Costa Rica With Young Adult Children

Arrive in San José. This is because, although there is another airport north, near some of the beaches, arriving in San José will allow you to see the beauty of Costa Rica as you travel from place to place. Rent a car and make your way to the hotel of your choice to spend the night and have a nice, relaxing dinner at one of my favorite restaurants like Filippo or L'Ile de France.

(If you arrive early in the day, you can move on to the first destination after arrival.)

Start your drive after breakfast to the town of La Fortuna, home of the Arenal Volcano. The drive is beautiful and takes about 3-3.5 hours. Upon arrival at your hotel, have some lunch and head out to the Hot Springs. My favorite is Tabacón, as it sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano following a natural river of hot, hot mineral spring water. I recommend also reserving a treatment at the spa during your visit. You will never forget the experience, I promise. The evening can be at leisure with a dinner at Don Rufino or Heliconias Restaurant by Kioro.

After breakfast, explore the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Check out the La Fortuna waterfall. It is a beautiful hike through the jungle, arriving at the base of the waterfall where you can either jump into the large pool or walk a little more towards the river that continues after the fall. Hike to the Old Lava at the base of the Arenal Volcano, preferably with a guide that will show you all the amazing creatures to be seen in the area. Do a night walk to see the nightly creatures and try some of the coolest ziplines, horseback riding, ATV tours or Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges. There are lots of fun adventures to be had in La Fortuna!

Start early and head toward the beaches. There are a few places to choose from. Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula or south to the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio are my recommendations. Here is why:

Guancaste takes about 3–4 hours to get to. The land is more arid and the scenery is flatter. The beaches are long and white, and the sunsets are spectacular. The resorts and hotels are bigger and there are some all-inclusives. (Dining at Pangas!)

The Nicoya Pensinsula is our very own Blue Zone. The vibe is very different from other areas where wellness, a love of nature and clean eating are more in tune. To get to the Nicoya Pennisula, it will take about four hours, some of that time spent on a ferry that crosses you over to the penninsula. The hotels are smaller and the architecture is very organic. The food is amazing and the sunsets to die for. (Dining at Koji's or Katana.)

Manuel Antonio is also about four hours away, in the southern Pacific, and is known for its amazing views and gorgeous white beaches. Manuel Antonio is on a mountain top and goes all the way down to the coast. Many of the hotels are perched on the hills, however there are a few at ocean level. The National Park in Manuel Antonio is perfect for wildlife sightings, especially if you hire a guide to walk with you towards the park’s beaches. Dining at Makanda (only 18+) or El Avión with the whole family.

Spend the day enjoying the beaches and area that you chose as your beach destination. Depending on where you go, there are many other activities and places to see.

In Guanacaste, Check out some of the nearby beaches, the mangrove in Avellanas and Lola's for lunch.

In Santa Teresa, rent ATVs and go to Montezuma for a 45-minute hike to the Waterfall. Lunch at Playa de Los Artistas or the beautiful Ylang Ylang Restaurant.

In Manuel Antonio, head to the National Park and hire a guide, or drive 1.5 hours south to the unforgettable Nauyaca waterfalls.

If you have more time to spend in our beautiful country, take an extra day of relaxation or adventure at your beach destination.