Tamarindo costa rica
Tamarindo is a town in the Guanacaste Province, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. With it’s beautiful beaches it lures in surfers and sunbathers. It is a great place to relax, surf, dive, boat and enjoy a vibrant nightlife on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Getting to Tamarindo
The closest airport is in Liberia and a number of airlines go out of this airport. Another option is to fly into San Jose and either take a connecting flight or shuttle/taxi over. If you are coming from Nicaragua you can get a bus from Managua to San Jose and get off on the stop in Liberia. There is no formal bus stop more like benches along the side of the road with various buses stopping at them. There will be a bus available to Tamarindo though it may be good to know a little Spanish to ensure you are getting on the correct bus.
Getting around Tamarindo
The town is quiet small and very easy to walk around. You can see some of the local sites with tour companies or by hiring taxis. There are tourist shuttles to and from the airport and to other Costa Rican’s tourist destinations.
Where to stay
There are a number of different accommodation options available in Tamarindo from hostels, hotels, B&B, and full house vacation rentals. Any are amazing options in the area. The first time I went to Tamarindo my friends and I rented a full condo that had multiple bedrooms and was a little further out of the main strip of bars/restaurants. The second time, we stayed in a small Hotel called Hotel Mahayana. It had a small pool, private rooms and an open outdoor kitchen. It was more affordable since not directly on the water but was very walkable to the main restaurants and beach. Being out a little it seemed to be quieter.
When to visit
The best weather can be between December and April as this is considered the dry time. If you are interested in seeing the Leatherback turtles the best time is September through March. May and November are the shoulder season months which may be good if you are trying to catch decent weather with lower crowds.
top things to do
Tamarindo is a laid-back beach town so you will spend a lot of your time here simply relaxing and enjoying the ocean. If you are into surfing this is your place! This is an excellent place to surf or to learn to surf with several companies that offer group lessons. While here it would be a shame to not go on a sunset cruise as there is no better way to enjoy a cocktail and the sunset. You can also consider doing a day tour- there are tours that include ziplining, horseback riding, mud baths, river tubing and everything your adventurous side could desire. Many companies will offer discounts for combining different tours in one day.
