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Costa Rica

From Cloud Forests to Volcanoes: Costa Rica With Your Grandchild

Program No. 2253860MEADV-0819
Explore cool cloud forests and awesome animals on an exciting adventure with your grandchild as you river raft, swim and hike through the wild landscapes of Costa Rica together.
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Costa Rica with your grandchild
Costa Rica with your grandchild
Costa Rica with your grandchild
Costa Rica with your grandchild
Costa Rica with your grandchild
Grandparent Small Group Ages 9 – 17
Length
9 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,899 / ADULT
2,449 / CHILD
Flights start at
900

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Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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Age 12 - 14
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Jul 15 - Jul 23, 2023
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jul 15 - Jul 23, 2023
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Aug 2 - Aug 10, 2023
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Aug 2 - Aug 10, 2023
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Jun 18 - Jun 26, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jun 18 - Jun 26, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 22 - Jul 30, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jul 22 - Jul 30, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Aug 7 - Aug 15, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Aug 7 - Aug 15, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Age 15 - 17
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Aug 5 - Aug 13, 2023
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Aug 5 - Aug 13, 2023
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Jun 21 - Jun 29, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jun 21 - Jun 29, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Age 9 - 11
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
DATES
Jun 15 - Jun 23, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jun 15 - Jun 23, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 2 - Jul 10, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jul 2 - Jul 10, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Jul 17 - Jul 25, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Jul 17 - Jul 25, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Aug 1 - Aug 9, 2024
Per Adult
2,899
Per Child
2,449
Select
Aug 1 - Aug 9, 2024
-
2,899
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
2,999
/ Adult
2,449
/ Child
Select Date
Deposit, Transfer & Cancellation Policy
Optional Trip Protection Plan
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
9 days
8 nights
23 meals
8B 7L 8D
1
Arrive to San José, Program Orientation, Welcome Dinner
San José
2
Biodiversity, Transfer to Monteverde, Bat Jungle
Monteverde
3
Monteverde Dairy Farming, Sky Walk Suspended Bridges
Monteverde
4
Corobici River Wildlife, Transfer to Rincón de la Vieja
Rincon de la Vieja
5
Birding, Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Hot Springs
Rincon de la Vieja
6
Nature Hike, Transfer to Pacific Coast
Papagayo Peninsula
7
Cipanci Wildlife Refuge, La Casona, Free Time
Papagayo Peninsula
8
Zip Line Adventure, Wildlife Sanctuary, Farewell Dinner
Papagayo Peninsula
9
Transfer to Liberia Airport, Program Concludes
In Flight
View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

Calling all adventurers! Are you the happiest hiker? Zippiest zip-liner? One wonderful wildlife whisperer? If you answered “Yes,” then we’ve found the perfect place for you … Costa Rica! Alongside your grandchild, step into the wild to discover misty cloud-forests unlike anything you’ve seen before. Stand in awe of beautiful waterfalls and look for white-faced monkeys as you float down the Rio Corobicí. Explore amazing landscapes from high up on hanging bridges or from a zip line. Jump right into “nature’s playground” as you search for awesome animals, hike to volcanic hot springs and sail past mangrove forests as you both monkey around in Costa Rica.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking about 2 hours a day on varied terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Trek through the cloud forest and cross hanging bridges above the forest canopy in Monteverde.
  • Search for wildlife during a scenic boat ride through the mangroves of Cipanci Wildlife Refuge.
  • Have a blast exploring thermal mud pools, fumaroles and other surprising volcanic features at Rincon de La Vieja National Park.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 9-11, 12-14 or 15-17, depending on the date. Please refer to Program # 23616 for Family departures.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Gilberth Molina
An early interest in plants led Gilberth Molina to work as a gardener for a rainforest lodge in Costa Rica's Caribbean lowlands. There he developed a deep appreciation for the animals and plants of the rainforest and found that he also enjoyed interacting with the lodge's international guests. After studying English and receiving training on the flora, fauna and birds of Costa Rica, Gilberth began leading groups of learners including many Road Scholar participants, sharing his enthusiasm for Costa Rica's natural treasures.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Gilberth Molina
Gilberth Molina View biography
An early interest in plants led Gilberth Molina to work as a gardener for a rainforest lodge in Costa Rica's Caribbean lowlands. There he developed a deep appreciation for the animals and plants of the rainforest and found that he also enjoyed interacting with the lodge's international guests. After studying English and receiving training on the flora, fauna and birds of Costa Rica, Gilberth began leading groups of learners including many Road Scholar participants, sharing his enthusiasm for Costa Rica's natural treasures.
Profile Image of Ivan Castillo
Ivan Castillo View biography
Ivan Castillo — a Costa Rican naturalist and avid birder — trained as a naturalist at the Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Research Station. He has a degree in sustainable tourism management from Costa Rica’s state university system. While growing up in the lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, Ivan's passion for nature developed early. Neotropical fauna and flora are what he loves and knows best. He has spent more than a decade leading ecotourism travelers and educating them on the region’s ecosystems.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Search for a Title
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
by Twan Leenders, Robert Dean, Jim Zook, Fiona Reid
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
National Geographic Costa Rica
by Christopher P. Baker
This stylish and informative travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
Sloth Slept On
by Frann Preston-Gannon
In this delightful children’s book, a group of youngsters happen upon a snoozing sloth and try to send him where he belongs. Never noticing the posters that a sloth has fled the zoo (albeit very slowly!) they finally address a package to "the rainforest." When it wakes up, this sloth is in for a BIG surprise! Written for ages 3 to 6.
The Ticos
by Richard Biesanz
This insightful, fact-filled portrait of the Costa Rican people details their culture, history and society.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
by National Geographic
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
Spanish Flash Cards
by Inc. Berlitz International
A standard playing card-size deck of 50 nicely illustrated flashcards geared for younger children. Each card features a colorful illustration with the Spanish word on the reverse.
Costa Rica Birds
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too.
The Most Beautiful Roof in the World
by Kathryn Lasky, Christopher Knight (Photographer)
A tropical botanist and her sons climb among the ropes and walkways of a rainforest canopy in this photographic odyssey. For ages 9-12.
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Barbara Ras
These 26 well-chosen stories by Costa Rican writers introduce the people, culture and land.
Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth, Ken Miyata
Two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists offer a lucid portrait of the tropics through 17 marvelous essays that introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforests.
The Birds of Costa Rica
by Richard Garrigues, Robert Dean (Illustrator)
This new edition covers 903 species of birds with hundreds of new, supplemental or revised color illustrations by Robert Dean and revised color-coded range maps.
The Field Guide to Rain Forest Animals
by Nancy Honovich
A unique children's guide to eight Amazon animals that includes photographs, illustrations, maps, fascinating facts and a diorama activity. Written for ages eight and up.
Nancy Drew, The Scarlet Macaw Scandal
by Carolyn Keene
Nancy and her friends head for Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park to relax and study monkeys when they stumble upon, naturally, a mystery to be solved.
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with color illustrations of Costa Rica’s more visible species of butterflies and moths. Includes the distinguishing markings or behaviors of each species.
A Brief History of Central America
by Hector Perez-Brignoll
A good overview of the region’s economic, political and social history through the 1980s by a professor at the University of Costa Rica. Well-written, informative and concise.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
by Jane Koutnik
History, religion, daily life, food, health and safety are all covered in this accessible pocket guide to Costa Rican customs, etiquette and culture.
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
by Adrian Hepworth
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
The Forest in the Clouds
by Sneed B. Collard III
This slim introduction to Monteverde for readers ages 6 to 8 features Michael Rothman's richly detailed paintings.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
by David Rains Wallace
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace often weaves his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource.
Costa Rican Wildlife
by Pocket Naturalist
This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles. We also carry plastic cards for Costa Rica Birds (Item CRC56) and Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths (Item CRC57), $6.95 each.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
by Adrian Forsyth, E.O. Wilson (Introduction), Michael Fogden (Photographer)
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodiversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
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