Overview
Departing Saturday 2nd August 2025 – Family Small Group Tour - 14 nights.
Price from £14,520 (excl. flights) based on two adults and two children in one double and one twin room.
Designed for families this is a fantastic two week group tour that will be led by a guide and is an opportunity to see amazing wildlife such as green turtles in nesting season, humpback whales and some of Costa Rica's iconic species such as sloths, monkeys, toucans, red eyed tree frogs and scarlet macaws. You will be travelling in private air-conditioned vehicles and staying in hand picked hotels that are comfortable, in amazing locations and all have pools for cooling off after active days. *Note. two rooms are included in the price and based on a family of four, two adults and two children. For families sharing one room, or require extra rooms please mention at time of enquiring and we can revise the costs.
Experience the steamy, humid jungle canals of the remote Tortuguero region at the start of your trip where you will see the diversity of wildlife that live in this unique and interesting habitat. Sightings may include caimans, capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys and possibly the Great Green Macaw. You will also you have the opportunity to witness the huge Atlantic Green Turtles that come at night to lay their eggs on the Tortuguero beach. This is one of the most important nesting sites in the world for the Green Turtles.
Your next stop is in Arenal, where you will have incredible views of the majestic conical Arenal volcano. We will have a guided tour to the Mistico hanging bridges to spot wildlife such as snakes, frogs, sloths and more. You will also partake in an exhilarating zip line canopy tour through the rainforest with a backdrop of the volcano and lake. Plus a gentle rafting trip along the scenic Penas Blancas River. You will also go in search of sloths in their natural habitat, have a visit to a local farm, with a cooking lesson and dinner with the family. You can also enjoy the hot spring fed pools at the hotel.
Your tour finishes is on the Central Pacific coast at the scenic Manuel Antonio region. On the transfer you will stop for a boat trip along the Tarcoles river where you will see large American Crocodiles and the possibility of Scarlet Macaws. As well as opportunities to relax by the pool and at the beach, you will spend a day in Marino Ballena Marine Park on a boat tour to see Humpback whales and their calves and also visit the spectacular Nauyaca waterfalls. A trip to Manuel Antonio would not be complete without a guided walk through the national park, this small park has a great concentration of wildlife and some stunning beaches. As you hike the trails you may see species such as sloths, scarlet macaws, capuchin monkeys, tent making bats, hummingbirds and a chance to see fascinating squirrel monkeys which are endangered and only found in this region of Costa Rica, you may also spot the Tamandua, a tree climbing anteater!
Price Guide
14 nights from £14,520 per group based
on Group Tour - Family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 children (2 rooms)
These prices are excluding international flights. Average flight prices vary depending on time of year and can be considerably more expensive at peak times (Christmas, Easter, Summer). Flight routes vary, please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings
and place of departure.
Call for specialist advice
Day to Day
Below is an example day by day itinerary
Day 1
Met on arrival at the international airport and transferred to your hotel in downtown San Jose. Overnight Presidente Hotel.
Day 2
An early morning start, meet your guide and group before transferring with your guide in an air-conditioned vehicle on a scenic drive with rainforest views, stopping for breakfast at a mountain restaurant then transferring into a river boat, along the canals and waterways to the remote Tortuguero village and on to Pachira Lodge. This simple lodge is situated on the banks of a canal and is surrounded by rainforest, monkeys are often seen in the trees at the lodge and there is a swimming pool and open air restaurant. After a buffet lunch you will have a guided tour of Tortuguero village and the Turtle Conservation museum. In the evening, you have the chance to witness the large Atlantic Green Turtles haul themselves up the beach to lay their eggs, this is an evening tour which can be booked at the lodge for additional cost. Overnight Pachira Lodge, cabins are comfortable with ceiling fans (no air-conditioning) and screened windows to allow the sounds of the rainforest in and keep insects out. (BLD).
Day 3
After breakfast you will have a guided tour with the group around the trails from the lodge where your guide will point out the local wildlife and flora and fauna. Many birds, insects and reptiles can be found around the grounds. In the afternoon you will have a guided boat tour into the Tortuguero National Park navigating some of the smaller canals. You will see a variety of wildlife including caiman, iguanas, white faced capuchin monkeys, herons and possibly the Great Green Macaw.
Day 4
After breakfast you will enjoy a boat journey back along the Tortuguero canals. You will then travel by vehicle with your guide and driver to the Arenal region, stopping for lunch en-route. The impressive conical volcano of Arenal dominates the landscape. You will be staying at Arenal Manoa, a lovely hotel with fantastic views of the volcano and tropical gardens. There is a swimming pool and hotspring fed pools to relax in. Dinner is included at Arenal Manoa. Overnight Arenal Manoa, rooms are spacious with two queen beds and views of the volcano from the patio (BLD).
Day 5
After breakfast you will have a guided tour of Mistico Hanging Bridges. The trail is approximately 3km in length and is a combination of paths and suspension bridges through the rainforest. You may see a variety of bird species such as toucans, motmots and hummingbirds and your guide will point out smaller flora and fauna of interest, such as poison dart frogs, eyelash vipers, leafcutter ants. You will then have a typical Costa Rican lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you will have a guided tour of a local organic farm. You will pick some fruits and vegetables with the family and you will also mill sugar cane into a delicious juice. Finally, at La Guaria Morada Restaurant, you will participate in a typical Costa Rican cooking class and learn how to prepare traditional recipes and share dinner with a local family. Overnight Arenal Manoa (BLD)
Day 6
Today you will have an thrilling adventure on the sky tram and zip lines. You will start with an open air gondala ride to the top of a mountain where you can admire the views of the lake and volcano before ziplining through the canopy back to the base of the mountain. There are a series of 8 ziplines which cover a total length of 1.7 miles and at the maximum are 660 feet above the ground.
In the afternoon you will have a guided sloth spotting tour. This is a popular tour and a great chance to see this iconic animal. Although slow moving they are very well camouflaged in the canopy and a guide is essential. You may also see poison dart frogs, iguanas and toucans. Dinner is included at Arenal Manoa.
Overnight Arenal Manoa (BD).
Day 7
After breakfast you will have a take a guided safari float along the scenic Penas Blancas river. Your guide will point out wildlife such as sloths, monkeys and a variety of birdlife. If you prefer more active adventure then you could do a guided kayak trip along the same river. Some kayaking experience is essential but this is highly recommended.
You will have the afternoon at leisure and can enjoy the pool and hot springs at Arenal Manoa or there are options to visit the thermal river. Dinner can be taken at the hotel or there are many restaurants in the local town of La Fortuna, a short taxi ride away.
Overnight Arenal Manoa (B)
Day 8
Today you will transfer south to the Central Pacific Coast. On the way you will stop at the Tarcoles River and have a boat trip in an important mangrove area, which is an opportunity to observe one of the largest populations of American crocodiles. There are over 250 different bird species that have been seen in this area including the magnificent Scarlet Macaw. You will then have a buffet lunch before continuing on to Manual Antonio on the coast. Your hotel in Manuel Antonio is the Parador Hotel and Spa, this is a comfortable hotel with several pools, a rainforest trail, gorgeous views across the Pacific, pickleball court, mini golf, access to Biesanz beach and a shuttle service to the main beach and Manuel Antonio National Park. Dinner at the Quijote Restaurant. Overnight Parador Hotel and Spa (BLD).
Day 9
Today you will have a guided walk in Manuel Antonio National Park which is one of the most popular in the country due to the ease of wildlife sightings and beautiful beaches. The trail is about 2km long and you will stop to observe different wildlife such as sloths, iguanas, snakes, toucans, scarlet macaws and anteaters. It is also home to three of the four species of monkeys found in Costa Rica, the howler monkey, capuchin monkey and the endangered squirrel monkey. You will have the opportunity to have a quick swim at the beach before heading to lunch at nearby restaurant Playa Espadilla.
Later in the afternoon you could relax and enjoy the views from the swimming pool, take a walk to the Biesanz beach, or wonder the 12 acres of rainforest on the hotel grounds. Overnight Parador Hotel and Spa (BL)
Day 10
Today you will travel along the coast to Uvita, for a boat trip in the Ballena Marine Park. From mid-July to late October these waters are home to Humpback whales who reside in this area to breed and raise their calves. There are also resident Bottle Nosed Dolphins and Pacific Spotted dolphins. You will pass by the incredible natural formation of a whale’s tail and a brief pass by Ventanas beach to see and learn about the wonderful marine caves that were carved by the ocean.
After Uvita explore the spectacular Nauyaca Waterfalls in the heart of the tropical forest. It has two sets of falls measuring a combined of 61 meters (200ft) tall and large natural pools that you can take a dip in. Dinner will be at the Quijote Restaurant at Parador. Overnight at Parador Hotel and Spa (BD)
Day 11
Day at leisure. Relax on the beach or by the pool. Additional cost opportunities take a surf lesson, hike some trails, take a catamaran trip on the ocean or kayak in the mangroves.
Day 12
Day at leisure.
Day 13
Today you will transfer by vehicle to San Jose (approx. 3 hours) and on to a comfortable hotel with swimming pool, close to the airport in preparation for your departure the next morning.
Day 14
You will have a shuttle bus service to the airport for your flight back to the UK.