Costa Rica Family Escape

• Travel by minibus, boat and on foot
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader
• 7 nights comfortable hotels

Costa Rica is located 10º north of the equator and has an almost perfect tropical climate. The average temperature is 12ºC – 22ºC in the highlands, and from 22ºC - 27ºC in the lowlands. There is a rainy season from May to November when there are daily downpours, though these are usually quite short and there is still plenty of bright sunshine, so the midsummer is not necessarily a bad time to go. December to April is the driest time of the year but you should still expect some rain. Many areas visited on the trip are hot and humid throughout the year.

Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate) This holiday has been designed for teenagers aged 13 - 16, but is also suitable for children aged 9 - 12. Our family activity levels are aimed at children in the primary or ‘Designed for’ age group. We are confident it is also suitable for those in the ‘Also for’ age range, however please note if your child is in this secondary category they may find it a little tougher. Please see the family activity levels on our website for further information. When grading our trips we consider multiple factors, the pace

how busy an itinerary is

and the level of activity involved. Then there’s the amount of time a family will spend travelling and the weather is an important factor too. Reaching Costa Rica will involve approximately 11 hours of air travel (or 14+ if you travel on indirect flights) and when you get there it can be hot and humid, which can be tiring. This holiday aims to show you the best of Costa Rica using a mixture of buses and boats. Whilst the driving distances are not huge and most roads are good, some sections are of poor quality/pot holed, which can result in slower driving times. Most drives are not longer than 4 hours and all drives will be broken up with regular stops. On some travel days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise the time at our next destination. There are some dangerous insects and snakes present in the jungle, although incidents are extremely rare. Advice from the guide must be heeded at all times – it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children listen to the guide and don’t stray from paths. The trip involves a walk to reach La Fortuna Waterfall that has some steep steps. There are also several included activities, such as whitewater rafting and a zip wire canopy tour: experience of these activities is not required as a full safety briefing will be covered at the start, and all necessary equipment will be provided. Please be aware that some activities may be changed as a result of the weather. All of the accommodation is comfortable with private bathrooms and everywhere has air conditioning apart from the lodge in Monteverde. For further details please see the accommodation section below.