Two-Week Family Adventure in Costa Rica: Samara, Manuel Antonio and Monteverde

Samara

Samara Trails - These trails are located in the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve, a short drive from Samara. The guided tour will take you through a variety of ecosystems where you will learn about local flora and fauna and the conservation efforts to preserve the amazing biodiversity in Costa Rica. This was one of the best experiences our family had, I highly recommend checking it out.

Playa Carillo Horseback Ride - We had an amazing time on this ride. You start out on jungle trails, then make your way down to the beach. Along the way, our guide shared great information about the local culture and geography, and we were even able to spot some monkeys flocking in the trees!

Canopy Tour - We decided to conquer our fear of heights with Wingnuts Canopy Tour, and we had an amazing time! The crew at Wingnuts emphasize safety first, and we all felt like we were in good hands as we climbed and ziplined through the jungle canopy. There are many places to zipline in Costa Rica, I highly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity while you are there.

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park - You can hike for miles on the well-maintained trails in this park. Our kids loved this place as there were frequent sightings of a variety of monkeys and even a few sloths! There are some really beautiful beaches inside the park if you need to cool off as well. I recommend getting a guide at least for the first part of your stay here, as you will be sure to see things you never would have noticed on your own.

Manuel Antonio Canopy Tour - Costa Rica really is one of the best places to splurge on canopy tours. The operations feel very safe, and there are always so many cool trees and animals to see from a vantage point you would never otherwise get. The Manuel Antonio tour boasts one of the longest twin zip lines so you can double the family fun!

Playa Manuel Antonio - A really beautiful beach located right next to the national park. The beach can get busy, but if you get there in the earlier part of the day it will be quite peaceful. There are plenty of vendors and food options close by if you want to make a day of it.

Monteverde

Canopy Tour Monteverde - The cloud forest is such a unique ecosystem, with so much of the life high up in the canopy where you can’t see it from the ground. It is definitely worth experiencing one of the many canopy tours in this area to fully experience the cloud forest.

Cloud Forest Guided Tour - There are a few reserves to visit while in Monteverde, each with their own system of trails. It is a great idea to go with a guide to start your exploration, then continue later on your own. With our guide we were able to see Toucans, Quetzals, snakes and many other animals that we would just not have seen on our own. For an extra adventure, I highly recommend taking one of the night tours to experience something you definitely can’t on your own.

Samara

Samara is home to expats and tourists, so you can find food varieties from around the world. I always prefer to eat local food when I travel, but you are sure to find amazing food that makes the entire family happy.

Soda La Perla - Located at the far end of the beach, Soda La Perla serves up local food as well as more "American" options. The prices are very reasonable and it is a family-friendly place with casual seating.

Malibu Restaurante - Traditional Costa Rican food with an emphasis on seafood. You can’t go wrong here with anything on the menu. I always love the whole fish casado. This is a simple restaurant — not fancy — but good food for the whole family.

Pabilito’s - We found this bar/soda during one of our beach walks, and we loved it so much we came back every evening. There is nothing fancy about it, but the food is authentically delicious and every drink comes with bocas — a traditional snack served with beverages. My kids wanted to come back just for the soup! The location is amazing, right on the beach. The beer is cold and the food is simple, yet delicious.

Manuel Antonio

Rico Tico Jungle Grill - Delicious food with amazing views overlooking the jungle.

El Avion - One of the most unique restaurants you will ever visit. The building itself is an old American CIA plane that has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. The food is good and the views are amazing, while the whole setting is worth the experience.

Monteverde

El Sapo Restaurant and Bar - A higher end option featuring more international cuisine, but still really family friendly.

Soda La Salvadita - A traditional Costa Rican Soda serving up good local food at reasonable prices. They do serve American food as well, but I recommend sticking with the local food for the full experience.

Restaurante Celejas - Located at the Hotel Belmar, this is a good spot for a more romantic gourmet dinner.