No you don’t need a guide if you’re traveling by car. You get a map of the park when you arrive a the park gate. Simply ask them to point it out when paying. You pay a park entry fee (minimal) and then a fee to enter hot springs (if I recall, $15-20). Once you pay at the hot springs booth, it’s a short hike on a well defined trail.

Normally it's open all day but you can ask the hôtel guachipelin cause it's inside their property Regards

Just like others have said you can drive there. If you are staying at Hacienda guachiplean you just have to pay for lockers. It is a cool spot to chill...go before noon because everyone comes here after their tours are finished in the afternoon. We went twice and the first time it was crowded because we went at 4pm. The next day we went early in the morning and were the only ones.

Yes, about an hour and change to get there. I would also suggest visiting Rincon de la Vieja national park, which is close to the hot springs.

Only if you wake up early. Unlike in the USA, in CR you drive a lot slower and the roads tend to not be great.

You can just purchase admission there. I took the free shuttle from Hacienta Guachipelin to the gate, purchased my ticket and walked in. They also provide a towel and lockers.

We drove to the hot springs and did short hike and hot springs on our own. There is a fee for this attraction. They provide towel, banos changing rooms. Be advised there are tour buses and the hot springs can be crowded. We lucked out and left as they arrived.

The Monday we were there we found the following to do around the park - it filled the day. First off, you'll have to pay about $2/person (pay in colones) at the entrance to the hotel grounds to even get to the park entrance/other attractions. It's worth it, and they keep up the grounds nicely :) There's a nice waterfall hike by the entrance to the park. The park entrance will be closed, but just before it there's a little restaurant. You can park there, and there's a trailhead in the parking lot. Veer right when the trail splits and it takes you to a good fall with a decent swimming hole. Slightly back down the road from that restaurant, you can turn off and go to the hot springs. Then we stopped by the hotel lobby and they gave us a map that directed us to another waterfall hike as well, this one has a trail head closer to the entrance to the hotel grounds. You can stop by the lobby first to get the map before you start, as I believe it pointed out both waterfall hikes and the hot springs. If you're looking to spend more money, there was also a zipline course on the grounds, and some horseback activities. As far as I could tell, park admission was only good for 1 day. Honestly, if you get there right when it opens, do the blue lagoon/waterfall hike first, then the loop trail to the sulfer pits, you can likely do that entire portion of the national park in one day as long as you're relatively fit.

About 10 kilometers north past Liberia you will see a signs that says Ricon de la Vieja and Rancho Curubande' Lodge. Make a right there and follow the signs into the park. Then follow the signs that say Rio Negro Hot Springs. It's a long drive so don't be discouraged.