A Guide to Vacationing in Nosara with Kids
by Liana Johnson
Nosara is the perfect vacation destination for families. It’s simply awesome no matter what age you are! Costa Rican culture is family oriented and kids are always welcome. With direct flights arriving daily into Liberia, Costa Rica from most major cities in North America, traveling here is manageable for the entire family. Here are some family friendly activities in Nosara to make your vacation exciting and memorable for everyone.
Childcare Options
Nosara Kids Camp
5 - 12 years
Nosara Kids Camp’s main goal is to teach kids surfing, ocean safety, and community involvement. After every surf session a different activity is on the schedule. Some days it’s skateboarding, art classes, or cooking. Other days it’s climbing, yoga, or Spanish classes! This fun camp certainly meets its mission of inspiring great surfers and providing an unparalleled educational experience. Children are encouraged to love sports and our planet while empowering their individual strengths and needs, in a safe, caring, and fun environment. Join just for a day or the whole week.
Nosara Day Camp
5 - 15 years
Undoubtedly the highlight of a kid’s vacation - Nosara Day Camp aims to connect kids with Nosara’s environment, culture and community through group activities and adventure excursions. Parents, have a little adult time while your children spend the day with qualified, first-aid certified, local counselors. With a new itinerary every day, small groups visit local farms, tide pools, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches, introducing your child to the wonders and local culture of Nosara. The exploration program takes place from 8 am to 1 pm with an optional extended day program from 1 pm - 4 pm. Whether children join the program for just one day, or a couple of weeks, they can expect to meet friends, get dirty, and learn something new.
Nosara Day Camp also has a unique stewardship program and will coordinate volunteer work with the Guardians of the Rio Nosara (river reclamation), Mercy Homes (constructing new homes for local people in need), Costas Verdes (beach reforestation projects), and TortuGuiones (sea turtle conservation). They often welcome scientists and other local experts to share their projects and their knowledge. Spanish immersion programs are coming soon!
Nosara Day Camp is designed for kids ages 5 - 15 years.
Nosara Nannies
All ages
Nosara Nannies offers experienced nannies for children of all ages. All sitters are CPR / First Aid certified and come prepared with a number of different activities to do with the kids. Some of the most popular activities are arts and crafts, swimming, jungle trail hikes, beach time, and time spent playing with other local children. Pricing depends on the location, duration of time, and number of children. In-home and overnight care is also available. In addition to childcare services, Nosara Nannies also has baby equipment rentals, such as cribs, highchairs, pack n plays, and strollers.
Kids Equipment Rentals
Mermaids Cleaning & Supplies
Traveling light? Mermaids has baby equipment for rent! Offering a variety of car seats, booster seats, high chairs, play pens, strollers, pool and beach toys, they’ve got you covered! Mermaids is located behind the gas station on your way to Nosara town. Minimum rental of 3 days applies.
Nosara Nannies
In addition to childcare services, Nosara Nannies also has baby equipment rentals, such as cribs, highchairs, pack n plays, and strollers are also available.
Kid Friendly Activities
Eskina Skate Park
Toddler +
While surfing is awesome, sometimes it’s nice to mix it up. Designed by Kaleb Stevens, skater and all around good guy, Eskina is a full skate park located in central Guiones. It includes a straight street plaza, multidirectional, and half pipe. The sections are connected to enable skaters to flow through their combinations of tricks. Besides just fun, skating improves focus, coordination, balance, creative freedom, and physical fitness.
The skate park has fair pricing and offers lessons for all ages, starting with toddlers.
SIBU Wildlife Sanctuary
5 years +
Photo by SIBU Wildlife Sanctuary
Observing unique jungle animals is often the highlight of a trip to Costa Rica! SIBU Sanctuary does an amazing job rehabilitating our injured and orphaned four-legged friends. The facility hosts a variety of both short-term transitional and long-term inhabitants. You can visit the wildlife sanctuary for an educational tour.
During your time here, enjoy a short walk around the beautiful property to learn about the local flora and fauna, and visit the greenhouse where the the critters' favorite snacks are cultivated. Afterwards, a refreshment is provided in the educational pavilion while you view a short presentation about the issues that threaten Costa Rica’s wildlife and our efforts to mitigate their impact.
Note: To visit, you must have been in Costa Rica for 3 or more days and be in good health. Reservations required. Age Requirement: 5 years old +
Miss Sky Canopy Tour
5 years +
An absolute must do while here in Nosara is the 11 km long canopy, the longest in the world! Located within a pristine 2,500 acre forest reserve, adventurers can experience 21 exhilarating runs while soaring over a majestic mountain ridge and valleys, ravines, rivers, and waterfalls. All lines are double wired, resulting in a smooth ride. Double harnesses, secondary cables, and all equipment of the highest quality is used to ensure safety. Suitable for nature lovers, families, and all who wish to experience the ultimate adventure!
Refuge for Wildlife
7 years +
Video by the Nosara Refuge for Wildlife
Founded in January of 1999, the Refuge for Wildlife has been a place for injured, displaced and orphaned wildlife from Nosara and the Nicoya Peninsula region of Costa Rica for 19 years. Many of the new arrivals are very young orphaned Howler Monkeys, yet the refuge also receives a wide range of wildlife.
Visits to the Refuge are possible in small groups and by advanced reservation. Your time here will include a tour of the Refuge facilities and an interactive discussion about the issues and challenges that affect the local environment and wildlife. You will also have an opportunity to meet many of the current guests up close.
The minimum age to join a visit is 7 years of age. Exceptions may be possible when a visit is composed of a single family or group with sufficient adult supervision. You must have been in Costa Rica for 3 or more days and be in good health.
NALU Nosara
5 years+
Owned and manage by a young family, Nalu offers fun classes for kids and adults alike in their tropical modern fitness studio. Drop-in for just a class or two, or buy a multi-pack to enjoy all that they have to offer.
Their popular kids’ classes include:
Hip Hop
Karate
Gymnastics
Ballet/Jazz
Yoga
506 Tennis Center
7 years+
506 Tennis Center is located just south of Guiones. The center features 5 impeccable tennis courts (red clay and DecoTurf® and hosts a year-round Junior Performance Program. This kid-approved program provides private instruction, 3 clinics per week, and match play twice per month. Children just visiting for a short amount of time can still join in the fun!
Nosara Spanish Institute
8 years +
Video by Nosara Spanish Institute
Interested in learning Spanish? Nosara Spanish Institute offers a variety of programs focusing on language and cultural immersion. Or, combine your new language skills with daily yoga, surf lessons, or cultural activities. Their popular Surf and Spanish Program is held several times throughout the year. The Institute partners with Nosara Nannies if child care services are needed.
Climb Nosara
All ages
Completed in 2014, Climb Nosara is a unique, freestanding tower offering a dynamic climbing experience with at least 36 roped routes, top-roping and/or leading, and other bouldering options. This gem is located near the Del Mar Academy. There is no minimum age for climbing and bouldering. The skilled instructors are available, with prior reservations, to teach and supervise. All of the necessary equipment is available for rental on site.
Climb Nosara is open every day from 10:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Night sessions are available from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm.
Jungle Mini Golf
All ages
Located at the main entrance to town behind Café Paris, Jungle Mini Golf is 18 holes of fun for all ages! The course offers a variety of whimsical characters, obstacles, and surprises. After working up an appetite, enjoy the delicious pastries inside the café.
The golf course is open from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm daily.
Nosara Escape Room Challenge
All ages
A real life enigma! Two unique rooms serve as quizzical puzzles. Once the clock begins to tick, you have 60 minutes to try and escape. This fast paced, one-of-a-kind-experience is meant for groups of 2 - 6 people. Work together to find clues, solve puzzles, collect hidden items, and escape from the room before your time runs out.
Written by:
Liana Johnson