Costa Rica

Tamarindo

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2012

Located on Guanacaste's Gold Coast, Tamarindo is one the country's most popular and developed beach towns. Great surf, myriad adventure tours and a vibrant nightlife lure thousands of tourists each year. Just 50 minutes from the newly expanded Liberia international airport, Tamarindo's prime location equals easy access to one of the country's most beautiful beaches.

Quick Facts

Location: 43 miles southwest of Liberia
Average Temperature: 75-92°F
Altitude: Sea level

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The list of activities is seemingly endless: splash through rivers on an adrenaline-pumping ATV tour, or enjoy world-class golf on Hacienda Pinilla's scenic 18-hole course. Sunset catamaran excursions, canopy tours and snorkeling and diving trips are also on offer. With warm waters and steady waves complementing its white-sand beaches, the town has attracted die-hard surfers for years. Surf camps are as ubiquitous as the tanned and toned surfers catching waves in the ocean.

Part of a bay, Tamarindo is flanked by Playa Grande and Langosta Beach, both protected nesting sites for the endangered leatherback sea turtle. From October through March, travelers can partake in evening tours to observe female leatherbacks nesting on the beach. A salt water estuary – part of the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge – provides great wildlife watching opportunities via peaceful kayak tours through the mangrove jungles.

With no shortage of amenities or accommodations, this north Pacific beach town has something for travelers of all budgets and tastes. In addition to posh resorts, boutique hotels and reasonably-priced hostels, a wide range of condos and beach houses can be rented by the week or month.

Tamarindo Snapshot

Summary: Very developed but proximate to quieter beaches of Grande and Langosta; nice selection of upscale restaurants; attracts travelers of all ages.
Landscape: Beaches, Tropical Dry Forest
Attractions: Nightlife, Surf
Activities: Adventure Tours, Golfing, Sport Fishing, Surfing
Caters to: Couples/Honeymooners, Families, Independent Travelers, Surfers