Tamarindo Costa Rica travel guide
Tamarindo Costa Rica is a favorite surfer's travel destination. Tamarindo has evolved from a laid-back hippie hang out to a hip surfer's hot spot. Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica's top beach travel destinations.
The movie Endless Summer II put Playa Tamarindo on the surfer's map and since this time (1994), Tamarindo has been booming.
In a span of a few years, Tamarindo Costa Rica has grown from a small beach town to an upscale fashionable travel resort and destination for ex-pats to retire. Tamarindo is a great place to party all night, surf all day and meet travelers from every part of the world.
Near Tamarindo Costa Rica
Tamarindo offers some pretty great local things to do including a national wildlife refuge, the nearby Marine Turtle National Park where the turtles come ashore en mass to lay eggs, and reasonably priced lodging.
Playa Grande is a major surf beach but is also a beach where leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs. Playa Grande National Park is a part of the Marino Las Baulas National Park. Baula is the Spanish word for leatherback, hence the park's name.
The nesting season is long and lasts from August to February, so if travelers are lucky, it's possible to spot a leatherback crawling on the beach. This nearly extinct species of turtle is quickly disappearing and, as a result, access to the beach at night is limited. Please note that it's important not to take pictures of the leatherback with a flash. Lights, including the flash from a camera, impacts a turtle's reproduction.
Turtle watching is possible through the national park office at the northern entrance to Playa Grande. Reservations can be made up to 7 days in advance.
Playa Grande is rated as one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica and has perfect left and right breaks.
Although some professional travelers might beat Tamarindo up for its recent change from laid-back hippie hang out to hoppin' hot travel destination, the growth has made Tamarindo more interesting and there's a lot more to do.
Some of Tamarindo and area travel activities include:
- Surfing in Tamarindo: Rentals and classes can be arranged through any one of the Tamarindo shops.
- Golfing in Tamarindo: Near the village of San Jose de Pinilla, only minutes from Tamarindo, at one of the finest golf resorts in Central America.
- Biking with a Tamarindo expert including repair services can be done with Blue Trax.
- Diving in Tamarindo: Certification classes are available at Agua Rica Diving Center.
- Sailing excursions in Tamarindo can be arranged through Blue Dolphin or Mandingo.
- Boating tours and rentals can be arranged through Tamarindo Adventures.
- Riding an ATV can be arranged through Tamarindo Adventures.
- Snorkeling can be arranged through Tamarindo Adventures.
- Renting scooters can be arranged through Tamarindo Adventures.
- Yoga classes in Tamarindo are offered at the Cabinas Arco Iris.
Playa Langosta is near Tamarindo
Immediately south of Tamarindo, is Playa Langosta, which is a good surf spot that offers a quieter more relaxed scene. In Playa Langosta, there are services such as bed and breakfasts.
Additional Tamarindo Costa Rica travel info
Learn more travel information about the area around Tamarindo Costa rica - the Nicoya Peninsula.
More travel info about popular destinations in Costa Rica
Learn more about other popular travel destinations in Costa Rica.
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