Best Mother-Daughter Trip to Costa Rica

Costa Rica beats with the spirit of Central America as an ecological wonderland and paradise for travelers in search of relaxation. Rainforest, mountains, and coastline breathe life into pristine wilderness and majestic wildlife with a balance of modernity, luxury, and untouched pleasures. This balance has inspired the renowned term spoken across the country, pura vida, meaning pure life. To begin your experience in Costa Rica, your flight lands at Juan Santamaria International Airport and your private transfer will greet you upon arrival. The tropical climate filters through the Central Valley surrounded by the volcanic peaks of Irazu and Poas. As you drive to Arenal, you pass fruit stands boasting giant watermelons and fresh, sweet coconuts. The scent of pineapple drifts out of the marketplaces and opens to the streets that are framed by colorful walls and dangling bunches of bananas.

You will soon approach Arenal, the constant drifting fluff of clouds open for an inspiring view of Arenal Volcano’s conical summit standing at nearly 5,480 feet above sea level. Thrill-seekers are drawn by the promise of rappelling, while others are attracted by the thermal baths, but all come from around the world to enjoy the splendors of the region. The peak of Arenal formed 7,000 years ago after a massive eruption from the now extinct Chato Volcano. The most recent eruption began in 1968 resulting in consistent lava spilling over the lip causing a near nightly fiery display ending in July of 2010.  Before exploring it all, you will settle into the comforts of your luxury resort surrounded by the beauty of the countryside with a view to verdant tropical foliage.

In the morning, the aroma of tropical fruits fills the dining room of your hotel thanks to freshly cut pineapple, melons, and passion fruit. Your guide will greet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to the base of the zip-lining excursion and begin with a demonstration on the proper ways to glide through the fascinating aerial course. Zip-lining began as a form of transportation through the dense rainforest canopy where researchers could study the upper-levels of trees, flora, and fauna slowly becoming a fantastic way to explore and experience the ecosystems of Costa Rica from above.

After learning the techniques for a smooth ride along the connecting lines, you can travel through the sky crossing seven cables reaching up to 656 feet above the forest floor and stretching as long as 2,460 feet. You step from the platform and glide along the line passing the towering verdant trees. The wind brushes against your cheeks making you feel like flying. From the next platform, your guide points to a sloth reaching out from a branch. The common three-toed sloth snacks on leaves, branches, buds, and possibly insects.

A moss that grows in their fur helps to camouflage the sloth among the trees and hides them from predators like Harpy Eagles. After returning from the excursion in the trees, you can relax in the comforts of the natural thermal baths springing up around Arenal. The pools can reach up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit and drop to as cool as 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The rich minerals in the water stem from the volcanic activity, and results in marvelous medicinal properties that are not only relaxing but also help with skin ailments.

At breakfast, the flavor of mango permeates the freshly squeezed juices and the scent of blossoming heliconia drifts through the air. Make your way to the entrance of the La Fortuna Waterfall trail leading to the stunning cascade reaching over 246 feet tall along the base of dormant Chato Volcano. You can hear the rushing water of the Arenal River passing beside the trail as you wind along the edge of Arenal Mountain. Small rapids form below the falls resulting in a spray of comfortable, refreshing mist wetting the trees and surrounding rocks.

You can hear the falls splashing against the waiting pool before you notice the powerful stream trundling down between the tree-covered hillside. You can dip your toes into the cold water juxtaposing the temperate, tropical heat. After returning from the hike to the waterfall, you can partake in a relaxing mother-daughter spa treatment. Relieve the stress from home in a relaxing space bringing together body and soul through the sights, sounds, and aromas of the rainforest. Spend time in the steam room or bask in the soothing sensation of a classic facial using local organic scrubs exfoliating your pores.

At breakfast, you can break open the orange shell of the granadillato find grayish seeds floating in a jelly-like coating. The edible seeds have a satisfying crunch accompanied by the sweet flavor from the fruit. Your private transfer meets you at your hotel and leads you out of Arenal to reach the stunning mountain region of Monteverde. As you depart Arenal, you may notice the clouds drifting over the volcano and once again parting for a fabulous view of the iconic peak.

Travel across Lake Arenal’s 33 square miles for a breathtaking view of the volcanic peak in the background and the reflective waters of the lake touching the distant shores. The lake hosts a fantastic array of freshwater fish including common snook and guapote. You will continue by car to climb the slopes to Monteverde gaining more than 3,000 feet when reaching 4,921 feet above sea level situated on the Continental Divide. Before reaching your hotel, you can stop at the suspension bridges for a walk through the rainforest canopy crossing canyons and drainages with the longest walkway spanning 984 feet.

Your guide will introduce the flora and fauna located at the top of the tropical rainforest where biologists continue exploring given that 90 percent of all organisms in the ecosystem are located in the canopy. You can notice the bright colors of a bromeliad orchid, and your guide can explain how frogs like to lay their eggs in the leaves due to the way the flowers retain water from the rain and moisture from the passing mist.

In the morning, the moisture causes a mist to spread through the trees crossing the forest floor leaving dew on the trees, branches, and mosses. You will travel after breakfast to an estate that is growing coffee and chocolate along the slopes of Monteverde. First, your guide leads you through the coffee plants where you notice the aroma of jasmine emanating from the flowers growing from the shrubs. The coffee grows as small cherries with a sweet and semi-sour flavor. The cherries are harvested, dried, and then roasted before the coffee reaches its full potential flavor.

You will then continue through the cacao orchard, where large pods dangle from the trees resembling squash gourds. Your guide will take a fresh pod and opens it to reveal the fresh seeds coated in a white, sweet jelly. The seeds must dry and ferment before roasting in order to bring the proper flavor of the chocolate to the forefront. The scent of rich, dense chocolate fills the air after the beans are roasted with the decadent flavor shining through after your guide grinds the cacao and adds a little sugar to balance the natural bitterness.

In the evening, you can venture into the majesty of the cloud forest along a reserve encompassing 27 acres. Many of the forest’s creatures become active at night and range from birds to frogs, snakes to porcupines. The sound of tink frogs fills the air with a loud, high-pitched chirp nearly imitating the frog’s name. While their territorial call is prominent, the frog only grows to an inch long. They have a gray or brown hue with bars or spots contrasting their skin as they hide in the foliage mainly at elevations up to 5,905 feet above sea level.  You might also keep an eye out for the margay, a quiet, elusive cat feeding on monkeys, rodents, birds, and lizards. Their skill at climbing trees and nesting in hollows make them hard to spot but adds to the excitement of the discovery.

After the sunlight burns away the morning mist, you will travel by private transfer to the Playa Flamingo with a stop on the shores of the Corobici River. The fantastic mother-daughter rafting excursion provides a relaxing time floating down the flowing river in Guanacaste. The source begins on the southern slopes of the Tenorio Volcano and travels through the tropical dry forest and pastures of leading to the tributary among the western mangroves. Guanacaste is the driest region in Costa Rica offering bright blue skies and an abundance of wildlife along the lush banks leading to the Gulf of Nicoya.

You will first notice a common basilisk, also known as a Jesus Christ lizard, named for its ability to run along the surface of the water for small distances. They can grow to over two and a half feet long with their tail accounting for approximately 75 percent of its size. Your guide points to a small crocodile poking its snout out of the water. The American crocodile can reach 13.5 feet long and weigh up to one ton. The species often has a wider snout than crocodiles from other parts of the world. Above the crocodile and along the riverbanks, a troop of white-faced capuchin monkeys grazes on the nuts in the trees.

The beauty of Playa Flamingo is striking in the morning along the crescent-shaped beach that reaches a mile long. The white sand shines against the pristine azure water while the aroma of the Pacific Ocean carries into the open-air dining room to layer the scent of the salty sea with the sweetness of freshly pressed watermelon juice. The water along the edges of the coastline winds through the mangrove trees encompassing the refuge for nesting Leatherback turtles reaching approximately 1,112 acres. Spend time walking along the soft, bleached white sand to start the day, while listening to the soothing sounds of the crashing waves. Surfers take to the wave while fishers venture out beyond the crashing waters to find sailfish, snapper, and tuna.

At your leisure, you make your way to the through the towering stretch of palm trees to reach the Marino Las Baulas National Park. The Leatherback turtle is the main reason the refuge was created protecting the species from extinction by allowing a safe space for nesting. The season takes place between October and February with less Green turtles and less common Hawksbills, Olive Ridleys, and Loggerhead turtles nesting in the area around summer. When visiting the beach, you keep the noise level low not to frighten the turtles returning to nest or their hatchlings attempting to return to the sea. A single turtle can lay between 80 and 100 eggs growing to over two and a half feet long as adults.

In the morning, the sunlight washes over the white sands of Flamingo Beach while the scent of fresh coconut spreads through the air. At breakfast, you can enjoy the remarkable view of Guanacaste’s coastline combining the shimmer of the water with the glistening sand. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee made with beans sourced from around Costa Rica fills the dining room. The flavor reminds you of chocolate and caramel with a hint of a citrus aroma. Your private transfer will greet you in your hotel lobby ready to escort you to the nearby Liberia International Airport located approximately 25 miles away. Board your flight home and enjoy the relaxing transfer bringing an end to your mother-daughter Costa Rica vacation.