From a small fishing village to a booming tourist town, Tamarindo, Costa Rica has become one of the most visited destinations in the country.
Well known for great waves, stunning sunsets and a fun vibe, it’s a popular beach town for travelers to experience all that Costa Rica has to offer. We’ve lived in Tamarindo, Costa Rica for over 5 years and we love it!
In this guide you’ll read about the beach, where to stay, where to eat, what to do and more. This guide has been updated December 2020. Click the section to skip to it.
- Location and directions
- The beach
- The Town
- Weather
- Things to do and day trips
- Surf camps
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- Shopping
- Living
- Where to get a COVID test
Map
Tamarindo, Costa Rica map.
This beach town is in the Guanacaste province on the Northwest coast.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica is 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Liberia International Airport, about a 1 hour drive. Tamarindo is 257 kilometers (160 miles) and about a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose.
How to Get to Tamarindo, Costa Rica
- By bus: The bus from Liberia to Tamarindo leaves from the Mercado Municipal with the Transportes La Pampa company. It departs daily at 7, 8, 10, 11, 1PM, 2PM, 4PM, 5PM and 6 PM, taking 1.5 hours and costing 1,760 colones (~$3 USD). There is a San Jose bus to Tamarindo that leaves twice a day from Calle 14, Ave. 5 at 11 and 3:30. This takes around 5.5 to 6 hours and costs around 5000 colones (~$10 USD)
- By flying: Tamarindo has their domestic airport. From San Jose it costs around $70 USD one way and takes about 30 minutes. Check SkywayCR (get our 10% discount) for flights.
- By shuttle: Tamarindo Transfers & Tours has shared shuttles for $20 USD per person one way, minimum 2 people from Liberia International Airport. For a private transfer, it costs around $90 USD for 1-4 people. From San Jose, you can take a shared shuttle with Interbus or Easy Ride for about $57 USD per person. A private transfer from San Jose to Tamarindo is around $200 USD depending on number of passengers.
Driving Directions to Tamarindo from Liberia Airport
You can use Google Maps or Waze as your GPS from Liberia Airport. It’s an easy drive on a main road and takes about 1 hour. You do not need a 4×4 for Tamarindo. Some people ask if they can drive to Tamarindo from Liberia Airport at night and usually we say yes because this drive is on a well paved road with good signage. Just make sure to use a GPS.
Getting Around Tamarindo
The town is not very big so you can easily walk around. You can also rent motorcycles, bikes, ATVs or golf carts. Electric bikes are for rent by Hotel Portofino and there are electric golf carts to rent in the Auto Mercado plaza a bit outside of town. You can read more about getting to Tamarindo in this post.
Roads are paved in Tamarindo until you get to the intersection to go to Langosta and towards the back of town where the night market is.
What Tamarindo Beach Is Like
This beautiful tan sand beach stretches about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) from end to end. The northern part of the beach turns into the estuary inside the Las Baulas National Park and you can walk all the way down to the south. The most popular part of the beach is near the north in front of Witch’s Rock Surf Camp where the main surf spot of Tamarindo beach break is.
The beach is sandy the whole way, with a couple sections with rocks but nothing major you need to be careful of. The shore is long and wide, making it perfect for surfing, swimming and sunbathing.
Another highlight of Tamarindo beach is the sunset. Sunsets in Tamarindo are known to be some of the most beautiful as you get a full view of the sun going down for the night. It is spectacular and around 530 PM, you will see everyone getting out their cameras to take photos of the gorgeous sky.
With amazing weather and sunny days majority of the year, Tamarindo is a great beach town in Costa Rica for a relaxing tropical escape. During holiday season and high season, it does get fairly crowded as it’s a popular destination.
How Crowded Does Tamarindo, Costa Rica Get?
During the New Year, Christmas and Easter holiday, the beach gets packed and there are live music performances and parties on the beach. But if you visit during September and October, it’s much more chill and empty. You can rent beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach, there are many locals who will offer you one. Last time we were offered $10 USD per chair in front of the Diria.
What the Town is Like
See what the town looks like in our video!
Roads are narrow and parking is tight so keep that in mind when driving. There are parking guards or “watchimen” who will try to charge you to park. You can give them some colones like 500 to 1000. Just make sure that you still do not leave any valuables in your car, roll up your windows and lock your doors. Although there are the “parking guards” they won’t be responsible for any theft or damage and they don’t have cameras.
As for parking lots, there are only a handful designated areas. There is one next to Witch’s Rock, the one at Pico Bistro, at Plaza Conchal I and II, one across from Iguana Surf and then by the roundabout near Nogui’s.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica Weather
One of the reasons why tourists love Tamarindo is because of the weather. Being in the Guanacaste province, Tamarindo is hot and dry and has a shorter rainy season than the rest of the country. Tamarindo does experience typical tropical seasons. Dry season is roughly December – end of April and May – November for rainy season.
The hottest months are March and April with average temperatures around 85-95 F (30-35 C) and the rainiest times are generally September, October and November. The temperatures stay about the same during those months though it cools off a tad and it gets more humid with the rain.
A typical rainy season day in Tamarindo is sunny in the morning and rainy in the late afternoons and nights. It really doesn’t start raining hard until about September or so. May can be a pretty rainy month and then July usually gets dry.
Things to Do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Thanks to Tamarindo’s excellent location in Guanacaste, there are a ton of fun things to do in Tamarindo beach and lots of great day trips from the town.
Tamarindo Surfing
We highly recommend taking a lesson in Tamarindo since this is a great beginner surfing beach. There are many surf shops in town that offers 2 hour classes for about $50 USD per person. They also offer boogie board, stand up paddle boards and surf board rentals. For lessons, we recommend Witch’s Rock or Seafari.
Scuba Diving
Tamarindo is close to some excellent scuba diving spots such as the Catalinas Islands. You don’t have to be certified either as companies offer a discovery dive for those not certified.
Sunset Sailing
Go on a sunset sailing cruise to get beautiful views of the coastline, snorkel and see the sunset from the water. Marlin del Rey is the most popular one and it costs $95 USD per adult for a sunset tour. They have an open bar, snacks and lunch. Other excellent companies are Blue Dolphin, Dream Chaser and Antares (sailboat).
Fishing
Go in or off shore fishing to catch snappers, jacks, tuna, mahi mahi wahoo and more. Tamarindo is a great place to go fishing in Costa Rica! Check companies like Sea Breeze, Boo’s or Go Fish for charters.
Black Stallion Zipline, Horseback riding and BBQ
This small adventure park has a zipline, horseback riding and offers barbecue dinners. Their BBQ is the best we’ve ever had in Costa Rica and their property is beautiful. It’s only a 10 minute drive by car from Tamarindo. Their zipline is great for families and first timers.
Beach hopping
Visiting beaches is a must since you’re close to some of the nicest beaches in Costa Rica like Avellanas, Grande, Langosta, Conchal, Flamingo, Mina and Brasilito.
Watch our video below to see 5 beaches you have to visit from Tamarindo!
Estuary boat ride
Take a boat ride through the estuary to see monkeys, birds and crocodiles. Costs around $25 USD per person for a 2 hour boat ride. Walk down to the estuary (most northern part of the beach, from Witch’s Rock, walk right) and talk to the locals there to book your tour.
Party
From dancing the night away at Crazy Monkey Bar or Pacifico to listening to live music on the beach, there is a fun party scene in Tamarindo. On Sundays, you can also join the Beach & Pool crawl for more beach, drinks and pool parties.
Night Market and Farmer’s Market
On Thursday nights, there is a night market in Plaza Palmas from 6-10 PM. On Saturdays, there is a local farmer’s market from 7 AM to 1 PM next to the Green Papaya restaurant. We recommend getting a VIDA bowl (acai and fruit smoothies).
Day Trips from Tamarindo Beach
You can perfectly stay in Tamarindo as your home base and do day trips.
Visit national parks like Rincon de la Vieja National Park or Barra Honda National Park for good hiking.
For adventure, the Guachipelin combo tour and Diamante Eco Adventure Park are excellent options.
Learn about Guanacaste culture and see wildlife on a boat cruise at Hacienda El Viejo. Go boating in Playas del Coco (1 hour drive) for excellent snorkeling and beach hopping and to see the Gulf of Papagayo coast.
If you want to see another country, you can also take the Nicaragua one day tour.
To see one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica, hike Rio Celeste, the sky blue river (2.5 hour drive one way).
You can also take day trips to Arenal and Monteverde to see the volcano and rainforest or cloud forest and hanging bridges.
Love turtles? If you’re visiting May – December, head down to Ostional to see turtle nestings!
Tamarindo Surf Camps
If you really want to learn and immerse yourself in surfing, we recommend joining a surf camp in Tamarindo. We did a surf vacation with Iguana Surf which was a lot of fun.
Tamarindo Hotels
You can find all sorts of beach front hotels, hostels, boutique B&B’s, condos and luxury hotels in Tamarindo. For long term stays, there are apartments and condos and some hotels will rent out for long term for a week to months at a time. Airbnb (get $40 credit) is a good option if you prefer an apartment.
Recommended Hotels in Tamarindo
- Hotel Mar Rey is a nice budget to mid range hotel right in the middle of town. They have spacious simple rooms with basic amenities like AC and fridge and a nice pool.
- Hotel Luna Llena – located further back in town, Luna Llena has spacious bungalows, a big pool and serves up a free hearty breakfast each morning. Mid range prices.
- Cabinas Marielos – Basic rooms literally right across the street from the beach. Excellent budget choice that’s close to the beach.
- Wyndham Tamarindo – This hilltop hotel has a fantastic view of the beach and an amazing infinity pool. More high end.
For hostels, Coral Reef Surf Hostel and the Selina Hostel is a top choice with a fun party atmosphere in town. For honeymooners or couples, Jardin del Eden is the top pick as it’s adult only with romantic rooms and in room Jacuzzis. Los Altos de Eros is another great hotel for couples looking for a romantic stay. It’s a bit outside Tamarindo, around a 30 minute drive in a beautiful forest setting.
If you want a resort, check out the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa (25 minutes away) or the all inclusive Occidental Langosta.
Our Recommended Tamarindo Restaurants
- Noguis: Happy hour from 430 PM – 530 PM with 2 beers for 1500 colones (~$3 USD). Yummy pie. $$
- Longboards BBQ: Delicious barbecue sandwiches. $$
- Seasons: Fine dining, good steak and seafood. $$$
- Pangas: Fine dining, delicious seafood. Nice place for a romantic dinner, beachfront. $$
- Green Papaya: Awesome taco bar with handmade tortilla and chips. The mahi mahi tacos are amazing. $$
- NOI Bistro: Great place for lunch and dinner. Favorites are the veggie burger. We love their hot sauce. $$
- Surf shack: Great burgers and they have a veggie burger option. $$
- Mercadito: Food court with burgers, vegan food, arepas, poke bowls, waffles, crepes, Argentinian grill, Pops ice cream, a bar and sushi. Average prices around $12-14 USD. $-$$
- Venezia Gelati: Yummy gelato. $
- Falafel bar: Great hummus, pita wraps and shawarma. $$
- Dragonfly: Delicious curry and other dishes. $$
- Agua Salada: Nice place for more fine dining. Very cute decor and atmosphere. $$$
- La Pachanga: Excellent pizza and pasta place. $$
- Shrimp Hole: Shrimp truck with tacos, ceviche and other yummy shrimp dishes. $
- Soda El Estero: Another good local restaurant near the entrance of town. $
- Mordo’s Fish and Chips: The best fish and chips! In Tamarindo Jardin Food Truck Park. $
- La Bodega: Great place for breakfast. $
- Soda La Marimba: Good local restaurant a little bit outside Tamarindo (by the AutoMercado). Cheap and right off the road.
Shopping
If you’re looking for some new beach wear, Tamarindo has everything. There are many surf shops in town selling bikinis, board shorts, rash guards, hats, sunglasses, beach towels and totes. Here are my favorite places to shop in downtown.
- The Sunday Swun: Ethnically made pieces in Nicaragua. They have cute clothes, swimwear, shirts, soap, shoes and more.
- Suspiro Esmerelda Bikinis: She designs her own bikinis and is great for anyone who likes prints and fun styles. By the roundabout across from Noguis.
- 2 Aves: Right next to Suspiro and they have cute beach towels and accessories.
- De’lohana Bikinis: Second floor of Tamarindo Inn a little outside town. Super cute bikinis with many pieces great for surfing. Super soft, made with biodegradable materials.
- Morena Beachwear: Has a wide collection of bikinis and one pieces, many for surf. In Centro Commercial El Punto in town.
- Bambamboo: Clothing store with everything made from organic cotton, bamboo, banana or hemp. Not a lot of designs but super comfortable.
- Tamarindo night market: The weekly Thursday night market is a great place to shop for trinkets like jewelry.
- Buena Nena: Cute clothing stores with jewelry, bags, hats and other cute things.
Living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Foreigners choose Tamarindo as their new home due to several factors: diversity, more business and job opportunities, weather and a tightly knit expat community. It is very popular for families as there are some private and international schools nearby.
As for the demographic, there aren’t as many retirees compared to other expat beach towns like Coco and Nosara. Most of the foreigners are young entrepreneurs, digital nomads, families or surfers. And it’s not only US citizens who live here, there are plenty of Canadians, Spaniards, Brits, Italians and Argentinians. You’ll find a little of everything here.
However, something to note about Tamarindo is it’s expensive and you won’t see many local Guanacastecos living in Tamarindo proper due to displacement. Rent is very high, catering more towards foreigners and international tourists. The Guanacastecos live outside in neighboring towns like Villarreal, Huacas, 27 de Abril or Santa Cruz.
For tourists, it is not a cheap destination in Costa Rica. You can travel on a budget in Tamarindo but do note that it will still be more than other destinations in Costa Rica.
Other than that, Tamarindo is fun. There is always something to do or something going on! You’re close to plenty of natural attractions, the surfing is awesome and it’s easy to meet people. For the travelers who don’t mind other tourists and a developed beach scene, Tamarindo is a top choice.
Where to get a COVID test in Tamarindo
In Tamarindo, there are many options to get a COVID test in town or in Huacas (about 20 minutes outside town). Some places do offer house calls and some hotels offer in room testing.
- Tamarindo Diria offers COVID testing for their hotel guests. Sample taken in room, results in less than 72 hours. Costs $150 USD. Must schedule appointment with front desk 24 hours in advance.
- Beachside Clinic in Huacas. Results within 36 hours. Costs $150 USD. Email covidtest@beachsidecliniccr.com to make your appointment or call 2653 9911 or 2653 5056. Offers PCR and antigen tests.
- Lab Medical Huacas: Next to the dental clinic in the Gollo Centro Comercial in Villarreal. Phone 506 2653 3131
- Next to Farmacia Pacifico, Dr Polito by Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. $120 USD.
- Diria Medical. Costs $200 USD. Offers 24/7 testing with results in about 30 hours.
- Hospital Metropolitano Turnaround time is 36 – 48 hours. Phone 506 4000 3822 Whatsapp: 506 8465-7484. Can make appointment 4-5 days in advance via Whatsapp or email mycovidtest@metropolitanocr.com. Test costs 70,720 CRC in cash, 68,000 CRC with credit card. Need to fill out the form on mipruebacovid.com first to get a reference number. Offers PCR and antigen.
- Laboratorio Clinica Huacas: In Huacas, phone 2653 6866.
- ReNu Vitamin IV Therapy will go to your hotel or house to take your sample. Cost is $125 USD plus tax, turnaround time is 48 hours via email. Phone 8327-4188
Want to read about more beach towns in Costa Rica? Here you go!
Dominical, Costa Rica There are affiliate links in this post
Patrick says
Thanks for all the great info:
My wife and I went to Costa Rica in 2000, loved it. Now we are a family of 4 with kids 16, 18 yrs old and looking to move to Costa Rica permanently. When we came in 2000, Tamarindo and Playas Del Coco were too small, I assume they are big enough now. I like Coco because of the proximity to the dive sites, but I’m guessing they can still be reached from Tamarindo. My wife and kids will need a lot more ACTION if they are going to stay permanently. So we are leaning toward Tamarindo. We will be coming in January 2021 on a “research” trip. I have a few questions for you:
1) what is access to Scuba Diving like in T?
2) cost of living guess? $4000/mth?
3) commercial rentals? we want to open a business in T?
4) access to horse-related activities in T?
5) is the strip really noisy during high season?
Sammi says
Hi Patrick, there is a company Tamarindo Diving in town but Flamingo beach Costa Rica has more scuba diving companies.
Cost of living depends on where you’re living in proximity to Tamarindo, type of place, etc. There’s everything from a room in a cabin to a luxury oceanview condo and homes.
Tamarindo is very busy during high season, for us the best place for horses is Black Stallion Estates.
Sammi says
Hi Nisha, we love Playa Real & Bahia de los Piratas, Playa Mina, Puerto Viejo, Playa Prieta, Marbella.
Nisha says
Hi Sammi! Any good “hidden” beaches to drive to near Tamarindo. We loved driving/hiking to Playa Penca, Playa Buena/Bonita near Coco. Thank you and pura vida!
Jessica says
Thanks for all the great information! My sister and I are traveling to Tamarindo this August for 6 nights and are interested in doing one of the sailing/catamaran tours. Not really into the whole booze cruise type of scene or a trip that might be packed to the gills with people. Are there any you might recommend? Any other must-do tours? We love nature and are both pretty active/fit. We’ll be renting a car as well. Thanks in advance!!
Sammi says
Check out Antares! It’s a sailboat and they offer gourmet food and it’s not the boozy cruise type (that would be more like Marlin del Rey). You can check our Things to do in Tamarindo post for more ideas.
Kristi says
Hi Sammi!
We are renting a car for most of our trip in a few weeks and I was wondering if you have good recommendations for hostels in Tamarindo that have their own parking. It’s hard to tell from Hostelworld and Google maps if they have parking or if it’s just street parking available for many of the places. I’m not too keen on the thought of leaving the car on the street the whole time we’re there since we probably won’t use it much in town. Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Kristi, for hostels I believe Selina does but I would contact the hostel to be 100% sure. Most of them don’t as they are on the main street so they require street parking or it’s on a space of their property but not gated.
Laura Cleverley says
Hi,
We will be in Tamarindo in Oct. 2019, and are wondering if there are any hiking trails close? Any beach hikes?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Laura, in this area not really for beach hikes. You can walk on Tamarindo beach from estuary to the other end and take the boat ride through the estuary, or from Grande to Playa Ventana or Brasilito to Conchal but those are not really hikes, just a walk on the beach. For good hiking, you would need to travel. The best places would be up in the forest like Rincon de la Vieja National Park Rio Celeste.
Laurie says
I was just reading Fodor’s Travel Guide which suggested that Tamarindo beach water quality is questionable due to overdevelopment and absence of water treatment. This was in 2016 so wondering if you know if the water quality is any better now and safe for children swimming. thank you.
Sammi says
Hi Laurie, there is definitely a section of Tamarindo beach that I do not recommend to swim in, it is more towards the middle section of the beach and you can see that the street water drains into the ocean from there. We recommend to stay near the north end where the rivermouth is as it connects to the estuary if you want to swim. It’s also the most popular surfing lesson spot.
Laurie Vandervoort says
Tamarindo looks like a great option for the beach part of our family vacation. I am wondering how you would compare it to Playa Flamingo for wildlife viewing opportunities. I feel like since the estuary area is nearby there may be more animals (e.g. seeing monkeys’ around the accommodations). We like viewing wildlife but then would you say that the beach and sand at Playa Flamingo is better for non-surfers and young children? Thank you!
Sammi says
The estuary does provide more wildlife watching opportunities, you can take a boat ride or kayak through there which is very nice. Tamarindo is nice for kids even though its a surfing beach because the waves don’t break close to shore and in low tide, the shore is super long compared to Flamingo.
Tim says
Hi guys, love your site. Great layout, navigation and content. Congrats on your business! Can you recommend a Spanish language school in Tamarindo for a family of four? We’ll be visiting for a few weeks this summer. Thanks, Tim (fellow Seattleite)
Sammi says
Hi Tim, there is an EF international language school in Tamarindo that I have heard good things about. I’ve never done any language schools here so I don’t have any personal experience or recommendations but I have a friend who worked in EF in La Fortuna and she really likes it.
Sammi says
Villarreal is the closest at 5 kilometers. Then there are Huacas, San Francisco. Just note if you do choose the more local towns, you will need to know at the very least, some basic Spanish and that there isn’t much in the local towns and you’ll need to travel at least 5-10 kilometers to get to Tamarindo. I would check first in the Tamarindo Rental and Sales to see if you can find a place in Tamarindo in your price point because to live outside Tamarindo without a car is tough, you will be spending a lot on taxis.
Ali R. Rodriguez says
Forgot to ask…..any other surrounding towns that would be more cost effective? I will not have a car, nor do I plan to rent one. I’d be looking at taxis to move around.
Thanks again Sammi!
Sammi says
If you don’t have a car, then it’d be hard if you were to stay in the local towns that are more cost effective like Villarreal (the closest local town) or Huacas when it comes to getting around. For taxis, there unfortunately aren’t any “official” taxis here, they’re all pirate taxis and they will always try to rip off foreigners unfortunately. You can find some apartment rentals a little outside of Tamarindo but Tamarindo is kinda like in a little pocket so you’d still need to travel a bit to get there. If you can get a bike that’d help a lot.
We currently live in Villarreal that is 5 kilometers away but as a local town, you need to know Spanish to get around and have a car or else you’ll be taxing back and forth and you won’t be close to the beach so staying in Tamarindo is the best option for you.
For rentals, the best group is the Facebook group called Tamarindo Rentals and Sales. You can post in there what you’re looking for and hopefully you can find something. There’s a lot of people in that group so there’s a good chance.
Ali R. Rodriguez says
Thank you Sammi, you’re amazing! I’ll look into FB Tamarindo Sales and Rentals.
Also, I speak fluent Spanish.
Ali R. Rodriguez says
Hi Sammi. Love your blog and the resources are amazing.
I’ve been wanting to move to Tamarindo for a while, and also looking for younger crowd and would love to integrate with the locals. I’m born Cuban, grew up in Florida, and I am a US citizen, though probably a bit older than the rest of you, my heart and soul are very young.,,,and no, I don’t know anyone there, but strangers to me are friends that I’m yet to meet.
I’m single female, no pets and looking for a safe place to rent in Tamarindo with a modest budget of about $500 or $600 per month, either for 3 months at first, then long term. My plans are to come either January 7, or April 1 of 2019. And the dates thing is a long story! Which of the two would be a better time to come?
Would love to hear your recommendations. Thank you so much.
Ali
Sammi says
April would be better since it’s the end of high season so it’ll be easier to find rentals. And honestly, $500-600 a month in Tamarindo in January will be pretty much impossible for short term as that’s our high season and Tamarindo is super $$$$. If you don’t already have an apartment booked for January, then it’ll be incredibly difficult to find anything in that budget (if not impossible) since high season gets booked up like 6 months or earlier. April would be much better as you can have more time to find a place and it’ll start heading towards our low season so it wont’ be so crowded or expensive.
Ali R. Rodriguez says
Thank you Sammi for your sage advice. If you can recommend online services other than Craigslist and safe areas for single female, I would greatly appreciated. That way I can start doing my due diligence early enough, and arrive around April 1.
Ali R. Rodriguez says
Also, what are other small surrounding towns that would be more cost effective? I have no car and don´t intend to rent one. I´´ll go by taxi or other means.
Thank you again Sammi.
Felicia says
Hi,
I will be traveling to Tamarindo alone next week for 5 days.
I was looking at excursions online and some seem to only accommodate 2 or more people.
Any advice on booking excursions for one person? Looking for something along the lines of ATV, zip line, hiking combo.
Also, are there places to book excursions once I get there or should I book in advance ?
Any insight would be super helpful!
Thanks in advance
Felicia
Sammi says
Hi Felicia!
The best way to do tours as a solo traveler is to go around town and ask the tour desks you see if there are any tours already running that you can join. There are a couple of tour desks by Hostel Oveja Negra that you can ask, a tour desk by Walter’s Restaurant, you can also ask Tamarindo Tours and Transfers and Xplore Costa Rica (by Subway). If they already have a tour going, they usually let solo travelers join (unless the group specifically asked for a private tour).
There is also an ATV company across from Oveja Negra, the owner’s name is Casey (bald cool guy) and you can talk to him about his ATV tours.
Felicia says
Thank you so much!
Jeff says
Hi,
We are going to be in Tamarindo Oct. 13 for a week. We are thinking about doing a two day trip to Rincon de La Vieja. There are few hotel options, but wondering if there are any you would recommend? We understand that some are very remote. We want to spend one day in the park and another relaxing, so a property with hotsprings, waterfalls, nature and dining would be a plus.
Sammi says
Hi Jeff! There are a few in that area. Guachipelin is a popular one and is not too far from LIberia compared to the other hotels in that area. Borinquen is our favorite but it’s much further, it’s like 45 minutes more than Guachipelin at the other station. If you want a good option that’s not too far but clean and has the hot springs, waterfalls and all that, Guachipelin is a great choice.
Walter says
I read it is not safe, health wise, to swim in Tamarindo in rainy season, which stinks as we are here and wanted to try surf school. Any thoughts?
Sammi says
You can, a ton of people still surf and swim there but I would recommend the north end where all the surf schools have their lessons and not towards the middle of the beach. You’ll see a ton of people out there.
Mariah Cumings says
Hey guys,
I rented a car through adobe rentals and after 4 days in Tamarindo we will be driving to La Fortuna. Is there a way to hit both Rio Celeste and La Fortuna waterfalls on our way to our airbnb in La Fortuna? We have a 4×4 SUV and will be travelling on August 29.
Also, thank you so much for this blog. You guys are amazing and it has helped me so much with planning 🙂
Sammi says
You can stop by Rio Celeste on your way from Tamarindo to La Fortuna, I recommend leaving as early as you can in the morning (the park opens at 8 AM) because you’ll need a few hours at the park to do the whole hike. Also just note that it is raining up there quite a bit and the park sometimes closes if it’s raining very hard so check the Parque Nacional Tenorio Volcano Facebook page to check for updates and current weather conditions so you guys don’t drive all the way there just to find out the park is closed.
If you’re able to do the whole hike, you will get to La FOrtuna in the late afternoon so I recommend visiting the La Fortuna waterfall another day. It also closes at 4 PM everyday so if you guys will have to rush to visit it on the same day.
Egidijus K. says
Hey guys,
We are planning to visit CR in September (7th – 25th) and one of the plans to visit Tamarindo. We are landing in San Jose international airport and staying for a night in San Jose.
Could you recommend how to get to Tamarindo? So far i have found out that i need to get to Gran terminal del caribe bus station but not sure which bus to take and should i buy tickets straight on bus or there is a tickets counter..
Thanks.
Sammi says
Hi, we recommend going early to purchase tickets and there are two: one with Alfaro or Tralapa. The one with Tralapa leaves from Ave 5, Calle 20/22 at 7:15 AM and 4 PM and it’s direct. With Alfaro, it goes at 11:30 AM via Liberia, 3:30 by Tempisque. We recommend getting there early to because you’ll buy tickets at the counter since it’s a long route.
Sammi says
Flamingo is like a 15 minute drive from Tamarindo and about 1 hour from LIR Airport. I wrote a post about Flamingo here: Flamingo beach Costa Rica and even though this post is for Conchal, it can be for the Flamingo area too since they are so close: Things to do in Conchal.
Jane B Bonner says
We have rented at house in Playa Flamingo. How close is that to Tamarindo and the LIR airport? We will be there for 7 days. What are some suggestions to do for fun and cheap that is not too far away. I do not want to drive too far. Thanks
ML says
Thank you so much for the great post! I leave in 6 days for Tamarinado wirh my 2 boys & we are staying in an airb nb, then on to arenal & monteverde. I am a bit apprehensive about about the driving, as I heard many of the roads are unpaved but this will be an easy adventure for this mom & her two teenage sons!
Sammi says
Hi, the roads in Tamarindo are very easy to drive since there isn’t really any traffic and roads are paved. You’ll have a great time!
Christy says
Is the bus schedule still accurate from Liberia? Do you have a return schedule as well?
thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Christy, it should still be! Last time I updated the post and bus schedules was summer 2017. But as always we recommend showing up half an hour early at least since buses tend to run late/early, that’s very normal in Costa Rica!
Katie says
Hey Sammi,
Thanks for the great article. I’ve done some research and I think you sold me on Tamarindo! I see this was written a few years ago and was wondering if you were still in Costa Rica?
I have been considering CR after living abroad for a few years. I am Peruvian/American and lived in Seoul teaching English for almost 4 years and spent some time in Lima, Peru as well. Both places were fun and I made great memories but I hate the chaos. After all these years would you still say the same about Tamarindo? My main concern about CR in ending up in a place with a bunch of retirees. I am a 30yo single female (with a dog haha) and was looking for a town with other young people. Anyway just wanted to see if you had any updates!
Also, would you recommend any sites for finding an apartment or long-term rental? I’ve been using craigslist but there aren’t many options.
Sammi says
Hi Katie! We are actually living in Tamarindo (well 5 km from Tamarindo) right now and we really like it. It’ll be perfect for you since you don’t want to be somewhere with retirees and Tamarindo attracts younger people and families, that’s actually mainly why we enjoy living there. We used to live in Playas del Coco where it was an oasis for retirees, which is fine but it was extremely hard to make friends our age and everything was centered around retirees there. Tamarindo would be a great place for you since the beach is huge so your dog will love it, there are way more young people there and everyone is very friendly. There are people from all over the world in Tamarindo, including lots of South Americans so there is a good chance you may find some fellow Peruvians.
As for rentals, I would join the Tamarindo Rentals group on Facebook, they post lots of rentals in there for the Tamarindo area.
Yvette says
I am going to Costa Rica for the first time and a friend recommended Tamarindo. I will be arriving in two weeks! Can you let me know which bus to take from the Liberia airport? I am counting the days. All the posted information is very helpful, thank you.
Sammi says
Hi Yvette! If you walk outside the airport onto the main road (turn right from the airport until you hit the main street), there is a bus stop across the road. I am pretty sure the Tamarindo bus passes by and you can get on from there. I don’t know the times however and that’s the kind of tricky part since I know for sure there aren’t buses going constantly like every half an hour.
Vitaliy Kolos says
I was in Thailand this year (actually a few months ago). It’s really interesting that beautiful and paradise-like places are similar across the world. I’m saying that because what I can see on your photos from the post are really like mines from Thailand (Koh Phangan).
Happier Than A Billionaire says
You would laugh if you saw me surf. You will need an underwater camera because I’m usually at the bottom of the ocean!
Sammi says
Haha! Don’t worry me too. Most of the time I’m just tumbling around underwater!
Cindy says
How does Tamarindo compare with Playas del Coco as far as size and vibe and things to do?
Sammi says
Tamarindo is a bigger town and the beach is also bigger. It’s also more of a younger scene, in Coco most of the foreigners and tourists are retired North Americans and in Tamarindo, there are more backpackers and young adults. If you’re looking for a lively party scene, night life, more hostels and young backpackers, Tamarindo is where you want to go. If you’re looking for something quieter and more family friendly, you want to go to Coco. Don’t get me wrong, Coco has a few really busy and fun bars but most of the people that go there are of the older generations. Tamarindo has a bit more to do than Coco as well like ziplining, surfing, hiking.
Cindy says
Cool, thanks. My husband and I are early 40s with no kids. We went to Tamarindo last year and really liked it. We also tried Playa Samara and didn’t like it as well. Happy hours and restaurants were much more limited! Beach was nice for walking but not as good for swimming. Feel was more European than North American.
We’d like to try something north of Tamarindo this year and I’m thinking Coco could be it for us! What do you think? Any other beach towns we should consider?
Sammi says
I think you’d really like Coco! It has a much smaller beach town vibe than Tamarindo which I like. I haven’t been to Samara so I can’t say but I think you’d enjoy the small town feel of Coco. There are a lot of N. Americans in Coco so you’ll see English everywhere and it’s easy to meet other N. Americans. The beach is great for swimming but there aren’t as many options in Coco for food as Tamarindo. Hmm as for other beach towns in the north, Coco is really the only beach town in the Papagayo area. Hermosa, Panama and Ocotal don’t have a downtown or central like Coco so everyone comes to Coco when they want to go out to bars and such. You can check out Flamingo, there is more of a town and a large N. American expat community there or Brasilito but Brasilito is very small, it’s a tiny town. Coco is your best bet!
Cindy says
Thanks! We definitely will check out Coco. I just read your post about Coco being one of three of the most expensive places in Costa Rica. What are the other two? How does Tamarindo compare to this?
Sammi says
Tamarindo is about the same but there are way more choices there than Coco. Coco is really small and there isn’t as much competition. There’s not a lot of choices when it comes to hotels and restaurants, there isn’t much variety of food. In Tamarindo, you can find cheap sodas (much cheaper than Coco), Argentinian grill, sushi, Italian, etc. In terms of groceries and things like that, prices are about the same between the two.
Syd says
omg you should have referral links to some airline in your post because every time I read your blog I find myself seconds away from booking a ticket I can’t afford to costa rica. Ridiculous.
Sammi says
haha that’s a good idea 🙂
A Southern Gypsy says
Love this-Playa Tamarindo looks amazing. I love the sunset shot, but the one taken during the day looks equally gorgeous. I have to go back to TN in 2 days and it’s supposed to be a high of like 15. Can I just come stay with y’all?? 😀
Sammi says
haha anytime you want to come, doors open!! 🙂
Jempi & Nina says
Amazing! We really wanna visit Costa Rica as soon as possible. Don’t you want to trade for a while with Belgium? We can work out a deal… 😉 Cheers, jempi & Nina
Sammi says
Actually we would love to as we both have never been to Europe! 🙂
Constance - Foreign Sanctuary says
The aerial view of the place is beautiful! It sounds like this place has something for everyone – an awesome vibe with breathtaking sunsets!
Sammi says
I know you would love the sunsets there! They’re beautiful
Bob R says
Off-topic and I apologize for that, but I’m curious how far –as in drive or bus ride time– Santa Rosa National Park is from Tamarindo?
Sammi says
No apologies needed. It’s around 2 hours driving – 2.5 to be safe!
Bob R says
Thanks. Noted. 🙂
Jess says
I think I would go there just for that sunset – though the blue sky during the day also looks fabulous!
. . . meanwhile, I haven’t left the house in 5 days because of snow. I think it’s definitely time to plan my next trip!
Sammi says
Yikes! I keep hearing about places covered in snow and can’t imagine how cold it must be. Perhaps beach during your next winter? 🙂
Mrs. Chasing the Donkey says
Wild all nighters… did I read that correctly? So If I come to visit, will you take my baby donkey so I can PART-AYYYY all night long?
Sammi says
hahahaha of course !!
Sharon @ Wheres Sharon says
Oh wow, that looks so amazing!! I really wish Costa Rica wasn’t so far from Australia. It looks like such an amazing place!
Sammi says
I have the exact same thought as well – I’m dying to go to Australia but it’s so far from here! One day we can switch 🙂
A Brit and A Southerner says
I have to admit that before I read this post I was not familiar with this part of Costa Rica at all (Apologies in advance for my ignorance!). However, this really is a great, appealing post that would encourage me to visit here when we travel to Costa Rica at some point. I enjoyed how you included some amazing pictures and that sunshine is certainly appealing when you are currently watching the rain and wind in England (plus a forecast of snow to look forward to on our return to Memphis, USA tomorrow!).
A really insightful post that I am sure will encourage many to go there and check it out for themselves!
Sammi says
Not ignorance! Especially for someone fairly far away haha, I never heard of it until I came here either so no worries. It’s a really fun beach and a must for anyone visiting the Guanacaste area!
Globalmouse says
Oh wow, that beach is gorgeous!! I love the idea of going horse-riding along it, that must be a great way to see it. Thank you so much for this post…as I look out on rainy England I am definitely dreaming of some of that Cost Rica sunshine!! 🙂
Sammi says
horse back riding on the beach is quite lovely! I’ll be sending you sunny thoughts from here 🙂
Kira Maixner says
Wow, that looks like an amazing place to visit and a lucky place to live! Do you know much about the boating culture and communities there? We have a couple of boats listed in Costa Rica (hoping to grow our inventory too) and you should check them out. It would be a great opportunity to learn more about boating too.
Sammi says
Tamarindo is actually one of my favorite beach towns after we spent more time there, so many things to do! We would love to know more about the boating community, we just went on a catamaran tour but haven’t been more exposed other than that. That sounds awesome!
Renuka says
Amazing it sounds! Costa Rica is so holiday-like. I love the sunset shot. 🙂
Sammi says
Me too! Playa Tamarindo has beautiful sunsets !