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Aerial view of a curved beach below wooded hills in Guanacaste.

Costa Rica · Guanacaste

Inland day trips

Waterfalls, caves, history and crafts less than two hours from the coast.

7 places1 closed or restricted, flagged

  1. Llanos de Cortés Waterfall1

    Photo: Yricordel, CC BY-SA 3.0

    NatureOpen

    Llanos de Cortés Waterfall

    Bagaces, about 30 min south of Liberia on Route 164 km from the centre

    Entry
    $7
    Hours
    8:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A wide waterfall dropping into a sandy-bottomed pool you can swim in, just a 5-minute walk from the car park.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreigners: $7 adults, $4 children; free under 7 (October 2025).
    Hours
    Daily 8:00–16:00; last entry 15:30.

    Tip: Use the official entrance (toilets and showers at the car park). A rope limits the swimming area and there are lifeguards.

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

  2. 2

    AdventureRestricted access

    Terciopelo Cave descent

    Barra Honda National Park, Nicoya52.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    $13.56
    Hours
    8:00–13:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Guided descent with gear into the only Barra Honda cave open to the public, with limestone stalactites and stalagmites.

    You must hire the SINAC-authorised local guide association; minimum age 12 and non-slip shoes. Under-13s can do a tour of “la cuevita”, a small cave. It may be suspended because of rain.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Barra Honda · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Park entry ($13.56) does not include the guide or gear, paid separately (SINAC, 2026).
    Hours
    Caves and trails 8:00–13:00.
    Booking
    Book by WhatsApp with the park: 8539-1010 / 8721-2444 (SINAC).

    Nearby: Barra Honda National Park: viewpoint and trails (1.4 km) · Other Barra Honda caves (Santa Ana, Nicoa, La Trampa) (2.2 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Barra Honda · Wikipedia – Barra Honda National Park

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  3. Barra Honda National Park: viewpoint and trails3

    Photo: Lutz Maertens, public domain

    NatureOpen

    Barra Honda National Park: viewpoint and trails

    22 km north-east of Nicoya54.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $13.56
    Hours
    8:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Limestone hills with dry forest and a medium-to-hard trail up to a viewpoint over the Gulf of Nicoya and the Tempisque plains.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Barra Honda · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreigners: $13.56 per person per day, entry, trails and viewpoint only (SINAC, 2026).
    Hours
    Office 8:00–16:00; last trail entry at 13:00.

    Tip: The park may limit or close visits in heavy rain: SINAC asks you to call ahead.

    Nearby: Other Barra Honda caves (Santa Ana, Nicoa, La Trampa) (0.9 km) · Terciopelo Cave descent (1.4 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Barra Honda · SINAC – Barra Honda National Park · Wikipedia – Parque nacional Barra Honda

  4. 4

    CultureOpen

    Guaitil Chorotega pottery village

    Diriá, between Santa Cruz and Nicoya35.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Village where families make Chorotega-style pottery with local clays and mineral pigments, using techniques inherited from pre-Columbian times.

    Source: Wikipedia – Guaitil · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Guaitil and San Vicente pottery was declared intangible cultural heritage in 2013 and received a protected designation of origin in 2017. Visiting workshops is free; buying directly supports the families.

    Nearby: Tempisque river boat tour (Palo Verde) (13.5 km) · Diriá National Park (14 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Guaitil · Wikipedia – Cerámica nicoyana · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Palo Verde wildlife boat tour

  5. 5

    CultureOpen

    Liberia town centre, the White City

    Central Liberia, 215 km north-west of San José57 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Guanacaste’s capital, called the White City for its old white-gravel streets and whitewashed houses; it has the Guanacaste Museum, the Sabanero (cowboy) Museum and the cathedral on the central park.

    Source: Wikipedia – Liberia, Costa Rica · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Every 25 July the city celebrates the Annexation of Nicoya with parades, folk dancing, cattle fairs, local food and marimba music.

    Nearby: Rincon Thermals & Adventures (formerly Vandará) (10.5 km) · La Leona waterfall (10.8 km) · Horseback riding at Rincón de la Vieja (12.3 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Liberia, Costa Rica · Wikivoyage – Liberia (Costa Rica)

  6. 6

    CultureOpen

    Santa Rosa National Park and La Casona

    36 km north of Liberia on Route 164.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    $16.95
    Hours
    8:00–15:30
    Booking
    Not stated

    A ranch house turned history museum, site of the 20 March 1856 battle against William Walker’s filibusters, surrounded by World Heritage dry forest.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Santa Rosa · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreigners: $16.95 adults and $5.65 children 2–12 (SINAC, 2026).
    Hours
    SINAC: Wednesday to Monday, 8:00–15:30, with advance booking. A July 2025 guide gave Wednesday to Sunday: confirm before you go.
    Booking
    Book at reservaciones.acguanacaste.ac.cr.

    Tip: The Indio Desnudo trail starts near La Casona. According to a SINAC statement reported by Delfino.cr (3 October 2024), the trail has rest bays every 100 metres, easy-to-read interpretive signs, QR codes with audio, tactile paving and a permeable concrete surface with slopes under 10%. Check with the protected area before you go.

    Nearby: Playa Naranjo (Santa Rosa) (8.5 km) · Witch’s Rock (Peña Bruja) by boat (9 km) · Murciélago sector (Santa Rosa) (14.8 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Santa Rosa · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Santa Rosa National Park · Wikipedia – Santa Rosa National Park · Delfino.cr – Trece áreas protegidas con sectores de accesibilidad (comunicado de SINAC, 3 oct. 2024)

  7. 7

    NatureOpen

    Diriá National Park

    18 km south of Santa Cruz via Arado30.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $6
    Hours
    8:00–15:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A little-visited park in the hills south of Santa Cruz, with forest trails, viewpoints, pools on the En Medio river and a seasonal waterfall.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Diriá · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $6 for foreigners per day (SINAC); a 2025 guide says there is often no ranger to collect it.
    Hours
    8:00–15:00 according to a July 2025 guide.

    Tip: The last 6 km are gravel with a crossing of the Diriá river: SINAC suggests 4WD. The waterfall nearly dries up in the dry season.

    Nearby: Guaitil Chorotega pottery village (14 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Diriá · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Diria National Park

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