Family Trip to Costa Rica's Volcanoes, Cloud Forests & Beaches - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Liberia, Transfer to La Fortuna, Visit a Chocolate Farm

Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival in Liberia, your driver will be waiting to take you on a 2.5-hour transfer to the town of La Fortuna, the launching point for excursions into Arenal Volcano National Park. The iconic Arenal Volcano dominates the skyline of the entire area, rising an impressive 5,358 feet (1,633 m) over the surrounding cloud forests and Lake Arenal.

After you've checked into your hotel and freshened up, kick the trip off with a sweet treat—a hands-on chocolate tour where you'll get to grips with chocolate production and, of course, plenty of tasting along the way! Meet your guide and drive to a local farm where you'll roll up your sleeves and join in the cacao harvest. Learn about the delicious, fruity pulp that covers the beans while they're still in their pods, watch the roasting process, and enjoy plenty of samples of the finished product. When it's time to head back to La Fortuna, you'll find plenty of family-friendly restaurant options for dinner.

Day 2: Morning Sloth Hike, Explore the Cloud Forest Canopy at Sky Adventures

Young animal lovers will be thrilled with today's walk along the Sloth Trail. This nature trail cuts through a habitat for sloths (both two-toed and three-toed) who like to hang on the branches of the trees and feed on bright green leaves. This two-hour guided hike follows groomed trails at an easy pace that's perfect for little ones, and your bilingual guide will help them spot the adorable sloths despite their natural camouflage (if you're lucky, you might even see a mother and baby). You'll also get the chance to glimpse other animals common to this area, like the famous red-eyed tree frog.

Older and more adventurous kids might want to spend this afternoon at Sky Adventures, where there's a range of exhilarating, treetop fun for all ages. Kick things off with a scenic ride up the mountain by an open-air gondola for 360-degree views of the Arenal landscape and the volcano's southern face. Then, follow an expert guide along a series of suspended bridges and walkways as you spy plenty of intriguing plants and creatures. For the ultimate Costa Rica experience, add an adrenaline-pumping zipline tour through the forest canopy, spotting colorful birds and playful monkeys from 660 feet (201 m). 

Day 3: Transfer to Monteverde, Children's Eternal Forest Night Hike

Today you'll trade La Fortuna for Costa Rica's Monteverde region—with a scenic four-hour journey that combines shuttle bus and boat. After a pickup at your hotel, transfer to the shores of Lake Arenal and step aboard a water taxi for the 30-minute cruise across the lake (keeping an eye out for herons, kingfishers, and storks along the way). When you arrive at the Monteverde side of the lake, a shuttle will be waiting to take you the rest of the way to your hotel, where you can rest and refresh before this evening's excursion. 

As night falls, meet your guide and grab some flashlights to explore the Children's Eternal Rainforest, the largest private reserve in Costa Rica. Your naturalist guide will lead you along the park's trails after dark, pointing out nocturnal creatures like tarantulas, frogs, bats, sleeping birds, and bioluminescent beetles. Curious kids are sure to enjoy staying up late to discover the plants and animals that thrive in the nocturnal world.

Day 4: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Get ready for an expedition into the famous "green lung of Costa Rica." Fuel up with a hearty breakfast and pack some snacks for the kids, then meet your guide for a gentle half-day hike around the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which contains a whopping 2.5% of the world's biodiversity. Unsurprisingly, the reserve is teeming with wildlife, including spider monkeys, tree frogs, sloths, spiders, and big cats like pumas and jaguars. It's also a birder's paradise, with more than 350 bird species, including the quetzal.

The kids will love exploring forest trails and getting an up-close look at the region's remarkable biodiversity as your naturalist guide points out some of the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects that call the 26,000-acre (3,500 ha) reserve home. After an immersive and educational few hours in nature, you'll stop by a local women's artisan cooperative to end the experience. 

Day 5: Transfer to Tamarindo, Sunset Catamaran Sailing & Snorkeling

It's time to leave the cloud forests behind and head to the Pacific! Your private driver will take you on a 3.5-hour journey west today, following a series of paved and dirt roads that lead toward the Nicoya Peninsula and the popular surf haven of Tamarindo. This is a small community teeming with activity, famous for its sunny beaches and world-class surf. After checking in at your hotel, the kids might want to make straight for the sand, where you'll also find plenty of dining options to suit all ages. 

Later on, grab your swimwear and meet your experienced skipper and crew at Playa Tamarindo, where you'll step aboard a spacious catamaran and cast off for a four-hour cruise past quiet bays, lush forests, and white-sand beaches. Sip a tropical drink while the little ones spot dolphins, sea turtles, and breaching whales from the boat's hammock nets, then drop anchor in a sheltered spot while your crew prepares a barbecue meal of traditional Costa Rican dishes like chicken, yellow rice, and pico de gallo. There'll be plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling before you sail back to port as the sun sets.

Day 6: Tamarindo Estuary Safari Cruise

Pack your bug spray and binoculars and venture into a different landscape today when you step aboard a small boat for a safari cruise through the mangrove-lined waterways of the Tamarindo Estuary. Located within the Marino las Baulas National Park, this protected area is where the freshwater Río Tamarindo meets the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean, and its mangrove swamps and wetlands are one of the coast's most important and delicate ecosystems.

You'll set off from the mouth of the river and glide through narrow canals, spotting fish swimming between the mangrove's underwater roots and iguana's basking on the banks. Keep an eye out for crocodiles in the water and monkeys in the treetops, and listen as your guide points out the many bird species that flourish here, including herons, spoonbills, and egrets. At the end of the three-hour excursion, transfer back to your hotel and spend your afternoon at the beach. Adventurous kids (and adults) can book a surfing lesson or rent a board from one of the local surf shops.

Day 7: Catalina Islands Snorkeling Adventure

Rise and shine early this morning, as you and the kids are off to the Islas Catalinas—a group of 20 volcanic islands and rock formations that rise above the ocean surface in front of Playa Flamingo. You'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to a local dive shop, where you'll be kitted out with snorkeling gear. Board your boat, and it's a 45-minute journey to one of the world's best places for diving and snorkeling.

Throughout the morning, you and the kids can snorkel at a couple of different sites. Take advantage of the excellent visibility and discover an incredible selection of marine life, including giant mantas, devil rays, sea turtles, parrotfish, lobsters, and pufferfish. In the right season, it's even possible to hear humpback whales singing! Back on the boat, you'll enjoy a snack of tropical fruits and soft drinks before returning to Playa Tamarindo.

Day 8: Transfer to Liberia, Depart

Your Costa Rican adventure comes to a close today. Depending on your departure, you might have time to fit in one last morning at the beach before your driver picks you up and transfers you back to Liberia to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!

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