15 Best Places To Stay In Costa Rica For Families (By A Mom)

When I book hotels for my family, I focus on cost, location, and amenities.

I try to find a hotel that includes breakfast. It is so much easier to start each day knowing breakfast is taken care of. Plus, staying at a hotel with breakfast means that if people get up at different times, they can eat when they are ready to eat.

So for my recommendations for the best places to stay in Costa Rica for families, I focused on hotels that are family-friendly, include breakfast, have air conditioning, and have a swimming pool.

15 Best Places To Stay In Costa Rica For Families

I found the best places to stay in Costa Rica for families in La Fortuna, Villareal, Manuel Antonio, Obandito, Tortuguero, and Nueva Arenal. I’ve included hotels for all budgets that are:

• Family friendly ✅
• Swimming pool ✅
• Air conditioning ✅
• Breakfast included ✅

1. Baldi Hot Springs Hotel & Spa (La Fortuna) $$$

8.8/10.0 (based on 850+ reviews)

Baldi Hot Springs Hotel & Spa is less than two miles from Arenal Volcano. It’s a perfect place to stay if you want to explore Arenal and relax in one of the 25 hot spring pools at the property.

The hotel is family friendly and has hot spring pools geared toward children and others with swim up bars for adults. The hotel has a free breakfast buffet, too!

🏨 Click here to book your stay at Baldi Hot Springs Hotel & Spa!

2. Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs (La Fortuna) $$

9.6/10.0 (based on 1,000+ reviews)

Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs is a 10 minute drive from Arenal Volcano and from La Fortuna and hot springs. All the rooms have queen sized beds and porches.

The resort has three restaurants, including one for sushi and one for pizza. The main restaurant has a vegan and gluten-free menu, too! This hotel is perfect for families with a variety of tastes.

🏨 Click here to book your stay at Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs!

3. Arenal Springs Resort (La Fortuna) $$

9.2/10.0 (based on 900+ reviews)

Arenal Springs Resort is a 20 minute drive from Arenal Volcano and also has hot springs. The resort also has three restuarants, including Italian, Asian fusion, and international, so there is something for everyone. The junior suites all have views of Arenal Volcano.

🏨 Click here to book your stay at Arenal Springs Resort!

4. Epic Tamarindo Boutique Hotel (Villarreal) $$$

9.7/10 (based on 15+ reviews)

Epic Tamarindo Boutique Hotel is 2.5 miles from the Tamarindo airport. The hotel includes choices of a private villa and suites with a private pool. The views and setting are amazing!

🏨Click here to book your stay at the Epic Tamarindo Boutique Hotel!

5. Suitree Experience Hotel (Obandito) $$$

9.0/10.0 (based on 30+ reviews)

Suitree Experience Hotel is 21 miles from Marina Papagayo is 21 and 11 miles from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport. Suites are elevated above the ground for excellent views of the jungle. The property has a swimming pool and a hot tub. Some of the rooms have balconies.

🏨Click here to book your stay at the Suitree Experience Hotel!

6. The Falls at Manual Antonio (Manual Antonio) $$$

9.4/10.0 (based on 1,000+ reviews)

The Falls at Manual Antonio is near two beaches, making it an ideal destination for families. Espadilla Beach is about a 10-minute walk and Playitas Beach is about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. The hotel includes a bar and a spa. Manuel Antonio National Park is 1.5 miles from the hotel.

🏨Click here to book your stay at the Falls at Manual Antonio!

7. Hotel Plaza Yara (Manual Antonio) $$

9.6/10 (based on 400+ reviews)

Hotel Plaza Yara is a 5 minute drive from Manual Antonio National Park. The spacious rooms are equipped with microwaves in addition to a mini-fridge and coffemaker. The amenities make it perfect for families who want to chill out in the room to accommodate the needs of children and adults.

The hotel includes a pool and the rooms have jungle views from their outdoor terraces.

🏨Click here to book your stay at the Hotel Plaza Yara!

8. Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens (Manual Antonio) $$

9.6/10 (based on 60+ reviews)

Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens is a one minute walk to the beach, has a swimming pool, and a tennis court! this hotel has something for everyone! It is very close to the beach, which is great if you are traveling with small children and a swimming pool — in case the beach is too much for the little ones.

Quepos Mangua National Airport is a short, 15-minute drive from the hotel. There is dining onsite and restaurants within walking distance.

🏨Click here to book your stay at the Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens!

Best Places To Stay In Costa Rica For Families On A Budget

11. Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas (Tamarindo) $$

7.8/10 (based on 700+ reviews)

The Best Western Tamarindo has a pool with a swim-up bar and is a five-minute walk to the beach. The hotel has a restaurant that has a live salsa band and DJ every Friday night!

The location is great! It is 1 mile from turtle nesting sites and a 10 minute drive to a wildlife preserve!

🏨Click here to book your stay at Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas!

12. Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero (Tortugeuero) $

8.2/10 (based on 90+ reviews)

The Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero is set in an ideal location. It is on the Caribbean Sea in Tortuguero National Park. Sea turtles nest nearby. Each room has an outdoor terrace.

🏨Click here to book your stay at Hotel El Icaco Tortuguero!

13. Carey Lodging (Tortuguero) $

7.4/10 (based on 6+ reviews)

Carey Lodging is in Tortuguero near the beach. The rooms have outdoor terraces and their is a swimming pool!

🏨Click here to book your stay at Carey Lodging!

14. Hotel Naoz (Manuel Antonio) $$

9.6/10 (based on 400+ reviews)

Hotel Naoz is a newer hotel a short 1.3 miles from the nearest beach. There are five beaches within three miles of the hotel. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, and a lounge.

🏨Click here to book your stay at Hotel Naoz!

15. Hotel El Secreto (La Fortuna) $

9.4/10.0 (based on 640+ reviews)

Hotel El Secreto is conveniently located in La Fortuna. It is within walking distance of many restaurants. La Fortuna Waterfall is a 3.5 mile drive from the property.

The hotel is in a great location for budget-conscious families.

🏨Click here to book your stay at Hotel El Secreto!

Getting Around

We rented a car in Costa Rica. You can get to most destinations from San Jose in 2.5 (Tortuguero) to 4.5 hours (Tamarindo). However, many tour companies will pick your family up from your hotel, so you do not need a car.

You can also hire a transfer from the San Jose airport to La Fortuna or Liberia airport to your hotel. Another option is to book a flight from a domestic airline.

For my family, using a rental car and driving ourselves made the most sense.

🚗Click here to book your rental car!

FAQs

Costa Rica is a great first international destination for families. Most people in tourist areas know some English. I found Costa Rica to be budget-friendly, though you can also have luxurious accommodations. Finally, Costa Rica has something for everyone — from wildlife, to relaxing hot springs, to jungle adventures.

What part of Costa Rica is best for families?

We flew into San Jose and drove to La Fortuna for our trip. La Fortune (near Arenal Volcano) has activities the whole family can enjoy. Other good choices include Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio, and Monteverde. The best places to stay in Costa Rica for families depends on whether you want to visit the beach as part of your trip or not.

Is Costa Rica safe for families?

Costa Rica has a Level 2 advisory: exercise increased caution according to the U.S. State Department. For context, the United Kingdom and France also have Level 2 advisories. Overall, visitors should stay aware in touristy areas and beaches might not have lifeguards.

The nation is also ranked highest on the Global Peace Index in Central America and ranked higher (39th place) than the United States (131st place).

We felt very safe in Costa Rica. Our guides all seemed very knowledgeable and took time to make sure we were aware of any safety risks to the activities we did. We also felt safe driving in Costa Rica.

🚨Click here to purchase travel medical insurance!

Which side of Costa Rica is prettier?

You can visit the Caribbean side or the Pacific side. Both sides have beaches and wildlife. An advantage of the Caribbean side is the chance to see the sunrise over the water. In contrast, you can watch the sunset over the Pacific.

What part of Costa Rica has the prettiest beaches?

Playa Manuel Antonio

Playa Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular beach destinations in Costa Rica, though travelers report that is not too crowded. It is inside Manuel Antonio National Park, so you will have to pay park admission to get to the beach.

Tamarindo Beach

Tamarindo Beach is a great spot to see the sunset. People also enjoy surfing and report that the waters are calm enough for beginning surfers. Travelers share the beach is great for families and you can rent a chair, umbrella, boogie boards, and more!

Samara Beach

Samara Beach is in the Guanacaste province and family friendly. You can surf, swim, snorkle, or just lay out and enjoy the views. Horses also use this beach, so some travelers report horse droppings on the beach, while others did not notice a problem. The beach is a short walk from the nearby town with restaurants, shops, and lodging.

Conclusion

I highly recommend taking a trip to Costa Rica. My family of three, which included two adults and an 11-year-old had a great time!

We found the destination safe, affordable, and unlike any place we had ever been.

It also convenient to the United States and is a good destination for first-time international travelers.

Read More About Costa Rica

19 BEST Things To Do In La Fortuna (Picked By a Pro!)

Is Costa Rica Worth Visiting? 15 Reasons To Go & Why Not To Go

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