Our most recommended things to do in Guanacaste

La Fortuna: Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour

1. La Fortuna: Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour

Escape into the nature of the La Fortuna on a guided hike. Walk by the river and follow a trail to a panoramic viewpoint. Have a delicious lunch at a Maluku Indian village and trek through forests, lava fields, and farmlands before relaxing at a natural hot spring resort with a drink. Be collected at your accommodation and be driven to the beginning of the forest walk. Trek on the easy track along the crystal clear La Fortuna river. En route, hop on a tractor cart uphill to a panoramic viewpoint. Spot the next location from a distance then begin the return walk down a jungle staircase. Halfway down is a high suspension bridge to cross. The trail leads further down the huge canyon, which was shaped by a volcanic mega-eruption. Encounter the spectacular La Fortuna waterfall. Be amazed by the lush vegetation on its 70-meter-high walls, the huge volcanic rocks at its foot, and the water splashing down in its massive pool. Bask in its beauty or even take a refreshing dip. Return to the viewpoint then walk down to the little village of the Maluku Indians. Seated in their Palenke (main house), enjoy a rest while listening to an interesting story about their culture, art, and history.  After being active for a few hours, the time has come to relax and enjoy a typical hot lunch. Next to the restaurant is a butterfly garden and frog pond that you can explore until your food is served.  Reenergized, take a 15-minute ride to the park at the foot of the Arenal volcano. Being the trek through the primary forest where you can see huge trees with giant roots. Besides a variety of birds, the forest is host to monkeys, sloths, and coati. Leave the forest and reach the highest viewpoint that exists around the volcano and absorb the most spectacular panoramic views of Lake Arenal, the jungle, the valley, the lava fields, and most of all the Arenal that towers over you.  Conclude your tour at the natural hot spring resort. Relax in its soothing warm water for about an hour and enjoy a complimentary cocktail. Afterward, you will be taken back to your accommodation.

Playa Tamarindo: Sunset Sailing and Snorkeling Tour

2. Playa Tamarindo: Sunset Sailing and Snorkeling Tour

Sail along Costa Rica’s Gold Coast on a sunset cruise, passing Guanacaste’s exotic bays, white sand beaches, and tropical jungles. Gaze off the bow with a cold tropical drink in your hand as you scan the seas for dolphins, sea turtles, flying fish, or even a breaching whale. Stop in a tranquil bay, drop anchor, and enjoy a swim. Snorkel, or take a walk down a deserted white sand beach. While you’re enjoying the sun, sand, and sea, the crew will prepare a lunch of chicken or pasta salad, fruit, chips, pico de gallo, guacamole, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. As the sun sets, you’ll see the ever-changing colors of the sky, while enjoying your favorite drink from the boat’s open bar. Capture the moment to show your family and friends the wonders of a Costa Rican sunset.

From Timarouba: Sailing & Snorkeling w/Lunch & Drinks Ticket

3. From Timarouba: Sailing & Snorkeling w/Lunch & Drinks Ticket

Relax all afternoon on board a catamaran moored in the bay of Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste. Enjoy an open bar and lunch onboard, sunning trampolines, and equipment to snorkel, kayak, or paddle board.Begin your trip with pickup from the beach. Relax as the skiff delivers you to the decks of the catamaran. Gently travel over the crystal blue waters of the Bay of Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where the engine will be used sparingly for a peaceful afternoon on the water.Lay back at the sunning and lounging trampolines of the boat, or take advantage of the equipment on board, including snorkeling gear, kayaks, and paddle boards. Hop into the ocean for a swim, or duck underwater to take in the wildlife below.Next, enjoy a typical local lunch, prepared by a French chef de cuisine, and served on board the catamaran. Rinse off in the freshwater showers on board, then sip on drinks from the open bar. Lay back and take in the warm sun on the sunning trampolines, suspended over the water.Finally, begin the slow journey back to port while you take in the sunset over the waters.

La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour)

4. La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Private Tour)

It’s important to keep in mind that the private tour guarantees no one else will be in your group tour and with the same tour guide at the time you pick. However, there will be other people in the river and in the waterfall by the time we get there because rivers in Costa Rica can not be private. The private tour means that you will have a guide assisting your group only at all times and that you won’t be part of a big tour group while doing the tour Located in Curubandé, Guanacaste near Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. We will walk in the forest next to the Blanco river that comes from the volcano, go around incredible rock formations, cross streams of water, go up small ladders until at the very end we will pull ourselves with a rope inside the water to get into a big cave to see La Leona Waterfall Summary Distance: 2km each way (1.5 miles each way) Duration: 3hrs total from start to finish Difficulty: Treacherous Hike Moderate Level This tour is not an easy walk in the park, This is an adventure hike. What You Get Dry Bags: To take small belongings to the tour Facilities: Changing rooms and bathrooms Life jackets: If you need them they will be available Tour Guides What to Bring? Closed toe shoes (no flip flops ) (Keens/chacos are okay to wear) Shoes with a good grip Extra clothes to change Extra shoes to change Towels

Tamarindo: Dream Chaser Catamaran Sunset Cruise

5. Tamarindo: Dream Chaser Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Discover picturesque secluded beaches on a 5-hour catamaran cruise. Benefit from relaxing lounge areas, an open bar, lunch buffet, snorkeling equipment, and paddleboards. Board the 40-foot Dream Chaser catamaran and cruise along the north coast and, depending on weather conditions of the day, anchor in the secluded beaches of Playa Minas, Playa Huevo, or Piratas Bay.  Jump into the refreshing waters and tryout water activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, and playing with the floaties (noodles). Feast on a delicious home-style buffet and enjoy an open bar where you can get unlimited refreshments, liquor, and mixed drinks.  Lounge on the spacious upper deck while listening to a modern sound system. Cool off in the shaded main cabin, relax in comfortable leather seats, and make use of the free Wi-Fi.  As you head back to Playa Tamarindo, be treated to unforgettable views of the Costa Rican sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Horseback Riding Tour to the Oropéndola Waterfall

6. Horseback Riding Tour to the Oropéndola Waterfall

A guided tour to a beautiful waterfall is a memorable experience. Doing this on horseback makes the experience unforgettable. Your 2.5 hour guided tour will begin at the Hotel Hacienda, where you will mount your gentle and people-friendly horses. You will set out to visit the stunning Oropéndola Waterfall first, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way. Filled with flora and fauna unique to the area it will be a unique experience. During the final part of the trip you will enter the forest in which the waterfall is located. Here you will need to dismount. Though the walk is easy to do by foot, it cannot be accomplished by the horse. In the forest you will find the mesmerizing Oropéndola Waterfall. Standing 25 metres (82 feet) in height, it is just begging onlookers to take a refreshing dip into its depths. Here you may wish to explore the peaceful canyon in which the waterfall is located. After exploring the area with your guide, you will take your time returning to your horse before mounting up again and returning to the lovely Hacienda Hotel. For those looking to fully appreciate the natural beauty of Costa Rica in a relaxed fashion, you cannot miss out on this laid back, yet enlightening tour.

Playa Flamingo: Catamaran Tour and Snorkel With Meal

7. Playa Flamingo: Catamaran Tour and Snorkel With Meal

Your tour begins from Playa Flamingo where you will be shuttled from the shore to one of two boats. The captain will welcome you aboard and brief you on safety features before you set sail for a relaxing afternoon, sailing along the Pacific coast of Guanacaste. You will begin to feel that you are part of a big family as the staff will be at your constant attention offering you drinks, snacks, music, and descriptions of the flora and fauna around you. Halfway into the tour, the boat will stop and you will be offered to partake in some diverse water activities, such as snorkeling, swimming, SUPs, and kayaking or just hanging out at an amazing beach. After your water activities, you will be offered a delightful meal including desserts. Then the music will soothe you as the captain pulls up anchor and begins your slow sail back to shore while allowing the gentle movement of the boat to soothe your soul. The final moments pulling into shore will be livened up with some music to wish you well on your way. The crew onboard is strongly focused on providing you with an unforgettable memory, as soon as you get on the catamaran you'll feel the Pura Vida experience. Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy.

Nosara: Traditional Costa Rican Cooking Class and Meal

8. Nosara: Traditional Costa Rican Cooking Class and Meal

Learn how to cook local Costa Rican food. We will share with you, all our small secrets to get the real traditional Costa Rican taste. A professional chef will help to explain you along the way. We cook everything in a fogón (old wood fire kitchen) with fresh ingredients and love. When you get back home, you can cook delicious Costa Rican food and share the recipe with your friends and family. We will make ceviche, empanadas and homemade juice. When food is ready, we will together enjoy it at the table.

Tamarindo: Afternoon Sailing Tour with Meal and Snorkeling

9. Tamarindo: Afternoon Sailing Tour with Meal and Snorkeling

Enjoy an afternoon sailing adventure of Costa Rica’s Tamarindo coast on the Pacific Ocean, departing at 12:45 from the south end of Playa Tamarindo. Once you have checked in, you will be shuttled to the 40-foot launch boat for the start of your adventure. As the sails are raised, relax in the afternoon sun or find a shaded spot in the saloon as the crew serve drinks. You’ll head north along the coast, enjoying the fresh sea breeze, a cold beverage, and some fresh fruit. About an hour into the trip, anchor in a cove where you can snorkel in the warm tropical waters, kayak, swim to the beach, or just relax on the boat. Break for afternoon appetizers while making new friends. Finally it's happy hour! Pull anchor and raise the sails while the crew eagerly prepares a rum punch, imperial beer, or other beverage to your liking. Dance to a mix of Latin and rock music as you glide across the ocean en route back to Tamarindo as the sun falls below the horizon.

La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Group Tour)

10. La Leona Waterfall Adventure Hike (Group Tour)

Located in Curubandé, Guanacaste near Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. We will walk in the forest next to the blanco river that comes from the volcano, go around incredible rock formations, cross streams of water, go up small ladders until at the very end we will pull ourselves with a rope inside a huge canyon in the water to get into a big cave and get to see La Leona Waterfall. Summary Distance: 2km each way (1.5 miles each way) Duration: 3hrs total from start to finish Difficulty: Treacherous Hike Moderate Level This tour is not an easy walk in the park, This is an Adventure Hike. When booking this tour keep in mind you’re booking a group tour with other people in it. There can be up to 20 people per tour group, everyone with different nationalities and cultures, please be respectful and friendly with everyone in the group.

Add dates

Things to do in
Guanacaste

Top activities

Top sights in Guanacaste

All activities

163 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 11

Immersive experiences

Go beyond Guanacaste

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about Guanacaste

What top attractions are a must-see in Guanacaste?

Other Sightseeing Options in Guanacaste

Want to discover all there is to do in Guanacaste? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Guanacaste

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 903 reviews

This was such a great tour! We got to do so much, but didn’t feel too overwhelming. The waterfall was beautiful! It is a bit of a steep climb down and up (caution for those who may find this challenging), but totally worth it. The lunch was also very delicious with salad, chicken or beef option, and of course rice and beans. The Maluka tribe Time was a great cultural experience. And the hot springs were a great way to end the day! A couple different pools to choose from as well as ending our time with a rum beverage. Our guide Erol was thoughtful, kind, and funny. Our other guide Emanuel really loves his job and you can tell he has fun with it. He would go looking for animals for us and we saw monkeys and sloths. A bonus was that he was a great photographer. Would absolutely recommend!

It was an amazing experience! Our guide Errol from Red Lava Tours was so kind and really good. We trekked through the rain forest on a beautiful trail, saw the vulcano at the view point and swimmed at the beautiful waterfall. We can highly recommend this tour!

Nous avons eu une superbe journée, avec des guides incroyables. La nourriture était bonne et facile de communiquer avec eux pour la prise en charge.

The other group in our party canceled, so we got a private tour with Jorge. He was amazing!

Una bonita jornada junto a Erroll y Miguel, dos excelentes y muy profesionales guías.