Costa Rica Guide

travel information and maps

  • Vacation Planning
  • Best Trips Ever>>
  • More Fun Than Humanly Possible
  • Costa Rica
    • Top Ten
    • Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
    • Things To Do in Costa Rica
    • Maps
    • Transportation
      • Rental Cars
        • Advantages of Driving
        • Disadvantages Driving
        • Code of the Road
        • Navigation & Drive Time
        • Rental Insurance Explained
        • Can’t Get There
      • Airports
        • Flights Worth Taking
        • LIR or SJO
        • Airfare Deals
        • Domestic Airlines
        • Domestic Air Tips
      • Taxis
      • Bus Schedule
    • Food
      • Typical Menu
      • Batidos & Refrescos
      • Gallo Pinto
      • Tamales
      • Ceviche
      • Ensalada Palmito
      • Sopa Negra
      • Vinagre Chilera
    • Weather
      • Seasons in Costa Rica
      • Current Storms in Costa Rica
    • Regions
  • Nature & Wildlife
    • National Parks
    • Wildlife Refuges
    • Ecozones
    • Best Places to See Wildlife in Costa Rica
  • Practical Info
    • Health & Safety
      • Health Tips
        • Altitude Sickness
        • Chikungunya
        • Natural Disasters
      • Crime
        • Cons & Rip-offs
        • Corruption
        • Violent Crime
    • Will My Phone Work?
    • Packing List
    • Passports & Docs
    • Money – How To?
    • How Much Does it Cost?
    • Travel Tips
  • Stories
    • Photos
    • Trek Across Costa Rica
    • Sendero de Oro
    • Quebrada Gata
    • Bicycle Touring
    • About Us
  • Move to Costa Rica
  • Free Travel Pack
no obligation custom trip plan & price quote

1-866-816-0197

· Copyright © 2023 ·

Budgeting with Children

We often talk to families who are surprised that other than the bar tab the cost for Mom & Dad plus a 16, 13, 11 and 9 year old to travel will most likely be about the same as three adult couples.

Airfare, Transfers & Rental Cars

On airplanes anyone older than one year may require a seat assignment and usually pays the full adult fare.

The same applies for ground transportation in Costa Rica.  Children take up a seat and most transfers, private or shared, are based on the price per seat so age doesn’t matter.

When renting a car you’ll need a seat with a seat belt for each passenger regardless of age so count all kids as adults when budgeting.  In fact children under five years of age may have higher costs for transportation than adults.  Typically there is an extra charge of $5-10 per day per child seat added to the cost of a rental car.

If you bring your own car seats you may need to pay for an upgrade to get a vehicle with the appropriate anchor points since not all budget models are equipped (check with your agency in advance).

Kids in Hammock
You might get a discount for the kids if they sleep in the hammock on the terrace

Kid’s Discounts at Hotels and Lodges

In Costa Rica many hotels and lodges are free for up to two children ten years or younger when they are traveling with and occupying the same room as two adults.

Many accommodations in Costa Rica have family rooms which cost between 25% to 50% more but give you more space and sometimes separate bedrooms or bunk beds in an alcove around a corner.  You’ll all share a bathroom, but at least you won’t be tripping over each other as often and you can keep an eye on young kids.

Activities & Adventures With Children

Generally if kids are old enough to participate (minimum ages for most active adventures are between 10 and 13) in things like rappelling, zip-lines, or rafting they pay the full adult price.

Some of the less demanding tours like nature cruises, coffee tours or wildlife watching walks may have discounts of 25% or more for children ten and under.  National Parks and wildlife refuges typically offer discounts off of their entrance fees of about 50% for children and 25% for students with school ids.

Calculating the Budget

Teenagers Are Adults for Travel Budget Purposes

Although a few small discounts will be available for older kids, a realistic budget will count teenagers as adults for everything except alcoholic beverage consumption.

Children Ten and Under

As a rule of thumb budget about half to two thirds of the cost per adult for each child ten and under. Of course the cost goes down the more kids you stack in each room or bed and goes up if you have an adventurous nine year old who wants to ride the canopy zip-line five times or refuses to order off of the kids menu.

As mentioned previously, eleven and twelve year olds are in a gray area sometimes paying child prices and other times full price.

Ray & Sue

Cost · ToDo · Plan·Costa Rica Guide logo animated·Top10 · Best Time · Contact


toll free Costa Rica travel desk!
1-866-816-0197

CONTACT US

Budget
  • Tipping Guidelines
  • How Much Does Costa Rica Cost?
  • Costa Rica Travel Budget & Cost Calculator
  • Save a Million
  • Rent-a-Car Cost Comparisons
  • How Much Does Food Cost?
  • Isn’t That Free?
  • Eating Cheap?
  • Budgeting with Children
  • How Much Does Travel Cost?
  • Get the Most for Your Money



Costa Rica Guide on facebook
Costa Rica Guide on Facebook