Destinations: Family Adventure Travel
by Bridget Rees

If your family is like a lot of others, there’s a good chance your kids are looking beyond the standard campfire or amusement park to a more extreme version of the annual family vacation.

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Glistening rainforests, mysterious ancient civilizations, active volcanoes, animal anomalies, untouched frozen panoramas. Sound intriguing? For many families the answer has been a clear “yes” as they’ve decided to save up and ship out—on their own international adventure that is. Many people are looking for a vacation that will provide a few jaw-dropping moments along the way, and they’re quickly becoming more and more eager to bring the kids along for the ride.

If ditching the summer swimming pool for a kayak and pair of binoculars sounds like it could be a good option for your family, here are the best sites to consider when starting your family’s next adventure.

Costa Rica

Rainforests. Volcanoes. Cloud forests. White-water rafting. Butterfly farms. No, you won’t find many rollercoasters or spinning teacups in this breathtaking land, but you will find an adventure at every turn and memories so amazing you’ll hardly be able to describe them upon returning home.

Start off in the Braulio Carrillo National park, located just twenty kilometers northeast of the capital city, San Jose. Take a hike on one of the narrow trails and keep your eye out for wildlife like toucans, trogons, eagles, jaguars, and ocelots. The clouds rimming the rainforest canopy mean you’ll feel like you’re walking through a scene in Gorillas in the Mist.

The next day may include a white-water rafting trip on the Pacuare River, which was recognized by National Geographic as one of the top five most beautiful rafting rivers in the world.

And you certainly would not want to miss the Arenal Volcano, considered one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. Then, for your next adventure, the fire of the volcano could be countered beautifully by a guided horseback tour to La Fortuna Waterfall, which is two hundred feet high, at the base of which is a pool where you and the family can take a refreshing dip.

No adventure trip to Costa Rica would be complete without a journey into the fascinating Monteverde Cloud Forest. Much of Monteverde’s appeal comes from its amazingly diverse ecosystem, boasting 130 species of mammals, five hundred species of birds, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 3,000 species of plants. Take a zip line throught the tree canopies and later visit the butterfly garden and enjoy the more than 40 species of local butterflies.

Costa Rica adventure tour age recommendation: Costa Rica is a great choice for a first-time international family trip because it is safe, it has the highest literacy rate in Latin America, and it has great facilities for tourism and healthcare. It is doable for childeren ages 6+, but children a bit older (10+) can go on the river rafting trips and the zip lines.

Approximate cost of this or a similar tour: $1,800 per person, 7 days

For more information:* infocostarica.com

Galápagos Islands

Your first questions may be: Now, where are they again? The answer is about six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador (northwest South America). If your high school geography isn’t quite a acute as it once was, maybe your biology is—if you remember, that it was here that Charles Darwin began to develop his theories on evolution by natural selection.

And it’s no wonder the animals of this small volcanic island chain would inspire a certain level of scientific intrigue—the flora and fauna of this archipelago are truly unique, making this the perfect educational, hands-on family adventure.

Most tours between the islands take place on cruise ships or yachts and from there you’ll embark on a variety of excursions where you’ll be able to have close-up encounters with animals like iguanas, penguins, giant tortoises and sea turtles, flamingos, and fur seals—not to mention those famous Darwin finches and hundreds of other truly unique seabirds.

And if underwater animal life also piques your scientific imagination, you certainly won’t be disappointed as you explore the coral reefs and submerged craters with ecosystems all their own.

In many ways, time has forgotten this volcanic hideaway in the middle of the ocean, making it the perfect place for you and your family to forget the cares of the world.

Galápagos adventure tour age recommendation: Perfect for children ages 8+, particularly if they are able to swim, which makes the trip much more enjoyable. The islands are especially enjoyable and educational for teenagers interested in biology.

Approximate cost of this or a similar tour: $2,500 per person for a seven-night cruise

For more information:* galapagos.org

Peru and Machu Picchu

This amazing land is overflowing with cultural wealth and staggering natural beauty. The travel possibilities are virtually limitless and will depend on your family’s specific desires, but the following is an example of the adventure that awaits you in this ancient kingdom.

Begin by visiting the fabled Lake Titicaca region—the world’s highest navigable lake at 12,400 feet above sea level and the birthplace of the Incan Empire. Within the lake are two islands: Uros and Taquile. On Uros, a floating island woven from lake reeds, you can explore the little town, which includes a school, church, and even shops—all made of totora reeds. On the neighboring island of Taquile, home of the Aymara people, you’ll enjoy watching their world-renowned weavers and be able to purchase their goods. Taquile is also the site of numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins.

Next, get ready to explore the Sacred Valley—the land of the Incas. One way to begin doing so is by embarking on the Orient Express Andean Explorer, a historic train remnant of the train cars of the 1920s. The ten-hour passage to Cusco crosses the Andes “Altiplano,” where the Andes are at their widest, and where you’ll see a landscape punctuated by Andean villages and herds of llama and vicuña.

Upon arriving at the fabled Machu Picchu, expert guides will inform you about the history, culture, and architectural wonder of this unparalleled site. Recently voted as one of New Open World Corporation’s New Seven Wonders of the World, the Inca citadel will undoubtedly leave you awestruck. As you explore the ancient temples, plazas, tombs, dwellings, and streets, you’ll be astounded at the unrivaled examples of Inca masonry.

Machu Picchu adventure tour age recommendation: This trip is best for kids ages 12+. They need to be able to walk, climb, and follow the instructions of guides.

Approximate cost of this or a similar tour: $2,000 per person, 7 days

For more information:* peru-machu-picchu.com

The Amazon

Brazil is the fifth largest nation in the world, so clearly the options for a trip to this sun-streaked country are numerous. However, if adventure is your specific aim, then what could be better than the enchanting Amazon?

Here’s one possible means of exploring the forest: From the town of Manaus you’ll be transferred to a pier and from this point you’ll take either a two-hour or fifty-minute ride (depending on whether your boat is “regional” or “speed”-style) to the Ariaú Amazon Towers. Remember The Swiss Family Robinson? Their tree house could easily put any backyard fort to shame, but now they’re not the only ones able to experience the “high life” when it comes to living in the trees. Ariaú Amazon Towers is the only hotel complex at treetop level in the Amazon Rainforest and includes two swimming pools at the height of the treetops, two observation towers, and a beautiful view of Rio Negro and the Amazon Forest.

Now that you’re actually in the forest, you can embark on a variety of excursions like jungle treks, motorized canoe tours to native villages, alligator spotting, piranha fishing, zip lines, and helicopter rides.

Amazon adventure tour age recommendation: Great for kids ages 6+ who will love things like alligator spotting and piranha fishing. The Ariaú Jungle Lodge is known for catering to its younger visitors.

Approximate cost of this or a similar tour: $800 per person, 5 days

For more information:* Visit panam-tours.com for more information on these and other similar adventure tours.

Antarctica

Move over Sir Ernest Shackleton; here come the Joneses! Simply saying the word “Antarctica” conjures up feelings of adventure and discovery. No place on earth remains so unchanged, so unknown. Its isolation makes it ideal for whale and bird watching, photography, and for those wanting to scratch that adventurer itch.

Can you imagine waking up to a chorus of seabirds whose calls are only muted by the bellowing of thousands of seals? Or, can you picture walking along colossal ice formations, sculpted mountain slopes, and extinct volcanic craters?

Getting to the white continent is not cheap, or easy, but it’s also not as nearly impossible as you may have thought. Most trips for tourists leave via cruises from Chile or Argentina. Visits to the white continent can include:

• The Falkland Islands (they lie off the southeast coast of Argentina)
• The Antarctic Peninsula
• The Drake Passage, which is the passage between Antarctica and South America—a great spot for viewing whales, dolphins, and seabirds like albatross and penguins
• Deception Island, an active volcano comprised of steaming beaches and ash-lined glaciers
• Brown Bluff, a 2,500-foot promontory that towers over tens of thousands of nesting penguins
• Paradise Bay, a protected harbour surrounded by breathtaking peaks and spectacular glaciers, and is also a haven for whales
• Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain covered in ice where Ernest Shakelton and his men finally made landfall after their ship was crushed and they escaped in open boats for sixteen months!

Antarctica adventure tour age recommendation: This trip is best for ages 16+ because of the cost involved. Tour operators note that an Antarctica cruise is sometimes a gift for a child turning 16 or a high school graduation gift from parents or grandparents.

Approximate cost of this or a similar tour: $9,000 per person, 10 night cruise

For more information:* coolantarctica.com

*Pricing can vary widely depending on such variables as airfare, tour customization, travel company, hotels, guides, tours, excursions, entrance fees, and meals.

LDS Living Magazine, Mar/Apr Issue

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