Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

In the far north-west of Costa Rica, on the Pacific Coast, you find the province of Guanacaste, a sparsely populated region with a hot and humid climate. This is a region of great natural beauty, of open bays, gulfs, hillside forests and cliffs, of panoramic routes, volcanoes and wild rivers, beautiful beaches of white and golden sands, and clear seas rich with fish and flocks of shore birds. It contains the last remnants of the tropical dry forests which once stretched along the Pacific Coast to Mexico.

The Central Pacific has the closest beaches to Costa Rica’s capital, San José, where you can experience warm waters all year long. Amongst the best known are Punta Leona, Playa Jacó, Herradura, Manuel Antonio, and Playa Dominical.

Manuel Antonio National Park is perhaps the highlight of the region, notable for its white sand beaches, tropical rainforest, large variety of animal life, and hot climate. Manuel Antonio is also home to the white-faced capuchin, mantled howler and red-backed squirrel monkeys, and three-toed sloths, among other mammals, as well as a number of species of birds. Cathedral point and the bay of Puerto Escondido are among the standout features of this park.