Traveling with children means looking for diversity. Kid-friendly activities will keep all members of traveling-families busy during their visit to Costa Rica. Monkeys, hot springs, pools, amusement parks, slides, active volcanoes, lizards and white-sand beaches add to a fun adventure into this beautiful Central American country.
Once your kids have hiked through one of Costa Rica's rainforests, spotted some of its monkeys and built enough castles along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, they are ready for something different to keep their energy rolling. Treat them -and yourself- to the Parque Nacional de Diversiones, Costa Rica's amusement park located in La Uruca, 2 km west of Hospital Mexico (5 km west of San José).
Plain fun! Don't miss out the Parque Nacional de Diversiones in San José, where entertainment, health and social concerns are combined together for the benefit of all.
The Parque Nacional de Diversiones is a nonprofit facility supporting the state children's hospital, a one of its kind initiative where entertainment, health and social concerns are combined together for the benefit of all.
Over 80 rides and games for all ages have been put together in a 44.2 hectare park featuring all services offered by amusement parks: food stands, picnic areas, vegetation, organized activities and thrilling rides. Swings, water slides, an electric train, go-karts racing, simulators, helicopters and driving lessons on antique cars, are part of every visitor's agenda.
You will find the usual rides, loaded with adrenaline, such as the Zyklon, the Hurricane and the Skymaster, but other attractions add to a unique Costa Rican experience: ride on a real Costa Rican oxcart pulled by live oxen, glide through a replica of Tortuguero Canals, or travel in time to Pueblo Antiguo.
Pueblo Antiguo
If you think Costa Rica's Parque de Diversiones is the usual amusement park only, you are in for a surprise: the best kept treasure of the Parque Nacional de Diversiones is Pueblo Antiguo, a replica of a Costa Rican village of the turn of the century.
Every building and street of Pueblo Antiguo has been designed accordingly with the architecture of Costa Rica's major towns (Heredia, Cartago and San José) as it appeared back in the 19th century. The city has its own entrance way, Central Park, Catholic Church, market, department store, Congress House, fire station and bookstore.
Each site offers different amenities: you can take Waltz dancing lessons at the Kiosk located in the town's central plaza, or go to a mass service at the church, where special ceremonies and weddings can be arranged. Taste some of Costa Rica's typical food at the market, or get those souvenirs you were looking for by visiting the bookstore.
You may have a glimpse at life in the country-side, also. Wooden beam houses resemble the styles used in Santa María de Dota, Tierra Blanca and Llano Grande de Cartago. A visit to the sugar mill and the milk barn will give your children a lesson on sugar and milk production. Our traditional Pulpería -rural grocery stores where locals would (and still do) meet to share their stories- is open to the public. You can buy some of the usual treats pulperías offer to children's sugar craves.
Pueblo Antiguo features live shows performed by park employees, where visitors learn about our history and traditions. Experienced actors take you step by step into the spirit of Costa Rica, and they guide you through the theme park giving you first hand information on each site. Vivencias Costarricenses and Noches Costarricenses are performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Other shows, such as Las Animas, Don Concepción, Recuerdos de Limón and El toro Tormenta, are scheduled during the day. Check at the entrance way for daily performances.
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