Costa Rica Family Grand Tour: Poás, Arenal, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio (9 Days)

It was built around two adults and two children and works well from roughly age 6 upward. Ziplining operators generally set a minimum around age 7 or a weight minimum; the Cano Negro boat trip, hot springs and beach days suit any age. Tell us your children’s ages and we will flag anything that needs swapping.

That is the point of the design. Activity days alternate with transfer or downtime days, the trip closes with two unstructured beach days in Manuel Antonio, and all inter-destination transport is private so you can leave late, stop for food and break up long legs. No day starts before dawn.

A shared arrival transfer, private transport between destinations, the shared Arenal Lake crossing, hotels with breakfast, and guides, equipment and park fees on the selected tours. Some meals are included depending on the activity. Not included: international flights, a guided visit inside Manuel Antonio National Park (that day is self-guided), most meals in Manuel Antonio, tips and travel insurance.

We recommend it, especially with children. The park day is self-guided as standard, but sloths sleep high in the canopy and are close to invisible without a scope. A licensed guide for the morning typically multiplies what a family actually sees. We can add one to the quote.

Mid-December to April is driest and easiest with kids, and coincides with northern winter and spring breaks — book early. June to August works well too, with green-season rates and afternoon-only rain. September and October are the wettest on the Pacific coast.

Yes. This is a starting template — we build it around your dates and family. Add nights, swap the zipline for hanging bridges, upgrade to family suites or connecting rooms, or extend the beach section. Send us the itinerary with your notes and we will requote it.