Costa Rica is hands-down one of the best family destinations in Latin America. Safe, English widely spoken in tourist zones, no malaria, short flight from the US and Canada, and the kind of nature that makes kids put their phones down. We move families with kids every week, and after a few hundred of these trips we've learned what works and what doesn't.
Here's the practical guide we wish more families had before they came.
Car seats and child seats — the rules
Costa Rica law requires car seats for children up to 12 years old or 1.45 meters tall. The rules are strict:
- 0–1 years: rear-facing infant car seat
- 1–4 years: forward-facing convertible seat
- 4–12 years (or up to 1.45m): booster seat
Most travelers don't bring car seats from home — that's smart. Every legitimate private shuttle company in Costa Rica provides free child seats on request (we do — infant, convertible, and booster, no charge). When you book, tell the operator the age and weight of each child and they'll have the right seats waiting.
Rental cars charge $5–15/day per car seat. Adds up fast for a 10-day trip.
Best destinations for families with kids
After years of doing family transfers, our ranking:
La Fortuna (Arenal area) — The #1 destination for families with younger kids. Hot springs that even toddlers love (Tabacón and Baldí have shallow pools), gentle nature walks at Mistico Park, the Arenal Volcano view from anywhere, and tons of family-run hotels with pools. Easy to get around once you're there.
Manuel Antonio — Beach + national park + sloths. Hard to beat for kids 4+. Walk the park trails, see monkeys and sloths up close (it's almost guaranteed), then beach in the afternoon. Hotels along the road are very family-oriented.
Tamarindo / Playa Grande — Best for families that want a beach-base vacation. Surf lessons for kids 6+, calm beaches at low tide, lots of restaurants. Less "adventure" than La Fortuna but great if you have toddlers.
Monteverde — Cloud forest, hanging bridges, zip lining for kids 8+. The kid-friendly version of the cloud forest experience. Roads to get there are bumpy — not great with carsickness-prone kids.
Skip for young kids: Tortuguero (long boat ride to get there, primitive accommodations), Drake Bay (similar logistics), Nicoya Peninsula far-south beaches (long drives on rough roads).
Routes that work well with kids
The transfers your kids will tolerate (and the ones they won't):
Kid-friendly transfers (under 3 hours, mostly paved):
- SJO to La Fortuna (3h, paved highway + mountain road)
- LIR to Tamarindo (1h15min, all paved highway)
- LIR to La Fortuna (3h, mostly paved)
- San José city to nearby attractions (1–2h)
Harder transfers with kids (mountains, longer):
- La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio (4–5h)
- La Fortuna to Monteverde (3.5h, includes bumpy section)
- Anywhere to/from Drake Bay or Puerto Viejo (5+ hours)
For longer transfers, our drivers usually recommend a snack/bathroom stop at a Soda (Costa Rican family restaurant) along the way. Mention it when you book — we know which ones are clean and quick.
What to pack for kids
- Reef-safe sunscreen — sold in CR but pricier ($20+ for a small tube). Bring SPF 50 from home.
- Mosquito repellent with DEET or picaridin — buy here, $5 a bottle, works better than what you bring.
- Swim diapers for under-3s — hard to find outside San José.
- Light long sleeves for evenings — cooler in La Fortuna and Monteverde at night.
- Rain jacket — even in dry season, La Fortuna gets afternoon showers.
- Snacks your kid actually eats — Costa Rican kid food is great but unfamiliar (gallo pinto, casados). Bring familiar snacks for the first 2 days.
- Tylenol/Motrin — sold here but in different doses/brands. Easier to bring your own.
Hotels we recommend for families
Some places we send families to repeatedly:
- Tabacón Thermal Resort (La Fortuna) — Hot springs included, kid pool, on-site activities.
- Nayara Tented Camp (La Fortuna) — More upscale, but the tented suites are amazing for kids.
- Si Como No (Manuel Antonio) — Family suites, kid pool, walking distance to the park.
- Tamarindo Diria — Big pool, on the beach, kid programs.
(All of these are searchable in our booking system — type the hotel name and the pickup location auto-fills.)
What we wish parents knew
Three things we tell every family booking:
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You'll be slower than you think. Costa Rica adds 30 minutes to every plan with kids. Don't pack 3 destinations into a week. 2 destinations + 1 transit day = a great trip.
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The food is family-friendly. Rice and beans (gallo pinto), plantains, chicken, fresh fruit. Spice is mild. Even picky kids do well.
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Tap water is fine to drink in most tourist areas (San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo). Don't waste money on bottled water unless you're going to remote areas.
Booking your transfers
When you book a shuttle with us, in the notes section tell us:
- Ages and approximate weights of each child
- Whether you need infant, convertible, or booster seats
- Any flight number for arrival tracking
- Hotel name (autofills the pickup address)
We bring exactly what your kids need, free of charge, every time.