We are finally getting around to sharing our month in Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica.
Slow Traveling Costa Rica With Kids: What Playa del Coco Was Like for Us
Not every place you stay for a month becomes your favorite.
Approaching Costa Rica by water, the kind of view that quietly signals a slower season ahead.
Sometimes it becomes your reset button.
At the start of our time in Costa Rica, we weren’t looking for adventure. We were looking for a softer landing. Fewer decisions. Predictable weather during rainy season. A place to recalibrate before moving again.
Playa del Coco checked those boxes, which is exactly why we chose it.
Why We Chose Playa del Coco
Early mornings in Playa del Coco often looked like this—quiet water, soft light, and space to breathe.
As a family slow traveling with kids, our priorities were simple:
Close to Liberia airport Reliable beach access Manageable size Access to basic services Opportunities for water activities
We weren’t chasing charm. We were choosing stability.
And for that season, stability mattered more.
What Slow Traveling There Actually Felt Like
Our accommodation was comfortable and functional. Having a small market next door made daily life easier, especially in those early weeks when everything still felt new.
The town itself felt lived-in. Tourism and everyday life intersect in visible ways in Coco, and not always smoothly. It isn’t polished. It isn’t curated.
It’s raw.
The walk into town was manageable but not effortless. Heat and humidity were constant companions. Some days the distance felt longer than others. When we could, we walked back along the beach instead. The ocean breeze and open space offered relief that the streets sometimes didn’t.
Living somewhere for a month means engaging with practical details, not just highlights.
Grocery runs were a learning curve. The costs were higher than anticipated and even after we learned to inspect items carefully, we occasionally brought home dry goods with unwanted surprises inside. It wasn’t ideal, but it was part of adapting to a different system.
Longer stays come with tradeoffs.
Coco reminded us of that.
Our Rhythm There
Most days weren’t planned. They simply unfolded between tides, swims, and long stretches of beach.
Our month in Playa del Coco wasn’t about sightseeing. It was about recalibrating.
Our days took on simple patterns:
Beach time and long swims Walks into town Snorkeling and horseback riding Pool breaks during the hottest hours Online lessons woven into quieter afternoons Family games and low-key evenings
There was space to rest without feeling unproductive.
Space to recover without needing to justify it.
Coco gave us time.
Time to slow down together.
Time to find our shared rhythm again.
Time to exist without constant novelty.
One of the few planned adventures: horseback riding along the shoreline with the Pacific stretching out beside us.
What Worked Well for Our Family
Easy access to the ocean
Reliable sunshine during rainy season
Small-town feel with essential services
Manageable base for day trips
What Was Challenging
Inconsistent grocery quality and high prices
Heavy tourism layered over local life
Limited walkability
Heat and humidity
It wasn’t a place we fell in love with.
But it was a place that served a purpose.
It allowed us to adjust physically and mentally before moving on, and that mattered more than charm.
Slow travel with kids isn’t about loving every destination.
Sometimes it’s about letting a place hold you long enough to prepare for what comes next.
Some afternoons were this simple—standing at the water’s edge and watching the boats drift in and out of the bay.
And for us, Playa del Coco did exactly that.
Learn more about our slow travel life and how we worldschool as a family.
The Curious Compass Co.™ 