Is Costa Rica Good for Kids? Safety, Wildlife, Food & What Families Need to Know

Costa Rica regularly appears on lists of the world's best family travel destinations, but before booking our trip we still had plenty of questions.

Was it safe? Would children old enjoy the activities? Was the food child-friendly? Would the driving be difficult? And was Costa Rica really worth the cost compared to somewhere simpler like an all-inclusive resort in Mexico?

Quick Answer: Is Costa Rica Good for Kids?

Yes — especially for families with children who enjoy adventure, wildlife and being outdoors.

Costa Rica combines wildlife, beaches, waterfalls, rainforest, volcanoes and family-friendly activities in a way that few destinations can. It isn't quite as effortless as a traditional beach holiday, as there is some driving involved and many of the best experiences require a little walking, but the rewards are well worth it.

After spending 10 days in Costa Rica with our son Joshua our 7 year old, we came home convinced that Costa Rica is one of the best family destinations we've visited.

This guide covers everything parents typically want to know before booking, including:

• Whether Costa Rica is safe for families

• The best age to visit with children

• Food, accommodation and getting around

• What makes Costa Rica so family-friendly

• The challenges to be aware of

• How expensive Costa Rica really is

• The best places to visit with kids

Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places and services we'd genuinely use again as a family.

What Makes Costa Rica So Special for Kids?

For Joshua, it was the jungle and the wildlife.

In so many destinations, seeing animals means visiting a zoo, aquarium or organised attraction. In Costa Rica, the animals seem to come to you.

We spotted monkeys in the trees around our beach resort, watched tiny frogs hiding in the rainforest and constantly heard birds singing while exploring La Fortuna. Even when we weren't actively looking for wildlife, it felt like we were surrounded by it.

The rainforest experiences were also unlike anything we'd done before. Walking across the hanging bridges at Mistico, high above the forest floor, felt like stepping into a nature documentary. It was actually one of the main reasons we chose Costa Rica and it completely lived up to expectations.

Will Kids Actually Enjoy the Activities?

This was one of our biggest questions before visiting.

Costa Rica is often marketed as an adventure destination, but not every "family-friendly" activity is genuinely enjoyable for children. Fortunately, we found most of the experiences in La Fortuna struck a really good balance between being exciting enough for kids and manageable enough for parents.

One of our highlights was Mistico Hanging Bridges. Walking high above the rainforest canopy, listening to the sounds of the jungle and looking for wildlife felt like a proper adventure rather than a nature walk. Joshua loved crossing the bridges and never complained about the distance, which is always a good sign.

We also loved La Fortuna Waterfall. The combination of a dramatic waterfall, jungle surroundings and the opportunity to swim made it feel much more memorable than simply visiting a viewpoint. It was one of those experiences that felt uniquely Costa Rican and quickly became one of Joshua's favourite memories from the trip.

What I liked most was that Costa Rica encourages children to interact with nature rather than simply observe it. Whether it was spotting monkeys, crossing hanging bridges, swimming near waterfalls or exploring the rainforest, Joshua felt involved in the experience rather than dragged along by his parents.

If your children enjoy animals, swimming, exploring and being outdoors, I think they'll find Costa Rica a much more exciting destination than a traditional resort holiday.

If you're wondering what activities are genuinely worth prioritising, I'd start with Best Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids: 12 Family-Friendly Attractions, which covers everything we would recommend after visiting ourselves.

One Thing Joshua Still Talks About: The Hot Springs

If there's one thing Joshua still talks about from Costa Rica, it's the hot springs at Hotel Los Lagos.

We chose Hotel Los Lagos because it was affordable and close to the main attractions in La Fortuna, but it ended up being much more than just a place to sleep. After busy mornings exploring waterfalls, wildlife and the hanging bridges, we'd spend hours relaxing in the hot springs, swimming in the pools and racing down the slides.

For Joshua, the highlights were the waterslides and pineapple mocktails from the swim-up bar. For us, it was sitting in the warm water with views of Arenal Volcano in the distance.

It's one of the reasons I always recommend families consider a hot springs hotel in La Fortuna. The hot springs became part of the experience rather than just another hotel facility, and some of our favourite Costa Rica memories were made there.

If you're planning a stay in La Fortuna, read Hotel Los Lagos La Fortuna Review to see why it became one of the highlights of our trip.

What Age Is Best for Costa Rica?

Looking back, 7 felt like a fantastic age. Joshua could manage the walks, understood what was happening around him and was genuinely interested in the wildlife.

I think the destination becomes easier and more rewarding once children reach school age because so many of the experiences are interactive. They aren't simply looking at things — they're crossing hanging bridges, spotting wildlife, swimming near waterfalls and exploring the rainforest.

Teenagers would probably love Costa Rica even more because activities such as zip lining, rafting and adventure tours become more accessible.

Toddlers can certainly visit, but I think it requires a much more relaxed approach and fewer destination changes. They will not be able to do all the activities in La Fortuna.

Is Costa Rica Safe for Families?

This was one of my biggest questions before booking, and after researching and travelling there ourselves, it turned out to be far less of a concern than I'd expected.

Costa Rica is generally considered one of the safest countries in Central America for tourists, and throughout our trip we felt comfortable travelling independently as a family. We hired a car, explored La Fortuna on our own and stayed in both rainforest and beach locations without ever feeling unsafe.

The biggest risks weren't people — they were nature. Strong currents near waterfalls, rougher seas on some beaches, tropical downpours and wildlife all require a bit of common sense and supervision, particularly with children. We were also careful driving during rainy season and always respected barriers and safety advice around attractions.

Like anywhere, sensible travel precautions still apply. Keep an eye on valuables, use insect repellent, supervise children around water and avoid taking unnecessary risks in nature.

Driving was one area I was initially concerned about, but we found it much easier than expected. While roads can be slower, bumpier and more winding than in the UK, having a hire car gave us the flexibility to explore at our own pace. For our full experience, see Driving in Costa Rica with Kids

Overall, Costa Rica felt safer than many large cities we've visited. Most days were spent exploring waterfalls, rainforest trails, hot springs and beaches rather than navigating busy urban areas, which made it feel like a very comfortable destination for families.

Is Costa Rica Expensive?

Honestly? Not as expensive as I'd been led to believe.

Before travelling, I'd heard people describe Costa Rica as the most expensive country in Central America. While that's probably true, it didn't feel outrageously expensive to us.

Flights were by far the biggest cost, particularly because direct UK options aren't always available year-round. We actually reached Costa Rica as part of a larger USA trip, flying in from Denver after a road trip through Colorado and South Dakota.

Once we arrived, though, things felt far more reasonable.

For the full breakdown, see How Much Does Costa Rica Cost for a Family? .

What About the Food?

This was another concern before we travelled, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary. Joshua managed perfectly well throughout the trip and we never struggled to find something he would eat. While Costa Rica has its own local cuisine, most restaurants also cater well for families, with familiar options such as chicken and chips, pasta, pizza, burgers and rice dishes widely available. If your child is a relatively confident eater, they'll have plenty of choice.

What surprised me was how much we enjoyed the local food ourselves. Costa Rican meals often revolve around rice, beans, chicken, beef and fresh tropical fruit, which are all fairly child-friendly ingredients. Joshua was happy with simple meals while we enjoyed trying more local dishes, meaning nobody ever felt like they were compromising. Food was also less expensive than we'd expected, particularly outside of the more tourist-focused resorts, making eating out as a family easy and affordable throughout the trip.

Should You Explore Costa Rica or Just Stay at a Beach Resort?

Before visiting Costa Rica, I can completely understand why some families choose to stay at a beach resort for their entire trip. After all, the beaches are beautiful, the weather is warm and resorts such as Planet Hollywood Costa Rica make family travel incredibly easy.

However, having experienced both sides of Costa Rica, I think it would be a real shame to visit and never leave the resort.

For us, the magic of Costa Rica was in La Fortuna. Walking through the rainforest canopy at Mistico Hanging Bridges, swimming at La Fortuna Waterfall, spotting wildlife and relaxing in volcanic hot springs gave us experiences that felt completely different from any beach holiday we've taken before.

If you're unsure whether it's worth adding to your itinerary, read Is La Fortuna Worth Visiting with Kids? where I share why it ended up being our favourite part of the trip.

That said, we also loved having time to slow down afterwards. We spent a week at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica, enjoying the pools, beach, kids' club and all-inclusive convenience. If you're considering it as your beach base, read Planet Hollywood Costa Rica Review for our full experience.

Looking back, I think Costa Rica works best when you combine the two. A few days inland exploring volcanoes, waterfalls and rainforest, followed by a few days on the coast relaxing by the pool, gives you the best of both worlds.

If you're still deciding where to stay on the coast, Where to Stay on the Beach in Costa Rica with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Areas compares the main beach destinations and family-friendly resorts to help you find the right fit.

For us, that balance between adventure and relaxation, or trip and holiday, is exactly what made Costa Rica so memorable.

Our Honest Verdict: Is Costa Rica Good for Kids?

Without question, yes.

Would we go back? Absolutely.

Costa Rica managed to be both an adventure and a family holiday at the same time, which is something very few destinations achieve. One day we were walking through the rainforest canopy at Mistico Hanging Bridges, listening to the sounds of the jungle and spotting wildlife. A few days later we were relaxing in hot springs beneath a volcano before finishing the trip on the beach watching monkeys in the trees.

It's not the easiest destination we've ever visited, and it isn't the cheapest. There is some driving involved, the weather can be unpredictable during the summer holidays and you need to be prepared to get outdoors rather than spend every day by the pool. But for us, that's exactly what made it so memorable.

The moments we still talk about aren't the flights or the hotel rooms. They're the monkeys Joshua spotted around Planet Hollywood Costa Rica, the pineapple mocktails in the hot springs at Los Lagos, swimming near La Fortuna Waterfall, and crossing the hanging bridges high above the rainforest.

For families who enjoy nature, wildlife and a little adventure, I genuinely think Costa Rica is one of the best trips you can take with kids.

FAQs: Visiting Costa Rica with Kids

Is Costa Rica good for children?

Yes, particularly for school-aged children who enjoy animals, nature and outdoor activities. Costa Rica offers wildlife, waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs and beaches, making it far more varied than a typical beach holiday.

Our favourite experiences included Mistico Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, the hot springs at Los Lagos and spotting monkeys around the beach resorts. If you're wondering which activities are genuinely worth prioritising, see Best Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids, where I break down the experiences we enjoyed most as a family.

Is Costa Rica safe for kids?

We felt very safe throughout our trip. The biggest risks were usually nature-related rather than people-related, such as strong currents, wildlife and tropical weather. With normal travel precautions and sensible supervision around water and wildlife, we found Costa Rica a very family-friendly destination.

What is the best age to visit Costa Rica with kids?

I think Costa Rica is at its best for children aged 6 and above. Joshua was 7 when we visited and it felt like the perfect age to enjoy the wildlife, waterfalls, hanging bridges and hot springs.

For more on La Fortuna specifically, see Is La Fortuna Worth Visiting with Kids?

Is Costa Rica expensive for families?

It was less expensive than we expected. Flights were the biggest cost, but food, accommodation and activities were generally comparable to UK prices. Our stay at Hotel Los Lagos offered excellent value, while activities such as Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall felt reasonably priced for the experience.

See How Much Does Costa Rica Cost for a Family? for our actual spending.

Should I stay at the beach or explore inland with kids?

Ideally both. The combination of La Fortuna and the beach gave us the best balance of adventure and relaxation. We explored waterfalls, wildlife and hot springs inland before finishing the trip with a more traditional beach resort stay.

If you're planning your route, see: How to Plan a Costa Rica Family Trip: Our La Fortuna & Beach Route.

plan your TRIP TO costa rica

If you’re planning your family trip to La Fortuna, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.