As my kids get older, it’s more difficult to travel on family vacations. We make an effort to take one large trip per year. This year, we headed out on an Adventures by Disney vacation to Costa Rica. This was a scheduled 7-day vacation, and we added on a pre-stay day to relax a bit before our tour started.
We’ve now been on 6 Adventures by Disney family vacations. This Costa Rica family vacation was definitely in our top tier of favorite trips, although we’ve enjoyed all of them. It’s a great option for families looking for a little adventure on vacation.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and a purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. We did attend a 2-night complimentary NYC AbD in 2018 but paid full price for our six longer trips to Europe and Costa Rica.
We paid AbD for our trip, and they booked all of the separate tours and excursions. If you are planning your own trip, I’ve included links to similar tours. However, I haven’t taken or booked these so please do your research before booking.
Adventures by Disney Costa Rica: Trip Report
Pre-Stay Day
We started our vacation very early in the morning, with a 6:45 am flight to Miami. By 1 pm, we’d landed in San Jose, Costa Rica after a quick layover in Miami. Before our trip, we looked up the weather forecast, and it appeared that it would rain on each day of our vacation. Despite that, we were very excited to see Costa Rica.
With just a 2-hour time difference from our home in Massachusetts to Costa Rica, it was an easy adjustment when we arrived. We easily found our AbD-arranged transportation at the airport (outdoors) and took a quick ride to the airport, the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen.
This hotel, located on a former coffee plantation, was the perfect spot for our pre-stay and first part of the trip. It offers a coffee shop, a great gift shop, several restaurants, a pool, a spa, a delicious breakfast, a driving range, and much more. There’s also entertainment on site, as well as guided tours through the former coffee plantation.
That first day, we primarily relaxed and enjoyed an early dinner at the hotel’s sports bar, Bar 10. I was immediately excited about trying ceviche, one of the Costa Rican specialties (by way of Peru). Although we didn’t have much of a time change, we were exhausted from our early wake-up for our flight. Luckily, the rooms were very comfortable, and we all got a restful night’s sleep.
Day 1: Welcome Dinner
Thanks to the time difference, we woke up nice and early and ready for an adventure. But first, we had a whole day to ourselves to enjoy Costa Rica. While we initially considered going into San Jose or La Paz Waterfall Garden, we eventually chose to stay at the hotel and enjoy the pool area.
First, we enjoyed a breakfast buffet at Hacienda Kitchen, one of the hotel’s restaurants. AbD always includes breakfast with your hotel stays. Although I’d purchased this hotel stay separately, I made sure to include breakfast.
The buffet at this resort was excellent and included fresh fruit, eggs to order, breakfast entrees, pastries, and so much more. We enjoyed sitting on the balcony overlooking the beautiful Costa Rican vistas.
After breakfast, we met with our Adventure Guides, Ronald (local guide), and Kaitlin. They gave us an overview of our upcoming vacation and checked in with our numerous food allergies and restrictions. We had the afternoon free to explore, with our first official activity being our welcome dinner at the hotel.
We loved spending time at the beautiful pool, so that’s where we set up for the whole day. We did take a quick break for a delicious lunch at Hacienda Kitchen but returned to the pool as soon as we were done. Then, we went to our room to shower and prepare for dinner.
After meeting up with the group in the lobby, we were guided to the conference room where our dinner was held. We met our whole group (32 people in total), enjoyed a buffet of local Costa Rica specialties, and got a briefing for our trip. Our guides’ enthusiasm was infectious, so we all went to bed excited about what was coming over the next few days.
Day 2: Move to Arenal
Unlike most of our adventures, this Costa Rican adventure was unique in that we only spent one official night at our first hotel. We had an early bag pull, where our bags were delivered from outside of the room to the motorcoach. One big benefit to AbD trips is that you don’t have to worry about handling your luggage!
After breakfast, we loaded up on the bus to the Aventuras del Sarapiquí river rafting center on the Sarapiquí River. Guests had the option to go white water rafting on Class I to Class III rapids or to go with Ronald on a Hearts of Palm tour near the river.
Because I don’t like being submerged in water, I opted for the Hearts of Palms tour and was the only guest who did this. We disembarked the bus about 20 minutes before they arrived at the river, and met up with Maria at the Palmitour – a restaurant and Heart of Palm plantation.
The food Maria prepares with the heart of palm is delicious, but what’s more interesting is her story and the process of cultivating the plant. You can read more about her, and the tour here. Although I did miss the excitement of the rafting, I enjoyed this tour experience greatly.
In addition, this food was some of my favorite. It included a hash, a ceviche, a tortilla bread, a fresh juice, and several other appetizers. I didn’t want to fill up too much, however, because we were about to meet the rest of the group for lunch.
After a short shuttle ride, we arrived at the rafting location, just as our group was leaving the water and getting changed. They all enjoyed the rafting experience and were full of stories as we sat down to eat
Lunch was tacos and nachos, right at the rafting location. This was my son’s favorite meal during the trip, and I was glad that I hadn’t filled up too much with my hearts of palm tastings.
After lunch, we boarded the bus and rode about an hour and a half to our next hotel, the Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. This hotel is stunning, and our suites all had perfect views of the Arenal Volcano (whenever it peaked out from the clouds).
These rooms were so unique. They included a day bed, a small desk, a seating area by the small balcony area, a hot tub (in every room!), beds facing the view, and a separate shower/bathroom. The suites were located in small 4-suite buildings throughout the resort, connected by paths filled with flora and fauna from the region.
Although we spent three nights at this hotel (the most of any of our hotel stays), we didn’t have too much time to spend at this hotel. I’d recommend a longer stay if you want to explore the external area and still have time to enjoy the hotel’s amenities.
After unpacking a bit and getting ready, we met in the hotel lobby area for a Guaro Sour-making class (with local fruit tasting for the junior adventurers). I loved the Guaro Sour and ended up ordering several others during my vacation. Because my kids are over 18, they were also able to do the Guaro Sour-making.
Dinner was another buffet, and then we enjoyed some traditional local music and dancing before retiring for dinner.
Day 3: Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge Jungle Cruise
I was very excited about day 3 and it absolutely did not disappoint.
We had an early wake-up and then enjoyed another delicious breakfast buffet. While dining in the restaurant, I noticed a toucan fly by the glass windows. To our delight, it was joined by two others, and most of us were able to get some distant photos.
After breakfast, we had about a 2-hour river to Cano Negro, so near the Nicaraguan border that most of our cell phones were pinging a Nicaraguan tower. We stopped at a rest area about 15 minutes away to use the restroom and enjoy some iced tea and fruit. Then we finished our journey to the boat.
During our approximate 2 hour cruise, we saw so many different animals, including three species of monkeys, mini bats, lots of different birds, a sloth, and caimans. The capuchin and spider monkeys were the most fun to see on this trip – the spider monkeys were jumping from limb to limb, while the capuchin got so close to the boat.
It’s important to note that there isn’t a restroom on this boat, so be sure to use that quick stop before, even if you don’t think you need it.
The Adventures by Disney digital guidebook that was sent before the trip recommended binoculars, and most guests brought them. We were happy to have ours – there were a few things that were tough to see without them. Sunscreen and bug repellent were also essential – throughout our trip.
Our boat dropped us off at Hacienda Cano Negro, where we were greeted with a delicious watermelon ginger juice. Then, we selected our tables (indoor or seating outdoor), and went through a buffet with options such as chicken, steak, fish, salad, and pasta.
During our ride back to Arenal, we made a quick detour to a sugar cane plantation. There, we learned a bit about processing the sugar cane from the plant, and then got to sample some delicious things made with the sugar cane. Overall, we ate a LOT of food that afternoon!
Our dinner that night was in the hotel’s restaurant. It was on our own, and the guides asked our preferred times and made our reservations. Although we dined on our own, the meal was included as part of our vacation package, and we were able to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert from a prix-fix menu.
Day 4: Ziplining, Fortuna, and Hot Springs
When originally looking at the agenda, my family was most excited about Day 4. It was a busy day, with ziplining, free time in Fortuna, and a visit to the hot springs on our itinerary. As expected, it was my favorite day on the trip.
Remember when I said the forecast showed rain every day? While it did rain, heavily at times, up to this point it hadn’t affected our activities. The timing was always perfect, and it rained overnight when we were at dinner, etc.
Until I woke up on day 4 to heavy rain. Our trip wouldn’t be deterred by rain, only lightning, so we packed raincoats and changes of clothes. And when we left breakfast to head to ziplining, the clouds disappeared and the sun was shining. Perfect timing again.
Sky Adventures Costa Rica is a short drive from the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. When we arrived, we put our belongings in (free) lockers and got fitted for our gear.
We also had the option to rent GoPros. The rental itself is free, and we could choose to purchase the videos if we liked them. Photo packages are also offered although AbD provided us with these photos at no additional cost.
After going through a brief safety training, we boarded aerial tram cars up to the top so we could start our zipline adventure. There were seven different ziplines, with the longest over 750 meters (2,460 feet) and the highest at 200 meters (656 feet).
Guides were stationed at the start and stop of each zipline. They clipped us in and told us when to start the braking process. It was very easy to do, and although there was an alternate activity (walking suspension bridges), our entire group did the ziplines.
Once we all got to the bottom, we were treated to a juice and some gorgeous views of Arenal volcano. Because it didn’t rain, none of us needed to change clothing. So we were easily able to board the bus and go to our next destination – the town of Fortuna.
We were driven around town, and our guides showed us some of the more popular shops and restaurants. Then we were dropped off and were able to go explore. Several parties in our group opted to go to the Lava Lounge, where a percentage of proceeds are given to animal rescue.
The food at the Lava Lounge was excellent. But as we were receiving our meals, we could start to hear the rain come down. It rained pretty heavily after that, so we made some quick stops at the grocery store for food souvenirs and POPS for ice cream. We were lucky to be able to flag down our bus as he headed back to the meeting spot, so none of us got too wet.
After the trip to Fortuna, we had some downtime at our hotel. Because it was still raining, we spent most of this time in our room. Then, we changed into our bathing suits, packed another change of clothes, and boarded the bus for our trip to the Ecotermales Hot Springs.
Once we arrived, we were provided with a wristband that would be used to make purchases. We received a locker key and towel and stored our valuables and change of clothing. Then we made our way to the hot springs.
This area included five or so cascading pools, of decreasing temperatures. The top felt more like a hot tub, and the bottom pool was about 70ish degrees. Most of us started at the top and moved down. If you wanted bar service, wait staff were wandering around the edges of the pool, and could scan your bracelet to charge you.
We had over an hour to enjoy the hot springs and then went back to the locker area to change out of our wet swimsuits. Although there were showers there, most of us opted to wait until we got back to the hotel.
Dinner was at a pavilion at the hot springs. There were lots of delicious food options, including a watermelon salad that was my favorite.
After dinner, we went back to the resort to shower and pack up for the next part of our journey – Guanacaste.
Day 5: Chocolate Rainforest and Drive to Guanacaste
I was sort of dreading day 5. On this day, we left Arenal and made the windy drive around Lake Arenal to Guanacaste. Our adventure guides had warned us that this was the worst of our drives, and I’d also read many trip reports about it.
Ultimately, the ride wasn’t too bad, and it was pretty quick. Our guides did a great job of breaking up this day so it didn’t feel like we were on the motorcoach for too long of a stretch.
After an early bag pull, we enjoyed our last buffet breakfast at the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa. Then, we loaded up on the bus for our first stop, the Rainforest Chocolate Tour.
We’d heard all about our guide, Chapo Guapo, from our guides, but he more than lived up to the hype. We got a brief tour of the rainforest and learned about how chocolate is made, starting from cacao. We also got to taste our way through the steps, and at the end got a spoonful of rich chocolate, customized with our choice of toppings. Ultimately, this was one of the major highlights of our trip.
To book a version of this tour.
At the end of the tour, we stopped in the restroom one last time and had the opportunity to make purchases from the gift shop. Then we loaded up on the bus for our dreaded winding road journey.
The guides recommended that we take meds if we are prone to getting motion sickness. I had some leftover Travel Gum from our Italy/Switzerland Adventure, and that worked out well. The journey around Lake Arenal took a little over an hour, and then we got to stop for a break.
Our break stop was at Cafe Y Macadamia, a well-situated tourist destination offering a gift shop and cafe. While it was nice to take a break (and enjoy a smoothie), this building was HOT. It was almost unbearable, so I didn’t do any shopping here. Most of us made our way to the back deck, where we could watch the water and enjoy cooler temps as we had our smoothies.
Then, we got back on the coach for another drive to lunch, at Restaurante Rincón Corobici. We had pre-ordered this lunch the day before, from a large selection of options. It ended up being one of my favorite lunches. This cafe also had a small gift shop, but the selection was pretty limited.
After lunch, we had a short drive to our next and last hotel, El Mangroove. This hotel is beautiful, offering a beachfront location and lots of great amenities. Our group was guided to a small, separate check-in area, where we made a dinner reservation for that evening and got our room keys.
This hotel offers separate buildings surrounding a gorgeous pool area. The rooms are very unique. You receive two keys. One leads to a screened-in living room, with couches and hammocks (only in some rooms). Then, there’s a separate key to the actual hotel room, with the beds, bathroom, etc. My family of four had two of these rooms, connecting, making a nice chain of living space for the four of us.
This particular evening was Junior Adventurer night when the younger kids all hang out with the guides for dinner and a Disney movie while the adults dine separately. Because my kids are older, they ate with us.
Dinner was in the hotel’s restaurant. We opted to eat inside since it was hot, although there was some beautiful outdoor space available as well. Dinner was from a pre-fixe menu and was delicious. I recommend getting the chocolate souffle as dessert.
Day 6: Snorkeling and Resort Time
We felt bittersweet as we got to the last full day of our Adventures by Disney Costa Rica family adventure. It was a nice, full week, but I could have used another day in this paradise.
Luckily, our last day was one of the most fun. We started with a large breakfast buffet in the outdoor (but covered) restaurant. While all of the breakfasts were delicious, this was my favorite.
After breakfast, we headed to the beach to board our tender boat to the catamaran. The tender could fit about half of our group, so some of us went to the boat while the others waited behind.
This catamaran ride was one of my favorite activities in Costa Rica. It was a gentle ride as we sailed out toward the snorkeling area, with some great music playing and an open bar. We were on the catamaran for about an hour before reaching our anchor point.
Guests could jump off the boat, snorkel, swim around, or stay on the boat. Snorkel equipment was provided and pool noodles were required so you’d easily stay afloat. Many of the kids decided to jump off the boat, and eventually started a jumping/diving competition.
I swam around for a while. The water was the perfect temperature, although there were some little jellyfish that were biting. The catamaran’s crew had a spray and cream for it that really helped.
As we set sail after our snorkeling, the crew brought out some snacks – chips, guacamole, salsa, etc. We enjoyed the perfect weather and made sure to frequently reapply our sunscreen.
After we arrived back on the shores by the hotel, we had the afternoon free. Although lunch was on our own, it was covered as part of our vacation package. We were able to eat at the pool bar, from a special menu.
We found a set of shady chairs between the black sand beach and the pools and ordered lunch from the menu. It did take a while to get our food, and we had to reorder a few things. I’d recommend just going to the restaurant to order for better service.
The pool area at El Mangroove is gorgeous. While there aren’t a lot of seats surrounding the pool, there are some a short walk away. Cabanas are also available for rent.
After lunch, I was enjoying the adult pool when I heard a loud clap of thunder. At that point, everyone gathered their belongings and headed back into their hotel rooms. We showered, changed for dinner, and started packing for our departure the next day.
That evening was our farewell dinner. It was pouring, but our Adventure Guides did a great job of creating magic. We saw a dance and musical group, ate a delicious dinner at the pool bar, and relived some of our fun memories of the week. Then, we said bye to our new friends and went back to our rooms for the night.
Day 7: Home
This was our shortest family vacation with Adventures by Disney, but it was a full week with lots of activities. We loved this trip and were very fulfilled as we left.
But first, we got to have one final delicious El Mangroove breakfast buffet. While some of our fellow travelers had already left for the airport, we did get to say bye to a few guests and our Adventure Guides. Then, we boarded our shuttle to the Guanacaste Airport, filled with great memories.
AbD Costa Rica Tips
Planning to take the Adventures by Disney Costa Rica trip? Here are some tips we recommend:
- Binoculars are great to have for the jungle cruise. We purchased these on Amazon.
- Don’t forget the bug spray! We used this brand. Sunscreen is also essential.
- If you enjoy shopping, there were limited options on this trip. The gift shops at the first hotel, the Marriott Hacienda Belen, and the ziplining facility, were my two favorites. There are also some shops at the Guanacaste Airport.
- Water shoes were required on the rafting trip, and closed-toed shoes were required on the ziplining trip.
- Renting a GoPro at the ziplining place is much easier than bringing your own.
- The last hotel, El Mangroove has great facilities and would be a nice place to stay one extra day.
- In general, this trip is pretty casual and you can sometimes re-wear some clothes.
- Bring the refillable water bottles that are sent to you in advance. You’ll need them as single-serve water bottles aren’t offered.
