If you’re looking for a Costa Rica Beach, then Guanacaste offers some of the best destinations in the whole country.

The weather is always dry, and it’s sunny year-round in the majority of the province.

Northern Guanacaste is filled with cattle ranches.

While the Nicoya Peninsula is famous for its small fishing villages and surf towns.

And of course, for some of the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Guanacaste remains a popular worldwide surfing mecca. And its abundant marine life makes it a favorite destination for sports fishers and scuba divers as well.

Add a variety of thrilling adventures, and some amazing national parks, and you have all the right ingredients for an unforgettable experience.

Costa Rica Beach: Guanacaste, Top Reasons to Go

Here are the reasons why visiting a Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste is the ideal vacation:

Beaches:

A Costa Rica Beach located in Guanacaste offers many possibilities:

• White or black sand
• Perfect for swimming, or for professional surfing
• Peaceful and isolated, or home to a booming beach town

Nature:

There’s a good variety of National Parks in Guanacaste. A number of them are home to some of the last remaining patches of tropical dry forests in the world. And, this being the case, these fragile ecosystems are also home to endangered species.

Surfing:

A great supply of offshore winds, combined with hollow barrels and the perfect, warm water temperature, makes a Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste the perfect destination for surfers.

Scuba Diving:

Besides the beautiful tropical fish, here you will also find large-scale attractions such as rays, sharks, and sea turtles.

The Winds:

Bahia Salinas, in particular, is a world-famous kitesurfing and windsurfing destination.

Costa Rica Beach: More on Guanacaste…

This wonderful province borders:

• The Pacific Ocean to the west
• The Cordillera de Guanacaste volcanic mountain range to the east
• The Nicoya Peninsula to the south

Liberia

Liberia is where Costa Rica’s second largest international airport is located. And, farther to the north, we find Bahia Salinas, famous for its winds, and wind sports-related activities.

If you’re arriving at Guanacaste through the Liberia Airport, you can rent your 4×4 vehicle right there.

Or, if you’re coming from San Jose, you can take a small plane, or even the bus to Guanacaste, and then get your vehicle at your preferred rental location.

If you take a trip to far northern Guanacaste, you’ll find the Rincon de la Vieja (famous for its active volcano) and Santa Rosa National Parks.

And, a large number of cattle ranches along the way…

Nicoya Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula is filled with stunning beaches. In fact, there are almost continuous beaches for more than sixty miles.

On this area, a lot of roads aren’t paved. This is especially true of those roads that aren’t close to large, populated beach towns.

For this reason, it is better for a tourist is to rent a 4WD vehicle for the best possible experience.

Pacific Coast

The pacific coast of Guanacaste is where some of the best beaches in Costa Rica are located.

And the reason for that is because there’s a large variety of beaches along the northern border of the Nicoya Peninsula.

All the way from Bahia Junquillal, to the large, booming beach town of Tamarindo, to the Papagayo Peninsula, this is doubtlessly a world-famous tourist destination.

A Costa Rica Beach for Everyone

What’s very interesting about the beaches here is that each one of them has its own specialty.

One can be famous for its sports fishing activities, others for its surfing or diving, and others just for plain relaxation.

If you’re a tourist, you’ll also find a good supply of hotels and eateries of all kinds, and for all pockets.

Now, if you want to experience some lively beach towns, head to the Nicoya Peninsula. From Tambor to Nosara, you’ll find some really interesting small coastal towns with a funky European vibe to them.

From Tambor to Nosara Beach, you’ll find some really interesting small coastal towns with a funky European vibe to them.

If you want to visit some National Parks, you can also find them in this region of Guanacaste. On this particular area, the major local attractions are

• Barra Honda (waterfalls and caves exploration)
• and Palo Verde (bird-watching location)

When to Visit

Visiting Guanacaste during high season, from mid-December to April, means that you’ll experience average temperatures of 30c to 35c.

If you visit a Costa Rica Beach during this time, you can expect some of the best beaches in Costa Rica located in this reason to be packed.

From mid-December to February is the busiest time because schools are out in the country.

January is very breezy, thanks to the annual Papagayo winds.

February through April is the driest. During this time, you’ll find beautiful clear skies, and this is also the best time to practice scuba diving and sports fishing.

May through October is considered the low season period in Guanacaste. Visitors can expect a lot of rain during this period.

However, if you don’t mind that factor, this can be great for your pocket as local hotels offer lower prices.

And, you will also avoid the crowds related to the high season period.

November to mid-December is considered “shoulder season.” This is actually the best time to visit your preferred Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste.

The reason is because rains have abated, the air is cooler, and you’ll experience a lush landscape.

What’s best, many hotels are still offering lower prices during this particular period.

Planning Your Trip

If you’re coming to Guanacaste, you may want to visit more than a single Costa Rica Beach. So, a minimum of ten days is advisable to have enough time to schedule plenty of activities and beach time.

So, a minimum of ten days is advisable to have enough time to schedule plenty of activities and beach time.

You can expect a lot of bumpy roads. Especially when traveling to solitary beaches. Visitors usually stay no more than two days at this type of Costa Rica Beach.

And the reason is because you also want the nightlife and restaurants that are only available at a beach like Tamarindo.

When traveling through the region, also remember to visit National Parks, such as Santa Rosa, Barra Honda, and Rincon de la Vieja.

Traveling

Are you arriving in Costa Rica through the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia?

If so, your best choice is to rent a 4WD car right there at the airport; so you can start exploring the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Now, if you’re arriving in CR through the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela; you can take a small flight from there to the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport.

Or you can also fly directly to the small airstrips located at Tamarindo, Nosara, Punta Islita, or Playa Samara.

Although there are independent air taxis, flying with a reputable company such as Nature Air or Sansa guarantees you the best possible experience.

There is also the option of traveling to a Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste by bus.

In this case, you can use the Gray Line tourist bus or the Interbus shuttle service.

These are mini-bus services that connect San Jose, the capital; with the top destinations and the best beaches in Guanacaste, including:

• Liberia
• Flamingo
• Conchal
• Potrero
• Brasilito
• Hermosa
• Coco
• Tamarindo
• Rincon de la Vieja Playa
• Langosta

Now, traveling using your own vehicle can be the most fun. This is because it allows you to explore the best beaches in Costa Rica located in Guanacaste at your own pace.

With that said, if you want a really good experience, get a 4WD vehicle. A regular one can take you to most destinations; but, if it rains, it can get muddy, and you won’t be able to explore the coastline.

Eateries

There’s a good variety of restaurants in the best beaches of Guanacaste.

Naturally, fresh fish and seafood offerings abound.

This is followed closely by fast food eateries that include burgers, tacos, and of course, pizza.

Now, there are also fine dining international restaurants along the coast; including French, Italian, and Asian-fusion cuisine.

The latter are mostly found on the beaches of Flamingo, Hermosa, Samara, Tamarindo and Nosara.

RESTAURANT TIP!

Before eating at a nice restaurant located at a Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste; ask if the price that’s shown in the menu includes taxes.

This is because even though it is required by law, some restaurants, especially the tourist-oriented ones, don’t comply with this requirement.

So, you may end up paying 25% more than you originally expected!

Where to Stay

Finding accommodation in a Costa Rica Beach in Guanacaste shouldn’t be hard. However, many choices mean that you need to choose wisely.

If you’re the type of person that wants to visit one of the best beaches in Guanacaste to leisurely swim and have cocktails; avoid the beaches in Guanacaste which are famous for their surfing waves.

When it comes to prices, the offer is very varied. From the ultra expensive Costa Rica Beach Hotel such as the Four Seasons to more affordable, high-quality options, such as a Costa Rica Beach Villa or four-star resort for less than $75 a night.

Now, there are even cheaper choices, which are also great; and which allows the tourist to embrace the local culture even more. These include bed-and-breakfasts, small owner-operated hotels.

A nice alternative is also eco-lodges in Guanacaste. These are hotels that are proving to the rest of the local hospitality community that sustainability, conservation, comfort, and even luxury; can go hand in hand in a Costa Rica Beach Hotel in this region.

Tours

The majority of Costa Rica Beach hotels, including those located in Guanacaste, can connect tourists with local tour operators.

You can hire independent private tours, with a private guide and a driver, to visit your preferred destinations in the region. And you can book it all directly at your own Costa Rica Beach hotel in Guanacaste.