Tag Archives: family adventure

Costa Rica Adventure Vacations – How to Travel RIGHT NOW

Costa Rica Adventure Vacations reopened its borders to the rest of the world on November 1, facilitating the rehabilitation of the country’s tourism sector. Although the COVID-19 is far from over, anywhere, people’s resolve to live ‘around’ the pandemic, safely, is stronger now than it’s ever been. Of course, since the introduction of multiple vaccine options, the situation is becoming increasingly more manageable.

Naturally, you can expect there to be some entry requirements and a few essential restrictions – these have mostly to do with social distancing measures and mask-wearing in public indoor spaces. But, by and large, you are welcome to come to visit this exceptionally beautiful country RIGHT NOW.

Why now, you ask?

Because we are entering the very best travel season of the year!

The months between January and April promise bright blue skies, luscious forests and jungle, an abundance of wildlife and adventures galore. Our wonderful whitewater rivers are prime for rafting and kayaking, the mountains and volcanoes excellent for hiking and those crystalline waters enticing for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Ready to schedule your unique vacation?  Let’s go!

How can I fly to Costa Rica RIGHT NOW?

Costa Rica has two major international airports: the centrally located San Jose (capital city) and the northern Liberia International Airport, which is convenient for visiting Puntarenas and the northern Pacific beaches.

These are the airlines currently offering return flights to Costa Rica RIGHT NOW:

  • Air Mexico
  • Air Canada
  • Air France
  • Alaska Airlines
  • American Airlines
  • Avianca
  • Copa
  • Delta
  • Lufthansa
  • Edelweiss
  • Iberia
  • Jet Blue
  • KLM
  • MN Airlines
  • Spirit Airlines
  • Thomson Airways
  • United Airlines
  • Volaris Costa Rica
  • Westjet

Your trusted travel agent will advise you on the best connections depending on your place of origin.

Ready to schedule your unique vacation?  Let’s go!

What are Costa Rica’s entry requirements RIGHT NOW?

To be allowed entry to Costa Rica, all visitors must fill in an Online Health Form and purchase comprehensive health insurance that explicitly covers COVID-19, as demanded by the local government. Sagicor is a respected local insurance company that’s authorized by the Costa Rican Government but there are others too. Remember that most of the ‘usual’ travel insurance companies just don’t make the cut so make sure you go with a company that does.

Also, note that your allowed length of stay in Costa Rica is (for the time being) tied to your travel insurance policy. You cannot extend your visa in the country and, if you wanted to stay longer, you will need to exit Costa Rica, purchase another travel insurance policy and re-enter.

To enter Costa Rica, you must hold a valid passport AND a return ticket out of the country, within 3 months of entry. Yes, even US citizens.

For more detailed and updated info, please refer to the official Costa Rica Tourism Website. This can change quickly, as you might know, so it’s good to keep abreast of the latest happenings.

You will no longer need to do a COVID-19 test before arriving and you will not need to quarantine once you arrive.

DO NOTE your own State/County/Country’s requirements for returning home because they may well demand you take a COVID-19 test before flying back. If you’re coming on one of our tours, we can help you sort out all this once you’re here, don’t worry.

Ready to schedule your unique vacation?  Let’s go!

What travel restrictions are there IN Costa Rica RIGHT NOW?

Mask wearing is mandatory throughout the country in certain circumstances and you probably already know what these are, right? Yes, all indoor public spaces and outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained for whatever reason. Pretty simple, really.

It might also comfort you to know that Ticos embraced mask-wearing from the get-go. This is undoubtedly what has helped the country face and combat the pandemic so well. Ticos see the wearing of a mask as an altruistic sacrifice and everyone is more than happy to wear them if it’s to keep the most vulnerable of people int heir country safe and to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

As such, you’ll see locals wearing masks a lot more in Costa Rica than anywhere else. They even wear them outdoors and in uncrowded places if they feel they should. Fines for non-compliance are steep and tourists are certainly not exempt so understand this before you plan your trip.

Many hotels, eco-lodges and ever excursion companies have taken to taking guests’ temperatures so this is also something you should expect. Also expect high levels and frequency of disinfection in all public and private-owned spaces, vehicles and so forth. A marvelous new addition has been the installing of outdoor sinks in all sorts of places (from offices to restaurants etc) that allow you to dutifully wash your hands before touching doorknobs and handles.

Costa Rica’s national parks introduced a cap on the number of daily visitors allowed. Most are running at 50% capacity although all hiking trails and adventure activities are open for business. This means that during this quite idyllic tourist season – you get HALF the crowds and DOUBLE the fun. If you’ve enjoyed a Costa Rica Rios adventure vacation in the past, you will know that we meticulously plan our day’s outings to dodge tourist crowds at this time of year. Well, come play with us RIGHT NOW and we won’t have to – you’ll feel like you have the who country to yourself. Magic!

The bottom line: Costa Rica had a swift and harsh response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s not about to let that slip. Ticos suffered through some of the strictest restrictions of anyone, anywhere. They’ve done a fantastic job in keeping infection and death number impressively low and the whole country would appreciate all tourists complying.

THIS is what will make YOU feel safe and comforted on your Costa Rica adventure vacation!

Ready to schedule your unique vacation?  Let’s go!

What can you do in Costa Rica RIGHT NOW?

Just about everything! While we continue to hold off on our group tours, for now, we are honing in on bespoke private tours that are tailored to our guests’ wishes and budget. This means you get all the fun and adventures as always, except you get to enjoy a PRIVATE tour with your loved ones only. Follow our established (tried & tested) itineraries if you’d like a hassle-free plan or feel free to tell us everything you like, dream and wish to do and we’ll plan a unique itinerary just for you.

Really. It’s all THAT simple.

Here’s what one of our treasured guests had to say about their recent adventure vacation with us here at Costa Rica Rios:

Costa Rica reviewReady to plan your unique vacation?  Let’s go!

US & Canada: 888 434-0776 | UK: 0800 612 8718 | International: +1 920 434-7485

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Costa Rica with Kids? The Most Rewarding Family Vacation You Could Have!

Costa Rica kid friendly resortCosta Rica and vacations with kids are a match made in perfect, tropical heaven. Thanks to the awesome infrastructure, child-loving culture, an array of fun family festivals, and popular family friendly resorts (among dozens of reasons) Costa Rica is fast becoming one of the most ideal destinations for unique family vacations close to home. There really aren’t many places you can reach, within a few hours by plane, that offers this many bonuses.

Yet at the end of the day, the number one reason families love to head down to Costa Rica for some together-time is because this country offers a bevy of attractions aimed at people of all ages who want to actually be together. Yes, you could head to some other tropical country, stick the littlies in the kids’ club and enjoy a separate vacation. Or you could have the time of your life, together.

Want to know how to entertain kids of all ages (without boring the pants off of parents)  and come home with unforgettable memories of a rewarding vacation?

Here’s how!

Take Lessons…and Discover What You Didn’t Know you Love

Costa Rica stand up paddlingFrom stand-up paddling on Lake Arenal to sea kayaking in the Tortuguero National Park, snorkeling in the pristine waters off the Manuel Antonio National Park, and surfing in one of the hundreds of spectacular beaches, the options for learning a new skill together, in Costa Rica, and nearly endless.

Test your balancing skills, let your 5yo show you how it’s done, show off your own untapped skills, and have a blast while learning and being together. Of all the activities we organize for our family adventure vacation guests, ‘group lessons’ are rated by all as the most rewarding and fun. And it’s not hard to see why. It is the one time where usually a parent’s age and size is to no advantage, and activities where kids feel ‘on an even keel’ with their folks make them feel empowered and validated. It also helps that in most cases, kids totally blitz learning a new skill!

Indulge in Active Family Pursuits

Costa Rica family mountain bikingKeeping the kids active and healthy is undoubtedly the prime objective of most parents. Yet many forget that the most effective method for keeping kids off the lounge – and away from the iPad – is through leading by example. In Costa Rica, being active doesn’t mean jumping on a treadmill for an hour.

It means hiking through pristine forests and visiting remote local villages, mountain biking through verdant valleys, horseback riding on a beach at sunset and zip-lining through the canopy on an ancient rain forest with your heart firmly planted in your throat. Getting active with your kids is not just a healthy choice, but in Costa Rica, about as much fun as you can all have together. Get that adrenalin pumping, show the kids how much more fun nature is when compared with computer games, and create lifelong memories you’ll all cherish forever.

Develop Love and Respect for the Nature

Costa Rica family nature hikeYou’ll never know if your child is a budding biologist until you seem him/her completely enthralled in the amazing ecosystems of Costa Rica. This is something we see, time and again. From an unknown passion for frogs to an obsession for insects and snakes (gasp!), or an aptitude for remembering names of unique flowers, kids have an amazing and inherent connection to nature.

Actually, we all do: yet as adults, we tend to lose this connection. So why not indulge in a superb reminder? In Costa Rica, you can visit turtle sanctuaries, go on wildlife spotting adventures, hike to find the next amazing waterfall in which to dive-bomb and spend hours playing in hot springs, Mother Nature’s most entertaining water parks. Stay in a lodge in the heart Manuel Antonio and watch with delight as the kids wake up to the calls of howler monkeys. Take a guided walk through the forest to spot iguanas camouflaging in the foliage and, as you set up a picnic lunch on a pristine beach, giggle with delight as squirrel monkeys race your kids for the foodie treats.

Teach Kids How to Preserve Nature – and BE the Difference

For a truly unique outing, include a visit to the Children’s Eternal Rain forest in Monteverde, a simply breathtaking protected reserve which was the brainchild of an intrepid and entrepreneurial 9-year-old. Because going to the zoo may be fun…but experiencing a true Garden of Eden is something no family should ever miss.

Costa Rica is arguably the most eco-friendly country on the planet, and if that matters to you, a vacation here will instill some newfound respect in your whole family for the Earth on which we live. This country is home to countless wilderness and wildlife preservation organizations, many of which you can visit. You can learn about the incredible fragile nesting rituals of turtles, about how humanity impacts on pristine forests and how our personal behavior amounts to colossal environmental bearing, even thousands of miles away. Your kids will see the world through completely altered eyes. And you will too. Teach them to connect the preservation of our planet with the simple things they do at home (like leaving lights on in their room, throwing out recyclable gear and using more detergent and fresh water than they need) and you may find a family vacation in Costa Rica a most enlightening and even life-changing experience.

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Most Popular Family-Friendly Resorts in Costa Rica

Costa Rica family vacationIt may seem as if the Christmas holidays were just 5 minutes ago but, before you know, the next school holiday will be at your doorstep. Want to plan an incredible family vacation that is bound to earn you double-brownie points with the kids?

Then look no further than Costa Rica…one of the most affordable, unforgettable and family-friendly destinations this side of the Panama Canal!

Here are just a few of the best family-friendly resorts in Costa Rica:

Westin Golf Resort, Playa Conchal

Westin Golf ResortThe Westin is like a bigger, slightly more deluxe version of the Secrets and, for this reason, costs a little more too. Yet its beach is absolutely pristine and is arguably the main reason some families choose it over the Secrets, extra fees notwithstanding.

The Westin Kids Club is phenomenal and runs a great kids’ program that’ll entice kids between the ages of 4 and 12. There are outdoor and indoor play areas, plenty of arts and crafts in which to indulge their young minds, and kids are free to enjoy the club as any hours as they wish. What’s more, exciting outings are also organized by the experienced and professional teams, so your kids will not just be in great hands, but will also have an absolute blast. Included in the cost of your stay – yet another benefit of an all-inclusive family resort – your biggest challenge will be tearing the kids away from the club. Meanwhile, you have a sparkling freshwater pool, 18-hole golf course, breath-taking stretch of beach, great spa and fitness studio in which to indulge. It’s a win-win!

Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Corcovado

Lapa Rios EcolodgeOn the absolute opposite end of the spectrum 0- in essence, not style – is where you’ll find the Lapa Rios Ecolodge, a simply divine resort that’s tailor-made for discerning families who love nothing more than to spend time together in pristine wilderness. There are no TVs here, no phones, no internet, not even air-conditioning. Just you, your family, and the amazing nature for which Costa Rica is so renowned.

Rated by National Geographic as one of the most unique accommodation choices in the world, Lapas may not come cheap, but when a resort such as this – with inspiring bungalows set on 1,000 acres of outstanding forest, in the heart of the Osa Peninsula and brimming with wildlife – a stay here promises to be quite the unforgettable adventure. After watching your kids play with the resident toucan at breakfast time, you may well surmise the experience to be a totally priceless one, after all. Visit in Green Season (May to October) for the best deals and do remember that rates are all-inclusive here too.

Tulemar Bungalows and Villas, Manuel Antonio

Tulemar Bungalows and VillasTulemar continues to top all the lists of ‘best family-friendly resort in Costa Rica’ and for very valid reasons. What’s not to love? Several families travelling together can enjoy interconnecting rooms, the compound is large enough for kids to get ‘lost in’ but superbly secure so you know they just can’t get into any mischief.

There’s a private beach, a stunning jungle, activities galore, plenty of hiking and active stuff (to wear them out!) and even macaws, toucans and sloths happily living in the property. At Tulemar, it’s like the best of Costa Rica comes straight to you, and is the primary reason its popularity continues, year after year. You won’t just find happy kids here, but plenty of happy parents too. With those views…who could blame them? The unique aspect of Tulemar is that, unlike all the others, this is not a resort per say, but a residential complex with the added service you’d normally find in a hotel. You have a choice of accommodation and price ranges, and plenty of wonderful staff to help make your stay a memorable affair.