During the holidays at the end and beginning of the year, we all seek to enjoy the natural beauty and culture of Guanacaste.
Although the beaches tend to be the stars of the season, the Guanacaste highlands offer a different alternative: perfect places to enjoy cooler days and nights surrounded by forest and silence. That’s why camping is one of the best ways to experience these landscapes calmly, let yourself be carried away by the sounds of the night, and experience the territory at a different pace.
So today, we bring you five places to camp in the Guanacaste highlands:
Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano while camping. Photo: Facebook Camping y Mirador Montaña de Azúcar
🏕️Camping Montaña de Azúcar
Phone: 8326-9229
Location: 📍Tilarán
Entrance fee: ¢7,000 and children under 10 years old ¢4,000.
Facilities: restrooms, showers, parking, small huts with tables, sink, electricity, Wi-Fi.
Attractions: There is a short hike on trails with eucalyptus trees and a viewpoint. It is five minutes from Lake Arenal.
Other conditions: Pets are allowed, but must be supervised and controlled.
Enjoy the lake during the day and lull yourself to sleep at night with the sound of the water. Photo: Instagram Camping Bahía de la Península.
🏕️Camping La Tronadora (Camping Bahía de la Península)
Phone: 2693-1370 / 8859-8990
Location: 📍Tilarán
Entrance fee: ¢7,000, free for children under 3.
Facilities: Electricity, restrooms, showers, grills, picnic tables, green area for campers.
Attractions: Direct access to the lake for water sports, boat rides, and fishing.
Other conditions: Pets are allowed, but must be supervised and controlled.
The cold weather of Guanacaste’s highlands accompanied by hot springs is an experience not to be missed. Photo from Yoko Termales’ Facebook page.
🏕️Yoko Termales
Phone: 8498-1000
Location: 📍Bagaces
Cost: ¢10,000 and children under 10 years old ¢6,000
Facilities: Drinking water, parking, restaurant, bar, small huts with tables, electricity, green areas for campers.
Attractions: Hot springs.
Other conditions: Pets are not allowed.
This is one of the most complete areas for camping. From waterfalls to hot springs and trails… all in one place.Photo: ACG
🏕️Rincón de La Vieja Hacienda Santa Maria Camping Area
Phone: 2666-5051
Location: 📍Bagaces
Entrance fee: ¢1,130, children under 12 ¢565.
Facilities: showers, toilets, drinking water, and washing basin, camper area.
Attractions: trails, hot springs, rivers, waterfall, and pools.
Other conditions: Pets are not allowed. Reservations are required at https://reservaciones.acguanacaste.ac.cr
Want to visit several interesting sites in the Guanacaste highlands? From here, you can quickly get to those places. Photo: Google Maps
🏕️Camping Area Celebra Liberia
Phone: 8337-7604
Location: 📍Liberia
Entrance fee: ¢5,000, and children under 5 are free.
Facilities: restrooms, showers, hammocks, campfires, communal refrigerator, benches, plastic chairs, sports field, Wi-Fi, electricity, camper area.
Attractions: It is a convenient location for quick access to beaches and volcanoes.
Other conditions: Pets are allowed, but must be supervised and controlled.
Editor’s note: This story was edited on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. to clarify the name of the camping site in Rincón de la Vieja National Park and to update the accompanying photograph. The previous image showed people in the hot springs, a practice that is no longer permitted.
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