Unique Villa Located on the Most Desirable Beachfront PointN°001
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private poolSea view
From $5,880 per night
Photo by Luis Diego Aguilar on UnsplashCosta Rica's gold coast of dry forest and Pacific blue
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's sun-drenched northwest, a province of long Pacific beaches, tropical dry forest and volcano-studded ranchland. Renting a luxury villa here, on the Papagayo Peninsula, above Playa Hermosa or near Brasilito, gives you private pools, ocean sunsets and concierge-arranged adventures in one of the world's most celebrated eco destinations.
- The Papagayo Peninsula and Nacascolo, Costa Rica's most exclusive resort coastline
- Calm, swimmable bays at Playa Hermosa and golden sand at Playa Conchal near Brasilito
- World-class surfing at Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Witch's Rock
- Rincón de la Vieja volcano: hot springs, waterfalls and canopy ziplines
- Leatherback and olive ridley turtle nesting on protected Pacific beaches
Known forPapagayo Peninsula, surf and swimming beaches, sea-turtle nesting, Rincón de la Vieja volcano, pura vida living
Best time to visitDecember to April for the dry season; May to November is greener with brief afternoon rains and fewer visitors
Nearest airportGuanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR), 30 to 60 minutes from most villa areas
Ideal forFamilies, surfers, honeymooners and groups seeking warm-water beaches with wildlife on the doorstep
Phenomenal Landscapes With Stunning CoastlineN°002
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private poolSea viewWaterfront
From $3,488 per night
Spacious Seven-Bedroom Villa in Jaco BeachN°003
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private pool
From $1,036 per night
Oceanview Penthouse in GuanacasteN°004
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private poolSpa
From $599 per night
Ocean View Penthouse in GuanacasteN°005
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private poolSpa
From $599 per night
Beachfront Villa with Ocean Views in GuanacasteN°006
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Private poolSea viewWaterfront
From $559 per night
7homes available
4–7bedrooms
up to 24guests
7with a pool
Guanacaste in pictures
Events not to miss in Guanacaste
- Mid-January
Fiestas Típicas Nacionales de Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, Guanacaste's folklore capital, hosts one of Costa Rica's most traditional festivals with marimba music, folk dancing, street food and the province's famous bull-riding events.
- March or April (Holy Week)
Semana Santa
Costa Rica's biggest holiday week fills Guanacaste's beaches with celebration, processions in the towns and a festive national mood. It is a vibrant but busy time, so plan villas and boats well ahead.
- 25 July
Día de la Anexión (Guanacaste Day)
The province celebrates its 1824 annexation to Costa Rica with parades, traditional dress, marimba and civic festivities, at their liveliest in Liberia. A fine window into sabanero cowboy culture.
Guanacaste through the seasons
- High Dry Season (December – April)
Endless sunshine and calm seas
Cloudless days, flat-calm bays and the year's best snorkelling, diving and sportfishing. This is peak beach-villa season, with festivals adding colour in January.
- Early Green Season (May – August)
Emerald landscapes and consistent surf
The dry forest turns green, waterfalls return to full flow and Pacific swells make for excellent surfing, with bright mornings and short afternoon showers.
- Late Green Season (September – November)
Turtle nesting and quiet beaches
Olive ridley and leatherback turtles nest on protected beaches, wildlife watching peaks and the coast is at its most tranquil before the December rush.
- Festive Season (December – January)
Holidays under the tropical sun
Christmas and New Year bring warm nights, catamaran sunset cruises and a celebratory mood to the beach towns. The most sought-after villa weeks of the year.
The Area and Where to Stay
Guanacaste runs from the Nicaraguan border down the Nicoya Peninsula's northern reaches, and its villa geography follows the coast. The Papagayo Peninsula and neighbouring Nacascolo bay are the most exclusive enclave, a manicured, low-density stretch of forested headlands and calm coves. Just south, Playa Hermosa and Playas del Coco offer gentle, swimmable bays with villas in the hills above, while the Brasilito and Playa Conchal area is loved for its crushed-shell sand and golf. Tamarindo and Playa Grande, further down the coast, add surf-town energy beside a national park. Inland lies working ranchland and the provincial capital, Liberia. Our villas favour ocean views, infinity pools and generous outdoor living, with concierge teams who know the guides, boats and beaches worth your time.
Things to Do
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's adventure coast. Surf the breaks at Tamarindo and Playa Grande or take a boat to the legendary Witch's Rock. Snorkel and dive the volcanic reefs of the Catalina Islands, or charter a sportfishing boat for sailfish and marlin. On land, Rincón de la Vieja National Park delivers fumaroles, waterfalls, hot springs and ziplines through the canopy, while Palo Verde's wetlands teem with birdlife. Between October and March, protected beaches host nesting sea turtles, including the mass arribadas at Ostional further down the Nicoya coast. Add horseback rides through dry forest, sunset catamaran cruises and monkeys in the trees above your pool. The concierge arranges naturalist guides, charters and park logistics.
Food and Local Flavour
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's ranching heartland, and its table reflects it: grass-fed beef, corn tortillas made the old way, and gallo pinto at breakfast. On the coast, expect ceviche of just-caught fish, whole fried red snapper and tropical fruit in abundance. Beach towns like Tamarindo and Playas del Coco have grown genuinely cosmopolitan dining scenes, while the Papagayo resorts hold the province's most refined rooms. Sodas, the family-run local kitchens, serve honest casado lunches worth a detour. In a villa, a private chef makes the most of the morning fish market and farmers' produce, and the concierge can arrange beachfront tables and tastings of Costa Rican coffee and chocolate.
When to Visit
Guanacaste is the driest, sunniest corner of Costa Rica. The dry season, December to April, brings cloudless days, calm seas and the liveliest atmosphere, ideal for beach weeks and festivals. May to November is the green season: mornings are typically bright, afternoons bring short tropical downpours, and the landscape turns emerald. It is also prime time for surfing, turtle nesting and lower villa demand. Temperatures sit around 28 to 35 degrees year-round on the coast. Christmas, New Year and Easter's Semana Santa are peak weeks and book far ahead; November and early December offer a green, uncrowded sweet spot.
Getting There
Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR) is the province's gateway, with direct flights from many US and Canadian cities and connections through San José. From Liberia it is roughly 30 minutes to the Papagayo Peninsula and Playa Hermosa, and about an hour to Brasilito or Tamarindo. San José's Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) is an alternative, around four hours by road or a short domestic hop. A 4x4 hire car suits independent exploring, though most villa guests prefer private transfers with a driver who knows the coast, which the concierge arranges along with boat charters, provisioning stops and internal flights.