8 Fun Learning Experiences for Kids in Costa Rica
Think back to your favorite childhood vacation. What made it unforgettable? Chances are, it wasn’t just the hotel or the sunshine. It was the feeling of discovery: seeing a howler monkey for the first time, tasting something totally new, or realizing that the world is far bigger than a classroom. That’s what Costa Rica does best — especially for families who want both comfort and meaning in their travels.
In this small but mighty country, luxury travel and hands-on learning go hand in hand. Here, science class happens on a rainforest trail. Culture is absorbed over homemade tamales. And sustainability? It’s not a buzzword — it’s the way of life.
No matter where you’re staying, Costa Rica makes learning feel like play and play feel purposeful. Here are a few of our villa clients’ favorite family-friendly activities that turn into incredible learning experiences!
1. Track Wildlife with a Private Naturalist
There’s nothing quite like watching your child spot their first sloth high in the treetops or follow a trail of leafcutter ants across the forest floor. Client and guest Alyssa B., who stayed with us in 2024, shared that one of her favorite things about visiting our villa was her toddler’s morning conversations with the monkeys daily over breakfast. Her daughter would start her day Oo-oo-ahh-ahh-ing while pointing outside, waiting for her favorite furry friends to hop by. And every morning, without fail, they do!
Beyond the wildlife our guests see at the villa, many clients have us book a private naturalist guide in Manuel Antonio that transforms a simple hike into a full-on wildlife adventure. With spotting scopes, animal calls, and deep knowledge of the park’s ecosystem, these guides help kids connect the dots between what they see and how it all works. You can do this at any park in Costa Rica throughout your family’s trip. From howler monkeys swinging overhead to camouflaged tree frogs, every moment becomes a discovery — and every question is welcomed.
It’s biology, ecology, and wonder rolled into one!
Our favorite experience near the villa: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour
This guided adventure is just minutes from the villa and perfect for kids of all ages. With easy walking trails, shady paths, and a stunning beach at the end, it’s one of the best places in the country to safely and comfortably introduce your little ones to Costa Rica’s wildlife.
One of our top guides recently shared her favorite animals to spot on tour. You can preview them with your kids before visiting!
2. Try a Private Spanish Lesson or Learn on the Go
How many times have you used the Spanish you learned from a book in high school? Odds are, not often. Because truthfully, the best language learning isn’t found in the pages of a book. In Costa Rica, language learning happens everywhere — not in a classroom, but with the driver taking them to the hotel for their adventure, on a nature tour in the canopy, or while asking for más piña, por favor at the breakfast table.
Kids don’t just memorize Spanish here; they live it.
Every “¡Hola!” from the staff, every joke swapped with a local guide, and every new word learned while pointing to something cool in nature adds up fast. It’s immersive, playful, and surprisingly sticky — and for many kids, speaking a new language becomes one of the most empowering parts of the trip. Oftentimes, they want to come back so they can practice again.
Our favorite experience is at the villa:
Our staff loves kiddos. Each morning at breakfast, they can practice their Spanish with your children using greetings like Buenos días (good morning), ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?), and ¿Quieres más jugo? (Do you want more juice?). The casual, playful setting helps kids pick up phrases naturally — no flashcards needed.
Some families also arrange private Spanish lessons through the villa, where teachers incorporate songs, games, and food vocabulary to keep things fun and memorable. It’s a gentle introduction to a new language, rooted in real connection.
3. Make (and taste) chocolate the traditional way
Throughout Costa Rica, especially just outside Manuel Antonio near our villa, you’ll find family-friendly cacao workshops that turn chocolate into an immersive, hands-on experience.
Kids can crack open real cacao pods, roast and grind the beans using ancient tools, and stir their own batch of rich, frothy drinking chocolate or even make their own chocolate bars to bring home (if they make it that far without being nibbled on…).
Throughout these interactive workshops, guides explain the cultural roots of cacao in Costa Rica, including how Indigenous communities once used it as currency. It’s part history lesson, part science experiment — and entirely delicious. Most workshops wrap up with tastings of raw cacao nibs, traditional hot chocolate, and local chocolate bars, sometimes even ice cream made with local spices.
Our favorite experiences near the villa:
For families willing to venture a bit off the beaten path, a visit to Iguana Chocolate Farm (about 1.5 hours from the villa) is well worth the drive. This family-run cacao project offers immersive, hands-on experiences where kids can walk through cacao groves, crack open pods, and see how chocolate is made from bean to bar.
For something closer to the villa, our team loves to take families to the local farmer’s market in Quepos to pick out fresh cacao fruit. It’s a sticky, juicy treat unlike anything they’ve tasted before. Plus, we can invite Mama Cacao, one of our favorite vendors, to offer classes, samples, and stories right at the villa, anywhere you choose. It’s the kind of experience that blends culture, flavor, and play, while leaving everyone with sweet, chocolatey smiles.
4. Hike to waterfalls
Waterfalls are nature’s playground and Costa Rica has some of the most magical ones to explore as a family. From splash-worthy swimming holes to misty jungle hikes, chasing waterfalls becomes part adventure, part science class. Along the way, kids learn about native plants, forest layers, and the importance of protecting these natural water sources.
Some trails are short and gentle, while others offer more of a challenge for older kids and teens. The reward? Cool pools to dip into, butterflies fluttering by, and that wide-eyed moment when you finally hear the thunder of the falls just before you see them.
Our favorite experiences near the villa:
Nauyaca Waterfalls (about 1.5 hours away) is one of the most breathtaking spots in the region. This two-tiered cascade plunges into an emerald green pool, perfect for swimming, picnicking, and soaking in the sights and sounds of the jungle. You can hike in or take a horseback tour, making it a fun, full-day family outing. There are other options as well, so you can just let your pre-arrival concierge know your family’s energy level, and they will help you choose a waterfall adventure that fits just right.
5. Cook a Traditional Meal as a Family
Cooking together turns into a cultural deep dive when it’s Costa Rican food on the menu. Private chefs can come right to the villa to lead kid-friendly cooking classes — no aprons required, just open minds and hungry bellies. Children can mash up green plantains for patacones, help stir a bubbling pot of gallo pinto, or press handmade tortillas before flipping them on the griddle. Along the way, they’ll learn the stories behind each dish, from Indigenous roots to Sunday family traditions.
It’s not just about the food — it’s about the rhythm of working together, laughing through spills, and sitting down afterward to enjoy something you made with your own hands. Our favorite part is watching kids proudly serve their families dinner, then asking if they can make it again at home. (Spoiler: they always want to!)
Our favorite experiences at the villa:
One of the things our guests love most is that every culinary experience at the villa is customized. Want to make empanadas like a local grandma? We’ll bring in the chef who grew up folding them by hand. Curious about Caribbean flavors or want to master the perfect arroz con leche? We know just who to call. Our team taps into a network of talented chefs and local food vendors, each with their own specialties, so you get a truly personal, cultural, and delicious cooking experience.
What makes it even more special for kids? We set everything up in the prep kitchen like a real-life restaurant — with stations to chop, mash, mix, and plate. Little ones can wear chef hats, taste-test along the way, and feel like part of the culinary crew. It’s immersive, engaging, and leaves them with more than a recipe — it gives them confidence and curiosity around food that travels home with them.
6. Visit a Working Spice or Sustainable Farm
Introduce kids to where food and flavor really come from with a walk through a spice farm like Villa Vanilla or a small organic finca nearby. Kids get to see, smell, and taste their way through a tropical farm, finding everything from vanilla vines to cacao pods and cinnamon trees to bananas and peppercorn.
Many farms that allow tourism also have butterfly gardens, medicinal plants, and composting demos offering real-world lessons in sustainability and regeneration.
Our favorite experience near the villa:
Villa Vanilla’s Spice Plantation Experience is a sensory walk followed by spice-infused desserts with rainforest views.
7. Get Creative with a Local Art or Eco-Craft Workshop
Tap into your child’s creativity with a guided art class using natural or recycled materials. Some local artists offer sessions in mask-making, natural dyeing, Boruca-inspired painting, or recycled plastic art projects. These workshops often include cultural stories behind the craft and allow kids to create a more meaningful souvenir than anything bought in a shop. Even the littlest guests will love and appreciate an art project.
Pro tip: Ask your villa concierge to arrange a private in-villa workshop with a local artist — it’s intimate, hands-on, and completely customizable.
Our favorite experiences at the villa:
One of our favorite local artists is actually part of the extended villa family — a talented cousin who has actually created some of the art you’ll find at the villa. He offers private workshops in mixed media and paint, while we have other creative partners who can share expertise in ceramic art, beading, and natural jewelry-making.
Kids can shape their own clay creations, design colorful bracelets and necklaces, or paint tiles inspired by Costa Rican flora and fauna. The best part? These sessions aren’t just creative — they’re deeply personal. The artist shares stories behind each design, explaining cultural symbolism and traditional techniques in a way that captivates even the youngest participants.
Whether it’s molding jungle animals out of clay or stringing together a necklace to remember the trip by, these workshops are soulful, screen-free fun, and every piece made becomes a cherished keepsake.
8. Give Back as a Family
For families seeking a deeper connection to Costa Rica beyond the beach and rainforest, hands-on volunteer experiences offer powerful opportunities to give back. Many local organizations welcome travelers for half-day programs that are both kid-friendly and impactful. Think beach cleanups, tree planting with local school groups, or helping care for rescued wildlife through education-focused visits.
If you’re traveling between July and December, you may also have the chance to join a sea turtle conservation project along the Pacific coast. Guided nighttime patrols and hatchling releases allow kids to witness the magic of new life while learning about the threats these species face and what it takes to protect them.
These immersive experiences spark conversations around empathy, global citizenship, and the importance of giving more than you take.
Our favorite experience at the villa:
Villa Punto de Vista proudly participates in Pack for a Purpose, a program that connects guests with vetted community initiatives in the area. Before your trip, our team shares a wish list of items needed by local schools, hospitals, and social programs, from art supplies and books to basic medical kits and educational tools for children with special needs.
Many of our families get their kids involved in choosing what to bring, turning packing into an act of generosity.
We’ve also helped collect first aid kits for local community organizations and connected a recent retreat participant with a retirement home so she could donate her plumbing expertise to help them enhance their facilities. Giving back is a simple yet powerful way to make your visit more meaningful, and our villa team can help connect you with something that feels near and dear to your heart.
A New Kind of Family Vacation in Costa Rica
When your kids come home from Costa Rica, they’ll have more than souvenirs. They’ll return with stories about the time they spotted a toucan in the wild, helped save a turtle, or learned to say “gracias” with confidence. That’s the teaching power of travel: it sticks and becomes a laundry list of core memories.
In Costa Rica, luxury doesn’t mean shutting the world out — it means stepping into it more deeply, more comfortably, and with the kind of wonder only kids can fully express. And trust us: they’ll remember this one.
Villa Punto de Vista isn’t just where you sleep. It’s where your kids will wake up and run to the window to look for monkeys, where breakfast turns into a Spanish lesson without anyone calling it that, where they’ll help a private chef mash plantains for the first time, or ask a guide ten questions in a row about sloths. Our team here knows families (and many have their own), and they know exactly how to meet your family’s unique energy.
You bring the curiosity. We’ll help you turn it into memories.
Inquire today about bringing your family to Villa Punto de Vista.
