Our Family Trip to Costa Rica

Over the summer, we had the most incredible family trip to Costa Rica, a destination that had been on my travel bucket list for years. From the stunning beaches of Playa Conchal to the breathtaking landscapes of the Arenal Volcano area, this trip was nothing short of magical.

While every part of our vacation was special, the Arenal area stole our hearts. It was the perfect blend of adventure and serenity, offering something for everyone, including our two kids (ages 9 and 10).

Whether you’re dreaming of a family getaway filled with exploration or just looking to soak up some sun, Costa Rica is a destination that truly has it all. I can honestly say this is hands down our favorite family trip we’ve taken with our kids and is one we will never forget…

Planning Our Family Trip to Costa Rica

One of the most popular questions I have received is how we planned out our itinerary!

Our Travel Planner

One of the best decisions we made for our family trip to Costa Rica trip was hiring our travel planner, Megan Halberstadt of MH Custom Travel. I specifically wanted a planner with Costa Rica experience and she exceeded our expectations.

The process started with an initial call where Megan got to know our family, our travel style, our budget, and the type of experience we were looking for (adventure was the most important element for us for this destination).

Then she designed a custom itinerary that we were able to review and tweak together until it was perfect. I have to add here that I pushed to edit a few key elements of our trip like the amount of days spent in each destination, as well as the order in which we visited those destinations. Megan thoroughly explained how and why she created our itinerary — to maximize our time in each place while also minimizing travel time during our vacation. THIS is exactly why I hired her. She knew exactly how this trip should be done and we agreed to every one of her recommendations.

Megan also handled all the logistics, from booking our transfers to securing our accommodations and activities. Her expertise and attention to detail made the trip seamless, and she was just a phone call away if we had any questions. Additionally, she connected us with her in-country partners who were also available to us 24/7 throughout our vacation which was nice to have even if we didn’t need them!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by planning a trip to Costa Rica, I highly recommend working with Megan — you’ll be in great hands! *And NO, this is not sponsored in any way!*

Our Itinerary

We had heard from several friends who had taken a family trip to Costa Rica that one of the best ways to experience the country is to split your time between the beach and the Arenal area. However, this comes with a caveat: traveling between the two regions takes about half a day, so you’ll need to plan a long enough trip to make it worthwhile. While it can stretch the budget, visiting both areas was absolutely worth it. For our family, we planned a 6-night vacation—spending the first two nights in Guanacaste at Playa Conchal, followed by four nights in La Fortuna, near the Arenal Volcano.

The beach portion of the trip was especially meaningful to me. Many of you know that my dad, who passed away in 2019, was an extremely talented surfer. We didn’t travel when I was growing up, but it was always my dad’s dream to visit Costa Rica to surf with his best friend, Ben. Once we were older, he was finally able to make that dream a reality — twice actually! For him to travel internationally was a big deal, and he returned with stories about how Costa Rica had captured his heart. Those stories stayed with me, and I knew that one day, I’d want to experience Costa Rica’s beaches for myself and share that connection with my kids once they were old enough to appreciate it. Playa Conchal was the perfect place for that moment—it’s a stunning, tranquil beach known for its unique crushed-shell sand and crystal-clear waters. Watching our kids splash in the surf while reflecting on my dad’s love for this place felt incredibly special.

While the beach was a personal highlight for me, I’ve always dreamed of exploring Costa Rica’s rainforests. Experiencing the lush, vibrant landscapes of the Arenal area was nothing short of magical. We had the chance to see an abundance of wildlife— including sloths —and the sight of the towering Arenal Volcano was breathtaking. Our days in La Fortuna were packed with adventure, from hiking through the jungle to soaking in the natural hot springs. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Visiting both Playa Conchal and the Arenal area was the perfect blend of beach relaxation and rainforest adventure.

Guanacaste Playa Conchal Review

Our flight from Charlotte, NC to Liberia International Airport was about 4 hours. Once we landed we hopped in a private transfer for an hour-long drive to The Westin Reserva Conchal, an all-inclusive golf and spa resort.

Our stay at the Westin was the perfect way to kick-off our family trip to Costa Rica.

My favorite part was the beach. The water is clear with a gorgeous turquoise color, and the views of the surrounding coastline are breathtaking. The sand is a mix of fine grains and beautiful shells, which was paradise for Caroline, our shell collector. And oh my goodness, the sunsets—the colors in the sky are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Beach Tips:

• There are plenty of local vendors along the beach, so be sure to bring some cash if you want to pick up a souvenir.
• If you plan to lounge on the beach, grab a chair early as the beach packs out throughout the day.
• Bar service is not offered at the beach, so grab your drinks before you head down.
• Get a beach massage!! There are plenty of vendors who offer very inexpensive massages and they are heavenly.

The resort itself was also beautiful. The rooms were clean and comfortable, the service was top-notch, and the grounds were meticulously maintained, with lush landscaping and an abundance of wildlife everywhere you looked. No really, there is NO shortage of howler monkeys, iguanas, and colorful birds throughout the property. There’s also a huge freshwater pool with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas.

I was pleasantly surprised by the resort food! There is a wide variety of options for everyone. The breakfast buffet was a highlight for the kids, and there are plenty of options for lunch too.

Resort Tips:

• Walk around the resort early in the day for the best wildlife experience. The animals are most active in the morning and it’s really fun to watch the monkeys swinging from the trees on the way to breakfast. Keep your eyes up and be careful, they love to drop their fruit from the tree when they are done eating!
• The resort is walkable but there are plenty of golf carts available if you’d rather catch a ride around the property. Our room was near the lobby, which was the furthest from everything else. If we could pick a room closer to the beach/restaurants, that would have been more convenient.
• Dinner reservations are required for almost all restaurants so plan out your dinners. Our favorite dinner was at Manglar! SOOO good!!

Transfer from Conchal to Arenal

After breakfast on our third morning in Costa Rica, we packed up and set off on our private ground transfer from Playa Conchal to Arenal. The drive was another great way to experience Costa Rica’s stunning scenery up close. The total travel time was around four hours, including a one-hour stop for lunch—something I highly recommend building into your trip.

Our driver was fantastic, and the van was clean, cool, and comfortable. One of the best parts of having a local driver was the wealth of information he shared along the way about Costa Rican culture, nature, and more. At one point, he spotted a man with a telescope on the roadside and instantly pulled over, knowing it meant one thing—a sloth sighting! We jumped out, excited for our first-ever glimpse of a sloth in the wild. Through the telescope, the view was absolutely mesmerizing—a surreal experience we’ll never forget.

For lunch, our driver recommended Café & Macadamia, a must-visit restaurant perched above the shores of Lake Arenal. It’s rated as one of the best restaurants in Costa Rica, and it definitely lived up to the hype! The food was fresh and delicious, the service was excellent, and the views overlooking the lake were incredible. If you’re making the drive from the beach to the rainforest, I highly recommend stopping here for lunch.

Transfer Tip: After lunch, we encountered a heavy downpour for the rest of the drive. The road conditions, with winding, narrow turns and steep inclines, were intense. I honestly can’t imagine having to navigate them on our own, especially in the rain. Having a driver made us feel so much safer and allowed us to sit back and relax, knowing we were in experienced hands. For anyone planning to make this route, I would consider hiring a driver instead of renting a car—it’s not just more convenient but also a much safer option given the unpredictable weather and challenging roads.

Nayara Tented Camp Review

Staying at Nayara Tented Camp was, without a doubt, the highlight of our entire family trip to Costa Rica. I had been eagerly anticipating this part of our adventure, and it far exceeded every expectation I had. Perched on a hillside and surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, the resort offers the ultimate luxury glamping experience with breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano.

Words can hardly do justice to how incredible this place is, but I’ll do my best to capture all the details of this heaven-on-earth place. From the moment we arrived, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Our first stop was the gorgeous Welcome Tent, an open-air space where we were warmly greeted, dropped off our bags, and hopped in a golf cart for a quick ride to check-in at the main lobby, where cocktails and cold towels were waiting for us. As soon as we stepped into the lobby, I was in awe. The open-air design of the lobby is stunning, but what truly took my breath away was the view—it felt like the Arenal Volcano was right in front of us, standing majestically against the backdrop of the rainforest. I was so captivated by the sight that I barely registered the rest of the check-in process!

Once we were checked in, we hopped back on a golf cart to our tent. The resort grounds are an absolute dream—meticulously maintained but still so deeply connected to the surrounding rainforest. Every inch of this property radiates natural beauty.

We stayed in the “Nayara Tent,” a 1,700-square-foot tent elevated on stilts, tucked away in the rainforest canopy. Our tented suite felt as though we were immersed in the heart of the jungle, but with all the comforts and luxuries you could imagine. The design was flawless—spacious, luxurious, and thoughtfully equipped with every detail to make our stay unforgettable. The tent had everything we could dream of: a private plunge pool fed by natural hot springs, an outdoor shower that made you feel as though you were showering in the rainforest, an indoor shower, and a freestanding tub. Our kids were thrilled to have a break from a sleeper sofa too with their twin beds in the master bedroom. And the little touches made the experience even more special—a well-stocked fridge replenished daily with snacks, fresh fruit, and beverages, and thoughtful eco-friendly touches like reusable water bottles.

You can find a full tour of our tent HERE!

The outdoor space was my favorite part of our tent. We spent hours in our private mineral hot spring pool, and we enjoyed breakfast each morning on our porch, surrounded by the most stunning views of the rainforest and the volcano in the distance.

The resort has several communal pools as well as a handful of gorgeous thermal pools tucked within the rainforest that are fed directly by the region’s natural hot springs. These pools are not only serene but the perfect way to relax at the end of each day!

The service at Nayara Tented Camp was exceptional and everyone was so incredibly kind and happy. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, taking care of every detail with such thoughtfulness. It’s clear that the team here takes immense pride in creating an unforgettable experience for their guests, and it shows in every interaction. For example, after bringing back soaking wet tennis shoes from our canyon rapelling adventure, the resort washed our shoes overnight and delivered them to our tent first thing in the morning so we would have dry shoes for our ziplining adventure that morning!!!

As for the food, Nayara Tented Camp delivers a culinary experience that matches the beauty of the resort itself. Every restaurant is stunningly beautiful and every meal we had was five stars. All of the food and drinks are prepared with fresh, local ingredients and consistently delicious. We loved every single thing we ate and drank at Nayara — especially the iced coffee! I dream about that poolside morning beverage!

Nayara Tented Camp is a haven for wildlife, thanks to its commitment to reforestation and preserving the rainforest. One of the most beloved species at Nayara is the sloth. These slow-moving, adorable creatures aren’t just everywhere though. The resort is home to 3-4 sloths right now and your best bet in finding them is to ask your golf cart driver! Each day we asked to find a sloth and it was incredible to see them up close!

In addition to sloths, the resort is teeming with Howler monkeys, iguanas, a variety of colorful birds, the famous red-eyed tree frog, and so much more. The resort even offers a variety of wildlife tours including a frog-watching night tour which we did not do, but again, our golf cart driver asked if we wanted to see one on our way to dinner one night and we said YES!

I think that covers the highlights of Nayara Tented Camp! It is truly is a slice of heaven on earth and we all felt like the luckiest family to stay here!

Family Trip to Costa Rica Excursions

Canyoning Waterfall Rappel Tour

While in La Fortuna, our family did a Canyoning Waterfall Rappel Tour with Pure Trek! This was truly one of those unforgettable days that will forever be etched in our memories.

It was a heart-pounding adventure, rappelling down the canyon walls through five exhilarating drops. Descending 350 feet in total, we made our way down three gushing waterfalls, a dry rock face, a canyon wall, and, for the final thrill, a “monkey drop” that left us all wide-eyed and laughing with adrenaline. Every moment was a mix of terror and exhilaration, pushing us out of our comfort zones in the best possible way. I was so proud of the kids — and they were so proud of themselves!!

Canopy & Tarzan Swing

Another highlight of our trip was ziplining through the Costa Rican cloud forest! Starting from a 42-foot-high tower, we slid from treetop to treetop across cables that took us deep into the jungle. This adventure gave us an elevated and exhillarating perspective of the cloud forest. The course stretches about 2 miles, with 14 platforms nestled among the trees, five of which are built on the trunks of sturdy trees.

As we zipped through the forest, we reached speeds of up to 37 miles per hour, with cables ranging in length from a quick 262 feet to 2,460 feet. The excitement built with every platform, but the real surprise came when we reached platform #10: the Tarzan Swing. While it was a bit terrifying for me, the rest of the family loved it! We fell from the platform towards the trees, swinging out over a cliff, and were rewarded with stunning views of the Arenal Volcano. This excursion had us all buzzing with adrenaline!

As our incredible vacation came to a close, we all reflected on our family trip to Costa Rica and everyone agreed that Nayara Tented Camp was the most magical place we’ve ever experienced, and our rappelling adventure was the most fun and adrenaline-filled activity. I will treasure the memories we made on this trip forever. Pura Vida!!!

Watch our video of our Family Trip to Costa Rica HERE!

Posts You May Also Love

• Our Snowshoe West Virginia Ski Resort Trip
• Great Wolf Lodge Tips
• Disney Wish Cruise Ship Vacation & Tips