5 Days in Costa Rica with a Toddler
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Budget
$1,800
Mid-Range
$2,800
Luxury
$5,000
Best Months
Dec, Jan, Feb
Highlights
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: Arrival & Arenal Exploration
Morning
Fly into SJO and take a private transfer to La Fortuna (3 hours). Alternatively, fly Sansa Air from SJO to La Fortuna airstrip (30 minutes, ~$90 one-way). The short flight avoids the winding mountain drive, which can make toddlers carsick. Arrive and check into your hotel — Arenal Springs Resort & Spa has volcano-view hot spring pools including a shallow kids' pool, or Hotel Lomas del Volcán is a more budget-friendly option with a pool and stunning volcano views.
Afternoon
After settling in and lunch at the hotel, take a gentle walk on the Arenal 1968 Trail — this 2.5 km (1.5-mile) trail follows old lava flows with views of the volcano and Lake Arenal. It's relatively flat and toddlers can walk portions while you carry them for the rest. The landscape is otherworldly — fields of hardened black lava with tropical plants growing between the rocks. Toddlers love climbing on the smaller boulders.
Evening
Head to La Fortuna town center for dinner at Chifa La Familia, a Peruvian-Costa Rican fusion spot on the main street — the lomo saltado and arroz chaufa are outstanding, portions are huge, and the rice dishes are toddler-friendly. Walk the town square after dinner; there's often live music on weekends. La Fortuna is a small, safe town where families stroll in the evenings.
💡 Tip: The rainy season (May-November) brings afternoon downpours but lower prices and fewer crowds. Dry season (December-April) has more reliable weather. Either way, pack a rain jacket — this is a rainforest. La Fortuna has a Walmart and Auto Mercado for supplies. Private transfers from SJO cost $120-180 and include a car seat if requested in advance.
Day 2: La Fortuna Waterfall & Hot Springs
Morning
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall (Catarata La Fortuna), one of Costa Rica's most spectacular waterfalls at 230 feet. The viewpoint at the top requires descending 500 steps — toddlers can walk down with hand-holding but you'll carry them back up (good workout). The viewing platform gives a jaw-dropping perspective, and the mist from the falls keeps it cool. At the base, there's a swimming area in the river with calm, shallow pools perfect for toddlers to splash in. The water is refreshingly cool.
Afternoon
After the waterfall and toddler nap time, visit Baldi Hot Springs in the late afternoon. It's the most toddler-friendly hot springs in Arenal with 25 pools at various temperatures, including several shallow pools designed for children with small slides and fountains. The pools are set among tropical gardens with the volcano as a backdrop. Toddlers spend hours moving between pools. Water temperatures in the kids' area are around 90-95°F — warm but not dangerously hot.
Evening
Baldi includes several restaurants within the complex. Volcán Look Diner serves classic Costa Rican dishes (try the chifrijo — rice, beans, pork, and pico de gallo in a bowl) and has a direct view of the volcano if it's clear. After dinner, some pools are lit up for night swimming — the warm water under the stars is magical. Head back to your hotel for bedtime.
💡 Tip: La Fortuna Waterfall entrance is $18 adults, free for kids under 8. Go early (opens at 7 AM) to avoid crowds and heat. Bring water shoes for the river at the base. Baldi Hot Springs tickets are $39-85 depending on the package (basic vs. all-inclusive). Visit after 4 PM for cooler air temps and sunset glow. Never leave toddlers unattended in the pools — even shallow ones can be slippery.
Day 3: Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Manuel Antonio
Morning
Visit the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park — 3.2 km of trails with 15 bridges (6 of which are suspension bridges) through pristine rainforest canopy. Toddlers love crossing the bouncy suspension bridges, which hang up to 150 feet above the forest floor. You'll spot toucans, howler monkeys, coatis, and poison dart frogs. Hire a guide at the entrance ($35/person) for dramatically better wildlife spotting. The trails are well-maintained but bring a carrier for when little legs give out.
Afternoon
Check out and begin the drive to Manuel Antonio (4-4.5 hours). Break the drive in San Ramón or Orotina. In Orotina, stop at a roadside fruit stand for fresh mango, papaya, and pipa fría (cold coconut water) — vendors will machete open a fresh coconut for your toddler to sip from. Arrive at your Manuel Antonio hotel by late afternoon. Tulemar Resort is the top family pick — bungalows set in the jungle with a private beach, multiple pools, and monkeys on the property.
Evening
Dine at El Avion, a restaurant built around a 1954 Fairchild C-123 cargo plane (yes, a real plane sitting on the hillside — it was part of the Iran-Contra affair). The sunset views from the multi-level deck are some of the best in Costa Rica, and the menu features fresh seafood including tuna tartare and red snapper. Toddlers are distracted by the airplane and the sweeping ocean view. The chicken fingers are actually good.
💡 Tip: Mistico Hanging Bridges costs $28 adult / free for kids under 6. The park opens at 6 AM — the early slot has the best wildlife activity. If your toddler is afraid of heights, the bridges are wide and have solid railings, but the fixed (non-suspension) bridges offer the same forest experience without the bounce. The drive to Manuel Antonio includes a stretch on Route 27, a modern toll highway — have colones or a credit card ready for tolls.
Day 4: Manuel Antonio National Park
Morning
Enter Manuel Antonio National Park at 7 AM with a certified naturalist guide (book through your hotel or Aventuras Manuel Antonio). Guides use spotting scopes to find sloths, toucans, leaf-cutter ant highways, Jesus Christ lizards (basilisks that run on water), and white-faced capuchin monkeys. Toddlers are mesmerized by the monkeys especially — capuchins are bold and curious, often coming within 10 feet of the trail. The main trail to Playa Manuel Antonio is flat and shaded, about 1.5 km each way.
Afternoon
Spend 2-3 hours on Playa Manuel Antonio — the beach has calm, warm water (80-84°F), soft sand, and natural shade from tropical almond trees. Toddlers can splash, dig, and wade in the gentle surf. Raccoons and coatis patrol the tree line looking for unattended food, which is amusing to watch from a distance. The beach is exceptionally clean and the limited daily visitors (600) keep it uncrowded. Pack lunch, water, and snacks — no vendors inside the park.
Evening
After leaving the park, stop at the Falafel Bar on the main road — it sounds random for Costa Rica, but this Middle Eastern spot has been a Manuel Antonio staple for years with fresh falafel wraps, hummus plates, and smoothies that toddlers love. For something more upscale, Café Agua Azul has a pool that restaurant guests can use ($10/person) and serves ceviche and grilled whole fish on a hilltop terrace.
💡 Tip: Park tickets ($18.08 for foreign adults) must be purchased online at sinac.go.cr in advance — they sell out during peak season. Closed Tuesdays. No plastic bags, no feeding animals. Guides cost $25-30/person but are worth every colón — you'll see 10x more wildlife. Apply insect repellent before entering the park. The trail has occasional tree roots and slippery patches after rain — toddlers should be carried on these sections or use a carrier.
Day 5: Beach Morning & Departure
Morning
Visit Playa Biesanz, a sheltered cove accessed by a 10-minute shaded trail from the road. It's the calmest beach in the Manuel Antonio area — the protected bay has almost no waves, making it the safest swimming spot for toddlers. The water is crystal clear with fish visible from shore. A few local vendors sell fresh ceviche and coconut water on the sand. Toddlers can spend hours collecting shells and chasing tiny fish in ankle-deep water. There's natural shade under sea grape trees.
Afternoon
If time permits before your transfer, visit the Rainmaker Conservation Project, a lesser-known reserve 20 minutes from Manuel Antonio. The short Rainmaker Bridge Walk crosses a series of suspension bridges through primary rainforest and takes about 45 minutes. It's less crowded than Mistico and equally beautiful. Alternatively, spend the morning at your hotel pool — most Manuel Antonio resorts have stunning infinity pools overlooking the Pacific. Begin your transfer to SJO (3-3.5 hours) for evening departure.
Evening
If your flight is the next morning, stay at Pura Vida Retreat near SJO — a tranquil yoga resort with gardens, pools, and farm-to-table dining that's a world away from airport hotels. For a direct evening departure, grab dinner at SJO's Terrazas or pack snacks from the Manuel Antonio area. The drive to SJO passes through oil palm plantations and pineapple fields — keep an eye out for scarlet macaws flying in pairs along the route.
💡 Tip: Playa Biesanz doesn't have facilities — bring everything you need (towels, water, snacks, shade). The trail down is short but can be muddy after rain; wear sandals you don't mind getting dirty. If hiring a driver for the SJO transfer, book one with a car seat (most services offer this if requested 24 hours in advance). Keep colones for tolls and last-minute fruit stand stops on the highway.
Packing List
- ✓ lightweight hiking carrier (Deuter Kid Comfort or similar)
- ✓ water shoes for waterfalls and beaches
- ✓ rain jacket or poncho (afternoon showers year-round)
- ✓ reef-safe sunscreen
- ✓ baby-safe insect repellent with lemon eucalyptus
- ✓ swim diapers and regular diapers (bring from home)
- ✓ lightweight quick-dry clothing
- ✓ binoculars for wildlife
- ✓ reusable water bottles
- ✓ basic first aid kit with toddler Tylenol and Benadryl
Safety Notes
Costa Rica wildlife is everywhere — teach toddlers to look but not touch. Capuchin monkeys can scratch or bite if they feel threatened. Crocodiles inhabit rivers in the Pacific lowlands; never swim in rivers near the coast. Rip currents exist at some Pacific beaches — only swim at recommended beaches (Manuel Antonio, Biesanz, La Fortuna waterfall pool). Dengue and Zika are present but uncommon in tourist areas; use repellent at dawn and dusk. Medical care is available in Quepos (20 minutes from Manuel Antonio) and La Fortuna. Carry your passport and insurance info at all times.
Full Destination Guide
Costa Rica is Central America's premier family adventure destination, offering rainforests, wildlife, volcanoes, and beaches in one of the safest countries in the region.
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