Things to do in Guanacaste and Northwest
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Guanacaste Airport - Planet Hollywood: Private transferYou’ll skip airport stress with a private transfer from Guanacaste Airport to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort. Your local driver meets you right outside arrivals with your name on a sign, offers chilled water, and handles all logistics—even infant seats if you need them. It’s quiet, comfortable, and gives you a first taste of Costa Rica’s warmth—something you’ll remember long after arrival.
Playa Flamingo: 48ft Yacht with Snorkeling & Water SportsYou board a fully equipped 48ft catamaran in Playa Flamingo and choose your own mix of snorkeling, fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, or tubing over four hours. A naturalist guide and crew handle the boat and gear while you set the pace. Beer, wine, snacks, and all equipment are included; you return when the time is up.Is it for me?Right for families or groups who want flexibility over a fixed itinerary — you pick snorkeling, fishing, water sports, or a mix, and the crew adjusts the boat's route and pace to match. Plan for four hours on the water; that's the window, and it's what lets you fit multiple activities without rushing.
Nosara: Cycling tour with local guide & bamboo bikesYou’ll ride locally crafted bamboo bikes through Nosara’s neighborhoods, river crossings, black sand beaches, and fishing villages with a friendly local guide. Expect stories about sea turtles at Ostional beach and reforestation efforts near Guiones. Finish with fresh coconut water in your hand — one of those little moments you’ll remember long after heading home.
Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour: Wildlife & WetlandsA boat tour of Palo Verde National Park in Costa Rica's Guanacaste region, traveling by minivan from your hotel and then by private boat through marshland and forested areas along the Tempisque and Bebedero rivers. You'll see native and migratory birds, crocodiles, white-faced and howler monkeys, iguanas, and bats in one of the world's best remaining tropical dry forests. Hotel pickup, lunch and an English-speaking guide are included; the tour runs three hours total.Is it for me?The boat keeps you on the water for the entire tour, so you see wildlife without hiking or climbing—a good fit if you want to watch the forest and wetlands from a steady vantage point. A minimum of two paying adults per booking is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Africa Safari Adventure Park Liberia: Animal encounters & activitiesYou spend a full day moving through four different activities — safari, kayaking, horseback riding to a waterfall, and canopy — with a typical Costa Rican lunch included and a certified guide leading the safari portion. All fees are covered in the price, and the park's 100 hectares mean you're not crowded between stops. Book the full-day pass to access everything; the entrance-only ticket limits you to the safari alone.Is it for me?A good fit if you want multiple activities in one location without arranging separate bookings — the full-day pass bundles the safari, water, horseback, and canopy into a single day, which is what makes it possible to do all four without backtracking across Liberia.
Tamarindo Private Zipline, Horseback Riding & Hot SpringsA private 10-hour adventure in Guanacaste combining zipline flights over Rincón de la Vieja volcano, horseback riding through transitional forest, a 420-meter water slide, and cultural stops at a sugar cane farm and pottery workshop, ending with hot springs and mud baths. Pickup from Tamarindo is included, as are all equipment, lunch, snacks and a live guide in English or Spanish; children are welcome from age 4.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack zipline, horseback riding, water slide, cultural stops, and hot springs into one day—the private format lets you move between activities on your own schedule instead of waiting for a group.
Guanacaste: Horseback safari tour with river & jungle wildlifeYou’ll ride gentle ponies through Guanacaste’s rivers and jungle with a local guide who shares stories about monkeys, birds, and butterflies along the way. Expect laughter (and maybe muddy boots), snack breaks under shady trees, and hands-on moments caring for your horse—a day trip you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Tamarindo Catamaran Sailing: Dolphins & Snorkeling TourA private catamaran tour from Tamarindo with a bi-lingual crew aboard a 40- or 50-foot sailing catamaran, running 4.5 hours north along the coast with stops for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in a cove near Playa Huevos. Breakfast or a light meal (depending on morning or afternoon departure) and all beverages are included; the crew handles the boat while you handle the water.Is it for me?Choose the private charter if your group wants to set the itinerary and pace in the cove rather than follow a fixed schedule with other passengers.
Snorkeling at Catalina Islands: Sharks, rays and manta raysSnorkeling at the Catalina Islands is a seven-hour activity where you jump in with an expert guide to search for sharks, rays, manta rays and reef fish around the rocky facades. The guide leads the snorkel in one spot; you bring a moderate fitness level and comfort in the water. Pickup from your hotel, snorkeling equipment, water and snacks are included; the ocean conditions between December and April can be rough, which affects visibility and what you see.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to get in the water with a guide rather than watch from a boat — the snorkel is one spot rather than multiple sites, so the focus stays on what's below. Not the right fit if you're not comfortable in the ocean or if you're visiting between December and April when rough conditions can limit what you see.
Jungle Zip-line Canopy Tour with Guide & Safety GearGet ready to fly above lush jungle treetops on nine different zip-lines, guided by friendly locals who know every twist and turn. Feel the rush of cool air as you glide between platforms, spot hidden wildlife along the way, and enjoy an adventure that’s safe for kids and adults alike. This is your chance to experience the jungle from a whole new angle.
Rio Celeste & Sloth Sanctuary from Tamarindo: Full DayYou hike to Rio Celeste's blue waterfall and swim in the river, visit a 700-year-old tree and a hibiscus labyrinth, stop at a magnetic anomaly, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and spend time at a sloth sanctuary. Private transport, snacks, beers, and a guide are included, and the whole day takes 8–10 hours from Tamarindo pickup to return.Is it for me?This tour is built for travelers who want to see Rio Celeste, swim in it, and visit the Sloth Sanctuary without arranging transport, park tickets, or timing the stops themselves — the fixed itinerary and private vehicle mean you move through the day without logistics getting in the way.
Tamarindo: Rincon de la Vieja Hot Springs & Canopy ComboYou get picked up from your Tamarindo-area hotel before dawn, spend the day zip-lining through the canopy, soaking in natural hot springs and mud baths, riding horses through the park, and sliding down a waterfall — all with a guide, lunch included, and no need to arrange transport or tickets. The early start means you're back by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack multiple adventures into one day without renting a car or figuring out park logistics yourself; the fixed schedule and included transport are what make five separate activities possible in a single trip.
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano Adventure: Horseback & ZiplineA private adventure combo at Rincon de la Vieja Volcano pairs a 30-minute horseback ride to the Colorado River with a zipline run through tropical dry forest, a choice of white water rafting or tubing, and time in volcanic mud paint and natural hot springs. Lunch, bottled water, snacks and beers during transport are included; a guide in English or Spanish meets you at pickup and stays with you through all seven hours.Is it for me?Pick the rafting option if you want the rush of moving water and current; pick tubing if you prefer to float and steer at your own pace. Either way, the combo stacks enough variety—horseback, zipline, river, mud and heat—that the day never settles into one rhythm, and the seven hours hold together as a single arc instead of separate stops.
Playa Hermosa: 3 Waterfalls & Coyotes Cave Swimming Day TripYou swim into two canyons, hike 2.5 miles through jungle to a third waterfall, jump from rocks into pools, eat lunch in a banana plantation, and watch the sunset from a mountain — all on private land you couldn't reach without a guide and a vehicle. Transport, lunch, water and entry are included; bring a swimsuit and waterproof shoes.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see waterfalls that aren't on the main tourist circuit and don't want to spend the day figuring out how to get there — the private land and jungle terrain mean you need both a guide and transport, which is what this trip provides.
Snorkeling at Catalina Islands from Tamarindo: Diverse underwater worldA guided snorkeling activity from Tamarindo to the Catalina Islands includes two separate sessions at different reef spots, gear fitting at the shop, and a live guide in English or Spanish. The boat ride takes 40 minutes each way. Seasonal fruit, cookies, coconut water and cake are provided. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.Is it for me?This is a shared guided activity, so you're snorkeling alongside other travelers with one guide leading both reef sessions. Choose it if you want instruction and company in the water, and if you prefer someone else navigating which reefs to visit and when to move on.
Fishing and Snorkeling Combo on Costa Rica's Pacific CoastA fishing and snorkeling combo on Costa Rica's North Pacific coast pairs inshore trolling for rooster fish, tuna, jacks and snapper with exploration of secluded snorkeling spots accessible only by boat. You board the 28-foot Beluga at 7:00 a.m., fish the waters near Las Catalinas Island, then move to pristine reef sites where resident tropical fish—parrotfish, triggerfish, angelfish, puffers—are the draw. A bilingual guide leads both halves; fishing and snorkeling gear, bottled water, snacks, tropical fruits, juices and beer are included. The trip returns to shore at 11:30 a.m.Is it for me?Book this if you want both fishing and snorkeling in one morning without splitting your day between two separate trips. The shared boat and fixed schedule mean you are with a small group of other anglers and swimmers, all moving through the same two activities on the same timeline.
UTV Buggy Driving Tamarindo: Hidden Beaches & Tropical ForestA UTV buggy activity from Tamarindo where you drive your own Side by Side through dry tropical forest and back roads to reach Playa Minas, Puerto Viejo and Pirate's Bay. You get a 15-minute instruction session before setting off, hotel pickup and drop-off from selected locations, a bilingual guide, water and fresh fruit. The activity runs about two and a half hours and suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.Is it for me?Choose the 2-seater if you want to drive solo and control the whole route yourself; pick the 4-seater if you're traveling with someone and want to share the experience or take turns at the wheel. Either way, you're driving the buggy, not watching from a passenger seat—this is for travelers who want to handle the vehicle on the back roads themselves.
Sea Scooter Snorkeling in Tamarindo: Catalina IslandsSea scooter snorkeling in Tamarindo pairs you with a professional guide for a 4.5-hour outing from Flamingo Beach to Catalina Islands, where you operate a handheld motorized scooter to move faster and farther through the water. The activity includes all equipment, a safety briefing, boat transport from the freediving school in Tamarindo, fruits and drinks, and souvenir photos or video. No snorkeling experience is required; swimmers aged 12 and up can join.Is it for me?You operate the scooter yourself in a small guided group, which suits anyone who wants to cover more reef and move faster than traditional snorkeling allows without the fitness demands of swimming the whole time. If you prefer to stay in one spot or watch from a boat, a different snorkeling option would work better.
Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo: Private Transfer & WiFiA driver meets you at Liberia Airport arrivals with your name on a sign and takes you directly to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The price is fixed for groups up to six people, bottled water and WiFi are included, and you can request stops along the way. For your return flight, arrange pickup two hours and forty-five minutes before departure.Is it for me?Book this if you land at Liberia and want to skip the rental car desk and taxi negotiation — the fixed price and licensed driver mean you know the cost before you arrive and don't have to navigate an unfamiliar road after a long flight.
Costa Rica Private Beach Day Trip & Bonfire DinnerSpend your day exploring three different beaches near Tamarindo—snorkeling if you want, hiking to hidden spots, and capping it off with grilled shrimp skewers by a beach bonfire. Local guides handle everything from pickup to fresh ceviche and gear so you can just relax into Costa Rica’s pura vida vibe.
