Well known for its pristine beaches, Costa Rica’s North Pacific coast is almost entirely in the province of Guanacaste. Here palm trees fringe the beaches and the weather is typically less humid than elsewhere in the country. There are some extremely stylish places to stay here such as the new Andaz Papagayo on the Papagayo Peninsula. We also feature a good range of boutique hideaways and eco lodges located beside the beach at Tamarindo, Punta Islita and Flamingo, or on the kilometres of unspoiled beaches between Nosara and Sámara on the Nicoya Peninsula .
Inland Guanacaste has much to offer visitors to Costa Rica. As well as its unique tropical dry forests, geysers, old haciendas, cattle ranches, and sabaneros (the Costa Rican version of cowboys), the region of Guanacaste is notable for its unique history (independent from Costa Rica until 1824), full of folklore and traditions that have been adopted as icons of Costa Rican culture. We’d recommend hiring a car to explore this fascinating province if you can tear yourself away from the beach for long enough! One of the top attractions is the Ricón de la Vieja Volcano National Park, renowned for its wildlife and volcano activities.
South of Guanacaste on the central Pacific coast, the pale sand beaches of Manuel Antonio are a popular place to spend a few days and are ideal for families. Read more about Manuel Antonio National Park here.
Read more about Pacific Coast Beaches
