Family holiday in Costa Rica

15 days – from €3,400 per person*

family holiday - driving - educational - jungle - wildlife - birds

* Please note: this price is based on a family holiday in Costa Rica with two children over the age of 12, using two double rooms. If you are travelling with younger children, prices will need to be calculated on the basis of family rooms.

Day 4 | Tortuguero – Monteverde

(approx. 220 km | 4.5-hour drive)
You’ll be taken from the lodge to Guápiles as part of an international group. Here you’ll collect your rental car, after which you’ll drive on into the cloud forest towards Monteverde. Monteverde lies at an altitude of 1,400 to 1,700 metres. The National Park is home to around 400 species of birds, 490 species of butterflies, more than 100 mammals, 2,500 plant species and tens of thousands of insects. The mist that hangs here makes it feel as though you have stepped into a fairytale setting. From your lodge, you can make use of an extensive network of walking trails, which give you the opportunity to explore the rich flora and fauna. Keep your eyes peeled for sloths, colourful butterflies or monkeys leaping from branch to branch overhead.
Accommodation: Ficus Hotel | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Monteverde

Enjoy your day off! A walk through the cloud forest, a stroll across suspension bridges or a canopy trip where you can swing through the cloud forest like Tarzan. These are just some of the options available when visiting Monteverde. Monteverde owes its fame to the cloud forest reserve and the farming community founded by American Quakers in the 1950s. The Reserva Biológica de Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde (Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve) is a privately-owned cloud forest reserve (10,100 ha), managed by the Tropical Science Centre in San José. It is criss-crossed by well-marked trails and is home to an enormous wealth of animal species, including jaguars, ocelots and quetzals (the sacred bird of the Maya).
Accommodation: Ficus Hotel | bed and breakfast

Days 7 and 8 | La Fortuna

Free days included. La Fortuna offers everything you need for a wonderful family holiday in Costa Rica. Think of a visit to Arenal National Park, a walk through the jungle via suspension bridges, with stunning views of the volcano. You can also view the rainforest from above via a cable car with open gondolas. This gives you the chance to observe nature at treetop level. Even more spectacular is a zip line across a valley, right through the treetops! True nature lovers can book an excursion to Rio Celeste, a walk right through the tropical rainforest.
Overnight stay: Hotel Arenal Manoa | bed and breakfast

Day 9 | La Fortuna – Tenorio

(approx. 100 km | 3-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive your rental car to your accommodation near Tenorio National Park. This is a breathtakingly beautiful nature reserve, which is still hardly visited by tourists. Over the next few days, you’ll be staying in a lovely, cosy accommodation that forms part of a small-scale eco-farm.
Accommodation: Casitas Tenorio | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Tenorio

Enjoy your day off today! There are various options for excursions you could go on today. We recommend a visit to Tenorio National Park, an unspoilt rainforest teeming with monkeys, sloths and tropical birds. A very rare inhabitant here is the umbrella bird. Keep your eyes peeled – you might just spot one! Another beautiful sight you can find here is the turquoise water of the Celeste River, which owes its colour to the volcanic activity of the Tenorio volcano and the sulphur it emits. A Costa Rican legend tells that the gods dipped their paintbrushes in the river whilst painting the sky. To view the waterfall, you’ll need to climb some fairly steep steps. You can also visit Tapir Valley, a private nature reserve and remote nature area in the north of Costa Rica. The area was purchased several years ago by a group of Costa Ricans who wish to protect the unique flora and fauna of this environment. You can only visit this area if you have obtained prior permission from the park management. This valley is considered one of the best destinations for birdwatching in Costa Rica.
Accommodation: Casitas Tenorio | bed and breakfast

Days 12 and 13 | Nosara

Make the most of your free days! During your free days, you can explore the beautiful surroundings; a visit to see the sea turtles at the Ostional reserve comes highly recommended. There are also stunning cave systems in Barra Honda and some lovely snorkelling trips to enjoy.
Accommodation: Olas Verdes | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Nosara – San José – Amsterdam

Today, you’ll drive to Nosara Airport on your own, where you’ll return your rental car (approx. 10 km | 20-minute drive). Here, you’ll board your domestic flight to San José. In the evening, you’ll board an intercontinental flight to Amsterdam, where you’ll arrive the following day.

Day 15 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.