Costa Rica Adventures by Disney: The Vacation of a Lifetime

If the above describes you, I have a secret to let you in on. There is a way to have a vacation of a lifetime and not plan a single detail. You just show up and they take care of the rest. You won't even have to research a thing, entertain your children, or worry about your next meal if you don't want to. You can just relax. That is how you will feel if you go on an Adventure by Disney tour. They are first class all the way and you can leave all your planning and worries at home and just enjoy your vacation.

Adventures by Disney offers guided trips throughout the world. Whether you choose to saddle up in Wyoming or brave the jungles in Africa, Adventures by Disney will take care of every moment and you can just sit back and enjoy the view.

My family was fortunate enough to win an Adventure by Disney to Costa Rica this summer. From the moment we arrived at the San Jose airport, I did not have to plan a single detail of our vacation. Our two guides for the week were Michael and Fico. They helped us settle into our hotel and filled us in our upcoming adventure.

Our first there days were spent in Arenal, which was a two hour bus ride from San Jose. On the way there, we stopped at the beautiful La Paz Waterfall and Butterfly Gardens. We took an easy hike to the bottom of a very refreshing waterfall and then wandered around the world's largest butterfly garden.

Our tour bus arrived at the Hotel Arenal Kioro just in time to take in a quick sunset view of the volcano before it disappeared into the mist. To say this hotel is spectacular would be an understatement. It is by far the nicest hotel at which any of us had ever stayed. The view from the room was phenomenal. You could practically reach out and touch the volcano from your balcony! After a leisurely buffet breakfast overlooking the volcano the next morning, we headed out for our biggest adventure of the trip, a zipline tour! I am very afraid of heights, so trust me when I say, if I can do it, anyone can. You are literally hanging hundreds of feet up in the air, flying over the rainforest from platform to platform. After a mini test ride to make sure you really want to go careening through the jungle, you are off! Children must be at least eight years old to zipline. They are able to ride tandem with an adult if that makes them (or you) feel more comfortable. For children younger than eight or adults who choose not to take the zipline, a very pleasant, slow gondola ride is waiting to take you back down through the rainforest.