Family friendly Costa Rica itineraries

We have written quite extensively about visiting Costa Rica with kids. Costa Rica is an incredible country for families, with a little bit of everything for everyone. Nature and animals, rainforests to beaches, zip-lining to snorkelling, there is a lot to see and do for a country that is only the size of West Virginia! If you are planning an epic family adventure to Costa Rica, be sure to check out all of our posts here.

With so many options, the prospect of figuring out where exactly you want to go can feel a little – very – daunting. Of course, your itinerary will depend on your family’s travel style, pace, and what you want to do. If you are looking to enjoy a specific experience or activity, check out our Best of Costa Rica guide for ideas.

Our sample itineraries are recommended for families who want both relaxation and adventure, and to experience the most of what Costa Rica has to offer.

One week in Costa Rica

1 week is a good amount of time to “sample” Costa Rica. For this itinerary, we recommend flying into San Jose.

::4 days – Manuel Antonio::

Manuel Antonio makes a very family-friendly, tourist-friendly home base. It is a 3 hour drive from San Jose, and very easy to navigate if renting a car. There is a ton to do here, from rainforests to beaches, waterfalls to mangroves.

Day 1 – enjoy your hotel

Relax at your hotel. (Even though there is so much to do you might be inclined to feel FOMO, don’t forget you are on vacation, after all!) Manuel Antonio is all about beautiful boutique hotels and beachside resorts, depending on your vibe. Be sure to enjoy the pool and the surrounding jungle. There will be tons of animals to spot right from your hotel grounds, especially monkeys!

For dinner, check out El Avion restaurant for dinner. It is an open-air seafood and grill, which incredible views of the pacific, and the perfect sunset spot.

Day 2 – Manuel Antonio National Park

One of the most biodiverse parks in Costa Rica. Be sure to take a guided tour to maximize your chances of spotting animals.

After the tour, you can do some hiking on your own, and spend some time enjoying the 3 beaches right in the park itself.

Day 3 – beach day!

Big S and Lil S can spend an entire day at the beach. The main beach in Manuel Antonio is Playa Espadilla Norte. This is a lively beach with a ton of water activities. Playa Bisansz is a quieter beach with calmer waves, great for children. You can also rent snorkel gear here.

If your family wants a little more adventure, try a half-day mangrove boat tour to explore Damas Islands. This will be a whole other kind of ecosystem.

If you have younger kids who might get overstimulated, you can also switch up the afternoon back at your hotel pool.

Day 4 – optional activities

1) Nauyaca waterfall – one of the most impressive and photogenic waterfalls in Costa Rica, in our opinion. This would be great for families with older or more adventurous kids. It is 1 hour away from Manuel Antonio. The hike to the falls is a 4 km trail, or you can opt for a 4×4 or horseback ride.

2) Jaco – a lively, surf-friendly town. Try your hand at surfing or take a lesson.

3) Beach hop – check out some more of the beaches in this area, like Playa Esterillos or Playa Hermosa.

(It takes about 4 hours to drive to Monteverde, so remember to factor that into your last day here in Manuel Antonio.)

::3 days – Monteverde::

Monteverde, in our opinion, is the quintessential Costa Rica nature experience. It has a more laid-back, rustic, and “wilder” vibe. It is a great spot for nature – hiking, zip-lining, and experiencing Costa Rica’s cloud rainforests.

Day 5 – visit a cloud forest, guided night tour

There are 3 main cloud forest reserves in Monteverde: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Reserve, and Children’s Eternal Rainforest. We recommend Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with families as the trails are a little better maintained. Be sure to visit the Cafe Colibri on your way out for a hot chocolate and to see the hummingbirds.

At night, book a guided night tour. We’ve said it across multiple of our Costa Rica posts and we’ll say it again – it doesn’t actually matter *where* you take your guided night tour, so long as you do! A guided night tour is such a special adventure-y, spooky experience, with the chance to spot tons of nocturnal critters.

Day 6 – zip-line and/or hanging bridges tour

This is a great way to experience the rainforest canopy. If you have elementary age kids or older, we recommend both activities. Some companies such as Selvatura Park and Treetopia Trekking can bundle both experiences. Zip-lining is a wild adrenaline experience. Hanging bridges is not quite a thrill ride, but walking over swaying bridges high above the canopy is still an incredible adventure, offering unparalleled views.

Day 7 – optional activities

If you have a full day or even a half day before driving back to San Jose to catch your flight home, consider a chocolate tour or a hike.

1) El Tigre – this was our favourite hiking trail in Costa Rica, and you can combine this with a horseback ride too!

2) Don Juan chocolate and coffee tours – a comprehensive tour of where and how chocolate and coffee is made, with plenty of delicious samples.

If you only have a couple of hours, you can relax and explore the quaint town of Santa Elena. Consider visiting the nearby Ficus Root Tree or Monteverde Frog Pond.

10 day itinerary

10 days in Costa Rica is a good amount of time to experience the highlights. We recommend getting your jungle and adventure fix in Arenal and Monteverde, and your “beaching” at either Manuel Antonio OR Guanacaste.

Guanacaste has more resorts and family friendly beaches, where as Manuel Antonio is a mix of rainforest and beach. If visiting Guanacaste, make sure to fly into Liberia airport. If visiting Manuel Antonio, fly to San Jose.

::4 days – Arenal::

Arenal is a classic rainforest experience. Its tourism scene is a little more “curated” than Monteverde, and there are a lot of family friendly things to do. Arenal is a great place to plan animal experiences and exciting adventures. Don’t forget the infamous hot springs, as it sits at the foot of the Arenal volcano.

Our rule of thumb when planning activities with kids is generally 1 big activity per day, giving the kids plenty of time to decompress. It doesn’t matter which order you do the activities, but we recommend planning to do the ones that are important to you early, in case it doesn’t work out the first time. (Plan for weather, unforeseen circumstance, etc.)

Day 1 – in and around La Fortuna, visiting El Salto Rope Swing or La Fortuna waterfall

We generally don’t plan anything major on the day we arrive. The kids are out of sorts, and it takes us time to buy groceries, settle in, and generally get our bearings. Our kids almost always sleep early on a travel day.

Spend your first day around the vibrant town square in La Fortuna. There are tons of shops and restaurants, and it is very pedestrian friendly.

If you have a little more energy, we recommend checking out La Fortuna Waterfall, and/or the El Salto Rope Swing.

Our kids *loved* El Salto. This is a river than runs through town, with small rapids and a small waterfall. There is a rope that the daring can use to swing into the basin of the waterfall. The kids tried the rope, but really loved the freedom to wade up and down the creek. (Keep an eye on young kids as the rapids, while small, can still be strong.)

La Fortuna Waterfall is an iconic landmark, but be prepared to climb some stairs – all 530 of them!

Day 2 – hanging bridges and/or zip-lining, guided night tour

Arenal is another popular spot to experience hanging bridges and zip-lining. You can always split up the activities, so you can experience the rainforest canopies at both Arenal and Monteverde. However, many companies bundle the activities, so it would be cheaper to do them together. You can also choose to do *both* in Monteverde. In that case, you can simply switch today’s itinerary for an extra day in Monteverde.

We do recommend a guided night tour here in Arenal if you can, as opposed to Monteverde. There are many more options here, with lots of smaller reserves and animal sanctuaries that make animal spotting easier.

Day 3 – hot springs day

Take a *full day* to experience these hot springs. Whether you choose somewhere more natural like Tabacon, or somewhere more lively like Baldi Hot Springs, it is worth taking your time here. There is seriously no better place for parents to zen and kids to play, with the added bonus of a picturesque jungle landscape. We visited Tabacon Hot Springs, and this was one of our Costa Rica highlights.

Day 4 – optional activities

1) Rio Celeste hike – a jungle hike to a gorgeous turquoise blue waterfall and pool.

Rio Celeste is around 1 hour away from Arenal, and the full hike is 6km. (However, it is possible to reach the waterfall in 30 minutes.)

You cannot swim in Rio Celeste, but there is a free pool just down river if you search “Rio Celeste free pool” on Google maps.

2) Balsa River Rafting – a fun adventure for older kids. There is a rapid segment that gets your adrenaline pumping, and a slower scenic float to admire the jungle.

3) Waterfall rappelling – a consideration if you have adventurous teenagers!

::2 days – Monteverde::

As we mentioned above, some of the activities are interchangeable between Arenal and Monteverde. However, we still recommend visiting both spots, because the vibe in both places is so different. Arenal’s tropical jungle and Monteverde’s cloud forests are both worth experiencing.

We do have an article about which activities we recommend doing where, if you are visiting both Arenal and Monteverde.

Day 5 – cloud forest reserve, Santa Elena town and Ficus Root Tree

Again, our recommendation for cloud forest hikes is Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Cafe Colibri.

*Because you are not doing a night tour here, you can use this afternoon and evening to explore the town of Santa Elena. The Ficus Root Tree is worth seeing. If you have a little more time, consider Monteverde Frog Pond, or a chocolate tour at Cabure.

Day 6 – optional activities

1) El Tigre hike or another hike in the area

2) Don Juan chocolate and coffee tour

::3-4 days – Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio::

(Take into account travel time to drive from Monteverde, and to drive to your destination for your flight home.)

If you are planning to spend the rest of your time in Guanacaste, we recommend picking an all-inclusive resort and planting yourself there for the remainder of your trip. This is the time to relax and pamper yourself. Enjoy the beach, the pools, and the water activities. Popular family friendly resorts include: The Westin Reserva Conchal, Dreams Las Mareas, Riu Guanacaste, Planet Hollywood.

Refer to our Manuel Antonio itinerary above on how to spend 3 glorious days here. Even though you’ve already done National Parks and walking tours by this point, Manuel Antonio National Park is still worth checking out, and is a great spot to enjoy the beach.

2 week itinerary

2 weeks in Costa Rica is the perfect length to experience Costa Rica without feeling rushed. This is enough time to see Costa Rica’s highlights, but also get the chance to explore a little off the beaten path.

In addition to the 10 day itinerary above, you have the option of adding 1-2 destinations to expand your Costa Rica “palette”.

2 days – Tortuguero town and Tortuguero National Park

Visiting the town of Tortuguero was one of the most unique experiences we had in Costa Rica. This “remote” region is only 3 hours away from San Jose, but it feels remote because you can only access this area by boat (or plane, but this is of course significantly more expensive). Tortuguero is a charming, laid-back experience of “Caribbean life”. You will be mingling with children playing at recess and locals out buying groceries. The beach here is also one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica, although you cannot swim. This is also where vast numbers of sea turtles come to lay eggs in late spring and summer, and definitely should be a bucket list experience!

Tortuguero National Park was the most expansive park we visited. This park is most unique in that the best way to experience it is via canoe or boat through its many waterways and canals. You can combine your boat tour with a guided hike through the National Park.

For a detailed 2 day itinerary of Tortuguero, be sure to check out our article here.

2 days – San Jose

If you’re going to be flying into San Jose, it may be worth experiencing a little bit of Costa Rica’s capital city. This is where you can immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s history and culture, and a foodie haven.

Be sure to check out Mercado Central and Plaza de la Cultura while you’re exploring the city centre. This is a great place to take a guided walking tour or a food tour. The National Museum will take you through Costa Rica’s rich history. Don’t forget to spend an evening eating your way through Barrio Escalante‘s excellent food scene.

2-4 days – Nicoya Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula is one of the world’s 5 “blue zones” (regions with the longest life expectancy)! The Nicoya is not as developed as some of the other regions in Costa Rica, giving a sense of what the country was like before tourism exploded. Here you will find secluded beaches, small towns, and laid back charm. This is where you want to be for “slow travel”. You can find smaller mid-range all inclusives here, or rent a beach house or airbnb.

One of the coolest things to check out in this region is the bioluminescence in Paquera Bay. This is one of the rare places in the world where you can find bioluminescence year round. Definitely a bucket list experience!

The Nicoya is also a great place to snorkel. A day trip to Tortuga Island combines crystal clear snorkelling with an idyllic tropical beach getaway. This is also a popular region to book whale and dolphin watching boat tours.

Santa Teresa is probably the most popular town in this region. Santa Teresa is a beach town with a bohemian vibe, popular with surfers (and yoga retreats!)

4 days – Uvita and Corcovado National Park

This is *the* experience for true animal and nature lovers.

Corcovado is around 3 hours south of Manuel Antonio. On your way, stop over in Uvita. Uvita is famous for its whale-tail shape sandbar, a part of Marina Bellana National Park. This is a great area for whale watching, swimming, and snorkelling.

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 incredible. Take one or several guided hikes, or even multi-day hikes (would not attempt with kids. :P) Drake Bay in this area is another place to check out bioluminescence. Be sure to take a boat tour to Cano Islands for wildlife spotting in the water.

3 week itinerary

Lucky you, if you get an entire 3 weeks to savour Costa Rica! You could really comfortably accomplish everything we included in our 2 week itinerary. Alternatively, you could choose to slow down and spend more time in one spot, soaking up the vibes or picking up a new skill like surfing.

This would be a great time to explore Costa Rica’s quieter Caribbean coast. Puerto Viejo is a quaint town surrounded by gorgeous beaches. Cahuita National Park has some of Costa Rica’s best coral reefs.

4 week itinerary

Honestly, at this point you might as well just move here. 😉