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Costa Rica is a lush tropical rain forest paradise that’s perfect on any budget. Lavish resort luxury or a low budget beach bungalow can be found here along the sea.   It’s often much cheaper to go on vacation to Costa Rica than the U.S. or Europe. You will find great low-cost restaurants with the best food and cheap drinks. Shopping is even cheaper than dining as the cost of living is much lower in Costa Rica compared to the United States and Europe.

Besides the fantastic beaches and resorts, Costa Rica is a hot-spot for eco-tourism. Nearly one fourth of Costa Rica is covered by national parks & forests. It’s rated one of the best places in the world to Canopy Zip-line and you can enjoy white-water rafting the same day, all while taking in the spectacular rain forest, and exotic wildlife. Outfitters specialized in this area can guide you to the best places (Don’t wander is the Jungle).   You can arrange for hiking & biking adventures, as well as an assortment of aquatic activities like diving and fishing.

Costa Rica boasts coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Your major resorts in Costa Rica are located along the Golfo de Papagayo in Guanacaste, a Costa Rican province that’s located in the northwestern part of the country along the Pacific Ocean just south of Nicaragua. The Guanacaste province covers an area of nearly 4,000 square miles and is the most sparsely populated province in all of Costa Rica. The province acquired its name from the Guanacaste tree which is also referred to as the ear pod tree and is the national tree of Costa Rica. The Guanacaste area is less tropical, humid and exuberant than the rest of the country.   Its plains and dry forests can sometimes remind one of the African savannah landscape. The province is very rich in geography and has spectacular mountains and volcanoes. On the east end of the province, a group of green swathed volcanoes act as a bind and form the cordillera de Guanacaste and cordillera de Tilaran. These steep and beautiful mountains have tumbling rivers which flow down to the flatlands and form a vast plain.

The province consists of very beautiful pristine beaches along with its chain of lovely volcanoes, which make it a very favorable tourist destination. The province definitely has a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, golf, bird-watching, boating, cultural activities, snorkeling, sea kayaking, diving, horseback riding, surfing, sport-fishing, and many more activities that have not been mentioned. Tourists are also attracted by the wide variety of wildlife and exotic plants which are quite fascinating and can be seen in the national parks. The national parks which are found in the province of Guanacaste harbor different species of animals and ancient caves plus other exciting features which will definitely excite you when you go and visit them. They include:

One of the easiest ways to get to Guanacaste is to fly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, the Provincial capital. Also close to the resort area is the Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, Guanacaste Airport (SZC). Taxis are pretty cheap and when you have a city official taxi, that’s the fastest, cheapest, and safest way of transportation. Getting around by bus is the slowest manner of transportation but you’ll find it to be scenic and cheap to get around locally. You can of course rent a car to drive as long as you have a valid driver’s license plus a passport. Usually you are required to get rental insurance. The roads are not the best to drive in some places. If you are willing to spend a bit to save time, you could fly domestically on small aircraft and hop to different points in the country and cut your time of travel by road quite a bit. This is a popular way of local travel among tourists who really want to see different parts of the small country.

So, when’s the best time to go to Costa Rica?   There are really only 2 seasons in Costa Rica: Dry and Wet. Costa Rica is only 10 degrees north from the equator, making the climate hot mostly all year round. The months from mid-November through the end of April are typically the dry months, and the high tourist season. The climate in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica is unique. This is because the province gets less rain and consistent heat during the tourist season. This dry heat is a major tourist attraction especially during the North American and European winter. The remainder of the year is typically your rainy low-tourism season. Between May and October, the climate that is experienced in this province is showers daily with moderate temperatures. Still a great place to visit in the off season to experience it right after a shower.

Not only is the province renowned for its great weather, beached, hotels and resorts but the restaurants in the area that serve great food are plenty. The provincial capital of Guanacaste is referred to as Liberia and here you will find a host of world class restaurants as well as fine casual dining that is simply outstanding food. Most big towns along the coast also host very good restaurants for any budget. This is because fresh seafood is plentiful and quite popular in Guanacaste with most restaurants having menus on seafood. Areas like the Golfo de Papagayo, Tamarindo, Playa Samara and Playa Nosara, all have very good restaurants around the beach area. Hotels and resorts usually play host to most of the good 5-star restaurants in the province. Just ask the locals what is good and you will get great recommendations.

The province of Guanacaste has a host of luxurious five and four star resorts which are perfect for guests who want to have the full hospitality experience that one will surely remember. Some good 4 and 5 star accommodations we recommend include:

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica: The 5-Star Four Seasons spills down a lush coastal hillside to an isthmus of golden sand along the beautiful Papagayo Peninsula. Four Seasons creates an ambience of simple luxury in this pristine natural setting. With two unspoiled beaches, an indigenous spa, fine dining, championship golf, and other luxurious amenities, the Four Seasons offers 5-Star pampering.

The Westin Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal: The 5-Star Westin Playa Conchal is a fabulous all-inclusive resort offering the best in food and service. This extraordinary destination rises from Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches and sprawls the large resort property where ivory beaches and lush forests meet detailed service. The resort offers a world-class destination spa, fine dining, premium beverages, championship golf, tennis, pools, and a tranquil sandy beach.

Reserve Conchal Beach Resort, Golf & Spa: The Reserve Conchal is a 5-Star beach and championship golf resort which offers a vacation experience that is second to none. Its location between the tropical green and seasonal dry forests overlooking the ocean creates a beautiful view that will leave you begging for more. Guest accommodations include five-star-luxury residences and villas boasting beautiful contemporary colonial architecture and sweeping views of the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II golf course and the Pacific Ocean.

Marriott JW Guanacaste Resort and Spa: This 5-Star resort has 310 luxurious guestrooms and is fast becoming one of the most recognized and magnificent resorts in Latin America. Its rich authentic Costa Rican environment offers a serene atmosphere that will ensure you get the best feeling of relaxation while receiving the best service. The resort offers spectacular pools, fine dining, a world-class spa, a pristine beach as well as other guest amenities and activities.

Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort and Spa: This awesome all-inclusive 4-Star resort is located in a secluded bay on the Pacific Ocean at the pristine gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste. It offers a vacation that is all inclusive and is guaranteed to be very memorable especially for honeymooners. Immersed in the lush vegetation and designed in harmony with its backdrop, this All-inclusive Hilton resort offers an oasis of peaceful seclusion.

RIU Guanacaste: The 4-Star RIU is a grand all-inclusive resort & Spa at beautiful Matapalo Beach, on the Pacific Ocean. The resort has 701 guestrooms, sports bar, pools, swim-up bar, fitness center, and plenty of aquatic activities for guests. The RIU is a great family resort as well as couples, and groups resort. The RIU Guanacaste resort offers the maximum in luxury, comfort, dining & drinks for you to experience your best moments of fun and pleasure. The RIU is great value with plenty of activities and fun.