Arenal or Monteverde: Which Is Better for Families?

Planning a trip to Costa Rica and want to know if Arenal or Monteverde is better for families? We have all the information you need!

We’ve traveled to Costa Rica many times over the last 20 years and we’ve always brought our kids with us. 

Our first visit was when they were just 4 and 6 years old and they’re now 24 and 26.

Needless to say, we have some strong opinions about whether Arenal or Monteverde is better for families and we’re going to share all of them with you!

Quick Comparison For Families: Arenal vs Monteverde

We love all things Costa Rica but much like anything, we do have opinions about places we’ve visited, especially ones we’ve been to with the kids.

If you’re planning a family vacation to Costa Rica and you’re trying to decide if you should visit Arenal or Monteverde, we’re going to break it all down for you and tell you which one we think is better for families and why. But first, here’s a quick comparison of the two.

Category	Arenal	Monteverde
Overall Family Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very family-friendly with lots of activity options	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great for families who enjoy nature and a quieter pace
Best Ages	Ideal for toddlers through teens	Best for school-age kids and teens
Activities Kids Love	Hot springs, wildlife parks, ziplining, hanging bridges, easy hikes	Hanging bridges, butterfly gardens, ziplining, night walks
Ease of Getting Around	Easy with short drives and organized tours	Steeper roads and longer drives between sites
Weather Comfort	Warm and humid, great for pool and water activities	Cooler and windy — bring layers; rain and mist are common
Wildlife Viewing	Sloths, monkeys, frogs, birds, reptiles	Birds, monkeys, insects, amphibians (excellent for nature lovers)
Hotel Amenities	Resorts with pools, hot springs, family rooms, on-site dining; many hotels have air conditioning	Lodge-style stays with fewer amenities but immersive nature settings; most hotels do not have air conditioning.
Downtime Between Activities	Plenty to do at hotels and nearby attractions	More relaxed pace; downtime often spent enjoying nature
Dining Options	Wide variety and very family-friendly	Smaller selection but casual
Overall Experience	Adventure-filled with comfort and convenience	Quiet, nature-focused, and educational

Arenal (La Fortuna) With Kids: What to Expect

Arenal is one of the first places we visited with our kids many years ago, and it’s a destination we’ve returned to again and again.

Over the years, we’ve stayed at a variety of hotels, from family-friendly resorts to smaller boutique properties, which has given us a good sense of what works well for families.

We’ve also tried nearly every activity you can imagine including soaking in hot springs, zip-lining through the canopy, wildlife spotting, and waterfall visits.

Because of that, we feel especially confident offering our take on the good, the bad, and the just okay.

Overall Family Atmosphere

La Fortuna and the surrounding area is what most people think of when they think of Costa Rica. It has a lush rainforest landscape, lots of wildlife and amazing hot springs.

We’ve never found La Fortuna itself to be overly impressive but whatever it lacks, the hotels and activities make up for.

This means there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained in between activities.

Best Things to Do in Arenal With Kids

There are many tour options for families in Arenal. You won’t have to travel far to get to any of these which is ideal if you’re traveling with younger children.

Even when our kids were younger, we never felt like we couldn’t do something because they were too young. Here are some of our favorite activities to do in Arenal with our kids.

Ziplining

If you have younger children with adventurous spirits, some operators make accommodations for children as young as 5 years old.

They’ll usually have them ride tandem with a guide or a parent. You’ll need to check with individual operators for their policies. If your looking for a good zipline tour, we like this one.

La Fortuna Waterfall (Age Considerations)

La Fortuna is beautiful and we definitely recommend visiting if you have the chance.

However, this one might be better suited for older kids since the trail to and from the waterfall is a bit challenging in some spots.

The worst part is the stairs near the falls. Trust me, you don’t want to carry your kids up those stairs.

If you want to sign up for a La Fortuna Waterfall tour, this is the one we suggest.

Hot Springs

The hot springs are fun for all ages. We’ve visited the Tabacon and The Springs Resort hot springs and no matter what age our kids are, it never gets old.

Whether it’s rainy or sunny, our family is always soaking in the hot springs. We honestly love them just as much as the kids, so it’s a win for everyone.

Wildlife Spotting

The Arenal area is full of wildlife including monkeys, sloths, iguanas and many bird species including toucans.

I’m not sure why, but of all the places we’ve visited in Costa Rica, we’ve always had the best luck spotting wildlife in Arenal.

There have been many times when we could spot various animals, including howler monkeys, right from our room’s balcony.

Why Arenal Is Perfect for Families

Arenal is a great choice for families for so many reasons.

There’s a wide range of activities for different ages and energy levels, from easy nature walks and boat rides to hanging bridges and zip-lining.

Many hotels are also very family-friendly, with pools, spacious rooms, and on-site restaurants, which makes downtime just as enjoyable as the excursions.

Here’s a few reasons why Arenal is ideal for families.

Activities for Younger Kids

There are a lot of resort based activities to keep younger kids occupied in between excursions. Most offer swimming pools and some have their own onsite hot springs.

Other activities you might find are wildlife sanctuary tours and night walks so there’s plenty to do in and around the resorts.

Perfect for First-Time Costa Rica Trips

If you’re visiting Costa Rica for the first time, Arenal is a perfect introduction. It offers a little bit of everything including scenery, wildlife, adventure, and relaxation.

I think it offers the quintessential Costa Rica experience that most people expect when they first visit.

More Family Accommodations Available

Many hotels have popped up in La Fortuna over the years. When we first visited all those years ago, there were just a few options and many weren’t ideal options families.

Now, there are many more accommodation options that are perfect for families especially if you’re looking for two and three bedroom suites.

Things to Consider When Visiting Arenal with Kids

There’s so much to love about Arenal and it’s easy to see why it has become such a popular destination for families.

Unfortunately, its popularity means there are a couple of things to consider before planning your trip here.

Much More Crowded

Arenal is a popular place for visitors, and there’s plenty of space to enjoy, but some spots do get busy. You’ll see this especially with the hot springs, which are one of the main attractions.

Many hotels offer day passes, so you’re not just sharing the pools with other guests, you’re sharing it with the many busloads of day-trippers.

Knowing this ahead of time can help you plan when and where to go so your family has the best experience.

We found this more so with Tabacon than with The Springs Resort. Tabacon is popular because it’s located right off the main road making it an easy stop for tours. The Springs Resort is much more isolated.

Much More Expensive

It’s hard to ignore that Arenal has gotten a lot pricier since we first started visiting. And when I say pricier, I mean we’ve seen prices roughly triple over the years.

A big part of that jump happened after The Springs Resort was featured on a couple of reality shows, which drove demand even higher.

Since then, other luxury properties have popped up, and prices have steadily followed.

It’s not exactly a hidden gem anymore, but it’s still an amazing place to visit.

Just keep in mind that if you need to get multiple rooms, it can get very pricey.

Best Family Hotels in Arenal

Many beautiful hotels and resorts have popped up here over the years and they offer a variety of onsite amenities for all ages. 

You’ll find anything from hot springs and swimming pools to spa facilities and tubing.

The Springs Resort
This is, by far, our favorite resort in the La Fortuna area and probably all of Costa Rica. It has pretty much anything a family could need or want for a perfect getaway.

The hotel offers beautiful outdoor swimming pools, onsite hot springs and multiple dining and bar options.

Another thing we love about this hotel is the Club Rio Adventure Center which offers several activities including tubing, rock wall climbing and a wildlife sanctuary tour.

You’ll also have your pick of beautiful rooms that offer tons of space for families. We always opt for the 2-bedroom junior suite which has plenty of room to spread out for a family of four.

Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
The is one of the first hotels we stayed at when visiting Arenal. At the time, it was the best hotel in the area and one of the most popular because of its hot springs.

Even though many more hotels have popped up, this is still a great option for families. It’s centrally located, has multiple dining and bar options, and it has its own hot springs which was our favorite thing to do.

It doesn’t have as many 2 bedroom options as The Springs Resort but there are a couple.

Nayara Tented Camp
If you want a truly unique family experience, stay at the Nayara Tented Camp. This is definitely another one of our top choices for families.

The best room option for families is the luxurious Family Tent which is made up of two separate tents connected by an outdoor space with a private pool.

If you stay here, you’ll have access to all the restaurants at Nayara Springs and Nayara Gardens so you’ll have multiple options without having to go too far.

Monteverde With Kids: What to Expect

Monteverde feels much more rustic compared to Arenal, which is reflected not just in the activities but in the accommodations as well.

The weather here is classic cloud forest so mist, clouds, rain, and a fair bit of wind are common and consistent throughout your stay.

Most hotels have a lodge-style design, adding to that rustic charm. While there are exceptions, many properties offer fewer on-site amenities compared to Arenal.

Overall, the experience is quieter and more focused on nature and wellness.

Overall Family Atmosphere

The main town closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest is Santa Elena. This is one of the main hubs of activity in this area but the town is very small.

Much like La Fortuna, we don’t find Santa Elena to be very impressive. There are a few small shops and restaurants but there’s probably no need to spend more than an hour or so there.

The cloud forest, hiking trails, and wildlife are the main attractions around here.

Best Things to Do in Monteverde With Kids

Monteverde is one of the most unique places to visit in Costa Rica with kids. The Monteverde Cloud Forest offers scenery, wildlife, and a variety of experiences that make it well suited for families that enjoy spending time together outdoors.

Cloud Forest Walks

Monteverde is a great destination for families that enjoy hiking. With many miles of trails in the area, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring all of them.

Some of the hotels even have their own trail systems that are for the exclusive use of their guests.

There are many tours available that offer guided walks in the cloud forest. We highly recommend this private tour which offers a more personalized experience.

Wildlife Spotting (especially insects and birds)

If your kids are really into insects and birds, they’ll love Monteverde because it’s filled with them. Whether you’re walking along the cloud forest trails or on your hotel property, you’ll see them everywhere.

Hummingbirds are everywhere in Monteverde and one of our favorite things to do is to eat breakfast outside and watch them come and go. Sometimes it’s the little things in life.

Hanging Bridges

This can be fun for most ages as long as the kids don’t mind walking. They’re usually easy to moderate trails and are considered to be accessible.

You’ll need to be careful, especially with younger children, because the wetter environment can make it a little slippery in certain areas.

While the distance might be fine for older kids, it can be a consideration for younger ones that are walking on their own.

If you need a tour recommendation, this is a great option.

When Monteverde Makes Sense for Families

Monteverde is a great place to visit for families with a few considerations.

Older Kids and Teens

Monteverde is a destination that is probably more suitable for older children given that there aren’t many onsite activities at the hotels.

There are a couple that offer swimming pools but the overall weather patterns here don’t allow for ideal swimming conditions most of the time.

Kids Interested in Birds and Nature

If your family loves spending time outdoors and exploring trails Monteverde could be a perfect match.

Even if wildlife isn’t their main interest, the area offers endless opportunities for hiking, cloud forest walks, and enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Families That Don’t Need Many Amenities

For the most part, Monteverde is a bare bones destination. If you’re not concerned about hotel amenities, including air conditioning and televisions, it might be a great option for you. 

Though there are some hotels that offer upgraded amenities, not all do.

Things to Consider When Visiting Monteverde with Kids

There are a few factors worth considering when deciding if Monteverde is the right fit for your family including weather, difficult roads, and accommodation options.

Roads Can Be Rough

Monteverde’s remote location and high-elevation is part of its appeal, but it can make getting there a bit more difficult.

Road signage can be limited, several routes are unpaved, and conditions may change during the rainy season when heavy downpours can cause washouts or slow travel.

Cooler, Wetter Weather

The weather in Monteverde is much more unpredictable than other places in Costa Rica.

You’ll find rain and or mist is very common and temperatures feel much cooler as well. 

Don’t rely too heavily on the average temperatures you see for Monteverde. You’ll often notice February and March listed with highs in the upper 70s or even mid-80s, but this hasn’t been our experience.

When we’ve visited during that time, it never climbed above 70 degrees. Once you factor in the mist and wind, it felt significantly cooler.

Fewer Dining and Lodging Options

Monteverde isn’t as heavily visited as Arenal, so the overall selection of hotels and restaurants is smaller.

You’ll still find a range of accommodations but choices are more limited and tend to book up earlier in peak seasons.

The dining options are similar. There are some excellent local restaurants but you won’t see the same variety you’ll find in Arenal.

Best Family Hotels in Monteverde

There are fewer accommodation options in Monteverde compared to Arenal. While most are more rustic lodge-style hotels with bare bones facilities, there are some newer properties that are bringing a touch of luxury to the area.

One thing to note about the hotels in Monteverde is that many do not offer air conditioning and some don’t have televisions in the rooms.

Koora Hotel
Koora Hotel is our favorite hotel in Monteverde. Not only does it have a rustic atmosphere with a modern twist, but it also has the modern conveniences that many families look for including air conditioning and televisions, a rarity in this area.

There are several room categories to choose from at Koora including several suites that are perfect for families that want a little more space to spread out.

The hotel also has a great onsite restaurant with stunning views.

Hotel Belmar
Hotel Belmar is one of the older hotels in Monteverde but it’s actually one of the nicer ones. Our favorite feature of this hotel is the multiple dining options available. Most hotels in this area only have one.

This hotel has some suites that might work for families traveling with smaller children but if your children are older, you’ll probably have to opt for multiple rooms.

Senda Monteverde
Senda Monteverde is another one of our favorite hotels in Monteverde. This property works especially well for families because of the way the property is laid out.

It has a long winding walkway with bungalow-style buildings scattered throughout the property. This is ideal because some have two rooms to a building so you can request side-by-side rooms if needed.

There’s also a great onsite restaurant and an outdoor terrace with fire pits where the offer nightly bonfire with hot cocoa and marshmallows.

Helpful Tips for Planning a Family Trip to Costa Rica

Planning a trip to Costa Rica with kids is exciting, but a little preparation can make the experience even smoother.

From transportation choices to packing and timing your activities, a few small decisions can have a big impact on how your trip unfolds.

These tips will help you avoid common hiccups and make the most of your time exploring Costa Rica as a family.

Try Not to Overpack Your Daily Itinerary

You may be tempted to overfill your itinerary to try to fit in as much as possible.

At some point it becomes more about getting to the next activity as opposed to enjoying your surroundings. Try to fit in some down time whenever possible.

We usually don’t book more than one activity per day which leaves us time to enjoy our hotel, read a book, etc.

This was especially important when our kids were much younger because they tended to get burnt out and cranky when we tried to do too much.

Don’t Underestimate Travel Time

Destinations in Costa Rica may look close on a map but in reality, travel time is much longer than you might realize.

Maps tend not to show you the huge mountain you need to drive around when driving to some places.

Roads to more remote locations such as Arenal and Monteverde aren’t paved in some areas so travel can be a bit slower.

In addition, roads may get washed out during certain times of the year requiring you to detour in another direction.

Think About Logistics When Planning Your Route

Planning a trip to Costa Rica is a bit of an art form. A lot of it is deciding whether or not an itinerary makes sense and then possibly making the hard decision to cut something out if it doesn’t.

This is especially important when traveling with kids.

Our rule of thumb for how many destinations to include in a Costa Rica itinerary is based on the number of nights we’ll be there.

For a 7-night vacation, we never include more than two different stops. For 10 nights, it’s never more than three. 

This allows us to fully enjoy each place before moving on to the next.

We also make sure we’re not driving more than 3 or 4 hours between destinations because we don’t want to feel like we spent half our time in the car.

For example, if we plan a 7-night vacation, we might head to Arenal as soon as we arrive and then head to the Guanacaste area on day three or four. That means we’ll have two car rides in a one week vacation that will be between 3 and 4 hours. That’s not so bad.

How to Get Around Costa Rica as a Family

You have a few transportation options for getting around Costa Rica. We’ve used most of the options so we’ll give you a quick overview of each one.

If you want more info about getting around the country, check out our post, Driving in Costa Rica: Essential Tips & Best Transport Alternatives. We break down the details of the different transportation options and provide some additional tips and suggestions.

Shared Shuttles

Shared shuttles are a popular choice for families and run between most major tourist areas in the country.

There are a few things to keep in mind when booking one. Pickup times are set by the company, so there isn’t much flexibility in the schedule.

You’ll also make additional stops to pick up and drop off other passengers along the way.

This can add extra time to the journey and since transfers between destinations often take a few hours to begin with, it’s something to factor into your plans.

Flights

Most tourist areas within Costa Rica are served by smaller domestic airports so you do have the option of flying between destinations.

Flying will certainly get you where you want to go much quicker than driving but it’s also much more expensive.

In addition, flights are at the mercy of the weather so you tend to see a lot of delays and cancellations. We usually only recommend flying if you’re very short on time.

To be honest, we’ve never actually taken a domestic flight within Costa Rica for a couple of reasons. First, they have strict luggage limits for both size and weight, with some flights allowing only about 25 pounds total.

Second, I’m not a fan of small planes and won’t take one unless it’s absolutely necessary. Plus, I’m all set with anything that requires a strict size and weight limit. Thanks, but no thanks.

Rental Car

If you’re adventurous, a rental car might be a great option for you, especially if you’re traveling with multiple family members.

It can be more cost effective and it allows you to be more flexible with your schedule. The downside is that some of the more mountainous roads can be a bit challenging at times and many roads don’t have street signs.

You can find most major rental car companies is Costa Rica and we definitely recommend comparing prices. They can vary greatly from one company to another.

This is our favorite option for getting around. What’s life without a little adventure?

Private Transfers

Private transfers are our second-favorite way to get around Costa Rica. They offer flexibility that you don’t get with shared shuttles, especially when it comes to pickup times and stops along the way.

You’ll also have the chance to chat with your driver, which makes the experience feel more personal.

And if you’re traveling as a family of four or more, a private transfer can sometimes be just as affordable, or even more cost-effective, than booking multiple seats on a shared shuttle.

If you want to book a private transfer from the San Jose airport, we recommend this one. If you need one from the Liberia airport, we suggest this one.

FAQs

Here are our answers to some common questions people have about Arenal and Monteverde.

Should I spend more time in Arenal or Monteverde?

This will depend on what you’re looking to do. Monteverde is better for hiking, and other outdoor activities. Arenal is better for hot springs and indulging in luxury accommodations.

Which zipline is better, Monteverde or Arenal?

We prefer the Arenal ziplines. Monteverde is known for its unpredictable weather so you may find yourself ziplining through rain, mist, wind, clouds or a mix of all four which doesn’t leave much room for views.

Is Monteverde more expensive than Arenal?

Generally speaking, Arenal is more expensive than Monteverde. 

Our Final Take: Is Arenal or Monteverde Better for Families?

As you’ve probably figured out, Arenal and Monteverde are very different destinations. 

Arenal will give you the textbook rainforest experience while Monteverde is a quieter destination with a focus on nature.

Deciding if Arenal or Monteverde is better for your family is obviously a personal decision but if you want our advice, we recommend Arenal over Monteverde, especially if you have younger children.

There are way more activities that are ideal for younger children in Arenal and, if I’m being completely honest, we prefer the modern conveniences and amenities offered in the Arenal hotels.

If you want to know our kids’ opinion, it’s not even a competition. They prefer Arenal over Monteverde, hands down.

So there you have it. We hope this has been helpful and that you’re on your way to planning a great trip!

Talk soon!

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