The Ultimate Costa Rica Family Guide

Adventures for the whole family – “It’s a leap of faith.”

Costa Rica has the best of several worlds on the adventure front. Whether you and the young adventurers want to zip through the skies on a canopy tour through the forest like Indiana Jones (hopefully avoiding any crystal skulls). Or, if you have water babies that might prefer snorkelling in the stunningly clear water and marvelling at the beautiful coral and sea life, there is an adventure out there for you all.

Costa Rica has five active Volcanoes which sit along the Ring of Fire – a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. For those inspired by the forces of nature, a trek along the Arenal Volcano gives you the chance to experience their natural wonder up close and personal.

Believe it or not, Costa Rica measures its economy on happiness. And they seem to be performing very well, currently ranking number 1 in the world (the UK is down at 34, out of 140 – not terrible but still!). The scale measures human well-being, alongside environmental factors to judge how happy the people are (find out more about the scale here). As well as putting people first when measuring its economy, Costa Rica generates 99% of its power from renewable energy, and in 1949 it abolished its army in place of improved health and education.

Turtle Beach, tucked away within the Tortuguero National Park, is inaccessible by road and offers the perfect excuse for an epic river boat journey through the surrounding rainforest. The beach forms the famous nesting ground for turtles but also provides a home for chatty howler monkeys and vibrant red spot frogs. The stunning scenery and wildlife will create lasting memories that will stay with you and your family. And not a fake animal in sight – beat that Disneyland…!

If all that excitement leaves you needing a rest, then you can switch to full chill mode to embrace the Caribbean style east coast vibe offered by Puerto Viejo, a coastal town in Talamanca within the Limón Province. You’ll find stunning beaches, reggae music and incredible Caribbean stew. It is also a surfing hot spot if you fancy hitting some waves. Cowabunga dude!

With Costa Rica sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the climate will vary from one side to the other. Our experience is that the rainy season is better for our travellers; with the rainforests in full bloom and fewer tourists around, you can enjoy the experience away from the crowds and at a lower price. However, we have put together a handy weather guide if you want to find out more.

We recommend to our family explorers 6-8+ to be a reasonable age range for your children to visit Costa Rica. A lot of it will certainly be OK for all ages and most tour guides are happy to adjust activities to be easier for the littler ones should you want to go sooner (As our Product Specialist, Sophia, has done first hand with her family)! Some of the longer trips might be a bit much for smaller kids, but the country isn’t huge, so there aren’t many long journeys. The Costa Ricans always put the children at the centre of attention, so try not to be wary of the friendliness of the people you meet.

In our experience, the best way to travel through Costa Rica is by hire car. You can drive at your pace, stop and take photos if you want too and obviously with a family you can take comfort breaks whenever it suits. We highly recommend going for a 4X4 option when hiring, it just makes the ride a little more comfortable and helps with the smaller roads you’ll likely encounter. Although we’re in the age where an entire music catalogue can be on your phone, we also recommend taking a load of CD’s (if you have any!) as most cars won’t have the luxury of an auxiliary in port.

Depending on where you eat, we suggest budgeting between £15-20 per day per person. Local restaurants will save you from tourist prices (around 3,000 CRC compared to around 6,000 CRC in more tourist areas). You can also get small snacks from street vendors which are very affordable too. Keep an eye out for the Musmanni Bakery chain, which can be found throughout Costa Rica, selling cakes, cookies, fresh bread and pastries – a great alternative to tourist restaurants (and easy on the wallet too!).

The food in Costa Rica is remarkably fresh, mild but also tasty. Rice and black beans (locally known as Gallo Pinto) is the nation’s staple for most meals, often eaten three times a day! Thanks to its comfort-style, Costa Rican food is perfect for the whole family. Our local partner has written a guide to Traditional Costa Rican Food if you’re after more information. However, if you’re worried that your little ones might be slightly wary of the local food, most restaurants will have western and European food options as well (From Burgers to Pizza!), so there’s no need to worry.

Spanish is the predominant language in Costa Rica (a variation of Central American Spanish called Costa Rican Spanish), so it’s worth learning a few phrases to show you’ve made an effort. Don’t panic though, if your local lingo isn’t up to scratch, you’ll find that most people in Costa Rica (especially the younger generation) can speak great English.

Being the Meaningful Travel specialists, we want everyone to have the most enriching experience when travelling. Meaning you, your family, the people you meet, and the animals you see, are all benefiting from the experience. Our local partners will take care of everything throughout your adventure (without being part of a tour group), and our trips are as sustainable and responsible as possible.

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We hope this guide has inspired you to consider Costa Rica for your next family adventure, a massive thank you to Sophia who shared her family adventure to Costa Rica with us. Pura Vida!