Costa Rica is a bucket list destination for so many. It is such a beautiful country and is full of opportunities for great adventurers. You may feel that Costa Rica will be the trip you take when your kids are older. However, with Adventures by Disney you can experience this amazing destination sooner rather than later. Most Adventures start at age 5. Be sure and check with Magical Memory Planner to verify appropriate ages.
We were able to go on this amazing itinerary in 2019. Check out the fun we had.
Why Costa Rica with Adventures by Disney
It may be clear why I would want to go to Costa Rica. It is such a beautiful country. From the volcanoes to the rainforest full of amazing and exotic wildlife, this country is truly paradise. Costa Rica is also an easy trip from the U.S. There is not much of a time difference there was a good variety of flight options (we even got direct flights there) and the flight is about 5 hours, so not too long. But why travel with Adventures by Disney to Costa Rica? There are a few reasons.
Safety
Disney’s number one priority is always safety. Going to an unfamiliar place where they speak another language can be scary. Travelling with Disney helps me feel safe.
Hassle-Free Travel
I don’t want to go to Costa Rica and just see one thing. I want to do it all (or as close to it as I can get in a week). If I went on my own I would have to find vendors and hotels for all the experiences I want to do. Of course as a travel agent I can do that too BUT Disney has already done that. They have found the BEST people to give me the best experiences.
Adventure Guides
During this adventure we will travel across the country so that we can see so much of what it has to offer. We are not going to stay in one city. We will see the coast, the mountains, the rainforest, the animals, and so much more. Well, an adventure like that usually means someone is working the whole trip. In this case it will be our Adventure Guides. They will be doing the work to ensure I have a seamless vacation experience. From giving me a packing list before we travel through handling the luggage as we switch hotels and everything in between. This will truly be a vacation for me as well.
Getting Started
Getting started on this adventure has been very easy. Since the itinerary is all set, all I have to do is pick the dates that work for me and add on the flights and travel insurance. There is also an adventure contract to sign. I can add pre/post nights as well but in this case we are not going to add anything before or after. So EASY!!
As we are getting so excited for this trip I have started thinking about packing but wasn’t really sure what I would need. Well, Adventures by Disney to the rescue. About 2 months before our adventures started we received a box in the mail to help us get ready for our adventure. Along with a backpack and some luggage tags was our adventure documents. This book has everything we need to know. It includes things such as a packing list, common words in Spanish (local language for Costa Rica), and a detailed itinerary of hotels, activities, and meals. There is also a list of contact information I can leave with my family at home in case they need me. Now that I have this I feel like I am ready to go. I’ll just have to pack. Check out our video of me opening our documents and everything inside.
Our Itinerary
The Costa Rica Adventures by Disney itinerary starts in San Jose where we spend our first night at the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose. Next we will head to the Arenal Volcano National Park where we will go white water rafting, visit the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge for a guided tour, go zip lining, and visit the hot springs over the course of a couple days. Then we will head to the Guanacaste area to have a chocolate rainforest experience and head to the coast for a catamaran trip and snorkeling before our farewell dinner.
We will by flying home from Liberia but if you want to fly home from San Jose it’s an option if you add a night or get a late afternoon flight. I know this sounds busy but there is also some time to relax at the resort pools and most of the meals are included as well. Learn more about the sights we’ll explore on our Costa Rica trip in the video below.
Packing Tips for Your Adventure
We have some great tips for packing for your next adventure whether you are traveling internationally or domestically. Check out our video to see what we are bringing on our Costa Rica trip and get some packing tips for your next adventure.
Day 1: San Jose
We made it to Costa Rica! Our adventure guides met us and gave us a tour of the hotel and went over our itinerary for the next day. They have already been so helpful!
Day 2: Arenal Volcano National Park – Sarapiquí River White Water Rafting/Floating
Our second day was filled with adventures at Arenal Volcano National Park.
We went white water rafting down the Sarapiquí River and learned how to make Guaro Sours, the national drink of Costa Rica.
Day 3: Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
We explored the rainforest of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge by boat.
We saw many different types of local animals including monkeys, birds and lizards.
After lunch we enjoyed the hot springs at Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. It was so relaxing and beautiful!
Day 4: Arenal Volcano National Park – Zip Lining
Day 4 was so fun and one of the highlights of the trip! We went zip lining over the canopy of the rainforest. It was amazing!
Check out day 4.
See more of our zip lining adventure.
Hear about the rest of our day and watch us try a special local fruit.
Day 5: Rainforest Chocolate Tour
We went on a rainforest chocolate tour in La Fortuna de San Carlos.
The tour gave us the opportunity to learn about and participate in the production process.
The best part was tasting the chocolate!
Day 6: Guanacaste – Private Catamaran Excursion & Farewell Dinner
It was nice to have some time to enjoy our hotel, El Mangroove Hotel. The hotel was right on the ocean with a beach and pool area. We took a private catamaran excursion and went snorkeling and swimming.
Costa Rica Trip Recap
We had an amazing week in beautiful Costa Rica. Highlights of the trip included white water rafting, zip lining and the interactive rainforest chocolate tour. It was also fun to meet new people and build a nice camaraderie with our tour group. Watch our recap video to hear our favorite memories from the trip.
ALSO, Did You Know?
Private Adventures – Adventures by Disney offers PRIVATE adventures for up to 12 guests. They have 5 destinations available and Costa Rica is one of them!
Expedition Cruising – Experience unbelievable natural wonders and wildlife up close in some of the world’s most remote and pristine destinations during an Adventures by Disney Expedition Cruise. Offering itineraries to the Adriatic, Antartica & Patagonia, Galapagos Islands, Arctic, Amazon & Buenos Aires.
Are you ready to start planning your Adventure? Magical Memory Planners are ready to help!
