Last Updated: May 22, 2025
This Costa Rica itinerary with kids is the most efficient way to see the best places in the country in 7 to 10 days. It’s fast-paced but perfect for families and kids of all ages. This itinerary starts and ends at Liberia airport (LIR). It takes you to La Fortuna, Monteverde, and beaches on the North Pacific coast. While it’s not possible to visit every corner of the country in this time, visiting these 3 stops will allow you to see most of the Bucket list must-do’s in Costa Rica. This itinerary can be done any time of the year, even in the rainy season – with or without a rental car.
This itinerary starts and ends at Liberia Guanacaste airport (LIR). It takes you to La Fortuna, Monteverde and Playa Hermosa or Tamarindo. If you are starting from San Jose Airport, see Best of Costa Rica – 7 day itinerary from San Jose. Be sure to also check out my Step-by-Step Guide to Costa Rica for Families for tons of valuable advice on planning and booking your trip. If you want to customize your itinerary, see Build your own itinerary – Best places to go in Costa Rica and Why. Don’t forget to download my free Wildlife Spotting Guide to help you and your kids learn more about the plentiful wildlife they are going to see.
You can do this itinerary with or without a rental car. If you choose not to get a rental car, you will need to arrange transfers with a tour company. This is not hard to do but just requires some extra planning. Most day tours and activities will pick you up from your hotel. For more help deciding, see Renting Vs Not Renting a Car.
Day 0 – Arrival in Costa Rica
Airport arrival: If your flight lands before noon, and you want to get going right away, you can get started with Day 1 of the itinerary. Any later than noon, consider staying overnight near the airport and starting your journey the next morning. The roads in Costa Rica are not easy to drive at night and afternoon rains can slow you down even further. There is also the risk of flight delays. Once you land, give yourself at least 1 – 2 hours to clear immigration, get your bags, exchange money and use the restrooms. If you have small kids, you can join the priority line to clear immigration faster.
Rental Car Pickup: If you are picking up a rental car, you will need to exit the airport and look for someone holding a sign with your rental car company name. They will help you get a shuttle to the nearest office to complete your paperwork and deposit payment. There are no companies that do rental car pick-ups directly at the airport. The whole process usually takes up to an hour, but can take even longer if there is a long wait for the car rental shuttle or if multiple people are picking up cars at the same time.
Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport is a good option to stay nearby and has a free Airport Shuttle and swimming pool. You can wait until the next morning to pick up your rental car to save on a day of rental car costs. The rental car company will bring your car to the hotel or shuttle you to their office.
If you don’t plan to rent a car: Book a private shuttle transfer directly to La Fortuna, even if you arrive later in the day. A local driver will be more comfortable with the roads even after nightfall.
Day 1 – Liberia to La Fortuna with a stop at Rio Celeste
Drive to La Fortuna: Begin your drive to La Fortuna – home of the famous Arenal Volcano. You will have 2 driving routes to choose from – through Bijagua or Tilaran. We will be taking the Bijagua route so we can make a stop at Rio Celeste. The total driving time is about 3 hours with Rio Celeste at roughly the halfway mark. Try to get going at or before 9 am so you have plenty of time to spend at the waterfalls and swimming hole.
Rio Celeste means blue river and that’s exactly what it is, a river with uncannily beautiful blue water because of the presence of certain minerals. The highlight here is a stunning blue waterfalls – one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica.
Hike to the waterfalls – This hike is about 3 miles out and back. This hike is very doable with kids but there are about 250 steps at the end to get closer to the waterfalls. If your kids are between 4 and 6, this might be more challenging as they’re too big to be carried and too small to walk all the way (what I call the awkward age for hiking). You can still do the swimming hole if you don’t want to attempt the hike. Be sure to start the hike before 1 pm at the latest so you can make it back to your car before the park closes at 4 pm. Lock all your luggage in the trunk and take your valuables with you.
Rio Celeste Swimming Hole – If you have time after your hike, or if you choose to skip the hike entirely, you can stop at a free swimming hole with calm, bright, turquoise blue water. This swimming hole is located just outside the national park and is part of the same river that feeds the famous Rio Celeste waterfalls. Just put “Rio Celeste – Danta Free River Pool” into your Google Maps. The swimming area is just a short walk from the car park ($2 to park). Alternatively, if you’re looking for something more adventurous, you can also go tubing on the river with a guide (ages 5+).
La Fortuna: Check into your La Fortuna hotel for 3 nights and rest up after your long journey. Los Lagos Spa and Thermal Resort is my choice for the best overall place to stay for families. Or if you want to shop around, you must check out my Tips to find the best places to stay in La Fortuna, where I break down the pros and cons of different neighborhoods and accommodation types.
If you don’t have a rental car – You can take a one day tour from La Fortuna to see Rio Celeste falls. Or you can skip this activity entirely and choose something else to do. See my ranked List of best things to do with kids in La Fortuna.
Day 2 – La Fortuna – Ziplining, Sloths and Hot Springs
Ziplining Adventure – Start off your morning with an adrenaline rush by booking a ziplining tour. If you have kids, Arenal Ecoglide Park is the best place to go. The guides have tons of experience with kids and they accept zipliners as young as 3! Yes 3! My son was 3 when we did it and he loved it. They even have a learning area to do a practice zipline before committing to the entire course.
With older kids or adults, consider ziplining over La Fortuna waterfalls for the best scenery. Allow about 2 hours for most ziplining tours. Take the 8 am tour if you can get out of bed early enough so that you have more time at the hot springs later.
Sloth Watching at Bogarin Trail – Next, head to Bogarin Trail private reserve for a guided walk along their trails. This is easily one of the best places in the country to see sloths as well as toucans, red-eyed tree frogs and other wildlife. I very highly recommend paying extra for the guided tour. They know exactly where the sloths and other wildlife like to hide. Without their help, you might not see anything at all. The tours take about two hours. Download my FREE wildlife spotting guide for kids before you go.
Hot Springs Resort – For the rest of the day, enjoy soaking in volcano-fed hot springs either at your own resort or with a day pass to another resort. If you want an experience like no other, Baldi Hot springs is a great option for families. They claim to be the largest hot springs resort in the world, with 25 thermal pools surrounded by lush gardens and landscaping. They are moderately priced, don’t need an advance reservation, and kids 5 and under are free. They have some fun features like cave saunas, swim-up bars, dedicated play areas, and water slides for children.
To avoid crowds, head straight to the back of the resort and slowly work your way to the pools in the front. On a weekday, even during peak season, you will likely have some pools entirely to yourself. The lunch or dinner buffet option is also a worthwhile addition to your day pass, with a pasta bar, salad bar, and plenty of desserts that your kids will like.
If these activities are not right for you, See my ranked list of best things to do with kids in La Fortuna so you can customize your day as you wish.
Day 3 – La Fortuna – Safari Float, La Fortuna Falls and Arenal Volcano Hike
Safari Float or White water Rafting – If you have young kids and want a calm experience with wildlife spotting opportunities, book a half-day safari float adventure. These tours include transport to the river, a 2-hour raft ride with a guide, and some refreshments at the end. This is a good opportunity to see monkeys in the wild as they play in the trees above the river. For a more active adventure, book this white water rafting tour with one of the highest rated companies in the area. Allow the entire morning for either activity.
La Fortuna Falls – Next, head to La Fortuna falls near the town center. The view of the waterfalls plunging into the forest below is stunning and a favorite for the front page of travel brochures. You can hike about 500 steps down to the base of the falls, though just a fair warning – your kids might not be so enthusiastic on the way back up. Swimming is sometimes allowed if the weather is good. Plan for 2 hours if you choose to make the trek. Or if you’re tired or short on time, you can just enjoy the viewpoint from up top (but you still have to pay a somewhat pricey entrance fee).
Arenal Volcano Hike – You will be able to see the eastern slope of Arenal volcano from many places in La Fortuna. However, a hike in one of the three parks at the base will get you closer to the western slope. From here you can see the lava flow paths more clearly and walk over black rocks formed by cooled lava. Before heading to the park, look toward the volcano and check the weather. Arenal can be covered by clouds for days at a time, even in the dry season. Most visitors never see the volcano completely unobstructed by clouds.
There are 3 places where you can do the hike – Arenal Volcano National Park (most popular but most crowded), Arenal 1968 and Mirador El Silencio. All have equally good views but the first two require long hikes in hot weather to get to the viewpoint. With kids, I recommend Mirador El Silencio because you can drive right up to the view point and then it is a short 15 minute hike to the lava fields. You do not need a guide but definitely download my Arenal fun fact sheet to make this an educational experience for your kids.
By this point, you would have seen plenty of wildlife and enjoyed some of the best experiences in La Fortuna. If you are staying longer here or want to customize your itinerary, see my ranked list of best things to do with kids in La Fortuna.
Day 4 – Drive to Monteverde and Coffee tour
Scenic Drive around Lake Arenal to Monteverde – Start early and begin the drive to Monteverde. It should take you about 3-4 hours or so. The drive can be windy, steep, and unpaved in some sections, so take it slow when needed. The drive will take you around Lake Arenal with stunning scenery along the way. There are several places where you can pull over to take pictures and buy a snack of freshly cut fruit from local vendors.
If you don’t have a rental car: Book your transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde. The transfer includes a boat ride across Lake Arenal. This cuts down on time on the road while also giving you a chance to experience the lake and volcano.
Monteverde – Check into your hotel for the next two nights. Our top two recommendations for families are Hotel Flor de Bromelia (more walkable with stunning views) and Valle Escondido (huge kids play area and on-site restaurant, also with stunning views). If you want to find other options, see my Tips to find the best places to stay in Monteverde.
Coffee Plantation Tour – Costa Rica is world famous for its coffee because its volcanic rich soil allows for some exceptional flavors. Even though you will see coffee and chocolate tours in La Fortuna, the higher elevation at Monteverde is why the best coffee farm tours are located there. Chocolate and sugarcane are newer to Costa Rica and are often included in these tours as well. There are several options to choose from, but I recommend the Don Juan Coffee and Chocolate tour. Their target market is families, so they focus more on interactivity over tedious technical details. We also like this one because kids are served hot chocolate at the end of the tour, so they don’t feel left out while the grown-ups sample the coffee.
Monteverde also has some other great activities. Customize how you spend your time here with my guide to Best activities with kids in Monteverde.
Day 5 – Monteverde – Bird Sanctuary, Hanging Bridges and Night Tour
Curi Cancha Birdwatching – Start your morning early with a walk through the Curi Cancha reserve. In addition to excellent birdwatching opportunities, this private reserve has a hedge maze, hummingbird garden and several massive, hollow ficus trees that you can climb inside. Ficus trees grow around their host tree but completely destroy the tree within, creating a hollow interior.
Guides can be expensive here so feel free to give them a skip if budget is tight. You will likely run across other groups looking through their scopes and cameras, and if you ask nicely, they will share their findings with you. Allow about 2 hours for this visit.
If your primary goal is to spot the Resplendent Quetzal – one of Costa Rica’s rarest and most beautiful birds, I would recommend asking your hotel staff to ask their local guide network on where the latest sightings are. They move around the various reserves throughout the year based on where they can find their food.
Cloud Forest Hanging Bridge Hike – This might just be the single best thing to do in Costa Rica if you only have time to do one thing. Cloud forests are a magical and unique type of rainforest, exceedingly rare elsewhere in the world. The best way to explore them is the hanging bridges hike at Selvatura Park. This private reserve borders the more famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve but it features 8 spectacular bridges, whereas the main reserve just has one. The trail is 2 miles long and is best done as a self-guided walk so you can cherish the solitude of nature at your own pace. The 1 pm entry slot is ideal for Selvatura as the afternoon is more likely to be mistier and cooler. Don’t forget to download my free Fun facts about Costa Rica’s Forests and Conservation before you go.
Optional Butterfly Garden: Consider combining the hike with an add-on visit to Selvatura’s butterfly garden – one of the largest in the Americas. The park also has a sloth and reptile sanctuary but you’ve likely already seen this in La Fortuna so I recommend giving those attractions a skip.
Night Tour – To wrap up your exploration of Costa Rica’s forest wonders, book a 6 pm or 8 pm night tour. There are several to choose from, I recommend Refugio Monteverde for their reasonable prices and smaller group sizes. Monteverde is better than La Fortuna for night tours because the cooler elevation means fewer bugs. Even so, make sure to wear bug protection spray before you head out. Except to spend about 2 hours exploring the whole new nocturnal world of rainforests.
If you want to extend your stay in Monteverde, see Best activities with kids in Monteverde.
Day 6 – Drive to Playa Hermosa (or Tamarindo), Waterfalls, Turtles
Optional: Bat jungle – If you or your kids are interested in bats, this small exhibit opens at 9 am and is worth a quick stop before you head out of town. There are two small interactive exhibit rooms explaining the lifestyle and habitats of native bats. This is followed by a dark enclosure filled with rescued bats that you explore with a flashlight.
Drive to the Pacific Coast – Begin your drive to the coast for some relaxing beach time before heading back home. Plan about 3-4 hours for this drive not including the pitstops listed below. If you don’t have a rental car, you can book a private shuttle transfer. Work directly with the transport company to work out the extra cost if you want to make stops along the way.
Optional: Las Pumas Rescue Center – If you or your kids were very keen to see a jaguar (almost impossible to see in the wild), you can optionally stop at this rescue center which is on the way. It takes about an hour to walk through the exhibits and animals are kept in enclosures similar to a zoo. However, if this is not particularly important to you, you can give this a skip as it is pretty similar to zoos back home.
Llanos de Cortez Waterfalls – About halfway into your drive, once you are past the town of Bagaces, look for Llanos de Cortez waterfalls. One of Costa Rica’s prettiest waterfalls, it is also very easy to get to with a short 5-minute walk from the parking lot. The water is calm and shallow for swimming on a hot or rainy afternoon and makes for a perfect pit stop to break up the drive. If you go on a weekend or holiday, you will see many local families picnicking here.
Continue with your drive to your favorite beach town, where you will be staying for the last couple of nights. Here are a couple of great options depending on what you’re looking for.
- Option 1 – Playa Hermosa (the one in Guanacaste) is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Northern Pacific coast and perfect for families with young kids. It has calmer waters, more shade, and greenery than most other beaches in the area. It’s located just 30 minutes to Liberia airport which means more time on the beach and less time driving. Our favorite choice to stay at is the relatively affordable Hotel El Velero with its beachfront pool, restaurant and nearby playground. On the other hand, if you’re looking to splurge, the Andaz Costa Rica Resort by Hyatt and the Four Seasons Resort are two of the most beautiful beachfront resorts in the area.
- Option 2 – Tamarindo is a much larger beach town and a good alternative to Playa Hermosa if you have kids over 5 and want to take a surf lesson or do more activities. Be prepared to drive an extra hour to reach Tamarindo. There are several good beachfront resorts in the area, that are also walkable to town. Check out Capitan Suizo Beachfront Hotel and Diria Beach Resort.
Wherever you choose, stick to beachfront hotels, if you can, to avoid walking around in extreme heat or fighting for parking spots near the beach. Also keep in mind that rental car companies charge an extra cleaning fee if you get sand all over the car.
Night time Turtle Nesting tour (October to February) – At around dusk, you can sign up for a tour to nearby Playa Grande to search for turtle nesting locations with special red-tinted flashlights. If you’re lucky, you might get to see mama turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. However, be aware that Turtle nesting is unpredictable and fluctuates every year. There is also the possibility of not seeing anything at all. This activity is best with kids older than 5, as it requires staying up late and waiting quietly in the dark.
Day 7 – Volunteering and Beach Day
Volunteering or Horse riding at Monkey Farm – If you are staying near Playa Hermosa, consider visiting the non-profit Monkey farm which started as a monkey rescue center and now offers a few different half day experiences. These include a farm tour, making rope bridges for monkeys, cooking food for the homeless and horse riding on the beach or the jungle. You will need to reserve in advance on their website.
Surfing Lesson – If you are staying near Tamarindo, sign up for a surf lesson with one of the many beginner-friendly surf schools. Lessons are usually private for your family. If you have kids over the age of 7 and they are comfortable in the water, they can join you, or just watch from the beach.
Beach Time – Spend the rest of your last day just relaxing on the beach, building sandcastles, renting water sports equipment and exploring the restaurants in the local area. Be sure to catch the beautiful sunset.
Day 8 – Return to Airport
For your last day, enjoy some final beach time before heading to the airport for your flight home. Liberia airport is pretty small, but allow at least 3 hours to drop off your rental car, take the shuttle to the airport, and get through bag drop and immigration. Remember to fill gas before dropping off your car, there are several gas stations nearby.
Read Next:
Step-by-Step Travel Guide to Costa Rica for Families – Everything you need to plan your trip
Get a Free Costa Rica Wildlife Guide for kids and other fun facts about Costa Rica
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