Guanacaste Photography: Pacific Beaches, Sunsets and Savanna

Guanacaste Costa Rica: Pacific Beaches & Dry Forests

Guanacaste Costa Rica (or Costa Rica Guanacaste) in the northwest is where I’ve photographed some of my most diverse assignments. The Guanacaste Province offers everything from luxury resorts to remote surf breaks.

Liberia Costa Rica and Liberia Guanacaste serve as the regional hub and gateway to numerous beaches. The international airport here has made the region increasingly accessible for commercial photography clients.

Tamarindo Costa Rica (Costa Rica Tamarindo or Playa Tamarindo) is a major surf destination. Tamarindo Beach Costa Rica offers consistent waves and dramatic sunsets. As Costa Rica Photographer, I’ve photographed everything from surf competitions to beachfront restaurants here. Hotels in Tamarindo Costa Rica and Tamarindo hotels range from budget to luxury, catering to diverse clientele.

Playa Flamingo Costa Rica and Flamingo Beach Costa Rica offer white-sand beaches and upscale marina settings, perfect for lifestyle and luxury travel photography.

Nosara Costa Rica (Nosara, Nosara Guanacaste, Nosara Beach Costa Rica, Nosara Beach) is a wellness and yoga hub. Playa Guiones here provides some of the most consistent surf in Costa Rica. I’ve documented numerous wellness retreats and surf photography assignments in this laid-back community.

Santa Teresa Costa Rica, Santa Teresa Beach, and the nearby Mal Pais Costa Rica (or Malpais Costa Rica) on the southern Nicoya Peninsula offer world-class surf and bohemian beach culture. Santa Teresa Costa Rica hotels range from surf camps to boutique luxury properties, I’ve photographed several for international travel publications.

Samara Costa Rica (Samara Guanacaste, Playa Samara Costa Rica, Samara Beach Costa Rica) provides calmer waters ideal for family travel features and beach lifestyle photography.

Other notable Guanacaste beaches I frequently photograph include:

• Playa Conchal Costa Rica (Conchal Beach Costa Rica, Conchal Costa Rica): Famous for crushed-shell beaches
• Playa Hermosa Costa Rica: Multiple beaches share this name; the Guanacaste version offers good surf
• Playa Potrero Costa Rica: Quiet fishing village with authentic character
• Playa Negra Costa Rica: Black sand beach popular with surfers
• Brasilito Costa Rica (Brasilito, Brasilito Beach): Small fishing village near Conchal
• Playa Junquillal: Remote and less developed

Peninsula Papagayo represents the luxury end, 21 powder-soft beaches and high-end resorts. I’ve photographed several properties here for hospitality clients, capturing everything from architecture to culinary offerings.

The inland Rincón de la Vieja National Park offers dramatic geothermal features, bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and hot springs that create surreal photographic opportunities. The volcanic activity and unique landscapes make this area ideal for adventure and nature editorial work.

Santa Rosa National Park features tropical dry forest habitat resembling an African savanna, a stark contrast to Costa Rica’s typical rainforest imagery. The stark, golden grasses and sculptural thorn trees photograph beautifully, especially during golden hour. This park also hosts the arribada, when thousands of olive ridley sea turtles nest simultaneously on late-summer nights, a spectacular wildlife photography opportunity.

Witches Rock Costa Rica is a legendary surf break accessible by boat, I’ve photographed several surf features here.