Guanacaste is the province most North American expats picture when they imagine Costa Rica: long Pacific beaches, dependable sunshine, and an international airport in Liberia with direct flights to the U.S. and Canada. But 'Guanacaste' covers everything from busy beach towns to quiet mountain villages, and the right base depends on how you want to live.
Below are seven of the best towns in Guanacaste for North American expats, what each is known for, and who it suits best. We build homes in this region, so this is a working local's view rather than a travel brochure.
1. Playas del Coco: the everyday expat hub
Playas del Coco (often just “Coco”) is the most established expat town on the north Pacific coast. It has supermarkets, banks, clinics, restaurants, and a marina, all a 25-minute drive from Liberia airport. If you want services within walking distance and an easy landing pad in your first year, Coco is the safe choice.
- Best for: first-time expats who want convenience and community
- Airport: ~25 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: busier and more built-up than nearby beaches
2. Playa Hermosa: quiet beach, five minutes from Coco
Just north of Coco, Playa Hermosa is a calmer, greener horseshoe bay with gentle water. You get most of Coco's services a short drive away while living on a quieter beach. It is popular with retirees and families who want the coast without the crowds.
- Best for: retirees and families wanting a calm beach
- Airport: ~25 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: fewer services in the town itself
3. Tamarindo: the most services and nightlife
Tamarindo is Guanacaste's most developed beach town, with the widest choice of restaurants, surf schools, international real estate, and English spoken almost everywhere. It is the easiest place to arrive knowing no Spanish, at the cost of higher prices and more tourism.
- Best for: active buyers who want amenities and an easy soft landing
- Airport: ~1 hour 15 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: pricier and more touristy in high season
4. Samara: laid-back and walkable
Samara is a safe, walkable beach town on a calm, reef-protected bay in the southern Nicoya. It has a loyal expat community, a slower pace, and a reputation as one of the friendliest towns on the coast, though it is farther from Liberia's airport.
- Best for: a slower, community-minded beach life
- Airport: ~2 hours 15 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: farther from the international airport
5. Nosara: wellness, surf, and nature
Nosara draws a wellness and surf crowd, with yoga, organic food, and a protected jungle setting near Playa Guiones. It is one of the more expensive and remote options, reached by unpaved roads, but beloved by expats who prioritize nature and lifestyle over convenience.
- Best for: wellness, surf, and nature lovers
- Airport: ~2 hours 30 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: rough access roads and higher prices
6. Liberia: the practical inland city
Liberia, the provincial capital, is where locals actually run daily errands: hospitals, big-box stores, the airport, and government offices. Living in or near Liberia means more home and land for your money, cooler evenings than the coast, and everything you need close by, with the beach a 25 to 40 minute drive away.
- Best for: value, services, and airport access without beach prices
- Airport: ~15 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: a city, not a beach town
7. Curubande and the hills above Liberia
Rising into the foothills of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, Curubande is a small, green village northeast of Liberia. This is where our own Harmony community sits: cooler, quieter, and wrapped in tropical forest, with national-park hiking minutes away and the airport and city still within easy reach. It suits buyers who want space, nature, and value over beachfront.
- Best for: nature, space, and value near the airport
- Airport: ~30 minutes to LIR
- Trade-off: you drive to the beach rather than walk
So which Guanacaste town is right for you?
If you want walkable services and an expat community, start in Playas del Coco or Tamarindo. For a quieter beach, look at Playa Hermosa or Samara. For nature and wellness, consider Nosara. And if you want the most home and land for your budget with the airport close by, look inland to Liberia and the hills of Curubande. Many expats rent in a beach town for a season, then buy inland once they know how they actually want to live.