We travelled from the UK to Costa Rica for 10 days with our 17 month old and this is what we got up to...
Costa Rica is in Central America. It is a small and vibrant country with friendly locals and so much to see from wildlife to nature to thrilling activities. The landscape changes as you travel around the country and so does the weather. It is advised to pack clothes for all eventualities from bikinis to wellies.
We followed the typical tourist trail and spoke to a local on our flight who confirmed this is a great place to start. The most popular destinations for tourists to visit in Costa Rica are:
San Jose
Manual Antonio
Monteverde
La Fortuna/Arenal
Tortuguero
Jaco
We missed out Tortuguero and Jaco in our itinerary due to lack of time and also because one the best things to see in Tortuguero are the baby turtles hatching on the beach but the time to see this is between April and October (we visited in December). We did meet a couple when we were in Costa Rica however who absolutely loved Tortuguero despite it not being baby turtle season.
The flight from London to Costa Rica was over 11 hours which was long and challenging travelling with our toddler (we'll talk more about this on our family travel page). Our first stop of the trip was San Jose.
San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and on many itineraries we looked at, many people land in San Jose and either leave straight away or only stay one night before travelling elsewhere in Costa Rica. However, given we were travelling with our toddler we thought it would be sensible to give ourselves a little more time to acclimitise so we stayed for two nights.
Where to stay
We stayed at Buena Vista Chic hotel which is a short 10km distance from San Jose airport. You will climb into the hills providing a beautiful view across the city and it really feels like an escape and your first taste of the Costa Rican tropical climate. Buena Vista offer free shuttles to and from the airport so your driver will be waiting for you as you leave the arrivals terminal.
Buena Vista offer a range of rooms from king size rooms to luxury villas. We stayed in a villa which had two large king size beds, plenty of space for a baby cot, a living area, refrigerator, TV and a balcony overlooking the mountains, valley and city.
There is a restaurant on site offering a great selection of breakfast options which are cooked to order and you will also be provided with fruit, warm toast and fresh coffee. The restaurant also serves dinner and you can enjoy a happy hour drink from the bar around the swimming pool.
We were extremely impressed by the luxury feel of this hotel and how we were immediately immersed into the Costa Rican lifestyle. We definitely did not feel as though we were staying in a city hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating and we would definitely recommend this hotel if you are flying in or out of San Jose.
What to do
There are a number of things to do in San Jose but the four main things are:
Exploring the city centre attractions, museums and restaurants
Visiting a coffee farm
Visiting Poas volcano
Visiting La Paz waterfall walk
Manuel Antonio
Manual Antonio is the coastal part of Costa Rica offering the best weather and stunning beaches. It is also one of the best places to see wildlife. It was our favourite destination of our trip to Costa Rica and although some itineries exclude a stop here (due to the distance from San Jose which is a 3-4 hour drive), we would recommend visiting.
Where to stay
We stayed at an extremely family friendly resort hotel, Parador which is located at Quepos Point. Parador has a kids playroom which is gift sent from heaven when you are travelling with a toddler like we were. The playroom was packed with toys, a slide and plenty to entertain your little ones. It was also empty everytime we visited so our daughter had the place to herself. It does frequently rain in Manuel Antonio (usually only short, warm showers) but again the playroom was extremely handy to shelter from the rain.
Parador also has a kids pool which is always shaded so you don't have to worry about your little one getting sunburnt. There is also a buffet style breakfast, a number of restaurants on-site and lots of wildlife around. We saw some beautiful tropical birds like the scarlett Macaw and lots of monkeys playing in the trees.
What to do
Manuel Antonio National Park
Quepos farmers market
Playa Biesanz and other beaches
What to eat
El Patio de Café Milagro – great craft beers, food and coffee you can take as a souvenir.
El Avión – the famous restaurant which has a plane outside is great for meat lovers
En Todas is a repurposed school bus that evolved into Manuel Antonio’s most beloved beach-adjacent restaurant
Soda El Angel – sodas and fresh fruit smoothies
Monteverde
Monteverde is the home of the famous cloud forests and you will climb the windy, bumpy roads to reach this area of Costa Rica. It is particularly well known for its wildlife such as the endangered Quetzal bird and it's ecotourism. The roads are FULL of potholes so beware that you will have a bumpy ride! The weather is also temperamental in Monteverde with strong winds, misty conditions and lots of rain so come prepared with a waterproof and hiking boots.
Where to stay
We stayed at Hotel Heliconia which is in the heart of Monteverde. The rooms are chalet-style wooden rooms which is perfect for its mountainous location. The hotel is right in the centre of Monteverde but sits above the town meaning you have shops and restaurants right on your doorstep whilst feeling as though you are escaping the hustle and bustle.
As the hotel is located above the centre, the views from the hotel grounds are spectacular and offer the perfect spot to watch the incredible Costa Rican sunsets. There is also the Rana Roja restaurant on-site offering a buffet breakfast including cooked options such as french toast, plantain and sausages and evening meals with a variety of dishes, cooked with locally sourced produce. There's also a happy hour too until 6pm.
There are so many activities to explore in Monteverde but if you are looking for a something to do one morning or afternoon whilst staying at Heliconia then you can walk the trail on the property which takes you down to a waterfall and you will see lots of wildlife. We saw a rare Lesson's Motmot bird and it was beautiful. The trail will take a maximum of 1 hour depending on how often you stop to admire the views.
The hotel offer a number of rooms from a superior room to a family suite. We stayed in a gulf view king room which was very spacious with plenty of room to set up our travel cot for our baby and still have plenty of space to enjoy the lounge space and make a play area for her. The bathroom was super modern and slick with a large double shower.
The best part of the room however, are the panoramic views of the Nicoya Peninsula. You can use the coffee machine in your room and enjoy a drink on the deck chairs on your balcony with an incredible view.
What to do
Selvatura
Treetopia
Night tour
Monteverde butterfly garden
Monteverde cloud forest reserve
Santa Elena reserve
Curi Cancha Reserve
Rio Celeste
Where to eat
El Jardin at Monteverde lodge and gardens
Stella’s Monteverde for breakfast with the birds
Celajes restaurant and lounge - sunset and views and cocktails
Morphos - American with view
Tramonti - Italian
El Sabor Tico
Monteverde brewery
La Fortuna/Arenal
La Fortuna is a charming town in Costa Rica, located in the Alajuela Province near the Arenal Volcano. It is one of the most popular destinations in the country due to its stunning natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and a wide range of adventure activities. La Fortuna is an excellent base for exploring Arenal Volcano National Park, the Arenal Lake, and other nearby natural attractions.
Where to stay
We stayed at Wellness Park Eco-Lodge in Arenal where their mission is to preserve wellness tourism in an environment with a high level of biodiversity. This Eco-Lodge was born from a vision of brothers who grew up in La Fortuna, Costa Rica and wanted to share their love of the area with those visiting their country.
The Eco-Lodge is located is a perfect location to see the very best La Fortuna has to offer with incredible views of the Arenal Volcano from the property grounds and a short 3 minute drive to one of the main attractions in the area, Mistico Park.
There are 3 accommodation styles on the complex, the Peace Dome, the Harmony Dome and the Arenal Family Room. The Peace Dome is a cosy cabin style perfect for a couple with a double bed, small fridge and even a kitchen. The Harmony Dome is slightly larger with a queen sized bed, meditation area, kitchenette and a small fridge. We stayed in the Arenal Family Room which can actually sleep up to 8 guests as it has 4 double beds (bunkbed style). There is a large table and kitchen area and 2 bathrooms also.
On the property you will find numerous walking trails which take you to some of the most picturesque spots we saw in Costa Rica including the Arenal Volcano and a beautiful waterfall. There are yoga and mediation areas along the trails for places to relax and plenty of on-site wildlife to enjoy including a frog sanctuary. Look out for the lines of ants at work carrying heavy leaves as you walk.
A perfect place to stay for solo travellers, couples and families.
What to do
Bogarin trail
Rancho Margot
Hot Springs
Arenal Volcano National Park
Mistico Park
Where to eat
Jalapas - perched on a ridge, arrive by 5pm for sunset
Mercadito arenal- gastro market
Don Rufino - traditional, ceviche
Anch’io - wood fire pizzas
Lava lounge - La Fortuna
Lomas del Volcan
Arenal Oasis Ecolodge
Cafe Colibri
El novilla del arenal - fancy steak house and good views
Other attractions
2 day trek La Fortuna- Monteverde
Waterfall rappelling in La Fortuna
Visit Sarapiqui and the wild forests
Enjoy the El Salto rope swing
Visit Valle Escondido for a farm to table experience
Other options for ziplining: Arenal Mundo Adventure Park and Sky Adventures
Join a water safari to see more wildlife
Do a coffee tour or chocolate tasting in Alajuela
Visit Tilaran and Piedra Del Indio
See the impressive 'Whale Tail Beach' and Catarata in Uvita
Walk the high suspension bridges and see the waterfalls at Los Campisonos
Visit Rio Fortuna waterfall
Next post coming soon.
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