Costa Rica is one of the best countries in the world to explore with your family. Whether you love beaches, volcanos, trekking, or exploring, there’s something in Costa Rica for everyone. Visiting this idyllic tropical paradise is even easier when you visit one of the country’s all-inclusive resorts. They all provide various pleasures, activities and adventures ensuring your trip is well worth it.

Try out one of these fourteen excellent all-inclusive resorts. You will not be disappointed.

Whilst you’re here, why not also check out our guide to the best family beaches in Costa Rica?

Table of Contents:

Occidental Tamarindo

Location: Playa Langosta, Tamarindo 50309 Costa Rica

Website: Occidental Tamarindo

Visit Occidental Tamarindo, and you and your family will get private access to gorgeous Langosta beach. This beautiful beach is part of the Las Baulas National Park and is considered one of the best ones in the Tamarindo area. If you are interested in learning how to surf or do some fishing, Occidental Tamarindo is the ideal spot for you.

This all-inclusive boutique hotel has 198 well-appointed rooms featuring all of the comforts of home. With first-class dining and entertainment, you’ll feel perfectly pampered and relaxed right at the Occidental Tamarindo facility. If you prefer to explore the area around the resort, there’s a reef break, beach break, and river mouth just steps away.

One of the key things that set this resort apart from the rest is its excellent service. The staff at Occidental Tamarindo tend to your every need. They can certainly help you book family-friendly excursions and show you where to go in nearby Tamarindo. Tamarindo is known for excellent dining options and nightlife and is just a mile away from Occidental Tamarindo.

The sunsets and sunrises in this part of Costa Rica are genuinely spectacular. The private beach right outside Occidental Tamarindo is a fabulous place to watch nature in its full glory. So whether you’re looking for an exciting, fun-filled family vacation or a relaxing getaway, this resort has you covered.

Del Mar Surf Camp

Location: 34, Puntarenas Province, Jaco, Costa Rica

Website: Del Mar Surf Camp

Puntarenas Province is on Costa Rica’s Pacific side and is famous for its excellent surfing. Whether you are an experienced surfer or a novice, you’ll find waves to suit your taste and skill level in Puntarenas.

Del Mar Surf Camp is one of the most acclaimed surf camps in the region. For nine years, the expert staff at Del Mar Surf Camp has been teaching locals and visitors how to hit the waves in style. In addition, they offer personalized surf sessions with a maximum of two students per instructor, so you’ll get private lessons tailored to your specific need.

The camp is close to two of the regions’ best beaches; Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa. Playa Hermosa is known for its challenging waves and is an excellent beach for those who already know how to surf. Playa Jaco is a much gentler experience, suitable for beginners. Del Mar Surf Camp’s instructors can help you figure out which one is best for you.

There’s also plenty of on-land activities to do. Del Mar Surf Camp offers yoga classes and nature walks every day. There are dining facilities on-site serving up premium Costa Rican food made out of healthy local ingredients.

If you prefer to go off the facility, Del Mar Surf Camp’s helpful staff can negotiate day trips for you. It’s right near Jaco, one of Costa Rica’s most exciting cities on the Pacific side. Jaco has plenty of nightlife, restaurants, and entertainment for your whole family.

There are pristine waterfalls and trekking available nearby, and it’s just a mere hour and a half from the San Jose airport. Del Mar Surf Camp is easily one of the most accessible and convenient all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo

Location: Playa Flamingo 50308 Costa Rica

Website: Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo is known for its white-gold sands and plenty of palm trees, all set against the backdrop of the bright blue Pacific Ocean. This resort has a family-friendly vibe that encourages you to kick back and relax. Its staff is known for their hospitality and embodying the true spirit of the country, known as “Pura Vida.”

This resort offers suites and rooms overlooking the ocean, pool, or Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo’s gorgeous gardens. The OnZen Spa offers incredible, state-of-the-art spa treatments perfect for any budget that will help you truly unwind and relax. It also has a huge outdoor pool with a swim-up bar you can enjoy.

If you want to be a little more active, you can always try your hand at paddleboarding in the Pacific. The waters around Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo are pretty calm and suitable for both beginner and expert paddleboarders. The resort offers plenty of family-friendly excursions like zip-lining through the jungle, deep-sea fishing, whitewater rafting, volcano tours, and scuba diving.

Their on-site restaurant features fresh, Costa Rican flavors in a sophisticated international setting. However, if you prefer something a little more casual, Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo has excellent bar food, excellent breakfasts, and the finest Costa Rican coffee.

There is regular entertainment suitable for all ages. Although you certainly can leave this resort to go exploring, you don’t even need to.

Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort

Location: Drake Bay 60101 Costa Rica

Website: Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort

Drake Bay is one of the most remote and exciting parts of Costa Rica. The Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort takes full advantage of Drake Bay’s natural beauty and focuses on eco-consciousness and environmentalism.

This sprawling resort sits across 70 acres of rainforest reserve so that you can experience the two greatest things about the Osa Peninsula; beach and rainforest. It’s also near Corcovado National Park, a national treasure known for its biodiversity. Take a stroll through Corcovado National Park, and you can spot scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, and tapirs.

Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort staff is trained to take your preferences into account, remember names, and ensure that you have a five-star experience. They can also set up excursions for you and answer any questions that you might have about the region.

Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort is remote. The only way to get to it is by boat, making the experience all the more exciting. You will be far away from the bustle of the big cities and able to enjoy a truly authentic Costa Rican experience.

Family excursions include snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, whale watching, and horseback riding. There’s also an on-site spa where you can get pampered to your heart’s content. In addition, Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort offers amazing, fresh Costa Rican food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

If you and your family are interested in having an adventurous vacation with all of the comforts of home, Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort do it!

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica

Location: Playa Manzanillo, Culebra Costa Rica

Website: Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica lets you vacation as the Hollywood elite do. This resort is full of movie memorabilia, and guests are treated like silver-screen royalty. Located right on Costa Rica’s idyllic Pacific coast, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica has amazing sunrises and sunsets, as well as miles of balmy waves and beautiful beaches.

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica has plenty of all-inclusive dining options and bars featuring both Costa Rican and international food. In addition, there’s WiFi throughout the entire resort, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and plenty of fitness classes with professional instructors to help you stay in shape while you relax in paradise.

The PH Spa & Beauty Bar offers high-end spa services and massages. There are also pools on-site and a nearby black sand beach where you can take a dip in the ocean. The staff regularly organizes challenges and games and can coordinate excursions for you as well. So whether you want to chill out by the beach or explore Playa Manzanillo, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Costa Rica can make your vacation dreams come true.

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica

Location: Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Avellanas, Tamarindo 50906 Costa Rica

Website: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica is another excellent option in Tamarindo that lets you and your family experience everything that Guanacaste Province has to offer in total comfort. One of the key draws of this resort is that it’s built in a traditional hacienda style. So you and your family will feel like you’re getting an authentic Costa Rican experience with all the luxury amenities you want and need.

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica is right on the Pacific Ocean. It’s relatively close to Tamarindo, so you and your family will never be far from dining and entertainment options outside the resort. Tamarindo’s northern beach, Playa Grande, has leatherback turtles and is a prominent Las Baulas National Marine Park. There’s also the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge, where you can spot crocodiles and howler monkeys.

Of course, you might not even want to leave the resort. It sits right on Mansita Beach, so you can enjoy the famous hospitality JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica is known for a while, soaking in the Pacific paradise.

Every room at this resort has a balcony overlooking lush gardens, the resort pool, or the Pacific Ocean. Each is equipped with LCD televisions, soundproof windows, high-speed internet, marble bathtubs, and full blackout curtains.

Resort activities include an equestrian center, golf course, and tennis courts suitable for all ages.

The Westin Golf Resort & Spa

Location: Playa Conchal, Playa Conchal 232-5150 Costa Rica

Website: The Westin Golf Resort & Spa

The Westin Golf Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive experience with an eco-friendly twist in Costa Rica’s beautiful Guanacaste Province. Guanacaste sits right on the Pacific Ocean, and most people regard it as one of the best places in the country to soak in and appreciate the Pura Vida lifestyle!

The resort itself is right between the rainforest and the North Pacific Riviera’s beaches. It’s both accessible and secluded. Everything you need is right there, but you will feel almost like you’re in the middle of nowhere. If you and your family love nature, this resort is a perfect option for you.

There’s an on-site fitness center and kid’s club, and the all-inclusive package includes both your drinks and your meals. Many families appreciate the fact that they don’t have to carry money around or incur surprise expenses. However, it does help with budgeting and gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you can have the most opulent vacation you want.

The Westin Golf Resort & Spa offers regular nightly entertainment on the beach and plenty of exciting excursions. Their staff can help you book other tours as well. Catamaran trips are particularly popular, as are sailing trips. You can also find some spectacular snorkeling and diving in this part of Costa Rica.

Best Western Jaco Beach Resort

Location: Pastor Diaz Av., Jaco, Garabito Municipality Costa Rica

Website: BEST WESTERN Jaco Beach Resort

The Best Western Jaco Beach Resort sits between Costa Rica’s most famous beaches, Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa. One of Jaco’s key draws is its proximity to San Jose, the country’s capital. You can fly into San Jose and be in Jaco in under two hours.

In addition to the incredible nearby beaches, Best Western Jaco Beach Resort has plenty of on-site activities suitable for all ages. There are tennis courts and swimming pools on-site. There’s a children’s playground and tropically landscaped pool for plenty of lounging and family fun.

The property has 125 rooms with balconies, some of which face the beach, and you can request an ocean view if you book online. Although Jaco is a fairly busy city, the rooms tend to be quiet at night, and there’s high-speed WiFi throughout the entire resort. So opt for the all-inclusive dining option and enjoy both international and Costa Rican favorites all day long.

Jaco Beach has tightly-packed sand, making it perfect for getting a run in, or taking a stroll with your family. The waves at Jaco are gentle and ideal for people just learning how to surf. The staff at Best Western Jaco Beach Resort can set you up with surfing lessons.

Dreams Las Mareas

Location: El Jobo 51001 Costa Rica

Website: Dreams Las Mareas

Dreams Las Mareas, in Guanacaste Province, sits on Playa El Jobo and is flanked on one side by beautiful beaches and jungle on the other. You and your family can easily spend hours relaxing on gorgeous Playa El Jobo or by one of Dreams Las Mareas’ ocean-facing pools. The kids will love La Cascada, a kid-friendly waterslide, or the Explorer’s Club. Teenagers are welcome at the Core Zone Teens Club.

You can also improve your Spanish with free Spanish classes, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, and dance lessons. Dreams Las Mareas offers plenty of excursions like deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, kite surfing, and water polo.

Get into the Pura Vida mindset with yoga classes, or play a lively game of beach soccer. You can also venture out to explore the fantastic jungle right beyond Dreams Las Mareas with guided tours. This part of Costa Rica has plenty of biodiversity, so there’s a good chance that you might spot some local creatures.

At night, relax and enjoy some of Dreams Las Mareas’ classical music and theme nights. It is an all-inclusive experience that caters equally to children and adults, making it ideal for your next Costa Rican getaway!

Lapa Rios Lodge

Location: Cabo Matapalo Costa Rica

Website: Lapa Rios Lodge

Lapa Rios Lodge sits right on a lowland tropical rainforest with 1,000 acres of pure relaxation and family fun. As an ecolodge, environmentalism and conservation are essential to the people at Lapa Rios Lodge, and you and your family are bound to learn something new about the local environment when you visit.

Lapa Rios Lodge is on the Pacific side of the country, situated right where the Pacific Ocean connects with Golfo Dulce. As it focuses heavily on ecotourism and sustainability, you can rest assured that you will be vacationing responsibly while enjoying the pristine stretch of sea that sits right outside your door.

One of the key draws of Lapa Rios Lodge is its incredible biodiversity. Although all of the resorts on our list have plenty of animal life, Lapa Rios Lodge takes it to the next level. Expect to see tons of local creatures like monkeys, scarlet macaws, toucans, and tree frogs.

Despite the natural feel and focus on the environment, Lapa Rios Lodge has all of the modern amenities that you have come to expect from fine hotels. Many of their rooms have giant decks, outdoor and indoor showers, and pool access. Plus, the views are second to none.

Nature walks are one of the more popular excursions to go on at Lapa Rios Lodge. The resort has an on-site naturalist who can answer any questions that you might have. Since lowland tropical rainforests are exceptionally rare, you will be getting a glimpse into a world that you might never see again.

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica

Location: Playa Matapalo, Sardinal Costa Rica

Website: Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is right on Playa Matapalo, close to Daniel Oduber Airport. Although you could spend days lounging around on Playa Matapalo, Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is close to other beaches like Playas del Coco. Their friendly staff can certainly give you pointers about where to explore in the area.

Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica has 538 modern rooms with luxury amenities and complimentary WiFi. In addition, there’s an on-site spa, fitness center, and even a nightclub called Pacha Discotheque. The kids will enjoy the children’s pool, and there are four other pools to choose between if you decide to take a break from the beach.

Dine in style at their local, Japanese, Italian, or Fusion restaurants. There’s also an incredible steakhouse, six bars, a patisserie, and an ice cream parlor. After you’ve had your fill of delicious food, you can check out some of their on-site entertainment. Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica has something going on day or night.

Hotel Riu Guanacaste

Location: Playa Matapalo – Sardinal, Playa Matapalo 60602 Costa Rica

Website: Hotel Riu Guanacaste

Hotel Riu Guanacaste is the sister resort of Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica, located right on the same beautiful stretch of Playa Matapalo. Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica is centrally located near the Liberia airport and famous Playa del Coco. With 701 furnished rooms, Hotel Riu Guanacaste is larger than its sister hotel, but the commitment to luxury is the same.

Each room has free WiFi and luxury amenities, and the world-famous Renova Spa offers state-of-the-art treatments that will help you feel and look your best while you’re enjoying your Costa Rica vacation. There’s an on-site fitness center, tennis courts, a children’s pool, and three outdoor pools. Plus, you can enjoy direct access to stunning Playa Matapalo.

One of the primary reasons Hotel Riu Guanacaste is an excellent option for families is its RiuLand Kids Club. The RiuLand Kids Club has two sections; one for children between four and seven years old, and the other for eight to twelve-year-olds. Your kids will enjoy wholesome entertainment while you explore gorgeous Playa Matapalo or get a luxury treatment at the spa.

Although you could certainly spend your entire vacation at Hotel Riu Guanacaste, excursions are available to suit every taste and budget. From ATV riding to exploring waterfalls, you will be sure to find something that your whole family can enjoy.

Popular excursions include horseback riding, volcano tours, rainforest treks, snorkeling, and scuba diving. If you take a boat tour, expect to see plenty of animals. This part of Costa Rica is famous for its humpback whales, turtles, and giant fish.

Fiesta Resort All Inclusive

Location: Puntarenas 60115 Costa Rica

Website: Fiesta Resort All Inclusive

Fiesta Resort All Inclusive is one of Puntarenas Province’s most popular resorts. One thing that keeps people coming back is its proximity to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city. Since most people flying into Costa Rica go through San Jose, Fiesta Resort All Inclusive’s location is a huge draw.

Puntarenas is in the Central Pacific region of the country, so expect to see phenomenal wildlife, lush rainforests, and miles of beautiful untouched beaches. Fiesta Resort All Inclusive is your ideal home base for exploring this fantastic part of the country with safe, fun, and family-approved excursions.

This resort serves meals, snacks, and drinks all day. You can also choose to patronize one of their two a-la-carte options for dinner, and there are seven bars on-site if you want to have a classic cocktail and watch the sunset.

Expect round-the-clock activities at Fiesta Resort All Inclusive, suitable for adults, teenagers, and children. There are clubs for both kids and teenagers, plus miniature golf, billiards, two tennis courts, and beach volleyball.

Fiesta Resort All Inclusive’s Heliconia Spa offers luxury treatments and massages for the whole family, plus sauna services and manicures and pedicures. Laundry services and an ATM are right on-site, and Fiesta Resort All Inclusive’s friendly and knowledgeable concierge can help you make the most out of your time in Puntarenas.

Barcelo Tambor Beach

Location: Playa Tambor, Tambor 771-1150 Costa Rica

Website: Barcelo Tambor Beach

Barcelo Tambor Beach is an exceptionally popular resort on Playa Tambor. It’s known for welcoming families of all sizes, accessibility, and fantastic dining. All guest rooms come with a flat-screen television, minibar, refrigerator, and WiFi. A robust room service menu is available, and Barcelo Tambor Beach’s friendly concierge can help you determine what excursions are suitable for you.

Barcelo Tambor Beach’s all-inclusive package comes with three meals every day, and there are additional fine dining options available if you care to explore the town. Costa Coral Restaurant is a fabulous local restaurant known for its steak.

With 402 different types of accommodations, including suites and premium rooms, Barcelo Tambor Beach has something for just about every budget and style. All of them include a terrace or balcony, air conditioning, and an LCD television.

There’s a kid’s only zone, aquatic activities, and plenty of excursions to go on, including snorkeling, sailing, and nature walks. Los Delfines Golf and Country Club is less than a mile away. If you want to take a break, you can head to U-Spa for some perfect pampering. You and your family will feel right at home at Barcelo Tambor Beach and make memories that you will not forget.

If you’re planning your next family vacation, don’t forget to put Costa Rica on your list! This beautiful tropical country is full of famous hospitality, beautiful nature, pristine beaches, and awe-inspiring mountains. Visit, and you will undoubtedly understand why families flock to the Pura Vida capital of the planet.

Other destinations to consider for your all inclusive family vacation

If you’re looking for more beautiful destinations for your perfect family vacation, look no further than our favourite destinations and all inclusive resorts below!

Facebook X Reddit

More about our TFVG Author

Author Profile

James Brockbank

Founder at The Family Vacation Guide

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.

Additional menu