Costa Rica, located in Central America, is a fantastic option for a family vacation. It’s generally easier to access than Europe, with time zones similar to those in the United States. There are also many different activities, including adventurous and outdoor activities.
This past summer, we enjoyed a week in Costa Rica on a guided tour. While we were only there for a week, we experienced so much each day.
Note that because we were on a guided tour, we didn’t experience the specific individual tours that we are linking to below. These links are for your convenience only, but be sure to check the reviews before booking. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
The Best Things to Do in Costa Rica with Family
Enjoy Time at the Pool
Upon our arrival in Costa Rica, we had a free day before our Adventure by Disney Costa Rica trip started. While we initially considered doing an excursion, we all took one look at our hotel pool and decided to enjoy some relaxing pool time before starting our trip.
I recommend looking at resorts with nice pool areas when booking your Costa Rica hotel. Some resorts even have other fun amenities, like beach access, hot springs, and spas. Be sure to pack your sunscreen and bug spray—you’ll need both for any outside time during your vacation.
White Water Rafting
During our guided trip, we visited the Aventuras del Sarapiquí River rafting center on the Sarapiquí River. This facility offers Class II to Class III rapids, changing rooms, a gift shop, and snacks.
Several different whitewater rafting tours are offered throughout Costa Rica, so you’ll want to look at the locations and the reviews. Check their website for specifics about what is required—you’ll likely need closed-toed water shoes at a minimum. Packaging a waterproof case for your phone is also a good idea.
Admittedly, I opted out of white water rafting. However, the rest of my family did it, and they enjoyed the experience.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park
We considered visiting the La Paz Waterfall during our first full day in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, it returned in the evening, and we had our first group dinner that night.
The La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park includes five waterfalls and the largest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica. It’s located about 45 minutes from the San Jose Airport.
Our hotel tour desk offered two excursion options to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park – a full-day and a half-day option. Depending on where you are staying, you may be able to book through your hotel. We found several independent options including this one that can be booked in advance.
Hot Springs
Several hot springs resorts in the Arenal/La Fortuna area are great for a half-day visit. These include EcoTermales, Baldi Hot Springs, Tabacon Hot Springs, and Arenal Springs Resort. You can book a hot springs tour here. (This is not the location we visited.)
While these places are different, they offer hot springs for soaking and relaxing. We arrived in our bathing suits but brought a change of clothes. Towels and lockers were provided.
We enjoyed about two hours in the hot springs. We started with the hottest pool and moved on to slightly cooler pools after a while. The resort we visited used wristbands for guests to charge drinks to their accounts. I loved the hot springs and would recommend a visit if you have some time in your schedule.
Note: If visiting hot springs (anywhere, not just in Costa Rica), be informed about the risk of amoeba before you go.
Ziplining
Ziplining in Costa Rica was one of my favorite travel experiences. While we visited Sky Adventures Costa Rica near Arenal volcano, other ziplining locations exist throughout the country.
If you plan to zipline, pack closed-toed, secure shoes for your trip. The venue offered GoPro rentals, but you can also bring your own. We could not bring our phones without a zippered pocket to hold them. Lockers were available to store our belongings while we ziplined.
I enjoyed this particular zip-lining place – it is well-run and offers seven separate ziplines. Here’s where you can book it separately – Ziplining.
Coffee Tour
Our hotel in the San Jose area, the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen, is a former coffee plantation. The hotel offers guests a coffee plantation tour, but Costa Rica, a top coffee producer, offers other options.
One option to book is this Poas Volcano with Coffee Tour trip. The tour leaves from the San Jose area, and you can be picked up at your hotel. It runs 4-6 hours and includes stops at the Poas Volcano National Park and the Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm.
Boat Tour
Cano Negro, on the River Frio, is a great place to view wildlife. This area is located on the Nicaragua Border and can be visited on a day trip from La Fortuna. During the boat ride, you’ll be right in the habitats of Costa Rican animals.
This tour can be booked online and runs for about 8 hours. It includes transportation to the River Frio, lunch, and a guided boat tour. It can be an excellent opportunity to see wildlife. Bring binoculars and a good camera with a zoom lens if you own one.
Food Tours in Costa Rica
Want to learn about Costa Rica’s culinary culture? While you can’t miss out on the delicious fresh fruit during your visit, you may want to learn more about other types of food from this bountiful country.
You can book various food tours, including a Rainforest Chocolate Tour and San Jose Food Tours. The San Jose food tour includes shopping at the Mercado Central. These can be excellent ways to try multiple local foods and learn about Costa Rica’s heritage and culture.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
The Mistico Hanging Bridges, a nature preserve in La Fortuna, is a great half-day excursion option. While we didn’t do this during our Costa Rica vacation, it looks like a fun way to exercise and see Costa Rican wildlife.
This particular tour can be booked as either an AM or PM trip. You’ll be guided over several suspension bridges as you look for nature. Like with the boat trips, you may want to bring binoculars to see animals in the distance.
Tortuga Island Tour
If you’d like to spend time on the water, booking a day trip to Tortuga Island is one option. This tour departs from Los Suenos Marina, located south of San Jose. You’ll enjoy both the ride to the island and time on the island. We didn’t visit Tortuga Island on our recent Costa Rica trip, but I’d want to include it on future trips.
Where To Stay
Costa Rica offers several popular tourist areas, including Guanacaste/Liberia, the capital city of San Jose, Jaco, and Arenal/La Fortuna. You can combine stays in multiple areas to see more of the country or plan a “home base” in just one region.
Find more places to stay on the map below (contains affiliate links).
Weather
We visited Costa Rica in the summer, considered the rainy season. It runs from May through November. Before we left on our trip, we checked the forecast and were disappointed to see rain every day.
However, our experience was a bit different. While it did rain a lot, it didn’t rain all day every day. The heaviest rain generally fell in the afternoons and evenings. If I were to book another trip during the rainy season, I’d try to book most of my excursions in the morning.
Airports
Costa Rica has two international airports, and we flew through both of them. We arrived at the San Jose International Airport (Juan Santamaria International Airport), which was about 20 minutes away from our hotel.
The other international airport is Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste. We departed from this airport and found it to be convenient. It was located a short distance from our hotel.
Have you been to Costa Rica? What was your favorite activity in Costa Rica?
