Compare Costa Rica Family Vacation by Great Value Vacations vs Costa Rica: See & Experience it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
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4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 1,931 | $ 2,413 |
| Price Per Day | $ 276 | $ 219 |
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| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
1 breakfast, 5 lunches, 1 light dinner and 1 standard dinner are included on this tour. We are very picky about food and refuse to accept anything short of quality. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine. |
| Description |
Costa Rica is a tropical playground for families, providing endless opportunities for adventure. Spend six nights traveling from volcano to beach while you learn about nature, conservation, and sustainability in this Central American country. Kick off your vacation with a visit to Irazu Volcano, Costa Rica's highest active volcano. While an eruption is unlikely, kids will be amazed by the volcanic crater with a green lagoon in its center. From there, travel to the Sarapiqui rainforest in the Heredia province and enjoy a boat tour on the river. Known for its rich biodiversity, learn about Sarapiqui's wildlife from an expert as you visit a butterfly garden, serpentarium, frog sanctuary, and botanical garden. Your next destination is Arenal Volcano, a must-see for any traveler to Costa Rica. Positioned within the country's fertile northern lowlands, the Arenal Volcano area offers a wealth of outdoor activities like zip-lining and canopy walks. Kids can glide through the rainforest by zip line and see incredible flora and fauna up close at an ecological park. End your tropical tour on the central Pacific coast at a family friendly resort in Puntarenas. Spend your days lounging on the beach or take an additional day trip to Tortuga Island. This Costa Rica trip will be one your family talks about forever! |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all ""FIRST CLASS,"" yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price and substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see and do on this tour:
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Day 1 Welcome to San Jose!
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) where you will meet a Swiss Travel representative. You'll be provided with all the necessary documentation, itinerary and main contact information. Transfer to San Jose where you'll spend your first night in Costa Rica.
Day 2 San Jose - Sarapiqui
Early in the morning, depart from San Jose to the Sarapiqui Rainforest area. On the way, you will visit ruins of Cartago City and learn about the history of this colonial city that was once the capital of Costa Rica. From there, embark on an exciting tour of Irazu Volcano and the Sarapiqui River. Spend tonight in the peaceful and lush rainforest!
Day 3 Sarapiqui - Arenal Volcano
Spend the morning in Sarapiqui enjoying the hotel's activities (extra cost). Surrounded by biological reserves, Sarapiqui is a haven for eco-tourism as well as family tourism. Enjoy tubing, guided walks, or horseback riding from your hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to the Arenal Volcano area. If weather conditions are good, you will be able to see the greatest natural attraction in the country: Arenal Volcano.
Day 4 Arenal Volcano
Today you will embark on two tours in Arenal. In the morning, enjoy an exhilarating zip line tour through the rainforest. Then visit Natura Ecological Park and see Costa Rica's incredible wildlife up close.
Day 5 Arenal Volcano - Central Pacific Coast
From Arenal, travel to the central Pacific coast capital of Puntarenas. This region of Costa Rica is home to both wet and dry tropical rainforests, sun-dappled sandy beaches and a variety of wildlife. With so much biodiversity packed into a small geographic area, it’s no wonder the coastal region is often thought of as Costa Rica in miniature. Popular beach destinations like Jaco, Montezuma, and Santa Theresa are great places to ease into your coastal adventure. At night, head into Puntarenas City for a taste of coastal cuisine.
Day 6 Central Pacific Coast
Today, enjoy the amenities and activities at your resort or consider taking a day trip to Tortuga Island. Embark on a catamaran and feel the sea breeze as you approach the island's pristine beach and swaying coconut palms. Spend the day kayaking, snorkeling or sunbathing in this exotic locale.
Day 7 Central Pacific Coast - San Jose
Your amazing Costa Rica family vacation ends today. You will be transferred to Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport (SJO) for your departure flight back home. *Please note: When choosing your flights, please select one with a return flight that departs no earlier than mid-day, in order to accommodate the transfer time (apx. 1.5 hours) from Central Pacific to Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport (SJO).
Day 1: A Social Gathering on the Sand & Horseback Riding
Our tour to Costa Rica starts in Tamarindo. This beach village is a popular destination for couples and families looking for a good time. Tamarindo is the epitome of everything Costa Rica prides itself on. Let's head to the beach, where there is likely to be a gathering/party of some sort. On a side note, Tamarindo is also home to leatherback turtles. The day ends with horseback riding on the beach and in a nearby valley.
Day 2: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with an Open Bar & Appetizers & Going Snorkeling
We go on an excursion today. Passing by the beaches in Brasilito and then Potrero, we stop at Flamingo beach so we can go swimming. Afterwards, we do a cruise into the bay. We are provided with snorkeling gear, local appetizers and access to an open bar. Enjoy the sunset while “sipping on some bubbly.”
Day 3: Zip-Lining & a Night Expedition in a Cloud Forest Reserve
We relocate from Tamarindo near to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. There we go on a zip-lining tour. We return in the evening for a night tour.
This reserve draws roughly 70,000 visitors a year. It consists of over 10,500 hectares of cloud forest and 6 ecological zones, 90 percent of which are virgin forest. A high biodiversity-consisting of over 2,500 plant species, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species and thousands of insects-has drawn scientists and tourists alike.
Day 4: Rappelling, Climbing & Hiking & Bathing in Natural Hot Springs
We relocate from Monteverde to the town of La Fortuna. Shortly thereafter, we are taken on an adrenaline-pumping adventure to the Lost Canyon. There we climb and hike and otherwise go waterfall rappelling. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
After the Lost Canyon, we are taken to one of the many natural hot springs in La Fortuna. More specifically, we are taken to a resort called Ecotermales Fortuna. There we bathe as well as eat. Dinner is included this evening.
Day 5: Walking Over Hanging Bridges & Swimming Under a Waterfall
Today we are taken on a tour to the nearby surroundings. First is Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, which features cool-looking bridges hanging in the tropical rain forest. Next is La Fortuna Waterfall, where we can go swimming. Following the waterfall is lunch, which is included on today’s tour. Lastly for today is Arenal Volcano National Park. It offers a nice hike amid tropical scenery. The volcano measures at least 1,633 meters (5,358 feet) high and is estimated to be less than 7,500 years old.
Day 6: An Intimidating Volcano
We go on a daytrip today. We are taken to Tenorio Volcano National Park. The jewel of this national park is its volcano, from which it receives its name. Tenorio Volcano consists of 4 volcanic peaks and 2 craters. Thermal springs and small geysers dot the area, as do rivers, waterfalls and lagoons. The upper area of the park is dominated by primary cloud forest, while the lower regions are carpeted with rain forest. The summit can be reached via the Lago Las Dantas Trail, which winds up the volcano and passes through forested terrain before eventually reaching the peak. From the park’s entrance, it takes about an hour to hike up to the peak/main viewpoint. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
Day 7: The Country's Most Famous Beach
We relocate from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. We see why this town is so popular with tourists. Its national park receives almost 150,000 visitors annually. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica at its most tropical. Let's head to the beach.
Day 8: White Sand & Taking a Surf Class
The day starts with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests. The second half of the day is spent taking a surfing class.
Day 9: Discovering Wildlife Inside an Animal Kingdom
Before relocating to the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, we are provided with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests.
Day 10: The Most Stunning Volcano in Costa Rica & a Coffee Plantation Visit
We go on a daytrip today. We are first taken to Doka Estate. There we are provided with breakfast followed by a guided tour of a coffee plantation. Next, we visit Poás Volcano National Park. There we are provided with a guided tour. Please note that Poás Volcano National Park is often closed due to eruptions. If this is the case during your visit, then this park would need to be removed from today’s itinerary. Lastly, we visit La Paz Waterfall. There we are provided with lunch as well as a guided tour.
Day 11: Our Tour Ends This Morning
San Jose is the final destination on our tour around Costa Rica. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the international airport.
