of cattle ranches and graceful rolling hills that lead to the Gulf of Nicoya. After the tour, enjoy a Costa Rican lunch (casado) before continuing on to Tamarindo. (B,L)

Enjoy a the bounty of colors and wildlife of Costa Ricas North Pacific area with a kayak estuary tour through the famous mangrove forest of Tamarindo. You will be delighted with the sights and sounds of this natural oasis. This exciting 3-hour kayaking tour takes you into through the estuary that separates Tamarindo Beach and Playa Grande allowing you to observe a wide range of Costa Rican wildlife, including crocodiles, monkeys and a large variety of birds. Both single and double kayaks available. (B)

Spend the next two days on your own, enjoying the hotels many amenities and the beaches of Tamarindo. (B)

Meet your private transfer to the Liberia International Airport in the hotel lobby. The airport is about a one-hour drive from your hotel; departure time will correspond with catching your international flight. Your tour with Southern Explorations ends when you arrive at the airport. (B)

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Accommodations for Costa Rica

Here is a sample of possible hotels on this trip. To see more, or discuss available hotel upgrades, please contact us.

Trip FAQs

We have so much to share with you! How does this all work? Start with the frequently asked questions below, and if you want to talk to us directly, simply reach out by phone or form.

Talk to a Travel Expert
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You have the flexibility to choose your own travel dates on most of our trips. Certain trips, such as cruises, have fixed schedules. Availability on these trips is always changing so please contact us with your preferred travel time and we can find the perfect itinerary for you

We provide full service tours so in general our trips include all guided activities with professional English-speaking guides, accommodations, transportation, airport transfers, entrance fees and permits, select meals, and pre-departure services. You will be responsible for international airfare while we will book all in-country airfare. Contact one of our expert travel planners for even more details on this specific tour.

The first step is to get in touch with a Southern Explorations travel planner for date availability and information on activities, accommodations and other travel aspirations you may have. Give us a call at 1.877.784.5400, fill out this form or email info@southernexplorations.com.

Yes! All of our posted itineraries can be considered a starting point and we’re happy to tailor a trip to your exact desires. There may be some elements of a trip, such as a cruise or all-inclusive lodge stay, that cannot be modified but we can always adjust the tours around those components.

We have more detailed information about each destination in the Plan Your Trip section of this website. Our team of friendly travel planners is also available to walk you through various options and to work with you on the perfect trip!

Plan Your Trip to Costa Rica

Browse our in-depth travel guide of Costa Rica to learn more about the destination.

Learn More About Costa Rica

Testimonials

Our guide, Carlos Vargas, was absolutely exceptional. Not only was he a fantastic guide, pointing out interesting plants and animals we would have surely missed without him, but he was also genuinely a good guy and added to the fun our family had in Costa Rica. Outside of Carlos, the trip was great. Memorable activities, jaw-dropping locations. Wouldnt change a thing.

– Eric Deriemer

Trip Extensions

Make this the best trip to Costa Rica!

Want to add something special or connect this trip to a larger itinerary? Browse these most-added trip extensions, or contact our travel experts for even more tours and activities to fulfill your dream getaway!

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