It’s no secret that the main draw of Costa Rica is the beautiful beaches — but it’s also 100% worth it to go beyond the beach while you’re here. The country is packed with endless ways to teach your kids about wildlife, complex ecosystems, and the importance of conservation.
Here’s 5 of the best things to do in Costa Rica that your kids will love (that don’t involve the beach!)
- Visit a rural farm
Kids (and parents!) will love learning about rural Costa Rican farm life. Before tourism took off, the country relied on it’s exports of sugar cane, coffee, and rice
There’s plenty of unique farming experiences to choose from. Check out Pura Vida Moms website for a list of 15 best family farms to visit based on what region you’re staying in.
If you’re staying near Tamarindo, Finca Las Garzas is a farm about 20 minutes north and is an incredible experience. When you arrive, you’ll be served a traditional Costa Rican breakfast cooked on a wood burning stove with coffee, fresh juice, and homemade bread. Throughout the day, you’ll be able to ride horses through the beautiful countryside, pick fresh mangos, milk cows, feed the farm animals, and ride on a traditional Guanacaste oxcart.
- See the Mangrove forest and rescued animals
The mangrove ecosystem is one of the world’s most important — it’s also one of the most endangered. The trees are often surrounded by marshes and provides a habitat to a wide variety of wildlife as well as a nursery to many fish, crabs, and even crocodiles.
There’s no better way to help kids understand this complex ecosystem than taking them to one — and in Costa Rica, there’s plenty to choose from! Plus, if you have a photographer in the family, you’re sure to get some amazing photos of massive trees, iguanas, and monkeys.
Check out this resource for a list of the best jungle and mangrove tours in the country.
If you’re staying in Tamarindo, about 40 minutes north of Tamarindo, you’ll find a wildlife sanctuary that spans 953 acres. This refuge protects the mangrove forest of the Tamarindo Estuary and mouth of the Matapalo River. You’ll be able to kayak through the estuary and see many kinds of wildlife in their natural habitat — crocodiles, sea turtles, howler monkeys and a lot more!
Or, if your student is more into big cats, you may want to visit Las Pumas Animal Sanctuary, about 2 hours north of Tamarindo. This shelter provides a home for animals that have been injured or orphaned in the illegal pet trade.
- Volunteer to help nesting sea turtles
Just before a new moon in the lunar cycle, a mass sea turtle nesting occurs on the Pacific and Carribean coastlines, also known as the sea turtle arribada. If you’ve got a wildlife enthusiast in the bunch, you need to take time to experience this amazing sight!
The best time to see the biggest arribadas is September through November. There’s many places to see an arribada but one of the best is Ostional beach on the Nicoya Peninsula, the arribadas here are usually among the biggest in the world. Each year, millions of turtles lay their eggs in the black volcanic sand.
If you can’t make it to Ostional, there’s plenty of other locations to choose from! Check out this nesting map to find the best location for your family.
If you’re near Tamarindo, the most popular spot is 30 minutes north of Tamarindo at Las Baulas National Park.
However, if you want to actually volunteer, you may want to check out Verdiazul CR which is about 45 minutes south of Tamarindo. Here you’ll be able to volunteer to help increase the birth rate and survival of baby sea turtles.
- Day trip to see a volcano
Of course, a trip to Costa Rica isn’t complete without seeing a volcano! The country is home to over 61 volcanoes, but only 6 are considered active. The country is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc. This arc, from Guatemala to Panama, has the largest density of volcanoes in the world. This can be a great geography lesson for kids as well as a way to explain the advantages of geothermal energy.
Arenal Volcano is in the north, just outside the small town of La Fortuna. It’s probably the most famous volcano in Central America and was once the most active. Now, you won’t be able to hear the rumblings or see the red hot lava because it’s been dormant since 2010, but it’s still a pretty awesome site to see.
Poas Volcano is located in the Central Valley and makes a great day trip from San Jose — it’s still active and is probably best known for the two lakes at the top— one is aqua blue right in the middle of the crater, which makes this gorgeous volcano to photograph
If you’re in Tamarindo, Rincon de la Vieja is your closest option. It’s a little over 2 hours away from town, but there’s a few shuttle options to get you there if you don’t want to rent a car. It’s still active and offers some of the best hikes with breathtaking views of waterfalls in the country. (However, the most scenic hikes should be reserved for older kids — while there are some easy trails for little ones to conquer, you may find them a bit underwhelming for the 2 hour drive it takes to get there.)
- Take a chocolate and coffee tours
Costa Rica is famous for its chocolate and coffee. The country’s steady rainfall, warm temperatures, and fertile soil, makes for the perfect environment for growing these beans. Take a tour and learn the history of the crops in Costa Rica & how they’re grown. Kids will walk away with an appreciation for how their favorite chocolate bars get made!
Check out this in-depth resource for the best coffee and chocolate tours in the country!