Guanacaste Coast & Nicoya Peninsula Holidays

Costa Rica really does have a beach for everyone, from bustling towns with fabulous restaurants and hip beach bars to laid back surf retreats and secluded coves. The Papagayo Peninsula is the darling of the Guanacaste Coast and the most developed part of this region. This area is easily accessible by road from San Jose or from Liberia airport and here you can find high-end boutique hotels, excellent golf courses and the upmarket Marina Papagayo. A little further along the coast the lively surf town of Tamarindo offers a great choice of restaurants, shops and bars alongside its long stretches of picturesque beaches.

As you travel south along the Nicoya Peninsula the terrain becomes increasing rugged and isolated with towns becoming more difficult to reach (which can be part of their appeal!). Most towns are accessed via bumpy, unpaved roads and the road along the coast is often forded by rivers which flow out the ocean. The coast stretches through the surf mecca of Nosara along to smaller beach towns like Santa Teresa and Montezuma and the sleepy fishing hamlet of Malpais. Visting these towns feels a little bit like stepping back in time (in a good way!) with sandy streets sprinkled with quirky bars and beachfront restaurants. Small but perfectly formed these relaxed hideaways boast gorgeous beaches, fabulous surf and embrace the Costa Rican spirit of Pura Vida!

Alongside the stunning beaches you will also find swaths of jungle, wildlife refuges and lots of marine life. Many of the beaches are protected and are important breeding grounds for several species of marine turtle who return here every year to lay their eggs. With a long dry season and wide choice of accommodation Guanacaste or Nicoya are the perfect place to end a Costa Rica holiday. This stunning region has been designated a 'blue zone' - an area where people live noticeably longer and healthier lives, and once you've visited it's easy to see why.