Costa Rica Road Trip For Families With Children

Upon arrival, you'll be met by a representative from our local travel agency and transferred to your hotel. Depending on the time of your flight, you and your family will have the whole day to relax and acclimatise to the weather or explore your surroundings on foot.

Transfer time: 45 minutes

Today, your adventure begins. After breakfast, you'll set off for a half-day guided visit of the stunning La Paz Waterfall Gardens: a paradise for wildlife lovers! As well as visiting the world-famous Butterfly and Frog Gardens, your family will come up close with tucans, sloths, and wild cats, on a gentle walk that will take you to the site of three cascading waterfalls.

Transfer and tour time: 5 hours (1 hour transfer each way, 3 hour visit)

Today, you'll pick up your rental car and set off La Fortuna, home to the lush landscapes of Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon, you'll have time to put your feet up and relax in the hotel's hot springs.

Drive time: 3 hours

After breakfast, you'll set off on a gentle safari floating through the calm waters of Peñas Blancas River. This is a great way to observe the area's diverse wildlife, such as monkeys, sloths, waterbirds, lizards, bats, and tropical birds.

Drive and tour time: 4.30 hours (30 minute drive each way, 3.5 hour tour)

Today, you'll get to experience life as a local by spending the morning on a farm to learn about the production of coffee and cacao! This fun, cultural visit is highly popular for families, allowing your children to harvest organic fruits like papaya, yucca, and avocado, as well as learning how a sugar cane press works. At the end of the morning, you'll all get to enjoy a hearty, fresh local lunch.

Drive and tour time: 3.30 hours (15 minute drive each way, 3 hour tour)

Next stop: Monteverde Cloud Forest! The drive around Arenal Lake to Monteverde is a particularly beautiful one, and you'll arrive in the afternoon with the rest of the day free for you to relax, explore your surroundings by foot, or even join an optional night hike to see Monteverde's nocturnal inhabitants.

Drive time: 3 hours

Get ready for one of the highlights of your tour: walking over Monteverde's famous Hanging Bridges! Keep on the lookout for birds and animals hiding in the jungle canopy. If you're not too tired in the afternoon, you can go on to visit the colourful Butterfly Gardens or Frog & Snake Garden (optional).

Drive and tour time: 3 hours (30 minute drive each way, 2 hour easy walk on Hanging Bridges)

For the second part of your Costa Rican family adventure, you'll be spending three days on the Central Pacific Coast on one of the world's most beautiful beaches. You'll arrive in Manuel Antonio in the afternoon and have the entire evening to relax in the hotel pool or take a dip in the ocean after your journey.​

Drive time: 5 hours

Today, you'll be free to do as little or as much as you'd like. Either wind down on the beach, or take part in some optional activities. We recommend that you visit Manuel Antonio National Park, a family favourite. The park offers easy hiking trails and is a fantastic place to spot wildlife: cappuchin monkeys, coatis, morpho butterflies, and sloths. The beaches within the park are also great for swimming. Some further optional activities for kids include:
• Snorkelling or sea kayaking
• A catamaran cruise
• Another jungle canopy tour

​​Free time all day

Enjoy your last morning on the beach before your afternoon drive back to San José. Upon arrival, you'll return your rental car and can spend the evening resting up in your hotel before your flight home the following day.

Drive time: 3 hours

Enjoy a last breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to the airport. We hope you've had an amazing time in Costa Rica and look forward to seeing you again soon!

Transfer time: 15 minutes