Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 6+
F riendly, tropical Costa Rica, a world leader in protecting natural resources, is the perfect spot for your family to explore the beauty and marvelous intricacy of the natural world. Throughout this special adventure, we discover a variety of wildlife, lush lowland rain forests and pristine beaches. We'll travel high in the rain forest canopy, an ecosystem all its own, and down at water level, rafting on the mighty Sarapiqui River.
On the Caribbean coast, we'll explore the still waterways of Tortuguero, a national park accessible only by boat. On the sunny Pacific, we'll enjoy the beaches and surroundings of Manuel Antonio National Park. And along the way we'll meet ordinary Costa Ricans, admirable people who honor, respect and work to maintain a harmonious relationship with nature.
2008 Dates
| Dates | Adult | Teen (12-17) |
Child (<12) |
Internal Air |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/14 - 06/22 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 06/28 - 07/06 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 07/05 - 07/13 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 07/19 - 07/27 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| Space is Limited! | |||||
| 08/02 - 08/10 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 08/16 - 08/24 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 08/23 - 08/31 | $2,890 | $2,790 | $2,690 | $500 | |
| 12/20 - 12/28 | $3,390 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $500 | |
| 12/22 - 12/30 | $3,390 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $500 | |
| 12/24 - 01/01 | $3,390 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $500 | |
| 12/26 - 01/03 | $3,390 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $500 | |
| 12/27 - 01/04 | $3,390 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $500 | |
Triple Discount: $300 for child under 12 sharing with 2 adults
2009 Dates
| Dates | Adult | Teen (12-17) |
Child (<12) |
Internal Air |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/07 - 02/15 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 02/14 - 03/22 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 02/21 - 03/01 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 03/07 - 03/15 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 03/14 - 03/22 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 03/21 - 03/29 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 03/28 - 04/05 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 04/04 - 04/12 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 04/11 - 04/19 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 04/18 - 04/26 | $3,290 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $550 | |
| 06/06 - 06/14 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 | |
| 06/20 - 06/28 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 | |
| 07/04 - 07/12 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 | |
| 07/25 - 08/02 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 | |
| 08/01 - 08/09 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 | |
| 08/15 - 08/23 | $3,190 | $3,090 | $2,990 | $550 |
Triple Discount: $300 for child under 12 sharing with 2 adults
Dates
Don't see your travel dates? Please call and we'll offer a trip to meet your needs!
Day 1 – Depart U.S. / Arrive San Jose
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your Costa Rica family vacation begins.
Days 2 and 3 – Sarapiqui region
The Sarapiqui region is surrounded by lush green forests and banana plantations. But the real family fun lies on the rolling rapids of the Sarapiqui River where you will enjoy some of the best whitewater rafting in the country.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens
This wildlife park has the largest butterfly garden in the world, hummingbirds galore, tropical gardens and an array of waterfalls. After spending some time learning about the Costa Rican flora and fauna, your family can hike the surrounding scenic trails.
Whitewater rafting
Once you’ve been outfitted with life jackets, helmets and paddles, it’s off to the Class II and III rapids of the Sarapiqui River. This rafting trip is first-timer friendly.
Visit a local school
Here you’ll have the opportunity to experience the local culture. Meet the teachers and students, tour the school, join in activities and play games.
Friends Across Borders meeting (pen pals)
Thomson families love this program! Children traveling with us can choose to exchange letters with a local child of similar age before leaving on their adventure. While on the family trip we organize a pen pal meeting with a scheduled activity like soccer or hacky sacking. It’s amazing how such interaction can be a real eye-opener for everyone involved.
Days 4 and 5 – Tortuguero, Caribbean Coast
The waterways and lagoons of Tortuguero are the most biologically diverse in all of Costa Rica. In fact, there are seven species of turtle alone! It’s home to the endangered sea turtle and during July and August, with any luck, your children will actually see them nesting on the beaches.
Adopt a green Atlantic sea turtle
Tortuguero is known for its long stretch of beach, which is actually the protected nesting site for these green Atlantic sea turtles . Adopt-A-Turtle is part of the Sea Turtle Survival League – a program of the non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (www.cccturtle.org).
Jungle boat expedition
Explore Tortuguero’s intricate river system via a motorized jungle boat. As you wind your way through the lowland rain forest, keep an eye out for bats, howler monkeys and caimans.
Kayaking
Meet for a kayaking trip through the waterways for some more rain forest exploration through the maze of canals.
Days 6 to 8 – Manuel Antonio, Pacific Coast
Even though Manuel Antonio is the smallest park in Costa Rica, it has the most extraordinary landscape with volcanic sand beaches and exotic islands. But the best seats for exploring this region are not on land – your family will zipline through the rain forest treetops for a bird’s-eye view you’ll never forget.
Zipline canopy tour
Get ready for an adrenaline rush as you glide from platform to platform through the dense rain forest. This high-flying adventure is for ages five and up.
Explore Manual Antonio National Park
This nature preserve juts out into the ocean, so it offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing along its trails as well as pristine white sand beaches for swimming.
Free day
Hit the beach, the pool, walk the town or just relax.
Day 9 – Depart San Jose / Arrive U.S.
Doubletree Cariari
Thomson is happy to report that the Doubletree Cariari is not only very family friendly, but it’s also only fifteen minutes from the airport – a nice, short ride to relaxation after your family lands in San Jose. It has 222 guestrooms and suites that offer its guests a charming and comfortable stay in San Jose. Its facilities and services – such as its two swimming pools, a children’s pool and onsite restaurants – are good for traveling families. Rooms offer mountain views or views of the pool, butler services, exclusive lounge, bathroom with hair dryer, air-conditioning, cable TV, direct dial telephone, internet access, safes and 24-hour room service.
Sueño Azul
Sueño Azul is a hacienda-style lodge with rooms decorated in a unique rustic style and equipped with a ceiling fan, private bathroom with hot water, a safe, hair dryer and a private terrace from which you can see the surrounding lakes, rivers and mountains. There’s a restaurant on the premises and you can also enjoy the coffee shop and the “LA CAZONA” bar. There is also a pool, hot tub, souvenir shop, a spa with a diversity of beauty or health treatments and a yoga studio or meditation room to make your stay complete.
Aningha Lodge
The lodge is strategically located only five minutes away from Tortuguero National Park, and right across the main canal facing the town of Tortuguero. Stay in one of the comfortable rooms with private bathroom, hot water and ceiling fans. Enjoy buffet-style meals at the restaurant, take a dip in the outdoor pool and of course take in the wildlife that surrounds the lodge as you and the kids walk the maze of wooden pathways.
Hotel Parador Resort & Spa
Hotel Parador is located on Punta Quepos in the most pristine and tranquil area of Manuel Antonio – just minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park. Explore the twelve acre premises, including the lush gardens and mysterious jungle, where you are almost guaranteed to see some of the most abundant wildlife, such as white-faced and titi monkeys, sloths, iguanas, coatis, and many species of birds. The Parador has two infinity swimming pools, an adult swimming pool with cascading waterfall, activities desk, tennis court, fitness center, miniature golf, nature trails and computer stations. At low tide you may observe turtle traps once made by the Quepoa Indians who resided on Punta Quepos. This small exotic beach has tiny waves and is great for swimming. All the rooms have balconies or terraces with views of either the rain forest or the ocean. In the rooms, guests have access to room service, cable TV, air-conditioning, mini bar, coffee maker, telephone, safety deposit box, iron and ironing board, ceiling fan and hair dryer.Please Note: Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.
Adventure Photos from Costa Rica
