Guanacaste, in the northwest of Costa Rica, packs a lot into one province: tropical dry forest, mangrove estuaries, active volcanoes, waterfalls, long Pacific beaches and important sea turtle nesting sites. Tamarindo sits on its coast, which makes it a practical base for Guanacaste tours. This guide from Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, a local operator on the Tamarindo estuary, gives an overview of the region and shows which of our tours reach each place from Tamarindo.
Short answer: from Tamarindo you can reach the mangroves of Las Baulas Marine National Park in minutes, nearby turtle nesting beaches on a night tour, and Rincón de la Vieja volcano and the La Leona and Llanos de Cortés waterfalls on full-day trips. Shared tours start at $40 per person, and full-day trips cost $160 to $185 per person.
Guanacaste at a glance
Guanacaste is one of the driest regions of Costa Rica, with a marked dry season from December to April and a green season from May to November. The landscape changes quickly as you move inland from the coast:
- The coast: beaches, estuaries and mangroves along the Pacific.
- The lowlands: tropical dry forest, cattle ranches and the Guanacaste tree, the national tree of Costa Rica, which gives the province its name.
- The volcanic range: volcanoes, rivers and waterfalls in the northeast of the province, including Rincón de la Vieja.
Guanacaste tours from Tamarindo, place by place
Mangroves and the Tamarindo estuary
The closest wildlife area is right next to town. The Tamarindo estuary belongs to Las Baulas Marine National Park and is home to American crocodiles, herons, hawks, iguanas and howler monkeys. Tours that go there:
- Shared boat tour: $40 per person, 2 hours, with a walk in the dry forest.
- Shared kayak tour: $60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours, timed with the high tide.
- Private boat: $800 for up to 10 people, or $1,200 for up to 16, 2 hours.
Learn more in our Las Baulas National Park guide.
Tropical dry forest
Guanacaste is known for its tropical dry forest, an ecosystem where many trees drop their leaves in the dry season and bloom before the rains. You walk through it on the estuary boat and kayak tours, where the guide points out the Guanacaste tree, the ceiba and the thorny cedar, along with monkeys, crabs and flowers.
Beaches near Tamarindo
Tamarindo, Langosta and Playa Grande form one of the best-known stretches of the Guanacaste coast. The horseback riding tour ($50 per person, 1 hour) rides from the estuary to ocean viewpoints and along the beach, and the estuary and horseback combo ($80 per person) adds the boat tour on the same outing.
Sea turtles
Several species of sea turtle nest on Guanacaste beaches. Our turtle nesting tour ($60 per person, 5:30 pm pickup) goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús, mostly for olive ridley and black turtles, sometimes hawksbills and, occasionally, leatherbacks. From November 12, the sunset and baby turtle release ($50 per person) joins a conservation project at sunset.
About 2 hours south of Tamarindo, Ostional is famous for the arribada, the mass nesting of olive ridley turtles. Our Ostional arribada tour costs $130 per person, with a minimum of 4. The main arribada season runs from August to December, with peaks from September to November and smaller ones possible from May; ask us on WhatsApp about the next expected arribada, and read the Ostional arribada guide.
Rincón de la Vieja volcano
Rincón de la Vieja is one of the active volcanoes of Costa Rica, about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Tamarindo. The Rincón de la Vieja combo costs $180 per person, departs between 6 and 7 am and returns at 6 pm. Read more in Rincón de la Vieja from Tamarindo.
Waterfalls and sloths
Two of our full days focus on waterfalls. The La Leona waterfall tour ($160 per person, 7 am to 3:30 pm) involves walking and getting wet, so bring water shoes and tennis shoes. Sloths and Llanos de Cortés waterfall ($185 per person, 6:30 am to about 6 pm) combines a sloth tour with a visit to the waterfall, about 2.5 hours from Tamarindo.
All three full-day trips include round-trip transportation, entrance tickets, bottled water, beers, juices for kids and a Costa Rican lunch (casado). They require a minimum of 4 people, and children 3 and under do not pay.
Things to do in Guanacaste by season
- December to April: dry, sunny days, the best months for waterfalls, volcano trips and clear sunsets.
- May to November: green landscapes and fuller rivers, with afternoon rain; turtle activity grows in the second half of the year.
- All year: estuary, kayak and horseback tours, timed with the tide.
Tips for touring Guanacaste from Tamarindo
- Keep full-day trips on days without an estuary tour, since they leave early.
- Expect several hours in the vehicle on inland trips and bring a change of clothes.
- Pickup in Tamarindo is usually included; farther areas such as Conchal or Flamingo have an extra cost paid to the driver.
- You reserve online with a deposit and pay the balance in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of the tour.
Short on time? Our 3-day Tamarindo itinerary combines the coast and the interior.
Ready to explore Guanacaste? Book the Rincón de la Vieja combo, the sloths and waterfall tour or the estuary boat tour with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey. If you are not sure which trip fits your group, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.
Book these tours
Rincón de la Vieja Combo Tour$180 per personSee tour and book →
Sloths and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall$185 per personSee tour and book →
La Leona Waterfall Tour$160 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Is Tamarindo a good base for exploring Guanacaste?
Yes. From Tamarindo you can reach the mangroves of Las Baulas Marine National Park in minutes, nearby turtle beaches at night and the volcano and waterfalls on full-day trips with transportation included.
What is the closest national park to Tamarindo?
Las Baulas Marine National Park, which includes the Tamarindo estuary at the north end of town. Our boat and kayak tours go inside the park.
Which Guanacaste tour is best if I only have one free day?
For a complete change of scenery, choose the Rincón de la Vieja combo ($180 per person). If you prefer to be back at the beach by mid-afternoon, La Leona waterfall returns at 3:30 pm.
Do Guanacaste day trips run in the rainy season?
Yes. From May to November the landscapes are greener and the rivers fuller. If the weather or water conditions make a tour unsafe, we contact you to offer another date or a refund.
What is the tropical dry forest?
It is a forest adapted to a long dry season, when many trees lose their leaves to save water. You can walk through it on our estuary boat and kayak tours.
More Tamarindo guides
- Day Trips from Tamarindo: Rincón de la Vieja, La Leona and SlothsCompare three full-day trips from Tamarindo: Rincón de la Vieja volcano, La Leona waterfall and a sloth tour. Prices, hours, what is included and tips.
- Rincón de la Vieja Tour from Tamarindo: Full GuideRincón de la Vieja tour from Tamarindo: the volcano park, dry forest, schedule, fitness level and what the $180 full-day combo includes. Minimum 4.
- La Leona Waterfall Tour from TamarindoLa Leona waterfall tour from Tamarindo: the river and canyon hike, swimming, difficulty, best season and what the $160 day trip includes. Minimum 4.
- Sloth Tour in Guanacaste: Sloths and Llanos de Cortés WaterfallSloth tour in Guanacaste from Tamarindo: two-toed vs three-toed sloths, how sightings work, the Llanos de Cortés waterfall and the $185 full day.
- Best Tours in Tamarindo: A Local Operator's GuideBest tours in Tamarindo ranked by a local operator: estuary boat, kayak, turtles, horseback and day trips, with the price and length of all 13 tours.
- Things to Do in Tamarindo, Costa RicaThings to do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: beach and sunset, the mangrove estuary, sea turtles, horseback rides, day trips and town life, with local tips.