11 BEST Things To Do In Guanacaste Costa Rica (2024)
Are you looking for the best things to do in Guanacaste? You’ve come to the right article.
Guanacaste is a region on the Northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, with dozens of beautiful beaches, natural attractions, and fun activities to offer. It’s considered the “sunny side” of Costa Rica, and is where most of the upscale beachfront resorts are located.
If you’re flying into Liberia, it’s one of the best places to stay, as most of the beaches are within an hour’s drive of the airport. I recently spent 3 days exploring the region and was blown away with how beautiful the landscapes (and sunsets) were.
This article will cover all of the best things to do in Guanacaste to help you plan an exciting trip.
From watching sea turtles hatch to swimming in natural mud baths, there’s something on this list for everyone!
Here are 11 fun things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
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Top Things To Do In Guanacaste Costa Rica
1. Relax On The Beaches
Guanacaste has miles and miles of outstanding beaches. If you want your hotel to be within walking distance from the beach you can stay in a beach town like Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Playa Samara or Playa Junquillal.
Tamarindo is the most popular surfing beach town, and the main street is lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and food vendors. It’s very lively and touristy, and I enjoyed staying there for one night.
Playa Conchal is a stunning white sand beach where the Westin resort is located. On the beach, you can go swimming, snorkeling, or ride horses along the shore. The shore’s made of tiny sea shells rather than sand, and it has crystal clear water. It’s also close to many restaurants and bars in the nearby town of Brasilito.
Playa Samara is a small family-friendly beach town that’s the furthest from the Liberia airport (~2 hours). It has a horseshoe shaped beach with soft sand, gentle waves, and activities like horseback riding and ATV tours.
If you want to stay somewhere less-touristy, you can stay in Playa Junquillal. This is a small remote beach town, around an hour south of Tamarindo, with just a few hotels and restaurants.
I stayed at the Guacamaya Lodge in Junquillal for one night, and it was within walking distance from the beach, where I only saw a few other tourists.
The beach is a long stretch of dark sand fringed with palm trees and tide pools, so it’s perfect for long walks on the beach.
It’s also less than a 20 minute drive from Playa Blanca and Playa Avellanas, two gorgeous white sand beaches to watch the sunset at.
Just keep in mind that Junquillal is much less developed than Tamarindo, so there are only a few restaurants and grocery stores. However, you’ll find many great restaurants in Playa Avellanas, which is just 20 minutes north.
2. Take Surfing Lessons On Tamarindo Beach
Learn how to surf in minutes by taking private surfing lessons on Tamarindo Beach. You don’t need any prior experience, and the lessons are suitable for all ages.
Surfing lessons are available in Playa Conchal and Playa Samara, but Tamarindo is the most popular place, due to it’s consistent waves that are perfect for all experience levels.
3. Visit Rincón De La Vieja National Park
Go on a day trip to Rincón De La Vieja National Park to hike at the best national park Guanacaste has to offer.
This is a 34,000 acre national park with hiking trails that lead to boiling mud pots, waterfalls, volcanic vents spewing gases, bubbling rivers, and more.
I hiked the Las Pailas trail, a 2.17 mile loop trail (3.5 km) that takes you to see all of the park’s main highlights. This was one of the most spectacular hikes I did in Costa Rica.
Entrance to the park is $16.95 USD/nonresident, and you can purchase tickets online at SINAC.
Located right by Rincon de la Vieja park, you can swim in natural hot springs, and take a dip in a mud bath at the Rio Negro Hot Springs. These are 10 swimmable hot springs that range in temperature from around 95 to 115 degrees!
The hot springs are run by Hotel Guachipelin, that charges an entrance fee of $30/person for a 1.5 hour pass.
4. Watch Baby Sea Turtles Hatch
Watching baby sea turtles hatch is one of the most unique activities Costa Rica has to offer.
Guanacaste is an important nesting site for four species of sea turtles (leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley), which nest on several different beaches along the coast.
You can go on a turtle nesting tour, or visit Verdiazul Turtle Hatchery in Playa Junquillal to see this happen.
Verdiazul Turtle Hatchery is an environmentalist organization that hosts workshops where you can watch hundreds of baby turtles hatch and run towards the ocean! It’s a $10/person donation to join their workshops.
I discovered them by accident while in Junquillal, and they happened to be preparing for a turtle release!
Another place to watch sea turtles hatch is Ostional Wildlife Refuge in Nosara. They announce their arribadas (turtle arrivals) on their Facebook page, and have listed contact information for the local guides that you can book a tour with.
Turtle nesting happens year round, but you’ll have the best chances of seeing turtles hatch during the rainy season (May-Nov). This is when arribadas (arrivals) happen, where hundreds to thousands of Olive Ridley turtles nest in a single event.
5. Go Ziplining, Horseback Riding, and Tubing
If you’re up for an adventure, go ziplining, horseback riding, and river tubing in Rincon de la Vieja with Guachipelin’s Adventures.
You’ll also get access to the Rio Negro Hot Springs, where you can take a dip in 10 hot springs, and a mud bath! This is a full day tour and they provide lunch, and transportation from hotels in Guanacaste.
If you prefer soaking up the ocean scenery, Diamante Eco Adventure Park in Playa Matapalo offers ziplining, ATV, and horseback riding along the coast.
6. Visit Nearby Waterfalls
Less than 30 minutes from Liberia, you can visit two spectacular waterfalls, La Leona, and Llanos de Cortes.
La Leona is a bright blue waterfall and natural swimming pool tucked inside of a canyon that’s only accessible by going on a guided tour. It’s a 3 mile round trip hike, where you’ll cross rivers, climb ladders, and swim until you reach the hidden waterfall.
The Llanos de Cortes waterfall is another gorgeous swimmable waterfall that you can hike to without a guide. It has a large parking lot, and is just a short 5 minute hike to get down to the waterfall.
The waterfall is around 60-70 ft and there’s a large natural pool you can swim in. Entrance to the waterfall is $7/nonresident which includes parking at the main lot.
7. Go On An Estuary Boat Tour
Spot monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, and more on an estuary boat tour. This boat tour takes place at Las Baulas Marine National Park, a beachfront park with mangrove swamps, right next to Tamarindo.
This is the perfect slow-paced tour to watch wildlife, and the boat is shaded to protect you from the sun.
8. Hike At Palo Verde National Park
Explore the tropical dry forests and wetlands at Palo Verde National Park. This is a nearly 49,000 acre park that covers most of the land surrounding the Tempisque River, which is home to a great diversity of bird life.
This park is surrounded by wildlife, and you can spot everything from deer to iguanas, crocodiles, and many species of birds. Just remember to wear insect repellent, as there’s many mosquitos by the marshes. Entrance is $12/nonresident.
Guanacaste has 7 national parks in total, with Rincon de la Vieja and Palo Verde being the most visited. Here are some of the lesser visited national parks in Guanacaste:
- Las Baulas Marine National Park: A beachfront park with mangrove swamps, forests, and beaches located in Tamarindo Bay (1.5 hour from Liberia)
- Santa Rosa National Park: A historical park with dry forests, beaches, mangroves forests farmlands (45 min north of Liberia)
- Barra Honda National Park: An underground park with limestone caves, caverns, and stalactite/stalagmite formations. (1.5 hour south of Liberia)
- Guanacaste National Park: A wet/dry forest park with 2 volcanoes and cloud forest (40 min north of Liberia)
- Diria National Park: A park nestled high up in the mountains with forest, rivers, and waterfalls, only accessible by 4×4 vehicle (1.5 hour south of Liberia)
9. Ride ATVs Along The Coast
Get off the beaten path to explore the coast of Tamarindo on an ATV tour. With a guide, you’ll get to drive over the rugged backcountry, through rivers and to hidden beaches!
If you don’t want to go with a guide, there are a few companies that offer ATV/UTV rentals. But keep in mind that you’ll have to pay a large security deposit, similar to if you were renting a car. Going with a guide is the safest option, and they know all the best routes.
10. Go On A Safari At Ponderosa Adventure Park
Feed zebras, giraffes, and ostriches on a wildlife safari at Ponderosa Adventure Park. Ponderosa Adventure Park is a theme park just 20 minutes south of Liberia, that offers ziplining, horseback riding, 4×4 safari tours, and more.
Tickets to their safari cost $28/adult, and grant you access to the park’s natural swimming pools.
11. Visit Centro de Rescate Las Pumas
The Centro de Rescate Las Pumas is one of the best animal sanctuaries to visit, just 30-40 minutes south of Liberia.
They help rescue large cats like jaguars, ocelots, and pumas, and provide temporary shelter for the animals until they’re fully rehabilitated. Entrance fee is $12/adult, which goes towards supporting their conservation efforts.
Summary
Guanacaste has so many beautiful beaches and natural attractions that it can be hard to decide where to spend your time.
If you have limited time, I recommend visiting Rincon de la Vieja National Park and relaxing on the beaches during sunset.
And if you plan on exploring the rest of Costa Rica, check out our lists of the best things to do in La Fortuna and Monteverde!
Guanacaste Attractions Map
Guanacaste Travel FAQS
Which airport is closest to Guanacaste?
The closest airport to Guanacaste is the Liberia Airport (Daniel Oduber Quirós). The Liberia airport is just over an hour from Tamarindo Beach.
Should you rent a car in Guanacaste?
If you want the flexibility to go wherever you’d like, renting a car is a great option. But, renting a car is less necessary if you stay in a beach town, where the beach and restaurants are within walking distance to your hotel.
If you don’t want to drive, you can easily join a group tour from your hotel to nearby natural attractions like Rincon de la Vieja.
If you plan on renting a car, I recommend renting a 4×4. Most of the roads are well-paved, but the roads leading to the beaches (Playa del Coco, Tamarindo, etc) are very windy and can be especially difficult to drive on at night.
Additionally, the roads leading up to Rincon de la Vieja has many potholes, so just make sure to drive slowly to avoid damaging your rental.
What should you pack for a vacation in Guanacaste?
For a beach vacation in Guanacaste, you should pack swimwear, sunscreen of SPF 50 or higher, bug spray, and hiking shoes.
If you’re visiting during the rainy season, make sure to bring a rain jacket, and waterproof cases to protect your phone and camera equipment.
With Costa Rica being just 10 degrees north of the equator, you can easily get sunburned, especially in Guanacaste as it’s the sunniest region.
The best way to avoid this is by wearing an SPF of at least 50 and reapplying sunscreen throughout the day.
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