Luxury Family Holidays to Costa Rica
For family adventure holidays, Costa Rica delivers just that and more with ziplining through the rainforest, white water rafting and wildlife excursions wrapped up in an enriching escape.
- Custom-designed itineraries that inspire every generation
- Exclusive Costa Rica family holidays with vetted private guides & experiences
- All travel planning and transfers handled by our experts with 24/7 support
- Hand-selected family-friendly hotels, lodges and boutique resorts
Costa Rica is the kind of place you go with kids for a family adventure, to feel a million miles from home in a remote jungle and study the natural world. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, it was also one of the first to champion eco-tourism, resulting in an astounding 30 national parks. Protected, untouched landscapes, cloud forests and steaming volcanoes give way to miles of tropical Caribbean coastline, all filled to the brim with colourful flora and fauna.
Safe and well set up for tourists, it’s an excellent introduction to Latin America, meaning you can focus on having an unbelievable holiday with your family. Read on to discover the best places to go, things to do, and hotels to stay at in Costa Rica with kids.
Is Costa Rica good for family holidays?
Yes, Costa Rica is perfect for family holidays and jam-packed with outdoor excursions, family-friendly activities, and even educational opportunities that work for children of all ages. Younger children will be thrilled by the curious wildlife you’ll see, while teens return home full of stories of jungle ziplines and waterfalls to tell their friends. Costa Ricans are famous for their welcoming nature, and their hotels reflect this. From the Robinson Crusoe-style tree houses to beachside lodges with surfing, there is something very special about the accommodation in Costa Rica.
To help with the logistics of travelling, that's where we at Scott Dunn come in. The biggest challenge for families can be navigating transfers between light aircraft flights or long car rides. We make your family-friendly Costa Rica experience smoother by managing these transfers and flights for you, alleviating the stress and letting you focus on the adventure ahead.
Where to go in Costa Rica on a Family Holiday
With a dry and rainy season, as well as a range of activities based on the region, from surfing on the Pacific Coast to sea turtles on the Caribbean, where you go in Costa Rica with kids will depend on their age and the time of year that you travel.
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Central Valley & San Jose
With the international airport being in San Jose, the Central Valley is a natural place to start, especially if you are interested in learning about the culture of local communities. The capital city has lots of galleries, independent shops, restaurants and a fun market to explore. From here, you’re in a good spot to take day trips to cloud forests and coffee plantations.
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Arenal
Further north is Arenal, Costa Rica’s adventure hub, brimming with waterfalls, hot springs, nature trails, and an active volcano. Canopy walks will bring you up close and personal with friendly sloths, but there’s also quad biking, horse riding, zip-lines and white-water rafting to get the heart rates up. This is an ideal area for tweens and teens.
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Nicoya Peninsula
On the Nicoya Peninsula, you’ll find some of the brightest blue waters and the wildest beaches. It’s a secluded, stunning gem. The Pacific Coast is home to fantastic marine life, including schools of dolphins and great surf – even for beginners. A lot of surf schools will cater to families and young children, so everyone can be included. From September to November, this peninsula hosts an extraordinary sea turtle nesting season, providing a unique, educational, and memorable experience for families vacationing in Costa Rica with kids.
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Tortuguero
Families with little children will also love the Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean side of the country. Aside from white sand and turquoise sea, the main attraction are the turtle nesting sites where little ones can learn all about the history and lifestyles of sea turtles while witnessing this unique event.
- Central Valley & San Jose
- Arenal
- Nicoya Peninsula
- Tortuguero
Luxury Family Hotels and Resorts in Costa Rica
Ingenious, imaginative and with eco-tourism at their hearts, Costa Rica’s family-friendly hotels offer the best of all worlds. Children will squeal with delight at the prospect of staying in a treehouse, while luxurious beachside resorts ensure you have a holiday too.
With Younger Kids
With interconnecting rooms or family suite options, these hotels ensure everyone gets a good night’s sleep. They are well placed for activities better suited to younger children, such as days exploring the beach, kayaking, canopy tours and gentle forest walks. Throw into the mix special children’s clubs and menus and they become the perfect place to introduce the youngest members to an exciting family holiday in Costa Rica.
Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal
A collection of safari-style tents deep among nature with toucans and parrots flying overhead and sloths spying from the trees. Sustainable and luxurious, the tents come with private plunge pools and are big enough to fit the whole family in. This is also a fantastic hotel option for children of all ages.
Arenas del Mar, Manuel Antonio National Park
This laid-back escape sits where the rainforest meets the ocean among 11 green acres of nature reserve that is heaving with wildlife. Particularly well-suited to kids of all ages, Arenas del Mar has interconnecting bedrooms, super-fun activities, and the beach feels remote and calm – perfect for little ones. What more could you ask for on a family holiday to Costa Rica?
With Older Kids
As your children get older the long list of requirements for a family holiday starts to get shorter, until all you really need is for them to be entertained. Costa Rica has everything you could want to fire up the energy and enthusiasm levels in your teens. High-flying, adrenaline-fuelled zip lines, jungle treks, surfing, quad-biking, horse riding and competitive waterfall jumping (who will dare the highest?) will keep them away from their phones and grinning from ear to ear. Set deep amongst Costa Rica’s natural landscapes, these hotels offer up all the activities teens could ask for, as well as opportunities to immerse yourselves in local community life.
Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero
The only hotel on Tortuguero with its own private nature reserve, this eco-lodge is right on the river’s edge surrounded by rainforest. Spend your days taking nature walks with naturalist guides, visiting turtle nesting sites, or on boat rides and kayak trips up the Tortuguero River. When staying at Tortuga Lodge, you won’t hear a whisper of ‘I’m bored.’
Amor Arenal, Arenal
Children aged 13 and over are welcome at Amor Arenal, creating a grown-up vibe that would suit teens wanting to feel like adults. With a swim-up bar playing reggae and hot springs to kick back in after a day of hikes and waterfalls, Amor Arenal brings the cool factor to your Costa Rica family trip.
For Multi-generational families
One of the best things about travelling to Costa Rica is that it offers something for every member of the family, at every age. It is the perfect blend of relaxation and high octane, all with the flexibility to do everything at your own pace. If you’re planning a multi-generational family holiday to Costa Rica, check in to one of these properties, which are large enough to comfortably accommodate the entire family and have spaces to escape when you need a bit of solitude.
Four Seasons Costa Rica, Peninsula Papgayo
Seaview bedrooms, family-sized suites, or casas with space for everyone provide the ideal location to reconvene with the family after days spent snorkelling, surfing, playing golf, paddle boarding or exploring the local area. Then there’s the Explorer’s Club and Tuanis Teen Centre for them, and the Prieta Beach Club, with its cool design and private cabanas for you.
For Active Families
Costa Rica is an oasis for active families and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The country offers enough explorations for many holidays combined. To be right in the heart of the adventure, check in to one of these hotels which are in the best locations to experience all the fun Costa Rica has to offer. Surrounded by rainforest, beaches and waterfalls, there are no better places to stay to take in the country’s epic sights and sounds.
Pacuare Lodge, Pacuare River
A 20-suite eco-hotel hidden among the pristine wilderness of Costa Rica's Pacuare River, Pacuare Lodge embraces its remote location by offering helicopter and white-water rafting transfers to the hotel. It even has a treetop restaurant reached by zipwire. Surrounded by lush forests alongside fast-flowing rivers, cloud forests and volcanoes, you’re perfectly situated to dive right into the area’s exciting activities.
El Remanso, Osa Peninsula
El Remanso is a place that beckons adventurous souls. With its mix of adrenaline-pumping activities like zip-lining through the rainforest canopy and jumping down hidden waterfalls, chance encounters with quirky wildlife and pristine Pacific beaches, this is the kind of place you’ll remember forever.
For Relaxation
There’s plenty of opportunity for rest and relaxation when in Costa Rica with kids. There are 800 miles of coastline on both the Atlantic and Pacific for you to laze your days away on and many luxurious hotels featuring world-class spas with rejuvenating therapies like massages, facials, and wraps. Costa Rica also provides the perfect peaceful retreat for yogis – meditate to the sounds of the rainforest in your own private haven. Many of the hotels and resorts also offer childcare should you need some alone time.
Aguas Claras, Puerto Viejo
Set in a laid-back surfer’s paradise on the Caribbean coastline, Aquas Claras sits among swaying palm trees and beach shacks. Combining the old-fashioned charm of a plantation-style house with a modern beach club vibe, this is a stylish hotel, which welcomes children over eight and is better for families with tweens and teens. There are two-bedroom bungalows, with small kitchens – but the call of the restaurants is hard to resist for most guests. Complimentary bicycles come with the rooms, or you could head off barefoot in search of juice bars and empty spots on the beach. There’s yoga, surfing, and the Talamanca rainforest nearby.
Nantipa, Santa Teresa
Beachfront villas and bungalows create a home away from home with hotel services at this eco-lodge with a heart. Nantipa’s roots lie firmly in the community, pioneering social and environmental outreach programmes from its beautiful location. Reconnect as a whole family in this carefree beachside living. Hit the waves, collect fresh coconuts, and watch the sun go down over another beautiful day in paradise.
Family Holidays in Costa Rica FAQs
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The best time to visit Costa Rica with children is during the dry season, which runs from December to April – perfect for a winter sun escape or half-term fun!
However, if seeing sea turtle nesting sites is high on your family's bucket list, the best time to visit is from September to November.
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Everywhere we sell is suitable for families, like Arenal, Monteverde Forest, Manuel Antonio Park, and the different peninsulas; however, it is worth paying attention to which coast you visit if you plan on staying on the beach.
On the Pacific Coast on the western side of the country, the water is more active, which is perfect for surfers and watersports, but may be intimidating for young children.
On the Caribbean Coast, or the eastern side of the country, the water is much calmer and welcoming for young children. The calm waters are also ideal for snorkelling, diving and the chance to see turtle nesting sites.
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Costa Rica is truly for outdoor adventure, rather than your typical fly-and-flop beach holiday.
Families can expect hiking, ziplining, whitewater rafting, surfing, wildlife viewing and endless more activities waiting for them in Costa Rica. And the adventure level can be tailored to your family, whether you want easy walks through the rainforest or flying amongst the trees.
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While our holidays can accommodate young children and toddlers, we don’t recommend Costa Rica for children under six. Along with the holidays being outdoor-focused, some properties and experiences also have +6 or even +12 age limits. We believe a Caribbean holiday is better for families with toddlers, where you’ll find more resort-style lodging, calm beaches and kids' clubs.
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What makes a Scott Dunn family holiday to Costa Rica so special is our expertise in creating truly once-in-a-lifetime holidays. We pair your travel wants with our local knowledge, years of planning and personal relationships to create holidays you simply can’t book anywhere else for a tailor-made experience.
Our team of travel specialists are waiting to help you book your adventure to Costa Rica.
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