2 minute read
Going Wild in Costa Rica
Family Interview
Families Worldwide Director Nick Joynes, his wife Helen and their twin daughters Sophia and Hannah, share their memories of a fantastic family holiday in Costa Rica …
Q Very briefly, where did you go?
Nick: We visited Tortuguero, Arenal, Monterverdo, Playa Hermosa and San José. Q What’s special about Costa Rica?
Nick: In a nutshell, beautiful scenery and wonderful wildlife. Helen: The fact that it has both Caribbean and Pacific coasts, as well as cloud forest, rainforest and volcanoes means it has a wide range of habitats to explore, and in turn a lot of different activities on offer. Sophia: The pineapple was delicious – the best in the world! And it’s a very friendly place. Hannah: Amazing jungles where you can see a lot of animals like scarlet macaws, sloths and nine-banded armadillos. I liked the zip-lining and canoeing. Q What were your highlights?
Nick: Seeing the girls appreciate the wildlife – that was great – plus the river cruises we did, and Playa Hermosa’s stunning beaches. Helen: The hanging bridges of Monteverde and zip-lining there was amazing fun. Sophia: Ziplining in cloud forest so high up. One of the lines was 800 metres above the ground and we went right through a cloud! I loved seeing spider monkeys and a tarantula. Hannah: The Tarzan swing at Monteverde. I loved swimming in a waterfall and going on a tour of a cocoa farm to see how chocolate is made (and we got to eat some too). Q What did you like about the accommodation?
Nick: All the places we stayed were great and family friendly. Helen: Each place we stayed at had a swimming pool which was great for the kids. Sophia: Housekeeping folded the towels to look like elephants, and we could swim at each hotel. Hannah: Lying in bed at Arenal looking at the volcano from my room, and swimming in the thermal springs there. Q Have you got any tips for travelling long-haul with kids?
Nick & Helen: Download plenty of films before leaving the UK and pack a hand luggage case with two or three days’ worth of spare clothes and supplies in case the main bag gets delayed. Give yourself a day/night to recover at the start of the trip and choose accommodation with a swimming pool where you can. Lastly try and get into the new time zone as soon as possible (use an app such as Timeshifter to help with jet lag). Q Would you go back?
All: Yes!
Costa Rica Wildlife Adventure
Visit rainforests, volcanoes and waterfalls on this family adventure. Spend time at a sloth sanctuary, look for birds in the rainforest and head to Osa Peninsula, a haven for wildlife watching. Costa Rica is perfect for families who are a little more adventurous, with plenty of activities on offer including kayaking, rock climbing and rafting.
Highlights:
ཀྵ See sloths, monkeys and crocodiles ཀྵ Go rafting on Sarapiqui River ཀྵ Zipline through Monteverde's cloud forest
