Family Escape to Costa Rica

To start your family vacation, you will fly into San Jose, Costa Rica’s central capital, where you’ll stay three nights in the elegant country house, Finca Rosa Blanca, a luxurious coffee plantation turned boutique hotel located above the city. You’ll be close enough to explore San Jose’s downtown area, visiting the interesting art galleries and museums, admiring the marble and gold-clad Teatro Nacional and ambling towards the 133-year-old Mercado Central, where you can buy everything from chilli peppers to dresses, and snack your way through its vibrant maze.

Having pounded the pavement for a day, spend the next two going on a coffee tour of the organic plantation, walking around the towns of Barva and Heredia on a cultural excursion, horse riding through the lush surroundings and hiking up the nearby Irazu Volcano. You can get up early and go birdwatching to try identify the metallic flashes of colour and then refuel with a chocolate factory tour, thanks to the many tastings throughout. Alternative, why not immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s agricultural spirit and ask your spa lady to run you an organic coffee, clove and citrus bath as the little ones play games in the butterfly gardens or pet the friendly horses on the estate?

Sitting on 600 acres of private, undiscovered territory, Rio Perdido is your adventure destination. With three nights here, you can explore the area’s dwarf forest, vast canyons and soothing natural hot springs by pulling on harnesses and crossing a series of suspended bridges and thrilling zip lines. Just perfect for cheeky monkeys and budding Tarzans, the kid-friendly canyon adventures offer safe but gripping family fun with a gorge swing, 90ft challenge bridge and 5 zip lines that cross between rock-hugging platforms. If there is someone in the group who isn’t a fan of heights, you can stick to the numerous hiking trails that lead to breathtaking lookout points with views over the lush landscape as far as the eye can see. Costa Rica’s jungles can get humid so a cooling tube float along the canyon river is ideal for the afternoon, especially when you can combine it with wildlife spotting to see sloths and monkeys along the way.

Now to the coast – you and the family will be taken west to the stunning Papagayo Peninsula, set along the Pacific Ocean. You’ll have five days at the Andaz Papagayo to do as little or as much as you like. Find a spot along one of the two secluded sandy beaches and set up for the day, building sand castles, playing beach games and then racing into the ocean to cool down. Dive into the inexhaustible list of activities available, such as kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, fishing, water skiing and surfing. If your kids didn’t get enough of soaring over the treetops, you can spend the afternoon zip lining or simply play a game of Marco Polo in the family pool. There is a Cambi Kids Club, where the young ones can join the storytelling and creative arts and crafts sessions, and while they are happily making new friends, you can enjoy a cocktail in the infinity pool or head to spa rooms for a Onda Ritual, an intense 2 hour deep cleaning facial and Swedish massage that will leave you utterly relaxed in both the body and mind.