Beach-Rainforest Combo with Toddlers

[Anonymous]

I love Costa Rica but it's a surfing destination because of the waves (obvs). I would consider the beaches in Manuel Manuel Antonio National Park but watch out for the poisonous trees on some of them. The Caribbean side of CR has malaria issues, so I wouldn't consider.

If you're looking for beach go to Grand Cayman. The beaches are so beautiful and sea is not rough so the kids can play in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are looking to book a beach-rainforest combo trip with 2 under 3 for next winter. We have looked into Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Panama. Are we missing any other good options to investigate? We would like to minimize car travel, if possible. Maybe that isn't an option and we should stick to a more typical beach trip. Welcome suggestions!

Northeastern Australia. No I'm being serious- it will be summertime there, and there are gorgeous rainforests and gorgeous beaches. You'll thank me. Maybe not on the plane trip, but, later.

I wanted to suggest this but thought it would too onerous with toddlers .

However yes - Daintree rainforest and wetlands are among most eco diverse in the world and Great Barrier Reef for the beaches is still gorgeous although sadly much of the coral life has been damaged.

[Anonymous]

We just returned from Andaz Papagayo in CR and it was fabulous! Their beaches are on a bay so calm. There is a kids club if you need it. In a dry forest full of monkeys. They were all over the beach, at breakfast, on our balcony sometimes - so fun! You'd need to add a couple of days near La Fortuna probably to do rainforest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to say if you do Panama to skip San Blas - we were terribly bored. Heard better about Bocas del Toro. Also Belize and CR.

Really? We loved it but were treated to boat rides in traditional dug out canoes but motorized and had tour guides explaining some of the rich native traditions on different islands. Also they have some unique colorful art made out of cloth. Plus the fresh seafood was yum.

But it is clearly not for everyone.

I assume those were paid for under the rate for your hotel. The locals didn’t just do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to say if you do Panama to skip San Blas - we were terribly bored. Heard better about Bocas del Toro. Also Belize and CR.

Really? We loved it but were treated to boat rides in traditional dug out canoes but motorized and had tour guides explaining some of the rich native traditions on different islands. Also they have some unique colorful art made out of cloth. Plus the fresh seafood was yum.

But it is clearly not for everyone.

I assume those were paid for under the rate for your hotel. The locals didn’t just do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

The eco resort owner (cabins on stilts with waves lapping underneath the rooms) arranged for the tours and yes we paid him extra of course. It was worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to say if you do Panama to skip San Blas - we were terribly bored. Heard better about Bocas del Toro. Also Belize and CR.

Really? We loved it but were treated to boat rides in traditional dug out canoes but motorized and had tour guides explaining some of the rich native traditions on different islands. Also they have some unique colorful art made out of cloth. Plus the fresh seafood was yum.

But it is clearly not for everyone.

I assume those were paid for under the rate for your hotel. The locals didn’t just do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

The eco resort owner (cabins on stilts with waves lapping underneath the rooms) arranged for the tours and yes we paid him extra of course. It was worth it.

Eco tourism in San Blas
https://sanblas-islands.com/info/environmental-sustainability/

Eco tourism in Panama
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294479-Activities-c61-t216-Panama.html

https://canopytower.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-JaTSUFr6cwkWCMFPXvK7Ww9XKzllcXGvwchdX-qDRcEGY_D8mxo8BoCzI8QAvD_BwE



Also highly recommend this place in Ecuador as they have stations at four different altitudes up the Andes and the owner has written books on farina and flora in Ecuador - could always visit the Galápagos Islands for the beach part.

https://www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com/magic_birding_circuit_reservation.php?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-MKa-6Z3mSnVmQ5wyRR67ImhoVtpXdo9_7h-V3MPkfaALruW01N46BoCCHoQAvD_BwE


Other places

Top Ecotourism Destinations in the World
Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ...
Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia. ...
Jeju Island National Park, South Korea. ...
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. ...
The Himalayas, Nepal. ...
Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia. ...
Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia. ...
Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

[Anonymous]

Don't do a rainforest with kids. Unless you want them to get bitten by disease carrying insects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do a rainforest with kids. Unless you want them to get bitten by disease carrying insects.

We have / you just get the recommended shots, take malaria prophylactics and use mosquito repellant plus sleep with mosquito nets. We had no problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Winter break (Dec) is not rainy season in CR
If you go to Manuel Antonio, you can do beach + rain forest.

We did this but my youngest was 4. I don’t think it would be fun with toddlers. Also it was a long slow drive from the airport. It’s mountainous and the roads are not like here — people drive incredibly slowly there because lots of old cars plus rickety roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going to say if you do Panama to skip San Blas - we were terribly bored. Heard better about Bocas del Toro. Also Belize and CR.

Really? We loved it but were treated to boat rides in traditional dug out canoes but motorized and had tour guides explaining some of the rich native traditions on different islands. Also they have some unique colorful art made out of cloth. Plus the fresh seafood was yum.

But it is clearly not for everyone.

I assume those were paid for under the rate for your hotel. The locals didn’t just do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

The eco resort owner (cabins on stilts with waves lapping underneath the rooms) arranged for the tours and yes we paid him extra of course. It was worth it.

Eco tourism in San Blas
https://sanblas-islands.com/info/environmental-sustainability/

Eco tourism in Panama
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294479-Activities-c61-t216-Panama.html

https://canopytower.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-JaTSUFr6cwkWCMFPXvK7Ww9XKzllcXGvwchdX-qDRcEGY_D8mxo8BoCzI8QAvD_BwE



Also highly recommend this place in Ecuador as they have stations at four different altitudes up the Andes and the owner has written books on farina and flora in Ecuador - could always visit the Galápagos Islands for the beach part.

https://www.eco-lodgesanjorge.com/magic_birding_circuit_reservation.php?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1eO7BhATEiwAm0Ee-MKa-6Z3mSnVmQ5wyRR67ImhoVtpXdo9_7h-V3MPkfaALruW01N46BoCCHoQAvD_BwE


Other places

Top Ecotourism Destinations in the World
Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ...
Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia. ...
Jeju Island National Park, South Korea. ...
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. ...
The Himalayas, Nepal. ...
Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia. ...
Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia. ...
Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

These sound like fabulous vacations but absolute hell with two toddlers. With two toddlers I would do something super easy like Jamaica, Puerto Rico. Aruba, cayman or the easier parts of Costa Rica. And I would just stick to the beach. If you go to someplace like st Thomas, someplace like coral world is fun with toddlers — you can see a lot of marine life up close and there are iguanas everywhere.