Guanacaste: beaches, sunshine and the Pacific northwest

Why go to Guanacaste

If your Costa Rica dream includes long sunny days, warm sea and sunsets over the Pacific, Guanacaste is the place. It gets far less rain than the rest of the country in the dry season, and its beaches range from busy surf towns to quiet coves and big resort bays. It is also home to the sabanero, the Guanacaste cowboy, along with marimba music, corn based cooking and lively fiestas with bull riding.

The beaches, explained

• **Tamarindo** is the liveliest beach town, with surf schools, bars, restaurants and nightlife. Its long beach is good for beginners, and the Las Baulas National Marine Park nearby protects nesting leatherback turtles.
• **Playa Conchal** has sand made of tiny crushed shells and clear turquoise water, among the best snorkelling on the coast.
• **Playas del Coco** and **Playa Hermosa** are close to Liberia, with diving trips to the Catalina and Bat islands, where manta rays and bull sharks appear in season.
• **Papagayo Peninsula** is where the big resorts sit, on calm sheltered bays.
• **Nosara** and **Playa Guiones** are a quieter surf and yoga hub, with strict building rules that keep the beach wild.
• **Sámara** has a calm bay protected by a reef, one of the best family beaches on the coast.
• **Santa Teresa** and **Montezuma**, on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, are in Puntarenas Province but usually visited with Guanacaste, famous for surf, waterfalls and bohemian charm.

Inland Guanacaste

**Rincón de la Vieja National Park**, near Liberia, has bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, waterfalls and hot springs, plus ranches offering ziplines and horseback rides. **Santa Rosa National Park** protects tropical dry forest and the historic La Casona battle site. **Palo Verde National Park** is a wetland famous for birds and crocodiles on boat tours along the Tempisque River. The **Llanos de Cortés** waterfall is a short drive south of Liberia.

Culture and festivals

**Liberia**, the provincial capital, is called the White City for its old whitewashed houses. July 25, the Annexation of Nicoya Day, marks the day in 1824 when Guanacaste chose to join Costa Rica, and it brings parades, rodeos and folk dancing across the province. In Guaitil, potters still make Chorotega style ceramics by hand.

Where to stay

Choose **Tamarindo** for energy and choice, **Sámara** or **Playa Hermosa** for families, **Nosara** for surf and wellness, and **Papagayo** for resorts. Many beaches are spread out, so a base you can walk from saves on transport.

Weather

The dry season from December to April is hot, dusty and almost rainless, and the landscape turns brown. From May the green season brings afternoon storms and green hills, with the wettest months usually September and October.

Getting there and around

Fly into Liberia to save the long drive from San José. Shuttle vans and buses run from Liberia to the main beaches, and taxis are easy in town. Roads to some beaches, especially on the Nicoya Peninsula, can be rough and dusty. See more in our destinations guide and the places finder.