Located on the northwest coast of Costa Rica, Guanacaste offers excellent water sports activities including surfing, snorkeling and wind surfing. The coastline and interior regions also offer excellent horseback riding opportunities, including guided half-day and full-day tours. An affordable lodging choice in the area is the Tamarindo Diria Beach & Golf Resort, which features two swim-up pool bars along with a Jacuzzi, kids' pool and on-site driving range. The resort has rooms, as of October 2010, ranging from $139 to $220 per night. Or you can splurge at the all-inclusive Riu Guanacaste, which is a Sun Fun Adventures exclusive resort featuring water sports, scuba diving and entrance to the site's disco and nightclub. As of October 2010, room rates were $288 to $687 per night.
Costa Rica's capital of San Jose offers plenty of exciting activities along with being a great base for excursions, thanks to its central location. Whitewater rafting adventures in the area include trips on the Pacuare River, Rios Reventazon and the Sarapiqui. This modern city also has plenty of cultural attractions to discover including the Jade Museum, along with many fine dining and shopping locations. Travelers looking for basic accommodations can stay at the Best Western Irazú Hotel & Casino, which has on-site gambling along with a Jacuzzi and fitness center. As of October 2010, room rates were $103 to $116 per night. The Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica is a luxury hotel in the Escazu region with amenities including a free buffet breakfast, three restaurants, two bars and an on-site sauna and beauty salon. As of October 2010, rooms were $243 to $254 per night.
One of the highlights of the Arenal region of Costa Rica is its namesake volcano, which is one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world. It erupts on a regular basis, and visitors can expect to get a show featuring the volcano spewing lava and ash into the sky. The nearby Laguna de Arenal is a popular sports fishing destination along with being a spot for windsurfing and other water sports. An intimate form of accommodations can be found at the 42-room Magic Mountain Hotel, which is located in the small tourist town of La Fortuna. Rooms are available with terrace or balcony views of the volcano, and as of October 2010, were $107 to $176 per night. The Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort offers resort-style accommodations, such as thermo-mineral pools and natural river pools, nature trails and free shuttle access to the resort's hot springs. As of October 2010, room rates were $317 to $504 per night.
