Vacation In Costa Rica With Little Kids

We started this year with an adventure vacation in Costa Rica with little kids. Animals and bugs, beaches and volcanos – we’ve seen it all. We can’t wait to book our next family vacation to this amazing country and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Travelling With Little Kids

Travelling with little kids expands our comfort zone. I have always loved to travel because, with each step outside of my comfort zone, it stretches and gets bigger. This undoubtedly applies to my kids’ experience as well. I love watching them overcome risks and challenges, which develops skills such as problem-solving, flexibility, and independence. They also see how I overcome challenges, and it is a real-life lesson for them too. 

Kids may not remember every detail of the trip, but they will grow from it. The memories will leave feelings behind, and these feelings are the building blocks upon which kids grow. Just like language development – kids don’t remember all of the stories read to them or the conversations we have with them, but these experiences are still crucial to learning how to speak and eventually read and write. I think travel can be thought of in the same way. Just because our kids might not remember much of what we’ve done during the trip, it doesn’t mean it hasn’t provided the foundation for their ability to adapt to new situations, develop a sense of wonder, and view the world from a broader perspective.

Where We Stayed in Costa Rica

Our vacation in Costa Rica with the little kids was incredible! We spent ten amazing days exploring this beautiful country. Our kids are still pretty young – ages 3 and 6 – so our family itinerary ended up being the perfect mix of five relaxing days on a beach at Playa Matapalo (on the central Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region) and another five days of rainforest adventure in La Fortuna (a town near the base of Arenal Volcano).

We flew out of Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and landed at Liberia International Airport (LIR) about six hours later. Then we took a transfer to Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica. We decided to cut out the stress of driving on Costa Rican roads and pay for transfers instead. The drive was on winding roads and a bit bumpy, so we brought our motion sickness medication for both adults and children.

Days 1 – 5 In Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Driving in Costa Rica can be a challenge due to narrow roads, limited signage, and frequent speed bumps. In rural areas, roads may be poorly maintained and prone to landslides. Additionally, road conditions can be affected by seasonal weather patterns, particularly during the rainy season. There are many one-lane highways, which is something to keep in mind for those who wish to rent a car. If you get stuck behind a slow vehicle, it will slow down your trip.

By the time we checked in at Riu Palace Resort, we were all ready for a good night’s sleep after a long travel day. The next few days we spent on the beach of the Pacific Ocean frolicking, catching waves, and chasing crabs and lizards. Matapalo Beach is a popular tourist destination located in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica surrounded by lush tropical forests and is a popular spot for birdwatching, wildlife viewing, and eco-tourism. The beach area stretches for miles away in each direction and is separated by rocky headlands on each side.

We strolled up and down the beach and saw dozens of hermit crabs and mouthless crabs, beautiful birds and colourful iguanas, white-faced monkeys and turtle hatchlings that run toward the ocean at sunset. Then, we rinsed off and went for a swim in the hotel’s lovely and lengthy pool.

Monkeys! Unless you’re from a tropical place, where they’re as common as deer in Canada, it’s so cool to see them! I couldn’t stop thinking that they look like a cross between a cat and a child.

Kicking Back At Tropical Beach

During one morning hike on the beach, we found a way to get to the other side of the rocky headland and discovered a little hidden beach on the other side with beautiful white sand. It was a perfect piece of paradise with warm water and very few people around. We collected seashells and broken pieces of corals right on the beach, built castles and enjoyed our private time there. Kids learned the phenomenon of high and low tides when we had to escape back to the main beach before the waves locked us in. Tide pools started to fill in with water bringing ocean treasures to it. We found a puffed-up Fugu fish on our way back, it was super cool!

Diamante Eco Adventure Park

One thing that I loved about the location of this resort was that it was remarkably close to Diamante Eco Adventure Park, about a five-minute drive via shuttle from the hotel. It operates as a preserve for Costa Rican Wildlife that has been confiscated from poachers or donated by rescue centres and individuals. Unfortunately, most of these animals can not be released back into the wild, they stay at the exhibits and are cared for by the centre. Everyone can experience an extensive array of Costa Rican wildlife living in beautiful, natural habitats in one easily accessible location. It is a must-visit park for tours, activities and fun if you’re in the area of Guanacaste. 

Did you know that Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity? If you’re hoping to see wildlife, this is the place to go. You can see sloths, howler monkeys, butterflies with wings the size of my palm hands, toucans, hummingbirds, iguanas, lizards, caymans, jaguars, dolphins, whales, sea turtles and more! Costa Rica is also a leader in conservation efforts, with over 25% of its land protected as national parks and wildlife reserves. 

When To Visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two seasons: dry season and wet season. The dry season, which lasts from December through April, is the most popular time to visit Costa Rica. The wet season, which lasts from May through November, is still a great time to visit Costa Rica, but be prepared for afternoon rain that typically comes down heavy, but only lasts a short time. 

Don’t let the rainy weather stop you from visiting beautiful places. We’ve visited other tropical countries, during our trip to Mauritius and Bali, during the rainy seasons and had a blast. Accommodations and activities are at discounted rates, and there is plenty of time to do activities in the morning before the afternoon showers. 

What To Bring to Vacation In Costa Rica with Little Kids

You need to be prepared for multiple weather conditions and scenarios even during the dry season, so here are my top picks for what to pack for a vacation in Costa Rica with little kids:

• hiking sandals (adults and kids)
• hiking carrier for little kids
• lightweight rain jacket
• insect box and a little fishing net to catch and explore bugs
• swimsuits with rash guards and sun hats
• lots of sunscreen and bug spray
• water shoes
• binoculars

Days 5 – 10 In La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Want to see an active volcano? There are several in Costa Rica, including the Arenal Volcano, which is surrounded by lovely hot spring resorts, spas, and waterfalls in a verdant rainforest.

After spending five days at the beach destination, we headed to La Fortuna town, which is a little over three hours from Riu Palace Resort, to spend the rest of our trip in jungle accommodations at the stunning The Springs Resort and Spa.

Hot Springs

The hotel offers a luxurious hot spring experience, with multiple pools of varying temperatures ranging from 85 to 105 °F (30 to 40 °C), with some pools featuring a gradual increase in temperature and others being kept at a consistent temperature. The resort offers both warm and hot springs, allowing visitors to find a temperature that is comfortable for them.

We enjoyed the Monkey Slide in one of the pools at the resort. It is a unique water slide that winds through the lush tropical rainforest and ends in a natural hot spring pool. It is a popular attraction at the resort, offering a chance for visitors to experience the rainforest from a different perspective, and enjoy the hot springs in a playful and exciting way.

Club Rio Adventure Center

Club Rio Adventure Center is located directly below the resort along the forested Arenal River. It is perfect for all ages and is a must-see area of the resort. The club is offering a range of outdoor activities and excursions for visitors such as river tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, more hot springs, fishing and the amazing animal sanctuary. The shuttle bus is going every half hour down to the Arenal River.

Zip-Line Through A Rainforest

Costa Rica has become known worldwide for its zip-lining tours. Our adventure with Ecoglide Arenal Park included 12 lines along which we zipped through trees, with howler monkeys hooting at us from above. Kids over 2 years old can zip-line with a guide, and 6+ year-olds can zip-line on their own. It was so much fun!

Night-Time Tour in La Fortuna

As night falls, the frogs and other crawly creatures wake up and put on an incredible show. Their splendid colours brighten and their songs fill the air as they hunt for crickets and insects. It is a magnificent natural symphony.

As the sun went down we went on a guided tour with trained naturalists, who provided information about the plants and animals that we encountered along the way. We observed nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat. I highly recommend this experience for families with bug-loving children!

During a two-hour night hike along the creek, we were able to spot brightly coloured poison-dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, and lots of spiders and lizards. 

Trip Takeaway

What an honour it is to travel, catching glimpses into the vast amount of natural beauty and diverse cultures this world contains.

Our vacation in Costa Rica with little kids was wonderful and we loved everything we did. And amazingly, there is so much more that we weren’t able to experience, including waterfalls and national parks and more beaches and volcanos. I already make an itinerary for our future trip to Costa Rica that will include more places and more activities we haven’t had a chance to see.

Everything that we did was new and incredible to us. There is nothing like sharing new experiences with your children. Seeing their excitement, watching them overcome fears, and broadening their minds was everything I hoped that this vacation would be.

Enjoy La Pura Vida

La Pura Vida translates from Spanish to English as, “the pure life,” or “life is wonderful – enjoy”! It can be used as a greeting or as a good wish to others. It also embodies the overall Costa Rican attitude of enjoying life to its fullest. Relax. Have fun. Smile a lot. Indulge in what makes you happy.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have this vacation in Costa Rica with little kids and build a special bond with my family. With the busy pace of modern life, it can be difficult to find quality time together. Travel provides an opportunity to disconnect from technology and focus on each other making lasting memories.

Other Travel Posts

Dominican Republic Family Vacation – there are some tips on flying with kids at the end of the post.

Vacation in Mauritius – this was a trip before we had kids, but I would love to come back there one day with my kids.

Visiting My Homeland Ukraine – with everything that’s going on there now I am just so heartbroken… I am very grateful for the memories from this trip that I get to keep.