Things to do in Guanacaste and Northwest
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Horseback Riding at Playa Conchal: Private Beach TrailPrivate horseback riding at Playa Conchal with Rigo Tours is a 1.5-hour guided activity where you ride through scenic tropical trails and along the beach with a local guide who introduces you to your horse and leads the route. The horses work by reservation only, receive proper veterinary care and daily rest, and are calm and suitable for beginners, families and children aged 5 and up. Your guide speaks English or Spanish, and the experience includes a visit to the stables, an ocean bath for the horse, and photos taken during the ride.Is it for me?If you're staying near Playa Conchal or have a rental car, this ride works as a half-day activity that leaves your morning or evening free. The private format and small group size mean you set the pace with your guide, and the stables are the fixed meeting point—no pickup service, so plan your own transport there.
Tamarindo & Flamingo: Canopy Zipline Tour with Wildlife SightingYou’ll soar between ancient trees on this Tamarindo & Flamingo canopy tour, spotting monkeys and birds as you zipline high above Costa Rica’s dry forest. With hotel pickup included and friendly local guides leading every step, you’ll end up with dusty shoes, new laughs—and probably a story you’ll want to tell later.
Tamarindo Beginner Surf Lessons with Local InstructorsYou'll spend a private session in Tamarindo's warm water with a local surfer who teaches you to paddle, balance, and catch waves at your own pace. The lesson includes your board, rashguard, bottled water, and hotel pickup. Most beginners catch at least one real wave and leave understanding not just how to surf, but why it matters here.Is it for me?Book this if you want to learn to surf without arranging a board, transport, or guessing whether a group lesson will move too fast or too slow — the private format and included gear mean you show up and the rest is handled.
Sloth Discovery, Río Celeste & Coffee–Cacao JourneyThis 8-hour tour from Bijagua combines wildlife spotting in the Tenorio Volcano area with a swim in the turquoise Río Celeste River and a coffee-cacao farm experience. You'll walk through rainforest with a bilingual guide to find sloths, toucans and red-eyed tree frogs in their natural habitat, swim in the river, eat lunch at a restaurant with a butterfly garden, and learn how coffee and cacao are grown and harvested. Air-conditioned transport, park entry and all meals are included; bring a swimsuit and towel.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see sloths in their natural rainforest habitat rather than in captivity—the private reserve and the guide's knowledge are what make that possible. The swim in Río Celeste and the coffee-cacao farm round out the day with two different kinds of immersion, so you're not standing in one place the whole time.
Half-day mountain tour Nosara: Viewpoints and farm lunchA half-day mountain tour in Nosara that combines ATV access to multiple viewpoints overlooking the mountains and beaches with a visit to a working farm, a hike through coffee plants and fruit trees, and a farm-to-table lunch made almost entirely from crops harvested on-site. The tour includes a live guide in English or Spanish, helmet, and lunch; minimum age is 16. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.Is it for me?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon and want to combine mountain views with a working farm and a meal that comes from the land you're standing on. The ATV handles the travel to the viewpoints, so you spend your time looking and eating, not arranging transport or wondering where the food came from.
Nicaragua One Day Tour from Costa Rica: Active Volcano & GranadaThis nine to twelve hour guided tour departs from Costa Rica and crosses into Nicaragua to visit Masaya Active Volcano, Apoyo Crater Lake and Granada Colonial City, with a bilingual guide, meals, transport in both countries and all border charges included. A minimum of six people is required for a private tour; kids are welcome on the private option only. A current valid passport is required.Is it for me?Book the private option if you're traveling with a group of six or more and have kids along—they're welcome on private departures only. The shared tour works for adults and groups of any size, though the nine to twelve hour drive means it's best for those comfortable with extended time in a vehicle.
Liberia Airport - Riu Palace & Guanacaste: Private Roundtrip TransferYou’ll feel instantly at ease with private pickup at Liberia Airport and a friendly local driver ready to help with bags and questions. Enjoy air-conditioned comfort straight to Riu Palace or Guanacaste resorts—with flexible stops if you want them—and relax knowing your return ride is sorted too. Sometimes, it’s those small moments on the road that stay with you.
Palo Verde National Park Boat Tour: Howler Monkeys & CrocodilesA guided boat tour on the Tempisque River in Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste, where you watch wildlife from the water—howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, crocodiles, herons, egrets, kingfishers and bats—with a bilingual guide who explains the ecosystem and conservation effort. The tour runs two to three hours and includes binoculars, lunch and bottled water; one of the operators will meet you at the jetty.Is it for me?This is a shared boat tour with a guide leading the experience, so you watch and listen rather than navigate yourself—the right choice if you want to learn the names and habits of the animals without doing the spotting work alone. The fixed schedule and included lunch mean the morning or afternoon holds together without you arranging stops or meals separately.
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.
Surf Lesson in Tamarindo: Private, Group & Semi-PrivateA surf lesson in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, taught by local instructors in private, semi-private or group format for all ages and skill levels. Equipment, rashguard, leash and water are included. Lessons run two hours and are tailored to beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers alike. The instructor speaks English or Spanish, and safety protocols guide every session.Is it for me?Book a private lesson if you want one-on-one attention and a pace set entirely around your progress; choose semi-private or group if you'd rather learn alongside other surfers and share the energy of the beach. The two-hour window fits a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day, so you can explore Tamarindo's restaurants and shops before or after.
Guanacaste: ATV Beach Tour with Playa Minas & Hotel PickupYou’ll ride ATVs from Brasilito through dusty forest trails down to quiet beaches like Playa Minas and Bahia de los Piratas. Expect salty air, local guides who know every shortcut, plenty of laughs (and dust), plus hotel pickup and time for swimming or hiking if you want it. You might leave sandy but you’ll remember those views.
Sámara: Chora Island Kayak & Snorkeling with Fruit SnackYou’ll kayak across gentle Pacific waters from Sámara Beach to Chora Island with a local guide, spot iguanas and crabs ashore, then snorkel among rainbow fish and maybe turtles. Afterward, snack on fresh tropical fruit before heading back by kayak — salty hair, sandy toes, and all.
Playa Grande Surfing Lesson: Small Group, Personal InstructionA private group surfing lesson in Playa Grande pairs you with a local instructor who teaches beginners and intermediates in the water for 90 minutes. Your group stays separate from other travelers, and the instructor keeps the ratio small — up to three adults or two children per teacher — so you get hands-on correction, wave selection help, and safety guidance throughout. Surfboard, rash guard, and a safety briefing on land come first; then you practice in the whitewater, building confidence before moving into deeper water.Is it for me?Book this lesson if your group wants to learn together without being mixed with strangers or competing for the instructor's attention — the small ratio and private format mean everyone gets hands-on correction and the instructor picks waves suited to where each person is that day.
La Leona Waterfall Cliff Jumping & Tubing Private AdventureA private full-day adventure combining cliff jumping on the Colorado River, a moderate-to-challenging hike to La Leona Waterfall with ropes and caves, and a 1.5-hour white water tubing run. The day spans seven to nine hours and includes lunch, water, snacks, video of your jumps, and a private guide in English or Spanish. Sturdy closed-toe shoes and a good fitness level are required.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so you move at your own pace with a single guide rather than in a group. It suits anyone who wants to choose their own cliff height and control the intensity of the day without waiting for others to catch up or holding a group back.
Liberia Airport Transfer: Private Ride, WiFi & Flexible StopsYou’ll step off your flight in Liberia and find your name waiting on a sign—a real person ready to help with bags and questions. This private transfer includes WiFi in the van, room for quick stops if you need snacks or groceries, and a local driver who’ll make things easy even if your Spanish is rusty. It’s quiet comfort after travel chaos—just what you need before starting your trip.
Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Shuttle: Private, Flexible PickupYou’ll step off your flight at Liberia airport and spot your name on a whiteboard—no stress or searching for rides. Settle into an air-conditioned private shuttle with drinks and snacks as your local driver shares stories or lets you just soak up Guanacaste’s scenery. Arrive at your Tamarindo hotel relaxed, maybe still thinking about those monkey calls echoing through the trees.
Sunset catamaran Tamarindo: Snorkel and sail the PacificA 5-hour sunset catamaran tour from Tamarindo takes you sailing along the Costa Rican Pacific coast with time to snorkel, paddleboard, kayak or float at a secluded beach, then returns as the sky turns coral and gold. The crew serves a full meal and unlimited drinks, and depending on the season you may spot dolphins, sea turtles or humpback whales. A local crew and rooftop lounge with 360° views set the mood.Is it for me?The boat rocks with the Pacific swell, so if motion sickness is a concern for you, talk to the crew about timing and positioning on deck — many travelers find the rooftop lounge and forward sections calmer than below. The snorkeling and water activities are optional; you can stay on deck or in the lounge the whole time and still have the full experience.
Costa Rica Private Yacht Charter & Lunch from FlamingoYou’ll cruise Costa Rica’s coastline on a private yacht from Flamingo with local crew, fishing stops, water sports gear, and a chef-prepared lunch on deck. Swim or snorkel off secluded beaches, spot wildlife like turtles or dolphins, and relax with cocktails as sunset colors spill across the sea — moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.
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.
Tamarindo ATV and Zipline Tour: 10 Treetop CablesAn ATV and zipline combo tour from Tamarindo puts you on your own semi-automatic Honda ATV (or paired on a double with a driver) to ride through backroads and forests, then sends you 10 stories up into the canopy to zipline down a series of cables above the dry tropical forest. The tour runs 2.5 hours with a trained bilingual guide, helmet, goggles and water included; pickup from your hotel is available on some options, and children from age 4 can ride along on shared ATVs.Is it for me?Book the "ATV Tour with Transportation" option if you're staying in central Tamarindo and want pickup and drop-off handled; choose "Meet at office" if you have your own transport or prefer to drive yourself to the starting point. Ride solo on a single ATV if you want to control the throttle, or pair up on a double ATV if you're traveling with kids or prefer to be a passenger through the backroads and forest.
