Taking a 1 year old to Costa Rica?

Question

My husband and I would like to go to Costa Rica with our 1 year old child. Is this do-able? I don't want to stay at a big fancy resort, but we'd ideally rent a car and spend a few days each at a different part of the country. We'd like to stay in smaller hotels/bungalows etc and see things "on our own" for the most part. Is this a crazy idea with a 1 year old?

Any recommendations for places to stay or things to do? We definitely want to see the rainforest............

Answer 1

I think so you should wate a few years till the kid is older and you can save your money up till you go and make it the best trip ever.

Answer 2

We're not still wild rainforest and we have 1 of the best health care systems in Latinamerica so don't you worry...

Answer 3

Not...........think about it..........leave the little one with Grand Ma.........you'll love your self for it........perhaps the little one will have a little one in the oven when you and your husband gets home............Costa Rica is great......but hot, dusty, insects, damp and you don't need the baggage............sorry..........

Answer 4

That's a double edged sword.  I love your spirit, but I wonder if that is taking an unneccessary risk.  Especially if you're gonna go backcountry.  The roads are notoriously bad, weather can be unpredictable, and the flora and fauna is extreme and unusual.  Not too mention the bugs !!!!  

God forbid if your infant got really really sick, would you second guess your decision.  My mother-in-law and father-in-law went there for an anniversary trip 5 years ago, and my father-in-law got sooo sick he had to take an early retirement.  My mother-in-law didn't get anything.  They still don't know what he got, but he was sick for several years.  And it was soooo bad he couldn't continue to work.  If an infant got something like that it could be fatal.

We're having our first baby next month, and we travel alot.  We've been to Costa Rica twice and we were married there a year ago.  We've talked about traveling with our child, and we decided to wait until she is older.  That way she will remember it, plus she will be less suseptible to illness.

Remember, Costa Rica is still mostly wild rainforest.

Answer 5

I think its safe as long as she has all the regular shots needed its just another country not another planet and there are a lot of 1 year olds that live there but just be carefull with certain parts that are humid and have a lot of mosquitos make sure you take a bug repelent that wont be bad for a one year old. One of the main concerns i think with certain  forrests is just make sure you keep her protected from getting bit by mosquitos.  Because there are some humid parts by the beaches that have a lot.

Answer 6

I don't see a problem with taking your 1 yr. old child. The Tico's (Costa Rican's) are very humble people and always love to help. The first time I went to Costa Rica, my husband and I rented a car and got around very easily. Avoid driving at night, there is allot of fog and you can't see where your going. Monte Verde is a very good place to visit the Rainforest and I also suggest the Arenal Volcano, very beautiful. I love Costa Rica, it is a very layed back location. I have continued to return to Costa Rica every year.  Have fun and good luck.

Answer 7

Great choice! Costa Rica is a great place for everyone  regardless of age and race. Its striking beauty will always remember.

Answer 8

Costa Rica is ideal place for you to spend with your infant.  The climate is perfect and you can certainily go to places including the hot springs (cooler waterside of course), as well the rivers.  

There are creatures to point out and teach he/her simple words, as well as the tico's are child friendly due to the number of people here who have children.  

Do bring your car seat for the plane ride and for when you get a rental car as sometimes they do not provide them.

Enjoy your trip.  Unsure in the evenings about babysitting but you can check that out with the hotels but use caution.

Answer 9

Your might want to bring your infant car seat with you--or find out whether they have good ones in the rental cars.  The driving style and bad roads in much of the country might shock you.

I wrote a long comment about the Caribbean coast here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Some of Coco Loco's jungle houses (discussed in the above link) had families renting them while we were there--typically parents with one or two small children.  The B&B we liked in Alajuela was Hotel Villa Bonita (http://hotelvillabonita.com/). It's family-friendly, and the couple who owns it also live there, and they have a small child of their own--I think he's about 18 months old.  And the B&B is close to restaurants and the international airport.  

The medical care is good in Costa Rica, should you need any.  In the rain forest areas, we saw medical centers set up to handle snake bites.  You'll just want to bring bug repellent for your rainforest visits, although we found very few mosquitos were around last month when we were there.  There was only one evening when they were biting in the whole two weeks I was there.  We got prescriptions for Chloroquine just in case of malaria (you have to start taking it two weeks before your trip--don't know if they have doses for infants.)

Coco Loco and other jungle hotels & bungalows had mosquito nets so you won't get bit at night.

Always hire a guide for your rain forest visits.  While the caiman and snakes will not come after you unless you get too close to them, it's better to have a guide who will spot the dangerous creatures before you get close.

I don't think it's a crazy idea to bring your child.  Use tripadvisor.com and other travel sites with hotel reviews in order to select accommodations--there is WiFi all over Costa Rica and you should be able to ask questions in advance of each hotel before booking anything.

Here's a web page with many comments about travelling with children in C.R.: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Costa-Rica-17...