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Key Info for Visitors
- Currency: CRC
- Languages: Spanish
- Climate: Tropical
- Timezone: America/Costa_Rica
- Population: Approximately 400,000 in Guanacaste province; the Northwest region population varies but is part of Costa Rica's overall population of about 5 million.
- Best Time to Visit: best time to visit is during the dry season (December to April) for optimal weather.
- Visa Requirements Visitors from the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days. Costa Rica offers visa-free entry to citizens of over 90 countries. Some travelers may obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa depending on nationality. A valid passport, proof of onward travel, and sufficient funds are typically required.
About Guanacaste And Northwest
Guanacaste and the Northwest region of Costa Rica are renowned for their stunning Pacific coastline, vibrant culture, and rich biodiversity. This area offers a unique blend of pristine beaches, dry tropical forests, and active volcanoes, making it a diverse destination for travelers. Guanacaste is famous for its golden sandy beaches and excellent surf spots, attracting beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts alike. The region’s warm, dry climate during the dry season is ideal for outdoor adventures and relaxation. Visitors can explore national parks, wildlife refuges, and traditional villages that showcase Costa Rican culture and hospitality. The Northwest area includes parts of the Nicoya Peninsula, known for its Blue Zone status where locals enjoy exceptional longevity. Guanacaste also boasts a lively culinary scene featuring traditional Costa Rican dishes and fresh seafood. Its accessibility through the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport makes it a convenient gateway for international travelers. Overall, Guanacaste and Northwest Costa Rica offer a compelling mix of natural beauty, adventure, and cultural experiences that appeal to a wide range of tourists.
Top Attractions
1. Rincon de la Vieja National Park – A volcanic park with hiking trails, waterfalls, hot springs, and diverse wildlife. 2. Playa Tamarindo – A popular beach town known for surfing, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful sunsets. 3. Santa Rosa National Park – Historic park preserving Costa Rica’s dry forest ecosystem and cultural heritage. 4. Palo Verde National Park – A wetland reserve ideal for birdwatching and boat tours through mangroves. 5. Nosara – A tranquil beach community famous for yoga retreats, surfing, and eco-tourism.
Popular Activities
Visitors can enjoy surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving along the Pacific coast. Hiking and wildlife watching in national parks provide opportunities to see exotic animals and volcanic landscapes. Cultural experiences include visiting local markets, attending traditional festivals, and exploring indigenous heritage. Adventure seekers can try zip-lining, horseback riding, and canopy tours. Relaxation options include yoga retreats, spa treatments, and beach lounging.
Guanacaste and Northwest Tours & Experiences
- Top Attractions: Highlights of Costa Rica
- Duration Range: Visitors can enjoy surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving along the Pacific coast. Hiking and wildlife watching in national parks provide opportunities to see exotic animals and volcanic landscapes. Cultural experiences include visiting local markets, attending traditional festivals, and exploring indigenous heritage. Adventure seekers can try zip-lining, horseback riding, and canopy tours. Relaxation options include yoga retreats, spa treatments, and beach lounging.
- Group Size: Small groups (up to 15 people)
- Difficulty Level: Beginner to Advanced
- Recommended For: The best time to visit is during the dry season (December to April) for optimal weather. Pack lightweight clothing, swimwear, sun protection, insect repellent, and comfortable shoes for hiking. Respect local customs and greet people with a friendly “pura vida.” Stay hydrated and be cautious with sun exposure. Use cash in smaller towns but credit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas. Safety is good but avoid isolated areas at night.
Average Tour Price: $65
Lowest Price Tour: $55
Highest Price Tour: $200
1861 Available Tour Excursions in Guanacaste And Northwest
We provide you with a trilingual crew as we make sure you enjoy your adventure to the maximum. We provide all the necessary for the tour so all you have to worry about is to have fun ! We have a shaded area where you can enjoy the comfortables cushions and make yourself at home & relax.
Price: $678.00
Duration: 4 hours
This surf lesson experience stands out due to its unique feature of learning from local surfers who are deeply connected to the Tamarindo surfing community. This aspect adds cultural depth to the lessons, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the sport and its significance in the area. The private nature of the lessons ensures personalized instruction tailored to each individual's skill level and goals, guaranteeing an efficient and focused learning experience. Set against the stunning backdrop of Tamarindo's coastline, participants can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings while catching unforgettable waves.
Price: $72.00
Duration: 2 hours
Unlike most large ´surf schools´, our exclusively and unique personalized surf lessons for all surfing levels, ensure that you, your friends and family are going to receive the attention and time required for an unforgettable first, safe, fun and educational introduction to surfing and the ocean environment. Our team is sure to have you hooked on surfing before you ever leave the water. Join us to start catching waves! The Surfing Lesson includes: • Free roundtrip transportation in Playa Grande, Flamingo or Tamarindo. • Safety speeach and beach practice (10-15 min) • Professional Local Surf Instructor (1instructor per 3 adults or 2 kids) • Surf Board for the lesson • Rashguard (lycra) • Cold Water • Tropical Fruits • *Option include breakfast or typical lunch Our Schedule is: 7am, 10am, 1pm or 4pm
Price: $65.00
Duration: 2 hours
We love the ocean and treat her with respect. We will not serve you on single use plastics nor will we practice any unsustainable fishing practice. We try and buy local produce when we can and support our community via our contributions of time and money to local charities. Because our yacht is a mono hull, our guests experience the adventure of actually sailing. The waters in our area, Potrero Bay, are unique in that they offer flat calm waters, consistent breeze and breathtaking anchorages.
Price: $1,888.22
Duration: 4 hours
This tour provides you with some of the greatest views you can find in the area! There are several viewpoints where we can stop on the way to look down over the mountains and beaches in Nosara.
Price: $150.00
Duration: 4 hours
This is a very popular ATV tour. We start in Brasilito and hit south fom there, along the beaches and through the dry forests of Guanacaste. We’ll cover a lot of ground and visit Playa Puerto Viejo, Playa Bahia de los Piratas and Playa Minas where a small hike is optional to see a beautiful viewpoint, also along the trip we will stop to take beautiful pictures and as well will be optional so swim for a little time on the ocean.
Price: $140.00
Duration: 3 hours
Come and visit us and let us make you feel like if you are part of our family, come and experiment a real cultural experince with us, we will take to the world of coffee, chocolate, cooking and sugarcane.
Price: $47.00
Duration: 3 hours
DESCRIPTION: All our tours include a boat captain and nature guide. We start the tour fishing around the Gulf; the species that we can catch are: mahi-mahi, black tuna, mackarel, marlin, rooster fish among others. While we are fishing we will try to spot whales and dolphins (whale season is from July to November). After fishing we will go to a nice beach with crystalline waters, where we do some snorkeling, enjoy a nice ride on the tube or use the water skies. The rhythm of the activities it is your choice!
Price: $838.00
Duration: 4 hours
Discover why surfing in Tamarindo is one of the best activities in Costa Rica with Blue Wave Surf & Tours! Experience an unforgettable surf lesson with our local surf instructors. Whether you're new to surfing or an experienced wave rider, Blue Wave Surf & Tours offers private and group lessons that are perfect for all ages and skill levels. Learn and practice surfing at one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, and create unforgettable memories in paradise. Beyond surfing, we also organize a variety of tours in Playa Tamarindo, ensuring you experience the best this beautiful area has to offer. Pura Vida! Don't forget to check out our adventures on Social Media! You might just find yourself featured in one of our posts. Follow us and join the Blue Wave community!
Price: $50.00
Duration: 2 hours
Don't miss the opportunity to explore with us different places like, small villages where you will see how the local people do for a living, in this area most of the people depend on commercial fishing, others people on agricultural. Also we visit beaches around, according to your location we pick you up by car, but most of the time we take the machines right at the Hotel, don't need to drive somewhere, this tour is unique because you can enjoy a great view, on the way feel the adrenaline, live the most beautiful experience of your life. Also if you would like to visit any local restaurant to have the authentic Costa Rican food, we do that possible, but, have to pay for that, thank you for booking through us, Costa Rica expression, (Pura Vida..) Our winter season is from May until October then begin summer, Summer super brown Middle of winter is very green..
Price: $135.00
Duration: 2 hours
We are a purely Costa Rican company that is expanding with a vision and mission of doing things with excellence. All of our staff is clearly prepared and in constant training to do things in the best way, which makes us an excellent option for the enjoyment of your stay in our beautiful country Costa Rica.
Price: $5.00
Duration: 1-2 hours
There is something for everyone on board this 51-foot Leopard power yacht. Whether it is stunning landscapes, incredible beaches, amazing marine life, local cuisine or fun water sports. With an open concept design and 4 distinct entertainment areas, this Royal Charter yacht is the largest in its class and a great place for entertaining and taking in the views. It features: A settee area, wet bar and grill and a roomy back porch large enough for deck chairs. Plenty of shaded areas, huge sun pad above the foredeck. The Salon features a kitchen with U-shaped seating, dining table and panoramic windows. It opens to the covered Forward Lounge with L-shaped seating, a swing up table and is flanked by lounge pads on either side. Four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The Foredeck is massive with lounge areas and plenty of space for everyone to soak up the sun. The Aft Deck has a hard top with an enormous table and seating perfect for dining and entertainment.
Price: $2,260.00
Duration: 4-5 hours
This tour is beautiful because in the tour and before leaving the guide will explain everything you will see on the tour you can see interesting things this tour is a fun way to see and discover places.
Price: $117.00
Duration: 2 hours
We will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or vacation home. Our modern and comfortable tourist transportation units are stocked with water, fruits, and snacks for the journey. Our certified, bilingual guides with experience ensure a safe and informative tour. We provide all necessary equipment and safety measures to guarantee our clients' integrity during the tour. The tour includes a delicious Costa Rican lunch. We visit tourist attractions of great natural and cultural value, allowing visitors to have a genuine connection with the surrounding nature and environment. Vacationers can enjoy outdoor activities during the tour and learn about Costa Rica's biodiversity, geography, and culture from our expert local guides."
Price: $230.00
Duration: 6 hours
Enjoy your sailing sunset tour with the most respected sailing tour company in Costa Rica. We have a world wide reputation for the best Costa Rica sailing experience, just imagine yourself enjoying the amazing sunset the golden coast of Costa Rica provides.
Price: $1,900.00
Duration: 4 hours
TamaDive is focused on safety and personalized service. Don’t worry about anything; that's our job! In this 3 days course you will learn the basics of diving. During the first day, you will watch some diving videos and practice basic diving skills in the pool with your instructor. On the second day, you will discover the wonderful underwater fauna of Costa Rica in 2 open water dives while applying everything learned in the first day. And, on the last day, you will do the last 2 dives and take the final exam, thus consolidating everything seen before.
Price: $705.00
Duration: 72 hours
Our secluded beach is the ultimate place to learn to surf with the best company in Costa Rica. No worries about 100s of other surfers around you and Playa Grande is a beautiful beach as well. The waves are awesome for beginners to intermediate surfers and we only surf around the high tide to give you the best possible waves. We take special care in every customer to make sure they have the best day of their vacation and take 150-250 pictures and video to prove it.
Price: $220.00
Duration: 2 hours
Come experience an amazing adventure-filled day in the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano area! The zip line course has 12 cables, 24 platforms, and 2 climbing walls. You will also do rappelling, Tarzan swing, and a rock-climbing wall. You will have an amazing time riding horses through the dry forest to the 3.5-mile river tubing that starts at the Victoria Waterfall. This river has a great mix of rapids and areas to float on to admire nature. After the best typical Costa Rican lunch we will take you to the natural hot springs at Rio Negro river, where you will enjoy the warm water coming straight from the Volcano Rincón de la Vieja. There is a full-body volcanic clay mud soak to relax in and enjoy the healing minerals while we spoil you with your favorite drink. What to Bring Sunblock, bug spray, swimsuit, comfortable clothing, closed-toed shoes that can get wet, fresh clothes for the ride back and a towel. Times Departure: 6:15 am Return: Approximately 5:00 pm Drive Time: 1h 45mins
Price: $240.00
Duration: 7 hours
1. Choose Your Tour
Browse our curated selection of tours and select your perfect adventure.
2. Check Details
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3. Book Online
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4. Enjoy Your Experience
Join the tour and create unforgettable memories in Guanacaste And Northwest.
Important Tour Information
- Bring comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing
- Check tour cancellation and refund policies
- Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early
- Carry valid identification and tour booking confirmation
Frequently Asked Questions
Local Food & Cuisine
The local cuisine features staples like gallo pinto (rice and beans), fresh seafood, casado (a traditional plate with rice, beans, plantains, salad, and meat), and ceviche. Guanacaste is known for its use of tropical fruits and locally grown coffee. Dining customs emphasize fresh, simple ingredients with bold flavors. Noteworthy restaurants include beachfront eateries in Tamarindo and Nosara offering both traditional and international dishes.
Getting Around
Guanacaste is accessible via Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, with connections to major cities in the Americas. Local transportation includes buses, taxis, and shuttles connecting towns and tourist sites. Renting a car is common for exploring remote areas. Road conditions vary from paved highways to rural dirt roads. Costs for local transport are generally affordable.
Travel Tips
The best time to visit is during the dry season (December to April) for optimal weather. Pack lightweight clothing, swimwear, sun protection, insect repellent, and comfortable shoes for hiking. Respect local customs and greet people with a friendly “pura vida.” Stay hydrated and be cautious with sun exposure. Use cash in smaller towns but credit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas. Safety is good but avoid isolated areas at night.
Culture & Customs
Guanacaste’s culture reflects a mix of indigenous, Spanish colonial, and Afro-Caribbean influences. Social customs emphasize friendliness, hospitality, and respect. Important festivals include the Fiesta de la Luz and traditional rodeos. Punctuality is flexible; casual greetings and polite conversation are valued. Visitors should dress modestly when visiting religious sites and ask permission before photographing locals.
