Are you planning a vacation with your family?
Whether you opt for a jungle adventure, rainforest safari, or waterfall excursions, a family vacation in Costa Rica will surely not disappoint you. Costa Rica is such a beautiful and exotic place. There is something to do for everyone! And, the “Ticos” love children!
Costa Rica is beautiful and its rain forests and national parks are a nature lover’s paradise. You might wake up to the sounds of howler monkeys – surely an unforgettable experience for the whole family!
Here are just a few reasons to choose a family vacation in Costa Rica:
1. Back to nature:
Beaches, volcanoes, and hot springs
Nature is everywhere in Costa Rica. One of our favorites for a unique family vacation in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio National Park. It is a nature reserve with trails easy enough for little kids to manage.
The excellent local guides will point out a sloth sleeping overhead or giant iguanas camouflaged by the trees. And on the outskirts of the park, you will find white-sand beaches, where you can snorkel to see lots of tropical fish, sign your kids up for surf school, or have a picnic on the beach.
Watch out for squirrel monkeys who might try to steal some of your lunch 😊.
A visit to an active volcano is also a must-see on any Costa Rica family vacation. With a bit of luck, your family can experience a minor eruption at Arenal Volcano. Nearby you will also find La Fortuna Waterfall – a place so near to nature, and yet so far from the sounds of the quaint town of La Fortuna. And after some hiking around the amazing volcano base, enjoy the local hot springs – a different kind of water park! Your kids will surely enjoy jumping from pool to pool.
Coffee, cacao, and fruit plantations
Or how about showing your children how bananas or pineapples grow? Can you imagine that this tiny country is the 2nd biggest exporter of pineapples in the world?
And maybe a coffee tour for the adults? Costa Rica is well-known for its gourmet coffee beans with the famous Tarrazú considered among the finest beans in the world. Did you know Starbucks has its own coffee farm in Alajuela, Costa Rica? Its mission is not to supply Starbucks with coffee but it’s mainly used for research to help ensure the future of coffee – for everyone. A coffee tour at Hacienda Alsacia is definitely something to write home about.
2. Adventures for every age
A Costa Rica family vacation offers outdoor activities for everyone. From ziplining and suspension bridges through the rainforest to horseback riding on beaches. And of course, there are lots of hiking trails all over the country, many in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve near Monteverde.
Another great place to be in nature and to enjoy an adventure is Tortuguero National Park which can only be reached by airplane or boat. But the effort is definitely worth it as it is an area of incredible biodiversity.
You will find eleven different habitats here — rainforests, mangroves, swamps, beaches, and lagoons, amongst many others. The national park is also a prime nesting area for Green Sea Turtles, Leatherbacks, and Hawksbill turtles.
3. Family-friendly hotels for every budget
Despite its limited size, Costa Rica offers a wide array of accommodations for families, from rustic lodges to chain hotels to luxury resorts.
Some of the best family hotels in Costa Rica are:
Lost Iguana Resort
The name Lost Iguana honors its location. Built on a mountainside, Lost Iguana is secluded in the vibrant forests of La Fortuna and has direct and lovely views of the rainforest and volcano. You will love the walks along the trails on the property.
This hotel was created with a very special thought in mind: to provide guests with the opportunity of being surrounded by abundant tropical life and still maintain a “luxury feel”. The rooms are spread all around the greenery with beautifully landscaped grounds.
The hot tub is pleasantly warm, and the swim-up bar is a really nice touch. Another attraction is their hibiscus nature maze, great fun and well worth a visit! It is indeed a wonderful place to hang out on your family vacation in Costa Rica!
El Silencio Lodge & Spa
El Silencio Lodge & Spa is an exclusive haven, perfect for those who need a quiet break. Floating like a cloud in the rainforest canopy near the Poas Volcano, El Silencio Lodge & Spa is one of the most secluded, tranquil and relaxing luxury hotels in the Costa Rican mountains.
The eco-resort was created to be a luxury retreat for travelers who seek out authentic experiences and a deep connection to nature. Simple luxury and exhilarating adventures are the essences of the El Silencio guest experience: a torch-lit forest dinner featuring farm-to-table ingredients, scenic hikes in the Hummingbird Garden and cloud forest trails, zip-lining through the forest canopy or rappelling down the face of a roaring waterfall.
El Silencio Lodge & Spa is located in picturesque Bajos del Toro on a 500-acre private cloud forest reserve flanked by the Juan Castro Blanco and Poas Volcano National Parks.
Just 90 minutes from San José, this luxurious eco-resort is a dream destination for Costa Rica mountain honeymoons, family vacations, or wellness holidays.
Hotel Capitán Suizo
Located right on the beach, Capitan Suizo is the perfect place for a relaxing beach holiday. It is an extraordinary place, environmentally conscious and run by a Swiss family.
Elegance in harmony with nature is their motto. You can explore their abundant garden sat your own pace and then walk a few steps and you will be relaxing at the beach.
You will also take pleasure in unwinding in your private bungalow. In the excellent open-air restaurant and bar, the whole family can often experience live marimba music and folkloric dance groups.
Several activities like kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving or sailing tours can be arranged, as well as surf lessons at Tamarindo Beach. In the spa, you can enjoy several treatments, and a ping pong table is located next to the beach.
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To sum up, it’s understandable why thousands of visitors flock to Costa Rica every year to experience some of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world.
Costa Rica is a country brimming with biodiversity, stunning cloud forests, untouched beaches along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, majestic active volcanoes and breathtaking river valleys.
So, do not miss the opportunity to visit this special place on your Costa Rica family vacation and let our experts make your vacation memorable and unique.
We don’t provide you with cookie-cutter trip packages but customize all our itineraries. Just let us know what you are looking for! We will handle all the planning. You sit back and enjoy this special time with your loved ones!
Make sure to also check out our other tours in Costa Rica!
Contact us today!