Southern Guanacaste Attractions
The Nicoya Peninsula in southern Guanacaste province occupies the northwest region of Costa Rica and possesses over a hundred kilometers of coastline dotted with beautiful beaches. The region is named after the city of NICOYA, the heartland of the Chorotega people who belong to one of the most prominent indigenous groups of Costa Rica. Nicoya, believed to be the oldest city in the country, is characterized by ancient colonial structures and well-defined city blocks, with the city park and the Catholic Church in the centre where lives revolve around.
Situated at 123 meters above sea level, the city of Nicoya has experienced considerable growth in recent years, being the ideal stopover for those headed for the coast. Apart from the central market which is famous for selling a variety of traditional food and drinks, Nicoya is also well known for the ancient SAN BLAS COLONIAL CHURCH, located in the center of the city, the same site where the first parish church in Costa Rica was built in 1544, which nowadays houses a small but interesting historical-religious museum. Next to the church, the city park serves as a popular meeting place for residents.
Next in importance to Nicoya is the coastal town of SAMARA with its central location in relation to all the other beaches. Here visitors are able to combine beaches with other activities such as sighting turtles in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve, birdwatching and observing small wildlife aboard kayaks or small boats in the estuaries and mangrove forests.
There is an excellent public transportation system throughout the region and a ferry service connects the peninsula from Paquera and Playa Naranjo with Puntarenas on the main land. There are also landing strips at Tamarindo, Carillo and Islita for domestic carriers.
THE BEACHES
The uppermost beaches on the Peninsula begins in the middle of the Peninsula with RAJADA BEACH, which has mild waves and is pleasant for swimming and relaxation with many broad-leaf trees for shades. CUAJINIQUIL BEACH (not to be confused with another beach of the same name in Santa Elena Bay) and its mangrove forest are very well protected from the wind which makes it ideal for fishermen to anchor their boats. LAGARTO BEACH also stands out with its local fishing activity, and beaches like PITAHAYA, EL COCO and MARBELLA are favored by surfers for their good waves. This section of the coast is beautiful but there are few tourist services.
Further south down the coast there is a rocky promontory at PLAYA AZUL, called Eriza Point, which offers a stunning view of the entire coastline, stretching all the way to Trinidad Point. Playa Azul has strong surf and swimmers must take precaution. Next, as part of the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve, OSTIONAL BEACH is long and spacious with strong currents. The southern end of this beach connects to Nosara Beach, with the Division Point between them. Ostional is famous worldwide for the large number of Parrot turtles that come to nest between July and November.
The Nosara River at NOSARA BEACH has a beautiful estuary and a large mangrove forest, where one can observe a variety of birds aboard boats or kayaks. In and around the town of NOSARA tourist services are abundant. Continuing on to PELADA BEACH, there is a rocky point at the southern end where a panoramic view of Pelada and Guiones Beach extends in both directions. This is a great place for hiking, horseback riding, sunbathing, sport fishing and snorkeling. In contrast, the long and broad GUIONES BEACH is a magnet for surfers and many tourist businesses are found along its shore.
The next section of the coast begins with ROSADA BEACH, so named because of its rose-colored sand, and GARZA BEACH that lies south of the Garza River estuary, with moderate surf and a small population of resident fishermen. This is a good place to sunbathe, swim, walk or fish. A little further south, a pretty cove called BARCO QUEBRADO BEACH has moderate surf and is surrounded by high rocky cliffs and wooded areas. Next, on BUENA VISTA BEACH is known as a destination for hang-gliders.
One of the most visited beaches, SAMARA BEACH is 4 km long and has moderate surf, making it a favorite destination for swimming, sunbathing, horseback riding, boating and kayaking. There are many tourist services on this Blue Flag beach and at night there is live music and good food. About 5 km south of Samara, CARILLO BEACH has also been awarded the Blue Flag. It is a safe beach for swimmers and is especially attractive because of the palm-lined boulevard that fringes the beach. South of here, a new wildlife reserve that protects Leatherback and Parrot turtles is found on CAMARONAL BEACH, a large, open beach of about 3 km in length, a great choice for campers and anglers.
In a cove shaped like a half-moon with very calm surf is blue-flag ISLITA BEACH, a favorite among the rich and famous international jetset. This heavenly beach comes with two estuaries that add to its beauty, and offers a wide range of recreational services, including horseback rides through mangrove forests over to COROZALITO BEACH, followed by BEJUCO BEACH which is a surfers’ favorite.
Away from the beaten path, a road over the San Miguel hills leads to SAN MIGUEL and COYOTE BEACH, divided by an estuary; these two beaches are very open and get strong continuous waves. Together, they are about 8 km long. Finally, at BONGO BEACH, surfers congregate on the northern section, away from the mouth of the Bongo River which forms the border between the provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas.
APART FROM THE BEACHES
GUAITIL AND SAN VICENTE HANDCRAFTS
The ancient tradition of making ceramic artifacts is alive and well in the communities of Guaitil, Santa Cruz and San Vicente on the Nicoya Peninsula. To visit these communities is to travel through 5000 years of history about the Chorotega Indians and their ancestral territory. Among the artifacts they made are a large variety of polychromatic designs that highlight simple objects, urns, vases, flower pots, plates, flutes and figures that resemble animals and plants. As these communities practically live off this tradition, the art form has been passed down from generation to generation.
SANTA CRUZ, THE CITY OF FOLKLORE
The city of Santa Cruz is renowned as the national city of folklore due to the large number of residents who maintain a special interest in their traditions and customs. For a long time, Guanacaste has been the cradle of Costa Rican folklore that has had the greatest impact on tourism, such as the typical dances and the colorful clothes worn for these dances, musical instruments like the marimba, unique literature, legends, songs and ancient texts that have been preserved over generations. In Santa Cruz one can readily perceive the influence of tradition despite the presence of contemporary culture. From Santa Cruz visitors have easy access to the beautiful beaches of Ostional, Flamingo, Tamarindo and Grande.
PATRON SAINT FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY CHRIST OF ESQUIPULAS
This is a traditional event that most residents look forward to celebrating every January, when religious and cultural activities mingle. It begins with the transfer of the image of Christ of Esquipulas from Santa Cruz to the town of Arado, where it remains until the eve of the celebration. The historical image was brought to Santa Cruz from Guatemala in 1840, and important religious activities have since evolved around it. On the afternoon of January 14, the image is brought back to Santa Cruz. Residents gather to witness the return of the image, marking the start of a large procession through streets decorated with palm leaves, malinche flowers and colored paper ribbons.
January 15 is the Patron Saint’s Day and the celebration begins with another procession that ends with a Mass in the main Catholic Church in honor of the Holy Christ of Esquipulas. Cultural programs are performed in the streets of Santa Cruz on January 14 and 18 and visitors can enjoy the different folkloric dances, Guanacasteca music (particularly the marimba), dramas, poetry recitals and ‘bombas’ or jokes that reflect the characteristics of the community. There are also sales of handicrafts and souvenirs around the Mango Plaza where a temporary bull ring will be built, and around the Bernabela Ramos Park where different cultural activities will be held.
