Spend a day at Tabacon Hot Springs with kids

Visiting hot springs is one of our recommended “must do” activities in Arenal, whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, or with kids. You can find hot springs scattered across Costa Rica, but thanks to Arenal volcano’s geothermic activity, this area offers the most generous selection for every taste and budget. And, as we said in our post of activities in Arenal with kids, there is nothing more relaxing than a hot soak in natural spring water, surrounded by lush jungle and panoramic volcano views… unless you have kids. Our kids are not about zen. They want to swim and chase each other underwater and pretend they are feral woodland creatures.

Thankfully, Tabacon Resort and Spa provides the best of both worlds. At first glance, its serene cascading waterfalls and intimate pools may not seem the most kid-friendly. But the resort is so large and well designed we felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. We were spoilt for choice between their large swimming pools and seemingly endless nooks of terraformed hot springs at varying temperatures. Us adults got to relax and luxuriate while the kids got to play without worrying about disturbing other guests. We stayed an entire day and had a hard time getting the kids to leave when it was over.

To be fair, you don’t need much of a guide to have an amazing time at Tabacon. The takeaway point is to book in advance, because Tabacon with kids is totally worth it. (Link here, in case you’re already sold…) But if you enjoy getting a glimpse of what to expect, as we do when we scour travel blogs before our trip, read on for all you need to know to spend an unforgettable day at Tabacon Resort and Spa.

Tabacon vs other hot springs in Arenal

Before we dive into all things Tabacon, we need to talk about the wealth of options you have for hot springs in Arenal. (That’s the downside of too much choice… too many decisions to make!)

Tabacon is arguably the most well known hot springs in Costa Rica, built around the naturally heated Tabacon river. With its cascading natural pools and exotic rainforest surroundings, Tabacon is a picture-perfect Costa Rica postcard. The resort offers an intimate, luxury experience in a natural setting. It’s also one of the most expensive hot springs in Arenal. We are usually budget travellers, but we chose to splurge on Tabacon because we wanted the more natural vibe, the beautiful scenery, and I knew this was one of the experiences I would regret passing over if we went with a most cost-friendly resort.

If you are looking for something that is a little more lively and exciting, we recommend considering Baldi Hot Springs or Kalambu Hot Springs. These have almost waterpark vibes, with waterslides and splash zones for kids.

For those on a budget, Los Logos Hot Springs is a great option, with hot springs, pools, and waterslides. Los Logos also has an excellent view of Arenal volcano. (So does The Springs Resort and Spa, if you are looking for an upscale experience with volcano views. Tabacon does *not* have direct volcano views.)

Is Tabacon kid-friendly?

We would say that Tabacon isn’t as “exciting” for kids as some of the other hot spring options. Big S and Lil S definitely love a good waterpark, and waterslides are always a hit. However, I think Tabacon’s uniqueness makes up for the extra excitement. The kids made up endless games in the natural pools, staking their own domains and turning it into their own little kingdoms. There was a pool with a waterfall the kids could hide behind, which they thought was way cool. All the natural pools are very shallow. While we always kept an eye on the kids, we did not feel worried about water safety.

Tabacon also has 2 large pools and 1 smaller pool tucked away between the natural ones, for when the kids just wanted to put on their goggles and do some swimming. These pools are cooler than the hot springs, which the kids liked as a break from all the heat.

There is an adult only section, the Shangrila Gardens, with their own pools and loungers. But there is more than enough for kids to do in the general areas they never even asked to wander anywhere else. The landscaping is gorgeous, and there is a chance of spotting wildlife. Our kids liked looking for lizards, and the highlight was a massive Jesus Christ lizard just relaxing beside a hot spring.

There are signs encouraging people to be quiet in some of the spots, and we did have to remind our kids of this a few times. But you basically have to be yelling for your voice to carry over the sound of the waterfalls.

The swim up bar serves a kids menu for alcohol free cocktails, which was a bonus!

Booking your Tabacon Day Pass

Once you’ve decided to visit Tabacon, be sure to book your tickets early. You can do this directly through their website here. We recommend booking at least 1 week out, as reservations sell out a few days before. It is possible to buy day passes at the resort the day of, but we would not recommend this if you are set on Tabacon as spots are limited.

If you choose to stay at the Tabacon resort, you have free access to the hot springs. The resort is not on site, but there is a short trail that takes you to the hot springs, or a complimentary shuttle. The cost of 1 night at Tabacon starts around $500 USD ($700 CAD). An adult day pass to Tabacon is $89 USD, so it is definitely worth it to stay here at least 1-2 nights if you are planning to enjoy the hot springs with adults and older kids. Be sure to book early to ensure availability.

Day passes to Tabacon are $89 USD for adults, and $47 for kids 6-11. Kids and infants 2 and under are free.

You can also choose to book a day pass that includes lunch or dinner. This is $158 USD for adults, and $82 USD for kids. We did not choose this option, as it just wasn’t worth us paying almost double to have a sit-down meal where the kids would get bored after a few minutes. Instead, we ate lunch at the pool-side bar.

Dining and drink options at Tabacon

You cannot bring your own food into Tabacon. As we mentioned above, you can buy passes that includes lunch or dinner at the Ave restaurant on site. (But in our opinion this is not worth it if traveling with squirmy kids.)

The pool-side bar is a great option for grabbing lunch with kids in tow. You can eat by the pool (or the adults can eat if the kids refuse to get out of the pool… just ours?) The menu includes nachos, pizza, sandwiches, and burgers, with prices ranging from $20 USD – $30 USD. Cocktails are around $20. The bartender will take your credit card and open a tab for you, so no need to carry around cash or change.

If you are visiting Tabacon but on a budget, there is always an option of leaving the resort to for a meal somewhere else, and coming back at a later time. You are allowed to leave and return on a day pass.

What to bring for a day at the hot springs

• Your swimwear!

• Water shoes – these are recommended as the natural pools have rock/pebbly bottoms.

• Refillable water bottles – there is a water fountain near the change rooms. It’s important to stay hydrated when you’re in the hot water all day.

• Waterproof camera (or waterproof case/pouch for your phone)

• Credit card – for starting a tab at the swim-up bar.

• A reusable bag for your clothes – this was the easiest way to carry our stuff to and from the shower and change rooms. (Especially if, like our family, dad is usually the family sherpa with the backpack, and we needed to separate into men and women change rooms.)

• Sunscreen – even if it is cloudy, the Costa Rica sun can be intense. Be sure to reapply regularly every few hours.

• Goggles – for kids who want to swim! We even saw a few people with snorkel gear, but there really isn’t much to see in the pool.

Planning your day at Tabacon Hot Springs with kids

Tabacon is open from 10am to 10pm. We recommend getting there right at opening. (Let’s face it, if you have kids, 10am is *late*. This worked out for us, as we had time to enjoy a hearty Costa Rican meal prepared by our airBNB host’s grandmother.) It is much quieter, and you have a chance of grabbing loungers in prime locations. (For us, it was by the swim up bar and the main pool, so we could enjoy a break and some food while the kids swam.) We had read that visiting in the evening is a neat experience as well. We stayed until almost 6pm, and we did like the vibe of the lighting at night. However, there was an influx of guests around 5pm, and the hot springs felt way more crowded. You no longer have the option of buying evening passes, but a lot of visitors are coming from another activity during the day.

It’s definitely possible to visit Tabacon for only half a day and squeeze in another Arenal activity if you are short on time. But we feel to fully take advantage of the hot springs, it’s best to plan an entire day here so nobody feels rushed and you get to actually relax.

Parking

If you have made reservations, you can pull right on in to a fenced parking lot right across the street. The attendant will check you off from their list of guest reservations. Along the road you will find another attendant parking cars for the *free* hot springs just down the street. Make sure you are not parking here. When we arrived just after 10 there were only a few other cars in the lot.

Checking in

Arriving early is helpful for check-in, as this can take some time. You will be given a cool cloth and a yummy beverage while you’re being helped. They will give you towel cards which you can exchange for towels just inside the hot springs by the change rooms.

Change rooms and lockers

Lockers are provided, along with change rooms and showers. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are included, and even Lil S gave the scent a stamp of approval.

Relax the day away!

There is no secret to enjoying Tabacon. We spent the morning exploring all the different natural springs and pools, and the afternoon revisiting our favourite spots. The water gets slightly hotter the further upstream you go (closer to the volcano), from 38 C to 40 C. This isn’t a huge difference, but the kids are sensitive to the heat, and we spent most of our time further downstream.

We recommend snapping a few pictures at the main cascading pools when you arrive, because you will have it all to yourself! Even the most popular areas never got as crowded as we expected, and it’s possible to get an idyllic shot at any time of day just by angling your camera in a bit of a different direction.

Big S and Lil S’s favourite spots were the top of this main cascade. Few people come up this way, so they had it all to themselves. They spent a solid 2 hours pretending to “live” in the jungle. They also loved the small swimming pool tucked away between the hot springs (this is close to the Shangrila gardens). It’s a magical little spot where they could swim and play water games, surrounded by beautiful nature.

Our kids were absolutely knackered by the time we left, and we loved having an entire day of soaking in the jungle and doing absolutely nothing.

Have questions about planning a kid-friendly Costa Rica itinerary? Drop us a line!