Things to do in Guanacaste and Northwest
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Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Mercedes & Welcome DrinksYou get picked up by name at Liberia airport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with water and beer waiting. The driver tracks your flight in real time, so delays don't mean extra charges or a missing ride. No shared vans, no negotiating at the curb, no wondering if the driver will still be there.Is it for me?Right choice if you're landing at Liberia and want to skip the taxi line and shared shuttle hassle — the driver knows your name and arrival time before you touch down, which is what makes the whole thing feel less like ground transport and more like someone already expecting you.
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.
Papagayo Peninsula: Private Zipline Tour with 17 PlatformsYou’ll feel your heart race as you soar over Papagayo’s dry forest canopy on nine ziplines and cross wobbly hanging bridges with a local guide. With hotel pickup included and all gear provided, it’s an easy way to get your adrenaline fix—and maybe surprise yourself along the way.
Sámara Surf Lessons: 2-Hour Classes & Equipment IncludedYou show up at Sámara beach, spend thirty minutes learning the theory and practicing on sand, then paddle out for two hours of wave-catching at your own level. The school provides board and rash guard, picks a time based on that day's conditions, and keeps groups small enough that your instructor knows what you're working toward. No experience necessary; kids welcome from age three.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn to surf at your own pace without the chaos of a big group — the small-school setup and female-led instruction mean you'll actually feel welcome in the water, whether you're starting from zero or refining what you already know.
Catalina Islands Diving Tour from Tamarindo: 2 Dives & PickupYou’ll start early in Tamarindo, suit up at the dive shop, then ride out by boat for two guided dives at Catalina Islands—with snacks between sites and plenty of marine life along the way. Expect close-up views of rays or turtles (sometimes even dolphins), plus friendly local guides who make everything feel easy—even if your Spanish isn’t great.
Liberia Coffee & Chocolate Tour with Sloths & WaterfallThis private 8-hour tour from Liberia combines a coffee and cacao plantation tour, a wildlife park near Bijagua, and Llanos de Cortés Waterfall, with a 5-minute walk to the falls and easy jungle trails throughout. The guide speaks English or Spanish, pickup is included, and the day ends with lunch at a local restaurant and time to sample the coffee and chocolate you've learned about.Is it for me?The entire day involves easy walking on jungle paths and a 5-minute stroll to the waterfall, with no strenuous hiking required—this suits anyone who wants to see coffee and cacao production, spot wildlife, and swim in a waterfall pool without the physical demand of a full-day hike.
Rio Celeste Waterfall & Sloths Sanctuary from TamarindoYou hike two to three hours through Tenorio National Park to Rio Celeste's turquoise waterfall, then visit Ranitas sloth sanctuary where sloths and toucans are guaranteed sightings. Lunch at a local restaurant with a butterfly garden is included, plus all park entry fees and hotel pickup from Tamarindo. A private guide leads the whole day, so the pace stays yours.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Rio Celeste and sloths without arranging park tickets, transport, or timing the hike themselves — the private guide and fixed itinerary handle all three, and the small-group format means you're not moving through the rainforest in a crowd.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: Private Canyon Swim & LunchYou’ll hike upriver through shaded canyons near Rincon de la Vieja, swim through cool pools with your local guide pointing out wildlife, and reach La Leona waterfall after a short swim. Expect rocky trails and river crossings before relaxing by the falls and enjoying a Costa Rican lunch — it’s an adventure that lingers long after you dry off.
Samara: Werner Sauter Reserve Hike & Mango Tasting TourYou’ll wander through Samara’s rare dry forest trails with a local guide, taste fresh mangos straight from the tree, spot wildlife hiding in plain sight, and hear real stories about life in Guanacaste. Expect earthy scents, quiet moments under big sky, and a sense of resilience you might carry home.
Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: Mangrove Wildlife with GuideThe Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour is a two-hour guided boat journey through mangrove channels within the Baulas marine national park, where a naturalist guide points out local flora and fauna adapted to the tidal environment. The tour includes roundtrip transportation from Tamarindo and Lobster, bottled water, and seasonal fruit; the operator coordinates the exact departure time 24 hours in advance based on tide conditions.Is it for me?The tide schedule means you can't book a fixed departure time in advance, but the operator handles that by calling 24 hours ahead to coordinate—so you don't spend the morning waiting to hear when to show up.
Snorkeling in Tamarindo: Two reef sessions with a guideHalf-day snorkeling in Tamarindo with a professional guide covers two reef sessions near the Catalina Islands (or Cabo Velas if conditions shift), all equipment and snacks included, departing at 6:40 am and returning around noon. The 5-hour outing leaves your afternoon free; children must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by an adult.Is it for me?The 5-hour morning window—departure at 6:40 am, return by noon—leaves your afternoon free for other plans or downtime. If you need a full day of activity or prefer a later start, look for a longer snorkeling trip or a different outing.
Liberia: Zip Line, Waterslide & Hot Springs All-Day AdventureYou zip line through canopy, slide 450 meters into a pool, ride horses or a tractor to a waterfall, soak in volcanic mud and hot springs, and eat a Costa Rican buffet lunch — all in one day with hotel pickup included. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a camera; the schedule packs six activities into the daylight hours without feeling rushed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to pack six different activities into one day without arranging transport, entry fees, or timing each stop separately — the fixed itinerary and included pickup handle all of that, so you just show up and move through the day.
Tamarindo: 3 Waterfalls & Cliff Jumping Private Tour with LunchYou spend the day moving between three waterfalls — tubing, swimming against a current with a rope, cliff jumping at different heights, and hiking through caves and forest. Lunch is included, as are transport, a guide, water and snacks. The main constraint is footwear: you need proper hiking shoes with thick soles, and the tour will turn you away without them. If you show up ready, you're in for a full day of water and rock without the crowds.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full-day waterfall adventure without arranging your own transport, timing multiple stops, or sharing your guide with other groups — the private format and fixed itinerary are what make three separate waterfalls, a rope swim, and a 90-foot jump possible in one day.
Private Surf Lesson Tamarindo Beach: Local InstructorsA two-hour private surf lesson at Tamarindo Beach pairs you with a local instructor for theory on land, then time in the water catching waves suited to your level. The instructor picks your board and rash guard, coaches you through the fundamentals, and finishes with fresh coconut water on the beach. Children from age 3 are welcome; guides speak English and Spanish.Is it for me?Book a private lesson if you want the instructor's full attention on your technique and goals, or choose the group or semiprivate option if you'd rather share the cost and the energy with other learners on the same day.
Costa Rica: Arenal, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio 8-Day TourYou’ll taste fresh Costa Rican coffee on backroads to Arenal Volcano, cross Monteverde’s misty hanging bridges with a local guide, and watch monkeys play along Manuel Antonio’s beaches. Expect daily excursions with pickup and breakfast included—plus time for small surprises you’ll remember later.
La Leona Waterfall & River Tubing Guanacaste Costa RicaYou float down a canyon river in a tube with helmet and life jacket, take a 30-minute rest break in the water, then hike three hours through forest to La Leona Waterfall. At the base, you rope-climb into a cave behind the falls and swim in the pool. Arrive 15–20 minutes early to gear up, and plan for 4.5 hours total.Is it for me?Pick this if you want both water and hiking in one outing without arranging transport or equipment — the gear is provided, and the split between floating and climbing means you get two different kinds of energy in one morning.
Guanacaste: Diamante Eco Park ATV Jungle & Ocean TrailsYou’ll wind through jungle trails on an ATV with a local guide at Diamante Eco Adventure Park in Guanacaste, catching glimpses of the Pacific and stopping to soak it all in. Expect earthy smells, salty breezes, and plenty of laughs along the way—a day you’ll remember every time you see red dust on your shoes.
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.
Snorkeling in Tamarindo: Catamaran with kayaks and lunchThe Blue Dolphin is a 40-foot catamaran that departs daily from Tamarindo at 12:45 pm for a five-hour snorkeling cruise with kayaking, lunch and an open bar. You'll snorkel in warm water for reef fish, rays and dolphins, paddle out on kayaks, and spot wildlife—sea turtles, flying fish, even breaching whales—while the crew handles the boat and the meal. Snorkel gear and instructions are included; transportation from the Westin Conchal and JW Marriott can be arranged in advance for an extra fee.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and Spanish, so you can follow the commentary in whichever language works for you. The five-hour window keeps the day compact—snorkeling, kayaking and lunch all fit without a long commitment or an early start.
Turtle Watching Night Tour at Playa Minas, Costa RicaYou’ll get to see wild turtles nesting on a quiet Costa Rican beach—sometimes even rare leatherbacks—guided by locals who know exactly where to look. It’s peaceful, real, and something you won’t forget.
