Imagine laying on a fluffy white-sand beach, backed by quiet mangroves. Your condo or vacation rental sits perched on a rocky point nearby. A beach umbrella flutters with the sea breeze. This, essentially, is what to expect in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. Famous for its small sandy cove, this highly developed beach town provides travelers with high-end amenities and stunning sea views.

Best known for its sprawling Cordillera de Guanacaste mountain range volcanoes and paradise beaches, Guanacaste has made its presence known in Costa Rica and across the globe. However, it is a province of duality. The luxury resorts, beach vacations, and booming development alongside the culture of the Guanacastecos.

Blue zones refer to places in the world where people live longer than average lives and parts of Guanacaste’s Nicoya Peninsula have been recognized as one of them.

Many of the Nicoyan people often live to surpass 100 years of age, many in which don’t need to rely on medication. It is said that their healthy way of living is responsible for the centenarians living such a long-life expectancy

Costa Rica has two international airports and one of them is in the northwestern part of the country in Guanacaste. Liberia International Airport (also known as Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport) is just outside of Liberia.

The primary international airport of Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in the central valley for access to the other half of the country. Prior to the second airport, you would have to drive 4 to 5 hours to reach Guanacaste.

Named after former president Daniel Oduber Quirós, it was built in 1975 with hopes that it would help increase tourism in the Gulf of Papagayo. It now serves as a gateway to accessing the Gold Coast getting you to Playas del Coco in half an hour and just over an hour to the popular Tamarindo.

Playas del Coco Beach and Town
The dark sand beach of Playas del Coco lies within the Gulf of Papagayo and stretches 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from point to point.

Tamarindo is best known as a great beach and party spot! It offers easy access to exceptional Costa Rica surf spots such as Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Negra, Playa Avellana and Playa Langosta, so it’s very popular with both experienced and beginner surfers.