Making Memories Costa Rica Family Holiday

This morning you will walk along the lodge’s private trails with a naturalist guide, and then have free time to enjoy the facilities before lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on a boat tour through the canals of the Tortuguero National Park. Called Costa Rica’s “little Amazon”, Tortuguero National Park is one of the country’s wilderness areas with the greatest biological biodiversity. The canals are surrounded by lush tropical forest filled with abundant wildlife, and the beaches are famous for being the habitat of seven species of sea turtles. We highly recommend the nocturnal turtle nesting excursion (extra cost applies). Dinner is included at the lodge.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

Mid-morning you will depart by boat back to the main dock and then travel by ground transportation to Guápiles, where you will have lunch. Afterward, you will receive your 4×4 rental car, or continue by private transfer to the Arenal Volcano in the Northern Plains region. Majestic in its grand stature, the volcano is one of the country’s natural wonders. Along your journey to the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the volcano, you will see agricultural plantations, large ornamental plant nurseries, and cattle farms.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

You will visit a local farm in the morning where they grow organic crops and follow environmentally-friendly practices. You will learn about the importance of preserving Costa Rican rural culture and traditions and the main crops that have strengthened its economy. Then, you will enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch. In the afternoon, you will hike trails in the Arenal Volcano National Park. You will see how the forest vegetation and terrain have been affected by volcanic activity, including old lava flows.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

Transfer to Monteverde. Encompassing rainforest, cloud forest, and spectacular biodiversity, Monteverde has one of the rarest and most unique habitats on the planet, not to mention an astonishing variety of flora and fauna. You will experience beautiful landscapes during your journey and will see how locals live when passing typical small villages. At dusk, you will depart from the hotel for the Night Walk tour. At night, many species emerge that you do not usually see during the day, offering a unique show in the forest.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

Breakfast in the hotel.

The extreme adventure starts with the Sky Trek is a thrilling zip line circuit that’s located in the magical forests of Monteverde. Your tour will start riding an open-air gondola from the ground to the highest point of the mountain where you’ll be dropped off at an observation area to admire fantastic views of the surrounding forests. From this point, you will start riding down a unique zipline circuit that stretches across canyons, going from one mountain to another, and in between treetops. It truly is an exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountains. At our Sky Trek in Monteverde, you ride the tram up the mountain, and then get back to the base riding our thrilling ziplines, making it a perfect adventure activity with no walking segments

Continue with the Sky Walk that invites you to explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest on a 2.5km circuit trail that snakes through distinct levels of the wonderfully diverse ecosystem. Sky Walk uses these trails and a series of suspension bridges for a one-on-one experience with the flora and fauna of the forest canopy. You will hike deep into these magical tropical forests to admire nature from a distinct perspective. Crossing hanging bridges with complete views of the forest canopy, and from the forest floor on well-maintained paths – a naturalist guide will point out intriguing plant and animal life. Trails includes some uneven surfaces and several ascents and descents.

Complement your day with a visit to the Monteverde Butterfly Garden and also learn about the insects and arachnids of Costa Rica that will make you change the way people think about these little and misunderstood creatures. This garden offers you up to 30 species of butterflies in 4 different habitats and more than 20 species of insects and arachnids alive in our natural center.

Accommodation is in the hotel of your choice.

Today you will travel to the warm coast of the Central Pacific. If your choice is Manuel Antonio, you will enjoy being next to one of Costa Rica’s favorite national parks. Manuel Antonio is one of the smallest parks yet is the most visited for its beautiful beaches between coastal foothills, lush forests, and abundant wildlife.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

If you are in Manuel Antonio, today you will visit the Manuel Antonio National Park. In addition to several hiking trails, there are beautiful beaches, picturesque viewpoints, and a high probability of seeing animals, especially the four species of monkeys in Costa Rica, sloths, coatis, and raccoons. If you are in Punta Leona, you will take a boat excursion in the Guacalillo Estuary and the Tarcoles River, where you can see many crocodiles and experience the mangroves. The area is home to a high percentage of biodiversity and water birds. It is also one of the primary conservation areas for Scarlet Macaws.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

Today you have free to enjoy your hotel’s facilities and the spectacular beaches.

Accommodation at the hotel of your choice.

Today you depart to the Juan Santamaria International Airport. If you have a rental car, you will need to return it to the agency before your flight. Please note that you should be at the airport at least three hours before your flight departs.

Happy return trip! We hope to have you visit us again.

Included

• Airport transfer to hotel in San José
• Ground transfers between destinations or car rental from Day 4, for 7 days with basic insurance included
• 10 nights’ accommodation with breakfast included
• Full board during your stay in Tortuguero
• Round-trip boat transfer to Tortuguero
• Regular excursion: Walk to the town of Tortuguero
• Regular excursion: Hike the private trails of the lodge in Tortuguero
• Regular excursion: Explore the Tortuguero Canals by boat
• Entrance to Tortuguero National Park
• Regular excursion: Visit Arenal Vida Campesina with lunch included
• Regular excursion: Hike in Arenal Volcano National Park
• Regular excursion: Night Walk in the Cloud Forest
• Regular excursion: Sky Trek, Sky Tram, Sky Walk and butterfly gardens; with lunch included
• Regular excursion: Hike in Manuel Antonio National Park, or a Boat Excursion on the Tarcoles River
• Value added tax
• Infants from 0 to 2 years do not pay
• Children’s rate applies for ages 3 to 11 years. Maximum 2 children sharing a room with their parents

Not included

• Activities not indicated in the program
• Meals not indicated in the program
• Tips for bellhops
• Tips for housekeeping
• Full protection insurance for the rental car
• Mandatory dinners during Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Requirement for the rental car

• The driver must have a valid driver’s license from their country of origin
• Foreign licenses are valid in Costa Rica for 90 days starting from the date of entry into the country
• Minimum age of the driver is 23 years
• The driver must present a valid passport
• The driver must present a credit card in their name (AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD) that has an available balance of approximately $750.00 USD for the security deposit