Marbella guide · Day Trips
Day Trips
Base yourself in Marbella and explore the surrounding coast — waterfalls, national parks, surf towns, and protected wildlife refuges are all within a short drive.
Waterfalls
Belén Waterfall
A hidden multi-tiered waterfall near Sámara with a short, steep trail leading to natural swimming pools. About 1 hr 15 min from Marbella.
Llanos de Cortés Waterfall
A wide, 50-foot waterfall with a large swimming pool and small sandy beach at its base. About 2 to 2.5 hours from Marbella.
La Leona Waterfall
A dramatic waterfall reached via a jungle hike with river crossings and cliff-jumping spots. About 2.5 to 3 hours from Marbella.
Oropendola Waterfall
An easy-access waterfall bordering Rincón de la Vieja National Park. About 2.5 hours from Marbella.
Diriá National Park waterfalls & pools
Smaller cascades and swimming holes inside a quiet dry-forest park. About 1 hour from Marbella.
National Parks & Hiking
Diriá National Park
Off-the-beaten-path dry-forest park with moderate hiking trails. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Barra Honda National Park
Known for its cave system and hiking trails. About 1 to 1.5 hours from Marbella.
Las Baulas National Marine Park (Playa Grande)
Protects the beach and estuary north of Tamarindo. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Coastal refuge with beach walking trails and mangrove-lined estuary access. About 20 to 30 minutes from Marbella.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Volcano park with trails past fumaroles, mud pots, and waterfalls. About 2.5 to 3 hours from Marbella.
Palo Verde National Park
Wetland park known for birdwatching, with boat tours along the Tempisque River. About 2 to 2.5 hours from Marbella.
Kayaking
Tamarindo Estuary & Mangrove Kayak Tour
Guided kayak tours through mangrove canals, with chances to see crocodiles, monkeys, and birds. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Nosara River & Mangroves
A quieter river paddle closer to home, good for birdwatching. About 30 to 45 minutes from Marbella.
Rio Ora & Camaronal Beach Kayak (Sámara)
A wildlife-focused kayak route out to Camaronal Beach. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Marbella.
Isla Chora Ocean Kayak (Sámara)
A calmer ocean paddle out to a small island for snorkeling and beach time. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Marbella.
Junquillal Estuary
A close, low-key paddling option near the beach just north of Marbella. About 20 to 30 minutes away.
Paddleboarding
Playa Guiones, Nosara
A wide, gently sloped beach popular for SUP on calmer days. About 30 to 45 minutes from Marbella.
Tamarindo Bay & Estuary
Calm water inside the estuary makes for easy paddleboarding. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Sámara Bay
A reef-protected bay known as one of the calmest paddling spots on this coast. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Marbella.
Playa Junquillal
Close by, with calmer stretches good for paddleboarding depending on conditions. About 20 to 30 minutes from Marbella.
Playa Flamingo
A well-protected bay further north. About 1.5 to 2 hours from Marbella.
ATV & Off-Road Tours
Off Road Adventure Nosara
A local, family-run outfit offering guided ATV tours through Nosara's gravel roads, river crossings, mountain and jungle trails, plus themed tours to waterfalls, a coffee farm, the coastline, and the jungle. Rentals also available. About 30 to 45 minutes from Marbella.
Tamarindo / Playa Grande ATV Tours
Beach and back-road ATV tours combining coastline and inland trails. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Flamingo & Playa Potrero ATV Tours
Mountain and beach combo ATV routes. About 1.5 to 2 hours from Marbella.
Playas del Coco / Papagayo ATV Tours
A larger cluster of ATV operators around the Papagayo Gulf area. About 2 hours from Marbella.
Rafting & River Tubing
Corobicí River Float Safari
A gentle Class I–II float trip through dry forest, known for wildlife spotting. About 2.5 to 3 hours from Marbella.
Río Celeste / Tenorio River Tubing
Combines river tubing with a visit to the famous turquoise-blue river. About 3 hours from Marbella.
Shopping
Guaitil Pottery Village
A small town famous for traditional Chorotega ceramics. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Santa Cruz Town Center
A working local town with shops and a central market. About 45 minutes to 1 hour from Marbella.
Tamarindo
The area's main hub for boutiques, surf shops, and beachwear. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Nosara / Playa Guiones
Boutique shops, wellness stores, and artisan goods. About 30 to 45 minutes from Marbella.
Liberia City Center
The largest city in the region, with more conventional shopping. About 2 hours from Marbella.
Natural Observations & Wildlife Encounters
Ostional Arribada (Mass Turtle Nesting)
One of the largest olive ridley sea turtle nesting sites on Earth. Peak season roughly August through December. About 20 to 30 minutes from Marbella.
Ostional Hatchling Dawn Walk
Early morning walks to watch baby turtles emerge and reach the ocean. About 20 to 30 minutes from Marbella.
Las Baulas Leatherback Nesting (Playa Grande)
Nesting site for the much larger leatherback sea turtle, roughly October through March. About 1 hour from Marbella.
Whale Watching
Humpback whales pass through during two migratory windows: roughly July through October, and December through March. Tours typically depart from Sámara or Flamingo. About 1 to 1.5 hours from Marbella.
Dolphin Watching Tours
Bottlenose and spotted dolphins commonly seen year-round. About 1 to 1.5 hours from Marbella.
Palo Verde Birding Boat Tour
Guided boat tours through one of Central America's top birdwatching destinations. About 2 to 2.5 hours from Marbella.
Operator links go to public search results (TripAdvisor, Viator, Google) as a starting point — they are not endorsements. We will replace these with direct partner links over time.
