CR Wildlife
Most parents often are troubled about how to keep their kids entertained during a holiday, especially one abroad. Costa Rica is different. It is a treasure trove for kids, with a large variety of animal and birdlife, rainforests and volcanoes waiting to be explored. The holiday is also a perfect opportunity to get your kids to try out new foods and maybe pick up a little bit of Spanish. 5 Ways to Entertain the Kids in Costa Rica…
1. Children’s Museum: This museum is located in the capital city of San Jose, in military barracks. However, children of all ages will be thrilled to visit it, as it is replete with activities. Imagine how thrilled your kids will be to experience a simulated earthquake or make music by dancing on the floor! All the exhibits here are interactive. It will be an educational and entertaining visit for your children.
Children’s Museum in San Jose
2. Wildlife Boat Ride in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui: Located in the northeastern part of the country in the Caribbean lowlands, this town is popular for its wildlife and birds. However, children often find it exhausting to go on nature walks and hikes. Instead taking them on a wildlife boat ride will be exciting and adventurous. During the ride they can watch caimans, sloths, monkeys, colorful birds and hordes of other wildlife.
3. Poas Volcano: A visit to the volcano will be a fascinating experience for kids. You can drive all the way to the crater and peek in. It is best to go early before the clouds obstruct your view. There is a 750-meter paved flat path that leads to the crater. It is easy for children to navigate the path. After you finish seeing the volcano, you can take some of the side trails to check out the cloud forest. At the summit there are two crater lakes that are highly acidic. One of the lakes is called Laguna Caliente and is extremely acidic, while the other is called Lake Botos and surrounded by a cloud rainforest.
Kids and Culture in Costa Rica
4. Monteverde Frog Pond: Take your kids to the Frog Pond located in Monteverde/Santa Elena. The tour guide will use a flashlight to point out the different amphibians and you will be covering your ears each time your kids scream excitedly, “I see it!” It is here that your kids can see the very colorful poison dart frogs that are hardly bigger than the nail of your thumb.
5. Dolphin and Whale Watching: Take your children on a half day cruise to watch dolphins and whales frolicking in the Pacific. The kids will get a chance to see humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins and killer whales – a truly amazing sight to behold.
The tourism industry in Costa Rica is well-developed and offers many things for children to do. If your attempts at keeping your children entertained fail, you still have the beautiful beaches and water sports to keep them busy for hours at a stretch!
