Guanacaste is a region in northwestern Costa Rica famous for its beaches and plentiful amenities. Sometimes called the “Gold Coast,” this area has some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. It is also one of the most developed regions for tourism. Along the Pacific, you’ll find different sized towns, each situated on its own cove, point, or bay. Some are quieter communities while others are built up. The largest town, Tamarindo, has a bustling main strip with shops, restaurants, and hotels packed in.
In this post, we’ll give you a snapshot of the Guanacaste region as well as some resources to help you plan a visit.
Guanacaste Costa Rica: Quick Facts
- Closest Airport: Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR)
- Best Weather: December to July
- Activity Highlight: Beach
- Major Destinations: Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Brasilito, Flamingo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Papagayo, Nosara, Samara.
Guanacaste: Location and Landscape
The Guanacaste region makes up the northwestern-most part of Costa Rica. It consists of a giant tract of land stretching from the Pacific Ocean inland to the Guanacaste mountain range, where several volcanoes are located. Between the sea and mountains, the landscape is mostly flat, with vast ranch and farm land.
These rural stretches can look almost like a savanna, especially in the driest months when fields turn golden brown with drought. To the north is the Nicaragua border, and to the south, Costa Rica’s central Pacific coastal region.
Guanacaste’s coastline is a diverse mix of coves, beaches, and rocky points or peninsulas. You will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the country here. Guanacaste is one of the only places in Costa Rica with white or light sand beaches. Another notable feature are its many coves, especially in the northern part, which have calmer water for swimming and snorkeling. Other beaches have consistent waves for surfing or boogie boarding.
Many beaches and bays host a small tourist town or resort, but there are still plenty of completely undeveloped areas to explore.
When to Visit: Guanacaste’s Climate and Weather
Overview
Contrary to some marketing materials out there, you won’t see lush tropical rainforest or sloths in the majority of the Guanacaste region.
In fact, during the busiest tourism months (late December to April) most of the area sees little or no rain at all. It can feel arid, and wildlife (other than iguanas, birds, and occasional monkeys) can be scarce.
However, with sunny skies and temperatures often into the 90s (30s Celsius), perfect beach days are almost guaranteed for months out of the year.
Weather Breakdown by Month
The driest times in Guanacaste are from mid-December through April. During this period, it may not rain for weeks at a time.
In May, the first rains usually arrive. More consistent rain showers and thunderstorms (usually in the evenings) continue through August. This intermediate season brings cooler temperatures, and the much-needed rain turns forests and fields green again.
The months of September and October are typically the rainiest with wet weather most days but still the chance for some sun, especially in the morning.
Rain tapers off quickly starting in November, and by around mid-December, rain all but stops again.
Guanacaste: Things to Do
Surfing & Beaches
With sunny skies much of the year, beaches are the highlight in Guanacaste. Sunbathers and surfers alike can enjoy a variety of different beach settings.
Some popular beaches are:
(1) Playa Tamarindo, a famous surfing destination and one of the larger tourist towns in Guanacaste.
(2) Playa Conchal, a relaxing spot with a resort-like feel and a popular beach with sand made of shells.
(3) Playa Flamingo, a luxurious destination with a pretty beach and higher-end accommodations.
(4) Nosara, a laid-back beach town in a more remote location that is popular for yoga and surfing.
(5) Playa Samara, a good family destination with easy access to the beach and restaurants, as well as calmer water for swimming.
Watersports
To see the beautiful coastline from a different angle, we highly recommend getting out on the water. Catamaran cruises and sportfishing are two of the best options.
Catamaran operators can be found in many of the larger beach destinations in Guanacaste and tours usually include some time for snorkeling in a calmer cove.
Likewise, private sportfishing charters head offshore in search of sailfish, tuna, roosterfish, and other trophy fish.
Adventure and Nature Tours
Guanacaste has a decent variety of tours, including zip lining, ATV, and horseback riding. But many people visit this region primarily for beach time and do their adventure activities in other areas of Costa Rica. Other regions with tropical rainforest and more wildlife can be better for some of these things.
National Parks
National parks are farther from Guanacaste, at around a 1-2 hour drive from beach destinations. So it’s best to get in your hiking elsewhere if you will be splitting your time between towns.
If you do want to visit some parks, there are a few good options.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is probably the most popular. This park surrounds an active volcano. Along the main trail, you can see things like bubbling mud pots, acidic ponds, and steam vents. The park is also home to wildlife like monkeys and tropical birds. There are a few private facilities nearby that offer a range of activities like river tubing, zip lining, and mud baths.
Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park is another good choice. This park is made up of rivers and wetlands that attract many types of birds and animals, especially in the drier months when water is hard to find. A relaxing boat trip along the waterways is an excellent way to see things like crocodiles, monkeys, wading birds, and parrots.
Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park, in the northern part of Guanacaste, combines history and nature. This was the site of a historic battle in 1856. Visitors can go inside the small wooden fort to view the history and some artifacts. There are a few accessible trails near the battle site, which cut through the massive tropical dry forest.
Others park areas in Santa Rosa, like the mangroves and beaches, are much harder to visit unless you have a true off-road vehicle or a lot of time to hike.
Day Trips in Guanacaste
If you plan to make Guanacaste your home base during vacation, a day trip inland can break up your beach time and allow you to see a different area of the country.
In general, the closest day trips within Guanacaste are to the national parks listed above. Otherwise, the gorgeous Llanos de Cortez Waterfall, one of the only waterfalls in the area, is about 30 minutes south of Liberia Airport (LIR).
Longer day tours to places like the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Rio Celeste Waterfall, or Arenal Volcano are doable from Guanacaste but require a long day in the car or shuttle. You can count on 3-4 hours each way plus time for touring. For this reason, we often recommend staying in those areas separately for a few days, if possible.
Planning Your Visit to Guanacaste
Airports
Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) is the closest international airport. It is located in the small city of Liberia, right within the Guanacaste region. From the airport, the drive to beach towns ranges from about 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is Costa Rica’s largest airport. It is located in Alajuela near San Jose, about 4 hours from most beach destinations in Guanacaste.
Getting Around
Rental Car
All major rental car companies in Costa Rica have offices in Guanacaste and offer car pick up from the LIR Airport area as well as delivery to some beach towns. If you plan to rent a car during your stay, we highly recommend using Adobe Rent a Car, which has one of the best reputations in the country. Check out our Rental Car Discount page to save 10-20% and get free extras.
Many beach destinations in the region are within close proximity, so with a rental car, you can hop from one to the next when exploring.
Shuttle Service
If you’d rather not drive, taking a private shuttle van from the airport and between destinations is easy. Shuttle prices from LIR Airport to beach destinations in Guanacaste range from around $75-$150/van transfer one way. To check prices and book with a reliable company, see our Shuttle Transfers page.
Guanacaste’s Major Destinations
Popular Tourism Destinations
Here’s a list of Guanacaste’s most popular destinations and their proximity to LIR Airport. We’ve written detailed articles on many of these towns so use the links below to find more information.
Playas del Coco and Ocotal – Approx. 30 minutes from LIR
Playa Hermosa – Approx. 35 minutes from LIR
Papagayo Peninsula – Approx. 35 minutes from LIR
Brasilito – Approx. 1 hour from LIR
Playa Conchal – Approx. 1 hour from LIR
Flamingo – Approx. 1 hour from LIR
Potrero – Approx. 1 hour from LIR
Tamarindo – Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes from LIR
Samara – Approx. 2 hours from LIR
Nosara – Approx. 3 hours from LIR
All-Inclusive Resorts
This area of the country has the most all-inclusive resorts. Here, you will find the JW Marriott Guanacaste, Westin Reserva Playa Conchal, W Costa Rica Playa Conchal, Reserva Conchal, Dreams Las Mareas, Hotel Riu, Secrets Papagayo, Four Seasons Resort, Andaz Papagayo, and Hotel Punta Islita (Marriott), among others.
Conclusion
Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region stands out as one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. With stunning beaches, easy access from the airport, and plenty of amenities, there’s no wonder why. We hope this post kickstarts your planning and you get to visit soon!
Planning a visit to Guanacaste and have a question? Leave us a comment below.
Looking for more resources to help you plan? Check out these posts:
Safety in Costa Rica – Tips on what to expect and how to keep your valuables safe on vacation.
Central Pacific Coast Regional Snapshot – A look at the coastal area to the south of Guanacaste.
Destinations Summary Guide – To further narrow your planning, check out our Destinations Summary Guide. This gives a brief description of every town we cover on our website with links for additional information.
Rental Car Discount – Check out our rental car discount for a reliable car at a discounted price. Our readers get free extras and 10-20% off the car’s base price.
Very informative; thank you from Hawaii.
You’re welcome, Delia. Thanks for reading!
Matt and Jenn
Thank you for the updates. It is keeping my dream of moving to Costa Rica alive.
You’re welcome, Beth. Hope you can make it happen!
Thank you for this guide, very useful and great tips.
We are flying to Costa Rica this autumn, last week of October and staying for almost two weeks. We are planning to stay around Guanacaste/Papagayo Peninsula, we’re flying inot SJO and have been looking at flight options to Liberia, or the posibility to rent a car. Is it safe to drive ourselves (we would be driving during day light) ? Or wold you recommend to get a private transfer?
Many thanks,
Sofie
Hi Sofie, Yes, it is definitely safe to drive yourselves. Just stick to daytime driving like you said, especially since it will be rainy season, and have some sort of navigation device or use WAZE. You really only need a car in the Papagayo, though, if you are planning to do day trips. If you plan on staying at your resort/hotel, it would be less expensive to just take a shuttle to and from the airport. There are some good day trips in the area though, like to Rincon de la Vieja, Llanos de Cortes Waterfalls, etc.
If you decide to rent a car, be sure to check out our rental car discount. Or if you decide to take a shuttle, we’d be happy tp help with that as well. Here’s the link to our Shuttle Booking page.
Hi! We are planning a trip for Jan 2022. We will be spending 2 weeks in Jaco then plan to take a water taxi to Montezuma, rent a car and then spend two weeks travelling up the coast and leaving from Liberia. My first question is can we rent a car in Montezuma and leave it in Liberia? And where and from who to rent vehicle from? We are thinking to stay about 3-4 nights in each of these places, Santa Teresa, Samara, Tamarindo and Playa Hermosa. My second question is there an interesting place to stay between Santa Teresa and Samara? And given our itinerary, do you have any suggestions of must do’s or do not’s?
Hi Lisa, There aren’t many rental car companies on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. The closest to Montezuma is Budget, which is near the Tambor Airport. It may be less expensive to rent the car from Jaco then take the ferry from Puntarenas instead of the boat taxi so that you have more companies to choose from.
If you decide to rent starting in Montezuma, yes, it is possible to drop off in Liberia. They will just charge you a fee for picking up and dropping off in different locations.
There really isn’t much for good stopping points between Santa Teresa and Samara. It’s not too far of a drive so we would recommend just doing it in one shot. Hope that helps!
For recommended must dos, please see our separate posts: Jaco; Montezuma; Santa Teresa; Samara; Tamarindo; Playa Hermosa.
Hi Jenn&Matt. We are spending 2 weeks in CR and we are having a hard time deciding where to stay in Tamarindo. Which of the suburbs/neighboring towns do you recommend. We are getting a rental car. This is our tentative plan: 2 nights La Fortuna. Drive down to Tamarindo and stay for 3 nights. Initially, we wanted to go to Nosara or Montezuma, but the drive is too long for such a short time. From Tamarindo, we
go to Las Catalinas for 3 days and end our trip at Papagayo for 2 days. We want to avoid the crowds in Tarmarindo, where do you suggest we stay? Should we make the 4-5 hour trek to Nosara? Thank you! Your blogs have been very informative!
Hi Jen, We would add a night in La Fortuna since there is so much to do there and then probably cut either Las Catalinas or Papagayo. I don’t think you’re getting much out of going to both of those places and it makes the trip more rushed. Since you’ll have extra time, you could go to one of those farther places like Nosara or Montezuma, which will be fun to explore because they have a different feel than the other places you’ll be visiting. Our Destinations page (https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/destinations/) has articles on both towns to help you decide. Hope that helps!
Hi, we are headed to Costa Rica with a group in a few months and staying at Planet Hollywood. Do you have some recommended day trips from that location? I’ve been told “it’s in Guanacaste” but that is a really big area – I’m not quite sure where we should be looking for local beaches or sights to visit. Thanks!
Hi Danielle, Yes, Guanacaste is a big place. From Planet Holleywood, you could do day trips to the following places:
Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Las Pumas Rescue Center
Rincón de la Vieja National Park – has cool volcanic features like steaming funerales and bubbling mud pots
Río Negro Hot Springs
Oropendola Waterfall
That should be enough to get you started. Hope you have a great trip!
Loved your informative article. We are planning a family (13 people) trip to Guanacaste and may stay at the Westin Reserva. what type of weather can we expect along the beach during early June? I am a little concerned that it will be cloudy and rainy. What is your experience in that area and during June if any? How far to the rainforest? Thanks in advance. Patricia
Hi Patricia, June is rainy season but very early on. Usually the weather is good in Playa Conchal then. Mornings are sunny and dry and there will sometimes be showers in the afternoon or evening. Not all day type rainy typically. That happens more in October and early November.
The closest rainforest is Bijagua/the Rio Celeste area, at about 2.5 hours. If that’s too far, you could also do Rincón de la Vieja, which is a volcanic area. It has tropical dry forest but it will be nice and green in June.
Hello- we will be staying near PLaya Tamarindo in early April. Can you recommend best areas for snorkeling within reasonable driving distance? We heard that Catalina Island has great snorkeling, what is a trip out there like?
Hi Sharon, Some spots we’ve enjoyed for snorkeling near Tamarindo are Playa Carbon and Playa Conchal. Just follow those links for more information.
Snorkel tours to the Catalina Islands go out with the dive tours. From what we’ve heard from local dive shops, the snorkeling is only good there during rainy season, so May-November. Not sure how it would be in April. May be best to do snorkeling off the beach instead.
Hello,
I hope you are still in the business of helping fellow travelers navigate Costa Rica<3 I went with my husband back in 2010 and we now are looking to go again with our children. I am thinking of flying into San Jose directly to Arenal, actually I just booked as there was free cancellation until July (just in case) and I did use your link, I booked the Hotel El Silencio del Campo. We will stay four full days and leave on the 5th to go to the coast. This is where I would like to ask your opinion, we want the coast and Monteverde. Would it be wise to go to a coastal location, then Monteverde and from there back to San Jose? If so, would you be able to recommend what coastal area? My children are, well, will be, 13 and 17. I hear the place you mention above, Guanacaste, is beautiful, then would that make sense to go from Arenal, to Guanacaste, then to Monteverde to the airport? Or is there another beach location that seems to work better. We would love to snorkel and relax (no surfing). Also, would it be good to get a rental car at the airport for the entire time? I guess that would be a total of 14 days from start to finish. Thank you so much for all of this and your guidance and your articles!!!!!!!
Hi Brooke, Yes, we are still helping travelers. Our website and travel agency is our full-time job 🙂
Guanacaste is better for snorkeling and swimming beaches, and with 14 days, you should have the time to do it. If you have flexibility, it’s much closer to Liberia Airport so your itinerary would be San Jose Airport to La Fortuna to Monteverde to Guanacaste to Liberia Airport. If you have to fly in and out of San Jose, I would do SJO to La Fortuna to Guanacaste to Monteverde to SJO.
There are a lot of options for beach towns in Guanacaste. The beaches with the best swimming are around Potrero/Flamingo/Conchal/Playa Hermosa. If you go to our Destinations’ page, we have articles on each of those towns.
For a family of four, a rental car usually makes the most sense. It will be nice to have one too, especially in La Fortuna which is more spread out and in Guanacaste so that you can explore beaches. Here is a link to our rental car discount to check rates.
Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out through our video chat service page if you’d like more help planning.
Hi,
I am wondering how safe CR is for single women. I am interested in the safety of daytime beaching, hiking, and checking the area out. I am not into the late-night bar scene.
Thank you.
Hi Kathy, Costa Rica is fairly safe as long as you follow the usual precautions. Most crimes against tourists are theft. Other crimes do occur but a lot of this happens in bars late at night. You should read our Safety post, which has specific information on staying safe in different settings.
Hello, we are contemplating a 6-8 week stay in the Potrero area this July-August with our two girls, ages seven and eight. We are wondering how much the rainy season will disrupt things (does it rain all day, off and on, or mostly at night?), and if you can recommend any day camps (in Spanish) for our girls. Thanks for any tips!
Hi Peter, Usually it rains mostly in the afternoon and evenings for an hour or two at a time (downpour-type rain) so it shouldn’t be a washout by any means. Here’s a link to our post on Rainy Season Weather with more detailed information.
The Sailing Center in Potrero usually has camps and some other private schools too. We don’t know of specific schools doing them but maybe your vacation rental house would have some connections.
Hi Jenn and Matt – We will be visiting Samara next week with our three adult children. We rented a house for the week and are interested in a relaxing beach vacation but with some day trip adventures. I was thinking playa Carrillo, and playa Teresa as well as the beach where Mel Gibson has a house (I forget the name of it). Can you also kindly please recommend any other beaches we should visit (in addition to Samara of course)? Also, can you please recommend a private boat tour company for snorkeling (definitely) and (possibly) fishing? And finally, if we wanted to zip line and hike but not spend hours and hours in the car, can you please recommend the best place for that relative to our location? Many thanks!
Hi Julie, Playa Carrillo and Playa Barrigona (where Mel Gibson’s house is) are good options for beach days nearby. You could also visit Punta Islita to the south for the beach and to see the Scarlet Macaws at the Macaw Recovery Network. Punta Islita is much smaller and more remote. Santa Teresa is quite far so we wouldn’t recommend it (you would need to drive the inland route via Nicoya; we don’t recommend the coastal route south for many reasons).
We’ll send you an email now about the snorkeling, fishing, and other tours. Thanks!