From Hollywood A-listers to sports legends, a surprising number of celebrities keep quietly choosing the same destination for their family vacations: Costa Rica. They could go anywhere on earth — and they keep coming back here. The reasons they love it are exactly the reasons your family will, too.
The celebrities who keep coming back to Costa Rica
In July 2026, Chris Hemsworth — Marvel's Thor — spent a family vacation in Costa Rica with his wife, actress Elsa Pataky, and their three children, and shared photos of the trip: surfing, fishing, rock climbing, and jumping into waterfalls along the Pacific coast. It looked less like a celebrity getaway and more like the best family trip you've ever seen.
He's in good company. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen has kept a home in Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula for years and has spent long stretches raising her family there. Actor and director Mel Gibson owns a sprawling estate on the same peninsula that he first discovered while scouting film locations. And they're far from alone — a long list of actors, athletes, and musicians have quietly made Costa Rica their happy place. The common thread? They don't come for red carpets. They come for privacy, nature, and real family time.
1. It's genuinely safe and stable
This is the big one — especially for families and for anyone in the public eye. Costa Rica famously abolished its army in 1948 and has been one of Latin America's most stable, peaceful democracies ever since. It's often called the "Switzerland of Central America," consistently ranks among the region's safest and happiest countries, and has a long tradition of political neutrality. For a family choosing a foreign destination, that stability is priceless — you can relax and actually be present instead of worrying.
2. The natural beauty is almost unfair
Costa Rica is roughly the size of West Virginia, yet it holds around 5% of the planet's biodiversity. In one trip you can surf both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, hike an active volcano, swim beneath a jungle waterfall, zip-line through a cloud forest, and watch sloths, monkeys, and toucans from your own deck. It's a place that makes every day feel like an adventure — which is exactly why the Hemsworths filled their days with surfing and waterfalls instead of sitting by a single pool.
3. Ticos treat visitors like family
Ask anyone who has been, and they'll mention the people first. Costa Ricans — "Ticos" — are famous for their warmth, and the national motto, "pura vida" (pure life), is a genuine way of living. Visitors, Americans very much included, are welcomed with real hospitality rather than a transaction. English is widely spoken in tourism areas, the U.S. dollar is easy to use, and it's a short, direct flight from much of the United States. It's the rare international trip that feels both exotic and completely comfortable.
4. You can actually disappear
For public figures, the real luxury isn't a five-star lobby — it's not being seen at all. Costa Rica is full of private estates and gated properties tucked into the hills and along quiet stretches of coast, where a family can unplug completely, no cameras, no crowds. That same privacy is the best-kept secret of a Costa Rica trip for everyone else, too.
You don't have to be famous to vacation like this
Here's the good news: the privacy, safety, and beauty that draw celebrities aren't reserved for them. At Bella Vista Private Resort, you can rent an entire private estate — four homes on one gated mountaintop that sleep up to 28, with a pool, a volcano-stone jacuzzi, an on-site caretaker who can cook for your group, and 360° valley-and-ocean views. It's your own slice of Costa Rica, reserved entirely for your family — the same privacy the celebrities come for, without the celebrity price tag.
New to the country? Start with our complete Costa Rica family vacation guide for when to go, how to get there, and what to do — then check your dates and come see why the people who can vacation anywhere keep choosing here.
Frequently asked questions
Why do celebrities vacation in Costa Rica?
Privacy, safety, and nature. Costa Rica is politically stable and welcoming, full of private estates where public figures can unplug, and packed with beaches, volcanoes, and rainforest for real family adventure — away from cameras and crowds.
Is Costa Rica safe for families?
Yes. Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948 and is one of Latin America's most stable, peaceful democracies, consistently ranked among the region's safest and happiest countries. As anywhere, use normal travel common sense, but families find it welcoming and easy.
Which celebrities have vacationed in or own homes in Costa Rica?
Chris Hemsworth vacationed there with his family in 2026, Gisele Bündchen has long kept a home in Santa Teresa, and Mel Gibson owns an estate on the Nicoya Peninsula, among many other actors, athletes, and musicians drawn to the country's privacy and beauty.
Do you need to speak Spanish to visit Costa Rica?
No. English is widely spoken in tourism areas, and at Bella Vista our owner and booking team communicate in English while a translation app makes day-to-day coordination with on-site staff easy.