Costa Rica is a family travel paradise—offering rainforests filled with sloths and monkeys, steaming volcanoes, and sun-drenched beaches that beg for sandcastles and surfing. This itinerary combines your real-life experience with carefully curated ideas to help other families enjoy an unforgettable Costa Rica spring break adventure. Whether you’re tubing down jungle rivers, ziplining above the canopy, or horseback riding on the beach at sunset, this 9-day plan balances thrill and downtime for both kids and adults.
We’ve included tips on what to pack, cultural considerations, and how to get around—plus ideas for where to stay, what to eat, and a few things to know before you go. If you’re ready for natural beauty, Pura Vida spirit, and memory-making moments, let’s plan your Costa Rican escape.
- When to Visit
- Entry Requirements
- Get to Know Costa Rica
- 9-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for Families
- Travel Essentials & What to Pack
- Optional Winter Itinerary
- Summary
When to Visit
Costa Rica’s dry season, known as “verano,” runs from December to April and is ideal for families looking to enjoy sunny days and less rain. This makes spring break (mid-March to early April) a sweet spot for travel—perfect for wildlife viewing, beach days, and outdoor adventure.
Expect daytime highs between 80°F and 90°F, with cooler evenings in higher elevations like La Fortuna. The “green season” from May through November brings lush scenery and fewer crowds, but also frequent afternoon rain showers. For a different flavor, summer or winter holidays also work well, especially on the Pacific coast where rains are less intense.
Entry Requirements
U.S. citizens don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days in Costa Rica. However, your passport must be valid for at least one day beyond your departure date, and you’ll need proof of return or onward travel.
Travelers with prescription medications should bring them in original containers with your prescription label. Some medications that are common in the U.S. may be restricted or require special documentation.
Get to Know Costa Rica
Establishment & Politics:
Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 and has since become one of the most stable democracies in Central America. Known for its environmental conservation efforts, it leads the region in ecotourism and renewable energy.
Crime & Safety:
Petty theft can be an issue in tourist areas. Use hotel safes, avoid leaving valuables in rental cars, and be aware in crowded areas. Violent crime is rare in places like La Fortuna and Esterillos (mentioned in the itinerary).
Legal Considerations:
It’s illegal to remove natural artifacts (shells, rocks, etc.). Cannabis is decriminalized but not legal. Alcohol is legal at 18, and there are open container laws in public spaces.
Language:
Spanish is the official language. While many people in tourism speak English, it’s appreciated if you know basic greetings and phrases.
Culture & Customs:
Costa Ricans are warm, polite, and family-oriented. Greetings often include a handshake or light cheek kiss. “Pura Vida” is more than a phrase—it’s a way of life.
Sensitivities:
Avoid discussions around politics or economic inequality. Do not touch wildlife, and be respectful of natural spaces and protected areas.
Flights:
Direct flights to San José (SJO) and Liberia (LIR) are available from most U.S. hubs. Spring break flights book quickly—plan early for best fares. It is wise to visit travel boards Costa Rica Forum – Tripadvisor prior to your trip to ensure knowledge of any recent changes at airports.
Health & Medical:
Tap water is safe to drink in most areas, especially in La Fortuna and coastal towns. Pharmacies (farmacias) are well-stocked and pharmacists can often provide over-the-counter medications and advice. Emergency medical care is widely available in cities.
Family Culture:
Children are welcomed and adored in Costa Rica. Many restaurants and hotels are family-friendly, and locals go out of their way to help families traveling with kids.
Roads & Driving:
U.S. driver’s licenses are valid. Roads vary from well-paved highways to rugged gravel roads. Renting a 4×4 is advised, especially for rural areas. Waze is the most reliable navigation app. Ubers work in San José but not reliably elsewhere.
Getting Around:
Renting a car is the most flexible option for families. Private shuttles and group tours are also available, but often cost more for larger families.
Heating & Air Conditioning:
Most accommodations have A/C, but it’s not always central. Bring a portable fan if traveling to lower-budget lodgings.
Religion:
Catholicism is dominant, and many national holidays are based on the Christian calendar.
Holidays:
Semana Santa (Holy Week before Easter) is a peak travel time—expect busy beaches, closed government offices, and traffic.
Currency & Costs:
Costa Rican colón (CRC) is the official currency. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but it’s helpful to have colones for tips and small purchases. Avoid exchanging currency at the airport for best rates.
Tipping & Taxes:
A 10% service charge is usually included in restaurant bills. Additional tipping (5–10%) is appreciated for great service. Tour guides and drivers appreciate tips as well.
9-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for Families
Day 1: Travel & Overnight Near the Airport
This is your travel day. In our case, we left from Chiago (ORD) and flew into San José (SJO). It is not advised to travel outside of San Jose at night due to road conditions being challenging in the dark. If arriving late, rest up and grab a bite at a local soda (family-run Costa Rican diners) near the airport. As in most major cities, arriving after dark makes it difficult to get a handle on your relative position. Be sure to have clear directions for your accommodations to give to your taxi or Uber.
Recommended Stay: Casa María Aeropuerto B&B – For simple and cost effective option, just ten minutes from SJO airport, try Casa María. Our family of five stayed in two rooms. We enjoyed strong air conditioning, healthy wifi and a delicious breakfast of Gallo Pinto (a traditional bean, rice and egg breakfast) along with fresh breads, juices, and fruit.
Day 2: Drive to La Fortuna + Settle In
Renting a car is by far the easiest way to explore Costa Rica. Again, use travel groups to verify whether your route will be easy to navigate during the season in which you are visiting. I cannot recommend highly enough renting your vehicle from Costa Rica 4×4 Rentals. This service is run to benefit a pet shelter and the service and responsiveness is unbelievable. They delivered the vehicle to our hotel in the morning, went through all of the rules and car details with us and were available all along our journey for questions.
Drive 2.5-3 hours to La Fortuna. There are options to stop along the way for snacks, both packaged and homemade. Expect winding but scenic roads as you approach the Arenal Volcano.
Stay: Wellness Park Nature Reserve & Ecolodge – eco-friendly, family-focused, with nature trails and volcano views. Our visit to the La Fortuna area was made by our choice to stay at this hotel. Located about 30 minutes outside of town, this property is a wellness retreat with interesting unique places for individuals, couples and small families to stay.
What attracted us is the family bunk rooms the ownership group has added. We stayed in a brand new building with four double bunks along with an extra mattress for our youngest. Each bunk was equipped with charging ports. The room had two full bathrooms, a wet bar, and dining table. Our back porch had a few chairs and a beautiful view of Arenal Volcano.
The grounds here are an attraction themselves as well. We went on an adventurous hike to explore some creeks. These trails were fun to navigate with plenty of flora and fauna to observe.
After the drive, grabbing some groceries in town, getting settled in our room and exploring the grounds, we decided to visit El Novillo Steakhouse for dinner. This was a great choice as it’s only about 15 minutes from the hotel and right off of the highway. We enjoyed tasty steaks and pasta. Keep in mind Costa Rica time is a bit slower so plan to have some extra patience in restaurants with laid back service.
Day 3: Ziplining & Hot Springs
We loved waking up to all of the birds flying around to enjoy our coffee (in room coffee maker) on the back porch before going to breakfast. The included breakfast at Wellness Park was superb. We were able to choose between Gallo Pinto, Pancakes (the kids adored), and Avocado Toast with eggs. They served coffee, water, juice and gave the kids the option of chocolate milk. A great start to active days!
The staff at Wellness was over the top in accommodating us – answering questions, sharing advice, high quality service – even plucking and opening coconuts for the kids to drink. The grounds drew them in to explore a bit more this morning.
Morning: Zip through the rainforest canopy at Los Lagos Resort, where you’ll soar across seven lines, rappel down a cliff, and finish with time in their thermal pools. Not all of our party wanted to go on the zip lines and choosing Los Lagos made this work. It can be a bit confusing upon arrival as there is the primary resort entrance and a separate activities building entrance. Don’t go through the main gate; instead park at the building called Centro de Información Los Cañones. You can arrange your activities through your hotel or here directly, but likely will get a discount with the former.
From here, we were harnessed and traveled with a group to the zip lines. Those in our party not zip lining were able to drive into the resort, park, and see us off. They explored the grounds while we zipped through the jungle and eventually back over the resort. We chose a photo package and a photographer zips along with the group, allowing us to focus on the fun.
Afternoon: Soak at the resort’s hot springs as part of the ticket package. The hot springs are available to resort guests, but also can be purchased as a day pass. There are several pools of varying temperatures to try out. Some with loungers built in, jets, slides, etc. There is a variety of first come, first enjoy seating. There is also a bar that serves a full lunch menu here.
Before entering the hot spring area, you can utilize the bathroom/locker area and rental towels and locker space for a fee. These are also great after the hot springs to shower off and get changed.
For dinner this night, we visited the Blue Hibiscus at Lost Iguana Resort, located just a few minutes from our hotel. This open air restaurant is also pool side. You will find a mix of couples and families enjoying the restaurant.
The loma with polenta and Cuban sandwich we ordered here was along our favorite dishes we enjoyed in Costa Rica. The grounds of the property are also quite beautiful and made for an enjoyable visit.
Day 4: Sloths, Tubing & Natural Springs
Morning: Guided Sloth Territory tour (family-friendly and great for photography) – We chose Sloth Territory after some research. Located about 40 minutes from the resort and suggested reservations in advance, Sloth Territory is a wildlife refuge rather than a zoo or tourist exhibit. You will see many places advertising sloth, but here the guides expertly take you to view the sloth verses requiring the sloths to move within the attraction’s space.
We were on a tour with one other family of five and our guide. We walked on paved trails and used a long range telescope to spot the sloths. Our guide used our phones to record photos and video of the sloths which educating us on the environment, animals, and Costa Rican culture. We finished our two hour tour with a watermelon snack before heading out. The property does has a small gift shop where you can grab hats, sunscreen, etc. Close toed shoes are required for this tour.
For lunch, we came back into La Fortuna to eat at Restaurante Travesía. This spot has great reviews and thus attracts a diverse variety of tourists. The food is good, service is great, and is worth a visit.
Afternoon: After a stop back to the resort to change, our afternoon included river tubing. Our tour was booked through Montaña de Fuego resort. There was a meeting place along the highway (versus at the resort) where we left our car and got on a trailer with benches. You don’t really bring any belongings as there is nowhere to put them.
The vehicle takes everyone to a spot where we collected our intertubes and walked down a steep hill. There was an error with our reservation so we ended up just the five of us with three guides. This was a fun experience that I am glad to have done, but I do not recommend this for anyone who is uncomfortable with the idea of flipping out of the tube as the water is in charge. Helmets are essential as you can easily hit a rock and may have some bumps and bruises if you do. The whole experience is about an hour.
Our family celebrated our completion by stopping for ice cream at a road side spot called Coffee Time. The kids claimed this is some of the best ice cream they have ever enjoyed. Adults had coffees and we ordered pizzas for take away dinner.
Day 5: Drive to the Pacific Coast
After a final breakfast, begin your 4-hour drive west to the Pacific Coast. Stop at a roadside soda or stretch your legs at a local fruit stand. One especially unique stop is the Crocodile Bridge near Jaco on the Tarcoles River. You will find some giant crocodiles basking in the sun and if it’s a busy time of year, many other tourists doing the same. Don’t bother paying for parking, just find a spot along the road to squeeze in. There are restaurants and souvenirs at this stop, but it’s overpriced so maybe not worth your time.
We chose to stay in Esterillos Este, a very quiet area that still filled with Ticos (Costa Rican people). Homes on the beach are vacation homes, but not priced out of the market for Costa Ricans. Esterillos is made up of three smaller communities – Este, Oeste and Centro. As you travel the Pacific highway, there are several communities. Jaco is known for the condos and traditional beach community vibes. As you move further East toward Manuel Antonio National Park (a popular attraction), there are communities of varying sizes. Or if you prefer there are many rentals up in the jungles above these beach communities.
We chose to stop at Herradura Beach on our way for an afternoon meal on the beach. Coco’s Beachfront is a great introduction to this beach portion of your trip.
We chose to stay at Villa Tenga Paz through Vacation Pura Vida. Communication with this host was fine. The house was nice, by the beach, and easy access to amenities of nearby communities. One consideration for rentals in Costa Rica is open air portions of the home as you can expect bug and lizards to make their way under doors, etc. Of course, there are fully air-conditioned options as well. After a long day of driving, we settled in and enjoyed a nighttime swim in our pool.
Day 6: Horseback Riding on the Beach
We enjoyed a slow day on this part of our trip, but there are many different activities to choose from in this area.
Morning: Ride horses through the surf and enjoy sweeping coastal views. Here is an option right on the beaches of Esterillos, which are quiet and calm.
If you’re cooking at your rental or just needing supplies, the Good Market, was well stocked and only about five minutes away.
Afternoon: Relax by the pool or hit the beach. We chose to take in the sun and splash around at home.
Evening: After a relaxing afternoon, we ventured over to Don Toro for dinner. Don Toro is a unique restaurant right on the beach. Tables are spread out and under a canopy of trees. There are lights strung and kids running around.
Day 7: Mangrove Safari & Local Flavor
Morning: Take a mangrove boat or kayak tour in Isla Damas or Quepos to spot monkeys, crocs, and birds.
Afternoon: Visit Esterillos Oeste for to inspect the tide pools. Grab a meal from Soda Margarita, a rustic little spot just off the beach.
Evening: Cook in or dine at La Sirena for sunset views.
Dinner at Alma del Pacifico or pizza at El Manà.
Day 8: Choose Your Final Adventure
Choose from:
- ATV or Side-by-Side jungle tour – This was our selection. Because we are five people, we required two side by sides. It was a fun way to see more local areas and take a dip in a refreshing pool with a waterfall.
- Tortuga Island boat day (snorkeling, whale watching, beach picnic)
- Guided Rainmaker Trail hike with hanging bridges and waterfalls
- Chocolate or Coffee tour for the whole family
Day 9: Return to San José
Drive back to San José with time for a scenic stop or final lunch. Return your rental car and prepare for your flight home. If you choose to work with Costa Rica 4×4, they will arrange to meet you at the airport to collect the car making the transition easy.
Travel Essentials
4×4 Rental Car
Highly recommended for La Fortuna, Monteverde, and coastal areas with unpaved roads. We used Costa Rica 4×4 for door-to-door service and great communication.
Download Waze or Offline Maps
Waze works best in Costa Rica—download maps ahead in case of spotty service.
Pack Light, Breathable Clothes + Swimwear
Stick to moisture-wicking, quick-dry fabrics. You’ll want layers for cool mornings in La Fortuna and light options for beach days.
- Quick-Dry Travel Shirts (Men)
- Quick-Dry Travel Dresses (Women)
- Packable Rash Guard Set for Kids
- Roll-Up Travel Compression Bags (No Vacuum Needed) – Great for dirty or wet clothes too.
Water Shoes, Hiking Sandals, or Sneakers
Bring shoes that can handle river crossings, muddy trails, and beach walking.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen, Bug Spray & Reusable Water Bottles
Protect your skin and Costa Rica’s marine ecosystems.
- Thinksport SPF 50+ Reef-Safe Sunscreen
- OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent Wipes – Wipes are TSA-friendly and easy to pack.
- Hydro Flask Kids Water Bottle with Straw Lid
- Collapsible Water Bottles – Set of 2
A Dry Bag for Wet Clothes or Phones on Tours
Great for tubing, kayaking, or beach days. Look for ones with shoulder straps for ease.
- Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag – Multiple Sizes
- Floating Waterproof Phone Case – 2 Pack – A must for tubing and waterfalls.
Winter Bonus: An Alternative Itinerary
Visiting in December or January? You might swap coastal beach days for time in the cloud forests of Monteverde, where dry season delivers crisp mornings, ziplines through the mist, and a magical feel the kids won’t forget.
Summary
Costa Rica offers families the kind of travel that leaves a mark: real connection, outdoor adventure, and just enough comfort to make it easy. With this 9-day plan, you’ll get the best of rainforest and beach—plus the time to slow down and soak in the “Pura Vida” spirit. Whether it’s spotting sloths in La Fortuna or galloping along the Pacific shore, every day in Costa Rica brings something new to discover together.