Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula

Beaches, dry forest and the Blue Zone

Sunny and dry for much of the year, the northwest is Costa Rica's beach and cowboy country, with a distinct Guanacaste culture rooted in cattle ranching and folk traditions. Its coastline holds some of the finest Pacific beaches, from lively Tamarindo to laid-back Sámara and yoga-friendly Nosara. Inland, tropical dry forest turns green and loud with wildlife in the rainy season, protected in parks like Santa Rosa. The Nicoya Peninsula is also one of the world's Blue Zones, where residents are known for their remarkable longevity. Sea turtles nest in huge numbers at Ostional, one of the few places on Earth to witness a mass arribada. The region suits beach time, surfing and slow days in small coastal towns.

Not to be missed in the Guanacaste region

the beaches of Tamarindo, Sámara and Nosara
Santa Rosa National Park and its dry forest
the turtle arribadas at Ostional
the Blue Zone villages of Nicoya
surfing along the Pacific coast

Find out more about the guanacaste region

<b>Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula</b> <br> : Beaches, Things to Do, and When to Go

Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula
: Beaches, Things to Do, and When to Go

Guanacaste is the northwestern province of Costa Rica, on the Pacific coast. The Nicoya...

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31 janvier 2019

Unique experiences

Witnessing a turtle arribada

At Ostional, thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore together to nest. Seeing this mass arrival, guided and tightly protected, is a rare wildlife spectacle.