Best Places To Stay in Costa Rica with Kids

By Amie O’Shaughnessy
3 Min Read

Ready for an action-packed trip to Costa Rica with kids? You’ve come to the right place to plan your vacation — Costa Rica is one of our top travel planning destinations, and we love matching up our clients’ individual tastes and preferences with the perfect accommodations and activity providers. Some of our top picks are profiled below.

Where to Stay in Costa Rica with Kids

Your first trip planning stop should be our Costa Rica with kids page, where our accommodation recommendations and travel tips are all in one place. Here’s the short list of great family hotels in and around Costa Rica’s top family destinations:

the-springs-natural-hot-springs — Pools heated by Mother Nature at The Springs in Arenal are fantastic

Costa Rica Family Hotel Favorites

Grano De Oro | San Jose: This is one of Cayuga Collection’s jewels in San Jose. It’s in town and doesn’t have exceptional views, but it does have a charming interior in a historic Victorian mansion with a wonderful gourmet restaurant that is popular with locals and tourists alike.

The Springs Resort & Spa | Arenal: A full-service resort where families can engage in adventure activities without leaving the property. Families staying outside the property pay a day fee just to access Club Rio … that’s how much kids love to play here. That said, the word is out on The Springs and it is often fully booked. Let us help you sort out alternative dates or propose alternative options that are also family favorites in the area.

Tabacon Grand Thermal Spa Resort | Arenal: Like The Springs, the focus of this resort is their natural hot springs. It has fewer amenities geared just for families, but people love staying here too. This is another property that people can pay for a guest pass and just visit for the day, if you just want to experience the resort amenities.

Nayara Tented Camp | Arenal: If you’ve come to Costa Rica for true nature immersion, then this luxury camp is sure to impress. Tents built on stilts that overlook the lush tropical rainforest, a stay here is one for the memory books for sure. To further enhance this exceptional experience, we can offer exclusive perks to clients if the stay is booked through our agency.

Senda Monteverde | Monteverde: If you have the time to explore Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Senda Monteverde makes a wonderful base. It offers guests tons of boutique charm, and is tucked away in the mountains that you came all this way to see. Yet it is still walkable to town, making it quite convenient for local exploration.

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica | Payagayo: Ideal for those visiting Costa Rica with ample beach time as the focus of their trip, this luxury resort has access to two different beaches, plus all the wonderful amenities families have come to expect from the Four Seasons brand. Book through our agency to secure additional perks and savings.

Arenas Del Mar | Manuel Antonio: Arenas Del Mar is one of the few beachfront properties in Arenas Del Mar. If you can get a room with an ocean view and the pricing is in your budget, it’s worth staying here, although they have limited kids’ amenities. Our clients have raved about their stays here. The views and position of this hotel are stunning.

Los Altos | Manuel Antonio: Families that crave condo-style accommodation, with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and spacious dining/living areas rave about their stay at Los Altos. Another highlight is the gorgeous infinity pool that overlooks that ocean. Sunsets here are legendary. When rain showers pop up, kids love the game room on the ground floor.

Lapa Rios Ecolodge | Osa Peninsula: The Osa Peninsula is one of the world’s ecological gems and Lapa Rios, also part of the Cayuga Collection, is a treasure for families who want to experience a top ecolodge and surrounded by outrageous wildlife and engaging activities. It’s remote, but the tradeoff is the access to an authentic and immersive Costa Rica experience.

Need help planning a trip to costa rica with kids?

We love this country for families and can help book accommodations or connect you with our favorite, qualified tour operators

Editor’s Note: The Springs photo by Amie O’Shaughnessy. Amy Annis and Kiki Annis contributed to this article.

Relevant Links:

Costa Rica tips, advice and recommended family hotels

Why families love to vacation in Costa Rica

Best itinerary for a weeklong Costa Rica trip

Kensington Tours Kidtastic Costa Rica Adventure

The Springs Resort & Spa Tortuga Lodge & Gardens Tabacon Grand Thermal Spa Resort Si Como No Monteverde Lodge & Gardens Grano de Oro Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica Finca Rosa Blanca Arenas del Mar Lapa Rios Ecolodge Central America Preferred Family

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By Amie O’Shaughnessy

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2 Comments

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Mara says:

9 years ago at 9:24 am

Those all sound so lovely! But Finca Rosa Blanca sounds like my cup of tea or shall I say coffee. An Eco Lodge located on a coffee plantation. I’d say there is no better way to wake up in the morning but with the freshest coffee grown right there on property. Thank you for this great list. Definitely pinning it for a later date.

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