Looking for the best Costa Rica Kid-Friendly resorts for your next family vacation in Costa Rica?
One of the newest contenders for the title of Best Family Vacation Spot is Costa Rica. Only three hours separate the fascinating fauna and gorgeous beaches from major hubs like Miami and Houston, with direct flights now available from Newark, Chicago and other locations. For families looking for a little bit of everything, Costa Rica is an exciting and easily accessible option.
Overwhelmed by options is one of the main reasons families reach out to Costa Rica Experts for assistance planning their family holiday. We have chosen some of the best Costa Rica Kid-Friendly Resorts for your next family vacation in the country to help you narrow down your options.
11 Top Costa Rica Kid-Friendly Resorts
1. The Springs Resort, Arenal Volcano
With hot springs, adventure, exquisite food and leisure all under one roof, the Springs Resort and Spa is the ideal destination. Due to the hotel’s lofty location, practically every square inch of the expansive grounds offers breathtaking views of the enormous Arenal volcano.
Families may make use of the Club Rio Outdoor Center throughout the day to stay on the hotel premises and engage in activities like horseback riding and river tubing. There’s also a wildlife refuge on the premises with sloths, large cats and monkeys, among other creatures.
Dine at one of the resort’s many restaurants in the evening before unwinding in one of the many hot springs.
For families who would rather spend more time doing and less time flying, our experts adore these affordable choices.
2. Tulemar Resort, Manuel Antonio
Due to conservation restrictions, beachfront hotels are relatively uncommon in Costa Rica; nonetheless, there are a few exceptions for families who like to be close to the sand and waves.
Direct access to a private beach and free use of the hotel’s beach toys and boogie boards are provided by Tulemar Resort in Manuel Antonio. You may have a whole day of family fun without ever leaving the hotel if you combine this with lunch service on the beach.
The recently rebuilt homes are nestled into the surrounding jungle and have a distinctive octagonal form. You might easily spend a whole week at Buena Vista Villas, which include fully equipped kitchens and in-unit laundry.
3. Barcelo Tambor Beach
This resort offers a lot of resort services during your stay because it is larger than others in Costa Rica, with 402 rooms. There are many pools, nightly live performances, a kids club for children aged 4 to 12, a teenagers club for children aged 13 to 17, and alternatives for a la carte childcare, so you may plan your enjoyment whichever best suits you.
This place has a dedicated pool for kids, and you’ll spend most of your time relaxing on the seashore, surrounded by palm trees. You may extend your stay at the Barcelo Tambor by one or two days because it is among the most affordably priced resorts on our list of the top family resorts in Costa Rica!
4. Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero
While taking your kids all the way to the Amazon may not be feasible, Tortuguero is a more affordable and family-friendly option that is also much simpler to travel to.
Families may explore unique jungle waterways by boat in this isolated rainforest area on the northern Atlantic coast, saving them the trouble of sending their small children on strenuous climbs. A naturalist guide who discusses the inner workings of this unique ecosystem while navigating the canals of Tortuguero is likely to point out monkeys, tropical birds, reptiles and sloths. Who says learning can’t occur while on vacation?
A short domestic flight from San Jose may save families time in transit to Tortuga Lodge, which is accessible by both land and boat transfers.
5. The Pool at Dreams Las Mareas
This all-inclusive resort, which is owned by the Hyatt family, is located directly on a serene, gorgeous beach. It offers a plethora of complimentary water activities, such as kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The resort itself has three stunning pools and a kid-friendly water slide. The kids’ clubs are open every day for both teenagers (ages 13 to 17) and small children (ages three to 12). Don’t miss the weekly beach celebrations.
6. Andaz Costa Rica Resort, Papagayo Peninsula
The Andaz Papagayo Resort provides more than just stunning architecture and top-notch dining options. With a Kids Club program that provides culturally diverse alternatives, a sizable family pool, and an activity beach where visitors may rent kayaks and snorkel gear, the boutique resort extends its genuine appeal to families. Parents in need of some pampering will be delighted with custom spa treatments made using local products.
The resort is shielded from the Pacific’s choppy waves by its location on the bay’s edge. All ages can swim worry-free in the placid waters.
Families looking to reduce their domestic travel may find it advantageous to be less than one hour from the airport. It is undoubtedly one of the best Cost Rica kid-friendly resorts.
7. Hotel Si Como No, Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio’s Hotel Si Como No was designed with family holidays in mind. This mid-size boutique hotel offers complimentary beach shuttle service, two dining options, a butterfly garden, a family-friendly pool and a tiny private theater with family-friendly film screenings every night. If you’re lucky, you may find a few monkeys hanging around on your balcony as you wake up to stunning views of the Pacific.
Si Como No is the perfect place for families who want to be close to the beach and rainforest without having to go far—it is only five minutes from both Playa Espadilla and Manuel Antonio National Park. There are plenty of other local things to keep everyone engaged and active, such zip-lining, mangrove excursions and whitewater rafting.
8. Arenas Del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort, Manuel Antonio
There are many creatures on the site, including entertaining spider monkeys and captivating sloths. It is situated directly on the beach in Quepos, just outside of Manuel Antonio National Park.
Family-friendly activities offered on-site include workshops on making tortillas, kid-focused nature treks led by resident naturalists, and the opportunity to order half portions at resort restaurants. Free minibar options and free laundry are included in many rooms! Concerned about your dirty t-shirts and socks? Ask, and they’ll even use laundry detergents designed for delicate skin!
9. JW Marriott Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste
Families visiting Costa Rica frequently ask for hotels with areas where the children can play and the adults can unwind close by. The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa has the biggest pool in Central America and one designated for kids, making it one of the best Costa Rica kid-friendly resorts.
Enjoy a spa treatment or unwind while the kids are entertained by the Kids Club. Take the kids beach volleyball, explore the tidal pools together, or plan a family outing to neighboring Tamarindo to see a surfing competition and dine at a local eatery.
As a component of the Hacienda Pinilla complex, the resort offers an 18-hole golf course, bicycling and jogging trails, and a beach club.
10. Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
The Four Seasons Costa Rica is an exquisite facility with all the facilities one would expect from a high-end brand, and it’s perfect for families. Here, teenagers have their own clubhouse, and, amazing as it seems, professional surfers, some of whom are on the Costa Rican National Surf Team, provide surfing instruction to children and adults.
This Costa Rica resort has four swimming pools, two beaches, and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, so there’s never a dull moment.
11. Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa, La Fortuna
Nestled inside the forest of La Fortuna, this luxurious, carbon-neutral resort is the ideal blend of adult spa and Costa Rica kid friendly resorts. The Springs, Tabacon’s sister resort, is a short stroll down the road and offers some amazing family entertainment. The accommodations here are sleek and simple, and the morning meal is to die for.
The thermal springs that emanate from the Arenal volcano heat the water in this enchanted location. You may have a treatment in the amazing outdoor massage rooms or play in the naturally occurring hot pools here. You will be spending the entire day bouncing from the pool to the beach and everywhere in between, so don’t forget to bring the finest sandals for kids.
