Things to do in Guanacaste and Northwest
The unmissables
Most booked
Surf Lessons in Tamarindo: All Levels, 90 Minutes★ 4.93 (2,804) · 1h 30m
Top rated
Tamarindo: Rincon de la Vieja Zipline, River Tubing & Hot Springs★ 4.80 (1,567) · 8h–12h
Best value
Diamante Eco Adventure Park Ziplining: Ocean Views & Wildlife★ 4.75 (1,496) · 3h
Recommended (7)
Tamarindo: Rio Celeste Hike, Sloth Sanctuary & Waterfall★ 4.62 (1,178) · 12hUS$ 135View ›
Snorkeling in Playa Flamingo: Sunset Catamaran with Guide★ 4.85 (1,169) · 4hUS$ 95View ›
Guanacaste: Catamaran Snorkel Cruise & Waterslide Lunch★ 4.90 (1,009) · 4hUS$ 103View ›
Catamaran sailing Tamarindo: Dolphins, snorkeling, sunset★ 4.63 (988) · 4h 30mUS$ 90View ›
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall, Sloths & Coffee Tour Costa Rica★ 4.92 (973) · 6h–8hUS$ 160View ›
Tamarindo & Conchal: ATV or Buggy Beach Tour with Local Guide★ 4.89 (926) · 2hUS$ 95View ›
Costa Rica: Diamante Animal Sanctuary Ticket & Traditional House Tour★ 4.60 (877) · 2h–3hUS$ 55View ›Top rated (10)
Tamarindo: Surf Lessons with Video Analysis & Coffee BreakYou’ll start your Tamarindo surf lesson learning technique on land before heading into the Pacific for hands-on practice—wiping out is half the fun here! With a certified local instructor guiding you (and video analysis after), you’ll laugh at mistakes over coffee and leave feeling braver than when you arrived.
Pacific Coast Fishing Charter: Half-Day Mahi Mahi & TunaA half-day fishing charter on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast where you fish for Mahi Mahi, yellowfin tuna, red snapper, wahoo and a rotating list of other species, using mixed techniques matched to what the crew finds biting that morning. The boat carries a trilingual crew (English, Spanish, French), all fishing equipment and bait, bottled water, snacks, fruits and beer; you bring nothing but your appetite and willingness to cast a line. The crew adjusts tactics throughout the four hours to keep the action moving and suit what everyone on board wants to catch.Is it for me?Book this charter if you want to fish in a small group with a trilingual crew who adjusts techniques based on what's biting, rather than committing to a single method for the full day.
Playa Sámara: Family Surf Lessons & Free Board RentalYou’ll jump right into Playa Sámara’s surf scene with friendly local instructors guiding you through every wobbly stand-up and salty splash. Lessons are tailored for all ages and skill levels—rashguards included—and after class you can keep your board to practice as long as you like. Expect laughter, real encouragement, and plenty of sun-kissed moments that linger after you’ve left the sand.
Surf Lessons in Tamarindo: Small Groups, All LevelsSALT Surf As Life Therapy offers two-hour surf lessons in Tamarindo for all skill levels, from brand new to intermediate, with personalized instruction and a low student-to-instructor ratio. Lessons begin with 20 minutes of pre-surf coaching on safety, technique and mindset, then move into the water to practice waves during optimal tides. Instructors speak English and Spanish; children as young as 4 are welcome, though kids 8 and under require a private lesson for safety. You choose between group, semi-private or private instruction at checkout.Is it for me?Book a group or semi-private lesson if you want to build skills alongside other surfers and keep the cost down; choose private instruction if your child is 8 or under, or if you want one-on-one coaching to move faster through the fundamentals.
Cooking Class in Nosara: Learn Costa Rican Food on Wood FireA two-hour cooking class in Nosara where you learn traditional Costa Rican techniques from a local chef, cooking everything on a wood-fired fogón with fresh ingredients. Lunch and natural juice are included; vegetarian options are available on request. Instruction is offered in English or Spanish.Is it for me?Book this if you want to cook rather than watch, and if working over a wood fire instead of a standard stove appeals to you. Small-group classes mean you get direct attention from the chef without the pace of a large tour.
La Leona Waterfall Adventure: Hike Guanacaste Rope DescentLa Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike is a three-hour guided group tour in Guanacaste near Rincon de la Vieja Volcano where you hike two kilometers through forest, cross streams, scale ladders, and descend by rope into a cave to swim at the base of the waterfall. The tour runs with up to twenty people per group, includes dry bags and life jackets, and requires closed-toe shoes with good grip and moderate physical fitness. Children are welcome from age eight; guides lead in English or Spanish.Is it for me?Book this one if you want a waterfall swim that is not just a walk-up—the rope descent into the cave is what makes this hike an adventure rather than a scenic stroll, and it is the moment most people remember.
La Leona Waterfall hike near Liberia: Rope descent into caveLa Leona Waterfall hike near Liberia is a 3-hour guided adventure that takes you 2km into the forest alongside the Blanco River, across rock formations and water crossings, up small ladders, and finally by rope into a cave where the falls emerge. The waterfall sits between two canyons in deep blue water colored by sulfur from Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. This is a moderate-difficulty adventure hike, not a casual walk, and requires a baseline of physical fitness.Is it for me?Three hours is what the route requires, which means you can fit this into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day. The moderate difficulty and rope descent demand a solid baseline of fitness and mobility—this is built for travelers ready for an adventure hike, not a casual walk.
Flamingo Beach: Catamaran Snorkel Tour with Waterslide & LunchYou’ll board a shaded catamaran at Flamingo Beach for a laid-back cruise along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast—with snorkeling gear ready and guides who actually help you spot fish (and maybe turtles). Try the wild waterslide if you’re brave, then refuel with grilled lunch and tropical drinks before drifting back under the afternoon sun.
Playa Grande Surf Lessons: 2-Hour Classes for BeginnersPlaya Grande surf lessons run 2 hours with a land safety briefing, 45 minutes to an hour in the water with your instructor, and a break with fresh pineapple and ice water before a final hour of practice. Maximum 4 students per instructor; children from age 5 are welcome. The beach is a sand walk-out with no rocks, and you'll leave with 150–250 professional photos of your session included.Is it for me?The 2-hour length gives you a full morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, and the high-tide timing means the waves are best for learning. If you're staying in Tamarindo and want to avoid the crowded beach breaks, Playa Grande's secluded sand beach across the water is where the smaller class sizes and calmer conditions make the difference.
Flamingo Beach: Small Group Sunset Sail with Snorkeling & LunchYou’ll leave Playa Flamingo behind on a relaxed 50ft yacht with just 13 guests, sharing laughs with your local crew as you snorkel quiet coves and enjoy fresh lunch with an open bar. There’s no loud party vibe—just ocean breeze, warm light on your face, and time to soak in those last golden moments before sunset.
Lowest price (10)
Guanacaste Airport Transfer: Private Ride from Hotel to LIRYou’ll get picked up right from your hotel in Guanacaste by a local driver who knows these roads by heart. Relax in a clean private vehicle with all insurances covered as you head straight to Liberia Airport (LIR). Enjoy small moments — maybe a chat or just watching the scenery slip by — before your trip home begins.
Liberia Airport (LIR) to Hotel: Private Transfer, No Extra StopsYou land at Liberia, a driver meets you at arrivals with your name, and you're driven directly to your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle with no stops in between. The rate is fixed before you book, and flight delays don't change the plan — they just adjust when the driver arrives. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles and child seats are available on request.Is it for me?Right choice if you land in Liberia without a rental car and want to avoid the taxi stand — the driver meets you at arrivals, the price is locked in, and you arrive at your hotel without negotiating the fare or making unplanned stops.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Ride, Bilingual Driver & Wi-FiYou’ll step off your flight at Liberia Airport and spot your driver waiting with your name—no confusion or stress. Settle into an air-conditioned vehicle with free Wi-Fi and bottled water as you ride safely to your destination. Along the way, enjoy local conversation or just relax as Costa Rica rolls by outside your window. It’s more than transport—it’s your first real welcome.
Liberia Airport (LIR) Transfer: Private Car & WiFiYou get picked up at Liberia airport with a name sign, ride in a private air-conditioned car with WiFi and water, and the driver takes you to your Guanacaste hotel on a set route. Stops for bathrooms or food are available if you ask. Children's seats and wheelchair access are included. The price is fixed before you land.Is it for me?Book this if you're landing at Liberia and want to skip the taxi negotiation and rental car desk — the driver knows where you're going, the price is set, and you can relax or work the whole way to your hotel.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Car & WiFiYou get picked up at Liberia Airport by a dedicated driver at your scheduled time, travel in a private car with WiFi, and arrive at your destination without managing transport logistics yourself. The service is wheelchair accessible and includes specialized seating for infants. Fixed pricing means no negotiation at the curb.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi negotiation and bus-schedule hunting after landing—the driver meets you on time, the price doesn't change, and you arrive without managing the logistics yourself.
Tamarindo Bar Crawl: VIP Entry, Shots & Games Nightlife TourYou’ll jump right into Tamarindo’s nightlife with VIP entry to lively bars and clubs, welcome shots to break the ice, fun games that get strangers laughing together, and unlimited shots between stops thanks to Mr.Shots. Expect sticky floors, new friends from everywhere, and moments you’ll remember long after your voice is gone.
Liberia Airport to Guanacaste Hotels: Direct TransferYou arrive at Liberia Airport, find your driver by name sign, and ride in an air-conditioned van to your Guanacaste hotel. The driver is bilingual and can answer questions about the area and activities. Duration depends on your hotel's location and traffic. No meals included, but pickup and transport are handled without negotiation.Is it for me?Book this if you land at Liberia and want to skip the taxi negotiation — the driver meets you by name, the price is set, and you're in an air-conditioned vehicle heading to your hotel without arranging anything else.
Tamarindo Estuary Boat Safari: Mangrove Wildlife & PickupYou get picked up from your Tamarindo hotel, ride two hours through the mangroves of Las Baulas with a local guide spotting monkeys, crocodiles and birds, and return with water and knowledge of how the estuary actually works. The shaded boat and short drive from your hotel mean no long day of travel — just the wildlife and the water.Is it for me?Right choice if you want to see Tamarindo's wildlife without a long drive or complicated logistics — pickup is from your hotel and the guide handles the spotting. Plan for the tour time to shift based on tides, which is what keeps the estuary conditions right for seeing animals.
Playas del Coco: Coffee & Chocolate Making Class with TastingsYou'll visit a working coffee and cacao roastery, grind beans and cacao by hand using traditional methods, taste multiple varieties, and eat a typical Costa Rican breakfast or lunch. Hotel pickup is included, the whole experience takes two hours, and you leave knowing how to spot quality coffee and chocolate when you buy them.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a real skill and a meal without spending half the day traveling — the location near your hotel and the two-hour format mean you learn something and eat well without losing the rest of your afternoon.
Tamarindo Estuary: Mangrove Kayak Tour & Wildlife SpottingYou paddle through 1,500 acres of protected mangrove forest with a naturalist guide who knows where the wildlife congregates and how the tides shape the day. You'll spot crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas and over 175 bird species, including a rare endemic hummingbird. The tour includes water, fresh fruit and free pickup from your Tamarindo beach hotel, with timing scheduled around the tides for the best paddling conditions.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see Tamarindo's wildlife and mangrove ecosystem without arranging your own boat and guide—the tide-based scheduling is what makes the paddling safe and the animal sightings reliable. Plan for a half or full day depending on the tide window, and bring sun protection and a camera.
