Susan Desmarais

Costa Rica is a favorite getaway for my clients. Typically, I have them fly into San José, and a driver will greet them at the airport and take them south to Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. There, they will spend three nights at the Los Altos Resort, a full-service property with a kitchen, beautiful views over the Pacific Ocean and an elevator that stops directly in the room. It is ideal for a large extended family.

Customers on this itinerary will typically spend three nights in the Manuel Antonio area, where I arrange for a guide to take them into the park. There they can spend a day at the beach and see sloths, birds and other animals and wildlife. After that, a driver takes them to Arenal Volcano and the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort.

Clients at Tabacon can dip in and out of the hot springs all they want, but I do recommend also taking advantage of the available outdoor activities and sports, which include zip lining and river rafting. This itinerary is perfect for families looking for something more adventurous than the average beach vacation.