Would you take your kids to Costa Rica?
When I was a kid, everyone took their family vacation to Florida. Sure, some opted for California, where there is a Disney Land and other beaches, but for the most part everyone went to Florida with their kids. As we've gotten older, and the Internet has shared with us the many wonders of the world--and how easy it is to get to such places--many families are opting for less traditional family vacations. For example, ever thought about taking the kids to Costa Rica? When I think of Costa Rica, I think of two things: Some of the most beautiful rain forests ever to exist, and really, really big spiders. In fact, when a friend reported back to me of her honeymoon (Costa Rica also makes me think of a romantic getaway), she spoke much of the giant spiders. No matter, people are still bringing their kids with them on such exotic vacations. And, the kids are loving it.
What's to do in Costa Rica for kids? Well, if you can afford it, given the dollar is so weak these days, a lot. The first thing is they get to interact with other children. Sign up for the Thomson Family Adventures and enjoy everything from homemade burritos to the chance to meet Costa Rican children and become their penpals. Spend some time white water rafting (obviously not for little kids or the faint of heart). Kids can play soccer and ride horseback with the locals. And of course there's the touring (sure to include at least one encounter with a giant spider) and the gorgeous beaches. Still others get their kicks from signing up for adventure packages with the likes of outfitters Wildland Adventures and Costa Rica Expeditions.
To me, Costa Rica sounds like a vacation of doing, not so much hanging around. It's not just a beach, where the whole day focuses on getting to the beach, hanging out on the beach, having some lunch (if you feel like it) and then heading back to the beach, where dinner is the only thing really given any thought. If your family is interested in learning about other cultures, having a 'learning vacation' as I like to call them, and needs a lot of activities to be satisfied, then perhaps Costa Rica or some other exotic location is the way to go. Just, you know, let me know when you get back if you saw any giant spiders.
What about you? Do you prefer the hang out, lazy, kinds of family vacations, or do you and your fam prefer the get up and go approach to group getaways?
Pic by joiseyshowaa.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michele 8-28-2008 @ 4:09PM
I totally would! I remember when I was growing up all my friends when to Florida too. All of them swapped stories about the same rides.
I had some FL stories to swap too (my parents took us there to see what the big deal was all about) but that trip was no where near as fun as our trips to Mexico (Acapulco, Cancun, Merida, Chichen Itza (touring the Yucitan) and Mexico City) Peru (Lima, Juanjui, Cerro Azul and a bunch of other regions I can't remember) or the Bahamas. If we wanted to stay by the beach or pool we did but we'd also spend a day or two touring and learning alot about other cultures.
I was lucky to have parents that were okay with taking my sister and I to unconventional family vacations. Most of my friends would only hear about these places when their parents came back from the parent's only vacation.
Now that I have a little girl of my own we plan on taking vacations with her as well. I think it gave me a wonderful view of the world at a really young age and I'd like for my daughter to see early on that not everyone in the world lives the same way Americans do.
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Katty 8-28-2008 @ 4:15PM
I am actually from Costa Rica and I take my kids there every year. There is so much to do, definitely beaches, the volcano is lovely (Volcano Lodge even has a playground), the rain forest is wonderful with the monkeys and the birds, frogs, etc. My kids LOVE IT. The food is simple, child friendly places everywhere you look, and I think we are some of the nicest people in Central America :-).
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maria 8-28-2008 @ 4:30PM
We'd go in a heartbeat if we didn't have family demands. Our kids are in a Spanish immersion elementary so I know Costa Rica or someplace like that is in our future. A bus stop mom told me they spent less on taking their family to Costa Rica than her brother did taking his family to Disney. For me it would be an easy choice. My husband and I went to CR pre-kids and loved it. It was hard to travel but we were trying to see a lot. If I went w/kids I'd find one or two places and just stay -
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Michelle 8-28-2008 @ 7:43PM
We went to Costa Rica on our honeymoon and last February we went with our almost 7 year old daughter. We had a great time. Yes, we are definately active vacation types - I can lay on a beach for about an hour before I am bored out of my mind. Our daughter loved the wildlife, ziplining, hiking in the rain forest, seeing Arenal volcano, the pools, hot springs and beaches. I highly recommend the Peace Lodge (just an hour and a half from San Jose) for familes. Also Arenal volcano - you won't see anything like it anywhere else.
Oh, and we didn't see any giant spiders or even get a single mosquito bite.
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Doug Ward 8-29-2008 @ 7:06AM
I live here.
Teenagers OK
Litlle kids NO.
A majority of areas have no lifeguards, no TV-cable, no AC, child seats, car seats, the forests are not a place to put your hands without looking closely ( I caught 5 eyelash vipers this month already).
Often staircases are not like in the Empyre and are layed out differently.
Resorts are one thing but the REAL Costa Rica is another.
The " mommy I want McNuggets" thing wont cut it either.
No. No FrootLoops. It's beans, rice and fried cheese or plantains for breakfast.
I used to bring my kids but I am a very , very strict person who made them tow the line ( sixties style). That's not the norm with the little savages today.
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Monte 10-11-2008 @ 7:14PM
Our family recently took a trip to Costa Rica and our kids loved it. We found the more developed areas to be a nice blend of culture and creature comforts however we were very nervous of the adventure outfitters as they looked a little unsafe. We did find a great little spot called Cristal Azul in a small...Playa San Miguel. We originally planned to stay for two nights but ended up there for the remainder of our trip. We were really able to take in Costa Rica, experience the tico culture and way of life, and get to know some locals and learn some Spanish. I know my children will remember that part of the trip more than the pool at the big hotel. We played soccer on the beach, we watched and took part in the releasing of sea turtles, and we learned how to make Tamales. If you take your children to Costa Rica, be prepared but also find a place where you can plant yourselves and take in the scenery.
Jose 8-31-2008 @ 6:48PM
I'm from Costa Rica. I agree with the above comment. If you plan to visit CR, you need to know many of the most beautiful areas down here are for people who are willing to walk a bit, and maybe with some discomfort; that's the nice part of the journey, you get to see some rainforests in their almost virginal state, without any human involvement in them. (but you pay the price, muscle cramps and mosquitoes bites :P )
So, little kids won't enjoy it as much as teenagers. If you plan to bring little kids, I recommend booking a 5-star hotel in Guanacaste and paying for some guided tours (there are many of those). If you bring teenagers and you are in good shape, I definitely recommend visiting the most exotic areas around here. (the ones that don't have 5-star hotels in them :) )
Just to provide an example, I went to a place called Monteverde (3 hour-drive from san jose), and me and my friends walked for 2 hours in really aggressive terrain to finally reach an astonishing waterfall. Nobody was there and we really enjoyed the scenery. Volcanoes' national parks have short trails, but there are also 5 kilometer trails that border the volcano, and you can even here the volcano roaring (this would be Arenal Volcano).
Remember, 1/3 of the country is protected so you have quite a bit to visit, volcanoes, beaches, rain forests. So if you come as an adventurous tourist, you should book for a minimum of 2 weeks and be prepare to walk walk walk to take the most advantage from your investment.
For Jennifer, you wrote about Costa Rica being a "romantic getaway". Indeed it is, but go to these hard-to-access places, where you might just be given a mattress to lay down on the floor at night with your couple, and awoken at midnight by the screaming monkeys in the trees nearby. Don't go for the 5 star-hotels. Adventure is romantic, you won't forget the experience.
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