Enriching and memorable family travel adventures abound for all ages in this welcoming country, with strict COVID safety measures in place.
In the lush Central American country of Costa Rica, where roughly one-quarter of the landmass is protected, the jungles are rich with wildlife diversity including spider monkeys, quetzal birds, macaws, and even the beloved and enigmatic sloth.
There’s also more than 121 volcanic formations (seven of which are active!), 800 miles of coastline, and forest lagoons filled with ethereal turquoise waters.
Photo courtesy of Global Family Travels
Eco-tourism and family friendly
Few destinations offer the fascinating abundance of this coastal country, both from a family friendly and an eco-tourism perspective. Costa Rica hosts more than 5 percent of the world's biodiversity even though its landmass only takes up .03% of the Earth’s surface. The entire country is smaller than Lake Michigan. Meaning, it’s a place where travelers can easily see and experience a great deal during a visit.
Equally importantly, as the world emerges from COVID-19 and begins to contemplate travel opportunities once again, critical new priorities have been taking shape for many of us. While travel has always been an opportunity to learn, we at Global Family Travels are happy to see that there’s more emphasis on traveling responsibly and giving back to the destinations being visited.
Costa Rica is a place that allows for all of these things. It's a place where you can cultivate deep bonds, enjoy immersive experiences, and participate in community and conservation projects that give you the opportunity to learn about local wildlife, communities, and cultural traditions. In short, it is a destination ideal for this moment in our history.
Costa Rica Village Visit (photo courtesy of Haspel Family)
Global Family Travels’ family-friendly trips to Costa Rica
Global Family Travels’ family-friendly trips to Costa Rica are specifically tailored to focus on our mission, offering a unique mix of cultural activities and participation in local service projects aimed at helping local conservation initiatives and improving the lives of people in the communities we visit. Our priorities on all trips include protecting and supporting, while allowing visitors to discover the unique and amazing beauty and culture of this remarkable destination. Whether you’re an adult or a child visiting, our trips have been designed to create an unforgettable, impactful, and meaningful experience.
Photo courtesy of Global Family Travels
Adventure, Immersive Experiences, and Cultural Opportunities
Learn, Serve & Immerse. These are the Global Family Travels pillars used to create many of our trips, including in Costa Rica. Our Learn, Serve, Immerse itinerary in this Central American country allows visitors to enjoy rainforests, volcanoes, beaches, and wildlife reserves, while also providing immersive experiences and opportunities to work on community projects and promote positive change. There is also a variety of cultural activities available including chocolate-making and even pottery workshops.
Photo courtesy of Haspel Family
From Multi-cultural Heritage to Biological Reserves
Beginning in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, you will experience the country’s vibrant multicultural heritage and then move on to explore many ecological destinations. There are options to participate in a conservation community project at Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center (SCLC), an organization focused on environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism or to spend time at the Tirimbina Reserve, a non-profit biological reserve set on 345 hectares where the focus is protecting the area’s exceptional biodiversity. Here, in addition to participating in a service project in support of the organization’s work, you can explore the trails, discover flora and fauna, and walk suspension bridges through the rainforest.
Photo courtesy of Global Family Travels
Your journey will also include engaging workshops and natural wonders. There will be visits to some of the country’s most famous highlights including the Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Tarcoles River.
After these unforgettable adventures, there will plenty of beach time during the final days of your trip to unwind and relax. From beginning to end, this tour has been designed to emphasizes authentic cultural experience to give you a true taste of Pura Vida (Life is Good!) in Costa Rica.
Family Adventures in Costa Rica
Our family adventure Pura Vida trips delve into the culture and wildlife of Costa Rica as well. This itinerary is fully customizable, allowing for choosing from a variety of fun outdoor adventures including exploring Costa Rica’s rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife reserves, beaches, and lagoons. No matter the age of the traveler, this trip allows for cultivating real bonds with this coastal country through immersive experiences to fit your family’s needs.
Cultural activity options include a chocolate tour in the Tirimbina Rainforest Center where you and your children can learn about the indigenous cultivation of cacao fruit at a traditional cacao plantation. The journey to the plantation also includes traveling through the Tirimbina Rainforest where you have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife and cross the longest hanging suspension bridge above the Sarapiqui River.
Photo courtesy of Haspel Family
The Nocturnal Nature Walk is another popular family choice, during which you’ll discover the rainforest at night! Which of course, is when most of the rainforest animals are active. You may even spot sloths, the red-eyed tree frog, porcupine, and kinkajou.
Our family trips to Costa Rica are crafted provide an incredible first-hand learning journey while also allowing plenty of time for relaxation and reconnecting.
COVID Protocols when Traveling to Costa Rica
We want you to enjoy your journey to Costa Rica secure in the knowledge that the health and safety of Global Family Travels’ travelers, community partners, colleagues and guides are of paramount importance to us. Here are a few important points in light of COVID-19.
Safety measures in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the few destinations that’s now fully open for visitors from the United States, as well as all other countries. The country’s government is no longer requiring coronavirus tests for those entering by land or air. In addition, there are no quarantine requirements for those visiting the country.
However, to enter Costa Rica you will be required to complete the electronic epidemiological HEALTH PASS form 48 hours before boarding your flight. An individual form must be completed for every person, including minors, who will be a part of your vacation.
In addition, Global Family Travels’ Costa Rica suppliers are taking extreme precautions with health and safety in mind. The protocols include creating itineraries based on small, private groups, with social distancing requirements in place. What’s more, each of the suppliers and partners included on our tours and day trips, such as restaurants, hotels, parks, transport partners and venues follow likeminded health and hygiene protocols and guidelines to protect guests and staff as required.
WTTC Safe Stamp As an added level of assurance, Costa Rica also participates in the World Tourism & Travel Council’s Safe Stamp Program, a global program that outlines common standards designed to ensure the safety of workers and travelers as the world and the travel industry shifts to a new normal. As part of this effort, the WTTC also created a SafeTravels Stamp to help travelers recognize destinations and businesses that have adopted the SafeTravels health and hygiene protocols.
Photo courtesy of Global Family Travels
Why Travel to Costa Rica Now?
As the world, and the travel industry, recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must do so thoughtfully and meaningfully, protecting the planet, the people, and the places that we visit. This includes selecting and planning journeys that align with such values.
Costa Rica provides a uniquely ideal destination to support each of these goals. Because of its abundance of nature and outdoor experiences, as well as its rich culture and opportunities for service, and meaningful connection with people, Global Family Travels has never been more excited to host these journeys where conservation, learning, fun and cultural exchange are all possible.