Tamarindo, Costa Rica is home to the reputable Tamarindo Beach on the elbow of the Gulf of Nicoya’s peninsula in the northwest corner province of Guanacaste. This resort city and beach act as home to good surf, plentiful sun and all the activities associated with the combination of the first two points of interest cited.

The province of Guanacaste plays host to a grand assortment of beaches along the pacific coast. This particular beach on the rim of the Gulf of Nicoya’s outstretched isthmus is a host to some very fine resort hotels in the city of Tamarindo among others. Some of these hotels include; Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas, Hotel Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort, Hotel Capitan Suizo and Jardin del Eden Boutique Hotel (The Garden of Eden Boutique Hotel).

Near the mouth of the estuary of Tamarindo Beach, a truly grand beach, you can find some excellent breakers. Be careful of ebb tides for their vigorous undercurrents. For radical surfers (you might want to watch these guys and gals;), Tamarindo has two main surf spots. The brilliant river mouth break, El Estero, which takes its riders across from Cabinas Tsunami, and Pico Pequeño a rocky precipice in front of the Hotel Tamarindo Diriá. In November and December the waves can get up to 12 feet high from the tip of the crest to sea level.

Beginning surfers may feel more suited to the other breaks which are more than sufficient, or there are other eco-friendly activities. Some of these activities more appropriate for observation are as follows; watching turtles during their nesting season at night, diving, snorkeling. Body surfing, kite surfing and fishing are a few of the other hands on activities that take place at Tamarindo Beach.

Fishing may be done from the shore from December to April when the water turbidity (turbidity is how clear the water appears) is low. Species of sport fish found near Tamarindo include Sailfish, Blue, Black and Striped Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado (Dolphinfish), Wahoo, Roosterfish, Snapper and Grouper. For the most part, fishing in Costa Rica’s waters is catch and release only, so you can’t expect to take a prize home for the wall.

Tamarindo beach is one hour and twenty minutes from Liberia, Costa Rica and the Daniel Oduber International Airport. It is five hours and forty minutes from the capital city of San Jose. The international airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica is fifty minutes from the beach if you catch a flight at the local airport, or three hours and forty-five minutes driving.

Beach: Tamarindo Beach
Location: Guanacaste, Tamarindo Beach Location
Distance from San Jose: 5 hs & 40 mins (1 hr+ plane)
Distance from Liberia: 1 hr & 20 mins
Items to bring: Swimsuit, Volley or Beach Ball, Beach Towel or Blanket, Sun Screen, Surf Wear and Gear
Hotels nearby: Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas, Hotel Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort, Hotel Capitan Suizo and Jardin Del Eden Boutique Hotel
Ways to get here: plane, taxi, rental car, surfboard