Activities & Experiences

Wherever your Costa Rica family adventure takes you, we’ll include some of our favourite local tours and experiences to help you make the most of your time. Our family team have picked these experiences specifically with kids in mind, and they’ve often tried them out with their own children too.

When planning your holiday, your travel specialist will talk you through the options and tailor the included activities to your family’s tastes, be that white water rafting or making tortillas!

Here are some of our favourite family experiences to give you an idea of what to expect.

One of Costa Rica’s most striking features, the Arenal Volcano is a must-see for many families and an awe-inspiring sight for kids. Lake Arenal lies at the foot of the volcano and its calm waters provide a great opportunity for activities. You’ll paddle around the shores with a local guide spotting iguanas and plenty of different bird species, as well as enjoying a picnic lunch on the banks of the lake. A wonderful way to spend a half day in La Fortuna.

Available as an add-on in our Footsteps on the Arenal Volcano bite-sized trip.

We love this lesser-known national park down on the south east coast, and it’s an ideal day out for the family during your Caribbean beach break. With your wildlife-obsessed local guide pointing out the various creatures in the forest (including sloths, capuchins and tropical frogs), you’ll walk the trail that heads through this beautiful little slice of nature. Older kids can also get their snorkels on to explore the colourful reef just off the coast.

Included in our Explore the Caribbean Coast bite-sized trip.

There’s plenty for families to do in laid-back Monteverde but we think this is the best possible way to see this stunning part of Costa Rica. Kids love exploring the hanging bridges that cut through the forest canopy,and a local wildlife guide will be there to help spot the different species. Adventurous kids can also go one step further and see it all at high speed with our zipline and sky gondola add-on.

Canopy walk is included in our Head in the Cloudforest bite-sized trip as standard, or you can choose the zipline and gondola add-on.

Sloths, monkeys, toucans and caimans, an incredible array of birdlife, turtles nesting and hatching on the coast… it’s all here in Tortuguero National Park! The boat ride to get to your jungle lodge is an adventure in itself, and during your stay you’ll set out with expert local guides to spot the amazing wildlife that calls this place home, both on jungle hikes and boat tours. This is truly a place where kids can’t get bored!

Jungle tours included as standard on our Wildlife & Waterways of Tortuguero bite-sized trip.

A farm tour may not sound like a big sell for kids, but this fun morning tour offers a brilliant insight into rural life in the highlands of Costa Rica… and pineapples are definitely more interesting than potatoes. You’ll be guided by a friendly local farmer called Don Rudolfo who’ll show you the surprising way pineapples grow, let you taste the fruit fresh from the farm, and can even take the family fishing!

Included in our Pit Stop in the Pineapple Fields bite-sized trip.

Surfers from around the world flock to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and this spot beside the friendly beach town of Samara is the perfect place for youngsters to have a go on the board. The waves here are often ideal for beginners – big enough but nothing scary – and with a professional local instructor they’ll pick up the basics before trying their new skills for real. It’s a great way to keep them busy while you finally make a start on that book you packed…

Included as standard on our Sand & Surf in Samara bite-sized trip.

If you’re a family of food lovers, adding a little cookery into your holiday is a great way to connect with Costa Rican culture and spend some time with the local people. Run from a community kitchen by a charming local guide named Dona Merian, you’ll learn to make that Latin classic – tortillas! From kneeding the dough to dipping your creations in delicious “natilla”, you’ll come away with a new skill and a full belly.

Included as standard in our Making tortillas in Turrialba bite-sized trip. Canyoning and rafting are also available here in Turrialba.

These are just a few examples of the activities we recommend for families in Costa Rica, but there’s more where these came from! Your travel specialist will be happy to talk you through the options so you can choose excursions that’ll be perfect for your kids.

Ready to start planning? Get in touch!