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Central PacificFamily-friendly activities

Our most recommended Central Pacific Family-friendly activities

La Fortuna: Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour

1. La Fortuna: Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour

Escape into the nature of the La Fortuna on a guided hike. Walk by the river and follow a trail to a panoramic viewpoint. Have a delicious lunch at a Maluku Indian village and trek through forests, lava fields, and farmlands before relaxing at a natural hot spring resort with a drink. Be collected at your accommodation and be driven to the beginning of the forest walk. Trek on the easy track along the crystal clear La Fortuna river. En route, hop on a tractor cart uphill to a panoramic viewpoint. Spot the next location from a distance then begin the return walk down a jungle staircase. Halfway down is a high suspension bridge to cross. The trail leads further down the huge canyon, which was shaped by a volcanic mega-eruption. Encounter the spectacular La Fortuna waterfall. Be amazed by the lush vegetation on its 70-meter-high walls, the huge volcanic rocks at its foot, and the water splashing down in its massive pool. Bask in its beauty or even take a refreshing dip. Return to the viewpoint then walk down to the little village of the Maluku Indians. Seated in their Palenke (main house), enjoy a rest while listening to an interesting story about their culture, art, and history.  After being active for a few hours, the time has come to relax and enjoy a typical hot lunch. Next to the restaurant is a butterfly garden and frog pond that you can explore until your food is served.  Reenergized, take a 15-minute ride to the park at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Being the trek through the primary forest where you can see huge trees with giant roots. Besides a variety of birds, the forest is host to monkeys, sloths, and coati. Leave the forest and reach the highest viewpoint that exists around the volcano and absorb the most spectacular panoramic views of Lake Arenal, the jungle, the valley, the lava fields, and most of all the Arenal that towers over you.  Conclude your tour at the natural hot spring resort. Relax in its soothing warm water for about an hour and enjoy a complimentary cocktail. Afterward, you will be taken back to your accommodation.

San Jose: Central Market Bites and Sights Walking Tour

2. San Jose: Central Market Bites and Sights Walking Tour

Get up close and personal with Costa Rican life, through local food, history, and even the herbal remedies of folk medicine. Enjoy a hands-on lesson on exotic plants, fruits, and vegetables, and enjoy several local food samples on this guided tour. Stroll through the streets with a local as they show you the ins-and-outs of daily life. Start with a morning pick-me-up coffee in a café located in the Central Market. Then, take a stroll through the vibrant market, tasting local fresh fruits. Next, sample empanadas and continue along local roads towards the Borbon Market. Seeing diverse sites the Cathedral, National Theater, and the beautiful parks will help you get to know the country and its rich history. Finally, visit a special coffee store where you will find coffee and chocolates produced by women. Learn to prepare coffee, enjoy a tamal, and make plantain empanadas before concluding your tour.

San José: Guided Volcano, Waterfall & Coffee Farm Day Trip

3. San José: Guided Volcano, Waterfall & Coffee Farm Day Trip

Visit the Poás Volcano, the picturesque La Paz outdoor waterfall, and a coffee farm on a day trip from San José, Costa Rica. A wonderful choice for coffee aficionados and nature lovers alike, this tour includes a hotel pickup and lunch at a local restaurant. Enjoy a convenient pickup directly from your accommodation in San Jose and make your way to your first stop for the day, the Poás Volcano. Travel in an air-conditioned van and admire coffee plantations as well as flower and strawberry farms along the way. Poás is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanoes and last erupted in April 2017. The volcano and the surrounding park were closed for close to 17 months and a safety perimeter of nearly 2.5 kilometers was established around the erupting crater. At the volcano, you'll have time to enjoy the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles. Then, follow a trail to the Botos Lagoon, a crater lake located inside the Poás Volcano National Park. As you hike, learn about the different ecosystems in the park. After your trek, refuel with a delicious lunch of local fare at one of the restaurants in the area. Then, head out to your next destination, the La Paz Waterfall. Gaze at La Paz waterfall as you stroll along paved trails through cloud forests and rainforests. Make the most of excellent photo opportunitiesand see the falls from different vantage points on the outside. Then, head to your final stop for the day, the Hacienda coffee farm, the first and only Coffee farm. See the visitor center and learn what Coffee is doing to empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and develop the next generation of coffee. At the end of your Costa Rica adventure, enjoy a convenient transfer back to your hotel in San José.

San José: Arenal Volcano, Waterfalls, Coffee and Hot Springs

4. San José: Arenal Volcano, Waterfalls, Coffee and Hot Springs

Start your tour in the morning when you are picked up from your hotel in the San Jose area in an air-conditioned vehicle. Travel to Arenal on an alternative route that is more scenic than the regular highway to this popular destination. On the way, stop at a plantation where you will learn about the coffee of Costa Rica. Observe the coffee plants and see the workers picking the ripe cherries during the harvest season. Learn about this important product to the local economy and taste a freshly brewed cup of some of the best coffee in the world accompanied by traditional snacks. Continue the tour at the famous La Paz Waterfall. Stop at the San Fernando Waterfall look-out point and observe many exotic birds including toucans, hummingbirds, and many other colorful tropical species. Visit the iguana’s center, a place where you will see lots of iguanas at eye level resting on the top of numerous trees. Following this, arrive at the Town of La Fortuna, and enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch in a restaurant located at the base of the impressive Arenal Volcano. After lunch, visit various points around the volcano to take pictures of this amazing mountain on clear days. Next, participate in an indigenous presentation performed by native people from the Maleku Tribe, and learn about the native culture of Costa Ricans. Later, travel to the beautiful Paradise Hot Springs Resort and relax for a few hours in the multiple hot springs pools surrounded by lush tropical gardens. This hot springs facility is one of the best in the Arenal area and provides the perfect environment to relax in thermal mineral water pools, jacuzzis and cascading waterfalls. After this, go to a local typical restaurant to have a delicious Costa Rican dinner before you are taken back to your hotel in the San Jose area.

San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

5. San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

Departing from the nearby meeting point, visit the University of Costa Rica campus, home to some of the largest patches of forest in San Jose. Guided by young biologists, discover the nature hiding in the middle of Costa Rica's largest city. Experience wildlife you wouldn't have imagined existed minutes away from downtown.   On the first stop, you’ll look for resident and migratory birds, lots of incredible insects and amazing flowers. We'll be talking about art, history, indigenous culture, and most of all, nature. Lastly, visit the main campus to seek out the friendly sloths climbing freely. The goal of this tour is to change the way tourism is done in Costa Rica, while supporting young scientists, researchers, and local entrepreneurs.

From Timarouba: Sailing & Snorkeling w/Lunch & Drinks Ticket

6. From Timarouba: Sailing & Snorkeling w/Lunch & Drinks Ticket

Relax all afternoon on board a catamaran moored in the bay of Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste. Enjoy an open bar and lunch onboard, sunning trampolines, and equipment to snorkel, kayak, or paddle board.Begin your trip with pickup from the beach. Relax as the skiff delivers you to the decks of the catamaran. Gently travel over the crystal blue waters of the Bay of Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where the engine will be used sparingly for a peaceful afternoon on the water.Lay back at the sunning and lounging trampolines of the boat, or take advantage of the equipment on board, including snorkeling gear, kayaks, and paddle boards. Hop into the ocean for a swim, or duck underwater to take in the wildlife below.Next, enjoy a typical local lunch, prepared by a French chef de cuisine, and served on board the catamaran. Rinse off in the freshwater showers on board, then sip on drinks from the open bar. Lay back and take in the warm sun on the sunning trampolines, suspended over the water.Finally, begin the slow journey back to port while you take in the sunset over the waters.

Monteverde: Sky Walk, Sky Tram & Sky Trek Ziplining Tour

7. Monteverde: Sky Walk, Sky Tram & Sky Trek Ziplining Tour

Explore Monteverde in a new way by getting a new perspective on the forest through the Sky Walk, SKy Tram, and the Sky Trek system of zip lines to admire the forest from the air. Spot different flora and fauna from the air, and admire the cloud forest, Arenal Volcano, Miravelles, and Orosi Volcanoes. Begin the tour with the Sky Walk guided tour, which combines trails and suspension bridges of varying lengths and heights above the canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Enjoy the flora and fauna of the area while being immersed in the forest's canopy, and learn from a guide specializing in the forest. Next, enjoy the Sky Tram portion of the tour, and have the opportunity to ride through the forest with short stops to observe the forest's biodiversity, and spot Arenal, Tenorio, Miravilles, and Orosi Volcanoes, and admire the Nicoya Gulf and Guanacaste Plain if the weather permits. For the final portion of the tour, enjoy the Sky Trek system of zip lines, which combined cover over 2.5 miles of distance through the forest. Enjoy a unique experience of adventure and adrenaline with speeds up to 40 miles per hour and distances ranging up to 2500 feet and heights of 524 feet. Absorb the views from five different observation towers over the cloud forest's treetops offering a panoramic view of the surroundings. Try the Sky Trek Vertigo drop, perfect for anyone looking for an adrenaline-filled activity.

Monteverde: Curi-Cancha Reserve Tour with Entry Ticket

8. Monteverde: Curi-Cancha Reserve Tour with Entry Ticket

Go on a tour of the Curi-Cancha reserve in Monteverde. Get picked up from your hotel, and drive to the 83-hectare reserve. Start your tour with a local guide and see a variety of rare birds and unusual animals. Marvel at the views and take lots of photos. Get dropped back at your hotel at the end. Begin your hike and listen to your guide tell you all about the wildlife in the area. Keep your eyes peeled for rare birds, including the Resplendent Quetzal, the Three-Wattled Bellbird, the Blue-Crowned Motmot, and the Orange-bellied Trogon. Continue along 7 kilometers of natural trails and get to see the flora and fauna of the tropical forest. See if you can spot unusual wild animals, such as armadillos, coatis, and two-toed sloths and use the opportunity to take photos. Learn about the sustainable practices of the reserve. Marvel at impressive views of the mountains surrounding you. Get taken back to your hotel at the end of the tour.

Rafting Class 3-4 "Jungle Run": Río Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

9. Rafting Class 3-4 "Jungle Run": Río Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

Take an exciting break during your travels to your new vacation destination! Bring on the adrenaline and enjoy the "Jungle Run" on the Sarapiqui River. This is the perfect rafting trip for adventurous paddlers! Get piked up from your hotel and travel through small Costa Rican villages to the quaint town of San Miguel de Sarapiquí. There, your professional rafting guide will give you the 101 on rafting including safety tips and technical instructions before heading on your 2 hour journey down one of Costa Rica’s most exuberant rivers! During your descent down the river, you will experience over 30 exciting rapids along 10 km of lush, vibrant rainforest. As you make your way through exciting rapids like "The Pipeline," "The Terminator," and "Dos Locos", you will get your adrenaline pumping! About half way down the river, you’ll stop and watch the rapids from the shore, while enjoying refreshing tropical fruit and relaxing with the rest of the group. Then, after the second leg of your rafting journey, you’ll finish the day with an unforgettable homemade lunch before heading to your next vacation destination!

Monteverde: Horseback Riding Tour

10. Monteverde: Horseback Riding Tour

Explore the beautiful rural areas of Monteverde on a guided horseback riding tour. Get a sense of local life as you explore the area at a leisurely pace, with fantastic views. Enjoy a tour suitable for all levels of riding ability. Start with a pickup from your hotel in Monteverde or Santa Elena. Experience traditional Cost Rican culture and way of living as you ride along the trail. Observe scenery that is typical of Costa Rican customs and culture. Admire the views, majestic mountains, and grazing cattle. Enjoy the beauty of nature while riding through the forest, taking in the breathtaking views and the majestic mountains. As your tour comes to an end, enjoy a tour of the horse farm. Learn a bit more about the history of the ranch and the area with your guide.

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Frequently asked questions about Central Pacific Family-friendly activities

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What people are saying about Central Pacific

It was an amazing experience! Our guide Errol from Red Lava Tours was so kind and really good. We trekked through the rain forest on a beautiful trail, saw the vulcano at the view point and swimmed at the beautiful waterfall. We can highly recommend this tour!

I had an amazing time. Daniel took us to places we would never habe found on our own and he gave us a lot of information on the city on the way.

Make sure you go on empty stomach because you will eat A LOT! Angel is amazing and has a lot of knowledge and funny.

We loved this trip on our first day in Costa Rica. The Waterfall Gardens and animal sanctuary were lovely.

Excellent tour, very informative, highly recommend.