Costa Rica Family Vacation
Arenal volcano - Backroads Costa Rica Multi-Adventure Tour
Biking - Backroads Costa Rica Multi-Adventure Tour
Family Whitewater Rafting, Costa Rica
Costa Rica Swimming Pool
Monkey - Backroads Costa Rica Multi-Adventure Tour
Hanging bridge hike - Backroads Costa Rica Multi-Adventure Tour
Costa Rica Family Vacation
Arenal Volcano - Backroads Costa Rica Multi-Adventure Tour
Multi-Adventure
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E-bikes are not available on this trip. Please click here to view bike options.

Costa Rica Rain Forest & Pacific Multi-Adventure Tour - For Families with Older Teens & 20s

Arenal Volcano to Manuel Antonio National Park

One or more kids 17+ required (siblings 14+ ok)

Family — Older Teens & 20s

6 days 5 nights

Activity Level: 1-2

Casual & Casual Plus Hotels

From: $3,799 - $4,199 pp dbl occ

Plus $350 - $400 internal air

($750 - $1,210 for sgl occ)

Like wildlife and outdoor adventure? You and your family will love Costa Rica, where monkeys enliven the canopy and iguanas bask in the sun. Jungle hikes, bike rides and white-water rafting immerse you in extraordinary biodiversity, from Arenal Volcano to the Pacific coast. Get set to have fun, relax and discover your own pura vida!

Walk/Hike
Bike
Raft
Costa Rica Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Costa Rica Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Costa Rica

Start/End San José

Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

Highlights

  • Hike and bike, then soak in restorative geothermal hot springs at the base of majestic Arenal Volcano
  • Observe a stunning variety of wildlife—sloths, monkeys, lizards and more—in Manuel Antonio National Park
  • Experience a thrilling white-water rafting adventure on Class II-III rapids on the pristine Savegre River
  • Surf beginner's waves, stretch out in a yoga class and take in epic sunsets on a quiet beach along the Pacific 

Itinerary

Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Casual & Casual Plus Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Description

Join a naturalist on a trek across a lava field at the base of Arenal Volcano | Soak in geothermal hot springs nestled within a tropical forest | ​Hike on a series of hanging bridges through the forest canopy and get a bird's-eye view of the rain forest | Ride around Lake Arenal, listening for the call of howler monkeys | Enjoy scenic views while on a boat cruise across the lake | Optional on-your-own activities abound—fly through the treetops on a zip line, indulge in a massage or simply relax by the pool.

Accommodations
Arenal Kioro, Costa Rica
Arenal Kioro
La Fortuna
| Casual Hotel

Take in majestic views of Arenal Volcano while soaking in your suite's private whirlpool. (pool, spa)

Day 3
Description

Venture through the lush habitat of sloths, monkeys, toucans and lizards | Hike to the base of La Fortuna waterfall and jump in for a refreshing dip  | Our private charter plane whisks us to Quepos, a beachside town on the central Pacific coast | Sit down to a home-cooked casado (traditional Costa Rican meal) with a local family | Hike through the pristine Savegre Valley | Kick back at our secluded lodge on your private deck or zoom down the 100-foot-long waterslide.

Accommodations
Rafiki Safari Lodge, Costa Rica
Rafiki Safari Lodge
Savegre
| Casual Hotel

African-style luxury safari tents offer the ideal setting for enjoying the sights and sounds of the jungle. (pool)

Days 4-6
Description

Make a splash on a thrilling white-water rafting excursion on Río Savegre | Spot a wealth of wildlife and enjoy the views on a coastal rain forest trail | In Manuel Antonio National Park, look for white-faced monkeys and sloths lounging in the branches overhead and prehistoric-looking iguanas slithering up tree trunks | Opt to take a surf lesson or enjoy an afternoon soaking up the sun or watching the waves of the Pacific roll in | Indulge in a chocolate tour and tasting | Paint your own Boruca masks with an indigenous artist | Enjoy a beachfront yoga class | Check out families of crocodiles sunning themselves along the Tárcoles River on our way back to San José.

Accommodations
Alma de Pacifico, Costa Rica
Alma del Pacifico
Playa Esterillos Este
| Casual Plus Hotel

Spacious private villas at this beachside resort feature large terraces and a mosaic-tiled shower that opens to your own garden. (pool, spa)

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.

Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group

Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

Please Select a Group Size

Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Activity Level: 1-2

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.

Route notes

On this Family Trip, our routes have relatively little elevation gain or loss. However, the terrain, heat and humidity can make biking more challenging than the mileage may suggest. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary and mileage is moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

Daily Route Options

* Includes shuttle.
Day 1
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 3 miles | 1000 ft. gain
Level 2 | 4 miles | 1400 ft. gain
Other
Hot Springs Visit (1 hour)
Day 2
Biking
Level 1 | 10 miles* | 1200 ft. gain
Level 2 | 15 miles | 1600 ft. gain
Other
Lake Arenal Boat Excursion (30 minutes)
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 3 miles | 900 ft. gain
Day 3
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 2 miles | 400 ft. gain
Other
Shuttle & Flight to Santo Domingo (1.5 hours)
Day 4
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 3 miles | 800 ft. gain
Rafting
on Río Savegre (half day)
Day 5
Other
Boruca Mask Painting (1 hour)
Other
Surfing Lesson (1 hour)
Other
Chocolate Workshop (1 hour)
Day 6
Yoga
(1 hour)

What's Included

Available Bike Options

The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.

Click the arrow to see all bike options.

Backroads Touring Bike
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike

Included in your trip price

A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.

Also Included

  • All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
  • Snacks and beverages between meals
  • Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
  • Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
  • Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
  • Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
  • Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
  • On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
  • Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
  • Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
  • Park and other entry fees
  • Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
  • Select coach transfers
  • Baggage transfers and porterage

Straight talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Flights

On this trip we travel by air to reach the exclusive areas this destination has to offer. We will be flying by charter with Sansa Airlines aboard turbo-prop planes that seat 10-12 passengers. These flights occasionally experience delays or cancellations due to inclement weather. In the rare instance a flight is cancelled we are prepared to travel by land.

Easygoing Adventure

Due to the tropical climate and under-developed infrastructure in Costa Rica, road maintenance is a continual challenge and options for bike routes are limited. As a result, we've paired our core activities with ones that are suited to this destination, such as rafting. The level of these activities, combined with enough downtime to relax and take advantage of the hotels, will be the ideal way to experience la pura vida.​

Shuttle Distances

In order to bring you to diverse and unique regions, we spend more time shuttling on this trip than on many other Backroads trips. Our time in the shuttles will allow us to experience the incredible variety of ecosystems, scenery and activities that Costa Rica has to offer.

On-Your-Own Activities

During the trip there's time for you to enjoy some of Costa Rica's favorite activities, such as zip-lining, horseback riding and surfing. These activities are often a highlight for those who choose to do them, but due to liability issues and because they're not to everyone's liking they're not included in the cost of the trip and participation is at your own risk.

Peak Season

The holiday and spring break months are a great time to travel; however, with days off and the desire to escape for sunshine many others have the same idea. While we always aim to get off the beaten path, during certain times of the year crowds and delays are unavoidable.

Ask a trip expert

Have a question and need expert advice? Our team of Trip Consultants is here to help! You can also visit our Help Center.

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