Best Things to Do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Tamarindo sits on Playa Tamarindo in Guanacaste Province, a well-sheltered bay with a consistent beach break that has made it Costa Rica’s most popular learn-to-surf destination. The town has grown significantly since the late 1990s — it is the most commercially developed beach town in Costa Rica, with the attendant mix of surf schools, international restaurants, beach bars, and real estate development alongside genuine natural draws. The things to do in Tamarindo include surfing the reliable beach break, exploring the mangrove estuary (by kayak or boat), watching nesting leatherback sea turtles at Las Baulas (October through February), and using the town as a base for day trips to volcanic parks and isolated beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Best time to visit

December through April is the dry season in Guanacaste: sunny, hot (30-35°C), and the best time for most activities. January through March is peak season with highest prices and most visitors. May through November is the wet season: afternoons bring rain, mornings are often clear, and prices are significantly lower. The surf is actually better in the wet season (May-October, when swells increase from the south). Leatherback turtle nesting season runs October through February; guided night beach walks with the research station allow visitors to observe nesting females.

Getting around

Liberia (Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, LIR) is the main gateway, 80km from Tamarindo (1.5 hours by road). San Jose (SJO) is 4.5 hours by road or a short domestic flight to the Tamarindo airstrip (served by SANSA and Skyway). Within the town, walking and cycling are the primary means of getting around. ATVs, scooters, and bicycles are widely available for rent. Tamarindo is the hub for day trips to Playa Conchal (10 minutes north, the most beautiful beach in the area, shells instead of sand), Playa Grande (across the estuary, nesting turtle reserve, accessible by water taxi), and Playa Flamingo (15 minutes north).

What to eat and drink

Tamarindo has Costa Rica’s best variety of restaurants for a beach town: the main street (the loop road through town) and the beach road have a concentration of options from cheap sodas (local Costa Rican restaurants) to international fine dining. Nogui’s (the oldest restaurant in town) is the reliable local choice for casados and fresh fish. El Mercadito is the best option for local breakfast and lunch at local prices. The Pangas Beach Club at Playa Langosta (a short drive south) is the upscale setting for cocktails and fresh seafood. Cerveza Imperial is the local beer of choice; the guaro (sugarcane spirit) sours are the local cocktail tradition.

Top things to do

Surfing – Tamarindo’s beach break is one of Costa Rica’s most consistent beginner spots: the wave shape is predictable, the bottom is sand (forgiving for falls), and the town has the highest density of surf schools in the country. Multiple operators offer half-day lessons (beginner) for $50-80; equipment rental is widely available. Advanced surfers will prefer nearby Langosta (a point break south of town, hollower and faster) or the remote breaks further along the Nicoya Peninsula.

Leatherback turtle watching at Las Baulas – Las Baulas National Marine Park (Playa Grande, across the estuary from Tamarindo) is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for the giant leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea, the world’s largest turtle at up to 2m and 900kg). Nesting season runs October through February; guided night walks (mandatory, limited permits per night) allow close observation of females nesting and returning to sea. Permit required, bookable through the park or operators in Tamarindo.

Catamaran sunset cruise – Multiple operators run catamaran tours from the bay: afternoon snorkeling trips to the reef at Playa Conchal and Playa Flamingo, sunset cruises with cocktails along the coastline, and full-day tours to Catalina Islands (Bat Islands) for bull shark encounters. The sunset from a catamaran in the bay, with the hills of Guanacaste as backdrop, is one of Costa Rica’s signature images.

Mangrove estuary kayaking – The Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge estuary south of the beach is a protected mangrove ecosystem with crocodiles (American crocodile, common and safe at distance), birds (herons, kingfishers, roseate spoonbills), and monkeys. Guided kayak tours run 2-3 hours through the channels; morning tours have the best wildlife activity.