Exploring the Best of Costa Rica: A Family Adventure

Nestled in Central America, this vibrant country is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, biodiversity, and thrilling adventures. I have been lucky enough to visit this gorgeous country multiple times; even spending an entire summer in a small village when I was younger where I helped in the local school and participated in ecology studies. This past July, our family took an unforgettable adventure through the diverse regions of Costa Rica, from the tranquil beaches of the northern Pacific coast, to the adventurous area of La Fortuna. I’ll share our favorite things to do that made our Costa Rican adventure truly remarkable, while also providing you with essential travel information to help you plan your own unforgettable trip.

First, let me take a moment to give you a little snapshot of this gorgeous country:

Known as the "Rich Coast," Costa Rica boasts a tropical climate and is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna. The official language is Spanish, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. The local currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC), although US dollars are widely accepted. Costa Rica is a politically stable country, making it a safe and welcoming destination fort ravelers. A little fun fact – although they do have a national police force, Costa Rica abolished their Army in 1949. In addition, without having to fund a military, Costa Rica can direct funding to other important areas such as education, human and animal rights, public health, climate change and environmental protection.

A popular question that I often get asked from clients int he beginning stages of planning a Costa Rican adventure – when is the best time to go? Well, the answer is… depends on your preferences and what activities you’d like to do! Because of it’s tropical location, there are primarily two seasons – dry and rainy. The dry season is typically December to April which does make it the peak tourist season due to its sunny days and lower chances of rain. It’s an ideal time for travelers to experience the beaches, water activities, national parks and rainforest and participate in outdoor adventures. The rainy season is the other half of the year which is May through November. With the rain comes lush greenery, less crowds and rain showers. However, while rainfall can be heavy at times, it typically doesn’t rain all day and still provides adequate time for outdoor activities. It’s a great time to explore Costa Rica’s vibrant wildlife as the rainforests come alive with activity. While we were traveling during the rainy season, we were very fortunate that the rainfall happened overnight and we did not have any interruptions to daily activities.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about some of our favorite things we did in Costa Rica:

1. El Jobo’s Beaches

Located on the tranquil northern Pacific coast just south of Nicaragua, El Jobo offers a serene retreat with a variety of beaches. We spent the day playing in the sand and water at Playa Rajada and explored the seashell covered beach and windy waves of Playa Copal. Keep your eyes open – white faced and spider monkeys also loved to play around at the beach!

Playa Rajada

2. Sport-Fishing: Adventure on the Water

I knew that I wanted to do some activity that got our family out on the water and with a family of boys, they were eager to go fishing! It was a gorgeous day to set sail in order to search for Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Barracuda and even Sailfish. Even though all we ended the day catching was a large bait fish that was eventually half eaten by a Barracuda, it was a great adventure. Nothing beats being on the Pacific water with the cool wind and dolphins and turtles swimming next to the boat.

3. Arenal Volcano: ATV Thrills

This happened to be a last minute activity substitution and turned out to be one of our most memorable and fun excursions. Our two seat ATV adventure took us an adventure through rugged terrains, up winding streets and through serene rivers all while giving us awe-inspiring views of the mighty Arenal Volcano and surrounding rainforest.

4. Arenal Hanging Bridges: Walk through the Canopy

We joined an expert travel guide on the nearly 2 mile trail through the rainforest canopy at Mistico Park. Suspended high above the forest floor, these bridges offer a unique perspective of the lush ecosystem. During our walk, the tour guide helped spot fascinating wildlife including sloths, monkeys, snakes, tarantulas, butterflies, owls, and much more.

5. Sloth Territory: Hunt for Sloths

Costa Rica is famous for its sloth population and we definitely saw our fair share of sloths during this sloth adventure! We were joined by knowledgeable guides who had an abundance of sloth information including characteristics, behaviors, conversation efforts and more. In addition, with the use of the tour guide’s scope, we were able to see every feature of the sloth’s face!

6. Costa Rica: Wildlife Wonderland

Being a wildlife enthusiast, the chances to witness the abundance of species that thrive in Costa Rica is simply amazing. In the evenings, we watched white faced monkeys jump from the roof to the tree over our heads and spider monkeys leaping from branch to branch. The kids started a list of all the different species they saw during our adventure and we were well over 40 that include three different types of monkeys, reptiles, dolphins, sloths, birds and so much more!

While these were some of our favorite moments during our week’s adventure in Costa Rica, this is simply a small glimpse of what the beautiful country provides for travelers. From its awe-inspiring landscapes, adventurous activities and rich biodiversity, Costa Rica provides an unforgettable vacation experience. With essential travel information at your fingertips, it's time for us to plan your own adventure in Costa Rica. Prepare to be captivated by its natural wonders, charmed by its warm hospitality, and create memories that will last a lifetime. ¡Pura Vida!