Destinations / Costa Rica
Costa Rica with kids
Costa Rica puts rainforest, a volcano, hot springs and Pacific beaches into a country small enough to do two bases in ten days. Families get wildlife without a safari budget, easy guided activities from age 5 or so, and a well-developed tourist trade. It rewards active families with children old enough to hike and zip-line, and it needs more planning than a beach resort holiday because distances are long and roads are slow.
Costa Rica
Which ages it suits
Ages 0–2 · Possible
Long road transfers, heat and humidity and rough trails make this a hard destination; pick one resort base.
Ages 3–6 · Good
Hot springs, sloth and monkey spotting and a few kids' clubs work; zip-lines start at 5 and many tours at 4 to 8.
Ages 7–12 · Great
The sweet spot for hanging bridges, zip-lines, river tubing from 8 (and 140 cm) and canyoning from 10.
Ages 13–17 · Great
Challenge courses, canyoning, surfing and white-water rafting suit teens; the kids' clubs do not.
When to go with children
Weather for kids and school-holiday crowds together. Best: January, February, March, April, December.
- January · 26°C
- Dry season: best weather in the Pacific northwest and Manuel Antonio, but peak prices; book months ahead.
- March · 29°C
- Hot and dry on the Pacific side, Easter week is the busiest; Arenal is still green and sometimes cloudy.
- May · 29°C
- Green season begins: mornings are usually dry, afternoons often rain, and prices fall.
- July · 26°C
- A short, drier spell in the middle of the green season, plus school-holiday demand.
- September · 27°C
- Wettest part of the year on the Pacific coast, with some tours or smaller hotels closing.
- November · 25°C
- Rain is easing, prices are still lower than December, and the dry season returns from mid-December.
Parks and days out, by car
Typical minutes by car from Manuel Antonio. School-holiday traffic can add a lot.
Monkeys, sloths and three beaches on short trails; tickets are online-only for foreigners at about 18 USD adults and 5.65 USD for ages 2–12, and the park is closed Tuesdays.
Best for 4–14 · Adult day from about $20 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
Thermal pools with an 80 m slide and a children's slide; day pass free for 0–5 and a reduced rate for ages 6–10; daily visitor numbers are limited.
Best for 2–14 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
Zip-line minimum is 5 years and 110 cm (children under 13 must be accompanied); the hanging bridges and aerial tram welcome all ages with an adult. A reservation is required.
Best for 6–16 · Many rides need 110 cm+ · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
Inside Arenal Volcano National Park with trails, The Nest observation tower and the Danta waterfall; entrance pass listed at 35 USD per person and 55 with lunch.
Best for 7–16 · Adult day from about $35 · Official site
River tubing from 8 years and 140 cm, canyoning rappel from 10, and the canyon canopy listed from 4; limits are described as firm.
Best for 8–16 · Many rides need 140 cm+ · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
Where to stay
Arenal / La Fortuna
Volcano views, hot springs, hanging bridges and zip-lines; about 3 hours from San José.
Manuel Antonio / Quepos
A national park with monkeys and sloths plus beaches; about 3 hours from San José.
Guanacaste (Papagayo / Conchal)
Dry beach coast with large resorts and kids' clubs, close to Liberia airport.
Family resorts we checked
Free kids' club and a teen centre, with private villas for larger families.
All-inclusive with a free kids' club and a family suite with a bunk bed.
Hot springs and slides at the hotel, plus rooms for larger families.
Family pool with a slide and an on-site cinema near the park.
A working-hacienda lodge with tubing, canyoning and horse riding from age 4 or older.
Wildlife and volcano trails on the doorstep, inside the park.
A 10-night trip, paced for kids
San José to Arenal
Drive or take a shuttle to La Fortuna, about 3 hours. Keep the afternoon for a thermal pool and an early night.
Arenal activities
Spend a morning on the hanging bridges, a day on zip-lines if children are 5 or older, and a day at the hot springs. Go early because afternoons are cloudier.
Transfer to the Pacific
Drive to Manuel Antonio, at least 3 hours from San José and longer from Arenal. Use a domestic flight or a private transfer to avoid a long day with young children.
Manuel Antonio
Book a park ticket online for a Wednesday to Monday, and arrive at opening. Take a guided walk and rest in the heat.
Beach and departure
Keep the last day for the beach and the drive to the airport.
Good to know
- The catch
- Families pack too many bases: Arenal to Manuel Antonio is a full travel day, so pick two areas at most and book Manuel Antonio park tickets online before arriving.
- Flights
- San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) have direct flights from several US hubs in roughly 3 to 5 hours; from the UK and Germany you usually connect via a US or European hub, about 12 to 16 hours.
- Jet lag
- Costa Rica is UTC-6 all year: 1 hour behind New York in winter (2 in summer) and 6 hours behind the UK in winter (7 in summer).
- Health
- Dengue occurs; no malaria in the main tourist areas; sun and humidity are strong; ask your hotel about tap water.
- Safety
- Check the current US State Department and UK FCDO advisories before booking; petty theft from rental cars is common, so never leave bags visible.
- Getting around
- A rental car or private shuttle is the norm; rental needs local third-party insurance, which credit cards do not replace. Child seats are required for children under 12 or shorter than about 145 cm and can be rented, so reserve ahead. Many roads are slow or unpaved.
- Budget
- About $280 a night for a mid-range family room for four, $1,000 for luxury, plus about $220 a day for food, transport and outings.
Pairs well with: Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, Oahu
Partner links are marked and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Kids' club ages, seasons and prices change; check with the provider before booking.