Family trip
 

I am taking my family to either Costa Rica or Belize and would like to get suggestions on both places. We will be going for ten days in August. I have a 10 yr old boy (his double-digit birthday, the reason for the trip)and an eight year old girl. I am leaning toward Belize to spend half the time in the jungle and the other on the beaches. However, we have been to neither place so don't know much about them and what hotels are kid friendly. They are animal nuts, and I would like to make it special for him.

Thank you

Hi:

I think you can't go wrong with either one. I've been to Costa Rica several times and it's really amazing. You probably have the same type of activities in both places: beach, snorkeling, kayaking, etc. on the sea, plus the land activities such as horseback riding, trekking, jungle visits, etc. One thing Costa Rica has is the volcanoes. A trip to the Arenal and the Tabacon hot springs is really unforgettable.

Send me an e-mail if you have any questions. I'll be glad to try to answer them. Regards,

Enrique

Below is my "standard" reply to this question. Both countries are very kid-friendly.

--Lan Sluder

>> I first went to Costa Rica in 1982 and have been banging around Belize for a dozen years, and I've written or co-written a half dozen books on Belize. I loved Costa Rica 20 years ago; it's gotten a LOT more expensive and much more touristy (in places) than it used to be, but that's the case for most places. Belize is on a roll now, with tourism booming, but it still gets only one-fourth or so the international tourists that Costa Rica gets.

There are pluses and minuses for both:

Costa Rica:
Much more scenic than Belize, with terrific variety, from high volcanic mountains, beautiful valleys, to beaches on Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean
More classic beaches, esp. on Pacific
Great birding, outdoor activities
No Maya sites
Little snorkeling or diving (except in remote areas far out in Pacific)
English not widely spoken outside tourist areas
Fairly large capital city with many good restaurants and nightlife
Some colonial historic sites and buildings
Great spring-like climate in central valley
Slightly less expensive, esp. at budget/low moderate level
Somewhat European (Spanish) in atmosphere
Some excellent jungle lodges and hotels
Currency floats but is essentially tied to U.S. dollar

Belize:
Hundreds of Maya sites, including a dozen or more major ones
World-class snorkeling and diving
Not nearly as scenic or topographically diverse as Costa Rica
English is official language, though Spanish and other languages widely spoken
Hundreds of (mostly small) islands in the Caribbean
True multicultural society -- Mestizos, Creoles, Maya, Garifuna, Europeans and others
Largest city (Belize City) has population of only 50,000, with little appeal for visitors
Longest barrier reef in western or nothern hemispheres
Great birding, wildlife spotting, best caving in region
Climate mostly hot and humid, subtropical to tropical
More Caribbean than Latin in atmosphere
Some excellent jungle lodges and hotels
Currency tied to U.S. dollar at generally fixed rate

--Lan Sluder

Hi there:

Three Augusts ago we took our kids ages 17 and 13 to Costa Rica for 10 days. Briefly, we stayed in SJ 2 nights to raft the level 5 Pacuare rapids, then to Arenal -volcano and Tabacon hot springs, then Monteverde for the Canopy Tour(kids did the zip through the trees)and rainforest, then Manuel Antonio for the beach, sea kayaking and national park. The road from Arenal to Monteverde was horrible, but otherwise traveling was easy in our large SUV. Every day after 3pm, it rained until dawn, but beautiful the rest of the day. If it were the dry season, I would have gone to the Osa Peninsula to see more animals and stay in a tent camp. It was a wonderful trip but too rigorous for young children. I think that Belize would be more appropriate because your kids can enjoy the snorkeling.

We are planning our 3rd trip to Costa Rica for this summer and, as always, our daughter is going with us. We visited CR for the first time when she was 6, then when she was 7. Now she is 9. Costa Rica is a great place to take kids who love nature and are somewhat adventurous. Our daughter loves hiking, biking, swimming so for her Costa Rica was great fun.
You can spend time in the jungle (Osa Penninsula), see an active volcano and enjoy volcanic hot springs, spend time on the beach. There are lots of animals you can see quite easily on your own and if you take a guided tour of any national park you will see even more.
We considered Belize as an alternative destination but were somewhat unnerved by reports of robberies and killings in a couple of hotels. Also, Belize is in the hurricane belt and while it is not likely, there is some risk of that, especially in August.
In Costa Rica we felt very safe at all times, and while we had some rain during our trips (we always go in August) it never rained enough to spoil our fun.

Just for the sake of accuracy, over the years there have been considerably more killings and kidnappings of tourists in Costa Rica than in Belize. In part this may be because Costa Rica gets more tourists than Belize.

Having been to both many times over the past 20 years or so, I consider both safe destinations, though as anywhere these days caution and common sense are in order.

--Lan Sluder

I prefer Costa Rica personally.
I would stay away from Limon though...it's a bit rough. Manuel Antonio in CR is great for kids. if you fly into Alajuela, check out the Hotel Buena Vista---we loved it there, the staff and the views were excellent. if you're into volcanos, they will run you up to Poas, which is really cool. have a great trip,

Scott and Laura Bartucca

Having been to both places I would say they both have things to offer kids. Belize has the snorkeling/diving,a much better beach vacation as a whole (if they have cleaned them up in the last few years), I just loved seeing the little tiny islands with nothing more than one little mangrove tree, amazing mayan ruins, some wildlife. Belize as a whole has a much richer history than Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has an active volcano that you can view while sitting in hot springs complete with water slide and swim up bar for the kids and mom and dad, monkeys, monkeys, and more monkeys (especially in Manuel Antonio), wonderful white water rafting for all levels. It is very tourist oriented and the Costa Rican people have smiles that light up even the cloudiest day. It is very user friendly. You can get far away from the tourists or you can be right in the middle of them or anywhere in between.
Manuel Antonio park has rainforest and beach all in the same area or there is the option of Jungle or beach in other areas. Manuel Antonio is a kids dream come true for viewing monkeys. Many of the hotels have monkeys that come right down to the pools while you are swimming or sitting around.
Regarding safety and crime, while in Belize we had a sweet mayan guide who was terrified to go into Belize City. We have also had guides/drivers in Costa Rica who have pointed out very dangerous areas of that city. There are safe areas of the city though that are interesting. Most people don't spend too much time around the airport or the city because there is so much more to offer elsewhere. I have been able to time my flights so I never have to stay overnight near either the airport or San Jose unless I choose to.

we went two years ago.With a 8 year ols 10 year old 12 yr old 14 yr old
Best family vacation ever(we've been to New zealand,australia,afica.england w/ kids)
arrived in san jose...next day went to tortuegrra, on teh way we saw a banana farm and other cool little stops .....stayed laguna lodge ...great service....saw sea turtles nesting...amazing,hiking,canoe jungle toursWOW, next stop mt. Arenal...climed a life volcano,hiked swam in a falls, butterfly garden,horse backriding, monte verde cloud forest,ended teh day at tabacon lodge for an evening at the spring...nice ending. We actualy satyed at Arenal lodge...best view of the volcano...next day to Mauel antonio...stayed at Tulema Bungalows,very nice, snorled,played with dolphins,swining canopy tour.....back home....we chose to travel by land ...this was great we met school children and locals....saw many hometown parades, ect.......best of all was the price !!!!!!!