Costa Rica Family Multisport
- 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 Río Savegre, one of Central America's most pristine rivers
- Sublime white-sand beaches great for swimming and surfing
- Kid-inspired fun - and possibly pick-up soccer with local niños - at an arts cooperative
Wildlife Encounters on 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.
Days 1-2 A perfect line-up of activities make for great family adventures throughout the country 
Fly to the Pacific coast In Rainmaker Reserve a naturalist leads our hike on jungle trails and along suspension bridges Meander through Manuel Antonio National Park with an expert who helps you spot white-faced monkeys, butterflies, sloths and iguanas The afternoon is yours to sea kayak, take a mangrove tour or zip-line fly through the jungle canopy.
Day 3 A local family invites us to their home for lunch Bike amid African palm plantations and observe life in the countryside around Quepos Hike through the rain forest to our secluded hotel Kick back on your private deck and swim in the lodge’s pool, which features a 100-foot long waterslide - look out below!
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 Bike through the picturesque coastal valley and past some of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches - it's a favorite Backroads ride! As you pedal 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 Play or relax at our oceanfront resort: hike, kayak, horseback ride, lounge by the pool or indulge in a massage Youngsters enjoy kid-inspired fun - and possibly pick-up soccer with local niños Live marimba rhythms accompany fresh seafood specialties Visit Costa Rica's first open-air contemporary art museum.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was the best family vacation we have ever been on - and we are experienced vacationers. I have already recommended Backroads, and this trip in specific, to friends - and we only got back last night. We've gone on Backroads bike trips previously but had never taken our kids and had never done a multisport trip. We have an athletic 15 year old and a not-very-athletic 12 year old. Amazingly, this trip worked well for both kids. Everyone was happy.
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
My daughter and I both felt that Backroads gave us a chance to enjoy the local culture, food, people and wildlife in Costa Rica in a way that we never would have experienced on our own.
Premiere Inns*
Parador Resort & Spa
Quepos (2 nights) A Spanish-style resort with blissful views of the Manuel Antonio rain forest and the azure Pacific. (pool, spa, tennis)
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) A Travel + Leisure favorite, this eco-friendly resort is tucked away between an ocean cove and the forest on the pristine Nicoya Peninsula. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool, spa, tennis, golf)
Costa Rica Multisport
Adventures in Paradise from Arenal Volcano to the Pacific Coast
Family:
Ecuador: Galapagos & Andes Multisport with Haciendas & Adventure Lodges
Ancient Culture & Wondrous Wildlife in Ecuador's Islands & Highlands
Family:
Peru Multisport
Cultural Discoveries & Epic Landscapes from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Family:
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
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 | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
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 1.6 miles
- 0 - 100 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- Walking 2, 3.5 miles
- 0 - 300 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 3 5 Route Options Available
- Biking 5, 9, 12, 20 miles
- 100 - 600 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 2.1 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 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
More Recommended Trips
For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Costa Rica tour experts. See our award-winning Latin America multisport tours, Latin America biking tours and Latin America walking and hiking tours.
