Travel guide · Guanacaste
Tamarindo
Golden beaches, big sunsets, and an easygoing beach town with restaurants for every taste.
Gonzalo’s picks
What to do in Tamarindo
A few favorites to get you started. Tell Gonzalo what you love and he’ll suggest more, plus the hotels and restaurants he trusts.
Surf
Surf in Tamarindo
A wide bay with gentle waves that’s ideal for learning, and surf schools all along the beach.
Sunset
Sunset sail
A catamaran ride along the coast with a snorkel stop, ending with the sun dropping into the Pacific.
In season
Leatherback turtles
Across the estuary, Las Baulas National Park protects a nesting beach of the giant leatherback. Night tours run in season with official guides.
Beach
Playa Conchal
A beach made of tiny crushed shells, with clear, calm water for snorkeling.
Day trip
Rincón de la Vieja
An active volcano with steaming vents, bubbling mud pots, and waterfalls. A great day away from the beach.
Getting there
Airport → Tamarindo
A private transfer from SJO airport takes ~5 hrs, door to door.
On the wayFrom the mountains to the plains
Plan your transfer
Plan your days in Tamarindo with Gonzalo
Gonzalo drives you there and shares his favorite picks along the way: trusted hotels, tours and activities, and the spots only locals know about.
Photo credits. Activity photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their licenses.
- Golden sand, shade trees and gentle surf along Playa Tamarindo · Jarle Naustvik · CC BY 2.0
- Sailboats anchored in Tamarindo Bay under a fiery sunset (cropped to 16:9 from a wider panorama) · Rômulo Gama Ferreira · CC BY 2.0
- Female leatherback sea turtle nesting on a beach at dawn (photographed near Galibi, Suriname) · JuliasTravels · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Turquoise water and a rocky point off Playa Conchal, with a small boat at anchor · NoTalkMan · CC0
- Bubbling mud pots and mineral-stained rocks amid forest in Rincón de la Vieja National Park · François Bianco · CC BY-SA 2.0