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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Alex Robinson

Costa Rica is justifiably famous for its rain and cloud forests. Less well-known are the country’s tropical dry forests.

This 147,000-hectare UNESCO World Heritage-listed biome preserves the largest stretch in Central America, through a series of public and private protected areas.

The landscapes – from volcanoes to empty beaches and mangrove swamps – are breathtaking and the area is home to spectacular rare animals including the endangered Central American tapir, jaguar and ocelot. Critically endangered leatherback turtles nest on the beaches.

Light adventure includes hiking, canyoning and zip lines.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The Conservation Area is composed of a mosaic of National Parks and reserves. These include Santa Rosa, Guanacaste and Rincon de la Vieja, Horizontes Experimental Forest and the Junquillal Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Access roads into many of these areas require a four-wheel drive and many of the roads are difficult to navigate even with GPS. The best way to visit any of these areas is on an organised tour with a wildlife guide.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park – which spreads over and around an active volcano – is the easiest of the areas to visit on a range of light adventure tours which usually take in hot springs, waterfall swims and zip lines.

When to do it

Late November through to mid-April is the dry season. Come at the beginning of the season for greener foliage; in March and April the forest is very dry and yellow.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

ATV Tour from Guanacaste

ATV Tour from Guanacaste

Playa Hermosa

Ride your own ATV or share an ATV with a friend and ride together through the dry forest canopy. Guides will fit you with helmets, give safe...

$65 | Rating 4.46 / 5 [15 ratings]

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Guanacaste Snorkel and Sunset Cruise

Guanacaste Snorkel and Sunset Cruise

Playa Hermosa

Snorkeling sunset catamaran sailing cruise along the Pacific Coast watching for humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, turtles and flying fish. S...

$116 | Rating 4.65 / 5 [38 ratings]

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Beach and Mountain Buggy Tour in Guanacaste

Beach and Mountain Buggy Tour in Guanacaste

Get your adrenalin pumping on this adventure tour. Ride through the back trails in your very own side by side. This tour  offers something f...

$154 | Rating 4.80 / 5 [31 ratings]

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Mega Combo / All Day Adventure

Mega Combo / All Day Adventure

Liberia

Enjoy  many different activities in one day for one price this place called Buena Vista is located in the slope of the Rincón de la Vieja Vo...

$199 | Rating 4.87 / 5 [101 ratings]

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Rainforests, powdery beaches, white-water rivers and towering volcanoes: this relaxed Central American country offers exceptional wilderness adventures in stunning landscapes.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Best National Parks in Costa Rica

Costa Rica[210.3 miles]

Stringently protected, crawling with life, astonishingly diverse, Costa Rica’s protected forests and reefs have inspired successful conservational tourism worldwide.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

Olive turtle (Pacific coast of Guanacaste) on the Ostional beach during the ocean sunset,
Experience

Santa Rosa National Park [Surfing]

Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica[21.2 miles]

Covering a remote peninsula in Costa Rica’s far north-west, Santa Rosa protects important sea turtle nesting beaches and was the site of a historic battle in 1856. It’s also a prime surfing location, with two renowned breaks: Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point, both generally accessed by boat.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Experience

Rio Perdido Hot Springs

Bagaces, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica[52.9 miles]

This resort has one of the least-visited hot springs in the country – a 160-foot river flowing a thermo mineral gorge, surrounded by bird-filled tropical dry forests. Eight hot springs mingle with river water, creating pools or varying temperature water. There’s one special pool where you can apply mud to the skin.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

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