Guanacaste private tours

Welcome to Guanacaste, a place where the beaches stretch like golden ribbons into the ocean, and the sun seems to linger a little longer in the sky. Here, with your local guide, the landscape is just the beginning. Each tour transforms into an adventure, with private excursions that allow you to breeze past the usual crowds and into the heart of the region. Whether wandering through charming villages or perusing vibrant markets, it's the local insights that make each moment memorable. Through a food and wine tour, you can taste the authentic flavours that make this region unique. In Guanacaste, it's not just about seeing the sigh...

Welcome to Guanacaste, a place where the beaches stretch like golden ribbons into the ocean, and the sun seems to linger a little longer in the sky. Here, with your local guide, the landscape is just the beginning. Each tour transforms into an adventure, with private excursions that allow you to breeze past the usual crowds and into the heart of the region. Whether wandering through charming villages or perusing vibrant markets, it's the local insights that make each moment memorable. Through a food and wine tour, you can taste the authentic flavours that make this region unique. In Guanacaste, it's not just about seeing the sights; it's about feeling the rhythm of life in this warm, welcoming corner of Costa Rica. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at our curated list of things to do in Guanacaste.

Explore Guanacaste your way

At ToursByLocals, we believe that how you explore is just as important as where you go. That’s why every Guanacaste tour is private, flexible, and built around you: Move at your own pace, skip the crowds, make connections and follow your curiosity. Find local guides offering private tours in Guanacaste for every interest, including:

Nature and Wildlife tours: Meet your guide at dawn to hike Rincón de la Vieja’s trails, where you can watch mud pots bubble, spot howler monkeys, and cool off at a waterfall you can reach by a short jungle walk. Or plan nature tours to Palo Verde for a quiet boat float on the Tempisque River, where crocodiles bask on sandbars and herons and roseate spoonbills crowd the shallows; in season, you can add a night visit to Ostional to witness olive ridley turtles nesting.

Food and Drink tours: Join a local for a flavour-focused day that starts at Santa Cruz’s market to try fresh rosquillas and tanelas, then visit a family-run soda for casado and hand-pressed tortillas cooked on a wood-fired comal. Round it out with a stop at a small dairy near Tilarán to sample queso palmito and a seaside tasting of just-made ceviche in Sámara or Tamarindo, plus a sip of guaro or Costa Rican rum if you like.

Getting around: Distances here are long and buses are limited, so it isn’t a walkable area beyond town centres; ask your local guide about chauffeured tours or tours with private transportation to link parks, beaches, and villages comfortably.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all itinerary, you can tailor your private tour to match your interests, pace and personality with a local who knows Guanacaste inside and out.

Walking tours & neighbourhoods

Day trip ideas from Guanacaste

If you’re based in Guanacaste, it’s easy to stretch your legs with day trips to nearby parks, rivers, and low-key towns that add more nature and culture to your time on the coast.

Rincón de la Vieja National Park: Hike past steam vents and mud pots, watch for toucans and coatis, and cool off near waterfalls; the trails range from short loops to longer routes, so your tour can match easy walks or a tougher climb without rushing.

Río Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park: Follow a forest path to a bright blue river and waterfall that looks unreal in person, which is great if you like photography and simple hikes; the drive is scenic and winding, and your tour can plan an early start to catch clear views.

Palo Verde National Park and the Tempisque River: Take a flat boat ride through wetlands to spot herons, crocodiles, and in season large storks, a good pick if you want wildlife without long uphill trails; birders, families, and casual nature fans get a lot out of this calm water experience.

Llanos de Cortez Waterfall and Liberia: Walk a short path to a wide fall with a sandy pool for a quick swim, then head into Liberia for a look at simple historic streets and a relaxed lunch; this suits you if you like a low-effort mix of water, photos, and small-town life.

A private tour with a local guide is the best way to really get to know a place. Skip the crowds, follow your interests, and see a side of Guanacaste most travellers miss.