The Northern Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Tropical paradise beach near Tamarindo
The northern part of the Nicoya Peninsula belongs to the province of Guanacaste whose coastline is made up of countless stretches of sun-swathed beaches, divided by rocky bluffs and mangrove-lined river estuaries. Some of Costa Rica's most famous surf and vacation spots are found here.
Surfers on the beach watching the waves
Tamarindo is the surf capital and touristic center of Costa Rica's northern Pacific. The bustling beach town boasts a big variety of hotels and excellent dining options. Surfing is a predominant activity all around Tamarindo: to the north surfers frolic on Playa Grande and to the south a series of prime surf spots include Langosta, Avellanas and Playa Negra.
Still further south the environmentally-committed community of Nosara is ensconced in a jungle and fronted by another great surf beach while the laid-back beach village of Samara offers perfect bathing and snorkeling in its tranquil bay.
Guanacaste country side
Inland the pleasant town of Nicoya is the cultural center of the Nicoya Peninsula and boasts
Costa Rica's oldest colonial church.
The interiors of the peninsula are still steeped in traditions - it's the land of cattle ranches
and sabanero's - the Costa Rican variant of cowboys.
Local folklore comes alive on civic fiestas hold in countryside villages
during dry season. It's a merry communal party with rodeos, typical food and dances to the sound of Marimba and Cumbia.
The cattle trade still flourishes but nowadays tourism and real estate have become the most thriving industries in Guanacaste. A new bridge over the Tempisque river connecting to the Costa Rican mainland, and a new international airport in Liberia have boosted development. Touted the Gold Coast of Costa Rica, the area around and north of Tamarindo gradually turns over from individual to package tourism. Several luxury chain hotels have ventured into Costa Rica's most important vacation region and condominium projects are sprouting all over. Roads however are still precarious and water resources are limited in Costa Rica's arid north west.
Sunsets are most colorful during rainy season
The northern Nicoya Peninsula is perfect to visit basically year-round, only October should be avoided as it
is usually a wash-out.
Mid November trade winds from the north-east arrive, marking the end of the rainy season.
The following months these offshore winds, called Papagayo, relief the heat and provide perfect surf conditions.
Sunshine is guaranteed during the high-season months of January - April.
In May a mellow rainy season follows which
the tourism industry has dubbed the Green Season.
It's the time of the year preferred by eco-tourists as nature is
verdant green, sunsets multi-hued, and many hotels offer low season rates.