Costa Rica with a one-year old?

Old May 30th, 2013, 11:31 AM
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PMJ
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Costa Rica with a one-year old?

My husband and I, our two daughters and their husbands, and their one year old daughter are looking at going to Costa Rica next January. Emily will be one. We are thinking of going to Manuel Antonio and staying at the Buena Vista Villas. We want a nice base next to the beach, because it's likely that one adult will be hanging out with Em rather than going on all the excursions. Are we nuts to consider taking a fourteen month old to Costa Rica? Back up plan is Hawaii.
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Old May 30th, 2013, 03:43 PM
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I would be most worried about long plane rides with a one year old. Are you closer to Costa Rica or Hawaii?
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Old May 30th, 2013, 06:51 PM
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I would go to Hawaii. Easier.
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Old May 30th, 2013, 06:51 PM
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Nicer beaches.
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Old May 30th, 2013, 07:18 PM
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We are closer to Cost Rico, and have been to Hawaii several times. Aside from the plane ride, any other reasons to NOT taking a small toddler to CR?
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Old May 31st, 2013, 12:45 AM
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Manuel Antonio would be great with a child that age. It's really a popular place for young families because there are nice amenities, easy access to wildlife, and lots of good hotel and restaurant choices. We just stayed at Tulemar Bungalows which shares a property with Buena Vista Villas, and we loved it. We had a kitchen which would make things easier with a toddler, and the beach right there on the property. Free kayaks and boogie boarding. We saw a lot of wildlife including howler monkeys, capuchins, and sloths right on the property. We had a great concierge that made everything really easy, and there were a lot of restaurants we could walk to and a Super Joseth grocery store nearby. The beach inside the park is gorgeous. We did a guided tour of the park, a mangrove tour, a croc tour on the Rio Tarcoles, and a spice tour at Villa Vanilla. There's a lot to do in that area or you can just relax at the beach if you want to. Costa Ricans love kids. Nearby restaurants include Barba Roja, Cafe Milagro, Kapi Kapi (pricey), and Salsipuedes. Ronny's is also good but not walkable. shillmac takes her granddaughter to Costa Rica a lot so she'll have some good info. for you. I know they've stayed at Tulemar as well and loved it.
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Old Jun 1st, 2013, 12:16 PM
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We took both our kids to Costa Rica when they were one (one with the first and then another when the second was one and the first was three). LOVED it. So many great memories and the Costa Rican people love children. You can read my trip reports here: http://www.markandmonica.com/Travel/costa_rica.htm and http://www.markandmonica.com/Travel/costa_rica_2005.htm (and then again when they were older still here) http://www.markandmonica.com/Travel/...taRica2008.htm.

We stayed at the Tulemar Bungalows among other places when they were little, which was great.
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Old Jun 4th, 2013, 09:12 AM
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Another vote for Tulemar. We went when our son was 3- it was perfect. The beach there is kid friendly and there's tons of wildlife. Villa Mot Mot can be rented on vrbo.com. A few years ago it was the best priced villa and perfectly located (not sure of prices now). It's so easy, as you can walk to dinner and eat lunch on the beach. We used Wilson Rojas as a driver from SJ- he was great with our son and had children's movies for him to watch on the way.
Another thought, if you want a great beach and don't care as much about wildlife is Playa Samara (fly into Liberia). Villas Kaliimba rents out a beautiful house that would accommodate the whole family and you'd have your own pool with a jungle gym- across the street from the beach. Really easy place to be with young children. It's our favorite place in CR.
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