Welcome, Costa Rica for Kids Families!

If you’ve landed here, it’s because Vanessa and her team at Costa Rica for Kids know that sometimes you’d rather plan your own trip, but still want expert backup you can trust.

That’s where I come in.

I’m Christa, founder of Pura Vida Moms, mom of two, Lonely Planet Costa Rica guidebook writer, and Costa Rica travel expert. I help families like yours create unforgettable trips with all the clarity, confidence, and peace of mind you need, without the overwhelm of doing it all alone.

Think of me as your bilingual, Costa Rica-savvy mom-friend: I’ll give you the tools, tips, and personalized advice to plan your dream trip yourself: efficiently, affordably, and stress-free.

Through my one-on-one travel consults, I’ll guide you through the planning process step by step—answering questions, sharing insider tips, and helping you make smart choices that fit your family’s pace, style, and budget. It’s personalized, practical, and completely pressure-free.

Plan Like I Would
Plan With Me
Start On Your Own
Loved By moms everywhere
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April Tucker profile picture
April Tucker
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Christa really helped put my mind at ease concerning my upcoming trip to Costa Rica. I have never been out of the US before. She has a wealth of knowledge and recommendations for activities and how to save money and travel safely. Definitely worth the consult fee. Pro Tip: get the notes :) Blessings
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Eliza Barnard
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Planning a 2-month trip to Costa Rica felt completely overwhelming until I started working with Christa. She was incredibly helpful in organizing all of my ideas and actually making the trip come to fruition. I was feeling so stuck trying to figure out where to go, how long to stay in each place, and how to make the itinerary flow — and she made the entire process feel so much easier. We met roughly 5-6 times before our trip to plan out all details and Christa was super helpful in creating a timeline and meeting agenda’s. I had my parents and best friend visiting and we even called meetings with them so that everyone could hear from Christa! Her recommendations were amazing, and we absolutely loved the areas she suggested — especially Sámara, which ended up being one of our favorite parts of the trip! She really listened to what we were looking for and helped create a plan that felt perfect for our family. She was super cognizant of our family’s needs and truly planned ideas with the kids in mind (ages 3 and 5). I’m so grateful for all of her guidance, knowledge, and support throughout the planning process. Highly recommend working with Christa if you’re planning a Costa Rica trip!
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Rita Hallaveld
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Christa's blog and guides were immensely helpful, but her personal attention and trip planning recommendations were top notch. Every option was great and it really helped me plan my first visit in a way that met my top needs for a solo trip with my child.
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Susan G
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Christa was very helpful when we were planning our trip. I really appreciated her honest feedback and tips. She was very knowledgeable with respect to traveling to Costa Rica with children.
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Judy bloom
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Christa helped us organize our trip to Costa Rica. She worked within our budget and suggested a fantastic mid range hotel where we saw huge iguanas, toucans, howler monkeys and enjoyed a hot spring swim up bar and great buffet. Our family included a high schooler and college age boys. All had fun!
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Janet Daly Baumann
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One conversation with Christa saved me so many hours combing through online reviews and travel sites. I don’t have to second guess my plans or worry if we are doing the right amount of adventuring versus relaxing. All of her advice is with kids in mind because she has first-hand experience traveling with her kids just about everywhere in Costa Rica. Her knowledge is far above and beyond what a typical travel agent can offer.
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Sara Flannery
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Christa was very nice and helpful in helping me plan my trip for my family - from places to stay, activities to do, and places to eat. We went with a good itinerary in place and everything worked out perfectly without the any stress! She gave great recommendations based on your interests and your budget. Highly recommend Christa!

Pura Vida Moms Consults Are Ideal If You…

  • Want to plan your own trip but need expert backup.
  • Love the DIY approach but feel overwhelmed by options.
  • Need quick, clear answers so you don’t waste hours in research.
  • Value authentic, family-friendly experiences across Costa Rica.
  • Want confidence knowing your plan is safe and kid-approved.
  • Appreciate mom-tested advice that keeps your trip running smoothly.
PLANNING COSTA RICA?
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Insider tips from a mom who's done this trip 50+ times. No fluff, just what actually works.
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Frequently Asked Questions

We meet on video for a one-on-one session about your trip. You bring your dates, your kids’ ages, and whatever you’ve planned or bookmarked so far. I review everything, flag what won’t work, fill the gaps, and answer every question you have. You leave with a clear plan and total confidence in it.

Ready when you are: Book your consult

A travel agent books things for you and earns commission on what you buy. I work for you, not the hotels. You keep control of your bookings, your budget, and your flexibility. I just make sure every decision is the right one for your family. It’s built for people who want to DIY the trip without DIY mistakes.
Current pricing is listed right on this page. One conversation typically saves families hours of research and expensive trial-and-error mistakes like the wrong home base or an overpacked itinerary.
The sweet spot is after you’ve booked flights but before you book hotels and activities. That way your dates are fixed and I can still shape everything else. Already booked more than that? Still worth it. I’ll pressure-test what you have while there’s time to adjust.
Even better. Bring your draft itinerary, your hotel list, your maybes. Reviewing a real plan is the fastest way to use our time, and you’ll get specific answers instead of general advice.

No, and that’s on purpose. You stay in control of your own reservations. What I will do is point you to the exact companies my own family uses, most with discounts I’ve negotiated for my readers.

See them here: My trusted partners