For our second trip to Costa Rica with our child, we traveled south from Nosara to the other side of the Nicoya Peninsula to Santa Teresa and Mal País. Our accommodation there: the Little Escape – and quite different from anything we had experienced on our first trip.

Little Escape Costa Rica at a Glance

• Location: Mal País / Santa Teresa, Nicoya Peninsula, Puntarenas Province, Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
• Property: Several detached, two-story casitas, family-run by Mike and Emilia, surrounded by a tropical garden with a pool
• Capacity: Sleeping area upstairs, living area with kitchenette downstairs – significantly more space than a classic hotel room, well-suited for families with smaller children
• Amenities: Fully equipped kitchenette, private terrace, pool with daily monkey visits
• Highlight: Very personal, family-oriented hosts with countless insider tips for excursions and restaurants
• Distances: Located a bit outside the center of Santa Teresa (rental car recommended), approx. 1 km to Las Caracolas restaurant, near the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
• Hosts: Mike and Emilia, a young, very helpful family who themselves have 3 boys

Family-Friendliness: Not a Hotel, but a Little Home Away From Home

The Little Escape is deliberately not a classic hotel, but rather consists of several detached casitas run by a young, very warm family. This family-oriented concept is what makes a stay here so special for families with children: The hosts provide countless tips for excursions, restaurants, and activities in the area, the kind you rarely get elsewhere. Around the pool, a lush, tropical garden thrives, where monkeys appear daily – a fascination for our child every single day.

The Rooms: Plenty of Space in Two-Story Casitas

Instead of a standard hotel room, at Little Escape, you stay in a two-story casita with significantly more space than you'd find in a standard room: the sleeping area upstairs, and a living area with its own kitchenette and terrace downstairs. The accommodation is located a bit outside the center of Santa Teresa, so a rental car is advisable. The advantage: it's much quieter here than right in the middle of town.

Dining: No Hotel Restaurant, but Full Flexibility

Unlike the Gilded Iguana or Sunset Shack, Little Escape does not have its own restaurant – but each casita has a fully equipped kitchenette. If you want to eat out in the evening, the seafood restaurant Las Caracolas is only about a kilometer away, plus countless other restaurants, taco stands, and smoothie bars in the center of Santa Teresa.

Things to Do Around Santa Teresa & Mal País with Kids

The Nicoya Peninsula around Santa Teresa and Mal País is one of our absolute favorite regions in Costa Rica – diverse, yet still pleasantly relaxed.

• Playa Santa Teresa & Playa Carmen – miles of palm-fringed beaches right on your doorstep, ideal for playing, strolling, and children's first surfing attempts.
• Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve – one of Costa Rica's oldest nature reserves, just a few minutes' drive from Little Escape. A great excursion for slightly older children who can handle longer hikes.
• Montezuma – the neighboring town is worth a half-day trip. From there, a hike leads to several waterfalls with natural pools where you can swim with children.
• Boat Trip - we took an absolutely unforgettable boat trip from the port of Mal Pais, where we were able to catch several large tuna ourselves, which were then sold at the fishing port. We were allowed to keep one ourselves and the sunset on the boat was unique! We even saw a sea turtle.
• Horseback Riding on the Beach – numerous family-friendly beach rides are offered in and around Santa Teresa, an experience that was particularly popular with us.
• 4x4 Rental Car – our clear tip for the entire Nicoya Peninsula: Although many roads are now well-developed, there are still gravel roads and unpaved paths, especially off the main roads. Only with your own car will you be flexible enough to spontaneously explore beaches, waterfalls, and restaurants.

Bioluminescence Tour at Eddy's in Paquera

The tour from Eddy's Bioluminescence Reservation in Paquera is one of the most extraordinary experiences of our entire Costa Rica trip. After sunset, you head out onto the water, and with every movement, the bioluminescence begins to glow. For children, this is almost like magic: if you run your hands through the water or small waves form, the water suddenly lights up. We were completely thrilled by this experience.

Our tips: Book the tour in advance and ask what time is best on your chosen day. The chance of an intense glow is greatest especially around a new moon. Bring clothes that can get wet, as well as a towel or dry shirt for afterwards.

Our Conclusion on Little Escape

If you want to step out of the classic hotel routine during your Costa Rica trip with children and instead live in a real little home away from home, Little Escape is the perfect place. The combination of plenty of space, family hospitality, and the quiet location outside Santa Teresa completely convinced us and was just as lovely as the Gilded Iguana and Sunset Shack in Nosara on our first Costa Rica trip.

You can find more about our first Costa Rica trip with a child – including arrival, budget, and accommodation tips – in our detailed travel report.

To Little Escape