Guanacaste

Guanacaste, a province in northwestern Costa Rica, is a tropical paradise bursting with outdoor activities. It has more than 400 miles of coastline on the Pacific Ocean, creating many opportunities for water sports like surfing, snorkeling, fishing or simply relaxing on a beach. Guanacaste has many black volcanic sand beaches, which contrast beautifully with the bright blue water.

Liberia, the capital city of Guanacaste, is home to the recently opened Daniel Oduber International Airport and is an ideal stopover for travelers, as it's close to many activities and attractions. The population is only 40,000 but the city has a great atmosphere and an assortment of great food, bars and entertainment.

Just over an hour drive from Liberia is the city of Nicoya, located on the Nicoya Peninsula and considered the center of arts and crafts for the Guanacaste Province. It was Costa Rica's first colonial city and is home to the oldest church in Costa Rica. People from all surrounding areas come to Nicoya to shop and take care of legal or banking needs, making the city an important, yet still pleasant, part of Guanacaste.

Travelers to Guanacaste are sometimes confused about which province the Nicoya Peninsula is in. Technically, Guanacaste includes the entire Nicoya Peninsula, but because traveling between the northern and southern areas of the peninsula is sometimes difficult, the administration of the three southern counties has been assigned to the Puntarenas Province. So sometimes the Nicoya Peninsula is considered in Guanacaste and sometimes in Puntarenas.

Guanacaste's most developed and accessible tourist town is Tamarindo. It's located on the west coast of the Nicoya Peninsula and is very accommodating to travelers of all types. The modern developments of Tamarindo, such as paved roads and modern restaurants, have not changed the laidback atmosphere or authenticity of the city, making it extra appealing to travelers.

Guanacaste is also home to some sprawling national parks. Rincon de la Vieja National Park, a 34,800-acre park in the middle of the province, has intriguing features such as boiling mud pots, active volcanoes, nine craters, cloud forests and many hiking trails. Santa Rosa National Park, in the northwestern corner of Guanacaste, encompasses ten unique habitats, ranging from dry tropical forest to moist mangrove swamp and is a popular park for camping.