Things to do in Tamarindo
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Tamarindo
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Dry season, best weather, biggest crowds, highest prices.
Green season; afternoon rains, good surf, better value.
Heaviest rain; some businesses reduce hours.
Transitional; the rains taper and turtle season begins.
What's on
- Leatherback turtle nesting season October to March
Nighttime guided tours at Las Baulas to see giant leatherbacks lay eggs.
Best things to do in Tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo
The town's learn-to-surf beach; mornings are cleanest, sunset is the ritual.
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Estuary mangrove tours and seasonal leatherback nesting night tours.
Playa Langosta
Quieter beach south of town with tide pools and calm swimming.
Playa Grande
Wilder surf beach across the estuary inside the national park.
Playa Avellana
The locals' favorite: good beach break 20 minutes south, fewer tourists.
Marlin Del Rey Sailing Tours
The classic sunset catamaran sail with snorkeling and open bar.
Witch's Rock
Famous offshore reef break for experienced surfers, by boat trip.
Best restaurants in Tamarindo
Nogui's
Beachfront institution: typical breakfasts and seafood on the sand.
Dragonfly Bar & Grill
Asian-fusion dinner in a garden; the upscale dinner pick. Reserve.
Green Papaya Taco Bar
Mexican-fusion tacos with a twist; great casual post-surf lunch.
El Be! Tamarindo
Beachfront ceviches and cocktails with feet in the sand.
Langosta Beach Club
The Langosta beach club: loungers, pool and upscale beach food.
Lizard Lounge
Tapas and cocktails; the town's best cocktail bar food.
Eat at Joe's
Big breakfasts and post-surf plates at the surf camp's restaurant.
Pacifico Bar
Roundabout resto-bar with good food and craft cocktails, open late.
Best bars in Tamarindo
Volcano Brewing Company
Tamarindo's pioneer craft brewery; the tasting flight is the move.
Crazy Monkey Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
Rooftop bar with pool and ocean view; famous Friday ladies' night.
Outdoor things to do in Tamarindo
Playa Negra
Black-sand beach 30 minutes south with a world-class right reef break.
Playa Conchal
Crushed-shell beach with clear water and snorkeling; go on a weekday.
Playa Flamingo
Upscale marina town 30 minutes north with calm beaches and fishing.
Best hotels in Tamarindo
Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort
Big beachfront resort on the sand in the center of town.
L'Avventura Boutique Hotel
Boutique hotel in town, walkable to everything.
Surf Ranch Hotels & Resorts
Small surf hotel and café across from the main break.
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas
Luxury boutique hotel and villas in a tropical garden.
Hotel Capitan Suizo
Beachfront boutique hotel with a pool, long-running and well kept.
Casa Mirador
Small boutique hotel with ocean views; good Langosta value.
Hotel Arco Iris
Simple budget hotel; one of the cheapest decent beds in the area.
La Perla Resort
Condo-style resort on a quiet hill, two blocks from the beach.
Is Tamarindo expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | CRC 25,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | CRC 50,000 a person |
| Splurge | CRC 110,000 a person |
| No limits | CRC 180,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Las Baulas National Marine Park: a few days ahead
- Marlin Del Rey Sailing Tours: a few days ahead
- Witch's Rock: a few days ahead
- Dragonfly Bar & Grill: a few days ahead
- Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort: weeks ahead
- L'Avventura Boutique Hotel: weeks ahead
- Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas: weeks ahead
- Hotel Capitan Suizo: weeks ahead
- Dragonfly: reserve dinner ahead in high season.
- Marlin del Rey sunset sail: book a day ahead; boats fill in high season.
- Las Baulas turtle tours: book the day of, but go early in the evening.
Is Tamarindo safe?
- Tamarindo is the most touristy town on this coast, which means the most petty theft: do not leave phones on beach towels, lock your room, do not walk the beach alone late at night. Do not swim in the estuary. Emergency number: 911.
Tamarindo travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Beach vendors selling tours without a shop are middlemen; book at an operator's office.
- Timeshare-style presentations fund some free tours; if a deal sounds too good, it is one.
- The sunset is free; do not pay a beach club for what the sand gives you.
Getting around Tamarindo: public transport and more
- The town center and beach are walkable; Langosta is a 20-minute beach walk.
- Bikes and golf carts are standard for Villareal and the outer beaches.
- Taxis are plentiful; agree the fare first.
- Liberia airport is about an hour away; shuttles and buses run to San José.
Who Tamarindo suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Tamarindo your trip
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