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Destinations-Gulf of Papagayo

Hotel view, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica
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On the shorelines of the northwestern province of Guanacaste lies the emerging resort town of Golfo de Papagayo or ‘Parrot’s Gulf’. This region is characterized by numerous top luxury accommodations that rest on the twelve white sand pristine beaches that make up the Gulf of Papagayo. The Costa Rican government is committed to sustainable growth in this still very virgin area. Thus, development and nature peacefully co-exist here, making Papagayo Gulf a top rated Costa Rica travel destination!

The most visited and verdant of all of Papagayo’s playas are Panama, Ocotal, Hermosa, Mirador and Blanca. Playa Panama rests in the inner bay in a fairly private area and is known for its stunning beauty as well as being a swimmer’s beach, free of rocks and strong currents. Snorkelers will want to visit Playa Ocotal which offers the cleanest waters and absolute tranquility with a constantly lingering mist that is believed to have special healing powers over animals, plants and people. Literally translated as ‘beautiful beach’ from Spanish, Playa Hermosa is appropriately bordered by gorgeous tropical forests combined with striking volcanic rock formations and has even received the ‘Blue Flag’ award for its high environmental standards in addition to outstanding safety amenities. On the other end of the Gulf of Papagayo lie the quaint and sophisticated Playa Mirador and Playa Blanca. These beaches are Costa Rica luxury at its finest and boast the top accommodations in the country including the globally celebrated Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Papagayo Peninsula.

The Papagayo Gulf is in close proximity to Liberia International Airport and many national parks like Santa Rosa and Rincon de la Vieja. With so many luxury accommodations, there are a plethora of activities to be found here. Tropical lush greenery as far as the eye can see has always made ‘Parrot’s Gulf’ a birdwatchers’ and nature lovers’ paradise.

  • ACCESS ROUTES

    If Papagayo Gulf and surrounding destinations are your first and last stops in Costa Rica, you may opt to fly directly in and out from the Liberia International Airport. National flights are also available to and from the San Jose airport. Otherwise, roads from San Jose lead to the Gulf of Papagayo which is a 4 to 5 hour trip.

  • ACCOMMODATION

    The Gulf of Papagayo is widely known as home to the most luxurious of all Costa Rica hotels and resorts – most of which are full-service and all-inclusive. However, it is possible to find budget hotels in smaller beaches such as Playa Hermosa.

  • WHEN TO GO

    In December – April Papagayo Gulf receives an amazing 11-12 hours of sunshine each day. The other months of the year are considered the ‘wet season’ (also known as the ‘green season’) and only receive a limited amount of rainfall in the form of mid-day showers. Overall, the weather in the Gulf of Papagayo is near perfect year round.

  • HOW LONG

    Many vacationers and holidaymakers come to Costa Rica and stay in the pampering hotels and resorts of Papagayo Gulf for the entire length of their trip. As always, your length of travel will depend on your personal travel preferences and one of our highly-trained Travel Advisors will be happy to help!

Costa Rica Map Papagayo Destinations - Tamarindo Destinations - Santa Elena/Monteverde Destinations - Tortuguero Destinations - Puerto Viejo Destinations - Quepos/Manuel Antonio Destinations - Santa Elena/Monteverde Destinations - La Fortuna/Arenal Destinations - Quepos/Manuel Antonio Destinations - San Jose Destinations - Jaco Destinations - Corcovado Destinations - Gulf of Papagayo
Arenal | Corcovado | Gulf of Papagayo | Jacó | Puerto Viejo | Quepos/Manuel Antonio
San José | Tortuguero | Tamarindo | Santa Elena/Monteverde

Our excursions listed below can be added to any of our Gulf of Papagayo vacation packages.
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Excursions

Arenal Volcano & Coter Rainforest Tour:

From Tamarindo why not take a trip to another Costa Rica vacation highlight and visit Arenal Volcano? As you make your way towards the magnificent Arenal lake gorgeous landscapes will unfold in front of you and the Coter rainforest will captivate you with its dense, lush plant life, concealing a wealth of biodiversity. Coter rainforest is a private biological reserve that protects 250 hectares of primary and secondary rain forest and is ideal for trekking and bird watching.

After lunch, we will continue to the Arenal Volcano area where you can take a dip into the natural mineral hot springs that descend from the volcano. You’ll find different pools filled with mineral water, surrounded by impressive well-manicured tropical gardens and a hot-water river that crosses the entire property. While you enjoy the hot springs, take a look of the impressive view of the Arenal Volcano, considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Read our newsletter article about the Arenal volcano.

Arenal View, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Canopy Tour:

In this tour you can experience adventure in the tropical dry forest. You will feel the wind in your skin while you zip through the forest while observing the regional flora and fauna.

Canopy tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Corobici River Floating Tour:

The Corobici River is a wide river that flows from the Arenal Lake, at the base of the active Arenal Volcano, and continues westward into the Pacific lowlands to the ocean. This is an opportunity for birdwatchers as it passes near the Palo Verde National Park, home to many different species of birds.

Some paddling is necessary but most of the float will give you time for observing wildlife along the shore; there are sections where the river gradually reaches the mangrove forests near the coast where sometimes, the boat-billed heron is found, despite being a nocturnal bird.

Bird watching, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Early Bird Watching Tour:

Boasting over 850 species of birds, Costa Rica is a great place for birding. With your experienced naturalist guide, you will be able to view some of the following eye-catching species; The Cattle Egret, Crested Caracara, Laughing Flacon and the Squirrel Cuckoo just to mention a few. Our experienced guides carry binoculars and field handbooks to help you understand and learn about these magnificent birds. Witnessing these spectacular birds is optimized in the early morning or as the day cools into the evening when they are most active.

Horseback riding, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Horseback Riding Tour:

This tour is a good combination of horseback riding and hiking. Trained horses will take to the entrance of the waterfall, through pastures, forests and tall hills. The views of the Valley of San Carlos and the tropical forest that enclose it are spectacular.

At the end of the road, we will leave the horses and descend on foot for via a natural trail that leads to the base of the waterfall. This fantastic area is very quiet and a special place to relax and soak for a while.

Horseback riding, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Sky Walk at Extravaganza Rain Forest:

At the foothills of the Tenorio Volcano, there is a private rainforest nature reserve where you will walk through paths and along hanging bridges deep in the heart of the forest. Here you will experience ferns, tall trees and exotic plants as well as the animals who call this home. This is an encounter with nature and if weather permits, a great view of the Nicaragua Lake will unfold.

Sky walk tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Miravalles Volcano Getaway Tour:

This is a tour specialized in the Macadamia nut where you will have the opportunity to learn about the production of the most exotic and expensive nut in the world. After your visit to the Macadamia plantation, you will know what makes this “queen of nuts” so special and a little homemade macadamia nougat will be your souvenir from this trip.

The region where the tour takes place is home of the Miravalles Volcano, a dormant volcano and site of the largest developed geothermal field in Costa Rica. You will be able to visit the crater with bubbling water and fumaroles. At last, we will stop at a local art gallery so you can appreciate the work of our local artists.

Volcano tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Mega Combo Canopy & Hot Springs Tour:

Visiting the northern flanks of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is perfect for enjoying different activities in one place: Canopy, water slide, hot springs, mud bath and horseback riding.
The Canopy Tour is a system of 10 cables connected to platforms that are built on centuries-old trees in the tropical forest. A 400-meter (1,300-foot) water slide is also located inside the forest; it is like a fountain of youth for grownups and great fun for children. After these two activities, you can enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch, the best of our cuisine.

In the afternoon, either by horse of by a horse-drawn carriage, you can visit the thermal hot springs located in the heart of the forest; here you can take a volcanic mud treatment or relax in the hot springs that are surrounded by a natural tropical forest.

Canopy and hot springs tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Palo Verde National Park Tour:

Palo Verde National Park is located on the Pacific slopes of the northwestern Costa Rica. It is an 18.418-hectare area of a plain delineated by rivers, limestone hills and extensive wetland vegetation bordering the Tempisque River that flows into the Gulf of Nicoya. Our visit will consist of a boat ride through the river to appreciate the great ecological variety of this park. There are 13 different habitats, including mangrove and swampy forests, salty and freshwater marshes, evergreen, lowland, limestone and secondary forests in a wide range of continuous stages.

Birds are the biggest attraction at Palo Verde National Park; in the wet season the floodwaters of the Tempisque River spread to form extensive marshes that welcome migrant birds from North and South America. Large numbers of aquatic birds can be seen: Grebes, Cormorants, Anhinga, Herons, Jabirus Storks, Ibises, Spoonbills, Falcons, Caracaras and Jacanas. The mammal fauna is equally rich and visible, particularly during the dry season when peccaries, armadillos, jaguarondis, coatis, agoutis, deers, and monkeys are attracted to the water holes.

Palo Verde National Park tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Half-Day Artola OR Cartagena Canopy Tour:

This is a network of suspended cables between platforms built on ancient tall trees in the tropical dry forest. You will slide from treetops to treetops with a harness and security equipment. If you are lucky, perhaps one howler monkey will join you on this exciting experience.

Canopy Tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Rincon de la Vieja National Park Tour:

Rincon de la Vieja is an active volcano located 16 miles north from Liberia in Guanacaste. The volcano is more than 150 square miles with a large number of fumaroles and hot springs on its slopes. It’s most recently eruption was in February 1998.
The name, Rincon de la Vieja, means the old woman's corner; according to locals, the indigenous people named the volcano after an old witch on top of the mountain who sent columns of smoke into the air when she was angry. Another version says it was a kind old woman on the same spot and the smoke was from her cooking fire as she prepared meals for weary travelers.

The rigorous but spectacular hike starts in the tropical moist forest and as you climb, continues into low wet forest where the trees are covered with epiphytic vegetation. There are 257 species of birds that have been recorded and a great number of insect species; the park protects the largest population of wild purple orchid, Costa Rica’s national flower.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Matumbu Coffee & Folklore Tour:

Palo Verde National Park is located on the Pacific slopes of the northwestern Costa Rica. It is an 18.418-hectare area of a plain delineated by rivers, limestone hills and extensive wetland vegetation bordering the Tempisque River that flows into the Gulf of Nicoya. Our visit will consist of a boat ride through the river to appreciate the great ecological variety of this park. There are 13 different habitats, including mangrove and swampy forests, salty and freshwater marshes, evergreen, lowland, limestone and secondary forests in a wide range of continuous stages.

Birds are the biggest attraction at Palo Verde National Park; in the wet season the floodwaters of the Tempisque River spread to form extensive marshes that welcome migrant birds from North and South America. Large numbers of aquatic birds can be seen: Grebes, Cormorants, Anhinga, Herons, Jabirus Storks, Ibises, Spoonbills, Falcons, Caracaras and Jacanas. The mammal fauna is equally rich and visible, particularly during the dry season when peccaries, armadillos, jaguarondis, coatis, agoutis, deers, and monkeys are attracted to the water holes.

After touring the park, you will take an interesting trip through the Matambú Coffee Plantation's facilities, where you'll learn about the different steps to make coffee: cultivating, processing and recycling wastes. You will also learn about the production in this area, which is unique in Guanacaste, as well as the indigenous and rural cultural values of the region.

Coffee and folklore tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Canyon Hacienda Guachipelín Tour:

This tour is designed for people who love challenging themselves in a natural environment: Canopy (zip lines) over a river canyon, rappelling, wall climbing, Tarzan swinging (from side to side), horseback riding and a refreshing bath in very clean and clear river water. A beautiful transition, tropical forest will surround you during this adventure.

Hacienda tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Half-Day Aromal Horseback Riding Tour:

Riding will take place through the beautiful plains and streams surrounded by the tropical dry forest full of exuberant flora and fauna. From the top of one of the hill in the property, you can enjoy an impressive view of the savanna and when you return to the ranch, a delicious typical snack will be waiting for you.

Horseback riding tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Tenorio River Whitewater Rafting Tour:

In the heart of Guanacaste on the Tenorio River, you will test your courage and challenge your skills. The journey will start where the dry and rain forest blend their beauties creating a magic place surrounded by lust vegetation and the home of an enormous variety of animals including migratory birds, butterfly, monkeys and reptiles. For those experienced rafters, this trip is a must with its turns and drops down 15 miles of intense and continuous challenging rapids.

Whitewater rafting, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Colorado River Whitewater Rafting:

The Colorado River is a narrow river where you will pass through canyon walls as you experience water rapids, lush vegetation, wildlife and pristine isolation. Upon your arrival you will receive safety instructions and then board your 2-person raft. Here you will have the option of being accompanied by a guide or have them follow you closely in another raft. This is sure to be an exciting tour for the beginner or the experienced rafter. Get ready to observe herons and iguanas basking on the riverside as howler monkeys play on the tree branches above you. You can enjoy nature and wild life.

Colorado River, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Corobici River Whitewater Rafting Tour:

If you’re looking for adventure – look no further! There is no better way to discover Costa Rican wildlife in its natural environment than whitewater rafting. Enjoy a leisurely raft down the Corobici River before you hit the class II rapids! You're sure to spot monkeys, colorful birds and lizards before your day ends.

Upon boarding the rubber raft, your certified river guide will instruct you on safety procedures. Guanacaste's Corobici River is perfect for those who have dreamt about the joys of whitewater rafting. The waters are not rough, but you have to work out how to manage them!

This is a fabulous tour for those who do not mind doing a bit of paddling. During the journey, some of the animals you may see are exotic birds, Jesus Christ lizards and chattering monkeys hanging upside-down by their tails.

Corobici River, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

Liberia Shopping Tour:

Liberia City is known as the White City, an appropriate name due to its whitewashed colonial houses, built of bahareque (a type of clay that gives houses a particularly white color). Calle Real is one of the most popular streets of the city; it is considered an architectural gem for its colonial houses that line both sides of the narrow street, adorned with Spanish-tile roofs.

At the Central Park, you will have the opportunity to shop at the different stores around the park or just relax at one of the benches in front of the city’s Catholic Church while you observe the daily life in this picturesque city.

Liberia shopping tour, Papagayo, travel Costa Rica

ATV Sunset Tour:

Take an exhilarating drive in a robust all terrain vehicle up to the mountains of Tamarindo for one of the most jaw dropping sunsets on the Pacific coast from a lookout point with views across Playa Langosta, Tamarindo and all the way to Playa Grande. After witnessing the awesome beauty of the fiery sun disappearing behind the horizon, hop back into the ATV and head down the impressive mountain range back to your excellent hotel.

ATV Sunset Tour, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

ATV Mountain Trip:

Take one of the most exciting journeys across the dry forest and mountainous landscapes of the Guanacaste region on this all terrain vehicle trip that will stun you with incredible views at each twist and turn in the road. The trip is ideal for the whole family and offers a perfect opportunity to explore the region’s dramatic landscapes in comfort and style.

ATV Mountain Trip, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

ATV Golden Coast:

This highly popular tour takes you on a thrilling journey in an all terrain vehicle through a track in the forest to the golden beaches to the south of Tamarindo where you will be able to spot animals such as howler monkeys, eagles, tropical birds and iguanas.

This tour is only for intermediate and experienced drivers.

Departure between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

ATV Golden Coast, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

ATV & Canopy Tour (3 Hours):

Guaranteed 100 % adrenaline!!! We get to the canopy tour through the mountains on an ATV. The canopy tour is formed of cables, some as long as 500 meters, You will also be able to appreciate the forest from the canopy of the trees. To end this tour we will return with our ATVs to the departure point.

Departure times: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m

ATV and Canopy Tour, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

Kayak Estero:

This trip is specially designed for nature lovers; two and a half hours kayaking on the estuary between Tamarindo and Playa Grande will give you a chance to spot marine birdlife, crocodiles, iguanas and other animals that occupy this natural paradise on the northern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Kayak Estero, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

Kayak & Snorkeling Tour:

This amazing kayak and snorkeling tour is a must for those who want to take a peek beneath the waves.  On the white beach “Capitan” you will be able to enjoy the beautiful under water colors emanated by corals and exotic fish.  The tour is perfect for the whole family.

Departure according to tide
Snorkeling equipment and drinking water included.

Duration: 2.5 hours

Kayak and Snorkeling Tour, Tamarindo beach, travel Costa Rica

 
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