10 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica with Kids
I can easily say Costa Rica is one of my favorite travel destinations to visit with kids and here are the 10 reasons why.
Tips for Visiting Costa Rica with Kids
Costa Rica is Super Affordable
Some of my favorite places to travel are ones where I can get the most bang for my buck and Costa Rica came through like a shining star.
We booked a gorgeous VRBO luxury home complete with maid and cook for less than it would have cost to stay at a hotel.
And, most excursions we went on were less than $100 US dollars per person- and I am talking full day activities where you start out on horseback, then kayak, followed by zip-lining and repelling and then finish with a volcanic sauna… the full shebang!
Gorgeous Landscapes
Did you know 26% of Costa Rica is protected land?
That means you get untouched tropical forests and gorgeous coastlines surrounded by giant volcanic mountains.
When you drive through the country it feels like the lush lands extend onward forever. And, you’ll want to see more than just their gorgeous land. They have an amazing cloud forest that you definitely won’t want to miss!!
There’s Tons of Wildlife
If you love animals, reptiles and insects than Costa Rica is your kind of place.
We ran into jaguarundis, crocodiles, howler monkeys, coatimundis, crabs, cattle, green iguanas, moniters, tayras, macaws, dogs, horses, cattle, tons of hummingbirds huge butterflies, and so much more!
Seeing these gorgeous creatures in their natural habitats is really special.
Of course, Costa Rica is also known for their sloths.
I was really bummed because we visited the dry forest of Guanacaste and it is very rare to see sloths in that area. We looked but never saw any.
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica and want to make sure you run into some sloths learn from my mistake and book a tour at the Sloth Sanctuary.
Or take your chances and look for them while visiting Puerto Limon’s central park, the lush rainforests of Jaco, Manuel Antonio National Park and the osa Penninsula.
They are also spotted in the Montreverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.
But, if you go on your own you may want to hire a guide as sloths are really good at camouflaging themselves.
It’s Safe(r) Than Other Central American Countries.
Costa Rica is known for having a better handle on tourist safety than many of its Central American neighbors.
In fact, the only real dangers seem to be petty theft. Be smart about standard travel precautions and you should be fine.
I never felt unsafe while in Costa Rica and I traveled with 4 young children in tow.
However, its always a good idea to check the travel.state.gov site before booking any trip out of the country for the most up-to-date safety information.
It’s one of the Happiest Countries in the World!
Did you know that Costa Rica was ranked The Happiest Country in the World in 2009?
It’s true according to an independent research group in Britain. Sorry, Disney, but looks like you have some competition.
The Concept of Pura Vida
Their country motto is Pura Vida, or Pure Life.
It is more than just a motto. The pura vida lifestyle is ingrained in the culture.
They believe that living a pure life is much more important than stressing out or working too hard.
This attitude is contagious and when you leave Costa Rica hopefully that Pura Vida attitude will go home with you.
Have you visited Costa Rica with your kids?
