Compare Costa Rica Family Holiday by Intrepid Travel vs Costa Rica – Pura Vida 2021 by Tauck
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 10 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 2,057 | $ 3,990 |
| Price Per Day | $ 206 | $ 499 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | N/A |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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N/A |
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Discover the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica – and the culture shaped by the tropical wilderness – with your loved ones, on a trip that’s tailored for families. Pick produce and make dinner with a local family during an agricultural homestay, look for three-toed sloths in the thickets of the Manuel Antonio National Park and walk through the canopy of Monteverde’s cloud forest on a suspended bridge. Take a break from active adventure by soaking in springs heated by Arenal Volcano and lying beneath swaying palms on pristine beaches while the kids play nearby. This adventure takes you into the wild heart of a country many visit but few truly know. |
Witness volcanoes, rainforests, and an amazing variety of plant and wildlife in Costa Rica – raft on jungle rivers, zip line in the rainforest, sky-walk in a cloud forest, and visit eco-parks and reserves. |
Day 1 San Jose
Welcome to subtropical San Jose! Meet your leader and fellow family travellers at a welcome meeting at 5 pm at the hotel. If you arrive early there is plenty to see in this bustling city, and as the streets are laid out in a grid pattern it’s relatively easy to navigate too. Check out a few of the optional activities below, just note that as these activities are not included, they may incur an extra charge. The Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, for example, is the perfect way to introduce kids (and adults) of all ages to Costa Rican biodiversity while getting some respite from the clamour of the city. After the meeting tonight, perhaps get a taste of ‘Tico’ food (and get to know the other families and your tour leader) with an optional dinner as a group.
Day 2 Santa Rosa de Pocosol
Fuel up on breakfast and get some books or classic car games ready for the 3-hour drive to Santa Rosa de Pocosol. The tiny agricultural community of Juanilama (pop. approximately 200) in the Santa Rosa de Pocosol area is predominantly dedicated to milk production and raising cattle. It’s the perfect place to experience life in small-town Costa Rica – you’ll even be staying with a local family! Settle in and get to know your hosts before going on an agricultural tour. During the tour the children will learn how to plant vegetables as well as gather some produce to be used in tonight’s cooking class. You will have some free time to wander around the community before coming together to create a meal with the produce collected earlier. Vamos a comer (Let’s eat)!
Day 3 Arenal
Today you’ll cross west through the north of the country to Arenal (approximately 1 hour), which lies beneath the volcano of the same name. Rising from verdant plains, Arenal Volcano shoots up 1633 metres in a perfect cone and in certain light resembles a storybook drawing. The landscape is mainly cloud forest and rainforest, cut through with rivers, lakes and -- thanks to the volcano’s inner workings -- thermal hot springs. On arrival you are free to explore the area at your own pace. Or perhaps you’d prefer to unwind by the hotel pool in view of the mighty Arenal Volcano. Your accommodation also features onsite hot springs where you can relax your muscles in preparation for an active day tomorrow.
Day 4 Arenal
Today begins with a hike to the Peninsula section of the National Park, near Lake Arenal. Here we will begin a 1.5 km (1 mile) long walk along an easy trail for about an hour. Throughout the tour you can enjoy excellent views overlooking Lake Arenal and the Tilaran Volcanic Mountain Range in the observation bays that are found along the trail. At the end of the walk, we will have the opportunity to climb to the observation platform of approximately 12 meters (40 ft) high for a closer and amazing view of the volcano. At the end of the trail, we will take our boat for a tour along the forested shores of Lake Arenal and islets to try to find some animals. This is the ideal place to take scenic photographs of the volcano, if it is clear. After about 45 minutes, the boat docks in the sector of the Arenal Dam. The afternoon is then free for optional activities in the local area. Please note as these activities are not included, some incur extra cost. To get a closer view of the majestic volcano peak, you could take a hike past old lava flows on the Arenal 1968 Trail. There are two options on the 1968, including a shorter route suitable for families with younger kids. Or maybe a slow-paced soar on the Sky Tram is more your family’s speed? Chat to your leader about these and the many other options on offer today.
Day 5 Monteverde
Today you’ll drive to the shores of Lake Arenal, before taking a boat across the lake to the little town of La Fortuna. On a clear day, you'll have fantastic views of the surrounding area. Watching the massive Arenal Volcano loom larger and larger as you approach is a spectacular sight. Once you reach La Fortuna, a vehicle will take you to the hotel. There may be time to make an optional visit the nearby Butterfly Garden today upon arrival (an additional cost). Otherwise, settle into your accommodation and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. In 1951 North American Quakers founded the nearby Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, a sanctuary for the unique flora and fauna of Costa Rica. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call the reserve home, and over the next few days you’ll get acquainted with some of them.
Day 6 Monteverde
See the forest from a different perspective on an included canopy walk across the suspended bridges of Monteverde. The sheer variety of bird life in Monteverde is enough to make an ornithologist out of anyone, so don’t be surprised if younger children have a new answer to the question ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ While you’re up among the treetops look (or listen) out for the reclusive resplendent quetzal, the blue-crowned motmot or the emerald toucanet. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or partake in some optional activities. You could visit an orchid farm or whizz through the trees on zip-lines. If conditions are right, there might be a chance to hike through the forest at dusk, a unique opportunity to see the area’s nocturnal creatures begin to stir.
Day 7 Manuel Antonio National Park
Wave adios to Monteverde and hit the Pan-American Highway for a southward journey past beaches and palm plantations to Manuel Antonio (around 6 hours). Arrive at your accommodation, located close to the national park, and spend an evening at leisure. On your way you will stop at a local family home where you'll enjoy a cooking class and lunch. An activity the kids will enjoy! All the dishes will be based on traditional Costa Rican cuisine. Tonight, maybe take the family for a traditional Costa Rican meal at a soda (local restaurant), where you can mix with locals and try some of the region’s incredible fresh produce. Please note this dinner is not included, but your leader can give you tips on where to go and what to order!
Day 8 Manuel Antonio National Park
After breakfast enjoy a 3-hour guided walk along the trails that snake through Manuel Antonio National Park. Immerse yourself in nature and learn more about the area’s diverse wild and plant life from your guide. Look and listen carefully and you may be able to spot howler monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, iguanas and more. The afternoon is free to explore this magical area further at your family’s desired pace. Maybe you’d like to relax on one of the idyllic palm-lined bays while the kids splash in the water. Active types have the option to rent equipment to kayak, surf or fish in the glittering ocean (for an extra cost). There are no wrong choices in this balmy paradise.
Day 9 San Jose
Rise and shine for your final morning in this beachside haven. Enjoy your last hours in Manuel Antonio with some free time before making the return drive to San Jose in the mid-afternoon (approximately 3 hours). There are no activities planned on arrival at San Jose but maybe head out as a group for a final optional dinner to reminisce about your time together.
Day 10 San Jose
There are no activities planned for today. Please remember to comply with the hotel’s internal check-out times if you are leaving today. Can’t get enough of San Jose? Why not head out on a Tropical Rainforest and Chocolate Urban Adventure, which uncovers the chocolate and wildlife secrets of the jungle. Find out more at urbanadventures.com/San-Jose-tour-tropical-rainforest-and-chocolate-adventure.
Day 1 Arrive San José
Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Hotel Grano de Oro. A transfer is included from San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport to Hotel Grano de Oro in Costa Rica's capital city, San José. Meet your fellow eco-adventurers at this evening's welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Hotel Grano de Oro
PORTOFCALL : San José, Costa Rica
Day 2 Gold, Toucans, and a Spa Resort
Kick off your Costa Rica travel today with a visit and guided tour of the San José's Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), home to a priceless collection of thousands of gold artifacts and artworks from the pre-Columbian period. Then head to the Toucan Rescue Center, where you'll tour the facilities and meet some of the toucans, sloths, monkeys and other wildlife the center's staff cares for. Return to your hotel for lunch before departing San José and traveling to the Arenal region for a two-night stay at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
PORTOFCALL : San José, Costa Rica
Day 3 A Float Trip, Hot Springs & Local Fare
Your Costa Rica travel adventure continues in the jungle today with a float trip* down the scenic Peñas Blancas River aboard a raft; your bilingual guide helps you look for wildlife ranging from sloths to crocodiles to giant iguanas along the shore. Visit a farming family who have lived on the river all their lives, like their ancestors before them, without modern technologies. Return to your thermal resort in the heart of one of Costa Rica's most richly diverse ecosystems for lunch, followed by a free afternoon to enjoy the resort's hot springs and other amenities. Join us for dinner tonight at a local restaurant.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
PORTOFCALL : La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Day 4 Zip Lining, a Nature Walk & Monteverde
Today starts off with an extraordinary bird's-eye view of cone-shaped Arenal Volcano, an actively "restless" volcano, on a thrilling zip-line ride* at Sky Trek Adventure Park – one of the world's most highly regarded zip line operations – where you'll soar over and through the canopy of rainforest treetops! (Those not into zip lining can take a nature walk instead.) After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to rest stop, "El Dos," and enjoy a Sugar cane demonstration with some samplings of fresh sugar cane juice and moonshine to taste before heading off for Monteverde, where you'll spend the next three nights in the heart of the cloud forest at Monteverde Lodge.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Monteverde Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Monteverde, Costa Rica
Day 5 Expert Local Insights & Butterflies
An exciting day of biodiversity awaits in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. First, join two of Costa Rica's foremost naturalists for a memorable walk through the cloud forest canopy at the Selvatura Hanging Bridges, as they provide an incredible overview of the cloud forest ecosystem. After lunch and some free time back at your resort, see more than 50 of over an estimated 1,000 native Costa Rican butterfly species, including the stunning blue morpho, at the reserve's enclosed Butterfly Garden; our naturalists pass along their expert insights on the butterflies' complex life cycles. Continue on to Sofia and join us at a local restaurant featuring eclectic Costa Rican and fusion cuisine in a lovely tropical setting, for a private lecture by one of the Monteverde Reserve's naturalists, followed by dinner. Tonight, relax amidst the orchid-filled gardens of your eco-lodge, where your room boasts bay windows looking out on the cloud forest!
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Monteverde Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Monteverde, Costa Rica
Day 6 Morning Coffee & a Nighttime Walk
Rise early and head to Monteverde Reserve for a guided walk through the reserve with a naturalist. Then... there's nothing like fine Costa Rican gourmet coffee... and today you'll get to see how it's produced, from the seed to the cup, with your local guide on a private tour of the Don Juan Coffee Plantation; learn about the various stages of coffee cultivation and production and its importance to Costa Rican history, and have lunch. Following an afternoon spent relaxing or enjoying free time as you please back at Monteverde Lodge, you may want to join us for an optional nighttime nature walk; because most of the cloud forest's animals are nocturnal, it's a wonderful opportunity to view wildlife that are typically asleep during the day. Have dinner at the lodge tonight.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Monteverde Lodge
PORTOFCALL : Monteverde, Costa Rica
Day 7 San José and Chocolate
Depart Monteverde today and return to the capital city of San José, arriving in time for lunch at a local restaurant. After checking in and spending some free time at your hotel, head over to Sibu, a noted artisan chocolatier, where you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about chocolate! Observe the natural process of transforming the cacao fruit into chocolate during a demonstration (with a little tasting, of course), and say goodbye to your memorable Costa Rica trip at a farewell reception followed by dinner.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Grano de Oro
PORTOFCALL : San José, Costa Rica
Day 8 Journey Home
Tour ends: San José. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Costa Rica to San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : San José, Costa Rica
