100% customisable travel idea
Tropical Nature and Hotels that are Part of the Landscape Costa Rica as a Family
Costa Rica - Central Valley - Volcano Region - Pacific Coast
100% customisable travel idea
Costa Rica - Central Valley - Volcano Region - Pacific Coast
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, enjoy a private transfer to Alajuela, where you’ll stay for two nights in the outskirts of the capital. We haven't overlooked your accommodation — a charming, contemporary complex in colonial style, beautifully perched on a hillside. The rooms here are spacious and comfortable. From the heights, you'll enjoy sweeping views of Poas volcano, the valley and the city of San José. As a bonus, you wake up amid coffee plantations, which you can easily explore along the trail that starts from the hotel.
Alajuela sits in the shadow of Poas Volcano, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Its inhabitants mainly make their living from sugar and coffee produced in the region. The lush and green landscapes are shaped in large part by the plantations. At the crack of dawn, your rental vehicle is delivered to your hotel
. Scheduled: a visit to the La Paz gardens and waterfalls. The La Paz Waterfall Gardens site includes an animal sanctuary, stunning waterfalls and gardens, and a butterfly conservatory that ranks among the most renowned in the country. You stroll around the gardens, taking in all the plant and animal life. Lunch is planned on site, so you can take your time.
You set off for Monteverde Biological Reserve.
On the way - Discover Poas Volcano National Park, you already have your entrance tickets. This natural site is one of the few places in the world where you can watch an active volcano up close. Poas is a highly active volcano, with nearly 39 eruptions since 1828, the most recent in 2009. In fact,in some places, vegetation has yet to recover, which explains the fascinating lunar landscapes found at the summit. Another mesmerising panorama is the volcano’s vast crater (1.7 km [1 mile] wide and 300 metres [984 feet] deep), where a glacial blue lake is fed by rainwater, heated to 40°C by volcanic activity.
Head to Monteverde and spend two nights at a family-run lodge near the biological reserve. Nestled in nature and tranquillity, it features comfortable rooms with windows that look out over the tropical forest. A charming pool offers a refreshing break and the perfect place to unwind between adventuress.
Planned for the evening: a dinner perched above, the treetops with a view of the canopy. Your table is reserved at a restaurant with transparent walls, where inventive dishes celebrate the natural bounty of Costa Rica.
Surrounded by the most beautiful lush primeval rainforests, the Monteverde Biological Reserve is a treasure trove of ecological diversity. It is home to many species of mammals, reptiles and birds - including the legendary quetzal - living among countless varieties of orchids, tree ferns and tropical plants.
Optional - Night visit to the Monteverde frog sanctuary; zipline adventure through the heart of the canopy.
Drive to Arenal Volcano National Park and spend two nights in the outskirts of La Fortuna, at a charming small accommodation where around twenty spacious chalets blend clean, modern lines with soothing natural tones. The property offers a restaurant and a swimming pool, but the highlight is undoubtedly the all, thermal spring pools at varying temperatures, exclusively for guests. Is there a better way to spend your first evening?
In addition to its magnificent volcano and the ecological richness of its flora, Arenal National Park boasts hot springs at 38°C and an 85 km² (33 square miles) lake, ideal for water sports. The “Arenal colossus”, as locals call it, long fooled people by appearing to be just an ordinary mountain. Its awakening was even more spectacular during the devastating eruption of 1968. It has never stopped its volcanic activity since then, but it has become somewhat calmer. The base of the old lava flow is the perfect spot to enjoy an exceptional view of the volcano’s almost untouched cone (often draped in clouds) and the lake that shares its name. Scheduled: a guided walk on suspended bridges overlooking the canopy. The upper level of Costa Rica's dense, humid rainforest canopy receives the most sunlight and, as a result, is home to exceptionally rich diversity. Explore it as you walk along the trails of the private reserve and across the bridges that lead into the heart of the rainforest, offering stunning views of the volcano.
Optional - meet the sloths.
Drive to Bijagua, an essential stopover in Tenorio Volcano Park. Seldom visited due to its location off the main roads, the region offers rare privacy and breathtaking, misty and verdant landscapes, crossed by the Río Celeste - an intensely blue river - with three volcanic cones as a backdrop.
Stay for two nights in a retreat perched on a mountain pass, with views of the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes and the primeval forest. In the heart of a vast protected estate spanning several hectares, this eco-lodge was built in harmony with nature, blending an innovative design with a very contemporary style. More than a hotel, it's a concept. There is no o television or air conditioning in the spacious rooms because, here, true luxury lies elsewhere. It can be found in the misty, mysterious setting, in the unique atmosphere, in the strong commitment to eco-responsibility, and also in the restaurant, where gourmet dishes made from local ingredients are served.
Not to be missed - Tenorio Volcano National Park. Follow one of the country’s most beautiful trails, as it winds through jungle, waterfalls and natural hot springs. Here you will find the famous Río Celeste, born at the meeting of two rivers , flowing through volcanic hot springs, before plunging into a spectacular waterfall. It is renowned for its unreal turquoise blue colour, caused by minerals and contrasting with the deep green of the tropical vegetation. Legend has it that this is where God, after painting the sky, is said to have washed His brushes.
Drive to the Pacific coast.
Planned along the way - Exploring Palo Verde National Park by boat. In northern Guanacaste, Palo Verde is a wetland home to a multitude of birds, both resident and migratory. The park protects a section of the Tempisque River where salt-water meets freshwater, and where the deciduous forest meets the tropical rainforest. Scheduled: mangroves, lagoons, marshes, scrubland and mixed forests. A magnificent setting revealed from the water.
You return to the road to Puntarenas, where you board a ferry for a crossing among pelicans and frigatebirds - a moment of great serenity. After an hour in the sunshine, you disembark at Paquera and continue on to Nosara, where you stay for three nights. Secluded between jungle and ocean facing the beaches of Nosara and Ostional, your lodge is an intimate retreat with spacious, comfortable rooms. Here, luxury is defined by the exceptional setting and the fact that the lodge has its own private nature reserve, home to all kinds of animals. There is no shortage of activities nearby: kayaking, swimming, diving and horse riding to name but a few. The highlight: at the end of the day, admire the sunset with your family at the hotel's panoramic bar - simply superb!
Costa Rica’s capital of cool, driven by a love of surfing and yoga, Nosara is a peaceful and laid-back village. This little corner of the Nicoya Peninsula, surrounded by beautiful beaches, is ideally located for all kinds of outdoors activities: diving, swimming, horse riding, kayaking, or just relaxing on the beach.br />Optional - Visit of a nursery and reforestation workshop; private surf lesson with an instructor.
Drive to San José, return the vehicle at the airport, then take a direct flight home. Night on board, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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