Things to do in Guanacaste

Palo Verde National Park Tour with River Tempisque Cruise

Nourished by the River Tempisque, the fertile lands of Palo Verde National Park provide sanctuary to a mind-boggling line-up of exotic birds and other wildlife. This tour gives you exclusive access to the reserve, world-renowned for its biodiversity and natural beauty. Jose, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Palo Verde is home to around 280 different species of birds, but the most common are waterfowl and forest birds – there's an estimated 50,000 of them living there.'Your adventure kicks off with a cruise down the Tempisque. And being the only boat out on the river at this time of day means you'll have it all to yourself. What better way to get up close to wild animals in their natural habitat? You'll enjoy unobscured views of a multitude of nesting birds – there's a vast number of heron species – howler monkeys, iguanas and even crocodiles basking on the riverbanks.Next, you'll witness and partake in a ‘trapiche' – the centuries-old sugarcane processing method. Learn to prepare your own local snacks such as tortilla, washed down with a cup of world-famous Costa Rican coffee. Then, it's off to Casa de Sabaneros for a taste of cowboy culture. Thanks to their sun-leathered skin and wide-brimmed hats, the sabaneros – also known as the ‘cowboys of Guanacaste' – evoke the Old West. You'll meet the cattle-ranching community and learn all there is to know about horsemanship. What's more, your visit contributes directly to the ranch's upkeep.

Pura Vida Sunset Cruise

See a Costa Rican sunset in style with an evening aboard a swanky sailboat. But before watching nature's nightly show, you'll spend the day sailing by beautiful beaches and dropping anchor to swim, snorkel and explore onshore. What's more, there'll be premium drinks and snacks served throughout, plus a tasty lunch on board.

Rincon de La Vieja National Park Tour

Costa Rica is a country bursting with natural beauty – but the Rincón de la Vieja National Park stands out from the crowd. Set off into the great outdoors and wander through the ever-changing landscapes, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – it's prime nature spotting territory. After passing by the park's namesake volcano, you'll arrive at Oropendola waterfall for a refreshing dip, before finishing up with a delicious lunch.

Sky Walk Monteverde Tour

Set high in the canopy of the spectacular cloud forest, you'll find the world-famous Sky Walk Monteverde – a network of wooden suspension bridges, some as long as 170 metres and raised up to 60 metres above the forest floor.Enjoy unhindered views of the tropical ecosystem as your guide brings the forest to life by keeping an expertly trained eye out for wildlife – from chattering monkeys and elusive sloths, to the famous quetzal bird. Then, after exploring the treetops, you'll head for a freshly prepared lunch.Costa Rica is world-renowned for its fantastic coffee, and a trip to Monteverde would not be complete without experiencing some of the best coffee that the country produces. At the Don Juan coffee plantation, you'll witness how the beans are picked on the mountains of Monteverde, ultimately arriving in your coffee cup on the breakfast table.

Two-day tour Nicaragua with overnight stay

Pack your bags for a two-day adventure in Nicaragua, starting with a tasty Costa Rican breakfast to fuel day one in Granada. Here, you'll marvel at the Spanish colonial architecture, enjoy a photo frenzy at the Mirador Catarina viewpoint, and explore Masaya National Park. After some evening free time, unwind at the La Gran Francia hotel, ready for day two. Enjoy breakfast before a fun boat tour of the islets, then head to San Juan del Sur to relax on the beach and capture epic pics from the Cristo de la Misericordia viewpoint.

Arenal Mistico Park Hanging Bridges Tour

One of the best nature trails in Costa Rica, this hiking tour near Arenal volcano is a blockbuster. You'll observe endemic flora and fauna up close, cross a hanging bridge over the rainforest canopy and visit one of the country's most famous hot springs. A local food tasting is also included.

Sloth Adventure Tour

Set off on an adventure in Costa Rica's great outdoors with a tour that ticks off waterfall swims, wildlife-spotting and more. You'll trek into the jungle searching for sloths, splash around in the pools of a thundering waterfall and feast on a typical local lunch. Then, you'll delve into the heart of some of Costa Rica's most famous exports – coffee and cocoa – with tastings of both.

River Tenorio Whitewater Rafting

‘Left', ‘right', ‘get down' – no, not an aggressive gym instructor but what you'll hear as you make your way down the River Tenorio rapids. This whitewater rafting tour is Costa Rica at its best – action and adventure in the wild.

Palo Verde River Ride

This boat trip on the River Tempisque gives you a taster of the vast Palo Verde National Park. You'll have the chance to discover its biodiverse habitats and observe animals such as crocodiles and monkeys.Palo Verde is on such a scale that it covers terrains as diverse as swamps, savannahs and rainforests. The river stretches for 144km through the park and is by far the longest in Costa Rica. As you cruise along its waters, your guide will point out wildlife including white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, snakes, iguanas and bats. Look out for the eyes of crocodiles peeking out from beneath the murky waters, too.It's also a paradise for birdwatchers. More than 300 types of birds have been seen in the park, including flamingos, herons, spoonbills, toucans and eagles. You'll also visit a typical farm and savour a local delicacy.

Sensoria Rainforest Hiking Tour

The northeastern slope of Rincón de la Vieja volcano is swathed in rainforest. And it makes for some of the most exotic hiking trails in Costa Rica. Trek through an exclusive private estate packed with wildlife and endemic flora. You may even get the chance to bathe in a thermal stream. A traditional local lunch is also included. As you hike through the jungle, you'll reach waterfalls, streams and thermal springs, and see colourful orchids and wildlife. Here, tapirs, howler monkeys and pumas roam freely. You'll visit waterfalls – some tinted electric blue – before reaching the hot springs. Depending on the season, you can slide into the warm volcanic water.

Costa Rican Savannah Safari and Wildlife Tour

Because a quarter of Costa Rica is protected rainforest, you've got national parks, wildlife havens and nature reserves on tap. This adventure safari sees you journeying through savannah covered in velvety-green vegetation to swim under a tropical waterfall and visiting a private wildlife park to hand-feed giraffes, zebras and more.There are two ways to enjoy this exotic hideaway – a self-drive experience in a 4x4 or a private vehicle with a driver-guide. Either way, you'll get to explore the reserve, seeing the hundreds of wild animals up close and swimming in the pool below the plunging waters of La Perla waterfall.If you choose the self-drive option, you can stop in when you want and where you want while with the guided tour, you'll get the lowdown on local culture as well as the park and its animals from the knowledgeable driver.

Rum Estate & Ecological Boat Tour

This tour combines two of Costa Rica's national treasures – the wildlife of the River Tempisque and rum. You'll cruise the river, tour the Hacienda el Viejo estate and round off with a rum-tasting session on this full-day experience.After arriving at the eco-friendly Hacienda el Viejo estate, you'll kick off the adventure with a boat trip along the River Tempisque. Observe well-preserved fauna such as spoon roses or the mythical Jabiru stork as well as crocodiles or white capuchin monkeys.Then, spend the rest of the day on an exclusive rum tour, where you can tour the rick house and taste aged Sabandi rum from its oak barrels.