This time of 12 months is at all times my favorite level for dreaming of journey, for writing lists of nations I’d love to go to – and people lists at all times appear to incorporate a visit to Costa Rica with children.
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It’s someplace I’ve been tempted by for a very long time and the previous 2 years of journey restrictions have solely made me extra decided to get globetrotting once more as quickly as I can – no shock ‘catch-up’ journey is tipped as one of many greatest developments for 2022.
The opposite massive development? Turning to journey specialists to assist navigate the minefield of checks, restrictions and necessities… As a result of whereas I like plotting my very own journeys, for those who’re venturing off the crushed monitor, it pays to have an skilled readily available to assist plan your Costa Rica household holidays.
And since one measurement doesn’t match all, particularly once you’re travelling with children, I like Authentic Journey’s strategy – tailored itineraries, with a vacation spot skilled to assist flip the wishlist into actuality, a journey concierge readily available once you arrive to make sure all of it goes easily, and skilled guides that will help you get greater than a superficial expertise.
Plus, in fact, there are such a lot of tempting issues to do in Costa Rica with children – volcanoes, seashores on two separate coasts, rainforest and cloudforest, wonderful wildlife and actions to strive. And that’s only for starters.
Visiting Costa Rica with children
The most effective issues a few household vacation in Costa Rica is that there’s one thing for all ages on this tropical playground – loads of journey and probability to get lively in Costa Rica with teenagers, however mushy journey and enjoyable itineraries to swimsuit youthful children as effectively.
Enterprise to a volcano
With over 200 volcanos within the nation, you possibly can’t go to Costa Rica with children with out seeing a minimum of one – a pair you possibly can even drive proper to the rim.
Deservedly essentially the most well-known is Arenal, with a string of various methods to discover round this peak.
Take a cable automotive into the bushes, recognizing a few of the nation’s wildlife (together with sloths!) alongside the way in which, earlier than strolling on the hanging bridges – suspension bridges main by way of the forest cover – and following a tunnel and trails into the rainforest. For a bit extra adrenaline-fuelled enjoyable, it’s also possible to come again down on a zipwire.
Or Tenorio Volcano Nationwide Park, round two hours from Arenal, is one other great place to discover the volcanic panorama, with trails main by way of jungle, previous waterfalls on the Rio Celeste and to pure scorching springs.
See cloudforest
Step into the misty cover of one in all Costa Rica’s cloudforest reserves, with a number of to select from throughout the nation.
The Monteverde Cloudforest is without doubt one of the greatest locations to identify the eye-catching quetzal – though regardless of being brilliant inexperienced, with metre-long tail feathers, they’re nonetheless an elusive sight.
You possibly can wander over hanging bridges on this 26,000 acre biozone too, some as a lot as 2,400 toes up, the place you’re certain to see some birds and presumably howler monkeys as effectively.
This can be a nice choice for those who’re visiting Costa Rica with youthful children, with a sky tram to experience right here as effectively. Otherwise you’ll discover a few of the highest and longest ziplines to strive too, flying again over the valley.
As a enjoyable bonus, Authentic Journey allows you to borrow a GoPro to seize your adventures – excellent for recording your zipwire flight.
Within the Central Highlands Cloud Forest, La Paz Waterfall Gardens are straightforward to succeed in from capital San Jose, and ideally suited with youthful children.
Paved trails hyperlink 5 waterfalls as you wander by way of the cloudforest (and rainforest), with over 100 species of animals within the park – hold your eyes open for jaguars, pumas and ocelots, in addition to spider monkeys. There’s additionally a hummingbird backyard and butterfly farm right here.
Discover a rainforest
Costa Rica’s rainforests are dwelling to greater than 100 species of tree, in addition to large orchids and sloths, plus extra monkeys and birdlife.
Corcovado Nationwide Park is essentially the most unspoiled but additionally essentially the most distant: Bijagua can also be off the crushed monitor and with the three volcanic peaks within the background and dramatic blue river, it’s a good looking spot to go to.
Should you’re fortunate, you possibly can even see tapirs right here, in addition to toucans and views of Lake Nicaragua.
Or Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park is extra accessible, with a jungle filled with animals in addition to a coral reef off the attractive seashores.
You’re virtually assured to identify monkeys as you discover (and don’t depart snacks in your bag on the seashore once you swim, as they and the raccoons which dwell listed below are practised furry little thieves!)
Hit the seashore
With two coasts, you’re by no means going to be wanting seashores – you possibly can even get a style of each throughout one journey, plus there’s sea kayaking and snorkelling on supply as effectively.
Together with Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park on the Pacific coast, you’ll discover light waves alongside the Guanacaste coast comparable to Playa Flamingo and Playa Conchal and the sands on the shores of Culebra Bay within the Gulf of Papagayo.
Or for a few of the greatest locations to lounge by the Caribbean, Cahuita Nationwide Park has pristine white sands and mangrove creeks, plus some improbable snorkelling on the reefs off the shore – all to a backdrop of howler monkeys within the jungle.
Authentic Journey additionally gives Sharky & George packs filled with video games and actions for teenagers aged three to 10 (and studying suggestions and music playlists earlier than you journey to find extra concerning the tradition – an ideal soundtrack whilst you’re chilling out too)
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If lazing within the solar doesn’t tempt, Costa Rica can also be a improbable place to surf – Tamarindo on the Guanacaste coast is good for households and newbies, with different watersports for individuals who favor one other approach to experience the waves.
Or Playa Hermosa in Puntarenas is one other nice browsing spot – it’s price understanding there’s additionally a Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste, however for those who discover yourselves within the mistaken place accidentally, there’s some nice scuba diving right here, so all’s not misplaced.
On the Caribbean coast, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is without doubt one of the nation’s high surf spots, dwelling to the Salsa Brava wave – however you’ll discover classes for teenagers and newbies, so it’s not only for skilled surfers.
Should you do enterprise all the way down to Golfo Dulce, one in all solely three tropical fjords on this planet (and the one place the place northern and southern Humpback whales swim in the identical waters), Playa Pavones is understood for having the longest wave on this planet.
Attempt rafting
Away from the ocean, there are extra watersports to strive, together with rafting – for an actual thrill, you’ll discover severe white water choices, however for those who’re visiting Costa Rica with children, there are additionally gentler alternate options.
The Rio Saraquipi does have its personal rapids but additionally quieter stretches of water the place you possibly can take in the character surrounding the river out of your raft.
Or the Balsa River is good if you’d like extra of a problem, whereas nonetheless staying secure – rafting right here is appropriate for age 10+, with some white water in addition to wildlife to identify.
Spot wildlife
Wherever you go in Costa Rica, you’ll be wowed by the wildlife – round 10% of the world’s hen inhabitants dwell right here, round 1,250 species of butterflies, marine life galore on the world’s second largest coral reef system, plus these sloths and monkeys.
However whilst you’ll see a few of the nation’s pure wonders as you discover cloudforest, rainforest and seashore, there are just a few particular experiences to plan into your journey.
Turtles
The possibility to see turtles laying their eggs is simply magical, and there are 5 primary nesting websites throughout the nation, cut up between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
With the longest nesting and hatching season, Tortuguero Nationwide Park is the most effective place to go, with sea turtles laying their eggs between July and September.
Birds
Should you love hen recognizing, Carara Nationwide park comprises each dry and moist rainforest, and also you’ll discover half of all of the hen species in Costa Rica right here – over 400 differing types.
Or Palo Verde Nationwide Park is dwelling to round 250,000 birds throughout moist season: half wetland, half dry forest, it’s also possible to spot coatis and monkeys right here.
Whales
Ballena Nationwide Marine Park is without doubt one of the greatest locations on this planet to observe humpback whales, in addition to different cetaceans together with bottlenose dolphins.
The whales migrate right here between August and November, and once more from December to April, on their journey between Antarctica and Alaska, so there’s probability of whale-watching for many of the 12 months.
With 9 miles of shoreline – and a whopping 13,000 acres of ocean within the marine park – you’ll additionally discover mangrove forests and coral reefs for some nice snorkelling. There’s seashore too, together with a strip of sand which appears like a whale’s tail at low tide.
Tree frogs
With their brilliant jewel colors, frog recognizing in Costa Rica is a far cry out of your native pond – the red-eyed tree frog could be among the best identified, however there are 149 species in complete.
Tougher to identify than you would possibly assume, there are a rising variety of frog excursions in Costa Rica. Arenal Oasis, the nation’s solely wild frog sanctuary has evening walks with a naturalist guiding you alongside the paths within the rainforest.
Extra causes to go to Costa Rica with children
For the previous few years, there’s been a rising give attention to sustainable journey – and the pandemic has solely highlighted that additional, with corporations and travellers how our globetrotting can profit somewhat than harm the vacation spot.
And there are few locations higher than Costa Rica if you wish to help sustainable journey. Named the second most sustainable nation on this planet (utilizing 99.2% renewable power), Costa Rica has additionally received the primary ever Earthshot Prize award for its work in defending and restoring nature, the newest in a string of accolades.
1 / 4 of the nation’s wild lands are protected by regulation: 26 nationwide parks, 58 wildlife refuges, 32 protected zones, 15 wetland areas, 11 forest reserves, and eight organic reserves, and you may select to remain at eco lodges galore throughout your loved ones vacation to Costa Rica.
These might be an effective way to help regionally owned lodging and guides, somewhat than multinationals too.
Don’t neglect your tour operator’s eco-credentials too. Authentic Journey absorbs 100% of the carbon footprint generated by air journey for its shoppers’ holidays (even for those who e book your flights independently).
It’s not nearly planting bushes to offset carbon both (though that’s a giant a part of it). The corporate’s basis helps humanitarian tasks throughout Africa, Asia and South America.
You possibly can select to donate your personal time as a part of your itinerary, particularly at animal refuges in Costa Rica. On the Asis Challenge, which takes care of something from anteaters and sloths to monkeys and toucans, you possibly can be part of a day of volunteering to assist with day by day duties.
Or the Jaguar Rescue Heart is an animal refuge that treats sick, injured and orphaned animals in an effort to reintroduce them to their pure habitats, particularly birds, reptiles, amphibians and a few small primates.
PIN FOR LATER: COSTA RICA WITH KIDS
Disclosure: created in collaboration with Authentic Journey – all opinions on visiting Costa Rica with children and love of volcanoes (and sloths) are my very own
Photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
