Costa Rica active family vacations

Costa Rica Family Vacations - adventures, nature, eye-opening discoveries

Your Costa Rica family vacation, designed and operated around the ages and skills of your family, your adventure and nature priorities, your travel dates, and your accommodation requirements.

While we're designing your travel adventures we're also thinking about which Serendipity guide best fits your family. We want to keep everyone active, challenged, but also not pushed beyond the capabilities of the kids.

This Costa Rica family vacation itinerary was designed for a family of five: 2 adults, two boys 12 and 14, and their 17 year old sister. When designing this trip the rule was - everyone gets to do every activity. Another important goal was to meet real Costa Ricans, not just tourism employees.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica and go straight to the Arenal volcano region

If you arrive before 1 PM, we can get out of town and off to the Northern Zone before night -- and fog -- take over the curvy mountain roads. This region is dominated by the Arenal volcano.

Day 2: Costa Rica hiking and waterfalls

We are using the advantages of our 4x4 to get to one of the more interesting hiking areas of Costa Rica, near the Tenorio volcano.

The main river descends the slopes of the volcano, meeting up with other streams as it goes. We will be hiking along the stream's banks towards the source, and see occasional fumeroles en route. The lush vegetation, the silence, away from the tourist centers, is punctuated by the monkeys and tree frogs and noises of the wild.

We'll reach the tenederos (where the river changes color) first, then continue to jungle hot springs (don't forget your bathing suit!) and giant waterfall. All this in a remote and pristine jungle.

The surrounding wildlife is pristine, and filled with every mammal and bird species of this richly diverse region. As the river is the water source for all the animals, you will see a larger variety than in rain forest without river attraction.

Day 3: Costa Rica nature from our private small boats - floating with the animals

Today is all about the nature of Costa Rica. We'll inflate our Duckies for a quiet float on a gentle jungle river, watching for monkeys and lizards and crocodiles. We'll have Roger or Pico along to point out the animals which are so expertly camouflaged in the shoreline.

Sometimes your playful energy just gets the better of you, so hopping in the river is irresistible. Just swimming next to the boats is a great way to cool off.

Day 4: Horseback riding

We will travel by horseback through pastures and rivers, with plenty of chance to run, to explore what it means to really ride a fine horse. Our horses are magnificent and well trained, so even beginners quickly get comfortable with their mounts. In no time you are quite happy to trot (a very gentle gait, or stepping pattern, makes these horses smooth) and soon you want to be running at full gallop, with your hair flying behind you.

After horseback, if the cloud cover is not thick, we can go up to the volcano to see the fireworks. Or we can go for a soak in hot springs. You earned it!

Day 5: Costa Rica waterfalls and mountain biking

There are several different routes we can take to the white water area, but our favorite is through Alegría (that's Spanish for "happiness"). Here you'll be absorbed by the Shangri-La misty mountains, spectacular waterfalls and deep gorges. You quickly realize that real jungle is both awesomely magnificent and overwhelmingly impenetrable. It's a rugged bike route, with some pretty impressive climbs. You have the option of loading the bike onto the trailer and hopping in the 4x4 for sections that seem endless and steep -- the really hard pressing bikers can keep going while you relax with a cold drink in the 4x4.

--or--

One of Costa Rica's most popular tours is the canopy zip line tour. Imagine sliding on a cable between platforms in the treetops, screaming with all your breath as your race towards the oncoming tree, and landing on another platform. Then switch the pulley system to another cable, and set off again --- 9 times. The canopy tour is pure adrenaline. The animals have long since removed themselves from your primal screams. But the pure exhilaration of sliding across the cables makes this such a popular way to break up a day. You are actually airborne for about 5 minutes total, but it is so intense you will remember it for a long, long time.

Serendipity applies a high standard for selecting which canopy operation we will use. Above what is required for a tourism board license Serendipity requires

• Double cables -- no single system failure causes serious injury or death
• Brake system to stop you from impacting the platform as you arrive
• Well trained guides who respect that you are possibly unsure of the whole experience, so are helpful, not shaking cables or rushing you.
• You are never unhooked from support structures when on the platform as well as on the cable
• The structural system is built with aircraft standards -- aircraft quality steel cables, forged steel cable connectors.

Day 6: Costa Rica White Water Rafting on the Pacuare, or Duckies on the Pejibaye

This morning we “put in” for a day of white water. We will decide which river and choice of raft or Ducky or a combination of both, when we know your skills and the river conditions, and how young are the youngest in your family (we can raft the Pejibaye with kids as young as 6). Trust us, you will NOT be bored! Regardless of which river, there will be your dedicated safety kayaker along as well.

 

 

Day 7: Costa Rica canyoning — waterfalls, harnesses, ropes, and TRUST!

We'll head for a hidden valley to reach the waterfalls. By now the climbing harnesses and figure eights should feel like old friends, and we're confident the kids will make the ascents and descents much faster than their elders.

This afternoon we return to San José for an evening in Costa Rica's Latin capital city, and there are some excellent places to test your understanding of the Latin beat. Dancing and general mayhem are excellent ways to say good-bye to Serendipity.

Day 8: Your return to "civilization"?

Your return flight from Costa Rica. We'll  head for the airport at 11:00 to catch your flight at 12:55 (they really want you there at least 2 hours before flight time). This leaves a whole morning for shopping (perhaps a hardware store for a machete? Or Sarchí, for some woodwork? You get to take your memories, a few bruises to prove your new abilities, and some new wisdom, with you.

For now you have to leave behind your Serendipity leader, and good friend, but you'll be back....

For information on how much this trip would cost you, please see our Active Family Vacation pricing.

Detailed TERMS, DIRE WARNING! - please READ this before making a reservation.

The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure: contact us.