Welcome to Costa Rica, a destination that turns family vacations into living biology lessons. Known for its peace-loving culture and immense biodiversity, this nation offers a safe and accessible introduction to the tropics. Whether you are hiking around a volcano or relaxing on a golden beach, the welcoming Pura Vida (pure life) spirit makes families feel instantly at home.
The landscape is a dramatic mix of misty cloud forests, active volcanoes, and two distinct coastlines. In La Fortuna, families can marvel at the perfect cone of the Arenal Volcano before relaxing in natural hot springs-a hit with children of all ages. For a cooler climate, the Monteverde Cloud Forest offers mystical trails and famous hanging bridges that allow you to walk through the canopy, eye-to-eye with toucans, orchids, and blue morpho butterflies.
Wildlife encounters here are frequent and often require nothing more than a keen eye. Manuel Antonio National Park is a favourite for families, combining easy walking trails with beautiful beaches; here, capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths, and iguanas are commonly spotted right from the path. On the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero offers boat-based safaris where you might see caimans and river otters, and in season, nesting sea turtles.
Adrenaline-seeking families will find plenty to do. Costa Rica is the birthplace of the canopy tour, and safe, well-guided ziplines are available for most ages. Surfing is another highlight, with towns like Tamarindo and Samara providing gentle breaks perfect for beginners. For a calmer day, chocolate tours explain the journey from cacao bean to bar, often ending with a sweet tasting session that kids adore.
Traveling in Costa Rica is generally safe, but standard precautions apply. While tap water is often drinkable in major areas, bottled water is recommended for sensitive stomachs. Roads can be winding and occasionally unpaved, so allow extra travel time. Be aware of rip currents on beaches and always ask locals about swimming conditions. Petty theft can happen, so keep valuables secure, but violent crime against tourists is rare. The US Dollar is widely accepted alongside the Costa Rican Colón, making transactions easy for international visitors.
Explore Regions
7 Regions
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Volcanic adventures and hot spring fun 🌋💦
Caribbean Coast (Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo)
Wildlife canals and turquoise Caribbean shores 🐢🌴
Central Pacific (Manuel Antonio)
Monkeys, sloths, and safe swimming beaches 🐒🏖️
Guanacaste & Nicoya (Pacific northwest)
Sun-soaked beaches and cowboy culture ☀️🤠
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Misty forests and canopy adventures ☁️🍃
Osa Peninsula & Southern Pacific
Wild nature and majestic whale watching 🐋🌿
San José & Central Valley
Volcano craters and cultural discovery 🏛️🌋
Click on a region marker to explore details. Use the dropdown to color regions by activity suitability.
Activities & Best Times
Adventure & Nature
ExcellentHiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
A globally iconic destination for volcano trekking and rainforest exploration, offering unparalleled biodiversity including sloths, toucans, and monkeys. Peak months provide the dry weather necessary for clear volcano views and safe trail conditions; off-season rainfall often exceeds 350mm, significantly impacting visibility and trail accessibility for families.
Home to Corcovado National Park, this region offers world-class biodiversity and raw wilderness experiences that are globally peerless. Peak months provide the manageable humidity and dry trails required for deep jungle exploration, while the extreme rainfall from May to November creates challenging logistics and limited wildlife visibility.
Tortuguero is globally unique as the 'Amazon of Central America,' offering world-class jungle canal navigation and unparalleled biodiversity. Peak conditions occur in March during the brief window of lower rainfall (203mm), while extreme precipitation in late year (446mm) can limit trail access and wildlife visibility.
Relaxation & Wellness
ExcellentSpa retreats, wellness centers, peaceful getaways
Home to world-class volcanic hot springs and ultra-luxury eco-resorts that set the global benchmark for rainforest wellness. The drier months are peak for outdoor lounging, while shoulder months offer a unique, authentic experience of bathing in thermal waters during tropical showers; the late rainy season can be too humid and disruptive for high-end relaxation.
A globally recognized 'Blue Zone' with world-class wellness infrastructure in Nosara and high-end spa retreats. The low humidity and dry weather of Jan-Apr are ideal for outdoor yoga and meditation, while the intense heat and humidity of the peak wet season are less conducive to relaxation.
Boasts some of the world's most acclaimed eco-luxury lodges, providing high-end wellness retreats focused on 'nature immersion.' Peak conditions offer lower humidity ideal for open-air yoga and spa treatments, whereas the intense humidity and 500mm+ monthly rainfall in the wet season can be oppressive for relaxation.
Beach & Sea
ExcellentBeach resorts, marine activities: diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, wind surfing, sailing
Home to the ultra-exclusive Papagayo Peninsula and world-renowned surf breaks like Witch's Rock. The dry season (Dec-Apr) provides the crystal-clear visibility and offshore winds required for world-class diving and surfing, while the heavy rains of May-Oct significantly degrade sea conditions.
Offers stunning, secluded tropical beaches and exceptional snorkeling at Caño Island Biological Reserve. Best visibility and calmest seas occur during the driest months (Jan-Feb); heavy seasonal rains from April onward cause significant river runoff, degrading water clarity for diving and snorkeling.
The region features authentic Afro-Caribbean culture and world-class surf breaks like Salsa Brava, standing out for its soulful character. High year-round rainfall prevents an 'excellent' rating compared to the Maldives, as even the driest month exceeds 200mm, necessitating travel during the February–April window for sea clarity.
Educational & Exploratory
Very GoodLearning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
A living laboratory for conservation, offering families unique access to biological research stations and expert-led ecology tours. The dry season (Jan-Mar) is optimal for interactive field experiences, as extreme monsoon-level precipitation in the off-season limits access to remote research sites.
Home to world-leading coffee research facilities and plantation tours that explain the global bean-to-cup process with high authenticity. The driest months align with the tail end of the harvest and offer the best conditions for outdoor learning, while the off-season rainfall impacts accessibility to research sites.
Offers world-leading sea turtle conservation programs that provide profound learning experiences for sophisticated families. Seasonality is driven by biological nesting cycles (July–September) rather than weather, as these months offer the highest probability of witnessing rare nesting and hatching events.
Sports & Active
Very GoodSport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
Arenal's adventure sports (ziplining, rafting, canyoning) are commercially excellent but are operated experiences rather than world-class sporting venues. Compared to global adventure sport capitals (Queenstown NZ, Interlaken Switzerland, Chamonix), the scale and variety are strong but not at the absolute pinnacle. 'Very_good' accurately reflects its Central American leadership without overclaiming globally.
Offers world-class golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and exceptional deep-sea fishing. Dry season conditions ensure firm fairways and calm seas, while the monsoon-like rainfall in September and October makes most outdoor high-performance sports difficult.
Exceptional for kayaking through dense jungle canals and high-performance surfing in Puerto Viejo. Activities are best during the 'mini-summer' months when rainfall is lowest and sea conditions are more predictable for active exploration.
Road Trips & Scenic
GoodScenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
The scenic drive around Lake Arenal provides breathtaking views of the volcano and rolling hills on well-maintained roads suitable for international travelers. Peak visibility and safety are best during the dry months; the off-season is marked by heavy fog and torrential rain that obscures the landscape and creates challenging driving conditions.
Spectacular coastal routes and rugged interior landscapes offer an authentic sense of exploration. Travel is best during the driest months when unpaved roads to hidden coves are passable; the wet season brings significant road hazards and river crossings that challenge even experienced drivers.
Offers scenic drives through rolling coffee highlands and up steep volcanic ascents with generally reliable infrastructure. Peak visibility is essential for the famous crater views, which are frequently obscured by dense fog and heavy rain during the long off-season.
City & Cultural
GoodUrban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
As the nation's cultural heart, it features sophisticated landmarks like the National Theater and unique Pre-Columbian Gold and Jade museums. Exploration is best during the 'eternal spring' of the dry season, whereas the intense monsoon rain from May to November makes urban walking tours difficult.
Liberia offers some colonial architecture and authentic local markets, providing a cultural touchpoint for travelers. While charming and authentic, it lacks the world-class museum infrastructure or historical scale of major global cultural capitals, serving better as a brief cultural stop than a primary destination.
Puerto Viejo offers a genuine Afro-Caribbean cultural experience through its unique gastronomy and music. This is a rural cultural immersion rather than an urban one, reaching its peak during the October celebrations when local traditions are most visible.
Festivals & Seasonal
GoodEvents, celebrations, seasonal attractions
Features authentic 'Sabanero' cowboy culture through the Fiestas Civicas in Jan/Feb and the Annexation of Guanacaste Day in July. These events offer a genuine glimpse into regional heritage, though the July celebrations often contend with seasonal rains.
The Limón Carnival in October is a vibrant, authentic display of Afro-Caribbean culture that is unique in the region. The season is primarily defined by this event and the turtle nesting window, with few internationally significant festivals occurring during the rest of the year.
Authentic local celebrations include the Oxcart Parade in March and festive year-end events in December. While charming and culturally significant for families, the events are regional in scale compared to major global festivals.
Theme Park & Entertainment
GoodAmusement parks, family entertainment venues
Major adventure parks like Selvatura and Sky Trek provide world-class, internationally recognized eco-entertainment facilities. Peak conditions occur when visibility is highest and wind is lowest (Jan-Apr), while the extreme humidity and rain of Sep-Oct detract from the high-altitude thrill experience.
The Museo de los Niños (Children's Museum) is an internationally recognized interactive venue for kids, though the region lacks larger-scale theme parks. It is a reliable year-round indoor facility, though the surrounding city exploration is best during the dry season.
Airports & Flight Routes
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Climate & Weather
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
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Caribbean Coast (Tortuguero, Puerto Viejo)
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Central Pacific (Manuel Antonio)
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Guanacaste & Nicoya (Pacific northwest)
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Monteverde Cloud Forest
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Osa Peninsula & Southern Pacific
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Travel Advisory
The majority of global agencies recommend increased vigilance due to security concerns primarily related to crime.
Safety Topics
Traveller Advice (4 groups)
All visitors should avoid displaying signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry, to minimize the risk of being targeted for robbery.
Female travelers have reported sexual assaults, particularly in coastal beach towns like Puerto Viejo and Puerto Limon. It is strongly advised to avoid isolated areas and traveling alone after dark.
While generally welcoming, some agencies suggest confirming your gender identifier is recognized if using a non-binary passport, as systems may not always support it.
Older travelers should consider the health impact of volcanic ash if they have respiratory issues. Ensure comprehensive insurance covers medical evacuation for chronic conditions.