Costa Rica Expedition Family Vacation (9 days)
The finest Costa Rica all-inclusive family vacation!
Trip Highlights!
- Panoramic Mountain Lodge
- Panoramic restaurant
- Jungle Lodge, Pacuare River
- Panoramic Volcano Lodge
- Caribbean beach lodging
- Overnight Whitewater Rafting, Pacuare River
- Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo & Punta Uva)
- Serpentario, (exotic reptiles)
- Swimming pool & Jacuzzi
- Waterfall hikes, Pacuare River
- Boogie boarding
- Jungle hike, Pacuare River
- Rappelling
- River fishing
- National Park Arenal Volcano
- La Fortuna Waterfall/Hike
- Snorkeling
- Sea Kayaking
- Private white sandy beach
- Sky Tram
- City Tours
- Hot Springs
- Sightseeing Boat tour Sarapiqui River
- Tennis court & beach volleyball
- Sky Trek canopy zip lines
- Mountain Biking to Poza Azúl waterfall
- Mountain Biking to La Fortuna waterfall
Package Includes*:
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Activity level 3. No experience is required to join.
Packing list:
Bring a few pairs of quick drying shorts, light pants, T-shirts that are easy to dry and your bathing suit. Shirts can be short sleeved and long sleeved for protection against the sun and bugs. In general, you will normally be comfortable in shorts and T-shirts during the day, and long pants and a shirt at night. We recommend bringing a rain coat for rainy days and a long sleeved sweater for higher elevations. We also recommend bringing a copy of your passport, camera, binoculars, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, a small towel, hat, sandals with ankle straps, hiking tennis shoes and a strap to secure your glasses. If you are an experienced bike rider, we invite you to bring your own cycling shoes and pedals. We can install your pedals on our mountain bikes for an even better ride!
Price base on double occupancy: $1850 per person*
All-inclusive vacation package until 12/15/ 2009.
High Season Christmas, New Year, Easter Week: $1950 per person*
Minimum age: 12 years.
*Minimum group of 2 people.
For groups of 3 or more, please contact us for special prices.
(Single Supplement $500)
Trips depart daily
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 ≈ Arriving in Costa Rica [top]
We will be waiting for you at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José, Costa Rica (SJO). After you arrive and meet your Costa Rica Adventures guides, we begin your adventure to the panoramic mountain lodge, Cerro Alto, on top of mountain in Turrialba valley. It will be about a 2 ½ hour ride through small towns, beautiful coffee farms, and sugar cane fields around the mountains. We will stop for lunch or dinner on the way to the lodge. When we arrive to the lodge you will enjoy the comfortable accommodations with a wonderful view of the Turrialba valley and Turrialba Volcano. We will have a delicious Costa Rican meal served at the panoramic restaurant.
Day 2 ≈ Whitewater Rafting or kayaking - Pacuare River, Waterfall hikes, Rappelling & Serpentario tour exotic reptiles [top]
After a delicious breakfast, we will prepare for our river journey to the Pacuare River. On the way to the river we will visit the Serpentario. The Serpentario. is a center for snake research and education in Costa Rica. Here we will listen to a brief talk on tropical snake identification and learn about other reptiles species.
We continue on the way to the Pacuare River, which has been recognized as one of the top five most beautiful rivers around the world in the National Geographic magazine. The overnight trip on the Pacuare river is very beautiful. 
You will be able to spend more time on the river and at the jungle lodge, where you can take pleasure of exotic birds and wildlife. For this trip we will descend 21 miles down river. The trip starts at eight hundred meters above the sea level and finishes at forty meters. The first day we will raft 10 miles and have two river hikes. We will be rappelling down two waterfalls and we will enjoy a delicious river lunch before we get to the campsite.
After some great hikes and wonderful rapids, you will arrive at our remote campsite created along a mountain overlooking the Pacuare River. There are 15 tents spaced at a comfortable distance from each other to allow breathtaking panoramic views.
The Jungle lodge is a wonderful place to enjoy the view of the surrounding tropical environment. A 20 person bar with a balcony and hammocks to sit back and relax in. Full shower and bathroom facilities are available, with nearby hiking trails and riverside beaches. After settling into camp, you are free to go swimming, explore the jungle or just sit back in a hammock and relax. We will enjoy happy hour with free drinks and snacks. Dinner is prepared by your river guides.
Day 3 ≈ Whitewater Rafting or kayaking - Jungle Lodge, Hiking, fishing & Caribbean coast [top]
After breakfast at the jungle lodge, we will do a hike to the beautiful jungle where you can enjoy this tropical paradise. We will pack our belongings and continue our river journey. We will leave the lodge and enjoy a wonderful morning along the Pacuare River, observing and listening to the many species of birds and wildlife.
We will have one more river hike to a wonderful waterfall where you can swim and enjoy the jungle in this tropical paradise. After the hike, our rafting trip continues down the most challenging sections of the Pacuare River with 3 class IV drops. 
This spectacular river canyon and virgin rainforest is breathtaking, creating one unforgettable experience.
There will be many opportunities for fishing, swimming and relaxing next to the river before we get to the take out. Lunch is prepared, riverside, by your guides. After lunch we will continue our river descent in class II/III rapids with many play spots to enjoy the nice, warm water before we get to the take out.
This evening we will drive to the Caribbean coast to spend the next two days on the beach. We will stop in a nice restaurant to enjoy a delicious tropical Costa Rican dinner before we arrive to Puerto Viejo beach.
Day 4 ≈ Puerto Viejo beach - Boogie boarding, Snorkeling & sea kayaking tour [top]
Today we are staying next to the beach at Suerre Hotel. The hotel provides air conditioned rooms, cable TV, a private white sandy beach, with hammocks next to the beach, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, tennis court, beach volleyball, billiard tables, restaurant and bar service. Today we will spend the day relaxing and having a lot of fun on the beach. After breakfast we will go to the beach where you can take pleasure in boogie boarding, swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking, playing tennis, frisbee and beach volleyball all day long. Lunch is prepared by your guides on the beach, cool drinks and tropical fruits will be available. Tonight we will go to town to visit a nice restaurant for a delicious Caribbean dinner.
Day 5 ≈ Puerto Viejo beach relaxing on the beach, Biking, Snorkeling, Sea kayaking & Boogie boarding [top]
We will enjoy a healthy breakfast next to the beach before we take you for a morning bike ride along the beach. It is here where you can see many different types of tropical plants and wildlife such as iguanas, monkeys, sloths, and many different tropical birds. After our morning bike ride, we will go to the beach to relax and have fun! Beach volleyball, boogie boards, frisbee, sea kayaks, snorkels and tennis equipment will be available all day long. You will enjoy a BBQ party prepared by your guides on the beach. There will be cool drinks and tropical fruits available. After dinner we can go sightseeing and visit souvenir stores in town, or perhaps visit the beach side Caribbean dance club before you end the evening.
Day 6 ≈ Sarapiqui River open air sightseeing boat wildlife tour, Mountain Biking to Poza Azúl Waterfall [top]
After a delicious tropical breakfast, we begin to prepare for our new adventure. Today we will travel to the Sarapiqui River where we will enjoy an open air sightseeing boat tour. Along the way, our captain will point out many different animals such as crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, turtles, sloths, and many different birds. Some birds you might see on this trip include: king fishers, toucans, sun birds, tiger birds, blue herrings, hawks, and many more.
After our wildlife tour, we will do a mountain bike ride to Poza Azúl Waterfall. We will prepare for our mountain bike trip to the waterfall. 
During this ride you will pass through patches of primary and secondary-growth forests, agricultural fields and single track trails. This tour will be 5 miles long, this ride includes a support vehicle for immediate assistance, so there's no need to worry! You will enjoy the amazing views of this tropical paradise. If you are an experienced bike rider, we invite you to bring your own cycling shoes and pedals. We can install your pedals on our mountain bikes for an even better ride! When we arrive to the waterfall you will enjoy the nice, warm water. Here you can take pleasure in swimming, relaxing, bird watching, wildlife and beautiful vegetation. Lunch is prepared by your guides. Tonight we will relax and enjoy a delicious Costa Rican dinner.
Day 7 ≈ Arenal Volcano National Park, Sky Tram, Sky Trek canopy zip lines tour & Hot Springs [top]
Today after a refreshing breakfast, we will visit the Arenal Volcano- one of the most active volcanoes in the country. You will experience the panoramic views of the surrounding land, rumbling and erupting ash around the crater. Here you can take some pictures of this natural paradise. After visiting the Arenal Volcano National Park, we will take you for a lunch break. This afternoon we will visit the Sky Tram, an aerial tram that offers our clients a stunning and incomparable view of the Lake and Volcano Arenal. The tour starts with a 1 kilometer long on the Sky Tram on an ascent to an observation point. At times you will be over 120 feet above the treetops. 
When the tram arrives at the observation point, the view becomes a spectacular virgin rainforest, the peaceful lake and the majestic Volcano Arenal is breathtaking, creating one unforgettable experience.
We will experience the newest adventure in a rain tropical forest. It is here where you will fly over the rain forest by zip lining down 8 canopy cables through the forest, creating one more unforgettable experience. After these activities, we will take a break and enjoy a fruit drink and some snacks at a local restaurant.
Tonight we will enjoy a delicious dinner before going to the hot springs. It is here where we will spend the evening soaking, relaxing and having fun in this beautiful place.
Day 8 ≈ Mountain Biking to La Fortuna Waterfall, Waterfall hike, La Fortuna sightseeing in town, Arenal Volcano hot springs [top]
Today we will enjoy a healthy typical "Tico" breakfast (Gallo Pinto). We begin the day with a mountain bike ride to La Fortuna Waterfall. We will visit this beautiful waterfall over 150 feet high. Here you can take pleasure in swimming, bird watching, wildlife and beautiful vegetation. After this activities, we will take you for a lunch break. This afternoon we will go sightseeing in town for a few hours. We will have a Costa Rican shopping experience at the local souvenir stores and super markets.
This evening we will celebrate our fantastic week together during our last dinner. We will visit the Arenal Volcano Hot Springs before you end the evening. It is here where we will spend the evening soaking, relaxing and having fun in this beautiful place.
Day 9 ≈ Sightseeing in Zarcero famous park, Juan Santamaria International Airport, Drop off and Departure [top]
We enjoy a healthy breakfast before traveling back to the Central Valley. We will enjoy one of the most beautiful drives on the country. Along the way to the Central Valley, we will stop in the town of Zarcero for sightseeing at the famous local park. We continue our journey to the Central valley in Alajuela and San José and then transfer to the airport to say our good-byes! (SJO) Drop off.
Ask about our group and family discounts!
*Not included: Airfare to San José – Costa Rica, Airport departure tax ($26) Optional guide gratuities, and items of personal nature (souvenirs and telephone calls)
This is a sample itinerary. Activities and locations may be subject to change due to a number of reasons beyond our control (weather, water levels, safety conditions, etc.)
