Holidays in Guanacaste

Guanacaste, in northwestern Costa Rica, is a tourist destination of incredible natural beauty where you can enjoy heavenly beaches, grasslands and forests reminiscent of the landscapes of the African savannah, as well as a wide variety of leisure options for having fun on your holiday in Guanacaste.

The Hotel Riu Guanacaste and the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica face the stunning Playa Matapalo, an idyllic beach for getting away from the crowds, practising sports like wind surfing, sailing, snorkelling, canoeing, and enjoying incredible sunsets. And, in these hotels in Guanacaste with all-inclusive service, you'll find the most exclusive amenities for enjoying an unforgettable getaway.

Beaches and nature in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has numerous beaches that will take your breath away with the beauty of their surroundings. On Playa Matapalo you'll marvel at a grey-sand beach and transparent waters in an exceptional natural setting. We also recommend you visit Playa Naranjo, where you'll see Witch's Rock, an impressive rock formation that rises out of the sea, and Playa Nancite to watch the turtles lay their eggs, a wondrous phenomenon the country is renowned for.

In addition to its beaches, Costa Rica offers an amazing natural environment. Excursions are the best option for really getting to know places like Rincón de la Vieja National Park, a protected area dominated by the volcano of the same name, and Santa Rosa National Park, a natural area that encompasses markedly different ecosystems. If you visit Guanacaste, you have to venture into the interior to see the 'sabaneros' (the local version of cowboys) on horseback, who have become iconic figures in popular culture.

You can't go home without getting to know Liberia, the capital of Guanacaste and one of the country's most representative colonial cities, which also has hidden corners that exemplify Costa Rican culture. On its streets you'll find classic adobe and wood buildings with white façades and red roofs, and colonial buildings with beautiful ornamentation. In this charming city, we recommend you visit Calle Real and Parque Central, where the life of the inhabitants is concentrated.

Gastronomy

Costa Rican cuisine won't disappoint you. Amongst its traditional recipes, you'll be able to savour casado, a dish with rice, beans and fried sweet banana accompanied by vegetables, meat or fish; gallo pinto, the typical Costa Rican breakfast, with rice, beans, eggs and banana; tamales, banana leaves stuffed with cornmeal, saffron rice, pork, beans and vegetables; and ceviche, made mostly with tropical tilapia or white bass.

Museo del Sabanero:

'Sabaneros' are the Costa Rican version of cowboys. They are one of the most recognisable figures in the country's popular culture.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park:

This enormous protected zone of Guanacaste is dominated by the volcano it is named after. The natural beauty of its surroundings will amaze you.

Guaitil:

A village renowned for the quality of its pottery. Using an age-old technique, local potters produce lovely ceramics that attract tourists from all over the world.