Top Central & South America Kid-Friendly

Make the most of limited time in Costa Rica with a guided half-day nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park. Don’t waste time wondering what to see next; instead, head straight to the park’s highlights in the company of a naturalist guide and benefit from their animal spotting expertise and spotting scope to see creatures you might otherwise have missed.

Combine ziplines for all adrenaline levels with animal encounters and beach relaxation on Roatan Island. Choose mild or extreme ziplining (or skip it altogether), then hang out with monkeys, sloths, parrots, macaws, and more before snorkeling and relaxing on the white sand of West Bay Beach. Convenient pick-up at the cruise ship port or your hotel is included and a DVD of your adventure is available for purchase.

Just outside the crowded beaches of Tamarindo, Las Baulas National Park offers an often-overlooked natural getaway. This tour takes you through the park’s vast network of mangrove forests on a relaxing boat trip. As you float down the river, your guide points out wildlife like howler monkeys, crocodiles, and tropical birds that you might not see on your own.

A private tour of Manuel Antonio National Park gives you a personalized look at the park’s many attractions. As you make your way through the forests, your guide shares information about the local ecosystem that you might miss on your own, and helps you spot wildlife like sloths, toucans, and monkeys using high-tech scopes—not included on most Manuel Antonio tours. This tour includes all transportation and your admission ticket, too, giving it extra value.

Saddle up for a thrilling 2-hour horseback riding adventure from Playa Flamingo and soak up the scenery from the back of a beautiful horse! Look out for Howler monkeys, iguanas, magpie blue jay and parakeets as you amble along rainforest trails or let loose with a gallop along the beach. Best of all: there are a range of horses and trails suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced riders.

Home to over 100 species of animals, five waterfalls and a cloud forest the Wildlife Refuge La Paz Waterfall gardens is bursting with bio diversity. Visit, explore, learn and even hike among the sloths, monkeys, tropical birds, pumas, ocelots and more who call Costa Rica’s most visited private ecological reserve home. Take in the incredible plant life like wild orchids on this full-day, small group tour with lunch included.

Manuel Antonio National Park is a must-visit for nature lovers but without a guide you’ll miss many of the local residents, quiet and camouflaged among the trees. On this 2.5-hour private guided tour you’ll explore with a naturalist guide who knows where and how to spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and much more. Watch them through a high-powered spotting scope.

Get a taste of Costa Rica’s famed biodiversity without straying too far from the city with this all-access day pass to La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park. Featuring hiking trails through the cloud forest, cascading waterfalls, a rescued jungle cats educational program, and numerous specialty wildlife exhibits, La Paz Waterfall Gardens guarantees good fun for the whole family. This pass can be redeemed anytime during the park’s normal operating hours and is good for accessing all of the exhibits.

Though renowned for its wildlife, spotting the Arenal and La Fortuna area's favorite animal residents can be notoriously tricky. Tour a number of locations where wildlife sightings are all but guaranteed on this Arenal wildlife tour—expect to see sloths, toucans, dart frogs, and more with the help of your guide. Tour includes use of spotting scope and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Learn all about Panama’s unique culture and environment on this small-group day tour that’s especially designed for cruise-ship passengers in Colon. Make the most of your time on land on this half-day tour to the rainforest, San Lorenzo Fort, and the Agua Clara Locks of the Panama Canal. Spot wildlife including monkeys and sloths, learn about Panamanian history, and be amazed by one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering.

Explore one of the world’s most diverse collections of species gathered in one place with a visit to the animal sanctuary at Diamante Eco Adventure Park in Guanacaste. From adorable three-toed sloths to scaly reptiles and sleek jungle cats, see an amazing array of animals rescued by the Costa Rican Ministry of Wildlife, and learn about the park’s conservation projects. The naturally designed habitats include hummingbird gardens and a large butterfly observatory teeming with jewel-toned beauties.

Wildlife enthusiasts love this tour of Arenal’s only frog sanctuary. Tour the wildlife sanctuary at night for chances to see rare and colorful tropical frogs in their natural habitat; a guide leads the way and helps you spot frogs and other creatures that only come out at night. Tours even include pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna so you don’t have to worry about driving at night.

See the natural beauty of the jungle after dark with this night tour to Rainmaker Park. Your naturalist guide will take you and your group into the jungle for a two- to two-and-a-half-hour journey, where you’ll get to learn about the local ecosystem and maybe even spot some bats, spiders, owls, and colorful tropical frogs.

If you’re looking for wildlife in Costa Rica, one of the best places to see it is the pristine coastal forests of Manuel Antonio National Park. Get more out of a visit to the famous park on a tour with a certified naturalist guide who knows all the best places to find sloths, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, and many other animals. Learn about the park’s amazing ecosystems along the way, and get a closer look using a provided Swarovski spotting scope.

Immerse yourself in the local flora and fauna of Roatan on this expedition to Gumbalimba Park. Traveling with a guide lets you get the most out of your visit as you listen to engaging commentary. See and photograph animas such as hummingbirds, macaws, parrots, and Capuchin white-face monkeys. After visiting the wildlife park, families will enjoy relaxing by the kid-friendly freshwater pool or purchasing lunch at the onsite restaurant.

Discover Roatan’s most colorful creatures—then hit the beach—on a private tour that explores an iguana farm, a wildlife sanctuary, and a butterfly garden. Touring the island with a private guide means an outing that’s tailored to your group; with the option to snorkel, dive, parasail, or just enjoy the view on West Bay Tabyana Beach, the day can be as relaxed or active as you want.

Discover the wild landscapes and unique wildlife of the Peninsula Valdes on a full-day tour from Puerto Madryn, including hotel pickup and an optional whale-watching experience. Learn about Patagonia’s native flora and fauna from your expert naturalist guide as you spot elephant seals, penguins, and sea lions along the coast. Keep your camera handy and look out for guanacos, armadillos, maras, and skunks as you drive through the UNESCO-listed national park.

You don’t need to venture deep into the rain forest to see Costa Rica’s spectacular wildlife on this guided nature walk in a La Fortuna nature center. On this tour, a guide accompanies you on an easy, kid-friendly walk through the forest, pointing out wildlife like sloths, birds, and tree frogs along the way.

Discover the wonderful wildlife of Costa Rica on this rafting safari from La Fortuna. Float down the beautiful Corobici River while a guide does all the paddling, so you can take photos and look out for native critters like monkeys, sloths, caimans, and exotic birds. At the end of the cruise, enjoy a homemade Costa Rican lunch at a local family's farm.

Nature and wildlife enthusiasts won't want to miss this animal-focused tour. Starting in Placencia you'll first enjoy a cruise through mangroves to the mouth of the Monkey River. Look and listen out for birds, iguanas, snakes, crocodiles, and howler monkeys along the way. Stop for a local lunch at Monkey River Village, and look out for manatees on the return trip. Take a swim in the river if you wish.

See how La Fortuna transforms after sunset with this guided walking tour. Your guide will take you and your party into a natural area, where you'll learn about local crepuscular and nocturnal creatures and maybe see some yourself, such as owls, snakes, and colorful frogs—if you’re lucky, you may even spot a red-eyed tree frog.

Wildlife lovers and keen bird watchers won't want to miss this small-group penguin-spotting tour in the Falklands Islands. See the cute birds in their natural habitat, at Magellanic penguin colonies at Bertha's Beach and Gypsy Cove. Also enjoy a cultural tour of Stanley, the islands' capital, to learn more about this remote territory.

Discover the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica on this tour that is ideal for herping enthusiasts, wildlife lovers, and eco-conscious travelers. In a small group of no more than six guests, explore the surroundings of Manuel Antonio National Park and Quepos in search of every local species of reptile and amphibian, including viper snakes, colorful tree frogs, and more.

Safely immerse yourself in Costa Rican nature and wildlife on a 7-hour tour to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Leave the busy streets of San Jose behind in comfortable air-conditioned transportation from your hotel. Discover more than 100 species at the sanctuary, including titi monkeys, 2-toed sloths, pumas, and margays. You can even feed hummingbirds by hand. Have your camera ready for the cloud forest, waterfalls, and aviary.