Tamarindo Beginner Surf Lessons, Shared or Private
A first lesson on the gentle, forgiving waves of Tamarindo Beach, the town that made its name as one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to stand up on a board for the first time.
Guanacaste (Costa Rica)
Tamarindo & Guanacaste
Guanacaste is the sunny north-western corner of Costa Rica, a land of dry forest, cattle ranches, smoking volcanoes and long Pacific beaches, and Tamarindo is its liveliest beach town.
A former fishing village that grew up around surfing, it offers a broad bay with gentle waves for beginners, sunset catamarans, mangrove estuaries full of crocodiles and herons, and, across the water at Playa Grande, one of the Pacific coast's great nesting beaches for giant leatherback turtles. Within an easy drive lie the shell-strewn sands of Playa Conchal, the calm bays and snorkel trips of Playa Flamingo and the Gulf of Papagayo, and the Catalina Islands, a rocky reef area known for rays and schooling fish. Inland, the Rincon de la Vieja volcano steams over mud pots and waterfalls, the Llanos de Cortes falls offer an easy swim, Palo Verde National Park hosts river safaris through tropical wetlands, and Santa Rosa National Park combines dry forest with a pivotal nineteenth-century battlefield. This Twickly guide brings together twenty experiences, ten hotels from boutique garden stays to all-inclusive resorts and volcano lodges, and six guides on when to go, where to stay and how to plan day trips.
Don't miss
Tamarindo Beginner Surf Lessons, Shared or Private
A first lesson on the gentle, forgiving waves of Tamarindo Beach, the town that made its name as one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to stand up on a board for the first time.
Night Turtle Nesting Tour at Playa Grande from Tamarindo
A guided night visit to the beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park, where giant leatherback turtles haul themselves ashore to lay eggs in the sand in one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Pacific coast.
Blue Dolphin Public Catamaran Sail from Tamarindo
A group catamaran sail out of Tamarindo with time for swimming, snorkelling and a drink on deck as the sun sinks into the Pacific, the classic way to spend a Guanacaste afternoon.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour from Tamarindo
A full-day guided trip from the Tamarindo coast to the volcanic national park of Rincon de la Vieja, with bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, forest trails and waterfalls in the Guanacaste highlands.
Things to do in Tamarindo & Guanacaste
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Night Turtle Nesting Tour at Playa Grande from Tamarindo
A guided night visit to the beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park, where giant leatherback turtles haul themselves ashore to lay eggs in the sand in one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Pacific coast.
Kayak to the Heart of Las Baulas National Park
A paddle through the mangrove channels and estuary beside Tamarindo into Las Baulas National Marine Park, with herons, monkeys, crocodiles and a quiet, breezy look at the coast most visitors skip.
Tamarindo Estuary Mangrove Tour by Boat or Kayak
A short, easy wildlife tour of the Tamarindo estuary by boat or kayak, a good-value way to spot crocodiles, monkeys and wading birds only minutes from the beach.
Blue Dolphin Public Catamaran Sail from Tamarindo
A group catamaran sail out of Tamarindo with time for swimming, snorkelling and a drink on deck as the sun sinks into the Pacific, the classic way to spend a Guanacaste afternoon.
Catalina Islands Snorkeling Tour from Tamarindo
A boat trip out to the small rocky Catalina Islands off the Guanacaste coast, known for clear water, schooling fish and the chance of rays gliding below your snorkel.
Catalina Islands Fun Dives for Certified Divers
A two-tank boat dive for certified divers at the Catalina Islands, a rocky reef area famous along the Pacific coast for rays, schooling fish and dramatic pinnacles.
Private Horseback Ride on Playa Conchal
A private guided horseback ride along the shell-strewn sands of Playa Conchal, with sea breezes, turquoise water and a slow pace that suits both first-timers and experienced riders.
ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo to Flamingo and Conchal
A guided off-road ride by ATV or UTV from Tamarindo along dirt tracks, villages and quiet beaches toward Playa Flamingo and Conchal, a muddy, dusty and thoroughly fun way to see the coast.
Avellanas Wildlife Walk with a Local Naturalist
A guided walk near Playa Avellanas with a local naturalist, looking for monkeys, birds, iguanas and other dry-forest wildlife in a quieter corner south of Tamarindo.
Guanacaste Forest Zipline Canopy Tour
A guided zipline run through the tropical dry forest behind the Tamarindo coast, with platforms high in the trees, cables above the canopy and a good chance of spotting monkeys and birds as you fly past.
Playa Flamingo Catamaran Cruise with Snorkelling
An all-inclusive-style catamaran cruise from Playa Flamingo with a snorkel stop, food and drinks on board and a relaxed sail along the Guanacaste coast north of Tamarindo.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel Pasatiempo
Playa Langosta, Tamarindo
A small, relaxed garden hotel on the quieter southern side of Tamarindo, within reach of both the surf and the town, and a good-value base for travellers who prefer low-key comfort to resort scale.
Check rates →Capitan Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel
Tamarindo Beachfront (south end)
A long-established beachfront boutique hotel at the quieter end of Tamarindo, with tropical gardens, a pool and direct access to the sand for guests who want comfort without the crowds of town.
Check rates →Cala Luna Boutique Hotel and Villas
Playa Langosta, Tamarindo
A boutique hotel with villas near Playa Langosta, popular with couples and small groups who want a stylish, quiet stay close to the beach and a short drive from Tamarindo's restaurants.
Check rates →The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort and Spa
Playa Conchal (Reserva Conchal)
A large beachfront resort within the Reserva Conchal estate, with golf, a spa, multiple pools and a shell-strewn beach, suited to families and groups who want a self-contained all-inclusive stay.
Check rates →JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa
Hacienda Pinilla (south of Tamarindo)
A large luxury resort in the Hacienda Pinilla estate south of Tamarindo, with a long beach, golf, a spa and a quiet, spread-out layout that suits families and couples seeking a polished resort stay.
Check rates →Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo
A relaxed beachfront resort on the crescent of Playa Flamingo, close to the marina and boat tours, with pools, bars and a laid-back island mood.
Check rates →Hotel Riu Guanacaste
Matapalo (near Playa Flamingo)
A large all-inclusive beach resort near Playa Matapalo on the northern Guanacaste coast, with pools, restaurants, entertainment and easy access to Flamingo and Conchal.
Check rates →Hacienda Guachipelin
Rincon de la Vieja (near Liberia)
A working ranch turned adventure lodge on the slopes of Rincon de la Vieja, with volcano views, hot springs, ziplines, horseback rides and a very different mood from the beach.
Check rates →Borinquen Mountain Resort and Spa
Rincon de la Vieja (Cañas Dulces)
A mountain resort on the Rincon de la Vieja side of Guanacaste with volcano scenery, thermal features, a spa and a quiet, forested setting that contrasts sharply with the beach.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn Liberia Airport
Liberia (near the airport)
A practical, comfortable airport hotel near Liberia, ideal for late arrivals, early departures and a night before heading out to Tamarindo, the volcano or the beaches.
Check rates →Tamarindo & Guanacaste guides
First Time in Tamarindo and Guanacaste: What to Know Before You Go
A practical primer for a first trip to Tamarindo and Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast: how to get there, where to base yourself, what to book ahead and how to split time between beach, sea and inland adventures.
Where to Stay in Tamarindo and Guanacaste: Beaches, Resorts and Volcano Lodges
A guide to choosing where to stay on the Guanacaste coast: Tamarindo and Langosta, the Avellanas side, the Flamingo and Conchal resorts, the Liberia gateway and the Rincon de la Vieja highlands.
Three Days in Tamarindo: A Surf, Sea and Wildlife Itinerary
A relaxed three-day plan for Tamarindo that combines a surf lesson, a sunset sail, mangrove and turtle wildlife, and an optional day trip, with tips on timing and pacing.
Best Time to Visit Tamarindo and Guanacaste: Dry Season, Green Season and Turtle Season
When to go to Tamarindo and Guanacaste: how the dry and green seasons differ, what happens to surf, wildlife and crowds, and how turtle nesting and volcano weather affect your plans.
Day Trips from Tamarindo: Volcano, Waterfalls, Wetlands and Islands
The best day trips from Tamarindo: Rincon de la Vieja, waterfalls near Liberia, Palo Verde wetlands, Santa Rosa National Park and the Catalina Islands, with notes on distances and how to combine them.
Tamarindo with Kids: A Family Guide to the Guanacaste Coast
A family guide to Tamarindo and Guanacaste: gentle surf lessons, boat trips, wildlife, horses and chocolate, plus how to pace the days and what to pack for children.
