There are many wonderful things to do and places to visit when you come to Costa Rica. Some people rent a car and try to figure out where to go themselves but it’s not easy and they probably don’t get the best deals. It’s also stressful and dangerous dealing with the bad drivers here in Costa Rica. Gas is a bit more expensive here than in The States (around $5-6 a gallon), and there are very few road signs. There are pot holes everywhere, sometimes large enough to rip a hole in your tire (I know from experience!).
Another option is to go on organized tours with large groups. That can hit or miss too, depending upon who you travel with. It’s usually fairly inexpensive and well organized, but there isn’t much flexibility.
However, perhaps the best way to see the country is to hire a driver to take just you and your friends (1-4 people), give you the best recommendations, negotiate the best deals and to take you where you want – when you want. It often works out cheaper than the large organized tours. I can provide driver services from Playas Del Coco and Tamarindo to all over Costa Rica.
Here are my favorite recommendations for trips from the Playas Del Coco area. Prices quoted are driver costs for up to four people and exclude entrance fees.
ARENAL VOLCANO
If you are coming to Costa Rica to enjoy the beautiful beaches on the coast then you should take a day trip to Arenal to see a completely different aspect of the country.
Arenal is an active volcano located in the central north of Costa Rica, about a two and a half hour drive from Liberia. The town of La Fortuna is located at the base of the spectacular conical volcano.
You can visit Arenal on a day trip from Playas Del Coco or Tamarindo, but three hours of driving each way is a lot for one day. And there are many fun things to do there so I recommend staying the night. There are lots of places to stay in La Fortuna but my favourite is Hotel La Fortuna. It’s located in the center of town and prices are reasonable starting from around $50 for a single, includes continental breakfast & wireless internet. There are also three computers in the lobby.
The Hanging Bridges is the first stop, near the dam about 10 minutes west of La Fortuna. I really enjoy visiting there because it’s really quiet and peaceful with outstanding views of Arenal Volcano. It’s a circular hike around two miles (three kilometers) and takes around an hour and a half to complete. There are about 12 or 14 bridges of a variety of sizes. Some are just small 12′ solid frame bridges and some are suspension bridges that are wobbly and really high above the rainforest! The entry fee is $24 each.
The resort of Arenal Paraiso has a zipline canopy and natural hot springs onsite with beautiful views of the volcano. The cost is $90 each for zip lines, hot springs and an excellent lunch.
At Arenal Paraiso you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of the thermo-mineral waters while you enjoy the view of the volcano. At this peaceful oasis you will be able to relax and observe the grandiosity of the volcano at the same time. All of the thermo-mineral pools are surrounded by tropical gardens. The pools are rich in minerals and come from a natural subterranean spring located on the primary forest owned by the hotel. The hotel has 14 swimming pools, 13 of them with thermo-mineral water and the temperature go from the hottest 42C to the coldest 26C.
Day trips to Arenal are available from Playas Del Coco and Tamarindo, although it’s probably better to spend the night in La Fortuna. Otherwise we leave around 7am and return around 8-9pm. Here is an itinerary of the trip:
7:00AM – Pick up at your hotel or apartment
9:00AM – Stop for coffee in Nuevo Arenal
10:00AM – Arrive at The Hanging Bridges – 2 mile hike in rainforest
12:00PM – Arrive at Arenal Paraiso – Lunch
1:00PM – Zip Line Canopy Tour
3:00PM – Hot Springs
5:00pm – Leave Arenal Paraiso
6:00pm – Stop at Moya’s Restaurant in Nuevo Arenal for pizza
9:00pm – Arrive back at your hotel or apartment
Overnight trips to Arenal are available by staying at Hotel La Fortuna. The cost is slightly higher of course, but then you’ll have a lot more time to relax and see more of the area. You can also go white water rafting or go for a Wildlife Safari River Float, or hike to the spectacular waterfall.
Driver cost (up to four people):
$140 for day trips
$200 for overnight trips
Or you can go to the best zip lines in Costa Rica, at Sky Trek! That is located 20 minutes down a bad dirt road, 14 kilometers west of La Fortuna. The zip lines cost a bit more at $68 each but it’s worth it because the lines are extremely high and long and it really is a fantastic experience! And if the weather allows, the views of the volcano are outstanding.
See my other post about visiting Arenal and La Fortuna.
SAMARA
Playa Samara is a quiet little town two hours south of Liberia on good, paved roads. It’s a really nice place with a bunch of open air restaurants and bars, small hotels and hostels. The beach there is beautiful, great for surfing or just relaxing!
Driver cost is $100 for day trips.
BORINQUEN RESORT AT RINCON DE LA VIEJA
Borinquen Resort is located 1-1/2 hours north east of Liberia in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It’s a beautiful place, with green volcanic mountain ranges, luxurious accommodations, and a variety of activities including zip lining, horseback riding, volcanic hot springs. There’s also an excellent restaurant.
Driver cost is $100 for day trips.
TAMARINDO SURF LESSON & SURF BOARD RENTAL
Tamarindo is just over an hour south of Playas Del Coco. Learn how to surf by taking a two hour lesson on the beautiful beach there!
Driver cost is $100 (up to 4 people)
Surf lesson and board rental is $45 each person (2 hours)
SPEEDBOAT RENTAL AT PLAYA PANAMA
Playa Panama is located about twenty minutes north of Playas Del Coco. My friends at Papagayo Splash have speedboat rentals there. It’s a fun and exciting way to spend an afternoon at the beautiful beach!
The cost is $65 each (two people minimum) with 2-1/2 hours on the water.
Driver cost is $40
PLAYA CONCHAL WHITE SAND BEACH
Playa Conchal has been described as the best beach in Guanacaste. It is located one hour south of Playas Del Coco and 20 minutes north of Tamarindo. The beach has glorious white sand, clear blue water and it’s quiet! Great for relaxing.
Then we go into Tamarindo which is a busy little surf town with lots of nice bars and restaurants for lunch. You can rent surf boards and take a lesson there, or relax on the huge beach.
Driver cost is $100
RIO CELESTE WATERFALL HIKE
Rio Celeste is a beautiful, quiet area in the volcanic mountains, west of Arenal. It takes about 2 hours to get there plus another 30 minutes down a horrible dirt road where we need to take a 4×4 taxi. But the waterfall is just spectacular! The hike is strenuous and takes around three hours to complete. There is a natural hot spring from the volcano at the side of the river.
Driver cost is $120 plus a 4×4 taxi is $60 and the park entrance fee is $10 each.
CASA VERDE RESTAURANT IN LIBERIA
Enjoy a romantic dinner at one of the best restaurants in Guanacaste. Casa Verde offers excellent meals in very nice surroundings. Example dish: Tenderloin roll filled with sauteed vegetables served with mashed potato, bacon and demi-glace sauce.
Driver cost is $40
WATERFALL AT BAGACES Cataratas Llanos Del Cortes
This spectacular waterfall is located one hour south of Liberia.
Driver cost $80
MANUAL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
Manuel Antonio National Park is an overnight trip from Playas Del Coco because it’s about a four hour drive. There are small hotels costing around $60-100 a night. It’s a very popular tourist destination, with beautiful beaches and lots of bars and restaurants. There is a small fee to get into the national park but from there you can hike through the forest and visit other beaches. There is a lot of wildlife there, often you can see monkeys, sloths and toucans. We also pass through Jaco which is a popular ‘party town’.
Driver cost $170 plus hotel
AIRPORT SHUTTLE TRANSFER
I can also help with airport shuttle transfers to your accommodation in Guanacaste:
Liberia (Daniel Oduber) to Playas Del Coco area $40
Liberia (Daniel Oduber) to Tamarindo/Flamingo/Conchal $60
Liberia (Daniel Oduber) to Samara $100
Liberia (Daniel Oduber) to Arenal $130
San Jose to Playas Del Coco area $150
San Jose to Tamarindo/Flamingo/Conchal $160
San Jose to Samara $200
These prices are for up to three people. For larger groups, send me an email and I’ll get you an exact quote from my colleagues who have larger trucks, minivans and buses.
Please send me an email if you are interested in tours from the Playas Del Coco or Tamarindo area and I’ll help you get it organized. I offer a Playas Del Coco shuttle or Tamarindo shuttle and my email address is
