Costa Rica is one of the best countries to travel to with kids. There is much to see and do, from wildlife to beautiful beaches, forests, jungles, and mountains. Not only will the kids have fun, but they will also learn a lot. The weather is also favorable throughout the year, and most areas are safe.
From my many vacations in Costa Rica, I highly recommend it for families with kids. Not only is it cheaper, but it also has so many activities that it’s hard for your kids to get bored. Costa Rica is a family-oriented country; the locals love kids. Most places are very accommodating.
Key Takeaways
Costa Rica is kid-friendly, whether traveling with babies, toddlers, or older kids. Various activities include swimming, hiking, snorkeling, ziplining, and even farm tours. Most of the accommodations are also kid-friendly. Here are my few key takeaways from Costa Rica with kids:.
- Getting around Costa Rica might be challenging, especially with kids in tow. However, you can opt to stay in one central place and book tours and shuttles to different places. Alternatively, rent a car and travel as much as you want.
- Many Costa Rican resorts, hotels, and restaurants are kid-friendly. While most will offer a kid’s menu, others have chefs who can make your kid’s preference.
- No matter which part of the country you’re in, you can visit beaches, national parks, volcanoes, parks, or rainforests. Research the areas you want to visit correctly to confirm if the activities you want for your kids are possible.
- Costa Rica is generally a safe place to visit with your kids. However, Playa Hermosa has high tides, making swimming or surfing unsuitable.
Getting Around Costa Rica With Kids
You can fly to Costa Rica from most regions, such as the UK, North America, and the EU, and either land at San Jose or Liberia International Airport. Direct flights make traveling with kids even easier and more comfortable—fortunately, several hotels near the airports offer complimentary airport transfers.
When you land in San Jose, connecting to the other parts of Costa Rica will be easy. You can use the well-run bus system if you are traveling on a budget. However, using the public transport system with kids will require a lot of planning. I recommend renting a car at the airport to make traveling with kids easier. Remember to rent some car seats and strollers, too!
Bus transport can be challenging during the peak season, considering the locals also use the same buses. Secondly, buses might only reach some accommodation places, so you must hire a taxi. Plus, you can stop for some sightseeing and water breaks with your rental car.
Opting for guided tours when you travel to Costa Rica with kids is a great option. Guided tours will enable you to visit multiple attractions within a short time. The guides are also knowledgeable, and your kids will learn a lot. As a parent, you will also have time to enjoy the adventures without worrying about the logistics.
The Best Time to Travel to Costa Rica With Kids
I recommend traveling to Costa Rica with kids during the dry season (November to April). However, it’s important to note that it is also the busiest season. Hence, planning and booking accommodation and rental cars in advance is essential. Also, traveling to Costa Rica around Christmas and Easter can be expensive.
You can still travel to Costa Rica during its rainy season (May to October). Being a tropical country, the rains are short and unpredictable. However, I recommend not visiting during September and October, as the rain is heavy and some places might not be open.
It’s also important to first research the areas where rain is heavy, as regions are different. The Caribbean Coast, however, experiences less rainfall than the Pacific Coast.
Which are the Best Vacation Places for Kids in Costa Rica?
I recommend the Pacific side of Costa Rica when traveling with kids. The Caribbean side is not popular with tourists and might be unsafe. The Pacific coast is also more diverse, and you will have more excellent options. The best places in Costa Rica also depend on the activities you want to do.
The good news is that most Costa Rican places offer a variety of activities suitable for kids of all ages.
Papagayo
It is one of the best places to travel with kids in Costa Rica. The Gulf of Papagayo is on the northern side of Costa Rica. Papagayo is 30 minutes from Liberia International Airport. Driving from San Jose Airport to Papagayo would take five hours, while a flight to Liberia Airport would take 40 minutes.
Papagayo might be expensive, but it has several beautiful resorts. The Andaz Papagayo and Four Seasons Resort are some places you can stay as you explore the region. My pick is the Four Seasons resort, which has a private beach and a kids club.
There are several farm tours around Papagayo where your kids can learn more about coffee, sugarcane, and chocolate farming and processing. Several beaches are nearby where you can take your kids to swim, snorkel, dive, and see marine wildlife.
La Fortuna
You can begin your adventures at the world-famous Arenal Volcano National Park. Proceed to the La Fotuna waterfall, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges for kids older than six years, or the chocolate farm. The Don Jorge chocolate farm was one of the highlights for the kids. The kids will learn how to make chocolate in the traditional Inca way or with modern methods.
The Arenal area has family-friendly eco-resorts where you can stay as you visit the various tourist attractions. The most interesting ones are
- La Fortuna Rainforest Glass Cabin With Suite
- Los Lagos Spa & Thermal Resort Experience
- Cabañas del Rio
You can visit the Tabacon spa for the kids to splurge at the waterpark. The Resort does have a day pass, which costs around $80. Alternatively, park near the Tabacon Spa and head east for the public hot spring section.
Monteverde
If your kids are outdoor types and love hiking and wildlife viewing, I recommend Monteverde. The region is home to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, where they can walk on the walkways above the trees.
Monteverde is also another place with a lot of farm tours. The Don Olivio Chocolate Farm teaches your kids about coffee, chocolate, and fruit farming. Your kids also get to eat the fruits on the farm that are in season. There is also a lot of wildlife.
You can also take your kids to the Sloth Sanctuary Selvatura Park, a few kilometers from Monteverde. There are also the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens. Curi Cancha Reserve is also one of the best places for birdwatching. Monteverde also has some great restaurants where you can have your meals.
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is a must-see in Costa Rica. Your kids will see various wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and big cats. If your kids are not up for hiking, there is a cafeteria at the end of the trail loop where they can have a clear view of the volcano.
Manuel Antonio National Park has several beaches. The downside is that you can only access them after paying the entrance fee. The nearest beach to the park’s entrance is Playa Manuel Antonio. Other beaches in Manuel Antonio include.
- Playa Espadilla Sur has a stroller-friendly walk and is well-shaded.
- Playa Espadilla Norte is outside the park and is the most child-friendly. It has a lot of food trucks, restaurants, and hotels along the beach.
- Playa Biesanz
- Playa Tulemar is a private beach; the only way to access it is by staying at the Tulemar Resort.
- Playa Jaco is excellent for older kids who want to learn surfing. It is a one-hour drive from Manuel Antonio. Playa Jaco has a few tourists, but its waters are calmer, making it ideal for your kids to swim and surf.
Some resorts even arrange jungle night tours where your kids will see and learn about nocturnal insects and reptiles. Apart from Manuel Antonio National Park, you can visit Rainmaker Conservation Park. I recommend having a few meals at the El Avion Restaurant.
Tamarindo
It is also on the Pacific Coast in Guanacaste province. Tamarindo has beautiful beaches and is known as a surfer’s destination. Playa Tamarindo has several diving schools if you have kids who want to learn to surf. The waters are also shallow, in case the kids want to swim.
Playa Langosta is a five-minute drive from Tamarindo. It is the ideal beach if you want to swim and not get distracted by the many surfers in Playa Tamarindo. Playa Langosta is also more kid-friendly due to its calmer waters.
Tamarindo also has some budget-friendly hotels and family-friendly resorts. Choose a hotel with kid-friendly facilities such as a kid’s pool, playground, club, and babysitting services. Most all-inclusive resorts offer such facilities and services.
San Jose
If you would rather not venture far from the capital city, San Jose is also an excellent place to stay with the kids. The city is also a great starting point for many family adventures, and I recommend staying for one or two days. It has many cultural places where your kids can learn a lot about Latin America.
The capital city of Costa Rica has numerous attractions, as shown in the table below.
| Kid-Friendly Tourist Attractions in San Jose | |
| Museums | Museo de Los Niños (Children Museum) |
| Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Salle (Museum of Natural History) | |
| Farm Tours | “La Casa de Cocoa” (house of Chocolate), |
| Doka Coffee Estate | |
| National Parks/Wildlife Rescue Centers | Braulio Carillo National Park |
| Refugio Animal | |
| Poás Volcano National Park | |
| Toucan Rescue Ranch | |
| Gardens | Butterfly Kingdom |
| La Paz Waterfall Gardens | |
| Lankester Botanical Garden | |
| Parks | Parque Diversiones (Amusement Park) |
| La Sabana | |
Best Places To Eat In Costa Rica With Kids
What I love about Costa Rica is the diversity of its cuisines and the freshness of its dishes. Most restaurants only serve meals with ingredients that are in season to ensure freshness. Even seafood meals are fresh from the lakes or rivers. There are also plenty of fruits in Costa Rica.
Some restaurants have kid’s menus for those with picky eaters. While various restaurants offer local dishes, most also offer other cuisine. Most chefs in Costa Rican restaurants will be fine preparing what your kids will prefer, even if it is fries, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, or any tasty dish they choose.
Costa Rican local dishes are simple meals that your kids will love. Gallo pinto, for example, is the main breakfast option in most hotels. It consists of rice, beans, and various vegetables. Casado, another local dish, comprises grilled meat (fish, beef, chicken, pork), rice, and beans.
But it’s not only meals that make these restaurants kid-friendly. Most have high chairs, and I have even seen some restaurants have a kids’ area so parents can have their meals undisturbed.
Is it safe to take kids to Costa Rica?
Yes, Costa Rica has developed so much that you and your family will be safe in most areas. The country is so secure that it does not even have an army. Costa Ricans live a straightforward lifestyle, embracing the “pura vida” culture, which means pure life. Learn a few Spanish words, as only a few locals might speak English outside the tourist areas.
Traveling throughout Costa Rica with kids is relatively easy and very safe. The locals are very welcoming and always ready to help. However, you should avoid some parts of San Jose. When traveling with kids, try to stick to the tourist areas. I would avoid visiting Playa Dominical if traveling with kids. It has too many hostels and a backpacker vibe, drawing a party crowd.
When planning activities for your findings, find out which areas are important and safe. Some areas are prone to natural hazards, such as volcanoes. Find out which beaches have calmer waters for kids to swim, surf, or dive. I would not recommend Playa Hermosa in the Guanacaste region, as its waves are strong and dangerous for kids to swim in.
Take out family insurance to help in case of accidents.
For accommodation, check out the 10 Kid-Friendly Costa Rica Resorts that offer great amenities for young travelers.
Conclusion
Costa Rica is one of the most exciting and safest places to travel with a kid. When traveling from various regions, the plane changes only once. There are various family-friendly accommodation options and kid-friendly places to eat.
In which parts of Costa Rica did your kids have the best vacation? Please share your experience.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
