For anyone who is looking to plan a once-in-a-lifetime vacation for their family this year, look no further than Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. When staying in one of our Playa Flamingo vacation rentals, you’ll find that you are spoiled for choice for things to do here. This area is packed with stunning scenery, natural attractions, and beautiful beaches that travelers of all ages will appreciate. Let’s take a look at some of the top places you’ll want to visit on an upcoming trip to Playa Flamingo and the surrounding areas.
Explore Playa Flamingo’s Beaches
Playa Flamingo is located on the Gold Coast of Costa Rica, and you’ll find white-sand beaches which you can enjoy throughout the year. Flamingo Beach is a Blue Flag-certified beach that offers a mile of beach that has some of the softest sands you will have ever seen. However, if you fancy a change of scenery one day, there are plenty of other beaches to explore in the area. Our top choices include Playa Prieta, Playa Pan de Azúcar, Playa Conchal, and Playa Danta. While you may be happy just relaxing and sunbathing on the beach, you can also enjoy surfing, snorkeling, exploring tide pools, and witnessing turtle nesting in this area.
Take an ATV Tour
One of the best things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica is to explore the local area by ATV. You can either take a guided tour for a few hours or rent an ATV and take a self-guided exploration of the local area. You’ll be able to tackle all of the bumpy roads in the area safely while admiring the incredible ocean views. If you are looking to enhance this trip further, consider also adding a canopy tour to your day out.
Canopy Tours
You can’t travel to Costa Rica without taking a zip-line tour, and within just thirty minutes of our Playa Flamingo vacation rentals, you’ll find multiple different options. The longest zip lines in the area last up to ¾ of a mile, and it’s bound to be one of the highlights of your next trip. On top of the zip lines, you’ll also enjoy crossing suspension bridges and admiring the creatures that call this part of the world home.
Palo Verde
One of our favorite days out from Playa Flamingo is Palo Verde, which takes between an hour and 90 minutes to access. This park is ideal for your whole family to visit, and you’ll enjoy seeing colorful tropical birds flying over your head throughout your visit. On top of that, you’ll find crocodiles, monkeys, jaguarundis, and coatis in their natural habitat. You can either take a car or join a local bus tour here, or alternatively, you could join a boat tour to see some of the creatures in the water. We recommend arriving here as early as possible in the morning to enjoy the most animal sightings.
White Water Rafting
Another of the top things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is to head out on a white water rafting tour. This is the perfect day out for any adrenaline seekers in your party and will be the highlight of any teenager’s trip to Costa Rica. The Tenorio River is the best local spot to enjoy a white water rafting adventure, and on the way, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for the Tenorio Volcano. This 15-mile long river will take you through rapids and waterfalls, and after your trip, you’ll get to admire the scenery from the shore while eating lunch. We highly encourage anyone over the age of 13 to have a go at this popular Costa Rica adventure on your next stay in our Playa Flamingo vacation rentals.
Surfing
If you are looking for an adventure that’s a little closer to our Playa Flamingo vacation rentals, we highly recommend taking surfing lessons in Costa Rica. Playa Grande and Tamarindo are great spots for surfing, and you’ll find plenty of surf instructors and surf shops in the area. For something a little tamer, you could stay nearer to your vacation home and have a go at stand-up paddleboarding. This is a fun activity that allows you to witness Playa Flamingo from a different perspective and also makes for a great workout.
Golfing
You may be surprised to learn that Costa Rica is also a popular vacation destination with golfers. With warm weather throughout the year, there’s nowhere better to enjoy a round of golf. Some of our favorite courses in the area include the Reserva Conchal Golf Club and the Golf Course at Hacienda Pinilla. Both of these courses overlook the ocean and will offer you a fun challenge and a lovely day out during your vacation. Make sure you call ahead to book your tee time to avoid disappointment.
Take a Trip Aboard a Luxury Yacht
If you are looking for unique things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, consider heading out for the day on a luxury yacht. There’s no shortage of luxurious yachts in the area, and you can book a boat tour or charter your own boat for a private day out. During the day, you can enjoy snorkeling, swimming, and dolphin and whale watching. Most of the boats include open bars and meals, so it’s the ideal all-inclusive day out for your whole family. We highly recommend taking a tour at sunset for a romantic experience that would be perfect for couples visiting the area.
Visit Rincon de la Vieja National Park
This national park is best known for its volcano, which has an active crater and landscape. You’ll find geysers, hot springs, and mud pots surrounding the crater, and there’s plenty for visitors to see and do here. If you enjoy hiking, you can take on the challenge of hiking to the summit, but it will take roughly seven hours for the round trip. A more gentle hike is the Las Pailas loop, which is just 1.75 miles in length. As well as hiking, you can enjoy exploring the waterfalls and witnessing the local wildlife within the park.
Sea Turtle Nesting
If you time your visit right to our Playa Flamingo vacation rentals, you might be lucky enough to witness the leatherback sea turtle return to Playa Grande and bury its eggs. This can often be very challenging to predict the timing of, and you’ll want to join an organized tour to help protect this fragile ecosystem. However, if you time it right, this will be one of the highlights of any trip to the area as it’s certainly one of the top things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica.
Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park was Costa Rica’s first national park, and it was created to preserve La Casona, a ranch house that was an important part of Costa Rica’s independence. Visitors today can enjoy exploring the area’s beaches, dry forest, and spotting local birds. Nancite Beach is located within the park, and if you time your trip right, you might be lucky enough to see Olive Ridley Sea Turtles here.
As you can see, there are so many things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica, so you’ll never be short of places to visit on your next trip here. For more information about Playa Flamingo vacation rentals or to book your next trip, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today! Check out our Area Guides too!
