Top Things to do in Province of Guanacaste
Things to do in Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in Province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica including Werner Sauter Biological Reserve, Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary, Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands, Sensoria Land of Senses, International Animal Rescue Costa Rica, Barrigona Beach, dondeJavitours, Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja, Palo Verde National Park, Curu National Wildlife Refuge.
Restaurants in Province of Guanacaste
1. Werner Sauter Biological Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By time4me64 - Seattle, United States
Our guide was Mirjana, who was an excellent guide and highly knowledgeable about the biodiversity in this area. We loved this nature hike and enjoyed seeing the wildlife, which consisted of birds, a tarantula, bats, and the amazing flora indigenous to Costa Rica. This hike was much different from the nature preserve we took in the rain forest where we saw sloths and monkeys, so, for us, we were grateful to go on this hike and experience the rich diversity of Costa Rica. It is a tranquil experience, not an adrenaline rush, and was a good speed for our group ranging from 30 to 65 years-old. We took the morning hike, as we thought it might be too hot in the afternoon. At the end of our hike we enjoyed freshly cut pineapple. So happy we did this tour!
2. Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 213 reviews
Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary is a 50-acre jungle reserve and wildlife sanctuary located in Nosara, Costa Rica. We provide care and rehabilitation to orphaned and displaced wildlife, specializing in golden mantled howlers. Our goal is to ultimately return them back to the wild through our step down release center. We also provide permanent, enriching sanctuary and ongoing care for wildlife that, due to psychological or physical injury, it is not possible to release back into the wild. Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary is currently closed to the public due to the risk that COVID-19 poses to the animals in our care, however we need your help and support now more than ever. Visit our website to donate, symbolically adopt a monkey or learn more about our volunteering program!
Reviewed By sabsnyc - Hamburg, Germany
Vicky the founder of this marvelous place has not lost her spark to talk a out it for more than 15 years. She is so excited about every single details that belongs in that sanctuary from a tree leaf to a newborn monkey. She teaches you a little about plants and trees and also about the animals in her daily life and hoe she tries to get them back up to their feet. I thought it was very inspiring and the money and time spent are definitely worth it . Please donate for a good cause ????
3. Hacienda El Viejo Wetlands
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 281 reviews
Reviewed By SandeeGeislinger - Calgary, Canada
We had a great experience on our last day in Costa Rica at Hacienda el Viejo. Our nature guide Richard, Rum experience host Roberto and Cultural experience hosts, Tono and Victoria were attentive, knowledgeable, passionate and friendly. We booked our tour with them day prior and drove ourselves there from Playa Ocotal, about an hours drive. The road is a pretty typical Costa Rica road and actually in a pretty good shape in comparison to many others we’ve been on in the country. They are called a “Costa Rican” massage for a reason!! We saw so many birds, crocs, bats, birds, capuchins and howlers, and even an anteater and white tailed deer and thoroughly enjoyed tasting and infusing rums, forming, baking and eating tortillas, cheese, coffee and molasses sweets, not to mention learning about the hacienda and a bit of the history and importance of the location, the trees on the property and the road passing by. Oh and the lunch?? Delicious!! All in all a great day and we would recommend it!!
4. Sensoria Land of Senses
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 306 reviews
Sensoria is one of the best gateaway to a Rainforest in Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste. Sensoria is located, as the last farm that neighbors Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. The tour last from 3.5 to 4 hours, walking thru a prestine rainforest, and you can swimming in blue waterfalls and in three thermal pools. You can climb to our Observatory Tree Platform, where, if you conditions allow see the Volcano, the majestic rainforest and lake of Nicaragua. Your senses would be integrated to most beautiful places of Costa Rica's nature. Sensoria is sorounded by Rincon de la Vieja National Park, which was declare World Heritage. because has 3.9% of the wild life of the planet. In Sensoria we would show you with our Ipads, what animals croos Sensoria and the National park, we have eight trap cameras inside the forest. Sensoria has an investigation program with the help o the National Universiy of Costa Rica with its Program "Jaguar". In sensoria yous senses would enjoy the beauty of our jungles. We would provide you: welcome drink, a brief introduction to Costa Ricas's rainforest, walking sticks, water (bring bottle), fruits on the blue waterfalls, peronal guide, that would take care of you and your family, acces to the observatory platform and lunch. Only few groups are allowed per day. Only with prior reservation is admited. Call our reservation phone of ask your concierge to take you to ths fantastic place. Sensoria 'Land of Senses".
Reviewed By idgara56 - Port Dover, Canada
Booked at our resort through Jacamar tours. Pick up at resort early morning for an interesting drive to the attraction (what they call the Costa Rican massage on some bumpy roads for about half the trip). Our Jacamar driver Daniel and Sensoria guide John were both very informative and knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and were very good at spotting wildlife that we would have missed. Blue waterfalls, wet pools and a thermal pool flowing down from Rincon de la Vieja so bring a swim suit. Would suggest being in reasonable shape for the 3 hour hike and a very good bug spray. Nice lunch at the end of the hike.
5. International Animal Rescue Costa Rica
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 158 reviews
International Animal Rescue (IAR) Costa Rica, previously known as Refuge for Wildlife, was established 20 years ago to help protect the wildlife of Costa Rica. If you are curious about the local wildlife, an Educational Visit is the perfect way to find out more. Educational Visits are normally scheduled from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and are limited to 8-10 people. As we are a working rescue center, visits are only possible if you make a reservation in advance (no tickets are issued at the gate). You must be in the country for at least 3 days before visiting us and not have any illness that could put our wildlife at risk (cold & flu). Due to mature subject matter, the minimum age to join us is 7 years of age and children must be accompanied by an adult. A $50 donation per person is required and must be paid at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. 100% of the proceeds go towards the care of the wildlife at our center.
Reviewed By nancybB1499BT - Ucluelet, Canada
While vacationing in Playa Guiones, our family decided to visit this local sanctuary. It was an education on the impact of development on the howler monkey population and what the sanctuary is doing to protect the species. It is a rescue organization as well as a hospital, rehabilitation and sanctuary for a host of indigineous animals. It was a heart wrenching as well as heartwarming experience. Highly recommend.
6. Barrigona Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By 992mariettat
Accessible by 4 x4 vehicle, and a short walk from the parking you have an amazing white sand beach with crystal waters and wonderful trees for shade. Big waves, but swimmable.
7. dondeJavitours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By JohnY699 - Espanola, United States
We kayaked out to Chora Island and snorkeled in the Samara Bay reef with Jarvier "Jarvi" and it was the best adventure during our three weeks traveling in amazing Costa Rica. Jarvi is a really well rounded naturalist and gave us so much information about Playa Samara and Costa Rica in general. He really cares and loves Samara and is a really good representative of his native home. Don't miss this opportunity.
8. Parque Nacional Rincon de la Vieja
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 838 reviews
This 35,000-acre national park centers around a volcano that last erupted in 1995.
Reviewed By Moseywood - Center Valley, United States
Loved Jeody, our guide thru Gabriel’s Tours. He took our family of 6 on a great nature hike, swam in a 55 degree waterfall pool, saw fumeroles and mud pots, howler monkeys, aqua colored butterflies and iguanas. Beautiful park. Picked us up at Dreams Las Mareas resort which is close to Nicaragua and the drive was 1 1/2 hrs. Jeody made the day even better! Fun, very bright and knowledgeable. I would ask for him to be your guide. You will be delighted you did. Tell him Mo and Dave rec. him!
9. Palo Verde National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 433 reviews
The water system in this park sustains the largest population of waterfowl and wading birds in Central America.
Reviewed By davethedrill - Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
A superb private cruise on the river The wildlife on view was amazing Our special interest is birding and our guide and pilot Andreas made this a trip to treasure Thank you too to Roger our driver and second guide You really must visit Palo Verde
10. Curu National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 351 reviews
Privately owned, this refuge has excellent birding and wildlife watching.
Reviewed By Mari245 - San Jose, Costa Rica
This place is fabulous. There is ample opportunity for birdwatching, lots of fauna, nice trails, hordebackriding and two beautiful beaches. My favorite: Curú, even over the white beach of Quesera. We did the horseback trip to Quesera which takes a little over 1 hour one way, two other trails and had the best time staying in the super basic zero frills cabins! Lots of photo opportunities!
