Are you planning to make your next trip to Costa Rica with kids? Read our ultimate guide to enjoy your best time of life. Costa Rica is great place for having a family vacation because it’s safe to travel in Costa Rica with kids.
You can hike on the mountain and spend you whole day by relaxing on a beach; there are lots of other things to do with kids in Costa Rica. You can found out each and everything that you want to know about Costa Rica.
You can also read our guide on 5 best affordable family holiday destination here.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America, having population approximately 5,180,829. it has more ocean than lands. There is no army of Costa Rica which makes it one of the safest places to visit. You can’t find security guard holding weapons on their hand.
National language of Costa Rica is Spanish. English is also the most speaking language by the people of Costa Rica because of the increase in tourism in last several years. Costa Rica has 7 provinces which offer a diverse range of things to do with kids and family.
You must be surprise after knowing that Costa Rica people known for longest living people on the earth. This is because of the national slogan pure Vida which means Pure Life.
Things to do in Costa Rica with kids
If you’re looking for relaxing beach, chocolate farms, zip line, hanging bridge and lots more. Costa Rica offers something to different ages of people.
Visit Food Farms with kids
Costa Rica is famous for its sustainable farms of chocolate, banana and Coffee. You can visit to these farms and learn how to make chocolate from scratch. It’s a hand on experience for you and your family. There are many farmers as well who offer you free sample of chocolate, banana and coffee.
You can also hire tour guide who help you to make chocolate from scratch and plants these food in a sustainable way. It’s a best way of enjoy holiday with your family and kids if you are in Costa Rica.
See Active Volcano in Costa Rica
There are more than 200 volcano in Costa Rica but only 6 are active. Watching these volcanos is sight that you don’t want to miss. Arenal Volcano is one of the beautiful active volcanos in Costa Rica having height of 88885 ft. and 900 in deep.
The question is how you will reach there. You can reach there by doings lots of activities like, horse riding, zip line, and walks through hanging bridge. This is the only way to reach closer to the volcano. If its hectic to do these things, you can visit Poas Volcano. You need to Hikes Mountain and cross bridges. It’s one of the most accessible active volcano in Costa Rica
Relax on the beaches
My vacation is uncompleted if I not spend the whole day on beaches. It is one of the coolest and calmest ways to spend your holiday with kids. Costa Rica is rich in beaches which having soft sand and soothing views. If you are in Costa Rica you must need to visit these beaches.
- Manuel Antonio Beach
- Playa Conchal
- Tamarindo Beach
- Playa Santa Teresa
- Playa Flamingo
- Jaco Beach
- Montezuma Beach
- Playa Hermosa
- Playa Grande
- Punta Uva Beach
There are lots of fun activities to do with kids on beaches like surfing, scuba diving and boating. Before doing these activities must remember to learn from expert their, who help you to do these activities in a safest way. You can’t find a better place to learn surfing on the beaches of Cost Rica
Walk on hanging bridges with kids
Costa Rica has a number of suspension bridges which are located on the top of the forest. You can walk on these bridges and see the wild life of Costa Rica. Majority of the animals in Costa Rica usually make their nest on the top of the forest trees. It’s a ideal chance for your kids to see the wildlife and explore some new species that they never heard or watch in their life.
You can walk on these bridges without any guide and took a bird eye view of jungle. There are wood made house in Costa Rica forest to experience the forest life. You can rent your room for one night or for several days, its depend on your stay at costa Rica. 1- 2 days are more than enough to explore Costa Rica forest wildlife.
Enjoy Zip Line and Canopy with your Family
Nothing better than enjoy zip line if you are in Costa Rica. Zip lining is very popular activity that every tourist wants to do. It took you from one point to the other along with safety measurement and you can enjoy a bird eye view of Costa Rica, which include lakes, forest and parks.
You might curios to know is there any age limit to enjoy zip line and canopy and canopy on the top of Costa Rica. The minimum age for zip line is 6 years old. The children under the age of 6 are not allowed except the Canopy tour. Because it’s a shield in which you site along with your family. It’s a very budget friendly and safe activity that you must need to do.
Butterfly conservatory in Costa Rica
You might be surprise to know Costa Rica is home of 1,500 species of butterflies. If love to see butterfly and take photo you can visit these butterfly home in Costa Rica. The reason why there are so much butterfly because of their environment friendly eco system.
Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica is famous spot to see butterflies. Specially its very beneficiary for children who are there for educational purpose. Morpho Butterfly is the national butterfly of Costa Rica
Dolphin tour with kids
This is my favorite things to do in Costa Rica. Watching dolphin is it’s a dream come true. You can watch these dolphins at Golfo dulce, Central Pacific and Osa Peninsulain in Costa Rica. You can aspect evry size and shape of dolphins in Costa Rica. For that you need to hire a boat and tourist guider which helps you to take that place of the ocean where you can play and see dolphins.
Hot springs
If you are in Costa Rica somewhere around winter season, taking hot springs is the best activity that you can enjoy. It’s located in the middle of the rainforest of costa Rica. There are also many other hot bath in Costa Rica cities. You can book your private spa and pool. You don’t need to book ticket online, just reach there whenever you want and you can enter to the hot springs.
Learn how to make chocolate in Costa Rica
La Casa de Cocoa a very famous store in San Jose (city of Costa Rica) where you can buy your favorite chocolate. If you are curious to know how they make these delicious chocolate, you can book your workshop. Where you can learn how to make chocolate in a best possible way. It’s a very fun activity that you can take participate with your kids and family.
You can visit their website to book a workshop.
Visit Crocodile Bridge in Costa Rica
You don’t need to terrify by hearing the word crocodile. It’s a bridge in Costa Rica where you can watch crocodile from distance. You are not allowed to get close to Crocodile Bridge. But you are allowed to go on crocodile theme restaurant right after the bridge, where you can enjoy your meals and watch dummy crocodile.
Where to stay in Costa Rica with kids
There is lots of option to consider for choosing where to stay in Costa Rica. If you are looking for luxury resort or single room apartment it’s not a big deal to find hotels in Costa Rica. Below are some of my favorite places in Costa Rica that you consider for staying with your kids.
Costa Rica Farm Stays
Staying in farms of Costa Rica sounds like old fashioned and boring accommodation? That’s not true in case of Costa Rica Farms. You can choose farms house like La Carolina Lodge where you can enjoy fresh breath and natural escape. Your kids can learn horse riding, early morning exercise and get closer to the nature.
Camping
Is it something better than building your own little house on the edge of beach or somewhere outside the forest? You can live your dream camping lifestyle.
Hot Springs Resort
There are numbers of hot springs resort in Costa Rica. Mostly are closer to the volcano area of somewhere between on the middle of the forest in Costa Rica. These resorts have their own private and public hot swimming pools. It’s a some kind of new experience for your kids to learn swimming in hot water.
5 Star Hotels
Costa Rica has 5 start hotels to offer its tourist. Which provide your private beach access, private spa , swimming pool, yoga classes and best luxury life. You can choose hotel according to your city where you are going to travel.
| Hotel Name | City |
| Nayara Springs | La Fortuna de San Carlos |
| Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica | Papagayo Peninsula |
| Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort | Manuel Antonio |
| The Springs Resort and Spa | La Fortuna de San Carlos |
| Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo | Papagayo Peninsula |
What to Eat In Costa Rica
Rice is common dish to eat in Costa Rica weather you are local or foreigner. In maximum dishes you will found rice. Because rice is the base of Costa Rica traditional food. You won’t find too much spicy meal in Costa Rica means your kids would love it. You must need to try Costa Rica world famous dishes:
- Gallo Pinto
Gallo Pinto is a national dish of Costa Rica. It include all kind of ingredient that make you fit to spend your whole day in Costa Rica. This meal usually eats in morning meal and lunch. It’s a vegetarian food having ingredient rice, fruits, beans, dates and salad.
- Chifrijo
Chifrijo is a mixture of different kind of fruits and vegetables. It’s a delicious dish throughout in Costa Rica. Its not so much popular in the world yet except costa Rica. Chifrijo is a layer of two ingredient on bottom it has tender beans and on the top chicharrón (pork belly) that make it delicious to eat for kids.
How to Order Food in Costa Rican Restaurants
To order food in Costa Rica is need some practice if you try to order food in Costa Rica language.
Here a few sentence that you can learn by practice.
(I would like to eat) – (Me gustaría comer)
(is it available now?) – ( Está disponible ahora?)
(do you have Chifrijo) – ( tienes chifrijo)
FAQ’s on Costa Rica with kids
when is the best time to go to Costa Rica?
There is no restriction to visit Costa Rica. You can travel to Costa Rica with kids whenever you want. If love rainy season you can come between May to November and if you want to come for dry season in Costa Rica you can visit somewhere between November to April.
what is the minimum drinking age in costa Rica?
18 years old is the minimum age for drinking in Costa Rica. Its both for local and foreigner who are there for visit or trips. If you are under 18, not try to drink in Costa Rica.
is Costa Rica an island?
Costa Rica is not an island. It considered a country spreading on 19,730 sq miles. Its is part of central America. On 1821 Costa Rica took independence from Spain.
How many people visit fast food restaurants in Costa Rica?
Due to increase in tourism in recent years in Costa Rica, a little bit change of taste is notice in local people. There are hundreds of new restaurant are open of fast food in recent year that’s means people of Costa Rica love fast food.