Raising kids in Costa Rica can be a serious change of direction for families relocating here. However, Costa Rica is bursting with natural wonder, numerous wildlife species and enough activities to keep your kids engaged and fascinated.
For expat families, Costa Rica provides thrilling outdoor adventures, immersive cultural experiences and opportunities to forge lasting friendships with locals — young and old alike.
Here are just a few activities your children can enjoy while living in Costa Rica.
Surfing Lessons on Pacific Coast Beaches
For adventurous kids who love the ocean, the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica boasts fantastic surf spots, suitable for beginners and experienced surfers alike. Surf schools in towns like Tamarindo and Jaco offer safe and fun surfing lessons, allowing children to catch waves and experience the thrill of riding the surf.
Wildlife Spotting in Costa Rica’s National Parks
Costa Rica is famous for its incredible biodiversity, and visiting the country’s national parks provides a fantastic opportunity for kids to observe wildlife up close. Places like Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, and Tortuguero National Park offer guided tours where children can see exotic animals like monkeys, sloths, toucans, and colorful butterflies. These encounters will spark a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.
Soccer and Other Sports Activities
Soccer, or “fútbol” in Spanish, is deeply ingrained in Costa Rican culture. Virtually every Costa Rican child plays or enjoys soccer. It’s excellent exercise, teaches discipline and cooperation and gives your kid an easy path to establishing new friendships. Your kids may also enjoy activities like cycling, swimming and skateboarding. In Costa Rica, there is no shortage of any of these activities. Encourage kids to join local soccer matches or other sports activities to interact with their peers, make new friends, and experience the passion Costa Ricans have for sports.
Cultural Learning
Costa Rica is also famous for its music — especially marimba — and music classes are available throughout the country. Your kid’s school will also point you in the right direction for dance, karate, drama, creative writing and many other culturally enriching opportunities to learn. Depending on your kid’s interests, there will always be something fascinating to learn and enjoy.
Spending Time in Nature
Costa Rica’s numerous microclimates create many varied areas that are perfect for exploration. These include the rain forests and highlands where hanging bridges, hiking and birding are popular pastimes; coastal areas where your kids can learn about sea turtle conservation or take up pastimes like paddle boarding; national parks where kids can explore volcano regions and other natural wonders. There is so much to do and see for young people and the adventure never stops.
Water Activities
Besides Costa Rica’s beautiful shorelines, the country is dotted with literally thousands of rivers, springs and natural pools. Here, your kids can enjoy tubing, hot springs outings, kayaking, fishing or hiking and swimming. These areas are lush, welcoming and safe for families to explore and fall in love with.
Living in Costa Rica provides an unmatched opportunity for your kids to immerse themselves in nature, culture, adventure and more. Not only entertaining, these experiences are also educational and can help your child foster a sense of appreciation for the environment as well as culture diversity.
Need more information about relocating to Costa Rica with your family? Be sure to reach out to us here.
