Sloths, volcanoes, easy beaches and short adventures — Costa Rica is one of the most family-friendly countries around. Here's how to plan it, and how to move between stops without the meltdowns.
Kids tend to love Costa Rica because the "wow" moments are everywhere and rarely require a long hike — a sloth in a tree, a volcano over dinner, warm calm beaches and hanging bridges through the jungle. The trick to a smooth family trip is keeping travel days short and comfortable, and not trying to see everything at once.
With kids, less is more. A relaxed 7–10 day trip with just two or three bases beats a rushed itinerary that changes hotels every night. A classic, kid-friendly combination is Arenal for the volcano and hot springs, then a beach like Manuel Antonio or Guanacaste to wind down. See a ready-made plan in our 7-day itinerary.
This is where a lot of family trips get stressful, and where a private transfer really pays off. Instead of squeezing everyone (and the luggage) into a rental and navigating unfamiliar roads, a private van takes you door to door on your own schedule.
When you're ready, check prices for your family's route on our route finder — one flat price per van, taxes and child seats included.
Private vans with free child seats, door-to-door, on your schedule.
