Costa Rica
Family Tour: National Parks, Volcanoes, Magnificent Wildlife and Beaches
Ninos Arenal Tour - 14 Night Itinerary
A slow pace tour of Costa Rica, perfect for families; Arenal Volcano, rainforests, birdwatching and excellent lodgings with activities for families of all ages. Plus, relax on the beach near Manuel Antonio National Park and great surfing at Jaco Beach.
Select your Preferred Departure Date OR Default to Today's Date
Travel Highlights
- Our specially designed family tour to Costa Rica
- Enjoy a landscape of smouldering volcanoes, tropical rainforest and golden beaches
- Get closer to nature in a country famed for its abundant wildlife
- Hike in the foothills of the Arenal volcano and take a dip in the thermal hot springs
- Enjoy a range of optional activities in Arenal National Park
- Relax at a hotel on a quiet Pacific Coast beach, with exciting watersports for the children to enjoy
- Fly direct from London Heathrow to San Jose with British Airways
Tour Route
- San Jose & Irazú Volcano - 4 Nights
- Arenal Volcano - 5 Nights
- Esterillos Beach - 5 Nights
- Return to San Jose & Fly Home
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of departure date, route, duration, flights, cabin, hotels, transport and excursions.
Request QuotationTour Itinerary
San Jose & Irazú Volcano
4 NightsDay 1 - Fly to San Jose
Day 2 - Day at leisure
Day 3 - Irazú Volcano
Day 4 - San Jose at leisure and family visit
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to San Jose
Departure on a daytime flight to San Jose. On arrival, your body clock will feel like late at night. You will be met and taken to your hotel with gardens, tennis court, bicycles and swimming pools, for 4 nights.
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Day at leisure
Day at leisure to relax after the long flight and explore San Jose at your own pace. Enjoy the facilities of your chosen hotel.
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Irazú Volcano
With our local guide, you visit the Irazú Volcano, with its impressive green crater lake rising out of a desolate grey moon landscape. Continue on to the stunning Orosí Valley, where the Reventazón River cuts its swirling swathe through the surrounding mountains. We visit the Lankester Botanical Gardens, housing thousands of species of plants endemic to Costa Rica. We also take an exciting ride on the aerial train into the rainforest canopy for amazing views.
Thursday, 27 March 2025
San Jose at leisure and family visit
One day free for some shopping, swimming in the hotel pools, optional excursions of the city or just relax. Our guide can arrange for you to meet a local Costa Rican family with children of similar ages in San Jose to gain an exclusive insight into life in Costa Rica. This arrangement needs to be pre-booked in the UK before you travel, but is recommended.
Henry Porras
Hotel Presidente
The Presidente Hotel is located in the heart of San José in the pedestrian zone of Central Avenue, 2 blocks from the National Theatre and the Cultural Square. The hotel has over 100 comfortable and spacious rooms, which all include cable TV, air conditioning, safety box and en-suite bathroom. The hotel offers amenities such as…
Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel is located on Avenida Central, San Jose’s most famous street and walking distance to the historic centre. It is easy to visit the Iglesia de la Merced, the cathedral, the central and Morazán parks, as well as the impressive gold and jade museums.
The hotel’s rooms include double beds, complimentary coffee, safe, hair…
Grano de Oro
Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose's main street, the Hotel Grano de Oro is a welcome retreat in the heart of this bustling city. Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the hotel preserves the warmth and comfort of a private home, with its atrium terrace and corridors of sparkling fountains…
Buena Vista Hotel
Buena Vista hotel is a Spanish colonial style resort located just outside San Jose, at the top of a mountain offering panoramic views of three volcanoes in the Central Valley - Poas, Barva and Irazu. It is a super place to stay when you arrive in Costa Rica.
The hotel has 30 air-conditioned and comfortable rooms. Deluxe…
Hotel Alta Las Palomas
Located on the outskirts of San Jose in Santa Ana, the 23 room Hotel Alta is an excellent base to explore the capital city and surrounding attractions, including the Poas Volcano.
Public areas include a swimming pool, excellent dining at the elegant La Luz Restaurant and bar or the more relaxed cafe de Verano.
There are 5…
Xandari Resort And Spa
Xandari Resort and Spa is perfectly located for excursions to Poas Volcano, La Paz waterfall gardens, and Doka coffee plantation, and is only 30 minutes’ drive from San Jose International airport. Over 3km of scenic trails through coffee and fruit orchards lead into a lush natural tropical setting with a year-round river and five beautiful…
Finca Rosa Blanca
Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated above the beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations and nestled amongst 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and tropical flora. It offers luxurious rooms including mini bar, Jacuzzi bath and private verandas overlooking the Valley. Each room…
Arenal Volcano
5 NightsDay 5 - Travel to Arenal volcano
Day 6 - Hiking and hot springs
Day 7 - Optional hanging Bridges Tour
Day 8 - Optional sloth Encounter and Sky Tram
Day 9 - Other optional activities
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Travel to Arenal volcano
Transfer to Arenal for 5-night stay at your chosen hotel including breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Hiking and hot springs
Today enjoy included guided hiking tours in the park by the impressive active volcano and a dip in the Tabacon hot springs. Trek through pristine rainforest and understand the unique flora and fauna of the National Park dominated by the powerful volcano. A fascinating - and quite educational - day awaits!
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Optional Hanging Bridges Tour
Today enjoy an optional half-day visit to the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Here, observe the birds, the flowers and the lush vegetation of the primary rainforest. While walking along the trails in the forest canopy the fascinating world of the tropical forest will open to you as your naturalist guide explains the species you will discover during the walk.
Monday, 31 March 2025
Optional Sloth Encounter and Sky Tram
An optional morning guided tour in the beautiful open areas in La Fortuna where you will observe two or three toed sloths in the wild, as well as the multicoloured toucan, the poisonous blue jeans dart frog, iguanas and monkeys, among others.
In the afternoon, perhaps experience the Sky Tram gondolas that soar smoothly over the rainforest with amazing views of the jungle, Arenal volcano and the lake.
Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Other optional activities
There are a wide range of optional activities available for your family to enjoy. Our guide will be able to ensure you get the best and most appropriate experiences. On offer includes river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, zip wire adventures and an evening excursion to view the live volcano with its golden lava splaying from the surface like a firework show.
David Jiménez
Arenal Volcano Inn
Arenal Volcano Inn is a cozy hotel located in front of the Arenal Volcano, just minutes away from the main attractions in Arenal National Park.
The hotel has just 25 rooms, from standard to deluxe. Each is air-conditioned with FREE Wi-Fi, private bathroom with shower, cable TV, mini bar, safe and telephone. Choose from a garden…
Arenal Springs Resort & Spa
Arenal Springs Resort is the ideal combination of modern comfort and exuberant tropical surrounding, with outstanding views of Arenal Volcano.
The suites are semi-detached air-conditioned bungalows spread over a wide area directly facing Arenal Volcano. Each suite has a patio with seating, private bathroom, outdoor shower, luxury toiletries and a hair dryer.
Public areas include three restaurants, bar, coffee…
Arenal Manoa Hotel
Located a short drive from Arenal Volcano in a very natural and private environment, surrounded by the La Palma River, the Arenal Manoa Hotel is an ideal refuge for the great diversity of birds, mammals, lizards, and a large variety of plants. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, the rooms have been designed so that…
Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa is a green-friendly luxury hotel framed by the crystalline waters of the La Palma and Kioro streams, lush, vibrant gardens and private thermal water spas. It is a peaceful setting for exploring the beauty and exhilarating activities of Arenal Volcano National Park.
There are 53 spacious, air conditioned suites designed for couples…
Nayara Gardens
Located in the outskirts of the Arenal Volcano, Arenal Nayara Gardens provides a uniquely natural experience. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, each one of its 24 spacious casitas provides an exclusive retreat in which you can relax amidst the breathtaking view of the volcano. Interwoven with rich gardens its tropical grounds create the perfect setting…
Nayara Springs
Voted the leading spa hotel in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveller in 2105, the Nayara Springs has a proud reputation for excellence in the most lush and enjoyable surroundings. It is one of the few hotels in the region that are adults only.
The public areas include a stunning pool, the award-winning spa,…
Nayara Tented Camp
Located in the rainforest with views of the mighty Arenal Volcano, Nayara Tented Camp is an innovative luxury base to enjoy the many attractions of this part of Costa Rica. The camp is focussed on sustainability and protecting the fragile nature all around.
The spacious tents were built to maximise the stunning views and to leave…
Esterillos Beach
5 NightsDays 10-14 - Esterillos Beach Resort
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Esterillos beach resort
Transfer to the coast, staying at the family friendly Alma del Pacifico Hotel for 5-nights including breakfast.
The hotel is right on the Esterillos Beach and halfway between the surfer's paradise of Playa Jaco and Manuel Antonio National Park, perfect for relaxing but also with the option of walks and activities to suit families of all ages.
Optional activities include: Surfing and surf lessons, trekking in Manuel Antonio National Park and Carara National Park, Adventure tours by quad bike, Fincas Wildlife refuge, river rafting, a visit to Villa Vanilla to see how vanilla is cultivated, a jungle crocodile safari, rainforest adventures in Manuel Antonio National Park, zip wire adventures and Pure Vida gardens and waterfalls.
Thursday, 03 April 2025
Surfing and exploring
At leisure
Friday, 04 April 2025
Treks, beaches and optional activities
At leisure.
Saturday, 05 April 2025
Relax on the beach
At leisure.
Sunday, 06 April 2025
At leisure
Your final day to enjoy the wonders of nature at Manuel National Park.
Alma del Pacifico
Situated on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast just 2 hours drive from San Jose Airport, Alma del Pacifico is a small hotel made up of 20 colourful villas set among lush tropical gardens, connected by paved walkways and fronting onto a wide sandy beach.
The spacious and comfortable air-conditioned rooms are full of vibrant works of…
Return to San Jose & Fly Home
Days 15 -16 - San Jose and return home
- Full Description
Return home
Transfer to San José airport for your overnight flight home.
Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Arrive in the UK
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | 1Jan-27 Jun, 2 Sep-19 Dec | 28 Jun-1 Sep, 20 Dec-31 Dec | ||||
| Room Arrangement | Tourist | First | Deluxe | Tourist | First | Deluxe |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Rooms | £3,542 | £3,983 | £4,656 | £4,055 | £4,377 | £5,183 |
Prices are a guideline per person, for travel within the next year and booking early and are subject to availability. Please see below what is included and request a detailed quotation with a guaranteed price for your specific departure date and for Special Events, Summer, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 16 Days/14 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- Breakfast everyday and meals as described on the itinerary
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
- Prices are per person
- Prices for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter on request
- Children aged 7-11 have a 20% reduction when sharing a room.
Complete a form or call our specialist advisors to start planning your trip. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will aim to respond to your enquiry the same or next working day.
Specialist Advice & Ideas
Since 1999, we focus on carefully crafting unique and authentic travel experiences in Latin America and beyond.
Create Your Perfect Tour
Your holiday is tailored by our specialist advisors to fit your preferences using our extensive kowledge of each destination
The Best Local Guides
We have developed an extensive network of expert local guides, hand-picked to provide exclusive excursions and authentic insights.
Travel with Confidence
Our local guides are your hosts providing support, information and so you visit the main sites and experience life like a local.
READY - 22 MARCH 2025
LANDMARK TOURS - Multi-Country Itineraries
INDIA - Superb Service, Guides & Hotels, Fascinating Culture
ANTARCTICA - Cruise, Ice & Wildlife - Time to plan 2025/27
COSTA RICA - Rainforest Habitats, Wildlife & Unique Lodges
GLOBAL FAMILIES - Holidays for Easter, July and August
HONEYMOONS & CELEBRATIONS - "en Tete-a-Tete"
TRAVEL INSURANCE essential cover including COVID