Located in the northwest of Costa Rica, Guanacaste is a province known for its beautiful beaches and tropical natural parks. A land of volcanoes and great biodiversity, you’ll find endless things to do in Guanacaste; a tropical paradise of unspoilt coastline.
The geographical characteristics of Guanacaste are also unique and exotic, as despite being the second largest province in the country, it is the least populated region in Costa Rica. Here, as in almost all of Costa Rica, sustainability and a rural lifestyle, full of traditions and culture, prevail. Dare to discover the Costa Rican Pura Vida, go deep into its lush jungle, and don’t miss out on anything in Guanacaste.
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Things to see on your trip to Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Playa Tamarindo, a must-see beach in Guanacaste
Tamarindo Bay is formed by the merging of Playa Grande and Playa Ventanas and is one of the most attractive places to see in Guanacaste. Crossed by the Matapalo River, this beautiful bay is an area known for its beautiful virgin beaches. Tamarindo Beach also stands out for its vegetation, made up of savannah oaks, tamarinds and coconut trees.
It is one of the most famous surfing beaches and has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag Award, recognising its commitment to the environment. This beach is clean and well-kept, preserving the wild and natural charm that defines Costa Rica.
Rincon de La Vieja National Park
The Rincon de la Vieja National Park covers an area of 14,083 hectares and is a volcanic massif of 9 cones and a lagoon called La Jilgueros. The park can be visited from both Liberia and Buenos Aires de Upala. The massif has two distinct sectors: Las Pailas and Santa María.
The first includes a set of trails that take you to various points of volcanic interest, such as the trail to the craters (Von Seebach and Rincón de la Vieja), the trail to Las Pailas, the trail to La Cangreja and Escondidas waterfalls, the trail to the Rio Blanco pool, and the trail to the fumaroles and mud volcanoes. The second sector, Santa María, includes the trail to the waterfall of the Enchanted Forest, the trail to the Pailas sector, the trail to the cold water pools, the trail to the hot springs.
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall, the waterfall you can’t miss in Guanacaste
Visiting a waterfall in Costa Rica is on almost every traveller’s bucket list. In Guanacaste, Costa Rica you can find hidden waterfalls around the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. Among them is the Llanos de Cortes waterfall. Llanos de Cortes Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Guanacaste.
To access this waterfall, you can go through Hacienda Guachipelin on the Panamerican Highway, 30 minutes south of Liberia. From there, it is only a 10 minute walk from the park to the waterfall. There is a small sandy beach that makes for easy swimming and is perfect for picnics. This is a popular spot with locals on weekends.
La Cangreja Waterfall
At a height of 40 metres (130 feet) the magnificent La Cangreja waterfall emerges from the forest. It forms a lake that gets its sky-blue colour from the minerals released by the copper of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. To get this waterfall, walk 5 kilometres (3 miles) inside the Rincon de la Vieja Park. The best part is that along the way you can spot wildlife such as monkeys, coatis, armadillos, agoutis, iguanas and many tropical birds. It is an amazing place to swim. Hacienda Guachipelin offers a guided tour to the Cangreja waterfall.
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Las Baulas National Marine Park is located on the Nicoya Peninsula and includes several attractions that will catch your attention such as Carbon, Ventanas and Langosta beach, the Morro and Hermoso hills and the San Francisco and Ventanas mangroves. It is a site of special importance because the leatherback turtle lays its eggs here, hence the name of the national park. The leatherback turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world and is in danger of extinction. Costa Rica protects these turtles in order to keep their populations healthy and growing in numbers.
Samara Beach
Playa Samara is a bay approximately 4 kilometres long, with clear sand, gentle waves and a mangrove area. It is renowned for being one of the safest and most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. On the horizon is Chora Island, just in front of Punta Indio, and you can see an area of coral reefs. The vegetation is coastal, so you can see manzanillo trees, coconut trees and creeper plants such as beach beans. This beach, like Tamarindo, has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag for its commitment to the environment. In addition to its beautiful beach, the town of Samara offers various attractions and water activities such as surfing, fishing, snorkelling, diving, and much more.
Miravalles Volcano
With a height of 2023 metres (6653 feet), the Miravalles volcano is the highest point in the Guanacaste mountain range. Although dormant, this volcano produces enough heat to supply ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) with geothermal energy. This fascinating area is hidden, although the road system is excellent. In the protected area of the Miravalles volcano, which also contains the Tenorio volcano, you can hike trails, explore sulphur hot springs and boiling mud pools, dive into forest rivers and see a variety of wildlife.
Hermosa Beach
Playa Hermosa is perfect for relaxing, sunbathing, watching beautiful sunsets, practising water sports, hiking and horseback riding. A beautiful 2 kilometre-long bay, with little swell, abundant vegetation and grey sand that is located between two mountainous points. Further south, in front of Punta Cacique, are the Pelonas and Montosa Islands. It has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag.
Palo Verde National Park
This region is a little further south in the province of Guanacaste, but it is well worth seeing the wildlife in its forests. Palo Verde is an area of wetlands, grasslands and tropical forests.
It is noted for its aquatic species and for the diverse range of migratory birds, but the surprises don’t end there! A large number of reptiles such as iguanas and whip-tailed lizards make their presence felt in this park.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Santa Rosa National Park
Located in the northern part of Guanacaste, Santa Rosa National Park protects a very important area of dry forest, which is unique in Central America. It also has two sectors: Murciélago and Santa Rosa. Both have beautiful beaches that are rarely visited such as Hachal, Danta, Coquito, Santa Elena, Blanca, Naranjo and Nancite.
The park is well known for its wildlife, which is why in its surroundings there is a station that monitors animals such as the white-tailed deer, white-faced and howler monkeys, sea turtles, reptiles and amphibians, among others. On the other hand, the park has great historical importance for the country, as here we can find the Casona de Santa Rosa, where the Battle of Santa Rosa took place, and the Monument to the heroes of 1856 and 1955.
Things to see around Guanacaste
Tenorio, the volcano to see near Guanacaste
Located in northern Costa Rica, Tenorio Volcano National Park is one of the youngest parks in the country. Taking its name from the Tenorio Volcano, this national park boasts stunning river views and plenty of opportunities for adventures with a wild backdrop.
The park was created in 1995 to protect the Tenorio Volcano, which is still active today. The park has four different life zones as well as the beautiful turquoise Celeste River. This park is considered one of Costa Rica’s best kept secrets, as well as one of the best places for hikers.
Travellers can not only walk along this amazing river, the park is also home to an abundance of flora and fauna. The Celeste River has a striking blue hue due to the sulphur emitted by the park’s volcanic activity.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Considered one of the most beautiful corners of the Costa Rican landscape, Arenal Volcano is the place to see on your trip through Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Located in the province of Alajuela, this incredible volcano is located very close to the Tenorio Volcano, and is perfectly symmetrical in shape. It is a strategic point in the country, sought after by everyone who travels to Costa Rica. Here you can go horseback riding, hiking and wildlife watching, among other activities.
In addition, you can go white water rafting on the Toro River, take a dip in one of the several natural hot springs, go on a canopy tour, or take a trip across suspension bridges.
What to see in Guanacaste in 3 days?
If you spend three days in Guanacaste, make sure to visit:
Day 1:
- Rincón de La Vieja National Park
- Llanos de Cortés Waterfall
- La Cangreja Waterfall
Day 2:
- Palo Verde National Park
- Hermosa Beach
Day 3:
- Las Baulas Marine National Park
- Tamarindo Beach
What to see in Guanacaste in 4 days?
Guanacaste is a province where you the longer you stay, the better. In this way you can enjoy each of its unique natural spaces little by little. Following the previous itinerary, we propose a fourth day of adventure through the Tenorio Volcano and Miravalles Volcano.
Tips for your trip to Guanacaste
For an adventure and nature-filled trip like this, you must not forget:
- Sun cream and mosquito repellent.
- Comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear for hiking and jungle trekking.
- To take out travel insurance before leaving for Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
- To book your accommodation in advance.
- Always check local weather conditions before setting off.
- Tap water in Costa Rica is completely safe to drink.
- Exchange money at banks and authorised bureaux de change. The colón (¢) is Costa Rica’s currency, but dollars and credit cards are accepted in the country.
- Create your perfect itinerary with the Passporter App, and enjoy your trip to Guanacaste without any setbacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guanacaste has an international airport, Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, so getting to this destination will be very easy from anywhere.
Corn is one of the most important products in the area of Guanacaste. A great quantity of typical foods and drinks are made from this grain: Guanacaste tortillas, tanelas, tayuyas, tamales, pisques, sweet tamales, corn rice, nacatamales, rosquillas, bizcochos, pozol, atol, chicheme, chicha, pinol, among others.
In the houses in the coastal towns there is usually a clay oven, where all kinds of breads are baked and many of the typical recipes are made.
Guanacaste is a region of traditions and great gastronomic value. This is why it is one of the best areas in the country to taste authentic Costa Rican dishes. Here are 5 of the most outstanding restaurants in Guanacaste:
– Restaurante Coco Loco
– a’lo Nico
– Marisquería Sabor Porteño
– Restaurante Brisas del Lago
– Restaurante Lochito’s
The region of Guanacaste is vast and your accommodation should fit the location of your itinerary through the province. However, here is a selection of the top 7 hotels in the province of Guanacaste, which will make your trip an experience. Don’t miss the details of these incredible spaces, all unique and can suit a variety of budgets:
– Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
– Hotel Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort
– Hotel Capitán Suizo
– Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas
– Blue River Resort & Hot Springs
– Borinquen Mountain Resort & Spa
– Casa Caletas
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