The province of Guanacaste takes its name from the guanacaste tree trees with very large canopies that provided shelter from the sun for early explorers and inhabitants of the region This province borders Nicaragua for a little ways to the north and all of the Pacific coastline on the peninsula of Nicoya until its southern tip is reached that belongs to the province of Puntarenas This is the most sparsely populated of all of Costa Rica s provinces with only about 400 000 total people However it is also the most popular tourist destination thanks to its many beaches Homes for sale in Guanacaste Costa Rica are typically purchased in one of the many beachside resort towns in this area
Guanacaste National Park is located at the very northern edge of the province just before you get to the border with Nicaragua To the southwest of this park is Rincon de la Vieja National Park featuring one of Costa Rica s several active volcanoes Further south is Palo Verde National Park While these parks make excellent day trips it has to be admitted that the real attraction is the beaches and the water activities available there Guanacaste homes can be found in practically every beachfront resort town They are very popular with expatriates looking for a lovely and relaxing place to retire or for folks who want a winter home close to the ocean where they can scuba dive snorkel or surf to their heart s content
