Costa Rica Family Tour

Depart to San Jose. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to relax and enjoy San Jose. Overnight in San Jose.

Early morning transfer by minibus to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean Coast. On the way to Tortuguero, you will drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park, and stop along the way for a typical Costa Rican breakfast. You will also visit a banana processing plant before arriving at Cano Blanco, the launching point for the scenic boat ride to Tortuguero. Tortuguero is one of the best parks in Costa Rica for wildlife observation, and Its black sand beach is a major nesting area for the green sea turtle. The park is also home to over 300 species of birds, including herons and kingfishers, monkeys (howler, spider, and white-faced capuchin), sloths, caiman, iguanas, frogs, and butterflies.

Check-in at the Lodge followed by lunch. Afternoon visit to the Sea Museum of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation in the small village of Tortuguero. Overnight in Tortuguero. (B,L,D)

Visit the canals within the national park to observe and learn about the amazing variety of flora and fauna of the area. Overnight in Tortuguero. (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the lodge, depart by boat to Cano Blanco, and then by minibus to Guapiles, where you will have lunch. You will then be transferred to Sarapiqui and your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, you will learn about the Bats of Costa Rica at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Bats represent almost 50% of the mammals in Costa Rica (113 species). The presentation consists of a multimedia presentation of about 30 minutes regarding the natural history of bats, their classification, diversity, adaptations, reproduction, threats and more. At the end of the presentation, a trained guide will provide you with a safe opportunity to observe up close some of the bats that were captured during the evening for research projects. Finally, you will visit the site of a demonstration snare net that is used in bat research, where the method of capturing bats is explained. The bats are captured and held for less than two hours. The methods used insure the well-being of the animals. Overnight in Sarapiqui. (B,L,D)

Morning departure for Class II and III whitewater rafting on Rio Sarapiqui, whose white water stretches are some of the most beautiful in Costa Rica. The rafting starts at the Hacienda Pozo Azul put-in, and runs 13 km. (8 miles) to Chilamate. An abundance of wildlife can be seen at the river’s edge. Safety instructions and fresh fruit snacks will be provided. After the rafting, you will be taken to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon free. For families with younger children (under 9), a float trip on calmer waters can be arranged. Overnight in Sarapiqui. (B,L,D)

In the morning, you will have a Chocolate Tour at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. The tour crosses the Tirimbina suspension bridge and includes a guided walk of about 25 minutes through the forest, before reaching the cacao plantation. During the walk the guide will talk to you about the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree. At the plantation, you will learn about the traditional process that is used to transform cacao into chocolate (harvest, fermentation, drying). You can also try different types of chocolate, made with organic cacao. Following the tour, you will return to the hotel for lunch and then be transferred to your hotel in Arenal.

Late afternoon, set out for the thermal natural springs at Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. Enjoy a relaxing mineral bath followed by dinner. Overnight in Arenal. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a ride through the rainforest of the Arenal Volcano National Park on the Sky Tram Gondola to a view point overlooking the Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake. Stay for a while to enjoy the fabulous view. You can then take the Gondola back to the base, or experience the ultimate adrenaline rush by riding Sky Trek’s ten zip-lines down. The zip-lines range from 98 to 650 feet high and from 650 to 2,460 feet long. This is an experience you won’t forget. Afterwards, you will be returned to your hotel, and have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy the area. Overnight in Arenal. (B,L,D)

Transfer to San Jose International Airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)