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by Marina K. VillatoroTake the Kid's Along Guides

Costa Rica may look small, but itsamazing distances are deceiving to all.It is one of the most kid friendlycountries in Central America, a placefor adrenaline junkies, nature loversto come face to face with birds andendangered wildlife, and for familiesto experience a rare tropicalexperience!

Miles of clear, turquoise coastlinesand lush tropical rainforests teemingwith the abundance of flora and faunawhere you might just get a fewcurious looks from the monkeys andbirds hanging out in the trees.

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Costa Rica is full of live historicmuseums where you can see plantsand animals up close while learning allabout them. There are butterfly andhummingbird gardens, live frog andreptile museums, botanical gardensand zoo and animal rescue centers.And this is just the beginning.

Did you know that Costa Rica has over160 national parks, wildlife refuges,biological reserves, wetland or othertype of conservation areas in CostaRica?

Where to go &

What to do

Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

In Costa Rica, everyone can enjoy lovely tropical beaches,adrenaline filled adventures, lots of natural wonders, brilliantculture and all the needed conveniences of an ideal vacation.

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Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

SAN JOSESan Jose is a city full ofinteresting museums worthvisiting that kids of all ageswould definitely enjoy as theyget to learn a little bit of CostaRica’s history. You’ll get to learnabout Costa Rica’s Indigenoustribes, the pre-Columbian eraand how colonialism affectsCosta Rican people nowadays.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Several historical museumsare in close proximity to eachother that you can hop fromone museum to another in aday either by bus, taxi or bywalking.

Stroll the SavannahMetropolitan Park which islocated in the heart of SanJose and has wide openspaces, trails, fountains andlagoons that attracts picnickersand sports fans alike with itsshady trees and excellentsports facilities.

The Avenida Central is afascinating shopping district fullof shops and restaurants indowntown San Jose. It is thebest place for people looking forbargain shopping and souvenirsfor the family. Plus, to simplypeople watch!

Enjoy walking around theCentral Market as it is a greatplace to find offbeat gifts andsouvenirs during your travel andwhere you can taste authenticCosta Rican foods.

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CENTRAL VALLEYCentral Valley is an ideal place tostay for those people looking forpeaceful and quiet environmentwhile enjoying the advantages ofthe city’s lifestyle. The Poas andIrazu volcano are two of the famousattractions among tourist.

Central Valley consists of theprovinces of San Jose, Heredia,Alajuela and Cartago. The region ofCentral Valley is often overlookedand underappreciated but it is anexcellent base for exploring thelocal attractions in the provinces ofthe region.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

The Poas Volcano NationalPark has trails that will lead youup to the volcano’s active craterand get the chance to see it upclose. Walking along the parkyou will pass through densevegetation and see differentwildlife in the area.

The La Paz Waterfalls &Gardens will absolutely amazeyou. Going to the park is scenicand as you hike inside the lushrainforest you will be impressedwith several waterfalls.

Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

The Butterfly sanctuary, thehummingbird gardens and thedart frog exhibit are otherattractions worth visiting insidethe park.

The Doka Estate CoffeePlantation is where you you’llbe able to learn first hand howthe small coffee beans areplanted, harvested andprocessed. The view from thecoffee farm's mountainside isspectacular.

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ARENALArenal is an amazing place forthe more adventurous traveler.The area has a lot to offer interms of activities or for thoseseeking some retreat from theirbusy life.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Arenal offers all sorts of funtours - water rappelling orwhite water rafting, skytrekand canopy tours or trekkingthe hanging bridges. And afterthat soak your tired muscles inhot springs to end your day.

The Arenal National Park thatincludes a cloud forest andthousand acres of rainforest isteeming with wildlife such asdifferent species of colorfulbirds and butterflies, tropicalplants, monkeys, reptiles andamphibians like poisonousfrogs and crocodiles.

Spend a fun evening in La Fortuna. A small, charming town. Try a typical Costa Rican restaurant – SODA and find great souvenirs while enjoying the locals go about their business.

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Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Manuel Antonio National Parkis a lush tropical rainforestwith great network of trailswhere you could walk aroundand explore the forest to seeand appreciate the rich floraand fauna of the park.

The beaches in ManuelAntonio are definitely themost beautiful in Costa Rica.Tropical forest surrounds thearea of white sand beacheswith dazzling blue-greenwaters great for snorkelling.Surf, swim or just have a tanunder the sun.

MANUEL ANTONIOManuel Antonio is a beautifuldestination that boasts ofmagnificent white sandbeaches and lush tropicalrainforest.

The town of Quepos has agreat variety of restaurantsand stores for shoppingeverything & anything andexperience their lively outdoormarket every Saturday.

Plus enjoy a stroll along theboardwalk to the Quepos Pierswhere the charters for thefishing tours leave from.

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MONTEVERDEA perfect destination forevery tourist looking for a realnature experience. The townis famous for its cloud forest,coffee plantations, friendlylocals and adventures one canexplore.

WHAT TO DO & SEE

Monteverde cloud forest isremarkable for the biodiversityof wildlife. Hike through thebridges and trails and admirethe swamp forest, the river trailwith waterfalls and the LaVentana which has anobservation deck with a wideview of an elfin forest below.

Walk on the first Costa RicanHanging Bridges ofMonteverde a fabulous way tosee and feel the rainforest upclose. The Sky Trek and CanopyTour are for the moreadventurous one but you canstill enjoy watching the

cloudforest above by riding inthe Sky Tram.

The nearby Santa Elena townhas several restaurants andartisan shops. Restaurants hereoffered both local, SODAS, andinternational cuisine. You willsurely enjoy mingling with thelocal farmers and sample theirfresh produce and baked goods,especially the milk products.

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PUERTO VIEJOA beach lover’s paradise onthe shores of the Caribbeansea and where the famousSalsa Brava wave can befound. It is a small Caribbeantown where reggae music isthe national anthem andswinging in a hammock thelocal past time.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Puerto Viejo is famous forsurfers due to its outstandingwaves. The natural treasuresof the area are just a minuteaway from Puerto Viejo likethe Playa Chiquita,Manzanillo, Monkey Pointand Gandoca.

The town is full of restaurantsand bars and plenty ofshopping opportunities whichoffer the perfect mementosfor your travel.

Ride a bike and explore PuertoViejo and the nearbyManzanillo. The sceneriesaround the town are beautifuland you can stop and enjoy thebeaches along the way.

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CAHUITAA relaxing paradise onthe Caribbean Coastof Costa Rica withpicture perfectbeaches and trails thatleads to lush coastalrainforest. waiting tobe discovered

Kids will love a walk along the whitesandy beaches of the park whilespotting animals like sloths, monkeys,iguanas etc.

Cahuita’s Caribbean cuisine is amongthe best in Costa Rica. The bestCaribbean rice and beans are availablein most local restaurant, SODAS, andmain dishes like meats and fishes arecoconut-infused.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Visit the only Sloth Center in theworld and interact with the adultsloths & see the sloth nursery.Experience canoe ride through theriver where you can see the sloths intheir natural habitat. The “slothspital”is where the injured and orphanedsloth is cared for before beingreturned to the wild.

Cahuita’s Playa Negra is a beach townwith black sands while the whitesanded beach is inside CahuitaNational Park. Swim & snorkel in thewarm calm waters of the beach. Thecoral reefs here are among CostaRica’s finest and are a home toabundant marine life.

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Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

TORTUGUEROTortuguero is Costa Rica’s primeeco-tourism destination andalso the most importantnesting ground of the greenturtles. Tortuguero literallymeans place of the turtle. Anetwork of rivers and canalslies behind its beaches.Tortuguero is a protected areathat contains some of thegreatest bio-diversity you canfind in Central America.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Because there are no roads,the town of Tortuguero canonly be reached using boat orsmall aircraft. Kids will lovevisiting “The Amazon of CostaRica”.

Visit the Sea TurtleConservancy Center andmuseum which is located atthe far north of the village ofTortuguero. It is where youcan get to learn all about thenesting cycles of the turtles,

facts about other wildlifeand the currentdevelopments inTortuguero.

A boat tour to theTortuguero National Parkcan get you close tonature, you will be able tosee lots of land, air andwater flora and faunawhich Costa Rica is famousfor. These includemonkeys, caiman, riverturtles, iguanas anddifferent species of birds.

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TAMARINDOTamarindo is a fun and smallbeach community inGuanacaste. It is well knownarea for surfing with tons fosurf schools. And don’t forgetgreat eats and plenty ofshopping.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Tamarindo has all sorts of beachessome with calm waters and goodfor swimming while other sectionsare ideal for surfers of all levels.

Tamarindo Beach has all sorts ofactivities world class sport-fishing,sailing, surfing, ATV tours, turtlewatching, canopy tours and manymore.

It is a colorful town where you canfind several bakeries, an outdoorvegetable market, art galleries,pottery stores, boutiques andbeauty spas.

The town is also full of restaurantsthat serve both local andinternational cuisines. And if yourkids are old enough you can checkout the nightlife which is boomingand on the beaches.

But the best part, are the sunsets!

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MONTEZUMAMontezuma lies on thesouthern tip of the NicoyaPeninsula and was once aremote fishing village with alaid back feel. The village is alsoknown for its bohemian vibeand striking beauty of itsbeaches, rivers, scenicwaterfalls and natural pools.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Walk around this bohemian town,where you see cute old woodenhouses and street parties happeningeverywhere. Never a shortage ofrestaurants, outdoor jewelry vendorsand shops that are all open til allhours of the night. But the best partis watching the street performers.You can see fire dancers, jugglers,puppet shows, hand walking,musicians and hemp jewelry makerare just a few. Montezuma is a smalltown with a great nightlife for theolder kids, and even young kids too.

The restaurants here are known fortheir excellent cuisine whereMediterranean dishes areMontezuma’s hallmark.

Hiking along the coast of PlayaCocolito is one of the mostremarkable things to do while inMontezuma. A two-hour hike onundeveloped coves and beaches youwill reach the waterfall El Choro thatpours off the cliff and into the oceanbelow a truly memorable spot to see.

If you want to bath in freshwater, youcan hike along the many riversaround Montezuma. There arenumerous natural pools and ‘jacuzzi’like areas where the jungle is yourbackdrop.

Hiking along the river you will pass tothree waterfalls but only the secondfalls has a pool that is deep enoughfor jumping. The waterfall is over 50feet tall and it is a popular jumpingspot.

Take the kids along – by Marina K. Villatoro

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PLAYA DOMINICALA tranquil beach town southof Quepos and oftenregarded as the place ofevery surfer’s dream. Thetown offers beautiful sunriseto the southeast and adramatic sunset in thenorthwest. There are nicehotels, restaurants and barsto choose from. Dominical isa small town withbreathtaking sceneries, lushrainforest and marine parks.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Playa Dominical is the surfer’sparadise in Costa Rica, the waveheights here rarely drop below waisthigh. You would surely encountersurfers from all over the world if youstroll towards the middle stretch andfurther north of the beach.

Recommended for experiencedsurfers, but there are plenty of surfinstructors around to teach everyoneof all ages.

Walk along the dirt road and enjoythe beautiful scenery of the beachand the town’s laid back feel.

Sunset walks on the beach are by farthe coolest way to spend theafternoon. But around sunrise you cansee seafood vendors and fishermenreturning and selling their fresh catchof the day.

A don’t miss is to eat in one of theopen air local restaurants. Practially allrestaurants offer great views of thebeach and a chill beach bum feel.

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PUERTO JIMENEZA coastal townperfect for everynature lover. Serenebeaches, amazingwildlife, mangroveswamps and verdantrain forests is whatmakes up PuertoJimenez.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Puerto Jimenez is known for it’sproximity to Corcovado, sport fishing,dolphin and whale watching,snorkelling or simply enjoying thesunset from the piers.

It is also a fantastic gateway to CaboMatapalo for those looking forunspoiled beaches and hot surfbreaks. The beaches along the townare excellent for parents with kids asthe waters are very tranquil aroundtown.

It’s a great idea to hang-out on thepier where you can enjoy a panoramicview of the Golfo Dulce and the Pacificocean with awesome picturesquesunsets in deep reds and orangecolors.

A walk along Puerto Jimenez is whereyou would find a good numberrestaurants, several small stores andfun boutiques.