Tamarindo is the kind of place that families love. In addition to great dining, incredible scenery, and plenty of family-friendly vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, our corner of paradise offers much for families to see, do, and experience together.
Because, whether you’re the kind to tackle adventures – everything from zip lines and volcano-climbing to surfing and ocean kayaking – or more the type to relax at the pool together, Tamarindo is just the kind of place for your family.
And with that in mind, here are a few of our favorite things. Which will become a few of yours?
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Go Surfing
There’s nothing as quintessential to Tamarindo as surfing. And, while Tamarindo is one of the world’s favorite surfer spots, it’s also surprisingly welcoming to beginners and kids, too. Because yes, there are great challenges to be found but there are also gentle waves and sandy ocean bottoms perfect for your first ride or your hundredth practice. And there’s nothing like seeing the expression on your kid’s face when she catches her very first wave!
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Go Zip-Lining
If surfing is quintessential to Tamarindo, then canopy zip-lines are the OG Costa Rican adventure. While they’ve been around for decades, this high-flying fun is still just as popular as ever. And that’s because they’re good, safe, family fun! Kids aged 4+ can test their mettle and squeal with delight as they fly through the trees, catch up-close glimpses of wildlife, and experience nature as never before.
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Go ATV Off-Roading
Let loose your wild sides on the saddle of an ATV! These all-terrain vehicles easily conquer Costa Rica’s backroads and hillsides, taking you to views and spots you’d have a tough time accessing otherwise. (FYI, most vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica are either downtown or on paved hillside roads!) And then, there’s the serious bonus of seeing your kids’ faces light up with joy and exhilaration – the wind in their hair, the breeze at their back, and the wheels beneath their seat.
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SUP, Paradise?
If surfing isn’t quite your thing but you still want to get out onto a surfboard, then consider stand-up paddleboarding (aka SUP). This wildly popular watersport is both relaxing and more challenging than it looks – you’ll have to check your balance and engage your core, but once you’re up, it’s easy paddling! – and offers some of the most incredible sightseeing and wildlife watching around Tamarindo Bay.
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Hit the Farmer’s Market
Take a break from the adrenaline and explore a beloved niche of Costa Rican culture: the weekly feria, or farmer’s market, held every Saturday morning. Both adventurous and picky eaters alike will find something love here, from ripe red strawberries and juicy mangos to more exotic fruits, including spiky soursop (guanabana) and hairy red rambutan (mamón chino).
Featured Family Rental: Ibis Condo #1
Tamarindo | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | Sleeps 6
When you seek rest, harmony, and total relaxation, Ibis Condo #1 delivers. One of our favorite family-friendly vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, this cozy condo is just right for small families who seek big amenities and serious oceanfront charm.
Located at the serene and beachfront Langosta Beach Club, this lovely condo is directly across from the beach – and yet, just a 10-minute walk to downtown Tamarindo. It’s the best of both worlds, for travelers who prefer to have one foot in tranquility and the other in the joys of downtown life, from tours and shopping to dining and nightlife.
At Ibis Condo #1, you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world: Sit out on your private terrace, surrounded by forest foliage. Retreat to your condo interiors, warm with local hardwoods, tropical ambiance, and modern touches. Prepare a meal in the fully equipped kitchen, read a book outdoors in the shade, or simply spend time with your travel companions. That’s why you’re here, after all!
Your rental also includes full membership privileges at Langosta Beach Club, with its beachfront, infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the warm Pacific, plus upscale amenities including a French restaurant, full fitness center, Pilates and yoga studio, and a great bar with spectacular ocean views.
>> Inquire Here <<
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Go Dolphin & Whale Watching
Almost nothing can match the delight of a child who has just spotted a breaching whale or playful dolphin. Find out for yourself when you book a Tamarindo whale-watching tour, which takes you aboard a boat to spot humpback whales, several area dolphin species and, if timed right, the occasional nesting sea turtle.
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Smear Yourself with Mud (+ Hot Springs!)
The family that giggles and gets muddy together, stays together! That’s our motto, at least when we’re out for a day at nearby Rincón de la Vieja National Park, where you and your family will explore volcanic fumaroles, bubbling mud, and eerie steam holes before heading to the hot springs, where you can soak away the day (and treat your skin to some volcanic mud!).
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Go Horseback Riding
If you’ve ever dreamed of riding down the beach at sunset (or in the surf), then here’s your chance! And while Tamarindo’s horseback riding tours are the stuff fantasies are made of, they’re also a hint of our local culture: Our province of Guanacaste has been the wild frontier, teeming with cattle ranches, cowboys, and their trusty steeds.
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Take a Sunset Sail
If your kids are a little older – or if they just love a good swim in the sea followed by a tranquil sunset – then a Tamarindo sunset sail is a Can’t-Miss Activity. This afternoon tour first ferries you to a secluded cove, where you’ll snorkel, swim, or simply enjoy the sun, before motoring out into the Pacific for a close-up view of the fiery sun and its evening friend, the horizon.
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Ride a Jungle Water Slide
THE bucket-list activity of many a kid (and their kid-at-heart parents), Costa Rica’s famous jungle waterslide is an absolute must for many visiting families. Located on the slopes of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, this jungle adventure includes horseback riding, zipline canopies, open-air hot springs, and the promised 400-meter (a quarter-mile!) waterslide through the rainforest.
Featured Family Rental: Sunrise 3
Tamarindo | 3 Beds | 2 Baths | Sleeps 6
Nicknamed “Bella Vida” – the Beautiful Life – Sunrise 3 is one of our most popular vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica for great reasons: It has Pacific Ocean views. The community has incredible amenities. And the condo walking distance to everything.
That last part is important. Here in the land of year-round sun and the pura vida, you usually have to make a choice: Do you want views or do you want convenience? Sunrise 3 defies the can’t-have-it-all trope and delivers both! Because, while you’ll have ocean views from your private terrace, you’re also in the heart of Tamarindo – no taxis, no Ubers, no asking for a ride… You can walk everywhere.
And did we mention? Said everywhere includes the beach, which is located just a few steps across the street. Ahhh, paradise!
Added to the condo’s unparalleled convenience and location, Sunrise 3 also delivers cozy condo interiors, a breezy private terrace/balcony, a beachy color palette, a well-equipped kitchen, and lightning-fast 100 Mbps internet. You’ll also have access to the community’s oversized resort pool, with a spectacular water feature and many sun loungers.
As we said, welcome to paradise!
>> Inquire Here <<
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Go Boogie Boarding
If you (or your kids) aren’t quite feeling the surf, then take some time to enjoy the next-best thing: boogie boards! While tamer (thanks to smaller waves and full-body-to-board contact) than their surfboard counterparts, boogies boards still offer an exciting ride and a chance to claim a bit of Tamarindo’s surf as your very own! You can rent a board for a budget-friendly $10-$15/day, and the ultra-gentle waves in front of Hotel Capitán Suizo are perfect for even the tiniest boarders.
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Explore the Ocean by Kayak
Whether you’re here for birdwatching (go early) or prefer sun-splashed scenery (all day), an ocean kayak can provide a window into the Tamarindo that few ever see. It’s active, it’s fun, and, if you hit the waves right, it’s exciting! And it’s also enlightening: Depending on the time of day (and your luck), you could spot birds and monkeys in the mangroves or sea turtles and dolphins out at sea. And even when the wildlife is taking a nap, the estuaries and Pacific remain an incredible sight.
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Discover a Waterfall
If you can think of nothing more refreshing (and memorable) than a hike to and swim beneath a waterfall, then welcome! Our scenic province of Guanacaste is studded with falling water both great and small, many accompanied by cool, mountain-fed swimming holes below. Be sure to ask, though, before you swim: Some waterfalls are safe, while others are considered to be viewing-only! (Check out 5 of our favorite waterfalls in Guanacaste.)
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Find a Secluded Beach
While beaches are an integral element of any family vacation, secluded beaches are the kind of thing that takes your visit from family fun to forever memories. So, take a day (or a few) to peruse some of our area’s off-the-beaten-path sands – ask us, and we’ll point you in many right directions! – and discover everything from tiny strips of sand to huge swaths of beach that you can almost call your own, if only for a few hours.
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Go Fishing
Tamarindo is world-renowned for its sportfishing – everything from hard-fighting billfish to yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi (dorado). For fishing and outdoorsy families, this can be one of your trip’s most memorable experiences: teaching your kids how to hold the reel, watching their excitement as a fish tweaks their line for the very first time, and cheering them on as they reel in (or lose) their first fighter. And hey, if you catch something worth eating, our family vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica have fully equipped kitchens (and often, outdoor grills) perfect for preparing your catch-of-the-day!
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Take a Hike
Life comes at us fast and before we know it, our kids are grown. Sometimes, we need to take a beat and remind ourselves to slow down. Hiking is one of those times: It’s an hour, an afternoon, or a day to take your time and look around. To chat with your kids and create new memories. To delight in watching a monkey troupe pass through the trees or squeal at your first wild sloth sighting. Because in life, especially family life, sometimes the simple things are the most rewarding.
Inquire About Our Family-Friendly Vacation Rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Whether you’re traveling with just the kids or are planning a huge family reunion, our vacation rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica can more than accommodate! We offer everything from cozy two-bedroom condos to 8+ bedroom private resorts equipped with ocean-view infinity pools, daily meals, and so much more.
Can you imagine a 2022 family vacation in Costa Rica? We sure can! Get in touch.
