How do you spend your 3 days weekend? How about short trip to Costa Rica? When I think Costa Rica, two things come to my mind: rainforest and bright blue waterfall (surprisingly no beach). If you fascinated with rainforest and enjoy hiking, Guanacaste province is for you. Below is my suggested 3 days in Guanacaste itinerary.
About Guanacaste
Guanacaste is a sunny province located in the northwest of Costa Rica, known for its breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, and diverse wildlife. Its landscape is a mix of lush forests, rolling hills, and volcanic peaks, providing a home to a variety of animals like howler monkeys and jaguars. The region boasts stunning national parks such as Rincon de la Vieja and Santa Rosa, where visitors can explore hiking trails and discover hot springs. Guanacaste’s Pacific coastline is dotted with pristine beaches like Tamarindo and Playa Conchal, perfect for swimming, surfing, and relaxing under the sun. The province also celebrates its rich heritage through colorful festivals like the Fiestas Civicas and traditional dishes like gallo pinto, offering visitors a taste of authentic Costa Rican culture.
How to get to Guanacaste
Getting to Guanacaste is easiest by flying into Liberia Airport(LIR), unless you’re driving around Costa Rica. Liberia Airport offers international and domestic flights, making it convenient for travelers coming from abroad or other parts of the country. From the airport, visitors can easily access popular destinations in Guanacaste, either by renting a car, taking a shuttle, or using public transportation. The airport serves as a gateway to the province’s stunning beaches, national parks, and vibrant towns, welcoming visitors to explore the beauty and adventure that Guanacaste has to offer.
About this 3 Days in Guanacaste itinerary
Car rental
For a three-day trip in Guanacaste, having a car is a must. While private rides and tours are available, renting a car is the easiest choice. With your own wheels, you have the freedom to go where you want when you want. You can explore hidden spots, stop whenever something catches your eye, and take your time enjoying all Guanacaste has to offer without feeling rushed. So, while other options work too, renting a car makes your trip simple and lets you see everything Guanacaste has in store for you.
We rented from Adobe Rent-A-Car and had a great experience (no sponsorship here as I do not take any sponsored trips) I strongly recommend buying full collision insurance from the company as roads in Costa Rica can be very unpredictable. You will know why soon, so read on.
Hiking
This itinerary is packed with hiking and walking adventures, so get ready to cover some ground – you might end up walking up to 9 miles each day, especially on the first day. Plan to lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails, as you’ll be exploring rugged terrain, lush forests, and scenic vistas. Whether you’re trekking through national parks, ascending mountain trails, or wandering along coastal paths, each step will lead you to breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences.
No beach time – but it can be 🙂
This itinerary currently doesn’t allocate time for beach visits, as our focus has been on exploring the rainforest. However, if you’re interested in incorporating beach time into your trip, there are several ways to customize the itinerary to include it. Keep reading for suggestions on how to tweak the schedule to accommodate beach visits while still enjoying the rainforest.
How to customize this 3 Days in Guanacaste itinerary
4 Days in Guanacaste: Add beach day
If you’re looking for some relaxation , consider allocating one day for unwinding on the beach . If you have only three days in Guanacaste I’d suggest making your second day a beach day instead on Monteverde. Speaking from our experience, while spending 5 hours exploring Monteverde’s rainforest and its flora and fauna was fascinating, we agreed that the hanging bridges in Bijagua were equally impressive and much closer.
Best beaches in Guanacaste
Guanacaste has plenty of beautiful beaches to choose from. Three of the best options include:
Tamarindo Beach: This popular beach is known for its golden sands and excellent surfing conditions. You can reach Tamarindo Beach by car, as it’s located about an hour and a half from Liberia Airport.
Playa Conchal: Famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and unique shell-sand beach, Playa Conchal is a must-visit destination. Accessible by car, it’s approximately an hour and a half drive from Liberia Airport.
Playa Flamingo: Renowned for its stunning sunsets and pristine white sand, Playa Flamingo offers a tranquil retreat for beach lovers. It’s easily accessible by car, located about an hour’s drive from Liberia Airport.
5 Days in Guanacaste: Add a trip to Nicaragua
If you have an extra day in Guanacaste you can do a day trip to Nicaragua! How cool is that?
If you’re considering this adventure, I strongly recommend opting for a guided tour. Rental car companies in Liberia typically don’t permit travel to Nicaragua, making a tour the most convenient option. During our trip, we joined a small group tour from Liberia, making stops at Catarina and the impressive Volcano Masaya. However, I can’t endorse the company we chose, as the tour was quite disorganized. Nonetheless, embarking on a guided tour ensures smooth border crossings, as the guides take care of all necessary arrangements. You can read about border crossing between Nicaragua nd Cost Roca here .
Additionally, tour company arrange for a shuttle to be waiting for you in Nicaragua, streamlining your journey and allowing you to relax and enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics.
Read more : One day in Granada
3 Days in Guanacaste
DAY 1: Hikes, Waterfalls and Hot Springs
Ricon De La Vieja – our first turquois waterfall
Our first night in Costa Rica we stayed in Liberia very close the Liberia airport solely for the purpose of convenience. After picking up our rental around 8 am, we headed straight to Ricon De la Vieja National Park. What should have been a relatively relaxed 1.5 hr drive turned into a real adventure for us when we I decided to follow GPS directions instead of google maps. Eventually we got to the park, got tickets ($15 per person) and headed straight to La Cangreja waterfall.
Important : You need to have your passport to get tickets to the park.
The trailhead to La Cangreja waterfall located right behind the park office. You will need to check in as you head to the hike and check out on your way back as the rangers do a final count every day before the park closure. The trailhead closes at 12-12.30 pm. The hike is about 6.5 miles(6.2 miles according to the park and 6.65 according to my Google watch) round trip, relatively easy with some steep sections. The trail goes throw very different landscapes from wide open meadows to narrow thick forest. The waterfall at the end is just stunning. With its bright blue water and green forest, it looks magical just like fairy tale. It took us some 1.5 hrs to hike it one way and we had the whole place to ourselves for about 20 minutes before other two hikers arrived. It was super tempting to take a dip in the water, but unfortunately swimming is prohibited in La Cangreja. After the lunch with the best view we headed back to the parking lot. As usual, the hike back seemed much faster, but in reality, it took us roughly same 1.5hrs to get back to the trailhead.
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Oropendola Waterfall
This was totally unplanned stop for us, but we both enjoyed it a lot. Oropendola waterfall is not part of the park. You will need to pay separately; the entrance fee was 10$ per person(or free if there is no attendant on duty). Oropendola is also the only waterfall that you can swim in. The descent to the waterfall was very short and easy, about 10 minutes. The highlight of the hike was long suspension bridge.
Hot springs
After the day of hiking we decided to head down to Rio Negro Hot springs to relax. Rio Negro Hot Springs are about 20 minutes’ drive from Orapendola. Unlike hot springs in California or Iceland, Rio Negro are well developed hot springs that consist of variety of warm and hot man made pools, there is also a dedicated mud area. The entrance fee is 20$ that pay for one towel and the locker. The hottest pool is 39C. I absolutely love the hot springs set up, all the pools are made of natural stones and blend organically into the nature. We really enjoyed soaking in hot pools after the day of hiking. The Hot springs are part of Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel. There were barely any people in the pools area and, just like La Cangreja waterfall, we had several pools to ourselves to enjoy – the main advantage of travelling off season.
DAY 2 – Cloud Forest
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
We stayed overnight in Bijagua area in the small guesthouse hotel that has total of 12 rooms. We were the only visitors in the guesthouse. The owner was super accommodating waiting for our arrival outside. Early morning around 6 am we started our 2-hour drive to Monteverde Cloud Forest using offline google maps, not GPS. The drive was fairly uneventful except for couple of super narrow parts where the road was partially closed due to the constructions. We had to backup for about 100 meters on a very narrow road to let the construction track pass by. That was very unpleasant!! The rest of the road was ok with some random unpaved parts, but very drivable.
Night frog tour in Bijagua
“I hate frogs, but I don’t want you to go alone”, she said. And just like that my awesome girlfriend agreed to go on a private rainforest 9 pm night tour with Frog’s Paradise owner, Miguel.
This tour was a highlight of our trip for me. Miguel is super knowledgeable and totally in love with nature, especially frogs. He bought the land and replanted the rainforest on this land. He is the owner of Frog’s Paradise and the main tour guide who runs daily rainforest and frogs tours. Also, he has his “very own” sloth living in his backyard. How cool is that?
DAY 3
Rio Celeste Waterfall
Rio Celeste Waterfall located in Tennorio Volcano National Park. Park open 7 am(sometimes 6 am) until 2 pm, ticket price $12 per person plus additional $5 parking.
When we arrived at the park parking lot, the rain was super heavy and we spend couple of minutes in the car questioning whether we should hike or go back to Bajagua. We decided to see the waterfall, of course. The trail was very wet with a lot of heavy streams crossing. After short 20 minutes’ walk we got to the waterfall.
Two small groups or people were on their way out when we arrived and, as usual during this off-season trip, we had the entire waterfall to ourselves. The rain stopped and the view was just stunning.
Rio Celeste waterfall formed by two rivers merged together to form one large flow. Interestingly, the water only became blue at so called “The Dyer” point, the place where two rivers form one. The water is transparent but looks bright blue due to minerals reflecting the sunlight.
Heliconias Hanging bridges
On our way back to Liberia after visiting Tenorio Volcano Park I realized that we still have couple more hours of sunlight and came up with another “brilliant” idea to see hanging bridges that the owner of Frog’s Paradise, Miguel, mentioned during our Frogs Night tour. I had no clue what was the exact name of the place and where the place is located. I also don’t speak Spanish unfortunately. After several stops at local stores and restaurants and asking people around we were able to get the directions and promptly arrived at Heliconias Rainforest Resort one hour before closing. The hanging bridges trail is owned by the resort. You can get tickets in the lobby, the price is $15 per person
By the time we get to the hanging bridges I had a rainforest overload. I never thought I could happen to me, but after two and a half days hiking under the rain, I became a bit homesick of sunny and dry weather. Another reminder that San Diego is the best place on the earth.
The nature walk is about 2 km long, it should take about two hours, but we finished it in one. We walked over all three suspension bridges but decided to turn around and go back instead of completing the loop as it was getting darker and we started hearing some very loud noises that sounded like dogs barking. Later, we found our that those were baboons… The hanging bridges are about 100 meters long and 30 plus meters high. You walk on the top of rainforest and can see trees canopies. Those three bridges are much more impressive compared to Monteverde Cloud forest Suspension Bridge in my opinion.
We got back to the parking, enjoyed the view of lake Nicaragua from the resort parking lot again and drove back to Liberia to catch the flight home the next morning.
Even though our 3 days in Guanacaste didn’t go to the plan we really enjoyed our trip. Hope our adventure will inspire you to visit Costa Rica.
And here is more about Guanacaste and how to plan a trip to Costa Rica…
What to pack for 3 days in Guanacaste
Here’s a comprehensive list of essentials to stow away in your travel bag. From sun protection to sturdy footwear and everything in between, these items will keep you comfortable, safe, and ready to embrace the beauty of Guanacaste’s landscapes and activities.
- Sunscreen: Protect your skin from the tropical sun.
- Sturdy hiking shoes: Get ready for exploring rugged trails and diverse terrain.
- Lightweight rain jacket: Be prepared for occasional showers, especially during the rainy season.
- Flip flops: Essential for hot springs.
- Plenty of snacks.
- Insect repellent: Ward off pesky bugs while exploring nature.
- Refillable water bottle: Stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Hat.
- Small first-aid kit: Be prepared for minor cuts or scrapes.
- Travel documents: Keep your passport, ID, and any reservations handy for a smooth trip.
Guanacaste seasons: Best time to visit Guanacaste
Late fall, particularly November, stands out as the optimal time to visit Guanacaste, Costa Rica, due to its blend of favorable weather conditions and minimal tourist crowds. As the region transitions from the rainy season to the dry season, November offers a delightful balance of sunny skies and occasional refreshing showers, ensuring lush landscapes and vibrant vegetation.
We visited in early November and loved the weather’s tranquility and the lack of crowds. In fact, we were the only guests at the bed and breakfast in Bijagua, which was a unique and wonderful experience. Having the entire hotel to ourselves allowed us to truly relax and enjoy the beauty of Guanacaste without any distractions. Here is more on different seasons in Guanacaste:
Dry Season (December to April)
Guanacaste experiences its dry season from December to April, characterized by clear skies, abundant sunshine, and minimal rainfall. This season offers perfect conditions for outdoor activities such as hiking, beach-going, and wildlife spotting.
Green Season (May to November)
The green season, spanning from May to November, brings lush vegetation and occasional rain showers to Guanacaste. While rainfall is more frequent during these months, it usually occurs in short bursts, leaving plenty of time for outdoor adventures. This season is perfect for witnessing the region’s vibrant flora and fauna, as the landscape bursts with life. Additionally, the green season offers a quieter and more affordable travel experience, with fewer tourists and discounted accommodation rates.
Transitional Months (April and November)
April and November mark the transitional months between the dry and green seasons in Guanacaste. During these times, visitors can experience a mix of weather patterns, with occasional showers interspersed with sunny days. April sees the tail end of the dry season, while November signals the start of the green season. These months offer a unique opportunity to witness the changing landscapes and enjoy fewer crowds compared to the peak tourist season.
Pura Vida!
