One Superb Week in Costa Rica With Our Teenagers

Going to Costa Rica with teenagers? Right here’s our itinerary, what I’m glad we did, and what I’d do in a different way subsequent time.

My boys having fun with the view from La Vendanita restaurant close to La Fortuna.

Is Costa Rica in your bucket listing? It was on mine for a very long time. So after two years with little journey, I used to be able to go massive and at last make it occur.

I’m comfortable to report that Costa Rica was the whole lot I’d hoped it could be: lush, beautiful, and full of recent wildlife, flavors, and tradition. Main as much as our journey, I promised/warned my household, “It’s going to be an adventure!” and it completely was.

We spent per week in Costa Rica with our youngsters, ages 13 and 17, and I needed to share our itinerary, in addition to what I’m glad we did AND what I’d do in a different way subsequent time. I hope that is useful to you.

What I’m Glad We Did

I’m glad we…rented a automotive

You will get round Costa Rica with non-public shuttles or public transportation. However I cherished having the liberty to discover on our personal, stopping at overlooks or markets alongside the way in which. Our journey company booked our automotive via Mapache, and we had no issues. It was a newish Suzuki 4X4, a should for the bumpy, unpaved roads. It was small however comfy for our household of 4.

Understand that most of the roads in Costa Rica are slim and windy, so you want to be a assured driver. Since I deliberate the journey, my husband did all of the driving. That was a aid to me.

We did all of our driving in daylight and gave ourselves loads of time. Velocity limits are low to account for the twisty roads, so quick distances can take for much longer than you assume (a 100-mile journey from Manuel Antonio to the San Jose airport took practically three hours).

For navigation, we used Google Maps offline since we didn’t have information exterior the resorts. We made just a few flawed turns alongside the way in which however by no means obtained utterly misplaced.

That is the little Suzuki 4×4 we rented from Mapache.

I’m glad we…went off the crushed path

My favourite a part of the journey was driving round as a household, stopping at small eating places, scenic overlooks, small markets to purchase popsicles and tortilla chips, and fruit stands for recent mango and watermelon. We additionally drove via many small cities and exquisite rural areas. If we had stayed put at resorts and resorts with different vacationers, we wouldn’t have skilled that.

The roads in Costa Rica are slim, and a few are bumpy and unpaved.

I’m glad we…used guides

You don’t technically want guides when visiting the rainforest and nationwide park. However I’m glad we did as a result of we'd by no means have seen the wildlife on our personal. The guides know methods to spot sloths hanging in timber, which gap the tarantula resides in (yep!), and what leaf the poison dart frog is perching on. They’re additionally a wealth of data in regards to the vegetation and historical past of the world.

Right here’s a sloth our information noticed, (slowly) shifting from treetop to treetop.

I’m glad we…obtained assist from a journey agent

Even armed with recommendation from mates who had traveled to Costa Rica, I nonetheless felt overwhelmed planning the journey. So I used a journey company a good friend really helpful known as Pacific Trade Winds. They had been so affected person with the majillion emails I despatched and all of my questions and last-minute worries. They answered each message promptly, and every step of our itinerary went off and not using a hitch.

We had been additionally upgraded at two of the resorts to suites and given rooms with particularly beautiful views (we had one of many few rooms at Tabacon with a volcano view), which I’ve heard can occur whenever you ebook via an company.

For journey planning, I additionally extremely suggest the Fb group Costa Rica Travel. You'll be able to ask questions, seek for subjects, and get itineraries, ideas, and inspiration there.

The view from North Fields farm, the place they develop cocoa and low beans.

What I Would Do Otherwise

I want we had…been extra strategic about meals

Youngsters are ALWAYS HUNGRY, which will be particularly difficult whenever you’re touring. We spent some huge cash on meals, and I believe we might’ve been smarter about it. My recommendation:

In the event you’re reserving a lodge, examine the menus upfront to make certain the meals is family-friendly and inexpensive.
Refill on meals at a grocery retailer to maintain in your room (we stopped at a Wal-Mart close to the Liberia airport). See our listing on the backside for concepts.
Go to one of many many fruit stands to purchase recent fruit and native baked items like Rosaquillas. Maintain the recent fruit in your lodge or Airbnb fridge.
Analysis eating places forward of time so you might have choices when everyone seems to be drained and hungry and needs to eat RIGHT NOW! Scroll down for 2 locations I like to recommend.
Eat on the “sodas”, that are small, locally-owned eating places with easy meals and good costs.

I want we had…scheduled extra actions

Each child is totally different, however I discovered that mine loved having one thing to do every single day of our journey. Some downtime to relaxation and recharge was crucial, however my children had been bored once we had a day with out plans.

We did 4 excursions in all–Mistico Hanging Bridges, Espresso & Chocolate Tour, Forest Night time Hike, and Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park Tour–however I want I had booked some energetic, adventurous excursions as properly, like waterfall rappelling, kayaking, or pedal-boarding on Lake Arenal, which a good friend really helpful.

Mistico Hanging Bridges Tour. We walked throughout six hanging bridges and, with the assistance of a information, noticed monkeys, sloths, snakes, spiders, and frogs.

I want we had…stayed in an Airbnb or Vrbo

Frankly, I used to be nervous about being in a new-to-me nation, so I needed to stay with resorts. However now that I’ve visited, I'd really feel nice about renting a well-rated Airbnb or Vrbo to economize, have an entire kitchen, and get extra room to unfold out.

For instance, a good friend of mine stayed in this Vrbo in Monteverde together with her household, and the proprietor organized to have an area prepare dinner put together a standard dinner for them!

So many frosty, fruity drinks! This one was passionfruit.

I want we had…spent extra time in fewer locations

I scheduled rather a lot for one week, and I believe I pushed us a bit an excessive amount of. If I might do it over, I’d keep at simply two locations as a substitute of 4, so we might spend extra time in every spot. Right here was our itinerary:

Fly into Liberia Airport and get shuttle to Hotel Playa Hermosa Bosque del Mar (one night time): This was an anticipated additional day, after Southwest randomly canceled our flights and rebooked us a day early. It was nice for our bonus day, however there are probably prettier seashores within the space.
Get rental automotive and drive to Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa (two nights)–the swankiest lodge we’ve stayed in as a household, with entry to their intensive thermal springs. I'd keep within the La Fortuna space longer subsequent time. Whereas there, we additionally did:
Drive to Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel (two nights)–lovely and distant however I don’t suggest it for individuals who get carsick, because the highway as much as the lodge is lengthy, bumpy, and unpaved. I arrived sick with meals poisoning, so sadly I didn't get to get pleasure from this lodge. They despatched tea and hen broth to our casita for me.
- Guided Night time Hike for my husband and children, the place they noticed a wide range of frogs, snakes, spiders and loved being within the forest at night time.
Drive to La Vela Boutique Hotel in Manuel Antonio (two nights)–a five-minute stroll to the Nationwide Park, which was a handy location however in a really touristy space. I want we’d had extra time at these seashores. Mapache additionally picked up our rental automotive right here.
- Nationwide Park Tour: As a result of we didn't get tickets to the park in time, doing a proper tour was the one approach to get in–however you may merely get park tickets and benefit from the park and seashores by yourself.
Shuttle to San Jose Airport for our flight house.

La Fortuna Waterfall, which is on the backside of 500 stairs. I wasn’t courageous sufficient to leap in (it’s COLD) however my guys did!

Highlights From Our Journey to Costa Rica with Teenagers

Cafe y Macademia: We stopped right here for frosty fruit drinks, pizza, superior views of Lake Arenal, plus enjoyable souvenirs on the way in which out. It’s well worth the lengthy, windy drive.

La Vendanita: A reader really helpful this small, family-owned restaurant close to La Fortuna, and my 17 yr outdated declared it “the coolest restaurant he’s ever been to”. Owned by an ex-pat from California and his Costa Rican spouse, it’s obtained recent, inexpensive meals with superb views of the volcano.

A BIG burrito and chilly Imperial beer at La Vendanita.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour: I used to be frightened my children can be bored studying about espresso, however all of us preferred this tour, which begins in a small farm and ends with tastings of espresso and chocolate. My children additionally obtained to press juice from uncooked sugarcane. We discovered rather a lot!

Our journey agent booked this tour via Canoa Aventura. however I’ve learn nice issues in regards to the Don Olivio Chocolate Tour too.

Studying about cocoa pods (and attending to style the beans inside) at our espresso & chocolate tour at North Fields.

Mistico Hanging Bridges Tour: We traversed six hanging bridges with our information, who identified monkeys, sloths, spiders, tarantulas, snakes, and frogs alongside the way in which.

Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park Seashores: I want we had extra time at these lovely seashores, which appear to be slices of paradise. These seashores are contained in the nationwide park, and tickets to the park promote out, so ebook yours upfront.

The seashores inside Manuel Antonio Park are postcard-perfect!

FAQ About Costa Rica

Did we really feel protected in Costa Rica?

Sure! We didn't expertise something that felt harmful. That being mentioned, it’s essential to know that automotive break-ins are widespread. Once we stopped at a Wal-Mart, safety guards patrolled the heaps, and at Cafe y Macademia, you tip the car parking zone attendants to keep watch over your automotive. We additionally stashed our passports and valuables within the lodge safes when out of our room, which is smart regardless of the place you journey.

Is it okay to drink the water?

Sure. I did numerous analysis earlier than going, and the consensus was that the water is protected to drink. Nevertheless, I did come down with some form of meals poisoning that landed me in mattress for about 36 hours in the midst of our journey. It’s unattainable to know what brought on it, however no one else within the household obtained sick whereas we had been there despite the fact that all of us ate and drank the identical issues.

What’s the meals like in Costa Rica?

At resorts and resorts, you'll be able to simply discover acquainted fare. On the small native eating places (known as sodas), you’ll discover menu gadgets like gallo pinto (rice and beans), arroz con pollo (hen and rice), casado (rice, beans, greens, and plantains), and many recent fruit juices. And the pineapple! Oh the pineapple! It’s in every single place and it’s FABULOUS.

We additionally ate loads of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. My children had no drawback discovering gadgets on each menu that they preferred.

What foreign money do they use?

The foreign money of Costa Rica is the colon. Once we arrived, we exchanged $200 for colones and introduced $200 value of {dollars} in small payments for ideas. We paid in colones, {dollars}, and with our Visa (there's a small payment for utilizing Visa).

At present, the trade fee is about 660 colones per $1. Don’t trade your cash on the airport like we did–their fee was a lot decrease!

Is it true they don’t flush bathroom paper?

Sure, in some locations they ask you to position used bathroom paper in a can beside the bathroom.

Do I would like to talk Spanish?

The general public we encountered working in tourism spoke English. However we additionally met many “Ticos” (that’s what Costa Ricans name themselves) who didn’t communicate a lot or any English in any respect, just like the proprietors on the fruit stands and markets we visited and the cashier at Wal-Mart. However via hand gestures and the Google Translate app, we had been in a position to work it out!

I believe it’s respectful to try to communicate the native language, so we used easy Spanish phrases wherever we went, and my children obtained to follow the Spanish they’ve discovered at school, translating menu gadgets and highway indicators. Fundamental phrases & phrases we used:

Hola: Hi there
Gracias: Thanks
Buenos días = Good morning
Buenas noches = Good night
Mucho gusto = Good to fulfill you
Adiós = Goodbye
Por favor = Please
Lo siento = Sorry
¿Dónde? = The place?
Sí = Sure

What does “Pura Vida” imply?

You’ll see and listen to this expression in Costa Rica. The literal translation is “pure life” or “simple life” and it embodies the laid-back vibe of the nation. As one in all our tour guides defined to me, it may be used for the whole lot from a greeting, a goodbye, a solution to “how are you?” and even a “no worries” when one thing goes flawed.

Since returning house, we’ve tried to maintain the relaxed, worry-less “Pura Vida” vibe going!

View of Lake Arenal on the way in which to Cafe y Macademia.

What to Pack for Costa Rica with Teenagers

T-shirts (no less than one per day if no entry to laundry since you’ll get scorching and sweaty), shorts, mountaineering pants or joggers, hoodie
Further socks (in case you get moist)
Raincoat
Bathing fits and rash guard
Sun shades
Reusable water bottles
Day packs for everybody: On excursions, have every individual carry a pack with their very own swimsuit, towel, water bottle, and anything they want.
Strolling or mountaineering sneakers
Sandals or slides
Hat
Binoculars
Sunscreen (the solar is powerful!)
Bug spray (you can even purchase this there)
Imodium anti-diarrhea medication. A reader suggested me to pack this simply in case. So glad I did as a result of we had been distant from a pharmacy after I wanted it.
Bonine movement illness chewable tablets. The roads are windy, so it’s straightforward to get carsick. Even should you don’t lease a automotive, chances are you'll want it for the shuttles to resorts and resorts.
Band-aids and antibiotic ointment
Advil or different ache reliever
Enjoying playing cards or Uno
Telephone charger for the automotive
Many $1, $5, and $10 payments for tipping

Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park

Groceries We Purchased in Costa Rica

Chips and different salty snacks
Cookies (good for dessert again within the room)
Granola bars
Bottled water
Gatorade (I used to be so comfortable to have this after I was dehydrated from meals poisoning!)
Onerous sweet (nice for lengthy hikes)
Peppermints (to assuage carsickness)
Crackers
Nuts
SIM card (we had been suggested to get this however by no means found out methods to use it!)