Family Travel
Costa Rica's Top 15 All-Inclusive Resorts
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by Rickshaw Run
16-07-2024
Family Travel
a
by Rickshaw Run
16-07-2024
Costa Rica is a Central American paradise with its lush rainforests, towering volcanoes, and nearly 800 kilometers of coastline on both the Pacific and Caribbean seas. Tourists come from all over the globe to enjoy its scenic landscapes, diverse fauna, and outdoor activities.
Vacationers can choose from a variety of all-inclusive hotels and resorts that are perfect for couples or families. These locations make it easier to stick to a budget because they include everything from meals to activities in the price. From jungle lodges to beachside retreats, these are some of Costa Rica's finest all-inclusive resorts.
This tranquil 2,400-acre resort sits on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just a short stroll from Playa Conchal on Brasilito Bay. In addition to a championship golf course, tennis courts, a fitness center, a lagoon-style pool, and a spa offering facials and body wraps (for a cost), it also has a championship golf course. There is a kids club, a pool, and activities like beach volleyball and bike riding that are perfect for families on vacation. All thirteen of the resort's eateries and bars provide complimentary food and drink.
The natural environment is a haven for various kinds of animals. During a sunrise birdwatching tour at The Westin Reserva Conchal, travel journalist Jared Ranahan reported being "greeted by a massive band of mother coatis with tiny babies in tow" to Travel + Leisure.
Guests of this Guanacaste-area adults-only resort can choose between an international buffet, the snack bar, or one of two à la carte restaurants offering Italian and Asian fusion cuisines. Two swimming pools, a beautiful beach, and exciting sports like archery and sea kayaking are available to guests at Occidental Papagayo. Spend the extra money on a Premium Level accommodation and enjoy turndown service and access to a private lounge.
Rancho Margot is a hidden paradise in the heart of the rainforest, close to Lake Arenal. It has luxurious bungalows that accommodate four people and hostel-style rooms. Your stay includes a variety of amenities such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, yoga lessons, a guided ranch tour, and access to a spring-fed pool. For an additional fee, you can participate in guided hikes and other activities.
Secrets Papagayo is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. The spa has private outdoor areas where couples can relax with a treatment, and there are plenty of activities for couples to enjoy, such as horseback riding and swimming near waterfalls. The all-inclusive rate at this five-star World of Hyatt resort includes all on-site activities, shows, and meals at any of the twelve restaurants and bars. In addition, the heart of Guanacaste's Arenillas Beach is just a short stroll away from this adults-only all-inclusive resort.
Secluded Drake Bay black sand beaches are within easy walking distance from La Paloma Lodge, which sits on fourteen acres of tropical rainforest with an ocean view. Thanks to the rooms' wide windows—and some of them even have balconies—guests can really feel like they're in the great outdoors. Food is provided and is served in a family format with fresh chicken, seafood, fruit, and homemade bread. In addition to the accommodation and Drake airstrip transfers, the fee covers full-day tours of Caño Island and Corcovado National Park.
Modern guest rooms and villas with balconies or patios are available at this tropical resort, which also boasts views of the ocean and the jungle. Visitors have the option to enjoy both local and foreign cuisine at Bahía Restaurant or choose from three bars to quench their thirst. If you are hungry in the middle of the day, you won't have to worry about breaking the bank at Villas Sol because they have a coffee stand and snack bar. Guests can enjoy the resort's pool and spa facilities, but for a change of scenery, they can take advantage of the resort's complimentary shuttle service to Playa Hermosa, widely regarded as one of Costa Rica's finest beaches.
Located on the mountainside of Tenorio Volcano, La Carolina Lodge offers breathtaking views of the river and tropical jungle below. Cottages and houses scattered over the grounds may host couples, families, and bigger gatherings. In addition to three traditional Costa Rican meals, fruit juices, tea, and coffee, visitors also get access to the outdoor yoga platform during non-class times at no extra cost. The garden and milking of the cows are free of charge, but a yoga retreat, horseback riding, and spa services are available for extra money.
A few of the standout features at Riu Guanacaste include three pools (one of which is freshwater), a spa, and daily entertainment. Everything from breakfast to dinner (including themed evenings), snacks, and drinks is included in the accommodation cost. Free group exercise courses, tennis, kayaking, and beginner scuba lessons are also available to guests. Splash Water World is a water park that is open six days a week and is perfect for kids.
Front Beach CC Located on 22 acres of tropical dry forest, Papagayo overlooks Playa Panama, one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Amenities abound at this facility, including two eateries, four bars, two pools, hiking paths, and a playground for the little ones. Side trips to Arenal Volcano National Park, ATV rides, kayaking, and other activities are available for an additional fee.
In addition to the stunning Playa El Roble, guests of Fiesta Resort have their choice of multiple pools, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Four restaurants and seven bars provide unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages in addition to Latin American and foreign cuisines. Mini golf is just one of the many fun things to do at this family-friendly destination. For children aged four to twelve, there are story times and supervised craft workshops at the kids club, while for teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen, there are video games, table tennis, and other activities available at the adolescents club.
This resort on Playa El Jobo is surrounded by palm trees and set against the verdant surroundings of Guanacaste. The Dreams Las Mareas promotes itself as a resort perfect for families and welcomes groups of all sizes. Every room, from those with balconies to those with swim-out suites, has a minibar that is restocked every day and 24-hour room service. Access to the kids' clubs, weekly beach parties, cooking courses, and an endless supply of food and drink at any of the 19 on-site restaurants and bars are all part of the package. "Each morning during my March 2022 stay, I was greeted by free-roaming capuchin monkeys, soaring magnificent frigatebirds, and tide pools teeming with colorful Pacific fauna at Dreams Las Mareas, a sprawling Costa Rican all-inclusive that made its debut in 2014," Ranahan stated. "While the property offers incredible potential for wildlife lovers, it doubles as a top spot for an unforgettable honeymoon, equipped with a can’t-miss swim-up bar, massive suites complete with balcony hot tubs, and truly spectacular sunsets along the idyllic El Jobo beach."
You can reach the lively town of Tamarindo, which is known for its nightlife, on foot in about half an hour from the beachside Occidental Tamarindo, which is situated in the northwest region of Costa Rica. Guests of the Occidental Tamarindo have access to an abundance of amenities, including fitness classes, children's programs, unlimited food and drink at the resort's three restaurants and two bars, and more. The Occidental Tamarindo, an all-inclusive resort on Playa Longosta, was the perfect destination for my family's much-needed break after a week of seeing Costa Rica's national parks. The resort's modest playground and children's area with arts and crafts make it ideal for families with young children, according to travel journalist and film producer Sheeka Sanahori. "The most memorable feature is the resort’s large central pool and beachfront."
The Riu Palace Costa Rica Hotel in Guanacaste features four pools, one of which is a Jacuzzi, as well as a fitness center, sauna, and spa. Access to the hotel's sports equipment, such as kayaks and snorkeling gear, as well as meals at the main buffet and four themed restaurants, are all part of the all-inclusive tariff. You can go scuba diving or fishing from the property's vantage point on Playa Matapalo.
Flamingo Beach is home to a beachside resort that embodies the Jimmy Buffett-inspired carefree spirit for which Margaritaville is famous. Accommodations are available in a variety of styles, including rooms with patios that look out over the pool, ocean view suites, and huge family rooms that can accommodate larger parties. Although not all-inclusive, the resort does offer a package that covers everything from meals and snacks to drinks, gratuities, movie theater popcorn and drinks, and complimentary bicycle rentals.
In search of an all-inclusive getaway with more excitement? Centrally located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, close to Jaco, is Surf Synergy, a surf and wellness resort. The property, which consists of a main house and many cottages, provides a tailored experience with amenities including surf instruction, three healthy meals per day (plus snacks), and yoga sessions. A few itineraries even throw in massages, excursions, and other fun extras.
