Best Beaches in Central America and South America With Kids

With so many miles of coastline, there are so many breathtaking Central America beaches and South America beaches to visit with kids.  As an added bonus, they are pretty accessible for US travelers.  We have traveled to Costa Rica but desperately need to explore the region more.  Here are some of our fellow family travel bloggers’ recommendations for best beaches in Central America and South America with kids.

Best Beaches in Central America With Kids

#1:  Ambergris Caye, Belize 

Ambergris Caye is lined with white fine sand beaches. Now slowly being developed, there are some small hotels and residences, rather than a row of large, high-rise hotels and condominiums.  The beaches are less crowded and most times, we found only a couple of people relaxing in the shade of the coconut trees.  The water is aqua green and filled with sea life. Protected by the world’s second-largest reef, the calm, warm waters are great for kids to wade in and snorkel right off the shoreline.  Local vendors sell local hand-made goods, and the general pace of life is very laid back.

Visitors are able to snorkel among nurse sharks, eels, rays, and a variety of tropical fish while appreciating the structures and sights of the coral. Searious Adventures offers packages from half day snorkeling to full day excursions both at sea and on the mainland.  A single road that is not well maintained connects the Caye. Visitors can travel around by golf cart, water taxi, or hotel boats. The town of San Pedro, while a bit grimy (but safe), has some solid restaurants and shops, including handmade chocolates and soaps.

Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers.

#2:  Mal Pais Beach – Costa Rica

When it comes to traveling with our young family, the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica have been one of our favorite spots. We loved our adventure in Mal Pais, Costa Rica, which is known as a surf destination on the Costa Rican Pacific coast. The beaches are expansive and great for little ones to wander and play in the sand. Although perhaps not known as a “family destination,” Mal Pais and neighboring Santa Teresa were so welcoming to our little family!  This area boasts lot of fun outdoor adventure and has seriously some of the best restaurants I have ever been to!

Of course, as a surf destination, the water is rough, so keep that in mind if you are traveling with kids. We traveled with a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old, so they weren’t doing much ocean swimming. We rented a Villa with a pool to get our water fix. If you have older kids, surfing is a blast! Definitely check out some beginning lessons, which are fun for the whole family.

Recommended by Kate from Tear Free Travel.  Find out more from Kate about Mal Pais.

#3:  Playa El Coco – San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

San Juan Del Sur is the most popular beach destination in Nicaragua. It’s a short drive from the Costa Rica border, and conveniently connected to Ometepe Island and Granada. The tourist numbers mean that it is well suited to families, with many cafes and restaurants that line the beachfront.  It’s a very wide beach, so there is plenty of space for the kids to run around.  There is also a range of affordable accommodation options.  Famous for its sunsets, make sure to dine on the beach at least once during your stay.

The best family beach for a day out is a short drive from San Juan Del Sur – Playa El Coco. This beautiful and secluded beach is situated in a U-shape, which means that the waves are much calmer than other nearby beaches. Being a little away from San Juan Del Sur, the beach is not crowded and the wide sand area makes it a perfect family day out, where visitors can enjoy activities such as horse rides, soccer, and beach volleyball.

Recommended by Riki Cribb from Kiwis in Barefeet.

#4:  Playa Samara – Costa Rica

Playa Samara is an idyllic, off the beaten path little beach town on the Western side of Costa Rica.  It is sheltered by a bay and a large coral reef. Situated where the Pacific Ocean water deepens very gradually, the waves are small and friendly for the littlest swimmers.  The sand at Playa Samara is soft and not rocky at all. There is a good variety of hotels and restaurants on and near the beach for convenient access for naps and other mid day breaks (and for a beachy cocktail every now and again for mom or dad!).  For visitors who want to get out and about, there are a number of tour companies in Playa Samara that can easily arrange family tours. There are suitable tours for all ages, ranging from adventurous to tame. The town itself is small and there really are no big resorts, so it has a very laid back feel to it.  Its small size also makes it easy to get around with  kids.

Recommended by Shanna from There and Back Again Travel.

#5:  South Water Caye – Belize

There are few places in the world where visitors can feel like they have a pristine beach all to themselves.  Those who visit South Water Caye in Belize, a teeny island in the Caribbean Sea dotted with palm trees and soft white sand that a five-year old can circumnavigate in about 20 minutes, will feel like they are the only human beings in the world.  The water is clear and shallow near the beach, and it’s easy to sit back and relax and let the kids splash in the cool water and look for crabs in the sand.  Those who tire of being in the water can kayak around the island and spot rays and fish.  My kids loved the beach at South Water Caye, and it’s high on their list of places they want to revisit one day.

 Recommended by Terumi Pong from An Emerald City Life.  Find out more from Terumi about South Water Caye With Kids.

Best Beaches in South America With Kdis

#1:  Bendita Beach – Cartagena, Colombia

On our last visit to Colombia, we went to Cartagena. Located on the Caribbean coast and hot year-round, the beaches there aren’t the prettiest. But, the Rosario Islands are just a short boat trip away and they boast  pristine, warm, and calm water beaches.

We visited Bendita Beach, which is a bit far from the others and still in need of development – but that meant that it was just as it should be: clean, clear, and perfect!   It’s a perfect beach for families with kids!  There are almost no waves and super calm clear blue waters, filled with little fishes. For newbies at snorkeling, it was just great!  When we were there, we were the only ones on the whole island: a paradise!

Recommended by Thais Saito from World Trip Diaries.

#2:  Ilha Grande – Brazil

Ilha Grande in the South of Brazil was a pleasant surprise for us. From the very beginning we fell in love with the island.  There are no cars on the island, and boats are the main method of transportation.  The many Atlantic Ocean beaches are beautiful and sandy with crystal clear warm water and very friendly people.  The lush jungle has butterflies and birds flying around.

Unlike some places in Brazil, Ilha Grande is a safe place. Its very clean beaches are great for children as it is covered in soft sand and surrounded by calm warm water.  It’s almost like swimming in a pool.  There are small fish swimming around, and no dangerous animals. We enjoyed several walking trails on Ilha Grande, both through the jungle and along the beaches.  There are several hikes that are short and easy for children, who will enjoy watching small cute monkeys and squirrels in the forest. The island doesn’t have a party vibe, but there are many restaurants and cafes that serve local and European food.

Recommended by Campbell and Alya from Stingy Nomads.  Find out more from Campbell and Alya about Ilha Grande.

Visiting Fun Family Beaches With Kids

We’d love to visit these best beaches in South America and Central America with our kids. Ready to hit the beach right now?  Check out our Fun Family Beaches in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.

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