Top 5 things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
With stunning nature, great weather, beautiful beaches and lively towns; it should come as no surprise that increasingly many people are visiting and/or planning to retire in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Interested in finding out just what Guanacaste has to offer? Here are our top 5 things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
1. Day trip to a national park
When visiting Guanacaste, you will find that you have many options available when it comes to national parks. Palo Verde, Santa Rosa, Diria, and Playa Grande are only some of the national parks that you can visit. Enjoy your time hiking, relaxing on empty beaches, exploring the unique ecosystem, or taking in the views from the cliffs. When in Costa Rica, you simply must take advantage of the many national parks available. This is especially a wonderful activity for anyone interested in spotting wildlife, especially birds, reptiles and monkeys. Bird watchers frequently mention Costa Rica as the greatest country in the world for bird watching; so get out there and perhaps you’ll discover a new hobby!
2. Visit different beaches
With a long coastline, Guanacaste is unsurprisingly home to many amazing beaches. In Guanacaste you will find everything from isolated beaches surrounded by nature and animals, to lively beaches with restaurants, bars and watersport activities. With so many options, consider which beach or beach town best fits your specific desires. For popular beach towns, consider: Flamingo, Tamarindo, Nosara or Samara. All of these towns will have multiple beaches closeby so make sure to read up on the specific beaches surrounding each area. Want to know which beaches are our favorites? Check out our blog on the top 5 beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
3. See turtles at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Are you a lover of sea creatures? Then make sure to visit the Ostional wildlife refuge just North of Nosara for a wonderful and unforgettable experience. Ostional is a year-round nesting ground for turtles and it is not uncommon to see thousands of turtles during peak season. In fact, the largest amount of turtles every recorded at one time in Ostional was 500,000 in November of 1995. The best time to view turtles is either around sunrise or sunset, so plan accordingly. This is one activity you absolutely cannot miss in Guacaste!
4. Take a Trip to Llanos de Cortes Waterfall
Looking to explore what Guanacaste has to offer more inland? One of the most beautiful spots that you can visit is Llanos de Cortes waterfall. You’ll find this waterfall near a small town called Bagaces. What makes this waterfall unique is that you area actually able to swim all the way up to the falling water. This allows for great videos, pictures and amazing views of the waterfall and its surrounding nature. Enjoy an active day out and feel free to jump and swim in this beautiful waterfall!
5. Surfing
You will find some of the best places to surf in this province of Costa Rica. With a long coastline, you have a lot of great options to choose from when it comes to surfing. Whether you wish to go to Tamarindo, Nosara, Playa Grande, or Samara, these beaches are just a few examples of the many perfect locations to go surfing. What makes the coast unique is that you can find all kinds of options here both for beginners and experienced surfers. From beginner friendly beach breaks to advanced pointbreaks, expect to find it all here. Interested to learn more about surfing in Guanacaste? Here are our picks for the top 5 surf spots in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
For all first time and returning visitors, we hope your truly enjoy your time in Guanacaste. Make sure to do these five things to make the most of your trip here! Are you finding yourself falling in love with the area? Perhaps a life in Guanacaste could be for you. Consider a real estate tour and find out why living in Guanacaste, Costa Rica could be the perfect option for you!
