A little backstory: Jason and I went to Costa Rica on our own the year before and stayed at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, the hot springs resort below Arenal Volcano. We came home already planning to bring the kids back the following year. This post is that trip.
So the next June we flew all nine of us into San José and spent a week on the Pacific coast in Manuel Antonio, where the rainforest runs right down to the beach.
We booked it as a custom package through Costa Rican Vacations, which handled the airport pickup, private transfers, the resort, and every tour. With seven kids along, having one company own the logistics (and a local phone number to call) was worth it.
Here's the week, day by day.
Trip at a Glance
| When | Eight days in early June. June is the start of Costa Rica's green season: mornings are usually clear, afternoons bring rain. |
|---|---|
| Fly into | San José (SJO). Manuel Antonio is roughly a 3-hour drive. |
| Getting around | Private van transfers for the airport legs, tour pickups from the resort the rest of the week. No rental car. |
| Home base | Los Altos Resort & Spa in Manuel Antonio. We booked the Penthouse with Ocean View & Manuel Antonio Park View, plus three additional rooms, so all nine of us had space. |
| Tours | Nauyaca Waterfalls, a canopy zipline, half-day fishing, a guided Manuel Antonio National Park walk, and a night amphibian and reptile tour. |
Packing for Nine
Getting nine people out the door for an international flight starts days before. We packed from a printed checklist, toiletries and meds checked off one by one, and lined every suitcase up in the hallway the night before.
Arrival and the Drive to the Coast
Our package included an airport meet-and-greet. A greeter met us with a sign right before immigration, walked us through immigration and customs, and handed us off to a private driver with a van big enough for nine people and our bags.
From there it's about three hours to Manuel Antonio. We checked into Los Altos, which sits up on the hill with views over the ocean and the national park.
Why we picked a resort with multi-room suites
Hotel rooms in Costa Rica are usually built for two to four people. Los Altos let us book the penthouse, which looks out over the ocean and the national park, with three additional rooms attached, so we had a shared living space and a kitchen without splitting the family across a hallway. For a family our size, that matters more than any amenity.
Our Morning Ritual
Every morning, while the kids were still asleep, Jason and I snuck out for coffee together at a local roastery right across from Los Altos. Costa Rican coffee is some of the best in the world, and it was our time together before the day got busy.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
Our first full day was the Nauyaca Waterfall Tour, down the coast to the falls near Dominical, with an 8:40 AM pickup at the resort. Nauyaca is two tiers of falls dropping into a swimming hole surrounded by jungle. The last stretch in was in the back of an open-air truck.
Bring water shoes and a dry change of clothes. You'll want to swim.
Ziplining Through the Canopy
Monday was a canopy zipline tour with Outdoor Expeditions, with a 10:45 AM pickup at the resort. The guides handle all the gear and harnesses.
Check age and weight limits before you book
Zipline operators set minimum ages and weight limits, and they vary by company. With kids spread across a wide age range, confirm everyone qualifies before you pay.
A Morning on the Pacific
Tuesday was a half-day fishing charter with Carib Sea out of the marina in Quepos, about 15 minutes from the resort by taxi. We met the boat at 7:00 AM, and the whole crew went out.
Manuel Antonio National Park
This was the reason we picked Manuel Antonio. We booked a guided walk with Aguila Mayor, with a 6:50 AM pickup so we'd be at the gate when the park opened, before the heat and the crowds.
Go with a guide. They carry spotting scopes and know exactly where the sloths are hanging that week. Without one, you'll walk right past half the animals. The park is known for sloths, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, iguanas, and beaches inside the park where you can swim after the walk.
Know the park rules
- The park is closed on Tuesdays. Plan around it.
- Entry is limited each day, so book ahead in high season.
- Many foods aren't allowed inside, so check the current rules before you pack snacks.
- Don't feed the monkeys, and keep bags zipped. The capuchins are bold.
Beach Day, Then a Night Tour
We left Thursday open on purpose for a free beach day in Manuel Antonio. After four early mornings in a row, we needed it.
That evening we had a 5:50 PM pickup for the Amphibians & Reptiles Night Tour. With flashlights and a guide, you find a completely different set of animals after dark: tree frogs, snakes, and insects you'd never see during the day.
Day 7 · FridayKayaking and a Slow Last Day
Our last full day had no tours booked. We spent the morning kayaking, then gave the afternoon to the pool and the beach.
Back to San José
A private van picked us up at 6:35 AM for the ride back to SJO and our midday flight home. Leave early. The drive is long, and traffic around San José is unpredictable.
What We'd Tell Another Big Family
- Pick one base. We stayed in Manuel Antonio all week and let the tours come to us. No packing and unpacking nine suitcases.
- Book tours in the morning. June afternoons usually bring rain. Early starts got us the best weather and the most animals.
- Leave open days. Two unscheduled days kept the week from turning into a march.
- Use a local agency. We booked everything through Costa Rican Vacations. Transfers, tours, and a phone number to call made a trip with seven kids feel easy.
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