One of the many positive aspects of life in the Guanacaste region is the abundance of sporting and recreational activities available to residents and their guests. Here are some recommendations suggested by the real estate professionals of RE/MAX Ocean Surf & Sun, located in Tamarindo Beach.

The national sport of Costa Rica is closely followed and widely practiced across Guanacaste. If you enjoy the excitement of soccer matches, the Edgardo Baltodano Stadium is the home pitch of Liberia F.C., currently the only representative of Guanacaste in the First Division. This new stadium was among the four chosen by FIFA to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup. If you enjoy playing soccer in Tamarindo Beach, the athletic fields at Plaza Villa Real offer a regulation pitch plus a smaller one for five-on-five action; these fields are also home to a burgeoning rugby scene.

Thanks to a few spectacular courses, Guanacaste is the premier golf destination in Central America. The closest golf course outside Tamarindo Beach is Hacienda Pinilla, which is certified by the Audubon Society as a bird-friendly course and was designed by Mike Young. Closer to Tamarindo Beach is the driving range at the Diriá resort. The Garra de León course at the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and plenty of challenges designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The most luxurious golf course is at the Four Seasons in the Papagayo Peninsula.

North American surfers discovered Tamarindo Beach long before it developed into the most attractive real estate market in Costa Rica. Tamarindo Beach has retained its surfing roots; it has the most surf schools per capita and is also part of the Guanacaste Pro Circuit. The sets at Tamarindo Beach roll to the northwest and are ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. More experienced surfers will enjoy Playa Grande to the north and Playa Langosta or Playa Avellanas to the south.

Some of the best hiking spots in Costa Rica are located in Guanacaste: Rincon de la Vieja National Park offers more than just hiking; visitors can also enjoy waterfalls and canopy tours. Other great spots to explore on foot include Playa Grande and Las Baulas National Marine Park, which is home to the largest leatherback sea turtle nesting beach; this park has dozens of trails that cut across 346 acres of a wildlife refuge featuring tropical dry forest and mangrove. The hills right behind Tamarindo Beach are ideal for hiking, exercising and enjoying the panoramic views.