Last Updated: May 22, 2025
Trying to plan a vacation to Costa Rica and don’t know where to start? Then start right here! This step-by-step Costa Rica Travel Guide will take you through every part of the planning process. With this guide, you can confidently have your entire trip planned, booked, and ready to go in a few hours.
Jump to:
- Step 1: Is Costa Rica right for you? – When to go? How much will it cost? is it safe?
- Step 2: Flights and Transport – Which airport is best? Do you need a rental car?
- Step 3: Itinerary – Best places to go and why? And fully-planned sample itineraries
- Step 4: Accommodation – How to start your search? And best places to stay for families
- Step 5: Tours and Activities – Best things to do, ranked and explained
- Step 6: Prepare for your trip – What you need to know before you leave
All of the information here is based on countless hours of research and on-the-ground travel experience with my kids. I will give you an honest breakdown of all of your options (including what not to do!). Hate making decisions? I help you make them. Feeling overwhelmed? My goal is to make travel easy and educational for all families.
Don’t forget to download my kid-friendly Wildlife Spotting Guide, Coloring pages and Fun-Fact Printables so you can get your kids ready and excited for Costa Rica. Get all these PDF downloads for FREE when you subscribe to my email newsletter.
Step 1 – Is Costa Rica right for you?
Families love Costa Rica and for good reason. It’s got volcanoes, hot springs, exotic animals, magical rainforests, ziplining, and many learning opportunities for kids. It is one of the safest destinations to visit in Central America with plenty of facilities catering specifically to children. Budget wise, attractions in Costa Rica aren’t super-cheap, but the safety standards are worth the extra cost. And with careful planning, this can still be a very affordable trip, especially compared to a vacation in Europe, US or Canada.
The best time to go to Costa Rica is between December to April if you want to avoid the rain, but summer can be fantastic too. And if you’re wondering how many vacation days to take, a week is perfect to see the best parts of the country with time to spare for lazing on the beach.
Articles in this section:
- Best Experiences for Families in Costa Rica – A ranked list of the top things to do with kids in Costa Rica
- Is Costa Rica actually Safe? – An objective look at the Statistics, Common Scams and Tips to Stay Safe
- Costa Rica Travel Budget – A real-life, line-by-line budget for a family of 4 to travel to Costa Rica for one week
- When to go to Costa Rica? – Comparing Rainy vs Dry Season. And what to expect on Easter/Spring Break or Christmas
Step 2 – Book your flights and transport
Once you’ve decided you’re going to Costa Rica (yay!), you should book your flights right away. Every day that you wait, it’s more likely that prices will go up, not down. You do not need your entire itinerary planned out to book your flights. But you will need to decide which airport to fly into. Costa Rica has two major airports, and picking the right one is important. Liberia (LIR) is better for quick access to beaches less overall driving. San Jose (SJO) is better for getting to off-the-beaten path destinations.
If you decide to drive (which is completely optional by the way), now is also a great time to book your rental car or transfers.
Articles in this section:
- Liberia Airport or San Jose Airport? – A deep dive into which Costa Rica airport is better for what you want to do
- Renting vs Not Renting a Car – Which option is cheaper and easier? And how to book your car or transfers.
Step 3 – Plan your Costa Rica Itinerary
Costa Rica is a small country, but many of the top destinations are spread out all over the place. There is also a lot of overlap in attractions and experiences in each place, so you don’t need to visit them all. Your best bet is to narrow down your itinerary to 2 to 3 hubs that offer the widest range of experiences with the least time on the road. La Fortuna (volcano and hot springs), Monteverde (cloud forests), and the Pacific beaches are the ideal trifecta that many first-time visitors opt for.
My suggested 7-day itineraries are carefully crafted to show you the best of Costa Rica in a week, packed with kid-friendly activities. If you take Monday to Friday off from work or school (plus weekends on both sides), this gives you 7 days to explore and 2 days to travel to and from your home country. With this itinerary, you can choose to rent a car or make pre-arranged shuttle transfers. Or, if you prefer, you can learn all the best places to go in Costa Rica and build your own itinerary with off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Articles in this section:
- Best of Costa Rica – 7 day Itinerary from San Jose – Visit La Fortuna, Monteverde and Central Pacific beaches
- Best of Costa Rica – 7 day Itinerary from Liberia Airport – Visit La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Northern Pacific beaches
- Build your own Costa Rica itinerary – A ranked list of the best places to go in Costa Rica. Compare the pros and cons to decide if it’s worth it for you
Step 4 – Book your Accommodation
Once you have your itinerary roughly planned out, it’s time to book your accommodation. Many of the best hotels get booked out months in advance, so book as early as you can. My accommodation guides to La Fortuna and Monteverde will simplify your search with a map of the best areas to focus on, what to expect at each price range, and localized tips (that I wish I knew sooner!) for each destination.
Or if you want to skip to the chase, my number one choice for families in La Fortuna is Los Lagos Resort with its extensive grounds, volcano views, and hot springs. In Monteverde, families love staying at Valle Escondido Nature Reserve and Farm.
A visit to Costa Rica won’t feel complete without some well-earned beach time. If you are flying out of Liberia, end your stay at the affordable, beachfront Hotel El Velero in family-favorite Playa Hermosa (the one in Guanacaste). Or if you’re flying out of San Jose, stay at the beachfront hotel Club Del Mar for calm waters and beginner surf lessons for the kids.
Articles in this section:
- Tips to find the Best Hotels and Places to Stay in La Fortuna – Which neighborhoods to focus on, why location matters, and common mistakes to avoid. Compare pros and cons of my top list of hotels and resorts for families.
- Tips to find the Best Hotels and Places to Stay in Monteverde – Tips on where here to focus your search. Compare pros and cons of my top list of lodges and boutique hotels for families.
Step 5 – Plan and Book your Activities
Now for the nitty-gritty details of how you are going to fill each day. While sitting by the pool all day is an entirely respectable option, you might change your mind when you see all of the fun things to do in Costa Rica. Many of these activities should be booked ahead of time because the best providers often sell out quickly. Fortunately most also offer a 100% refund as long as you cancel at least 48 hours in advance.
With so many choices of tours and activities, these articles help you sort through the chaos by ranking the best of the best in every category.
Articles in this section:
- Best Things to do for Families in La Fortuna – Ranked
- Best Things to do for Families in Monteverde – Ranked
Step 6 – Prepare for your trip
Have everything booked, planned, and buttoned-up? Good job! Here are some great resources to help you prepare for the trip. Time to get your shopping, packing and reading done! Sign up to my newsletter to get access to the downloads library with free coloring pages, wildlife spotting guide, and other interesting fact guides to take with you on your trip.
Articles in this section:
- 10 things you (and your kids) should know about Costa Rica’s History and Culture
- What you need to know if you have a Medical Emergency when visiting Costa Rica
- Common Scams and Tips to Stay Safe in Costa Rica
- Wild life spotting guide, coloring pages, fun fact guides and more free printables to get your kids excited
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