Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Playa Tamarindo
Tamarindo is the most developed beach town on the Nicoya Peninsula. The nearby international airport of Liberia and its reputation as a center for surfers and beach life has made Tamarindo a focal point for tourism at Guanacaste's sun-kissed coastline.
The town of Tamarindo
In 1994 the surf-cult-movie "Endless Summer II" starred Tamarindo's surf breaks and stunning beaches, putting it on the maps of surfing nomads and nature seekers. Two decades later Tamarindo has evolved from a secret beach spot into a bustling town, offering services and amenities which are hard to find in most parts of Costa Rica.
Beachfront bar in Tamarindo
In Tamarindo you find one-of-a-kind shops and art galleries, along with a good many of surf, fashion and specialty shops. There are banks with ATM, pharmacies, spa, health and medical services, a gym, bookstore, and local magazines in English language. Nearby is also a renowned bi-lingual school for children.
Hotels in Tamarindo are plentyful, accommodating all budgets and styles from posh resorts and boutique
hotels, to hostels for surfers, or vacation rentals in houses and condominiums.
See: Map of Tamarindo with Hotels
Tamarindo town center
Equally diverse is the range of culinary experiences with gourmet restaurants, health-conscious and ethnic cuisine, as well as
traditional Costa Rican fare. Tamarindo's multi-cultural composition yields shops with French pastry, Italian delicacies, or German breads, which
compliment the abundance of locally produced fruits, vegetables, and fresh seafood.
For night entertainment Tamarindo offers everything from stylish beach lounges to funky bars and discotheques, Reggae dance halls
or life music sessions in a hotel bar.
The beaches of Tamarindo
View from Tamarindo to Playa Grande
Right in front of Tamarindo town a wide expanse of sand offers plenty of space for all kind of beach activities,
while surfers ply their talents in the breaks.
Tamarindo is set in a large bay which is bisected by the Rio Matapalo. Across the river, to the north of Tamarindo, lies
Playa Grande, a long ribbon of white sand, curling away until the promontory of
Cabo Velas, Costa Rica's westernmost point. The beach of Playa Grande belongs to the Baulas National Park which protects
a major nesting site for the giant leatherback sea turtles.
Playa Langosta, south of Tamarindo
To the south of Tamarindo, around a headland, you get to Playa Langosta. A rocky stretch
with tide pools and pockets of white-sand beach is followed by a large swathe of
soft-sanded beach ending at the estuary of the Rio San Francisco.
The estuaries of the Rio Matapalo and Rio San Francisco are filled with large stands of mangroves which are home to many
water birds. They also belong to the Baulas National Park, together with the beaches of Playa Langosta and Playa Grande.
More about the Beaches: Activities in Tamarindo
Weather in Tamarindo: Seasons on the Nicoya Peninsula