Guide

All Intrepid Family trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to assist your family to take the hassle out of your travels and help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for fun things to do and see - for both kids and parents, recommend great local eating venues that will even get the kids trying new things, and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. Our leaders are not babysitters on this trip - we leave that to you (the experts), but they will make sure that group members of all ages are able to explore their destination safely and with as much fun as possible. Our group leaders are not responsible for looking after children at any time and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times throughout this itinerary.

Others

Santa Rosa de Pocosol - agricultural tour Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Cooking Class Arenal National Park - Hike and Lake Monteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance) Manuel Antonio - Cooking Class & Lunch Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)

Transport

Private Minivan

Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Accommodation

Accommodation is clean and simple. You’ll mainly stay in small, locally-run, 2-3 star hotels and guesthouses, which reflect the character of the area,generally these will be a twin room with private facilities. Sometimes you’ll stay in larger, more comfortable hotels or occasionally rustic accommodation with basic facilities. We use a variety of accommodation on most trips; chosen for their value for money, location and atmosphere. We also try and incorporate unique accommodation experiences, such as a night with a local tribe, or sleeping under the stars in the desert. GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS: Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room. Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room. Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this. Hotels (8 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Not included:

Optional

San Jose - National Museum - CRC4890 San Jose - Gold Museum - CRC4490 San Jose - Butterfly farm - CRC11020 La Fortuna - Ecotermales Thermal Waters - USD33 La Fortuna - Hike to La Fortuna Waterfal - CRC26550 La Fortuna - Sky Tram & Sky Trek - USD88 Monteverde - Butterfly garden and insects farm - CRC6130 Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - CRC13480 Monteverde - Sky Tram & Sky Trek - CRC34315 Manuel Antonio - Sunset sail - USD80 Manuel Antonio - Surf/boogie board rental - USD10

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. Travellers who reside within the European Union or Switzerland receive basic international health insurance, so travel insurance is not mandatory under European Union Law. However, as this does not cover situations such as emergency rescues, private health care, or repatriation to their home country, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. European Union or Swiss travellers who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San José

Welcome to subtropical San Jose! Meet your leader and fellow family travellers at a welcome meeting at 5 pm at the hotel. If you arrive early there is plenty to see in this bustling city, and as the streets are laid out in a grid pattern it’s relatively easy to navigate too. Check out a few of the optional activities below, just note that as these activities are not included, they may incur an extra charge. The Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, for example, is the perfect way to introduce kids (and adults) of all ages to Costa Rican biodiversity while getting some respite from the clamour of the city. After the meeting tonight, perhaps get a taste of ‘Tico’ food (and get to know the other families and your tour leader) with an optional dinner as a group.
Day 2 Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol

Fuel up on breakfast and get some books or classic car games ready for the 3-hour drive to Santa Rosa de Pocosol. The tiny agricultural community of Juanilama (pop. approximately 200) in the Santa Rosa de Pocosol area is predominantly dedicated to milk production and raising cattle. It’s the perfect place to experience life in small-town Costa Rica – you’ll even be staying with a local family! Settle in and get to know your hosts before going on an agricultural tour. During the tour the children will learn how to plant vegetables as well as gather some produce to be used in tonight’s cooking class. You will have some free time to wander around the community before coming together to create a meal with the produce collected earlier. Vamos a comer (Let’s eat)!
Day 3 Day 3: Arenal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Arenal

Today you’ll cross west through the north of the country to Arenal (approximately 1 hour), which lies beneath the volcano of the same name. Rising from verdant plains, Arenal Volcano shoots up 1633 metres in a perfect cone and in certain light resembles a storybook drawing. The landscape is mainly cloud forest and rainforest, cut through with rivers, lakes and -- thanks to the volcano’s inner workings -- thermal hot springs. On arrival you are free to explore the area at your own pace, or perhaps you’d prefer to unwind by the hotel pool in view of the mighty Arenal Volcano.
Day 4 Day 4: Arenal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Arenal

Today begins with a hike to the Peninsula section of the National Park, near Lake Arenal. Here we will begin a 1.5 km (1 mile) long walk along an easy trail for about an hour. Throughout the tour you can enjoy excellent views overlooking Lake Arenal and the Tilaran Volcanic Mountain Range in the observation bays that are found along the trail. At the end of the walk, we will have the opportunity to climb to the observation platform of approximately 12 meters (40 ft) high for a closer and amazing view of the volcano. At the end of the trail, we will take our boat for a tour along the forested shores of Lake Arenal and islets to try to find some animals. This is the ideal place to take scenic photographs of the volcano, if it is clear. After about 45 minutes, the boat docks in the sector of the Arenal Dam. The afternoon is then free for optional activities in the local area. Please note as these activities are not included, some incur extra cost. To get a closer view of the majestic volcano peak, you could take a hike past old lava flows on the Arenal 1968 Trail. There are two options on the 1968, including a shorter route suitable for families with younger kids. Or maybe a slow-paced soar on the Sky Tram is more your family’s speed? Chat to your leader about these and the many other options on offer today.
Day 5 Day 5: Monteverde
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Monteverde

Today you’ll drive to the shores of Lake Arenal, before taking a boat across the lake to the little town of La Fortuna. On a clear day, you’ll have fantastic views of the surrounding area. Watching the massive Arenal Volcano loom larger and larger as you approach is a spectacular sight. Once you reach La Fortuna, a vehicle will take you to the hotel. There may be time to make an optional visit the nearby Butterfly Garden today upon arrival (an additional cost). Otherwise, settle into your accommodation and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. In 1951 North American Quakers founded the nearby Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, a sanctuary for the unique flora and fauna of Costa Rica. More than 2000 species of plants, 320 bird species and 100 different types of mammals call the reserve home, and over the next few days you’ll get acquainted with some of them.
Day 6 Day 6: Monteverde
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Monteverde

See the forest from a different perspective on an included canopy walk across the suspended bridges of Monteverde. The sheer variety of bird life in Monteverde is enough to make an ornithologist out of anyone, so don’t be surprised if younger children have a new answer to the question ‘what do you want to do when you grow up?’ While you’re up among the treetops look (or listen) out for the reclusive resplendent quetzal, the blue-crowned motmot or the emerald toucanet. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or partake in some optional activities. You could visit an orchid farm or whizz through the trees on zip-lines. If conditions are right, there might be a chance to hike through the forest at dusk, a unique opportunity to see the area’s nocturnal creatures begin to stir.
Day 7 Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park

Wave adios to Monteverde and hit the Pan-American Highway for a southward journey past beaches and palm plantations to Manuel Antonio (around 6 hours). Arrive at your accommodation, located close to the national park, and spend an evening at leisure. On your way you will stop at a local family home where you’ll enjoy a cooking class and lunch. An activity the kids will enjoy! All the dishes will be based on traditional Costa Rican cuisine. Tonight, maybe take the family for a traditional Costa Rican meal at a soda (local restaurant), where you can mix with locals and try some of the region’s incredible fresh produce. Please note this dinner is not included, but your leader can give you tips on where to go and what to order!
Day 8 Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park

After breakfast enjoy a 3-hour guided walk along the trails that snake through Manuel Antonio National Park. Immerse yourself in nature and learn more about the area’s diverse wild and plant life from your guide. Look and listen carefully and you may be able to spot howler monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, iguanas and more. The afternoon is free to explore this magical area further at your family’s desired pace. Maybe you’d like to relax on one of the idyllic palm-lined bays while the kids splash in the water. Active types have the option to rent equipment to kayak, surf or fish in the glittering ocean (for an extra cost). There are no wrong choices in this balmy paradise.
Day 9 Day 9: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: San José

Rise and shine for your final morning in this beachside haven. Enjoy your last hours in Manuel Antonio with some free time before making the return drive to San Jose in the mid-afternoon (approximately 3 hours). There are no activities planned on arrival at San Jose but maybe head out as a group for a final optional dinner to reminisce about your time together.
Day 10 Day 10: San José
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: San José

There are no activities planned for today. Please remember to comply with the hotel’s internal check-out times if you are leaving today. Can’t get enough of San Jose? Why not head out on a Tropical Rainforest and Chocolate Urban Adventure, which uncovers the chocolate and wildlife secrets of the jungle. Find out more at urbanadventures.com/San-Jose-tour-tropical-rainforest-and-chocolate-adventure.

10 days tour

Costa Rica Family Holiday

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Costa Rica Family Holiday

Day 1: San José

Day 2: Santa Rosa De Pocosol

Day 3: Arenal

Day 4: Arenal

Day 5: Monteverde

Day 6: Monteverde

Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 9: San José

Day 10: San José

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