We visited after several weeks of heavy rain, so unfortunately, there were still some dirty patches in the ocean, especially around the rip tides (with green-yellow foam). The water failed the biweekly official quality tests, but that didn’t stop most people from enjoying the beach and water. The water temperature was fantastic, and we had amazing conditions for surfing. One very windy day made it tough for me as a beginner to paddle out to the lineup, but otherwise, the beach was super beginner-friendly. My husband and I took semi-private lessons with Kim from Nosara Surf Academy, and they were the best surfing lessons I’ve ever had! Kim was incredibly effective, and I felt safe pushing past my previous limits—highly recommend. One downside: the beach has almost no shade. I strongly suggest bringing a beach tent or canvas for sun protection; otherwise, it’s easy to get burned. Most people seemed to stay just a few hours before heading out. If you walk toward the end of the beach, there are several shortcuts to Playa Peladas, where you can see the water geyser! Also La Luna is the perfect spot for a drink will watching the sunset!

Hands down, the best beach for kids in the world (that I've been to). Surf was OK, not great. But the beach was uncrowded and all the people that were there were so friendly. You can walk down to the tide pools to the north and see live corals. Just love this beach so much. I played in the perfect sandbar waves for hours and hours with my daughter. I caught a few waves too on a 6'8" fun board. I will miss this place. I hope I make it back someday.

Amazing, open and extensive beach. Perfect to see sunsets. It's so big, that it's never crowded. The nice thing is that this is a tourist gathering spot and there is a lot of social and mingling, within a laid and relaxed vive. Upmarket feel. Perfect for surfing. Walking distance from restaurants and hotels.

My husband was scared after seeing a review about someone’s dad died from the strong rip tides there. Which made me scared too. Yes the tides were strong around 1pm-2pm still that day on a sunny day. It’s a quiet decent beach. Some surfers.

Playa Guiones in Costa Rica is a superb destination for surfing with a laid-back atmosphere and natural beauty. We recently brought 15 international surfers here for a coaching trip, and Playa Guiones exceeded our expectations. Surfing Experience: Playa Guiones offers consistent waves suitable for surfers of all levels. Our group enjoyed personalized coaching sessions against the backdrop of the beach's spacious shoreline. Beach Atmosphere: The beach exudes a relaxed, upscale vibe, appealing to both locals and tourists. Despite its popularity, Playa Guiones remains uncrowded, allowing us to focus on surfing and enjoy the serene surroundings. Local Life: The town is ideal for those who appreciate a slow-paced lifestyle. Evenings are quiet, with limited nightlife options apart from occasional house parties or events at places like Selina. Local Amenities: Conveniently located restaurants and hotels provide opportunities to explore Costa Rican cuisine and immerse oneself in the local culture after a day of surfing. Overall Experience: Our surf coaching trip to Playa Guiones was unforgettable. It offers excellent surfing conditions and a peaceful ambiance, making it an ideal spot for a relaxing and rejuvenating stay in Costa Rica.

Spent a week at the nearby Bodhi Tree Resort and loved this serene beach! Sunset painting, sunrise bike riding, beginner surf lesson, and playing in the waves. Pura vida, good for the soul!

Fantastic place for learning to surf. The waves are popular, i.e. crowded, but with our awesome instructors it was no issue.. several huts for shade but otherwise bring an umbrella/tent to avoid the sun. Amazingly clean. Incredibly soft sand.

The owner's 9 years in Italy show in the pizza quality. The Arab Antipasto and the Blu, Jungle & Bacon Pizza, especially, would hold their own against any highly rated big city place.

Secluded Paradise in the process of being discovered. Get there before it's too late

I have been at beaches all over the world and this is one of my favourite! Just so fun. Waves rolling in but gently and predictable. You can get out a long ways. Warm clean water. Great sunsets. One of my top 10 beaches in Costa Rica!

Beautiful beach with lots of surf and fishing. Perfect for walks on the beach with smooth sand and much less rocks.

This beach seems more for surfers than anybody else. Waves are huge and the water comes pretty far up the shore. The main complaint I have about this place is that the road getting here is terrible. I would recommend something with a high front and rear clearance. I did it with low clearance kia, it was possible by going slow but it took pretty long. There is parking. If you type in Playa avellana on Waze it will take you to the correct place.

Pristine beach, isolated from the hustle of Tamarindo and more than 5 surf breaks for all levels.

This place is known as little Hawaii, we didn’t understand why. The beach is rocky and hard to get in. You have to access it thru the restaurant Lola’s, the location in the map shows the access via Hacienda Pinilla, which you need to call in advance and make a reservation. I think they charge $35 per person for the day use of Hacienda Pinilla beach bar. We didn’t visit it since we accessed the beach via Lola’s restaurant. The street to access the beach is rough, but most beach access on this side of the coast are bad.

Amazing ecosystem, lots of animals- tons of different herons, migrating and local birds, crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and even saw a deer. It can get hot and more dry than the majority of tropical Costa Rica, but makes for a unique ecological environment. Absolutely worth checking out, only about 1.5 hours from Lake Arenal, even closer to Volcan Tenorio National Park.

It's hard to write a review of this place because in one hand you have beautiful nature, places to walk/hike around and great views; but in the other hand you have so many mosquitoes that will not leave you alone a second and will make you feel miserable! I recommend to go during January or so (when it's very windy!) so first confirm with the local station when is windy so you really enjoy it. The people is very nice, super friendly and the food is always delicious, however the infrastructure really need maintenance. The rooms and specially the bathrooms are very abandoned!

What else is there to say other than this place is absolutely breathtaking? An absolutely MASSIVE bird watching wetland is the central focus of this beautiful park. It is quite a way off the beaten trail, but with boat tours available, hiking trails, and a picturesque wetland how can one pass it up? It is also a beautiful display of the biodiversity of the area. On my way driving there, we went from a dense jungle down to a more arid landscape. The micro-biomes of changing flora are as much of a treat as the land itself. Make sure to educate yourself of the dangers of this land though, like the Acacia Tree, which maintains a symbiotic relationship with ants and will harm you if disturbed. Or the snakes that hide in the tall grass. Be prepared! And have fun exploring this magical place!

A great nature park with plenty of wildlife, great views and dense forest. Several trails, with lookout points, and plenty of roads throughout the park to see everything. In addition, there is a paid boat tour available at the far side of the park, with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. On our 80 minute tour we saw alligators, green herons, iguanas and monkeys. Highly recommend paying this park a visit.

The park is amazing, the tour was okay. We were only on the boys tour for about 40 minutes which wasn't enough time to see much, although we did see a fair amount. We were able to see bats, iguanas, monkeys, Jesus lizard, crocodiles, birds... The tour of the traditional (historical) sugar processing plantation was also interesting.

We used Hacienda La Vieja Wetlands tour to go on the river and they were excellent. We went in December and there weren't any mosquitos. Highly recommend the river boat trip. Saw monkeys, lizards, crocodiles, tropical birds.

We went here on a boat tour and it was awesome! Our tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable of the area. We saw crocodiles, birds, iguanas and monkeys. Such a unique area to explore! Will definitely return.

Nice waterfall, lots of steps so not accessible for wheelchairs or folks with mobility issues. Fun for swimming. We saw some monkeys in the trees.

Cortez Waterfall is an easy, quick stop from Liberia and worth the visit if you’re already exploring the area. The walk down is short, the space opens up nicely at the bottom. During rainy season, the water isn’t clear — it turns more brown and heavy from the runoff — but the flow is stronger, and the falls themselves look more powerful. Even without the bright turquoise water you see in dry-season photos, the spot is still impressive and good for cooling off. It’s a simple place: no major facilities, just a natural waterfall you can reach without a long hike. Good for a quick swim, photos, or a stop on the way to other attractions around Liberia.

I didn’t swim in the water but many people did and seemed to really enjoy it. This was a very calm and peaceful part of the tour. Fairly steep flight of stairs down but good width/safety of the steps. I’d recommend!

Easy access. Short walk down steps. Not far off the main road. An easy addition to another excursion. $7 per person for entry. Bathrooms and vendors in parking lot. Can swim.

Beautiful, peaceful. There were 2 guides to help with questions and picture taking. Very knowledgeable.

Absolutely beautiful! The water was a little murky but we absolutely enjoyed every minute. Would definitely recommend water shoes. There are rocks that I ended up cutting my feet on even with my sandals firmly strapped on. Once you get down to the waterfall area there is a trail off to the left that will take you to stairs where you can see the view from above but before you head up the stairs continue on the trail to a dive pool. Bring snacks!

Inexpensive, with easy access (5 minutes off the highway; 100m staircase). Water was murky (during the wet season at least). Good value nonetheless.

This place was pretty cool. They offer tours that will take you to the waterfall to take pictures. My wife and I saw plenty of people doing this, but we just went by ourselves. The trail is very well maintained and clear. Although, the elevation is extremely intense both ways. Wear proper footwear as it is steep, wet, and slippery. We saw the tourists in slides and bathing suits...it didn't seem like swimming was something you could do there. Also, we saw a few people slipping and falling onto their butts due to wearing improper footwear. It took a little under 2 hours for us to complete the full trail using trekking poles and moving quickly. The blue river is really neat, but the views from altitude were the coolest parts for us. We saw a family of Capuchin Monkeys. If you drive your car here (totally recommend) there is a parking lot for $6 next to the park entrance. The entrance fee was about $12 per person and you have to pay online. You can't bring any food into the park. Overall, this was worth it, and a great workout. Don't bring grandma.

This is a wonderful place if you enjoy outdoor hiking. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot ! I saw two snakes on the way but they seemed cool.

First and foremost if your coming buy your tickets in advance. Make an account and buy the tickets, they will not see you at the window without tickets and service sucks once you get there. The walk was awesome not recommended to do it if your hungover but that did help me sweat everything out. The walk is easy but if any elderly that can’t walk or is difficult to walk don’t do it. It’s flat then hilly and full of rocks. The water fall is amazing but the only downside of it is that you can’t walk all the way down to the bottom it’s closed off due to fallen trees. So you can only see it from where we took the photo. Is it worth the money maybe, but you should look elsewhere to get to a waterfall up close. You drive over the water and that’s free you can’t miss it. If we would of known that we couldn’t get to the bottom we would of gone to another one.

3km out and back hike. Challenging at times, but difficult parts are either paved or have man made stairs. The access to the waterfall was closed and definitely makes the effort of the hike less enjoyable but the pool and mixing area are worth it for those who enjoy the beauty and science of the natural world. Plenty of wildlife too including toucans, capuchins and coati.

Beautiful waterfall after a short hike. Trails are well maintained with interesting wildlife to be seen. Stairs were involved and it's a rainforest so we had some rain. Get there early. Nearby parking for a small fee.

One of the busier parks that we visited while in Costa Rica, but with good reason. We got our tickets ahead of time and we didn't have to wait to get in at all. We only went as far to see the blue lagoon waterfall, but I would almost wager that is enough on its own with how beautiful it is. The hike isn't too far but does have some decent vertical bits, and about 250 steps (each way) if you want to get to the base of the waterfall, which I highly recommend doing. At the parking lot there are bunch of vendors with delicious fresh fruit and other foods that make a great refreshing recovery snack after some good exercise.

We visited the park during the start of the rainy season but got lucky that it didn’t rain to much. 100% worth it to see the Rio Celeste. Parking cost 3,000 colones and afterwards you can get a chilled green coconut and fruit as a snack.

Fantastic park, we all had a great time. The zip lines are amazing and nice to see all the safety gear for the staff as well as the guests. Very nice animal park with large cages for animals, friendly staff around to tell you all about the animals. Horse riding was also pretty fun. Excellent buffet lunch, everything fresh and crisp , nice coffee and juices. Craft beers and full bar available for extra charge, craft beers were 5,000 colons ($10 us dollars ). Great view from the restaurant/main office. The coffee tour was interesting and sugar cane crushing was fun. Overall we all had a great day. Plenty of parking. Recommend staying a whole day in order to fit everything in.

Beautiful!!!! The park is absolutely gorgeous! The view of the ocean and Riu below is breathtaking. We sat and watched zip lining for a while. My husband and I did the nature walk. It’s a zoo. I was a little disappointed. It is nicely organized and clean, except for windows, but I’m assuming the animals make most of the mess. The animals looked well cared for. The sloth feeding was a little disappointing as you could not always hear the announcer. It’s a lovely park. I just think they should call it a zoo or animal park, not a nature walk.

Such a fun day! The all day adventure pass is well worth it. Nice buffet lunch after zip lining. Everything was well maintained and staff very professional. Zip lining felt very safe. The zoo is very well done too. So much to do on property you really can spend a whole day here. Be sure to bring an insulated water bottle to refill.

The zoo is especially well done with great landscaping and enclosures where you can actually see the native animals up close. The toucan and butterfly exhibits are especially captivating. Keepers are very knowledgeable and provide valuable information. There is also ziplining with one called the Superman. Exciting! A cultural experience, horseback riding, ATVs, a beach walk, a good buffet, and a gift shop are also available. Oh, there is also a spectacular view from the restaurant. Highly recommend a visit!

What a adventure! We did day passes which included all parts of the park, ziplining, buffet lunch, parking, shuttle, lockers. Only $140 each for all of that. The animal sanctuary was amazing. We spent the most time there. Saw many animals I have never seen before. The biggest adventure part was the ziplining. One was a MILE LONG! And started at the top of a mountain! For real. Good grief. I never would have done it if I had realized before hand. But, we did it. The crew was fantastic getting us in our harnesses and gear. Total of 5 zip lines and one drop zone or short repel. Fun and scary, too. Kenneth was an absolute treat to work with and talk to. The botanical center and learning centers were interesting. It was super hot while we were in there, so we cut that shorter than we should have. Lunch buffet hot and fresh. Also had salad bar, tea, juices, dessert. Nice selections available. Hammocks available to relax at the beach, or paddle boards. Also opportunities to ride horses or ATVs which we chose not to. Easy to spend the whole day there! So glad we did that.

Experience was great - the zip line was incredible and had the most spectacular views. The lunch that was with our package was so so, it got us easily each something we could enjoy though. The staff was so friendly from every driver and zip line person and each naturalist we spoke with.

Awesome! What’s a great place to spend the day at! So much to do. Great place to come when visiting Costa Rica. Family filled fun. If you’re driving here consider renting at least a mid performance car or at least something with 4x4. Steep hills and rocky dirt roads that are washed out or muddy. Driving yourself not for the weak of heart: narrow winding roads

My first time travelling to Costa Rica and I was not disappointed. October stay and was met with beautiful sunshine every day. Beach, restaurant's and groceries are all within walking distance. I'll be back.

Spent a week on this quiet, lovely beach. Sand may not be the prettiest due to all the volcanic pumice, but it is so soft. Nice tree cover at end of beach with path to walk with easy access to the handful of restaurant/hotels/bars that filled our needs (and bellies) for the week. Area is a wild mixture of wealth and poverty and is very safe. Will definitely be back.

The beach was less crowded and pleasant. There were more food options and it wasn’t as touristy.

Great beach with few tourists. We enjoyed restaurants with local fare, the sunsets, beautiful water, and relaxing atmosphere.

Im photograper in Playa Hermosa is a true paradise in Guanacaste. Soft sand, calm waters, and sunsets that look like paintings. The perfect spot to relax, enjoy with family, and capture unforgettable moments with stunning photo sessions. A magical corner of Costa Rica that always inspires!

Really fun beach. Calm waves break for kids do play in. Keep in mind the sand is black and very fine got everywhere but soft to walk on and kids loved playing with it. Very big too so plenty of space to have your space and vegetation to have shade when you want it. There is limited parking right on the beach no hike down tot eh water needed. Also has a few restaurants options near by including one on beach that is part of a hotel. Restaurant on beach I expensive but a good option.

Beautiful beach!!! And relaxing. You can see stingrays and cute fishes

We had a relaxing boat ride led by a local guide and saw a large number of birds and caimans. Also a buffalo and monkeys!

If you're seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-path wildlife experience in Costa Rica, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit. Located near the Nicaraguan border in Alajuela Province, this remote haven offers a serene escape into one of Central America's most biodiverse wetland ecosystems.

I loved it here - away from the majority of tourists and lots of wildlife. To see it you definitely need to take a boat. I organised one at the bridge very easily - I was a couple of hours early and they fed me some fresh fruit and as much coffee as I could drink. There were some cayman directly in front of the restaurant which kept me busy.

Amazing place to see lots of birds and reptiles. You must have a guide, as without one you really wouldn't see much. I never knew that huge iguanas spent most of their time at the very top of trees, its amazing to see. I recommend you booking a tour for 10am, most suggest 7am, but that totally unnecessary. Also, I recommend if driving use the road from number 4, not 35. Road 35 has much more potholes and large rocks.

Nice boat tour. We got to see Spider Monkeys, Congos, lots of birds, a caiman and they even let us get off the boat and we went searching for a beautiful orange howling monkey! Gustavo and our captain (forgot his name) where very knowledgeable and really friendly! We finished with a nice lunch!

We had a wonderful 2 hour boat tour seeing all kinds of wildlife. Our guide was amazing at spotting things and ta,ing us in for a closer look. Although the day was hot, being in a covered boat on the river was delightful. Recommended

Fantastic wildlife, very close as boat drifted up and down stream. Definitely worth visiting. The drive there is tiring (so called Costa Rica massage 🤣😖) but the place is incredibly rewarding. We saw at least 23 species of bird and I suspect a lot more, plus caymans, crocodiles, lizards, iguanas, monkeys (at a distance), turtles

From the moment we arrived at the hacienda, we were completely immersed in the beauty and culture of Costa Rica. The property is absolutely stunning – a perfect blend of natural wonder and authentic charm. It felt like stepping into another world. The service was nothing short of exceptional. Every staff member was warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about making our stay unforgettable. Their attention to detail and dedication to hospitality made us feel right at home. The range of activities offered on the property was spectacular. The highlight for us was the waterfall and Rio Negro – both far exceeded our expectations. Crystal-clear water, breathtaking views, and a sense of untouched natural beauty that’s hard to describe. If you're looking for a place that offers adventure, relaxation, culture, and world-class service all in one, this hacienda is a must-visit. We can’t wait to come back!

We loved our time at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin! There is a lot of beautiful things to see and do right on the property and very close to the National Park and La Leona. As someone with a gluten allergy, I was delighted that all the food on the property is Gluten Free (and delicious!). We stayed in the Honeymoon suite and while the room was great, we were bummed that the private pool was not heated and very cold. Overall, I highly recommended a stay here.

We loved this hotel! It was located on such an expansive beautiful property with so many things to see and do. We thoroughly enjoyed the one day adventure with waterfall rappelling, tubing down the river, zip lining through the canyon, horseback riding to a waterfall, followed by relaxing at the hot springs.

We did not stay in the hotel, so I cannot speak to the quality of the rooms, but the adventure tours were fantastic! We went first with a big group of 7 of us on the Canyon Half-Day tour and had an absolute blast. All the guides were competent and there was always at least one guide who's english was very good. We went back a second day in a row for tubing and horseback riding, and had an equally great time.

One the plus: - Perfect location - nearby activities are included and shuttle bus also - lots of activities - rooms are nice - staff mostly friendly On the negative - the food! Breakfast is OK Neither of the two restaurants offer good food, however. Vegetables were completely burnt, kids' chicken fingers soaked in oil and no salt at all. Burger below average, and so on Pizza was pretty good though - room doors are simply on thin layer of wood, why? - the zip line tour was really worrying!! Nothing happened, but our group was about 50 people, and all were rushed through the course. Staff was clearly not able to focus on safety. All the time, two people were on the same line. Platforms were stacked with people. Staff had to constantly rush. Again, nothing happened, and it was fun, but I only wonder when... They should just limit the number of people per tour and focus on quality over quantity. The same goes for the Tubing, which was fun too but again like 50 or 60 people.

We stayed two nights. Really wonderful place - clean rooms and we saw a lot of wildlife right in the property of the hotel. We took some of the tours as well as independently explored some of the trail.

What a gem. Amazing service, great food which happens to be gluten free. Wonderful location that allows you to access and do so much from your hotel room. Very impressed and my celiac wife was very happy with my choice.

I really enjoyed this park. I hiked the Las Pailas loop and it was really awesome. There was so much to see and so many interesting features. I loved all the mud pots and the little volcano in the hot springs and the waterfall. Saw lots of lizards and beautiful flora. It was one of the most fun trails I've done in Costa Rica.

We did the fumaroles trail. The boiling mud pits were interesting. There was a small waterfall at the end of the trail but if you’re up for waterfalls the trail to Las Gemelas would be your better choice.

This is a great park to see and you don’t need a guide, but buy your tickets online before getting there if you do it on your own. The Las Palias Trail is well marked and it’s an easy walk. Lots of volcanic evidence from mud pits, boiling ponds, and steam vents from the ground. Saw a lot of animal activity from Neotropical Green Anole, white nose coatis, and monkeys

The main trail is a loop. The loop has some pretty steep portions, but is doable for most. We saw an old lady with a cane complete it, but her and her party were moving very slowly. We had trekking poles with us and were out of breath. The seasonal waterfall is amazing. The mud pots are pretty cool to see. We saw some monkeys and birds. Apparently the trail can connect from Pailas all the way to the Santa Maria ranger station, but we were told by the ranger that the river crossings were too treacherous to make the trek. You have to pay a fee online to enter the park. Overall, the nature was cool, the walkway was very walkable but a fair amount of elevation to make the loop.

A very important thing to remember if you are making your own way there.... Book your ticket on Sinac the night before at least! If you are only English speaking the form can be confusing and you need to put your passport details and payment details in and it can take some time to create a log in.. not recommended in the car park with limited Wi-fi a d you cannot buy any National Park tickets on site! Once inside, a good stonechip pathway that's signposted to take you to some active areas of the park for a couple of hours stroll or much longer hikes with recommendations for the more avid hiker. Remember water to drink and a sturdy pair of walking shoes!

We walked the Las Pailas trail here in the Las Pailas sector. 3,5km trail, easy hike through different landscapes and volcanic activity sites. 15 dollars per person entry as a non-resident, must be booked online but can be done on-site, they have WiFi. There are bathrooms and water available. Road to access the national park goes through private land so you need to pay 800 colones per person in the car. There are several restaurants and a snack stand within a short drive.

We went to the Rincón de la Vieja’s Las Pailas sector. The trails are well-marked but don’t let that fool you—this is one of the more demanding hikes in the region, especially if you take on the La Cangreja or Escondida waterfall routes. Expect shifting terrain, elevation changes, and a good dose of cardio.It’s a trail that rewards effort with beauty—and leaves you feeling like you’ve truly earned the view.

Most excellent tours!!! Did the ATV on a Saturday. So much fun!! Terrain was beautiful & challenging!!! Guides were GREAT!!! Came back on to do their horseback riding & it was also incredible!!! Terrain was challenging, but the horses picked their way through perfectly!! BEAUTIFUL trails & excellent guides again!! Highly recommend!!

It was a good experience, been to better .. didn’t really see any of the indigenous on this tour … did find out that sloths 🦥 carry syphilis .. 😲 no.. what’s up with that one though

We did the ATV excursion & it was fantastic. The terrain is quite rugged so but our guides were great mixing it up while keeping it fun & exciting. If we were skiing I would call this a solid Blue terrain that had sections of Black terrain. Would definitely go again, next time we try the horseback riding.

Great spot if you want a horseback riding tour while visiting this corner of Costa Rica. It’s ideal for beginners and advanced riders alike: although I’m an intermediate dressage rider, my boyfriend is a complete beginner and we both felt equally safe and engaged during our ride. The horses are calm, docile, and sure footed for the hilly and rocky terrain. The guides are passionate about animal husbandry (this is a ranch as well) and love their horses. They showed us the traditional Costa Rican tack (it’s basically a western saddle) and let us help tack the horses. This is not something that most riders ask for but if you go with a small group I recommend calling ahead and asking if you can tack the horse / spend time with them beforehand. It gives you an opportunity to get to know your horse before riding. The course is on the ranch’s property, which encompasses many many mountains and fields. We easily rode for 1.5 hours without touching the same area twice, and it is completely secluded from public traffic. During your ride you will see cattle, other horses, wildlife, and the pinnacle of the ride is a brief rest on a mountain top with gorgeous views. We found this ranch via the tourist office within Dreams Las Mareas but I am sure you can contact them directly as well. If you - like myself - are passionate about riding horses on your vacations, Hacienda El Cenizaro is an ideal spot for you.

If your looking for a great Tour while in Costa Rica this is the place to go. We did both the horse ride and Atv tour on separate days and neither were a disappointment .. situated on a breathtaking 800 acre property that offers you great scenery along with amazing views of the country side and coast you will not be disappointed.. The facilities are immaculate the Atvs are mechanically sound and the horses are well kept .. the guides are knowledgeable very personable and lots of fun . We saw a great deal while on both trips and not to worry if you do both you are taken on different paths so you don’t see the same thing .. either tour stops in the woods to let you see the many monkeys living in the wild.

We had the absolute best time horseback riding with “Popeye”. We ended up going not once but twice during our week stay at Dreams Las Mareas. The landscape is beautiful and they truly take the best care of their animals. Each horse was turned out to the pasture immediately after each ride. I ride frequently — and these were the most behaved horses I have ever seen at a dude ranch / horseback excursion. Can’t recommend Adrian & Popeye enough!

Great place for horse back riding. Great staff and horses are kept in good health. It took about 2 hours to do the entire trail. Got to see plenty of animals and the view fro top of the mountain is amazing. Jeff and Gilberto were great guides. Thank you to both of them. 100% recommend them . We booked our tour with Amstar in the lobby at Dreams Las mareas.

It's a nice place to visit with excellent clubs and parties. The beach is also cool. Lots of tourists here.

One of the most exotic fun filled bays to travel to in the world. It is a surfer's and fish eaters paradise. Plenty of wonderful beachside hotels, pubs and restaurants. Come from all over the world to relax, eat surf, fish, walk and party.

•November 2023• a beautiful beach with perfectly warm water and a great place to watch the sunset. Also some great waves to swim in.

truly an amazing place. so pretty. the water is great fun to play in tho u do need to watch out for sting rays

One of the best places to visit in Nicaragua! Ambience is excellent! Great places to eat and to have fun! You must go to visit the christ statue up the hills.

There's definitely better beaches in the area, but it’s nice to watch the sunset. Everytime I came to this beach in the late afternoon, there was always volleyball games taking place on the beach and several people hanging out and drinking while waiting for sunset.

A beautiful sunrise and sunset - if you want a great spot with live music and free entertainment; walk down to the beach volleyball and sit on the bleachers to watch the sunset! Grab a beer from the bar next door and enjoy!

Good ride, reservation required is your taking a car. Good prices. We paid $13 for 2 and one car, each way.

I would spend one night only on this island, rent an ATV, go to the waterfall, explore around see the volcanos and come back the next day. There are cute little bed and breakfasts around, but just make sure you book your trip ahead of time so you can bring your car into the island.

Amazing, peacefull island with two vulcano and lot of beautiful places for visit. I reccomend lent there motocycle or ATV better than car because many roads are really bad to see many places like waterfall, playa mangos for sunset or ojo de agua. I came here in off- season so places were empty so it was good. But in some places i felt like after some catastrophic dissaster some building or docks were empty like after nuclear accident i felt there like in chernobyl.

Amazing island. We loved our time here exploring the jungle and volcanos. The nature is fun to explore and the views of the volcanoes are just stunning. Very fun to ride around the island on a motorbike or Vespa. So much to do and see! Ojo de agua swimming pool, horseback riding tour through the jungle to see monkeys, amazing volcano views. Incredible and unique place!

Beautiful place. Just make sure you plan it well and consider being there for 7 days or more

One of the best, best places to go in Nicaragua 🤍✨ it’s really gorgeous 😍 I fell in love with the natural beauty everywhere. 💘

In Nicaragua you should not miss this great island. You can even spend there a week if you want to check all the nice activities / places. Take a boat or ferry from San Jorge witch takes around 1h (50-80C$). In my opinion Santo Domingo is the best place to stay, not many people, nice and cheap hotels / hostels / apartments and you’re in the middle of the island where you can start your trips all locations. It’s 45min with the bus or 20min with a taxi (100C$) from the harbor. 2 vulcanos (if you like hiking), nice beaches just around the corner. You shops also rent a motorbike and drive around the island. With some stops you can spend the hole day. A motorbike is much better than a scooter (25$ instead of 20$/day) because many “streets” are a bit offroad. With a motorbike it’s much easier and a lot more fun. Ojo de agua is like a small, outdoor bath where you can also relax one day. Don’t miss this great island.

First let me say this spring is on par with ones I go to in Florida. It’s going to be the “Wekiva type” where the water is mostly arranged in large pools that have been manicured a bit for convenience. Truly, I think Ojo is rather well-designed. There is a shallow section with underwater ledge built to separate it from the deeper half with a diving/Tarzan swing. Some cute playset swings IN THE WATER 🫢 (why haven’t we done that before in FL?? Such a cute idea) and a smaller, medium-deep “adults” pool for those avoiding the kids & families. Sufficient seating, showers, and bathrooms all around. A really easy plantain farm hike (I greatly enjoyed it). And is no one mentioning the fact that c185 towards food is included at the restaurant?? The menu is much more expensive than expected for the most part (fish & chips for $20USD or 600+ Córdoba being the most egregious offender 😂). But c185 can get you a side of fries + queso + soda of your choice 💁🏾‍♀️ which was good enough for me. Had a lovely time. Great way to escape the heat of the day, and if you partake in one of the many cocktails (I did not), you’d probably have an even nicer time 🍻

It was super quiet when we went. People were so nice. The water was incredibly refreshing. It was so peaceful. It's definitely a nice place to stop!

A pleasant walk around a small Lake on the shores of the much bigger lake with the volcano in the background. Trail is minimally maintained. Okay if you don't have any other plans but Nothing special. Enter through the reserve Visitor Center. Don't drive past it or you will be on the property of the hotel on the shore of the lake

This natural pool was GORGEOUS and sooo refreshing on a hot day!! It has a really fun rope swing which was our favorite part!! they also have food with many options there. I would definitely recommend checking this spot out.

Really nice place with a natural pool! We were lucky to visit early in the morning as it got quite crowded by the afternoon. The food at the restaurant was quite tasty, though it had only a few vegetarian options. The staff was super helpful and friendly.

We stayed for 5h, perfect place to stay all day! Service is great, the waters are amazing, very clear, with little fishes that amaze the kids. The swings and Tarzan rope can keep kids busy for hours, and if water gets too cold for them, they can take a break in a trampoline and other games. Must do when traveling on Ometepe! Recommended to us both by tourists and locals, literally everyone we told we were going to Ometepe as a family.

Great experience! It wasn’t busy when we went which was lovely to have open seats and lots of swimming space! $10 usd per person but half of that is used as a voucher for the bar or restaurant, so great value!

Nice boat trip out to the islands in Lake Nicaragua. Enjoyable with lots of flora and fauna particularly bats and monkeys to see!

Really beautiful islands to kayak (or via boat) through. 10/10 can recommend. For kayaking: Vladimir Kayak and Boat.

Great place to spend your vacations in Nicaragua. This is one of the most beautiful places in this country with a great variety of animals and plants.

Beautiful islands off the coast of Granada. We took a boat tour to see the different islands and it is definitely recommended if you are anywhere near. Our favorite island was the one that a Veterinarian bought a long time ago in order for the local monkey population to live in. It was great learning about the history of the Islands and who owns which one. Will definitely love to do this tour again if we are ever back in Nicaragua.

Hundreds of small Islands. Some have hotels, monkeys, Bars…

A very nice boat ride to the isles of Granada lake.

From our hostel we could book the tour for 15$ and it was great! We were the only two in the boat and our guide, Lorenzo was amazing, telling us about the islands and local wildlife. The hightlight was monkeys jumping aboard the ship, just an all around amazing experience.

A wonderful, very informative museum tour! Our guide, Sylvia, clearly explained the whole process from farm to final product. The tasting session (including different cacaos and liquor) was a great experience. The visuals were excellent for understanding the journey. We loved it and bought some dark chocolate and a brownie on the way out!

The place is eclectic, offers variety of services. For me it's a spot for hot chocolate, especially cup of a 'Ceremonial hot chocolate'. A bit overpriced, but price includes unique atmosphere. Don't forget to wander around this beautiful house, appreciate the three courtyards (!) and picturesque corridors.

I went there and I got a 60-minute massage for $30 usd. It was one of the best massages I've ever had. The staff are friendly, and the chocolate iced tea was unique and tasty!

Sylvia did the tour for us. We asked her to do it Spanish but slowly. She said ok. 2 mins after she was faster than formula 1. But whatever. It was very interesting. Sylvia seemed so tired and felt like she was about almost going to fall asleep in the middle of her speech but she was relatively friendly. It lasted About 30 minutes. We got to try various products. Cool location. Nice experience

Great experience at the Chocolate Museum of Granada, Antonio gave us a tour and we learned a lot about cacao history and how it's made. The cacao tree inside the museum is cool, we could taste every drinks they make there and the boutique offers great products (we bought brownies, cacao rum, moisturising cream, caramelized cacao and so many chocolate bars!). We will come back for sure next time we stay in Granada !

My 3 children and I had a great time at Choco Museo today in Granada! Their free tour is very informative, interactive and lots of fun. Their chocolate is also delicious. Highly recommend!

This place is amazing. I came here twice. Once I had the ceremonial drink and chocolate and it was delicious, everyone must try it. 2nd time I came for a facial and it was so good, i got a massage as well. The therapist named Katrina is just amazing, I would highly recommend her to everyone. And the prices for spa services is so much better than some other places i tried. At Socialtel reflexology was twice as much and it was terrible. Gonna write a separate review on that. Also tried Chocolate martini and just delicious.

Cathedral Roof experience GETTING THERE?- The ticket office is located on the southeastern corner of the cathedrals outer complex down a small cobblestone corridor. When you have a ticket you then go to the south western corner of the cathedrals outer complex where there is a tiny gate entrance to give someone your ticket to then go up 2 flights of stairs to the roof. COSTS / PAY / PRICE - Tickets for foreigners were 4USD per person, cash only. Could also pay cordoba. WHAT TO EXPECT? Ascend 2 flights of stairs, have to remove shoes and carry them, given 25mins to explore the 2 outdoor floors of the cathedral roof with white domes and views over the city and surrounding areas. OUR EXPERIENCE- It's a unique activity, only takes 30-45mins in total to look around and can be quite hot as it's exposed. Worth doing whilst you're in Leon. TOP TIP: Worth wearing socks as it's pretty hot on the white roof floor. It's open 8-12 and 2-4pm but other reviews have suggested it can be sporadic and often closed so give plenty of flexibility.

The grandiose Leon's Cathedral is a colonial architecture marvel. It has 5 naves, the size challenges the biggest cathedrals in America. The World Heritage Site, proclaimed in 2011. Visit, enjoy & meditate

This is probably the most important attraction of Leon and it is so poorly managed. 1. It has random opening hours and no update on closure time or days. Luckily I had an extra day so I could visit. 2. The guard at the ticket area is super rude. I came to buy the tickets and said we are not selling tickets now, to come after 15 mins in a rude way even though I can see people coming out with tickets. The tickets have time on it so why can't they just sell with advance time. 3. I asked if I could wait inside as there was a huge space and he rudely said no even though it was scorching hot outside. 4. Even though I was waiting outside then some guys went directly in and bought tickets before even if they came 15 mins after me. 5. The ticket counter is also run by scammers. They asked me 145 Cordoba which I paid. Then when I got the ticket it's says the price is 3 USD which is 110 Cordoba. I didn't argue but this is a pure scam. 6. Lastly when you go up you have to take out shoes even though the ground is hot and will burn your feet. There should be some sort of arrangement. 7. Lastly they let the tour groups block the whole room before the roof and let them do tour explanation there. In the mean time you are stuck outside in the heat and with your feet burning.

Went to the rooftop and it was incredible. The architecture is beautiful and watching the sunset was amazing. I highly recommend going up for it. The ticket cost 145 to go up (they recently increased the price from 110). You need to buy it before 5pm and they let the sunset group up to around 5:20 on the right side of the building. You get to stay there until 6pm.

Worth the visit if you are in León, just beware you have to take off your shoes once you go up. Don’t be stupid like me and arrive with shoes wearing socks. Take you socks off beforehand, that way, they have no other option to let you go on top of the roof with your shoes. Everyone who was wearing sandals was able to keep them on (smart and well prepared move). Meanwhile I was wearing thin socks and burning my feet soles. Ps: you buy the tickets to go up at the backside of the cathedral. So, not at the rooftop entrance which is located on the right side of the cathedral.

Leon’s cathedral is a great place to visit and take a 360 degrees view of the colonial city landscape. Additionally, you can’t take a look of other churches, the sunset and even your next attraction. Perhaps the “Cerro negro”, the black hill ;)

I went to the Cathedral for the Nicaraguan holiday of a “Purisima” and it was a unique experience as the towns people gathered at the Cathedral to celebrate. I would just be careful with personal belongings as the cathedral gets overly packed with people, and to bring or buy refreshments along the way.

The volcano is around a one hour drive away of Leon. After that it take around 45min to get to the top of the volcano. During the hike you’re treated with amazing views of the jungle and other volcanos in the distance. Definitely stay for the sunset which is amazing to see from the top of the bus!

Cerro Negro is one of Nicaragua's youngest and most active volcanoes, famous for the thrilling experience of volcano boarding down its steep black ash slopes. The hike to the summit is moderately challenging but rewarding, offering spectacular views of surrounding volcanoes and the volcanic landscape. Visitors love the adrenaline rush of sliding down the volcano while dressed in safety gear, and many highlight the unique adventure as a must-do activity in Nicaragua. Overall, Cerro Negro combines breathtaking scenery with an unforgettable, exciting experience

Worth the experience. Bit of a goat trail up the mountain, you carry your own board. Takes an average of an hour to walk up.

Totally worth the hike with your board. Amazing place, astonishing views from the top. Weather has been a little bit odd these days, but I liked the fog too.

The trek up is not difficult and took more than half an hour. Great view at the top of the volcano. Extremely windy at the top. Waiting for sunset was the icing on the cake. Beautiful panoramic view. Going down the volcano was a totally new experience, it took about 10-15 minutes to glide down the moving, sliding volcanic pebbles. It was not easy and some really enjoyed the descent

The youngest active volcano in Central America! I'm glad to have experienced volcano boarding here, it was exhilarating! Went here with a local guide, who is an independent contractor with a group tour that I booked. It's great that we went early in the morning so we had the whole volcano to ourselves and avoided the scorching sun. The hike up to the peak is about 45 mins, rewarding you with cool breeze and amazing view. Descending down the slope with the board takes a few seconds to few minutes. An experience of a lifetime that is worth doing again! :)

A few of us went volcano boarding a few years ago, and even if had just gone for the hike and views, it would have been spectacular. Boarding itself was great fun, but make sure you cover up as much skin as you can... and bring water!

Very cool place! Highly recommend if you are in the area

This park changed my view of Tegucigalpa, literally as well as figuratively. The view of the entire city was breathtaking. The structures and facilities are impressive. An impressive copy of a Mayan temple, the Eiffel Tower, and a giant Cristo de Picacho as well as a zoo and play areas for kids coupled with cleanliness and stocked bathrooms are a refreshing experience. JG LTjg USN ret.

A very nice place to do several activities: they have canopy, trials for biking and walking, a wedding chapel, a Zoo, an area for private parties or gatherings, a museum, an overlook of the city etc..

El Parque del picacho is at the very top of a mountain. The road to get there is in decent conditions. I visited el Picacho during Christmas, and it had Christmas lights everywhere. It looked like they did a good job at decorating the place. They have food stands almost in every turn. Parking is decent. Be ready to walk in case you have to park far.

A nice park at the top of a mountain in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Lots of space to walk it's roads, trails, with a great look out of the city. Don't forget to get pics of the Christ monument that surveys the city.

The park is worth visiting. I would recommend at the evening. The view is amazing at the night . But my only concern is with the ticket prices. There are multiple tickets in this park to visit the attractions. Instead they can have just one ticket for everything. The prices of the tickets are completely different on day and evening. The park is well secured and maintained. Lots of food stalls inside the park I also observed people were celebrating parties inside the park with families and friends. The Mayan ruin was spectacular. It’s well maintained and worth the visit. I would highly recommend this park to families and friends. But just be careful with the multiple ticketing.

Parque El Picacho: A Verdant Sanctuary of Breathtaking Panoramas and Pristine Conservation Rating: 5/5 stars Parque El Picacho emerges as a sublime gem nestled in harmony with nature, offering an immersive experience that celebrates the majesty of the outdoors through its unspoiled landscapes and meticulously preserved environs. This Honduran haven distinguishes itself as an idyllic destination for enthusiasts of hiking, outdoor pursuits, and those seeking communion with nature's splendor. Unparalleled Natural Allure - Panoramic Vistas: Parque El Picacho boasts commanding views that unfurl breathtaking tapestries of surrounding topography, blending mountainous contours with verdant expanses, crafting vistas that indelibly etch themselves upon the memory. - Exemplary Preservation: The park's evident commitment to conservation underscores a laudable ethos ensuring its natural beauty remains intact, inviting visitors to traverse trails amidst pristine ecosystems teeming with indigenous flora and fauna. - Trail Networks & Accessibility: Thoughtfully curated pathways cater to diverse aptitudes, rendering Parque El Picacho an inviting arena for hikers and outdoor aficionados seeking both challenge and serenity in nature's embrace. Catalyst for Connection & Adventure - Outdoor Activities: The park serves as a fertile playground for myriad pursuits—hiking, birdwatching, photography—each activity harmonizing with the setting's intrinsic wild beauty to foster profound engagement with the natural world. - Ecological Richness: Biodiversity flourishes within Parque El Picacho's protected precincts, promising encounters with native species and underscoring the ecological vitality nurtured through conscientious stewardship. - Serenity & Inspiration: Amidst trails winding through lush habitats, tranquility interweaves with inspiration, Parque El Picacho proving a sanctuary where reflection and adventure coalesce in balanced measure. Commendation Parque El Picacho stands as a testament to the potent synergy of natural beauty and dedicated conservation, beckoning those who cherish the outdoors to discover its trails, vistas, and enveloping peace. For aficionados of hiking, nature immersion, and unspoiled landscapes, this park represents an essential Honduran treasure promising transformative experiences etched against the canvas of its majestic surroundings. Sincerely, The Perfecto Cleaners Team

Completely overrated. Huge tourist trap. You even have to pay to use every bathroom on the island. The island is probably much better if you are already staying on the island. But we paid to go to the island for the day. $88 USD for ferry and then $50 USD to rent a golf cart for the day. Only worth it for the tarpon feeding. That was pretty cool. We left after 4 hours on the island-unfortunately we didn’t even feel like hanging around another 3 hours to watch the stingray feeding. The food at The Split was not good and the drinks were just okay. Service was terrible. If I had realized that the island was so overrated, maybe I would have planned more to do from that island such as snorkeling. As it was, I just felt like it was a waste of time and money.

Stopped by Caye Caulker as part of island hopping and had a good time walking around. Got to have a relaxing breakfast before heading on to the next island.

The island itself is beautiful. Sargassum can be brutal especially on the east side of the island (it is what it is but be prepared). Unless you are on a specific tour (that doesn't cancel last-minute), there is not much to do on the island itself except drink and spend money.

Caye Caulker was so awesome! We made this our first stop on our 14day trip to Belize. The only thing I would change is that it was our last stop. It was by far our favorite place between the mainland and San Pedro. We stayed in the Birdhouse (AirBNB). This is a very small island with no cars. Only some necessary trucks. Golf carts and bikes are the main mode of transportation. The first night and the last night we ate at the Pelican Sunset bar. Great place for viewing the sunset (get there early for the best seats). We did a sunset cruise with Pontiki cruises. Very enjoyable and only 6 people so not crowded, with free flowing rum punch. We also rented a kayak one afternoon from a place at the split that was fun. Our AirBNB host warned us about mosquitos as did the travel guides but we did not experience any trouble. We were there early March (so maybe it depends on the time of year?). What we loved most about this island is the laid back vibe, you can walk or bike anyway you want to go, and it is not overrun with tourist type hotels, most everything is locally run and owned. If you like adventure and are willing to sacrifice on the luxury side to experience island life then Caye Caulker is the place to visit.

Caye Caulker Island North & South and BluZen is amazing. The moto is go slow and enjoy! Carlos Tours is the Best for snorkeling,etc. Tell him Jim sent you!

The tours are fantastic. Did the whole day snorkeling tour. No suitable beaches for decent swimming unfortunately. Placencia is much better for white sand beaches and swimming.

Not what we expected! Not much to do here but maybe that’s the point? Ice cold coconut water and BBQ lunch at Ester’s made it worth the choppy boat ride from Mahogany Bay. Otherwise not sure it’s worth it even for a partial day trip?

Swimming with Belize 1 Shark, Episode 1 | We turned around this time Belize's Hall Chan Marine Reserve - the second largest coral wall in the world, which only comes after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia! In the midst of huge blue waters, this wonderful empire of the coral is like a dream of a water! But the most specially and adventure moment on this trip was snorkeling with the sharks! Yes, true! I saw under the water, I saw 3-5 sharks roaming around! Some of them came so close that it seemed, it would be possible to get caught by raising your hand! At first, even though a little scared, I realized they were quiet. Not just the shark, there was an extraordinary sea world around! Small fish of different colors are swimming, playing hide and seek in colorful corals! Great C Turtle is moving slowly somewhere, and somewhere in the coral gap, bright blue, yellow, orange fish are playing. Biodiversity is so rich under the water that wherever I keep my eyes, something is worth seeing! There is no empty space for a moment, something new is always visible! However, it was very current in the water, swimming in the stream was not easy at all! Nevertheless, this unique experience, swimming with the sharks and seeing this wonderful world below the water - it's really a Lifetime Experience! This experience of Beliz will be forever memorable in our travel diary! 🌊🦈🐢✨ Date: Jan 2025 Place: Belize 🇧🇿

We had such a wonderful experience, it was a gorgeous day. The weather was perfect and the water crystal clear all the way to the bottom. We saw tons of different fish : parrots, snapper, Jack's and even 3 turtles! It was awesome.

This is an absolute must if you’re visiting San Pedro . We went out on the Sirena Azul sailboat it docks right out in front of the Blue Tang Inn. We saw turtles, lots of different fish and swam with the nurse sharks and rays. It was awesome.

this is a very different experience, to snorkel n experience the reef, having a guide that explains the fish that you see and also takes you to all the good spots, is a must, to maximize on it.

TAKE THE TRIP! It’s so worth it!!! We did a private charter boat through Xsite but they have shared boat charters available and they are small groups so it could possibly feel semi private. We saw an eel, lobster, 4 sea turtles, lots of sharks, barracudas, starfish, huge permit fish, sting rays (2 types) , schools of different fish and more! It was amazing experience especially for my 7 year old. A guide at Xsite on the boat taught her how to snorkel 🥰

Very well preserved reef with an abundance of marine life. This protected area provides great views for snorkeling with plenty shallow areas as well as others 20-30 feet down.

We went for Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark/Ray Alley Snorkeling tour. Guided snorkeling helps to point out turtles, fishes and sharks. Enjoyed the 3-hour experience … the tour operators will register with the Marine Station. Good viewing possibilities.

Fantastic! Safe. More near the action but there are a few uber-quiet places nearby to for food, beach, and swimming. Also… one of the managers was a chef so this was part of my breakfast each day 🥰

Had the best time ever at this stay. We had two Cabanas because we were a family of 4 and there's only a Full/Queen sized bed in the room. Hosts were hospitable and the breakfast meal they made us was very delicious. Host was great to communicate with and gave lots of recommendations including a golfcart rental. Theres's anice entertainment space above the main house to watch TV and grt a fee drinks/snacks with an honor system. You can't beat the location as you're literally right next to the action of Secret Beach. You walk out the back door and you're right there behind Aurora. Place is very clean and although there's no AC the rotating fan and ceiling fan help alot especially if you keep the windows open. Parking was easy at the entrance and I appreciated the hammocks and water equipment. Highly recommend and would return again.

My friend and I stayed at the Secret Beach Cabanas and had a fantastic stay there. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious. And the beautiful beaches were right infront of the cabanas. We rented a golf cart to get to town, which takes about 35- 40 minutes. The hosts were so kind, helpful and hospitable and helped us book a snorkeling tour, rent the golf cart, and gave us suggestions on restaurants. We also went to the Iguana sanctuary in town where you can feed and pet iguanas. We would definitely stay at the cabanas again!

I had a great 9 night stay at the cabanas. Athena and Tristin were amazing hosts!!! The location is perfect, breakfast was delicious, and the property is well taken care of. Athena gave thoughtful recommendations and taught me a lot about Belizean culture. I truly left feeling like family. It is clear that Athena loves to help her guests in anyway possible and wants to give them the best time possible in Belize. I recommend Secret Beach Cabanas to anyone staying on Ambergris Caye!

Very courteous and accommodating! Rooms are very nice. We stayed a whole week here and don't want to leave. The Cabanas bar also has great food and very kind operators. Always felt safe and well taken care of. Highly recommend staying at Secret Beach Cabanas.

We only stayed one night but it was a great experience. The room was clean and well kept. While there is no air conditioning, we were aware so it was not a surprise (you may want to consider this if traveling during the dry summer months). It is close to the popular bars that have the in-water seating and service so you can hit those places up during the day and head back here for little more laidback setting. The breakfast was both unexpected and quite honestly amazing…eggs, toast, breakfast meat, and fruit. Very hearty. Just be prepared that most places at Secret Beach close early (6-7pm) so you either need to make good friends with a bartender to make it worth their while to stay open for you, or you have some food/drinks that you brought.

We had a great stay at the Cabanas. Very welcoming, friendly and cozy. The cabana had a breezy and beautiful ocean view. They provided a great breakfast in the mornings. Be sure to head downstairs under the yellow cabana to the Boozy Octo and meet Carlos. He has some of the best food and drinks on the island and is awesome! Thanks for the great stay 🤙

What a wonderful day!! After leaving our cruise ship we met the Maya Chan group with ease and perfect directions. We boarded a van and headed to the beach club. To say the ride is bumpy would be an understatement. But as they say, getting there is half the fun!! Maya Chan did not disappoint. The place is beautiful. Lots of special details go into making your visit one to remember. The areas for lounging and exploring are so peaceful. My 60 year old ass even climbed to the top of the treehouse with a drink in my hand. The beach club staff members are all amazing and super friendly.. and Ana, the chef, oh my!!! … INCREDIBLE. The food was soooo good! The massage team is also wonderful so don’t miss out of a pleasant beat down!! 😀 This is a less-crowded, WAY off the beaten path, alternative to other beach clubs and resorts on the island. You’ll love it!!!

The best excursion of our whole trip. My wife and I chose Maya Chan because it was recommended by experienced cruisers and it was cheaper than any “Carnival Excursion” and we wanted to be away from all the crowds. From the beginning we were told exactly what the expectations should be, about the water. seaweed The fact that I grew up going to Galveston,TX the seaweed was nothing to us. We were told that the ride was gonna be bumpy but it only added to the good time we were having. We were setup with our own private area on the beach. The entire staff was amazing and the service impeccable. Drinks were great with the perfect amount of alcohol. The food was all freshly prepared and cooked to perfection. We opted for the massage on the beach. Magic hands. Highly recommend. We had an option for tequila tasting but opted out after all the drinks we already had. We do however try the house tequila and it was better than any high dollar tequilas I have ever had. This is one of those places that you want to keep to yourself but also want everyone to know just how amazing it is. Part of our group has been going to Maya Chan for the past 10 years and I understand why. Anytime we are in Costa Maya we will be going to Maya Chan. Thank you to everyone at Maya Chan for such a wonderful and memorable time.

What an absolutely beautiful place. Booking was so easy. I had some issues with my travel party, and the owner was so nice and understanding about getting my party size changed. Getting to Maya Chan was so very easy. They have the cabs waiting for you when you arrive. Once you arrive to Maya Chan the staff is so nice, explaining everything to you and getting you to your dedicated area for the day. The food was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were strong and tasted good. This is a must do if you want a nice quiet relaxing day in Costa Maya. This will be our home for the day every time we return to Costa Maya.

I received recommendations from other cruisers to go to Maya Chan. I came here to get away from the constant vendors at other beaches in Costa Maya. I was able to do that but keep in mind the following if you ever come here. Transportation: The ride to the beach was long and very bumpy due to the potholes in the sandy thoroughfare. The taxi ride was included in the price of admission. The ride took about 35-40 minutes and 15 minutes of that was bumping up and down on the bus. Water: (Disclaimer) the staff did warn us at every juncture including the booking email that the water was not clear due to seaweed. They even showed us a video before we took the taxi to the beach. That being said, the water was even browner and murkier than it looked in the video. Lots of people still enjoyed water activities but I would not get in personally. Food/Drinks: The taco buffet was delicious and the mixed drinks were slightly weak but plentiful. Crew: Staff was top notch. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. Pets: Also please note there are LOTS of dogs on the beach as well. It was an experience but I doubt I will return just due to the water and the long, rough drive. I don’t think what you get is worth the trouble to get there or the $89 fee.

We booked for a family of four. When we got to the meeting point, we were given information that the beach is overwhelmed by seaweed and given a choice to cancel. But we went ahead anyway, and it ended up being one of the best experiences we had. The staff tried their best to accommodate the guests by asking if we needed anything when we were low on drinks and snacks, we also had tequila tasting and tortillas making. The lunch was really good, and served buffet style. I do recommend coming here when it is during the rainy seasons.

Maya Chan provided such an incredible experience for the day we visited Costa Maya on our cruise. Despite the long ride and not ideal waters, the staff did an incredible job to provide activities and sports options. Luis was a great host for all of the competitions and games. We made tortillas and did a tequila tasting that was super informative and entertaining. Julie, Perla, Ethan, Andy and all other staff were so friendly and attentive. I could not have asked for a better experience. Thank you all!!!!

This place was highly recommended and I see why. Fantastic service, good food and drinks. Enjoyed watching them make fresh guacamole and tortillas. Loved having our own cabana with chairs and a bad. Water and beach has a lot of sargassum, but I expected that and they gave us the opportunity to cancel before the drive. Transportation there was slow and bumpy (a little over 4 miles, but takes ~25 minutes). The staff is fantastic!

The beach is great, lots of area to hang out and the water is nice and calm. There are vendors that come around every 5 minutes trying to get you to buy something (as expected). It’s only a $4 ride from the port.

Very busy when a cruise ship lands here. The prices for food and drinks are pretty high, specially compared to other locations in Mexico. The beach is beautiful (except for the seaweed season) and there are a lot of shops and bars. If you have the option to go elsewhere I would consider it.

Was worth the $10 per person to get away from the port. Was not harassed as bad as other places we visited. Lots of vendors coming up trying to sell items but were not rude.

Walked here from the cruise ship terminal, peaceful 30-40 minute walk through mostly residential areas. Beach was nice, but the water was super shallow. Lots of pushy shops to go browse. If you think things are cheap in Mexico, you’re wrong. Taxi from cruise terminal is $4 a person, which is ridiculous for a short ride like that.

Our excursion was cancelled due to mass seaweed, so a man offered to take us there by taxi with promise of no seaweed and showed us a fake photo. It was netted from seaweed when we got there and we had no breathing room to talk due to nonstop vendors approaching us. It was overwhelming until more ppl showed up from the cruise ship then it eased up. I couldn’t stand it till towards the end. Thanks to my beta-blocker med lol… I respected the vendor hustle but it was ruthless saying no to them every minute. But good spot if you have no other options

Loved cruise port! Free pool with swim up bar. Easy free beach access. The air walk aviary was awesome. Was only $15 per adult to do. The Mayan air acrobats were very cool as well.

Mahahual Beach was amazing. The water was crystal clear and so clean. The beach was well maintained with lots of seating. Our excursion offered us an open bar and clean restrooms maintained by the employees. Make sure to bring cash with you as there are a ton of local street vendors with lots of yummy fruit and street tacos and corn cups. Bartering is a big thing with the vendors so be aware.

It good port. We like it. We like the beach, drink are 15.oo and up dollars and food is are pricey. Massage was great 30 min for 40 dollars. There aggressive vendor on the beach Just be careful that people take advantage. We book a last minute golf cart just make sure that book advance with cruise or near by port . We did last minute golf cart with mahahual with 3 party company after the Port area left side. They are cheap 80 dollars full day but we broke down in main strip. And a vendor by the last exit by Port. He charge extra for no reason. I bought a sun shirt and big vanilla bottle. He charge 113.26 goes by merpago...even the people took little bit advantage on us we still had pretty good time. It Mexico..

Beautiful port and very colorful. Like most ports, stuff can get pricey. The shop workers weren’t overly aggressive about trying to make sales during our experience so I appreciated that. We didn’t eat food at this port but there was fun music and it looked like a large swimming area. Very nice people!

We had a wonderful day in Costa Maya. We walked thru shopping maze and grabbed a taxi to town. We had them take us to The Krazy Lobster. Great day of swimming, floating, eating, drinking and massages. We always end our time here with pleasant walk toward lighthouse before grabbing a taxi back to Port. Taxis are $5 per person. Massages are $20 to $25.

This cruise port was so much more than I expected. The sales people are pretty pushy though, just walk by and say no thank you. The power was out when we got there which made it so much warmer because no ac or fans anywhere. Tons of photo apps just within the port. Flamingos in the port. Also, an amazing beach pool area. Its a pool with a beach entry with sand and lounge chairs also, a swim up bar! No charge! There is an additional one in the port too. A little smaller and quite with a kiddie area. This port was phenomenal and we cant wait to go again!

The port was decent, but super crowded. It's July so I get it, but there were 3 cruise ships there all at once so it was inundated with people! There are several shops, 2 pools, and a few places to eat and grab drinks if you didn't eat before leaving the boat. We didn't stay long (it was pretty hot), but it might be great to visit in the off season.

We came through this cruise port on the Majestic Princess on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. It was very pretty here. The people in Costa Maya (Mahahual) were very nice and overall we had a great day walking around Mahahual and shopping and eating and we also did an excursion. It was my first cruise port ever, so it will always be special for me. (Written 11-12-25)

I give 3 stars because in order to occupy the chairs at the pool area, you're expected to purchase a drink per chair you want to occupy. It was 5 of us, and 3 of us purchased drinks, so we were able to sit in 3 chairs. The drinks were $20.00 each. It was a really big drink, though. I just didn't think that was fair, I saw a lady and her children leave because she didn't drink and didn't want a mocktail. Other than that, there are a nice amount of shops there and some food also.

I liked, but didn't love this place. For some reason (I don't know why) I thought the ruins/pyramids would be taller, more impressive. But it is a nice place to get some history. Just keep in mind that you can't get anything to eat or drink inside the park, and if you take anything in, you have to hold onto the bottle/container until you come back out. There are no trash cans inside. Also, if you have mobility problems, there are no paved walkways, so it can be a challenge.

We visited the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Our tour guide was really great and went into thorough detail describing their life and the village that once stood there. We got to walk around and climb a little bit and overall I really enjoyed Chacchoben and I have zero complaints about my experience. (Written 11-12-25)

Great shore excursion to see very old ruins. The area is well kept and clean. The bus ride and tour was informative. The only disappointment was that you were not given much time to grab a snack. We quickly ate a snack which was okay. The tamales we the best I have ever had.

Very cool historical site to check out not too far outside Costa Maya. Check out some Mayan ruins, see some monkeys, and some of the local jungle. Make sure to get here before the cruise ship tours for the best experience. Low crowds = plenty of uninterrupted pictures opportunities!

This was my second Mayan ruins visit and I was blown away. I've always wanted to venture into a rainforest environment and this was it! In this tour, you get to wander thru a lush rainforest environment surrounded by the noises of monkeys, so cool, and I even got a picture of one. This site is spread out more than Altun Hu and the monuments might have been bigger. This site has an altar where they performed human sacrifice and many large, well preserved monuments. They have a fantastic gift shop and fabulous tamales!

The place is rather small if you’re used to much bigger ruins like Itzá, Tulum, Uxmal and such. The entrance fee is relative cheap. If you paid for a tour or some sort of bus ticket, you my friend overpaid and failed to do your research. Educate yourself before ranting about your expenses and think that the place has anything to do with not meeting your expectations. It’s in the middle of the jungle; it will be hot and humid. Get over it or don’t visit. Yes, it may be raining and there will be mosquitoes too. So prepare yourself and stop whining. How you experience the place is up to you. The only cons about the place are two: There are no restaurants in the place, only snacks that you can buy. Be prepared to overlay a ridiculous amount of money if you want to buy souvenirs in the shops there. They overcharge tourists for artifacts. If it is within your means, wait till to go to a bigger ruin site where you can get better prices. Don’t buy these terms in Playa either; they will also be freaking expensive.

Great if you are on way to or staying at Bacalar.. we had had great guide eze , from the shop. Really informative,not just about ruins and how built but more about Mayan culture both then and now . Leant more in 2hours than anything you could find in a book or phone . BEWARE we were only 3cars in car park and so had place to self with a good beer and ice cream with eze at the end . However he mentioned day before a cruise ship had docked and 50 coaches were there . With checking if cruise liner has docked if so will be heaving otherwise serene

This reserve is so big; we really enjoyed the trip; warching the birds; first time saw spoonbills; they are so beautiful. We could also see the ruins. The best part is floating in the very cool and clear water of the Mayan canal. Luckily we could spot the manatee, but very fast so not very clearly

Truly a once in a lifetime experience!! NOTE no sunscreen, no phone, no plastics allowed! 1,000 pesos plus 100 to park but what an incredible location! Look for Cruz, he is the best guide and enjoy!

Absolutely incredible—truly the gate to heaven as its name suggests. Part of me doesn’t want to share this place for fear that tourism will damage its pristine beauty, but for those doing the research and reading this: go. I can’t recommend it enough. The water is crystal clear— even clearer than some rivers in Switzerland. Floating through the channels (more like gently drifting, lazy-river style) was deeply relaxing and surreal. No sunscreen is allowed to protect this fragile ecosystem, which I truly respect. Please—seriously—don’t pee in the water, don’t wear sunscreen, don’t touch the trees, and don’t do anything that could damage the natural environment. That said, going with the right guide is essential. My guide explained there are multiple entry points, and the scenery and road conditions vary drastically depending on the route. We had only 3 minutes of bumpy driving and arrived in about 30 minutes—but my guide confirmed (and I’ve seen on YouTube) that the wrong route can mean crawling at 3 km/h for 3 hours, only to end up somewhere polluted with trash and plastic, like some negative reviews mentioned. The route we took had absolutely pristine water but not much wildlife other than birds and fish—no dolphins, manatees, or flamingos—but I’ve heard there are other routes that focus more on wildlife viewing if that’s your priority. Bottom line: do your homework and choose your guide and route wisely—it makes all the difference.

An incredible place to experience nature in its purest form. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is full of diverse wildlife, pristine lagoons, and untouched beaches. A boat tour through the mangroves is highly recommended — you can often spot dolphins, turtles, and different bird species along the way. The water is crystal clear, and the scenery is breathtaking. It’s best to visit with a guided tour to fully appreciate the area’s ecological and cultural importance. A must-visit for nature lovers and photographers.

just incredible. a memorable experience that will stay with me throughout my life. i am so grateful for our wise, warm guide Manuel and for Omar who drove our boat and was so attuned to the surroundings. they had a great harmony that made this tour particularly special. sian ka’an community is doing such amazing work to honour and appreciate the rich diversity of nature and her magic here and i am in deep reverence to everyone who made this experience possible. the best meals i had in tulum were here in the lodge prepared lovingly by the chef and his team, locally sourced, traditional and delightful. floating down the canal is pure peace. tranquility and wildlife abounds, this is a place of wonder. a true gift, thank you everyone ! 💚 a note to all visitors: please honour wearing natural sunscreen and mosquito repellent here to take care and preserve the delicate ecosystems.

Beautiful place to do a boat tour of the lagoons and see manatees, crocodiles and different birds. Gorgeous views.

If coming from Tulum on 15, it's not worth it!! 215 mxn pesos per person at the entrance (Arco Maya on the map). The only public beach access we could find is 4 km in and quite literally covered in trash, it's super sad to see. I wouldn't swim in it. The rest of the beach is fenced off, private property, which makes no sense on a nature reserve - but that's Tulum for you :/ For at least 14 km it's all jungle (pretty!) with no ocean or lagoon views until you get to a bridge with an awesome lagoon view, but it's only interesting for a few minutes and not worth the long drive on a dirt road. Unfortunately there are no trails or ways to really access the lagoon. I'm sure it's amazing with a tour but not if you're just driving in. Super disappointed at how this reserve has been privatized, trashed, and made inaccessible even for paying visitors.