One Week in Guanacaste

What You Should Know Before Going On A Guanacaste Tour

When to Visit Guanacaste

Guanacaste has the driest climate in all of Costa Rica, although it does have a rainy season. The tourist season takes place during the dry season, which falls between December and March.

During this time, prepare for the heat (Guanacaste typically reaches temperatures of 94 to 100 F), but you will also never have to worry about the rain cancelling a beach day. The dry season is also well known for the trees that flower during it, and the monkeys they attract.

If you want to visit during the wet season, we recommend that you still do. You will not only benefit from lower prices, but it's unlikely that you will ever be drenched. The rainy season in Guanacaste usually consists of only partly cloudy days and occasional afternoon shower. You will still be able to visit the beach, probably everyday if you want to!

What to Wear in Guanacaste

Guanacaste is notoriously hot, sunny, and dry throughout its main tourist season, so make sure to dress appropriately. Wearing light, layered clothing, and bringing bathing suits as well as sun caps are musts.

If you are planning on exploring Guanacaste’s natural parks (which you should), make sure to pack some sturdier footwear, like waterproof sandals or sneakers.

Top 3 National Parks in Guanacaste

There are multiple national parks in the province of Guanacaste, and if you have a limited time there, it may be hard to decide where to go. Here is a list of the best parks in Guanacaste:

1. Palo Verde National Park - This park is spectacularly diverse for its size; it is both a wetland and prime example of a tropical dry forest. This park is known for its spectacular birding, and even has a small island called Isla de Pajaros -- or “Bird Island” -- the breeding ground of spoonbills, egrets, ibises, and herons.

The best season for birdwatching is the dry season, when many migratory birds spend their winters in the park. Another popular activity in Palo Verde is mountain biking, and there are many trails throughout the park to explore.

2. Rincón de la Vieja -This massive park has access to both Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and dozens of hiking, cycling, and horseback riding trails. The many tropical forest biomes in the park provide habitat for a variety of animals, include rarer mammals such as kinkajous, jaguars, monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and pumas.

For families and the adventurous, there are also great freshwater lagoons and hot springs throughout the park that are open to swimming, and if you love geothermal activities, be sure to check out the bubbling mud pits!

3. Guanacaste National Park - This park is for dedicated outdoorsmen who truly want to step off the beaten path. Guanacaste is a rustic, massive park with virgin forest, open pasturelands, and a prime destination for wildlife observation.

It is home to a wide variety of bird and animal species, which are able to travel freely between Guanacaste and neighboring Santa Rosa park. There are more scientific researchers in this untouched wilderness than tourists, so if isolation in nature appeals to you, Guanacaste is your park.

Food in Guanacaste

Most restaurants in Guanacaste serve typical Costa Rican fare, meaning rice, beans, plantains and corn are staples in the majority of dishes, along with a solid cup of coffee. However, some of the beach areas in Guanacaste are also popular tourist territories, so you can be sure to find some international and American fare in the region as well.