Riding with kids: our family UTV experience

April 2026 6 min min read

Yes, kids can absolutely do an off-road tour in Costa Rica — from as young as 2 years old in our UTV, with seatbelts, a roll cage, kid-sized helmets and a guide who paces the whole ride to the youngest person in the group. Here's everything parents ask us before booking, answered honestly.

What ages can join the tour?

Kids from 2 years old ride as passengers in the UTV — that's the family vehicle, with proper seats, seatbelts and a roof. On ATV Doubles, passengers must be at least 5 years old and ride behind a licensed adult driver. Driving is 18+ with a valid license, no exceptions — so teens ride as passengers even if they drive at home.

If your group has a wide age spread — say, a 3-year-old, two teens and grandparents — the classic answer is a UTV for the little ones and their adults, plus ATVs for anyone who wants their own machine. Same trail, same guide, everyone together.

How do you keep kids safe?

Layer by layer: the UTV itself has seatbelts for every seat, a full roll cage and a roof. We stock helmets in every kid size and fit them properly before departure. Baby seats are available on request — just mention your child's age when you book. And the guide adjusts speed, line choice and the length of stops to the youngest rider in the group.

Vehicles are inspected before every single departure, and our guides ride this exact route every day — they know each puddle, rut and river crossing personally.

What is the ride actually like for kids?

Think of it as a two-hour safari with better sound effects. Kids get river splashes, bumpy jungle sections that feel like a rollercoaster at kid-speed, howler monkeys in the trees, cows and horses along the road, and a finca stop where they can stretch their legs and meet whatever animals are around.

The pattern parents describe is almost universal: slightly nervous for the first five minutes, then by the first river crossing they're laughing, and by the end they're asking to do it again tomorrow.

How much does a family tour cost?

The UTV is priced per vehicle, not per person: $300 (tax included) for up to 5 riders. For a family of four, that's $75 per person; a full crew of five brings it down to $60 each. For all-adult groups we suggest 4 per UTV for comfort, but with kids in the mix, five fit happily.

Want to make a half-day of it? The UTV + Cabalgata combo adds a guided horseback finca ride at $45 per person, and UTV + Canopy adds a zipline tour at $40 per person, both on top of the $339 vehicle price.

Tips from parents who've done it

Book the 8:00 AM departure — it's cooler, the light is beautiful and kids are at their best early. Bring a phone with a wrist strap for photos (your guide takes group photos too, so you can also just enjoy the ride). Pack a change of clothes per kid; someone always finds the mud. Snacks for the car ride back never hurt.

And tell us the kids' ages when you book — it lets us prep the right helmets and seats before you arrive, so the start is smooth instead of a fitting session.

What about families who want ATVs too?

Very common — parents in the UTV with the little ones, older teens and adults on quads. Remember that ATV bookings need a minimum of 2 machines (any mix of Singles and Doubles), and every ATV driver needs to be 18+ with a license. Kids 5+ can ride as ATV Double passengers if they prefer the open-air option over the UTV.

Mixed bookings are easy to set up in the booking form: pick your tour, add the UTV riders and the ATVs, and the total updates as you go.

Tell us your kids' ages when you book and we'll have the right helmets, seats and pace ready — first off-road memories are kind of our specialty.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum age for the UTV tour?

Kids from 2 years old can ride as passengers in the UTV, which has seatbelts, a roll cage and a roof. Baby seats are available on request.

Can a teenager drive an ATV or UTV?

No — all drivers must be 18+ with a valid driver's license. Teens join as passengers: 5+ on an ATV Double, any age from 2+ in the UTV.

How many people fit in one UTV?

Up to 5 riders of slim to medium build. For groups of all adults we recommend 4 per UTV for extra comfort. The UTV is priced per vehicle: $300, tax included.

Is the UTV tour safe for small children?

Yes — seatbelts on every seat, full roll cage, roof, kid-sized helmets and a guide who paces the ride to the youngest rider. Vehicles are inspected before every departure.

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