Pages on this website may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, Wander for Days may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. For more information, refer to our Privacy Policy.
Exploring the Guanacaste region
Costa Rica is commonly known as one of the happiest countries in the world. Heck, their motto, “Pura Vida,” means simple, or pure life and embodies just about every aspect of life in Costa Rica. When staying in the Guanacaste region, flying into the Liberia airport is ideal. It’s close in proximity and, being a small airport, is super easy to navigate.
Where to stay
After spending a few days in the rainforest, in La Fortuna, we headed back to the northwestern coast of Costa Rica to Guanacaste. That’s one of the special things about Costa Rica… It’s pretty easy to explore the different regions on one trip and experience the different environments that make Costa Rica special.
If you’re traveling without children, stay at the Occidental Papagayo – an adult only, all-inclusive resort. There, your week can be filled with massages on the beach, caipirinhas and chili-guaro shots (local favorite cocktails), adventure excursions and lounging by the pool.
The resort is a bit spread out with a lot of hills and stairs, but there is always a shuttle ready to pick you up and take you where you need to go. Onsite you’ll find:
- 2 swimming pools (1 with a swim-up bar)
- Private beach
- Buffet and international dining options (casual and upscale)
- Spa, Gym, Table Tennis
- Private balcony with every room
Upgrade your all-inclusive package for access to the premier bar and lounge.
Excursions
There are many opportunities to plan excursions that will take you off the property to experience more of Costa Rica. Tour coordinators are available in the hotel lobby and are happy to coordinate activities like a sunset snorkeling trip and kayaking to Pelican Island – right from Occidental Papagayo’s private beach.
If you’re looking to wander farther, reach out to Frank-the-Tank Tours. We cannot recommend Frank-the-Tank excursions highly enough! They are well coordinated, fun and informational.
Tip: If you decide to rent a car in Costa Rica, you’ll have more freedom to get around, but one of the benefits of going with a group is all the extras you experience when going with a guide. Every one of the excursions we took – even those that were just us and a driver – was filled with education about the country and its people, endearing us even more to Costa Rica’s pura vida way of life.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
If you love beautiful waterfalls (and coffee and sloths), consider taking a group tour to the Rio Celeste Waterfall in the Tenorio Volcano National Park with Frank-the-Tank Tours.
After a convenient pick-up at your hotel, you’ll join other wanderers and your guides for a full-day adventure. On our way to Rio Celeste, we stopped a few times to catch a glimpse of local wildlife (sloths, toucans, etc.), as well as a quick stop to see the Llanos del Cortez waterfall.
Getting to the waterfall at Rio Celeste requires a 2-mile hike that includes 262 steps down to the waterfall lookout (then back up those same steps). The view is definitely worth the effort if you’re able to manage the stairs.
Along the hike, your guide with share interesting tidbits about Costa Rica’s flora and fauna, adding even more to the experience.
While you can’t swim at either waterfall, the tour does allow time at a beautiful swimming hole just downstream from Rio Celeste. The water is cold, but so blue and inviting. A perfect break after the hike!
Lunch, coffee plantation and sloths!
After visiting Rio Celeste, this excursion includes stops at a family-owned coffee plantation, a quaint “soda” (local restaurant) where you’ll enjoy a casado for lunch (a typical Costa Rican meal consisting of rice, black beans, plantains, salad and a protein), and a walk through a butterfly garden.
Last but not least is a stop to see the sloths – Costa Rica’s beloved national animal.
Coco Beach
From Occidental Papagayo, you can take a taxi to Coco Beach. There’s not a lot to do there, but it’s worth the ride to experience the local community.
- Browse the the local shops and do some souvenir shopping
- Grab a snack at one (or more) of the local restaurants and bars. We enjoyed an eclectic culinary afternoon, sampling cappuccinos and gelato, guacamole and margaritas, octopus poke and Greek salad, and more caipirinha cocktails
- Stroll along Coco Beach and, if you’re lucky, buy a fresh coconut from a local vendor
The shop owners in Coco Beach are friendly and happy to chat about their country. As happy wanderers, we’ve been to several places around the world, and our list of places yet to go is long. But Costa Rica – with it’s natural beauty, wildlife, welcoming people and Pura Vida attitude – will forever beckon to us to return.