Compare Costa Rica: Family Volunteer Adventure by Discover Corps vs Costa Rica: Jungles & Rainforests 2024 by Tauck

Day 1:

Meals: Dinner

You’ll be met at the airport by your Discover Corps host who will accompany you to our hotel in the town of Ciudad Quesada, a cattle-raising town in the central highlands. (D)

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Immerse yourself in a rural community and experience their typical way of life. Enjoy a dance presentation and demonstration of traditional agricultural methods. Spend some time assisting on a reforestation project, and then return to town to learn how to cook one of Costa Rica’s most famous dishes.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy a hands-on program learning about the cacao bean - the source of chocolate and cocoa. This bean has played an important role in Costa Rican history. Learn the story of this crop - from harvesting, production, to savoring a delicious treat! After a delicious lunch, then soak in the natural thermal hot springs at the base of Arenal volcano. Overnight in Monteverde.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, head out to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve where we will hike along hanging bridges that skirt the rainforest canopy. This is one of the most biodiverse regions of Costa Rica with over 90% virgin rainforest. For adventurous travelers, you can continue on to an optional 15 cable zip line. Tonight, enjoy a relaxing night hike through the forest with a naturalist guide being on the lookout for nocturnal creatures.

Designed for Families

Children of all ages have a deep connection with nature, and Costa Rica is the perfect place to nurture this passion. This trip was designed especially for families and intergenerational groups. Our small groups of approximately 16 people ensure personalized service and intimate wildlife encounters. All activities have been designed to be interactive and engaging. To accommodate the whims of children, most hotels are located walking distance from shops and restaurants. To give families time alone, we schedule one free evening for them to dine independently.

Best Time to Visit

As in most tropical countries, Costa Rica has dry and green seasons. The green season lasts from May to November and the dry season runs between December to April. During the green season, a storm might roll through for an hour or two in the afternoon, a welcome relief from the warm weather! Temperature-wise, expect the weather to range from 75°-85°. As this is a tropical country not far from the equator, it can get quite hot, especially in the afternoons.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hit the road to Quepos, a fun coastal surf town. On the way, we’ll stop for lunch as we transition between the misty cloud forest to the warm Pacific beaches. After settling into our accommodation, we’ll make a visit to a nearby wildlife rescue center to see up close and personal Costa Rica’s array of wildlife including sloths, monkeys and toucans. Tonight, take some time to explore this quaint coastal town.

Day 6:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, we’ll dedicate our time to a project at the wildlife rescue center. This is designed to not only help the wildlife of the center, but to also learn about the issues facing Costa Rica’s animal inhabitants. Later in the afternoon, we’ll continue on to Manuel Antonio National Park which encompasses stunning a stunning coastline, rugged rainforest and colorful reefs. Spend the late afternoon exploring the beaches before dinner together in town.

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, those that opted for the adrenaline package will head over to the nearby Rio Savegre for a morning of whitewater rafting on Class II rapids. The rest of the group will continue on with a hike through Manuel Antonio spotting wildlife and birds along the way. Enjoy a picnic lunch and a relaxing afternoon alongside the pristine beaches located inside the park. Tonight, enjoy a final farewell dinner together.

Day 8:

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Wake up early and travel back to San Jose to catch our flights back home. Depending on the time of your flight, we’ll share a final lunch before saying adios.

Our Lodging

During your time in Costa Rica, you will stay in several bed and breakfast style lodges walking distance to town and near many of the major sites we’ll be visiting. All accommodations offer single and double occupancy lodging with private bathrooms.

Day 1 Arrive San José

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Costa Rica. A transfer is included from San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport to InterContinental Costa Rica in the heart of Costa Rica's capital city, San José. Meet your fellow eco-adventurers at this evening's welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel, where your family enjoys Deluxe Rooms.

MEALS : D

LODGING : InterContinental Costa Rica at Multiplaza Mall

PORTOFCALL : San José, Costa Rica

Day 2 Toucans, chocolate & Tortuguero

A day of fun awaits your family today as you depart the capital, San José, and make your way to Tortuguero National Park, a tropical paradise in the heart of the coastal rainforest and your first taste of Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity! En route, pay a visit to the Toucan Rescue Center, where you'll tour the facilities and meet some of the toucans, sloths, monkeys and other wildlife the center's staff cares for. Next, learn everything you ever wanted to know about one of our favorite food groups – chocolate – at an artisan chocolatier! See the natural process of transforming the cacao fruit into chocolate during a hands-on demonstration, do a little tasting and have lunch. This afternoon, a boat transports you to your rustic rainforest retreat adjacent to Tortuguero National Park – where most travel is by water, toucans and blue morpho butterflies fly all around you, and howler monkeys provide a natural wake-up call! Enjoy dinner at your lodge this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aninga Lodge

PORTOFCALL : Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Day 3 The natural treasures of Tortuguero

Wake up today in your rainforest lodge near the entrance to Tortuguero National Park, where 11 different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness – providing homes to 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Your day begins with a morning canal cruise, where you'll do some birding and nature viewing with our local guides, then return to your lodge for free time followed by lunch. This afternoon, take a boat to explore the village of Tortuguero; learn about the medicinal benefits of coconuts, and the "tree of life" they come from, during a coconut demonstration; and, if you wish, take an optional canal cruise inside Tortuguero National Park, or just relax at your resort. And if you're traveling with us between July and August, this evening we'll take an unforgettable nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting green sea turtles in one of the world's top nesting grounds for these endangered animals. You'll have a chance to see them make their way up the beach from the water to dig their nests in the sand, leaving tractor-tread trails behind them!

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Aninga Lodge

PORTOFCALL : Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Day 4 Fly to Arenal & a Sarapiqui River rafting trip

This morning, fly to Arenal; first up, an exciting river-rafting excursion on the historic Sarapiqui River; a national monument today, the river played an important role in suppressing an armed incursion into Costa Rica in 1856, serving as a highway that transported soldiers, weapons and food. Board a rubber river raft for a Class II rafting trip* through the jungle; try to spot turtles, sloths, monkeys, iguanas and other wildlife along the riverbank that call the Sarapiqui region home. Following your fun rafting adventure, visit a pineapple farm to learn about the growing and harvesting techniques and how sweet just-picked fresh pineapple tastes. After, drive to your spa resort, where you'll enjoy dinner at leisure this evening.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Tabacon Hot Springs Resort

PORTOFCALL : La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Day 5 Zip lining at Arenal & a pineapple tour

In Costa Rica's Arenal region, get an extraordinary bird's-eye view of cone-shaped Arenal Volcano, an actively "restless" volcano, on a thrilling zip-line ride* at Sky Trek Adventure Park, where you'll soar over and through the canopy of rainforest treetops! Those not into zip lining can take a nature walk instead. Following lunch at a local restaurant, return to your resort for some time at leisure and dinner tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Tabacon Hot Springs Resort

PORTOFCALL : La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Day 6 Across Costa Rica to coastal Guanacaste

Head out from Arenal and across Costa Rica's interior today to Guanacaste on the Pacific coast, stopping for lunch on the way. Then continue on to your eclectic oceanfront resort, El Mangroove, on the shores of the Pacific in Guanacaste.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : El Mangroove

PORTOFCALL : Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Day 7 Dolphin spotting, snorkeling & a beachfront farewell

Enjoy a full day at your seaside resort today, either relaxing or taking an included dolphin spotting and snorkeling cruise in the morning or afternoon. Continue your personalized adventure today with lunch at the hotel, then join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight, including traditional Costa Rican music played by a marimba band.  

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : El Mangroove

PORTOFCALL : Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Day 8 Adios, Costa Rica!

Tour ends: Guanacaste. Fly home anytime. A transfer from El Mangroove to Liberia International Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of three hours for check-in at the airport.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Guanacaste, Costa Rica