Dinoland Costa Rica: A Jurassic Adventure for Kids Near Grecia
If you are looking for something fun to do with children near Grecia, Dinoland in Bajos del Toro is a great option.
It is about a 50-minute drive from Mangífera Hostel, and drive itself is already part of the adventure. Leaving Grecia behind, the landscape gradually changes from the city and surrounding towns to tropical farmland, green hills and mountain scenery. By the time you reach Bajos del Toro, you are surrounded by a completely different side of Costa Rica.
And then, suddenly, there are dinosaurs!
A bit of Jurassic Park in Costa Rica
We were pleasantly surprised by how Dinoland has grown into a really attractive activity for children in the area. The dinosaurs are actually very impressive. They look surprisingly lifelike, and when you get close, many of them start moving and making dinosaur sounds. There are all kinds of sizes, from smaller dinosaurs to some very large ones that are quite impressive when you see them up close.
The walking route is pleasant and the landscaping around the dinosaurs has been done really nicely. With all the vegetation and the dinosaurs appearing along the trail, it really feels a like walking through a Jurassic Park movie.
Our 1.5-year-old daughter needed a little time to get comfortable with the dinosaurs at first, especially when they suddenly moved and made noises. But further along the trail she became more confident and started approaching and interacting with them herself. It was great to see her imagination taking over.
Don't miss the big slide
We also tried the new big slide, which looks quite relaxed from a distance. You sit in a donut-shaped inflatable and slide down the track. Once you're actually on it, however, you quickly realize that it is much faster than it looks!
It is definitely more of an adrenaline experience than we expected and a fun addition to the park, especially for older kids and adults.
Combine your visit with other attractions
Another nice thing about Dinoland is that you can combine your visit with other attractions in Bajos del Toro. The Dinoland ticket also includes access to the Río Agrio waterfall and there is also an option to add a visit to the a natural pool (Pozo Celeste or Pozo el Tobogán).
You can read more about Río Agrio and the other waterfalls and natural pools in our Bajos del Toro guide.
Food at Dinoland
There is a restaurant on site, which is convenient if you want to have lunch during your visit. We enjoyed the food and the setting, and our daughter was particularly fascinated by the dinosaur-shaped chairs for babies and toddlers.
The restaurant is nice, although we found it a little more expensive than some of the other food options around Bajos del Toro. If you are looking for something more economical, there are several other places in the area where you can stop for lunch.
Is Dinoland worth visiting?
For us, Dinoland was a really enjoyable family experience. The combination of the beautiful drive from Grecia, the mountain landscape of Bajos del Toro and the lifelike dinosaurs makes the whole outing feel like an adventure.
If you are staying at Mangífera Hostel and travelling with children, we think you shouldn't miss out on Dinoland!
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