- Join adventurous families to experience the wildlife and exhilarating activities of Costa Rica
- Enjoy exhilarating zip-lining and white-water rafting excursions
- Cool off in the jungle pool underneath La Fortuna Waterfall
- Join a night walk in Monteverde to see the cloud forest come alive at night
- Relax on Carrillo Beach and enjoy downtime on the Pacific coastline
- Watch playful dolphins on a fun-filled boat excursion
Costa Rica Family Escape
8 Days
Excluding Flights From
9 Days
from
Incl. taxes
Excl. flights
Family
Activity Level
Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level
Classic
Awaken your senses on a magical escape full of activities the whole family will love
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.
Highlights
Key Information
- 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
- Countries visited: Costa Rica
What's Included
- All breakfasts and two lunches
- All accommodation
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
- Arrival transfer for any flight, group departure transfer available
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- Visas or vaccinations
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Child Price From
Optional Single Supplement
Saturday Saturday
20 Dec 2025 20 Dec 2025
Saturday Sunday
27 Dec 2025 28 Dec 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request)
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4085 CAD 4085
Child Price From CAD 3087
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1045
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
04 Apr 2026 04 Apr 2026
Saturday Sunday
11 Apr 2026 12 Apr 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940
Child Price From CAD 3277
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
25 Jul 2026 25 Jul 2026
Saturday Sunday
01 Aug 2026 02 Aug 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3220 Book with CAD 805 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1292
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
01 Aug 2026 01 Aug 2026
Saturday Sunday
08 Aug 2026 09 Aug 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3135 Book with CAD 783 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1292
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
08 Aug 2026 08 Aug 2026
Saturday Sunday
15 Aug 2026 16 Aug 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3135 Book with CAD 783 deposit Book with CAD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1292
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
13 Feb 2027 13 Feb 2027
Saturday Sunday
20 Feb 2027 21 Feb 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
27 Mar 2027 27 Mar 2027
Saturday Sunday
03 Apr 2027 04 Apr 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
03 Apr 2027 03 Apr 2027
Saturday Sunday
10 Apr 2027 11 Apr 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
24 Jul 2027 24 Jul 2027
Saturday Sunday
31 Jul 2027 01 Aug 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
31 Jul 2027 31 Jul 2027
Saturday Sunday
07 Aug 2027 08 Aug 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
07 Aug 2027 07 Aug 2027
Saturday Sunday
14 Aug 2027 15 Aug 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
14 Aug 2027 14 Aug 2027
Saturday Sunday
21 Aug 2027 22 Aug 2027
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price CAD 4940 CAD 4940 Book with CAD 1235 deposit Book with CAD 1235 deposit
Child Price From CAD 3703 CAD 3703 Book with CAD 925 deposit Book with CAD 925 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +CAD 1359
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip Notes
Itinerary
San José Liberia Airport
Adventure starts in San José
Begin your adventure in San José, the culture-rich capital of Costa Rica. A complimentary transfer from the airport to the hotel is available. Check in and take it easy, there’s plenty of excitement on this trip, so today’s all about relaxing and easing ourselves into the adventure.
Around 7.30pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers during a short briefing and an optional dinner together (which is included for all in 2026). Our main briefing takes place tomorrow morning due to the late arrival of some flights today.
Want to explore San Jose further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Studio Hotel (or similar)
To Arenal; La Fortuna Waterfall walk
This morning your tour leader will host the main welcome briefing when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Today we drive to the area surrounding Arenal Volcano. Following a large eruption in 1968, Arenal was the most active volcano in Costa Rica until recently when it entered a resting phase. There is a lot of geothermal activity in this area, with natural hot springs, waterfalls and Lake Arenal waiting to be discovered.
We visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 215ft (65m) cascade plunging into an emerald pool. A short rainforest trail brings us to a steep set of steps that we must descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to exit – this takes around 20-30 minutes and is rewarded with a swim in the emerald pool. It is possible to visit the lookout point and wait for the group if you prefer. There is plenty of time to see what animals you can spot in the forest along the way; keep an eye out for colourful toucans in the trees!
Accommodation: Arenal Paraiso (or similar)
Try grade II and III white-water rafting on the Balsa River
After breakfast, we head to the Balsa River for an exhilarating white-water rafting excursion. The rapids here are graded II and III and have nicknames such as Magnetic Rock and Dredges – prepare to get wet and wild! No experience of this activity is needed as a full safety briefing and instruction is given before getting into the rafts. Tropical scenery flanks the river and we may spot monkeys, toucans or other animals in the forest. There is also a stop for drinks and tropical fruits along the way.
On our return to La Fortuna, we stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at Vida Campesina, a traditional country estate that allows visitors to experience typical country life in Costa Rica. Lunch is made with ingredients harvested on the property and prepared on a wood stove in traditional style.
Accommodation: Arenal Paraiso (or similar)
To Monteverde in the Tilaran Mountains; night walk to experience the cloud forest in the dark
From Arenal, we travel to the Tilaran mountain range in the Central Highlands for a taste of the Costa Rican cloud forest. Reaching Monteverde involves a fast boat across Lake Arenal, which is incredibly scenic and takes roughly 30 minutes. We then complete our journey by shared land transfer, climbing into the hills towards Monteverde, whose name literally means Green Mountain. The high altitude in this Central Highlands region supports a complex ecosystem where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400-plus varieties here. Our journey takes about 3hr 30min in total, including the lake crossing.
Around 6pm, we have a night walk to experience the forest in the dark. This gives an entirely new perspective on the cloud forest habitat, with many pairs of eyes staring back at you! We may see sloths, armadillos, porcupines, possums and coatis and will surely hear a cacophony of insects and amphibians.
Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge or Montaña Monteverde (or similar)
Zip-line adventure through the treetops; visit the hanging bridges and butterfly garden
Today we visit Selvatura Park, where 850 acres (345ha) of protected land are dedicated to nature and adventure. We begin with the hanging bridges excursion, a system of treetop walkways through the forest designed to let you experience the beauty of the cloud forest and observe its many inhabitants. We also visit the butterfly garden, which has one of the largest exhibitions of butterflies in the world. After, it’s time to try aerial manoeuvres on a zip-line adventure through the treetops! Before you fly, guides teach you the proper technique, including how to position yourself and hold the cable correctly, enabling you to safely embark on this adrenaline-pumping adventure above the trees.
Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge or Montaña Monteverde (or similar)
To the Pacific Coast; afternoon at leisure to enjoy Carrillo Beach
We travel to the Samara region on the Pacific Coast, one of the best-kept secrets in Costa Rica! The broad, shady bay is backed by coconut palms and the water is calm and safe for swimming thanks to a coral reef just out to sea on which the normally large Pacific waves break before reaching the beach. There are plenty of facilities in this area but there’s a noticeable absence of big resort hotels, which makes for a nice atmosphere. Our hotel faces onto Carrillo Beach in the neighbouring bay to Samara. We have a free afternoon here to enjoy the facilities and discover the area.
Accommodation: Nammbu Hotel or Leyenda Hotel (or similar)
Boat trip to see dolphins offshore from Carrillo Beach; go snorkelling
Today, we take a boat trip offshore from Carrillo Beach in search of dolphins. You could be lucky enough to see spotted dolphins, Central American spinner dolphins or common bottlenose dolphins, which all inhabit this area year around. Feel the ocean breeze and enjoy the scenic coastline as we search for these playful animals who love to swim in the bow wave of the boat! As we make our way back along the coast, we anchor near the shores of Isla Chora, a delightful white-sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. This is a great spot for a refreshing swim and a chance to observe the underwater world by wearing a mask and snorkel. Beneath the surface teems a lively world with huge marine diversity. In total, today’s excursion lasts around four hours, with the rest of your time at leisure to enjoy the area.
Accommodation: Nammbu Hotel or Leyenda Hotel (or similar)
Transfer available to Liberia Airport; trip ends
Our adventure ends after breakfast, either at Carrillo Beach or at Liberia Airport if you join the group transfer. Check the Joining Instructions for more information on transfers.
But if you don’t want the adventure to end, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay and enjoy more time in Costa Rica.
Hotels in Costa Rica
We stay in four hotels during this tour for a total of seven nights.
In San Jose, we stay at the modern four-star Studio Hotel, conveniently located near the airport for an easy arrival transfer at the start of the adventure.
In Arenal, our accommodation is normally the Arenal Paraiso Hotel. This property is close to Arenal Volcano and has large natural grounds with wonderful views of Arenal Volcano. Rooms are comfortable and well equipped. There are several natural pools fed by spring water.
In Monteverde, we stay at the Monteverde Country Lodge, a three-star property providing cosy, comfortable and warm accommodation. This property doesn’t have a swimming pool or air conditioning as it’s in an area of Costa Rica that is typically much cooler.
By the Pacific Coast, we stay at either Nammbu Hotel or the Leyenda. Both are by Carrillo Beach and have a swimming pool.
Worth knowing
- While we do our best to ensure families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family trips occur during peak season and we sometimes have little control over where you will be put.
Reviews
Add your own reviewGreat Break
Glenda made the tour! She is an excellent guide, even in torrential rainfalls she found ways to keep us excited and smiling!
Most Inspirational Moment
So many! The water water rafting, and seeing turtles lay eggs were stand out moments.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Have an awesome time (maybe bring more dollars than you think you need… for tips etc!)
Colourful and beautiful country
We loved this trip. We saw so many colourful birds, plants and animals in such a short space of time. My teenager was happy the whole time, whitewater rafting, zip lining, dipping in the hot springs, sea or pool, spotting sloths, seeing a whale and loving being with other young people of a similar age. The accommodation was all very comfortable, especially the last few place at the beach – what luxury! Our guide was fantastic – a lovely person and so knowledgeable and passionate about his country. I would highly recommend this trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being in the rainforest and seeing a sloth and a toucan in the wild.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was wonderful. He was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Costa Rica. He was a genuinely lovely person, wanting to make everything perfect for us - and he succeeded.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You should go!
A great holiday for the whole family
After covid delayed our trip for two years we were rewarded with an amazing experience on the Costa Rica family adventure. With four other families and a wonderful guide (Glenda) and driver (Jose) we saw stunning landscapes, weird and wonderful wildlife and enjoyed fascinating tours, thrills and spills and beautiful beaches – We saw and did so much on a busy, but well thought out itinerary covering both pacific and Caribbean coasts. A truly wonderful holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Tortuego national park
Thoughts on Group Leader
She was amazing. Great fun but very organised and efficient.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring light weight running clothes as drying clothes in the wet season is tricky. Invest in a good poncho! Crocs would be a good additional item.
A trip of a lifetime!
We originally looked at booking the longer Costa Rica Family Adventure as we thought the Family Escape (at 7 nights) may be too much of a whirlwind. However, we liked the fact that there were less distances to travel (as the Family Escape does not include a visit to the Caribbean coast), and that there were more activities included, plus, on enquiry, we found out that on the dates we wished to travel the families booked onto this trip had children of similar ages to our own (16 and 12). We are so pleased we went for this option! From being met at the airport by our wonderful guide, Eduardo, and driver, Cesar, to being waved off as we boarded our transfer on the last day, we enjoyed every minute of our holiday!
Costa Rica is an incredible country and this trip gives you a sense of its diverstiy – from the volcanic landscape around Arenal, to the Cloud Forest at Monteverde, and the tropical beaches of Carillo. The mix of activities is great – from the high adrenaline rafting and zip wire course at Monteverde, to fascinating nature walks and wildlife spotting. The itinery is quite pacy – there are activities most days, however, you get at least 2 nights at each hotel (apart from in San Jose) so you do get chance to unpack a little and enjoy some downtime.
The hotels all offer something different: Los Lagos at La Fortuna is set in lush tropical gardens with its own resident crocodile and butterfly and insect houses. Plus, it has its own hot springs complete with water slides which our children loved. The Country Lodge at Monteverde is a little more basic, but charming, whilst the Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows are super stylish with spacious rooms and a stunning pool area.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many.... from waking up to the sound of howler monkeys outside your room, being surrounded by hummingbirds and having them land on your outstretched hand at Selvatura Park, conquering your fear of heights on the hanging bridges and zip wires above the forest canopy at Monteverde, seeing a sloth being rescued from overheard cables by the local fire service, hearing the sounds of the cloud forest at night as fireflies flit around around you, seeing a humpback whale for the first time, watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean at Carillo Beach.... the list goes on!
Thoughts on Group Leader
From the moment we arrived at San Jose Airport, our group leader, Eduardo, made us feel incredibly welcome in his country. Knowedgeable and passionate about the history, culture and nature of Costa Rica, Eduardo soon shared his love of his country with us all. Within minutes of meeting us, Eduardo had memorised all our names and, refering to us "family", he ensured we got the best possible experience we could - asking us to write down our wishlist of things we wanted to do and see whilst we were in his beautiful country. Eduardo was an exceptional group leader: great with the children in the group, imparting his extensive knowledge with enthusiasm, sharing his photos with us on the WhatsApp group he created for us, treating us to chocolate and ice-cream on a daily basis and instilling in all of us a sense of the "Pura Vida"! We must not forget our driver, Cesar, either. He made sure we were safe on the roads and waited patiently for us after every excursion, always greeting us with courtesy and a smile.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We decided to book a 3 night beach extension - staying on at Nammbu hotel at the end of the trip - which Exodus organised, along with a private transfer back to San Jose airport. We were definitely ready for some rest and relaxation after a packed schedule, so this was really worth doing, plus it gave us a chance to do some additional activies - such as scuba diving (at Samara) and turtle watching at the nearby Camaronal Wildlife Refuge.
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Costa Rica Family Escape
8 Days
Excluding Flights From
9 Days
from
Incl. taxes
Excl. flights