9 Days in Costa Rica - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Costa Rica for Families: Outdoor Adventures & Wildlife 

Ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts, this 9-day itinerary takes you to Arenal Volcano, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Manuel Antonio National Park for wildlife viewing, hiking, and snorkeling.

You'll spend a day sightseeing in historic downtown San José, then enjoy a side trip to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, home to the largest butterfly garden in the country. Go on a safari-style float down a jungle river the following day, then hike around the base of the famous Arenal Volcano and dip in natural hot springs.

Explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest next. Kids will love soaring through the trees while zip-lining at the Sky Adventures Park, then looking for jaguars in the wild in the nearby Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Spend the end of the trip hiking and sailing in Manuel Antonio National Park, followed by a snorkeling adventure in the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve. Learn more

Read about the Best Things to Do in Monteverde.

Itinerary #2: Costa Rica Family Fun: Culture, Wildlife & Cloud Forests 

Offering a hands-on farm experience, cooking class, and horseback trek, this 9-day family-friendly adventure includes waterfall swimming and a ride on the longest zip-line in Latin America

Sightsee in San José, then take in sweeping views of the Magia Blanca Waterfall on day two. You'll learn how to make traditional Costa Rican dishes during a cooking class with a local chef before embarking on a horseback riding trip to La Fortuna Waterfall. The whole family will love cooling off in the natural pool, then warming up with a visit to the Tabacon Hot Springs for another dip.

You'll spend all of day five on a Costa Rican farm. Kids can try their hand at milking cows, while adults will appreciate the farm's beautiful orchid gardens. Explore the Children's Eternal Rainforest, followed by an afternoon of zip-lining at an adventure park. Try the Big One, the longest zip-line cable in Latin America, or the Tarzan Swing. You'll hike through the Monteverde Cloud Forest on the last day of the trip. Learn more

Discover more of the best things to do in Arenal here.

Itinerary #3: Costa Rica Family Trip: Volcanoes, Waterfalls & Coral Reefs

This action-packed 9-day tour leads the whole family around Costa Rica's most spectacular natural attractions, including Rincón de la Vieja National Park, the Gulf of Papagayo, and the beautiful beaches of Sámara.

Kick off the adventure in Rincón de la Vieja National Park with a dip in the Río Negro Hot Springs, heated by a nearby volcano. You'll go hiking in the park with the family in tow and then along the bright blue Río Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park. Move on to the Gulf of Papagayo for a sunset cruise down the Gold Coast, keeping your eyes open for dolphins and sea turtles.

Enjoy a boating trip on the Tamarindo Estuary next, a wildlife-spotting opportunity engaging for all ages. Then you'll continue to Sámara and take some time to relax on the region's white, gold, and black sand beaches. You'll go snorkeling off the coast of the island of Isla Chora and visit a scarlet macaw refuge and rehabilitation center to finish off the itinerary. Learn more

This article has more ideas for what to do around the Gulf of Papagayo.

Itinerary #4: Family Adventure in Costa Rica: Wetlands, Volcanoes & Caribbean Beaches 

This family-oriented tour introduces travelers to white-sand Caribbean beaches, smoking volcanoes, and quiet estuaries teeming with wildlife for nine days of outdoor adventures and educational activities in national parks.

Get oriented in San José before heading off to Tortuguero National Park for a nighttime tour of the rainforest, looking for spiders, frogs, bats, porcupines, and more along the walk. You'll explore the park's canals by boat on day three, then hike to the top of the highest peak in the region, Cerro Tortuguero. Take in sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea before descending and boating back to the lodge.

On the second part of the trip, the family will enjoy exploring the beautiful beaches of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, then touring Cahuita National Park. Cycling, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing are all on the agenda. Learn about the rehabilitation of wild animals in the area at the Jaguar Animal Rescue Center before continuing to Arenal to spend the last few days exploring the Arenal Hanging Bridges and hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall. Learn more

See the Ultimate Guide to Tortuguero National Park for more travel advice.

Itinerary #5: Active Family Adventure in Costa Rica 

Kids will love looking for snakes in the jungle and whale-watching from a boat on this family-friendly 9-day adventure! The itinerary leads you to Arenal Volcano, Tamarindo, and the gorgeous beaches of Sámara for swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

Begin the trip with a jungle tour after dark at Ecocentro Danaus, a private ecological reserve. Then spend a few hours hiking along the stunning blue Río Celeste river. Kids will have fun looking for sloths in the trees on day three, then soaking in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano. Move on to Tamarindo for a kayaking excursion around the mangroves and wetlands, followed by a snorkeling trip to the Catalina Islands.

You'll spend the second half of the trip in and around Sámara. Explore the area's famous beaches, then go on a kayaking and snorkeling tour off the island of Isla Chora. On the last full day of the trip, the family will go on a fantastic rainforest hiking adventure in the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve. An expert naturalist guide will lead you through the tropical dry forest as you learn about the reserve's biodiversity. Learn more

For more ideas on what to see and do in Tamarindo, check out this article.

More Great 9-Day Costa Rica Itineraries