If you plan to visit Costa Rica with kids, here are our Costa Rica itinerary for families. This 7 day Costa Rica itinerary for families has maps and photos to help you plan and is perfect to fit into a 1 week spring break.
We have written two Costa Rica family itineraries in this post. One is a very easy and popular one, going to main tourist destinations and flying in and out of San Jose International Airport (airport code SJO). Another is an itinerary going to slightly less touristic destinations flying in and out of Guanacaste Airport (Airport code LIR). Both include beach and rainforest.
How to Get Around Costa Rica With Kids
First, let’s talk about how to get around Costa Rica with kids. Our personal recommendation is to rent a car or book private shuttles in Costa Rica.
Driving
Driving is the most flexible way to get around Costa Rica. You can throw all the kids stuff in the car, stop anytime and anywhere and it’s much more comfortable. Go where you want, when you want. Additionally, you have more lodging options.
The downsides are that you have to drive and figure out routes, car rentals, etc. Also, for some families, it’s just 1 adult who drives the whole time. Keep in mind some routes are very long (3+ hours).
Type of Car
For a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 young kids, a sedan can work if you are going to destinations that don’t require a 4wd. These are places like San Jose, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Flamingo, Samara, Playas del Coco, Gulf of Papagayo, Jaco and Puerto Viejo.
If you need a 4wd or a bigger car, then a car like the Hyundai Tucson, Suzuki Vitara or Toyota Rav4 is a good option.
If you have a bigger family like 6-9 people, then a H1 Hyundai minivan is a good option. This minivan seats up to 9 with luggage, 12 without.
Other things to know: Nearly all car rental companies in Costa Rica offer baby and booster seats for an extra cost. I recommend to ask for a photo of the seats they have so you can check it. However, most Costa Rica car rental agencies do not provide infant seats (less than 1 year) so you will need to bring your own.
Read more about renting a car in Costa Rica and get our car rental discount and extra benefits like free baby and booster seats here!
Shuttles
We recommend booking private shuttles instead of shared. Private is more comfortable and more flexible.
If you book shuttles, then you will need to book tours that include round trip transportation or taxi around. For that reason, we recommend to choose hotels that are not far from the main town.
Private shuttles pros: They pick you up directly at the airport anytime you want, allow you stop for food, bathroom breaks, can pick up and drop off at vacation rentals and the driver’s usually speak basic to intermediate English. You will have the entire vehicle to yourself so you can spread out in the car. Additionally, private shuttles will bring baby and booster seats.
Tip: Ask them for a photo of the child seats they have because some companies have the seats without locking seat belts or clips.
Price for private shuttles: Usually around $180-220 USD for common routes like San Jose to La Fortuna, San Jose to Manuel Antonio for 1-8 people.
Read more about shuttles in Costa Rica here and if you’d like a quote for a private shuttle, pleas contact us!
Most Popular 1 Week Costa Rica Itinerary for Families (Rainforest, Volcano and Beach)
This 1 week Costa Rica itinerary for families goes to San Jose (Landing at San Jose International Airport) – La Fortuna – Manuel Antonio – SJO Airport. This is an extremely popular itinerary because it’s perfect for families of all ages, especially first time visitors.
Map of this Costa Rica itinerary for families
Click here to see the interactive map with the driving route, hotel recommendations, destinations and things to do.
Day 1 San Jose: Land in SJO, Travel to La Fortuna
As soon as you land in San Jose Airport, pick up your rental car or get picked up by your private driver to go to La Fortuna. This drive takes around 3 hours without traffic.
If you are landing late at night, I recommend to stay a night by the airport and then leave early the next morning. It gets dark in Costa Rica at 6 PM everyday and most businesses close around 8/9 PM so if you’re arriving after 6 PM, we don’t recommend to drive this route in the dark (especially in rainy season). You don’t want to be arriving in La Fortuna at like 1 AM with tired and cranky kids! Even if you book a private shuttle, we recommend to stay in San Jose for the night if you are landing in the evening.
You can read this post about driving from San Jose to La Fortuna for tips on this drive.
Recommended hotels in San Jose for families with free airport shuttle and free hot breakfast: Hotel Aeropuerto, Adventure Inn (get 10% off), Hampton Inn & Suites, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Cariari and Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport Costa Rica. All nice and clean hotels close to the airport.
Why La Fortuna?
La Fortuna is one of the best destinations in Costa Rica for families. This area has very good tourist infrastructure, a ton of hotels at various price points, many restaurants and a plethora of activities for all ages. It’s one of the best destinations to see the rainforest and volcano.
Recommended hotels for families in La Fortuna: Los Lagos, The Springs Resort & Spa, Arenal Observatory Lodge, Villas Vilma, El Silencio del Campo, Baldi Hot Springs Resort. All these hotels offer family rooms and free hot breakfast.
You can also check out Airbnb. We have stayed in a couple very nice Airbnbs in La Fortuna that were comfortable for big families.
Day 2 La Fortuna: Safari float, guided walk, hot springs
Now begins your family adventure in La Fortuna! Also remember if you want to book any of these tours, get our 7% discount on La Fortuna tours here!
For your first day, our recommendations for family friendly activities in La Fortuna are a river safari float, guided walk and hot springs.
Morning Safari float: This is the perfect wildlife watching tour for families. You float down a calm river for 2 hours while your guide paddles and points out animals. The Peñas Blancas safari float is only a 25 minute drive from La Fortuna so it’s great for a half day morning activity. No walking or strenuous activity.
After Lunch Guided Walk: We highly recommend Rainforest Cafe for lunch. Then for the guided walk, we highly recommend Bogarin Trail (1.6 kms or 1 mile easy and flat trail), Mistico Hanging Bridges (3.2 kms or 2 miles, kids have to be at least 6), the Arenal Volcano National Park or Arenal 1968 private reserve. I recommend the latter three for older kids and the Bogarin Trail for young ones.
Then, you’ll go on a guided walk in La Fortuna.
Evening/Night Hot Springs: No trip to La Fortuna is complete without a visit to the hot springs! If you are staying at a hotel that doesn’t have its own hot springs, there are many resorts you can visit. Baldi, Los Lagos, the Springs and Kalambu are excellent for families. All of them have waterslides and Baldi has a dedicated kid section and you can have dinner at the hot spring resort. Read more about the Arenal hot springs here.
Our Personal Recommendations
I highly recommend a guided walk for families because it can be fascinating for the kids to learn about the tropical rainforest and animals. Many Costa Rican naturalist guides are good at engaging and interacting with kids to keep them interested.
Day 3 La Fortuna: Zipline, chocolate tour, hot springs/night walk
Now it’s time for a little bit of excitement! Today you’ll go ziplining for your first activity.
Morning Ziplining: Ziplining is a must do in Costa Rica and La Fortuna has many zipline tours for all ages. Arenal Ecoglide is best for young ones and the little ones will go with a guide. For the older kids, Arenal Mundo Aventura, Arenal Canopy and SkyTrek are great options. We recommend to zipline in the morning.
For lunch, we recommend Pollos Fortueños Restaurant. They have a small playground outside for kids.
After Lunch Chocolate tour: Rainforest Chocolate Tours runs a very interactive and fun 2 hour tour. Guests learn all about chocolate, starting from the cacao trees and to how they process it. Best part of this tour is you will get to sample lots of chocolate! They run tours in the afternoon which we recommend to do after lunch.
Then for the night, you can head back to the hot springs or take a night walk. La Fortuna is an excellent place for night walks and kids absolutely love it! They’ll get to search for creatures like insects, spiders, snakes and frogs.
Another Option
We also recommend to check out La Fortuna downtown if you have time. You can hangout at the local park which has a beautiful view of the church and volcano and lots of souvenir stores. Many locals go to this park in the evening so it’s a nice way to immerse your family in a little bit of the La Fortuna life.
If you want to spend some time at the park, first go to the Chocolateria (right by the park) to get a coffee, chocolate, ice cream or pastries and sit in the park to enjoy tour treat. Lots of fun to people watch and the kids can enjoy the local life.
Alternative Options for Day 2 or Day 3
For another fun day in La Fortuna, you can also check out Club Rio Multi Adventure Club. It’s on the Springs Resort & Spa’s property which a very big property with their own river, hot spring resort and activities. Their Club Rio multi adventure package includes a 2 day hot spring pass, lunch and two activities of your choosing from white water tubing, inflatable kayaking, horseback riding, guided animal sanctuary tour, rock wall and climb and guided nature walk.
This property is absolutely gorgeous and is an awesome place for families. Their 2 day hot spring pass is also super nice because they have a waterslide, two huge hot spring section with natural and built pools, a hot spring section along the natural river and a yummy restaurant for lunch. They also have a stunning view of Arenal Volcano. If you’re staying at a hotel without its own hot springs, this is an excellent option for amazing hot springs and activities. Get $10 off Club Rio here!
Day 4 Travel to Manuel Antonio
Today you will travel to Manuel Antonio. La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is a 5 hour drive so this will be a long driving day. Along the way, you can stop at Jaco (big surfing beach town) or the Crocodile Bridge. You can read this post on how to get to Manuel Antonio for tips. We recommend to leave before noon so you can arrive in Manuel Antonio during daylight.
Once you arrive and check in to your place in Manuel Antonio, relax and get ready for tomorrow!
Why Manuel Antonio: It is another top destination in Costa Rica with lots of hotels and restaurants and good tourist infrastructure. It is home to a gorgeous national park and beautiful beaches. Lots of beach fun for the kids!
Recommended hotels in Manuel Antonio for families: Tulemar, Si Como No, Parador, Plaza Yara, Hotel La Mariposa, Tabulia Tree Hotel, La Posada Jungle Hotel. All these hotels offer family rooms and breakfast included. All except La Posada have a pool. Manuel Antonio tends to have more high end, expensive hotels. There are also many vacation rentals in Manuel Antonio.
Day 5 Manuel Antonio Antonio National Park
Morning Manuel Antonio National Park: Today you will visit one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, Manuel Antonio National Park. You can visit this park on a self guided walk or with a guide. Since you already did a guided walk in La Fortuna, it’s not absolutely necessary to do a guided walk in this park too but you can if you want. This park is home to hundreds of birds, mammals, reptiles and plants!
If you need transportation, we recommend to book a tour as they’ll provide round trip transportation and the national park ticket (which have to be pre-purchased online now). Click here to get our Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour discount!
The kids will love walking through the rainforest and playing in the sand at the beautiful white sand beaches. There is a ton of wildlife in this park with lots of monkeys!
Remember the park is closed on Tuesdays so make sure to plan your days in Manuel Antonio accordingly.
After you’re done, head back to the hotel to relax, shower and nap. In the evening, watch the sunset and have dinner at one of the ocean view restaurants like Cafe Agua Azul, Emilio’s Cafe or Raphael’s Terrazas.
Day 6 Manuel Antonio: Relax, sunset catamaran
Today is a relaxing day. You can enjoy the pool, go to the Espadilla beach or go shopping. In the evening, you can finish off your Manuel Antonio trip with a sunset cruise that departs around 1 PM. They have water slides and a nice lunch spread, lots of fun for the family.
If your family still has the energy, you can go white water rafting (kids must be older than 8 for rafting), take a surf lesson or horseback riding (must be at least 6 years old) for the day. That’ll end your trip off with a bang!
Don’t forget to get our Manuel Antonio/Quepos tours discount here!
Day 7 Travel to San Jose
Today you’ll travel back to San Jose. You don’t need to leave very early so sleep in and enjoy the last few hours in Manuel Antonio before checking out. You can book a hotel by San Jose International Airport and spend your last night getting ready to go home.
If your flight on Day 8 is not early, you can stay day 7 in Manuel Antonio and leave for San Jose on Day 8. Just remember it’s about a 3 hour drive from Manuel Antonio to San Jose and you need to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight so give yourself plenty of time!
Day 8 Fly out of SJO Airport
Time to go back home!
If You Have More than 1 Week
For those who have a bit more time, you can add on another destination to this itinerary. Here are some ideas.
- After landing in San Jose, stay a night or two at the Peace Lodge in Vara Blanca before heading to La Fortuna. The family can see the waterfalls and animal sanctuary at La Paz Waterfall Gardens (about 1 hour from San Jose, 2 to La Fortuna).
- After La Fortuna, you can stay a couple nights in Monteverde before heading to Manuel Antonio. (3 hours driving from La Fortuna, then 3.5 hours to Manuel Antonio). You can do more ziplining, visit a bat jungle or butterfly garden or do some more hiking.
- Check our Costa Rica 13 days itinerary!
Another Costa Rica Itinerary for Families
Here is an itinerary if you are flying into Liberia International Airport in Guanacaste and want to visit slightly less touristic destinations. You will get beach, nature, wildlife and rainforest in this itinerary. For this itinerary, it is recommended to rent a car because of the destinations as Guanacaste is more rural with less transportation options.
This itinerary goes to Liberia (LIR Airport) – Samara – Bijagua – LIR Airport.
Map
Click here to go to the interactive map with driving routes, hotel recommendations, destinations and activities.
Day 1 Liberia
Fly into Liberia International Airport and pick up your car rental. Drive 2 hours to Samara, a mellow beach town in South Guanacaste. A high clearance car will be highly recommended for this itinerary, particularly in rainy season.
Why Samara? Samara is a small beach town that has decent tourist infrastructure, beautiful beaches and good restaurants. It’s kind of like Tamarindo (another surfing beach town that’s popular with families in Guanacaste) but less touristy and has less of a party vibe. Great beach town for families and the beach is really fun for kids.
Hotels in Samara for families: Hideaway Hotel, Sol Samara, Samara Pacific Lodge, Villas Playa Samara (all-inclusive). All these hotels have family rooms.
Planning tip: If you don’t want to drive that long, Tamarindo is a good option for a fun and lively beach town as it’s 1 hour from Liberia Airport. Another option is Playas del Coco, a 25 minute drive from the airport which is a more laid back, fishing village.
Day 2, 3 and 4 Samara: Beach, Surf, Ziplining, Kayaking
On day 2, you can hit the beach and join the kids with a surf lesson! Samara is a good beginner surfing beach and you can take a class right on the beach. Usually classes are 4-8 people but you can request a private class for just your family.
On day 3, hop in your car and take the family to explore! There are several nice beaches around like Carrillo. You can also check out the small waterfall, La Roca, just outside of Samara.
On day 4, kayak to Isla Chora (30 minutes one way) and snorkel at the island. This can be done in the morning or afternoon. You can zipline at Wingnuts after or before your kayak. Great fun for the whole family! There are also sunset cruises in Samara the family can enjoy.
Day 5 Travel to Bijagua
Today you will drive to Bijagua. It is about a 3 hour drive. Take advantage of the travel day to stop at a couple of places.
You can stop at the Llanos de Cortes waterfall in Bagaces along the way. Great waterfall for kids as they can swim and play in the pool. Also, it’s only a 5 minute walk from the parking lot to the waterfall.
Another option is Vandara for volcano hot springs, ziplining, cultural experience, waterslide and more. (2.5 hours from Samara, then 1 hour to Bijagua).
Why Bijagua? Bijagua is the tiny rural town near Tenorio Volcano National Park. Although it’s small, it is a beautiful rainforest area and good place for one or two nights with kids so they can experience a rural Costa Rican town and lifestyle.
Recommended hotels in BIjagua for families: Casitas Tenorio B&B (Get 10% off), Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel and Celeste Mountain Lodge.
If you arrive early enough in time, some of the lodges in the area have a working farm and families can take a quick farm tour. Kids can see cows, goats, horses and chickens up close and learn how to milk cows! It’s a fantastic way for kids to experience rural Costa Rican farming life.
Day 6 Bijagua: Rio Celeste Hike
Today you’ll visit the stunning Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park. This 6.5 kilometer hike (4 miles roundtrip) is one of the most beautiful hikes in Costa Rica! You’ll see the Rio Celeste waterfall and the sky blue river.
The trail to the waterfall is very well maintained and is a paved trail. If you have toddlers or babies, you can bring them in a child carrier backpack. Just make sure you are able to carry them going up and down the steps to the waterfall. Strollers are not allowed in the park.
The entire hike can take around 3, 4 hours.
After the hike, you can have lunch at one of the local restaurants right outside the park. Also don’t forget to visit the Rio Celeste Free Pool so the kids can play and swim in the sky blue river.
Day 7 Fly Out of Liberia International Airport
Bijagua to Liberia International Airport is about a 1 hour and 30 minute drive so enjoy your last few hours in Bijagua and Costa Rica. Make sure to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight.
Important Things to Know About Traveling with Kids in Costa Rica
- If your kids have allergies to food or medicines, make sure to write them down. It will also be helpful to write down the translation in Spanish of the name and active ingredients. Bring all necessary medications.
- If you rent a car, we recommend to get a prepaid SIM card so you can have a Costa Rican phone number in case of emergencies.
- If you are traveling with multiple families for just a few days, consider staying at an all-inclusive resort instead. It is a lot less stressful!
- If you are spending Christmas in Costa Rica or New Years, make sure to book your accommodation and transportation well in advance as those dates book up very fast. (Book at least 4-6 months out).
For more tips, read our post for things to do in Costa Rica with kids.
I hope this Costa Rica itinerary for families post helps you with your trip planning!
There are affiliate links in this post.
Nathan says
Hi – We’re going to Costa Rica in October for 7 days with 4 kids (3, 8, 11 and 13). Would you still recommend San Jose – La Fortuna – Manuel Antonio? I’ve read there is more rain in October than other months.
Sammi says
October is our rainiest month in Costa Rica for most of the country, you can still visit but there may be big rains in those areas particularly and may not be able to do as much as you would during drier months. If you can only visit in October, the Caribbean is a better option as it’s their summer month (Tortuguero and Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica)
Colleen Palte says
In La Fortunate do you recommend Spring Resort over Baldi. We are here for 2 full days (not counting our travel days) and we’re looking for hot springs, water slides and volcanoes hikes.
Sammi says
I personally like Springs over Baldi but it is much more expensive!
Colleen Palte says
Hi!
Love your blog!
We are planning to visit in late June 2024 and we want to see a volcano hike and hotsprings in La Fortuna then Head to MA. What do you recommend? And I listened to your podcast on Amateur Traveler (amazing) Sam talked about hikes in MA National park but I wasn’t able to write down the names. What are her favorites? We are traveling with 4 teenage boys myself and my husband.
Sammi says
Hi Colleen, for the volcano hike you can visit Arenal Volcano National Park or Arenal 1968 and then in Manuel Antonio National Park you can hike the trails to Playa Gemelas and Punto Cuchillo or around the Punta Catedral (both if you’re a good hiker)
Melody says
Hi! I have 2 children aged 5 & 8. I would love to do the Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges with my kids and am seeing mixed comments on the age limit. Are there any restrictions to age limit for the Arenal hanging bridges?
Sammi says
Hi Melody, with our partner the minimum age is 5 (we also sent an email with more information to book the tour)
Alanna says
Hello! We will be in CR for a month. Starting with La Fortuna then Samara then Manuel Antonio. We know the drive from Samara to MA will be long and we’re thinking of breaking it up staying overnight somewhere, can you recommend a good place to stop for the night? Is Jaco about half way? Thanks!
Sammi says
Hello Alanna, we have sent you an email
Susie hollingsworth says
We are staying in playa del coco for the week. Do you know if there is a zip lining place that will allow a 7 year old that is only 50 pounds?
Also what is closest mud bath/hot spring. Want my three kids to experience that
Thank u so much love your blog
Sammi says
Yes you can go to Diamante Eco Adventure Park if your child weights at least 66 lbs (30 kilos),
Katie says
We are coming this summer with our 5, 9 and 11 year old kids. We’ll be there for 23 days, flying in and out of Liberia. What are your recommendations for that length of trip?
Sammi says
Hi Katie, you can check all our itineraries for various options: Costa Rica itinerary ideas
Celia says
Great website! I booked an 11 night trip next July. We will fly into SJO and out of LIR. I am speaking with a few travel agencies but am wondering if I should plan the trip myself since I have time. I would love to visit Arenal, debating on visiting Monteverde, and trying to figure out what beach I would like to end my trip. I would love to go to Manuel Antonio but it appears to be a 5 hour drive from LIR. Any other suggestions? My kids will be 11 and 7 and adventurous! Also, do you recommend booking excursions prior to the trip?
Sammi says
Hi Celia, I recommend to take a look at this itinerary as its pretty much exactly what you’re looking for, just choose one beach destination instead of two: 2 week Costa Rica itinerary
Barb says
Hi! We are thinking about 8 days with kids (10 and 7) in October
I am reading that this is rainy season.
Would you alter your 7/8 day itinerary in October or would you keep The itinerary the same?
Thank you!
Sammi says
you can definitely still do it but it does rain quite a bit in October so you’d need to plan your activities in the morning and be flexible with activities in case they get cancelled due to rain. It may be better to go to Puerto Viejo instead as its the summer month on the Caribbean coast. You could do SJO – Puerto Viejo – Fortuna
Me Linh says
Hi,
Our family arrive in Liberia at 1pm after a 5 hour flight.
We plan to rent a car to drive to Arenal (3+ hour).
Do you recommend we stay overnight in Liberia the first night and leave the next morning or do you think it is safe to plan to rent a car immediately and drive to arenal on the same day? one of your post suggested NOT to drive long distance if we arrive in afternoon… Trying to plan our itinerary for hotel and car rental based on this decision. Thank you so much! Your blog is the most helpful! it is amazing
Sammi says
It gets dark by 6 PM everyday and we’re in rainy season now so you could still technically make it there in the daylight if immigration/customs isn’t too long (Right now May is not a very busy month) but make sure you use a GPS and get a SIM card as well as download your Google Maps offline just in case. Also just a warning that route to La Fortuna gets really really curvy at one point so if you are concerned about driving that in the dark because there are no street lights in that section, I’d stay somewhere halfway instead the night you land. Make sure to take anti nausea medicine to prevent car sickness for this route
Marina Temkin says
We are doing la Fortuna, Samara and then have three more nights before flying out of Liberia in the morning. What do you recommend for those three nights? Our kids are 3 and 6.
Sammi says
You can check our post for an itinerary idea with Samara, the one that goes to Bijagua.
Marci Mange says
Hi! Which of these two itineraries would be best in July? We have 11 and 21 year old daughters. They’d love zip lining, whitewater rafting, beaches, waterfalls, wildlife. Hikes are good, but nothing too strenuous.
Sammi says
I would go with the San Jose – La Fortuna – Manuel Antonio one.
elizabeth maher says
Hi. We are trying to plan our Spring Break trip to Costa Rica and are completely dazed and confused. Unfortunately we only have 6 full days. We would like to spend a couple of days in the rainforest and a few days at a nice beach. We do not know if we should go to Arenal or Monte Verde for the rain forest part. Which one would you recommend? Then we were thinking of heading up to Playa Conchal Beach and staying in a VRBO at the Westin as a lot of the websites I have looked at says that it one of the most beautiful beaches and it is close to Flamingo Beach and Tamarindo if we wanted to go to one of those beaches for the day. My daughter loves a great pool and a beautiful beach but we really want to take her to the rainforest for some ziplining and waterfalls. We are so lost I’m about ready to throw in the towel. Is there any help you can give us or any recommendations. kindly, beth
Sammi says
You can check our post Arenal vs Monteverde to help you learn more and decide (Arenal would be better for short itineraries. Flamingo and Conchal are both nice places, the Westin is super nice and that beach is gorgeous. You can read our guides below.
Playa Conchal
Flamingo beach Costa Rica
Tamarindo Costa Rica
For 6 days, a lot of people will do 3 nights Arenal, 3 nights Guanacaste.
Greta says
Hi! We are planning a two week trip to Costa Rica, we are visiting La Fortuna, Monteverde And Manuel Antonio. What else can you recommend for us? Our kids are 12, 9 And 6.
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Greta, there is a section with recommendations of what else to add if you have more days (Peace Lodge, Jaco, San Jose, more days in those destinations, etc.)
Vicky says
Hi
This is great. We went to Costa Rica last year and did LA Fortuna, Monteverde, Montezuma and Uvita. We are looking to go next year, flying in and out of Liberia for 2 weeks, so the second itinerary is great but is there any areas you can recommend for snorkeling?
Many thanks
Vicky
Sammi says
Snorkeling is best up in the Gulf of Papagayo area, Samara doesn’t have that great of snorkeling but we did the kayaking to the island and did some very easy, simple snorkeling there.