Visiting Costa Rica with kids is easier than you might expect. In fact, in many ways it’s more rewarding and more affordable to take a family vacation in Costa Rica than in many other popular destinations, especially for travelers coming from the U.S.
Vacation is supposed to be fun for everyone, and as a parent that can be tricky. Costa Rica is great for this reason because visitors have access to activities for the whole family (like sailing, mountain biking, and beautiful beaches) as well as comfortable and convenient accommodations.
So how do you make sure that your Costa Rican vacation with kids exemplifies the Pura Vida approach to life? Here are some essential tips:
The less comfortable aspects of travel can be easier for kids if they’re super excited about their trip.
Read educational pamphlets with your kids to help get them energized about your destination. Educate them on the local wildlife that they may see, especially the exotic birds and primates that they might get to encounter up close.
You can also build excitement by introducing kids to some foods they’ll get to try on the trip.
Costa Rica is home to a variety of delicious and fresh treats that kids absolutely love. If you want to get your kids excited, consider introducing them to some sweets like fresh sugarcane, tropical fruits like papaya, or Costa Rican chocolate. Just don’t give them the world-famous local coffee unless you want to be chasing them down the beach!
A lot of people think the weather is constant year-round in the tropics, but in truth tropical climates have weather just like anywhere else. In order to make your vacation as enjoyable as possible, you should plan your trip to Costa Rica to make sure you prepare for the weather.
There are two main seasons in Costa Rica. The dry season, which extends from December to April, is ideal for vacationers who want to spend sunup to sundown on the beach. During the dry season, you might not see rain for days or weeks.
During the green season, rain is more frequent, but tends to be short and intense, and life goes on rain or shine. This time of the year is great for forest adventures, as the rain will replenish the foliage and bring out the full beauty of its colors. Also, there’s still plenty of sunshine during the green season, but vacationers should come prepared for showers, especially when visiting the country's rainforests.
Plan ahead for your ideal weather and you should have an excellent trip.
Parents tend to be contingency packers. When you have a young child, you quickly learn to prepare for everything, and when you’re traveling to an unfamiliar place that can create a whole lot of stress.
Don’t worry though: having access to what you need is a big reason that Costa Rica is so great for families. You can explore forests filled with wild monkeys, macaws, and sloths in the morning, and in the afternoon you can pick up artisan wines, vegan turkey, and shop your favorite brands like Howler or Patagonia.
You’ll want to bring preferred brands for certain products, but if you’re staying somewhere like Las Catalinas, you can easily walk to nearby shops to supplement your supplies.
You know your child better than anyone. When you’re on vacation, keep in mind that the added stress of travel plus unfamiliar routines and lodging can take a toll.
When you’re planning your itinerary, make sure you balance action-packed activities with plenty of rest time. Finding ways to create parallel routines to the ones you normally have at home — naps, snacks, meals, etc. — can help keep kids comfortable.
Costa Rica is an excellent destination for families, with plenty of activities for parents and kids alike. With a little planning, you can make your family vacation to Costa Rica an adventure to remember for years to come!