Costa Rica’s Gold Coast
Known as the ‘Gold Coast’ for its sunny weather and golden beaches, Guanacaste offers diverse landscapes from volcanic mountains to tropical dry forests and stunning coastline.
Costa Rica's driest and sunniest region
Rincón de la Vieja, Santa Rosa, and more
From surf spots to calm bays
Things to Do
The coastline of Guanacaste is the reason most people come. The region is famous for its long stretches of Pacific beach, from the world-class surf of Playa Grande and Tamarindo to the white sand and calm bays of Flamingo and Conchal, and the tranquil coves around the Papagayo Peninsula. Whether you are after surfing, swimming, sport fishing, or simply the best sunsets in the country, the Gold Coast delivers, and its beaches are all within easy reach of one another.
Pacific beaches within easy reach
Rincon de la Vieja and Palo Verde
Beyond the coast, Guanacaste holds some of the most rewarding nature in Costa Rica. Rincon de la Vieja National Park offers volcanic landscapes with bubbling mud pots, hot springs, and waterfalls. Palo Verde is a haven for crocodiles, monkeys, and birdlife on boat safaris. And Las Baulas National Marine Park protects the leatherback nesting beaches at Playa Grande, where turtles come ashore from October to March. Much of the region forms part of a conservation area protecting the increasingly rare tropical dry forest.
Guanacaste is the sunniest and driest region in Costa Rica. The dry season runs roughly from December through April, with reliable sunshine and warm coastal days. The green season, from May to November, brings short afternoon showers, lush green scenery, fewer crowds, and lower prices, which makes it a favorite of returning travelers. Coastal temperatures stay warm year-round. For a month-by-month breakdown, see our guide to the best time to visit Guanacaste.
Dry season December to April
Most visitors arrive at the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia (LIR), the main gateway to the region, which receives direct flights from many cities in the United States and Canada. From Liberia, most of the beach towns in Guanacaste are within a one to two-hour drive. The airport in San Jose (SJO) is the alternative, but it is a long four to five-hour drive away, so for a beach-focused trip, flying into Liberia is almost always the better choice. Our concierge team can arrange transfers from the airport.
For sun, beaches, surf, and easy access, Guanacaste is hard to beat, and Playa Grande makes an ideal home base within it: quiet and beautiful, yet close to everything the Gold Coast offers. With a luxury villa and a concierge team to help you explore, the whole region opens up from your doorstep.
Browse our handpicked vacation rentals in this beautiful destination.