Guanacaste is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica
that offers gorgeous beaches, national parks, volcanoes, & more. This year marks
the 195th anniversary of the annexation from Nicaragua.
On July 25, Costa Rica celebrates one of our
favorite holidays: Guanacaste Day! This holiday’s Spanish name, La Anexión de
Guanacaste, explains what the day commemorates–the day the province of
Guanacaste officially became part of Costa Rica.
What was is part of before? Well, nothing. During Central America’s colonial period, it was not divided into the countries that we know today, but into territories, all governed by different officials in Spain. When independence from the Spanish crown was granted to Central America in 1821, territories began forming partnerships and countries took shape. To the north of Guanacaste, this small peninsula that we know and love today as the home of Costa Rica’s best beaches, had 3 main municipalities at the time: Nicoya, Santa Cruz and Liberia (which was called Guanacaste and which eventually gave the province its name). To the north of the peninsula, territories united to form Nicaragua. To the east of the peninsula, territories united to form Costa Rica. In 1824, Guanacaste’s municipality voted and the majority voted to become part of Costa Rica.
Guanacaste and Costa Rica are lucky to have
each other! It’s been a match made in
heaven. Costa Rica has been good for
Guanacaste because of the peace and political stability it has enjoyed. Guanacaste, although it didn’t have much
impact in the early years of this happy marriage, has exploded in importance to
Costa Rica in the last 40 years as tourism has shifted into the spot of Costa
Rica’s # 1 breadwinner. Guanacaste’s
beaches, the waterfalls, the volcanos, the national parks that have been
created, and the vibrant nature everywhere you look bring thousands of visitors
to Costa Rica every year.
The province is also a producer of rice, sugar, livestock & more. The Ticos from this province are called Guanacestcos which are countrymen and woman that are known for their local dishes cooked in large clay ovens such as; rosquillas, pozole, cajetas, tamal asado, arroz de mais and more. They work on their fields herding cattle, growing crops and more. The folk music is a key part of their culture with famous songs such as “Punto Guanacasteco” which is played at festivals, topes, bullfights and more.
Guanacaste Day
All of Costa Rica celebrates Guanacaste Day, but of course, it’s a favorite in Guanacaste! Schools, banks, and government offices are all closed on Guanacaste Day, and almost every town in Guanacaste–from the largest to the smallest–holds some type of celebration. Traditional foods like tamales are prepared in giant cauldrons over open fires, cheerful marimba music is played on street corners, and bull riding entertains the crowds. Traditional dance troupes of all ages in white outfits with multicolored scarves perform the traditional dances of Guanacates, with wide skirts swooshing and cowboy hats tossed in the air.
As Guanacaste Day fades into night, plenty of
beer, guaro, and rum are flowing. Every
town that holds a festival hooks up the speakers and the dancing starts! What’s not to love about a celebration day like
this?
Speaking of Guanacaste, have you noticed that the word doesn’t sound very Spanish like “Costa Rica”, “Tamarindo”, and “Pura Vida”? That’s because it’s not Spanish. The word “Guanacaste” is a Nahuatl word (think Aztec)that refers to a type of tree. Guanacaste trees grow throughout Costa Rica’s dry forest regions–especially in…Guanacaste!
Guanacaste trees are everyone’s favorite shade
tree as they can grow to a tremendous size.
They’re the ones you see notice dotting the pastures on your ride from
the Liberia airport to Tamarindo.
“Guanacaste” means “tree with ears.” So what’s that all about? The seed pods of the Guanacaste tree resemble ears. These pods emerge in the dry season while most of the tree’s leaves are down, giving these giant trees the appearance of being hung full of ears as if they were ornaments. Indigenous cultures used Guanacaste seeds for food and also to make soap, but that’s ancient history. Today in Tamarindo you can find earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry or decorations made of the beautiful variegated seeds.
So enjoy today & celebrate the beauty Guanacaste has to offer. We are lucky to have this gorgeous province part of Costa Rica! Contact us for more information on local celebrations and more!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to come back from
your Tamarindo vacation refreshed, invigorated, and healthier than you were
when you left home? It isn’t difficult,
and in Tamarindo it’s fun, delicious, and can be inexpensive.
photo by Max Rovensky
Four Healthy Things to Do
1. Go to the beach!
Newsflash: the beach is healthy! Measured amounts of direct sunlight are fabulous for you, flooding your body with vitamin D, making you feel happy and giving your immune system a kick in the pants. And don’t just lie in the sun–walk. Tamarindo Beach, from end to end is about two miles long, so put on your hat, get out the door of your Tamarindo vacation rental, and go for a walk or a jog. The beach is the world’s best free gym! Tamarindo Beach, specifically the south end of the bay, is safe for swimming. You can rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak and visit the Captain Island or just go exploring the bay.
photo by unsplash
Surfing, of course, is a fabulous exercise. Take a Tamarindo surf lesson if it will be your first time on a board, or rent a surfboard from one of our local shops and catch some waves. Where and when it’s best to surf in Tamarindo depends on the swell direction and how the sand bars are formed on at any given time, but it’s generally a mid to high tide break. Surf at high tide, walk at low tide, and you’re sure to leave Costa Rica happier and healthier than when you got here.
2. Hit the gym
There are several gyms and fitness centers in and around Tamarindo. Being a transient community of visitors, of course you don’t need to buy a monthly membership–just show up and pay for the day. Tamarindo fitness centers are not expensive, offer quality equipment, are air-conditioned, and feature a variety of classes like yoga, spinning, Zumba, and more. Trainers are on duty in Tamarindo’s gyms to provide you the guidance you need.
Depending on where you come from, Tamarindo’s climate can be too warm for you to be able to enjoy fitness activities, but the gyms are comfortably cool. Visiting in the rainy season? Get your workout in no matter what the weather. If you train hard at home and don’t want to lose your rhythm on vacation, Tamarindo is a great choice of destination for you.
photo by Form
3. Do yoga or Pilates
Tamarindo is a favorite destination of
practitioners of all types of yoga. There are traditional indoor studios with
classes throughout the day and evening, and there is yoga on the beach in the
mornings and late afternoons. Tamarindo
yoga and Pilates instructors offer open group classes and private
sessions. If your vacation in the
tropics a destination travel occasion like a Tamarindo wedding or other special
group celebration, have the yoga or Pilates instructor come lead private
classes for you and your friends/family at your Tamarindo vacation rental.
4. Get a massage
Just like your options for yoga and Pilates,
you can enjoy a Tamarindo massage and other spa services either in a five-star
spa, on the beach, or in your vacation rental.
Experience the health benefits of relaxing massage, melting away any
worries that came with you on vacation, or book an appointment for a deep
tissue therapeutic massage. Massage
therapists in Tamarindo come from all over the globe, speak a plethora of
languages, and are trained in a wide variety of styles.
In addition to a massage, have a body wrap or
scrub that will refresh your skin, or a Costa Rican all-natural facial with
cacao or avocado. Read over the spa
menus of Tamarindo spas before you even leave home to get an idea of what kinds
of health-enhancing spa treatments are available for you here in paradise.
photo by Taylor Simpson
Three (among dozens of) Health Tamarindo Restaurants
photo by Jez Timms
1. Pura Vegan
If your way of being healthy is to eat
vegetarian or vegan, you’re going to love Pura Vegan. This delightful little spot inside of the
open-air food court called El Mercadito is a favorite of Tamarindo
locals–vegan and omnivores alike. Their
giant salad bowl is to die for, the spicy curry you can’t have just once, and
their french fries with vegan cheese sauce made from cashews is nothing short
of unbelievable. Everything on the menu
is under 10$, and the portions are more than generous.
Photo property of Pura Vegan, Tamarindo
2. Pangas Beach Club
Pangas Beach Club’s menu is an especially
healthy menu because all of Pangas’ plates are crafted with fresh
locally-sourced ingredients. Pangas
serves lunch and dinner all week, and brunch on Sunday mornings. Fresh fish and salads, custom crafted
cocktails, and seared grass-fed beef are some of Pangas Beach Club’s signature
offerings.
Great food in Tamarindo is easy to find, but
at Pangas Beach Club your options are nothing short of excellent.
Pangas
Beach Club will amaze you with exquisite, healthy options
3 .Green Papaya
Green Papaya, just off the beaten path but
close to everything, is another healthy eating option that deserves a
mention. Green Papaya calls itself a
taco bar, but it’s really much more.
Their salads, tacos and burritos made with home-made tortillas, ceviche,
and other menu options are fresh, generously served, and very reasonably
priced.
One of the most unique things about Green
Papaya is that in the outdoor dining area, some of the seating is on swings
suspended from the roof beams. Kids love
this, and–we have to confess–grown-ups think it’s pretty awesome too. Fun is healthy, so don’t miss out on any of
it.
Two
Healthy Places to Buy Groceries
1. The Saturday Farmer’s and Craft Market
If you’re in Tamarindo on a Saturday morning,
by all means do not miss the Saturday Market!
The Saturday market is a great place to stock up your fridge with
organic produce, fresh organic meats, fresh fish, homemade bread and pastries,
kombucha, and organic wines.
photo by hotchicksing
You can also get in on artisan chocolates and
spices, family farm coffee, local honey and much more. Need gifts?
You can support Tamarindo artisans by purchasing handmade clothing,
paintings, sculptures, organic personal products like skin cream and sunscreen,
and jewelry. When you support local
farmers and artisans you not only create health for yourself, you create health
for the community around you. Tamarindo
says Thank you!
2. El Almacen/La Bodega
El Almacen is a small organic market in Tamarindo, and La Bodega is the adjoining cafe that prepares and serves organic breakfasts and lunches. You can pick up organic ingredients for the meals that you or your Tamarindo chef will prepare in your Tamarindo vacation rental, or enjoy the treats they prepare right there in La Bodega. El Almacen is also a great place to grab unique and healthy gifts to take home for the family and friends that you want to share a piece of Costa Rica with!
Photo by Leon Liu
Contact us today for assistance with planning your healthy Tamarindo vacation!
Our featured property this month at Vacation Rentals of Tamarindo is Puesta del Sol. This brand new Tamarindo vacation rental property combines elements of a home and a hotel into a unique hybrid of common and private spaces. Six private cabins sleep up to 16 guests at Puesta del Sol, making this property a favorite for special event occasions like weddings, retreats, and reunions.
Puesta del Sol sets on the top of a Tamarindo Bay hillside overlooking the town, the bay, and the magnificent Pacific sunsets from which the property derives its name. The property affords a breathtaking 300-degree view of Playa Grande to the north, Tamarindo to the west, Langosta to the south, and the endless rolling green hills of Guanacaste disappearing into the east. As the day progresses at Puesta del Sol, the panorama changes according to the angle of the light, ending with a sunset show you will never forget as you watch it from the infinity pool, the breezy patio, or your room’s private terrace.
The common areas at Puesta del Sol
The heart of Puesta del Sol is its common
area, with six private sleeping cabins set in a semicircle around it. A spacious living/dining room with sliding
glass doors on three sides and a full bar and kitchen at the other end is far
above and beyond what you’ll find in most rental homes.
What you really have at Puesta del Sol is your
own mini retreat center. The infinity
pool that lies along the beach-view side of the common space is surrounded by a
sun terrace and comfy cushioned loungers that you can place in the sun or shade
according to your preference.
Whether you’re a family group, a corporate
retreat group, a wedding party, or a bunch of friends on vacation together,
you’ll love the way at Puesta del Sol, you can cook and eat together, leave the
sliding doors open so the kids can play in the pool while you mix cocktails at
the bar, or stretch out on the couches and watch a movie together.
The Bedrooms
Private cottages house the bedrooms at Puesta del Sol. Four of the six bedrooms have one king-sized bed, and two of them have two queen sized beds. These queen rooms are perfect for families or for roommates who prefer to have their own space.
Each bedroom has its own spacious en-suite
bath, and a patio with quaint wooden rocking chairs. You are going to love the time you spend
sitting on the patio taking in the breathtaking view. No matter which direction your room faces,
the view is amazing. Wake up in the
morning, wander over to the kitchen, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and then
tiptoe back to your patio to soak in the beauty of the beginning of the new
day.
Why Puesta del Sol
Why choose Puesta del Sol for your Tamarindo vacation rental? One great reason is privacy. Puesta del Sol is literally at the top of the hill. You won’t have to worry about traffic because no one but you is climbing up that far. This means, of course, that you will absolutely need rental vehicles to get you back and forth from the town and the beach, but the rather adventurous bumpy ride takes only a few minutes.
Another reason to choose Puesta del Sol is
that it’s one of our newest properties.
Everything works perfectly, and the property has the crisp modern feel
that is hard to attain with older properties that were originally built as
single-family homes.
We think, though, that even more than the
privacy Puesta del Sol offers or the pristine condition of the property, you’re
going to want to stay there because of the view. Seriously.
“Breathtaking is a word that gets thrown around a lot and over-used, but
wait until you stand on the pool terrace in front of Puesta del Sol where the
hillside drops away from your feet and leaves you in the sky. See if the feeling of space around and even
under you doesn’t make you catch your breath and reach for something to hold
onto.
Why Tamarindo
If you’re coming to Puesta del Sol, that means
you’re coming to Tamarindo–so there are two things to be extremely happy
about! Tamarindo is Costa Rica’s premier
Pacific coast beach vacation destination, and you’re going to love it. The beach is great for swimming and surfing,
and it’s a sandy beach with only a few rocky areas, so you can enjoy long
low-tide beach walks.
The town of Tamarindo is only about 30 years old, which means that you’ll find an established community with lots of new and vibrant activity. You’ll hear languages from every continent on the planet being spoken on the street and have the chance to choose between Tamarindo restaurants that offer Costa Rican traditional food, Italian restaurants, Indian, middle-eastern, North American, Argentinian, Venezuelan, French, and Asian cuisine. The nightlife begins as the sun sets between 5 and 6 PM depending on the time of year, and continues until the wee hours of the morning. Live music is everywhere at sunset and during dinner time. Fire dancers entertain on the beach and in the streets, and as the hours pass, DJs keep the energy flowing.
What to do during your visit
Tamarindo is Guanacaste’s Activity Central, so
don’t forget to plan some down time into your days, or you’ll need a vacation
from your vacation when you get home from Puesta del Sol. Our Concierge is an expert in planning group
packages, so give us a profile of who’s coming, and we’ll give you some
suggestions to consider.
Go surfing, or take Tamarindo surf lessons if surfing isn’t already your thing. Get out on a fishing boat, a catamaran, or a sailboat and experience the
ocean. You can go hiking, horseback or
mountain bike riding, and visit one of our dozens of national parks. Visit an active volcano, ride a Tamarindo zipline, go whitewater
rafting or tubing, and watch sea turtles nesting in Las Baulas National Marine Park.
You’ll want to leave time to enjoy the beach, of course, and you’ll want
to experience the sunset hour on this villa’s pool terrace watching the colors
of the sky and sea change, blend, and fade into starlight.
It’s
finally summer–exactly what you’ve waited for all year! Now is the time
to enjoy sunny days, long evenings, and pack the kids up and spend some quality
family time together. It’s not too late to get in on our last-minute
specials and bring the gang to Costa Rica!
Once a destination only for adventurous backpackers and surf safaris,
Costa Rica has evolved into a top family vacation destination.
Families
come in all shapes and sizes, but the great thing about Costa Rica is that
although it is a small country, it has something for everyone. We’re the
local experts on Costa Rica family vacations and will help you tailor
your trip to fulfill everyone’s expectations.
Planning
your Costa Rica family vacation is going to require you to make some
choices. Costa Rica is full of amazing things to see and do, and you
aren’t going to be able to see or do it all in one trip. Decisions can be
tough, but fortunately, we’re here to give you some guidance and pertinent
recommendations.
Our
first recommendation for the best
family vacations in Costa Rica
is to divide your trip of 5 to 10 days between no more than two places.
Too much shuffling around takes the restfulness out of the experience for
parents, and can be overwhelming for the kids. If you’re able to get away
for 10 or more days, you can up the number of destinations to three, but we
really don’t recommend trying to see the whole country in a little time as
possible. Delve deeper into fewer places and have a much more profound
and delightful experience.
Destination
1 of 2: The beach!
Tamarindo beach. Photo property of crsurf.com
Of
course one of the two stops on your trip is going to be a beach! The
beaches are what makes Costa Rica famous, and there are more beautiful beaches
here than–but if you will allow us to make a recommendation, our top pick is
Tamarindo.
Tamarindo beach is gorgeous, it’s family-friendly and safe for swimming, surfing is good, there are lots of grocery stores, restaurants, and pharmacies, and of course, there are our Tamarindo vacation rentals. We are the local experts in family fun because we live here too, are raising our families here, and are confident in our ability to help you make great choices and have a fabulous time!
If
you’re set on Costa Rica’s Carribbean coast instead of Guanacaste, visit
Tortuguero and watch the sea turtles nesting or swing to the south and take a
few days at Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. Cahuita national park is famous for
its giant coral reef and the marine life it houses.
Kid-friendly
beach activities:
This
list varies according to the ages and personalities of the little ones, but we
generally recommend surf lessons, half-day fishing trips and/or an
estuary boat tour. In Tamarindo, for
example, surfing is safe for children. Our surf instructors are trained
and experienced, and many of them have taught their own little ones to
surf! If your child can swim and is
comfortable in the water, Tamarindo’s sandy gentle beach is the perfect place
to give surfing a try. Half-day fishing trips are another fun option for
kids of all ages.
A whole 7-hour day on a fishing boat can be
overwhelming for anyone besides hard-core fisherman, but everyone can enjoy
getting on the boat in the early morning and speeding out to sea for a few
hours of trolling, watching for dolphins, and reeling in fish. Half-day
tours are usually back by lunch time when everyone is ready to be out of the
sun for a few hours! The estuary boat
tour takes about two hours and is available according to the tide schedule. Birds, monkeys, colorful land crabs, and
sleepy crocodiles are the attractions on this beautiful boat ride into the
estuary that is Las Baulas National Park.
Destination
2 of 2: The forest!
Photo Credit: National Geographic
For
the second destination on your family vacation in Costa Rica, pick a cooler,
higher place in the shade of Costa Rica’s tropical dry forest, rain forest, or
cloud forest. The most frequently-visited picks are the Arenal Volcano
and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Both
places are fabulous Costa Rican forest choices–you can’t pick the wrong one.
The
Arenal area, due to volcanic activity, has hot springs and warm geothermal
pools that your family can enjoy together. Monteverde has a dense rain
and cloud forest with swinging bridges suspended over revines and canyons that
will take your breath away. Combined with a few days and nights at the
beach, a visit to either of these places will make for the best family vacation in Costa Rica.
Option
Off-road: La Carolina Lodge
A
unique mountain experience in Costa Rica is La Carolina Lodge. La
Carolina functions off the grid. Dine by
candlelight, eat meals created with foods that are grown on the farm and cooked
over a wood fire, and sleep in rustic but luxurious cabins that are built out
of locally grown and harvested wood. Hiking to the Rio Celeste
waterfalls, swimming in the river, horseback riding, and relaxing in the hot
tub are favorite activities at La Carolina.
After a great night’s sleep, get up early and your family can help the
farm hands milk the cows!
Kid
friendly forest/farm activities:
Don’t
leave Costa Rica without taking your family on a zip line canopy tour–that’s
everybody’s favorite! Hikes are something families of all ages can
enjoy, along with visits to animal refuges and butterfly or hummingbird
gardens. If your youngsters are old enough to enjoy horses, don’t miss
this opportunity to ride with a guide who can help you notice and appreciate the
plants and animals along the leafy trails. Adventure centers exist throughout
Costa Rica that make family vacation planning easy by offering packages that
can be modified to include a day of your family’s favorite activities all in
one location.
Costa
Rica family vacation Do’s and Dont’s,
provided by your vacation experts:
1
Don’t try to do everything.
You
can’t do everything fun or see everything amazing in Costa Rica in one
vacation. If you try to pack too much into your vacation, you’ll run yourselves
ragged trying to have fun.
This vacation rental home’s pool has a built-in water slide!
2
Do plan some down time.
Don’t
forget that your vacation rental will have a pool your kids will want to play
in, and don’t miss the miss joy of a beach walk together or a lazy afternoon in
the hot springs or jacuzzi while you’re in the mountains.
3
Don’t bring the kitchen sink!
Costa
Rica has first-world pharmacies and American-style grocery stores, so it’s not
necessary to try to bring everything you could possibly need. You may pay
more than you’re used to for a tube of after-insect-bite cream or Junior’s
favorite breakfast cereal, but so what?
You didn’t come on vacation to save money. You came to relax,
enjoy each other’s company, and take things as they come.
4
Do pack sunscreen and insect repellent.
Now
there are two things that you are for sure going to need, and you can
buy them cheaper at home than you can here. Throw some extra in the bag.
If you don’t need all of it, sunscreen and insect repellent are excellent gifts
for the local friends you make during your vacation.
5
Do limit technology/screen time for yourself and your children.
Just
a thought. Parents have different ways of addressing the challenges
presented by technology in the hands of youngsters, and you are the expert on
your own family. But consider making your family vacation in Costa Rica
an experience of limited screen time and unlimited adventure, interaction, and
attention to your surroundings. You can all get back on line when you get
home.
Contact us today and let’s get busy on your vacation plans!
The idea of booking a
vacation rental property, sight unseen, in a foreign country can be
intimidating, especially if it’s a country or a destination you’ve never been
to. Are you going to be able to find it? How can you be sure the place is going to be what
it looks like in the pictures? How do
you know which one to pick? If you’re a
seasoned traveler, you already know the drill, but there’s a first time for
everything including your first vacation rental in Costa Rica.
Here are some ways to break down the decision-making process and of course some practical suggestions of Tamarindo vacation rental property perfect fits.
Vacation rentals in Tamarindo come in all shapes and sizes, and so do travel groups. How many people are you traveling with? Is it you and your significant other? You, your 5 best friends, their spouses, and their kids? Are stairs ok? Do you prefer to be near a golf course? A surf break? Do you like center-of-the-action vacations or restful away-from-it-all vacations? Come up with some answers to these questions before you start shopping to help you narrow it down.
Then the next filter to get through it price. How much do you want to spend? Are you attracted by pocket-friendly options, or is this the trip for which you’re going to pull out all the stops and live like royalty? Vacation rental prices range based on distance from the beach and lots of other factors like how new and chic the place is (or isn’t) and what kinds of amenities it includes. All of the Vacation Rentals of Tamarindo properties have the standard package: a/c, wi-fi, cable tv, linens, towels, equipped kitchens, a washer and dryer, a pool…so don’t think that by “pocket-friendly” we mean you have to bring your own pillows! We’re the industry trendsetters in our area and all of our vacation rentals are top-shelf.
Following, we explore
6 types of luxury
vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, and give some examples from our fantastic menu
of homes:
1. Small, Simple, Conveniently-Located
These are the condos
that are otherwise known as budget-friendly.
They’re great for couples, families with small children, travelers on a
shoestring budget, or folks who want to spend their vacation dollars out exploring,
not sitting around a fancy house.
Located literally across the street from the beach in the center
of Tamarindo, you won’t find a better spot for a better price. This 2-bedroom condo is located on the 4th
floor of the Sunrise complex which includes the coolest pool in town, the
easiest beach access anything within an affordable price range, secure gated
parking and oh yeah—the view!
This affordable 2-bedroom condo in Langosta sleeps up to 6, is conveniently located, has secure parking, access to the resort pool, and offers a sundeck on the roof of the complex.
2. Small and Modern-chic
So let’s say you don’t
want a big place, but you’d like it to be sleek and modern. We have those vacation rentals too! You can get some of the big-ticket modern
design elements in a new or newly-redesigned vacation rental without having to
spend big bucks. These places are great
to get into with your best friend or two or three. Enjoy gourmet meals and cocktails on the
patio or rent some boards and go on a surf trek to Avellanas or Playa
Negra.
Our condo at La Perla offers 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 8
people. Each unit in this
recently-completed elite complex occupies a corner, displaying fantastic ocean
and hillside panoramas in every room.
These 3 and 4 bedroom villas in central Tamarindo sleep from 6
to 12 guests. The ultimate in minimalist
modern design, natural textures and materials, and European attention to detail
make these villas a vacation rental choice that is a cut above the rest.
3.
A Sprawling Villa for Your Destination Wedding or Other Event
We’re suddenly
at the other end of the vacation rental type spectrum: huge mansions and villas for 20 or more
guests—yes we have them! Costa Rica is a
favorite pick for couples planning destination weddings, for yoga and
meditation retreats, corporate retreats, family reunions…all of the above. These properties are the places dreams are
made. From beach front mansions to
luxury hilltop mini-resorts, these are your dream homes and they make your
special event unforgettable for everyone in attendance.
This property is truly beachfront! Just steps behind the high tide line in
Langosta, Casa de Luz is a stunning place for weddings, yoga retreats, surf
trips, or whatever it is that brings your group together. It’s one of our most eco-friendly properties,
too, and sleeps over 20 people.
How about an 8-bedroom Bali-style home
for 20? That’s Casa
Puros Dieces! This is one of Tamarindo’s top event
venue choices because of its laid-back design, amazing ocean view and individual
suite bedroom layout.
Of course, you want your event destination to be Casa Costa Blanca. This Hacienda Pinilla beachfront home has 7 bedrooms, sleeps up to 24, and includes all of the amenities of Guanacaste’s premier golf/surf resort.
4.
Classified by Activity: Golf Resort and Secret Surf Spots
Many people wisely consider the types of activities they most enjoy when they are shopping for vacation rentals. If you’re the outdoorsy type who enjoys golf, surfing, mountain biking, or tennis, if you love peace and quiet but don’t want to be completely isolated from restaurants and night life, you might want to browse the vacation rental options in Hacienda Pinilla. From giant event-venue type homes to condos for single families, Pinilla has got something for everyone. Golfers and experienced surfers have a look at these amazing spots:
Hacienda Pinilla offers
not only mansions, but also luxury condos like Villa Bonita that are more
affordable than larger properties but still include all of Hacienda Pinilla’s
amenities.
5. The Beach House!
Or let’s say it’s
got to be a beach house. Of course. Who wouldn’t want to base their Tamarindo
vacation in a beach house?! Some of our
biggest and best beach houses are the ones you caught a glimpse of in the
“event venues” category, but there are other properties on or very near the
beach. Your beachfront vacation rental
is the perfect way to enjoy early morning walks, peaceful sunsets, easy access
to surf spots and still have all the comforts of home. Families with children love beach houses
because being right on or very near the beach simplifies everything! You don’t have to pack everybody and all the
trappings into a car every time you want to go out, you just open the door and
there you are. You can even hire a chef
to do in-home meal prep for you so that everybody in the family gets a
break. Imagine how much fun that would
be!
Hacienda del Pacifico is a 4-bedroom
beach house for 8. Spend lazy afternoons
here by the pool and cool tropical evenings listening to the sound of the waves
crashing onto the beach on the other side of the trees. Your direct beach
access is just outside your door.
Here’s a
quintessential beach house that is outfitted with every luxury. Casa Tranquila has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up
to 8 guests. No other Tamarindo vacation
rental beats this one for beachfront location!
5. The View to Die for + Modern Luxury
Consider
this: a totally sleek modern vacation
rental property built for the view.
Imagine floor to ceiling glass along the coast-facing side of the home, simple
lines, comfortable furniture inside, an infinity pool outside, and in every
room the unbelievable panorama of Tamarindo’s turquoise horizon where it meets
the sea. This is what you get in our
modern mountainside homes. These
properties are located in Tamarindo just above the hubbub of the busy street,
but are still only minutes away from the sand.
The photographs of
Compass House speak for themselves. Yes,
this is a real vacation rental home in Tamarindo and yes it really looks like
that. The house has 8 bedrooms and
sleeps up to 16.
Lomas del Mar offers an amazing view of
the all of Tamarindo, Playa Grande, and the Las Baulas Estuary in between. Chic and modern, there are 4 bedroom suites
for up to 8 and a pristine infinity pool.
6. The View to Die for + Old-School Beach House
This is truly
unique category of home is something you won’t find just anywhere—it’s a
Tamarindo specialty! Once upon a time,
instead of stainless steel, pale marble and minimalist aesthetic, there were
terracotta tiles, almond wood ceiling beams, and artesian-created ceramic
sconces. In homes like these, you can
lose yourself the timeless charm of the quintessential tropical beach house and
the breathtaking view of the sky, sea, and rolling jungle hills. These hillside beach houses offer every
amenity and form part of Tamarindo’s history.
Stark modern vacation rental houses are everywhere—in every vacation
destination all the world over—but if you love luxury mixed with the local fingerprint
and a sense of place, one of our ocean view beach houses is the place for you.
Casa Leo Loco is perched above Tamarindo
and is one of our favorite classic hilltop beach houses. There are 6 bedrooms for up to 12 guests, a
multi-level infinity pool, and stunningly landscaped grounds. Imagine the sunsets!
Casa Catalina is one of Tamarindo’s original beach houses. It is set so high on the hill and offers such a dizzying view of the bay that on a clear day the Catalina Islands are visible in the distance. Your group of up to 16 is welcome here in the home’s 5 bedrooms.
As you can see,
the perfect vacation rental in Tamarindo
is here waiting for you. Contact our
team of experts and make your reservation today!
Costa Rica is a land created by a string of active and dormant volcanoes that runs down its center. This guide will give you an overview of how to get to and what to expect from Costa Rica’s most dynamic volcanoes. Make sure to plan time during your vacation to visit the center of the country and experience the unforgettable presence of these living mountains.
The first three volcanoes on our list–Turrialba, Irazu, and Poas–are the closest to the capital city of San Jose. If you’re flying into San Jose, these are the top choices on your volcano menu. The other two–Arenal and Rincon de La Vieja–are further north and are more often visited by travelers who base their Costa Rica vacations in Guanacaste.
Photo by Gary Saldana
What is
the most active volcano in Costa Rica? This is a great question! For thirty years, the easy answer was
Arenal. Then in 2016, Turrialba suddenly
woke up from a long slumber, and continued to rumble and spew well into
2017. Recently, a new spurt of volcanic
activity was registered at the lazy Rincon de la Vieja volcano. So who knows which volcano will be the most
active during your visit to Costa Rica?
It could be any of them! Here’s a
look at the five most fiery peaks.
Photo by Roberto Nickson
Turrialba
2019 just might be a great year for the
national park at Turrialba. The park was
closed in 2012 due to dangerous volcanic activity and authorities are looking
at reopening it to the public this year.
Eruptions of ash and gas in 2016 and 2017 powdered the central valley in
gray dust and closed down the Juan Santamaria International Airport on several
occasions. You’ll be able to drive close
enough to Volcan Turrialba that you can admire its powerful slopes and perhaps
watch it puff steam into the air.
Photo by Jake Melara
Whether or not the park is open, the Turrialba
volcanic area is a beautiful and safe place to visit. The best way to get there is to hop in a 4×4
rental vehicle and hit the road for an adventure! You can enjoy hiking, mountain biking,
horseback riding, zip lines, bird watching, go kayaking on the river and tour a
cheese factory. The Turrialba region is
known throughout Costa Rica for the soft fresh cheese that takes its name. The year-round rains and rich volcanic soil
keep Turrialba’s grass green and its cows.
Irazu
Volcan Irazu is the closest volcano to the
city of San Jose. It is possible to get
to Volcan Irazu by driving, or by taking a public bus from downtown. Pack a picnic lunch, enjoy hiking in the
park, and keep an eye out for sightings of colorful birds and wild animals like
coatis, foxes, deer, and coyotes.
Photo by Daniel Chen
Volcan Irazu has five craters, two of which
provide the main attractions in the Irazu national park. Steam rises from the deepest crater, and in
the other lies a mineral-rich lake that can appear green, blue, or red. Irazu is Costa Rica’s tallest volcano, with a
cone that towers 11,200 feet above sea level.
On a clear day–which is a rare occurrence at the top of an active
volcano– it is possible to see both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans.
Poas
Volcan Poas is one of Costa Rica’s most
popular and frequently-visited volcanoes.
The national park that surrounds the cone and crater is prepared to
provide you with a comfortable visit, including a geological museum, a gift
shop and cafe, and even paved hiking trails to make the spectacle of the
steaming lake in the crater accessible to a wide variety of visitors. In order to keep the environment pristine and
visitors safe, only a certain number of people are allowed into the park each
day. Make your Poas National Park
reservations on-line ahead of time so that you can be sure to avoid being
turned away at the entrance. That would
be disappointing!
You can drive to Volcan Poas, take a bus, or
purchase a tour from pretty much any San Jose tour operator. There are lots of other things to do in the
area, so we recommend that you make your trip to Poas a day trip, not just a
quick peek at the crater. In addition to
hiking, visit the sleepy Costa Rican villages nearby, explore the museum, or
drive to a bright blue waterfall near the park.
Volcan Poas has one of the largest volcanic
craters in the world, so don’t miss your chance to see it with your own eyes.
Arenal
Volcan Arenal is located near the town of La
Fortuna about half way between San Jose and the beaches of Guanacaste. For decades, Arenal was famous for being
Costa Rica’s most active volcano–until its brothers in the central valley
started spewing ash and steam in 2016.
Arenal is still one of the most spectacular volcanoes you’ll ever have
the opportunity to see and is one of the most fun areas to visit in Costa
Rica. Hiking and horseback riding trails
wind through the hills, there are waterfalls to explore, and natural thermal
spring and rivers provide the perfect way to relax afterward.
Whatever you do, plan to spend a night in the
area near Arenal! We recommend this for
two reasons. The first is that if the
clouds above the volcano lift after dark (could happen but no guarantees), the
sight of the stark black cone with a red glow at the top standing against the
star studded sky will leave you speechless.
That, we do guarantee. The other
thing that’s guaranteed is how much you will love relaxing in the bubbling
thermal springs after dark, while lights play on the jungle foliage around you
and perhaps a light rain falls.
Photo property of arenal.net
Arenal is much-visited, and it’s easy to drive
to. Things are spread out enough there
that having your own vehicle is very convenient. Another good option for how to get to Arenal
is Interbus, a tour and transfer company that runs private vans to popular
tourist destinations.
Rincon
de la Vieja
Volcan Rincon de la Vieja is Costa Rica’s
northernmost active volcano. Eruptions
as recent as January 2019 sent columns of steam and bursts of red-hot rocks
shooting into the air and filled the area’s streams with mud. This is the closest active volcano to
Guanacaste’s popular coasts, and lots of activity centers have sprung up around
it.
You can drive your rental car to Rincon de la
Vieja, or purchase a day-trip package which includes transportation, admission
to the activities that you’ve chosen for the day, and lunch.
Photo by Steven Scheuermeier
You can hike at Rincon de la Vieja, ride
horseback through the forest, and enjoy natural thermal mud spas. There are canopy tours nearby, river tubing
excursions, and wildlife sanctuaries to visit.
As you can see, there are many active volcanoes in Costa Rica throughout various regions of the country. Our tour concierge is the local expert in helping you plan your visit to any of these areas, assisting you with arrangements for transportation and activity bookings at Costa Rica’s active volcanoes. Check out partner page for A Guide to Costa Rica’s Active Volcanoes: They’re Dynamite!
Costa Rica tops the list of favorite destination wedding choices, and Tamarindo has the climate, the infrastructure, and the breathtaking venue homes that are going to convince you to celebrate your special day here. Tamarindo has risen to the top of the luxury vacation rental market, offering homes for large and small wedding parties, having five-star professional event planners, and sitting on years of experience in executing elite events in the tropics.
Have a look at our five featured vacation rental recommendations for Tamarindo weddings and other special events. Each of these Tamarindo vacation rentals can sleep 20 or more guests, and are excellent venue options in and of themselves!
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
Casa Costa Blanca
Casa Costa Blanca is a recently-remodeled beachfront mansion for up to 24 guests in Hacienda Pinilla. If you’ve done your Tamarindo research, you already know that Hacienda Pinilla is the area’s premier gated community and an ideal place for a special event. This two-story home is unique in that each floor has a completely separate full kitchen and living/dining area, giving large groups exceptional flexibility while they share a single space.
Casa Costa Blanca
Behind the home, on the beach side, an oversized infinity pool, a barbeque and outdoor dining pavilion with enough seating for a full house, and a luxurious green lawn overlooking the crashing Pacific Ocean.
Casa Costa Blanca is one of our top 5 picks because not only is it big enough to accommodate a large number of guests, and not only is it spectacularly beautiful—it is a dream event venue in and of itself. Hold your small intimate wedding on the patio or hold a larger event on the lawn or in the sand. Casa Blanca offers all kinds of options because of its size and diverse spaces.
Casa Costa Blanca
Have private chefs prepare a meal in the home, or have your special meals catered—Casa Costa Blanca provides a mesmerizingly beautiful setting and the flexibility to let you choose what best suits you and your group.
Villa Tranquila
Villa Tranquila, also located in the gated community of Hacienda Pinilla, offers a level of service to its guests that no other vacation rental can match. Its staff is available to provide all meal preparation, and are accessible 24 hours a day to meet any needs that may arise.
Villa Tranquila
Villa Tranquila is located on Hacienda Pinilla’s golf course and close to the beach. Its delightfully secluded location means that at Villa Tranquila you are free to celebrate until the sun comes up and no neighbors will call to complain. It’s hard to underestimate how important that can be if your lively group loves to celebrate.
This beautiful villa offers the maximum in comfort to its guests, with large private rooms, private baths, and two indoor common areas. Outside, an immense lawn with a patio and infinity pool are a perfect place for your ceremony, event, and/or a special meal.
Villa Tranquila
Our wedding and event planners know Villa Tranquila well and are waiting to make your special day the best it can possibly be.
Casa de Luz
Casa de Luz is a beachfront mansion for 23 located in Langosta, just at the end of the road that goes through Tamarindo. This luxury vacation rental, once a single-family home, combines the comforts of home with the convenience of its central location and the breathtaking beauty of the ocean just steps from the back door.
Casa de Luz
Casa de Luz has the back yard to die for. A stone terrace, a gazebo with a day bed, a wet bar, an infinity pool, a private beachside casita for two or four, and private beach access are all there outside the sliding door from the living room. The home’s staff makes sure that guests at Casa de Luz are comfortable and that events flow seamlessly.
Casa de Luz
This is one of the foremost eco-friendly homes in Guanacaste. Solar panels on the roof provide electricity, an ozone system eliminates the need for 90% of the chlorine in Casa de Luz’s swimming pool and laundry and Casa de Luz uses only Costa Rica’s top biodegradable housekeeping and hygiene products. If leaving a smaller ecological footprint is important to you and your loved ones, place Casa de Luz at the top of your list and reserve it early.
Villa Concha
Villa Concha is an elegant beachfront villa in Playa Langosta a few doors south of Casa de Luz. This property, in its two-story main house and two private casitas, can accommodate up to 20 guests. Originally constructed to house a bed and breakfast and recently remodeled to make it one of Tamarindo’s foremost event-friendly vacation rentals, Villa Concha is a perfect option for your destination wedding.
Villa Concha
Let our event planners take care of the details while you enjoy the beachfront infinity pool, walk the miles of beaches that stretch behind your back door at Villa Concha or paddle out into the pounding surf you can watch from home’s terraces. If your group is larger than what Villa Concha can accommodate, our other Langosta beach vacation rentals are just down the street and can keep your party close enough to enjoy your whole vacation together.
Villa Concha’s private beach access path leads from the impeccable pool terrace through the trees to a sandy lookout point. Consider this our recommendation for your sunset beach wedding, or an unforgettable early-evening cocktail hour where you can enjoy the privacy of your own home-away-from-home and the breathtaking beauty of dusk falling over the Pacific horizon.
Villa Concha’s private look-out point
Casa Puros Dieces
Puros Dieces is a stunning 8-bedroom Pacific Rim style home for up to 20 guests. It is perched on a green hillside just above the busy town of Tamarindo and admires a 180 degree of vista of the Tamarindo Bay. Casa Puros Dieces is the home nobody ever wants to leave, and it is an ideal option for lodging your wedding party and for the event itself.
Casa Puros Dieces
Indoor and outdoor spaces blend in the home’s common areas, with luxury bedrooms and en-suite baths offering complete privacy throughout the home’s maze of spaces. The beach and all that Tamarindo has to offer is just minutes away at the bottom of the hill, allowing guests at Casa Puros Dieces to enjoy the best of both worlds—the privacy of the secluded location and the proximity of the things you’re coming to Tamarindo to see and do!
Many wedding parties choose Casa Puros Dieces for the event venue instead of taking the special day to the beach or anywhere else. A courtyard lawn within the walls of Casa Puros Dieces, a living room that opens fully to the view of the bay, and a deck with an infinity pool provides plenty of space for celebration in the privacy of your own home.
Casa Puros Dieces
Puros Dieces offers sunset panoramas like no other. Sunset at the beach is spectacular, but Puros Deices sunsets, with all of Tamarindo Bay, Playa Grande, the Las Baulas Estuary and the town of Tamarindo at your feet raise the bar to a new level. No one who attends your wedding or other special sunset events at Casa Puros Dieces will ever forget the experience.
When it comes to a destination wedding and other events, we’re the local experts. We personally know the Tamarindo wedding planners, the caterers, the florists, the musicians and the reliable transportation providers that are going to make your experience as seamless as a dream come true. Contact us with your date, your ideas, and the wish list you’ve been making. We’re ready to get started right now!
It’s the end of May and the rainy season is upon us in Tamarindo. Here’s a heads-up on what to expect during your Tamarindo Green Season vacation.
A peaceful green season morning at the beach in Tamarindo.
Predictions:
2019 has been a year of the “El Nino” weather pattern here in the equatorial regions. This means that our dry season began early and was extra hot and dry. According to the El Nino pattern, we were told to expect a not-very-rainy rainy season, and this made everyone who loves Costa Rica’s flora and fauna very sad. These cyclical fluctuations are part of normal weather fluctuations, but extra harsh dry seasons are difficult times for plants and animals. They aren’t great for our taxed aquifers either, but humans are able to truck in water in a way that deer and monkeys aren’t.
Luckily for all of us, those predictions are turning out to be misrepresentative of the way the rainy season is starting out! We’re getting lots of delicious rain, and Guanacaste is green as the garden of Eden. The temperature has dropped back into the “pleasant” range, and life is good.
Expect:
Afternoon showers
It almost never rains all day, especially not in the first half of the rainy season. It’s not impossible, but it’s uncommon. The rainy season mostly consists of sunny days with occasional afternoon showers. They may be thunderstorms that roll through to cool off hot afternoons, or they may be simply cloud systems that bring rain and then dissolver over the ocean. Enjoy them! Tamarindo locals—both native Costa Ricans and implants from other places—love the rainy season. If you thought you wanted to plan your Costa Rica vacation to avoid the Tamarindo rainy season, think again. Don’t miss the best, most relaxing time of year.
Surf the warm waves early in the morning while the wind is offshore.
Humidity
The rainy season is humid—you might as well know it. Some people like humidity in the air; some people don’t. It should probably go without saying that rainy times of the year by the ocean have a higher humidity level than say, Las Vegas. Two days in Tamarindo in the rainy season, and you’re guaranteed to look 10 years younger than you did when you got off the plane. Your skin loves the humidity even if your brain is unaccustomed to it. Enjoy it. Think of it as a free sauna.
The humidity is most noticeable right before the rain starts to fall. Refreshing afternoon or evening showers bring relief. If it gets to be too much for you, enjoy the indoor comfort of your air-conditioned Tamarindo vacation rental, or one of the Tamarindo restaurants that offer indoor seating. Better yet, jump in the pool or the ocean. You’ll forget about it in a second.
Lots of lush vegetation
In the green season, expect green! This is the time of year that trees are covered with new leaves, gardens spring back to life, flowers bloom, birds and monkeys are filling their bellies again with their favorite treats… Nature is absolutely exuberant! Mountains are green, pastures are green, forests are green, gardens are green—you could color the whole countryside with a palate of shades of green from emerald to lime to pine. Canopy tours are fun to take at this time of year, mountain hikes, bike rides, horseback trail rides—anything that puts you out in nature under the millions of leaves. Every breath you take is saturated with pure oxygen they create.
Photo: Unsplash
More insects
Pack your favorite insect repellent and use it. Monkeys, hummingbirds, iguanas and the wild deer in the mountains aren’t the only creatures that thrive in the rainy season. Critters that creep and buzz like it too, so be prepared. We make sure to keep them out of your Tamarindo vacation rental as best we can, but if an industrious ant or a sneaky spider outwit us, don’t be surprised. They aren’t dangerous; they’re just pesky and ingenious. A broom, a shoe, or a can of spray can take care of any of your insect visitors if they are unwelcome. Make sure to keep insect repellent on or nearby, especially in the mornings and evenings. Mosquitoes don’t like hot sun, so they shouldn’t be much of a bother while you sunbathe, but they can chew up your toes under the table at dinner if you forget the repellent when you leave the house. Throw some in your back and just keep it nearby.
Tropical flowers of every imaginable shape and color emerge when the rains begin.
Mud
More and more of Tamarindo’s roads are paved, but when the weather gets rainy, it’s fair to expect a little mud. How much of it you have to drive or step through depends on where your Tamarindo hotel or vacation rental is located. Mud can be slippery, so walk carefully.
A word to the wise: For your Tamarindo rainy season vacation, bring a pair of sandals that can get wet. When we say sandals, we mean something besides your flip-flops—something that straps to the back of your ankle. Why? Because of flip flops in the rain or on a wet road/sidewalk flip water, mud and little stones all up the back of your legs while you walk. We Tamarindo locals might know something about this. We actually prefer to take our shoes off to walk in the rain, but we know you don’t have jungle feet as we do, so we won’t recommend you do that. Bring rain-worthy sandals that strap to your feet so that you won’t slip or have to do a load of wash when you get back to your vacation rental.
Refreshing evenings
Evenings after a tropical rain shower are the best thing you will ever experience. Depending on where you live and what you’re accustomed to, you may find rainy season evenings pleasantly cool. You may, at most, want a light sweater or a light long-sleeved shirt. Don’t bother with coats or jackets—it never actually gets cold in Costa Rica at sea level. In May and June, the sun sets between 6 and 6:30 PM, and by 7:00 PM it is dark. These long tropical evenings under the stars or under raindrops are the perfect relaxing end to days filled with fun in the sun.
Enjoy a delicious meal at Pangas Beach Club in the cool evening breeze.
Warm ocean water
Rainy season wind patterns create amazingly warm ocean temperatures in Tamarindo. Breezes generally blow on-shore during the afternoon hours which keeps the sun-warmed surface water close to the beach where we can enjoy it. Surfers aren’t the biggest fans of on-shore winds, but if you get up early enough or you wait until sunset, a few hours of light off-shores are often your reward.
Mornings are the sunniest part of the day
No matter what else happens during the day, mornings are generally the sunniest. This is important to you to know so that you plan your trips and tours accordingly. Take your Tamarindo surf lessons, your canopy tours, your snorkeling trips, your ATV tours, or whatever else our concierge helps you plan during the morning if at all possible. Leave the afternoon for relaxing, listening to the rain, sipping a cocktail, or taking a nap.
Lower prices
Because the first half of the rainy season coincides with summer in the northern hemisphere, more vacationers choose destinations closer to home, and Tamarindo experiences its lower tourist season. Less demand creates, in some cases, lower prices. You won’t find this price fluctuation in stores or restaurants, but you may find it in hotels and vacation rentals, in car rental agencies, and in some tour companies. Boutiques offer sales and restaurants are more likely to offer low-season specials, especially to guests who pay in cash. Don’t be concerned about cash—you don’t need to go to the bank for colones. Tamarindo businesses are all more than happy for dollars and in fact, you will be surprised by how many of them lists prices in American dollars.
Many homes like this beach-front beauty are easier to afford in the lush green season.
Electricity flickers
This can happen at any time of year for a variety of reasons or for no reason at all, but for sure during Tamarindo’s rainy season, don’t panic if the lights go off. Storms are one of the things that can cause power outages. When the electricity goes, the wifi goes with it but don’t worry—when one comes back, the other will follow. Nowadays, power outages of longer than 30 minutes are rare. They aren’t impossible, but they are unlikely. If the lights go off for no apparent reason, just remember this is part of everyday life in the jungle and everything is going to be fine. If you can see that your vacation rental is the only house to have lost power, you might want to contact us or whichever company is responsible for the home. If you can see that other homes near yours have also lost power, the best thing you can do is hang tight and enjoy the ride. Property managers can pull a lot of strings, but power company issues are bigger than we are. Chances are we’re in the dark too, and the lights will be back by the time you find your phone.
Beautiful sunsets
Have you heard that the rainy season has the most beautiful sunsets? It’s true. The clouds act like screens or prisms the reflect or refract the light of the sun as it sinks below them on the horizon. Dry season sunsets are beautiful too, but they’re a simple firey ball sinking into the sea. Rainy season sunsets can be performance pieces that go on and on until night has completely fallen.
Every evening a unique show is displayed between the sky and sea.
A Word to the Wise: Rinse out your salty stuff
We’re ending this What to Expect post with a tip: rinse out your salty beach stuff with fresh water when you get out of the ocean. Why? Because salt holds moisture, and if you hang your salty bathing suit up to dry in the rainy season…it won’t. You will be putting on a clammy wet bathing suit tomorrow. Guaranteed. The salt in the cloth will pull water from the humid air, and your salty stuff will never dry. If you hang it in the sun and it dries there, it will pull in moisture from the air during the night and feel sticky when you go to put it on. It takes just a moment to rinse the salt out of your bathing suit before you drape it over the shower or a patio chair or to dry, and you’ll have a much more pleasant experience of putting it back on in the morning.
We have all kinds of rainy season tips and advice. Contact us to get in on the best of Tamarindo’s green season, 2019!
Along with all the other fun things you’re going to do on your Costa Rica vacation, make sure to leave some time to get out and explore the other beaches that are waiting for you here on what we affectionately call Guanacaste’s “Gold Coast.” These are our top 7 recommendations:
Tamarindo
Tamarindo beach. Photo property of crsurf.com
We know you won’t miss Tamarindo because it’s the home of your Tamarindo vacation rental, but let us tell you why it’s so wonderful so you can get just a little more excited for your trip. Tamarindo is for sure one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches. The wide crescent-shaped bay has picturesque hillsides that drop into the sea on either side, and in the middle Captain Island is crowned by white shells, lava rocks, and low bushes.
Tamarindo is exceptional because it shares its bay with the Las Baulas National Marine Park. All of Playa Grande which encompasses the northern half of Tamarindo Bay and the Las Baula estuary that bisects the beach are national park territory and therefore obey strict preservation codes. In Baula turtle nesting season, you can take a nighttime beach walking tour in Playa Grande and perhaps have the fortune of witnessing a giant sea turtle laying eggs. Boat or kayak tours of the estuary are an amazing way to see mother nature’s marine nursery and are available every day.
Surfing is what made Tamarindo famous back in the early 1990s when Robert August and Wingnut released the movie The Endless Summer II.
Surfing in Tamarindo. Photo courtesy of Leonardo Pinero
Different parts of the beach break better depending on swell direction, but in Tamarindo, there’s always something to ride. If you’re not a surfer, sign up for Tamarindo surf lessons because Tamarindo is the perfect place to get on a board for the first time. At the sandy beach break beside the estuary, you’re guaranteed not to meet up with a rock because there aren’t any, and the waves are gentle enough to be perfect for learning.
Non-surfers love Tamarindo as much as surfers do. It’s a safe beach for swimming, a spectacular place for people-watching, and when the tide is out you can wander endlessly in the sunshine along the water’s edge.
Langosta
Langosta is Tamarindo’s sister beach to the south. At low tide, you can get there from Tamarindo by walking around the rocky point and continuing on until you come to Langosta’s San Francisco estuary. You can’t get back to Tamarindo that way at high tide, so either make sure you don’t linger too long or be prepared to walk back along the road.
Langosta beach sunset at low tide
Langosta beach is rockier than Tamarindo, and the dropping tide fills hundreds of tide pools that act like mini saltwater swimming pools. Admire the shells, look for sea urchins, watch little crabs hurry and iridescent blue fish dart around. You can sit in the pools and enjoy the relaxing crash of waves on the rocks without having to navigate their strength.
Surfing is the favorite pastime in Langosta. Different spots along the beach are better at different tides, and the Langosta estuary is a favorite as well. On the other side of the estuary in Langosta, the sandy beach stretches all the way to Hacienda Pinilla with plenty of peaks to give you a ride. Because Langosta is more open to deep water and not in a shallow bay like Tamarindo, the waves are much bigger and stronger in Langosta. Langosta is much rockier, too, so no beginners, please. In Langosta, it’s best to paddle out only where you see other people surfing to avoid nasty reef rash and board repair.
Avellanas
If you’ve been researching the beaches in the Tamarindo area, you’ve already heard of Playa Avellanas. Avellanas is about 30 minutes south of Tamarindo over a road that is partially paved and partially not. You can get to Avellanas all year long, but how adventurous the ride will depend on the amount of rain that’s fallen recently.
Avellanas is the perfect place for a low-tide beach walk
Avellanas has got something for everyone. It’s a surfing beach for sure, with beach breaks, an estuary with a sand bar that holds a swell, and a popular reef break just in front of the beach club at Hacienda Pinilla. Avellanas is also an excellent place to go to just chill out. From the main parking lot, you can walk north for miles along the beach. Miles. If you decide to do that, take water, because Avellanas is not like Tamarindo–there are a few places to stop for refreshment but mostly there are mangroves and ocean.
Lola’s is a popular restaurant there in Avellanas by the parking area. It’s named after a famous beach pig who loved the salt water and lived a long happy life there on the property. Lola’s has food, drinks, shady seating and a few hammocks for customers who make it there on time to get one.
Playa Negra
Down the coast, past Avellanas you’ll come to Playa Negra. Playa Negra is named after the darker colored sand and is a favorite surf break for intermediate and advanced surfers. Playa Negra’s point break holds a big swell and the rocks you have to navigate on the way in and out of the water make it a place that beginners should leave to the more experienced.
Welcome to Playa Negra’s sun and surf
A fun little town has grown up around the break, with bars and restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, craft and souvenir stores and of course hotels and surf shops. If you’re not a surfer, you can still enjoy a swim in the water at one of Playa Negra’s less rocky spots. You can have a delicious meal at a beachfront restaurant and then take a leisurely beach walk and soak in the sun and the sounds of the pounding surf.
Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal is about a half hour north of Tamarindo. There are two ways to get to Playa Conchal–one of them is through the Reserva Conchal Resort, and the other is by continuing down the road to Playa Brasilito and then walking or driving along the sand to Conchal. Walking is always a safe bet. Driving can work, or you can get your rental car stuck in soft sand. The voice of experience, here, has done both and recommends the hike, but you decide. Obviously, the resort entrance is the favorite choice, but only guests of the resort are allowed through the gate, so if you’re just exploring, you’ll need to take the scenic route. But hey. Isn’t that the idea of exploring?
Photo by Stacy Epps
Playa Conchal is literally made of small shells. Historically it was made of shells of all sizes, but the growth of tourism brought about a quick end to variety. It’s still a beautiful beach, and wonderful for snorkeling, but if you can find it within your heart to leave the pretty shells where they are and take home only pictures, Playa Conchal will thank you for it. Who knows what factors are at play to make this spot the spot where so many millions of shells were deposited by ocean currents as to form the entire beach without actual sand? All beaches need their shells, but Playa Conchal especially needs them because, with no shells, it has nothing to be made of.
Bahia de Los Piratas
Bahia de Los Piratas, or Pirate’s Bay, is off the beaten path. Unpaved country roads through Guanacaste’s back country will take you to this beautiful little cove where swimming, snorkeling, and fishing are the favorite activities. Colorful fish, rays, turtles, starfish, and sea urchins are some of the things you may discover under the surface at Bahia Los Piratas.
Sun and shade at Bahia de Los Piratas
Pack a picnic lunch to eat in the sand under the trees at Bahia Los Piratas, or enjoy a simple meal at one of the little restaurants that you’ll find along the way. This is a great beach for a relaxing day or afternoon at a less commercial spot that locals love to visit.
Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach is a beautiful sandy beach located just a bit further north where the terrain becomes steeper and the hillsides drop almost directly into the water. The best way to enjoy Sugar Beach is to drive to the Sugar Beach Hotel, park in the hotel parking lot, and be sure to compensate for this service by purchasing something to eat or drink in the hotel’s beautiful ocean view restaurant.
Overlooking Sugar Beach from the hilltop
Sugar beach is not a surfing beach, but it’s a wonderful place to relax, swim, wander along the water’s edge in the sun, doze off in the shade, and enjoy a fantastic meal at another off-the-beaten-path spot you probably wouldn’t find if we hadn’t told you about it. You’ll pass lots of other interesting beaches and small towns on the way to and from Sugar Beach, so take your time to explore whatever you see that sparks your curiosity. Guanacaste is full of surprises to discover!
Email us or call us now with your questions so that we can help you get your Tamarindo vacation rental booked and give more information about the fantastic beaches you might want to visit during your Guanacaste vacation.
A Costa Rica destination wedding is a wonderful idea! You get to go on vacation with your favorite friends and close family while you celebrate this important moment—what’s not to love about that? The other thing that’s great about a destination wedding is that it automatically helps you make selections on the guest list. You don’t have to feel bad about not inviting your ex-next-door-neighbor or your best friend from the 7th grade because that’s not how destination weddings work. It’s the perfect compromise between having a “normal” wedding, and eloping—you get to celebrate, but only with your nearest and dearest. Awesome.
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
So why should you pick Tamarindo for your Costa Rica wedding? We think it’s a no-brainer and there are 6 of the top reasons!
Tamarindo Beach Is Amazing
Tamarindo beach is fabulously, famously beautiful. At low tide in Tamarindo, the water recedes, leaving a vast stretch of sand with outcroppings of lava rock that is a dream setting for a tropical sunset wedding. What could be more romantic? We can’t think of anything. High tide beach weddings are beautiful as well, with the water lapping at your toes and the sound of breaking waves providing the music. If you decide not to hold your wedding directly on the beach, there are lots of beachfront venues available where Tamarindo can form the backdrop of the photos you will treasure for a lifetime.
Tamarindo Beach in the early morning.
You and your guests are going to do a lot more than just have a wedding ceremony on this trip, and Tamarindo beach is a place that has something for everyone. The surfers can surf, the swimmers can swim, and grandma can sip pina coladas in the shade. You might think that’s a given at any beach, but not necessarily. Some beaches are too rough for swimming, others are too flat for surfing, and many are remote enough that a cold umbrella drink would be hard to come by. Tamarindo has it all, and the beach itself is reason number one not to go anywhere else. You probably don’t even need the other five reasons, but here they are:
The Climate is Perfect
Tamarindo has perfect weather. Think about it: that’s the main ingredient that puts a place on the destination wedding list in the first place, right? People aren’t exactly lining up to get married in Iceland. In Tamarindo, we have 365 days of summer, and rainy days–days when it rains from morning to night–are rare.
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
There are two seasons in this region: the rainy season and the dry season. It’s impossible to say which one is the “best” because there are “best” things about both of them. The best things about the rainy season are:
–Everything is lush and green.
–The sunsets are glorious, with the clouds that act like prisms and turn every imaginable color.
–Evenings are comfortably cooler.
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
The best things about the dry season are:
–For 6 months you can forget about the rain factor.
–The humidity is very low.
–Tamarindo is at its busy, vibrant best.
When you contact us for more information, we can tell you what kind of weather to expect on your special day.
For your Costa Rica destination wedding, you need the perfect vacation rental and you also need the perfect venue for the event. Tamarindo has both of these things. We offer elite vacation rentals that range from beachfront to mountain top—many of which are so spectacularly beautiful that many couples choose to make the vacation rental property the event venue. In other words, in Tamarindo, it is possible to rent a house so big and so gorgeous that you scrap the idea of getting married directly on the beach, and you instead get married in the beachfront or ocean view mansion that you have rented with your family and friends. You can have a catered meal, a DJ, a Costa Rica wedding photographer and more —in the privacy of your own five-star space. Think it over.
Casa de Luz is an excellent Tamarindo vacation rental home/event venue
In the Tamarindo area, there are vacation rental homes/event venues that can sleep over 20 guests. Another option is to rent multiple adjacent villas in a gated community if you’re bringing a large multi-family group. We’re the experts at helping you get these details ironed out, so contact us and let’s talk about what kind of Tamarindo wedding you’d like to have.
You Get Your Favorite1st World Amenities
You may not have thought about it this way, but one reason Tamarindo it the best place for your Costa Rica wedding is that you and your guests will be comfortable here. We absolutely recommend that you branch out and do some roughing-it in life, but… maybe not for your wedding! You can do that next year—plus you have grandpa with you and your sister’s pack of kids, so let’s make things easy on everybody. Here are some comforts you will find in Tamarindo—things you might take for granted but shouldn’t in Central America—that you cannot be guaranteed to find just anywhere:
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
–We’re less than 2 hours from the airport.
–The roads are paved.
–We have American-style supermarkets.
–Everybody has wi-fi.
–Everything is air-conditioned.
–We have pharmacies, dentists, and doctor’s offices. Just in case.
–It’s easy to rent a car in Tamarindo. Oh, and the gas station is only 10 minutes away.
–You can walk anywhere in town (yay, no steep hills).
–The water is drinkable (most people prefer bottled water, but the tap water will not make you sick).
–You can use American dollars pretty much everywhere.
–Essentially every business of has at least one person who speaks English.
Tamarindo Has Excellent Restaurants
One of the reasons to have your destination wedding in Tamarindo is that the town is full of great restaurants. Our very favorite is Pangas Beach Club, and Pangas Beach Club also happens to be an excellent wedding venue. Pangas is located in the sand at the sleepy north end of Tamarindo beach underneath sprawling laurel trees and beside the Las Baulas National Park. Their menu is amazing, and the setting is magical. No, it really is. At Pangas, your event can be held in the outdoor beachfront dining area under the trees or moved indoors if the weather is uncooperative. It’s the perfect place to combine the option of a beach wedding in the sand with an elegant meal and your own private dance party afterward. Pangas also caters, so if you decide to get married at your vacation rental, keep them in mind for the meal.
And then there are all the other restaurants in town! Where to go for dinner is one of the toughest choices Tamarindo’s visitors have to make and believe us, it’s not easy. A destination wedding is a very special trip for everyone in your group, so you want a place like Tamarindo where every meal you get will be the best one you’ve had on vacation.
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
There Are Tons of Fun Things To Do
You getting married is obviously the most unforgettable part of this trip for everyone, but so many other wonderful memories are going to be tied to this trip forever for all involved. Tamarindo and the surrounding area is a playground of fun and fascinating things to do. There is literally something for everyone. There is golf, sport fishing, and surfing. There are catamaran cruises, spas and wellness centers, yoga studios, and shopping. There are National park tours, canopy zip lines, ATV treks, mountain biking and of course the let’s not forget just enjoying the beach! Your Tamarindo wedding is going to be the central event of the best vacation your friends and family have ever had because Tamarindo literally has something for everyone.
The fun isn’t over when the sun goes down, either! Tamarindo nightlife offers everything from fire dancers on the beach just after sunset to deejays that will keep you dancing all night long. Have your bachelor and bachelorette parties where you can dance in the sand and stroll down the street exploring the colors and languages that mix in this unique town.
Photo: Toh Gouttenoire
Because of all of the reasons that Tamarindo is the best place for your Costa Rica destination wedding, you aren’t the first one to think of it—lucky you! Many first-class wedding planners make a living in Tamarindo and we’d be happy to give you our recommendations on who to call first. Let us help you get the party started.
Casa Puros Dieces
