Costa Rica Southern Guanacaste

Bordered on the north by Punta Cerritos and on the south by the Bongo River, the Southern Guanacaste region spans the southwestern section of the Nicoya peninsula and includes some of Costa Rica’s most popular beaches.

The region boasts an efficient system of public transport including maritime ferry boats (between the towns of Paquera and Playa Naranjo) that facilitate communication between the region’s various communities. In addition, the recent opening of the Tempisque river bridge allows rapid access to the central and southern parts of the peninsula.

Considered the oldest settlement in the country, Nicoya’s history dates back to centuries before conquistador Gil González Dávila took over in the early 1500s. Back then it served as an administrative center for the agricultural communities nearby, with well-defined trade routes traced as far as the Nicaraguan border.

Although centuries have passed the town seems suspended in time. Ox-drawn plows, machetes and straw hats are common in the countryside where farmers make the most out of their land. Traditional pottery is still a hot commodity and can be purchased on the streets just like it was when the native inhabitants sold it to neighbor tribes. The 500-year-old church of San Blas is another living testament to Nicoya’s charisma, an old fashioned adobe construction surrounded by a beautiful tree-shaded plaza.

However, the outskirts of the town are a whole different story. Wildlife runs free through the forests and the waves meet the land with enthusiasm rarely seen on other beaches. The infrastructure is more rustic and the natural beauty of the local flora and fauna steals the show.