Family holiday in Costa Rica                      

Welcome to Costa Rica ! Reception at the Juan Santamaria International Airport near San José , at 1150 meters above sea level in the heart of the Central Valley.
First contact with Costa Rica, your private driver will give you your travel documents and will take you to your hotel.

Your english speaking guide will escort you to your hotel.

Night at Grano de Oro Hotel.
Standard Room.
Included : private transport, english speaking guide, room & breakfast

Today, we will head south to Costa Rica's Pacific coast, driving through Alajuela, San Mateo and Orotina, taking a scenic mountain road.
On the way and if you have enough time, stop to watch crocodiles sunbathe on Rio Tarcoles or visit Carara National Park, which despite its small size (52 km2) is one of the most diverse of the country.
Arrive in Quepos, well known for sport fishing and palm oil production, and relax at the hotel in Manuel Antonio, a wonderful park.
Note: 3 to 4 hour drive

Night at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort*****.
Ocean breeze superior room
Included : car rental, insurance, mobile wifi hotspot rental, room & breakfast

Go for a walk with your local guide.
Head to the Manuel Antonio National Park that combines beautiful beaches with coral reefs and and varied flora. Swimming in the crystal clear waters, relax on the sandy beaches or take a walk through tropical vegetation. The site is ideal for observation of many animals such as sloths and squirrel monkeys.

Night at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort*****.
Ocean breeze superior room
Included : english speaking guide, entrance fees, excursion (shared), room & breakfast

Early in the morning, head to the Osa Peninsula, the coastal road via Palmar Norte where, if you have time, you can stop at Central Park to admire the pre-Columbian stone spheres.
Arrive at Sierpe, village, main gateway to the wild Osa Peninsula.

Note 1 : 2 hour drive
Note 2 : place and mode of return of your rental vehicle specified later


Transfer from the airport to de Osa Peninsule.

Night at the Paloma Lodge hotel
Superior Room.
Included : room & breakfast, lunch (no drinks), dinner (no drinks), shared transport

Early departure for a day spent exploring Corcovado National Park, considered the jewel of tropical reserves. You can cross the largest rainforest in the Pacific coast of America by boat or by foot, between crystalline waterfalls and pools on the trails of San Pedrillo.
You will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of birds, including the harpy eagle and silver macaws. It is also here that we have the best chance to see jaguars and tapirs, especially on the beaches at dusk.

Night at La Paloma Lodge ****
Superior room.

Day dedicated to the discovery of Isla del Caño, once sacred place to the pre-Columbian natives, the Diquis.
The clear waters invite to do some diving and snorkeling. In this warm waters is where dolphins, whales and sting rays meet.
Depending on the time of year you will have the opportunity to take a little walk on the island.

In the afternoon, return to La Paloma by boat.

Night at La Paloma Lodge ****
Superior room.

You will have some free time before returning to port of Sierpe by boat, sailing between the Pacific ocean and the mangroves.

Then continue the road to San Gerardo de Dota (2200 meters), the country of the Quetzal, taking the Panamerican highway to the towns of Palmar Norte and San Isidro de El General.
Arrival at the hotel at the bottom of the steep valley of the Río Savegre.
Meals not included.

Note: 3 hour drive.
Included : room & breakfast

Morning walk on the paths around the lodge to go and watch the birds. You will discover an opulent vegetation and numerous birds, including the emblematical and mystical Quetzal along with hummingbirds, trogonidaes and woodpeckers.

Note: 2 hour drive

Departure for the Turrialba valley, whose surrounding area is known for its clean air and river rafting adventures.You cross the Cerro de la Muerte (3400 m), named in memory of the dead farmers that died from the cold while transporting their harvest to San Jose before the construction of the Panamerican road. Then you will reach Cartago, the first city and colonial capital Costa Rica, founded in 1563 by the Spanish conquistador Juan Vasquez de Coronado, who gave him the name of Carthage.
You will have the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles named in honor of La Negrita, the patron saint of the country.
Arrival at the hotel near the Turrialba volcano.

Note 1: About 3 hour drive
Note 2: The National Park Turrialba often closes without notice and depending on the activity of the volcano. Many trails are still available, the interest in this area remains intact.

Night in Casa Turire Hotel ****.
Standard Room.
Included : local guide, excursion (shared), room & breakfast

It will be at Caño Blanco or La Pavona depending on the water level, where you will board a motor boat to navigate between flora and fauna towards the Tropical Lodge.
The afternoon visit to the Caribbean village of Tortuguero and a small museum dedicated to turtles.

Note: For the possibility of discovering the history and secrets of cocoa during one of your visits in the village Tortuguero - contact us

Meal included at the Lodge
Overnight hotel Manatus ****.
Standard room.
Included : room & breakfast, lunch (no drinks), dinner (no drinks), excursion (shared)

In the morning explore the Tortuguero water channels by boat. This large national aquatic park consists in its totality in water channels and lagoons in the middle of an impressive jungle which makes it known as the " Costa Rica Amazonia". In a journey through this unique and outstanding channel network, rivers and swamps at the heart of the jungle, you will discover with you guide the crocodiles, caimans, toucans, turtles, shouting monkeys, parrots, sloths, iguanas, multicolored birds...
In the afternoon you will have the possibility to walk on the Cerro Tortuguero, by boat then by foot to enjoy an opulent nature. From the top of the hill you will admire a stunning view on the National Park.

Night at Lodge Mañatus****
Meals included (at the lodge).
Included : room & breakfast, lunch (no drinks), dinner (no drinks), local guide, excursion (shared), entrance fees

Return by boat in the morning to the Caño Blanco quay.
Then, drive from Guapiles to Poas Volcano.

On the way you can stop in Sarapiqui and enjoy the rural atmosphere of the area. The specialties of the region are pineapples and cocoa.

Note: 2 hour-drive.
Note 2: Place and time of the pick-up to be confirmed later on.

Night at The Peace Lodge.
Standard Room
Included : lunch (no drinks), shared transport, room

You will visit the Poas Volcano National Park, which with a crater 1.6 km in diameter and 300 meters deep is one of the largest active craters in the world.
Then visit the small center of vulcanology and the National Park. A large terrace offers a breathtaking view of a caldera (collapsed crater) giving off sulfurous fumes.

Stroll through the Gardens of La Paz waterfalls built around an incredible series of five waterfalls formed by the Rio La Paz, rushing down the flanks of the Poas Volcano. Guests can enjoy one of the largest gardens of butterflies of the country and botanical exhibits and ornithology.

Night at The Peace Lodge.
Standard Room
Included : entrance fees, room

Departure to La Fortuna and the majestic Arenal Volcano.
Arrival in the San Carlos valley and transfer to hotel near the Arenal Volcano.

Note: approximately 3 hours driving.

Night at the Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens.
Casita Deluxe Room.
Included : breakfast buffet , room

A 3 kilometers circuit through the primary forest with supsension bridges above the canopy. The canopy is defined as the summmit level of the forest and is an area of exchange between the highest part of the trees and the atmosphère. In total safety you will enjoy a stunning view of the tropical vegetation and of the Arenal volcano, while crossing over 8 fixed bridges and 6 supsension bridges!

Half-day horseback ride along the Arenal Volcano where you can admire the vegetation of the area.

Night at the Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens.
Casita Deluxe Room.
Included : local guide, entrance fees, excursion (private), equipment rental, breakfast buffet , room

You will head to Monteverde, which reserve offers alpine pastures landscapes in the heart of the Tilaràn cordillera. Monteverde is worldly famous for its cloudy tropical forest which contributes to the reputation of Costa Rica as an ecotouristic country, it also shelters extraordinary fauna and vegetation.
On the way, you can enjoy the stunning view on the Arenal lake, that actually looks like a fresh water sea. You will pass Tilaran, Quebrada Grande and Cabaceras before reaching the clouds forest typical of the area and finally Santa Elena.

Note: approximately 3 hour-drive.
At dark you will go and explore the tropical forest when most of the animals start to appear... You will find numerous insects, some owls and maybe snakes. Before being totally captivated by the forest melody you will be back to your hotel.

Night at Belmar Hotel****.
Peninsula Room.
Included : local guide, private transport, excursion (private), breakfast buffet , room

Morning trek at the heart of the Biological Reserve of Santa Elena and its "Cloudy Forest", in one of the wettest area of the country. You will wander in an opulent vegetation which a prehistorical feeling where each tree is covered with moss.
A perfect opportunity to watch the numerous birds and animals living in the forest and to admire the stunning view on the Arenal volcano and the Guanacaste lands.

Go to Selvatura Park for an immersion in the fauna and flora of Costa Rica. You can watch one of the 50 species of butterflies of the butterfly house.Then discover the exhibition of the Treasures of the tropical rainforest which includes the biggest private insect collection in the world, collected by the entomologist Dr R.Whitten. Thousands of phasmids, spiders, bees, beetles and other bright colored insects are pinned and classified by area and topic.
At the end, you will have the chance to watch more than 20 snakes species and colored frogs.

Night at Belmar Hotel****.
Peninsula Room.
Included : local guide, entrance fees, excursion (shared), breakfast buffet , room

Departure to the province of Guanacaste, land of the sabaneros, proud and colorful local cowboys.
Along the way you will take the Puente (Bridge) Tempisque to cross the Gulf of Nicoya you will cross various landscapes before reaching Playa Junquillal.
Then, transfer to hotel near a beautiful white sand beach, which is perfect for relaxing or swimming in the turquoise waters of the Pacific.

Note: 5 hour drive

Night at Hotel Villa Diosa del Mar / 3 rooms

Included : room & breakfast

Free day to visit, Tamarindo area.
You will have the opportunity to discover the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, o the Santa Rosa National Park, to enjoy the typical villages of Guanacaste or to do birdwatching from Palo Verde Park. Many activities are possible including beautiful horse riding, cruises on the Pacific, ...

Suggested activities - contact us:
- Observation of nesting leatherback turtles (November to January)
- Kayak in the mangroves
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park (volcano, hiking or horseback riding)
- Miravalles Volcano (hot springs, hiking)
- Palo Verde National Park (fauna and flora)
- Barra Honda National Park (caves)
- Excursion in Nicaragua (colonial city of Granada, Masaya typical markets)
- Scuba diving, fishing, surfing
- Golf

Night at Hotel Villa Diosa del Mar / 3 rooms

Included : room & breakfast

Free day to visit, Tamarindo area.
You will have the opportunity to discover the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, o the Santa Rosa National Park, to enjoy the typical villages of Guanacaste or to do birdwatching from Palo Verde Park. Many activities are possible including beautiful horse riding, cruises on the Pacific, ...

Suggested activities - contact us:
- Observation of nesting leatherback turtles (November to January)
- Kayak in the mangroves
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park (volcano, hiking or horseback riding)
- Miravalles Volcano (hot springs, hiking)
- Palo Verde National Park (fauna and flora)
- Barra Honda National Park (caves)
- Excursion in Nicaragua (colonial city of Granada, Masaya typical markets)
- Scuba diving, fishing, surfing
- Golf

Night at Hotel Villa Diosa del Mar / 3 rooms

Included : room & breakfast

In the morning, you'll drive back to San José, passing through the Tempisque Bridge and the panamerican highway.

Three hours before your flight, you will drop your car off at the airport.
Meals are not included.

Note 1: About 5 hour-drive.
Note 2: Place and time of the drop off to be confirmed later on.

IMPORTANT: Depending on the time of your international flight, plan to spend a night in San José.