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.
Is Costa Rica in your bucket checklist? It was on mine for a very long time. So after two years with little journey, I used to be able to go huge and eventually make it occur.
I’m completely happy to report that Costa Rica was every little thing I’d hoped it will 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 journey!” 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 by 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.
Remember the fact that most of the roads in Costa Rica are slender 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 daytime 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 suppose (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 lodges. We made a number of unsuitable turns alongside the way in which however by no means acquired utterly misplaced.
I’m glad we…went off the overwhelmed 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 by many small cities and delightful rural areas. If we had stayed put at lodges and resorts with different vacationers, we wouldn’t have skilled that.
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 might by no means have seen the wildlife on our personal. The guides know the right way 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 concerning the vegetation and historical past of the world.
I’m glad we…acquired assist from a journey agent
Even armed with recommendation from pals who had traveled to Costa Rica, I nonetheless felt overwhelmed planning the journey. So I used a journey company a pal really helpful referred to as Pacific Commerce Winds. They have 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 have been additionally upgraded at two of the lodges 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 while you ebook by an company.
For journey planning, I additionally extremely suggest the Fb group Costa Rica Journey. You possibly can ask questions, seek for subjects, and get itineraries, suggestions, and inspiration there.
What I Would Do In a different way
I want we had…been extra strategic about meals
Youngsters are ALWAYS HUNGRY, which may be particularly tough while you’re touring. We spent some huge cash on meals, and I believe we may’ve been smarter about it. My recommendation:
- If you happen to’re reserving a resort, examine the menus prematurely to make sure the meals is family-friendly and reasonably priced.
- Replenish on meals at a grocery retailer to maintain in your room (we stopped at a Wal-Mart close to the Liberia airport). See our checklist on the backside for concepts.
- Go to one of many many fruit stands to purchase recent fruit and native baked items like Rosaquillas. Preserve the recent fruit in your resort or Airbnb fridge.
- Analysis eating places forward of time so you will 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 completely different, however I discovered that mine loved having one thing to do day-after-day of our journey. Some downtime to relaxation and recharge was mandatory, however my children have been bored after we had a day with out plans.
We did 4 excursions in all–Mistico Hanging Bridges, Espresso & Chocolate Tour, Forest Evening Hike, and Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park Tour–however I want I had booked some energetic, adventurous excursions as effectively, like waterfall rappelling, kayaking, or pedal-boarding on Lake Arenal, which a pal really helpful.
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 lodges. However now that I’ve visited, I might really feel nice about renting a well-rated Airbnb or Vrbo to save cash, have a whole kitchen, and get extra room to unfold out.
For instance, a pal of mine stayed on this Vrbo in Monteverde together with her household, and the proprietor organized to have an area cook dinner put together a conventional dinner for them!
I want we had…spent extra time in fewer locations
I scheduled so much for one week, and I believe I pushed us a bit an excessive amount of. If I may do it over, I’d keep at simply two locations as a substitute of 4, so we may spend extra time in every spot. Right here was our itinerary:
- Fly into Liberia Airport and get shuttle to Lodge Playa Hermosa Bosque del Mar (one evening): This was an anticipated further day, after Southwest randomly canceled our flights and rebooked us a day early. It was positive 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 resort we’ve stayed in as a household, with entry to their in depth thermal springs. I might keep within the La Fortuna space longer subsequent time. Whereas there, we additionally did:
- Drive to Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Lodge (two nights)–stunning and distant however I don’t suggest it for individuals who get carsick, because the street as much as the resort is lengthy, bumpy, and unpaved. I arrived sick with meals poisoning, so sadly I didn’t get to take pleasure in this resort. They despatched tea and hen broth to our casita for me.
- Guided Evening Hike for my husband and youngsters, the place they noticed quite a lot of frogs, snakes, spiders and loved being within the forest at evening.
- Drive to La Vela Boutique Lodge 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 technique 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 residence.
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 definitely worth the lengthy, windy drive.
La Ventanita: A reader really helpful this small, family-owned restaurant close to La Fortuna, and my 17 12 months outdated declared it “the good restaurant he’s ever been to”. Owned by an ex-pat from California and his Costa Rican spouse, it’s acquired recent, reasonably priced meals with wonderful views of the volcano.
Espresso & Chocolate Tour: I used to be nervous my children could be bored studying about espresso, however all of us appreciated this tour, which begins in a small farm and ends with tastings of espresso and chocolate. My children additionally acquired to press juice from uncooked sugarcane. We discovered so much!
Our journey agent booked this tour by Canoa Aventura. however I’ve learn nice issues concerning the Don Olivio Chocolate Tour too.
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 stunning seashores, which seem like slices of paradise. These seashores are contained in the nationwide park, and tickets to the park promote out, so ebook yours prematurely.
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. After 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 resort safes when out of our room, which is sensible irrespective of the place you journey.
Is it okay to drink the water?
Sure. I did a number of analysis earlier than going, and the consensus was that the water is protected to drink. Nevertheless, I did come down with some sort of meals poisoning that landed me in mattress for about 36 hours in the midst of our journey. It’s unimaginable to know what precipitated it, however no person else within the household acquired sick whereas we have been there despite the fact that all of us ate and drank the identical issues.
What’s the meals like in Costa Rica?
At lodges and resorts, you possibly can simply discover acquainted fare. On the small native eating places (referred to 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 appreciated.
What forex do they use?
The forex of Costa Rica is the colon. After we arrived, we exchanged $200 for colones and introduced $200 price of {dollars} in small payments for suggestions. We paid in colones, {dollars}, and with our Visa (there’s a small price for utilizing Visa).
Presently, the alternate charge is about 660 colones per $1. Don’t alternate your cash on the airport like we did–their charge was a lot decrease!
Is it true they don’t flush rest room paper?
Sure, in some locations they ask you to put used rest room paper in a can beside the bathroom.
Do I want 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 converse 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 by hand gestures and the Google Translate app, we have been in a position to work it out!
I believe it’s respectful to try to converse the native language, so we used easy Spanish phrases wherever we went, and my children acquired to observe the Spanish they’ve discovered at school, translating menu gadgets and street indicators. Primary phrases & phrases we used:
- Hola: Whats up
- Gracias: Thanks
- Buenos días = Good morning
- Buenas noches = Good night
- Mucho gusto = Good to satisfy 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 “easy life” and it embodies the laid-back vibe of the nation. As considered one of our tour guides defined to me, it may be used for every little thing from a greeting, a goodbye, a solution to “how are you?” and even a “no worries” when one thing goes unsuitable.
Since returning residence, we’ve tried to maintain the relaxed, worry-less “Pura Vida” vibe going!
What to Pack for Costa Rica with Teenagers
We stuffed so much into these sort of compression packing cubes. They function a “compression zipper”, so that you save much more house. If you happen to’re flying, right here’s my favourite extremely light-weight suitcase you possibly can both examine or keep it up.
- T-shirts (no less than one per day if no entry to laundry since you’ll get sizzling 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 footwear
- Sandals or slides
- Hat
- Binoculars
- Sunscreen (the solar is robust!)
- 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 have been distant from a pharmacy once I wanted it.
- Bonine movement illness chewable tablets. The roads are windy, so it’s straightforward to get carsick. Even in the event you don’t hire a automotive, chances are you’ll want it for the shuttles to lodges and resorts.
- Band-aids and antibiotic ointment
- Advil or different ache reliever
- Taking part in playing cards or Uno
- Cellphone charger for the automotive
- Many $1, $5, and $10 payments for tipping
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 completely happy to have this once I was dehydrated from meals poisoning!)
- Exhausting sweet (nice for lengthy hikes)
- Peppermints (to assuage carsickness)
- Crackers
- Nuts
- SIM card (we have been suggested to get this however by no means discovered the right way to use it!)
Extra Journey Itineraries
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