Costa Rica Family Vacation Family travel to Costa Rica can be educational and fun for the whole family with Horizontes Nature Tours’ “Costa Rica Family Discovery”. Become rainforest explorers, take a wildlife river float and learn how to surf on a safe and stimulating vacation getaway to Costa Rica, designed for families. Start planning your trip today!
Day-by-day IntineraryDay 1 Arrival / San Jose HillsWelcome to Costa Rica! Enjoy a private airport transfer from the bustling Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose to the hotel. Spend your first night in the hills above the capital city. Overnight at Bougainvilla or similar. Day 2 La Paz / Arenal VolcanoYour private guide-driver will pick you up after breakfast for the private transfer to La Paz Waterfalls, Hummingbird Gardens and Butterfly Observatory. After lunch at the gardens, continue on to the northern plains and rainforests of Arenal Volcano. Overnight at Volcano. Day 3 Rainforest Trails and Suspension BridgesAfter breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the Arenal Hanging Bridges Project where you will enjoy a guided walk through the spectacular lowland rainforest. After the tour, transportation back to the hotel. Take the afternoon to explore the local town or for optional activities (additional cost). Overnight at Volcano. Day 4 Lake Arenal & Monteverde Frog PondThis morning you will embark on a pleasant boat ride across Lake Arenal, en route to the Monteverde area. Monteverde is peaceful mountain town well known for its conservation efforts and small Quaker community. Early afternoon you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the frog pond, for a look at these fascinating creatures. After the visit, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at Fonda Vela. Day 5 Monteverde Cloud Forest ReserveEarly morning you will be transferred to Monteverde Biological Reserve, where you will join one of the half-day regular guided walks offered by the reserve. After the tour, return transportation will bring you bac to the hotel. Free afternoon to enjoy the optional activities (at additional cost) or explore the local town. Overnight at Fonda Vela. Day 6 La Cruz Community Visit & Manuel Antonio BeachIn the morning you will visit the small local community of La Cruz where you will take a peak at how local Costa Rican’s live. After the tour, continue on to Manuel Antonio, on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast. Early afternoon private transfer to Manuel Antonio, Quepos. Overnight at Tulemar. Day 7: Manuel Antonio National ParkIn the morning you will be picked up at the hotel for the half-day guided group tour to Manuel Antonio National Park. After the tour you will have the option of returning to the hotel or remaining in the park, for exploring or beachcombing on your own. Overnight at Hotel Parador. Day 8: Free Day at the beachFree day to explore the local town of Quepos or for optional adventure activities (at additional cost). Overnight at Hotel Parador. Day 9: Sea Kayaking or Canopy Tour (Your Choice)After breakfast, take the last day for an exhilarating canopy zipline tour or a sea kayak/outrigger canoe adventure (age restrictions apply). En route to the San Jose hills. Overnight at Bougainvilla. Day 10 Travel HomeToday we take you to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you catch your flight home. End of services. Green season 2007 (May-November)
Dry season 2007-2008 (December-April)
Prices include:Lodging
Meals
Transportation
Activities
Important Notes:
Additional DescriptionsLa Paz Waterfall GardensAt La Paz Waterfall Gardens, visitors have the unique opportunity to reach out and touch the impressive and mesmerizing cascades of five magnificent waterfalls flowing through rain and cloud forest. A series of observation decks built on the cliffs of the verdant canyon are perfect places to take memorable photos or simply sit back and feel the falls’ refreshing mist. The park has beautifully maintained trails that wind through the largest butterfly observatory in the world and past a fascinating garden teeming with curious hummingbirds. From there, the trail continues, dipping and curving along the banks of a pristine river and past the falls. A minivan returns guest to the main building a short drive uphill. There, a charming welcome center, gift shop and buffet-style restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating await. Arenal Volcano area.Sitting just north of the Tilarán Mountains, Arenal is a spectacularly beautiful, cone-shaped volcano rising out of the flat San Carlos Plains. It is the most active volcano in the country and the frequent, loud booms can be heard as far away as Monteverde. Even in the daytime, it is a very special experience to see clouds of ash and smoke billowing into the sky, from Arenal's crater. On clear nights, spectators are occasionally treated to a real natural fireworks display, when an eruption of lava and burning rocks explodes into the air and showers down the cinder cone. Even when it's overcast, the rumblings, venting and molten lava glowing eerily through the clouds, make for stirring spectacle. Hanging Bridges Tour.Welcome to the most beautiful environmental project in Costa Rica. Located within the corridor followed by birds migrating between North and South America, the trails and bridges of this project will bring you as close as you could ever hope to get to the birds, the flowers and the lush vegetation of the primary rain forest. You will be able to walk right into the forest, thanks to the imposing hanging bridges and the beautiful trails that are safe and easy to walk on. The Frog Pond.This exhibition of 20 species of amphibians of Costa Rica are separated by species in large terrariums. The walk through the exhibit is offered with bilingual guides who provide an explanation about the natural history of each species. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offers well developed and easily negotiable trails access some of the most beautiful cloud forest, anywhere. Often shrouded in cloud blown in from the Atlantic Ocean, the forests of Monteverde are laden with epiphytic growth such as mosses, lichens, ferns, and bromeliads, orchids-even small trees! Famous for its populations of Resplendent Quetzal, Monteverde has almost become synonymous with this legendary bird. Other cloud forest denizens include the Black-faced Solitaire, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Black Guan. Visitation is limited to fewer than 150 persons at one time (distributed on various trails) allowing for a very private connection with the forest. In Monteverde there are 6 different life zones. There are over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 2,500 species of plants (among them 420 different kinds of orchids), as well as tens of thousands of insect species. Manuel Antonio National ParkScenic Manuel Antonio National Park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and rainforest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach strand and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources. Because of its relatively small size and isolation by surrounding ocean and plantations, it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatimundi, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys and the tiny Squirrel Monkey. There is no development inside the park but along the 7 kilometers (4 miles) of cliff top road leading to Manuel Antonio are dozens of small hotels surrounded by trees and lush tropical gardens. Costa Rica OutriggersThis tour departs and ends at our base in Playa Agujas. After some brief instructions clients are ready to do paddling. The ocean is calm and non-threatening. We will paddle 30 to 40 casual minutes along spectacular cliffs filled with pelicans and frigate birds to one of our destination beaches. All of our destinations are beautiful; the difference will be in the quality of the snorkeling and the size of group that the location can comfortably accommodate. The quality of the snorkeling, like the weather, is a variable of the tour that we have no control over. But we will be in the best location for snorkeling on the Central Pacific Coast. Trip includes all equipment necessary, a fresh fruit buffet served on the beach, bottle water during the trip, and drinks and beer at the end. Its a half-day from Jacó. |
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Costa Rica-based Horizontes Nature Tours has been designing family vacations, honeymoon tours, and educational and adventure travel programs to Costa Rica's most beautiful and biodiversity-rich destinations since 1984.
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