Things to Do in Costa Rica With Kids

Manuel Antonio National Park is a popular tourist attraction, but one of the country's smallest parks in terms of size. Manuel Antonio National Park is close to some of Costa Rica's most exquisite beaches, which is another reason why it is so popular. There are a lot of fun family activities to engage in while visiting this park, including sailing on boats (and spotting whales, dolphins and various other forms of marine life), swimming, horseback riding, hiking, river rafting, birdwatching and taking snorkeling and scuba diving trips. There is a very extensive kids program at Manuel Antonio National Park, as well.

This is another extremely popular tourist attraction, as the park is the home of the most active volcano in all of Costa Rica. The Tabacon Hot Springs is another one of the park's best features. Kids will love exploring Arenal National Park, which in some ways looks like being on another planet, and adults will enjoy the tranquility and serenity of the whole place. If you like rafting or hiking, you can do that while at Arenal National Park as well.

The Museo de los Ninos (Children's Museum) is located in the Costa Rican capital city of San Jose. This children's museum has many past lives. The building used to be a barracks and then a jailhouse. The museum is full of exciting and educational exhibitions and displays for children of all age groups. One large focus of the museum is children's rights and culture within Costa Rica. However, there are also displays regarding geography, science and music. This museum is ideal for kids up to twelve years old.

Canopy Tours are very popular recreational activities in Costa Rica. They are trips through the sky (on ziplines) in which a person hangs onto cables and floats through the air between trees and platforms. It is a thrilling and daring way to enjoy the beautiful Costa Rican scenery. If a child is at least six years of age and is in good physical condition, they will generally be allowed to participate in Canopy Tours (although certain companies have the age requirement as eight, instead). A good place to go on a canopy tour in Costa Rica is in Jaco beach on the Waterfalls Canopy Tour.

The Butterfly Garden in Monteverde is one of the most tourist spots in all of Costa Rica. Naturalists and butterfly experts provide guided tours of the gardens, and speak about the butterfly and its life cycle, from the pupae stage to adulthood. There is a screened garden from which countless varieties of butterflies can be viewed and examined up close. They are raised in greenhouses. Kids will enjoy seeing the beautiful, bright colors and diverse types of butterflies out there.