Costa Rica Family Escape

Experience Overview

Enjoy an unforgettable family adventure in Costa Rica, where natural wonders combine with exhilarating activities for all the family. Zip wire across the cloud forest and go white-water rafting on the Balsa River. Swim at La Fortuna Waterfall and take a boat trip to see dolphins off the Pacific Coast. We stay in well-located hotels (most with swimming pools), which means you will leave this action-packed week refreshed and with a full appreciation of Costa Rica’s most famous saying: pura vida or pure life.
Profile
— Accommodation: 3 Superior nights (hotels), 4 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by minibus, boat and on foot — Group normally 4 to 16, plus a local leader
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 3 Superior nights (hotels), 4 Classic nights (hotels) — Travel by minibus, boat and on foot — Group normally 4 to 16, plus a local leader
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. Though this trip has been designed for 13 to 16-year-olds, it’s also suitable for nine to 12-year-olds. Our Family trips are aimed at children in the primary age group, so if your child is in the secondary age group, they may find it a little harder. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. This trip aims to show you the best of Costa Rica using a mixture of buses and boats. Most of the roads we travel on are good quality. However, some roads have a poor surface and this can result in slow driving times, particularly following heavy rain. There are also some longer drives on the itinerary; when rest stops and meal breaks are taken into account, a 4-hour drive may take 6-7 hours in total. Costa Rica can be hot and humid, which can be tiring. There are some dangerous insects and snakes in the jungle, although incidents are extremely rare. Advice from the guide must be heeded at all times – it is the responsibility of parents to ensure children listen to the guide and don’t stray from paths. The trip involves a walk to reach La Fortuna Waterfall that has some steep steps. There are also several included activities, such as white-water rafting and a zip-wire canopy tour: experience of these activities is not required as a full safety briefing is covered at the start, and all necessary equipment is provided. Please be aware, some activities may be changed as a result of the weather. All the accommodation has private bathrooms and everywhere has air conditioning apart from the lodge in Monteverde. For further details, please see the accommodation section.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts and two lunches are included in the price of the tour, allowing you plenty of flexibility for non-included meals to be taken as a family or with the group. Costa Rican specialities include gallo pinto, a black bean and rice dish considered a staple part of the local diet. Soups, stews and fresh fish are also common, and most hotels offer international menus. There is a lot of fresh fruit in the tropics – you may need to share your bananas with monkeys from the hotel gardens! Vegetarian and vegan options are limited but food is plentiful and tasty – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.
Transportation
Most of our travel is in an air-conditioned 16-seater minibus, but we also use small motorboats for some activities such as the Lake Arenal crossing and the boat excursion to see dolphins. Due to the type of vehicles we use, it’s common for luggage to be transported on the roof, covered by a tarpaulin.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Studio Hotel, 50 metros norte de la Cruz Roja, San José, Santa Ana, 10901 Phone: +(506) 2282-0505 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately Airport: San Jose Airport (SJO) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 30 min drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfer is to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to Liberia Airport (LIR) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Costa Rica is 10 degrees north of the equator and has a tropical climate. The average annual temperature is around 26C (79F) in the lowlands and 10C (50F) in the highest mountain regions. However, it’s essential you prepare for the time of year in which your departure takes place. Dry season (December to April): This is the driest period of the year and can get incredibly hot; on the Pacific side, temperatures may exceed 37C (98F). If passing through areas of dry tropical forest it can be hot, dusty and dry. Prepare for some rain even during this time of year. Rainy season (May to November):  Expect daily downpours, although these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of sunshine. Typically, there are sunny conditions until approximately 1pm-2pm and then a build-up of cloud from around 3pm, resulting in late afternoon rain (most likely showers between 3pm-5pm). Usually, the sky clears by 6pm.
Spending Money
US dollars are widely accepted as payment in Costa Rica; however, change will likely be given in local currency and the exchange rate fluctuates. We suggest taking some US dollars with you but then using ATMs to withdraw the rest of your money in local currency while you’re there. You should allow extra to cover the cost of those meals not included in the price of the trip. Approximate costs are given for guidance only and may vary widely according to location and type of establishment. — Coffee/tea: US$2-US$5 — Soft drink: US$2-US$5 — Medium beer: US$4-US$7 — Local snack lunch: US$15 — Three-course dinner at a reasonable mid-range tourist-class restaurant: US$45- US$50 — Bottle of wine: US$50-US$60 — Bottle of water: US$2 Optional activities (bookable locally): Monteverde — Don Juan Coffee tour: from US$46 — Trapiche tour (sugarcane mill): from US$50 — Frog pond tour: from US$50 — Monteverde Orchid Garden: from US$50 Samara/Carrillo — Stand-up paddleboarding mangrove tour: from US$53 — Wildlife and mangrove kayak: from US$59 — Turtle-nesting tour (nightime): from US$53 (visits Camaronal, Corozalito or Ostional beach depending on season) Optional excursions can be paid for by cash (preferably), credit or debit card and can only be booked locally.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work with Exodus. However, it is usual for groups to tip tour leaders and drivers, and it would be reasonable for each group member to contribute US$45 for the tour leader and US$30 for the driver. Smaller contributions on behalf of children are also accepted – for each child, we recommend US$25 for the tour leader and US$15 for the driver. You may wish to tip more if travelling in a small group. The tour leader may organise a tipping kitty to facilitate tips for other staff members including porters, local guides and restaurant waiting staff, which will be collected at the start of the trip. The amount may vary per departure, but we recommend a starting point of US$80 per group member.

Highlights