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Costa Rica with Kids | Real Recs & Memories from Our Trip
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items From lush rainforests and coffee fincas to lessons learned along the way, this list captures our family’s time in Costa Rica — the adventures, the pivots, and the unexpected moments that shape our journey abroad.
Sections
5
Residency Trip & Reflections
City Discoveries & Everyday Adventures
Coastal Life & Rainforest Adventures
Jacó & Central Pacific Coast
San José & Homeward Moments
Residency Trip & Reflections
Real-life moments from our time in Costa Rica — from visa appointments and setbacks to rediscovering peace in the pivot.
I was hopeful, but applying for Mexican residency in a country other than your birthplace isn’t easy. We weren’t approved — and that’s okay. It just means it’s time for another path. For us to live the life we’re meant to live, we have to stay flexib...
Pivoting Through Setbacks | Residency Trip Reflections
City Discoveries & Everyday Adventures
Snapshots of life on the go — from local eats and funny travel quirks to the little details that make Costa Rica unforgettable.
Life is all about experiences — and unlike material things, they stay with us no matter where we go. Travel lets us see life from new angles, through new cultures, cuisines, and customs. Even the quirks become part of the adventure. Here in Costa Ric...
First Days in San José | Sodas, Waze & Pho
Whew — another long day! We started with a stop at the bakery we spotted yesterday for coffee and breakfast. The boys grabbed warm, flaky croissants 🥐 that were absolute perfection. Our plan was to walk to the Central Market before picking up our re... https://www.instagram.com/p/CbyjzSSAD_H/?img_index=3
San José Adventures: Walking Tours & Boozy Ice Cream
Coastal Life & Rainforest Adventures
From palm-lined highways and hidden beaches to jungle hikes in the rain — reflections and highlights from Costa Rica’s lush Pacific coast.
Our first day in Quepos was a wild ride — literally. The toll roads were a learning curve, but once we got through the first one, we were pros. We spent almost ₡3000 colones in tolls getting from San José to Quepos, and the scenery was incredible the... https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb1ZXaZgEwm/?img_index=10
First Day in Quepos | Rain, Wildlife & Suspension Bridges
I absolutely love when we find family-friendly hotels like this — the kind where the kids can wake up, open the door, grab a quick breakfast of eggs and toast, and be in the pool before their plates even hit the sink. ☀️ Today was pure magic at Playa...
Playa Espadilla & Poolside Mornings
Talk about a bucket list day! ❤️ We saw a baby sloth 🦥 with its mama at Manuel Antonio National Park — and it was every bit as magical as you’d imagine. The park was alive with wildlife today: cheeky monkeys 🙈 everywhere, deer wandering the trails,... https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb6WYZ5ggUk/?img_index=1
Manuel Antonio National Park | Baby Sloth & Ice Cream for Dinner
Hahaha — we’ve crammed so much into the last few days that we completely forgot we weren’t heading to Jacó until tomorrow! 🤣 So, bonus day in Quepos it was! We spent it the best way possible — relaxing at another beautiful beach and soaking up the s...
Bonus Day in Quepos | Beach Time & Squirrel Monkeys
Jacó & Central Pacific Coast
Where surf culture meets mountain views — laid-back beach days, local flavors, and sunset reflections along Costa Rica’s vibrant central coast.
Only about an hour’s drive from Quepos to Jacó, but the scenery feels completely different. Instead of deer or raccoons as roadkill, here you pass lizards and coatimundis, while scarlet macaws 🦜 soar overhead. We arrived in town, grabbed lunch befor...
Arrival in Jacó | Lazy Days & First Impressions
Another national park hike today — this time through Carara National Park, a lush wildlife haven between Jacó and Tarcoles. We’ve spotted a few scarlet macaws 🦜 from a distance before, but today we were hoping for a closer look. No luck on that fron...
Carara National Park | Coatimundis, Toucans & Thunderstorms
Today was one for the books — a ten waterfall hike that pushed us, drenched us, and rewarded us with views straight out of a dream. 🌿 We climbed rocks, waded through rivers, and used ropes to pull ourselves up slick jungle paths. In some spots, you ...
Ten Waterfalls & the Best Pineapple Ever | Neofauna Costa Rica
Some days just hit you with the “I need a vacation from this vacation” kind of tired. 😅 After a week of hiking, exploring, and chasing waterfalls, we finally took it easy — or tried to. Playa Herradura and Playa Blanca were the perfect finish to our...
Hidden Beaches of Playa Herradura & Playa Blanca
San José & Homeward Moments
The final stretch — slowing down, reflecting on all we’ve seen, and carrying the meaning of “pura vida” home with us.
Costa Rica is a country of contrasts — lush jungles and rusted rooftops, pura vida and perseverance. 🌿 It’s hard not to be in awe of the biodiversity here. Costa Rica may make up just 0.03% of the world’s landmass, yet it holds 5% of all species on ...
Reflections on Costa Rica | Pura Vida & Perspective
Well, that was not what I expected for Palm Sunday. We went into downtown San José to soak in the atmosphere — the streets alive with faith and color, people carrying palms to be blessed, a sense of celebration in the air. We stepped into one of the ... https://www.instagram.com/p/CcMCiuIuRGG/
Palm Sunday in San José | Hard Lesson
One of the things I love most about travel is how it immerses you in history as it unfolds — you’re not just reading about it, you’re standing in the middle of it. We happened to be in Costa Rica when the country elected its new president, Rodrigo Ch...
A New President, a National Hero & the Start of Semana Santa
Our last day in Costa Rica was a quiet one — the kind that makes you realize how full the trip really was. We wandered through a few local shops (the clothes here are so much better than in Mexico, by the way), grabbed Taco Bell for the second day in...
Last Day in Costa Rica | Shopping, Smoothie Bowls & Saying Goodbye