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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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| 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?

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 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.

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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.

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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!

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