Planning a Trip to Costa Rica with Kids (Costa Rica Travel Tips)
Planning to visit Costa Rica with kids? Let me help you get started on planning your trip!
We took our first international trip as a family of 6 to Costa Rica. At the time of our trip the kids were ages 9, 6, 5, and 2. Yes, we went to Costa Rica with a toddler, and we had a blast!
There are so many kid-friendly reasons to visit this lush country in Central America. From abundant and diverse flora and fauna, to tours and excursions the whole family can join, and delicious food, there’s a little something for every age and stage.
Here’s exactly what to know, what to pack, and what to plan for if you’re thinking of visiting Costa Rica with your family.
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The Ultimate Costa Rica Vacation Planning Guide for Families
What to Know Before Going to Costa Rica
Costa Rica is extremely family-friendly, making it the perfect destination to visit with kids, even if you’re new to international travel.
Passports
US travelers need a passport to travel to Costa Rica, but do not need a visa. Always be sure to check that your passport not expired, and that it is valid for 6 months beyond the date you leave the United States.
Is the Water Safe to Drink in Costa Rica?
The tap water is considered safe to drink in most parts of Costa Rica. Our kids filled up their water bottles several times from the tap in La Fortuna, and they never had an issue! We also ate the fruit from our hotel and from the grocery store and had no issues with that either.
We always bring our refillable water bottles to cut down on plastic, so it was nice to know we could fill them with tap water.
I personally bought a large jug of water from the nearby market and used that because I’m just terrified of getting a stomach bug while in charge of 4 kids in another country. But I did brush my teeth with the tap water, too, and was just fine with that.
If you’re in a rural part of the country, it might be wise to ask someone if the tap water is safe to drink in that region.
Outlets
Good news! You don’t need to buy any outlet converters for your trip to Costa Rica. They use the same type of outlets that we use in the United States.
Out hotels even had USB outlets, which was incredibly convenient for charging the kids’ Kindles.
The only thing you might want to bring if you have a big family like ours is a travel charging strip so you can plug in a few things at the same time.
Is Costa Rica Safe to Visit with Kids?
Absolutely! Costa Rica is very safe and family-friendly. It has a stable democracy and no military, making it a peaceful country, especially for families!
The culture in Costa Rica is also very welcoming to children and families, and everyone we came in contact with was so warm toward our kids. On our tours and excursions the guides would always chat with the kids to make sure they felt comfortable and safe.
The most common crime is petty theft, so as with all travel, be smart about your belongings. Don’t carry all of your cash in one place, make copies of your passports and ID and put them in a separate bag from your originals, don’t carry large sums of money, and keep valuables out of sight.
Use the safe in your hotel rooms, but don’t forget to take your things out of the safe before you leave!
What to Do about Money in Costa Rica
Costa Rica Colones is the official currency used in Costa Rica, but US dollars are also widely accepted.
Right when we arrived at the airport we took out Costa Rica Colones from the ATM at baggage claim. We quickly learned that we would have been fine using USD, too! Many of the prices around the country were listed either only in USD because so many of the tourists are from the United States, or listed in both USD and CRC.
Do have cash on hand, whether in USD or CRC. This comes in handy for tipping drivers, guides, and service workers.
However, know that even in the small beach town we visited, every single shop and restaurant accepted credit cards.
Toilet Paper
Something to be aware of is that the plumbing in Costa Rica cannot handle toilet paper, so you should always throw used toilet paper into a waste basket, which is usually located right by the toilet.
We reminded our kids several times about this rule, but every once and a while one of us would forget and accidentally flush toilet paper. Most places do have signs about this, though!
Language
Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, but English is also widely spoken within the hospitality industry.
Some of our drivers and local shopkeepers did not speak much English, so in this case it’s helpful to know a few key phrases in Spanish.
Hola - Hello
Buenos días - Good morning.
Buenas tardes. - Good afternoon.
Buenas noches. - Good evening.
(you can just shorten this to “buenas” for a casual greeting).
Me llamo ______ - My name is
Mucho gusto. - Nice to meet you.
Por favor - Please
Gracias. - Thank you.
¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much is it?
Perdón. - Pardon me.
¿Habla inglés? - Do you speak English?
No hablo español. - I don’t speak Spanish.
Me gustaría - I would like
Necesito… - I need
This is just a sample of the phrases you might need to get by!
Here’s a phrase book that might help!
Budget
Costa Rica can be done on a budget, but it’s simply not as cheap as you might think. Especially in recent years, Costa Rica has become a very popular tourist destination, and your dollar will not stretch as far as it might in Costa Rica’s neighboring countries in Central America.
We chose to splurge on many aspects of this trip because it was our first international trip with all four kids along and we wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.
You can rent a car for a relatively affordable price per day, but we have 4 kids which means we would need to rent a minivan or large SUV, effectively tripling the price of car rentals. We decided to go with private transportation from one destination to another. We used My Day Trip to book our transfers.
As for accommodations, we chose reputable hotels instead of Airbnbs, but staying in a vacation rental is another way you could save money, especially if you have a rental car.
Getting Around Costa Rica
Whether you’re planning to drive yourself or hiring a private transfer, know that your journey between 2 destinations will take a lot longer than you think.
Thanks to poor infrastructure, traffic, and one-lane roads, you’ll find yourself spending a lot more time in the car than you thought you would.
Be sure to bring motion sickness medication (talk with your pediatrician to see what’s recommended for your kids), and to take it before your drive starts. We made the mistake of waiting too long to take our Dramamine on our trip from La Fortuna to Sámara, and quickly anded up with 2/3 of our family looking a bit green. Put the books and tablets away when the roads are winding and bumpy!
When to Go To Costa Rica
There are 2 seasons in Costa Rica: dry season and rainy season.
Dry season is from December to April, while rainy season runs from May to November.
If you’re looking to escape the winter weather in the United States, dry season, or summer in Costa Rica, is your best bet. You’re more likely to have good weather, less rain, and see more wildlife. However, prices will be more expensive for hotels and tours since this is high season for tourism.
Rainy season is a great option for those looking to take a longer trip during the summer break from school. We had rain each afternoon or evening during our June trip, but the weather usually held out long enough for us to complete whatever activity we had scheduled for the day. We even got a few beautiful sunsets even though the rain usually comes right as the sun is setting! The weather is warm and humid but not too hot.
Rainy Seasons is often called “Green Season” in Costa Rica, and you’ll find cheaper prices and fewer crowds. I can attest to this! We didn’t deal with any crowds at all, and most of our tours ended up being just our family.
What to Pack for Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a tropical destination with mountains, beaches, and rainforests. You need to be prepared for multiple scenarios. Here are my recommendations for what to pack for a trip to Costa Rica with kids:
>> Read: How to Use Packing Cubes - Packing Tips for Travel with Kids
Costa Rica Travel Essentials
Clothes:
t-shirts/tank tops
1-2 long sleeve shirts
1 sweatshirt (my husband blasted the AC at night and the blankets on the beds were NOT warm)
shorts
1 pair of pants (for in the rainforest and for excursions like horseback riding)
1 hat
underwear/socks/bras
1-2 sundresses (for females)
lightweight rain jacket
swimsuits with rash guards
flip flops
close toed shoes/tennis shoes (for excursions like zip lining and horseback riding)
hiking sandals (optional)
First Aid Items
motion sickness medication (do NOT forget this even if you don’t usually get motion sickness. The roads are crazy)
bug spray
big bite treatment
sunscreen
bandages
antiseptic wipes
antibiotic ointment
anti-diarrheal medicine
pain reliever (adult, children, infant)
Other:
camera
small backpack for day trips
fanny pack for outings
flotation devices if you’ll be swimming with little ones
reusable water bottles
sunglasses
toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush, ponytails, deodorant, makeup, etc)
a few tote bags (if you plan to pick up snacks or groceries, they don’t use plastic bags here. You can also buy some when you’re at the store)
passport
What to Wear in Costa Rica during Rainy Season
If you’re visiting during rainy season, plan to get wet.
Make sure the clothes you bring are quick-dry or moisture-wicking. For this reason we mostly avoided wearing denim.
It was still pretty warm and humid, so you’ll be fine with shorts, tank tops, and t-shirts. Bring a few lightweight long sleeve shirts and one sweatshirt.
Be sure to have lightweight rain jackets with you, too! It started raining during our sloth tour, and we were so happy to have these with us.
Dress code is very casual in Costa Rica, and especially if you’re doing outdoor activities or visiting beach towns like we were. We mostly wore activewear, and a few cute sundresses or nicer outfits for restaurants.
Sandals and flip flops are fine for most of the time. Close toed shoes are a must for certain excursions like zip lining and horseback riding.
This was the only type of shoes we packed for my preschooler, and this was all we packed for our toddler.
Reasons to Visit Costa Rica
As a former Spanish teacher, Costa Rica had always topped my list of places to visit, and I even took some of my high school Spanish students there back in 2011! However, one question I received both before and after our trip was: Why visit Costa Rica?
It’s a great question! Why did we choose Costa Rica as our first international destination with all 4 kids?
It’s for nature lovers.
Did you know Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity? If you’re hoping to see wildlife, this is the place to go. You can see sloths, howler monkeys, butterflies, toucans, hummingbirds, iguanas, lizards, caymans, dolphins, whales, sea turtles and more!
It’s also got volcanoes, rainforests, cloud forests, beaches, and waterfalls. You can stay in a resort near an active volcano and bask in the hot springs nearby. You can stay in a beach resort and enjoy the coastline, too!
Adventures for everyone.
Costa Rica is an adventure-lover’s paradise! Whether you like high-octane adventures like rafting, ATVs, and surfing, or more low-key adventures for the whole family, like hiking, zip lining, horseback riding, and snorkeling, you can find something for every interest and every activity level. Trust me, we even took our toddler on some of these tours!
It’s got tourism infrastructure.
While Costa Rica feels very wild and free thanks to its well-preserved natural areas, the country’s tourism industry is thriving, and the variation of hotels and resorts reflects that.
You can find luxury resorts, eco lodges, villas, mid-level hotels, and more. Whatever type of vacation you enjoy, Costa Rica has something for you.
There are also tons of wonderful tour companies that will pick you up from your hotel and provide you with water, snacks, and great information about the country.
Coffee.
I mean, Costa Rica produces some of the best coffee in the world, so need I say more? My husband and I both found ourselves sipping on coffee all day long. Normally I’m a creamer loving girl, but just a splash of milk was enough for me to enjoy the rich Costa Rican coffee.
Easy to get to.
For families from the United States, Costa Rica is really easy to access. You don’t have to cross too many time zones, and the flights aren’t too long. If you want to try an international trip before heading across an ocean, this is a great first choice.
Family-Friendly
The Costa Rican culture if centered on family, and people in the tourism industry are so warm and welcoming to even the smallest of visitors. People went out of the way to make our kids feel welcome and safe, and as a mom I really appreciated that. A few of our kids were a bit nervous to be out of the country for the first time, and this was an incredible place to push them outside of their comfort zone.
Culture
Ever heard the phrase “Pura Vida”? Pura Vida means pure life in English, but it’s so much more than a phrase. It’s a no stress, happy, optimistic way of life.
Pura Vida can be a greeting, a way to say “You’re welcome,” a way to say goodbye. For example, you might say, “Muchas gracias,” after someone does something for you - pours a cup of coffee, opens a door, etc. - and they might respond with “¡Pura Vida!” instead of “De nada.” or “Con gusto.”
You can feel the Pura Vida lifestyle as you interact with people in Costa Rica, and it’s contagious. Locals are so laid back and keep what’s truly important in perspective.
Costa Rica is an excellent first international destination with kids.
If you’re thinking of taking your first trip abroad with kids, Costa Rica is an exciting and beautiful place to do it. Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, nature lovers, adventure lovers, beach resort people or eco lodge people, you’ll find something to love in this stunning country.
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Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
