Guanacaste Vacation Packages

Eco-friendly explorers enjoy the Arenal Volcano/Monteverde area for its hiking tours, thermally heated rivers, and amazing forest views. On the other hand, beach lovers are at home in the Guanacaste region, which offers gorgeous turquoise water and powdery white sand for an experience in paradise. The Gulf of Nicoya region is made up of fun-loving beach towns with surfers and adventure seekers breaking waves, exploring the forest, and partying on the beach. San José, the capital city of Costa Rica, is home to the country’s cultural dedications, offering authentic shops and the coolest of the country’s youth. 

The beautiful beaches off the Guanacaste coast are more than enough to entertain for hours, but in case you find yourself yearning to be out on the water instead, you can go deep sea fishing.

Score some wahoo, tuna or marlin on a sport fishing excursion from your resort. Guanacaste is known for its famous variety of fish and has plenty of action to keep you entertained. Of course, it wouldn't be Costa Rica without keeping sustainability involved. The country proudly promotes "catch and release" to conserve the natural ecology of the ocean. The Tamarindo, Potrero, and Ocotal beaches are especially popular for deep sea fishing, but with a long coast to choose from, you have plenty of options.

When you’re on the beach in a foreign paradise, you may as well learn something new. Known for their reliability, the waves off the coast in Guanacaste are perfect for learning how to surf. One surf school in particular (Point Break) is highly rated for its lessons on Playa Flamingo, the beach right next to the Rio Guanacaste.

Never boarded? No problem! Cala Luna Boutique Hotel has its very own surf academy, where they can teach even the most novice surfer-wannabes how to catch a wave. 

Wherever you decide to learn, make sure you train before your trip. Surfing takes endurance and a lot of arm and upper body strength. Prepare to be in your best shape before heading out to sea, and you'll be ahead of the game. 

The river that flows into the Gulf of Nicoya, dividing part of Guanacaste from the rest of the country, has a bit of magic running through it.

The Tempisque River starts at the bottom of the Orosí Volcano and winds its way about 100 miles down. It's lined on its east side by the Palo Verde National Park, so you'll get a great view of all the birds living in the forest as you're rafting downstream.

If you're an eco-tourist, don't miss the beautiful mangroves and estuaries on the river, and the crocodiles slithering about are impressive, if you can spot them!

As if the beaches, rainforest, mountains, volcanoes and valleys weren’t enough, Costa Rica also has dazzling waterfalls to impress you. A somewhat still-hidden treasure, the Llanos de Cortes waterfalls cascade down 30 feet, surrounded by lush greenery.

The sight itself is worth the bumpy trail it takes walking through to get here, but it’s common to see families picnicking along the side after swimming in the pool at the bottom. The falls are public property, so it’s free to enjoy; but plan on tipping parking attendants and prepare for a crowd if you take your visit on a weekend.

Despite its small size, Costa Rica has an impressive amount of preserved areas and national parks. If you're planning a vacation in Guanacaste, you're in luck; the Guanacaste province alone is covered in sections of pristine natural beauty that can be admired.

Start with the Barra Honda National Park, for example. You can hike up the trails to the dry forest and explore the limestone caverns it's famous for. Guanacaste National Park in the far northwestern corner of the province has a dry forest that connects to the Santa Rosa National Park on the Pacific coast. You won't want to miss Santa Rosa's preserved beaches. Down south, Diria National Park protects wetlands and 3,000 acres of forest. 

Language: Spanish

Currency: The Colon, U.S. dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted.

Electricity: The outlets are 110 V, with standard U.S. two-prong plugs.

Passport/Immigration: A valid passport is mandatory to enter Costa Rica. 

Drinking Water: The water is potable, but bottled water is recommended in areas surrounding the coast.

Time Zone: Central Standard Time (UTC/GMT - 6 hours)

Peak Season: Dry Season, December - May

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday with pick up times between 6:40AM and 7:50AM.
The tour lasts about 10 hours.

Additional Information: This tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate. Children's rate available for children ages 6-12 years sharing the service with adults. Infants 0-5 years of age are not allowed on this tour. Older than indicated child pay as adults.

This tour is a total adrenaline rush! The system consists of a network of suspended cables that go from one platform to another and that will let you zip from tree to tree over the forest. The platforms were carefully built on ancient, tall trees in the midst of the tropical dry forest and allow you to fly between the trees and to see the wildlife up in the treetops. This is a perfectly safe activity, performed while wearing safety harnesses and other safety equipment that will be provided on-site.

Included:

• Transportation to and from the hotel
• Bilingual guide
• Equipment

Don't Forget to Bring:

• Long pants
• Sunblock
• Insect repellent
• Camera

Hours: Daily, with pick up times between 8:30AM and 9:45AM. The tour lasts about 4 hours.

Additional Information: This tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate. Children's rate available for children ages 6-12 years sharing the service with adults. Infants 0-5 years of age are not allowed on this tour. Older than indicated child pay as adults.

Rincon de la Vieja is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. A towering volcano with nine extraordinary eruption points; at over 6,200 feet high, it is part of the Guanacaste Mountain Range. The name Rincon de la Vieja, means "the old woman's corner." According to a local legend, the indigenous people named the volcano after an old witch who lived at the top of the mountain and sent columns of smoke into the air when she was angry. It is a rigorous but spectacular, breathtaking hike around the area of Las Pailas. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded to live within the park, like emerald tucanets and long-tailed manakins. Amongst the numerous insects, you could count butterflies of the Morpho genus. Three different species of monkeys and other extraordinary animals also know this place as their home. The park protects the largest population of wild purple orchids (Guarianthe skinneri), which is Costa Rica's National Flower. Twisted trees with many branches and epiphytes are also found here; some of them are Matapalos of the Ficus genus, Guanacaste trees, Jumbo Limbos and many other different and glorious species surrounded by magnificent transitional forests. The canopies of this forest reach 132 feet in height. Along the hike, some 32 rivers rise out of this protected area, including the Colorado River and the Rio Blanco, which carve through a white volcanic ash called ignimbrite.

Included:

• Transportation to and from the hotel
• Bilingual guide
• Entrance fees
• Lunch

Don't Forget to Bring:

• Hiking shoes
• Comfortable clothes
• Insect repellent
• Binoculars
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Camera

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday with pick up times between 6:40AM and 7:50AM. The tour lasts about 8 hours.

Additional Information: This tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate. Children's rate available for children ages 6-12 years sharing the service with adults. Infants 0-5 years of age are not allowed on this tour. Older than indicated child pay as adults.

This is definitely a tour for adventurous people; a three-hour Tenorio River ride that will allow you to spot the wildlife and dense vegetation of the region. Along your ride, you will be able to see numerous birds, monkeys and many other species that inhabit the riverbanks. After a couple of hours of driving through scenic countryside roads, you will arrive to where all the action begins. From the starting point, you will embark on a journey that will get your adrenaline pumping and that will bring forth your love for adventure! This experience will let you observe nature at its greatest expression, paddle down the river with old and new friends, work as a team to maneuver in the strong currents and enjoy the amazing views.

Included:

• Transportation to and from the hotel
• Bilingual guide
• Rafting equipment
• Lunch

Don't Forget to Bring:

• Shorts
• Swimsuit
• Water shoes
• Towel
• Change of clothes

Hours: Daily, with pick up times between 6:40AM and 7:50AM. The tour lasts about 10 hours.

Additional Information: This tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate. Those with limited mobility or other special restrictions are not allowed on this tour. Children 0-12 years of age are not allowed on this tour.

From October to May, turtles go ashore to lay their eggs in Guanacaste. Don't miss the Santa Rosa National Park—with a nationally preserved nesting ground, you're sure to get a show. While you're there, check out other sights at the park. There aren't many tropical dry forests left, so you'll want to catch this one.

Grab your cowboy boots and head to the streets of Liberia to celebrate Guanacaste Day. It's a weeklong event that celebrates July 25, 1824, the day the province was annexed from Nicaragua and became a part of Costa Rica.

During this week, the town of Liberia is filled with parades, carnivals, music festivals and fireworks. And what would a party be without food? During the festivities, people gather together to eat authentic food, dance to traditional music and celebrate the honored Guancastecan cowboy culture. 

If you visit the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, make sure to stop and check out Liberia River Canyon. It’s a combination of smooth edged canyons, volcanic rocks, sparkling rivers and lush forests.

You'll fly into Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), also known as Liberia International Airport. It's one of four international airports in Costa Rica and the second busiest, behind Juan Santamaria (SJO) in San Jose.

The flight attendant on your flight will likely hand you a customs form that asks you declare what you're bringing into the country. When you first get off the plane, you'll go to immigration first, and an officer will check your passport. You can then go to baggage claim and after, the customs section.

CheapCaribbean.com has partnered with Amstar as our premier transportation company in Guanacaste. They’ll provide you with safe, comfortable and professional transportation, from the airport to your hotel and back. They’ll also provide transportation to any excursions booked through our site that you’d like to take while you’re in your destination.

Once you clear customs and pick up your luggage, look for the Amstar representative wearing a tropical blue shirt will be waiting for you outside baggage claim and customs holding a sign with your name on it. 

The terrain outside of many of the resort areas is hilly and hard to drive on if you're not used to it. Off site excursions like hiking, horseback riding and ATV tours are available through Vacaciones Barcelo. The company even provides transportation to and from the resort, so you've got a dependable ride to get you where you need to be.