Costa Rica Family Holidays
This peaceful, compact country is awesomely bio-diverse. Since 1990 it has doubled the extent of its forests. Amazing animals and tropical birds are thriving. We’ll carefully select exclusive lodges where your family can enjoy a lifetime’s adventure.
Costa Rica is a place your family will fall in love with. It’s astonishingly beautiful, friendly and teeming with wildlife. Costa Ricans are serious about looking after their natural wonders. Forests covered 21% of the country in 1987 – now it’s 75%.
Costa Rica’s a great place to take a holiday at any time of year. Your family can zipline through the rainforest canopy, mountain bike the slopes of an active volcano. There are hundreds of miles of natural coastline to surf, snorkel and soak up the sun. The superb beach lodges that we recommend are surrounded by natural forest, adding to the beauty and interest. Call us and we’ll craft a perfect holiday for your family.
If abundant wildlife, opportunity for adventure and time by the beach are important to your family Costa Rica has it all. Travel from London involves one change. You can fly direct from USA. Once there, the compact size of the country makes travel between a rich variety of locations quite easy. Costa Rica has a wealth of exclusive lodges set in magnificent locations, with a variety of expertly guided activities. In this section we set out some reasons why Costa Rica is a great choice for your family trip.If abundant wildlife, opportunity for adventure and time by the beach are important to your family Costa Rica has it all. Travel from London involves one change. You can fly direct from USA. Once there, the compact size of the country makes travel between a rich variety of locations quite easy. Costa Rica has a wealth of exclusive lodges set in magnificent locations, with a variety of expertly guided activities. In this section we set out some reasons why Costa Rica is a great choice for your family trip.
Costa Rica has good warm weather all year round and your family can enjoy a great trip in any of the traditional holiday seasons. Christmas is an excellent time to visit Costa Rica - but remember to book early! The temperatures are warm throughout the country and rainfall is near its lowest point.
At Easter the temperatures are similar to those at Christmas in the low 30sC by the coast and cooler inland around the Arenal Volcano and in the central valley. The period from July to October is the wettest in Arenal and the central valley, though the days usually begin with clear skies. The Caribbean coast is usually drier than the Pacific during these months.
For a compact country, Costa Rica packs in a huge variety of landscapes, wildlife and beaches. Three quarters of Costa Rica is covered in forests. They create a habitat for toucans, parrots and howler monkeys and humming birds.
Towering volcanoes, beautiful valleys and coffee plantations are features of the interior. To the east forests run right down to a glorious Caribbean coastline. To the west are the spectacular beaches of the Pacific.
Costa Rica is one of the most friendly and advanced countries in the Americas. It is a peace loving nation which abolished the army in 1948. Internationally there’s a lot of talk about conservation. But Costa Rica has a long track record of action. The area of the country covered by forest has doubled since 1990 and large areas are protected.
Costa Ricans will give you a friendly welcome everywhere you go. They talk about “pura vida” (the pure life) which sums up the philosophy by which many live by.
Costa Rica is truly one vast adventure playground! Your family can take a thrilling zipwire through the Monteverde cloud forest. You can hike and mountain bike the slopes of Arenal Volcano. You can rappel down a sheer cliff face beside a tropical waterfall. Expert guides will take your kids on fascinating jungle walks discovering spiders, colourful frogs, amazing birds and plants.
You can choose between the Pacific or the Caribbean for your beach stay - or both if you have time! Snorkel, dive, windsurf and sail. Spot turtles in the nesting season and take a safari in the forests which fringe the beaches.
We know all the best places to stay in Costa Rica and take great care to select accommodation that will be perfect for your family. We favour exclusive, smaller scale accommodation which is not used by big tour groups. For younger families we will choose places with family suites and interconnecting rooms.
Location is all important. For example, Lapa Rios lodge is in a majestic coastal setting on the Osa Peninsula yet is surrounded by 1,000 acres of natural forest. Your family can wake to a chorus of howler monkeys and watch a three toed sloth clamber along a branch right beside your suite.
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Known for its pristine beaches and wildlife rich (or filled if you prefer) rainforests, Costa Rica is a destination that will capture your heart. Lap up lustrous waterfalls and rich heritage across this diminutive yet spectacularly diverse country.
Full of adventure and excitement, Costa Rica offers plenty of incredible experiences for the whole family. We highlight the top ten must-do activities for your family to enjoy in Costa Rica.Known for its pristine beaches and wildlife rich (or filled if you prefer) rainforests, Costa Rica is a destination that will capture your heart. Lap up lustrous waterfalls and rich heritage across this diminutive yet spectacularly diverse country.
Full of adventure and excitement, Costa Rica offers plenty of incredible experiences for the whole family. We highlight the top ten must-do activities for your family to enjoy in Costa Rica.
Tortuguero on the north Caribbean coast is known as the “Amazon of Central America”. From June to October, thousands of sea turtles make their way up the remote beaches to nest and lay their eggs.
You can see this on a special safari from a luxurious Manatus Lodge. Explore the amazing swamp forest and waterways by boat and kayak in search of American crocodiles, red-eyed frogs, green ibis and white-faced monkeys.
Fly like a bird on a mile-long zip wire through the forest canopy! We can organise thrilling zip wire rides on the Arenal Volcano and in the beautiful Monteverde Cloud Forest.
It’s an adrenaline-charged way to experience the forest canopy. Afterwards, your private guide will take you through the forest more slowly looking for hummingbirds, quetzals, howler monkeys and gaudy leaf frogs.
At Arenas del Mar your magnificent family suite will be in the Manuel Antonio rainforest yet overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Exquisitely private, this is the perfect place to swing in a hammock with a cocktail as the Pacific laps at the shore. A soothing massage will aid your recovery from adrenaline-charged activity. But if members of your family want to keep exploring, the hotel sits in its own 11-acre rainforest reserve.
There are no roads to Pacuare Lodge. To reach this superb rainforest lodge you either take a helicopter or ride the river. Choosing the river means a two hour white water rafting adventure. Through canyons and rainforests.
One moment you’re watching a blue morpho butterfly flutter by. The next, you’re plunging into a foaming rapid. Your reward is a stay at one of Costa Rica’s finest jungle lodges.
Founded in 1737 San Jose is a friendly, walkable city. Stroll down Avenida Central with its coffee shops, street artists and musicians. Continue into the stylish Barrio Amon where you can wander streets lined with colonial mansions built during the coffee boom years.
In the underground Museo de Oro Precolombino you’ll find 1600 ancient gold artefacts. Back above ground, there’s the lively central market where you can try street food. We love taco tico – shredded beef with chips.
The Pacific waves that run onto the Nicoya Peninsula are consistent and perfect for surfing.
If your family takes one of the beautiful villas at Florblanca beach hotel you can surf, snorkel or head off in a deep-sea fishing boat to catch your dinner. Instructors will teach you to ride the waves on the Playa Hermosa. Or, if you’re an experienced surfer they will take you to some challenging spots on the peninsula.
At dawn the howler monkeys at Lapa Rios Lodge do just that – they howl. This is more something that happens to you than an activity!
The eerie howling and the chattering of scarlet macaws are reminders that you are living in a rainforest. Get out of bed and wander onto your deck and you might find a friendly three-toed sloth swaying on a branch. Turn around and there’s the ocean in its morning glory.
Dawn of a new day at Nayara Camp. As rejoicing birds chatter and sing, take a stroll across the hanging bridges of Nayara. For two miles you’ll feel you’re walking on air as you cross six hanging bridges.
Gaze into ravines, admire the conical slopes of Arenal Vvolcano and pause a while by a silvery waterfall. A macaw flits through the trees in a flash of colour. Breakfast and hot coffee are waiting. What will the day bring?
If you’re feeling a bit too pampered at luxurious Nayara Tented Camp, enliven your day by rappelling into a canyon. You’ll get a full safety talk and equipment, then you’re ready for a series of breath-taking rappels.
The longest is 195 feet and the wettest is the 60 foot “monkey drop” in a waterfall pool. If that isn’t enough adventure for one day, you can continue down the river rapids by raft.
Who will be the family photographer? Who will keep a record of the bird and frog species that you’ve seen?
The friendly expert guides who will take you on safaris and adventures know where to find them and can identify every resplendent bird, butterfly, monkey and reptile. Each colourful creature has its individual character. Capture animal portraits on camera and edit the pictures during downtime in your lodge.
If you have school aged children, the main times that you’ll be able to travel will be Christmas, Easter and July/August. In fact, tropical Costa Rica has good warm weather all year round and your family can enjoy a great trip in any of these holiday seasons.
Costa Rica has a mountainous interior and coastlines on two great oceans so the more detailed weather situation is quite nuanced. We’ll explain this in a little more detail in the following sections.If you have school aged children, the main times that you’ll be able to travel will be Christmas, Easter and July/August. In fact, tropical Costa Rica has good warm weather all year round and your family can enjoy a great trip in any of these holiday seasons.
Costa Rica has a mountainous interior and coastlines on two great oceans so the more detailed weather situation is quite nuanced. We’ll explain this in a little more detail in the following sections.
Christmas is an excellent time to visit Costa Rica - but remember to book early! The temperatures are warm throughout the country and rainfall is near its lowest point. The weather is especially warm, in the low 30sC and dry on the Pacific coast which has some of the best beaches and wildlife areas like the Osa Peninsula.
Inland at higher altitudes the weather is a little cooler, in the mid 20sC and relatively dry, though in the hilly rainforest regions you can expect a thundershower at any time of year. December is one of the wettest months on the Caribbean coast, though the mornings are usually clear and pleasant.
Easter is a good time to visit Costa Rica. The temperatures are similar to those at Christmas in the low 30sC by the coast and cooler inland around the Arenal Volcano and in the central valley. March and April are two of the driest months in Arenal and the central valley.
These are also relatively dry months at the Osa Peninsula and the Pacific coast. March and April are the driest months on the entire Caribbean coast making it a superb time for a beach holiday.
Costa Rica has very consistent temperatures throughout the year. Generally the coastal areas enjoy temperatures in the low 30sC while the interior is in the mid to high 20sC depending on altitude.
The period from July to October is the wettest in Arenal and the central valley, though the days usually begin with clear skies. The Caribbean coast is usually drier than the Pacific during these months. The north Pacific coast around the Nicoya Peninsula is generally hotter and drier than the southern pacific regions like Osa at this time.
Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America. Verdant rain forests, fertile valleys, active volcanoes and golden beaches adorn this prosperous, peaceful land. A quarter of this unspoiled country is devoted to wildlife and nature reserves. Journeysmiths regards Costa Rica as one of the world’s best for gentle adventure, comfort and relaxation in beautiful surroundings.Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America. Verdant rain forests, fertile valleys, active volcanoes and golden beaches adorn this prosperous, peaceful land. A quarter of this unspoiled country is devoted to wildlife and nature reserves. Journeysmiths regards Costa Rica as one of the world’s best for gentle adventure, comfort and relaxation in beautiful surroundings.
The Arenal Volcano puffs and it grumbles, and every now and then it belches out steam. Scientists keep a close eye on its activity, and though the cone is visible from almost everywhere in the park, it’s too dangerous to ascend. If you want to see a volcano up close and peer down into its crater, you can do this at extinct Cerro Chato, which is Arenal’s volcano neighbour. Our favourite hiking trails within the national park are those which take in the Cataratas Fortuna waterfall and the hot springs of the Río Agua Caliente.
The former Ibero-American Capital of Culture, San Jose is simultaneously vibrant and safe. The architecture is largely European in its style, with highlights including the castle-like National Museum of Costa Rica. It’s just an hour and a half’s drive from San Jose to Poas Volcano National Park. Here there are active volcanoes, including the largest open volcano in the world. You can hike around the crater rim in a couple of hours, then return to San Jose via the La Paz Waterfall or one of the valley’s numerous coffee plantations.
For sun, sand, and surf, head to Tamarindo. This gorgeous beachside town has a laid back feel and splendid weather year round, but it is not over crowded or commercial. Yes, you can lie back on the sand and sunbathe, but if you do get bored of that, it’s an excellent spot for surfing and sport fishing; the marlin are absolutely huge. The town borders the Marino las Baulas National Park, one of the most important turtle nesting sites in Costa Rica. The mixture of mangrove swamps and quiet beaches are ideal for leatherback turtle, which migrate here between November and April to lay their eggs.
Manuel Antonio National Park may be one of Costa Rica’s smaller parks, but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in attractions! Biodiversity arrives at Manuel Antonio on land and around and beyond the land reefs. In the forests you can track three of Costa Rica’s four monkey species, plus sloth, iguana, and white-nosed coati. Look up into the trees and there you’ll see birds jostling for attention. Wandering down to one of Manuel Antonio’s four beaches, green turns to dazzling white sand and Pacific blues.
The moisture in the air makes Monteverde especially fertile. It’s estimated that 2,500 different species of plants grow here, including more types of orchid than in any other place in the world. In fact, of the 420 orchid species found here, 34 were previously unknown to science. The chances are, however, that it’s not just the flora which excites you. Bird lovers will be in their element spotting quetzal, three-wattled bellbird, swallow-tailed kite, and the piratic flycatcher, which migrate from North America to breed.
You will find the Osa Peninsula jutting out into the Pacific Ocean in the southern part of Costa Rica. The land is thick with a carpet of rainforest, much of which falls within the Corcovado National Park. The last great tract of virgin tropical rainforest in Pacific Central America, it’s home to half of all species in Costa Rica, including giant anteater, Baird’s tapir, and plenty of South America’s big cats.
You can only reach the Tortuguero National Park by airplane or boat, but this shouldn’t deter wildlife lovers. The park’s ecosystems range from beaches to mangrove swamps, rainforest to lagoons, and its wetlands are protected by the Ramsar Convention of being of international importance. You can enjoy all of this in the company of expert guides from one of the excellent rainforest lodges.
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 25 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made holidays to megadiverse Latin America. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 25 years we have been creating luxury tailor-made holidays to megadiverse Latin America. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you, every time.
An experienced team of well-travelled individuals, passionate about crafting journeys that are as exceptional as they are personal, while maximising our positive impact on the places in which we work.
While the evolution of travel and technology has seen much change at Journeysmiths over the years, our fundamental beliefs about the perfect holiday have not.
Journeysmiths mission is to inspire and expand peoples horizons through exceptional travel experiences, while preserving the natural world for future generations.
We highlight the top ten must-do activities for your to enjoy in Costa Rica.
If you’re seeking an active family holiday of natural wonders and vanilla sand beaches we recommend Costa Rica. Choose between Pacific and Caribbean beaches where turtles nest and the reefs abound with colourful fish. Rainforests cascade down mountainsides to the ocean.
We highlight the top ten must-do activities for your family to enjoy in Costa Rica.
This experiential itinerary allows you to go deeper in some of Costa Rica's most spectacular regions. Embark on a hands-on conservation adventure, take to the ocean for a private yacht adventure, explore wildlife filled forests and contribute to the future of Costa Rica's sea turtle population.