Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

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  Not for beach lowers

  I will write what I was really disappointed with and didn't see on other reviews. I am a beach person. This beach has no umbrellas. You have to relay on the shade from the trees. They are farther from the water , so no listening of the "music" of the waves. The good spots of shades occupied by local vendors, a lots of them. Bunch of broken chairs, tables, looks like they don't care at all. No service on the beach. The whole week we were there some "nice" waves coming all the time. Enjoyed by our 8years old. Not by me, sure not good for babies.

  Mar 24, 2025
• 

  Costa Rica

  The facility was clean. Food was not very good and it’s nearly impossible to get in any restaurant except the buffet. Only one elevator working in the property! Also ac barely works in the rooms and the hot water was down one of the days we were there. Costa Rica is beautiful and the excursions we did were great. Highly recommend tours by Quique who we met at the beach.

  Mar 24, 2025
• 

  Great Family Resort

  Chefs were helpful with food allergies which was much appreciated. My daughter is gluten free and dairy free and they had signs so we could easily see what she could safely have.

  Mar 24, 2025
• 

  Honeymoon

  Our ocean view room was a little dated however, there was a newer section of the resort available on the property. Overall, it was very clean and nice. Great staff all around, very friendly and helpful. Expected a little more for our honeymoon than some balloons on our bed, a note of congratulations, and a bottle of wine though.

  Mar 23, 2025
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  **Riu Guanacaste - March 2025** - we would go back!

  Our first trip to Costa Rica, and it was absolutely our favorite destination yet! We (group of 11 with 5 kids ranging from 3-8yo) booked through an agent who arranged a fantastic group deal. The airport transfer was smooth, and it took about an hour to reach the resort. The resort itself was beautiful and well-maintained. We had requested to stay in the renovated section, but we’re so glad we ended up in the “original” part (which will undergo renovations from May to October this year). From our balcony, we could hear and even see the howler monkeys, which was a great experience. The rooms were basic but comfortable—though they will be renovated soon, they worked perfectly fine for us. If you prefer the renovated section, note that it’s a bit of a walk to the restaurants and beach—about 10 minutes. The “new” area has a "beach-club, adult-only vibe" with one adult pool and one family pool, but they’re smaller than those on the other side of the resort. The buffet in the mornings offered a lot of variety. Sure, it was the same every day, but it’s breakfast food—eggs, pastries, breads, fruits, cereals, and waffles, so we didn’t mind. We tried the buffet, PapaGayo buffet, Mexican restaurant, Asian restaurant, and Steakhouse. All were excellent, but the Asian restaurant stood out for their fresh sushi. The waterpark on the new side was a blast! While you can’t eat or drink in the park, we took turns watching the kids. They had a great time there. We also enjoyed the new "Candy" shop where they serviced gelato ice cream, macaroons and cupcakes. The beach was decent—yes, there are vendors, but a polite “no, thank you” works every time. It's a public beach, but we didn’t encounter many locals, except the vendors. Plenty of chairs available, and we enjoyed the waves! If you walk a little further into the designated swimming area, you can spot some fish. We stayed at the beach every morning and loved it. If you walk about 10 minutes to the left, you’ll see white-faced monkeys near the Monkey Bar. They’re super social, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The wildlife here is unlike anywhere else. The shows were fun, though not exactly Cirque du Soleil-level 😆. They did their best and it was fine! The Neon Party on Friday night was a blast. We also went on two tours: 1. A waterfall, coffee, chocolate, rainforest, and sloth encounter tour with "Frank the Tank." We were a group of 11, so we had our own driver and guide. It was great, but involved quite a bit of driving (around 45 minutes to each stop). It was worth it though, as we got to see more of the country. 2. A boat and snorkeling tour where we visited two different beaches. We didn’t see many fish, but the sunset from the boat was amazing. The sun in Costa Rica is intense. The UV index was at "Extreme" (15) every morning around 10am. We clearly underestimated how strong the sun is, as we still got sunburned even with SPF 50. Make sure to reapply sunscreen often! They also sell swim shirts on the beach for $10 US. March and April are the hottest months, with average temperatures around 34°C. We paid for the excursions in US dollars, but tipped in Colones (which was better for our Canadian Dollar). 1000 Colones equals about $2.81 CAD. We definitely plan to return to Costa Rica in the future—it was an unforgettable experience!

  Mar 23, 2025