Play hard, bond deeply, and (shh... don't tell the kids!) learn tons on Boundless Journeys' Costa Rica Family Adventure.

Costa Rica is a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. Howler monkeys, jungle-like rainforest, lava-spewing volcanoes, hot springs, and a huge variety of entertaining wildlife will provide memories for your family to last a lifetime. There's even a zipline canopy adventure for those who dare! Beyond the exciting wildlife, Costa Rica is a perfect family destination, with its beautifully preserved forests and highlands with easy to moderate hiking trails, friendly and welcoming local culture, and opportunities for hands-on fun at every turn. The memory of this Costa Rica family adventure tour is a gift each generation will cherish, as every moment renews in you a child-like sense of wonder in a world where there's much to discover.

Days 1-3: Meet your guides in San José and take an exciting journey through the mountains and down a river by boat, to the jungle outpost of Tortuguero (literally “land of the turtles”) on the Caribbean coast. Explore the rainforest with our naturalist guides, and watch for nesting sea turtles in April and July!                                                      

Days 4-7: Explore Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and ride traditional ox-carts through a sugar plantation, learning about the traditional culture of the region. Cross Lake Arenal by boat, play in hot springs, hike across lava fields and witness the exciting displays of Arenal Volcano. Meet a tico family on their farm to learn about sustainable agriculture and for a lesson in making traditional tortillas. Each day, awaken to the sounds of howler monkeys and songs of exotic birds.

Day 8:  Return to San José and depart for home.

• A passion for travel. Simply put, we love to travel, and that is woven into every one of our journeys.
• Unique, award-winning itineraries. Our flexible, hand-crafted journeys have received accolades from the world’s most revered travel publications.
• Insider connections. There is simply no substitute for traveling with a knowledgeable insider.
• Small groups. We tread softly, and our average group size is just 6-8 guests.
• Flexibility to suit your travel style. We offer both small-group departures and Private Collection trips, so that you can choose which works best for you.
• Customer service that goes the extra mile. There is no request that is too big – or too small – for our staff to handle.
• Sustainability. We are committed to traveling responsibly – striving to preserve traditions and cultures around the world, and protecting fragile natural habitats.

Most Convenient Airport:
Juan Santamaria International Airport, San José, Costa Rica (airport code: SJO)

Meeting Time and Place:
If you arrive on Day 1 of the trip, a Boundless Journeys driver will meet you at the airport when you arrive in San José to drive you to your hotel (you will find the driver holding a sign with your name on it after clearing customs, and exiting the right-hand side of the terminal). We suggest arriving by 4 p.m. on Day 1 in order to have time to settle in and freshen up before meeting the group for dinner.

Departure Time and Place:
On the last day of the trip we will be driving from La Fortuna back to San José. We are scheduled to arrive in San José by 11:30 a.m.  At the very earliest, flights out on the last day of the trip should be scheduled no earlier than 2:30 p.m.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Physical Activity
Boundless Journeys’ trips are designed for energetic and flexible individuals who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. Costa Rica: Rainforests and Volcanoes Family Adventure is rated 2, easy to moderate, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). The walks on this trip range from 1-5 hours. The terrain is usually gradual, although you may encounter occasional steep sections.  Most walks are on unpaved paths and trails, with minimal vehicle support. Trails, at times, may be wet and slick with mud.

Preparing for this Trip
It is very important that you realistically assess your physical condition with regard to the demands of this trip. The more well prepared you are for the activities on this trip, the more you will enjoy yourself!  Please engage in moderate aerobic activities (hiking, jogging, or cycling) for at least 30-45 minutes several times a week for 4-6 weeks before the trip. If you live in a flat area, try to incorporate some stairs into your workout, or use a treadmill with varying incline capability.  Consult your doctor before undertaking any new fitness program.  

The Tortuguero Experience
19,000-hectare Tortuguero National Park protects the nesting beach of green, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles, and is one of the most important nesting sites in the western Caribbean. These turtles primarily come ashore to nest during the summer, and so our July trips include a nighttime excursion to the beach to observe their nesting behaviors.

However, Tortuguero is a fascinating place to visit at any time of year. Aside from turtles, Tortuguero shelters a fabulous array of wildlife, including more than 300 bird species, among them the great green macaw, 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 mammal species, including jaguars, tapirs, ocelots, cougars, river otters, and manatees. Commonly seen birds include toucans, aricaris, oropendolas, swallow-tailed hawks, several species of herons, kingfishers, anhingas, parrots, and jacanas. The wide-open canals make viewing easier than at many other parks—superb for spotting crocodiles, giant iguanas, and basilisk lizards basking atop branches, hawks and vultures swooping over the treetops, and caimans dozing on fallen palm branches at the river’s edge.

Getting to Tortuguero is an adventure in itself—there are no roads to Tortuguero National Park; access is only by river boat or airplane. Arriving in Tortuguero by river boat is a two-hour adventure through scenic rivers to our jungle lodge. To make the most of our time, we expedite our return by choosing to fly back to San José, and have included this flight in the trip price.

Weather
The temperature in Costa Rica is influenced by altitude, and varies little over the course of the year. In San José, average temps are between 59 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. When cold fronts move in, as they can at any time of year, the weather can turn cooler and wetter, typically for a few days. The coastal areas are typically much warmer; the Caribbean coast averages lows in the mid to upper 70s and highs in the mid 90s. In the afternoons, humidity is in the mid to high 60% range. You may obtain more detailed weather information by visiting www.weatherbase.com.

When to Go
The dry season is from December to April.  The highlands are truly dry at this time of year, typically with only one or two rain days per month (although if a cold front comes in a rainier pattern can prevail even during the dry season). The Caribbean coastal region tends to have a more consistent rainforest weather pattern, and can have rain year round, usually limited to afternoon showers in the dry season.  
The rainy season (or green season) begins in May and lasts until late October. During the day sunny skies generally prevail, though they usually give way to afternoon showers. The green season is when the sea turtles come ashore to nest on the beaches of Tortuguero. If you are interested in witnessing this event, choose a July departure.

It is important that you come prepared for a variety of weather conditions regardless of the time of year. Over the course of your trip you will likely encounter both cool, rainy weather and warm, sunny weather. Please be prepared with clothing for both!

Overview:  Comfortable San José hotel and perfectly located nature lodges with many amenities and unrivaled scenery. All private baths.

Night 1:  Hotel Bougainvillea
Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica

Located in a quiet suburb of San José, Hotel Bougainvillea offers charming accommodations and a tranquil location to rest after your travels.

Nights 2 & 3:  Pachira Lodge
Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica

Set in the rainforest aside the slow-moving “canals” of Tortuguero, with Tortuguero National Park just a five-minute boat ride away. Rooms are basic but comfortable, and a swimming pool allows for cooling off midday. Meals are buffet-style, with a nice selection of regional foods available.
 

Nights 4 & 5:  Hotel El Establo
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

Set on 150 acres adjacent to the Monteverde Reserve, Hotel El Establo is a comfortable retreat after days of exploring the cloud forest – with the only swimming pool in Monteverde!

Nights 6 & 7:  Hotel Arenal Manoa
La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Nestled across the valley from Arenal Volcano, Hotel Arenal Manoa offers one of the world's most thrilling fireworks displays – regular volcanic eruptions.
 

DAY 1  
Arrival in San José

Our trip begins upon the arrival of your flight to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José. After clearing customs you are met by our driver and transferred to our hotel, where you can settle in and freshen up after your flight. This evening, we meet as a group in the lobby of the hotel before heading out to dinner at a local restauarant.
Hotel Bougainvillea, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica

DAY 2
Transfer to Tortuguero National Park

Nature walking – easy, 1-2 hours.

This morning we depart San José early and drive east through the central mountains, descending through valleys of banana plantations as the climate, and your children’s excitement level, becomes increasingly jungle-like. Next, we board a river boat, African Queen-style, and make our way through the twisting rivers of the Caribbean lowlands to our home for the next two nights – a deluxe jungle lodge bordering Tortuguero National Park. We arrive mid-afternoon, and after a tropical lunch we begin our first adrenalin-filled adventure – a zip line tour through the rainforest canopy. Later in the afternoon, there is time to enjoy the pool or try your hand at kayaking on the tranquil waterways.

Tortuguero National Park protects one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Eleven habitats are found here, providing homes to three species of monkeys (spider, howler, and white-faced capuchin), three-toed sloths, and river otters. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, basilisk lizards, and poison dart frogs inhabit the area as well, along with more than 320 species of birds including kingfishers, toucans, eight species of parrots, and the uniquely named Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and White-fronted Nunbird.
Pachira Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

DAY 3
Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean Conservation Center

Morning and evening exploration by boat, total of 4 hours.

This morning we board a boat for an exploration of hidden lagoons, where huge trees are home to howler monkeys, Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, and dozens of other bird species. The wide-open canals make for great viewing –  and our guides have an amazing ability to spot wildlife that remains hidden to the untrained eye.  

This afternoon, while the wildlife enjoys its siesta, we visit the Caribbean Conservation Center. This small museum introduces us to a variety of native flora and fauna, but its primary focus is on the life and natural history of the sea turtles which come ashore here to nest from July to October each year. We follow this visit with further canal exploration as the wildlife becomes active again at the end of the day.

Tonight we enjoy an authentic Costa Rican dinner at our jungle lodge. During July, we follow dinner with a nighttime excursion onto the beach to look for nesting sea turtles.
Pachira Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

DAY 4
Transfer to Monteverde

Optional horseback riding.

Early this morning, we board our plane at a nearby airstrip for our flight back to San José. The roughly one-hour flight is scenic and affords us a new perspective on this special part of Costa Rica, where waterfalls cascade from the mountains we fly over.

From San José, we drive into the highlands, arriving by early-afternoon in Monteverde. Our home for the next two nights, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the richest and most diverse tropical cloud forests in the world, best known as home to the resplendent quetzal. It is also home to hundreds of other bird, mammal, and plant species. By midday we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, perhaps sampling casado (rice and beans with meat) – a favorite of the locals. The abundant fresh fruit is also refreshing at this time of day. This afternoon, there is the opportunity to go horseback riding on the beautiful trails of Monteverde, riding past waterfalls, with views sweeping across mountain ridges to the Gulf of Nicoya and the San Luis valley.

This evening we make ourselves comfortable at our hotel and enjoy its amenities, including a beautiful swimming pool on the edge of the forest.
Hotel El Establo, Monteverde, Costa Rica

DAY 5  
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Walking – easy to moderate, on hiking trails, 3-5 hours.

After breakfast, we begin our day with a hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, where we experience first-hand the misty forest with its dense vegetation and majestic trees. Our naturalist guide explains the specific cycles of life in this unique and complex ecosystem. The tropical cloud forest is confined to mountain ridges where, due to frequent cloud cover, the mist moistens and fertilizes the land, resulting in the dense growth of small plants (known as epiphytes) in the trees. From the forest floor to the canopy, it is a place full of life.  

This afternoon we visit the Trapiche of Monteverde, a sugar cane and coffee plantation that we explore by ox-cart, before hiking through an area of secondary growth forest, where the less-dense vegetation allows us to spot a variety of wildlife, including coatimundis, sloths, and agoutis.

Our day ends where it began, as we enjoy one more evening at our deluxe hotel.
Hotel El Establo, Monteverde, Costa Rica

DAY 6  
Transfer to Arenal Volcano National Park

Scenic boat ride; walking – easy, 1-2 hours.

In the morning, we say goodbye to the cloud forest and depart Monteverde for the small town of Rio Chiquito, where we board a boat for a thirty-minute ride across Lake Arenal. Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, lords over the landscape. As we travel across, our guide explains the fascinating history of this man-made lake and the original town of Arenal that now lies buried deep under the surface.

On the other side of the lake, our van is waiting for a short ride to the farm of Don Juan. Juan Bautista is a former teacher and principal now living in the town of La Fortuna, farming a small amount of land. A specialist in sustainable farming, Juan introduces us to his methods of growing cassava, lettuce, plantains, and more. For lunch, our new friends teach us to make tortillas, and we enjoy them with a fresh, home-cooked meal. After time to chat with Juan and his family, we continue by van to reach our home for the next two nights.

If we are lucky, over the next two days we will have regular shows from Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. From our lodge, the only one within the park boundaries, we have an impressive view of the volcanic giant which erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava.
Hotel Arenal Manoa, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

DAY 7  
Arenal Volcano and Ecotermales Hot Springs

Hiking – easy to moderate, 3-4 hours.  

Arenal Volcano National Park encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife – it is also our grounds for exploration today. Our trail allows an opportunity to encounter a variety of wildlife and birdlife, as well as exceptional views of the volcano from a safe vantage point. Along the way, our guide reveals the volcano’s fascinating history and explains its current level of activity.

After lunch, a leisurely or heart-pounding adventure is in store – the choice is yours. We board gondolas, providing a smooth and peaceful ride through the rainforest, with endless views on the way to the top. Once at the observation deck, take some time to simply enjoy the magnificent views of the volcano’s south face.

From here, we have two options for returning to the base. The first option is to ride back down on the gondola, noticing along the way how the vegetation varies as the altitude changes once again. The other option is to zip your way to the bottom along a series of fast moving canopy zip lines, a great option for those seeking a rush of adrenaline!

Later this afternoon, we enjoy the benefits of this geothermal area with a refreshing dip in the Ecotermales hot springs – one of the less frequented but most scenic springs in the Arenal region. Here we have time to relax before a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant. Depending on the weather conditions, we may even have the opportunity to witness one of Arenal’s frequent eruptions.
Hotel Arenal Manoa, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

DAY 8
Return to San José; Departure

Today we say goodbye to the rainforests and highlands of Costa Rica, arriving at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José by noon, in time for mid-afternoon flights home.

Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary to take advantage of weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these should the need arise.

$2,495 per person (7-11 years old $1,995, when sharing with two adults)

• Expert leadership
• All accommodations
• All meals
• All transportation during the trip, including boat transfers and internal flight
• Park fees
• All activities as noted in the itinerary, including the optional zip line adventure (must be 8 years old to participate)