About Costa Rica
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's dry side, a province of tropical dry forest, cattle ranches and volcanic peaks that meets the Pacific in a string of low-key beach towns. Playa Hermosa sits in a curved, mostly undeveloped bay a short drive from Liberia, closer to the surf towns of Tamarindo and Flamingo than to the cloud forest most visitors picture when they think of Costa Rica.
A Luxury Escape Offers package here means a resort room on that coast, booked and confirmed before you leave home. Guanacaste's beach hotels lean all-inclusive, so meals, drinks and pool access are typically part of the stay itself, which suits families and couples who would rather have the money question settled before the trip starts.
Outside the resort gates, the draw is Arenal Volcano and its hot springs a few hours inland, plus the dry forest itself: Rincón de la Vieja's mud pots and hot rivers, the Witch's Rock surf break, and leatherback turtles nesting at Playa Grande in season. It's a beach base with a rainforest within reach, not the other way around.
Photography shows the destination, not your specific accommodations. Your resort or condo is confirmed at booking.
What to do
Highlights of Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano rises abruptly over the town of La Fortuna, about three hours from Guanacaste's beaches. Its old lava fields, hanging bridges and naturally heated hot springs make it the standard day trip or overnight add-on for travelers based on the coast.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Closer to home, Rincón de la Vieja National Park holds bubbling mud pots, sulfur springs and waterfalls inside dry tropical forest, with trails short enough to do as a half-day trip from Playa Hermosa or Guanacaste's other beach towns.
Witch's Rock
Witch's Rock, inside Santa Rosa National Park, is one of the best-known surf breaks in Central America, reachable mainly by boat out of Tamarindo. Even non-surfers charter the ride for the volcanic coastline and the empty beach at Playa Naranjo.
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Las Baulas National Marine Park protects Playa Grande, a nesting beach for giant leatherback sea turtles from roughly October through March. Ranger-led night tours let visitors watch females come ashore to lay eggs without disturbing them.
Catalina Islands
The Catalina Islands, a short boat ride off the Guanacaste coast, are a regular stop for snorkeling and diving trips, with visibility that draws manta rays and, in season, migrating humpback whales through the channel.
Your base
Where you'll stay
Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa is a calm, curved bay north of Liberia with a lower-key, more residential feel than Tamarindo down the coast, a good fit for families who want a quiet beach and an easy resort stay without a party scene.
Guanacaste
Guanacaste covers the wider northwest coast beyond Playa Hermosa, including the resort-dense Papagayo Peninsula and beaches like Flamingo and Conchal, all within an hour of Liberia's airport and a solid base for travelers who want more upscale resort options nearby.
Good to know
Questions
Costa Rica FAQs
Do I need a passport to visit Costa Rica?
Yes. US citizens need a valid passport to enter Costa Rica, and no visa is required for a typical vacation-length stay. Passport rules can shift, so double-check your expiration date and confirm current requirements with a Luxury Escape Offers specialist before you book.
How far is Arenal Volcano from Playa Hermosa?
Arenal is roughly three hours by car from the Guanacaste beach towns, on the far side of Lake Arenal near La Fortuna. Most travelers treat it as a full-day excursion or a one- to two-night add-on rather than a quick side trip from the coast.
What does the Luxury Escape Offers package include?
The package covers your resort accommodations, plus applicable taxes and resort fees where they apply; airfare is included only on fly-away packages. Many Guanacaste resorts are all-inclusive, meaning meals and drinks are bundled at the property, but confirm exactly what's covered on your stay with a specialist by phone.
Is the water safe to drink in Costa Rica?
Tap water in San Jose and most tourist areas of Costa Rica, including Guanacaste's resort towns, generally meets safe drinking standards, though many travelers still stick to bottled water out of habit. Resorts typically supply bottled or filtered water as a matter of course.
Will it rain during my trip?
It depends on when you go. December through April is Guanacaste's dry season with little to no rain. May through November brings the green season, when afternoon showers are common but mornings are usually clear and sunny before the clouds build.
Ready to book Costa Rica?
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