Costa Rica Family Vacations

"Costa Rica remains one of the world's great family vacation destinations. Immersive activities, vast landscapes, exotic wildlife all around and an infectious thirst for life are the hallmarks of a memorable family adventure."

Costa Rica might even be the very best place for a family vaction.

Amazing activities you can all enjoy together, exotic wildlife and unchecked nature all around, miles and miles of unspoilt beaches and some truly memorable places to stay and soak it all in. If you were to invent an ideal destination for active families, it would look an awful lot like Costa Rica...

Costa Rica family vacations are therefore ubiquitous and the vast majority on offer may look remarkably similar. So we’d like to give you a bit of a flavour of how approach them, based on our own experiences with our children, happy and privileged guinea pigs, to judge if we’re right for you.

Pura Vida – the joy of life – is a big thing here, you no doubt already know. It’s also not a bad philosophy for any Costa Rica trip, not least when there are active children and teenagers involved. It sets a course for your trip, encouraging you to go with the flow, with the weather, with your energy levels and with how you're all feeling. Anything too rigid and regimented would be a bit incongruous in Costa Rica.

So, our approach is to add structure where it adds value, but also know when to back off so that you can be independent. Sometimes you just want to fill up the fridge and be self-contained for a few days, with the space to slow down and the flexibility to change plans or book things on the day.

The structure we do add comes in many forms, from the regions you visit and the places you stay, to the activities you want and the local support you need. That’s all part of the planning process – getting the vacation right for you all, individually and as a family.

Activities also come in many forms and, for us, the sweet spots are always the ones you enjoy together, laughing and giggling and getting wet and sharing the moment, no compromises or negotiations.

For the high-octane moments, that could be rafting, rappelling, zip lining and mountain biking. For the gentler moments its kayaking through mangroves, snorkelling off a tropical island, horse riding along the beach or hiking up through the forest.

Then there’s the wildlife. No matter what anyone says, toucans, sloths and monkeys are cool at any age. Coming across them in their natural habitat, wild and free, is just going to make you all smile.

Trip idea: Costa Rica’s Best Family Adventure

Better yet, there’s nothing quite like a troop of monkeys barrelling through the canopy in the morning to get a teenager out of bed. Add in the empty 7km stretch of sand that’s a short stroll away from your beach house and there’ll be no problems getting the day kick-started. Likewise, phone screens are not quite so interesting when someone has seen a sloth in your lodge’s garden, or when you come across a young puma stalking a group of deer by the roadside.

That’s the Costa Rica we love – the bits you go out to find with your guides, and the unexpected moments that come to you, when you’re not looking for them. Our experience, direct connections and knowledge enable us to share lesser-known corners, at the right times and with the right people.

So if you only take the kids to Costa Rica once, let’s make it count.

For most trips, you can do either.

Costa Rica has good roads and is a very safe country to drive around. Modern 4x4 vehicles are provided should you wish to drive yourself.

We also offer comfortable private transfers to the majority of destinations should you wish to travel without driving.

Costa Rica manages to pack an unbelievable amount of weather into a small area. That's why most people are confused as to when to plan their visit.

Essentially, the country has a tall spine of mountains running down the middle so there is near total separation of the Caribbean from the Pacific sides.

The upside is that Costa Rica is pretty much a year-round destination, and even if you're there in a wetter season then that likely means warm days with a few showers and storms, rather than day-long drizzle.

For more information, take a look at our Costa Rica Weather Guide or give us a call.

You can either use our enquiry form, or e-mail us at [email protected].

If you'd rather chat through the best options for your trip, simply call toll-free.

One of our Costa Rica specialists will help to create your perfect vacation.

Yes, all of our itineraries can be tweaked and tailored to suit your dates, durations, and specific needs.

Contact us and one of our experts will be happy to help plan your vacation.

We're only an email away on [email protected] if you have any queries.

Or call toll-free on 1-844-368-7192 if you'd prefer to chat through.