Getting Oriented
- Bahía Salinas. Haven for kitesurfers with mostly pristine, undeveloped beaches.
- Playa Bahía Junquillal. Bordered by Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge.
- Santa Rosa National Park. Forests and beaches combine for untouched beauty.
- Guanacaste National Park. A biological corridor and migratory passage with hiking trails.
- Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Wildlife, rivers, waterfalls, and mudbaths are the tip of the volcano.
- Liberia. The capital of Guanacaste has an international airport and many shopping centers.
- Papagayo Peninsula. Remote paradise with a bevy of all-inclusive luxury hotels.
- Playa Hermosa. Wide, curved beach with warm waters.
- Playas del Coco. Messy, noisy, and colorful, with lots of dive shops and lively nightlife.
- Playa Ocotal. Quiet and serene; a welcome respite from its noisy neighbor.
- Las Catalinas. Car-free village with utopian beaches and mountain biking trails.
- Playa Pan de Azúcar. An almost deserted strand of tropical beach.
- Playa Potrero. Community with a church, school, and supermarket.
- Playa Flamingo. Boating and swimming wonderland.
- Brasilito and Playa Conchal. Brasilito is cluttered and noisy, a lively contrast to the gated Playa Conchal to the south.
- Playa Grande. Wide, beautiful, pristine, and one of the best surfing beaches. Its Las Baulas National Marine Park protects sea turtles.
- Tamarindo. Funky beach town full of surfers and the best restaurants on the coast.
- Playa Langosta. Tranquil, elegant community with an unsullied beach.
- Playa Avellanas. Lovely spot for anyone who likes sea and sand.
- Playa Negra. A laid-back surfer community.
- Playa Junquillal. Serene, uncrowded beaches and hardly a building in sight.
