Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,
© Your Little Black Book

Costa Rica with kids: 15 unique experiences to do, see and enjoy together

11 December 2024

A trip to Costa Rica with children is an adventurous vacation for the whole family that you'll never forget. During our world trip, we spent over a month here with our son. And I can tell you: Pura Vida stole our hearts! Say Costa Rica, and you think lush jungles, beautiful beaches, and unique animals like coatis. Perfect for a family vacation full of unique things to do. From spotting colorful butterflies and sloths in the jungle to relaxing in natural hot springs, and from night safaris to canopy walks in the rainforest treetops. For the older kids, learning to surf is fun! We often look back at the photos together to reminisce about this colorful trip. Costa Rica is a family-friendly destination where, thanks to the diverse landscape, no two days are the same. We saw breathtakingly beautiful sunsets together and made lifelong memories.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Costa Rica with kids: complete travel guide

In this kid-friendly Costa Rica Travel Guide, I'll tell you all about the child-friendly activities you'll want to see, do, and experience, and I'll take you on a journey using our personal photos!

5 Things to do with kids in Puerto Viejo and the surrounding area in Costa Rica

Puerto Viejo, located on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, is a colorful and relaxed destination perfect for families. This charming village, and especially the surrounding coastal area, offers a unique blend of wide beaches, jungle, and a vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture. For that reason alone, you shouldn't miss Puerto Viejo. It's truly unlike anywhere else in the country!

Spot wildlife in Cahuita National Park

One of the most beautiful places to spot wildlife in Costa Rica is Cahuita National Park. Here you'll find accessible hiking trails, quiet beaches, and an abundance of wildlife without having to spend hours wandering through the jungle. This makes it perfect for families and children of all ages. We saw sloths, raccoons, coatis, and a snake, among other animals. Manuel still talks about it sometimes! If there are animals on the path, never approach them, remain calm, and of course, never feed them during a picnic on the beach.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Snorkel and swim at Playa Cocles and Punta Uva

Playa Cocles and Punta Uva are the more family-friendly beaches near Puerto Viejo. There's plenty to see and do for families here, and the beaches are wide. Lifeguards are also on duty at Playa Cocles. The waves vary daily and also depend on the phase of the moon, but the water slopes gradually, so running from the waves is fun, even for the littlest ones. You can also rent canoes near Playa Cocles. Suitable life jackets for children are usually available, but if you plan on doing lots of water activities in Costa Rica with children without swimming certificates, you might consider bringing your own. Find some shade under the trees and explore the clear water together during a snorkeling trip at Punta Uva.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Take a Chocolate Tour with Caribeans Chocolate

Caribeans Chocolate is a great coffee shop for breakfast and a caffeine fix for parents. But the absolute best part is the Chocolate Tour you can take to their farm in the hills above. This tour is great for kids, because what child doesn't love chocolate? Along the way, you'll hike up to the farm with a local guide. Along the way, you're likely to spot toucans, butterflies, spiders, frogs, sloths, monkeys, and lizards! Once you arrive at the farm, you'll learn all about the chocolate-making process, from bean to bar!

 | TIP: We booked an (affordable) hotel nearby that is super child-friendly and has a nice pool: Terrazas del Caribe Hotel. 

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Go to the Jaguar Rescue Center 

A visit to the Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo is a must with kids. It's incredibly popular, so be sure to book your tickets online in advance. Don't be misled by the name, though; you won't find any jaguars there. This center was established to care for and rehabilitate injured, sick, and orphaned animals from the Costa Rican rainforest, with the goal of returning them to their natural habitat. You can always visit on a tour (available as a group or private tour) and learn lots of fun facts about the animals that live there. It's fun for kids to come face to face with a wide variety of animals, such as sloths and a variety of birds and monkeys.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Take a bike ride along the coast

If you're visiting this part of Costa Rica during the dry season, it's fun to explore the coastline by bike. Most hotels rent bikes, with or without child seats, or for kids aged six and up. Keep in mind that it gets dark early and the roads are poorly lit, so take a bike ride in the morning. For example, you could go to the beach! We were there during the wet season, so we didn't do this ourselves.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

Hotel tip: Terrazas del Caribe Hotel © Your Little Black Book

3 Things to do with kids around the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica

The reaction when your kids see a volcano for the first time is priceless. What else can you do near La Fortuna? I'll tell you all about it here.

Relax in hot springs

During your stay near the Arenal Volcano, visit the hot springs! There are several ways to do this: there are natural hot springs that are free to visit, but you can also opt for one of the spas and wellness centers. The free hot springs can get very crowded (especially on weekends), but it's certainly an adventure to be surrounded by nature. The professional spas and wellness centers with hot springs are well-organized and often have special pools for children. Most of these spas also have a hotel, and admission to the pools is (often) free for hotel guests! Child-friendly options include The Springs, Tabacon, and Los Lagos, depending on your travel budget.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Adventure: suspension bridges, cable cars & zip lines

You've probably seen it on social media: hanging bridges in the beautiful Costa Rican jungle. One of the locations where you can do this in several places is near the Arenal Volcano. For example, choose a visit to Mistico Park (an eco-destination) where you can walk among the treetops (even at night!). Or go to Sky Adventures, which is also perfect for younger children. You'll take a cable car up the mountain, where you'll have a beautiful view of the volcano. Traveling with older kids? Daredevils aged five and up can take the zipline! At Sky Adventures, you can also take a child-friendly short walk through the jungle via several hanging bridges.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Visit the La Fortuna Waterfall

One of the largest waterfalls we've ever visited as a family is La Fortuna Waterfall. It's accessible via a path of about 500 steps, but if my son can do it at four, so can your kids! La Fortuna Waterfall is an impressive 70-meter-high waterfall and a truly beautiful sight. Once at the bottom, you can swim in the clear, cool waters of the waterfall or relax on one of the rocks. Tickets are available at the National Park ticket office. I recommend going early to avoid the crowds, but definitely don't miss this attraction.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

TIP: Depending on your Costa Rica itinerary, you can also enjoy many of the wildlife experiences I describe in Monteverde near La Fortuna. From a sloth sanctuary to monkeys, butterflies, and night walks.

4 Things to do with kids in Monteverde and the surrounding area in Costa Rica

Monteverde is one of the most magical places in Costa Rica to explore with children. From exciting nighttime adventures in the rainforest to colorful encounters with butterflies and hummingbirds, you'll find plenty of activities to keep you entertained for a few days. For us, this was also a moment of relaxation during our world trip, and I booked the wonderful family-friendly Monteverde Lodge, which offers lovely family rooms and a good restaurant with an extensive wine list. After all, it's a holiday for parents too ;-).

Night walk through the rainforest

Looking for adventure? Then take an exciting night walk through the rainforest. With a guide, you'll enter the dark forest as soon as dusk falls, searching for nocturnal creatures like frogs, snakes, spiders, birds, scorpions, and with a bit of luck, even a sloth. The experienced guide will share exciting stories and know exactly where to look. You can almost always book these tours through your hotel, either as a group or privately. With our four-year-old son, we booked a private tour so we could tailor the length of the tour more to our needs. It was definitely one of the most fun things we've done! Our guide brought night vision goggles, allowing us to see everything clearly. TIP: wear long sleeves, high socks, and closed-toe shoes.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Admire Hummingbirds Up Close

Enter the Hummingbird Garden and enjoy the magic of hundreds of hummingbirds buzzing around you. Your children will love seeing these colorful birds up close and even feeding them! The curious hummingbirds often come very close, making for an unforgettable experience for the whole family. A must-do in Costa Rica with kids!

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Monteverde Frog Pond

At the Monteverde Frog Pond, you and your children can spot the most colorful frogs, from the famous red-eyed tree frog to the fascinating poison dart frogs. But beware: most of these amphibians are nocturnal and ONLY active at night, so they can be seen. You can visit this frog house independently or with a guide. This can be helpful, as they know exactly where to look and can tell you all about the frogs' unique characteristics. A great activity to include if you're spending several evenings in Monteverde.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Morphos at Monteverde Butterfly Garden

The Monteverde Butterfly Garden might not sound very exciting, but it's truly a fun visit for kids. You'll walk among thousands of butterflies! Here you'll discover all about the butterfly life cycle and see unique species found only in Costa Rica. The highlight was the blue Morpho butterflies, which we saw in abundance. Legend has it that if you see one, you'll be granted a wish. There are also small insect exhibits, featuring walking stick insects and unusual beetles, which my son found just as fascinating!

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

| TIP: Depending on your itinerary, you can also take a walk through the jungle on hanging bridges in Monteverde for a similar experience to the one described above in La Fortuna.

3 X things to do with kids in Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica

At the end of our Costa Rica trip, we visited Tortuguero National Park. Here, you can spot sea turtles laying eggs on the secluded beaches (primarily from July to October). But I can tell you from experience that this national park is also worth a visit outside of this season! I booked a family room at Mawamba Lodge, and you can actually book all the lodges in Tortuguero as a complete package, including tours (organized by the lodge itself) and half-board meals. You can even take advantage of a transfer and boat ride to the lodge from San Jose. I can tell you from experience that this makes for a very relaxing multi-day excursion!

Boat tour through the Tortuguero Canals

A boat safari through the park's canals is one of the best ways to see wildlife. From unique birds to beavers, monkeys, crocodiles, and caimans. It's a fun way for children to spot animals from a peaceful boat. These tours are popular, so I recommend booking your tour through reception immediately after booking your lodge. Can you spot the caiman in the photo below?

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

 TIP: It's also lovely to take this boat trip early in the morning, but it's not really suitable for kids. If you're in the park for multiple days, you can take turns doing this.

Spotting turtles

Tortuguero is known as the place to spot sea turtles. But as I mentioned before, this does depend on the season. From July to October, green sea turtles come ashore here to lay their eggs. You can join a guided tour with your kids in the evening, and if you're lucky, you'll see the turtles hatch, lay their eggs, and return to the sea. An unforgettable experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn about conservation! But be aware: even during the season, it's still an adventure in the wild, and there are no guarantees you'll actually see the turtles.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitors Center

The Sea Turtle Conservancy Visitor's Center was within walking distance of our lodge. My son loves museums, and at this center, you can learn all about the various turtles and other endangered species in the national park. It's not very big, but if you're passing by, it's worth a visit. We adopted a sea turtle there. You get a certificate to take home, which makes a great souvenir! It's also a great way to support the Tortuguero Conservation Center.

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

Costa Rica with kids? Go for it!

If you're having doubts about traveling to Costa Rica with children, I'm sure you'll be convinced after reading this comprehensive travel guide. It's a wonderful and safe country to travel with children. Everywhere you'll find hotels with family rooms, restaurants with children's menus, and Western-style amenities.

Have fun planning your family trip to beautiful Costa Rica. I'm sure you'll be enchanted by Pura Vida too!

Costa Rica travel guide with children, Costa Rica travel with children, Costa Rica family trip,

© Your Little Black Book

With love,
Anne

Follow @yourlbb on Instagram

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 🫕 Thinking back of amazing days in the snow, I'm in the mood for cheese fondue! I call it comfort food at its finest, and I also love making fresh cheese fondue at home this winter (sometimes even better than eating out ✌🏼☺️). 𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺: 📍 @badhuis.amsterdam (East) Every Thursday is fondue night. For €26 pp you dig into a pot of cheese fondue with unlimited sourdough bread, crudités and vegetables. Good vibes included! 📍 @smelt.amsterdam (City Centre) Always a good idea. The cheeses come from De Kaaskamer, so yes: this is next level. Perfect if you love to mix & match. 📍 @cafe_bern (City Centre) Here they serve the best Classic Gruyère cheese fondue. No fuss, just great flavour. This is cheese fondue exactly how it's meant to be. 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻: 📍 @fromagerie_kef (City Centre, North & East) Amsterdam's go-to cheese specialist. From fondue cheeses to perfect wine pairings — and yes, tasting is encouraged. 📍 @fromagerielamuse (South) Cheese fondue kits for at home plus several recipes to make yourself. Which one will you try first? 📍 @dekaaskameramsterdam (City Centre) Swiss fondue, Dutch cheese fondue or ready-made options — you'll always leave with everything you need for the ultimate cozy night in. On 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.𝗺𝗲 you'll find the complete guide with 12+ cheese fondue spots in Amsterdam. Let's make a list like this for the rest of The Netherlands too! What's your favorite spot? 🧀 ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck Follow @yourlbb & @yourlbb.amsterdam for more Amsterdam restaurant guides, travel guides & the best things to do on the weekends. #cheesefondue #amsterdam #winter
Do you still have a permanent job? This TRAVEL TIP is for everyone who wants to travel a lot in 2026 despite having a permanent job. Save these tips, put them next to your calendar and send them to your travel bestie! And then ask for time off as soon as possible, before your colleagues see these tips too ;-). Happy travels 😘 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗩𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗚𝗼𝗲𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗿𝗶𝗷𝗱𝗮𝗴 & 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗻 ⟶ Take vacation days: March 30 - April 2 & April 7 - 10 ⟶ Number of vacation days required: 8 ツ Total free period: March 28 - April 12 (16 days) Holidays & Vacation ⟶ Take vacation days: April 28 - May 1, May 4 & May 6 - 8 ⟶ Number of vacation days required: 8 days ツ Total free: April 25 - May 10 (16 days) Holidays ⟶ Take vacation days: December 21 - 24 & December 28 - 31 ⟶ Number of vacation days required: 8 ツ Total free: December 21 - January 3, 2027 (16 days) **Vacation Schedule & Holidays** ⟶ Take vacation days: Monday, March 30 - Thursday, April 2 ⟶ Vacation days needed: 4 - Total free: March 28 - April 6 (10 days) **Vacation Schedule** ⟶ Take vacation days: May 15 ⟶ Number of vacation days needed: 1 ツ Total free: May 14-17 (4 days) 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻 ⟶ Take vacation days: May 22 or 26 ⟶ Number of vacation days needed: 1 ツ Total free: May 22-25 or May 23-26 (4 days) Follow @yourlbb for more Travel Tips. And the extensive article about vacation days can now be found on 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸.𝗺𝗲 ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #vakantiedagen2026 #traveltips
Market agenda and prices are rising steadily 👀 The market agenda may now be a little different Quieter, but luckily there’s still plenty planned for January & February, including a new gem (I predict)! Don’t miss these weekend markets: • 𝗡𝗶𝗲𝘂𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺: @cabinetamsterdam, a curated vintage design market under one roof, including snacks & coffee. • @sundaymarket • Museum Market • @rotterdamseoogst • @themakermarket The complete guide on Your Little Black Book lists 12 weekend markets in the Netherlands, including dates & locations for January & February. Send these tips to your market-wandering bestie! Follow @yourlbb for more tips on restaurants, travel, hotspots & the best things to do. ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #weekendmarkets #netherlandstips #autumnouting #vintagemarket
**Rotterdam is a vibrant city: Rotterdam is a vibrant city** As a child I came there with my parents to shop, as a teenager and in my twenties to club. Now I love coming there for a weekend escape characterized by good food, nice wine bars and that typical Rotterdam down-to-earth attitude. Rotterdam is buzzing with creativity and has a real IT factor. In this mini-guide, I share my favorite hotspots that you'll really want to know. 📌𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 for your next trip to Rotterdam. 𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘 ⦁ @parqiet_parkcafe ⦁ @dunerotterdam ⦁ @wollyaandewaterkant ⦁ @nice.neighbourhood 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 ⦁ @morganandmees ⦁ @hotelame ⦁ @roommate_bruno ⦁ @thejameshotelrotterdam 𝗡𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 ⦁ Noord ⦁ Katendrecht ⦁ Dijkzigt (Museum Park) ⦁ Scheepvaartkwartier 𝗗𝗢 ⦁ Take the Watertaxi ⦁ @boijmans ⦁ Walk & unwind at de Kralingse Plas ⦁ @nlfotomuseum ⦁ Visit @stationbergweg 𝗘𝗔𝗧 ⦁ @tresrotterdam ⦁ @barbertarotterdam ⦁ @hinoki_rotterdam ⦁ @barbistroloevetdie ⦁ @oxrotterdam ⦁ @restaurant_rotonde ⦁ On my to-visit list, the new @lioncitybistro 𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗦 ⦁ @walsjerot_nl ⦁ @cafeverward ⦁ @spikizibar ⦁ @lenselinq 💌What's your favourite spot in Rotterdam? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
Maybe the last weekend with ice and snow ⛄️❄️ Are you cocooning indoors or preferring to go outside? In our Snowy Amsterdam Guide, I share my favorite winter tips for this weekend in the city. Save it – because snow days like this are rare 🥰 Do you have a nice winter tip for Amsterdam? I'm reading along 👀 ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #snow #amsterdam #winter snow in amsterdam, things to do winter in amsterdam
I have always been part of the family and have always been proud of my work. NEW DATE AND EVENTS IN AMSTERDAM 🗝️👀 Mark your calendars! Because on January 17 & 18 Hotelnacht is back in Amsterdam with an edition full of health & wellness events and of course legendary parties that you will be talking about all year long. I got a sneak peek at The Art of Balance theme at the luxurious Anantara Krasnapolsky and arranged a similarly special experience for you as a YLBB follower. AND YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: • overnight stay for 2 people in a luxury room on January 17, 2026 • access to the spa & wellness (based on availability via the wellness desk) • pre-dinner cocktail at Bar The Tailor • fully catered chef's dinner • passe-partouts for the Hotelnacht parties • extensive breakfast in the Wintergarden • participation in the unique Ice Experience in the Summergarden of Krasnapolsky 𝗭𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗞 𝗝𝗘 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗦: • let us know who you would like to check in with at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky during the Mastercard Hotelnacht • download the Mastercard Hotelnacht app where you can find the See the full program • and check out @hotelnacht and @anantarakrasnapolsky for the latest updates and to get the fun started! The winner will be notified on January 5th via a comment from @hotelnacht that I'll share in my stories. Fingers crossed for you! Love, Anne #hotelnacht #amsterdam #yourlbbcollab #winactie #giveaway

I wrote this article as a Costa Rica expert, commissioned by Visit Costa Rica. All experiences and hotels were selected and funded by Your Little Black Book.

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