One of the many reasons we landed on purchasing in Coco was its proximity to many incredible attractions. Coco is a great home base to explore all of what Guanacaste has to offer. Here is a list of what we consider to be Must-See's in Costa Rica! We recommend reaching out to Eithel from Miguetours to discuss your excursion desires. You can explore on your own but taking the stress off planning and being able to sit back and enjoy while learning about the area and culture is a much greater experience in our opinion.
Catarata Llanos De Cortes is a must-see waterfall that’s about an hour’s drive from Coco. It has multiple cascades and a large pool that you are able to swim in. This is a wonderful day trip to take, especially to beat the heat! They do ask for donations at the gate which is about 2000 colons (around $3.50 usd) per person. That would be your entrance fee and is to help maintain the condition of the waterfall and surrounding areas. Don’t forget to bring your
swimsuit, change of clothes, sandals/flip flops, sunglasses, sunscreen and CAMERA’S! Snacks and refreshments are quite important if you plan on spending a couple of hours there. They do not sell food or drinks at the Waterfall so you will want to be prepared. Lastly, it’s important to note there are concrete stairs that lead down to the waterfall. It takes about 3-5 minutes. For people with relatively good physical health, it’s no problem to get down. For anyone with physical ailments, you will need to go slow and take your time. There is a handrail there for individuals who need it.
Adventure Combo Tour is a great excursion for individuals that would like some adventure. There are several parks that are about an hours drive from Coco. We haven’t been to all of them but they tend to get very similar reviews which are all fantastic. The parks that you want
to look into for your action packed tours are: Guachipelin, Buena Vista, Borinquen, and the Rio Perdido. Each one has slightly different activities but all extremely fun. These tours would be a full day commitment with lunch included. You will want to bring comfortable walking shoes, extra clothes, sunscreen along with some refreshments to keep you hydrated. It’s a good idea to purchase a waterproof cell phone pouch. They are fairly inexpensive on Amazon or in a local travel bag store.
Rio Celeste is truly the most magical place! Visitors can hike through the Tenorio Volcano National Park to see the captivating waterfall and blue river. Though this excursion takes you 2 hours out of Coco, you will not regret seeing this natural beauty. The story told by locals is that God dipped his brush in the river as he was the sky. Scientifically, the colour appears
when 2 rivers meet and there is a mineral/oxygen/aluminum reaction. (A tour guide would be able to explain this MUCH better then this!) A couple of things to keep in mind; you are in the Rainforest where it can rain at any time even during the dry season. It can get quite muddy! Once you get to the waterfall entrance after about a 30 min hike, there are over 100 VERY steep steps that leads to the falls. You will want to be careful. A few things you will want to pack to prepare for the excursion: 1. Good hiking shoes. They do rent out rain boots at the entrance for around $5.00 USD. Open toe shoes are not recommended for the hiking due to the uneven terrain. 2. Shorts are perfectly fine however wearing something that is more of a wicking fabric will keep you much more comfortable due to the humidity. 3. Waterproof gear. It can rain more in this area and unpredictably at times. You will want to come prepared with a poncho, rain jacket, waterproof gear for your camera’s, etc. 4. Bug repellent.
Palo Verde National Park is home to thousands of birds and wildlife. This is one of the most
important parks in Costa Rica as it contains an endangered ecosystem in Central America. During the boat ride you will see crocodiles, birds, iguanas, frogs and monkeys and 15 different kind of
habitats. This is about an hour and a half drive outside of Coco.
Diamante Adventure Park is 30 minutes outside of Coco and has a 1+ kilometer superman zipline with an Ocean view! There is an animal sanctuary where you will see sloths, jaguars, toucans and many more animals. This is such a great attraction if you aren’t feeling those longer travel days.
Guanacaste beaches are incredible and if you’re up for renting a vehicle for a couple of days, you can explore a ton of beautiful ones. The closest sandy shores to Coco are Playa
Hermosa, Playa Ocotol and Playa Panama. All approximately 5-15 minute drive from your home base. Some hidden non-tourist beaches are Playa Cabuyal – a 40 min drive from Coco, Playa Iguanita – 45 min drive from Coco. A couple popular beaches to visit are Playa Conchal – Just over an
hour. (This beach is covered in shells and a MUST see if you have the time and means to get there!) Tamarindo Beach – Just over an hour to get there. This is nick-named the Surfer Town for good reason. Lots of surfing and just all-around chill vibe.
Snorkling and Scuba Diving is a must-do in Guanacaste for all Ocean lovers. The Gulf of Papagayo has great diving with amazing spots such as Bat Islands (Islas Murcielagos - The
coolest spot!) and Catalina Islands. Swim with eagle rays, turtles, sharks and other creatures of the sea. Flamingo (Highly recommended Scuba Diving area), Tamarindo, Playas del Coco and Playa Ocotal are excellent launch points for scuba diving in Guanacaste.
Bijagua Ranas is a beautiful, privately run sloth haven. Home to two-toed and three-toed
sloths along with a wonderful variety of other flora and fauna, this really is a must-see when visiting Costa Rica. It's become quite a few peoples life goal to see these beauties in (in)action! The sloths in CR have become the symbol of the country due to its oh-so-adorable face, snuggly body and very pura vida lifestyle. You will not be disappointed in this tour.
Nicaragua is an excellent way to see another country, especially if you don’t plan on visiting
in the future. The tour company takes care of all the border fees, immigration, transportation, guiding and itinerary, making it an easy and convenient day excursion. It's a convenient distance from Playas del Coco. Typically the tour starts very early in the morning, around 5:00-5:30am which is surprisingly easy to wake up at that time in CR. You will be back around dinner time. The Country is so close yet so unique and different then Costa Rica.
We could go on and on with further suggestions but the truth is, there is SO much to do and Playas del Coco could not be a better home base for all of these wonderful activities which is partly why we were drawn to purchasing here. Further to this list, there are Hot Spring tours, sunset private boat rides, fishing and helicopter rides. Connect with Miguetours (your shuttle driver) and explore all the amazing things that suit your Pura Vida needs!
Happy planning!
The McClungs
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