Rating8.4
Rating8.0
Rating8.1Adults OnlyAverage
Based on 12k reviews
Stunning Beachfront
Guests consistently praise the beautiful, family-friendly black sand Matapalo Beach with its direct access, soft sand, and small waves, creating a picturesque and safe environment.
Diverse & Quality Dining
The resort receives high marks for its extensive and varied food options, from lavish buffets with live cooking to multiple specialty restaurants offering international cuisine.
Expansive Pool Areas
The numerous pools, including a children's pool with slides and three swim-up bars, along with the thrilling Splash Water World water park, provide endless aquatic entertainment for all ages.
Engaging Activities
A wide array of included sports, non-motorized water activities, and daily entertainment programs for both adults and children are highly valued by guests seeking an active vacation.
Refreshed Facilities
The comprehensive 2025 renovation, introducing new room types like swim-up rooms and modernizing facilities, significantly enhances the guest experience and overall resort appeal.
A La Carte Reservations
While dining options are excellent, securing reservations for the popular specialty restaurants can sometimes require early planning or lead to minor queues during peak times.
Lively Atmosphere
As a large, family-friendly resort with active entertainment and a discotheque, some areas can be quite lively or noisy, which might not suit guests seeking extreme quiet at all times.
Discotheque Drink Costs
Guests should be aware that while entry to the on-site Pacha discotheque and casino is included, alcoholic beverages served within these venues are an additional charge.
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Travelife Sustainability System
GOLD Certification
Travelife
The swim-up rooms introduced in the 2025 expansion are the specific reason guests who've already stayed at Riu Guanacaste should look again. These ground-floor rooms open directly onto a dedicated pool — a category that's common in Punta Cana and Cancún but was previously absent at this property. Combined with the Splash Water World on-site and Matapalo Beach's Pacific wave action, the 2025 renovation genuinely upgraded the activity offering here.
Matapalo Beach itself sets this apart from Riu's Caribbean and Mexican properties. The black volcanic sand is a real distinction — there's nothing quite like it visually — and the Pacific swells make for actual bodyboarding and wave activity that Costa Rica's Pacific coast is known for. Guests who want to lie on a flat-calm beach and float in still water should go to Cancún. Guests who want a more kinetic beach experience, and want wildlife nearby (Guanacaste's dry forests and mangroves host spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, and sea turtles within day-trip distance), will find Guanacaste a more interesting location.
At 1,041 rooms after the expansion, this is a large resort. The main complaint in recent reviews is the Pacha discotheque and casino: drinks there are not included in the all-inclusive rate. This is atypical for Riu and surprises guests who expect their wristband to cover everything. Budget accordingly if nightlife is part of your plan. The evening restaurant reservation queue is also cited — specialty restaurants fill early and the popular Tucán Costa Rican restaurant and La Toscana Italian restaurant are most competitive.
Practically: 1,041 rooms on Matapalo Beach, approximately 40–60 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. Guests flying into San José (SJO) face a 4.5–5.5 hour drive — a significant logistical consideration that the property recommends splitting with a rest stop. The all-inclusive covers 7 restaurants and 8 bars. Costa Rica draws a large ecotourism audience — Riu Guanacaste is positioned at the all-inclusive end of that spectrum, but day trips to Rincon de la Vieja volcano and Tamarindo surf town are easily arranged.
