Guanacaste is a piece of tropical paradise in Costa Rica. The place offers an unforgettable experience with its pristine shoreline, amazing beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and natural attractions. Read on to know the things you can do there!
1. Go surfing
Located on the north pacific coast of Costa Rica, Guanacaste boasts some of the best surfing spots in Costa Rica. Tourists can visit Nosara, Playa Grande, and Tamarindo for surfing lessons to improve their surfing and get more into it. Take a boat trip to the Witch’s Rock. It offers the ultimate surfing experience in normal conditions. It is also a perfect place for those who enjoy long open waves.
2. Enjoy pristine beaches
Guanacaste has a plethora of beautiful beaches. They will not bore you even if spend your entire vacation relaxing on the beaches. One should spend at least one day on the beaches for enjoying their beauty. It is the best thing in Guanacaste that you can enjoy for free! Playa Hermosa, Playa Grande, Playa Ocotal, Playas del Coco, Playa Panama, and Playa Flamingo, are some of the best Guanacaste beaches.
3. Do Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Guanacaste is the place for plenty of fun. It offers unforgettable recreation and adventure experience with excellent Scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. The water temperature lies between 72 and 90ºF (22 and 32ºC). You will find large animals like humpback and pilot whales, whale sharks, etc around Catalina and the Bat Islands. Guanacaste boasts a vast coastline allowing visitors to avoid crowded diving zones. You can also enjoy diving at Playa Hermosa and Playa Ocotal. You can do snorkeling at Playa Conchal, Playa Penca, and in the nearby areas of the Papagayo Peninsula.
Zip lining and Guanacaste are inseparable. It is one of the best Guanacaste activities and is a must-do activity while visiting the area. You will travel over the forest hanging on a cable and watch the forest, waterfalls, and wildlife from the sky. One can also watch monkeys and birds from the tree platforms. Enjoy zip lining in the national forests and reserves for an adrenaline rush.
5. Go Fishing
Guanacaste is an ideal destination for fish lovers. Fishing happens to be one of the main attractions in Guanacaste. Several Guanacaste beaches started as fishing towns, and many locals still make their living fishing. Fishing tournaments are also held there for catching long-nose fishes that are returned to the sea. You can book both inshore and offshore fishing trips.
Boating tours are the best to explore the beautiful Guanacaste coast. And watching the sunset from the Pacific Ocean delivers an incredible experience. Visitors can take a Catamaran sunset cruise or a private boat for the same. One can enjoy bars and snacks on Catamaran trips. Private boats also offer an exclusive boating experience. These tours are super fun as tourists return while the sun is setting and enjoy the wonderful view.
7. Enjoy Horseback Riding
Guanacaste is a rural region. You will find people riding on horseback over a vast expanse of plains. Visitors can take horseback riding to explore the beauty of the coastal plains, dry tropical forests, and mountain trails of the region. Most hotels offer guided tour facilities. You will have an incredible experience to talk about for a long time.
8. Watch Birds and Wildlife at Palo Verde National Park
Located in Guanacaste, Palo Verde National Park is the best place to experience rich eco-diversity. It boasts grasslands, lagoons, and wetlands along with tropical dry forests. It is also an amazing spot to watch migratory birds. They flock on the bird island and you can take a boat trip to watch them. You might also see giant crocodiles, sloths, iguanas, whip-tail lizards, and many more wildlife species there.
9. Watch Sea Turtles in Las Baulas Marine National Park
Located in Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Las Baulas Marine National Park is a favorite nesting destination for leatherback sea turtles. Every year they come here in large numbers from October to February to lay eggs on the beach. Visitors can take evening guided tours for watching turtles. It is an ideal place for visiting with family and friends.
10. Enjoy Hot Springs and Mud Baths
Guanacaste visit remains incomplete without visiting hot springs. Vista del Rincon, Guanacaste is home to the best hot springs and mud baths. The Guanacaste hot springs are long known as they have therapeutic properties and deliver a rejuvenated feeling. As you hike you will see several volcanic features including bubbling mud pots. The hotels arrange mud baths for visitors.