Costa Rica Family Holiday

Make memories among the evergreen forest, towering volcanos and sandy beaches of Costa Rica

Discover the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica – and the culture shaped by the tropical wilderness – with your loved ones, on an adventure tailored for families. Pick produce and make dinner with a local family during an agricultural homestay, look for three-toed sloths in the thickets of the Manuel Antonio National Park and walk through the canopy of Monteverde’s cloud forest on a suspended bridge. Take a break from active adventure by soaking in springs heated by Arenal Volcano and lying beneath swaying palms on pristine beaches while the kids play nearby.

Trip code: QCFM

Start: San Jose, Costa Rica

End: San Jose, Costa Rica


Duration
10 days
Group size
1 to 16
Minimum age
5 years old
Style

Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders

Original
Theme

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Family, Wildlife
Physical rating

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From
EUR €1,960

Why you'll love this trip

  • Come together to cook a rustic meal from scratch during a homestay with family in an agricultural community.
  • Get up close to the unique wildlife of Costa Rica on a guided tour of an animal sanctuary. Learn how to prepare the animal's meals and make enrichment toys as part of a hands-on volunteering experience.
  • Hike in Arenal National Park for an impressive view of the volcano before taking a boat ride along the lake to try and spot some local wildlife.
  • Walk along suspension bridges in Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve for the best biology lesson the kids have ever had.
  • Immerse yourself in nature on a guided walk with a naturalist guide in Manual Antonio National Park. The kids will love spotting sloths and listening for the evocative call of howler monkeys.
This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Itinerary

Map of Costa Rica Family Holiday including Costa Rica

Inclusions and activities

Destinations
Costa Rica
Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Private Minivan

Accommodation

Hotels (8 nights), Homestay (1 night)

Included activities
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - agricultural tour
  • Santa Rosa de Pocosol - Cooking Class
  • Proyecto Asis - Wildlife tour and volunteering
  • Arenal National Park - Hike and Lake
  • Monteverde - Sky Walk (Entrance)
  • Manuel Antonio National Park - (Entrance fee)
  • Manuel Antonio - National Park tour with a naturalist guide

Optional activities
  • San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
  • San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
  • San Jose - Butterfly farm - USD10
  • La Fortuna - Ecotermales Thermal Waters - USD45
  • La Fortuna - Hike to La Fortuna Waterfal - USD18
  • Arenal - Safari river float - USD85
  • Lake Arenal - Kayak - USD20
  • Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
  • Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
  • Monteverde - Sky Tram & Zipline - USD101
  • Manuel Antonio – Cruise (Inc transport, guide, lunch and drinks onboard) - USD95

This trip generates 10 kg of CO2-e per person per day

Learn more about our climate commitment.

When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.

Before you book you should know

Dates and prices

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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 5 pm on Day 1
Last day - no activities are planned for your last day, so you can depart at any time.

5. The minimum age for white water rafting on the Pacuare River is 12 years (day 6). Any children under 12 will not be able to participate in this optional activity.

6. A single supplement is available on this trip with the exception of Day 2 at the homestay.

7. 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. Intrepid monitors any situations that arise and may need to change itineraries or activities in response to these natural weather occurrences.

8. 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.

9. 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.

Essential Trip Information

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Reviews

4.8 . 39 reviews
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Costa Rica Family Holiday
From
EUR €1,960