Costa Rica is the proper household vacation spot! Why you ask? It has the whole lot! It’s the most secure Central American nation and persistently listed as one of many happiest locations on the planet!
It even possesses one among solely 5 Blue Zones on the planet. A Blue Zone is an space of the world the place residents typically stay to be over 100 years. Clearly, Costa Rica possesses the key to longevity, and I do know I wish to discover out!
If you’re planning a visit to Costa Rica with a child or toddler, know that it’s a protected location for households. As well as, it has all of the stuff you need from a vacation spot: nice climate, a lot of diversified actions to do, accessibility and affordability. Costa Rica is among the greatest international locations to go to with a child, and our favorite household winter vacation spot because of this.
We first visited Costa Rica earlier than we obtained married and fell in love with the Pura Vida life-style. After we had our child, we began to wish to relive that enjoyable, completely satisfied vibe that we remembered from Costa Rica. Costa Rica journey with a child appeared like a wonderful thought!
We determined to take our child to Costa Rica for his first birthday and first Christmas. We even met my dad and mom there for a household trip.
We booked a direct in a single day flight from Calgary, our dwelling metropolis in Canada direct to Liberia in Costa Rica.
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Getting from the Airport to your Lodging in Costa Rica
We booked a beautiful dwelling by way of AirBnb referred to as Vista Bahia in Playa del Coco. They used a journey firm to prepare our stick with a private concierge that we had been in a position to arrange particulars by way of, like taxis, airport shuttles, excursions, eating places, and so on.
Getting from the airport to our Airbnb in Costa Rica was easy! We simply advised them our flight info and so they organized a shuttle to choose us proper up on the airport.
Pre-arranging an airport switch in Costa Rica is a should and particularly for anybody touring to Costa Rica with a child or toddler! The laid-back life-style can imply ready for some time in case you attempt to order a taxi, and when touring to Costa Rica (or anyplace actually!) with an toddler you don’t wish to wait any longer than mandatory!
Our shuttle was there upon arrival, that they had an indication with our title, and we had been in a position to set up our child automobile seat within the mini-bus. We beloved having a journey concierge, one much less factor to fret about when touring with a child!
We selected to go to Playa del Coco due to the proximity to the airport, solely an hour’s drive from the Liberia airport.
It’s straightforward to prebook a family-friendly airport switch in Costa Rica with Suntransfers.
Automotive Seats in Costa Rica
Are automobile seats required in Costa Rica required? Sure, it is best to journey with a automobile seat in Costa Rica. We opted to deliver our personal, as a result of we’ve a journey system with a automobile seat that snaps into our journey stroller. You may lease a automobile seat in Costa Rica in case you select to not deliver your personal, although the historical past of it may be unknown making it probably unsafe.
I’m all the time of the opinion to pack as mild as attainable. We rented our pack and play and highchair on the resort and it was very straightforward. You may positively select to lease a automobile seat and the shuttle could have it prepared for you upon arrival.
There are numerous firms in Costa Rica that supply child objects to lease, which might enable you extra streamlined journey, much less to pack, much less to hold, much less to emphasize.
Flying into San Jose, Costa Rica? You may simply lease child gear in your journey to Costa Rica!
You may Google these firms (all the time test evaluations when security is concerned) and order immediately from them or you possibly can contact your lodging for assist with this.
Many locations in Costa Rica are run by property administration firms that supply reserving providers and assist, so you possibly can depend on a excessive degree of service.
The world we stayed in, Playa del Coco, it was very easy to get round because it solely took Half-hour to stroll clear throughout city. We used our stroller and automobile seat journey system if we wanted to go anyplace, or we simply carried him. He was strolling on our journey, so typically we might let him stroll brief distances holding our hand.
Child Meals and Method in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has many giant grocery shops which have a wide selection of child meals, method, diapers and wipes. Diapers are heavy and take up a lot of room, so we all the time attempt to pack sufficient to get us to our vacation spot (plus a few days) after which purchase domestically.
After getting settled within the first couple days of our journey, we headed to a grocery retailer and picked up some diapers and child pouches. We noticed the aisles nicely stocked with a number of several types of method in Costa Rica.
Managing child meals whereas touring in Costa Rica was fairly straightforward. In case you do purées, you might see in case your lodging has a blender and put together them your self. There’s actually a lot of contemporary meals to purchase.
The grocery shops in Costa Rica additionally had jarred child meals. The shops even had bottles and child equipment however the costs for something non-food associated had been steep, as a consequence of import prices.
We checked out shopping for a blow up pool toy and balked on the costs, then picked up a ball for affordable from a sidewalk vendor on the best way again to our lodging.
Consuming in Eating places with a Child in Costa Rica
Costa Rican eating shouldn’t be tremendous low cost, however the whole lot could be very contemporary and scrumptious so we ate out every day. Each restaurant we went to had a high-chair and in order that made issues straightforward.
Listed below are a number of tips about consuming out in Costa Rica with a child or toddler:
We all the time pack a child meals suction plate with a lid in order that we are able to serve the restaurant meals on our baby-throwing protected plate after which simply take dwelling any leftovers that our son doesn’t eat.
We additionally pack his 360 sippy cup, one of many greatest sippy cups for journey, in order that we are able to be sure that he has bottled water solely. Costa Rican water could be very protected to drink, however we consulted a journey pharmacist earlier than journey and so they mentioned to serve bottled water solely for a kid beneath 5 and to totally wash all fruit and veggies.
The pharmacist mentioned {that a} little one’s digestive system is extra delicate to traveler’s diarrhea. We personally have had no points with our son getting sick on any of our journeys, however we adopted the instructions of the journey pharmacist.
The massive distinction that we seen in Costa Rica when in comparison with dwelling or different locations when eating was it may possibly take a really very long time obtain your meal after ordering. So, retaining that in thoughts as your child might wish to go away earlier than you even get your meal!
We introduced a lot of snacks or his personal meal to appease our son whereas we waited for the meals to reach and this made consuming out manner simpler!
Greater cities in Costa Rica cater nicely to vacationers and have the sort of meals that you simply’re used to consuming, together with eating places with burgers and fries and milkshakes, Mexican meals, BBQ, Chinese language, sushi, pizza and pasta, in addition to native meals. This makes it simpler in case you journey with a toddler who’s choose.
I personally like to strive native meals, which is usually Casado, seafood or roasted rooster, coleslaw or salad, rice and beans, and fried plantains. It’s actually tasty and I like to recommend giving it a strive!
We did discover altering tables in among the bogs, however we purchased a moveable journey altering pad and it’s been a lifesaver for altering on the go. I even use the bag to retailer further diapers and wipes to make my diaper bag extra organized.
Costa Rica Household Photoshoot
A household photoshoot is a superb option to protect recollections out of your journey! Get $25 off your first Flytographer photograph shoot.
Managing Time Distinction and Child Jet Lag
The time distinction possible gained’t be a giant difficulty for youthful infants, however managing toddler jet lag might be harder.
We’ve discovered that if journey makes them further sleepy or they’ve a brief nap, then go together with it and attempt to push them to time zone immediately if it’s just a few hours. We’ve discovered success if that’s performed the primary day.
In any other case, push in increments per day, like 15-Half-hour. For instance, if bedtime is often 7pm and also you’ve travelled to a time zone that 2 hours forward, then attempt to put them to mattress half an hour earlier the primary day and preserve going earlier. Or you possibly can all the time preserve them to your unique time zone and never fear about it, relying on how far you’ve travelled.
Naps on the go had been key for us to get our child to sleep on trip, his schedule is tousled as a consequence of journey and he typically napped greater than normal. Go along with it! Throughout journey, we all the time say that guidelines exit the window and issues return to regular when at dwelling. Make the perfect of your journey and make recollections and don’t fear about wake home windows!
Costa Rica Itinerary
Our Costa Rica itinerary with a child was very completely different to the action-packed journey that we had performed pre-baby. I’ll point out among the actions that we did pre-baby, as a few of them are positively baby-friendly and you will have older youngsters as nicely who could possibly be fascinated about among the different ones.
We took a visit throughout Costa Rica in 2018, so pre-baby. On that journey, we had been ready to slot in a espresso plantation tour, the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, La Fortuna, horseback using, Monteverde, and Tamarindo. It was a lot simpler for us to maneuver round from place to position and do extra adventurous actions.
The Doka Espresso Plantation has a espresso tasting with native espresso and afterwards walked round studying the completely different levels of the coffee-making course of. They develop, choose, roast and brew espresso and the method was actually neat to see. You might simply do that exercise with a child who’s in a child service.
The La Paz Waterfall Gardens is one thing you are able to do with a child or youngsters! It’s a huge complicated with a stunning waterfall and a beautiful strolling path on wood bridges you can stroll alongside (not stroller pleasant, test your stroller on the desk, go away it within the automobile and produce a child service for journey or child mountain climbing backpack).
There’s additionally a giant animal sanctuary with native animals which have been rescued from unlawful animal buying and selling and habitat loss. You’ll see colourful birds like toucans and macaws, sloths, jaguars and different wild cats, and wild hummingbirds within the stunning gardens.
La Fortuna has mountain climbing across the volcano Arenal after which enjoyable in a close-by sizzling spring. The world is filled with pure sizzling springs and likewise has water parks for teenagers too. Sizzling springs are mentioned to have therapeutic properties so it’s a pleasant option to calm down and I do know swimming in swimming pools is one thing we do much more post-kids.
A few of our favourite elements of that journey had been sadly not attainable to do with infants or toddlers, however you possibly can preserve it in thoughts for when you’ve older youngsters! We took a ship experience on Lake Arenal with our baggage after which arrived on shore to horses and guides ready for us.
Our boat continued on to fulfill our shuttle carrying our baggage, as we horseback rode by way of the rainforest on the best way to our on to our vacation spot.
In Monteverde, a really windy, rainforest city, Sky Adventures Monteverde gives ziplining and a rainforest guided tour. The guided tour is thru the rainforest, crossing hanging bridges and is household pleasant (although youngsters have to be 5 years outdated for ziplining). You even get an opportunity to identify native animals, like howler monkeys, sloths, parrots, and we even noticed a tarantula hiding in a small cave!
Tamarindo is absolutely touristy so it’s a bit pricier and infrequently attracts surfers and partiers, so it will not be the perfect place for households. We stayed on the Wyndham Tamarindo, which was a elaborate spot however we’re often funds travellers so it was fairly the deal with for us! Infinity pool and infinity views!
We beloved staying right here. One of the best half was that you simply get the secluded resort up within the hills for the perfect views, but additionally entry to the seaside membership on the ocean with nice facilities and plenty of howler monkeys.
In Tamarindo, we did some scuba diving. Scuba diving in Costa Rica has an incredible abundance of underwater sea life, however the disadvantage is the waters aren’t as crystal clear because the waters of the Caribbean.
Costa Rica Itinerary with a Child
Playa del Coco with a Child
We selected Playa del Coco with a child as a result of it’s a stunning spot with a pleasant local weather all 12 months spherical, very brief wet season (October) and it is just one hour from the Liberia airport.
The brief proximity to the airport is a giant factor for us when touring a protracted distance, equivalent to taking an 11-month-old to Costa Rica. The in a single day flight is sufficient journey to do with a child, with out having so as to add a protracted drive on the opposite finish of the journey.
Playa del Coco additionally has stunning views and is touristy sufficient that it has good eating places, issues to do like boat rides, snorkel leases, scuba diving, therapeutic massage remedy on the seaside, purchasing, or no matter you’re fascinated about. However it is usually not too touristy that it feels overrun and cheesy.
It actually helps to have a few of these fundamental issues deliberate out earlier than arrival, because it’s a lot more durable to ‘waft’ if you’re touring with a child or toddler. We nonetheless wish to preserve issues open and do what we would like daily, however having the main issues deliberate forward of time will help you keep away from toddler and grownup meltdowns too!
Right here’s how we spent our time in Costa Rica with a Child
We arrived within the morning of Christmas Eve, and we spent the primary day getting settled. After we dropped off our baggage, we went straight for a breakfast of English muffin egg sandwiches, contemporary fruit and lattes. In case you like espresso, you’ll love Costa Rica!
Our lodging had a pool and we spent a number of time swimming there with our son. Nothing like a pool to maintain youngsters busy! Most of the lodging in Costa Rica have a pool, in order that needs to be straightforward to search out.
We visited Diamante Eco Journey Park, which is principally a mixture of the 2 locations that we visited on our first journey to Costa Rica, La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Monteverde Sky Adventures. Diamante Eco Park has the choice to pay further to e book a shuttle to get there. We took the shuttle with our personal automobile seat after which introduced our journey system stroller.
Diamante Eco Park has an animal sanctuary, a backyard and ziplines. This specific zipline is the longest twin zipline within the nation. The animal sanctuary was nice, we noticed giant cats like jaguars, vibrant birds and butterflies, crocodiles, sloths and plenty of monkeys.
We didn’t do any ziplines this time as we had been with our toddler, however we did attend a meals presentation, with explanations and tastings of sugar cane, espresso, and chocolate.
We obtained to style all of them and we gave our one-year-old his very first style of sugar. And what a option to style it for the primary time: freshly floor cocoa beans with powdered milk and sugar to make darkish chocolate. He in fact beloved it! We beloved it too, however I’m such a chocoholic. The presentation was extraordinarily nicely performed.
We went scuba diving once more, this time I used to be an authorized diver. My dad and mom watched our son, as they travelled with us. It was our anniversary time out and it was such a deal with. In case you can journey with household to babysit, it’s a recreation changer.
Our favorite locations to eat in Playa del Coco had been The Look Out and Café De Playa.
The Look Out is a restaurant perched on the hill with wonderful views in Playa del Coco. The restaurant was featured on Netflix’s Eating places on the Edge. It serves principally seafood, however you possibly can request different objects. You need to make a reservation and you should drive to get to the placement as it’s excessive on a hill.
We booked a taxi by way of our lodging and paid money. The identical taxi picked us up and we introduced our automobile seat with us.
All the opposite eating places we visited had been in strolling distance from our Airbnb.
Café De Playa is a beachfront restaurant with essentially the most wonderful seaside views and nice number of meals to eat. Because it’s proper on the seaside, you will get an awesome sundown view for dinner. They even have hammocks if you wish to seize a fruity drink and chill for a second and ask your companion to observe the children. I obtained my enjoyable second by leaving my son with my husband and obtained essentially the most enjoyable seaside therapeutic massage.
Pacifico Seashore Membership is an honorable point out, They’re a personal seaside membership however you possibly can eat dinner on the restaurant there. The precise Seashore Membership is wonderful, however you can not go to in case you are not staying at one among their leases. In addition they had an incredible playground for teenagers to play.
There aren’t a number of playgrounds in Coco, so in case your kids wish to play on one whereas visiting, be certain that to test this one out!
These locations had been child pleasant and all provided excessive chairs, which meant we didn’t have to pack a moveable journey highchair. They don’t have youngsters meals like at dwelling, however we simply ordered some meals that we may share with him. He beloved attempting the completely different meals we ate!
Closing Ideas on Costa Rica Journey with a Child /Toddler
As you possibly can see, visiting pre-baby and visiting with a child, there’s a dramatic distinction within the actions that we did. You may positively accomplish that a lot with a child, we deliver our son completely in all places with us, however when planning a visit with a child for the primary time it’s onerous to wrap your thoughts round what to do.
We took issues rather a lot slower and you already know what, it was nice! Bringing a journey backpack is an efficient manner to have the ability to proceed to do actions that you simply love. We love occurring lengthy walks or mountain climbing with a child with him within the backpack. We use the Poco Plus and have had no points flying with a mountain climbing service (it may be used as keep it up)!
We beloved bringing our son with us to Costa Rica! We’re planning to take him again once more in October for Canadian Thanksgiving. We love the sluggish life-style, reminding us to take a break and revel in what nature has to supply. In case you’re searching for an reasonably priced, household pleasant place with good meals, good vibes, nice climate and nature, then Costa Rica is for you!
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Shannon Stark
Shannon Stark is an avid traveler, having lived in 8 international locations and travelled to 36 international locations by the age of 36! And her son shouldn’t be far behind with 7 international locations at 18 months outdated. She is an early studying advisor for the college board in Calgary, Canada and journey photographer. Shannon and her husband love residing within the Rocky Mountains and revel in the whole lot mountain life has to supply!
Celine Brewer is the proprietor of Child Can Journey. Not solely does she have years of expertise touring with infants & toddlers, however she’s helped tens of millions of recent dad and mom journey with their infants and toddlers for over a decade. Along with writing on her child journey weblog, she has shared her experience on touring with a child or toddler by contributing to articles about touring with a child with the Washington Put up, USA Immediately, the Lonely Planet journal and Being pregnant & New child journal.
Celine additionally writes about household journey on the positioning FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns together with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her ardour about her dwelling and journey to Banff Nationwide Park and space on their website TravelBanffCanada.com.
