Sidebar #64 - Guanacaste Province

I’ve referenced Guanacaste on a few occasions when talking about the Annexation of Nicoya, trips to the beach, or American influence in Costa Rica. And that’s for good reason - if I had to guess, Guanacaste is probably the province in which Americans have the most contact. Guanacaste is home to Costa Rica’s other international airport, in Liberia, which provides much easier access to beaches and other tourist destinations than the primary international airport in San Jose. In 2025, most major airports in the United States boast direct flights to Liberia, so it makes the most sense for a lot of travelers to just fly into Guanacaste and never make the trek down to San Jose.

Guanacaste is also one of the most unique provinces in Costa Rica. I’ve written previously about how Guanacaste chose to join Costa Rica instead of Nicaragua. Because of this, Guanacaste has a sense of sovereignty that many other places in Costa Rica lack. When traveling through Guanacaste, you’ll see Guanacastecan flags flying everywhere. In some respects, Guanacastecans seem to feel more Guanacastecan than Costa Rican. There is a rich rodeo and bullfighting culture in Guanacaste which makes it somewhat unique from other provinces. Guanacaste is also home to some of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Costa Rica including Tamarindo, Samara, Nosara, and Playa Flamingo. Most of Costa Rica’s all-inclusive resorts are based in Guanacaste, catering to international travelers.








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