Costa Rica Family Vacations

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Costa Rica is perfect for families who seek a more genuine and adventurous family holiday. Parents can rest easy as Costa Rica is wild and exotic, but at the same time safe, accessible and perfect for kids of all ages. 

There are few places in Costa Rica that are not well suited to families. Visit a wildlife rescue center, get to know Manuel Antonio National Park, cross suspension bridges in the Monteverde Could Forest, and explore the canals of Tortuguero National Park

With careful planning, driving times between regions can be broken up with fun nature excursions to keep the kids entertained. 

Get startedby describing your ideal trip, and we will connect you to a local specialist that will help you plan out the details.

Costa Rica Travel Insights

Explore Costa Rica's wildlife with your family
Why Costa Rica is Great for Families

For parents toying with the idea of an international vacation, this Latin American nation is chock-full of family experiences that will leave a lasting impression for years to come. Below, we’ve compiled five reasons why you should put Costa Rica at the top of your family's travel list.

Arenal Volcano
Map of Family-Friendly Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park- 9 Days
Family-Friendly Arenal and Manuel Antonio National Park- 9 Days

Fun for the whole family, this itinerary covers two of Costa Rica's most famous areas. Arenal and Manuel Antonio are some of the best representations of Costa Rica; Arenal area features one of the most famous volcanos in the country, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, while Manuel Antonio National Park is renown for its white sandy beaches and vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife.

Combine rainforest hikes and volcano views with beach time and surfing adventures on this six-day family trip
Map of Costa Rica Volcano & Pacific Beach Family Adventure - 6 Days
Costa Rica Volcano & Pacific Beach Family Adventure - 6 Days

Combine towering volcanoes with Pacific beaches on this six-day itinerary that's perfect for active families looking for plenty of adventure in a short amount of time. Start with wildlife-spotting hikes and waterfall swims in Rincón de la Vieja National Park, then head for the coastal surf village of Tamarindo for family surfing lessons and laid-back beach time. Wrap things up with a sailing cruise along the Guanacaste Peninsula, stopping for a barbecue lunch and some snorkeling along the way.

Ride the waves at sunset
Map of Coast to Coast Family Adventure - 11 Days
Coast to Coast Family Adventure - 11 Days

Experience the best Costa Rica has to offer on this family-friendly 11-day adventure. You'll watch sea turtles on the Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero National Park, hike around Arenal Volcano, zip-line through the cloud forest of Monteverde, and finally relax on the remote, Pacific beaches of Guanacaste. Along the way, you'll make your own hot chocolate and coffee from bean to cup, spot monkeys in the wild, swim under a waterfall—and maybe even catch a wave.

Snorkel with the family along Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast
Map of Family Fun on the Caribbean Side - 7 Days
Family Fun on the Caribbean Side - 7 Days

With your kids in tow, get out and explore Costa Rica's capital city before making your way through the lush lowlands toward the Caribbean Coast in this adventure tour. From nature treks to river rafting to pristine beaches, this week-long itinerary is created for families who want to experience Costa Rica's splendid scenery, wildlife, and distinctly laid-back culture.

6 Family-Friendly Activities in San José
6 Family-Friendly Activities in San José

Costa Rica abounds with wildlife and outdoor activities, setting the scene for an ideal family vacation. But you don't need to head straight to the beach—travelers flying into urban San José will find plenty to do with kids upon arrival. Interactive museums, local markets, and more are a great way to spend a day in the city.

Kayak with the kids in Costa Rica
Map of Volcano & Pacific Beach Family Adventure - 7 Days
Volcano & Pacific Beach Family Adventure - 7 Days

Experience a range of Costa Rica's top natural highlights on this family-oriented 7-day adventure. Beginning in Liberia, you'll explore Rincón de la Vieja National Park, home to a towering volcano of the same name. Next, you'll base yourself in the surf town of Tamarindo, a great jumping-off point for visiting the sun-kissed beaches and unspoiled rainforests of the Nicoya Peninsula. There are plenty of kid-friendly activities along the way, including waterfall hikes, kayak excursions, surf lessons, and whitewater rafting.

The violet sabrewing hummingbird can be seen year-round in montane forests, though they're most active during Costa Rica's green (wet) season
Map of Best Time of Year to Visit Costa Rica
Best Time of Year to Visit Costa Rica

Costa Rica's dry season (December to April) is considered the best time of year to visit, with most travelers arriving for reliable sunshine and prime beach days. Yet insiders know the rainy "green" season (May to November) can be just as rewarding: think quieter trails, better availability at standout lodges, and landscapes at their most vivid (and wildlife at their most active). Besides, rain typically arrives in short afternoon bursts, leaving mornings wide open for outdoor adventure.

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Costa Rica
Travel specialist Bryan Leon
active 4 hours ago

Bryan Leon

Growing up in a coffee plantation area near San Jose, Costa Rica's vibrant capital, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled in me a deep love and appreciation for nature. As a certified...

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Travel specialist Elena Mora
active 4 hours ago

Elena Mora

"I was born in Costa Rica and grew up on my family's sugar and coffee plantation farm in the mountains of Turrialba. From an early age, I learned from my family to deeply cherish and respect our...

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Travel specialist Yuliana Valverde
active 11 hours ago

Yuliana Valverde

For more than a decade, I have dedicated my career to sharing the beauty, warmth, and natural wonders of Costa Rica with travelers from around the world. What inspires me most is creating...

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Travel specialist Olman Romero
active 13 hours ago

Olman Romero

I was born in Turrialba, a region rich in history and natural beauty, home to the Guayabo National Monument, the most important pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the country, as well as the...

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Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

The sales and operations team were amazing an...
Costa Rica | Aug 16 - Aug 26, 2026

Zohar
Zohar K.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 31, 2026

The sales and operations team were amazing and made an entire trip seamless and fun!

Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Aug 31, 2026

Hola Zohar,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It was a pleasure helping make your Costa Rica adventure seamless, enjoyable, and full of memorable moments.

We hope to welcome you and your family back to Costa Rica again in the future!

Pura Vida! 🌴🦥

Elena Mora
Serendipity Adventures, Costa Rica

Incredible trip in Tortuguero and La Fortuna
Costa Rica | Aug 1 - Aug 8, 2026

Nicole
Nicole F.
Columbus, OH | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2026
We spent 3 days in Tortuguero at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens. Our time there was amazing. All the guides are fantastic but Johnny was our favorite. The first night we went on a night walk at the hotel. We saw many frogs, spiders and bats. The next day we did the Laguna 4 with Johnny as our guide. We saw sloths, red macaws, an otter, crocodile, cayman, birds, butterflies and lizards. Johnny thought we were very lucky because we saw alot of animals. Our luck with seeing animals continued... Read more

We spent 3 days in Tortuguero at Tortuga Lodge & Gardens. Our time there was amazing. All the guides are fantastic but Johnny was our favorite. The first night we went on a night walk at the hotel. We saw many frogs, spiders and bats. The next day we did the Laguna 4 with Johnny as our guide. We saw sloths, red macaws, an otter, crocodile, cayman, birds, butterflies and lizards. Johnny thought we were very lucky because we saw alot of animals. Our luck with seeing animals continued throughout our stay. You could watch green Macaws while enjoying the pool and howler monkeys playing right outside our room. We did two turtle nesting tours. The standard tour was great for seeing the turtles actively laying the eggs because the guide makes the chamber larger for visitor viewing. Our private playa 3 turtle nesting the next night was also incredible. We found 6 turtles on the beach in 2 hours. 2 of which we helped our guide study and tag them. We will absolutely return to tortugeuro with our kids in the future. I would highly recommend Tortuga Lodge & Gardens. For the next part of our trip we moved on to La Fortuna. We stayed at Montana de Fuego. The first morning we went on a bird watching hike and saw very few animals or birds. We did get to see the top of the volcano because the clouds cleared briefly, which can be rare to see. I would say overall the animal sighting at this hotel and La Fortuna is much less than Tortuguero. We went on a chocolate and coffee tour. It was a really good tour even in the pouring rain. La Fortuna/Arenal is full of adventure. We did zip lining and sky walk with Sky Adventures Arenal which was breath taking. We hiked around the volcano and visited the La Fortuna waterfall. Everything was beautiful! Montana de Fuego hotel was very nice. We enjoyed the hot springs and the large buffet style breakfast. The room here was much smaller than Tortuga lodge and the air conditioning constantly had to be adjusted. Overall, I would recommend Montana de Fuego.

Hotel Reviews
Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa
La Fortuna

The hotel is very nice. We stayed in a standard Bungalow. The room is on the smaller side. The beds are comfortable. The air conditioning required frequent adjusting but kept the room cold once we finally figured out the right setting. We enjoyed the hot springs and large buffet breakfast every morning. All of our tour companies picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel . We had a really good stay and enjoyed all the adventure tours we had booked.

Authenticity & Character
Hot springs right on the property
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel was very clean, bed was comfortable, room was small
Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
Tortuguero

Tortuge Lodge is in a great location, it is directly across the river from the airport. Our Miss Evelyn Balcony Suite was spacious. Because our room was the last building of rooms we frequently had monkeys right outside of our room. The monkeys never came close and left anything we left on the balcony to dry alone. The hotel had one restaurant. It served all 3 meals. The food was good. We did wish that they rotated options on the menu by the end of our stay. The tours they offer and their excellent guides really make this place amazing. Tortuguero is amazing for wildlife! On the dusk hike at the hotel we say so many turtles, spider and bats. The laguna 4 tour was full of animals too. With Johnny we saw red macaws, clothes, crocodile, cayman, otter, butterflied, birds and lizards. All the guides were fantastic but Johnny was our favorite. He believed one or both of us were lucky because every tour we did was packed with animal sightings. Our main reason for traveling here was to see the sea turtles nesting. The standard nesting is great for actually seeing them lays eggs because the guide will make the chamber larger for better viewing. On our private playa 3 tour, we saw 6 turtles in 2 hours. We were able to help our guide study and tag 2 turtles that were nesting. We are very happy that we did both tours as they are very different experiences. We are looking forward to returning here with our kids in a couple of years

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right across from the airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The grounds were being continually maintained and the rooms were very clean
Activity Reviews
Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch
Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch
Arenal/La Fortuna

We had a great day but you don't need a guide for this if you have a car. The hike was pretty but the waterfall is a must see if in La Fortuna. The water was too strong to allow swimming in the pool around the waterfall but people were swimming down stream from it were the current was less intense.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience
Arenal/La Fortuna

Very informative and fun! it poured rain for most of our tour. They provided umbrellas which kept everything but our shoes dry. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. We had a great tour

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pick up and drop off at our hotel
The Biologist's Watch: Exclusive Nighttime Turtle Journey (Tortuga Lodge)
The Biologist's Watch: Exclusive Nighttime Turtle Journey (Tortuga Lodge)
Tortuguero

I absolutely cannot recommend this enough!!! In the 2 hours on the beach we found 6 turtles. 2 were nesting and we were able to help study and tag them. We learned so much from our guide. On the hike out to the beach you can use a flash light to get to the beach. Once on the beach no light is used. the guides are amazing at locating the turtles in the dark. They taught us so much.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
the guides are exceptional. they have so much knowledge to share
Transport
Long boat ride but so worth it
Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure
Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure
Arenal/La Fortuna

ZIp lining above the rainforest canopy was incredible! absolutely breathtaking! On the sky walk we got to see Howler moneys and an eyelash pit viper. The food at the restaurant was very good. Highly recommend this well oiled adventure.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Moonlit Nesting: An Authentic Wildlife Wonder in Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
Moonlit Nesting: An Authentic Wildlife Wonder in Tortuguero (Tortuga Lodge)
Tortuguero

You are taken to the beach and sat under a pavilion until your guide is notified of a turtle you are assigned to on the beach. once you get assigned a turtle, the guide goes back and forth until the turtle is actively laying eggs. Once they are actively laying you are moved to the turtle and groups of 10 rotate through. we had 4 total groups we shared a turtle with . the guide makes the laying chamber larger so that the laying is visible to the entire group once behind the turtle. Very cool to see and the reason we came to tortuguero

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Gustavo Camperos
Gustavo
Gustavo Camperos
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Aug 20, 2026
Thank you so much for your review, Nicole!! Knowing that you loved Tortuga Lodge really warms my heart. It's such a special property that makes going a remote place, such as Tortugero, totally worth it 💚🐢 It sounds like you really did bring all the wildlife luck with you. Getting to actually help tag the nesting sea turtles is such a unique experience, and I am so glad Johnny was there to make your tours so special! (Thank you also for the honest note about the restaurant menu, which is... Read more

Thank you so much for your review, Nicole!!

Knowing that you loved Tortuga Lodge really warms my heart. It's such a special property that makes going a remote place, such as Tortugero, totally worth it 💚🐢

It sounds like you really did bring all the wildlife luck with you. Getting to actually help tag the nesting sea turtles is such a unique experience, and I am so glad Johnny was there to make your tours so special! (Thank you also for the honest note about the restaurant menu, which is super helpful feedback for me to have in my back pocket.

I wish you even more wonderful adventures to come 🗺️

Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Aug 10 - Aug 17, 2026

D
Darkmetals _.
New Rochelle, NY | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2026

This was the first time that I let someone else organize a trip for me and Olman did a great job. The itinerary was easy to follow and everything went exactly as planned. I enjoyed a trip full of fun, mostly outdoor activities with my family.

Local specialist: Olman Romero
Olman
Olman Romero
Local specialist in San Jose, Costa Rica | Replied on Aug 20, 2026
Hello Byron! Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to me, especially knowing that this was your first time trusting someone else to organize your trip. I’m very happy to hear that everything went smoothly and that the itinerary was easy to follow. Most importantly, I’m glad you and your family had such a fun time enjoying Costa Rica’s outdoors and making great memories together. It was a pleasure helping you plan your trip, and I hope Costa Rica welcomes you back... Read more

Hello Byron!

Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means a lot to me, especially knowing that this was your first time trusting someone else to organize your trip.

I’m very happy to hear that everything went smoothly and that the itinerary was easy to follow. Most importantly, I’m glad you and your family had such a fun time enjoying Costa Rica’s outdoors and making great memories together.

It was a pleasure helping you plan your trip, and I hope Costa Rica welcomes you back again someday. There are still so many wonderful places and experiences waiting to be discovered!

Pura Vida,
Olman

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