Written by Christine Tsai | March 20, 2025
As a family, we wanted to expose our kids to a different type of vacation. Up until now, we had mostly done all-inclusive trips because, let’s be honest, it’s just easier to have everything in one place. But Brennan and I love a little adventure, so we thought—why not check out Costa Rica? It’s known for being a great country to travel with kids, with friendly locals, an easygoing vibe, and so much to explore. Keep in mind that travelling 24/7 with a 4 and 7 year old for 10 days is no joke. In retrospect, we should have planned some time for the girls to do some kind of surf lessons or Kids Club during the 10 day trek so that honestly, we could catch a break lol but c'est la vie!
Our 10-Day Costa Rican Adventure
Day 1: Arrival in Liberia & Drive to Los Pargos
We flew direct into Liberia, rented a car, and drove about 1.5 hours to our furthest destination—Los Pargos (30 minutes south of Tamarindo). Renting a car gave us the flexibility to explore different regions at our own pace. While car rentals were expensive (about $1,000 for 10 days, including minimal insurance and gas), we wouldn’t have done it any other way. The roads in some areas can be rocky and challenging, so a 4x4 is ideal.
We stayed in a stunning Airbnb with two bedrooms and a private pool. It was heavenly!
Day 2: Beach Hopping & Turtle Encounters
We stayed close to our Airbnb and explored all the beautiful beaches in our area including Playa Callejones. While chatting with another couple, we learned about a turtle release happening that evening. This was by far the most affordable activity we did, and also one of the most special. We paid $10USD for each child to get a coconut shell to release one freshly hatched baby turtle into the ocean. It was an unforgettable experience for the kids! We ended the day with a fantastic beach dinner at Bernardo’s.
Day 3: Pool & Beach Day
Los Pargos is home to some of the most pristine beaches, and our favourite was Playa Avellanas. We rented beach chairs by Lola’s Restaurant, where we dined right on the sandy beach and watched the sunset—pure magic! Finding beaches with shade was important for us, so we loved when the beaches that had trees that provided natural canopies for us to lay out all day without worrying about the kids getting sunburnt. Our long beach days were amazing but we thought we would switch things up for a little more adventure!
Day 4: Catamaran Adventure & Fire Show
After a morning swim in the pool, we took an unforgettable catamaran trip departing from Tamarindo. We swam to a secluded beach, played on a cargo net off the boat, and enjoyed the stunning ocean views. We were disappointed that we couldn't go snorkeling due to volcanic rocks and Bella really wanted to spot dolphins but unfortunately we didn't see any. We went with Marlin Delrey for our boat trip. They offered a great buffet lunch and had an open bar, but claimed not to be a "booze cruise". We definitely boozed tho lol!
That evening, we walked along a beachfront strip lined with restaurants, enjoyed fresh mahi-mahi and fish tacos, and watched fire performers light up the night.
Day 5: Relaxation & Boogie Boarding
We spent the day unwinding at the house—swimming, snoozing, and coloring with the kids. Later, we headed to Playa Negra for some exciting boogie boarding in the waves. I think by day 5 the girls were getting a little bored of the beaches, gasp! We wished we would have planned something different on this day. I'm pretty sure Brennan and I spent much of the day putting out fires and managing arguments between the girls. We survived tho :D.
Day 6: Moving Day & Playa Flamingo
We packed up and made our way about an hour North to Playa Flamingo, where we enjoyed the soft sand and gentle waves. There was zero sun coverage but pure white sandy beach. It's situated right beside a busy road so it wasn't my favourite spot. Immediately locals offered us a tent and beach chair set up for $20USD. We had no other choice as our kids would never survive the afternoon sun so we accepted. We stayed in our next Airbnb in Portero, 15 minutes North of Playa Flamingo. It was a decent location, but tons of development and dirt roads. We had breakfast at an amazing and local favourite called Nita Coffee, known for their smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Day 7: Diamante Eco Adventure Park
We visited Diamante Eco Adventure Park, where we explored their Animal Sanctuary. We saw sloths, tucans, butterflies, wild cats and more in under 2 hours. There was also a pretty cool outdoor jungle gym that the kids loved but no shade in sight which made it tough to play in 35 degrees weather. Sunscreen, hats and bug spray were a must every day we left the house. Surprisingly, the park offered one of the best buffet lunches with a view for under $20 per person, highly recommend it! Ziplining here was a 2 hour commitment, $90 per person required children to be minimum 6 years old so we passed.
Photos of Diamante Eco Adventure Park
Las Catalinas
After lunch, we drove 20 minutes down the dirt mountain roads to arrive at the beautiful Las Catalinas, a charming, up and coming coastal area. We loved the vibe here. They had beautiful new restaurants and bars 2 minutes from the beautiful beach. There was also a Montessori School that offered full day camps for kids up to 6 years old. We kicked ourselves for not planning better because by day 7 we really need a break from our crazy kids, and perhaps they needed one from us too lol. I'm sure some of you reading this can relate.
Day 8: Mountain Bound & Hot Springs & Dinner at El Jaguar
We actually left the last two days of our 10 day trek unplanned (*gasp* so unlike me). We weren't sure how we would be feeling by this time of the trip. We were ready for a change from the beach and looking for some adventure so we headed 2 hours north to Rincon de la Vieja to check out the volcano! We decided to book two nights at Buena Vista Del Rincon because it was a one stop shop for everything we wanted to do including horseback riding, hot springs, zip lining, water sliding and more for only $180USD per person. The kids were excited to stay in a "hotel" for a change, but where slightly disappointed when we got to our rooms and they were VERY small and simple with zero air conditioning LOL. We had been spoiled, but we managed. We were so busy by day that we really just needed a place to sleep. After our long trek which including a 1 hour drive uphill through the mountains, we arrived at a majestic spot with beautiful horses on the farm. We had just enough time to hit the hot springs before a delicious dinner at El Jaguar.
Mud baths at Pacaya Hot Springs (20 minutes away via tractor trailer)
Day 9: Horseback Riding & Adventure Day
We wrapped up our last day with an action-packed schedule including horseback riding in the morning. We got lucky with a private 2 hour tour. Our guide let us to the beautiful Salitral waterfall. It was a 10 minute climb but relatively easy to reach. Our 4 year old ran the whole way! After lunch we went swimming and enjoyed the longest waterslide in Costa Rica. It was a lot of fun, but you had to walk uphill for 10 minutes to get to the top of the hill. Our most memorable activity would be zip lining through the breathtaking rainforest where you could see views of the mountains and the oceans. We did it as a family. This was one of the rare places that would allow a 4 year old to go zip lining.
Our last dinner was at El Matidor at Buena Vista resort. We ended the trip with a majestic sunset dinner, reflecting on the memories we created in the last 10 days in Costa Rica. We decided to let the girls have their iPads that night so that we could truly enjoy the experience without interruption ;).
Final Thoughts
Costa Rica exceeded our expectations as a family-friendly adventure destination, offering the perfect balance of relaxation and excitement. From breathtaking beaches to unforgettable wildlife encounters and thrilling activities, every moment felt like a new discovery. We took the plunge, hoping our kids would embrace adventure, and Costa Rica did not disappoint. Whether zip-lining through the jungle, spotting monkeys in the trees, or splashing in crystal-clear waterfalls, we always felt comfortable and safe exploring as a family. Traveling with kids is undeniably exhausting, but the kids will forever cherish the special memories made on this trip, so it was all worth it. This trip will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Would we recommend this trip to other families? Absolutely! If you're considering an adventurous yet manageable vacation with kids, Costa Rica should be at the top of your list.
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