Rainforest thrills & a little family indulgence
When to go
November-August
Trip length
7 days / 6 nights
Typical investmentPrice
from $7,500 pp
Explore Costa Rica’s rainforest and Pacific coast on a family escape filled with adventure and beautiful places to retreat. Begin in Arenal, where your family tent and private plunge pool overlook the jungle. Fly through the canopy by zip line, rappel waterfalls, and search for nocturnal wildlife on a private night walk. Continue to Manuel Antonio for mangrove kayaking, a private catamaran cruise, and a guided national park visit in search of monkeys, sloths, and birds. Between adventures, enjoy pool time and beautiful beaches. Seven days of tropical exploring, with plenty of family comfort along the way.
Along the way
Track sloths and monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park
Rappel rainforest waterfalls & zipline through the treetops
Blissful beach downtime
Kayak mangroves and Pacific Coast
Your route
Volcanic highlands
Touch down in San José and meet your private driver for the journey to Arenal. Check into your luxurious family tent, complete with jungle views and a private plunge pool. Spend the afternoon swimming, wandering leafy trails, or watching for your first toucan in the treetops.
Join a shared zip line adventure, gliding high above Arenal’s rainforest canopy with wide views along the way. After dark, head out with your private guide for a night walk, searching for tree frogs, kinkajous, and other nocturnal wildlife. A very different side of the jungle to explore together.
Head into Arenal’s rainforest for a shared waterfall rappelling adventure. Descend mossy cliffs and enjoy the rush of exploring the canyon with your guides. Spend the afternoon relaxing in your plunge pool, enjoying a smoothie, or wandering your retreat’s suspension bridges in search of wildlife.
Rainforest meets sea
Travel privately to Manuel Antonio and check into your luxurious family suite above the Pacific. Spend the afternoon enjoying the beach or exploring shaded trails in search of iguanas and other wildlife. Your next days belong to rainforest shores and warm ocean breezes.
Paddle mangrove waterways with your naturalist guide, searching for birds, monkeys, and reptiles among tangled roots and low branches. Return for some downtime at your retreat before boarding a private catamaran for a sunset cruise. After dark, the planned snorkeling excursion offers a chance to see bioluminescence shimmer beneath the surface, when conditions allow.
Explore Manuel Antonio National Park with your private naturalist guide, watching for sloths, monkeys, and birds along tropical trails. Then, enjoy time on the park’s beautiful beaches, where turquoise water meets white sand fringed by jungle. A lovely day discovering Costa Rica together.
Enjoy a final oceanside breakfast before meeting your private driver for the journey to San José and your onward travels. Bid farewell to rainforest adventures and beautiful Pacific shores.
Let's discover your next adventure
Our top picks
Nayara Tented Camp overlooks the rainforest with elevated platforms and sweeping views of Arenal Volcano. Spacious tents feature private pools and quiet decks washed in birdsong. Highlights are excellent onsite dining & the award-winning spa.
Arenas del Mar occupies one of the few rainforest properties in Manuel Antonio with direct access to two beaches. Rooms are set among the trees where monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws are regular visitors. Trails link the accommodations to the shoreline, allowing guests to alternate between the forest and the Pacific.
Occupying a narrow peninsula between two sheltered beaches, Four Seasons Costa Rica is surrounded by calm water, dry tropical forest, and sweeping views across the Gulf of Papagayo. Guest rooms, suites, and private residences are spread across the hillside, with beaches, restaurants, golf, and the marina all close by. Wildlife is part of everyday life here, with monkeys, coatis, and scarlet macaws regularly seen around the property.
Hidden in the rainforest between La Fortuna and Costa Rica's Central Highlands, Chachagua spreads its rooms and villas across a private reserve of forest, gardens, and natural hot springs. Wildlife is common throughout the property, with toucans, monkeys, and sloths regularly spotted near the accommodations. La Fortuna is about 20 minutes away, leaving evenings noticeably quieter than staying in town.
Thirty-three acres of forested hillside descend to Tulemar's private beach, one of the few in Manuel Antonio reserved exclusively for resort guests. Villas, bungalows, and private residences are set in the canopy, where monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws are seen almost daily. The variety of accommodations also makes Tulemar one of the area's most flexible choices for families and multi-generational groups.
Nayara Gardens was the first of the three Nayara properties, and its mature tropical landscaping still gives it the most established feel. Casitas are hidden among dense gardens beneath Arenal Volcano, with restaurants, pools, and hanging bridges linking the wider resort. Guests also have access to the facilities at Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp.
A naturally heated river flows through the heart of Tabacón, feeding a series of thermal pools and waterfalls beneath Arenal Volcano. The resort's 105 rooms and suites sit apart from the hot springs, allowing the rainforest to remain the focus of the property. The thermal river emerges naturally from the volcano, flowing through the gardens before continuing downstream.
Nekajui occupies one of the most dramatic stretches of Peninsula Papagayo, where forested cliffs descend to quiet coves along the Pacific coast. Rooms, suites, and private residences step down the hillside beneath a preserved forest canopy, with broad views across the Gulf of Papagayo. Guests also have access to the peninsula's beaches, marina, Arnold Palmer golf course, and more than 11 miles of hiking and biking trails.
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