Tamarindo’s mainly known as a surf town, but we found plenty of other watersports, great restaurants, and a bustling night market, as well as zip lining, ATVs and horseback riding on the beach.

Sure, Tamarindo gets a bad rep occasionally. It can be busy and touristy, and when compared to some other Cost Rican areas, a bit on the expensive side. Even so, Tamarindo is a beautiful place, with a long, sweeping public beach, and clean clear waters.

Things to do in Tamarindo Costa Rica

Like most vacation destinations in Costa Rica, you’ll need to spend a little time on the road to get here. The trip from San Jose to Tamarindo takes four or five hours by car, but you can also take a commuter flight to Tamarindo airport.

Here are some of our favorite activities in Tamarindo.

Spend Time on The Beach

Tamarindo’s main beach, called Tamarindo Beach, is long, sandy, and perfect for everything from sunbathing to surfing, to sand castle building, to even enjoying a delicious meal outdoors under a palm tree. Hanging out on the beach is our favorite of the many cheap things to do in Tamarindo. We’ve spent many hours just walking up and down the beach, enjoying the scenery and the water.

Surfing

Tamarindo is one of the top surfing destinations in Costa Rica. It’s a wonderful place to learn to surf, with consistent waves almost every day. There are plenty of surf shops offering lessons, but Carlos’ Surf Shop is probably the best known in the area. Group lessons are pretty inexpensive at around $50 USD for a couple of hours and almost guarantees you’ll get up and going at least a few times.

Beginner surfers catch waves off Tamarindo Beach itself, just in front of the town. As you improve, you’ll surf off the Estero river mouth for faster breaks, and beyond.

Boogie Boarding on Playa Langosta

While Playa Tamarindo is the most famous beach in Guanacaste, Playa Langosta is just a short walk away. The waves at Playa Langosta are generally smaller, and better for families and newbie surfers.

Teaching our then five year old son to boogie board was one of our favorite family things to do in Costa Rica on that trip.

That said, we caught the waves at Langosta at high tide on a big swell day, and managed to smash a boogie board in two.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Kayaking

Stand up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is hugely popular with tourists now, but it wasn’t as huge when we last visited. It’s a lot of fun, but I find the waves are a little large to make stand up paddle boarding in the ocean waves easy.

If you’re up for something a little less .. bumpy, you can rent a kayak to explore the estuary, where you’ll see wildlife like birds, monkeys and even crocodiles.

Sailing

One of the most popular things to do in Tamarindo, is taking a sunset (or sunrise) sailing tour.

There are several operators that offer catamaran tours, and most include something to eat and drink. It’s a lovely time, with a chance to see dolphins, sea turtles or even whales.

Fishing

Fishing offers a chance to get out on the water and even catch your dinner. Some of the more popular fish around Tamarindo include Marlin, Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi, and Yellowfin tuna.

Horseback Riding

The beaches in Tamarindo’s Guanacaste province are picture perfect for horseback riding. Horseback riding tours start in Tamarindo and goes down to Conchal Beach. There’s a chance to look at local wildlife, and maybe do a little snorkelling off Conchal Beach as well.

Monkey Park

Monkey Park is a refuge for injured or sick animals. It’s a non-profit and run by volunteers, with a low entrance fee.

They have a spider monkeys, as well as birds and other animals like marmosets. This is not a traditional zoo, and is run on a limited budget from the proceeds of admissions. Many of the animals are being rehabilitated for release to the wild, but some permanent residents are unable to survive on their own.

Tamarindo Night Market

The Tamarindo Night Market is open every Thursday night between 6 pm to 9 pm. There are food vendors, local entertainment, and plenty of vendors.

Dining Out

Tamarindo has a well deserved reputation for great restaurants. In terms of cuisine, this beach town is definitely punching far above its weight class. The best restaurants in Tamarindo range from breweries to beach bars to elegant dining.

Volcano Brewing Company is a great place for beers, while Shrimp Hole is popular for seafood, and Antichi Sapori Tamarindo is the place for Italian. Green Papaya Taco Bar is hugely popular, with swings for seating and a chill vibe.

Visit Marino Las Baulas National Park

The Marino Las Baulas National Park was established in 1990 to protect the endangered leatherback turtle eggs from poachers. Las baulas means the leatherbacks.

During turtle mating season, you can take an educational nighttime tour to see the turtles nesting. Read about our experience taking a tour at Las Baulos National Park.

Tennis and Pickleball

This is the place to go if you fancy a game of tennis, or pickleball. There are tennis and pickleball clinics, open play, and competitions if you’re feeling up for it. There’s also a 15 Love Tennis & Pickleball Vacation villa Airbnb rental on site.

Nanny Garden for the Kids

Next to the Tamarindo gymnasium, Nanny garden is for kids aged one to six. It’s open 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, and focuses on fun and art. Lunch is provided, and nanny services are available.

Go Zip Lining or ATV Riding

We spent a day at Monkey Jungle with the kids, and it was one of our favorite things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

While we had fun at Monkey Jungle, there are plenty of other options, including Black Stallion Eco Park & Estates, and Canopy Vista Tamarindo.

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling

Scuba divers take off from Flamingo marina (about half an hour from Tamarindo) to dive the nearby Catalina Islands.

Be Water Diving Tamarindo or Tamadive are popular choices. PADI courses are available as well.

Learn Spanish

If you’re up for a more cerebral challenge, WAYRA Spanish Institute offers Spanish lessons in Tamarindo.

They offer a wide range, from online classes, to intensive courses, to courses with lodging included.

Go to the Gym

If you’re looking to stay fit, Tamarindo has a few gym fitness options. The most popular is arguably Nick Holt Fitness, but plenty of people visit the Revive Wellness Center at Langosta Beach Club, Tamarindo Fitness, and Pura Vida Barre.

Unusual and Quirky Things To Do in Tamarindo

Up for something a little different? Check out these unusual things to do in Tamarindo.

Enjoy Trits

If you haven’t tried this iconic Costa Rican ice cream concoction, you’re in for a treat with Trits.

Trits is sold in most convenience and grocery stores in Costa Rica. It’s not generally available outside Costa Rica or Nicaragua, so enjoy it while you’re here.

Try Your Luck at the Casino

Reviews on Tamarindo’s Casino Diria are decidedly mixed, but it may be worth a visit if casinos are your thing. We’ve never visited, but it’s a smaller casino with table games and slot machines. It’s the only casino in the area that we know of.

Get an Inspirational Psychic Reading

If you’re looking for something unusual to do in Tamarindo, a psychic ready might be the ticket.

Sally Rice psychic bills herself as “a Certified Psychic Medium and Reiki Healer, Remote Viewer, and Medical Intuitive”.

While your future may not be certain, it’s almost certain you’ll find plenty to do while visiting Tamarindo.

Looking for more travel inspiration for South and Central America?

• Should I Visit Tamarindo Costa Rica?
• What To Expect On An Ecuador Amazon Tour With La Selva Lodge
• 15 Awe-inspiring Things to See and Do in South America
• An Honest Review of GlocalMe WiFi Hotspot

Did we miss anything? Let us know what you love to do in Tamarindo!

We’ve spent months in Guanacaste, based in the touristy town of Tamarindo, and road tripping most of the way through. We loved our time in Guanancaste, and found there was an incredible amount to do and see.

Check out tours here now.

Things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica

Guanacaste is known for for its stunning coastline, with plenty of long beaches, snorkeling, swimming, and opportunities to watch sea turtles nesting (or hatching).

When you’re done with the beach, there are volcanos, wildlife and rainforests to see, and plenty of adventures, like zip lining to take in.

Visit Guanacaste Costa Rica’s Beaches

If you’re wondering, “what is there to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica?“, the first place to look is the beach. The beaches in Guanacaste are generally uncrowded and beautiful.

You (mostly) won’t find pure white powder beaches and warm, Caribbean aquamarine water here. Instead, there’s a mix of darker, coarser sand, and cooler Pacific water.

The best known beaches are likely Playas del Coco, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Samara, and Playa Hermosa, all of which are a must see on any visit to Costa Rica.

We spent over a month in Tamarindo, which is one of the most popular beach towns on the Guanacaste coast, and home to Playa Tamarindo.

Tamarindo takes a lot of deserved heat for being a somewhat charmless touristy town, but that doesn’t make the beach any less beautiful. Playa Tamarindo is justifiably famous for having some great surf breaks.

To add to the appeal, Tamarindo has a great food scene, with plenty of excellent restaurants. Check out our article on things to do in Tamarindo.

Playas del Coco has a youthful vibe, with plenty of water sports, fishing, and fun in the sun.

Playa Grande (Salinas) is just north of Tamarindo, is uncrowded, and well known for surfing.

Playa Samara is in the far South of Guanancaste, with a small town base, and relaxed vibe.

Playa Hermosa is a popular grey sand beach that’s known for snorkeling, SCUBA diving, fishing, seaside horseback riding and sailing.

There are plenty more gorgeous beaches in Guanacaste, each with their own charm. We rented a little Diahatsu Begu 4×4 and tooled along down the coast to check out a few others like Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal, Playa Avellanas, and Playa Flamingo.

Go Surfing or Boogie Boarding!

The 800 miles of coastline in Costa Rica, and 300 or so beaches, lend to some fantastic surfing in the Pacific.

Playa Tamarindo, which we mentioned above, is probably the most famous of Costa Rica’s surfing beaches. You can also catch some amazing breaks in Jaco, Santa Teresa Beach, and Nosara (Playa Guiones).

For beginners, Playa Tamarindo, Nosara (Playa Guiones), and Playa Samara are great choices. There are plenty of surf camps in each place, so you’ll be able to take your pick.

For boogie boarding, we loved Langosta Beach, which is just south of Playa Tamarindo. It’s where we taught our then five year old to boogie board. You can get an idea of what the waves were like in our video below (sorry about the video quality!).

Most of the time, we found Playa Langosta’s waves to be small like this, but we did have one day where the wind and weather picked up, and the waves were way too big for our kids. The waves were so aggressive a few days after this video was shot that we broke a boogie board in half! Even so, boogie boarding was one of our favorite family things to do in Guanacaste.

Go Ziplining in Guanacaste

Costa Rica’s known as an adventure lover’s dream, and Guanacaste is no exception. There are plenty of places to enjoy zip lining here.

We had a lot of fun at the Monkey Jungle Zip Line near Tamarindo with our kiddos. There’s also the Congo Trail, with long zip lines, and Diamante Eco Adventure park (near Malapalo Beach), among dozens of others.

Enjoy a Sunset Sail in Guanacaste

With 800 miles of Pacific coastline, there are plenty of opportunities for sunset sails. You’ll find sailing companies based in larger coastal towns like Tamarindo and in Liberia proper however a few sailing companies have smaller offices in some of the smaller locations.

In Tamarindo, sunset sails are on catamarans that offer sailing, and trips come with a bar and snacks. The Marlin Del Rey is the bigger boat, but the smaller Blue Dolphin gets great reviews as well.

See a Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting

One of our family’s favorite memories is visiting Playa Grande to watch a leatherback sea turtle lay her eggs in the moonlight at Playa Grande’s Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas.

December and January are good times to visit to catch nesting leatherbacks.

Learn About Coffee and Chocolate

Costa Rica is famous for its amazing coffee, and Guanacaste is a great location to learn more. You can stop by Tio Leo Coffee in Barrio el Fosforio (most people take a tour) just outside of Liberia. It’s a working coffee plantation, where you can also learn about cocao. There’s also a tour at Diriá cooperative tour in Hojancha.

For chocolate, try the The Beach Chocolate Factory in Brasilito, Costa Rica.

See wildlife and birdwatch at Palo Verde National Park

Palo Verde National Park is in the South of Guanacaste. It’s a great place to sample Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems, as you can see wetlands, lagoons, grasslands, and tropical dry forests in one area.

Palo Verde is one of Central America’s most densely populated areas for aquatic species and migratory birds. You may see giant crocodiles, iguanas, whip tail lizards, rattlesnakes and coral snakes. If you prefer your animals not overly lizard like, there’s also sloths, peccaries, deer, coyotes, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, pacas, and pumas.

See the Cloud Forest at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve

The Monteverde Cloud Forest, located in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, is one of Costa Rica’s biggest ecotourism draws.

It’s a relatively easy place to see the rich, diverse plant and animal species which make up the cloud forest in Costa Rica. If you’re lucky, you’ll see toucans, trogons, bellbirds and hummingbirds here.

While the northern tip of Monteverde is in Guanacaste, the majority of Monteverde is outside of the Guanacaste Province borders, in Puntaarenas province. There’s an entrance fee of about $20 per person (for foreigners) and $7 for Costa Rica nationals.

See a volcano (or two… or three)

Costa Rica is chock full of interesting volcanoes to visit. Some are active, some dormant, but all of them make for an interesting visit.

Rincon de la Vieja Volcano

Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is an active volcano, and only about 15 miles northeast of Liberia, making for easy access. It’s within Rincon de la Vieja National Park. The park is an amazing place to visit, as it offers breathtaking waterfalls, wonderful hiking, hot springs, natural pools for swimming, boiling mud pots, and (of course) the volcano itself.

Check before visiting, because the trail to the summit is often closed due to volcanic activity. Even if the trail is open, Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is more of a crater than a typical cone volcano, so you won’t get the volcano views like you’d see at something like Volcan Poas (closer to San Jose, and in Alajuela Province.

Rincon de la Vieja (or Old Woman’s Nook in Spanish) is 2,217 feet tall. The ecosystem here is tropical dry forest, but there are beautiful rivers, waterfalls, and plenty of woodland.

Because Rincon de la Vieja is a National Park, there are set opening hours and it’s even closed some days, with a modest entry fee. This is the latest information we could find, but check when you visit because this can change at any time. You can visit 8 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. It costs about $15 for adult foreigners and $5 for foreign children.

Volcan Tenorio

Volcan Tenorio is not an active volcano. It’s based in Guanacaste Province, but borders on Alajuela Province. The volcano itself is in Guanacaste, but the Tenorio Volcano National Park with the lovely blue green Rio Celeste waterfall is in Alajuela.

Tenorio is a large volcano with two craters. However, the park is best known for the stunning blue green waters of the Celeste Waterfall rather than visits to the Tenorio crater. There are hiking paths throughout the park, leading to rivers, rain forest, and the waterfall.

The trails leading to crater views of Tenorio Volcano are closed to the public. It is possible to request special permission from MINAE (Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía) and the landowners, but the peak is often covered in clouds. The craters are covered in vegetation and small lakes.

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic sights. It’s still active, and occasionally puts off smoke and fire. There was a huge eruption in 1968, which destroyed three villages, killed 87 people, and buried over 15 kilometers of land.

Technically, Arenal Volcano National Park and Tabacon, the nearby town, are both just outside the limits of Guanacaste Province, and officially in Alajuela Province. However, Lake Arenal is in Guanacaste Province, and Tabacon and Arenal Volcano are both within kilometers of the border, and since Arenal is a must-visit in Costa Rica, I’ve included them in this article.

When we visited Arenal, we splurged for a few days at Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa Hotel. It’s a higher end tropical spa resort, known for its five hot pools, it’s cold water pool, thermal water slide, and natural river. Tabacon is only 2.5 miles from the lava trails and the Arenal 1968 Volcano Eruption View. You can get a day pass for the hot pools if you don’t want to stay at the hotel, but it’s pricey at $85 for an adult, including lunch.

Where should you stay in Guanacaste?

When we visited last, there weren’t a lot of all inclusive hotels in Guanacaste, but that’s changed with more hotels like Riu Guanacaste. Riu Guanacaste is all-inclusive, and close to Playa del Coco, with a whopping 701 rooms. Things to do at Riu Guanacaste include snorkeling, swimming in the pool, tennis, time at the gym, and really anything you’d find at typical all inclusive.

There are plenty of hotels, hostels, eco lodges and bed and breakfasts in Guanacaste.

Looking for a great deal on your next Airbnb? Click here to get a $35 USD credit on a new account!

We ususally prefer to stay in an Airbnb or Vrbo, which gives us a kitchen and plenty of room. Renting an Airbnb with a pool is a great perk, since it can get incredibly hot in Guanacaste.

Fly into Liberia

Liberia is the second largest city in Costa Rica, and the largest in Guanacaste. There’s a cool old quarter, which houses the Museo de Guanacaste, and a cowboy themed Museo del Salbanero, and the pretty colonial-style Ermita de la Agonia.

Liberia is close to the seemingly endless beaches of Guanacaste, Rincón de la Vieja Volcano is just to the North, and Paelo Verde National Park is just to the South.

If your aim is to visit Guanacaste, flying into Liberia is quicker than flying into the much larger San Jose. We flew in through San Jose, with Tamarindo as our destination. Because Costa Rica is so mountainous, and the roads are smaller and slower than in most of Canada and the USA, it took us over six hours by non-stop bus to travel the 160 miles from San Jose to Tamarindo. In contrast, the Liberia Airport is 42 miles away from Tamarindo, and about an hour and a half of driving.

Do you have more ideas for things to do in Guanacaste Costa Rica? Let us know below!

Check out La Paz Waterfall Gardens

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens are a fantastic way to see Costa Rica’s wildlife and lush rainforest up close. There are over ten animal exhibits, where you can see monkeys, snakes, frogs, birds of every color and size imaginable and jungle cats. Don’t miss the lovely butterfly and hummingbird gardens, where you can have hummingbirds eating out of your hand.

The waterfall walkway leads through lush dense rainforest, and delivers amazing views of waterfalls. You can even stand underneath one of the waterfalls, close enough to get soaked from the spray landing on your face. Make sure you bring a rain jacket.

Soak up the sun on the beaches of Guanacaste Province

Costa Rica’s amazing Pacific coast offers some of the longest stretches of beach imaginable. While best known for surfing, many of the beaches are great for little ones during low tide or days when the swells are mild. Playa Longasta, just south of the famous Playa Tamarindo, is a great family alternative, as is Playa Samara.

Visit the rainforest canopy

Costa Rica is one of the few places in the world that makes it easy to get a unique view of the rainforest canopy. If you have older kids, or your risk tolerance is high, many zip lining companies in Costa Rica are kid friendly. If zip-lining’s not your thing,  the treetop canopy sky walk through the Monteverde Cloud Forest lets you walk on bridges suspended in the treetops. For those with little kids, the rainforest aerial tram lets you have the same great views from the relative safety of an enclosed gondola.

Peer into a volcano

Kids love volcanos. We checked out the Poás volcano (an easy afternoon trip from San Jose) and the famous Arenal volcano. While we were there, Arenal was quiet, but visitors often hear deep rumbles and the lucky ones see trickles of lava coming from the cone at night.

Soak in the hot springs

The Tabacon Hot Springs Resort has over nine pools and three cascading thermal waterfalls. Daily admission for adults is fairly steep at $60, but admission is included with a night’s stay at the luxurious Tabacon Grand Spa, where we splurged for a three night stay. It was expensive, but well worth it. For the budget minded, check out the private Eco Termales Hot Springs or the more developed Baldi Hot Springs.

Spend a weekend in the city square

Almost every city and small town in Costa Rica has a parque central, or city square, flanked by a prominent Catholic church. You’ll see some great architecture, and on weekends most city squares are transformed into a family friendly playground. Our little ones alternated between playing on the bouncy castle, watching the clowns, and chasing pigeons around the square in Parque Central in Heredia.

Watch an endangered leatherback turtle lay her eggs

From Junuary to April, endanged leatherback turtles come back to Costa Rica to lay their eggs on the beach where they were hatched. The Las Baulos National Park (Parque Marino las Baulas) offers an opportunity to tag along with their wildlife officers to watch the leatherbacks. The Las Baulos National Park is located in Playa Grande, on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. The cost is $25 per person, and kids are free.

Check out the wildlife

Costa Rica’s abundance of wildlife is well known. A troupe of howler monkeys visited the trees just outside our balcony in Tamarindo every morning. Every day, we found fabulous (well, the kids thought they were fabulous, anyway) insects in the walkway by our condo. We were even lucky enough to see a sloth hanging from a tree on the road to La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Just don’t lick the blue frogs.

Of all the places on the southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula, we had heard the most about Montezuma. Of all the people we had talked to, there was never a negative word said about it. We hadn’t done a lot of homework, but we knew it had a few hotels and restaurants and had decided that if we spent the night, it would probably be in Montezuma. Neither one of us knew what to expect as we drove down the steep road leading into town and to be honest, we still have mixed feelings about the place. It is at once greater and lesser than we expected.

It is greater in that it is quite a cute little offbeat town tucked on the sides of a mountain with gorgeous beaches running along both sides of it. There are a dozen little restaurants and shops hidden along its curving streets and lanes. There is a nice park and play center right smack in the middle of it all. The people in town seem friendly enough and the prices, though not amazing, seem on par for that area of the world. There is a definite “earthy” feel to the town with yoga classes, all natural foods and organic fare available at a bunch of places. It’s a far cry from the adventure travel that Costa Rica’s known for. We even had decent healthy food at The Bakery Cafe while watching a pair of monkeys descend from the treetops to entertain us while we ate a late lunch.

That all being said, there seems to be an hidden undercurrent to the town. Both ends of the beach have a very large tent population with many tenters there for the long term. The majority of the locals seem be remnants of a 60’s hippie rejuvenation project that fell on hard times. I haven’t checked the stats but I would hazard to guess that the place has a higher amount of assault and petty theft incidences than neighboring towns. I will say that besides for walking on the beach after sunset we never really had a strong feeling of danger in the place though. Of course, with the kids we weren’t out too late and the town looked like it had a few parties that might go all night so who knows how the place changes as the night progresses.

In the daytime, Montezuma is colorful and loaded with craftsman and artisans. Even at night the streets come alive with tables and booths set up along the two main roads with people selling their crafts while cooking their supper on their little portable bbqs. Maybe it’s the hunger of the sellers eyes that gave us mixed feelings about the place. A lot of the artisans are gringos from the tent cities and need the few dollars your willing to spend on their clamshell necklaces, beaded bracelets and coconut pendants to prolong their extended stays in this little corner of paradise.

Even now Micki and I can’t really define what it was about Montezuma that left a bad taste in our mouths. In truth the kids had a great time and we enjoyed our stay.

I ask any of you who read this who have been or are planning to go what your thoughts on Montezuma are. I would love to know if you picked up that subtle thread of uneasiness that we felt or if the town is exactly what it pretends to be, a hippie inspired craftsman’s paradise of colorful people and nice beaches.

To complete this tale, after a day on the beach and after playing in the pool that night the kids were quite tuckered out.  We had supper in a gorgeous little Italian restaurant surrounded by the more affluent in the area. In the morning we got up and had a nice breakfast and let the kids run off whatever steam they had at the playground before deciding to continue our trek south.

In my next post in this series, I’ll tell you all about our crazy 4×4 off road drive over a mountain track to Malpais and our take on the much larger than expected surf town of Santa Teresa.

Safe travels Barefoot Nomads!

Have you been to Montezuma, Costa Rica? Do you agree with our take?  Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

We were hopeful that Santa Lucia, Tambor and Montezuma would ease our frazzled nerves and give credence to their well deserved reviews. Well, that isn’t totally true. After that rough road we were anxious to just sit back and rest. We weren’t sure Santa Lucia and Tambor would offer much respite, but we looked forward to seeing them regardless.

We met a nice couple while on a day tour out of San Jose when we checked out some active volcanoes, a coffee plantation and a whole bunch of waterfalls, who passed on some great advice. They had just spent a week renting a large house in Santa Lucia with a dozen extended family members. They had all converged on Santa Lucia for a week from all over North America and in their last few days in the country (when me met them) they all went their own ways to do their own things. We thought it was a nice way to have a joint vacation and are hoping to do something similar with our extended family in the coming years.

Anyway, they loved the area, but said there really wasn’t a whole lot to do in Santa Lucia proper. Oh sure, they went ziplining, did a little snorkeling, walked the beaches and went kayaking but there wasn’t a lot to do in the town itself. Following their advice, we simply cruised through town and did a quick stop at the local beach to check out the views.

The area around Santa Lucia was gorgeous (as expected) however they were right on the money in terms of things to do. If you’re hoping for a string of restaurants and a wild nightlife just keep on trucking. Santa Lucia is perfect for those looking to get away from it all and have a nice quiet stay. Some of the houses right off the water would be a great place to relax for a few days with the kids, however the lack of close amenities could be a massive turnoff for some.

In a similar vein, if it wasn’t for its tiny airfield, the large all-inclusive Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel and the Los Delfines Golf and Country Club, we’re not sure Tambor would exist on a map. Since we weren’t flying out from there (they offer 20 minutes flights to and from San Jose and several other Costa Rica destinations for a surprisingly reasonable amount) and weren’t planning on staying at the very large and seemingly very nice Barcelo Tambor Beach Hotel (though we were awfully tempted to check in for a few days of all-inclusive decadence) there wasn’t a lot to do in town.

There’s a supermarket, a few car rental places (due of the airport) and the usual collection of souvenir shops and tour operators. We did a drive by to check out the beach and though the surf seemed calm (Ballena Bay is supposedly one of the safest bays to anchor in on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica) and the volcanic grayish sand looked fairly fine we decided to keep on driving to Montezuma.

Of all the places on the southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula, we had heard the most about Montezuma. It was both greater and less than we expected.

On that note I’ll leave you wondering. You can expect the Montezuma post up in a day or two.

Safe travels Barefoot Nomads!

Tamarindo’s a bustling beach town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Tamarindo is just one of those towns:  You love it or hate it. Noone seems to be ambivalent about Tamarindo. Me? I loved and hated Tamarindo.

The Good

• Tamarindo’s amazing beach to seems to go on forever
• Great waves, perfect for surfing, boogie boarding, or just chilling by the sand. At high tide, the waves are way too big and powerful for little kids and weak swimmers. At low tide, waves are smaller, and a bit more manageable for the little ones, if you keep an eye on them.
• A foodie’s dream beach town. Tamarindo has a great selection of fantastic restaurants (though a bit expensive), but there are a few budget restaurant options.
• Friendly folks and a laid back vibe.
• You won’t be bored. There are a ton of activities in town, and some of them are surprisingly affordable.

The Bad

• Holy, f***ing hotness. And we were there in the January, in the cool season. I’m not talking a bit hot, I’m talking an hour in the direct sun will fry you into a nice replica of those instant bacon strips. We hid inside from 1-3 in the afternoon because we were afraid our kids would spontaneously combust on the three minute walk to the beach.
• It’s called Tamagringo for a reason. A fun beach town, but definitely not for anyone looking for an authentic Costa Rican cultural experience.
• Infrastructure. Or the lack of it. While the main road into town is (mostly) paved, most of the road in town is a rutted, dusty dirt track with constant traffic spewing dust, noise and exhaust. Definitely not pedestrian friendly.
• Growing rumors of a drug and crime problem. Locals warned us repeatedly to stay away from the beach area near the traffic circle after dark. Waitresses ran to rescue the belongings we left on the table when we went to pay at the cash register, telling us that our stuff would be swiped immediately if we didn’t keep an eye on it. In the month we were there, we never had a problem, but the constant reminders told us that there’s a problem brewing.

The Take Home

You should visit Tamarindo if you’re in the mood for an alternative to a standard, packaged beach vacation.  Tamarindo is small enough to make you feel like part of the local vibe right away.

Check out these posts:

• Amazing Cheap Things to Do in Tamarindo
• Delicious and Cheap Restaurants in Tamarindo
• Supermarkets in Tamarindo
• The Elusive Tamarindo Car Rental
• Pura Vida at Mango Condos Tamarindo
• Ziplining in the Guanacaste Province
• Boogie Boarding Mishaps, Langosta Beach Club and Sweet Waves
• The Endangered Leatherback Turtle Playa Grande Costa Rica

Tamarindo

It’s just that all the cars are all rented to someone else. All the time.

We were in Tamarindo for over a month. After checking out some of the awesome things to do in Tamarindo, we called to pick up a 4×4 for an off-road roadtrip. Unfortunately, when we called to make a reservation for our Tamarindo car rental, not one of the car rental agencies had a little 4×4 for rent. Or even a car of any kind for rent. They told us to check back the next day. This went on for four days, until voila, Hertz had a little Diahatsu 4×4 for us.

The moral of the story? When in Tamarindo, reserve your car well in advance. This wasn’t a big deal for us, as we had plenty of time and a flexible schedule, but it may be a problem if you’re only in town for a week.

Where to Rent a Car in Tamarindo

Though Hertz wasn’t the cheapest, they were close to us and always seemed to have a car available when others didn’t. We rented a great little Diahatsu Bego 4×4 from them. Hertz was quick and professional, and the cars all seemed to be in good condition. One downside is that Hertz’ office is a hot, dusty, 10 minute walk from the center of town.

Based on chats with some other travellers, they seemed to have good luck with Hertz, Budget and Alamo. Economy seems to be the cheapest place in town, but we heard mixed reviews about the quality of cars. If you’re in the center of Tamarindo, Economy is probably the best location. Economy is just off the roundabout by the beach.

You can book a Tamarindo car rental directly from any travel site, or directly from the car rental sites. I like to use Car Rentals.com to compare the costs of different car companies. They seem to have the biggest selection of vendors for Tamarindo (including Thrifty, Avis, Budget and Hertz) and they let you compare their prices against Expedia and Hotwire at the same time.

Because cars in Tamarindo seem to be in such high demand, we heard a few stories of reserved cars not being available when people went to pick them up, so you might want to bookmark this list just in case your car isn’t there.

Car Rental Agencies in Tamarindo

Adobe. Phone (Liberia): 2667-0608
Alamo. Phone: 2653-0727
Budget. Phone: 2653-0756
Dollar. Phone (San Jose): 2443-9250
Hertz. Phone: 2653-1358
Hola. Phone (Liberia): 2667-4040
Mapache. Phone: 2653-1717
National. Phone (San Jose): 2242-7878
Payless Car Rental. Phone: (Liberia): 2667-0511
Thrifty. Phone: 2653-0829
Toyota Car Rental. Phone: 2668-1212

Tips!

• Some of the out of town car rental agencies, like Dollar, will even drive a car down from Liberia if you’re desperate. We tried to have Dollar drive a car to Tamarindo from Liberia, but the drop off fee ended up being too expensive.
• If you want to rent a car in nearby beaches like Playa Langosta, Playa Grande or Playa Flamingo, you may find that you need to rent in Tamarindo. Playa Flamingo does have an Economy rent a car office, but there’s a fairly high demand, so book in advance.
• If you’re flying in to Tamarindo, you may need to take a cab to the car rental agency. The airport is about 3 minutes away from most of the car rental agencies, but probably too far to walk in the heat with luggage. Check with the car rental agency, as they may be able to arrange a shuttle to pick you up at the airport.
• We heard a few stories about people being charged for damages that were on the car when they picked it up. Always fill out the company’s damage form, and mark down scratches, dents and cracks in the windshield.  You may want to look under the car, and also check the tires to see if there’s any damage, given that some of the roads around Tamarindo are very rough. If the car rental agency doesn’t have a damage form, take pictures and videos of the car before you drive it off the lot.

Do I need a 4×4?

If you’re just driving to Liberia or San Jose, the roads are generally pretty good and you shouldn’t need a 4×4. However, if you’re going to visit the smaller beaches or towns a 4×4 is a good option.  We drove from Tamarindo to Montezuma, and ended up on a track no car could ever negotiate.

The roads in Guranacaste are mostly rocky and rutted, and can change from decent condition to barely driveable in a few short miles. If you’re adventurous and want to go a bit further afield, you’ll definitely want to rent a 4×4. Cars in Costa Rica tend to be smaller, so you’ll pay a premium if you want a larger 4×4 like a Jeep Cherokee, but you can pick up a completely serviceable little 4×4 like a Diahatsu Bego for just a little more than a regular car.

Tamarindo Car Rental Insurance

In Costa Rica, your car rental includes mandatory liability insurance. Always ask if the rental price you’re quoted includes the liability insurance. Some companies like to tack it on as a little surprise when you pick up the car.  If you have collision damage waiver insurance on your credit card, you may be able to waive the rental agencies CDW insurance, but check with your credit card company first.

This post is part of our Barefoot Guide to Tamarindo, which dishes on where to eat on a budget, gives you the self-catering supermarket options in town, and outlines some of the great things we found to occupy ourselves in Tamarindo.

Price. We negotiated with the ever-patient owner, Julius, and got our two bed, one bath unit at Mango condo for a month, starting in mid-January, for $1,200 USD. When we went, the Tamarindo economy was still in a bit of a funk, but prices were starting to pick up again, so you might pay more.

Security. The condos have a secure, locked front entrance, with separate keys for each condo. There are three levels, with condos facing either the dusty front street or the big leafy trees in back. A troupe of howler monkeys traveled through trees in the back a couple of times, making for some great wildlife watching out back. Because Mango condos are about a three minute walk from the beach, none of the condos have ocean views.

Pool. The pool is nice but small, with a small kiddie pool and an attractive fountain. It’s great for a quick plunge, but not really big enough to hang out at all day. It’s in the center of a small courtyard, and out of the sun most of the day. The cafe tables by the courtyard are a great place to read the local paper or enjoy a drink.

Laundry. There was a washer and dryer on site that we used for $4 USD a load on an honor system. The laundry facilities were in the dusty, cinder block shell of an uncompleted condo. The dryer was broken when we were there, so we hung our laundry on the clothesline strung around in the laundry area. Since there were no windows in there, our laundry dried overnight in the heat.

Internet. The only Internet connection in our condo was hardwired, which was fine. We just set up the laptop on the desk by the kitchen table and worked from there.

Mango condos is owned by a friendly Canadian expat named Julius. He was extremely helpful and patient with all of our questions and emails.

We rented a two bedroom, one bath, condo on the third floor at Mango condos. Inside, the condo was gorgeous, and very similar to the photos on VRBO, though our condo didn’t have a vaulted ceiling. The condo we rented was modern, with granite counter tops and a nice fridge and stove. The air conditioning worked perfectly.

Potential Problems

While we were happy with Mango condominiums, there are a few things to be aware of:

• Our condo wasn’t equipped with any basic cooking supplies like dish soap, paper towels, or spices except for a small container of salt and pepper. The cooking utensils, pots and pans, and coffee maker were nice, although a blender would have been great. Gotta love those fresh margaritas!
• We chatted with another couple who’d made a last minute reservation, and they were quite upset at being given a smaller condo than they said they were promised. Apparently, their condo was one of the first built, and lacked a few key features, like windows that opened fully.
• Because the road in front is gravel, it constantly throws up dust. The plants in front and the entrance are coated in dust if they’re left for a couple of days without washing. Because we were in the back of the condo, dust wasn’t a big problem for us, but I’d imagine the condos in front get a bit of dust. That said, a lot of the roads in Tamarindo aren’t paved, so that may be a problem in other condos in town.
• We had understood that a maid would come in once a week, but after about 10 days we had to ask Julius to get them in. It took a little negotiation with Julius to make the maids appear a couple of days later, and they did a pretty perfunctory job. Not a big deal; I imagine it was just a simple mix-up and was resolved fairly quickly.
• The condos are still under construction, so there’s a chance you may get some construction noise or disruption, though there wasn’t any while we were there.

Mango Center Condos is located at the beginning of the dusty, bumpy road to Playa Longasta, and about a three minute walk to gorgeous Playa Tamarindo.  It’s a five minute walk to Playa Langosta for a great afternoon checking out the waves, or lounging by the pool at the Langosta Beach Club.

This post is part of our Barefoot Guide to Tamarindo, which dishes on where to eat on a budget, gives you the self-catering supermarket options in town, tells about some of the great things we found to occupy ourselves, and gives some hints on how to actually find a car to rent in Tamarindo.

Once we got used to the sticker shock after coming from San Jose, we managed to find almost everything we needed at the local Tamarindo supermarkets.

Super 2001

Our condo was about half a block away, so this was our default place to stock up on groceries. This is a very small supermarket (only about five isles, so about the size of a convenience store in Canada or the US).

The good. Considering the store is so small, they have a respectable selection of North American staples. There are some decent bakery items (including pizza) in the cases next to the cashiers. The wine selection was good.

The bad. Not cheap, but nothing is in Tamarindo. This is the smallest of the three main grocery stores in Tamarindo, so you’re better off doing your major shopping somewhere else. The produce selection is pretty lean, and what’s in store is generally wilted and looking a bit worse for wear.

The indifferent. We’d been told Super 2001 was the most expensive place in Tamarindo, but after comparing the supermarkes, their prices seem pretty much the same as anywhere else.

Super 2001 is located just after the turnoff to Calle Tamarindo. Matt at 10feettravelling has some good pictures of Super2001.

Super Compro

I wanted to like this, I really did. It’s the most typical Costa Rican store of the three supermarkets in town and caters more to locals than tourists.

Unfortunately, Super Compro isn’t air conditioned, and there’s no air flowthrough the store. There were some pretty nasty smells oozing though the store on a couple of our visits. That said, it’s well stocked, though you won’t find more than standard North American items here (parmesan reggiano is out of the question, though you will find some standard American cheeses). We did pick up a cheap $10 boogie board.

Super Compro is located just across from the local park in the center of town.

Super Las Palmeras

Super Las Palmeras is a one minute walk from the Hotel Diria, on the main paved road into Tamarindo. It’s reasonably well stocked with the basics, and is conveniently across from the beach for a quick stock up on sunscreen.

Auto Mercado Supermarket

Auto Mercado is about two miles outside of central Tamarindo. It’s only a $5 cab ride, or (as we learned the hard way) a hot, sweaty, dusty 30 minutes walk down a busy road with no sidewalks. Spring for the cab.

Auto Mercado is the nicest, newest, most Western of all the supermarkets in town. It’s part of a chain of San Jose grocery stores. Once you step foot in here, it’s easy to forget you’re in Costa Rica. You easily could be inside any generic supermarket, in any generic North American town.

The store is well stocked, so you should be able to find almost anything your little North American heart desires, from American coffee to gnocci and Ritz crackers. They carry a good selection of housewares, and probably have the best wine, beer and liqour selection in Tamarindo.

Their bakery is well stocked and darn delicous, too. The produce section is the biggest in Tamarindo and the produce looks fresh.

The good. Amazing selection. Clean and air conditioned. Great bakery and produce, and a well stocked fresh fish and butcher shop.

The bad. If you’re looking for an authentic Costa Rican shopping experience, this is not where you’ll find it.

Auto Mercado Supermarket is located in the Garden Plaza Shopping Center, just off the highway on the way into town.

If you get a chance to stock up at a grocery store in San Jose or Liberia, you’ll save a bundle. Grocery stores in Costa Rica are generally cheaper than in the US, Canada, or Europe, but you’ll pay about the same price for packaged foods (like Oreos) as you do at home.

We stopped at the Mega Super supermarket in Santa Cruz (the closest large town), and (surprisingly!) found the prices no cheaper than in Tamarindo. The trip to Santa Cruz was worth it, just to see a glimpse of more typical Tico life than you see in Tamarindo.

This post is part of our Barefoot Guide to Tamarindo, which dishes on the cheap restaurants in Tamarindo, fills you in on some of the great activities we found to occupy ourselves, and gives some hints on how to actually find a car to rent in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Pizzeria La Baula

This place has me so Pavlovian-conditioned that just saying Pizzaria La Buala makes my mouth water. Pizzeria La Baula is a home run: Amazing pizzas with high quality ingredients and a comfortable, casual, attractive place to hang out.

If you’re craving anything other than pizza or salads, you’re out of luck here. They do make some awesome fruit smoothies that are a pretty good deal. The pizzas range from standards like Hawaiian and four cheese, to prosciutto, arugula, and parmesan, and other wonderful toppings. The crust is thin and crispy.

Every time we ate at La Baula (which means leatherback turtle in Spanish), the owners were right there, asking if our meals were good, and chatting with everyone in the restaurant. It made for a nice vibe.

This place is located down a little dirt side road off Calle Real (good luck finding a street sign in Tamarindo). The road looks a little dodgy on first inspection if you’re making our first foray after dark. We braved it, and found the welcoming smells and lights of Pizzeria La Baula about a three minute walk down the road. The entire restaurant is open air, and furnished in tables and chairs made of local wood. There’s a cute little playground (swings and a slide) on site to amuse the kids (though the slide’s a bit high for the smaller tykes).

Cost. Pizzas run around $10 USD, and smoothies run around $3. One pizza’s probably too small for a couple, but two pizzas fed Chuck, me, and our two little ones with no problems (though we’re not big eaters). La Buala is a great choice for someone eating out on a budget in Tamarindo.

Le Petit Cafe

The owner of Le Petit Cafe, Allison, is a friendly and laid back Canadian. I’d give two thumbs up simply based on her attitude and how welcome she made us feel. We must have eaten here a dozen times over the course of a month, often just to grab a bubble tea and a sweet to escape the heat of the afternoon.

The good. Cute, clean as a whistle, and (thank God!) fully air conditioned. They do have a nice outside patio for evenings or those tough enough to brave the heat.

Favorites. You’ll score a win with pretty much any of the sweets. The brownies are especially yummy. Sandwiches are small, but good. Charles loved the avacado melt, stuffed with avocado, bacon, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and pesto.

Their coffee is top-notch; you can get a pretty mean espresso or latte here. Strangely enough, good coffee can be hard to come by in Costa Rica – most of the good stuff seems to be exported. Most local restaurants serve the ever-popular lower quality grounds pre-blended with sugar, but the coffee at Le Petit Cafe was top notch.

The bad. Portions (especially sandwiches) are quite small compared to typical Western portions. That said, they tasted pretty darn good, but someone especially hungry or a larger guy will need to order something extra.

Cost: If this is the first place you walk into in Tamarindo, you’ll think the prices are a bit expensive. That said, restaurants in Tamarindo are pretty expensive, and Le Petit Cafe is one of the most inexpensive in town. Sandwiches run around $6 USD, sweets range from $2 to $4 USD, and coffee’s around $2-5, depending on your poison. A huge breakfast burrito is $4.

Nogui’s Sunset Cafe

Location, location, location. Nogui’s Sunset Cafe is smack in the middle of gorgeous Playa Tamarindo, with a front row view of Playa Grande, surfers hitting the waves and the gorgeous waters of the Pacific.

We stopped at Nogui’s Sunset Cafe for mid-afternoon snacks, so I can’t say much about their suppers. Our fries and guacamole were fresh and tasty, and the portions were big. They’ve got an enormous menu, with some darn strange smoothie combinations for the adventurous. Our food did take a good while to come (about half an hour, which is an eternity when you have a two year old with you), but that’s pretty typical for a beach restaurant in Costa Rica.

Nogui’s is famous for their pies (especially cream pies). To my undying regret, we didn’t get to try one, but the folks at the next table were raving about their coconut cream pie.

Cost. A little cheaper than typical for Tamarindo. Our appitizers were about $7 USD a plate. Though we never made it, Nogui’s had a 2 for 1 happy hour from 5-7. If you choose carefully from the menu, you can get a meal on a budget here.

 Taco Stop

Taco Stop is a funky little hole in the wall, with cheap prices and tasty food. It’s right beside Mango condos, on the dusty road to Playa Langosta.

The owners are laid back surfers, and it shows. The vibe is uber, uber casual, somewhere between laid back and grubby (I mean this in a nice way, really). If you’re looking for white tablecloths, fine crystal and haute cuisine, this is soooo not the place for you. You’ll be sitting outside (but sheltered from the rain) with local pups running around your feet.

In fact, if you expect that the place will be regularly open during business hours, this may not be the place for you. We came by a couple of times at supper time (6:30ish) and it was closed, but had some luck a few days later.

Taco Stop is owned by two Argentinian brothers who made us feel right at home. The cook for the night (not sure which of the brothers that was) even went out of his way to make a cute little quesadilla plate (not on the menu) for our little two year old.

Our veggie and chicken burritos were both enormous, and packed with beans, veggies, and cheese in a melt in your mouth homemade tortilla. The salsa and guacamole were homemade and delicious.

Cost. Possibly the least expensive meal we had in Tamarindo. Our burritos were around $4 USD, and the excellent fruit smoothies were around $2. Taco Stop is a great choice for eating out on a budget in Tamarindo.

 Langosta Beach Club

These guys have cornered the market in casual elegance in Tamarindo. Langosta Beach Club is located right on Langosta beach, and you can choose a table right on the sand, or one under the leafy trees by the infinity pool.

The food’s pretty darn good too. We went for lunch, and loved the paninis on homemade bread, and delicious salads. Their fruit smoothies may be the best in Tamarindo (and that’s saying a lot – we never had a bad smoothie in town). My favorite was the strawberry. The crepes with fruit and honey or chocolate were absolutely amazing; some of the best I’ve had.

At night, the white tablecloths and good china come out, and the Langosta Beach club transforms into an elegant, romantic restaurant. With two Trits-covered little kids in tow, it’s hard to be elegant, and especially hard to be romantic, so we never tried their supper menu. Too bad – it looked delicious.

There was a $15/day fee per adult (our little ones were free) to use the infinity pool and facilities when we were there. We had some of our best days in Tamarindo lounging by the infinity pool, and grabbing a snack in the comfy, elegant palapas. It was awesome location to catch some great waves on our boogie boards and splash in the infinity pool.

We did hear a few complaints that the staff could be a bit … how do I say this? … rude. In response, all I have to say is that the owner/manager is, well, French. We treated the folks there with respect and tried to be reasonable, and they were absolutely wonderful to us. They even went so far as to loan us some beach towels for us the day we forgot ours (we didn’t even have to ask).

Langosta Beach Club is about a five minute walk down the dusty road to Playa Longasta.

Cost. Langosta Beach Club isn’t especially cheap, but it is good value if you’ll willing to pay a bit extra for the atmosphere. Crepes were about $7 USD, smoothies were around $3 USD, and paninis ranged from $9 to $12 USD. The dinner menu was much more expensive, but definitely looked tempting.

This photo of Mandarina Tropical Juice Bar is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Mandarina Tropical Juice Bar

Mandarina is a great place to grab a quick afternoon snack or a drink. Three’s not much here other than fresh fruit smoothies made to order, ice cream, iced coffee, salads, and light sandwiches, so save Mandarina for a quick bite. They also make an awesome, filling, breakfast smoothie with oatmeal and fruit salads. The kids might love a granizado, a refreshing creation of ice cream, lemonade, and topped with fruit. Our main problem with Mandarina was that the Tamarindo heat turned our ice cream into puddles faster than we could eat it.

Mandarina has two locations in Tamarindo. Most people go to the one on Calle Principal, just off the beach, but the location near the entrance to town is larger, and has better selection.

Cost:  An ice cream and fruit smoothie is $3.50 USD, a granizado is $3 USD, and a smoothie/salad combo runs about $6 UDS.

This post is part of our Barefoot Guide to Tamarindo, which checks out the local supermarkets, talks about the condo we stayed at (Mango condos), dishes on some of our favorite cheap things to do in Tamarindo, and gives some hints on how to actually find a car to rent in Tamarindo.

Miramar Beach on Dwellable

Tamarindo