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The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa, Guanacaste
Costa Rica · Region guide

Guanacaste

7 resorts vettedReviewed July 2026Photo The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & SpaAdvisory level 2 (opens travel.state.gov in a new tab)

Guanacaste is Costa Rica's sun engine: the northwest Pacific province where the dry season actually stays dry, anchored by the Papagayo Peninsula's calm-water luxury resorts and served by its own international airport in Liberia. It's the rare all-inclusive base where the excursion menu includes volcanoes, sloths, and zip-lines rather than just catamarans: pura vida with a swim-up bar.

Airport
Liberia (LIR), Papagayo resorts 30–45 min
The coast
Papagayo Peninsula, Playas del Coco, Conchal, Flamingo, Tamarindo
Best for
Nature + beach in one trip
reliable winter sun
Dry season
December–April, genuinely rain-free
Signature
Wildlife everywhere
volcano and cloud-forest day trips

When to go to Guanacaste

Climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste, and our verdict on each month.

Guanacaste by month · average high, rainfall and our verdict
MeasureJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daily high91 degrees Fahrenheit92 degrees Fahrenheit93 degrees Fahrenheit93 degrees Fahrenheit91 degrees Fahrenheit88 degrees Fahrenheit88 degrees Fahrenheit88 degrees Fahrenheit87 degrees Fahrenheit86 degrees Fahrenheit87 degrees Fahrenheit89 degrees Fahrenheit
Rainfall0.1″0.1″0.2″0.7″7.7″9″5.9″7.9″13″12.2″4.3″0.5″
VerdictPrimePrimePrimePrimeShoulderOff-peakShoulderShoulderOff-peakOff-peakGoodPrime

Sweet spot. December–April, bone-dry; rainy season runs May–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–October.

Storm risk. Pacific side, outside the Atlantic belt; fall Caribbean systems can push rain across the country.

Figures are long-term climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste, good for planning. They are not a forecast.

Papagayo and the beach towns

The Papagayo Peninsula is the marquee: sheltered gulf water, monkeys in the trees over the pool, and the country's flagship resorts. South along the coast, Playa Conchal's crushed-shell sand and Flamingo's marina host the other big properties, while Tamarindo brings surf-town energy for day visits.

Costa Rica's all-inclusive list is shorter than Mexico's (the country leans eco-lodge), which keeps the properties that do exist in high demand. Book dry-season stays early.

When to go

December–April is bone-dry, sunny, and windy enough for kitesurfers; it's the most reliable winter sun in Central America. May–November is green season: lush, cheaper, with rain concentrating in afternoon downpours and September–October the wettest. Guanacaste sits outside the Atlantic hurricane belt; fall Caribbean storms mostly translate to extra rain, not danger.

Beyond the resort

This is why you pick Costa Rica: Rincón de la Vieja's volcano mud pots and waterfalls, Palo Verde's river safaris (crocs, monkeys, scarlet macaws), zip-lining, surf lessons at Tamarindo, and, with a long day, the Monteverde cloud forest. Build at least two excursion days into any week here.

White building entrance with large blue arched doorway, palm trees, and tropical landscaping at Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo under blue sky.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste

Where the Guanacaste resorts are

Map of the Guanacaste resorts

7 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties

7 mapped · marks five-star

The best all-inclusive resorts in Guanacaste

The Guanacaste properties we would actually book.

Illuminated beachfront dining pavilion with white railings and thatched-roof bungalows reflected in the pool at dusk.
The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa 4.5 out of 5
Five-star · $204 /night pp
White building entrance with large blue arched doorway, palm trees, and tropical landscaping at Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo under blue sky.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo 4.4 out of 5
Four-star · $88 /night pp
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica's modern entrance glows with purple neon signage at dusk under a dramatic cloudy sky.
Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort 4.4 out of 5
Five-star · $159 /night pp
Private villa with plunge pool, lounge chairs, and ocean view at Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica.
Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica 4.4 out of 5
Five-star · Adults-only · $261 /night pp
White resort buildings with domed towers overlook manicured lawns, multiple pools with palm trees, and forested mountains under a clear blue sky.
Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica 4.3 out of 5
Five-star · Rates TBD
Resort buildings with red roofs and a blue water park nestled among dense green forests and hills overlooking a turquoise ocean under clear sky.
Hotel Riu Guanacaste 4.2 out of 5
Five-star · $119 /night pp

Resort chains in Guanacaste

The brands operating here. Each links to its full ranking and what its plan really covers.

RIU Hotels & Resorts (2)JW MarriottMargaritavillePlanet Hollywood Hotels & ResortsSecrets Resorts & SpasWestin

Where these companies came from

Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Guanacaste came to look the way it does.

1953How RIU got herePlaya de Palma, Mallorca, Spain2001How Secrets got hereNewtown Square, United States

Guanacaste, head to head

Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.

Frequently asked questions

Is Costa Rica good for all-inclusives compared to Mexico?

Different product: fewer, pricier all-inclusives but a vastly richer nature menu. Pick Guanacaste when the wildlife and volcanoes are half the point; pick Mexico or the DR when maximum resort-per-dollar is.

Does Guanacaste get hurricanes?

It sits on the Pacific side, outside the Atlantic belt; direct hits are essentially unheard of. Late-season Caribbean systems can push heavy rain across, mostly in September–October.

Your shortlist starts here

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