Family Costa Rica – Green Season Special (May 1 – November 30, 2017)
Join us this Summer or Fall for an exciting family trip to beautiful Costa Rica, sampling three of the country’s most prized natural treasures along the way, all while staying in comfortable mid-range hotels and lodges. This is a wonderful trip for families looking for true eco-travel highlights of Costa Rica and saving some money while doing it by traveling in the refreshing “green season.” While rain can happen almost any day, typically mornings are fresh and clear, with only a brief thunderstorm in the afternoons and a steady, relaxing drizzle at night while you sleep. As a bonus, September through November is actually the dry season in the Tortuguero area. Anytime you go, it’s a great time to visit and experience some of the best that Costa Rica has to offer in family travel!
Starting at $995/person!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy Costa Rica’s most famous wildlife reserve, plus Arenal Volcano, and the magical rainforest of Monteverde
- Comfortable, mid-range hotels that are great for families
- Convenient San Jose to San Jose round trip itinerary
- 9 days – this an ideal Saturday to Sunday trip, so parents use just 1 week of vacation
- Start any day of the Green Season (May 1-November 30) with the best sea turtle viewing between July and October
*** Remember all of our trips can be customized for you! If you have questions or want to check availability, contact Dan at dan@adventureswithinreach.com.
ALL SPECIAL COSTA RICA TRIPS:
- Pacific Costa Rica Special — Whales, Beaches, & Rainforest (8 Days May-November)
- Costa Rica Family Trip Special — Adventure, Wildlife, & Rainforest (9 Days May-November)
- Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Special — Rafting, Ziplines, Manuel Antonio (7 Days May-November)
- Wonders of Costa Rica Special – Cloud Forest, Adventure, & Beach (8 Days May-November)
- See all Costa Rica Trips >>
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrive Costa Rica
Welcome to friendly Costa Rica! Today begin your family tour of Costa Rica by arriving at San Jose International Airport (anytime is OK). Our arrivals representative will meet you after you clear immigrations and transfer you to your central downtown San José hotel. The balance of this afternoon or evening is free at your leisure.
Overnight in San José, Presidente Hotel or similar, standard room
DAY 2: San José – Tortuguero
Early this morning, you’ll be picked up at your San Jose hotel for the 4-hour drive to the Atlantic coast, traveling through the verdant tropical rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park, which is one of the largest in the country. Banana plantations dot the highway en-route to Caño Blanco (or La Pavona), where you will take a scenic boat ride on the La Suerte River, the Tortuguero River, and onward through the Tortuguero Canals. The boat trip offers lovely views of the forest and mangroves, which are home to such exotic wildlife as sloths, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, coatimundis, raccoons, crocodiles, egrets, parrots, and jaguars among others. Arriving at Laguna Lodge, you’ll enjoy lunch and have a free afternoon to relax and explore the grounds on your own. You’ll be spending the next two nights at the lodge, which offers a refreshing pool plus optional tours, including nightly sea turtle-watching tours during the season (July-October).
Overnight in Tortuguero, Turtle Beach Lodge, standard room (BLD)
DAY 3: Tortuguero
Breakfast at hotel. This morning join your lodge guide for a fun boat tour exploring the rainforest canals to see unique wildlife, including up to three species of monkeys, 400 species of birds, hundreds of reptiles and amphibians, such as iguanas, crocodiles, alligators, frogs, Jesus Christ lizards, turtles, fishing bats, and more.
From approx. June 20 through approx. October 20, highly recommended but optional night walks are on offer to see sea turtles nesting. This is easily a top 10 natural history experience in Central America and not to be missed if you can visit during the peak time. Tortuguero has many highlights, but it is named in honor of the four species of sea turtles that nest in the region. Tortuguero’s coastline is considered one of the world’s most important nesting sites of the green sea turtle, which can be found by the thousands in the summer months.
Overnight in Tortuguero, Turtle Beach Lodge, standard room (BLD)
DAY 4: Tortuguero – Arenal Volcano
Breakfast at hotel. Start the day off early with a boat ride back to the dock, then a 1.5 hour van transfer to Guapiles where you’ll have lunch at a restaurant on the way.
There, transportation will be waiting for you to take you to Arenal Volcano. Then the rest of this afternoon at leisure to enjoy facilities of hotel with its stunning views, pools and hot springs on-site.
Overnight at Arenal Manoa Hotel, Junior Suite Room (BL)
DAY 5: Arenal
Free day in Arenal. You have lots of choices including easy hikes and canyoning, but our recommendation is an optional 1/2 day zipline tour.
*** Optional ($95/person): This morning, enjoy the Sky Trek & Sky Tram zipline tour. Your tour will start riding an open-air gondola from the ground to the heights where you’ll be dropped off at an observation area for fantastic views. From this area, you will start riding down on a zip line track stretching across canyons and in between treetops, the exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountainside begins; ultimately returning you to the starting point at the main building. This is the most thrilling zip line in the country. The day trip price includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, entry fees, guided zipline tour, and taxes. While there’s no age restrictions, there is a minimum height requirement of 3’11”, and a maximum weight of 300 pounds.
This afternoon then is at leisure to enjoy facilities of the hotel or make a wander into La Fortuna town for dinner.
Overnight at Arenal Manoa Hotel, Junior Suite Room (B)
DAY 6: Arenal – Monteverde
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, transfer to Monteverde via a scenic lake crossing and comfortable van combination. You’ll take a van from your hotel in Arenal to Arenal lake, there you will take a boat to Rio Chiquito and take a van to your hotel in Monteverde. Check in at hotel and the whole afternoon should be free at leisure to enjoy Monteverde, which is full of unique options, including guided night walks, Hanging Bridges with hummingbird feeders, horse rides, natural history exhibits and ice cream shops in town, and more.
Overnight in Monteverde, at the Trapp Family Lodge, superior room (B)
DAY 7: Monteverde
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, enjoy a moderate guided Monteverde couldforest reserve hiking tour. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve will astound you with its beauty, bounty and great amount of biodiversity. Wind-sculpted elfin woodlands give way to rainforests where tall trees – festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines and mosses – rise high into the sky. After the hike, return to the hotel in time for lunch, with the rest of the afternoon free to wander into town or join an optional tour.
Overnight in Monteverde, at the Trapp Family Lodge, superior room (B)
DAY 8: Monteverde – San José
Breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy a leisure morning taking in more of this fascinating area then this afternoon transfer to San José. Balance of evening at leisure to relax and prepare for your departure tomorrow.
Overnight in San José, at the Hotel Crowne Plaza Corobici (B)
DAY 9: San José – Departure
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, private transfer to San Jose International Airport. Adios Costa Rica! (B)
(Meals: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
PRICES
2017 Green Season Rates (May 1 – November 30)
- $995/person
- $595/child (ages 2-9, sharing room with adults)
Prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms and triple rooms are also available.
Rate Includes:
- All accommodations per itinerary
- All ground transportation per itinerary
- All activities per itinerary
- Services of local, professional English-speaking guides
- Round trip transportation for all activities included
- Meals per itinerary, including breakfast daily
- Taxes
Does not include:
- Flights
- Meals not listed
- Beverages
- Items of a personal nature (laundry, gifts, etc.)
- International departure tax (US$29/person)
- Late check-in or check-outs at hotels
- Optional tours
- Tips
*** Remember all of our trips can be customized for you! If you have questions or want to check availability, contact Dan at dan@adventureswithinreach.com.
ALL SPECIAL COSTA RICA TRIPS:
- Pacific Costa Rica Special — Whales, Beaches, & Rainforest (8 Days May-November)
- Costa Rica Family Trip Special — Adventure, Wildlife, & Rainforest (9 Days May-November)
- Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Special — Rafting, Ziplines, Manuel Antonio (7 Days May-November)
- Wonders of Costa Rica Special – Cloud Forest, Adventure, & Beach (8 Days May-November)
- See all Costa Rica Trips >>
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Pingback: Pacific Costa Rica Special — Whales, Beaches, & Rainforest (8 Days May-November) | Adventures Within Reach Travel Blog
Pingback: Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Special — Rafting, Ziplines, Manuel Antonio (7 Days May-November) | Adventures Within Reach Travel Blog