FAMILY COSTA RICA

Note: British Airways currently operate the only direct flight between the UK and Costa Rica. It departs from London Gatwick and is a day flight on the outbound flight and overnight on the way home. It operates three times each week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flights to Costa Rica are also operated by KLM (via Amsterdam) and Iberia (via Madrid). There are also connections via the US.

On arrival you will be met and driven 15 minutes from the airport to your luxury hotel set amidst coffee plantations overlooking the San José Valley. Flanked by imposing mountains and volcanoes, Costa Rica’s unassuming capital is the gateway to the lush hillsides, coffee farms and mighty peaks of the Central Valley.

The following day you’ll visit the Doka coffee farm and see how Costa Rica’s most famous export is produced. The farm produces some of the country’s best coffee and you will of course get to try the finished product at the end of the tour. Afterwards you will return to your hotel and have the afternoon to relax by the beautiful outdoor pool, overlooking the surrounding hills.

Stay: Two nights at Xandari Resort & Spa – Bed & breakfast

Rising early this morning, you will embark on a thrilling rafting adventure along the Pacuare River to your lodge set deep in the rainforest. This will be your home for the next three nights and base for a multitude of exciting adventures. After lunch you can choose to relax in your private bungalow or, if you’re still feeling active, take a canopy tour or waterfall hike.

During your stay you will be able to choose from a variety of outdoor activities. These include rappelling through the canopy on a zip line, canyoneering, horse riding or walks through the forest with expert guides in search of unique flora and fauna.

Stay: Two nights at Pacuare River Lodge – Full board

Another exciting rafting excursion along the wild Pacuare River – with a picnic en route – and a road transfer brings you to Tortuguero National Park.

You will be perfectly situated to immerse yourself in the wonders of this unspoilt wilderness with its lush rainforest and immense network of canals. The park provides sanctuary to a wide variety of wildlife including over 300 species of bird, 60 mammals, 57 amphibians, 30 species of freshwater fish and over 100 types of reptile. During your stay you will enjoy boat excursions along the park’s winding canals whilst an expert guide will reveal the secrets of this epic rainforest ecosystem.

Stay: Two nights at Tortuga Lodge – Full board

Leaving Tortuguero behind, you will board a flight to Arenal, home to the impressive Arenal Volcano.

Your home for the next two nights is the Arenal Nayara Spa and Gardens Hotel, lodged in the foothills of the volcano and surrounded by tropical vegetation, it is the ideal base for exploring the Arenal National Park.

The area is host to a whole variety of activities, including zip-lining, white-water rafting, specialist wildlife activities and horse-riding. In a small group you will enjoy a beautiful hike in the national park, in hope of seeing sloths, which are often found in the area, as well as other interesting flora and fauna. You will also visit the nearby Tabacon hot springs, which is the perfect spot for resting any aching muscles.

Stay: Two nights at the Arenal Nayara Spa Hotel and Gardens – Bed & breakfast

Time for some well-deserved relaxation at a plush resort on the Gulf of Papagayo. The North Pacific coast of Costa Rica has some of the country’s finest beaches, swimmable bays and clear, warm waters.

You can spend your days here stretched out on deserted shores, indulging in spa treatments and trying your hand at a wide variety of water sports such as deep sea fishing, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and surfing. You can even venture inland in search of Costa Rica’s famous flora and fauna.

Stay: Four nights at El Mangroove – Bed & breakfast