Matapalo beach

This stretch of grey sand with transparent waters is dominated by some hillocks covered in vegetation. The surrounding area, which has very few buildings, is idyllic and perfect for escaping from the crowds. The lack of entertainment is made up for by privileged nature and an extremely interesting range of activities: windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling and canoeing, amongst others. The sunsets are extremely beautiful, and the soft sand is a delightful place to enjoy them on.

In the Riu Guanacaste hotel, situated on the beach front, we will place all our services at your disposal to ensure you enjoy your holiday to the full.

Liberia

Although it has no large monuments, the capital of Guanacaste is one of the most typical colonial towns of the country. Its intricate network of roads hides pretty adobe and wood houses with white façades and red roof-tiles. One curious feature is the two doors each house has – one at each corner – to create a draught and cool down the inside.

Calle Real is possibly the prettiest street. On both sides of this narrow thoroughfare, you will find elegant colonial buildings with beautiful ornamentations.

Sitting on one of the many benches in the Central Park, the nerve centre of the town, you will witness the town’s daily hustle and bustle. You can also shop here, or enjoy a drink or lunch.

One interesting cultural stopover is the Sabanero Museum. Sabaneros are Costa Rican cowboys. The figure of the sabanero is one of the most recognisable in the country’s popular culture. In this region, which is less humid than the rest of the country, there is an abundance of livestock holdings and grazing pasture land.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

This large protected area is presided over by the volcano that gives it its name, which is still active. On its slopes you will gaze upon a landscape dominated by cones, craters, thermal springs, geysers, steaming lagoons and sinkholes of bubbling mud. The park can be explored on foot or on horseback, and visitors may bathe in the hot water springs

Surrounding the greyish crater, dense forests grow up with a varied mixture of trees: laurel, guanacaste or elephant ear tree, wild tambran, gumbo-limbo or cedars. They are inhabited by large pumas, toucans, humming birds, several species of monkey and the beautiful morpho butterflies. The region is also home to the most significant population of the guaria morada orchid, the national flower of Costa Rica.

África Mía Safari Park

The landscapes of Guanacaste are a reflection of a dry climate. The extensive plains and prairies are reminiscent of African landscapes. The creators of the park have taken advantage of these similarities to launch this project. African animals such as antelopes, zebras, deer, ostriches, giraffes and dromedaries have been introduced and now live freely on the reserve’s 100 hectares. You can see these animals in semi-freedom and enjoy the region’s beautiful panoramic views on safari-type excursions.

Santa Rosa National Park

This enormous natural area lives in time with the rhythm of the seasons. In the rainy season the vegetation flourishes, whilst during the dry season the landscape becomes austere, although it always conserves its famous dry forests. The park covers a huge extension of land, and contains extremely distinct ecosystems within it: deciduous forests, oak woods, littoral forest, evergreen forests, savannahs and mangrove swamps.

On the coast lies the strikingly beautiful beach of Nancite, a laying-ground for Olive Ridley turtles, leatherback sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. And there is also Naranjo beach, where you can see one of the most typical images of the region – the ‘rocas hechiceras’ or enchanting rocks, an impressive crag that rises up out of the sea. Surfers also congregate here, due to the waves that are famous all over the country.

Fishing

The coast of Guanacaste is very rich in marine life, giving rise to an incipient sports fishing industry. There is an extremely varied range of species: marlins, sailfish, tuna, dolphinfish, wahoo and elephantfish, amongst others.

Diving

The waters of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica literally overflow with biodiversity. And in the area surrounding Playa Matapalo there are numerous immersion points where you can come across subtropical fish, giant rays, several species of sharks, dolphins and turtles. Experts prefer deeper immersions and beginners the coral reefs just a few metres from the surface. But in both cases, the area will not disappoint them.
You can also book trips to the Islas Murciélagos, in Santa Rosa National Park, to the north of Playa Matapalo.

Excursions to the interior

The landscapes of inland Guanacaste are unique in Costa Rica. The forests are dry, unlike those of the rest of the country, which are much more humid. There is also an abundance of pasture land and large livestock holdings.

The local cowboys, known as ‘sabaneros’, are part of the landscape and important figures in popular culture. Travelling around the interior, you will be able to see them on their horses, driving their livestock. Rodeos are extremely popular and form part of the fiestas of many towns. Their style is similar to that of North American ones, although the music and atmosphere are markedly Latin.

Many of Guanacaste’s traditions form part of the cultural icons found commonly throughout Costa Rica: musical instruments like the Marimba; recipes such as homemade tortillas; and the ‘punto guanacasteco’, the national dance par excellence, are typical of this region and have been adopted by the rest of the country as its own.

Golf

Four Seasons Golf Club: Situated on the undulations of the Papagayo Peninsula, the club affords fantastic views of the sea at most of its holes. This demanding course, which is in an extremely beautiful natural setting, combines sporting exigency with beautiful picture-postcard images.

Specialities

Fish and seafood: The fish and seafood of the Pacific coast are outstanding: shrimps, lobster (tastier than the Atlantic lobster), snappers and dolphinfish.

Meat: Being the top livestock region it is, the beef, seasoned with spices, is of a very high quality.

Vegetables: Corn is the basis of many of the region’s dishes, such as Guanacaste tortillas and tamales, both sweet and savoury. Yucca, a tuber similar to the potato but sweeter, is found on every table in the country.

Shopping: Ceramics from Guaitil

This town, which is not far from Liberia, is prestigious throughout the country for the quality of its ceramics. Using an ancient technique applied by the Chorotega Indians in the past, local craftsmen manufacture ceramics which can be either black or multi-coloured and are strikingly beautiful.