family hotels costa rica

Best Family Hotels in Costa Rica (2024)

Heading down south and looking for the best family hotels in Costa Rica? You’re in the right place. Costa Rica has a wealth of family-friendly resorts, lodges and accommodations.

Short On Time? Here are the best family-friendly resorts in the following Costa Rica locations:

Costa Rica in general, is an ideal place for family travel. It’s a diverse country with so much for kids to learn and appreciate.

We’ve been to Costa Rica multiple times, with kids between the ages of 8 months and 9 years old, and have stayed at a number of hotels, and did many family friendly tours with our family.

Depending on the type of family trip you want, there are:

  • kid-friendly beaches in Costa Rica
  • hikes in the rainforest
  • animal encounters (in wildlife, or in sanctuaries)
  • educational visits to chocolate, fruit and coffee farms.

In order to narrow it down to the best family hotels in Costa Rica for you, we’re going to:

  • list the accommodations by the most popular regions
  • highlight the amenities they have
  • explain what is near each location

This will help you not only choose the best hotel, but build your Costa Rica itinerary. So, let’s jump in – best family hotels in Costa Rica!

Best Family Hotels in Costa Rica

There are three common areas that are best for families in Costa Rica: La Fortuna, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste.

We’re going to go through the best family hotels in each of these regions, and give you a bit of information about each region, so you can choose the family vacation that you’re most interested in.

La Fortuna Family Hotels

Fly into: San José International Airport

La Fortuna is a town of about 20,000 people located about 2.5 hours from San Jose airport, and 2 hours from the Liberia airport – so its right in between.

Its known for its abundance of rainforest and activities, the Arenal Volcano (which last erupted in 1968) and having 12 different hot springs.

Most of the hotels in La Fortuna are located not right in town, but just outside of it – surrounded by the rainforest and hot springs.

Head to La Fortuna if you want: hikes in the rainforest, volcano views, wild sloths and monkeys, hot springs, a quaint small town in a picturesque setting

Hanging bridge mistico la fortuna with kids

1. Hotel Heliconias Nature Inn & Hot Springs

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hotel Heliconias has large glass walls that look out onto the rainforest. It also has a children’s playground, and an outdoor pool that heats at night. Enjoy a delicious breakfast every morning with a view of the volcano; enjoy having a swimming pool, hot springs and spa treatments on site.

Amenities offered at Hotel Heliconias:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Outdoor swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ❌Breakfast included (but there is an at-cost buffet breakfast on-site)
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ❌Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site

2. The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Springs Resort in La Fortuna is one of the most family-friendly places out there: it has a games room, 5 different restaurants on-site, 28 different thermal pools, and luxury spa treatments for the adults. You can also book activities through the hotel for horseback riding, rock-climbing, and visiting rescued animals.

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Outdoor swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ❌Breakfast included (but there is an at-cost buffet breakfast on-site)
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ❌Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site
Hotel Villas Vilma

3. Hotel Villas Vilma

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just a short drive to Arenal National Park, and Mistico where you can find hanging bridges, Hotel Villas Vilma is a budget-friendly family hotel in Costa Rica with a swimming pool with extensive hours, so you can even swim even after it gets dark (there are lights), and bonus: there’s a hot tub as well. This family-friendly hotel supplied us with a pack-and-play for our baby. We enjoyed relaxing with our courtyard view after the kids.

Amenities offered at Hotel Villas Vilma:

  • ❌Airport Shuttle
  • ✅ Outdoor swimming pool (Bonus: plus an outdoor hot tub!)
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ❌Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ✅ Baby cots available
  • ❌Restaurant on site (not on site, but right across the street there are two good restaurants)

For a complete list of the best hotels in La Fortuna, read my post on the 17 best hotels in La Fortuna.

Manuel Antonio Family Hotels

Fly into: San Jose International Airport

Manuel Antonio is the perfect region in Costa Rica if you’re looking for a mix of rainforest and ocean.

There are a few family-friendly beaches, although not as many as in the Guanacaste region. Manuel Antonio is famous for the Manuel Antonio National Park, which is popular for its hikes and kid-friendly beaches.

Head to Manuel Antonio if you want: a mix of tropical rainforest and amazing beaches, and the famous ‘crocodile bridge’

Parador Nature Resort in Costa Rica

1. Parador Nature Resort and Spa

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Parador Resort features 3 pools, 2 of them being kid-friendly. There’s a children’s play area, babysitting offered and great food in the outdoor restaurant, and a shop that sells Costa Rican souvenirs.

This place was our 9-year-old’s favourite experience in Costa Rica, and the reason she keeps asking to go back. Bonus: Read about our review on Parador Resort.

Amenities offered at Parador Nature Resort & Spa:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ✅ Babysitting (at a surcharge)
  • ✅ Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site
Family-friendly beaches in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park Beach, one of the most family friendly beaches in Costa Rica

2. Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Si Como No Resort is an extra special resort looking right over the Manuel Antonio jungle. It has a waterslide, pools, 2 restaurants on site, and its close to two family-friendly beaches: Playa Espadilla just 1.6 km (0.9 miles) away, and Manuel Antonio Beach (pictured above) only 2.4 kms (1.4 miles) away.

Amenities offered at Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ✅ Babysitting (at a surcharge)
  • ✅ Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site

Monteverde Family Hotels

Fly into: San José International Airport, or Liberia International Airport

Monteverde means ‘green mountain’ in Spanish, and is located about 2.5 hours away from both of Costa Rica’s international airports.

Monteverde is situated at 4,662 feet (1,440 m) above sea level, and is home to the most famous Cloud Forest in the world- the Monteverde Cloud Forest. There are also several wildlife refuges and coffee farms in the area.

Head to Monteverde if you want: a small touristy mountain village, several different rainforests to explore, the most famous cloud forest in the world, ziplining, sloth and butterfly sanctuaries

*Feel torn between Monteverde and La Fortuna? Read my post about comparing the two.

Monteverde costa rica
Monkey in Costa Rica
Monteverde Costa Rica

1. Quality Cabins Monteverde

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have your own private chalet with a beautiful view of the mountains – there are entire walls that are all windows, for you to spot monkeys, birds and other wildlife.

We enjoy staying in cabins like this when we travel, so that we have a separate room to relax in after the little ones go to sleep!

Amenities offered at Quality Cabins Monteverde:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ❌Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ❌Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site

2. Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Relax with your family in the heated pool and be only a 10 minute walk from the Monteverde town centre. Monteverde Lodge & Gardens has an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant on-site and is particularly popular with families with young children.

Amenities offered at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ❌Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site

Guanacaste Area Family Hotels

Fly into: Liberia International Airport

Guanacaste is located on the northwest of Costa Rica, and is one of the most popular places to visit, especially for those who are looking for a beach vacation. If luxury resorts, and beaches where you can spend a whole day are your thing – then Guanacaste is probably for you.

Head to the Guanacaste region if you want: beaches, warm and sunny weather, wildlife sightings (especially turtles and sloths)

dreams las mareas best family hotel costa rica
The pool at Dreams

1. Dreams Las Mareas

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dreams Las Mareas is one of the most famous places to stay with kids in Costa Rica. If you’re looking for a large resort that caters to everything you need, (including childcare while on vacation) this is one of the only resorts in Costa Rica that offers it.

With a private beach, swimming pool, dolphin watching nearby, and restaurants on site- every member of your family will be full of excitement with so much to do here, and in the area.

Amenities offered at Dreams Las Mareas:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ✅ Babysitting (at a surcharge)
  • ✅ Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site

2. Les Voiles Blanches – Luxury Lodge

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The coolest thing about Les Voiles Blaches is that there’s an option to arrange activities (at a surcharge) off-site, like canoeing, snorkelling and horseback riding.

It’s not surprising that Les Voiles is a very popular and well-rated place to stay near Tamarindo with families. There are two swimming pools, and a spa on site. There’s also an option to rent an entire bungalow, instead of just one hotel room.

Amenities offered at Les Voiles Blanches Luxury Lodge:

  • ✅ Airport shuttle
  • ✅ Swimming pool
  • ✅ Air conditioning
  • ✅ Breakfast included
  • ✅ Free parking
  • ❌Babysitting
  • ❌Baby cots available
  • ✅ Restaurant on-site
Parador Resort Costa Rica in March
Another shot of my daughter enjoying the pool at Parador

FAQ: Best Family Hotels in Costa Rica

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the best family hotels in Costa Rica, or travelling to Costa Rica as a family

Which part of Costa Rica is best for families?

The best areas for kids in Costa Rica are the Central Valley (San José and the Arenal Region, which includes La Fortuna), the Guanacaste Region and the Manuel Antonio Region. If you prefer beaches, then you should head to Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio area. If you prefer lush rainforests and farm tours, then La Fortuna would be your best bet. Monteverde is also a beautiful region in Costa Rica, and it has several different forests that you can explore – perfect if your family wants to do hiking and spotting wildlife in the most famous cloud forest in the world.

Is Costa Rica a good family holiday destination?

Costa Rica is the ideal place for a family vacation. There’s so much potential for fun family activities, but a lot of learning for kids too. In Costa Rica, kids can go hiking in the rainforest, learn about forest conservation and see and appreciate exotic animals in their own habitat. They can visit a sustainable organic farm, and learn about where a lot of their favourite foods (fruits and chocolate) comes from from first hand experience. There are amazing family-friendly beaches in Costa Rica, and family adventure activities like ziplining, hot springs, and boat rides.

Which side is best to stay in Costa Rica?

The Pacific coast and the Central Valley (La Fortuna and Monteverde) are the more popular areas for tourists to stay in Costa Rica. On the Pacific coast or Central Valley, you’ll find a lot of resorts, beaches, activities, rainforests with tours you can take, family-owned chocolate and coffee farms to visit, and no end to other exciting things to do, like surfing, zip-lining in the jungle, wildlife-watching, or snorkelling. If you enjoy beaches, you should stay along the Pacific coastline, in Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio region. If you’re more of a mountain, volcano and rainforest person, then stick to La Fortuna and Monteverde.

Hotel Villas Vilma in La Fortuna Costa Rica
A cat visited us at Hotel Villas Vilma in La Fortuna

Best Family Hotels in Costa Rica: Final Thoughts

Costa Rica is an amazing place to visit with kids, and it has no shortage of family hotels and activities that are perfect for families. These family-friendly activities and hotesl are available year-round whether you go during the dry season (December through March) or the low season.

Most of the family hotels in Costa Rica that we’ve recommended offer an airport shuttle, but depending on your plans, you may choose to rent a car and drive in Costa Rica, which in my opinion, is an awesome way to see the country as a family.

There are lots of things that the parents will appreciate about Costa Rica, too. Costa Rica has their own breweries, and there are several Costa Rica beers for adults to try.