Tag: costa rica vacation
Is Tamarindo Walkable? Here’s What You Actually Need to Know
There’s something very vacation-esque about not having a car. It’s the freewheeling feeling of ocean breeze in your hair, sand between your toes, and the freedom to pick up and go whenever you want, without wondering where you parked or who has the keys.
But then there’s the very practical question of, well, how are you actually going to get there?
That’s why you’re probably asking whether Tamarindo is walkable. Or maybe whether you should get a golf cart rental in Tamarindo. Or maybe, if you’re being very honest, whether your whole group can avoid renting a car without turning every beach day, dinner reservation, and grocery run into a production.
So, Is Tamarindo Walkable?
The short answer is yes: Tamarindo is very walkable. But there are some caveats. It all depends on where you’re staying, who you’re traveling with, how hot it is, how heat-tolerant you are, and how many beach bags, beach toys, and surfboards you’ve somehow committed yourself to carrying. It also comes down to whether dinner involves heels, small children, grandparents, or a group that tends to leave the house in waves.
As Costa Rican beach towns go, Tamarindo is certainly one of the easier to navigate on foot. The town is compact, beach-oriented, and relatively flat along the main road, where much of Tamarindo’s daily life happens: restaurants, shops, surf schools, cafés, tour offices, grocery stores, pharmacies, boutiques, and beach access points. From there, smaller residential roads branch out toward quieter pockets of town, some closer to the beach, some tucked slightly uphill, and some just far enough from the center to make the walk feel calm instead of crowded.
That said, “walkable” doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone. A five-minute walk sounds very different at 8 a.m. than it does at 1:30 p.m. under the Guanacaste sun. A short hill feels different when you’re fresh from breakfast than when you’re carrying groceries, sandy towels, and a 40-pound kiddo who lost their flip-flop to the Pacific. And a lovely stroll to dinner can feel much less lovely if half the group is dressed up and in heels, one person is hungry already, and someone else is asking whether they really have to wear shoes at all.
That’s when the is-it-walkable? answer gets a little dicey, and you may want to have a backup plan in place.
If you’re considering our Tamarindo villa rentals, the smartest plan may be walking to most places, using a golf cart when the sun is high or the beach bags are multiplying or the high heels are heeling, and letting your concierge handle the other details that make the whole stay feel convenient before anyone has to ask. But before we get into that…
What Can You Walk To in Tamarindo?
If you’re in the right location, you can walk to most of what people come to Tamarindo for. That’s the whole appeal: You wake up, decide what kind of day you’re having, and then leave the transportation plan out of it for a while.
Beach and Surf
Tamarindo Beach, aka Playa Tamarindo, is the center of the whole experience: morning surf, sunset walks, sand between meals, that quick “let’s just go look at the water” moment that turns into an hour because, well, there you are.
You can walk to the beach for surf lessons, board rentals, beach walks, swimming, sunset, and those small in-between moments that end up becoming half the vacation. If you’re staying close enough, beach access stops being an outing and starts becoming part of the daily rhythm.
Dining and Nightlife
You can also walk to restaurants and bars, and Tamarindo has far more variety than most first-time visitors expect. You’ll find casual beach cafés, sushi, seafood, tacos, pizza, cocktail bars, date-night dinners, family-friendly restaurants, and plenty of places where sandy feet don’t feel like a moral failure.
For groups, walking to dinner is especially lovely because no one has to drive, no one has to coordinate three vehicles, and no one has to negotiate who’s calling a taxi at the end of the night.
Groceries, Shops, and Everyday Errands
Then there are the practical things, which sound boring until you need them and suddenly, your entire vacation seems to hinge on having easy access. Tamarindo has grocery stores, pharmacies, surf shops, boutiques, ATMs, tour offices, and enough everyday conveniences to make a villa stay easy.
Run out for sunscreen. Grab a coffee. Pick up snacks, replace sunglasses, rent a board, or buy the hat you forgot to pack… it’s all right here, within easy walking distance
Tours and Pickup Points
Many tours also offer pickup and drop-off, depending on the operator and activity, which is where staying in a well-supported rental starts to feel especially smart. You may not need to walk, drive, or cart yourself everywhere.
With the right concierge support, your beach days, dinner reservations, grocery needs, and tour logistics can start fitting together before anyone in your group has to make a spreadsheet.
When You May Not Want to Walk Around Tamarindo
Of course, walkable is not the same as wanting to walk. That’s the part people sometimes forget when they’re planning from a climate-controlled living room somewhere very far from the Guanacaste sun.
A short walk in Tamarindo can feel lovely in the morning. Coffee in hand, ocean breeze, still-pleasant sun, everyone feeling cheerful and well-rested. That same walk at 1:00 p.m., with the sun high, three beach bags, two wet towels, and a surfboard, can feel like an endurance event. Both physically and for your patience.
Then there’s the group factor. Couples can usually make walking work pretty easily. Families and larger groups have more variables. Someone moves slowly. Someone forgot sunglasses. Someone wants to go back for the room key. Someone is dressed for dinner, not a dusty roadside stroll. Someone’s small child has decided, very firmly, that walking is no longer an element of their personal brand.
None of this means Tamarindo isn’t walkable, but it does mean that can and will are two different things, and that it’s ok to adjust your best transportation plan to match the actual people on the trip. If your rental is central, your group is flexible, and you like walking, wonderful. If your villa is a little uphill, your dinner plans are spread around town, or “easier” is a welcome addition to your vocabulary, then you may want something with wheels.
The No-Car Sweet Spot: Golf Cart Rental Tamarindo
This is where golf cart rental Tamarindo starts making a lot of sense. A golf cart gives you the ease of having transportation without the weight of having a car. No parallel parking, no finding a gas station, no big rental-car energy. And absolutely no one has to climb into a hot SUV with molten seat upholstery just to go three minutes down the road for tacos.
A golf cart rental also has a way of making you feel very Tamarindo: breezy, casual, easy to hop in and out of, and just practical enough to count as planning while still feeling like vacation. Most rentals are 4-passenger or 6-passenger carts, which works well for couples, families, and small groups who want an easier way to move around town.
Use a golf cart for beach runs, dinner reservations, grocery stops, surf shops, cafés, pharmacy runs, and trips down toward Playa Langosta. Keep it local, though. Golf carts are great for Tamarindo and Langosta, and while they’re street legal (you must have a driver’s license), they’re not meant for airport transfers, national parks, Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Grande, Avellanas, Conchal, Flamingo, or longer Guanacaste exploring. For those, you’ll want a car, private driver, tour transfer, or some combination of the three.
If you’re staying in one of our Tamarindo villa rentals, your concierge can help arrange the right golf cart for your group and have it delivered directly to your villa or condo, so it’s ready when you are. Pickup can usually be arranged from the property too. Just one more detail handled before anyone has to ask.
Where to Stay in Tamarindo
The right Tamarindo villa rental does more than give you a beautiful place to stay; it shapes how easily you move through town, reach the beach, gather your group, and enjoy the car-optional vacation you actually came here for.
Tamarindo | 2 Beds | 2 Baths | Sleeps 6
Ibis Condo #2 is the easy-walk answer for travelers who want Tamarindo close, but not quite in their lap. Set just across the street from Tamarindo Beach and only a few minutes from downtown, it keeps the best parts of town within reach: morning surf, sunset walks, dinner out, groceries, coffee, and all the small vacation errands that feel much better when they don’t require a car.
The real bonus is the included VIP Langosta Beach Club membership, which gives you access to an infinity-edge pool, fitness center, Pilates and yoga studio, French restaurant, ocean-view bar, and direct beach access just across the street. Back at the condo, the outdoor terrace gives you your own place to slow down between beach runs and dinner plans.
For couples, small families, or friends who want a comfortable condo with strong amenities and an easy Tamarindo rhythm, Ibis 2 is wonderfully straightforward: walk when you want, golf cart when you feel like it, and let the concierge help with the rest.
Langosta | 4 Beds | 4 Baths | Sleeps 10 to 13
Soul House is for the group that wants space, calm, and a little breathing room, while still staying close to Tamarindo. Located in the peaceful Langosta Beach community, just south of town, this home sits about a five-minute walk from the beach, with a supermarket and restaurant across the street and downtown Tamarindo less than a mile away. It’s close enough to keep the trip easy, but removed enough to let the house feel like its own retreat.
The home itself has a grounded, relaxed energy, with a private pool, garden, fire pit, open-air common areas, and a detached private suite with its own bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area. That setup works beautifully for families and groups because people can gather when they want to and retreat when they need to.
Elite Service adds breakfast preparation, cocktails and snacks until 2 p.m., daily housekeeping, laundry, and a dedicated concierge, which means many of the practical pieces are already handled. Add a golf cart for quick trips into Tamarindo, or keep things simple with beach walks, pool afternoons, and dinners close to home.
Ready to Plan a Walkable Stay or Rent a Golf Cart in Tamarindo?
If you’re dreaming of a Tamarindo vacation without rental-car logistics, parking questions, or daily transportation debates, you’re looking in the right direction. With the right villa, a smart location, and maybe a golf cart waiting outside, Tamarindo can feel wonderfully easy to move through.
Start with the rental. Then let us help with the rest.
When you book with Vacation Rentals of Tamarindo, your personal concierge can also help arrange grocery pre-stocking, golf cart rental in Tamarindo, airport transfers, tour pickup and drop-off, dinner reservations, surf lessons, private chefs, and the little conveniences that keep a trip moving smoothly.
So go ahead, get in touch! Tell us how your group likes to travel, and we’ll help you decide what you actually need: walking, golf cart, rental car, driver, or a combination of all of the above.
How to Be Happier and Healthier in the New Year with a Costa Rican Vacation
Happy 2020! The new year is here, and it’s going to be the best one yet! As you’re making your plans for the year and thinking about how to focus on well-being, don’t forget that a Costa Rica vacation is one of the healthiest choices you can make. Forget Disney World–come to the happiest country on Earth, where the air and water are clean, monkeys swing through the trees, and the sun shines 365 days a year!
When we say a Costa Rica vacation is a healthy vacation, we’re not making it up. One of the world’s Blue Zones, where longevity is unusually high, is right here on the Nicoya Peninsula only a few miles from Tamarindo. If being healthier than ever is one of your resolutions for 2020, coming to Tamarindo is the right way to get started. A Tamarindo vacation rental is the perfect way to relax with family and friends and get your healthy year started off the way you want to. Here are a few of the reasons Costa Rica is good for you:
1. It’s the Perfect Place to Unwind
The best thing you can do for yourself this year is unwinding and relax. Stress ties your body and your mind in knots, and the first step to a healthy 2020 is letting go of your worries. Tamarindo, Costa Rica is the perfect place to do just that. We have the beaches, the sun, the flora and fauna, the bars and restaurants, the health and wholeness spas, and the perfect Tamarindo vacation rentals to make this trip the one that points your year in the right direction.
Tropical vacations are special because they are geared toward relaxation. No matter what time of year you chose to visit us, you’ll enjoy warm weather, lush gardens, and warm ocean water. Leisurely sunset walks on the beach are an ideal and even romantic way to unwind. Costa Rica’s laid-back atmosphere and favorite expression “Pura Vida” will quickly loosen the knots and help you unwind.
We’ll help you pick a Tamarindo vacation rental with what you really need to let the stress melt away: a hammock, a private pool, the sound of the ocean nearby, and a five-star concierge to make sure you have everything you want at your fingertips.
2. Sunlight is Good for You
Newsflash! Direct sunlight is good for you! Simply receiving sunlight can increase the vitamin D levels in your body, set circadian rhythms which improve sleep, strengthen your bones, improve your mood and mental health, make your heart healthier, improve your brain function and overall help you live longer. You might feel better just thinking about it!
Of course, too much sun in the middle of the day can cause sunburn which we don’t recommend, but human beings were made to be in the sun, so put that bikini in your suitcase and get on a plane! It’s good for you! A hat and a light-colored long-sleeved shirt can cut down on the amount of chemical sunscreens you need to use on your skin, which is a healthy way not to get too much sun.
3. Being in or Near the Ocean is Good for You
Historically, doctors often recommended that their ailing patients go to the seaside to breathe in the salty air absorb sun on their skin and bathe in the natural mineral salts. Unfortunately, your health insurance probably doesn’t cover seaside visits–but maybe it should.
Breaking waves fill the air with negative ions that purify the air and have an antidepressant effect in the human brain. The fact that looking at the ocean relaxes you, and that being near it makes you feel better and immediately calmer is not in your imagination. It’s chemistry.
For even more negative ion benefits, get out there in those waves and go for a swim or grab a board and catch some waves. A Tamarindo surf lesson is not only one of the most fun things you can do in Costa Rica, it’s also excellent for the health of your brain. Ever wonder why surfers are so laid back and happy?
4. There Are All Kinds of Exercise Options
It’s a pleasure to exercise in Costa Rica where the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful. Forget the gym! Walk or run on the beach. Hike. Surf. Swim. Snorkel. Go kayaking or whitewater rafting. Try a stand-up paddle board. Enjoy yoga in a shady open-air dojo, or on the beach in the cooler hours of the early mornings. As your mind relaxes and your body strengthens, you’ll feel better and better with each day of your Costa Rica vacation.
5. The Environment is Clean
A Costa Rica vacation is a healthy vacation because our environment is one of the cleanest and greenest on the planet. 25% of Costa Rica’s territory is either a national park or a protected area. Imagine what that does for our air quality, the cleanliness of our water, and the health of our ecosystems. The air pressure at sea level gives your blood cells an oxygen boost with every breath you take, so come get energized!
6. Costa Rican Food is Healthy Food
You are what you eat, and an obvious product of Costa Rica’s clean environment is clean food. It’s easy to eat healthy and be healthy in Costa Rica. Organic farms all over the country make chemical-free meals something you can find almost anywhere, and most towns have local farmers’ markets. You won’t want to miss our Saturday farmers’ and craft market here in Tamarindo!
Traditional Costa Rican meals are comprised of rice, beans, corn tortillas, simple salads, and a protein–usually chicken, fish, or beef. Eat a variety of these items, mixed with a variety of fresh tropical fruits, fresh cheese and eggs, and you’ll be amazed by how wonderful you begin to feel.
2020 is going to be your best year yet. Contact us now and let us help you get started planning your healthy vacation to Costa Rica. Start 2020 off right!
Costa Rica Vacation on a Budget – 7 Tips for Saving Money
You work hard to save money for your Costa Rica vacation—how to make it stretch after you arrive? Once upon a time, Costa Rica was a popular shoestring budget destination, but not anymore! Depending on how you roll, a Costa Rica vacation can cost you as much as a vacation anywhere else in the world.
So let’s say you want to come to Costa Rica but you don’t want to break the bank. Can you do it? Of course! Here are some tips to help you stretch your vacation dollars further than you thought possible.
Photo by Camilo Ayala
COME IN THE GREEN SEASON
The single most important choice you can make if you want to experience Costa Rica on a budget is to visit in the green season. When is the green season? Now! May through early December is Costa Rica’s green season, and prices for plane tickets, lodging, car rentals, and some tours are lower. You’ll find the lowest prices in September and October when there is the highest chance of rainy days, but don’t let that dissuade you! The chances of you having an entirely rainy vacation are so slim that you’d be silly to let that cause you to miss the discounts!
Another clue: avoid holidays. Although American Thanksgiving, for example, is in the green season, it sees a notable price spike. If you want to pinch pennies, immediately cross off Christmas, Easter, New Year’s, etc. Watching airline prices will probably give you an idea of what to expect as far as vacation prices in general.
STAY IN A VACATION RENTAL
Of course! One way to save lots of money is to book a Tamarindo vacation rental instead of a hotel. Economy vacation rentals are high quality, more comfortable than hotel rooms, and they have the thing that is going to be your biggest money-saver: a kitchen.
Vacation rentals come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re traveling alone or with a friend or partner, look for a one-bedroom or a studio rental. Groups of up to 20 and 30 can book entire villas and mini-resorts. Obviously, the larger properties cost more, but you’re also splitting them between more wallets, so don’t forget to take that into consideration. If you’re a family traveling with children of any age, a vacation rental, as opposed to multiple hotel rooms or all being crammed into what is essentially a bedroom while you’re supposed to be relaxing, is the obvious choice.
COOK AT YOUR VACATION RENTAL
You’ve got that kitchen—use it! Get to the grocery store and stock up. You don’t have to spend your whole vacation in the kitchen in order to avoid spending a mint in restaurants. Staples like coffee, milk, fruit, eggs, bread, pasta, vegetables, and even Costa Rica’s national beers are not expensive.
You’ll still choose to eat some of your meals in restaurants, of course, but if you make that the exception instead of the rule, you’ll find that you spend a lot less money than you would have otherwise.
Many vacation rentals have a patio with a grill. There’s an option for getting out of the kitchen without having to pay restaurant prices.
AVOID FOREIGN CASH WITHDRAWAL AND DEBIT CARD FEES
If you’ve been to Costa Rica in the past, you remember the days of “pay in cash and get a discount.” That’s still the case, but it’s certainly not as common as before. With Costa Rica’s new electronic tax reporting system, it’s not as lucrative for businesses to choose to overlook cash income in their reporting, so cash discounts are fewer.
We’re bringing this up because now you can pay with credit cards almost everywhere in Costa Rica. MasterCard and Visa are the favorites, and many businesses accept many others. Your credit card won’t charge you a fee for international use, but your debit card probably will so keep that in mind when you pull out the plastic.
Tamarindo and all other popular tourist destinations have ATMs that will give up to $400 per day (in the 20s) but you will pay per withdrawal. Save a few dollars on your vacation by bringing cash from home, and using your credit cards whenever you can.
A word to the wise regarding cash: Your hotel room or Tamarindo vacation rental has a safe. USE IT.
TAKE BUSES OR SHARE RIDES
Take public buses or share rides. We know—the problem with public buses is that they take forever to get anywhere and they can be very hot. Also, they’re not great for traveling with a lot of luggage. But If you’re traveling light and you have the time to indulge your curiosity, take the bus. You’ll get where you want to go with money left to spare, and you’ll have had an off-the-tourist-grid cultural experience that will make you way cooler than anyone else you know who has been to Costa Rica.
Ridesharing can be a great idea, also. Taxis in Costa Rica are priced to serve tourists who have no other method to get places, so they are not a great way to keep costs down. Chat with other budget travelers that you meet along the way, and see if anyone else has the same Costa Rica bucket list as you do. You’ll definitely need cash for taxis and buses, so be prepared.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
This might seem like an odd addition to a list of how to save money but think about it. Be smart. If you get your wallet or your passport stolen—or your computer or your favorite pair of shoes—your vacation is going to take a sharp downward turn and you are going to spend money sorting it out.
Use the safe. Keep bags, backpacks, and purses on your person at all times. Do not hang anything on the back of your chair (seriously). Do not put your backpack on the floor beside you without the strap wrapped around your foot. Do not leave ever anything in a rental car that is going to be out of your sight. Do not fall asleep on the bus. Do not walk away from your stuff on the beach. Do not leave your bag at the table when you go to pay the tab or use the restroom.
Are we trying to scare you? Sort of. Costa Ricans are honest, friendly, and helpful people. No one is going to run up to you and snatch your stuff out of your hands. But petty theft is common here, and leaving your belongings unattended is a clear sign to devious minds that you don’t really need or want what is in that bag very much. Dead serious. Save money by not having to replace stuff.
EAT AT “SODAS” AND STICK TO LOCAL COSTA RICA FOODS
When you decide it’s time to grab a meal out, or if you decide that cooking on vacation is an oxymoron, there’s still hope for saving money in Costa Rica. Look for any establishment called a “Soda” and you’ll be on the right track.
A “soda” has not actually got anything to do with soda! Back in the days before tourism took Costa Rica by storm, any small restaurant or diner that did not serve alcohol was called a “soda.” Sodas serve Costa Rican dishes and Costa Rican versions of international dishes (note: if you are Italian, please do not order spaghetti at a soda!), fruit drinks, and of course soda! Nowadays you may also find beer at some sodas, although you should not expect a full bar. For a full bar, you’ll need to find, obviously, something called a “bar” or something called a “restaurant.” In Costa Rica’s traditional past, a “bar” served alcohol and little snacked called “bocas.” A “restaurant” offered a full menu and also served alcoholic beverages. A “soda” served food and drinks without alcohol. And so. There’s your history lesson as well.
At sodas, you’ll avoid spending a lot of money on things that, for as normal as they may seem to you, are considered delicacies or specialty foods, here. Cheese, for example, is not cheap in Costa Rica, which makes pizza, not the most economical choice—especially artesian pizza with real mozzarella and prosciutto crudo. Sushi is expensive. Paella. Corona beer. Heineken. Wine is imported from North America, South America, or Europe, so you won’t be saving money on that. At sodas, you can get all kinds of “casados”—traditional Costa Rican plates that are balanced meals based on rice and beans with a protein of your choice and plenty of vegetables. You can get salads, simple sandwiches, chicken soup and often fried chicken. Try a whole fried fish with a side of salad and fries at a soda. It’s the Costa Rican specialty that you’ll want to take a selfie with before you dig in!
With these 7 things in mind, you’re ready to visit Costa Rica as a financially savvy explorer. Contact us now and let’s get started making your vacation plans!
The Perfect 7 Day Costa Rica Vacation Itinerary from LIR
So many amazing experiences await you in Costa Rica that deciding what to see and do during your 7 day vacation can be overwhelming. Luckily you have us, the local Costa Rica experts, to make practical suggestions and give you an idea what to expect.
The first thing to decide, in planning your 7 day vacation, is which airport you’ll be flying into and out of. Costa Rica, although it is a small country, isn’t known for its speedy road travel. Roads are generally small and congested in urban areas, and often unpaved in rural areas. If you want to experience all that Costa Rica has to offer, you’ll either have to stay longer than 7 days or come back!
We’re die-hard fans of Guanacaste, so the perfect 7 day Costa Rica vacation itinerary, in our opinion, begins at the LIR airport in Liberia.
Day 1
Arrival Day
The big excitement today is landing in Costa Rica and getting that beautiful stamp in your passport, so we don’t recommend trying to add more travel to what you’ve already done. You’ll be landing in Liberia in the afternoon or evening, so on a perfect vacation, you wouldn’t spend any more time on the road than you have to.
We recommend taking a taxi, a shuttle or a rental car from LIR to Playa del Coco for your first night. Playa del Coco is a beautiful beach with a lively town that is located about 30 minutes from the airport. Before you know it, you’ll be strolling barefoot on the warm sand, watching the sunset, and exploring the restaurants in search of your first Costa Rican dinner. Enjoy a little Costa Rican nightlife before you turn in, but make sure to get plenty of rest because tomorrow is a busy day of fun in the sun!
Day 2
A Day in Playa del Coco and surrounding areas
You have lots of options of how to spend the day in Playa del Coco. One choice is to do nothing but enjoy the beach: walk, swim, bask, and enjoy some meals in complete relaxation with no schedule and no obligations. Not a bad way to start a vacation!
Another choice is to book a sportfishing excursion or take a surf trip to Witch’s Rock and Ollies Point on Day 2. Both of these things begin in the early morning, so you‘ll want to contact our concierge ahead of time to make sure your boat is booked for you before arrival.
If none of these ideas move you, let’s get you booked in for an adventure day at the nearby Diamante Eco Adventure Park. This amazing adventure center is about 30 minutes from Playa del Coco and has an enormous activity menu for you to choose from. Take zip-line canopy tour, visit the animal sanctuary, go horseback riding, take an ATV trek, try out a stand-up paddleboard or a sea kayak… You’ll have so much fun you won’t want to leave.
At the end of your second day, no matter how you’ve spent it, get out and see the town of Playa del Coco because tomorrow you’re going to hit the road again.
Day 3
Travel to Second Destination: Arenal Volcano
You can’t come to Costa Rica and not visit the Arenal Volcano. Arenal, located near the town of La Fortuna, is Costa Rica’s most active volcano and one of our most-visited spots. It will take you a few hours to get there, so you should plan to leave Playa del Coco either in the morning or in the early afternoon. Take your time, enjoy the scenery, stop for snacks and to take pictures. You’re on vacation, so please don’t stress out about getting there as fast as you can. The journey is part of adventure.
There are lots of hotels and vacation rentals in the Arenal area, and we recommend you choose one that has a view of the volcano. You might pay more, but there is a very good reason for this, and it’s worth it. The volcano’s cone, being as it spouts steam into the cool air xxx feet above sea level, is often surrounded by clouds. Your best chance of seeing Arenal’s stunning cone is in the wee hours of the morning before dawn (hint: set your alarm. seriously.) or soon after sunrise. Get a room with a view and prepare to be amazed.
Because of the neighboring active volcano, natural thermal mineral pools and baths are everywhere in Arenal. Your hotel may have hot springs on the premises, our you may pay an entrance fee at one of the dozens of thermal spas you’ll find. The one thing you don’t want to do is miss them! When you get to Arenal, check into your hotel, explore the area a bit, find some dinner, and slip into a natural thermal pool in the cool mountain air of the tropical night. It rains a lot in Arenal, and the hot springs are even more spectacular in the rain!
Day 4
A Day in Arenal
Costa Rica, although it’s known for its beautiful beaches, is a very mountainous country with diverse microclimates and a strong cattle farming culture. This is your day in the mountains, so take advantage of it in every possible way. The area is packed with Arenal tour and adventure options. You can hike the volcano, take a guided jungle horseback ride through the foothills, visit animal sanctuaries and butterfly gardens, visit orchid farms, hike to waterfalls for a chilly swim (sorry, no thermal waterfalls), take zipline canopy tours…
The day will go by faster than you can imagine and before you know it, the night will be falling over the volcano again.
Try a new spot for dinner and try a different thermal spa, because no two are the same, and after one night in the deliciously warm waters, the only thing you’re going to want to do is to go back.
Day 5
Travel to the Third Destination: Tamarindo
Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s already Day 5 of your 7 day vacation, and today the best part starts: you’re coming to Tamarindo! Get up, have some coffee, and get on the road early because the beach is calling and your Tamarindo vacation rental is waiting.
You’ll be in Tamarindo by lunchtime, so you have the whole afternoon to check out the town, walk the beach, go for a swim, catch some afternoon waves if you’re a surfer, maybe grab a Tamarindo surf lesson if you aren’t, and be ready to chill by the time you see the sun sinking close to the horizon. Sunset in Tamarindo is a daily event that no one misses. Join the locals on the beach or enjoy it from the privacy of your vacation rental if you’ve got a view like the one at our home Villa Atardecer.
Every night is Saturday night in Tamarindo, so whether you like late nights or early nights, walk around town after dark and check out the fire dancers, catch some live music, and listen to the mix of languages in one of Costa Rica’s most vibrant melting pots.
Day 6
A day in Tamarindo
Hope you didn’t stay up too late last night because Day 6 is your day in Tamarindo! What do you want to do? Surf? Ride a zip line? Take an ATV tour of the beautiful backcountry? Go sportfishing? Be lazy all morning and then take an afternoon sailing cruise with snorkeling, food and drinks included? Try stand up paddleboarding? Kayak to the Captain Island in Tamarindo Bay and explore its desolate marine beauty?
We know, we know–it’s hard to decide! Our concierge is the expert at vacation planning and can help you determine the best picks for your group, family, or personal interests.
The important thing is, as always, not to miss the sunset. Because Costa Rica is so close to the equator, the sunset happens quickly. When you see the sun near the horizon, this is not the time to grab a quick shower or make a cocktail if you don’t want to miss the moment the orb sinks below the horizon. The most beautiful sunsets happen during the rainy season when the sky is full of clouds that act as screens, prisms, and reflectors, creating a kaleidoscope show that can go on for almost an hour after the sun itself is gone.
Day 7
Hasta Luego, Costa Rica!
Day 7 is departure day. Depending on what time your flight leaves Liberia and what time the tide is high, you might be able to squeeze in an early surf or an early boat tour of the Las Baulas Estuary National Marine Park that creates Tamarindo’s north border. You could also go for a morning swim in the ocean, a beach walk, or a hike up one of Tamarindo’s hills to a lookout point.
As you’ve done some traveling this week, you now understand why you want to make sure to leave for the airport in plenty of time. Make sure you’ve gotten everything out of the safe in your Tamarindo hotel or vacation rental before you hit the road, and remember not to pack that bottle of Guaro in your carry-on.
We hate to see you go, but now that you know where we are and how much of Costa Rica you still would like to see and experience, we’re pretty sure we’ll see you again.
Won’t we?
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