The Best of Costa Rica: where to go…?

Planning for an epic Costa Rica trip but unsure where to go? We have some ideas. 😉

Costa Rica is not a large country, but boy, is there a lot to do. From the Pacific to the Caribbean coasts, from Guanacaste down to the Osa Peninsula, you will find beautiful nature and exciting activities everywhere you look. The rainforests, the beaches, the activities – it can be similar, but each region has its own vibe and unique features. Our “best of” list helps narrow down the options and make the most of your trip.

Most of these recommendations have traveling with kids in mind – because Costa Rica is a *fantastic* place to travel with kids – but should apply to the majority of travellers. They are of course, our own opinions, and not exhaustive, but, as they say in Sound of Music (one of my favourite musicals, by the way), it’s a very good place to start. 😉

The most family-friendly

1. Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio makes a great home base for families in Costa Rica. It’s on on the Pacific coast, just 3 hours away from San Jose. There are many hotels to choose from, and many have pools. Manuel Antonio has a little bit of everything Costa Rica has to offer. It has great beaches, and while the rainforest is small, it is accessible and easy to visit. There’s a ton of wildlife here, both in Manuel Antonio National Park and around town. We saw a ton of animals at our hotel, and monkeys at every meal!

There are plenty of activities in the area. El Santuario is the longest zip-line in Central America. You can explore Nauyaca waterfall, or take a mangrove boat tour through Damas Island. You can surf, snorkel, para-sail, and enjoy all sorts of water activities here.

2. Arenal/La Fortuna

La Fortuna is a tourist-centric town in the middle of sprawling rainforests, right under the Arenal volcano. There is so much to do in this region for kids of every age. There are smaller hikes through animal sanctuaries and longer hikes around Arenal volcano and through the jungle. Lots of wildlife tours, and *lots* of wildlife. Spend a day at a hot spring resort, whether you want a more “zen” vibe like Tabacon or a more waterpark experience like Baldi Hot Springs. This region has some of Costa Rica’s best zip-lining courses and hanging bridges walks. And don’t forget river rafting and rappelling for the older kids! There is a lot to do around town too, from checking out the La Fortuna waterfall to taking a go at the El Salto rope swing.

3. Guanacaste beaches

If you’re looking for a more laidback, “beaching” vacation, this area is just the best. Playa Hermosa is just 30 minutes away from the Liberia airport. All down the coast, you are spoilt for choice, with Papagayo, Playa Flamingo, Playa Conchal, down to Tamarindo. You can find beaches with gentler waves, perfect for kids, and great spots for surfing. This area has most of Costa Rica’s all inclusive resorts, for an extra relaxing vacation.

While a little further from most of Costa Rica’s other destinations, you can still take day trips to visit rainforests and see wildlife. Palo Verde National Park offers jungle boat tours, and there is a high chance of spotting sloths if you head up to Bijagua.

The most friendly for the novice traveler

If you haven’t traveled in awhile, or this is your first big vacation with the kids, you don’t want to jump in the deep end. You want to pick a location that is easy to navigate, with at least some of the comforts of home.

1. Manuel Antonio

This was the most tourist-friendly but still adventure-y spot we visited in Costa Rica. It is easy to get to, and not hard to get around. You will run into tons of tourists. The hotels feel safe, and there are a ton of restaurant options to choose from, including lots of Western fare and international choices. English is widely spoken, credit cards are accepted in most places.

As we said, Manuel Antonio makes a great base. You can easily organize tours and day trips through your hotel, and there is *a lot* of Costa Rica to discover here.

2. Guanacaste

If you want to visit Costa Rica but still experience the comfort and familiarity of staying at a resort, this is hands down an easy vacation!

The best wildlife

1. Osa Peninsula (Corcovado National Park)

Corcovado National Park is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see wildlife. With *13* different vegetation zones, the biodiversity here is just astounding. As this park is a little out of the way, it doesn’t see as much traffic, so the animals are more in the open and easier to spot.

Add in the turtles, sharks, dolphins, whales, and fish in the surrounding water, which you can see on a boat trip to Cano Island, and you can’t beat the wildlife here.

2. Manuel Antonio (Manuel Antonio National Park)

A more accessible option, Manuel Antonio National Park is famous for its biodiversity. Because the park is small, the density of animals is high. A guided tour here is definitely high yield. You can also find plenty of animals outside the parks, particularly around hotel grounds and at open air restaurants.

3. Arenal

We’ve included Arenal for the number of sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, and private reserves here. It may not feel like you’re walking through a majestic rainforest, but you’ll have a way higher chance of spotting animals in these smaller protected areas. Arenal is a great place to see sloths, with multiple sloth reserves such as Sloth Territory and Borgarin Trail. A smaller reserve is also a high yield place for a guided night tour.

The best rainforests

1. Monteverde

Monteverde cloud forest is the most unique rainforest in Costa Rica. The mix of humidity and cooler weather create a fog that hangs amongst the trees almost all the time. The experience is very mystical and almost otherworldly.

There are tons of hiking trails to explore the cloud forests. The canopies are best experienced by a zip-lining or hanging bridges tour.

2. Tortuguero

This is the wildest, most expansive forest we visited. Tortuguero is such a preserved wild space it can only be accessed by boat or plane. Only a small area of the rainforest is open to visitors, and is best explored by boat through the many canals and rivers. If you’re looking for a unique rainforest experience, this is it.

3. The classic rainforest

Arenal and the rainforests of the Osa Peninsula are classic wet forest/jungle experiences. Arenal is definitely more accessible, while Osa Peninsula offers more remote, off-the-beaten hikes and trails.

The best for activities/the active family

1. Arenal/La Fortuna

So much adventure to be had in this central Costa Rica region. Higher adrenaline activities available include zip-lining (lots of different courses available here), water rafting, waterfall repelling, and ATVing.

Lots of hiking options, popular excursions to the Arenal volcano and Rio Celeste. Popular hanging bridges hikes include Mistico Hanging Bridges and Sky Adventures, which has a gondola that brings you to the top of the mountain. This is also a good place to try a horseback riding tour. There are many guided animal hikes, both day and night – and many hotels organize their own nature tours.

Water activities here include waterslides, pools, and splash zones at more thrill based hot springs. Lake Arenal also provides traditional activities like boating and fishing.

2. Manuel Antonio

A good mix of land and water activities here. You will find guided hiking tours at Manuel Antonio and surrounding private reserves. You can find zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, ATVing.

Water-based activities include surfing, Sea-dooing, and parasailing.

3. Monteverde

This spot is a great option for those looking for hiking and more nature based activities. LOTS of great hikes in the cloud forest parks and surrounding rainforests. El Tigre was our favourite hike in Costa Rica.

You can also find zip-lining, hanging bridges, and even tree climbing here at Monteverde.

The best (family friendly) beaches

Many Costa Rica beaches, albeit beautiful, have very strong undertows and riptides. In many places, we had to keep a very close eye on the kids, who are actually fairly strong swimmers. If you want to enjoy a family beach vacation, you need to look for shallow beaches with gentle waves.

1. Guanacaste

This region has hands-down the most family friendly beaches. Playa Hermosa is a long stretch of gentle beach nestled in a wide cove. Playa Panama is just nearby, with extremely calm waters. Carrillo and Samara both have gentle waters, but also offer fun activities for active kids.

*A note on other beaches:

You can certainly find family-friendly beaches everywhere in Costa Rica, but take care as one beach may be sheltered and calm while the beach right next door may have strong currents. For example, in Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio beach (located in the National Park) is calm, whereas Playa Espadilla Norte (just around the corner, also in the Park) often has serious undertows. It can be helpful to look for beaches with lifeguards, lots of families, and remain arms-length reach from your kids.

The best snorkelling

1. Osa Peninsula

There are several great snorkelling options in this region, including Drake Bay, Cano Island Reserve, and Golfo Dulce. Expect crystal clear waters, colourful coral, and tons of tropical fish, along with the possibility of spotting sea turtles, dolphins, and even humpback whales.

2. Nicoya Peninsula

This region boosts calm waters with great visibility. A day trip to Tortuga Island is a fantastic way to combine snorkelling and relaxing on the island’s pristine sandy beaches. You can also find great snorkelling along the coast between Playa Hermosa and Santa Teresa.

The best (gentle) surfing

1. Guanacaste

You can find beaches here with calmer waves, perfect for kids or beginner surfers. Tamarindo beach is not only a popular vacation destination, but offers great beginner waves. Playa Junquillal and Playa Panama are also known for their gentle waves.

2. Santa Teresa

If you’re looking to enjoy a laid-back vacation with bohemian vibes, Santa Teresa is the place for you. Santa Teresa boasts consistent waves year round, with gentler waves in the dry season and bigger swells in wet season. Playa Carmen and Playa Hermosa are top surfing beaches here.

3. Jaco

This is an easy surf spot along the Puntarenas coast, on the way between San Jose and Manuel Antonio. There are waves for all levels of surfers along this stretch of coast, with gentler waves near the south side of the beach. Jaco is a vibrant beachside town with lots of hotel and resort options.

The most unique experiences

1. Monteverde cloud forests

Monteverde cloud forests should be at the top of your Costa Rica bucket list. Only 1% of the world’s rainforest are cloud forests. Due to its unique climate, you’ll find flora and fauna you won’t see anywhere else in the world, including the elusive resplendent quetzal bird. (I have to specify the type of animal because I had no idea what that was before visiting Costa Rica. :P) Even if you’re not a budding naturalist, a hike through Monteverde’s cloud forests is a magical and one-of-a-kind experience.

2. Tortuguero

Tortuguero has the most unique vibe of any town in Costa Rica. Because it can only be accessed by boat or plane, the town of Tortuguero is basically one big pedestrian walkway, with quaint alleyways and charming colourfully painted houses. There are lots of locals just going about their day, and children and dogs playing in the streets. Tortuguero National Park has so many canals and rivers it’s best explored by water via kayak or canoe, which is a very cool angle to experience a rainforest. Plus, Tortuguero had the most beautiful stretch of beach we encountered anywhere in Costa Rica (even though you cannot swim here.)

3. Bioluminescence

A bucket list natural phenomenon – most people don’t know you can catch bioluminescence in Costa Rica year round! The best places to take a bioluminescence tour are Paquera Bay in the Nicoya Peninsula, and Golfo Dulce in the Osa Peninsula.

The best overall family destination

Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica may be a small country, but each region packs such a different vibe. It’s definitely worth spending time to experience it all. However, if you can only pick one location, we recommend Manuel Antonio. It’s one of Costa Rica’s more touristy spots, but that also makes it very tourist and family friendly. Manuel Antonio makes a great base, and there is so much to do in the region. From jungle to beaches, waterfalls to mangroves, land activities, water activities, Manuel Antonio is the best way to savour a little bit of everything Costa Rica has to offer.