Things to do & places to visit in Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Province of Guanacaste #1 destination in Costa Rica 2023. The average rating score is 4.77 based on 73.6k traveler reviews, of 620 attractions. Timezone: America/Costa_Rica, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:48.

Province of Guanacaste Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

90°F - 75°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Very warm, muggy

Feels like

61%

Chance of rain

504.0 millimeters

Amount

8.8 mph

Wind speed

76%

Humidity

12.6

Daylight length

5:19 AM

Sunrise

5:55 PM

Sunset

20%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt, rain coat and rain boots

What to wear

Top things to do (34)

Top destinations in Province of Guanacaste 100

See more 88 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Maleku Tours (2.135 reviews)
- Off the beaten Path- Professional experience!
Sunday: 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM Taxis & Shuttles

We are a company that offers personalized service. After working for 13 years for large tour companies in Costa Rica, we decided it was time to start our own business. We are now able to give our clients the personal service they need to make their stay in Costa Rica a fabulous one. We specialize in packages in the Guanacaste Region but we also arrange tours and packages to other parts of Costa Rica. We would be happy to quote you a price for your customized tour. See more..
5.0 Lazy Lizard Sailing (1.266 reviews)
- Wonderful staff!
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours • Private Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching

Our family of 8, including a 5 year old girl, 11 & 13 year old boys, and a 73 year old grandpa had a wonderful time on the Lazy Lizard snorkeling and sunset catamaran cruise. The drinks were plentiful, the staff was attentive but safe, and the dinner was delicious. One of the staff (Luis?) even went above and beyond throwing on goggles and fins to immediately dive off the boat to retrieve my husband’s cell phone when it fell in the water! We couldn’t believe he actually found it. They took great care of our group and we had tons of fun! Highly recommend! See more..
5.0 Alex On The Beach Costa Rica (1.192 reviews)
- Good, Caring Company but make sure you are very clear on what you will be doing
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Horseback Riding Tours

My sister, mother, grandma, and I were staying at the Andaz resort and, after talking to another guest who went on a tour with Alex on the Beach, we decided to take the boat to Coco Beach. Ever set up our tour and was very helpful. Celso, our tour guide, was awesome! It was a 20 min boat ride through the beautiful Pacific to Coco Beach. Celso taught us about Costa Rica on the way there. When we got to the shore it was apparent that Celso knew just about everyone on Coco Beach! He was very knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations. After taking us to a great shop where we tried amazing local coffee and chocolate, he let us wander around a bit. We got all our souvenir shopping done, had amazing ice cream at this cute Fifties themed ice cream shop where 4 cones cost only $5, and then we went to Celso’s recommended restaurant, the Lobster House, for lunch. The food was incredible and very reasonably priced. I had the lobster and it was delicious! I asked Celso where we could find some salsa dancing and he danced with me! I already knew how to dance but Celso was fully prepared to teach me if I didn’t. We even ended up staying longer than we planned and they did not rush us at all. We were supposed to get back at 2:30 and we didn’t get back to the resort until around 4pm. Overall, we had a wonderful day and we were very happy with our tour! If you are in the area and want to go to Coco Beach, I highly recommend using Alex on the Beach and asking for Celso to be your guide! See more..
5.0 Guanacaste Viajes and Tours (1.091 reviews)
- Great experience
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Taxis & Shuttles • Boat Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

This company was great for getting a cheap and fast airport transfer to and from LIR to the Riu Palace Guanacaste. The driver was as friendly as he could be with a language barrier at times. He was waiting with a sign by the pickup area as soon as we deplaned, He tried his best to be engaging and would stop at times to let us see the wildlife quickly before continuing on our trip. He got us to our resort faster than the people that were able to take the resort shuttle. We could not take that option as we booked through a 3rd party. See more..
5.0 Pacific Trade Winds (1.020 reviews)
- They take care of it all!
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Eco Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, Pacific Trade Winds will take great care of you. They provide excellent communication, recommend hotels that are exactly what you ask for, and work with the most professional service providers for rides, excursions, and more. Totally satisfied! See more..
5.0 Samara-Carrillo Info Center (988 reviews)
- Cheaper and better by booking car through Samara Info Center
Sunday: Visitor Centers

We are a free information center for residents and tourists of Samara & Carrillo and the surrounding area. We offer FREE booking service for accommodations, tours, and transportation. Please feel free to contact us. Thank you, Brenda Be Happy, Have Fun! See more..
5.0 Panache Sailing (942 reviews)
- Beautiful views, relaxing cruise and water sports!
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours • Private Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Stand Up Paddleboarding

Our family of five with 3 teenagers enjoyed the evening sunset Catamaran cruise with snorkeling. The Panache sailing crew were great!! Cruising on the Catamaran was relaxing and while we enjoyed time to snorkel, paddle board, kayak or hang out on the beach the staff prepared some wonderful snacks for us to enjoy on our return trip during the sunset. We booked the Catamaran as a combo tour through Flamingo Adventures and did ATVs that morning. But, you can book directly through their website. See more..
5.0 Costa Rica Best Trips (887 reviews)
- Transfer was terrific...not just the safe ride, but loads of educated info
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Taxis & Shuttles • Boat Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Let me first point out that our driver was not only informative, but a real gem of a guy. I know there are a lot of good tour guides and drivers in Costa Rica. This was our 3rd time and we love going on excursions. I would look to Costa Rica Best Trips as they can work with you better than most. The communication I received was always spot on. They make you feel that you are the most important person! My trip that we used Costa Rica Best Trips was from Coco Beach over to Pondererosa Adventure Park. We were picked up on time and again was always getting updates to verify time and place. It was a real fair price and the vehicle was clean and immaculate. I wish I would have booked more tours with them. They offered many options-even if they didn't show it, they said they could add to an existing tour or accomodate your needs. See more..
5.0 Rich Coast Diving (797 reviews)
- World-class dive shop and team!
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Shark Diving • Boat Tours • Water Sports • Eco Tours

The team at Rich Coast Diving are a truly world-class bunch of people. We spent 8 days diving with them, and had such an amazing experience with the shop owner and guides that I decided to work with them to get my AOW cert. Devon is an excellent dive guide and instructor and inspires confidence and passion in those he dives with. Celine is a wonderful shop owner, who worked with us to change our prepaid package to suit our changing needs, and made sure we had a variety of sites to dive over the course of our trip. The young adults getting their dive master certifications make the dive boats truly lively and fun. The best dive spots in our opinion were The Wall at the Catalinas, Estudiantes, and Sopresa. We couldn’t get enough of these sites, though the rich coast team were the heart of our experience. Special shout out to Devon, Celine, Pino, Ben, Anna, and Lockey for going above and beyond in providing an amazing dive trip for us. See more..
5.0 Mardigi Tours (761 reviews)
- An amazing experience & great value
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

My wife & I did 2 tours with Mardigi ~ Monteverde Hanging Bridges and Coffee Tour, and Hiking Rincón National Park. Cris was our guide for both tours and we couldn't be more satisfied! Cris is an extremely knowledgeable naturalist. On both tours he added value to our experience by bringing his own telescope which allowed us to get a close up view of unique birds of the region such as Quetzal, Toucan, Hummingbirds and more. In addition, he knows his monkeys and showed us troops of spider and white-faced monkeys. On the drive out on both tours he shared the rich history, culture, gastronomy, and microclimates of Costa Rica. The pace of the tour was manageable, difficulty level was accurately described in the brochure, and the meals were delicious. This was a great value and with Cris as our guide we came away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the country. See more..
5.0 ConchalFun (758 reviews)
- ConchalFun is great!
Scuba & Snorkelling • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Fishing Charters & Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

I would like to recommend Andrei at Conchal Fun Tours if you are looking to book an excursion. He must have his phone glued to him at all times because he responds so quickly. I would recommend communicating with him on WhatsApp. Several months before my Son’s wedding we booked several large excursions with him. We booked a sunset catamaran cruise for 50 people, and a Rio Celeste jungle tour for 29 people. He custom designed the jungle tour for us with the trip to Rio Celeste, swimming in Llanos Del Cortes waterfall, lunch, and zip lining. These were all things my son and his fiancée specifically wanted to do. The guides were great, everything went smoothly and just as Andrei had promised. The busses were very nice. And the cost was reasonable. If you have a very large group like we did, you probably want to book this type of thing in advance, and Andrei is the guy to do it for you! See more..
5.0 Issys Tours Costa Rica (728 reviews)
- Excellent company for airport pickup and excursions
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

I have used Issys Tours everytime I have visited Guanacaste, from our round trip airport transport to all the excursions. This is my third trip to Costa Rica. Esteban our driver picked us up from the airport and took us to all our excursions. He was punctual, kind, friendly, attentive, informative, and funny. He picked us up from the airport promptly. He took us to an ATV tour through the forest which was an exciting and great excursion. We had a sunset cruise and snorkeling. The captain Eduardo was a great host and Esteban was there as well to show us around. By the end of our trip he was no longer just our driver, he was now our amigo. I would highly recommend Izzy Tours for anything and everything you have to do in Costa Rica. We could not have asked for a better company to make our vacation perfect See more..
5.0 Serendipity Charters-Sailing Costa Rica (725 reviews)
- Amazing crew, beautiful boat and wonderful service.
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours • Water Sports • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

We had an incredible day sailing with Bismarck and the crew. They created a special morning trip as all of the afternoon sailings were full. Right from the beginning, we were offered snacks and drinks. The wind was perfect and our snorkeling spot was nice and private. One of the crew came snorkeling with us and found specimens for us to look at. He even managed to round up a pufferfish for us. Lots of room to move around the boat and spots on the bow and mid-cabin to sit with cushions. A very memorable experience of our trip to Costa Rica! See more..
5.0 Hacienda El Cenizaro Tours & Adventures (630 reviews)
- Excellent local company
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

Excellent tour with “Popeye” in a 4 seater UTV. He was on the lookout for wildlife the entire ride and the kids loved it! Seeing the Spider monkeys and a howler monkey were incredible! This company is professional and priced reasonable for the time, attention and passion the company puts into their tours. Use them 100%!! See more..
5.0 SCUBA Diving at Summer Salt Dive Center (630 reviews)
- Excellent, friendly and professional family owned dive centre
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Shark Diving • Boat Tours • Water Sports • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Lovely family owned business - this french family were welcoming and professional. Everything ran smoothly and seamlessly. Lovely atmosphere and spirit on our dives! They were very helpful with information prior to my arrival, suggesting suitable accommodation and even moved my refresher course to later in the afternoon when my bus was delayed. Patricia was a fantastic dive master and made me feel safe and supported when feeling rusty. They did not push more expensive dives when the conditions weren’t ideal, recommending local dives. The team expertly showed us an amazing array of sharks, rays, octopus and stunning fish life. I dived with another company locally (rocket frog) for one day but found them to be less professional and less well organised. See more..
5.0 Tico Tours Guanacaste (624 reviews)
- Deep sea fishing
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM City Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

Ian set us up with a deep fishing tour and my husband and sons had the time of their life. I felt good knowing this was a legitimate tour with good equipment. My family wanted to go out very early in the AM and Ian coordinated it with the guide and was very accommodating. They ended up having one of the best fishing days ever, catching red snapper and tuna until there was no room left on the boat. We will definitely be back to try spear fishing! See more..
5.0 Samara Adventures (616 reviews)
- Hiking and Sea Kayak & Snorkeling tours
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Surfing & Windsurfing • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

Very easy to get the info we were looking for with Samara Adventures! The pick up and drop off were a nice touch! We did two tours, the Werner Sauer Preserve hike and the kayak & snorkeling trip to Chora Island. On the hike, Ricardo made every effort to find and point out interesting species of birds and flora, and spent extra time to spot the howler monkeys we heard. Was fascinating to spend time within the dry rain forest on fun hiking trails! Our guide on the kayak and snorkeling trip was so nice, pointed out lots of interesting things and ensured we we safe and enjoying our time. Everything was well planned and prompt. Would highly recommend any tour with Samara Adventures! See more..
5.0 Pacific Coast Dive Center (616 reviews)
- Great Diving Center
Sunday: Scuba & Snorkelling

We had a great experience with Pacific Coast Dive Center. We did 3days (6-tanks) in the Catalinas area, Sombrero and Brumel islands. Our guides were Finn and Inma, just amazing! Great work for both of you! In fact all the Team is working really as a Team. There were a lot of people, some for snorkeling, some just 'boating companions', some for diving and all the Staff was really performing as a Big Team, which made us a very good impression! The diving teams are not more than 4 people guided by 1 or 2 guides (1 master and 1 in training), so even with the poor visibility it was a pretty safe and relaxed dive. Yes, the water is not the Caribbean 28-30'C, but still it was not less than 25 in beginning of March. On our first dive there were pretty often thermoclines or some colder flows, cannot say for sure, but it was the result from the past week bad weather with strong winds. Our next dives were in a steady water temperature of 25-28'C, all of them average of 50min, (never less than 45'). We saw Octopus, big Eagle rays, turtles and many fish schools. It was great regardless the really poor visibility. In fact it was ave of 7m. So, in summary, great guys and Center, great atmosphere, interesting scenery and abundant marine life! Thank you, guys, would love to dive with you again! See more..
5.0 Rocket Frog Divers (598 reviews)
- Advanced Open Water & Nitrox
Sunday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling

Did our PADI advanced open water and nitrox certification here. Martin was a phenomenal instructor despite poor visibility primarily. He was patient, answered lots of questions, and this was a great experience as a whole! The nitrox certification is especially a great deal - $125 per person and there was no charge for any additional tanks. Advanced open water was also affordable as well. Their gear is also is in good condition -- better than the typical rental shop gear (although we did bring our own masks and fins). See more..
5.0 ATV Beach Tours (577 reviews)
- STILL THE BEST !!!
4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours • Day Trips

This is the third time I do this trip!!! Everything was amazing as usual, Jeffrey arrange a nice atv and zip line adventure, this time, he also help us with the Jet ski tour. We highly recommend this company for atvs and any other activities around the flamingo area. One more time thank you very much Jeffrey. See more..
5.0 Tours Your Way (571 reviews)
- Great knowledge and trusted partners!
Sightseeing Tours

Jeff set us up with an incredible fishing guide of Gato Tours Sport Fishing while on our honeymoon at Secrets Papagayo. Jeff was very great at communicating, negotiating pricing options and then ensuring we had a fantastic day on the water. We took a 25’ boat out on daily rough waters using Gato Tours Sport Fishing (Carlos and Mike) and they did an amazing job. We caught 2 Mahi, a 120” Sailfish, Tuna, Mackerel and had such a blast! Mike and Carlos literally did everything, had a cooler of beers, water, and soda, but also had food ready made for us. We were met at our beach resort and they took our fish to cook for dinner later that night. We will absolutely be coming back again! See more..
5.0 Kuna Vela Sailing Tours (539 reviews)
- Pura Vida afternoon!!
Sunday: Scuba & Snorkelling • Boat Tours • Water Sports • Eco Tours

This was a classy and enjoyable afternoon topped with a gorgeous sunset. The boat captain and our guide Andras were kind, polite, fun and generous. They served drinks and beautiful fruit, guacamole and sandwiches which were freshly made. But best of all, when the wind blew a beer can into the ocean Andras took off in the dingy to go back and retrieve it out of the ocean so as not to litter. So impressive. That’s walking the walk. Beautiful day. Pura Vida!!! See more..
5.0 Outback Quads (528 reviews)
- Great Experience and rates!
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Boat Tours • Eco Tours • Gear Rentals

The Outback Quads team really made our trip to Samara something to remember! Their communication and response times were excellent. We didn't do any of their reasonably priced tours as we've been to CR a few times now and prefer exploring the country on our own, so we just went with their very well priced daily rental rates as they only get better the longer you have the ATV. We had a total of 3 couples this time around but only 2 ATVs were available initially given CR's peak busy season (Jan-April). We asked to be kept in the loop though if a 3rd ATV did become available and indeed it did work out that way. Max and Co, thanks so much for allocating a 3rd ATV for us, your rental service truly was the icing on the cake to our trip! Looking forward to another rental with your team in the years ahead as we will be back to Samara :) See more..
5.0 Brother's Adventures Tours (527 reviews)
- Phenomenal experience
Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Boat Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Rolando and his crew (Norman our tour guide and Gustavo our driver) were phenomenal!! We had a great full day experience of the volcanos, waterfalls, mineral baths and rainforest. We could've booked with our hotel...so happy we didn't and booked with them. They accommodated our large party of 32, worked with us on pricing and gave us an unforgettable experience. We also booked a 3 hour ATV tour with this company. It was amazing! See more..
5.0 Point Break Surf School (512 reviews)
- Surf trip Costa Rica
Sunday: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Surfing & Windsurfing • Stand Up Paddleboarding

I’m a keen surfer back home so did a quick google before landing in CR. All the reviews for Andrew and his team where excellent and I had high hopes when I booked him up. He did not disappoint one bit. He took my wife and I to deserted spot with perfect 3ft peeling waves rolling in. We left my wife with one of his other instructors and We paddled our back to catch some of the bigger surf. Warm water, bright sunshine and a great selection of boards. 2 hours flew by. Never ending supply of rights and lefts meant my backside surfing really improved with some extra tips from Andrew. Can’t recommend him and Point Break enough, booked up another day later this week See more..
5.0 C & C Surf School (500 reviews)
- Basically perfect
Surfing & Windsurfing

My wife and I had a surf lesson with Didier, practiced surfing for the following few days, and also rented bodyboards. Our experience with C&C Surf Shop was basically perfect. Didier was an amazing instructor, clear, friendly, but also firm, so we were able to get up on the waves many times during the lesson. The technique he teaches cannot fail if followed, so by day 3 we were catching 8 out of 10 waves (small ones). The whole staff at C&C is kind, friendly, and knowledgable. We found their prices and attitude to be the best around. If you're in Samara I think this is the surf shop to visit! Pura Vida! See more..
5.0 Horse Jungle (478 reviews)
- Beautiful experience
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Nature & Wildlife Tours • Horseback Riding Tours

During my vacation in Costa Rica I went to Samara where I took the opportunity to do 2 days of horseback riding. Horses jungle is a small family company run by a passionate Frenchie. The horses are in good shape and pampered by Mélissa. We left in a small group of 5 people. The horses are very calm and the walks are very beautiful between jungle and beach. We had explanations about the fauna and flora, we observed many birds, monkeys, coati… I highly recommend horses jungle if you want to have a good time. See more..
5.0 Black Stallion Eco Park & Estates (445 reviews)
- Don't miss this place!
Amusement & Theme Parks

Spent an amazing morning at Black Stallion; the owner Alex is a great guy and made sure we had the best experience on his ranch. We originally booked an afternoon ATV and zip line followed by the BBQ dinner but it was rainy season and it was pouring when we arrived at the ranch. Alex suggested we reschedule for the next morning and a BBQ lunch which was smart; it rained for the next 7 hours straight! Next morning we started with the zip lines and while they aren't the longest lines, they are so fun and our family of 3 teen girls and 2 adults loved every minute and felt very safe on the lines. Then we hopped on the ATV's and our day got even better! Up little hills, across shallow riverbeds that got us a little muddy, it was an unforgettable ride. We arrived back and were going to swim a bit in the pool but lunch was ready and it was just the icing on the cake. Truly the best meal we had in Costa Rica and we couldn't believe the amount of food; chorizo and ribs, beans and rice and the yummiest desert. The staff on the ziplines and ATV were incredible (3 weeks back in real life and I can't remember their names, I'm sorry!) and the woman that made our lunch was the sweetest lady and made us feel so welcome and made our bellies happy. Do not skip this place, it was such a highlight of our trip! See more..
5.0 Liberia Shuttle & Tours (428 reviews)
- The Best!!!
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Taxis & Shuttles

We provide transportation of tourism in Costa Rica, we are located in Liberia and San Jose International Airports, we offer private transportation to individual and groups anywhere in the country. Let us take you and show our country, it will be a pleasure for us to serve you! See more..
4.5 Tamarindo Beach (3.590 reviews)
- Surf and shells!
Beaches

What a beautiful beach. I could sit there all day for days and watch the day go by, listening to the locals hock their whistles and see sunsets for weeks to no end. The shells were beautiful to collect on a great walk up towards the boat taxi area... See more..