Planning a Family Vacation to Costa Rica: Our 10 day Experience with kids

Planning a family vacation can be challenging, especially when you're looking for a destination that's family-friendly; safe and enjoyable for all ages. For one of our latest adventures, we chose Costa Rica, a place renowned for its natural beauty and vibrant culture. Whether your Spanish is great or not, Costa Rica is the place to explore nature's playground while enjoying the ease of getting around with tourist-friendly accommodations. Joining us on this trip were my parents, both in their 60s, and my youngest child, who was 5 years old at the time. Costa Rica seemed like the perfect destination that everyone in the family could enjoy.

Keep reading, because I'm going to share our experience and complete itinerary, including costs to help you plan your own trip to Costa Rica. Overall, we had an incredible time, learned a lot, and made long lasting memories. However, there are a few things we would do differently if we were to visit again. Without further ado, let’s dive into our Costa Rican adventure!

Day 1: Arrival in San Jose

We landed in San Jose and were greeted by beautiful weather! We reserved a vehicle with Adobe Rent-A-Car — where shuttle picked us up promptly and took us to the rental site. The vehicle rental fee was $1,073 for a seven-passenger van for 10 days, plus a liability protection fee of about $360, bringing the total to approximately $1,433. The company was very professional, and the staff was friendly and punctual. As well, the van was clean, in good condition with no issues whatsoever. 10/10! I'd would rent from them again.

As soon as we got our rental vehicle, we started our journey to La Fortuna. One thing to note about Costa Rica is that GPS can be unreliable. We were advised to use the Waze app, which turned out to be very accurate. Also, many places in Costa Rica don’t have exact addresses. Instead, they provide general directions such as “turn right at the church, then left at the second street, and right again at the third tree.” Despite this, we had no trouble finding our destinations, as Costa Rica is well-prepared for tourists.

Along the way, we stopped at a local "Soda", a typical Costa Rican diner. These eateries offered delicious local food at fair prices resulting in us eating at Sodas almost every day. The friendly and warm atmosphere made our first meal in Costa Rica a great experience, despite the language barrier.

Our drive, which was supposed to take about three hours, ended up taking 4-5 hours. By the time we arrived at our accommodations in La Fortuna, everyone was exhausted, so we went straight to bed.

Day 2: La Fortuna and Hot Springs

We started our day with a complimentary breakfast at our hotel, Hotel Brisas Arenal. The highlight was a bird feeder outside the dining area, attracting all kinds of exotic birds. The food was great, and we loved the hotel, paying $

877 for two rooms for three nights.

Our first stop was Eco Termales La Fortuna, one of the many hot spring pools in the area. The location was beautiful, and we spent about four hours there. The cost was approximately $228 for four adults and two children (the youngest was free). The hot springs were fantastic, and the piña coladas were excellent.

After the hot springs, we stopped at another Soda for lunch and had the best ceviche. Costa Rican ceviche is so good that we ended up having it with almost every meal.

Next, we visited the “rope swing,” a hidden gem I discovered during my research. It's a river under a bridge with a little waterfall and a rope hanging from a tree, where people swing into the water. This place had no entry fee and was mostly filled with locals. It was one of our favorite stops and felt like an authentic Costa Rican experience. If you're looking for directions, there are plenty of YouTube videos to guide you.

After the rope swing, we returned to our hotel to rest, freshen up, and then headed out for dinner and a stroll around town.

Day 3: Arenal Park and Ziplining Adventure

This entire day was dedicated to Arenal Park for the famous Costa Rican zipline adventures. We booked a package for $95 per person, which included a hike, a sky tram ride, and the zipline. The hike was mediocre with a few sky bridges, but the main highlight was the zipline.

The sky tram ride took us to the highest elevation point for the zipline descent. Although nerve-wracking at first, especially for our kids, the experience was thrilling. My youngest and my mom opted out, but the rest of us had an amazing time. The zipline descent consisted of 5-6 lines, each getting easier as we went down. It was a fantastic experience, and the kids handled it like champs.

Day 4: Travel to Monteverde

Our fourth day was primarily a travel day. The journey from La Fortuna to Monteverde took about three hours by car. We arrived at Sarita’s Casitas, a charming accommodation run by a husband and wife duo who were incredibly hospitable and helpful. They even booked our excursions in Monteverde for us. The cost for two nights at Sarita’s Casitas was $411, and the place was spotless with fantastic hosts. I highly recommend staying here.

Once settled in Monteverde, we ventured into town for dinner at another "soda", a type of local eatery, and called it a night.

Day 5: Exploring Monteverde Cloud Forest and Beyond

We scheduled an early morning hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest to avoid the crowds and maximize our day. Our Airbnb hosts arranged a guide for us and recommended visiting the Curi-Cancha Reserve. Despite the high expectations, the hike was somewhat underwhelming for me. The entry fee was $15 per person, with an additional $70 per person for the guide.

We didn’t venture as high into the cloud forest due to the kids getting tired after a few hours of hiking. While the vegetation was interesting and we spotted some wildlife through binoculars, I found it to be a rather standard walk through the woods. Having hiked in other parts of the world like Iceland and Vietnam, this experience didn’t stand out as much for me.

After our hike, we visited the Bat Museum. The entry fee was $15, or $30 for a guided tour, but I don’t think a guide is necessary as it's a small place. The host, busy with other guests, let us in at a discounted rate. The museum was interesting but small; we spent about 20 minutes there before moving on.

That evening, we enjoyed a sunset horseback ride. The scenery was stunning, and the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Once again, our Airbnb hosts arranged everything, and the tour guides picked us up and dropped us off, making it a seamless experience.

Day 6: Heading to Manuel Antonio

We decided to cut our stay in Monteverde short and head to Manuel Antonio a day early. Many people find Monteverde captivating, but we felt there wasn’t enough to do. One activity we skipped was zip-lining, which is reputedly better in Monteverde than La Fortuna, but since we had already done it in La Fortuna, we passed on it.

We booked a last-minute stay at Casa Amigos by the Beach for $306. The place looked great online but was a bit rundown in person. However, it was just for one night, and its proximity to the beach allowed us to enjoy the evening by the ocean.

Day 7: Settling into Manuel Antonio

We moved from Casa Amigos to Millennium Hostel, which cost $985 for three nights in two rooms. Although marketed as a hostel, it felt more like a hotel with private rooms and great facilities, including a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, and pool tables. Note that many places in Costa Rica, including this one, do not accept credit cards, so be prepared with cash.

That night, we took a catamaran sunset tour. It was a fantastic experience, with dinner and drinks included. We even saw some whales and had the chance to jump into the water. Watching the sunset from the boat was a perfect end to the day.

Day 8: Horseback Riding and Relaxing

We booked another horseback riding excursion, this time with Rancho Tipico Don Juan. They picked us up from our hostel and took us on an hour-long drive. The ride included a stop at a beautiful waterfall where we could cool off. The cost was $80 per adult, $70 per child, and $40 for our youngest, which included transportation, water, fruits, iced tea, and lunch. That evening, we relaxed at a local restaurant and watched the sunset at the beach.

Day 9: Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park and Heading Home

Our last full day was a travel day back to San Jose. Before leaving, we visited Manuel Antonio National Park, a protected area with an entry fee of $30 per person. The park features beautiful nature trails and beaches, as well as diverse wildlife. We finally spotted a sloth on this visit, a highlight for us after several attempts throughout our trip.

After spending a few hours at the park, we returned to our hostel to pack up and head back to San Jose. We stayed at a comfortable and affordable hotel owned by an American who moved to Costa Rica years ago. The next day, we packed our bags and made our way to the airport, marking the end of our Costa Rican adventure. Pura Vida!

In summary, this was our Costa Rica trip, filled with unique experiences and beautiful landscapes. Despite some underwhelming moments, the overall journey was memorable and enriching.