Back in the day, the northwest corner of Costa Rica was a part of Nicaragua. Now, the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica has a slightly different personality than the rest of the country. Guanacaste is a tropical paradise with amazing beaches, beautiful mountain ranges, biodiverse parkland, wildlife, and a number of volcanoes. Costa Rica’s national tree, the Guanacaste, thrives in the region’s arid climate. Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Palo Verde National Park, and Santa Rosa National Park are in Guanacaste, so there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. Plus, one of the most magical occurrences in the animal kingdom takes place at Marino Las Baulas National Park: the nesting of the endangered leatherback turtle! The hatching of the eggs is a highlight each year as they make their way out to sea.

The two main attractions in Guanacaste are the endless beaches on the “Gold Coast” and Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

The Gold Coast is known for its pristine beaches, stunning coastlines, and laid-back beach towns. So many beaches! Playa Tamarindo, Sámara, Playa Grande, Playa Avellana, Playa Conchal, Playa Hermosa, Playa Flamingo, Playas del Coco and Matapalo Beach. To name just a few. Grab a mask and fins and go snorkeling, find a dive company and go scuba diving, grab a board and go surfing, or just grab a towel and relax. So many options. Pura Vida! If you ever thought about trying out surfing, this is where you should do it. With consistent surf throughout the year, warm water temperatures, and a laid-back vibe, the Gold Coast is the leading surf destination in Central America.

Away from the waters, there are amazing national parks, lots of yoga and wellness retreats, horseback riding, ATV tours, zip-lining and so much more.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park, with its active and dormant volcanoes, hot springs, beautiful waterfalls, diverse ecosystems, plus an abundance of flora and fauna, including puma, jaguars, tapirs, and sloths is a must-see Costa Rican paradise. The park is perfect for any outdoor or wildlife enthusiast.

How to Get to Guanacaste

The closest airport is Liberia, which is North of the Guanacaste area. You could also fly into San Jose, although it’s a much longer drive to Guanacaste. Or, you could fly into San Jose and grab a flight to Liberia. Guanacaste is along the Pan-American Highway, or Highway 1, and is easy to drive to from anywhere in Costa Rica. See here for our thoughts on driving in Costa Rica,

Where to Stay in Guanacaste

Just as there are endless beaches in Guanacaste, there are endless lodging options. Lodging is available for any budget. We spent our time there at the wonderful JW Marriott Guanacaste, between Playa Avellana and Tamarindo. While its location is somewhat remote from the town of Tamarindo, it was a stunning property with a private beach, so very relaxing.

What We Did in Guanacaste

Go to the Beach - We spent most of our beach time at Playa Tamarindo. This once quiet fishing community has become a popular beach destination and its easy and consistent waves make it a great place for beginning surfers, swimmers, and snorkelers.

Surf Lessons - There are plenty of places to go for a surf lesson, we used Iguana Surf for two days of surf lessons. The instructors were fantastic! They were very patient with us and they seemed as excited as I was once I finally got up on my board and rode a wave. It was exhilarating as I rode the small wave for all of three seconds.

After an hour of paddling, waiting for the right wave, trying to get up on the board, and falling off and doing it all over again, I had finally done it! For those euphoric three seconds, I was on top of the world. What a rush! I didn’t want it to end, and then I shifted my body position, throwing off my balance and I went tumbling off the board. But, I had finally done it! An amazing adrenaline rush. I eagerly paddled back out waiting for the next wave and hoping to recreate the rush of my first ride.

ATV Tour - We did an ATV tour with Action Tours. We went through Tamarindo’s dry forest, where we crossed a couple of rivers, enjoyed the sights and sounds of the forest, and took in views of the mountains and the stunning tropical scenery. This was super fun and super dirty! The kids each had a chance to drive and we stopped for breaks at a couple of nice beaches.

Scuba Diving - We went diving with Agua Rica, to the Catalina Islands, 10 miles off the coast of Playa Tamarindo. The diving was great, the reef was in good shape and we saw seahorses, sharks, and huge schools of fish.

Where We Ate in Guanacaste

Longboards BBQ, Tamarindo
Patagonia, Tamarindo
Las Braula, Tamarindo
Mango Verde,Tamarindo
Green Papaya, Tamarindo