Costa Rica is a top-choice for family travel for many reasons not least because the culture is family orientated and Costa Ricans genuinely love kids.
Children are welcomed at almost every restaurant and event, as Costa Ricans tend to socialize with their immediate and extended families, as much or more so than with friends. Perfect strangers will coo over your baby and it is easy to have a friendly exchange with other families enjoying the same beach or hiking trail. They are curious and interested in other cultures and welcome the chance to practice English. Costa Rica offers lots of choices for both accommodation and activities for all ages and a genuine immersion into a natural world that kids love.
Puerto Viejo/Cahuita
The beach town of Puerto Viejo or Old Harbor in English retains much of its Caribbean influence evident in the spicy dishes, the Jamaican lilt to the English spoken and the reggae beats on the air. The town’s white and black sand beaches are a great place to relax, surf and snorkel. The laid-back town has plenty of small stores and stalls for souvenir shopping.
Cahuita National Park, in the next town, is only a 20 minute drive away and offers pristine beaches, and some of the best snorkeling in Central America, for a family day out. Or take a trip to the village of Bribri and visit the one of the few remaining indigenous tribes of Costa Rica who grow and produce organic chocolate, following ancient practices.
Cross a hanging bridge and through a cacao plantation to enter the pre-Colombian culture of the Bri Bri Indigenous Village. You will be greeted by villagers and introduced to their mix of modern and ancient practices. You will be introduced to the traditional methods of farming, house building, cooking, hunting with a bow and arrow and chocolate making. Tour a medicinal garden to learn about healing practices and share a traditional lunch served in a banana leaf. After saying goodbye to your new friends make a stop at a local waterfall and refresh yourself in its cool waters. The whole family will love this chance to see how indigenous families live and taste real chocolate!
Surfing on Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is world class. The famous “Salsa Brava” waves start just beyond the coral reef. Around the area of Puerto Viejo and Cocles there are waves for all levels. If you are a beginner or intermediate surfer, both Black Beach and Cocles Beach offer nice waves on safe sandy bottom beaches. Instructors are on Cocles with surf boards at the ready. Surf lessons are a fun way to amuse the children while you relax on the beach ;)
Sea Kayaking: Embark in a magical kayaking journey paralleling a coast full of cliffs, caves, and the most amazing rainforest. You will also have time for a nice break at the beach to relax, swim and enjoy. Younger children can pair up with a parent and older kids will love the chance to explore the sea solo.
The best Snorkeling places are Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge , where you can enjoy the pristine waters, a large variety of species and the beautiful colors of the Caribbean live coral reef, the most important in Costa Rica.
Come and visit the Dolphins of Gandoca as you cruise the palm-fringed beaches between Puerto Viejo and Gandoca. There are three species of dolphins in the area, the bottle nose, the common and the spinner dolphin. The probability of seeing the dolphins is very high. You also have the chance to swim, snorkel and take a short jungle hike to see monkeys, sloths, birds and maybe even spot the elusive Green Macaw which is being re-introduced to the area. Kids of all ages are fascinated by the bio diversity revealed by the boat tour!
Getting there from San Jose: Follow Route 32 for the 4 to 5 hour drive.
Car rental: for sufficient space for the whole family and luggage, we’d recommend a full sized SUV or larger. A GPS system is a good idea to find your way around, and we rent child seating to comply with Costa Rican law.
Costa Rica is a top-choice for family travel for many reasons not least because the culture is family orientated and Costa Ricans genuinely love kids. Children are welcomed at almost every restaurant and event, as Costa Ricans tend to socialize with their immediate and extended families, as much or more so than with friends. Perfect strangers will coo over your baby and it is easy to have a friendly exchange with other families enjoying the same beach or hiking trail. They are curious and interested in other cultures and welcome the chance to practice English. Costa Rica offers lots of choices for both accommodation and activities for all ages and a genuine immersion into a natural world that kids love.
Puerto Viejo/Cahuita
The beach town of Puerto Viejo or Old Harbor in English retains much of its Caribbean influence evident in the spicy dishes, the Jamaican lilt to the English spoken and the reggae beats on the air. The town’s white and black sand beaches are a great place to relax, surf and snorkel. The laid-back town has plenty of small stores and stalls for souvenir shopping.
Cahuita National Park, in the next town, is only a 20 minute drive away and offers pristine beaches, and some of the best snorkeling in Central America, for a family day out. Or take a trip to the village of Bribri and visit the one of the few remaining indigenous tribes of Costa Rica who grow and produce organic chocolate, following ancient practices.
Cross a hanging bridge and through a cacao plantation to enter the pre-Colombian culture of the Bri Bri Indigenous Village. You will be greeted by villagers and introduced to their mix of modern and ancient practices. You will be introduced to the traditional methods of farming, house building, cooking, hunting with a bow and arrow and chocolate making. Tour a medicinal garden to learn about healing practices and share a traditional lunch served in a banana leaf. After saying goodbye to your new friends make a stop at a local waterfall and refresh yourself in its cool waters. The whole family will love this chance to see how indigenous families live and taste real chocolate!
Surfing on Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is world class. The famous “Salsa Brava” waves start just beyond the coral reef. Around the area of Puerto Viejo and Cocles there are waves for all levels. If you are a beginner or intermediate surfer, both Black Beach and Cocles Beach offer nice waves on safe sandy bottom beaches. Instructors are on Cocles with surf boards at the ready. Surf lessons are a fun way to amuse the children while you relax on the beach ;)
Sea Kayaking: Embark in a magical kayaking journey paralleling a coast full of cliffs, caves, and the most amazing rainforest. You will also have time for a nice break at the beach to relax, swim and enjoy. Younger children can pair up with a parent and older kids will love the chance to explore the sea solo.
The best Snorkeling places are Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge , where you can enjoy the pristine waters, a large variety of species and the beautiful colors of the Caribbean live coral reef, the most important in Costa Rica.
Come and visit the Dolphins of Gandoca as you cruise the palm-fringed beaches between Puerto Viejo and Gandoca. There are three species of dolphins in the area, the bottle nose, the common and the spinner dolphin. The probability of seeing the dolphins is very high. You also have the chance to swim, snorkel and take a short jungle hike to see monkeys, sloths, birds and maybe even spot the elusive Green Macaw which is being re-introduced to the area. Kids of all ages are fascinated by the bio diversity revealed by the boat tour!
Getting there from San Jose: Follow Route 32 for the 4 to 5 hour drive.
Car rental: for sufficient space for the whole family and luggage, we’d recommend a full sized SUV or larger. A GPS system is a good idea to find your way around, and we rent child seating to comply with Costa Rican law.