Mini Adventures in Costa Rica

Day 1

Arrive in San Jose and transfer to your hotel.

You will be met at the airport by our local representative who will accompany you on the 45-minute drive to your hotel in the hills above San Jose.

Stay at - Xandari Resort

Day 2

Day at leisure to enjoy your hotel's facilities.

Recover from your international flight with a relaxing day at leisure to enjoy your hotel’s extensive facilities. Unwind by one of the three swimming pools, treat yourself to a spa session, or head into the hotel’s private forest reserve for birdwatching or hikes to waterfalls.

Stay at - Xandari Resort

Day 3

Fly to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast.

Return to San José airport for a 30-minute flight on a small aircraft to Tortuguero, a national park on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Established in 1970 to protect a key nesting site for the Atlantic green sea turtle, Tortuguero’s extensive network of rivers and canals has made it one of the country’s best destinations for wildlife spotting.

Stay at - Mawamba Lodge

Day 4

Wildlife-spotting boat trip and visit to Tortuguero village.

Set off on an early morning boat trip through the mangrove forests of Tortuguero National Park, gliding silently along the waterways as you observe a variety of wildlife.

Look out for three species of monkeys – spider, howler, and white-faced – along with three-toed sloths, river otters, caimans, iguanas, river turtles, lizards, colourful poison dart frogs and over 300 species of bird.

In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to Tortuguero village and the Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitor Centre, followed by a guided walk through the lodge’s own grounds.

Stay at - Mawamba Lodge

Day 5

Transfer by boat and vehicle to La Fortuna (Arenal).

Return to La Pavona dock by boat (1 hour), then continue by private transfer to La Fortuna, a town in the shadow of Arenal Volcano (3 hours).

Rising to a modest 1,674 m, Arenal Volcano is an impressive conical peak that dominates the landscape. The volcano last erupted in 1998, and while eruptions and lava flows are now rare – there has been no significant activity since 2010 – the region remains a highlight of any visit to Costa Rica.

Today, it’s an adventure playground, offering hikes to waterfalls, kayaking, white-water rafting, ziplining, and canyoning.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 6

Hanging Bridges excursion.

Get an up-close experience of the rainforest on a guided walk along the Mistico Hanging Bridges and discover wildlife and exotic plants.

This exciting 3 km trail features six impressive suspension bridges -some stretching nearly 100 m in length and rising 50 m above the forest floor – along with ten smaller fixed bridges. With a maximum incline of just seven degrees, the carefully designed path is accessible to most ages and fitness levels.

Keep your eyes peeled for snakes, frogs, lizards, and countless insects and birds, all while admiring views of Arenal Volcano in the distance.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 7

White Water Rafting excursion.

The class II–III rapids of the Río Balsa provide an ideal introduction to white-water rafting for beginners and families (minimum age: 8 years). The put-in point for today’s adventure is just 30 minutes from La Fortuna. After a thorough safety briefing, you’ll paddle through crystal-clear waters, navigating rapids with names like Magnetic Rock and Dredges.

You’ll spend about two hours on the river, with plenty of calm stretches between rapids where you can sit back and enjoy the surrounding rainforest and its wildlife – toucans, sloths, and monkeys are often spotted – or take a refreshing swim in tranquil pools.

The trip concludes at a country estate, where you can shower, change, and have lunch before returning to your hotel.

Stay at - Arenal Manoa

Day 8

Transfer to Monteverde & night walk in the Children’s Eternal Forest.

It’s a short drive from your hotel to the shores of Lake Arenal, where a 30-minute boat ride takes you across the lake to Río Chiquito. From there, continue for another two hours along a bumpy road that winds through the cloud-forested hills to Monteverde, 1,400 m above sea level.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, protected thanks to the efforts of children and adults, schools, and organizations in more than forty countries worldwide.

As dusk falls, the forest transforms – its atmosphere shifting as nocturnal creatures emerge while others settle in for the night. Armed with a flashlight, keep your eyes peeled for snakes, tarantulas, frogs, and countless other critters!

Stay at - Koora Hotel

Day 9

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve excursion.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve spans just 3,500 hectares, yet it harbours an astonishing 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. Perched along the spine of the Cordillera de Tilarán, the reserve captures a constant flow of moisture that sustains its cloud-forest ecosystem.

Towering trees draped in orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses rise into the mist, sheltering more than 100 species of mammals, 1,500 plant species, and 400 bird species – including the Resplendent Quetzal.

Accompanied by a naturalist guide, you’ll explore a network of trails that crisscross this beautiful reserve.

Stay at - Koora Hotel

Day 10

Transfer by vehicle and ferry to Isla Chiquita.

It’s a 1½-hour drive from Monteverde to the port of Puntarenas, where a local ferry departs several times a day for the one-hour crossing of the Gulf of Nicoya. Upon arrival in Paquera, you’ll be met by staff from Isla Chiquita staff and escorted on a short 10-minute water taxi ride to the island.

Stay at - Isla Chiquita Glamping

Day 11

At leisure on Isla Chiquita; bioluminescence boat trip in the evening.

After an action-packed 10 days in Costa Rica, it’s time to slow down with activities that will keep both children and parents happy. Lounge by the swimming pool or relax in one of the beachfront cabanas and hammocks scattered among the palm trees. Join a yoga class or indulge in a soothing spa treatment.

When you’re ready for more adventure, take advantage of complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddleboards – it takes about 1½ hours to circumnavigate the island – or explore the Symbiosis Trail that winds through its interior.

In the evening, you’ll have the chance to take a boat trip on the Gulf of Nicoya to witness bioluminescence, a natural phenomenon that makes the water sparkle at night.

Other optional excursions, such as snorkeling, visiting a local oyster farm, and whale watching (August–October), can be arranged locally for an additional cost.

Stay at - Isla Chiquita Glamping

Day 12

Transfer to Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Continue by private transfer to Santa Teresa (1½ hours), a lively beach town on the southern shores of the Nicoya Peninsula, renowned for its surf, laid-back vibe, and beautiful sunsets

Stay at - Nantipa

Days 13 & 14

At leisure in Santa Teresa.

Spend your time unwinding by the pool, strolling along endless sandy beaches, exploring tidal pools, or learning to surf.

Day 15

Return to San Jose for your international flight home.

It’s a one-hour drive from Santa Teresa to the ferry dock in Paquera, where a local ferry departs several times a day for the one-hour crossing of the Gulf of Nicoya. Upon arrival in Puntarenas, continue by road to San José airport (2 hours), allowing plenty of time to catch your international flight home.