Papagayo

The Papagayo Gulf is home to mostly four and five star all-inclusive resorts. Because of the area’s upscale reputation and popularity, reservations are recommended even in the rainy season, from May through November. Easter and Christmas holidays are often booked months and sometimes years in advance, so plan well ahead.

Air: 

Visitors can fly directly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, or take a local flight from San Jose. Nature Air and Sansa offer 40-minute flights daily from San Jose to Liberia. 

Bus:

Costa Rica’s excellent public bus system goes as far as Playa Panama, just five minutes south of Papagayo. Buses depart San Jose once daily (3:30 p.m.), and the six-hour ride costs about $9.50. Buses from Liberia depart every two hours beginning at 4:00 a.m., and the one-hour trip costs less than $1.30. In Playa Panama, take a $5-10 taxi ride to Papagayo. Bus schedules and prices change frequently, so please call ahead for more detailed information: 2221-7202, 2680-0392, or 2665-7520.

Private shuttle buses are also available to the Papagayo area. A comfortable, air-conditioned van visits the Papagayo Gulf from many popular Costa Rican towns, including San Jose, Monteverde, Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Arenal. The trip costs about $45 per person each way, and 24-hour advance reservations are required.

Car: 

From San Jose or the Juan Santamaria International Airport, take the Interamerican Highway (Route 1) to Liberia. From Liberia’s main road, turn right and follow signs to Papagayo. Cross a small bridge; 200 yards later, you will see another road with signs that will lead you to your Papagayo hotel. This trip will take 4-5 hours by car.

From Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport, head out to the main road and turn right, following signs to Papagayo and to your hotel. This trip will take about 30 minutes.

Papagayo is a very unique resort “town” in that it has no town center. Most of the gulf’s all-inclusive resorts offer additional services to account for the area’s few amenities. If you need something, your hotel should either have it or know where to get it.

Cell Phones

Cell phone coverage is spotty in Papagayo – perching on one of the gulf’s many cliffs, visitors are likely to have some signal, but don’t count on it at the beaches. Costa Rica now offers myriad prepaid cell phone services, and these are the best chance for catching signal in this quiet destination.

Internet

Most resorts have high-speed Internet facilities or free WiFi in their lobby and/or hotel rooms.

Banks

Your hotel should have currency exchange services, or you can drive 15 minutes south to Playa del Coco for several banking and ATM options.

Gas Stations

Fill up your tank in Liberia, or just outside of Playa del Coco, the two closest gas stations to Papagayo.

Post Office

Most resorts offer mail service, or you can drive south to Playa del Coco’s post office.

Medical Facilities

A Red Cross is located in nearby Playa del Coco, and there are also three hospitals (one public, two private) located 30 minutes away in Liberia. For minor concerns, pharmacies can provide medical advice and medications.

ATV Tours

Race through sugar cane fields, maneuver along the coast’s rocky terrain, and discover Northern Guanacaste’s back roads aboard a quad. Often you will be accompanied not only by your guide, but by birds, butterflies and inquisitive howler monkeys. Tours last from two and a half to four hours. 

Banana Boats

Hop aboard a banana boat tour and prepare for a wet afternoon of splashing, falling and frolicking. Banana boat tours typically leave from Papagayo’s biggest hotels, and are suited for groups of four to ten people. 

Bird and Wildlife Watching

Nearby Palo Verde National Park boasts 15 separate habitats that provide for more than 300 bird species and 145 mammal species. Just north of Palo Verde, the Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve is home to 250 bee species (25 percent of the world’s total), several endangered tree species, 60 species of nocturnal butterflies and many other protected plants and shy animals. 

Just outside of Liberia, a 45-minute journey from your Papagayo hotel, Africa Mia brings fourteen animals species from the savannah to Costa Rica, including zebra, giraffe and antelope. Closer to home, Papagayo beaches are lined with howler monkeys lazing in the trees, coatimundis romping through the forest and many bird species calling to each other from high above. 

Canoeing and Sea Kayaking

Rent a canoe or sea kayak at your hotel, and paddle out onto the open Pacific. Along the Papagayo Gulf, sea kayaking is especially wonderful, as tiny, secluded beaches dot the coast, many only accessible by boat.

Canopy Tours

There are two major canopy tours in Northern Guanacaste, and both offer high-flying action and an up-close look at the forest’s canopy. Tours may include a combination of heart-stopping cables, suspension bridges, and family-friendly courses.

To the north near Santa Rosa National Park, the area’s most thrilling canopy tour offers two and a half hours of treetop diversion on 24 platforms that cover almost two miles of cable. The more southern tour, located just outside Playa Ocotal, is family-friendly and lasts approximately one hour. Reaching a thrilling height of 82-feet, its longest cable sends you hurling through 1,150 feet of forest canopy.

Day Spas

Relax with a natural mud mask or unwind during a deep tissue massage at one of the area’s day spas. Order a la carte or pamper yourself with a spa package that caters to your every relaxation need. Spas are located at most Papagayo all-inclusive hotels.

Golfing

The Northern Pacific’s golf courses offer sweeping ocean views, beautiful greens and championship holes. Ranging from fancy to decidedly informal, the area’s golf and country clubs allow every golfer to be comfortable on the course.

Hiking

Northern Guanacaste is an ideal base for hiking enthusiasts. Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Barra Honda National Park all lie within easy day trip distance, and are threaded with some of the country’s most well-groomed and beautiful hiking trails. Closer to Papagayo, you will find many beach walkways, forgotten roads, and hiking paths to explore. Take your camera with you, as the resident animal population might appear for an amazing photo op. 

Horseback Riding

Several local outfits rent horses for trips to exhilarating waterfalls, hidden beaches, and favorite local spots. Half or full-day excursions are available, and some companies will also rent horses by the hour. Though their rates are tempting, be forewarned that cheap outfitters may use overworked, unhealthy horses.

Jet Skis

Jet skis are available for rent along the Northern Guanacaste coast, and tours generally last two to three hours. 

Mountain Biking

Rent a bike and enjoy the quieter side of Papagayo, where birds, monkeys and other wildlife live far from the roar of engines and other man made noise.  Foot paths and dirt roads provide excellent biking opportunities.  Bikes can be rented in Papagayo for under $25 daily.

Parasailing

Feel the adrenaline boost of flying through the air with only a parachute behind you and a speedboat below. Experience the grand Pacific Ocean as never before. Parasailing tours will pick you up from Playa Hermosa or Playa Panama, just a mile south of your Papagayo hotel.

River Tours

Take a safari float down the peaceful Tempisque or Corobici River, where monkeys, birds and other wildlife dot the riverbanks. A motorboat ride through the canals of Palo Verde National Park often net sightings of American crocodiles, swinging monkeys and many other wildlife species.

Sailboat Tours

Sailing tours depart daily from Papagayo, and will take you to some of the coast’s most tranquil islands and quiet beaches. Scan the sea for dolphins, turtles and the occasional whale. Many sailboat tours will drop anchor for snorkeling, later serving lunch and drinks from the comfort of the sun-drenched deck. 

Snorkeling and Diving

Half and full-day snorkeling tours are available, which take you to islands, hard-to-reach beaches, or secluded coral reefs. Note that several sailboat tours stop for snorkeling, as well. The northern Guanacaste coast is full of dive shops that offer everything from tank rental to full PADI certification. Volcanic remains scar the ocean floor, providing ideal hiding places for schools of tropical fish, and eels lurk among the coral. Bull sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, giant Manta rays, eagle rays, diamond stingrays, and octopus are also Papagayo mainstays, promising colorful and exciting ocean explorations. Nearby Playa del Coco is particularly well known for its dive shops, and is considered one of the best scuba diving locations in Costa Rica. 

Sport Fishing

Spend just an afternoon or an entire week aboard a sport fishing boat, reeling in some of the strongest fighters in Costa Rica. Sailfish, marlin and rooster fish are the most common catches. If you prefer to do your fishing from gentler waters (or terra firma), local companies can outfit you completely for fly fishing.

Sunset Tours

Several of the area’s sailboat companies offer spectacular sunset and dinner tours. Head out onto the sparkling Pacific, dine on gourmet fare and watch as the sun sets in a furious display of brilliant reds, oranges and pinks. 

Surfing

Waves are very gentle in Papagayo's protected cove, but Playa del Coco, just 15 minutes south, is the perfect place to begin the hunt for first-class waves. Take a surf lesson or test old skills at one of Northern Guanacaste’s many surf spots. Advanced surfers shouldn't miss an excursion to Ollie’s Point, which offers a right point break with very fast and hollow waves, or Witch’s Rock, the surf locale forever immortalized by the film Endless Summer 2. There is no road access to either destination, so surfers must depart by rented boat or surf tour from Playa del Coco or Playa Ocotal.

Whitewater Rafting

Navigate the tame waters of the class II-III Colorado River. Rafts pass between picturesque canyon walls as they hurtle past lush vegetation, isolated riverbanks and diverse wildlife. More experienced rafters test their mettle on the class IV Tenorio River. Both tours pick rafters up at hotels throughout the Papagayo area.

Beaches (from north to south):

Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo is dotted by 12 golden-sand beaches separated by gray cliffs that jut out into the Pacific Ocean. The calm coves’ protected waters are ideal for beginner swimmers, young children and visitors just wishing to relax. 

Many of Papagayo’s secluded beaches are best accessed by canoe or sea kayak. Their sparkling sands dance with scuttling hermit crabs, and the gulf’s resident howler monkeys will boldly call out to you during a relaxing sunbath. Make a date to watch the sunset from one of these gentle strips of sand – Papagayo is known for some of the best sunsets in Costa Rica. 

Playa Panama

Just a mile south of Papagayo, Playa Panama is a bay within a bay. The resulting waters are nearly wave-free, and perfect for floating the afternoon away. Playa Panama is very popular with vacationing Costa Ricans, who often set up camp on the beach.

Playa Hermosa

Not to be confused with Jaco’s neighbor of the same name, Northern Guanacaste’s Playa Hermosa is an elegant, mile-long strip of gray-sand beach. Tide pools mark its northern and southern points, and its bay is always filled with fishing boats, sailboats and even the occasional cruise ship.

Playa del Coco

Shaped like a horseshoe, Playa del Coco is one of Guanacaste’s most popular and accessible beaches. Hard-packed gray sand is ideal for walks down the beach, and the waves are often strong enough for boogie boarding fun.

Playa del Coco is the best departure point for trips to Ollie’s Point and Witch’s Rock, both located in Santa Rosa National Park. These surf breaks are world famous and some of the best in Costa Rica, though not for the faint of heart.

Playa del Coco is also one of the best scuba diving and snorkeling locations in the country. Diving tours depart daily for the rich waters of Bat Island and Catalina Islands, and sailboat tours regularly take snorkelers to reefs and underwater volcanic formations.

Playa Ocotal

Just two miles south of Playa del Coco, Playa Ocotal is quieter and more relaxed than its busy neighbor. A small gray-sand beach lines the waterfront.

National Parks, Private Parks and Wildlife Refuges:

Africa Mia

One of Guanacaste’s newest and most unique attractions, Africa Mia safari park is a treat for all. Giraffes, antelope and zebra roam the open savannah, the lovely El Salto waterfall rumbles in the distance and visitors happily feed the park’s ostriches, dromedaries (one-humped camels) and deer. Located less than an hour away from the Gulf of Papagayo, this is an ideal day trip for the entire family.

Guanacaste National Park

Adjacent to Santa Rosa National Park, 86,000-acre Guanacaste National Park boasts several habitats from lowland dry forest to mountainous cloud forest. Two volcanoes – Orosi and Cacao – frame the park, and researchers can often be found perusing its lands for new discoveries. Guanacaste National Park is just a 90-minute drive from the Gulf of Papagayo.

Lomas de Barbudal Wildlife Refuge

Backing up to Palo Verde National Park, this tranquil wildlife refuge helps to protect endangered rosewood and mahogany trees. The 6,500-acre park is also home to 250 bee species – about 25 percent of the world’s total – as well as 200 bird species. There is a small network of hiking trails throughout Lomas de Barbudal, and most visitors are accompanied only by wildlife and the occasional researcher. At just one and a half hours from the Papagayo Gulf, Lomas de Barbudal is a convenient and memorable day trip.

Palo Verde National Park

This 45,500-acre wetland sanctuary is the largest component of the larger Tempisque Megapark, which also includes the Caballero Wildlife Refuge, Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, Barra Honda National Park and the newly-added Cipanci Wildlife Refuge. More than 300 bird species make their homes here, including herons, storks, spoonbills, egrets, ducks, scarlet macaws and toucans. Monkeys, bats, American crocodiles, coatimundis, armadillos and jaguarundi join their avian neighbors, and make a trip to Palo Verde National Park one that is not soon forgotten. Palo Verde is located just south of Lomas de Barbudal, and can be reached in less than two hours from Papagayo.

Santa Rosa National Park

One of the oldest national parks in Costa Rica, Santa Rosa sprawls out over almost 96,000 acres. The park serves as one of the most important nesting sites for several turtle species, and is also a symbol of national pride: Costa Rica has only been invaded three times by foreign armies, and each time, the would-be conquerors were defeated in Santa Rosa. More than 250 bird species, 50-60 bat species, 115 mammal species, 4000 moth and butterfly species and thousands of insect species make their homes here. Visitors may hike many miles of trails, explore the historic La Casona building and Monument to the Heroes, or simply relax at one of the park’s beautiful ocean overlooks. Santa Rosa National Park is also home to famous surf breaks Ollie’s Point and Witch’s Rock.

Day Trips:

Rincon de la Vieja National Park

A mere 90-minute drive from Papagayo, Rincon de la Vieja National Park offers well-groomed trails, towering volcanoes, boiling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and amazing natural beauty. Full-day tours depart daily and include transportation, a guided tour, lunch and unforgettable memories.

Monteverde Cloud Forest

One and two-day tours depart almost daily, climbing from Costa Rica’s dry savannah into the country’s most celebrated cloud forest. Walk through the canopy along hanging bridges, swing among the trees on the country’s first canopy tour and experience one of the most bio-diverse regions in Costa Rica. Views from Monteverde seem to stretch out forever, and on a clear day you can see straight out to the Pacific Ocean.

Barra Honda National Park

Go on a caving expedition at Costa Rica’s most famous and labyrinthine caves. Known for its spectacular rock formations and incredible views, visitors will witness geological formations created more than 50 million years ago. Hike through the ancient caves and discover the park’s weaving waterways on a full-day trip from your Papagayo hotel.