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Provided with exciting wilderness landscapes, delicious food, friendly people, decent infrastructure and an all-in-all safe environment, Costa Rica could easily be considered the most ideal family destination – like an all-real, natural Disneyland! With games and activities that everyone, from toddler to adult, can enjoy together, and simultaneously. If you are interested in getting yourself and your gang away from tech-based entertainment, then traveling to the family-friendly Costa Rica should be on your bucket list. It’s merely a matter of finding where to stay and learning what to do.

The Magic Kingdom of Guanacaste

If Costa Rica is Disneyland, then Guanacaste should be the Magic Kingdom. No other province in the country captures and embodies the Costa Rican spirit like this Pacific haven. The tropical atmosphere, the chill out vibes, the warm-hearted locals, the surfable ocean, the artisan markets, the international shops, the skate parks, the opulent jungle, the untamed free animals, the hikes, the volcanoes, the pristine beaches, the outstanding sunsets and the countless activities. All this can be found in the promised land of Guanacaste. The offer is so rich that you could keep coming again and again and never have two trips the same. 

If you came and decided to do beaches alone, you would be able to return home saying you have experienced what the Magic Kingdom of Costa Rica is all about. Pick your game, pack your belongings for the day and set out for your family adventure.

• Some beaches like Tamarindo and Playa Grande are perfect for surfing, you can book a group lesson and learn all together!
• Some others are great for snorkeling, like Playa Conchal or Pirates Bay.
• Playa Flamingo is renowned for its scuba diving and deep-ocean fishing.
• Lastly, if all you want is a family-friendly Costa Rican beach, to spend the day together under the sun building sand castles, think about Playa Avellanas or Playa Potrero.

Where To Stay – Playa Potrero

Strategically located close to some of the most stunning beaches in Guanacaste, such as Playa Flamingo and Playa Penca, as well as some of the busiest and most developed beach towns like Tamarindo, this small coastal village still manages to retain its serene and laid-back atmosphere. You’ll be living within the limits of Disneyland, close to all the action, but able to choose how close to the fireworks you want to get every day. Just 1.5 hours away from the Liberia Airport, Playa Potrero is the perfect choice for a family vacation in Costa Rica!

Casa Arribada

Bring your loved ones together in this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath retreat with space for up to 10 guests. Enjoy a private pool with a waterfall, outdoor BBQ, and family-friendly amenities like a Pack ‘n Play and beach gear. Walk to Playa Potrero or explore nearby Flamingo and Conchal with ease using a golf cart. Your dream family vacation awaits in Casa Arribada.

Casa Sol Azul

If you are looking for a spacious comfortable ocean view home, then look no further. Casa Sol Azul is a remarkable 4-bedroom house that sleeps up to 10 people. You could even come with family friends and share the space, and the adventure!

If you’d like to broaden your experience beyond the mainstream beach activity, you can always visit La Fortuna, home to the active volcano Arenal and the multiple activities available around it. From your basic yet always endearing hiking, to a waterfall tour, zip lining, rafting, ATV tours, wildlife watching and more. 

Costa Rica for Families

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start? Remember: the smartest move is deciding where to stay first. Once you know where your base of operations will be, you can start browsing through your activities brochure. Keep in mind that you’ll always have a stunning beach to fall back on, so even the most uneventful day is guaranteed to be a fulfilling experience. That settled, you are now ready to decide upon the itinerary that would suit your family best. How many members are we talking about? What’s the age group? Are you sports-driven? As family friendly Costa Rica truly does have it all for all, we are going to categorize the most relevant adventures in terms of difficulty, and let you choose the kind of trip you want to have. But don’t forget, location’s first!

Where To Stay – Casa del Mar

Casa Del Mar is private, secure and located within the pristine, gated community of Mar Vista, in Playa Flamingo, which has 24 hour security throughout. It is exquisitely designed to be the quintessential modern vacation home, with its large open floor plan and expansive windows, engulfing you in the Costa Rican sunlight! With 3 bedrooms, 6 beds and 4 bathrooms, this house can comfortably host a family of 10.

Appropriate for All Ages – Beginner Level

How many activities does a baby need? Give them a box and stick and you got entertainment for hours, right? Well, if you are traveling with a toddler and the box and the stick routine doesn’t do it for you, here are a couple of experiences the whole family can enjoy. 

• Hiking: Guanacaste is full of clearly defined trails where you can perfectly push down a stroller as you hike through the sloth, monkey and butterfly filled rainforests. 
• Animal sanctuaries: A great choice if you’d like to have a closer encounter with animals, from Monkey Farm to Ponderosa Adventure Park, Guanacaste has plenty of options that will have your toddler and yourself equally dazzled. 
• Sailing: How about enjoying the costarican sunset from a privileged point of view? Rent a catamaran tour and sail away with your family to get front-row seats to nature’s daily spectacle.
• Beach: Don’t be surprised if hanging out at the beach ends up being your first choice as well as your last. With each beach offering a unique experience, you can enjoy as many coastal adventures as there are beaches to discover.

Where To Stay – Casa Alouatta

A 5 bedroom and 6 bathroom home located in Las Catalinas, perfect for two whole families traveling together that prefer, at times, their separate space. Las Catalinas is a beautiful and walkable community that offers the Pacific ocean on one side and over 1,000 acres of spectacular tropical dry forest hills and valleys with extensive hiking and biking on the other. If logistics is an issue for you and would rather stay put in one place and still find plenty to do, this might just be the place for you.

Ideal For Young Children – Intermediate Level

Now this group surely presents more of a challenge. Though the beach is sure to satisfy them all, here are a few more possibilities to pull from the hat when wanted or needed. 

• Horseback riding: Sightseeing takes an interesting turn when it meets horseback riding!
• Surf: The ultimate family friendly Costa Rica experience! You can book a group lesson in any of the plenty of surf schools located in basically every beach, and learn to surf all together (don’t be surprised if your kids pick it up before you do). One ride down a wave and you won’t look back – you’ll want to do it again and again!
• Foodie tours: Costa Rica for families at its finest, book a day trip to one of the many cacao or coffee farms in Guanacaste and give yourself and your children a local culinary experience. Learn how they plant, care, harvest, and produce these two world-class delicities and have a taste while you are at it!
• Surf-skate: If not for you, for the kids! Surfing and skating skills are more easily learned when young, and one complements the other. Watch your kiddos slide into fun times with a surf-skate private or group lesson.

Where To Stay – Casa Gran Vista

As its name in spanish proclaims, Casa Gran Vista counts with an incredible Playa Flamingo view. Nestled in the exclusive Mar Vista Community, this luxurious vacation rental is perfect for families or groups, offering comfortable accommodations for up to 6 guests across 3 spacious bedrooms, each with a full ensuite bathroom. 

Challenging adolescents – Advanced Level

Probably the hardest-to-please age group of them all. No matter how hard you try, these young adults always manage to stay unimpressed – until Costa Rica. Try any of the following and, heart-crossed, you’ll get yourself a smile.

• Zip lining: Ever tried soaring over an entire rainforest at medium to high speed while hanging from a cable in the air? Thought so… Try it once and you’ll never forget it. Expert tip: some places allow younger children to take the ride if attached to a guide.
• Rafting: No kids allowed! The rapids, ranging from milder to more intense experiences, are definitely for grown-up adventurers. You need to paddle, hang on to the boat, and be ready to take action if, for whatever reason, you happen to fall!
• Diving: Ideal for the whole family. Book a diving lesson and discover Costa Rica’s subaquatic world. 
• ATV tours: No matter where you are, driving an ATV is always fun for those who enjoy on-wheels action, but when exploring the exhilarating landscapes of Costa Rica, believe us, it gets even better.

Where To Stay – Casa de Iluminación

This 16-guests Playa Flamingo home has been thoughtfully designed to ensure a dream vacation with all the modern technical amenities you may need. Its features include an open-concept kitchen and living room, 5 bedrooms with en suites, grill and gas range, and covered outdoor dining/lounge areas with a fire pit. Facing westward, floor-to-ceiling windows offer jaw-dropping sunset views of the infinity pool deck and the endless Pacific Ocean beyond. 

We hope this Costa Rica for families guide helps you get a clear idea of what this country has to offer. Put your cell phones down, unplug your headphones, and set off to one unforgettable family adventure in this natural Magic Kingdom. We guarantee you won’t return home as the same person. Pura vida!