Costa Rica family trip-TA

[coastiewifern]

A bit OT……we are planning to go to Costa Rica March 2015 with a children aged 12 and 15. Although I have been to CR 3 times I have not been for 17 years over which time much development has taken place. We do not want to take an adventures by disney trip but use another company that would provide activities the kids would like. My kids want to zip line and white water raft. Of course they enjoy the beach and the wildlife and are excited about seeing monkeys in the wild. I think a stop in arenal would be awesome too. Anyone have a travel agent or company they used to set up a great trip?

 

[Sam's_Mom]

We went to Costa Rica last summer for 2 weeks with our kids 18, 16, 9. We made our own arrangements. It was easy to do without a TA. I have the name of a very good private transport company if you would like. We flew into Liberia, had a driver take us to Arenal stayed there for a week and then had the driver take us to the Pacific Coast for an additional week before flying out.

It is a wonderful country, very easy to do by yourself. You can use American dollars and most people in the tourist areas speak English.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We ended up going to Europe instead of Costa Rica, but we were working with Costa Rica Expeditions and will likely use them when we do make it to Costa Rica. They have a website and you can choose your budget and the activities you want to do and they will put the trip together for you. I can't remember if they were recommended by a friend or if I did a search on the DIS and saw their name.

They get great reviews on Trip Advisor, and we were happy with the service. We just decided to do Europe instead and do Costa Rica another time.

 

[Anne34]

We ended up going to Europe instead of Costa Rica, but we were working with Costa Rica Expeditions and will likely use them when we do make it to Costa Rica. They have a website and you can choose your budget and the activities you want to do and they will put the trip together for you. I can't remember if they were recommended by a friend or if I did a search on the DIS and saw their name.

They get great reviews on Trip Advisor, and we were happy with the service. We just decided to do Europe instead and do Costa Rica another time.

We used a company we found on trip Advisor also. It was called Anywhere Costa Rica. I did all my planning with them through their website and email. They gave many options for hotels, we included transport from airport to Arenal then to Manuel Antonio and back to the airport. Always on time and very courteous. We picked the activities we wanted and they booked for us. We paid a small deposit and final payment 30 days prior on our credit card. Can't say enough good things about them.

 

[dakcp2001]

I've been many times. My most recent trip was May 2011. I was sad to see that Tamarindo, which used to be a cute little beach town, has been overbuilt and turned into a tourist trap. We LOVE Arenal, and I highly recommend you spend some time there. We wished we had stayed there longer. There were waterfalls to hike to and the hot springs were so much fun! We spent one night at THe Springs resort, and it was amazing! Expensive! But the best day of our trip, by far.


http://www.arenal.net/hotel/the-springs-resort-and-spa/

Many years ago we enjoyed Tabacon resort for one night and later learned you could get a day pass to use the hot springs, much more affordable, but that was 2003 so I haven't been recently and have no idea if they kept it up nicely or not.

 

[coastiewifern]

I've been many times. My most recent trip was May 2011. I was sad to see that Tamarindo, which used to be a cute little beach town, has been overbuilt and turned into a tourist trap. We LOVE Arenal, and I highly recommend you spend some time there. We wished we had stayed there longer. There were waterfalls to hike to and the hot springs were so much fun! We spent one night at THe Springs resort, and it was amazing! Expensive! But the best day of our trip, by far.


http://www.arenal.net/hotel/the-springs-resort-and-spa/

Many years ago we enjoyed Tabacon resort for one night and later learned you could get a day pass to use the hot springs, much more affordable, but that was 2003 so I haven't been recently and have no idea if they kept it up nicely or not.

Tamarindo is where we used to vacation 16-20 years ago. There were only a few hotels at the time and most were mom and pop places. My father loved Tamarindo so much that when he died we spread his ashes off the coast in Tamarindo. I think it would make me sad to see it now so changed.

 

[platamama]

We went in May last year for our first time to Costa Rica, and I made all the arrangements myself. Very easy to do. Anywhere Costa Rica was excellent for transportation, but I made my own hotel arrangements. Partly on hotels.com and I did buy a Living Social hotel deal. I found a lot of information in Fodors online forum for Mexico & Central America. And Tripadvisor.

Arenal and Manuel Antonio were our main spots with lots of activities for you and your kids. We did an ATV tour through Original Arenal ATV and that was excellent. We also did a tour + "volunteered" at Proyecto Asis, which is neat if you have animal lovers in your family. In Manuel Antonio, we had the best experience on our trip (who am I kidding, EVER in my life!!!) doing the 10-in-1 tour with Amigos Del Rio (ADR).

I did try my Spanish there, but frankly their English far surpassed my high school Spanish and most everyone who is in the tourism industry speaks English.

Have a great time, we loved it there and look forward to returning one day!

 

[dahrjo]

How are the prices in Costa Rica? Does it end up being extremely costly?
Has anyone been in July?

 

[lurkernj]

We went last July for 10 days. Our boys were 15 and 18. I planned it myself.

We flew into San jose, got transporation to Manuel Antonio and stayed at Tulemar (highly recommend, but it was a little pricey, check it out on Tripadvisor) for 5 nights. Lots of monkeys and sloths, and some other stuff (koati, iguanas). There's a nice beach there also and it's not far from the park. We did the ADR all in one adventure (a little too adventurous for me but guys all liked it). Guys also went out inshore fishing with a private boat and had a blast. At Tulemar, you also get a private concierge who drove us to the store and ATM, and could help with any questions/planning before and during our trip.

We went to Tortuguero for 3 nights(two would have been enough) afterwards which is extremely rustic, but amazing wildlife (saw sea turtles come out of the ocean and lay eggs), tons of giant iguanas, monkeys, rediculously large bugs.

There does seem to be some great areas that we didn't get to see on that trip, but everything was so far apart that we just focused on two (and San jose as a stopover point)

I wasn't comfortable driving there so I found a driver on tripadvisor who was great. He drove us to each location when we relocated. Though I've read many people have no issue and are very comfortable renting a car.

This was a pretty expensive trip for us, we usually try to keep trips around $4k all in, but this was DS18 graduation trip and he chose Costa Rica. Subtracting out the airfare(that was about $2k but will be different depending on where you are coming from), I think we spent about $6k for all lodging, driver, meals(including hiring a private chef one night), excursions.

 

[Soulsearching]

A bit OT……we are planning to go to Costa Rica March 2015 with a children aged 12 and 15. Although I have been to CR 3 times I have not been for 17 years over which time much development has taken place. We do not want to take an adventures by disney trip but use another company that would provide activities the kids would like. My kids want to zip line and white water raft. Of course they enjoy the beach and the wildlife and are excited about seeing monkeys in the wild. I think a stop in arenal would be awesome too. Anyone have a travel agent or company they used to set up a great trip?

 

[katie111]

We went last year with our 3 kids ages 5, 9, & 10. It was incredible. Definitely our best trip ever. We did not use a travel agency. We simply rented a car before we left home & booked our hotels. Once we were there, we booked all the activities that we wanted to do. We spent 5 nights in Arenal & 5 nights in Puerto Viejo. We could have easily spent a couple more nights in Arenal. We stayed at Los Lagos Hotel. It was awesome. The view of the volcano was incredible. Pools were also amazing. There were multiple pools, waterslides, swim up pool bar & hot springs. With breakfast included I think we paid about $160 a night. Room was somewhat basic but large & clean. We did waterfall rappelling, ziplining, a hike to a waterfall, swimming & rope-swinging at a local watering hole, the hanging bridges, and a day at the Springs hotel where we did river tubing & used the hot springs. The waterfall rapelling was definitely our favorite activity. In Puerto Viejo we went to an animal sanctuary (you can go in a cage & moneys will climb all over you), snorkeled, went to the beach, and did an awesome hike in a National Park.

It was such an fantastic vacation. The people on CR are so lovely and friendly and we never felt unsafe. I definitely don't think I would bother with a tour as everyone speaks english and everything is so easy to book once you are there.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We went last July for 10 days. Our boys were 15 and 18. I planned it myself.

We flew into San jose, got transporation to Manuel Antonio and stayed at Tulemar (highly recommend, but it was a little pricey, check it out on Tripadvisor) for 5 nights. Lots of monkeys and sloths, and some other stuff (koati, iguanas). There's a nice beach there also and it's not far from the park. We did the ADR all in one adventure (a little too adventurous for me but guys all liked it). Guys also went out inshore fishing with a private boat and had a blast. At Tulemar, you also get a private concierge who drove us to the store and ATM, and could help with any questions/planning before and during our trip.

We went to Tortuguero for 3 nights(two would have been enough) afterwards which is extremely rustic, but amazing wildlife (saw sea turtles come out of the ocean and lay eggs), tons of giant iguanas, monkeys, rediculously large bugs.

There does seem to be some great areas that we didn't get to see on that trip, but everything was so far apart that we just focused on two (and San jose as a stopover point)

I wasn't comfortable driving there so I found a driver on tripadvisor who was great. He drove us to each location when we relocated. Though I've read many people have no issue and are very comfortable renting a car.

This was a pretty expensive trip for us, we usually try to keep trips around $4k all in, but this was DS18 graduation trip and he chose Costa Rica. Subtracting out the airfare(that was about $2k but will be different depending on where you are coming from), I think we spent about $6k for all lodging, driver, meals(including hiring a private chef one night), excursions.

How was your weather there? Dh has been wanting to go for years but I heard summer is their rainy season. When I look it up on weather.com it's REALLY rainy from May to Nov. We don't have to go in summer; we could also do the first week of Nov but that was also rainy season. Now ds17 will be a senior and we can't do this Nov so it will have to be summer if we decide to do it as a family.
I've heard so many great things about CR from a coworker who has been around 4x. She loves zip lining and has done an upside down zip line too. (In her 50s!)

 

[lurkernj]

How was your weather there? Dh has been wanting to go for years but I heard summer is their rainy season. When I look it up on weather.com it's REALLY rainy from May to Nov. We don't have to go in summer; we could also do the first week of Nov but that was also rainy season. Now ds17 will be a senior and we can't do this Nov so it will have to be summer if we decide to do it as a family.
I've heard so many great things about CR from a coworker who has been around 4x. She loves zip lining and has done an upside down zip line too. (In her 50s!)

The weather in Manuel Antonio was pretty good, we had some rain in the afternoon/overnights, but had great weather every morning and early afternoon. We spent a lot of time at the beach/pools and it was great, we just planned to be back at the villa around 3(which was around when the monkeys would visit anyway). It would rain for a little while then stop, and that wasn't everyday.

Tortuguero was a bit more rainy, but not continual. I wouldn't let the rain stop you from going. Costa rica was beautiful and the people were so friendly.

 

[JusbKoz]

We was thinking of taking a trip in November. I was trying to see about flights. What airline did everyone use and where is a good port to fly out of Houston? Tampa?

 

[lurkernj]

We was thinking of taking a trip in November. I was trying to see about flights. What airline did everyone use and where is a good port to fly out of Houston? Tampa?

We used United. I'd just go with whoever can get you there direct and cheapest. I think we paid about $550 from New Jersey. You should have some decent options from Texas.

 

[vleeth]

Is Arenal no longer 'flowing'. We were there for our honeymoon (12 years in June) and it was so nice to watch the lava flow at night.

 

[rnorwo1]

For those who have been already, what is the minimum age you would recommend? I am dying to go, but my youngest just turned 5. We definitely want to go kayaking and rafting... Would 6 still be too young for that kind of stuff? How old would they have to be to zip line? He's very adventurous, but he's tiny... Don't want him to be disappointed or hurt!

 

[vleeth]

I don't know how old you have to be (according to the tour company.)

But I will tell you that we went on a zip line tour close to Arenal. I am about 4 ft 10 in. At one point I had to be unattached from the safety and lifted by the tour operator to attach me to the zip line. I wasn't tall enough for it to reach properly.

 

[rnorwo1]

I don't know how old you have to be (according to the tour company.)

But I will tell you that we went on a zip line tour close to Arenal. I am about 4 ft 10 in. At one point I had to be unattached from the safety and lifted by the tour operator to attach me to the zip line. I wasn't tall enough for it to reach properly.

Oh, wow! I looked on A website that was mentioned above, and it didn't have a minimum age, but I think I'll wait a bit longer!

 

[katie111]

or those who have been already, what is the minimum age you would recommend? I am dying to go, but my youngest just turned 5. We definitely want to go kayaking and rafting... Would 6 still be too young for that kind of stuff? How old would they have to be to zip line? He's very adventurous, but he's tiny... Don't want him to be disappointed or hurt!

Our youngest was 4 and had his birthday on our trip, turning 5. He is very small for his age. The tour companies are great about accommodating kids. He ziplined with a guide & absolutely loved it. We did a tubing trip at the Springs hotel and they took him in an inflatable kayak with the guides because he was nervous to be on his own tube. The only thing he couldn't do was the waterfall rapelling. Not because of his age, but because he had a feeding tube in his stomach and they were afraid the harness would catch on it. They gave us a guide to go through the jungle with and my husband and I just switched off on each of the rappels. Overall, they are so great about dealing with young kids.

I think the only issue you might have is river rafting. I know a lot of the rafting is pretty challenging, so much of it has an age limit of 12 I think. However, there is so much for kids to do in CR that I wouldn't let that deter you from taking a younger child. My only hesitation would be if they are not adventurous kids. My kids seem to have no fear so they love adventure trips. (unlike me, who has a lot of fears!)