As the saying goes, “The greatest legacy we can leave for our children is happy memories.” So, choosing a travel destination for families or multi-generational groups can sometimes be challenging. Different interests, capacities, energy levels, and attention spans can mean making unforgettable family travel memories lots of work. Welcome to family travel to Costa Rica! A fun destination for all ages!
Thanks to the diversity of adventures and experiences it has on offer, Costa Rica is a wonderland for adults and children. Who doesn’t like to see a sleepy sloth swim at the beach, peer down into a live volcano or fly through the rainforest canopy on a zipline? All these experiences are part of a Costa Rican family trip, which will be remembered for weeks, months, and even years after you return home.
As a destination, it also has some added benefits that make it an excellent place for family vacations. These may well tip the balance when deciding where to take the family for a well-deserved getaway.
Why Costa Rica for Family Fun?
- Costa Rica is ideally positioned on the world map, so it isn’t too far away from the major North American hubs with direct flights from many. This means less travel time and less hanging around in airports.
- Costa Rica is a small country. So, once you are here, most places are just a short car, bus, or plane ride away. But we all know that long periods buckled up and sitting is tiring. However, Costa Rica is small enough for this not to be a problem.
- For the adventurous at heart, Costa Rica is filled with thrill-filled activities for all ages. Costa Rica has mastered the art of creating adventure-in-nature activities that everyone can enjoy. No one gets left behind here. From ziplining through the rainforest canopy, taking a safari boat ride down a river, or spotting humpback whales, all are adaptable for every age group and dynamics.
- The Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica are located in the best and most beautiful corners of Costa Rica. These boutique hotels are family-friendly and offer great food, cozy rooms, and fabulous amenities to keep everyone happy and rested. So while the kids enjoy the pool, hot springs, or the room, Mom and Dad can enjoy the Spa treatments for some wellness time!
So now, the question is where to go and stay with the family in Costa Rica!?
Coastal Fun
For beach and sun lovers, Costa Rica is a favorite! With two coasts to choose from and visit, both are perfect for idyllic family time while soaking up the sun, playing in the sand, and swimming in the tropical Pacific and Caribbean waters. Take a surf lesson with the family, take a sunset walk along the beach, hang out at the pool, or explore the local beachside town. Costa Rican coastal family fun is a trip that none of you will forget easily.
Tamarindo Beach is a favorite beach for surfing and is home to Hotel Capitan Suizo, a beachfront boutique hotel. As well as ocean-front units, and superior rooms, this beautiful hotel also has a 4-bedroom suite for families and groups. Glide between the spacious pool and the beach while enjoying family time under the tropical sun and shady trees that also serve as a sanctuary to monkeys, birds, and other furry friends.
Further down the Nicoya Peninsula and nestled between the coast and the rainforest-laden mountains is the beautiful Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel in the upscale area of Nosara. With great surfing waves, shopping, and restaurants, Gilded Iguana sits in the middle of all the fun. Many suites have multiple bedding for smaller families, and there is a special one for larger families and groups. Take a surf class at the Surf Club for a truly unforgettable family experience.
On the far southern coastal rim of the Nicoya Peninsula, Hotel Tango Mar Beachfront Boutique Hotel & Villas is located on a private beachfront reserve covered in tropical forests and with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. This special place has family vacation written all over it, with a relaxing, safe beach to swim in, adventure sports, and nature-rich tours. This is a vacation destination in itself!
The Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica is just over an hour from the Central Valley and the Juan Santamaria International Airport. It is also where you can find two Small Distinctive Hotels. Villa Caletas sits on a rainforest-covered hilltop overlooking the beautiful ocean and has bird’s eye views of the diversity of wildlife that inhabits its surroundings. So get ready to see squawking Scarlet Macaws, Blue-Jeans Frogs, and dozing sloths while enjoying the infinity pool and secluded beach at the bottom of the hill.
While Hotel Villa Caletas overlooks the coast from above, Hotel Alma del Pacifico Hotel sits right at beach level. This colorful representation of Costa Rica is bright and airy and invites the family to enjoy the endless beach, the soft waves, and the refreshing pool to relax. The large rooms also are perfect for a family offering open spaces for fun and games!
Sitting on a tropical fiord and nestled into the rainforest, Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge combines coastal adventures, close-to-nature activities, and wildlife exploration. Only accessible by boat, part of the fun is getting to this best eco-lodge. From the moment you land at the pier, Nicuesa will entertain you with its treasures, whether you are kayaking, SUP, hiking, or just sitting back and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. This is about learning and exploring and is unique!
Mountain Magic
Costa Rica has some impressive mountain ranges dotted with volcanoes that are the backdrop to mountain magic and family fun! Whether you are staying at the Hotel Grano de Oro in Costa Rica´s capital city and exploring the Central Valley´s mountains and volcanoes, staying on a volcano slope, or at its base, Costa Rican mountains are filled with family-fun activities.
Hotel Grano de Oro is a city hotel with the convenience of its next-to-perfect location and proximity to the cultural and historical treasures of Costa Rica, one-day tour options to volcanoes, coffee farms, ziplining, and the Juan Santamaria International Airport too!
Snuggled into the northern Guanacaste Volcanic Mountains Range, Borinquen Thermal Resort brings the family volcanic mud baths, thermal springs, vast gardens to enjoy, and fresh mountain air. The mountain resort also has close-to-nature thrills designed for families and adventurers of all ages. The Borinquen Adventure Expeditions include horseback riding, ziplining, birdwatching and hiking to explore the mountain. After a day of family adventure on the magic mountain, rest peacefully in Borinquen´s free-standing villas with decks for additional space and opportunities.
At Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa, the volcano experience takes on a whole new meaning. How memorable for children than to wake up to the Arenal Volcano views every morning during your stay? Bathe and relax in the thermal springs, courtesy of the volcano, and pass the day spotting wildlife while dabbling in close-to-nature adventure activities for the entire family.
Costa Rica loves family and has created a destination that embraces vacations where children, teenagers, and adults can have fun as a family. The Small Distinctive Hotel family invites you to Costa Rica to create those unforgettable moments that will be the topic of conversation around the family table for years to come.
