Recently the Nicoya Peninsula (most of which is in Guanacaste Province) was given "Blue Zone" status, because the many centenarians found here still manage to live active and healthy lives. It's easy to see why. A province in northwestern Costa Rica, Guanacaste boasts pristine white sandy beaches and a renowned surfer culture. Laid-back and beautiful, it also boasts rare dry tropical rainforests, volcanoes and an interior peopled by cowboys and rodeos. In our collection of the best places to stay in Guanacaste, we've highlighted a great range of boutiques, pampering luxury resorts and ocean-front eco-hotels, all of which are perfect for that tropical seaside escape you've surely been dreaming of!
Stretching from the yoga-loving, underdeveloped beachfront of Nosara to the wilder shores of the southern Nicoya Peninsula, this region is home to a chilled yet healthy pace-of-life. There are plenty of activities available, from golf at a number of courses along the Papagaya Peninsula to the north, great surfing around Tamarindo, and a wide range of adventure sports in the interior. Whether you're watching turtles nesting along the coastline, bird-watching in the Santa Rosa National Park or just lazing in the sunshine on the Playa Azul, you'll fall in love with this enchanting and diverse province.
Where to stay - which town/area?
- Tamarindo is a wonderful town towards the top of the peninsula. Boasting fantastic beaches, watersports like surfing predominate here. During nesting season you can watch turtles lay their eggs on the beach, and there's also an excellent Saturday farmer's market. It's a good place to stay if you want easy access to the rainforest.
- The smaller Nosara, two hours south by road, is less developed, but therein lies its charm. Also popular with surfers, it's renowned for its yoga retreats and the Ostional Wildlife Refuge for turtles, who hatch on its black volcanic sands year round, though they peak between August and December.
- Nicoya Peninsula in general is ideal for hikers and bird-watchers, and boasts another important wildlife refuge in the Diria National Park.
In summary, Guanacaste and in particular the Nicoya Peninsula (all but its most southern end is in the province - for further resorts and hotels at its southern end, see our Best Places to Stay in Puntarenas) is a mesmerising region of enchanting natural beauty, attracting surfers, hikers and those just looking to escape. However, Costa Rica is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, so if you don't want to be disappointed, we advise you book your choice of the best places to stay in Guanacaste as soon as possible.