Costa Rica with kids

If you have been thinking about going to Costa Rica, GOOOO, dont wait any longer! Costa Rica has a special place in our hearts. It's where my husband proposed to me back in 2012! It was such a fun and spontaneous trip, that we had to come back again!  I definitely recommend it. This place offers so many great experiences, from chasing waterfalls, to volcanic views. Its one of our favorites! So this time around, with 2 kids in tow, we headed back! Now, its never easy traveling with kids, let alone an international destination, but totally worth it!! The kids get to experience different cultures and activities then what we are used to at home.

We flew out of FLL into SJO. Here's what we did:

1. Rented a car. So, if you have looked into going to Costa Rica, many of you know that this is a controversial topic. To rent or not to rent?! As we were traveling with two kids, and have driven around Costa Rica before, we decided to rent again. With that being said, whatever rental car price you find online, will probably be alot higher! I reserved a car on Booking.com with a cost of a whooping $5 rate for 4 days! I denied insurance online, and pulled out my Amex, knowing they cover secondary insurance. Of course the guy at the counter said, that I needed a different kind of insurance, so we gave in and ended up paying for full coverage ($300). In the end, at least we knew we were covered, if something were to happen.

2. We drove on to La Fortuna and stayed at San Bosco Inn. This place was perfect for us! We brought a pack and play for my 1yr old, and they had a small twin bed that was pretty low to the floor for my 3 year old. The room was very basic, but was located right in the heart of everything. You can walk to all the shops and restaurants and everything was nearby! This place also included some great perks, like breakfast every morning and use of the hot springs at its sister hotel! Oh and the views of the volcano are amazing! We used Booking.com for the best deal!

3. Places to check out:  
Catarata La Fortuna ($18/adults, kids were free). I love this place! Its a moderate hike down, but my 3 year old was able to do it like a champ, and I used a carrier for my son. When you get to the bottom there are great photo spots and you can get in the water!! One side is calm and great for the kids, the other side is for stronger swimmers.

Mistico Park This place was just okay for me. Nice views, but not very stroller friendly. It would have been nicer if we planned to be there longer, and also done a guided tour. We missed out on the animals that the tour guides spot and show you.

Arenal Observatory Lodge  Love this place. You can pay for a day pass the gives you access to the grounds, I think it was like $12. Here there is a waterfall, hanging bridges and we even spotted monkeys! They also offer a pass that gives you lunch and access to the pools. Very nice relaxing place with great things to see!

Baldi Hot Springs We didn't go on this trip, but did on our first trip to Costa Rica and it was nice! I also know they now have a section for the kids to enjoy that has slides.

Orphanage We brought lots of the kids clothes, that our kids have outgrown and asked our hotel if there was an orphanage near by. They arranged for us to go by and we got to visit the orphanage. We got to see how they do things around there, and play with the kids. It was so hard to leave them, but we enjoyed our time with those precious kids. Visit  La Fortuna Orphanage for more information


*Locals Tip: We went to a place just passed the very nice and pricey Tabacon. It is one of their top hot springs. This place is known as "Tabacon de los pobres" (meaning Tabacon for poor people) HAHA. Its the run off from the hot springs! It was great because its the same thermal waters you pay a lot in Tabacon for, but for free!! You park right by the parking for Tabacon, and just tip the parking guys to keep an eye on your car. They will direct you to where it is at. Its a little off the beaten path, but worth it! You can make a day out of it, and the kids loved the warm waters, and collecting the rocks in the river.

*Maps.me or Waze APP works for GPS, even when you lose service. First, route your destination and it works offline. This helped us alot!

Have Fun and Enjoy!