Costa Rica for Families Vacation

The scent of pineapple and coconut syrup may drift through the dining room at breakfast, and howler monkeys call to one another in the trees. Your guide will greet your family in the hotel lobby and escorts you into the treetops to begin your fantastic exploration of the rainforest canopy. Your guide will clip you to the first of seven cables as you explore more than 650 feet above the forest floor. Continue to a private family farm to learn about the cultivation of organic produce in Costa Rica. The kids may light up when your guide cuts open a fresh pineapple.

After breakfast, you can set out on the trails around La Fortuna to view the eponymous waterfall on horseback. The tame and calm horses follow your guide through the combination of rainforest terrain and scenic plantations. You can dismount the horses at an opening on the trail, following the walkway and traversing the more than 300 steps leading to the base of La Fortuna Waterfall where the sound of thundering water echoes in the trees. You can continue to a private plantation to discover delectable Costa Rican chocolate. Large pods dangle from the trees before you help produce velvety dark chocolate, which the whole family can enjoy. 

Your private driver will collect the family in the lobby and escort you to the shores of Lake Arenal to enjoy a comfortable cruise over the water. Rainbow bass fills the human-made lake, and the breeze rushes over the surface and carries a cooling temperature. Upon reaching your resort in Monteverde, you can settle into the ease and comfort of your accommodation in the Cloud Forest.  Step onto the trails with your private guide to discover the nocturnal life wandering along the more than 40 square miles of protected landscape where a red-eyed tree frog perch and kinkajous run through the trees.

The day is yours to explore the splendors of Monteverde Cloud Forest and Biological Reserve with your choice of excursions. Trek the trails with a naturalist guide or visit the smaller sister reserve for a unique exploration of the 765 acres known for its dangling vines and fascinating vegetation. You can venture into the canopy to wander along the treetop walkways. The trail extends for nearly two miles over a series of eight suspension bridges, and the kids enjoy the unique way the bridges bounce with each step you take.  In the hummingbird gardens, the kids try to chase the fluttering and zipping birds through the observatory. 

Head down the hills leading away from the cloud forest and Monteverde. Moisture clings to the moss and leaves, decorating the branches causing the forest to glisten as you make your way towards the Pacific Coast. Stop along the banks of the Corobici River for an adventure fit for all ages of your family. The riverbanks house more than 300 different species of birds, including the roseate spoonbill and boat-billed heron. A tiger heron perches on a tree and takes a break from scanning the riverbanks for crabs and frogs to watch your delighted kids float by.

The day is yours to enjoy the surrounding beauty of the Papagayo Gulf at leisure, from relaxing on the hot golden sand to learning how to paddleboard on the tranquil waters with a view of the coastal rainforest. In the afternoon, you board a private catamaran and set sail on the Pacific Ocean. The water shimmers with turquoise and indigo hues beneath the waning sunlight. You can find secluded beaches reachable only by boat where hammocks dangle from supporting palms. A chef on board the boat will craft delicious snacks and the skipper can call the family’s attention to a pod of dolphins passing on the horizon. 

For a deeper understanding and interaction with the natural splendor around Costa Rica, your private driver will escort the family to Diamante Eco-Adventure Park for a full-day excursion. The unique environment capitalizes on the biodiversity of Guanacaste. The family can choose their preferred expedition, including visiting the largest animal sanctuary in Guanacaste, where wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, and toucans are rehabilitated. You can also step into the butterfly conservatory and follow the bright colors of the surrounding butterflies. Blue morphos flutter their wings and fly in zigzag patterns around the budding flowers and open fruits beckoning with promised sweetness. 

At breakfast, the kids once again recall their favorite moments of their Costa Rica vacation, imitating the calls of the howler monkey and trying to recount exactly how the spinner dolphins leaped from the Pacific during your sunset cruise. The pleasures and splendors of Costa Rica have brought your family closer together, allowing everyone to experience and enjoy the scenery, wildlife, and luxuries. After the meal, your private transfer greets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia for your flight home.