A one-week itinerary balancing rainforest hikes and hot springs with Pacific coast beaches and wildlife.
This trip covers the classic Costa Rica split: half jungle and volcano, half Pacific beach. It is designed for families who want to see sloths and monkeys in their natural habitat without the stress of renting a car and navigating steep mountain roads.
The logistics are straightforward but rely on professional help. You fly into San José (SJO) and head north to La Fortuna. After three nights exploring the canopy, you drive down to Manuel Antonio on the coast, breaking up the long drive with a stop to see massive wild crocodiles.
By booking private drivers for the city-to-city segments, you skip the rental car deposits and white-knuckle driving. Instead, you get a local driver who knows exactly where the clean bathrooms are and will happily pull over for a roadside coconut.
You fly into San José (SJO). The outbound flight from Dallas (DFW) is a Viva Aerobus connection through Monterrey (VB 683 and VB 704), which is a long travel day taking 10 hours and 45 minutes and landing late at 1:20 AM. The return is much easier: a direct 4-hour, 40-minute flight on American Airlines (AA 1080) leaving SJO at 3:04 PM and landing in DFW at 7:44 PM.
| Leg | Flight | Route | Times (local) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | VB 683 | DFW → MTY | 14:35 → 16:20 | 1h 45m |
| MTY → SJO | VB 704 | MTY → SJO | 21:50 → 01:20+1 | 3h 30m |
| Return | AA 1080 | SJO → DFW | 15:04 → 19:44 | 4h 40m |
La Fortuna is the adventure capital of Costa Rica, anchored by the massive Arenal Volcano. The town itself is heavily geared toward tourism, but the surrounding rainforest is where you will spend your time. Days start early here to beat the heat and the frequent afternoon rain showers.
You will walk the suspension bridges at Mistico, zipline down the mountain at Sky Trek, and hike down 500 steps to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Hire local guides for the nature walks. They carry spotting scopes and will actually find the snakes, frogs, and sloths you would otherwise walk right past.
Arrival & Jungle Acclimation
Arrive in San José and take a private transfer directly to your La Fortuna hotel.
Volcano Views & Canopy Heights
Walk the Mistico hanging bridges in the morning, then zipline down the mountain.
Waterfalls & Wildlife
Spot sloths on the Bogarin Trail before hiking down to the La Fortuna Waterfall.
Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort is the best overall pick at $339 a night, offering 11 pools and its own hot springs. If you want something slightly more upscale for the family, Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs Resort is $452 a night. For a massive splurge, The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal runs $1,412 a night and features panoramic volcano views and five restaurants.
Manuel Antonio is defined by its national park, where dense rainforest drops directly onto white-sand beaches. The drive from La Fortuna takes about 6 hours, but you break it up by stopping at the Tarcoles River bridge to look down at massive American crocodiles basking on the muddy banks.
On the coast, you trade hot springs for the ocean. You will take a morning catamaran cruise, learn to surf at Playa Espadilla, and walk through the national park. Keep a very close eye on your bags at the beach, as the resident raccoons and monkeys will steal your lunch the second you look away.
Road Trip to the Pacific
Drive to the coast, stopping to see the Tarcoles crocodiles, and watch the sunset at El Avion.
National Park & Monkeys
Tour Manuel Antonio National Park early, then spend the afternoon on its protected beach.
Catamaran & Snorkeling
Take a morning catamaran cruise with snorkeling, followed by dinner at Marina Pez Vela.
Surf & Sand
Take a family surf lesson at Playa Espadilla and enjoy a final afternoon on the sand.
Hotel Costa Verde is the top pick here at $333 a night, featuring rooms with kitchens and three pools surrounded by jungle. Parador Nature Resort and Spa ($479 a night) is a highly rated premium option for families. If you want to stay closer to the park entrance on a budget, El Faro Containers Beach Hotel is a solid value at $241 a night.
Skip the rental car. You will use private transfers (like Morpho Vans) for the long hauls between cities. It costs a bit more, but it eliminates the stress of driving winding, unlit mountain roads. The drive from San José to La Fortuna takes about 3 hours, La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio takes about 6 hours, and Manuel Antonio back to San José is about 3½ hours.
December through April is the dry season, making it the most popular time to visit. Expect hot, humid 80s and 90s on the coast, and slightly cooler conditions near the volcano. Brief rainforest showers happen year-round.
Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. Expect US prices for food and tours. Bring small US dollar bills for tipping drivers and guides; you will often receive change in Costa Rican Colones.
It takes about 6 hours, which is a significant chunk of the day. Using a private transfer helps immensely, as the van has Wi-Fi and the driver will stop for bathrooms, snacks, and the crocodile bridge at Tarcoles.
Yes. The park strictly limits daily entries and tickets sell out weeks in advance during the high season. Book your tickets online as soon as you have your travel dates.
In most tourist areas, including La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, the tap water is safe to drink. If you have a sensitive stomach, stick to bottled water just to be safe.
Yes, the major operators like Sky Trek adhere to strict international safety standards. The lines are designed to be secure and approachable for kids as young as five years old.