Costa Rica with kids is the ideal choice, as the Central American country rises in popularity with growing tourists visiting each year. An influx of international visitors head to Costa Rica seeking to sample some of its famous pura vida lifestyle.
The tourism industry is rising in line with the growing numbers of visitors, which has created some awesome communities, along with a great infrastructure for outdoor activities. The ecosystems are well protected to ensure that the beautiful nature of Costa Rica can be enjoyed for generations to come.
So with its abundance of outdoor activities and beach towns, along with its beautiful nature and wildlife, Costa Rica is a very popular choice in Central America for families.
Let’s look at 7 fun activities which can be enjoyed in Costa Rica with kids, including beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls.
Mistico Hanging Bridges Park
With plenty of rainforests dotted around Costa Rica, there are many different ways families can enjoy nature and wildlife.
One of the most popular ways is from above on the hanging bridges at Mistico Park. Completing the 2 mile long trail at Mistico offers some excitement for adults and kids, with some of the 16 hanging bridges suspended high above the rainforest, providing stunning scenery. You can also expect a little rush of adrenaline if you are scared of heights!
Walking the trails with a guide is an awesome way to spot a variety of wildlife, with them being experts about the inhabitant’s homes and routines, along with providing binoculars and a telescope for the family to observe animals up close.
Most visitors on the two hour long official tours will spot animals such as monkeys, sloths, vipers, rare birds, and tarantulas. The broccoli tree is also a pretty fun tree which the locals point out to children.
The tours at Mistico Park are planned to be inclusive for all ages, however, if you want some more flexibility, you can explore the rainforest without a guide.
Enjoy a Tamarindo Beach Day
Whether it is surfing on the Pacific waves, or chilling watching the world go by with an ice cold beer at happy hour, the beaches in Tamarindo are the perfect location for families.
Surf lessons are available for all levels, including children, so adding a bit of adrenaline to your Tamarindo itinerary will tire the whole family out!
There is also the option to rent surf boards from various shops in Tamarindo, if you are an experienced surfing family, or want more flexibility for your day on the waves.
The daily high tide will dictate the timings of your surfing, however, there are many other activities to enjoy in and around the beach area, including yoga, massage treatments, or bike rentals.
A great free activity for the family is to walk up and down the Tamarindo beach, immersing in the pura vida vibes. Sunshine, exercise and the Pacific Ocean is enough to make any family happy!
If you want a break from the beachfront sun, there is an abundance of healthy food options and busy bars just back from the shore.
Search for sloths at Manuel Antonio National Park
Back to the rainforests, but this time one of the most popular National Parks in Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio National Park is located on the Pacific coast, and is known for its abundance of nature and wildlife. If you want to see a sloth in the wild, this is definitely one of the best spots to do so.
Despite Manuel Antonio being one of the smallest National Parks in Costa Rica with a land mass of just 1983 hectares, it attracts nearly 200,000 visitors per year.
The well maintained scenic trails in Manuel Antonio pass by the abundance of forests and Pacific Coastline, offering glimpses of many species of wildlife and plants in their natural habitats.
Due to its coastal location, families can enjoy snorkelling and diving, to explore marine life and coral reefs. The combination of terrestrial and marine habitats make for a unique ecosystem, which is very well looked after with its strong eco-friendly infrastructure.
The majority of day tours to Manuel Antonio include traditional Costa Rican meals, some free exploration time, and educational insights into the cultural heritage of the region.
Cool down with a swim at La Fortuna Waterfall
There are many iconic waterfalls to visit in Costa Rica, however, if you want to enjoy some family time, then La Fortuna Waterfall is a great option.
Swimming is allowed at La Fortuna Waterfall which makes it a fun place to cool down, while feeling the power of the impressive 70 metres high cascade.
A unique aspect of La Fortuna Waterfall is the beach area to the side of the main waterfall pool, which offers tranquil vibes to chill out listening to the sounds of the forest.
The surrounding rainforest is picture perfect and your senses will be heightened even more so by the echoes of wildlife, and the screams from travellers enjoying the canopy zipline tour above.
After you have climbed the 500 steps back up to the visitors centre, you will find a restaurant serving food, cold drinks, and ice creams.
The beautiful waterfall can be reached by taxi or Uber, as it is located only 5 kilometres from the centre of town.
Montezuma Zip Lining Canopy Tour
Families can enjoy zip lining across the canopy throughout Costa Rica, however, Montezuma is a great choice as the canopy tours also include visiting waterfalls and cliff jumping.
The private pools at the top level of Montezuma waterfalls are an awesome spot to chill out while immersing in nature. You will hear a combination of howler monkeys, and the cascading water.
In total there are 8 zip lines to complete of varying gradients and length, with all of them offering surreal panoramic views of the rainforest and Pacific Ocean.
A visit in the shoulder seasons of May and November is a great time to enjoy the Montezuma canopy tour, with fewer crowds, but cheaper prices and plenty of dry days.
You will have to tackle a steep hill to reach the starting point of the canopy tour unless you book at the ticket office in town, and then you will be picked up in the buggies by a member of staff from the adventure centre.
Tamarindo Estuary Tour
One way of adding some relaxation to your family trip to Costa Rica is to enjoy Las Baulas National Park on the outskirts of Tamarindo. The popular Tamarindo estuary tour takes visitors on a two hour safari style boat trip around the murky waters of Las Baulas.
At the size of 167 square kilometres, the protected ecosystem is home to a vast array of flora and fauna, including crocodiles, howler monkeys, and rare birds.
The experienced tour guides offer a brilliant service to guests of all ages, including light mannered education for children through real life interactions with the local wildlife.
The tour guides expertly spot crocodiles and monkeys, before driving up close to the animals to allow visitors to take photos and observe them in their natural habitat.
A halfway pitstop to enjoy some fresh pineapple and water is enhanced by the tranquil surroundings of the estuary, which is only a matter of metres away from the busy beaches and Pacific Ocean.
Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Situated on the slopes of the Poás Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is an awesome spot for a family day out.
La Paz Waterfall is the highlight for many visitors and can be enjoyed during a mile long hike, which can be enjoyed on a leisurely stroll through the lush rainforests on site. This moderate hike is suitable for all ages, as it can be enjoyed at your own pace.
The gardens are abundant with tropical flowers such as orchids and Heliconia, which attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the beautiful setting.
For children who love animals, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is an ideal spot as there are various species which have been rescued.
Jaguars, pumas, monkeys, and sloths can be found in the grounds. A family favourite is the parrot which lives in the gardens, along with toucans.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is located around 45 kilometres North of San Jose and is a popular stopping point for visitors heading up to La Fortuna.
Some other popular activities to do with children in Costa Rica
● Visit Poas Volcano – A great basic introduction into how volcanoes work through observing volcanic activity, and walking around the grounds. There is also a giant crater to see, however, some days visibility is poor.
● Costa Rica National Museum in San Jose – You can learn about the history, culture and traditions of Costa Rica. There are a variety of activities to keep kids entertained, including a butterfly garden.
● Visit a sloth sanctuary – Founded over three decades ago, the Sloth Sanctuary in Cahita on the Caribbean coast is famous for rescuing and rehabilitating sloths. This makes a great spot for the family to learn about and observe sloths up close.
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica with kids?
The two main factors in visiting Costa Rica with kids are the weather and school holidays.
Dry season in Costa Rica typically runs from the months of November to April, which has minimal rainfall, high temperatures, long sunny days, and lower humidity. This is ideal for planning outdoor activities to keep the family entertained all day.
This also coincides with the school holidays in many countries, especially in the USA, which contributes heavily to Costa Rica’s tourism industry. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter all present opportunities for families to visit.
The wettest months are usually September and October which will be the worst time to visit Costa Rica, especially for active families who enjoy the outdoors.
Which is the best way for a family to travel around Costa Rica?
Car rental is the best option to travel around Costa Rica with kids as it is cost effective and offers more flexibility.
On a longer travel itinerary, you will want to include both rainforests and beaches to fully immerse in the beauty of Costa Rica. Due to the country’s geographical landscape and poor infrastructure in places, travelling between different destinations can take several hours, so using a car is an efficient option.
Shuttle buses are another transport option which is popular in Costa Rica, however, for a larger family the costs will add up, as the average price for a journey is around $50 per person. However, they are still a comfortable and relatively efficient way of traversing the Central American country.
A budget option for visitors is to use public buses as they are really cheap, with a one way ticket between San Jose costing as little as $5. This option will add time to your itinerary, therefore, not a viable option if you are on a shorter break.
BIO: Tom Henty is a UK Based travel blogger and the founder of Tom Henty’s Travel. He is on a mission to share tips and travel stories to a global audience, as he continues to focus on his goal of visiting over 100 countries.
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