There are so many exciting things to do in the province of Guanacaste in Costa Rica. Finding activities that everyone wants to do on vacation is tough. Especially in this family, we always have some one who wants to be adventurous and then someone who wants to just hang out on the beach and have a lazy day.
Take surf lessons in Playa Tamarindo
One thing you have to do before you leave Costa Rica is surf. Playa Tamarindo is about 1 hour away from Liberia International Airport. It’s one of the most popular things that many Tico’s and Tica’s do in there past time. People also come from all over the world to ride of the waves of Costa Rica. Playa Tamarindo is a great place to learn how to surf especially if you’re a beginner. There are many little shops that offer surf lessons and boards. Prices may vary per hour depending on which shop you go with!
Try a Copo at Playa Hermosa
Copo’s have to be the most delicious thing I’ve had in Costa Rica. Out of all the years I’ve been traveling to Guanacaste, this year is the first year I was introduced to Copos. Copos are what I like to call the “Costa Rican version of a snow cone” but trust me when I say it’s probably the best version. It consists of couple scoops of shaved ice, followed by powdered milk, topped with more shaved ice, a flavor of your choice (they have different flavors but the best is Kola), topped with condensed milk. Yum! \
Zip lining through the jungle
One thing we definitely suggest is a zip lining tour through the jungle. The one we went on was called the Buena Vista Tour in Guanacaste and it was probably the craziest thing we did as a family. You got to hang in the trees of the jungle while zip lining and see monkeys and toucans! It’s so exciting and filled with adventure.
Visit the hot springs – mud baths!
Talk about a natural spa day in the wild! Costa Rica has amazing hot springs and natural spas for relaxation. The ground from the volcano heats the hot springs. A great place to head to would be at Volcano Arenal! There are multiple day trips that you are able to take where you can relax and absorb nature’s finest natural spas.
Visit the beautiful Rio Celeste
One place that completely took our breath away… and (we mean literally!) would be Rio Celeste. It’s an amazing hike through the rainforest in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, which is just an hour away from the city of Liberia in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. I think we actually hiked about 5 kilometers in total and to get down to the beautiful waterfall, we had to go down about 200 stairs and right back up! Talk about a crazy work out! Through the hike, you get to see the beautiful turquoise river and be surrounded by lush forest. It completely takes your mind off of walking which is nice.
Watch the sunset at Playa Grande
Playa Grande has to be one of our favorite beaches to watch the sunset. It is located about 68 kilometers away from Liberia International Airport and a 15-minute drive from Playa Tamarindo. Even to spend the day there with the family and end it off with the beautiful sunset is usually what we do. You’ll never be disappointed with the sunsets at this beach! Playa Grande is also a big surf spot for local surfers. Depending on the time you go, some of the waves can reach over 5 feet high! There are local shops and surfing lessons that are offered.
Hang out in Liberia
Liberia has to be the closest city to where we are located (Playa Hermosa area). The city is only about 20 minutes from Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa. In Liberia, you can have a wonderful taste of how locals live the city life! There are multiple restaurants and shopping to do. You can hang out in the central park and have a picnic, learn about the rich culture, and see beautiful modern churches. Liberia is also home to the Guanacaste Museum, which displays work from local and national artists. It’s a great place to visit and get the true cultural experience.
Party it up in Playas del Coco
Playas del Coco has to be the craziest place to be when it comes to partying. There are great variety restaurants; bars, clubs and shopping to do while you’re there. Some of our family favorite places to hang out would be at the Zi Lounge. They offer a great lunch and dinner and then turn into a club at night. If you’re a big fan of seafood, check out Seafood Papagayo! They have amazing Lobster dishes to devour. During the day, the town is a lot more settle and quiet, but once the sun goes down, that’s when the party begins!
Go Fishing!
One of the most amazing experiences I did on my last trip to Costa Rica was go fishing in the ocean. Fishing was never a thing for me, but when we were able to catch fish such as a Baracuda and a Roosterfish, boy, did my mind completely change. During our fishing excursion, we also got to sea leatherback sea turtles swimming by and a huge manta ray! You’ll have an amazing adventure with fishing in Costa Rica’s oceans. Try it out!
Visit La Cortez Waterfall
La Cortez Waterfall is just located near the town of Bagaces, which is just a half an hour from the city of Liberia. This place is great place to hang out and swim in the exotic pool where the waterfall meets. The park is open from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. it’s a great day activity for family and friends.
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