Are you thinking about exploring Costa Rica with kids? Well, you’re in for a treat! This gem of Central America is a paradise for families looking to blend adventure with education and relaxation. It’s a good thing is you have a Tica (Costa Rican) to guide through this exotic country.
From the buzzing rainforests and serene beaches to the awe-inspiring volcanoes. Costa Rica is a playground waiting to be explored.
Whether you’re wildlife enthusiasts, beach lovers, or thrill-seekers, there’s something here for everyone in the family. So, pack your bags, grab your little explorers, and let’s dive into what makes Costa Rica an unforgettable family destination! 🌴👨👩👧👦🌊
PURA VIDA!
Is Costa Rica Good to Travel With Kids?
Absolutely! Costa Rica is an excellent destination for families traveling with kids. The country’s diverse environments offer a variety of engaging activities.
For instance, in Monteverde, kids can explore the cloud forests and learn about biodiversity. Meanwhile, in Manuel Antonio provides a perfect blend of beach and wildlife experiences.
The Arenal region is great for adventure-loving families, offering activities like hiking, hot springs, and canopy tours.
The country puts a deep emphasis on conservation and education. This means that many of these experiences are not only fun but also informative, making them ideal for children of all ages.
What Makes Costa Rica Perfect for Family?
Costa Rica’s reputation as a family-friendly destination is well-deserved.
The country boasts a variety of activities that cater to all ages, from exploring rainforests and beaches to learning about local agriculture and wildlife.
The welcoming nature of Costa Ricans and the country’s emphasis on tourism make it a comfortable and exciting place for families to explore.
Safety in Costa Rica with Kids
Costa Rica is generally safe for families as long as you hire a local guide or you know someone for your trust to guide your first time in the country. What it is always recommendable is to keep valuables secure and near you.
Besides to be an exotic paradise country, it is still not like countries like Japan or South Korea that are known for their security.
When it comes to wildlife, the country is home to diverse species, but incidents are rare, especially if you take precautions like using insect repellent or trying to do things you shouldn’t like trying to touch an alligator or touching a monkey. There are signs everywhere – especially in the national parks.
Which Side of Costa Rica is Better for Kids?
Both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of Costa Rica offer unique experiences for families:
- Pacific Coast: Especially the Guanacaste region, known for family-friendly beaches and resorts like Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo.
- Caribbean Coast: Offers a laid-back atmosphere with rich Afro-Caribbean culture in areas like Puerto Viejo and Cahuita.
Best Time to Visit Costa Rica with Kids?
The best time to visit Costa Rica with kids is during the dry season, from December to April. This period offers the best weather for outdoor activities.
Something you need to keep in mind is if you are coming from a cold country where the humidity is really low, in Costa Rica will be sweating like a pig – literally- because Costa Rica is a tropical country which means humidity of 100% and if you decide to go to places like Limon you’re effectively in a Sauna 24/7 whether its sunny or raining.
Therefore, it is recommendable to come between December and February because the temperatures are comfortable <22 to >30 Celsius degrees.
Once again, it depends where you are or where you want to go. Usually San Jose, the temperatures do not go up beyond >29 C. But if you go to, for example, Guanacaste (the Pacific Coast), you may feel you are like an over and being cooked slowly (<32 C).
Now March and April usually take place Semana Santa – [Holy Week]. These months are the hottest and driest, especially in the Pacific regions.
Temperatures can rise significantly, making it perfect for beach-goers but potentially challenging for strenuous outdoor activities like long hikes. The landscape can become quite dry, and some areas might even experience water shortages.
However, the raining season (May to November) can also be a good time to visit, with fewer tourists and lower prices, though be prepared for occasional rain showers (bring a really good windproof umbrella like this and your raining boots).
13 Top Family Activities to do in Costa Rica with Kids
1. Volcano Adventures with Kids:
Volcanoes are a majestic sight and hiking up to see a clear view of them is a rewarding experience in and of itself. You may have to hike through tall grasses, dense jungle and rocky outcrops, but the view it definitely worth it. You can go for a hiking trip or hire a tour guide for an educational tour while taking some great photos of the scenery. Some great volcanos to visit are at Arenal or Poás volcano. If you decide to visit Arenal then consider stopping at one of the many hot springs.
2. Hot Springs in Costa Rica with Kids:
Being a parent is a tough job, most of us work long hours either studying or for a business as well leading to stress and tense muscles. A wonderful way to let go and destress has to be soaking inside of a natural hot spring.
The natural springs are heated by volcanic activities and have minerals which further help give benefits to the body. Kids can choose to try warm or hotter springs, the swimming pools and even slides in some hot spring area’s to have even more fun.
Due to the water vapor some stones might be slippery. Make sure your kids have some sandals so they aren’t running barefoot on mossy rocks.
3. Farm Tours in Costa Rica with Kids:
With the tropical produce that is grown in the country there are quite a few thing interesting facts that you can learn about the fruits you might see in the aisle of your supermarket every day.
Being a country with amazing coffee (something we acutely miss living in Poland now) there are a lot of coffee tours on the coffee plantations. There are a few tours about the Cacao fruit where we get out chocolate. Other tours you might find are for sugar cane, pineapple and banana’s which are all interesting in their own right.
Michael has gone to two or three coffee tours which are a very interesting process overall and a bonus is trying out the coffee after the tour is over. The cacao tour and trying the old indigenous chocolate drink with chili pepper is unexpectedly really good especially if you are already a fan of dark chocolate.
4. Beach Days in Costa Rica with Kids:
Costa Rica has access to beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean side. Surfing is more popular on the Pacific side while the Caribbean side is great for relaxation and a taste of the delicious Caribbean flavors. Michael loves the Rice and Beans and Pollo Caribeño along with a refreshing Toad Water (Agua de Sapo) don’t worry it tastes much better than it sounds!
If you want a more developed side with large restaurants, and hotel chains then the Pacific coast has a lot to offer. If you want a more laid-back experience where you get to explore more then the Caribbean side might just be your favorite part of the country.
Take a look at our post about 5 great beaches in Costa Rica here.
5. Rainforest Exploration with Kids:
Rainforest Exploration with Kids: If you like the outdoors, aren’t afraid of heights and can hike then you might consider going on some of the hanging bridges in Costa Rica. They combine walking on paths next to the lush rainforests and the swinging chain bridges overlooking the forest and waterfalls.
Get Ready for hiking by getting a good pair of boots for men or women that aren’t afraid of a mud.
6. Sloth Sanctuary Visits with Kids:
Sloth Sanctuary Visits with Kids: Sloths are one of the more famous Costa Rican’s are known for as mascot for the phrase
“Pura Vida” showing a laidback and unhurried attitude towards life, instead of focusing on the little things that make life fulfilling.
Sloths are very interesting and laidback creatures that are a treat to see in the flesh. You can let your children get the chance to see them up close in a variety of animal reserves and parks such as the Sloth Sanctuary Selvature Park.
7. Museums in San Jose with Kids:
Museums in San Jose with Kids: There are a number of places that might be of interest to the whole family for example the Costa Rican Center of Science and Culture includes El Museo de los Niños (Children’s museum), the National Auditorium (Teatro Auditorio Nacional), the National Gallery (Galeria Nacional), and El Complejo Juvenil (Youth Complex for kids aged 10-20) which includes the Crea+ activity area and the Penitentiary Museum (Museo Penitenciario).
If you have kids interested in Science or History then the Museum La Selle has exhibits about natural science and the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum are a great destination to learn more.
8. Zip-lining in Costa Rica with Kids:
A traditional zip-line is a fun experience for both kids and adults and you may have seen breathtaking views online of ziplines over a city in far off places such as Dubai. In Costa Rica, they lean toward a different type of zip-lining known as Canopy Tours or Canopy Zip Lines.
These tours let you zip down at high speed amongst the canopy or above the canopy looking at the vegetation and animals in the Rainforests below. Michael recommends trying this as he has had a blast in 3 different canopy tours in different parts of Costa Rica.
9. Butterfly Conservatories with Kids:
See and smell beautiful flowers while learning about these important pollinators in that flutter around and come in all shapes, colors and sizes in the many butterfly sanctuaries.
Michael has gone to at least two, but the one he remembers was close to the Vulcan Poas for a Coffee Tour for Doka Coffee what isn’t really known is that they have a botanical garden with lots of butterflies which is a nice relaxing activity after learning about the process that coffee goes through.
Another great coffee tour is with Cafe Britt which besides the good coffee also have other coffee products such as Michael’s favorite: the addicting chocolate covered coffee.
10. White Water Rafting in Costa Rica with Kids:
A great way to beat the heat and get some fun in the water and a good workout for the whole family. On the river you can see Costa Rica nature in it’s full beauty as well as many animals.
There are more than a few popular rivers with differing challenges for families who are just beginning to those who are well acquainted and are looking for a challenge. Taking a tour will make sure you have the challenge for your families level with the gear and precautions to make an exciting and eventful day full of fun.
11. Night Jungle Tours in Costa Rica with Kids:
If you have adventurous kids who aren’t afraid of a couple mosquitos or the dark, then a night jungle your might be right up their alley. Armed with some flashlights and a sense of adventure you can discover a variety of nocturnal species that come to life at night.
Walk to the symphony of crickets, frogs, cicadas, birds and many others starting their nightly routine with knowledgeable guides to point them out and give a more detailed description of this ecosystem you may not have thought of before.
12. Crocodile Bridge in Costa Rica with Kids:
Observe crocodiles lazing in the Tarcoles River and see others throw meat scraps to feed to hungry reptiles at the Rio Tarcoles Crocodile Bridge. Just remember to park your car on one side of the bridge before walking to the center to take a look.
Avoid making quick stop in the middle of the bridge to take a look at the crocodiles as police patrol from time to time to make sure the traffic isn’t obstructed by cars parking to see this interesting sight.
13. Birdwatching in Costa Rica with Kids:
With Costa Rica’s ecological diversity there are many species of birds that reside in the country as well as lots of birds that migrate to the country in the colder months.
For bird watching afficionados there are many places to visit such as the Curi Cancha Reserve to have the chance to see many beautiful species of birds while walking through trails.
If you want to get into birdwatching consider getting some binoculars in preparation for your trip.
