Guanacaste Costa Rica

Characterized by endless sunshine, pristine beaches, and numerous national parks, Costa Rica’s northwestern province of Guanacaste is always teeming with visitors from around the globe. Bordering Nicaragua to the north, the province is hemmed in to the east by the Guanacaste Mountains, a range of jagged mountains and volcanoes that run 70 miles (113 km) northwest to southeast, eventually dropping off into the massive Arenal Lake. This volcanic mountain range houses a number of steaming calderas throughout its collection of national parks, such as Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, Parque Nacional Guanacaste and the Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio. From monkeys and toucans to jaguarundis and sloths, the region's remote landscape of dry tropical forest is highlighted by an abundance of wildlife.

Further enclosing the region are the Tilarán Mountains, which continues the mountainous barricade south of Lake Arenal where it extends towards the Pacific coast, leaving only a small bottleneck of coastal lowlands. Here, the inter-American Highway runs north of Puntarenas, through Liberia and beyond, providing seamless travel to most of Guanacaste’s attractions. Side roads explore expanses of tropical forest that brim the highway, providing refuge for exotic flora and fauna that ascend into the surrounding highlands.

Historically, Guanacaste had been estranged from the rest of Costa Rica. Once annexed by Nicaragua, the province has been the focus of much politicking. Although Costa Rica ended up with the province at the conclusion of the dispute, Guanacaste, to this day, retains a distinct identity. During pre-Columbian times, the indigenous Chorotega dominated the province, a fact that is visible in the dark skin and round faces of many Guanacatecans.

Flowing south from La Cruz, the Tempisque River—Costa Rica’s largest—bisects Guanacaste, separating the Nicoya Peninsula from Guanacastecan mainland. The white-sand coast that lines the peninsula, often regarded as Costa Rica's most beautiful, is a huge hit with visitors in search of the internationally famed Beaches. Resort development extends southward from the Gulf of Papagayo, in what seems an endless expanse of beach-side accommodations—some offering unrivaled luxury. High end development of this scale can indeed seem paradoxical in the developing world, but such has become of the Guanacaste coast.

The massive Gulf of Papagayo Project, with its aim of developing 2,300 costal acres (930 ha), has catalyzed construction of large resort complexes, Hotels, condos and exclusive Villas along Culebra Bay and southward, along the beaches of Panamá and Coco. The big influx of foreign residents and tourists combined with wide-ranging affluence often bears more of a resemblance to Cancún than typical Costa Rica.

Recent decades of development have transformed the once sleepy coastal hamlet of Tamarindo into a thriving regional hub, well known for its bustling night life. Tamarindo, Guanacaste's largest coastal town, is frequented by foreigners from North America and Europe. The large white-sand Grande Beach, nearby National Wildlife Refuge of Tamarindo and Marino Las Baulas National Park make Tamarindo a favorite amongst beach goers and ecotourists wanting to observe local flora and fauna.

Guanacaste’s largest town, Liberia, serves as the region’s economic and administrative capital. Because of its close proximity to Pacific coast beaches and surrounding national Parks, Liberia is an ideal stopover for visitors looking to experience every facet of Guanacaste. Home to the nation’s second international airport, Liberia is a main access point for many incoming visitors from abroad. Accordingly, Liberia is in the midst of major transformation like much of the Guanacaste coast.