Wide stretches of golden solitary beaches, wildlife reserves jostling with exotic nature, a dry consistent climate, great surfing spots, and an ultra-easy-going atmosphere are the collective traits of Costa Rica‘s northern Pacific coastline.

The Guanacaste coast, nicknamed the ‘Gold Coast’ for all the reasons above, stretches all the way from the Nicaragua border south, eventually becoming the Nicoya Peninsula with the vibrant and principal coastal town of Tamarindo more or less dividing the two.

The dry, steady warm weather of the Guanacaste attracts visitors to its white-sand beaches, the wildlife of the nearby Rincón de la Vieja National Park, the trendy Conchal beach, and the idyllic seclusion of Playa Potrero.

What to do

  • Hiking to volcanoes and waterfalls in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park
  • Sport fishing
  • Surfing
  • Visit the unhurried and rustic villages of Tambor and Montezuma
Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline