Original
Family
Best of Costa Rica Family Holiday
14 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
10 reviews
14 days
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QCFB
Min Age
5
Trip Size
2 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat, Public Transportation
Accommodation
Hotels (13 nights)
From £2,402(14 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Spend time with the Terraba community – an Indigenous group who have survived off the land for more than 500 years – and enjoy a shared lunch of local eats. The kids will love the chocolate-making lesson here!
Walk through the diverse forest and jungle and take an incredible canopy walk along suspended bridges in Cloud Forest – lookout for sloths and various birdlife as you go.
Experience life as the locals do by spending time on a family farm and learning how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food.
Enjoy some family downtime in the seaside town of Dominical at your eco-hotel, surrounded by stunning beaches and a tropical jungle.
Look out for wildlife in the evergreen rainforest of Sarapiqui – a town known for its rich biodiversity – and enjoy some free time to maybe learn about the nocturnal creatures that dwell here.
Is this trip right for you?
Make sure you pack some sturdy and comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking around cities and towns and through forests and jungles on this trip.
There are a few days of long travel on this trip as you’ll be covering a lot of Costa Rican ground. These drives are along smooth roads in new and comfortable vehicles, and are great for games, chats and scenery spotting. You’ll also make interesting stops along the way to break up the longer drives.
Is it hot in here? You’re in tropical Central America so it can get very humid, although nighttime and locations at higher elevations can get chilly. Carry plenty of water, dress in light clothing and bring a waterproof jacket. We’ll give you every opportunity to cool off with a swim.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
Itinerary
Make family memories among evergreen forests and towering volcanos
Get off the beaten track on this two-week family holiday in Costa Rica, exploring all the best highlights and hidden secrets. Starting in subtropical San Jose, you'll explore Tortuguero National Park – home to 13 of Costa Rica’s 16 endangered mammals and the nesting ground of the green turtle. Spend some time in biodiverse Sarapiqui and maybe take on a few fun, active adventures with the kids. Stay in La Fortuna under the mighty gaze of Arenal Volcano and soak in your onsite hot springs before heading to the cloud forest in Monteverde. Learn how to cook authentic local Costa Rican food in Dominical with three generations of locals and then take a day trip to the popular Manuel Antonio National Park. After a huge adventure full of natural wonders and wildlife, meet the Indigenous community along the Terraba River and learn about their matriarchal society before ending it all back in San Jose.
Inclusions
Meals
13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat, Public Transportation
Accommodation
Hotels (13 nights)
Included activities
Tortuguero - Boat ride to Tortuguero
Tortuguero - National Park Entrance
Tortuguero - Boat tour of the canals
Sarapiqui - leader led rainforest night walk
La Fortuna - Los Laureles Hot Springs
Monteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance)
Monteverde – Hands on breakfast activity & Farm tour
Manuel Antonio - Homecooked lunch
Terraba community - Indigenous Community Visit & Mask Carving Lesson
Terraba community- Chocolate making
Manuel Antonio National Park - Tour with a Naturalist Guide
Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
Optional activities
Tortuguero - Turtle Watching Night Tour - USD45
Tortuguero - Sunrise canoe trip around canals - USD45
Sarapiqui - River float tour - USD78
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
Monteverde - Sky Tram & Sky Trek - USD101
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Dominical – Marino Ballena National Park hike - USD78
Dominical – Mangrove Boat tour - USD85
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. Age restrictions apply to this trip: minimum age 5 years old. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian.
2. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 or younger at the time of travel.
3. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase entrance tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park. Delays to provide this information may result in changes to your itinerary, and we will not be able to guarantee entry. Details provided must be accurate as per your passport bio page.
4. First day - there will be a group meeting at 6pm on Day 1
Last day - no activities are planned for your last day, so you can depart at any time.
5. A single supplement is available on this trip 
6. Costa Rica is a tropical country, so rain can be excepted at any time. The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May – November. While July and some of August does experience dry spells, families need to be prepared for the rain. Rain does usually come in the afternoons, and it can pour. So you will need to be prepared with wet weather gear. Hurricane season in this region is from June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. Tuuur monitors any situations that arise and may need to change itineraries or activities in response to these natural weather occurrences.
7. Many hotels outside of San Jose have been built further out from the centre of town so travellers can enjoy the countryside, rainforests and views, where people can wake up to birds, not cars. Many of the hotels we use are in such locations.
8. Costa Rican food is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables. Rice and black beans are a staple of most traditional Costa Rican meals. Meals in Costa Rican are more expensive than its neighbouring countries.
Reviews (10)
5 stars
9
4 stars
1
Emma
Apr 28, 2025
An truly unforgettable 14 day family adventure through Costa Rica! A perfect balance of nature, culture, and fun, made even better by our phenomenal guide, Lu! Thoughtfully planned, community-focused, and full of memorable experiences for both kids and adults - even my 5-year-old son loved every moment and will never forget it. Highly recommend for any family seeking meaningful and exciting travel.
Clare
Apr 28, 2025
What an amazing trip. Costa Rica is a stunning country and this itinerary really does show you the very best of it. Our leader, Lourdes, was fantastic and her knowledge of the country, its culture, history and wildlife was immensely valuable. It's the perfect trip for families with a great mix of adventure, animals and activities.
Lynne
Apr 28, 2025
Costa Rica was our family trip of a lifetime. We got up close to a vast array of wildlife, flora and fauna and our guide was outstanding. She took all of the pressures of travelling off us, leaving us to sit back and have a thoroughly fantastic trip. Well done Intrepid for this family trip and our brilliant guide.
Tanya
Apr 27, 2025
This was an incredible adventure. We are a family of 4 travelling with 9 & 12 yr old girls. The accommodations were all great places with wonderful people - mostly smaller eco-lodges set in the most beautiful backdrops. The Guide - THE BEST! The adventures - EPIC. Highly recommend this tour!
Nicole
Apr 23, 2025
If you're considering a family trip to Costa Rica, this must be the one to pick. The local guides are amazing and take the stress out of decision making. Costa Rica is the perfect location to take first time long haul travelling kids for a taste of adventure.
James
Aug 23, 2024
Steve
Aug 23, 2024
This was an excellent entry into authentic, small group travel for our 12 and 9 year old kids. Costa Rica has an endless amount of activities and this tour provides a great balance of culture, nature, and adventure for the whole family!
Elaine
Aug 23, 2024
Just spent a fantastic 2 weeks on the family trip to Costa Rica. Our tour leader Jordan was outstanding in every way - from connecting amazingly well to both the parents and children with his enthusiasm, knowledge and approachability. He clearly loves his job and his country - Costa Rica.Great trip itinerary, we saw and did so much in two weeks.
Charlotte
Aug 16, 2024
Excellent trip using all local people away from the tourist trail. Amazing guides and knowledge. The environment and animal welfare were at the forefront. I thoroughly recommend Intrepid.
Liz
Apr 23, 2025
Fantastic trip with our 17, 15 and 12 year olds taking in both coasts, adventure activities, beautiful scenery and lots of animals. I particularly enjoyed the Monteverde farm stay and visit to an indigenous community. Great trip leader and local guides. Would definitely recommend.
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