The villa’s booked. Now you need a plan that works for a six-year-old, a fifteen-year-old and maybe the grandparents too. Here’s every family tour we offer around Jaco with its price, how long it takes and how you get there, plus the free spots worth a stop and what to do when it rains. It’s part of our Jaco Beach travel guide for planning a Jaco vacation.
Quick answer: the best things to do in Jaco with kids
Our five favorite family picks around Jaco:
- Crocodile boat tour on the Tárcoles River: easy, seated, and unforgettable.
- Tortuga Island: a full beach day by boat from Los Sueños.
- Zipline canopy: the classic, ten minutes from town, transport included.
- Surf lessons: kids and parents learning together.
- Manuel Antonio National Park: monkeys and wildlife, driver included.
Family Tours at a Glance
Every Jaco tour below can be booked through our team. Prices are the starting price per person listed on our site.
| Tour | From | When / how long | Getting there | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crocodile Tour | $60 | Departures 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm | Pickup at your villa ~45 min before | Seated boat on the Tárcoles River, with a bilingual guide |
| Monkey Mangrove Tour | $55 | 1 hr 30 min | Private transport $180 for up to 6, then $30 each | White-faced monkeys, crocodiles and birds along a river canal |
| Surf Lessons | $55 | 2–3 hr lesson; start time set by the tides | Ask us | One instructor per 2–3 students; board included |
| Chocolate Tour | $100 | ~2 hr; 8:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm | Leaves Jaco 45 min before | Kids 6 and under go free |
| Zipline Canopy Tour | $70 | ~2 hr; daily 8am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm | Round-trip transport included | Ten minutes from Jaco, with views of the Gulf of Nicoya |
| Waterfall Tours | $85 | Ask us | Ask us | Swim in natural pools; cliff jumps (4–25 ft) are optional |
| Tortuga Island Tour | $145 | Full day: check-in 7:15am, back 3:45pm | From Los Sueños Marina, 10 min from Jaco | Bring snacks and drinks (no hard coolers) |
| Manuel Antonio Tour | $75 | Full day; the park is ~1 hr south | Private A/C driver included | Park fee and certified guide included; minimum 4 people |
| ATV Tours | $100 | Start 8am–1pm, back by 5pm | Ask us | No experience needed; +$30 per extra passenger |
| Waterfall Canyoning & Rappelling | $105 | 7:00–11:30am or 1:00–5:30pm | 15 min from Jaco | Includes a ~20-minute hike into the canyon |
| White Water Rafting | $105 | Ask us | Not included: private transport $180 for up to 6, then $30 each | On the Naranjo or Savegre rivers |
Prices are the starting price per person as listed on our site; confirm when you book. Age and weight limits vary by tour, so tell us every child’s age and weight and we’ll match the tours to your family.
Easy Picks for Little Kids
With small children, choose tours where they can sit, watch and snack, and keep the afternoons free for naps and the pool.
Monkey Mangrove Tour
An hour and a half gliding along a river canal looking for monkeys, crocodiles and birds. Short enough for small attention spans.
Chocolate Tour
A 30-minute walk through the forest, then the cocoa itself: taste the fruit, help make chocolate and dip tropical fruit. Kids 6 and under go free.
Tortuga Island Tour
A boat ride to an island beach for the whole day. Pack snacks, towels and sunscreen, and let the kids play in the sand.
The Crocodile Tour is another easy win: a seated boat ride on the Tárcoles River, one of the most crocodile-populated rivers in the world, with plenty of birds as a bonus.
Best With School-Age Kids
Once kids can follow a guide’s instructions, the adventure tours open up.
Zipline Canopy Tour
Platform to platform over the treetops, ten minutes from town, with round-trip transport included. Tell us ages and weights when you book.
Surf Lessons
Every lesson starts on the sand with water safety, then an instructor stays with you in the water, one per two or three students.
Manuel Antonio Tour
A full day in one of Costa Rica’s most famous parks, about an hour south, with a private driver, park entry and a certified guide included.
On the waterfall tour, kids can swim in the natural pools below the falls; the cliff jumps are optional and entirely up to you.
For Teens (and Adventurous Parents)
- ATV Tours: rainforest trails, rivers and a hidden waterfall. No experience needed, and extra passengers can ride along for $30. Everyone gets wet and muddy.
- White water rafting: the Naranjo or Savegre rivers with a professional river guide in every raft.
- Waterfall canyoning and rappelling: a morning or afternoon descending waterfalls, 15 minutes from Jaco.
These tours have age and weight limits, so tell us who’s coming and we’ll confirm what fits.
Free and Low-Cost Things to Do
- The crocodile bridge at Tárcoles. Look down from the roadside viewpoint on the bridge and you’ll usually see crocodiles sunning on the riverbank. It’s free, and a 15-minute stop.
- Carara National Park. About 15 minutes north of Jaco, and home to Costa Rica’s largest population of scarlet macaws. Easy trails; check the current entry fee and hours before you go.
- Royal Butterflies. The top-rated family attraction on TripAdvisor’s list of things to do in Jaco with kids.
- Jaco Walk. An open-air plaza with restaurants; visiting families mention a playground and small electric cars the kids can drive.
- Sunset on Jaco Beach. Sandcastles, a stroll and the sunset. Before anyone goes in the water, read our ocean safety rules for families.
Rainy-Day Ideas
In the green season, rain usually arrives in the late afternoon or evening between May and August, while September and October are the wettest months. So book tours for the morning and save the afternoons for the villa.
- Pool time between showers: warm rain doesn’t stop kids.
- Board games, movies and a slow afternoon in the villa.
- A private chef dinner at home. Our VIP travel services include private chefs.
A 3-Day Family Plan
Day 1 · Easy
Crocodiles and macaws
Morning Crocodile Tour, a stop at the Tárcoles bridge, and an afternoon at the pool. Sunset on the beach.
Day 2 · Big day
Island beach day
Tortuga Island from Los Sueños Marina: check in at 7:15am, back by 3:45pm. Early dinner, early night.
Day 3 · Active
Treetops and waves
Morning zipline canopy tour, lunch at Jaco Walk, and a surf lesson for whoever still has energy.
On days with several stops, a private driver saves you from juggling taxis with tired kids.
Tips for Touring With Kids in Jaco
- Book mornings. It’s cooler, and afternoon showers are common in the green season.
- Pack what the tours ask for: strapped sandals or water shoes (no flip-flops), swimsuit, towel, a change of clothes, sunscreen and bug spray.
- Tell us every child’s age and weight when you book. Zipline, ATV and rafting rules depend on them.
- Plan breakfast around pickup. Pickups are usually 45 minutes to an hour and a half before the tour starts.
- Bring a copy of each passport for the ATV tour.
- Arriving soon? See getting from SJO to Jaco with a family.
Where to Stay With Kids
Jaco town
Walk to Jaco Walk, restaurants and the beach.
Los Sueños
Quieter, and right at the marina where the Tortuga Island boats leave.
Hermosa Beach
Space to spread out, a few minutes from town.
We’ll Plan the Whole Family Week
Tell us your kids’ ages and what they love, and our local team will build the days around them: villa, tours, drivers and all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Jaco with young kids?
Easy, seated tours work best: the Crocodile Tour on the Tárcoles River, the Monkey Mangrove Tour, a Tortuga Island beach day and the Chocolate Tour, where kids 6 and under go free. Add free stops like the Tárcoles crocodile bridge and Carara National Park.
Is Jaco good for families?
Yes. Jaco combines wildlife tours, adventure, beaches and family-sized villas within a few minutes of each other, about 1.5 hours from San José airport.
Are there age limits on Jaco tours?
Some tours, such as ziplining, ATV and rafting, have age and weight limits. Tell us every child’s age and weight when you book, and we’ll confirm which tours fit.
Do Jaco tours include pickup?
Many do. The zipline canopy tour includes round-trip transport, the Crocodile Tour picks you up at your villa, and the Manuel Antonio tour includes a private driver. Others, like rafting, need private transport, which we can arrange.
What can we do in Jaco when it rains?
Book tours for the morning, since green-season rain usually comes in the late afternoon. Save the afternoons for the villa: the pool, games, or a private chef dinner at home.
How far is Manuel Antonio from Jaco?
About an hour south. Our Manuel Antonio tour includes a private air-conditioned driver, park entry and a certified guide.
