Worth going?

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)

A thousand times yes, we have already been here twice and I could easily go again. The nature is mind blowing. If you are on the west coast, its a no brainer.

Itinerary (in order of preference)

Costa Rica

Before we start, rent a car :)

  • Alajuela - 2/3 days

    • La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Must must do! The ticket costs around $56 per adult and $40 per child. You can spend the whole day here. Imagine everything Costa Rica has to offer - in a mini highly curated experience. You can walk through butterfly gardens, bird and animal enclosures, and a series of THE most beautiful cascading waterfalls. You will see 5 different drops of the water, each one more beautiful than the last. Fair caution though, towards the end, you will have to climb a set of stairs to get back to the entrance. For anyone with moderate fitness, this should not be a problem.
      • But if you have anyone that struggles with climbing, just skip the last waterfall and take the ramp back to the entrance.
      • You can also take your swimming clothes, there are a couple of spots where you can get down to the water.

    La Paz La Paz

    • Poas Volcano (if its not erupting)
    • Catarata Del Toro: A unique experience of a waterfall falling into a volcanic crater. Don’t worry, the volcano is not erupting anymore. You will have to climb down some steps, but trust me well worth the effort for the views and the misty feel.
    • Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Reserve: Not a must do, but one of those places you can visit if you are into coffee and would love to see this stunning Starbucks location.

Note: If you are short on time, pick Monteverde over Arenal.

  • Monteverde - 3 days

    • Info: There are 3 cloud forests here - Monteverde Cloud Forest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest and Children’s Eternal Cloud Forest.
    • Treetopia Park: Do a tour of the SkyWalk hanging bridges and the TreeTram for a price of $110 per adult, or just the Skywalk hanging bridges for $55. The hanging bridges take you through a series of stunning suspension bridges built high into the canopy of the forest.
      • You can even get a guide to accompany you on the tour for an extra fee of course. The guide can help you spot animals and birds that would be impossible for us to spot otherwise.
      • Only downside is you might have to walk with a tour group, which if you have young kids under 3 can be tough to manage. So I would recommend the tour for kids above 4. La Paz La Paz
    • Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde Cloud Forest or Curi Cancha Reserve: Again this is a must do if your kid can tolerate walking around for about 3 hours, kids above 4 years of age is my recommendation. The walk itself is very easy, but it’s just the number of times you will stop to spot birds. We spotted so many birds, I’ve lost count and memory of their names now. But they were all exciting to learn about.
      • And the most elusive one of them all - The resplendent Quetzal! The most gorgeous bird you will see, which can be found only in a few places now in Central America, but was once so revered that it was worshipped throughout Central America as a god.
      • Talk to your guide about your interests so they can pick the right forest to take the tour and tell them you have kids, so they can modify the tour as needed. But one glimpse of this bird, and you can totally understand their obsession with it.
      • if You end up at the Monteverde Cloud Forest, don’t forget to stop at the Hummingbird cafe at the entrance! Trust me, you will be mesmerized. La Paz La Paz
    • Children’s Eternal Rainforest: Beautiful hikes, well paved roads and trails, can be done by kids and adults of all ages.
    • Ranario Frog Pond: A small museum of sorts that houses all kinds of poisonous frogs found throughout Costa Rica. Kids will love it! La Paz

  • La Fortuna - 2/3 days

    • Note: If you are short on time, you could pick either Arenal or Monteverde to do the hanging bridges. Weather wise Arenal can get super hot in the summer, but Monteverde is cooler since it’s in the mountains and is a cloud forest. So you could choose the location depending on the time of the year and your preference. La Paz Casual view from our airbnb
    • Hanging Bridges and Sky Trams - There are multiple parks that offer these tours, Mistico being one of them.
    • Other adventurous activities - Ziplining, Rappelling
    • Sloth Tours
    • La Fortuna Waterfall: You have to get down some steps to get to the waterfall. La Paz La Paz
    • Hot springs

  • Manuel Antonio - 2/3 days

    • Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve
    • Beaches

Tips

  • Super safe, and good healthcare for kids.
  • Best for kiddos above 3 years of age if you want them to enjoy the nature and animals, but you can still take kids younger as well. Everything is stroller friendly and very well maintained.
  • Grandparents will also have a great time! Food might be the only issue as there isn’t a great variety. But if you are booking Airbnbs, that problem should be solved as well. Easy hikes and the nature wows them.
  • Don’t drive after dark - roads are winding and narrow in certain sections.
  • Their fresh fruit and produce is one of the best - definitely try their pineapples and other fruit in season.
  • Don’t go for the culinary experience, food is fresh and basic.