Highlights
- Climb to the top of Costa Rica's highest volcano with the kids
- Spot vibrant wildlife on a guided nighttime jungle walk
- Learn about conservation efforts at a jaguar rehabilitation center
- Boat around the lush waterways of Cahuita National Park
- Go horseback riding along the shoreline with the family
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Explore San José's Food Scene | San José |
| Day 2 | Visit the Highest Volcano in Costa Rica | San José |
| Day 3 | Spot Wildlife on a Night Hike in Tortuguero | Tortuguero |
| Day 4 | Boat Along the Tortuguero Canals | Tortuguero |
| Day 5 | Travel to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 6 | Tour Cahuita National Park | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 7 | Visit a Jaguar Rescue Center & BriBri Chocolate Farm | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 8 | Kayak & Hike at Punta Uva | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 9 | Horseback Ride on the Beach | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 10 | Return to San José | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| Day 11 | Depart Costa Rica |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Explore San José's Food Scene
Welcome to Costa Rica! You'll arrive in San José and transfer to your hotel. After checking in, head out for a food-focused walking tour around the city. Start by strolling through the Central Market with your local guide to learn about the uses of the roots, herbs, and fruit common in local cuisines. Sample traditional snacks—kids will love trying empanadas, freshly cut fruit, and batidos (smoothies). Then make your way down Central Avenue toward one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings in the city, the Teatro Nacional (National Theater). Walk through Morazan Park, then continue to Spain Park for a fantastic view of the Yellow House.
Continue to charming Barrio Amon, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. You'll spend the rest of the evening at a local restaurant specializing in Costa Rican cuisine. The view from the terrace is like looking out onto an open-air museum. Enjoy a three-course meal (with wine pairings for adults) before heading back to your hotel to rest.
Find out more about where to eat in San José.
Day 2: Visit the Highest Volcano in Costa Rica
Today you will visit Irazu Volcano, the highest volcano in Costa Rica. When visibility is good, you can see both the Atlantic and Pacific; if you're lucky, you and your family might also notice the smoking vents of the nearby Turrialba Volcano. Along the hike, you'll pass coffee plantations and spot various flora and fauna. The reward is a spectacular view of the massive crater and a bright green lagoon.
After the volcano tour, descend to the historical city of Cartago, where your family will stop at the Virgin of the Angels Basilica, a famous pilgrimage site. Then head back to San José, where the afternoon is yours to explore the city or relax at the hotel.
You might want to look over this article on the best hotels in San José.
Day 3: Spot Wildlife on a Night Hike in Tortuguero
Today you will transfer from San José to Tortuguero. A driver will pick you up in an air-conditioned minivan, help you with your luggage, and take you to the boat dock near Tortuguero. You and your family will transfer to a boat, which will take you to your hotel. As the day draws to a close, the nocturnal animals and insects wake up, transforming the jungle's sights, sounds, and atmosphere. This transformation is spellbinding to behold and is the focus of your activity this evening as you take a magical nighttime hike through the mysterious jungle surrounding Tortuguero.
Starting at your lodge, you will leave by boat around 5:30 pm for a 5-minute ride to the lodge's network of private trails, located close to Tortuguero National Park. Your walk with an expert naturalist guide begins, taking you along forest trails as twilight descends. There are many critters for kids to spot—keep your eyes open for moths, crickets, spiders, frogs, bats, sloths, porcupines, nocturnal birds, and caiman. You'll return to the lodge in time for dinner.
Read about the best things to do in Tortuguero National Park for more ideas.
Day 4: Boat Along the Tortuguero Canals
Tortuguero National Park is one of the world's most important locations for several species of nesting sea turtles. The park's canals can be explored by boat, and today's guided tour of the canals gives you a thrilling chance to see the forest and its wildlife from the water. Start the journey by boat to the Tortuguero National Park ranger station for your admission tickets and canal access. A 2021 count registered 186 species of bird in the area, along with three monkey species, crocodiles, caimans, toucans, sloths, and much more. You and your family will likely see some of these creatures on your tour.
After lunch, get ready to see the most spectacular panoramic view in Tortuguero as you climb the area's highest peak, Cerro Tortuguero. Start with a boat ride from Mawamba Lodge to the trailhead. The peak is only 390 feet (119 m) above sea level, but climbing through the jungle is nevertheless a challenge. When you get to the top, the most exquisite view of Tortuguero opens up, spanning the Tortuguero canals, the Caribbean Sea, and the communities of San Francisco and Tortuguero. After hiking down to the trailhead, you will take your boat back to the lodge.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Travel to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
You will travel from Tortuguero today to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. Settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the amazing beaches. You'll have your pick of black, golden, or white sand beaches, all within a short distance of town. Great beaches in the area include what many consider one of Costa Rica's most beautiful, Playa Punta Uva. Rent a bicycle and pedal there! The rest of the day is yours to sunbathe, swim, surf, and relax on the sand.
Day 6: Tour Cahuita National Park
Take a short drive to Cahuita National Park this morning. You'll start at the beach, climbing on board a boat for a scenic 20-minute cruise to Cahuita Point. If the sea conditions allow, you will have the opportunity to have two snorkeling sessions near the most extensive coral reefs. The seafloor off the coast is as much a jungle as the rainforest, with tropical fish, stingrays, octopus, and nurse sharks on view. The best time for snorkeling is from July to October, as the sea is typically too rough between December and March. Still, regardless of the time of year, the boat ride is a great way to approach Cahuita Point.
Fuel up with a spread of tropical fruit on the beach before heading out on a guided hike through the coastal rainforest. You'll head onto land and enter the national park from the boat. Since the region is home to an abundance and diversity of wildlife, the chances are good that you'll see monkeys, tropical birds, sloths, iguanas, poisonous dart frogs, and more. After your hike, head back to Puerto Viejo with your guide.
For more ideas and inspiration, check out Best Things to Do in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
Day 7: Visit a Jaguar Rescue Center & BriBri Chocolate Farm
Start the morning at the Jaguar Animal Rescue Center, which offers shelter, treatment, rehabilitation, and protection to ill or wounded wild animals in the area. The shelter is run by a biologist with many years of experience caring for wild mammals in captivity. The center has become a sanctuary for wild animals through the organization's hard work, with terrariums for snakes and small animals, larger spaces for the monkeys, and special quarantine cages for animals arriving with serious injuries. Your entrance fee and support help keep the center running.
After the rescue center, visit a local Bribri family that grows cacao trees on their land. They will show you the entire process, from cacao fruit to a bar of chocolate. You will have the opportunity to purchase some of their chocolate or other indigenous handmade crafts. Later, your guide will bring you to a waterfall with inviting swimming holes. Enjoy a dip in the water before hiking back to the vehicle and returning to the hotel.
Day 8: Kayak & Hike at Punta Uva
On today's adventure, your family will enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica from land, ocean, and river. First, you'll embark on an ocean kayaking journey along a coast lined with cliffs, caves, and rainforest. After the ocean kayak, you'll head to Rio Punta Uva, where you'll have a more leisurely kayak along the river. As you paddle through the rainforest, you can spot monkeys, sloths, colorful birds, river turtles, bats, and iguanas, which are generally close to your kayak!
After kayaking back to the beach, you can either relax on the sand with the kids or join your naturalist guide for a short hike into the rainforest. Take photos of the animals you encounter on the trek, such as monkeys, sloths, and birds. Then you will take a break at the beach to relax, swim, and enjoy some fresh fruit and snacks.
Day 9: Horseback Ride on the Beach
Day 10: Return to San José
Head back to San José today in a private, air-conditioned minivan. You'll have the afternoon and evening free to sightsee, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy one last Costa Rican dinner.
For more ideas of what to see and do, check out this article on how to spend 24 Hours in San José.
Day 11: Depart Costa Rica
More Great Costa Rica Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these other Costa Rica itineraries, explore different ways to spend 11 family-friendly days in Costa Rica, or discover the best time to visit Costa Rica.
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