Mirador de La Cruz (Bahía Salinas lookout)
Viewpoint · Guanacaste
The lookout on the western edge of La Cruz town, high above Bahía Salinas: the whole bay and its islands out to the open Pacific. It's the classic place in northern Guanacaste to watch the sun drop into the ocean on a wide horizon.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 30 min
- Best time
- sunset
- Kids
- 8 / 10
- View
- 9 / 10
- Crowds
- 5 / 10
- Swimming
- 0 / 10
- Effort
- 0 / 10
- Location
- 11.072253, -85.636193 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Road
- Paved all the way
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Fewer people
- Busiest at sunset; on some days clouds hide the sun.
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Arrive 30 minutes before sunset and bring a layer – the dry-season wind is strong up here. There's a restaurant right next to the lookout if you want dinner with the view.
Be careful
Very windy from November to March – hold on to hats, and be careful flying drones.
Getting there
In La Cruz, a block or two west of the central park, at the edge of the hill; there's a parking area and benches. About 40 minutes (≈59 km) from Liberia on Route 1.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/7067470886 · https://delfino.cr/2021/01/el-corredor-turistico-costero-en-la-cruz-la-nueva-opcion-para-disfrutar-guanacaste · https://www.visitcostarica.com/sites/default/files/2024-10/INGLES%20LA%20CRUZ.pdf · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/7067470886 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/7161549686