Costa Rica active family adventure vacation
Clambering around clear pools, hiking in real jungle, biking and horses and climbing and rubber boats... what kids would exchange this for a plain old beach?
Costa Rica Family Vacations with Children
Serendipity always designs Costa Rica family travel itineraries around the ages, priorities of the family, and accommodation requirements. While we're designing your travel adventures we're also thinking about which guide would be best for 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 four: 2 adults, a son age 13 and a daughter age 10. The parents are very active, and they want their young children to get a lot of physical challenges as well as to meet real Costa Ricans, not just hotel staff and tourist people. They wanted activities which all four can enjoy together, and the kids will not have to stay behind on the more rigorous stuff. They have only 9 days during school break to be with us, and want to do and see — everything!
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica and get out of town quick!
Rodolfo Sanchez, your Serendipity leader for this adventure, will meet your arrival at 6:45 this evening and whisk you away to the west of the metropolitan area into the lush hillsides of the coffee country. At dinner with your Serendipity leader, who is with you the whole adventure, you'll get a chance to figure out what to expect from the days to come.
Day 2: Costa Rica cloud forest - better than Monteverde!
It's your first day, so you get to sleep in. After breakfast we'll start the drive across the central mountain range, but stop in a very special place on the way. We take you to our friends' quiet effort to preserve for generations to come the mysterious and awesome cloud forest in his private forest preserve. Here well hike among spectacular waterfalls and pre Jurassic plants, some more than 400 years old. Here the resplendent Quetzal bird nests, and in nesting season this shy bird appears frequently. After we've hiked a few hours we then drive the rest of the way through the mountains to the ever erupting Arenal Volcano, and a soak in the hot waters at its base. Hopefully visibility will permit us to see the fireworks exploding at the top of the cone in the darkness.
Day 3: Costa Rica caving, hiking, and rappelling, perhaps
Craig wants caves, and a grand cave he'll get. Venado cave is probably 15 miles in length, but only the first mile is charted, and there's some fascinating stuff amongst the stalactites and -mites: shark teeth, and ancient petrified turtle shells.
Day 4: Costa Rica nature from our private small boats - floating with the
animals
Nature is easy to spot from the silent little boats — while enjoying some fresh fruit.
Nature is easy to spot from the silent little boats — while enjoying some fresh fruit.
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.
Day 5: Horseback riding in the Arenal Volcano area
Horses, pastures, rivers, forests, small towns — the joy of exploring without the crowds
Horses, pastures, rivers, forests, small towns — the joy of exploring without the crowds
We will travel by horseback through pastures and up to the base of lava flows beneath the ever-active Arenal Volcano 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.
Day 6: Costa Rica waterfalls, mountain biking, and ruins
There are several different routes we can take to the white water area, but our favorite is past Varablanca. 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.
Biking in the cloud forest altitude means cool temperatures and lush surroundings.
The Guayabo ruins are the only real pre-Columbian site in Costa Rica. The people of the Guayabo were well hidden in these mountains, and were not part of the mainstream of Indian cultures (Aztec and Mayans) of the rest of Mesoamerica. Hiking amongst the foundations of a totally unknown society which has left no other traces of its existence is a bit unsettling.
Surprise! We're also meeting our mountain bikes here, and will ride the rest of the descent into Turrialba through some really beautiful coffee and sugar plantations, and end up just in time for dinner in town.
Day 7: Costa Rica White Water Rafting or Duckies
on the Pacuare
White water duckies increase the adrenaline while controlling
the risk. Serendipity guides go with you, or, if you have some white water experience
and a brave heart, you can take the river solo.
White water duckies increase the adrenaline while controlling the risk. Serendipity guides go with you, or, if you have some white water experience and a brave heart, you can take the river solo.
This morning we “put in” for a day of white water. The choice of rivers, and choice of raft or Ducky (if you're ready to be your own white water captain), will be decided as we get to know your skills and the river conditions. Trust us, you will NOT be bored! Gail and Craig will each have their own co-pilots, whether it is the raft or the Duckies, and there will be a safety kayaker along as well, regardless of which river.
Day 8: Costa Rica canyoning — waterfalls, harnesses,
ropes, and TRUST!
Serendipity introduced canyoning to Costa Rica. The perfect
combination of clear water, smooth rocks and
well-trained guides makes this an unforgettable experience.
Serendipity introduced canyoning to Costa Rica. The perfect combination of clear water, smooth rocks and well-trained guides makes this an unforgettable experience.
We'll head for a hidden valley to reach the waterfalls we love to climb. The 4WD makes the trip possible, but we still have a fair bit of hiking to do with all the climbing gear, so be prepared! 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 9: Your return to "civilization"?
Your return flight from Costa Rica, alas. 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....
The first step to enjoying a Serendipity adventure is to contact us.
