Tamarindo, a former fishing village that has burgeoned into Guanacaste’s most developed (some would say overdeveloped) resort, offers prime wildlife viewing, a scintillating beach, surfing action, and a choice of accommodations spanning shoestring to sophisticated.

Playa Grande could well be Costa Rica's most beautiful beach. With some of the best overall beach breaks in the country, surfers are naturally drawn here, and the entire shoreline within the National Park is a protected turtle nesting ground.

Recent years have seen a growth in robberies against tourists. Rental car break-ins are common. Drugs and prostitution have also encroached, and hustlers can be a nuisance.