Thanks! We can’t get to the unschooling gathering in costa rica later this fall, but we still long to go with our 6yo daughter. thanks for the tips!

Would love to visit there some day!

A woman I used to work with says Costa Rica is very friendly. I think that may get on the “to visit” list once we get back to the states.

Awesome post! The volcano looks amazing. Looking forward to going there one day. :)

These are really great suggestions. Not the typical Go to Manuel Antonio and Monteverde that you might find else where. A couple of these suggestions are new to us and we are going to check them out. Great to find your blog.

We have a family travel program to Costa Rica. We work with Kids Saving the Rainforest and all proceeds go to the Saving Mono Titi Conservation Project and the Eco Preservation Society.

http://www.ecointeractivetours.com/Eco-Family-Vacation.html

My hubby and I honeymooned in Costa Rica and I am a fan of many of those places. But I honestly had never even considered it with kids. Great tips and you’re right–there are some fantastic family-friendly activities!

Thanks, Jenny! These are great tips. We’ve been trying to figure out when is the best time… as in what are the best ages to bring young children to Costa Rica. As you say, obviously white water rafting and zip lines are out. Any advice on how old kids should be to make the most of the CR trip and kid-friendly activities?

I’ve been to Costa Rica with kids from 1-9 (my daughter had her 1st birthday there…thus the reference to the yummy Musanni cake in Sarapiqui). Babies are pretty easy to travel with- just put them in a backpack or sling and go.

Once they don’t like to spend a lot of time being carried anymore (ages 15 mo-3 depending upon personality) but aren’t old enough to do a lot of walking, it’s worthwhile hiring a babysitter to travel with you at least part of the trip.

For us, ages 3 and up have been great even without a sitter. They’re excited enough by the new sights, frogs, monkeys and cool big leaves and vines to keep moving along the easy flat trails (like Tirimbina Wildlife Refuge in Sarapiqui and they SkyWalk or Selvatura canopy walk in Santa Elena) and can do the activities in the list above.

If you want to do a bit more like horseback riding and longer hikes you might want to wait until your kids are 6 or 7.

Really it can work for any age with just a few adaptations- have fun!

oops- looks like I still had the Amersfoort Zoo website link in my previous post. Sorry! My actual website is here. Feel free to steal my Costa Rica with Kids itinerary and do it yourself. I can also help with hiring a sitter in Costa Rica.

just wanted to know this other Jenny Jensen here in Costa Rica… needless to say I’m not the author Jenny Jensen.

what about boys 6 and 5? possibly traveling with just Mom? in the summer? any recommendations on 2-3 week house rental? and time to practice our spanish?

Summer is the rainy season but everything is green and more flowers are blooming so it’s not a bad time to travel to Costa Rica. It is likely to rain for at least a couple of hours every day though- often the mornings are dry, it rains for a while after lunch, then dry again for evening and sunset and rains again at night. No guarantees, though! With climate change, the reliable patterns of the past are gone. 6 and 5 are good ages to visit- they’ll have fun! Sorry I don’t know about house rentals- I just do lodges. Good luck and have fun!

Hi, we will be going to costa rica in late august for 10 days with our girls 3 and 5. We are coming from the uk and want to keep distances to a minimum. We want to see plenty of wildlife (sloths preferably) but because of little legs would like to see them without long treks. Am keen on the Arenal and Manuel Antonio areas (easyish canopy walks, hot springs, boat rides and lovely beaches with monkeys) but think caribbean side will be better weather and less developed. we want to have a little bit of chill out time too. Love the idea of being in a lodge with monkeys waking us up and strolling to the beach. what do you think would be a good itinerary for us and how should we travel (don’t fancy 6 hour drives). Would you recommend 4wd or a mix of shuttles and flights? Eagerly awaiting your response. Many thanks.

@Suzanne: we’re leaving for Costa Rica in 2 days. I’ll report my findings back to you on our return. =)

Hi Suzanne, August is the rainy season so you won’t have to worry about crowded sites and you’re right the Carribean side doesn’t have such a defined rainy/dry season as the Pacific side. If you want to stick to the Carribean side, I’d start with Sarapiqui (classic rainforest area with sloths and monkeys and the rare green macaw). It’s not very touristy but has a lot to do. It’s only 1.5 hrs from the San Jose airport. From there, you can visit some of the beaches between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo
(2-4 hrs drive) which are much less touristy than the Pacific side and are really lovely. If you go on your own, I’d rent a 4WD car. In the dry season you can get by with a regular car. My favorite way to travel in CR is with a local guide who also serves as a driver. It’s not as pricey as you’d think. I can recommend some good ones if you’re interested. Check out my Global Family Adventures website for a sample itinerary- feel free to borrow any or all of it to do on your own! Have fun!

Hi. We were invited to a wedding in Playa Herradura, CR with our 4 year old, extremely active daughter. If we wanted to take a week afterward to explore, might you be able to suggest an itinerary for us? Thanks! Love your blog!

Hi, thanks for the advice on the Puerto Viejo. Think it looks more appealing (and cheap!) than MA (which has been described as dirty and touristy – is this true?). Only concerns are the kids – didnt fancy taking malaria tablets and it looks like distances are greater (especially as we want to fit in Arenal). Do you have any suggestions of itineraries for PV and Arenal in 10 days (poss via saraquipi as you suggested)? Do you recommend any lodges in PV (or thereabouts) that is good for little children (pref with pool) and finally do you have any ideas about prices for the private driver between these places? Many thanks again – Susi

Hi Suzanne,
You could do Arenal to Sarapiqui (2 hrs) to Cahuita area or Puerto Viejo. There’s not much for hotels with pools because the area isn’t super developed. That makes for a quieter, cleaner beach. There are a couple of hotels on the edge of Cahuita at Playa Negra with pools (Magellan Inn & Chalet Hibiscus). A private bilingual driver/guide is about $120/day which includes gas, drivers meals, etc. I don’t know any lodges in PV that are good for kids- I haven’t been there in 10 yrs and it was mostly budget surfer type accomodations then….

If you had the choice Jenny when would you go with a 5yr and 11year old who love animals but also would like time on the beach and snorkelling. We would also like to do some short treks
Reading through my thoughts are that it appears that we should delay a trip until next year and the dry season. Possible during easter holidays next year when children will be 6 and 12yrs and could possibly include a pony trek too.

I am worried about us spending 2 weeks in rain as we will be trying to get away from than in England. We are not sun-worshippers either so don’t want heat ( the children are both pale skin red heads! )

Hi Jenny,

I have a 5, 8, and 10 year old and my husband and I are planning to visit CR for the first time during the end of June. I read over your itineraries and since some of the places you suggested to stay and do are “local” to help the CR businesses are their precautions you have if we are not traveling with a group? We you even advise since we are first time travelers. Im concerned about safety?

Hi Connie- Many individual couples and families from the US and Europe stay at these small family-owned lodges as well as groups. I don’t think you need to follow any additional safety precautions beyond the common sense stuff that you’d do traveling in any developing country (keep money and passports in a money belt; never leave cameras & valuables in a room without a safe, etc.)

Hi Sharon- The Sarapiqui- Caribbean Coast itinerary is good for what you’re looking for though it is HOT. You might want to add Monteverde Cloud Forest for a cool-off (up in the mountains). The Arenal volcano area is also a bit cooler than Sarapiqui and the coast. Have fun!

Hi there!
I just found your blog tonight when doing some more research on traveling this summer with my kids. My husband is unfortunately deployed to Iraq (ugh…stupid war) & i thought that perhaps we could turn something bad into something good by getting away for several weeks in August. Everyone I know thinks I am CRAZY b/c my kids are 8 months, 5 and 7 yrs. But I think it is perfect, b/c my baby loves to be carried on my back & the girls are great travelers. I would love any suggestions that you can offer me! Feel free to email me at my work email (included).
thanks!
Shawn Houllis

Go for it Shawn! You can do it. Might want to consider a private family-friendly guide/driver for ease of travel and an extra set of hands. I sent you an email.

Hi Jenny,
Years ago my wife and I honeymooned in CR. We spent time in Arenal (Tobacon lodge) and Manuel Antonio (Parador hotel). We had a driver take us around instead of renting a car and dealing with the messy roads ourselves. We had a fabulous time, including water rafting, horseback riding, and enjoying the wildlife.

We would now like to take our two kids, 5 and 7, to enjoy what CR has to offer for a week this coming August.

We are contemplating staying in Arenal as a focal point for the majority of our trip and driving out to excursions from there with a rental FWD. Since we never ventured to the eastern side last trip, we are thinknig about it now, especially with some of your recommendations above. Of real interest is Tortuguero however we see that most lodges ares accessible by boat only. We see there are some places where you can “park” your car for $10USD a night whilst you stay in Tortuguero, but are unsure if that’s a wise thing to do with a rental. most of the lodges there offer free transport, but that’s from San Jose. We are not interested in staying in San Jose.

Any suggestions regarding this?

Benjamin schatzman
Yorba Linda, CA

We are going to CR in Jan 2010 and this being our first time…we are open to going to any location. Our kids are little, they will be 2 and 4 at the time of travel so we wanted to stick to the beach stuff, they won’t be old enough to partake in more of the jungle type adventure (rafting, zipline etc.). Noticed that you mention a few places to stay but was hoping for more recommendations on lodging. Not too rustic but not a major chain hotel either. Have read suggestions to splitting up the time spent since there are so many varied areas. We only have 6 days total and would prefer closer to the Liberia airport since we have direct flights there. Would love any suggestions you have to offer. I am a bit overwhelmed reading about all the different parts. Thank you in advance!!!

Hi Benjamin,
You could do the Tortugero trip first and have them pick you up from a hotel near the airport and then rent a car for the next part of your journey to the Arenal area. There are also car rental places in Arenal. You could rent a car at the airport, use it around Arenal (in the town of la Fortuna), then drop it at the Arenal and arrange for a taxi to take you to Tortugero. I wouldn’t be surprised if those lodges in Tortugero offering free San Jose pickup would also pick you up from the Arenal area. It’s a shorter drive for them. Worth asking. Good luck and have fun!

Hi Young-Mi, Liberia is in Guanacaste and I haven’t been there since I had kids. The budget places I stayed in my backpacking days I wouldn’t recommend for a family. Sorry I can’t help you out there! I know there are a lot of spendy resorts popping up in the area which isn’t my scene. Sounds like that’s not what you’re looking for either. Have you looked at the New Key Costa Rica guidebook? They specialize in eco-friendly and off the beaten path lodge recommendations.

Just found your site! My husband and I are looking at going to CR in September with our 4 (young!)kids. Both of us backpacked through CR, but that was more than 10 years ago( without kiddso!) and things have changed so much that we don’t know where we should start. The kids are 5,4, 2.5 and 6 months. Are there even vehicles we can rent/hire that will fit all of us? What would you suggest if we had 2 weeks? One of the boys is very into turtles (animals in general), and the other into volcanos/space/etc.
Thanks!

Jessica-
You can rent a minivan or larger SUV that seats 6- though you’ll have to pack light as it may not leave much space for luggage. Another option if to hire a private guide/driver. Some have mini-buses that seat 9 so you could spread out a bit.

There are a few turtle sighting options in Sept. Green Turtles nest at Tortuguero National Park (reachable by boat/plane only) from July to October. The Olive Ridley nest in Ostional in Guanacaste for several days each month from August to September. You have to be lucky to hit the right day.

Volcanos and other wildlife are easier to spot. Consider my Costa Rica with Kids itinerary at http://www.globalfamilyadventures.com. You can sign up for one of our tours or do it on your own. Have a great time!

I just found your site and love your attitude. I traveled all over the world by myself, often on a whim, sans reservations and itinerary, before I had kids. Now that I have three kids, ages 7, 7, and 5, my husband and I find ourselves sticking to our well-traveled path of visiting relatives and vacationing within known places in the U.S. All of our kids have studied the rain forest, and we are eager to branch out and get out of our comfort zone. Costa Rica sounds perfect. We only have one week we can travel this summer (in July, we are late planning). Do you think it’s possible for us to pull something together and spend a week in CR? We are interested in the rain forest, the volcano, wildlife, maybe a little R&R on the beach (knowing it’s a tropical rain season, which can be unpredictable). Our sons love adventure, and our daughter is very into art. My husband and I are both avid hikers, and the kids are, to some extent, given their ages. It would be great if we could find a place where the kids could stay for at least one morning so we could go off and explore on our own, but if not, we will make do.

Anyway, do you think it’s possible for us to pull a quick trip together without breaking the bank? We’d prefer to stay in two, maybe three places, not pull up every day and drive long distances. Also, do we need any vaccines or other medical precuations at this late notice? I’ve gone to third-world countries in the past with a few days notice and haven’t had a problem, but that was before kids. Also, one kid has a milk allergy and another has a nut allergy. Will that be a problem?

Thanks so much in advance. Love your site!

Hi Patti-
Patti- Yep, you can do it! I’m planning a trip for another family right now who’s going in June so you aren’t as last minute as you think. I’ll send you a private email with more info so I don’t write a book here.

As for vaccinations, check with your local travel clinic. Hep A (for waterborne hepatitis) is always a good idea beyond what your kids probably already have (tetanus, etc). Being careful to drink only bottled water and pasturized milk/juice and wearing bug repellent at all times can prevent most problems. Happy travels!

Hi Jenny,
We are thinking of going to CR for my wife’s 50th birthday. We looked at a Caravan tour, but realize that our 17 yr. old son would be BORED to death. Is there something you can recommend that we would both enjoy. (We’ve never done an organized tour, so don’t feel the need to do that, but would be open to that, too.
Thanks!

Hi Cynthia,
You could do a custom tour on your own with a guide/driver. Lots of flexibility that route. Check out my website (www.globalfamilyadventures.com) for a sample itinerary. The itinerary is written for families with younger kids but you can just substitute the more active activities at each site such as rafting, horseback riding, canopy zipline, surfing, etc.

If you decide you want a group tour with other kids for your son to hang out with, a good though pricey option for families with teens is Generations Touring Company. Have fun!

I’ll be traveling late in July and the info on car rentals has been very helpful !

My husband and I are thinking about travelling to Costa Rica for a month with our 3 children 10, 4, and 18 months old. My husband is Costa Rican, from Puerto Viejo but this is the first time we’ll be travelling there with three children. Do you have any tips? We’re considering NOT renting a car because of the expense and just taking buses and taxis. We’d like to see Arenal but I’m so nervous about taking busses! Any tips?

Megan,
I’ve been all over CR by public bus and it is generally safe and reliable. I usually feel safer in a bus than in a car, but that’s just me. You do have to keep an eye on luggage that is stored under the bus- if others are getting off before you- they sometimes will try to grab your bag. I’ve seen it happen a few times. Keep passports, money, etc on your body at all times. There are also tourist shuttles run by Grayline and InterBus (both have websites where you can pre-reserve your trips)- they run between the tourist attraction towns usually twice a day and are nice and air conditioned but fairly pricey. Public buses don’t have seatbelts- tourist buses sometimes do but you can’t count on it even though they tell me that they have them when I email them- I’ve found that in practice it’s hit or miss.

Any lodge can arrange transport to your next location- usually by minivan taxi. Be sure they have working seatbelts before you load everyone in and have a set price before beginning the trip. Arenal is only a few hours from the airport- though I remember it taking quite a few hours longer last time I went by public bus as there was not a direct connection and I had to do a stopover in the middle. That was several yrs ago so there may be a better connection now. There are some websites that list out the current bus schedules- do a google search.

Jenny,

thanks for all the great ideas. We are traveling to CR in August and were planning on heading to Manuel Antonio, but are now concerned that it may be the equivalent of Times Square. We have an 8, 5, and 2 year old and want to spend a good amount of time just relaxing on the beach, but are interested in doing a few easy to reach excursions. Will MA feel overly touristy in August? We are not looking for a fancy resort, but something a little upscale, but small. We didn’t have much luck finding those on the Caribbean side. Any thoughts? thanks

Hi Jenny,

I will be travelling next month for a long weekend for a wedding to CR. I will be travelling with my 11 month old son, but I still like to do a tour one of the days. Which one of the tours do you recommend me with an 11 month old?

Thanks,
Patricia

Hi Patricia,
What area/town will you be in for the wedding? Does your 11 mo old like to be carried in a backpack or would you prefer a more sedate boat or bus type day-tour? Let me know and I’ll see what ideas I can come up with for you!

Hi Neeta,
Manuel Antonio is one of the busier tourist attractions in Costa Rica during the high season of Dec-March and the mini-high season caused by school summer vacations in July-August. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth going to. It is truly lovely. The beach itself is a national park and therefore undeveloped but busy with visitors during the day. The only downsides in my opinion are the daily park entrance fee and the fact that you can’t easily walk to the beach- most of the nice lodges are up on the bluff overlooking the ocean so you have to drive down- some of the lodges offer a shuttle.

There are some upscale options on the Caribbean side though not many. Upside is fewer people and you can get a place right on the beach- just walk out the front door and there you are. Prices are also lower for same quality. You might want to check out: http://www.costaricaTreeHouse.com or http://www.lacostadepapito.com or http://www.hotelsuerrepuntauva.com. I also like the carribean cottages at http://www.playanegra.cr

Hi Jenny, we are thinking of CR for week in Dec, We have a 5, 3 and 1 year old. Our aims are to do good surfing, relax and have some fun with the kids seeing some nature. How safe is it health wise for young children, and where do you reconmend we go without breaking the bank, however, making life easier with hotels/lodges with easy catering

Hi Roisin,
If you want to go in Dec- get your lodging reservations in asap. I just finished an itinerary for a family and found a lot of places were already full especially around Christmas. Nosara and Playa Hermosa are good surfing beaches for families (quieter, not much of a party scene) but they’re not cheap. Jaco has affordable options but can be noisy (discos, bars, etc) and has some problems with drugs, etc. But there are some nice places on the edge of town- avoid the weekends. For nature, I like the Sarapiqui-Arenal Volcano-Monteverde loop. These 3 locations have lodgings that cover the spectrum from budget to moderate to luxury. Have fun! For 1 week, I’d pick 2 or 3 locations. Don’t try to do too much or you’ll spend all your time driving between locations and not enjoying the sights.

Hi again Roisin,
I just realized I forgot to address your health questions- sorry! Here goes: CR has very good health care (available very cheaply to everyone) and actually a longer life expectancy than the US. Visiting a clinic as a tourist is easy – though hopefully you’ll never need to. The biggest tourist concerns in CR are the same as anywhere south of the border- mosquitos and water. We are militant about drinking only purified water and not eating food that could have been washed in tap water (salad, apples, etc). We also apply bug repellant with DEET (for those over 1) and reapply as directed. For babies/toddlers and anyone who doesn’t like to use a lot of DEET, permethrin treated clothes are a great option- you can buy pretreated stuff like the Bugg Off line from ExOfficio or treat your own with a bottle of stuff from a camping supply store. If you live in some parts of Europe, I recently discovered that they don’t sell the bottles.

Hi Jenny,
We’re thinking of heading to CR for a week – 10 days with 3 kids – twins age 3-1/2 and a 5 year old. Thinking of heading over in Spring time, preferably the dry season.

Kids are pretty good little hikers. Looking for one place to land for the whole time. Hoping for animal viewing where we won’t make any bird watchers hate us for life.

Would like a cabin or some sort of comfortable place to call home. Prefer a cabin or something over basic hotel, but we’re flexible on this. Close walking trails, perhaps suspension bridges, maybe a pool or beach. Primary goal to see the critters though. Looking for a place perhaps slightly less well traveled but still interesting. Any suggestions?
Thanks a million! Annette

Hi Annette,
Sarapiqui de Puerto Viejo (often called just Sarapiqui) is my favorite spot for off the beaten path and great wildlife and it has Tirimbina Wildlife Refuge with a huge suspension bridge and thumbnail size poison dart frogs which are very cute. Don’t know of any cabins there though… Arenal Volcano area is more touristy and has less wildlife but does have aerial tram/canopy suspension bridge/waterfall/hot springs. There are lots of cabins near the beach with option to do own cooking…I like the Caribbean coast but Nosara is also nice. Have fun!

Hi Jenny
I know you say there is no bad time to go to CR but if it was up to you and you had a family who don’t like it too hot and included 12 and 6 year old who love animals, climbing, snorkelling and the beach & would love a boat trip … when would you recommend going to CR and why?

Thanks

Sharon

Hi Jenny,

We were thinking of going to CR with my 8 and 5 year old daughters. I wanted to know if Dec after Christmas would be a good time to go. BTW – Are canopy tours safe for 8 and 5 year olds? Do you recommend any tour operators?

Thanks,

Niki

Hi Sharon-
What a hard question! My husband does not do well when it’s HOT HOT so I understand your point but… tough question. I think I’d try a shoulder season like October/November or April/May- just at the start or end of the dry season. There’s a chance of more rain but the the temps are a little cooler. If you can’t deal with the heat, you can always adjust your schedule to leave the rainforest earlier and head up in elevation to the cooler areas by Monteverde Cloud Forest or Poas volcano.

Hi Niki,
Dec after Christmas is a good time to go- it’s the dry season. But if you’re planning this Dec 2009 it may be a tough to get the lodges you want. Things do fill up. Canopy tours encompass ziplines from tree to tree, suspension bridges that you walk on through the canopy, and aerial trams (sort of like ski gondolas). The aerial trams are great for young kids as they have pretty high sides and seats. The suspension bridges I’ve done with babies in backpacks, running 3 yrs old and older kids- fun! I like SkyWalk & Selvatura at Monteverde. I haven’t ever done a zipline with or without kids- it’s not my thing. I prefer to move slowly through the forest and look for wildlife. I do know that some operators allow kids as young as 5 to participate, others require a certain weight or only allow kids 12 and up. Most have websites and you can email them for more info. One operator told me that they don’t allow young kids because they don’t weigh enough to keep the zipline momentum going and can stop half way. There are ropes to pull them in- but it could be scary for a young child to be temporarily stuck many meters above the ground…

Hi Jenny,
We are going to Costa Rica for the first two weeks of February with kids aged 2 and 4. We have a place reserved on Samara beach for about 7 nights, but the other time I would like to spend seeing wildlife. Do you think Monteverde would be our best option given that we will be going to Samara. We are flying stand-by so I’m not sure if we will be flying into Liberia or San Jose and won’t have a car.
Also, we aren’t really the tour group types. Do you know if the canopy walks and bridges require you to travel in a large group?
Thanks for any help!
Tracey

Hi Tracey,
Canopy walks/bridges in Monteverde don’t require you to arrive with a tour group. Just show up and pay the entrance price and off you go- exploring at your own pace. Monteverde to Samara would be a verrrry long day of travel but my favorite wildlife spots are even farther away. Monteverde is a misty, gorgeous atmospheric cloudforest, but don’t expect to see a lot of wildlife there and there’s a chance you won’t see any without a guide. If you’re not on a guided tour, at least sign up for the morning guided walk in the cloudforest- it’s amazing what the guides can spot that you’d walk right by. Have fun!

Hi Jenny: Love your site. We are planning a trip to CR with my 4 and 7 year old active boys and my parents. I’m more worried about accommodating the parents than the kids. They are older 68 and 88 but still very mobile and in good shape phsically. I was thinking of either renting a vacation rental or staying at a resort with the possibility of day trips to see wildlife. We have a friend who is a chef in Dominical but that’s on the Pacific side…I know you prefer the Carribbean. What would you recommend? Thank you!

Hi Susan,
Costa Rica is a popular retirement location for Canadians and increasingly more Americans so services for older travelers are pretty good as long as you’re careful about booking your lodges to avoid a lot of stairs, long walks on uneven trails between the lodge and restaurant, etc. I like the Caribbean coast better just because it’s quieter and less touristy but the Pacific coast is lovely too. I like to avoid the Jaco/Manuel Antonio areas especially during the dry season because they can be really packed. Not so many people go as far as Dominical though unless they are experienced surfers so that should be a nice quiet spot…though the road there is pretty rough in the last stretch past Quepos. Kids can’t swim at Dominical- waves are too rough- so that’s downside. Arenal Volcano area might be a good spot for a base for day trips. If you want to do a inland and beach location. Have fun!

Hi Jenny,
We are spending Christmas in Costa Rica with our kids, 4 and 1. We are taking a carseat for the 1 yr old. Do you know how strictly carseat laws are enforced there? I am not planning on taking a carseat for the 4 yr old.

Thanks!
-Mallika

Hi Mallika,
Have fun in CR! CR does have car seat laws similar to the US/European countries. I don’t know how strictly the laws are enforced- sorry. Luckily, I’ve never been pulled over! I did just come across a company that rents car seats and other kids equipment- they will deliver it to you at the airport. I’ve never used them so can’t recommend them personally but it’s an option. http://www.servicecarrental.com/baby_equipment.htm

Jenny,
We are planning a CR trip in July with our kids, 8 & 10. I want to do it all! I am not sure where to stay so that we can reach activities easily (there are so many beautiful spots). I’d love to get in zip-line, wildlife/rain forest, volcano, waterfall, hanging bridges, rafting, etc. It seems all sites only have tours, I would like to customize. Thanks for all the info!!!
Lynn

Hi Jenny,
I’m very happy to have come across your website since we are planning a trip to CR in March with our baby who will be 7 months at the time of the trip. We are doing 3 weeks in CR and have most of the trip planned but I have one remaining concern; Both my husband and I are biologists and would love to visit Corcovado NP. I’m wondering if you think this is feasible with a baby? We’ve also been told to go to Isle de Cano Biological Reserve, an island off Corovado but I’m starting to think that so much time on a boat (getting to Corcovado, getting to island, going back to Corcovado) is crazy. Any thoughts or comments?
We are currently considering staying at Poor Man’s Paradise Lodge and doing a day trip into Corcovado and another day trip to Isle de Cano….
Your input would be greatly appreciated!

p.s. In your experience, do you know of a good back back carrier you can recommend? Our daughter will only be 7mo so still quite small…. thanks again.

Hi Lynn- Check out my website (www.globalfamilyadventures.com)- we offer custom tours that include lodging and transport with a guide but not activites. Instead you receive a detailed activity list so you can pick you activities each day with your guide. You can also do this with a self-drive option and no guide – a good value but you won’t see nearly as much wildlife on your own. The activities you want are all included in the sample itinerary on my website. Keep in mind that many rafting companies won’t take kids under 9. Have a great trip!

Hi Marie,
The baby backpack carrier I used was Kelty Kids brand (Elite model). LOVED it! They probably have other models now. Make sure you have one with a sun shade. I used this with a 7 mo old in Peru/Ecuador and a 12 mo old in Costa Rica.

Corcovado is my FAVORITE place in Costa Rica (pre-kids). I haven’t been there with kids and wouldn’t with my kids-that’s one of the trips that we’re waiting until they can carry their own backpacks. But everyone is different- maybe it would work for you. I’d avoid any long boat rides- even the short panga rides on our Galapagos trip (with a 7 mo old) were rough- he HATED the life jacket. I’ve done the land route to Corcovado a few times backpacking- takes 2 days with a day long, gorgeous hike into the park to the station. We stayed at the Serena NP station on the camping platform but they do have rooms and a meals available- with prior reservation- all very basic. It’s also possible to fly in to the park and one family with kids did fly in while we were there, complete with nanny.

Hi there I am leaving to costa rica in about 4 weeks and will be using some of your recommendations. I am traveling with kids that are 5 and 8 to both sides of the country and am concerned that we may need to get shots for typhoid and malaria pills hep a?? Would you get these shots for your children or is it not a problem. I got duenge fever in Thailand and do not want to relive that ever if at all possible. I have heard a lot of people not getting shots and tell me not to get shots/meds but just thought I would see if you have any input??? Brian

Hi Brian,
As I’m not a doctor, I can’t give medical advice. It’s always a good idea to visit a travel clinic before a big trip. Bring your itinerary and they’ll often have a map showing malaria/dengue areas. I haven’t heard of a major Typhoid risk in CR…but a travel clinic could tell you for sure. Hep A is always recommended and my family keeps that one up to date. There’s no dengue shot that I know of – mosquito avoidance is your best bet. We wear permethrin treated clothes and use a bit of DEET (20% or so). We don’t take malaria meds as a personal choice but again are VERY careful avoiding mosquitoes. Have fun!

Hi Jenny,
I will be traveling with my wife and children ages 6 and 4 in April. I will fly into San Jose and need somewhere to go for three days that is between the airport and Playa Flamingo in Guanacaste where i need to wind up for the second part of the week for a wedding. I would like to do something where we can get a quick taste of the sites and activities in CR but still have a nice pool to relax at as my kids love to swim. That said i guess the Arenal area would be good..any suggestions? Or Manuel Antonio then Guanacaste.
Thank you

Hi Steven,
Yes- Arenal Volcano area would be a good mid-point with lots to do. Hot springs, hanging bridges canopy walkway, waterfall. If you want basic,budget but nice with a pool try Catarata EcoLodge (reviewed on this website) or for a more resorty place with lotsa pools try Los Lagos. Have fun!

Hi, we are traveling in March for a wedding in Heredia. Our plan is to fly in to San Jose and then travel to wedding then on to coast from there. Our children are 6, 4, and 2. We are open to either coast but would like to minimize car time as much as possible. Any suggestions you may be able to give would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Hi Amy,
You’re kind of at a midpoint in Heredia. It’s about a 3.5 hr drive to Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast, 4.5 hours to Cahuita beach on the Caribbean side or 4.5 hours to Nosara in northen Pacific. Hmmm. Jaco Beach is your closest bet at only 2 hrs…it doesn’t have the best reputation (kind of a party town) but there are a few nice quiet spots- I like the apt at Canciones del Mar.

Hola Jenny, I’m a tica living in the states for the longest time. Now I’m in freezing Ottawa, Canada. I was hoping to get away from the cold with my three kids 14, 8 and 5 year olds. Since I have family in San Jose I end up staying there a lot. I also have a time share in Playa Hermosa with which I’m stuck a bit since I pay $500 for maintenance fee for it.
Well, this time I would really like to take them to the Caribbean and Monteverde. I don’t have a ton of money to spend so it would be great if you could give me any suggestions as to good budget places to stay with kids.

Hola Laura,
A great budget option in Monteverde area is Hotel Atardecer within walking distance of everything in Santa Elena. They don’t have a website but their email address is hotelatardecermonteverde@hotmail.com. Email them in Spanish. Cabinas Don Taco is also a good deal but a bit musty. There are lots of budget places in Cahuita. I like Playa Negra (10 min walk away) better for families as it’s quieter at night (no loud music). Playa Negra Guesthouse is nice- they have simple rooms to cottages where you can cook for yourself. Not super cheap but a good deal for as close to the beach as they are.

Gracias Jenny! I might do a night at Arenal (any Fam. friendly budget ideas) and head towards Sarapiqui (haven´t been there in 20 years!) with a final destination to Limon. I´d appreciate any suggestions re. Sarapiqui also.
Again thanks! I think this is a great website. Lots of people approach me with questions re. their trip to CR. I will send them to you!

Hi Laura, For Sarapiqui budget lodge see Andrea Cristina B&B and for Arenal I like Catarata Ecolodge (both reviewed by me on this website). Have fun in CR!!! To see the hotel reviews, click on “Central America” on the list under “hotels” on the top left hand side of this page.

Hello Jenny,
We will be travelling to CR this spring with our 1 and 4 year-old and I am trying to figure out what to do about carseats. It seems like our best option will be to rent a car and bring our carseats with us – rather than lugging them around from different shuttle buses and taxis. Any suggestions other than renting our own vehicle? Also, might you have a good recommendation for a place to stay in the Nosara area?
Thank you!!
Christy

Jenny –
Can’t wait to sit down with a map and really dive into all these great comments and ideas. What I am not certain of is the summer rainy season. As I sit in my dreary house in February, all I want is SUN!! Will we be sitting in rain in June or July in CR? Am thinking of going to Los Suenos as an anchor spot and day tripping from there.
Thanks!
Carolyn

Hi Christy,

I am a reader of this blog. We went to C.Rica with 2 kids exactly the same ages as yours in December. We took one carseat with us and rented one there. We drove around the country and found this to be the most convenient. I couldn’t quite figure out if carseats were required or not, we figured the kids could sleep in them on the long drives and am glad we took them. If we were to take shuttles around however, I don’t think we would take them. Hope this helps,

Mallika

I would DEFINITELY recommend this website when planning a family vacation in Costa Rica: http://www.naturefamilyadventures.com/let-us-plan-your-vacation.html. It has a TON of really great, family-friendly hotels and destinations with a special focus on ecotourism and sustainability. They will help you plan your trip and are so helpful and friendly. I can’t imagine what my trip would have been like without their help!

Thanks so much for the info on Costa Rica. We’d like to head down there for 3-4 weeks around Xmas time with our 3 kids (8/6/4). The older two are in a spanish immersion program here in the States. We’d like to be in a town that is very NOT touristy (we loved Sayulita MX when we were there 4 years ago) and also loved Yelapa (even smaller of a town 2 years ago). Since we’ll be there a while, I’m thinking maybe more a size of Sayulita? Do you have any tips on places like that in Costa Rica? We’d prefer, authentic town, access to rainforest/wildlife, kid friendly beaches, kid friendly town (ie. if my husband wasn’t there the whole time I’d be safe and feel comfortable), but not American :).
Thanks for any input you have :)!
Katlyn

Katlyn- For inland non-touristy locations I like Atenas and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. I’m not much of a beach person so I’m not sure about beach places but Playa Negra (near Cahuita) is nice and quiet and friendly with a swimmable (i.e. not for surfing) beach.

Hi Christy,
Car seats are required for kids under 12 in Costa Rica but I’m not sure how much that is enforced. One of the tourist shuttle buses (InterBusOnline) offers free car seats for 0-3 yrs when reserved ahead of time. We usually go with a private guide who also serves as a driver- handy to hook the seats in once and not mess with them again and we don’t have to drive ourselves which reduces our stress levels immensely! Sorry no Nosara recommendations- I haven’t been there in a while. Have fun!

Hi Carolyn,
Yep June and July are the rainy season (or green season as the tourist industry would prefer to call it- ha ha). It rarely rains all day though- you usually get several dry hours for a hike or exploring. It can be a nice time to travel if you don’t mind rain as there are fewer tourists and everything is green and blooming.

Hi Jenny,
I’m traveling to Costa Rica with my family (3 kids: 2,6 and10 years) at the beginning of April for 10 days. I’m a bit over whelmed and unsure of where to go. We like things off the beaten path and not too touristy but we want to include beach time that is safe. We were first thinking of Mantapolo but I’ve been reading mixed reviews regarding whether or not it’s mostly a surfing beach (which wouldn’t be great for my kids.) Then we were thinking of Punta Uva but haven’t had any luck finding a hotel or Inn on the beach. Any suggestions?

We were also thinking of checking out Irazu volcano, Manuel Antonio. Thought we could skip Monteverde and the Arnel volcano (am I wrong) as we are only in the country for 10 days and don’t want to spend most of it driving.

Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also if you can recommend lodging that would be helpful, we’re not the resort types (although our kids probably are.)

Thanks in advance,
Nurit

Hello. Thanks so much for the helpful insights! We are hoping to travel to Costa Rica for the first time this summer with our three kids (1.5, 6 and 10). Our potential itinerary includes the Monteverde, Arenal region as well as the south Caribbean coast over 2-3 weeks. Given the varying climates of the country, would you recommend travel during July or August? -Kate

Hi Kate- There’s not a significant difference in the weather between July and August (both are in the rainy/green season)- just go when it fits best in your schedule and have fun!

Hi Nurit- Punta Uva is great- very quiet and safe and beautiful. Not a lot of lodges but there are a few. Tree House Lodge (www.costaricatreehouse.com) is gorgeous but very pricey (4 private houses- no restaurant, you’ll need a car). Hotel Suerre (www.hotelsuerrepuntauva.com) is also nice- more affordable- has pools and restaurant but still fairly small scale- not a huge resort, 40 rooms. Good idea to skip Monteverde to save driving time. Visiting both coasts (Manuel Antonio on Pacific and Punta Uva on Caribbean would involve a lot of car time though- I’d pick one or the other). Day trips from Sarapiqui or Alajuela can be fun….

Hi Jenny,
Thanks for your response. Wondering if you know anything about Casa Viva in Punta Uva. I’m getting mixed reviews on trip advisor. We may be staying at this hotel in early April (no AC or fans, will this be ok) how bad are the bugs in April? Also someone mentioned the sharks are pretty bad on the Caribbean coast, is this true?
We also found a nice house in Manuel Antonio but worried that it’s really crowded there? Which beach do you go to with your Global tour?

Taking your advise and sticking to one coast ( still uncertain which it’ll be.) wondering if it would be crazy to do the Caribbean and still head over to Arenal? Can you recommend a town to stop in overnight between Punta Uva and the Arenal?
Sorry so many questions.
Best,
Nurit

Hi Nurit-
I always stay at places with no AC in CR. I find it’s easier to adjust to the heat by toughing it out the first couple of days rather than shocking my body by going from cool to hot and back again as I go in and outside. Up to you! I’ve rarely had trouble with mosquitoes in CR either- but I do always wear repellant. Hard to say if there are more in April than other times of the year…. A nice loop on the Caribbean side is Alajuela (airport) to Arenal (3 hrs), then Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (lowland rainforest, 2 hrs from Arenal) then beach (3.2 hrs to Cahuita, 4hrs to Punta Uva) back to Alajuela (4.5 hrs from Cahuita, 5.2hrs from Punta Uva).

Sorry I don’t know anything about sharks or Casa Viva. Yes, Manuel Antonio will be significantly more crowded than the Caribbean side, but still lovely. On Global Family tours, we’ve visited Playa Negra (just outside of Cahuita), Punta Uva, Jaco (more for the short drive than the quality of the beach), Playa Hermosa near Jaco, and Manuel Antonio. They all have their positive points!

We are plannng a trip to Costa Rica in May or June and need help. This is a gift for our 10 almost 11 year old grandduaghter and she has quite an adventuring spirit. Where do I start?

Marylou

Marylou, I tried to send you a longer email with info but it didn’t go through. If you’d like info on our Global Family tour packages, please visit our website and send us an email. Thanks!

Hi Jenny,

Your blog is extremely helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

My husband and I are looking into a 10-14 day trip to Costa Rica this April with our daughters (age 2.5 and 4.5). He is a bike racer and wants to do some “serious training.” We are therefore looking for a couple places that are family friendly with some good roads (dirt or paved). All your suggestions sound fantastic!

Laury

Hi Laury,
I haven’t biked in CR- I think I’d be afraid to. Cars signal that they’re going around blind corners by laying on the horn, not by slowing down and drivers are not at all used to sharing the road with cyclists. That said, I’ve read that there are less-trafficked roads that are good for cycling. A couple of routes recommended by the Lonely Planet guidebook: mountain bike 7km climb from La Fortuna to La Catarata (waterfall). Paved Arenal Lake loop is a good trip but road is in terrible condition. The road along the Caribbean beach between Cahuita & Manzanillo is paved & relatively smooth- great scenery. Playa Tamarindo (beach on northern pacific side) has a shop/website w/info on distance & mountain biking- maybe they have some info for you (www.bluetrailz.com). Playa Negra or PUnta Uva on the Caribbean coast and La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano area) are good bases for families. I haven’t been to Tamarindo but have heard some good things about it…. Probably any small town without a lot of traffic could be a good area to bike as well so I wouldn’t rule out Sarapiqui. good luck!

Hi there. Thanks for your previous response to my question. I think my family will be going to CR for 2.5 weeks so I am concerned about spending too much time in the car and rushing about in an effort to “see everything”. At this point we are thinking about visiting Monteverde, Arenal and Punta Uva. Does this seem like too much? I was thinking a few days in the first two places and then a week or so at the beach. Based on your experience, are both MV and Arenal “essential” CR? If you had to choose between the 2 which region would be better for families? Thanks for your insights!