Costa Rica had been on our family travel bucket list for years.
Not because of the luxury resorts or the endless Instagram photos of waterfalls and jungle lodges, but because it seemed to offer something we were constantly searching for as a travelling family: adventure, wildlife, beautiful beaches, and relatively easy travel.
After spending time exploring Panama, Costa Rica felt like the natural next step on our journey through Latin America.
Over the course of around 30 days, we travelled across the country with our two children, visiting everything from busy cities and volcanoes to surf towns, mangrove forests, whale-watching destinations, and some of the most beautiful beaches we’ve seen anywhere in Central America.
Along the way, we learnt to surf in Uvita, celebrated a birthday in La Fortuna, spotted sloths in Manuel Antonio, spent far too long in one destination, and eventually discovered a laid-back Caribbean beach town that completely stole our hearts.
Like many travellers, we’d heard mixed opinions before arriving.
Some people told us Costa Rica was the best country in Central America for families. Others warned us it was overcrowded, expensive, and overhyped.
After a month travelling through the country, we can honestly say the truth sits somewhere in the middle.
Costa Rica isn’t the cheapest destination in Latin America, and it certainly isn’t undiscovered. However, few countries combine wildlife, beaches, family-friendly activities, and accessible travel quite as well.
In this guide, we’re sharing our exact Costa Rica route, where we stayed, what we spent, our favourite destinations, the mistakes we’d avoid next time, and whether we think Costa Rica is actually worth visiting with kids.
If you’re planning a family vacation in Costa Rica, researching a longer Costa Rica itinerary, or simply wondering which destinations are worth your time, this guide should help you plan a trip that’s based on real experience rather than marketing brochures.
Let’s get started.
Don’t have time to read? Start here:
Costa Rica is one of the easiest countries in Latin America to visit with kids.
Over 30 days, we explored volcanoes in La Fortuna, learnt to surf in Uvita, spotted wildlife in Manuel Antonio, and discovered our favourite destination on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
It’s not the cheapest country to travel, but the combination of wildlife, beaches, adventure, and family-friendly infrastructure makes it easy to see why so many families love it.
Don’t Forget The Boring Stuff
Whether you’re renting a car, whale watching in Uvita, exploring national parks, or travelling between destinations, things don’t always go to plan.
We’ve used SafetyWing throughout our travels because it gives us flexible coverage while travelling long-term as a family.
Why We Chose Costa Rica For A Family Adventure
After spending time travelling through Panama, Costa Rica felt like the obvious next destination.
For years we’d heard people talk about the incredible wildlife, volcanoes, surf towns, and family-friendly atmosphere. It seemed like one of those countries that had a little bit of everything, and after months on the road, that was exactly what we were looking for.
We wanted somewhere that offered more than just beaches.
Somewhere the kids could spot monkeys in the morning, swim in waterfalls during the afternoon, and finish the day watching the sunset from the coast.
Costa Rica also stood out because of how easy it appeared to travel compared to many other destinations in Latin America. The tourism infrastructure is well established, there are plenty of organised activities, and getting around is relatively straightforward whether you’re using public transport or hiring a car.
Of course, we’d also heard the negatives.
Many travellers told us Costa Rica was expensive, overly touristy, and not quite the hidden gem it once was.
After spending a month travelling across the country, we’d say there is some truth to that.
Costa Rica isn’t cheap.
However, few countries manage to combine adventure, wildlife, beaches, and family travel quite as successfully.
With a rough route planned and plenty of recommendations saved, we crossed the border from Panama and set off to see whether Costa Rica would live up to the hype.
Is Costa Rica Worth Visiting With Kids?
If you’re looking for a quick answer, then yes, Costa Rica is absolutely worth visiting with kids.
After spending around a month travelling around the country, we can see why it regularly appears on lists of the best family destinations in Central America. Wildlife is everywhere, the beaches are beautiful, and there are enough outdoor activities to keep both younger children and teenagers entertained.
That said, Costa Rica wasn’t exactly what we expected.
Before arriving, we’d read countless articles describing it as a tropical paradise where every day is spent spotting sloths, relaxing on pristine beaches, and exploring untouched jungle.
The reality is a little more balanced.
Costa Rica is one of the most developed tourist destinations in Latin America, which comes with both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it’s easy to travel around, accommodation is plentiful, and family-friendly activities are available almost everywhere. On the other hand, some destinations can feel quite touristy, and prices are often significantly higher than neighbouring countries like Panama or Nicaragua.
For us, the biggest positive was the variety.
Within a single trip, we explored cities, volcanoes, waterfalls, surf beaches, mangrove forests, national parks, and the Caribbean coastline. Few countries offer that much diversity without requiring multiple domestic flights or exhausting travel days.
The biggest negative was the cost.
Accommodation, tours, and eating out regularly cost more than we expected. Costa Rica isn’t a budget destination, particularly if you’re travelling as a family and booking activities along the way.
Despite that, we never regretted visiting.
Some destinations were good. Others were unforgettable.
Places like Uvita, La Fortuna, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo gave us exactly the kind of family travel experiences we had hoped to find, while the abundance of wildlife and outdoor adventures meant there was rarely a dull day.
Would we visit Costa Rica again?
Definitely.
Would we change parts of our route?
Absolutely.
And hopefully this guide will help you plan an even better trip than ours.
Arriving In Costa Rica From Panama (Our 18-Hour Tica Bus Experience)
Our Costa Rica adventure started with an 18-hour bus journey from Panama City.
Sounds awful.
Actually, it wasn’t that bad.
We booked with Tica Bus, one of the main bus companies operating between Panama and Costa Rica, and while it was a long day, the journey was fairly comfortable with a few stops along the way.
If you’re travelling with kids, our advice is simple: bring more snacks than you think you’ll need, download plenty of entertainment beforehand, and expect the unexpected.
The challenging part wasn’t the journey itself.
It was arriving.
We reached San Jose late in the evening with no local currency, limited data, and very little idea where we were going. At one point our taxi driver ended up stopping at an ATM because we needed cash before continuing to our accommodation.
Looking back it’s one of those travel moments we laugh about now, but at the time it was a stressful introduction to a country we’d never visited before.
If there’s one thing we’d recommend before arriving in Costa Rica, it’s sorting your mobile data before you land. Being able to access maps, contact accommodation hosts, and organise transport immediately makes a huge difference, especially when travelling as a family.
Thankfully, once we got settled in San Jose, the rest of the trip became considerably easier.
Our Costa Rica With Kids Itinerary (30 Days)
Over the course of a month, our Costa Rica route looked something like this:
San Jose (5 nights) → Jaco (7 nights) → San Jose (5 Nights) → La Fortuna (3 nights) → Uvita & Bahia Ballena (5 nights) → Manuel Antonio & Quepos (3 nights) → Puerto Viejo & Cahuita (5 nights) → San Jose (2 nights)
We started our trip using public transport before eventually renting a car in San Jose, we used this company to rent our car from, which gave us much more flexibility for the second half of our journey.
Looking back, we’d probably spend less time in Jaco and more time around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, which ended up being our favourite part of Costa Rica.
That said, this route gave us a great mix of city life, volcanoes, wildlife, surfing, beaches, and rainforest without feeling too rushed.
In the sections below, we’ll break down each destination, what we enjoyed, what we’d skip, and whether we’d recommend it for families travelling to Costa Rica.
Visiting San Jose With Kids (5 Days)
Like many travellers, we’d read plenty of advice telling us to skip San Jose altogether.
After spending five days here, we don’t completely agree.
No, it’s probably not the highlight of a Costa Rica itinerary, but it’s also not somewhere that deserves to be rushed through in a single night before heading elsewhere.
One of the biggest surprises for us was the weather.
Many people imagine Costa Rica as being hot and tropical everywhere, but San Jose sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The result is a much cooler climate than we expected, especially in the evenings when we regularly needed a light jacket.
It’s also surprisingly windy.
In some ways it reminded us of Cusco in Peru. Not because the cities are similar, but because both have that cooler mountain climate that catches many travellers off guard.
Another thing nobody warned us about was the train.
If you’re staying near the tracks, you’ll hear it. A lot. Combined with the thin windows common throughout Latin America, it can make for some fairly early mornings.
One attraction we would definitely recommend is the Gold Museum. Even travelling with children, we found it engaging and a great introduction to Costa Rica’s history before exploring the rest of the country.
Another one to recommend is this mueseum and market tour it has over twenty eight 5 star reviews and was highley recommended to us.
San Jose is also a useful base for adjusting to the country, picking up supplies, organising transport, and recovering from a long travel day before moving on to places like La Fortuna or the Pacific Coast.
Would we spend two weeks here?
Probably not.
Would we spend a few days here again?
Absolutely.
Related: Read our full guide to the best things to do in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Jaco With Kids (7 Days)
After San Jose, we took the bus to Jaco and ended up spending seven nights here.
Looking back, that was probably a little too long.
Jaco is one of Costa Rica’s most popular beach towns and it’s easy to see why. The beach stretches for miles, there are plenty of restaurants, surf schools, shops, and accommodation options, and it’s one of the easiest coastal destinations to reach from San Jose.
For many travellers, particularly first-time visitors to Costa Rica, it makes a convenient introduction to the country’s Pacific Coast.
We split our stay between an Airbnb in the centre of town and a jungle-style property slightly outside Jaco, which gave us two very different experiences.
The town itself felt busy and tourist-focused, with a mix of locals, surfers, backpackers, and holidaymakers. There was always something happening, but compared to some of the destinations we visited later in the trip, it lacked the relaxed atmosphere we were looking for.
That doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy it.
The beach is great for long walks, surfing is hugely popular, and there are plenty of opportunities for jungle tours, wildlife spotting, and outdoor activities nearby.
For families looking for convenience, good facilities, and easy access from San Jose, Jaco works well.
For us though, it wasn’t the standout destination of the trip.
If we were planning the same route again, we’d probably spend three or four nights here before moving on.
That said, it served as a good introduction to Costa Rica’s beach towns and gave us our first taste of the country’s surf culture.
La Fortuna With Kids (3 Days)
After returning to San Jose, meeting up with my mother-in-law, and picking up our rental car, we headed north to La Fortuna.
This ended up being one of our favourite stops in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna is best known for Arenal Volcano, but what really makes it special is the sheer number of activities available. Whether you’re interested in waterfalls, hot springs, wildlife, ziplining, hiking, or adventure sports, there’s enough here to keep families busy for days.
We spent three nights in La Fortuna, which felt about right for our itinerary, although you could easily stay longer.
One of the highlights of our visit was a horse riding tour we booked for my birthday. It gave us the chance to explore the countryside around Arenal at a slower pace while enjoying some fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. Even if you’re not normally into horse riding, we’d recommend considering it.
La Fortuna also works particularly well for families because many of the activities are easy to access, and there are options for all ages and budgets.
While we didn’t have time to do everything on offer, it quickly became clear why so many travellers consider La Fortuna one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
If you’re building a Costa Rica itinerary and only have time for a handful of destinations, we’d put La Fortuna near the top of the list.
Related: Read our full guide to the best things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.
Renting A Car In Costa Rica: Was It Worth It?
Up until La Fortuna, we’d mainly relied on buses and public transport to get around Costa Rica.
However, after picking up my mother-in-law in San Jose, we decided to rent a car for the next two weeks, and looking back, it was one of the best decisions we made.
We booked through Discover Cars, mainly because it allowed us to compare prices from multiple rental companies in one place.
Having our own vehicle completely changed the trip.
Instead of planning around bus timetables, we could stop whenever we wanted, take detours, visit beaches that weren’t on the main tourist route, and travel at our own pace. This became particularly useful when travelling between destinations like La Fortuna, Uvita, Manuel Antonio, and Puerto Viejo.
Of course, driving in Costa Rica isn’t perfect.
Traffic around San Jose can be frustrating, some roads are in better condition than others, and what looks like a short journey on Google Maps often takes much longer than expected.
We discovered this first-hand later in the trip when a drive to Puerto Viejo turned into a much longer day than anticipated due to roadworks and traffic.
Despite that, if you’re travelling as a family and planning to visit multiple destinations, we’d absolutely recommend renting a car for at least part of your trip.
For us, the extra flexibility was well worth the cost.
Uvita & Bahia Ballena With Kids (5 Days)
After La Fortuna, we made the drive south to Uvita, where we stayed in the Bahia Ballena area for five days.
This was one of the most relaxed parts of our Costa Rica trip.
Compared to places like Jaco, Uvita felt quieter, slower, and much more connected to nature. The town has a laid-back surf-town atmosphere, and while there are plenty of visitors, it never felt overcrowded.
One of the main reasons we chose Uvita was to learn how to surf.
We went with this 2 hour guided tour and do jot regret it one bit.
None of us were exactly professionals, but the beaches around Uvita are a great place for beginners to get started, and after a few wipeouts, we eventually managed to stand up for more than a few seconds.
Another highlight was visiting Catarata Uvita.
We won’t pretend it’s cheap, because it isn’t, but it was one of those attractions where we left feeling the cost was justified. The waterfall itself is beautiful, and being able to swim beneath it made it even better.
We also booked a whale-watching boat trip from Bahia Ballena. Unfortunately, the whales didn’t get the memo that we were coming and never showed up.
We did, however, spot dolphins and enjoyed seeing the coastline from the water, so it still felt like a worthwhile experience. If you’re visiting during peak whale season, your chances are obviously much better than ours.
The famous Whale Tail Beach was another place we enjoyed spending time. Even if you’re not heading out on a boat trip, it’s worth visiting simply for the scenery and relaxed atmosphere.
For families looking to slow down for a few days, spend time outdoors, and enjoy some of Costa Rica’s best beaches, Uvita is an easy destination to recommend.
Related: Read our full guide to the best things to do in Uvita and Bahia Ballena.
Manuel Antonio & Quepos With Kids (3 Days)
After Uvita, we continued north to Manuel Antonio, although we actually stayed in nearby Quepos.
Accommodation in Manuel Antonio can be quite expensive, so Quepos felt like a good compromise. It gave us easy access to the area while helping keep costs a little lower.
One of the highlights of our stay was a mangrove boat tour. This has 88 great views and gave us peace of mind.
To be honest, before booking it, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Mangroves aren’t usually the first thing people think of when planning a Costa Rica itinerary, but it ended up being one of the more interesting wildlife experiences of the trip.
During the tour, we spotted small crocodiles, parrots, sloths, and a variety of birds that we almost certainly wouldn’t have noticed on our own. The guides were knowledgeable, and as an added bonus, the tour included an almuerzo-style lunch afterwards.
While most visitors come to Manuel Antonio for the national park and beaches, we found the wildlife experiences to be the real highlight.
Three days felt like enough time to explore the area without rushing, and if you’re travelling with kids, the combination of beaches, wildlife, and family-friendly activities makes it an easy addition to most Costa Rica itineraries.
Would we recommend staying in Quepos instead of Manuel Antonio?
For budget-conscious families, absolutely.
You still get access to everything the area is known for while potentially saving quite a bit on accommodation.
Puerto Viejo & Cahuita With Kids
After Manuel Antonio, we set off early for what should have been a long drive across Costa Rica.
It ended up being even longer.
Roadworks and traffic along Route 32 turned the journey into roughly nine hours, and by the time we arrived in Cahuita, everyone was more than ready to get out of the car.
Thankfully, it was worth it.
For our stay on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, we based ourselves in Cahuita rather than Puerto Viejo. Accommodation was generally cheaper, and it gave us easy access to both towns.
Almost immediately, this part of Costa Rica felt different.
The atmosphere was more relaxed, the beaches were quieter, and there was a laid-back Caribbean vibe that we hadn’t experienced elsewhere in the country. People wandered around barefoot, beach cafes overlooked the ocean, and life seemed to move at a slower pace.
In many ways, this was the Costa Rica we’d been searching for.
The sea was warm, the water was crystal clear, and the coastline felt completely different from the Pacific side of the country.
One of our favourite days was spent exploring Cahuita National Park. The walk through the jungle is relatively easy, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot wildlife along the way. Eventually, the trail opens up onto a beautiful beach that feels far removed from the busier tourist hotspots elsewhere in Costa Rica.
We also spent plenty of time around Puerto Viejo, enjoying the beaches, cafes, and relaxed atmosphere. If you’re looking for somewhere to slow down and simply enjoy being in Costa Rica, this is it.
Looking back, this was probably our favourite part of the entire trip.
In fact, if we were planning the same route again, we’d spend less time in Jaco and add those extra days here instead.
And if you’re staying in Cahuita, we’d definitely recommend trying Restaurante Pizzeria Cahuita, which became one of our favourite places to eat during our stay.
What Costa Rica Cost Us
Before arriving in Costa Rica, we’d heard one thing repeatedly.
“Be prepared, it’s expensive.”
After a month travelling around the country, we’d have to agree.
Compared to other destinations we’d visited in Latin America, Costa Rica was noticeably more expensive. Accommodation was often the biggest cost, particularly in popular areas such as La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, and Puerto Viejo.
Activities can also add up quickly.
Whale-watching tours, waterfalls, national parks, surfing lessons, and wildlife experiences were all fantastic, but if you’re travelling as a family, it’s worth budgeting for these in advance.
Food varied considerably depending on where we ate. Local sodas were generally affordable and often offered great value, while restaurants in tourist hotspots were much closer to European or North American prices than we expected.
Renting a car wasn’t cheap either, but for us the flexibility was worth the additional cost.
Would we describe Costa Rica as a budget destination?
Probably not.
However, despite the higher prices, we felt the overall experience justified the expense. The quality of the attractions, the accessibility of wildlife, and the ease of travelling as a family made it one of the more enjoyable countries we’ve visited in Latin America.
If you’re planning a trip, we’d recommend budgeting a little more than you think you’ll need.
Costa Rica has a habit of tempting you into one more tour, one more waterfall, or one more beach day.
What Surprised Us Most About Costa Rica
Even after spending weeks researching Costa Rica before our trip, there were still a few things that caught us off guard.
The first was the weather in San Jose.
Like many people, we imagined Costa Rica would be hot everywhere. In reality, San Jose sits at a higher elevation, and the evenings were much cooler than we expected. We were glad we’d packed a few extra layers.
The second surprise was how long journeys can take.
On a map, Costa Rica doesn’t look particularly large. However, winding roads, mountain passes, traffic, and roadworks can turn what appears to be a short drive into a much longer day. Our journey to Puerto Viejo was the perfect example, eventually taking around nine hours due to traffic delays.
We were also surprised by how different each region felt.
The Pacific Coast around Jaco, Uvita, and Manuel Antonio had a completely different atmosphere to the Caribbean Coast around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. In some ways, it felt like visiting two different countries.
And then there’s the cost.
Costa Rica is easily one of the most expensive countries we’ve visited in Latin America. While we expected it to be pricier than neighbouring countries, accommodation, tours, and activities still cost more than we had anticipated.
Finally, wildlife sightings aren’t always guaranteed.
Social media can make it seem as though monkeys, sloths, and toucans are waiting around every corner. While we saw plenty of wildlife during our trip, there were also days where we saw very little. Sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you don’t.
That’s all part of the experience.
And when you do finally spot that sloth hanging in a tree, it makes it even more memorable.
Best Places To Visit In Costa Rica With Kids
If you’re planning a family trip to Costa Rica and don’t have time to visit everywhere, these are the destinations that stood out most to us.
La Fortuna
If your family enjoys adventure, La Fortuna is hard to beat.
From volcano views and waterfalls to hot springs and horse riding, there are activities for almost every age group. It was one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to keep everyone entertained.
Uvita
Uvita offered a slower pace and some of our favourite beach days.
Between surfing, whale watching, Whale Tail Beach, and Catarata Uvita, there was plenty to do without feeling rushed. It’s a great option for families looking to balance activities with relaxation.
Manuel Antonio
For wildlife lovers, Manuel Antonio is an excellent choice.
The combination of beaches, jungle, and wildlife makes it one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations, and it’s easy to see why.
Puerto Viejo & Cahuita
If we had to choose one area to revisit, this would probably be it.
The Caribbean coast felt completely different from the rest of the country. Beautiful beaches, warm water, a relaxed atmosphere, and Cahuita National Park made this one of the highlights of our trip.
San Jose
While many travellers skip the capital, we actually enjoyed spending a few days here.
It’s worth considering if you want to experience a different side of Costa Rica before heading to the beaches and national parks.
Jaco
Jaco is a convenient beach destination, particularly for first-time visitors and families interested in surfing.
While it wasn’t our favourite stop, its accessibility and family-friendly facilities make it a popular choice.
If we were planning the same trip again, our top three destinations would be La Fortuna, Uvita, and Puerto Viejo/Cahuita.
Best Family Towns In Costa Rica
Every family travels differently, but if we were recommending destinations based on our own experience, these would be the towns we’d prioritise.
La Fortuna is ideal for families looking for adventure. Between the volcano, waterfalls, hot springs, wildlife, and outdoor activities, there’s enough here to keep everyone busy for days.
Uvita is perfect if you want a slower pace. The beaches, surfing, whale watching, and relaxed atmosphere make it one of the best places in Costa Rica to unwind.
Puerto Viejo and Cahuita are great for families looking for beautiful beaches and a more laid-back Caribbean vibe. If you’re after crystal-clear water, beach cafes, and a destination that feels a little less commercial, this area is hard to beat.
Manuel Antonio works particularly well for families interested in wildlife. It’s one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to combine beaches and animal spotting in a single day.
For first-time visitors, we’d probably recommend a combination of La Fortuna, Uvita, and Puerto Viejo/Cahuita. Together, they give you a great mix of adventure, beaches, wildlife, and some of the best scenery Costa Rica has to offer.
Practical Costa Rica Travel Tips
After spending a month travelling around Costa Rica, there are a few things we’d recommend knowing before you go.
First, sort your mobile data before arriving. We landed late in San Jose without a proper plan and quickly realised how useful it is to have maps, accommodation details, and transport options available immediately. These days, we usually set up an eSIM before arriving in a new country.
Bring some cash as well. While cards are widely accepted, there were still occasions where having cash made life much easier, especially during travel days.
If you’re planning to drive, don’t underestimate journey times. Costa Rica may look small on a map, but winding roads, traffic, and roadworks can turn a short journey into a much longer one.
Pack for different climates too. We spent time in cooler areas around San Jose and much warmer coastal destinations, so having a light jacket alongside your beach gear is a good idea.
If you’re travelling with kids, build some flexibility into your itinerary. One of the best things about Costa Rica is the variety of activities available, and you’ll almost certainly discover places where you want to stay longer than originally planned.
Finally, don’t try to do too much.
Costa Rica rewards slower travel. Some of our favourite memories came from unplanned beach days, relaxed afternoons, and simply spending time enjoying the places we visited rather than rushing to the next destination.
Is Costa Rica Good For Families?
In our opinion, yes.
In fact, we’d go as far as saying Costa Rica is one of the easiest countries in Latin America to visit with kids.
The combination of wildlife, beaches, outdoor adventures, and well-developed tourism infrastructure makes it a fantastic destination for families. Whether your children are interested in spotting sloths, learning to surf, swimming beneath waterfalls, or simply spending time on the beach, there’s no shortage of things to do.
We also found Costa Rica to be relatively easy to travel around. While some journeys were longer than expected, roads were generally good, tourist facilities were well established, and there were accommodation options for almost every budget.
The biggest challenge for many families will probably be the cost.
Costa Rica is significantly more expensive than many other destinations in Central America, particularly once you start adding tours, activities, and accommodation together.
That said, if your budget allows for it, Costa Rica offers an incredible mix of adventure, nature, and family-friendly travel that few countries can match.
For families looking for their first taste of Latin America, it’s a destination we’d happily recommend.
Final Verdict: Would We Visit Costa Rica Again?
Absolutely.
Costa Rica wasn’t the cheapest country we’ve visited, and there were certainly a few places we’d spend less time in if we were planning the trip again.
However, the combination of wildlife, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, surfing, and family-friendly activities made it one of our favourite destinations in Latin America.
If we could change one thing about our route, we’d probably spend less time in Jaco and dedicate those extra days to Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. The Caribbean coast ended up being the destination that surprised us most and the place we could most easily imagine returning to.
That said, every stop on our itinerary offered something different.
La Fortuna gave us adventure and volcano views. Uvita delivered surf lessons, waterfalls, and some much-needed relaxation. Manuel Antonio offered fantastic wildlife experiences, while San Jose proved to be far more enjoyable than many people give it credit for.
Costa Rica isn’t a destination where you’ll see everything in a week.
It’s a country best explored slowly, allowing time for unexpected wildlife sightings, unplanned beach days, and those moments that don’t appear in any itinerary.
For families looking for a destination that combines adventure, nature, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Central America, Costa Rica is difficult to beat.
And despite spending a month exploring the country, we left with a feeling that there was still plenty more to discover.
