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Exploring One of the Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica - Southern Pacific
Some of the best places to visit in Costa Rica are hidden in the rainy jungle areas in the central Pacific regions of Costa Rica. Your Tamarindo vacation rental is a full day’s drive north of these spectacular jungle surprises, so to see them, you’re going to have to call your boss, contact the airline and extend your trip! It’s worth it. The purity of the beautiful jungle you will discover off the beaten path in Costa Rica is amazing. These are spots that your average tourist on the average Costa Rica vacation is not going to see or probably even heard of, but we thought you might want to know about.
Photo by Alan Godfrey
You could get to the southern Pacific portion of Costa Rica either on a SANSA flight from Tamarindo’s small regional airport to Puerto Jimenez in the heart of this lush area, or you can drive. Both options offer beautiful scenery from a different perspective. How much time do you have?
If you drive, make sure that you take the coast road, pass Jaco and Quepos and keep pushing south. It won’t be long until you’re winding between the ocean and the mountains on your way to Dominical. This area is famous as being among the best places to visit in Costa Rica for surfing and whale watching. Whales obeying migratory patterns pass through deep water close to the Costa Rican shoreline every year, giving us wonderful opportunities to observe them. Other areas, like Tamarindo, for example, set behind a more significant ocean shelf which makes whale sightings somewhat unusual. In the Southern Pacific segment of Costa Rica, however, whales are much easier to see and you will have a much better chance of getting to watch them glide by in the water. Another thing that Dominical and other southern beaches have due to the proximity of deep ocean water is big waves. Take your surf lessons in Tamarindo for sure, and leave the southern surf to the more experienced paddlers.
Photo by Steve Halama
While you’re in the Dominical area, before you push south to Uvita and beyond, spend a day at the Nauyaca Waterfall. This amazing spectacle is one of the most unbelievable things you will see during your visit to Costa Rica. Take a jungle horseback ride through the rainforest and end up at a hidden waterfall that thunders from the mountain. Bring your bathing suit because you’ll want to jump in!
The whole southern region of Costa Rica is full of surprises that your average tourist never sees. Its distance from both international airports weed out most travelers right away because if you come to Costa Rica with only a week to explore, there are so many other easier, closer destinations. But you’ve been to all of them already, and you’re ready to take it up a notch–to see the real rainforest and to live on the outer edges of the grid. The extreme dry season that is natural to the Pacific Northwest (Tamarindo) never makes it into the southern third of Costa Rica. Here, it is green all year round, trees looking like something from Lord of the Rings form solid canopies and ferns you thought were only houseplants tower wild above your head.
Photo courtesy of https://nauyacawaterfallscostarica.com
Push south past Dominical and you’ll come to Uvita. In Uvita, you’ll want to visit Marino Ballena (Whale) National Park, go snorkeling, and watch the humpback whales that pass by on their annual migratory routes.
Past Uvita, you’ll arrive at the Osa Peninsula, the true jewel at the heart of the south of Costa Rica. Our featured property there is called Casa del Cabo, a two-bedroom luxury jungle bungalow perched on a hill that overlooks the sapphire blue of the Golfo Dulce. This home is the ideal Costa Rica vacation rental for nature lovers who enjoy open-air living in harmony with their environment. It is constructed from local natural-fall lumber and leaves a minimal ecological footprint. Dozens of fruit trees planted around the property feed birds, monkeys, and iguanas as well as the home’s visitors on fresh seasonal fruit. You can walk to the beach from this home to surf, fish, beachcomb and swim all day long. It’s easily at the top of the list of the best places to visit in Costa Rica.
Casa del Cabo is a luxury jungle bungalow near Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula
There are two more things you have to do while you’re traveling through Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coastal region. One of them is that you have to visit Corcovado National Park. Corcovado National park is where you will find the only remaining old growth rainforest on the Pacific coast of Central America. The park includes 23 miles of pristine beaches and a diversity of flora and fauna unequaled anywhere else in Central America. Backpacking is the recommended way to see Corcovado National Park. All park visitors are required to enter with a certified guide who will help to ensure your safety. If jungle camping isn’t your style, shorter day-time hikes can lead you through the beauty of this unique park and get you back into your bed for a good night’s sleep.
The second thing you can’t miss in this region if you’re a surfer, is Pavones. Across the Golfo Dulce from Corcovado National Park, Pavones is about a stone’s throw from Panama. It is also one of the longest-breaking lefts in the world, so if you’re a goofy-foot surfer, GET THERE. The curvature of the way the land and sea meet on the south point of the Golfo Dulce creates a wave that is unimaginably long. You’ll get out with your board and walk back up the beach to paddle out again and again until you’re so tired you can only sit at the beach-front bar by the break and watch it peel. Now, that’s a dream vacation!
Pavones. Photo courtesy of Una Ola Surf Camp
The real question to ponder is, “How are you going to make this happen?” If you’re able to take a longer break from your day job, you could combine a southern jungle safari trip with a Tamarindo vacation rental. After a trek through the untamed south, Tamarindo–with our tame beaches and upscale selection of cuisine–will seem like the lap of luxury to everyone you’re traveling with! If you’re already familiar with Guanacaste and you’re willing to pass us by on this trip, you could simply fly into and out of San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport which will be closer to these destinations than Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport.
Contact us now and let us help you plan your Costa Rica trip. We’re the local experts and our Concierge can answer all of your questions and throw you helpful tips to make sure this trip to Costa Rica is the best one you’ve ever taken!
Your Vacation Guide to Costa Rica's Semana Santa (Easter Week)
You call it Easter Week; Latin America calls it Semana Santa. You celebrate with chocolate, colorful eggs, and meals based on ham or perhaps lamb. Costa Rica celebrates with…none of the above. Costa Rica celebrates with stuffed tamales, corn and dried cheese biscuits called “rosquillas,” trips to the beach, and lots of guaro. It’s going to be the cultural experience of your life. We’re creating this guide for you so that you can know what to expect when to expect it, and how to have the best vacation of your life in the midst of this unique cultural experience.
Photo by Natalya Zaritskya
Semana Santa Weather
First, lets’ talk about the weather. Semana Santa comes at the hottest time of year. If you love hot, you’re going to be the happiest beach bum on the beach! If you don’t do well with heat and you have booked an Easter vacation in a Tamarindo, you will probably choose to spend the middle part of the days in air-conditioned places or up to your neck in the pool. This is no problem! Your Tamarindo vacation rental or Tamarindo hotel will have air conditioning and a pool, so enjoy! Open-air dining in Costa Rica is common, but some air-conditioned Tamarindo restaurant options are The Santa Rita Café, Nordico Coffee, Rumors, Wok n Roll, Wabi Sabi Sushi, Antichi Sapori, and Buon Appetit. Hit the beach in the early mornings before 9 or after 5 pm for sunset, and you will still catch it at the most beautiful times of the day.
What Happens in Tamarindo During Semana Santa
Semana Santa starts on the Monday before Easter, and for the first few days, it’s pretty much like any other week of the year. This is our busy season, so the town will be lively, the streets will be busy and this Tuesday won’t look much different than last Tuesday. Things will start changing though, on Wednesday because from Thursday to Monday, the entire country shuts down. Everybody in Costa Rica is on vacation.
photo by Vivana Araque
The beaches, which up until Wednesday afternoon/evening have been full of vacationers from around the world, will now be visited, additionally, by all of Costa Rica.
Anybody who has a car or can get into a bus or a van goes to the beach with as many members of their family as possible during Semana Santa. It’s a national tradition. Costa Ricans from San Jose who doesn’t get to the beach at any other time of year escapes the city now for some sand and sun. It gets wild. Hotels are full. Hostels are full. Any place you can park a car becomes a campground. You kind of have to see it to believe it. It’s got its pros and its cons. If you chose Tamarindo for its lively nightlife and colorful people-watching, you will be thrilled with the spectacle Semana Santa provides. If you chose Tamarindo for its peaceful sunsets and laid-back vibe…you might experience the cons a little more acutely. Just so you know.
The “real” Costa Rica blends itself in with the designed-for-the-tourist Costa Rica beach experience during Semana Santa and it is truly a unique once-a-year experience.
Things You Will Like About Semana Santa in Tamarindo
–free concerts at the beach
–unbeatable people-watching where you can observe Costa Rica’s various cultures (rural, city) in addition to the international mix of visitors|
–lively nightlife from sunset until dawn
–hot, sunny weather every day
Photo courtesy of Leonardo Pinero
Things You Might Not Love About Semana Santa in Tamarindo
–There will be lines in the grocery stores. Expect this, and be prepared to practice your pura vida.
–The beach is going to be very full. Some people don’t mind this and some do. Just know that in Semana Santa it is totally normal and to be expected.
–There will be traffic chaos in Tamarindo. Again, we want your expectations to be realistic. Tamarindo is a resort town built along the streets of a sleepy fishing village, so Semana Santa traffic is a mess. It isn’t dangerous, but it will require everyone to practice their patience.
Semana Santa Survival Tips
–Go to the grocery store early in the week and STOCK UP. We know you’re on vacation and you’d like to take a break from meal planning, but believe us: stock up. You’ll be able to go to the store any day, but do yourself this favor. It will make your vacation more restful. When you do need to make a store run, the earlier hours of the day will have shorter lines and the people in them will be soberer. That helps.
Stock up ahead of time and avoid lines later
–Remember this: In Costa Rica, it is technically illegal to buy/sell alcohol from Thursday through Saturday. In tourist-centered areas like Tamarindo, this law is no longer enforced, so you won’t run into trouble right here. You may not be able to buy a beer in small towns or other less-tourist-oriented locations. Just so you know.
–Download a Tamarindo tide chart https://crsurf.com/costa-rica-surf-report/costa-rica-tide-charts-2019/ and enjoy the beach at low tide as often as you can during Semana Santa. At low tide, there’s more beach! High tide compresses the Semana Santa throngs into a thin ribbon along the street and the buildings, and honestly, it can be kind of a lot. A quick glance at the tide chart shows that the tide will be low in the mornings and evenings when the climate is the kindest, so already the elements are conspiring to give you a break.
–Make dinner reservations. This is a good idea during the whole busy tourist season, and especially in Semana Santa. You don’t need to book weeks ahead—a few hours, or a day at the most, should be fine.
–Walk. Seriously. If at all possible from your Tamarindo vacation rental or hotel, walk where you need to go. Wear comfortable walking sandals, bring a hat, bring a light-colored long-sleeved cotton shirt to keep the sun off, bring a backpack to carry your stuff (avoid the shoulder/back pain that comes from heavy shoulder bags that cause you to walk in an unbalanced manner), and WALK. You will get where you’re going faster on foot than taking the car and getting stuck in Semana Santa Tamarindo traffic. Walk. You won’t be able to find anywhere to park the car, anyway.
–Sign up for some day activities that take you out and about. A short list of suggestions follows:
Take an estuary tour. The tour lasts only about 2 hours, but the Las Baulas Estuary that separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande is an untouched national park and is probably the single most relaxing thing you can do in Tamarindo besides floating in the pool with a pina colada. Which you could also do.
Explore the beautiful Las Baulas estuary
Take an afternoon sailing/snorkeling trip. Anything that puts you on a boat and gets you out to sea is a great idea. The tours will probably be full, but they won’t be too full to be fantastic. The ocean is relaxing, and whereas there is no limit on how many people can go to the beach, there is a limit on how many people can get on the boat. Tamarindo offers a list of sailboats and catamarans that do half-day sailing trips with drinks, munchies and snorkel gear included. You’ll escape the crowds for the afternoon and be back just after sunset.
Sign up for a day-trip adventure package. There are lots of them and they are so much fun! Since everyone who can get to the beach will be here, spend a day in the mountains zip-lining, horseback riding, checking out wildlife refuges and butterfly gardens, river rafting, hiking…there are all kinds of options. Let our concierge help you decide which adventure center offers the package that best suits your style.
How about a hug from a friendly boa constrictor?
Semana Santa is lots of fun and marks the end of our high season. Next up is the time when things slow down and, hopefully, sooner rather than later, the rains begin. We really need them! Contact us now about activities to plan during your Semana Santa stay in Tamarindo or to make a reservation during our upcoming green season.
Things to do In Tamarindo - March/April 2019
Welcome to your Tamarindo spring break! It’s hot, it’s sunny, and there are lots of exciting Things to Do in Tamarindo to make this the most fun vacation you’ve ever taken. If you haven’t already done so, make your reservation right now for your Tamarindo Vacation Rental. The town will fill to capacity in the coming weeks, so get your foot in the door now!
photo by Anders Wideskott
Tamarindo International Surf Film Festival
We’re kicking off the excitement on March 15 and 16 with the First Annual Tamarindo International Surf Film Festival. The festival will be held on the at the Multicines movie theatre beside Automercado just before you hit the beach in Tamarindo. This event is part of the Robert August Surf and Turf golf/surf tournament that takes place right here every year and benefits CEPIA. CEPIA is a non-profit organization in Guanacaste that helps schools and organizes sports, educational activities, and counseling services for the local children and youth. There are going to be two evenings of surf films, food, music, and raffles. Advance purchase tickets are 15$ for one night or 25$ for both nights. Tickets will be available at the door as well for 20$ each.
You can buy advance tickets for the International Surf Film Festival at the Tamarindo Multicines movie theater or at Bookstore of the Waves beside Cafe Tico.
Learn more about the festival, where to buy tickets, and about CEPIA here: www.tamarindosurffilmfestival.org
photo by Cameron Kirby
Fiestas in Villareal
What do you know–the end of the Surf Film Festival is not the end of the fun, because, on March 17, you don’t want to miss the Tope that kicks off a week of fiestas in Villareal. This is a real Costa Rican traditional cultural event!
A tope is kind of like a giant horse parade–with plenty of booze–that ends in a rodeo. See, we told you that you don’t want to miss it! The origin of this tradition hails from Guanacaste’s cattle ranching culture and simulates a massive cattle round-up, except that nowadays the bulls for the week’s rodeo will be transported to the arena in trucks. The tope procession will leave Tamarindo and ride over the back road through the mountains to Villareal on Sunday afternoon. If you’re not up for mid-day horseback ride in the blazing sun, don’t worry. Get to Villareal where there will be food, music, and dancing as the riders arrive in the late afternoon.
Practice up on your Spanish by checking out the Facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/events/557885081289072/
photo property of The Howler Magazine
La Senda Music Festival
Make sure you don’t miss the one-of-a-kind La Senda Music Festival on March 22 and 23. La Senda is the world’s largest natural maze and it is located right here in Guanacaste about 20 minutes from Tamarindo. On the weekend of March 22 and 23, La Senda will host a celebration of art and music dedicated to the purpose of elevating our senses and leading us to become more conscious of the immediacy of nature and of our presence in the here and now. Tickets for these events are on sale right now at various area businesses and through Yapp app.
World Wine Festival
The following weekend on March 30, plan to attend The Wine World Festival at Reserva Conchal. This festival will be a day to celebrate wonderful wines, live music, and the beach. Tickets are $20 and include admission to the festival, a personal wine glass, and a welcome mimosa.
photo by Kelsey Knight
That will wrap it up for March, but April is busy too! Semana Santa begins on April 14, but let’s save the best news for last.
Bingo!
One thing you can do every month in Tamarindo is join our community for a bingo game that benefits the Surfrider Foundations beach cleaning program. This bingo game is a great way to make a donation and come away with a fantastic prize! It’s held on the first Friday of every month at the Surf Club Sports Bar at 7 PM.
Clasica Reacreativa Mountain Bike Race
On April 18, right in the middle of Semana Santa, Hacienda Pinilla will host the 5th annual Recreativa mountain bike race. Hacienda Pinilla is full of exciting mountain bike trails that range in difficulty from no-problem to are-you-kidding-me. The race has a 40 kilometer and a 220-kilometerroute, so pick the one you’re most ready for and don’t forget that midday temperatures at this time of year are often in the upper 90’s. The race costs $25 to join and includes hydration stations and free t-shirts for the first 200 takers. Check out the link below that will give you more information on the race and get signed up in time for a shirt: https://www.evolutionmarketingcr.com/mtb-recreativa-pinilla
photo property of 5ta Clasica Recreativa
Semana Santa
So now, on to Semana Santa. Semana Santa is what we call Easter Week in Latin America. Outside of Latin America, Easter is normally a day or at the most, a weekend. Here, it’s a whole week. If you haven’t ever experienced Semana Santa in Costa Rica–well, you’re in for a surprise.
Semana Santa starts off rather unobtrusively. At first, you might not notice anything special about it, but hang tight. Schools are closed during Semana Santa and by the end of the week, everything is closed. Everything. As a tourist visiting popular tourist destinations, you probably won’t directly experience the “everything is closed” factor, but if you were to roll through the capital city or small Costa Rican towns instead of hanging at the beach, you would. Here comes an important piece of information: as everything is closed during Semana Santa, it means pretty much all of Costa Rica is on vacation. And what do Costa Ricans do when they’re on vacation? The same thing you do! They go to the beach! The beaches, during the second half of Semana Santa, are jam-packed. They just are. You should know this. If you love lots of activity and people-watching, this will be fun for you. If you love solitude and quiet beach walks, Semana Santa may tax your patience. Tamarindo is never boring, but during Semana Santa, just like the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, it really does become a whole different place.
Tamarindo is a busy place during Semana Santa and year-end holidays!
If you thrive on the vibrancy of busy beaches and love the free concerts and family activities, please join right in! If you are looking for a more restful atmosphere, you may want to go exploring. Head south to Avellanas, Playa Negra, or venture as far as Nosara and Playa Guiones. Trek north. Brasilito and Flamingo will probably be busy, but swing by Playa Potrero, Playa Danta, or Sugar Beach.
Another thing you could do to beat the Semana Santa crowds is planning some Tamarindo tours to places like Rincon de La Vieja National Park, an Arenal Volcano Tour or do the Monteverde Canopy Tour at the Monteverde cloud forest. These spots will be cooler than the sweltering coast, and whereas they are popular destinations, will not receive as much traffic as Tamarindo.
As you can see, this is going to be the best spring break of your life. The temperatures are climbing and so is the excitement in Tamarindo! Contact us and let us help you lay out a vacation plan for the coming weeks.
How to Get from Any Costa Rican Airport to Tamarindo
Let’s start at the beginning. You’re planning a trip to Tamarindo. You’ve already booked your Tamarindo vacation rental, so you will be purchasing a plane ticket that lands you either in the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, or in the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. Which one is better? Good question. It depends on the length of your vacation and the places you most want to visit. Tickets into San Jose (the capital) are often cheaper than tickets into Liberia, but San Jose is a 5-hour drive from Tamarindo. (Best-case scenario estimate on time, there.)
Photo by Farhath Firows
Liberia is only about one hour away from Tamarindo and other favorite beaches, which makes it a vacation favorite. If you’re coming to do a full Costa Rica tour and plan to spend time in the Central Valley as well as in Guanacaste, then SJO might be your better choice. Otherwise, forget it. Spend the extra money and fly into LIR, because what you save on tickets you will spend overnight in a hotel and on transport to Tamarindo.
Assuming you take our advice and fly into LIR, here is:
How to get to Tamarindo from LIR
- Shuttle van transfer
The easiest, cheapest way for you to get from the Liberia airport to Tamarindo is on a shuttle bus. Tamarindo Shuttle is a reliable company that has been operating this route (and many others!) for many years. Tickets are affordable and you can book them online. The great thing about a shuttle bus, in addition to the price, is that you don’t have to worry about being overcharged, about getting lost, or about your luggage disappearing—you just get off the plane and into the van. Next thing you know you’ll be climbing out of the van at your Tamarindo hotel.
If it means anything to you, this is the way Tamarindo locals (like me) get to and from the airport. Wink, wink.
- Private shuttle transfer
If you are traveling with a large group or if you prefer to hire your own van for privacy or for the privilege of not having to share, private shuttle transfers are also an option. Contact us for private Liberia to Tamarindo shuttle information and reservations. We may have a sister company that does the best private transfers in Costa Rica!
- Rental car
Renting a car might even be the #1 option if: you are not going to be super tired when you arrive, it’s going to be daylight when you arrive, and you have a healthy spirit of adventure. Hear me when I say: DRIVING FROM LIBERIA TO TAMARINDO IS EASY. You have to make all of 3 turns, after you leave the airport, to arrive at the beach. Finding your Tamarindo Vacation rental or your Tamarindo Hotel, however, can be another matter. Roads are narrow, twisty, not always well-lit and signs are usually confusing or non-existent. But we do drive on the right side of the road here and if you need to stop and ask for directions, everyone knows where Tamarindo is. So, think it over. If you’d like a rental car to meet you at the airport in Liberia, let us know. We can make that happen, and we work with only the best.
- Taxi
You can take a taxi. This is the best method to get to Tamarindo ONLY if you have for some reason failed to plan ahead and make other arrangements. Why? Because taxi drivers can charge you whatever they want. If you haven’t booked a shuttle, you haven’t rented a car, and you need to get to Tamarindo, sooner or later you’re going to pay whatever you have to. We don’t have safety concerns about taxis from Liberia to Tamarindo, but you will pay more than necessary. If that’s not a concern for you, then don’t worry about it. Get off the plane, throw your bags in a taxi, and get here!
Tamarindo Bay’s stunning dry-season shades of blue.
- Public bus
Please don’t take the public bus. We’re putting it on the list because it IS an option, but don’t do this to yourself. It will take you about 3 hours to get from the Liberia airport to Tamarindo, and there will not be air conditioning or potty stops. To find out if there will be a bus arriving at the airport at the time you need one, Google Transportes La Pampa. If you are traveling with little or no luggage and spending as little money as possible is of the utmost importance to you, the bus may be your best bet. I’ve been on the public bus to Liberia many times. You will survive. But you’re a tourist and I’m not. Just saying. This trek is not for the faint-hearted. And don’t try this with a lot of large suitcases, please.
If you decide that flying into San Jose is better for an option for you, then you’ll want to know:
How to get to Tamarindo from SJO
- Shuttle
Not be predictable, but the best option is still often a shuttle van. For about $50, a shuttle company can take you from the airport or your San Jose area hotel to Tamarindo. They generally leave in the morning and in the afternoon. Surfboards and other special-sized luggage will incur an extra charge. They are comfortable, safe, punctual, and reasonably speedy.
- Rental car
Another option available to you is to rent a car and drive from San Jose to Tamarindo. If you know your way around Costa Rica, this could be a comfortable option for you. If you don’t know your way around Costa Rica it can be nerve-wracking, as your phone with a US chip may not be able to get online without wi-fi–and you will not have wi-fi in your rental car. But don’t let me talk you out of an adventure! If you are curious and love surprises, reserve a car that will be delivered to you at the San Jose airport and let the fun begin! If you do this, let me recommend that you take Route 27 out of San Jose, not Route 1. Either way works, but Route 27 circumvents some wild, winding mountain roads that you don’t really need to navigate on vacation.
- Fly
Tamarindo has a tiny airport! Small planes make the Tamarindo/San Jose trip several times a day, and you can be here from San Jose in only an hour if you fly. Why you would prefer to book a separate flight on a puddle-jumper from the capitol to the beach instead of just flying into Liberia is a mystery to me, but I’m laying it out here for you because it IS an option. Do you love rollercoasters? Then this is the flight for you! These sturdy little planes are the right ones for the job, but hold on to your hats! The scenery is gorgeous on a clear day, so fight for that window seat.
- Public bus
The public bus from San Jose to Tamarindo does not necessarily deserve to be at the end of the list, but somebody has to be last. This public bus (Empresa Alfaro, or Tralapa) is MUCH BETTER than the Liberia/Tamarindo public bus. These buses are generally air-conditioned, run on a very predictable schedule, and are much more comfortable than our local public buses. Tickets cost about $10 and must be purchased at the terminal or can be purchased along the road if there is room on the bus for more passengers.
There are two factors, however, that make this my last recommendation for people vacationing in Costa Rica. One factor is that the bus makes only one bathroom stop on a 6-hour bus ride. If you have a huge bladder then who cares—but I don’t, and I care. The other factor is that I worry about the security of your luggage. Passengers are given tags for the bags that go into the luggage compartment and drivers are good about checking the tags, but… Still. It’s Central America and your luggage looks awfully tempting to active imaginations who picture it full of brand-name clothes and brand-new electronics. Yikes. Also, unless you keep small bags on your lap at all times, it is not safe to fall asleep on the bus. What I mean is that if you put your backpack on the luggage rack above your head and sack out for a nap, you may or may not find it there when you wake up. You won’t be mugged, but if you make it easy, be aware of what could happen.
So, there you go. You have options.
Still, have questions? Email us or call us. We’re a pack of Tamarindo locals who can give you better advice than anyone else because we live here and we know the inside story. Pura Vida!
Costa Rica Intends to Become Carbon Neutral & Eliminate Single Use Plastics
Costa Rica is already working on a New Year’s Resolution for 2021. The two-part goal states that Costa Rica aims to be carbon neutral by 2021 AND that it intends to be the world’s first country to reach that goal. Is this possible? It’s an ambitious end for us to have set our sights on, but we’re making progress and when Costa Ricans pool their efforts, anything is possible.
A carbon neutral nation is one that offsets its carbon emissions essentially by planting trees. If you’ve been to Costa Rica, you can see how this exchange can work for us because we have one heck of a lot of trees.
Photo by Boudewjin Huysmans
Because our electricity is created by water, wind and solar power, we are able to imagine and even believe in a world in which our emissions are not more than the carbon our forests consume. One of our proudest environmental accomplishments in Costa Rica is that in the year 2018, the country was able to power itself for 300 out of 365 days on 100% renewable energy. This marks the 4th consecutive year that Costa Rica has drawn over 98% of its energy from renewable sources. As a country that depends on ecotourism, can you imagine how excited we are about this?
The story of Costa Rica’s forests has a beautiful beginning, a tragic middle, and what appears to be a very bright future. In the 1940’s, 75% of Costa Rica was covered by virgin indigenous rainforests and tropical dry forests. Deforestation, however, destroyed over half of Costa Rica’s forests by the early 1980’s, dropping the percentage of canopy cover to 26%. Fifty thousand hectares of trees per year were being lost at that time, mostly to create cropland and grazing areas for cattle. Perceiving the danger this practice was placing the environment in, Costa Rica began to change its practices, and by 1989, the deforestation rate had slowed by half. By the early 1990s, deforestation slowed to 4,000 hectares per year, and by 1998, a rate of 0% deforestation was occurring.
That in itself is an amazing story.
Photo by Nikola Jovanovic
Zero percent deforestation does not mean that trees are no longer cut in Costa Rica—it means that tree cutting is regulated and that reforestation programs are repairing the damage created by present and previous generations. 2017 studies indicate that Costa Rica’s forest cover has increased to 52%, double the numbers of the early 80s. A remarkable 26% of Costa Rica’s territory is under national park protection.
Can we do carbon neutral? We think we can!
Another exciting step in Costa Rica’s quest to become carbon neutral is to eliminate single-use plastic.
A clean beach is a happy beach: Playa Avellanas
What do we mean by this? Single-use plastic means exactly what it sounds like: plastic that is produced with the intention of being used only once. Straws, soda and water bottles, supermarket bags, and plastic cutlery are prime examples of products that are produced essentially to be thrown away.
Photo y Javardh
The province of Guanacaste, being a remote area removed from metropolitan San Jose, is perhaps not the first province anyone would expect to lead the race to the end of single-use plastics, but we are in first place! Such a large segment of Costa Rica’s tourism is centered in Guanacaste that we’ve pulled out from our usual spot behind the curve, and appear to have taken the lead. In fact, Santa Cruz County has been declared free of standard plastic beverage straws. The papaya smoothie or ginger ale you buy in Tamarindo will most likely be served to you either with a paper straw or, in some cases, a metal straw that can be sanitized in a dishwasher. Got coffee to stir? Our stirrers (and our disposable cutlery) are made of a type of sturdy cardboard.
Pretty paper straws can be made from recycled materials. Photo by Danielle MacInnes
It’s appropriate that Guanacaste lead the way in this because Guanacaste is a peninsula surrounded by delicate saltwater ecosystems. Our single-use plastics are deadly to marine life, especially to sea turtles. It is easy for young turtles to become tangled or trapped in plastic bags and drown because they cannot get to the surface for air. Plastic bags floating in the water resemble the jellyfish that turtles and some types of whales naturally feed on, but the bags block the digestive systems of the animals that eat them, causing death. Plastic straws, or pieces of them, can pierce the intestines of animals that swallow them and can become lodged in the nasal cavities of sea turtles.
You, as a visitor in Costa Rica, can help us toward our goal of being carbon neutral. You can do this by conserving energy and by helping to eliminate the demand for single-use plastic. Here’s how:
What You Can Do To Help Eliminate Single Use Plastics During Your Tamarindo Vacation
Photo by Samantha Hartley
- If someone offers you a plastic straw, don’t accept it.
Wait, but didn’t we just say plastic straws had been eliminated from Guanacaste? Why yes, we did. All the more reason, if the restaurant you sit at or the person you buy a coconut from on the beach tries to give you a plastic straw, you should hand it directly back to them and say, “No thanks.”
- No plastic to-go cups.
Finish your beer and then leave.
- Don’t accept plastic cutlery if you purchase food to go.
Upper-end Tamarindo restaurants don’t hand out plastic cutlery, but some of the more economic options might. Don’t take it with you.
Plastic is out, paper is in.
- For picnics or convenient meals in your Tamarindo vacation rental, buy disposable paper plates, cups, and cutlery–not plastic. A brand called Bio that is sold in Tamarindo’s American-style supermarkets offers paper dinnerware at a reasonable price. It is still possible to find plastic plates/cups/cutlery in grocery stores, so please lend a hand in shrinking the market for them!
On behalf of the turtles, the birds, the whales, the dolphins and thousands of things you and I don’t even know the names of, GRACIAS!
Photo by Rudney Uezu
The 5 Best Tamarindo Restaurants for Breakfast
Buenos días! You’re in Tamarindo, the sun is up, and you’re hungry! There are lots of places you can get a bite to eat, but what about the best places? That’s a different question, and to get a good answer, you’re going to have to ask a local—someone who lives here has tried them all and knows which restaurants are the best restaurants in Tamarindo. And not just the best restaurants — the best breakfast spots.
You’re lucky. That’s who we are, and right now the breakfast dilemma is the question we’re going to answer for you. Make a list. You’ll have time to try them all.
- Nogui’s
Tamarindo’s classic breakfast meeting place is Nogui’—and it’s also Tamarindo’s oldest restaurant. Be certain that it wouldn’t have survived the test of time if the food wasn’t fabulous! Nogui’s is right on the beach in the center of Tamarindo where the road into town stops in a cul-de-sac. It’s an awesome place to watch Tamarindo start its busy day, to sip on a bottomless cup of hot Costa Rican coffee, and order something delicious. The breakfast selections are a variety of American standards like bacon and eggs, Costa Rican must-haves like gallo pinto, Belgian waffles buried in whipped cream, fruit plates, and breakfast sandwiches. Juices and smoothies made from seasonal fruit are always a great choice, or if it’s a mimosa kind of morning they can make you one of those too.
If people-watching is your thing, Nogui’s is a great place to spend the morning. Locals love Nogui’s, so if you’re curious about life in Tamarindo beyond vacation, come have a cup of coffee with us and our neighbors.
Beachfront seating at Nogui’s Restaurant. This photo of Nogui’s is courtesy of TripAdvisor
- Chiringuito
Opinions may vary, but no one seems ready to dispute the statement that Chrinquito has the best coffee in Tamarindo. Their breakfast menu is brief but diverse and everything on it is…amazing!
Chiringuito, like Nogui’s is right on the beach (just south of Nogui’s) and tends to be more laid back in the day’s early hours than Nogui’s. If you have a morning sweet tooth to feed, do not leave Tamarindo without trying the French toast at Chiringuito. It may be the most unbelievable thing you’ve ever eaten before the middle of the day.
A healthy breakfast is a delicious breakfast. Photo by Brooke Lark
- Breakfast Grinds
Now here’s a place that named itself after the breakfast shift, so you know they do breakfast right! Breakfast Grinds, in fact, has been making Tamarindo breakfast for the last 15 years. They specialize in everything American, plus burritos, enormous fruit plates, and Costa Rican gallo pinto. The coffee is bottomless, the smoothies are cold, and the view from your table is guaranteed to be fantastic. Breakfast Grinds isn’t directly on the beach, but it is on the second floor right across the street from one of Tamarindo’s central beach access points and a popular surf spot. Watch the surfers catch wave after wave as you get the day off to a delicious start.
We don’t recommend you paddle out right after your breakfast at Breakfast Grinds, but if you surf early, this is an excellent place to fill up the empty tank after!
Breakfast Grinds’ “Big Breakfast.” Photo courtesy of Costaricafire.com
- Special Sunday Brunch at Pangas Beach Club
Breakfast at Pangas is so special that they only serve it once a week—on Sundays. The menu is loaded with goodies on Sunday mornings, but keep in mind that their claim to fame is their Huevos Rancheros.
Pangas is fantastically beautiful, secluded, and relaxing, with tables set right in the sand on the beach where the Las Baulas estuary meets the ocean. Kick off your sandals, lean back in the wide cushioned lounge chairs and enjoy some fresh-brewed coffee or, hey, how about a Bloody Mary? You’re on vacation. You’re allowed.
Pangas Beach Club is one of the best restaurants in Tamarindo, so it’s always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation, even for brunch.
Elegant and easy. Photo property of Pangas Beach Club
- Eat at Joe’s, Witch’s Rock Surf Camp
Have breakfast just off the beach in front of Tamarindo’s most popular surf zone! Again, lots of Costa Rican and American options are on the breakfast menu, and from Eat at Joe’s you can watch the surfers show off, observe surf lessons in progress, and take in the lazy morning sun. Eat at Joe’s is always a great morning choice, but when the surf’s up, breakfast comes with free entertainment.
The best thing about breakfast at Eat at Joe’s? You can order it all day! Late night last night? It doesn’t matter—you didn’t miss breakfast after all. In the mood for gallo pinto in the afternoon? The kids want pancakes even though it’s lunchtime? No problem. Come by Eat at Joe’s and breakfast will soon be on the table.
These are our top five never-go-wrong favorites to get your day started off right in Tamarindo. Got questions? Our concierge is the local expert on Tamarindo and the surrounding areas. Give us a call or drop us a line and we’ll help you get everything you need sorted out.
Best Places To Stay in Costa Rica - Our Top List
Costa Rica is the perfect vacation destination for anyone who loves warm weather, sunny salty beaches, adventure tours and a mix of language and culture. In between the pounding surf of the Pacific coast and the stunning white sand beaches of the Caribbean, a volcanic cordillera makes Costa Rice one of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth. But you knew this. That’s why you’ve already decided you’re coming here as soon as humanly possible. Awesome.
Here is a short list of some of the best places to stay in Costa Rica. There are lots of great ones; these are the best.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo tops the list of the best places to stay in Costa Rica, and there are so many reasons we don’t know where to start the list. One of the reasons is the beach. Tamarindo is one of the only tropical beaches in the world where you can surf, swim, and take long barefoot beach walks all on the same beach. Think we’re making that up? We’re not. There are lots of great surfing beaches, but they aren’t great for swimming. There are great beach-walking beaches, but there are no waves and the family surfers get crabby while you’re out walking. Etc etc. Tamarindo is great because the surfers can surf, the toddlers and grandparents can play in the shallows and the guy selling coconuts (spiked or not—you decide) will be right by. And that’s only reason number one.
Tamarindo is a fun town with a colorful mix of world cultures and languages. Established in the 1970s when most of rural Costa Rica was pasture land, Tamarindo has its own fascinating history and a deep-rooted community of locals and expats from just about everywhere. It’s only about an hour from the Daniel Oduber International Airport, which is an important perk you will appreciate more after having spent some time navigating Costa Rica’s roads. And it bears mentioning that Tamarindo has the perfect combo of the town/rural dynamic going on. We’re in beautiful rolling cattle country and right beside Las Baulas National Park, so plenty of untouched Costa Rica lies alongside us in its natural state. We have, however, wonderful things like pavement on (most of) our roads, pharmacies in case you need a band aid or a hangover gets the best of you. You can get a haircut, there’s a book store, and we have several gyms. The beach, the bars and the boutique shopping are what bring you here, but never underestimate the importance of being able to find an English-speaking dentist if you chip a tooth.
Tamarindo Vacation Rental Highlight:
We recommend Lomas del Mar
Hacienda Pinilla
Often lumped into the category of “Tamarindo” because of its proximity, Hacienda Pinilla is technically located just next door. Hacienda Pinilla is many things rolled into one, and it is definitely one of the best places to stay in Costa Rica. Hacienda Pinilla encompasses an expansive nature preserve, a working cattle ranch, 3 miles of coastline, and a gated community with an 18-hole golf course, a beach club, tennis courts, an equestrian center, and a JW Marriot resort. Yes. All that. Fifteen minutes from Tamarindo. Obviously one of your best options in Costa Rica.
Hacienda Pinilla Vacation Rental Highlight:
We recommend Casa Costa Blanca
The Osa Peninsula
Osa Peninsula, home of the Corcovado National Park is for sure one of the most unforgettable places you can visit in Costa Rica, but be warned: it is for nature-lovers only! This rural Pacific peninsula on the southern tip of Costa Rica has pristine beaches, clear rivers, stunning waterfalls, and more wild animals than you will find anywhere else you visit in Costa Rica. The surf is uncrowded and the fishing is amazing. If you are looking for a Costa Rican vacation that is a retreat from the chaos of the rest of the world, Osa Peninsula is the haven you have imagined.
Osa Peninsula Vacation Rental Highlight:
We recommend Casa del Cabo
Manuel Antonio National Park
Ok, you can’t actually stay in the National Park, but we highly recommend you travel to that central area of the country and stay near it. The Manuel Antonio National park is green all year long because the central region of Costa Rica receives significantly more rainfall than we do here in the Pacific north in Guanacaste. It can be interesting to divide your stay in Costa Rica between a tropical dry forest destination like Tamarindo, and a more traditional rain forest like Manuel Antonio. The flora and fauna of these two Pacific locations is amazingly different in spite of the fact that they are only about 190 miles apart. The park is surrounded by lots of restaurants, tour operators, hotels and shopping options, so you won’t ever be at a loss for what to do or a new restaurant to try.
Manuel Antonio Vacation Rental Highlight:
We pick this ocean-view home called Shangri La!
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
On the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, the best place you can stay is in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo is half way between two breathtaking national parks: Cahuita National Park, and the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Cahuita is a marine park that protects endangered coral reefs and is the place you want to go for snorkeling. The Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge protects flora and fauna that would otherwise be in danger of extinction. If you love to surf, you will love the Puerto Viejo region of Costa Rica with its rich variety of surf breaks that stretches between the national parks and continues up the coast.
Puerto Viejo Vacation Rental Highlight:
We pick this unique option called Canopy House!
As you can see, Costa Rica is full of unbelievable places to stay and things to see–the hardest part is picking between all the amazing options. Contact us and let us help you make the call.
10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Tamarindo Vacation More Environmentally Friendly
If you google “the happiest country in the world,” you know what you’ll find, right? Costa Rica, of course! Everybody loves Costa Rica. Visitors love it, expats like us who come here and never leave love it, and Costa Ricans love it. Because we all love Costa Rica, those of us who live here are dedicated to taking care of it. We’re glad that the rest of the world has noticed how happy we are, but we’re proud to be at the top of the line-up of countries dedicated to becoming free of single-use plastics, and we’re proud that for 4 years in a row we’ve been running on 98% clean energy.
Read between the lines: we love our environment and we’re dedicated to living in harmony with it. We also love sharing our beautiful home with the rest of the world and we want you to know how to help us keep it healthy and beautiful while you enjoy it. Here are some tips and ideas for how to have an environmentally-friendly vacation in the happiest country on the planet:
1.BRING OR BUY A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
Single-use plastics are on the way out, but we still have them. Drink tap water, or buy water in jugs, not in individual bottles. The tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink. Because of droughts in recent years, the mineral content is higher than what our bodies need, but the water is potable and will not give you anything dreadful like dysentery. After a meal in a restaurant, rather than buy a bottle of water to take with you, ask your server in the restaurant to refill your water bottle. Or use your Tamarindo vacation rental as a spot to fill up water and freeze for those hot days on the beach. The oceans and landfills thank you.
2. RECYCLE AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE
You may have read that last sentence and wondered why plastics would be in landfills and not recycling centers. The answer is that some are, and some aren’t. Costa Rica’s recycling programs vary widely in their scope according to the region, and here in Tamarindo we are on the (literal) edge of a very rural area. Join us in doing the best we can with what we’ve got and recycled what you can every time you have the chance. If you travel around the country, recycling options will vary depending on where you are. Fill up those recycling bins!
3. PRETEND YOU HAVE TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL
Seriously. Not to go all Mama Bear on you or anything, but if you care about the environment at all, one way to show it would be not running the air conditioner in your Tamarindo vacation rental with the door open. Just saying. Yes, we know you’ve paid top dollar to live in luxury for a week, but running the air conditioning with the doors and windows open is not cool. So to speak. Turn the lights off when you leave—at least most of them. Shut the doors and windows. Turn off the fans. Turn back the air conditioning.
And do we seriously mean you’re supposed to go to all that bother while you’re on vacation? Um, yes. We do. Please. Not because you’re responsible for the electric bill. Because you are responsible for how you behave on the planet. No matter how much money you paid to be pampered.
4. GO LIGHT ON THE CHEMICALS
Think about how much chemical sunscreen the ocean is forced to swallow every day. Bottles of it. Imagine the insect repellents, lotions and cosmetic products going down the drain every time you take shower. Mother Nature says, “Yuck.” New Body Costa Rica makes a completely organic water resistant 50+ SPF sunscreen that stays on and works. Take it from a local surfer who can’t stay on land or in the shade! Google them and place an order.
Lots of stores where you live and here carry natural insect repellents, and of course, there’s nothing sketchy for the environment in good old aloe vera after you’ve given your skin a hard day.
BioLand is a Costa Rican company that makes organic personal products and foods. It’s safe to say any grocery store you visit in Costa Rica will have BioLand options among the shampoos, soaps, lotions and more. Pick some up to try during your visit and take some home to share the love.
5. COLLECT THE TRASH; LEAVE THE SHELLS
Now there’s an idea. Take a little bag to the beach and collect things the beach doesn’t need instead of things it does need—like shells! Removing seashells from Costa Rica is illegal anyway, so if they are discovered in your luggage on the way out, they will be removed by the authorities and returned to where they belong. Hopefully, you won’t find a lot of obvious garbage on our beaches, but little pieces of plastic, straws, bottle caps, and cigarette butts are everywhere you look if you pay attention. Collect them and put them in the trash where they belong. It’s amazing how good such a small deed can make you feel. Heck, you might leave here one of the happiest people on earth, yourself.
6. TELL THE PERSON WHO SELLS YOU A COCONUT ON THE BEACH THAT YOU DON’T NEED A STRAW
Buy the coconut—they’re delicious and so good for you! But tell the person who sells it to you that you don’t need the straw, even if it’s just a paper straw. Seriously. A straw for drinking from a coconut? Come on. Live a little. Put that puppy up to your lips and drink it the way the squirrels do. Get back to nature. It’s a coconut, not a cocktail. There is no way you need a straw.
7. SUPPORT LOCAL AND ORGANIC BUSINESSES
We know a sandwich from Subway sounds safe and familiar, but Tamarindo is full of local businesses making fabulous locally-sourced food. Several Tamarindo organic markets that carry earth-friendly groceries and goodies, and if you’re here on Saturday morning, for sure don’t miss the Tamarindo Farmer’s Market. For more specific suggestions on organic eating, check out our October 2018 blog post called How to Be Healthy During Your Tamarindo Vacation.
8. SKIP THE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG
Just in general. You do this at home, right? When you do your Tamarindo shopping, bring a reusable shopping bag or pick one up here. They make great souvenirs and gifts, too.
9. DON’T FEED THE WILD ANIMALS
We don’t mean to insult your intelligence, but it does bear mentioning. Birds, iguanas, raccoons, crocodiles…don’t feed them. Those silly blue jays with the little plumes on top of their heads are terribly cute and naughty, and it can be so much fun to feed them pieces of your breakfast or lunch—but don’t. It’s terrible for them and interferes with nature’s ability to feed them. And feeding crocodiles?! We sincerely hope you will not witness anyone doing such an absurdly counter-intuitive thing, but let’s just say it has happened. That creates a dangerous situation that continues to be dangerous for as long as the crocodile lives, so please—in the interest of your appendages and our children—do not under any circumstances feed a crocodile.
10. RENT A BIKE OR WALK
Depending on where your vacation rental is located, renting a bike can be a win/win for the environment and for the quality of your vacation. Tamarindo traffic at the busiest times of year can be bad for your blood pressure as you can spend longer than you think possible idling in a line waiting for your turn to get through tight-squeeze spots. Rent a bike and cruise on through. Pedaling is good for you, and who needs a car to get from one side of Tamarindo to the other? Save the rental car for grocery shopping and surf trips. Take the bike to breakfast or the beach.
Contact us with any questions! Pura Vida!
6 Tips for Women Traveling Alone in Costa Rica
If you’re a woman planning a trip for yourself to Costa Rica, you may have some extra concerns or questions about do’s and dont’s for the road.
First of all, let us assure you that Costa Rica is generally a very safe country for everyone. Costa Ricans are kind and friendly folks, women in Costa Rica are held in high regard, and you have picked a great vacation destination. Women who are used to rolling on their own already know how to make good, safe choices while having a fabulous time, and know how to avoid many safety concerns. Personal safety issues for anyone in Costa Rica are an exception to the rules. Most people in Costa Rica, no matter where they’re from, intend no harm—but it only takes one who wants to get ahold of your purse to ruin your vacation.
1.Take the trip
Absolutely. Whether you’re traveling alone because it’s easier to explore that way or because your available vacation dates don’t coincide with friends or family, take the trip. Costa Rica is a great place to make friends or to search out solitude—whichever will make your vacation better for you.
2. Watch your personal possessions
This important piece of advice applies to everyone traveling in Costa Rica, so of course we wouldn’t want to miss emphasizing it for you. Violent crime in Costa Rica is very rarely directed against the country’s guests, but petty theft is everywhere. Keep your things where you can see them, as much as possible. Don’t leave things in rental cars. Stay awake on the bus. Keep your purse on your lap in restaurants, not hanging over the back of your chair. If you are walking through San Jose’s crowded streets, make sure purse zippers are closed and wear your backpack on the front of you instead of the back. Why not? Better safe than sorry. Don’t leave stuff lying on the beach while you swim. Sorry, but don’t. Get a little wrist wallet for your money, key, and credit card (it’s ok for those things to get wet) and leave your phone in your vacation rental if you want to swim.
3. Remember to lock your door/s
You know this, and you do it at home, but sometimes in the excitement and distraction of vacation, it’s easy to forget what we already know. Car doors, hotel doors, the front and back door of your Tamarindo vacation rental… Make sure anyone who’s curious about whether or not you remembered to lock the door finds out that yes, you did.
4. Understand that unsolicited compliments are a common Latin American cultural custom
They even have a name: piropos. Piropos break a lot of first-world rules about mutual respect between the sexes, but they are still fairly common in Costa Rica and not considered, by most Costa Ricans, to be offensive. In other words, expect to be called beautiful by people you’ve never met and perhaps even receive a few amusing declarations of love from passersby. It’s alright to ignore them. Their authors expect to be ignored. Piropos, however, are not supposed to be crude. Crude comments are not part of piropos; crude comments are crude comments and hopefully you won’t hear them.
5. Get out there and explore the things to do in Tamarindo:
Book tours, trips, take surf lessons, go to the beach, climb the volcano, go horseback riding, plan to go to a spa in Tamarindo, go sport fishing—do it all! Walk down the street to restaurants. Go out dancing. Do all the things on your Costa Rica bucket list and have a blast. Make friends. Come back again.
6. Use the common sense you use every day
Getting into a car with strangers, accepting drinks you didn’t order in a bar, and walking alone after dark in secluded areas all belong on the don’t list—but you knew that already. Be thoughtful about who you allow into your hotel or vacation rental. Use the common sense that got you this far in life, and you should have no problem on vacation in Costa Rica.
7 TIPS FOR A KID-FRIENDLY VACATION IN TAMARINDO
Family vacation? Yes, please!
Costa Rica is a great country to travel to if you’re bringing the little ones. It’s safe, it’s warm, it’s connected enough to the first world that you and your kids can enjoy what’s different about it without being completely out of your element. Some of their favorite cartoons may be in Spanish which they may find amusing, but Costa Rica is not completely disconnected from the comforts of home.
Tamarindo, specifically, is a fantastic place for families. Of course, the older your youngsters are, the more they will be able to participate in the “adventure tours” that make Tamarindo famous. It is for this reason that this post addresses, specifically, kid-friendly spots and activities for the really little ones–like toddlers and preschoolers.
1 THE MOST KID-FRIENDLY STRETCH OF BEACH
Tamarindo’s most kid-friendly stretch of beach is at the southern end of the bay. Which end is south? Consider that if we’re on the Pacific coast (and we are!), the ocean is west and the land is east. We think you can take it from there.
Locals refer to this small-waved and sandy stretch of beach as Captian Suizo, which is the name of the beautiful boutique hotel that is located there. Stop in for lunch or grab a few cold drinks while you’re down there. The beach in front of Capitan Suizo tends to be the most protected from the wind at windy times of year, and it also has the smallest waves and the least currents. You should feel free to take your kids to the beach anywhere in Tamarindo, but the winner of the kid-friendly contest is definitely Capitan Suizo.
If your Tamarindo hotel or Tamarindo vacation rental is in Langosta, check out the tide pools. The beach in Langosta is rockier than the beach in Tamarindo, so make sure that for Langosta your little ones have reef shoes. Langosta’s waves are bigger and stronger than Tamarindo’s but the tide pools are warm and clear and can be a great place to splash, play, and look for little fish and crabs.
A word to the wise:
Do not let your kids play in the estuaries. True, there are no waves, but there are currents and there are crocodiles. Don’t do it.
2 WHERE TO BUY KID STUFF
If you’re looking for cute Costa Rica t-shirts, lots of stores have them. If you’re looking for beach stuff and/or kid stuff, Monkey ‘N Croc is the pick. You can grab an inexpensive lightweight boogie board there that the kiddos can enjoy in the pool or in the ocean as long as you keep an eye on them. Monkey ‘N Croc stocks lots of toys and games including inflatable flotation toys and devices and toys as souvenirs and clothes. It’s right in the center of Tamarindo below the Santa Rita Cafe. Great spot for breakfast or lunch, by the way!
3 MOST KID-FRIENDLY TAMARINDO RESTAURANTS
La Baula Pizzaria wins hands-down because the back section of the restaurant is an outdoor playground with picnic tables.
El Mercadito
Is an open-air gourmet food court and is a great spot for families for two reasons:
- They have a small playground in the seating area.
- There are a dozen independent kitchens each offering their specialty, from sushi to pizza to hamburgers, so everybody gets to have their favorite thing for dinner. And don’t despair, parents! The Medusa bar in the center of the court has cold beer and creative cocktails.
Breakfast Grinds/The Jolly Roger
Right beside Iguana Surf across from the beach, this spot is Breakfast Grinds by day (American breakfasts and lunches) and The Jolly Roger by night (20 kinds of chicken wings, and burgers). The kids’ play area doesn’t include a playground, but there is a kid corner where the littles ones can sit at small tables and entertain themselves.
4 TAMARINDO’S MOST KID-FRIENDLY TOUR
Tamarindo’s most kid-friendly tour is the Tamarindo estuary tour. It’s inexpensive, and you’re never too old or too young to explore the Las Baulas estuary in a boat. Birds, monkeys, and crocodiles are common sights during the estuary tour which usually takes about 2 hours. Big kids will love it too.
At about age 8, lots of other tour options become available for kids. Kids can ride horses or ATVs with a parent, can probably enjoy a half-day fishing trip, and are old enough to go on a zip-line canopy tour accompanied by a guide. And surf lessons! There’s no specific age for surf lessons–that will depend upon your family and your child.
5 CHECK THE TIDE CHART
CRSurf.com offers free Tamarindo tide tables. Check it out. Why? Because after you haul your family and all your stuff to the beach, it’s worth it to know whether the tide is going in or out or take a Tamarindo surf lesson. An incoming tide can soak your stuff and take off with your flip-flops before you know it, so stay a step ahead of the game. Know what to expect.
6 YOU CAN BUY STUFF HERE
Don’t bring the kitchen sink on your vacation. Costa Rica is just around the corner from the first world. We have American-style grocery stores and several pharmacies in town. You might not find your favorite brand of your favorite everything, but basically: you can buy stuff here. After-sun gel, after-bug-bite cream, cough medicine, Pepto Bismol, band-aids, salves of all types, Tylenol, baby sunscreen, bug spray…you name it. It’s impossible for you to bring everything you could possibly imagine needing, so don’t worry about it. If you need it, get it here. Our Guest Coordinator or our Concierge can help you find whatever it is that you’re looking for.
7 YOU DON’T NEED THAT MANY TOYS
Really. Between the wind and the waves, the more stuff you haul to the beach to entertain the little ones, the more stuff you have to keep track of. You’ll be amazed at how entertaining simple sand is for little ones. Collect seashells. (But please put them back–the beach needs them in order to keep being a beach.)
Our Reservationists, our Guest Coordinator, and our Concierge are all committed to making sure that families have a safe and delightful time in Tamarindo. Contact us and let us help you choose the best vacation rental for your family and plan the kid-friendliest tropical get-away you ever imagined.
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