Costa Rica Family Multisport
Biking, Walking & Rafting the Pacific Coast & Nicoya Peninsula
Holy cow! Or rather, holy huge millipede! Was that a toucan? Get a closer look from the suspended bridges high in the rain forest canopy. Can you spot those howler monkeys you've been hearing? Swinging through the jungle, Tarzan style. Do some swinging of your own on a zip-line. Or will it be beach time? Or paddling through mangroves? Or TLC at the spa? It's up to you. And you really can't go wrong. With these activities. With private charter flights connecting it all. With a week of Backroads family fun in Costa Rica.
- A perfect line-up of activities make for great family adventures throughout the country
- Spot amazing wildlife (sloths, monkeys, lizards and more) at Manuel Antonio National Park
- White-water raft the Rio Savegre, one of Central America's most pristine rivers
- Sublime white-sand beaches great for swimming and surfing
- Kids connecting with local children during a pick-up soccer game
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 A perfect line-up of activities make for great family adventures throughout the country 
Fly to the Pacific Coast Meander through Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist who helps us spot a wealth of exotic plants and wildlife, including white-faced monkeys, butterflies, sloths and iguanas Picnic at the Rainmaker Reserve before a local naturalist leads a hike on jungle trails and along suspension bridges for a close-up look at a virgin rain forest and its inhabitants The afternoon is yours to sea kayak, take a mangrove tour or go on a zip-line adventure through the jungle canopy.
Day 3 A local family invites us to their home for lunch Bike amid African Palm oil plantations and observe rural life in the countryside around Quepos Hike through the rain forest to our secluded hotel Relax on your private deck and swim in the lodge's pool, which features a 100-foot long waterslide - watch that landing!
Day 4 Make a splash during a thrilling white-water rafting excursion on the Río Savegre A short scenic flight whisks us to the Nicoya peninsula Embark on a favorite Backroads ride that leads through the scenic coastal valley and past some of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches As you pedal on quiet dirt roads, spot sabañeros (cowboys) working the pastures and tending their cattle.
Days 5-6 Sublime white-sand beaches great for swimming and surfing Our oceanfront resort offers many ways to play and relax: hike on nearby nature trails, go horseback riding, try kayaking, take surfing lessons, lounge by the pool or treat yourself to a massage Visit Islita village for a pick-up soccer game with local kids Cap off your adventure with a dinner of fresh seafood specialties.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
Classic Premiere Inns Classic Casual Inns
Costa Rica Pacific Coast Multisport Peru Multisport Yucatan MultisportOther Central/South America Trips
Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
One of the best vacations I've ever been on. Our guides were knowledgeable, excellent teachers, and also patient with us. I appreciated their humor as well as their knowledge and insight. Aside from the wonderful leaders, great accommodations, and beautifully interesting country, another thing that made the trip so special was the chemistry of the group it was so enjoyable to be traveling with such a friendly and interesting mix of people. It was also amazing how well the kids in the group gelled.- West Hartford, CT More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.
Costa Rica Family Multisport
Premiere Inns*
Hotel Parador
Quepos (2 nights) A Spanish-style resort with blissful views of the Manuel Antonio rain forest and the azure Pacific. (pool, spa)
Rafiki Safari Lodge
Savegre (1 night) These African-style luxury safari tents offer the ideal setting for enjoying the sights and sounds of the jungle. (pool)
* Casual Inn
Hotel Punta Islita
Punta Islita (2 nights) Named one of the world's best by Travel + Leisure, this eco-friendly resort is tucked away between an ocean cove and the forest on the pristine Nicoya Peninsula. (pool, spa)
Costa Rica Family Multisport
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 3.5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 1.6 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3 5 Route Options Available
- Biking 4.5, 8.5, 12, 20 miles
- 100 - 600 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 2.1 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 6, 9, 12, 18 miles
- 0 - 700 feet elevation gain
- Rafting 2.5 hours
Day 5
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- Walking 2.5, 3.7 miles
- 100 - 400 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Guided Walk 1 hour