Guanacaste and Northwest attractions

Las Pumas Rescue Center (Centro de Rescate Las Pumas) rescues and rehabilitates wildlife and advocates rainforest conservation efforts in the Guanacaste Province near Cañas, Costa Rica. The sanctuary sits on an old farm in the heart of the Santa Rosa Sector Guanacaste Conservation Area (Area de Conservación Guanacaste), both a network of protected areas and a World Heritage Site. The center rescues large cats primarily, but it also works to provide a safe home to monkeys, deer, parrots, and other animals.

Santa Rosa National Park (Parque Nacional Santa Rosa) encompasses much of Costa Rica’s Santa Elena Peninsula and is one of the country’s oldest protected areas. Thick jungles and mangrove forests give way to rolling ocean and white beaches along the country’s coastline, while further inland, dry tropical forests teem with flora and fauna.

Powdery sand and turquoise water lend Samara Beach its laid-back charm, and make this Nicoya Peninsula shore town a favorite for locals and in-the-know visitors alike. Gentle waves and sparse crowds offer a low-key contrast with buzzy surf beaches up the coast, instead offering a family-friendly shoreline ideal for swimming, body surfing, and relaxing in the shade of a palm tree.

Miles of pristine, gray sand draw travelers to Matapalo Beach (Playa Matapalo), which wraps the southern tip of Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula. Its palm trees lean towards Pacific breakers, shading beachfront guest houses and bungalows that cater to surfers, backpackers, and visitors seeking the country’s quieter side.

Situated in the heart of Guanacaste Province next to Rincon de La Vieja National Park, Vida Aventura Nature Park offers a heady mix of adventure in a large private reserve. Travelers can easily spend an entire day here ziplining, walking nature trails, riding horses—and then wind with mud bath treatment or dips in the hot springs.