Things to Do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: A Local Operator’s Guide

5 min read · Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey

Guanacaste is the northwest corner of Costa Rica and, for many travelers from the United States and Canada, the first part of the country they see, because Liberia airport sits right in the middle of it. The list of things to do in Guanacaste is long, from volcano trails and swimming holes to turtle beaches and mangrove channels, and the distances are bigger than they look on a map. We run nature tours from the Tamarindo estuary every day, and this guide shares how we would organize a visit to the province: by interest, by travel style and by number of days.

Short answer: the best things to do in Guanacaste are a wildlife tour in a mangrove estuary, a day at Rincón de la Vieja volcano, a swim at a waterfall such as Llanos de Cortés or La Leona, a turtle tour in season, a horseback ride to the beach and a Pacific sunset. Base yourself on the coast, for example in Tamarindo, and add one or two inland trips instead of trying to see everything.

Things to do in Guanacaste by interest

Wildlife and mangroves

Guanacaste mixes tropical dry forest, wetlands and mangrove estuaries, and the easiest place to see wildlife from the coast is an estuary. The Tamarindo estuary is part of Las Baulas Marine National Park and is home to American crocodiles, several species of herons, iguanas and howler monkeys.

On our outings, the herons in the shallows are usually the first animals guests notice. The crocodiles take a trained eye, because they rest perfectly still on the mud banks. Our Tamarindo estuary tour by boat costs $40 per person for 2 hours and includes a short dry-forest walk, and the shared kayak tour ($60 per person) follows the incoming tide. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the estuary is active all year.

Volcanoes and steaming landscapes

Rincón de la Vieja is an active volcano near Liberia, with steam vents, pools of boiling mud and forest trails. From Tamarindo it is about 1 hour and 45 minutes by road. Our Rincón de la Vieja combo costs $180 per person, leaves between 6 and 7 am and returns at 6 pm; read the details in Rincón de la Vieja from Tamarindo.

Waterfalls and swimming holes

The volcanic foothills near Liberia and Bagaces hide the best-known waterfalls of the province. Llanos de Cortés has a wide fall and a sandy pool, while La Leona is a river and canyon walk where you will get wet. Compare them in our guide to waterfalls near Tamarindo.

Beaches, surf and sunsets

The Guanacaste coast faces west, so every clear evening ends with the sun dropping into the Pacific. Some beaches are made for surfing, others have calmer water on many days, and a few are wild and protected. Choosing the right one for the day, and checking the sea before you swim, matters more than choosing the most famous name.

Sea turtles

Several species of sea turtle nest on Guanacaste beaches, mostly in the second half of the year. Our Tamarindo turtle tour ($60 per person) picks you up at 5:30 pm, and the Ostional arribada, the mass nesting of olive ridley turtles, has its main season from August to December, with the peak from September to November.

Culture and food

Guanacaste is the land of the sabanero, the Costa Rican cowboy, and of cattle ranches, marimba music and corn-based dishes. Santa Cruz is known as a center of folk traditions, and nearby villages keep the Chorotega pottery tradition alive. In any town, try a casado at a local soda: rice, beans, salad, plantain and meat or fish.

Things to do in Guanacaste with kids

Families with young children ask us the same thing: which activities are short, safe and exciting? These are the ones that work best in our experience:

Estuary boat tour: 2 hours, a stable boat and children 2 and under ride free.
Horseback ride: 1 hour to ocean viewpoints and the beach; riders 7 and up ride on their own, and younger children ride with an adult.
Sloths and Llanos de Cortés: a full day with a sloth tour and a waterfall swim; children 3 and under do not pay.
Sunset and baby turtle release: from November 12, departing at 3:30 pm, $50 per person.
Tide pools: free at low tide on the rocky points of Tamarindo beach.

For more ideas, read things to do in Tamarindo with kids.

Where to stay to explore Guanacaste

Liberia: close to the airport and the volcano, but inland and without a beach.
Tamarindo: a walkable beach town with restaurants, the estuary next door and pickup included on most of our tours.
The Papagayo and Coco area: to the north, with resorts and bays. If you stay there, see our page on Costa Rica excursions in Guanacaste for resort guests.
The Nicoya Peninsula: to the south, quieter beaches with longer drives between places.

Pickup from farther areas, such as Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal, Flamingo or Papagayo, has an extra transportation cost paid directly to the driver.

How many days do you need in Guanacaste?

Five days give you a good balance between the coast and the interior. A sample plan from a Tamarindo base:

Day 1: land at Liberia, drive about an hour to an hour and a half to Tamarindo and watch the sunset.
Day 2: estuary tour with the high tide and an afternoon on the beach.
Day 3: full day at Rincón de la Vieja volcano.
Day 4: horseback ride in the morning and, in season, the turtle tour at night.
Day 5: a waterfall day or a slow beach day before flying home.

With more time, our Costa Rica 10-day itinerary adds more beaches and day trips.

Guanacaste tours: how booking works with us

You reserve online with a deposit and pay the balance in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour.
Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, so we confirm the exact time by WhatsApp after you book.
Full-day trips need a minimum of 4 people and include transportation, entrance tickets, drinks and a Costa Rican lunch.
If you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, we refund your deposit.

For a place-by-place view with prices, see Guanacaste tours from Tamarindo.

Ready to plan your days? Book the Tamarindo boat tour, the Rincón de la Vieja combo or the sloths and waterfall day with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, online with the deposit. If you are not sure what fits your group, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica?

The highlights are a wildlife tour in a mangrove estuary, a day at Rincón de la Vieja volcano, a swim at a waterfall such as Llanos de Cortés or La Leona, a turtle tour in season and sunsets on the Pacific beaches.

What are good things to do in Guanacaste with kids?

Families enjoy the estuary boat tour, where children 2 and under ride free, the horseback ride (younger children ride with an adult), the sloth and waterfall day and, from November 12, the sunset baby turtle release. Tide pools on the beach are free and a favorite with children.

Is it better to stay in Liberia or at the beach in Guanacaste?

Liberia is close to the airport and the volcano, but it has no beach. Most visitors prefer a coastal base such as Tamarindo and do one or two inland trips, since our full-day tours include round-trip transportation.

When is the best time to visit Guanacaste?

The dry season, from December to April, brings sunny days and is the busiest period. The green season, from May to November, has afternoon showers, greener landscapes and more turtle activity in its second half.

Do I need a rental car for Guanacaste tours?

Not for our tours. Pickup in Tamarindo is included on most of them, the full-day trips include round-trip transportation, and farther areas have an extra transportation cost paid to the driver.

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