Compare Costa Rica Family Vacation by Great Value Vacations vs Costa Rica in 9 days - Pura Vida & Paradise in Tamarindo - Superior by Exoticca
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 7 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 1,931 | $ 1,399 |
| Price Per Day | $ 276 | $ 155 |
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| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 8 breakfasts. |
| 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! |
The perfect mix of adventure and relaxation in the tropical paradise of Costa Rica. Stroll through the historic streets of San José and feel the strength of the Arenal Volcano as you uncover the native wildlife on a nature hike. Admire the verdant landscapes of the interior before heading to the coast for a relaxing stay in Tamarindo. Ready to live the Pura Vida? |
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: US - San José
Ready to live the Pura Vida in Costa Rica? Arrive at your US departure airport to board a flight* to San José. Arrive in the capital of Costa Rica and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure getting to know the colonial plazas and charming neighbourhoods of San Jose. Overnight stay in San José.
Day 2: San José - Arenal
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, take a shared transfer to Arenal, passing by the lush landscapes of Costa Rica's interior. Arrive at the hotel and check-in. In the afternoon, meet your guide and embark on a guided hike to the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy a hiking experience through trails marked with the remains of previous lava flows of the impressive and majestic Arenal Volcano. The main attraction of La Fortuna is the Arenal Volcano, with its nearly perfect cone shape and a height of 1633 meters. Along the hike, you can discover the abundant flora and fauna which inhabits the rainforest, which is being regenerated. Learn all about the Arenal Volcano and its history and activity from your guide. After the hike, you may choose to visit one of the popular hot springs in the area to relax and enjoy the thermal waters, which are naturally heated by the volcano (optional extras).* Overnight stay in Arenal. * Paradise Hot Springs Pass: Enjoy an evening of indulgence with a pass to the Paradise Natural Hot Springs, heated by the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy access to three different hot pools and two hydromassage hot tubs, perfect for relaxing in the beautiful tropical surroundings.
Day 3: Arenal - Rio Peñas Blancas - Arenal
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on an exciting river safari in an inflatable raft along the quiet Rio Peñas Blancas. Accompanied by an expert naturalist guide, travel through the abundant waterways, teeming with colorful flora and fauna. Look out for monkeys, toucans and sloths and spot vibrant tropical birds as you soak up the beauty of the immaculate natural environment. Return to Arenal and enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing at your leisure and enjoying the views of the Arenal Volcano. Overnight stay in Arenal
Day 4: Arenal
Breakfast at the hotel. Another free day to enjoy the tranquillity of this beautiful natural environment. We recommend the optional excursion to the Hanging Bridges for a unique view of the rainforest, or a sloth observation excursion.* Overnight stay in Arenal. * Optional Hanging Bridges Cloud Forest Excursion: Admire the beauty of the forest and the backdrop of the Arenal Volcano and gain valuable insight into the native plant and animal species from your expert guide. Journey across a series of hanging bridges for a birds-eye view of the rainforest. * Optional Sloth Observation Excursion: Get to know these beloved slow-moving animals, icons of Costa Rica. Head to the aptly named 'Lazy Territory', a small eco-project, home to a population of sloths. Follow the trails and spot both two-toed and three-toed sloths resting in the treetops with the help of an expert guide.
Day 5: Arenal - Tamarindo
After a delicious breakfast transfer to Tamarindo, in the province of Guanacaste, known for its beautiful beaches and surfing. Arrive at the hotel and begin your relaxed beach stay surrounded by idyllic beaches, bathed in Guanacaste sunshine. Overnight stay in Tamarindo.
Day 6: Tamarindo
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off to Las Baulas National Park to enjoy a boat safari through its lush mangroves. A 2-hour boat tour will take you through rich, biodiverse habitats, teeming with monkeys, tropical birds and crocodiles. Feel close to nature as you soak up the beautiful landscapes and learn about the unique habitat with the help of an expert naturalist guide. Slowly travel along the channels, so as not to disturb the wildlife, and admire the wonderful natural beauty of this idyllic reserve. Back at the hotel, the remainder of the day is free at your leisure. We recommend an optional canopy tour in the Hilltop Eco Adventure Park.* Overnight stay in Tamarindo. * Optional Canopy Tour: Begin your adventure in the treetops of the Hilltop Eco Adventure Park, for fantastic views of Tamarindo Bay and a series of suspension bridges and zip wires to explore the rainforest like a pro! It's a heart-pumping experience to see wildlife from this unique vantage point!
Day 7: Tamarindo
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day relaxing on the beaches of Tamarindo at your leisure. If you'd rather get moving and see more of the region, embark on one of our optional excursions such as a Catamaran Tour or a Quad Biking experience!* Overnight stay in Tamarindo. * Optional Catamaran Tour: Set off in the morning on a relaxing catamaran tour. The route is the same as the afternoon but with much less boat traffic. Look out for marine life such as whales, dolphins and rays, and enjoy snorkelling in the clear waters. Buffet brunch included. * Quad Biking (ATV) Experience: Get comfortable on your Quad Bike with the help of the crew before discovering the verdant rainforest and tropical jungles of the mountains surrounding Tamarindo, home to monkeys, iguanas and sloths! It's an exhilarating experience as you drive along dirt roads to the stunning viewpoint that looks over the Bay of Tamarindo. One quad bike per person with the option to share a quad bike. If both passengers want to drive the same quad bike you must pay for two people. Self-driven excursion with a guide. Minimum 2 quad bikes for the tour to operate.
Day 8: Tamarindo - San José
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer back to the capital, to spend your last night in San José. We suggest taking a stroll through this beautiful city, visiting the National Theatre of Costa Rica or enjoying a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in San José.
Day 9: San José - Night on board
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to board your flight back to the US. Night on board.
Day 10: US
Touch down in the US and end your trip, filled with brilliant memories and feeling refreshed after your Costa Rican adventure!
