Tamarindo FAQs

Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Perfect Vacation in the Beach & Surf Town of Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

There are so many places to visit on this big blue planet. Each with its own unique flavor, a vibe to call its own. Costa Rica vacations are a Bucket List item for people the world over, and for good reason! Costa Rica is a country full of lovely people and blessed with arguably the most natural beauty you’ll find packed into such a small space. If you’ve been wondering where to go in Costa Rica, chances are good you’ve already run into a little problem: it’s a really tough choice! So, what is Tamarindo Costa Rica like? Well, it’s beachy and warm. It’s got waves for days and a good party too. Once a humble fishing village, now an international travel destination. Want to know more? Let’s dive in. 

Where is Tamarindo Costa Rica?

You’ll find it on the Nicoya peninsula, in the province of Guanacaste on the Pacific coast. One claim to Tamarindo fame is its size: it’s the largest developed beach town in Guanacaste. So if you like your creature comforts, Tamarindo can definitely check that box for you. With an incredible beach, estuary, killer surf spots and fishing, Tamarindo is perfectly situated for a fantastic holiday. 

What is the weather in Tamarindo like, and when is the best time to visit?

Perfect, and anytime. Next!

Just kidding, sort of. Tamarindo does enjoy some really incredible weather, and it doesn’t deviate much from season to season. March tends to be the hottest on average, with temps around 84°F (29°C). The winner for coldest average month is September, at 79°F (26°C). Brrrr. September is also the wettest month (359mm of rain). Rainy season in Costa Rica runs May through November and you can typically expect an hour or two of rain in the afternoon during these months.

Which airport for Tamarindo Costa Rica?

Daniel Oduber Airport (LIB) is located in Liberia, about 45 minutes away by car (2 hours by public bus). This is the closest international airport and offers plenty of connections in US cities such as Toronto, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Panama and New York. There are airport shuttles to Tamarindo from Liberia Airport 2 times daily as well as private airport transfers available at any hour of any day.  

Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in the capital city of San Jose is another option. It’s much larger and serves many international destinations. We would recommend spending a day or 2 in the capital before heading to your beach resort. Aside from being the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose is also at the center of the country making day trips to visit the famous volcanoes and hot springs a breeze.

You’ll definitely want to plan your transportation to and from the airport, and if you have other things to do in Costa Rica, you’ll need some wheels from here to there and back again. Renting a car might be the best option for you, but you aren’t limited to just that. Check out all our transportation options here.

Alternatively, Tamarindo has its own national airport with regular flights to and from SJO. The trip takes just 45 minutes one way and may be a perfect option for you if itinerary options aren’t so great through LIB. Flights with Nature Air are currently on hold, but check back in the here in the near future for available flights.

What About exchanging money and tipping in Costa Rica?

Currency in Tamarindo: The local currency throughout Costa Rica is the Colón. US dollars are widely accepted but of course it’s more welcome (and appropriate) to pay with the proper currency.

With that said, if you’ll need to exchange money in Costa Rica, do it where you get a good rate. The airport is not the place! Go to a bank. Better yet, just use the cash machine.  Cash machines give you the bank rate without the hassle of waiting in line.  You are typically assessed a fee each time you use it however.  So we suggest you take out a good amount at the ATM and store the rest in your hotel safe.  This is just good advice for traveling in general.

If you need to pay for a few things with US dollars while you are out and about, use denominations of $20 and smaller. Also, do it at a bigger store… the bigger the better… so you end up getting the most favorable exchange rate. Mom and Pop stores may have their exchange rate posted but you can bet it hasn’t been assessed too recently. In a big box store, the transaction goes through a computer which calculates the correct rate on the spot. Don’t make your poor cab driver or Mom and Pop cashier do the math; and if you have to, you can’t really expect it to be super accurate. 

For larger purchases such a yacht rental or private charter, the bigger bills the better in whichever currency. It is definitely of note that credit cards are widely accepted in Costa Rica which is all-around great for exchange rates, fees and safety too. 

Tipping in Tamarindo: Tipping is not generally expected, particularly from other Nationals, but it’s worth mentioning that the local wages are not generally commensurate with local cost of living. This is truer in higher-cost tourist towns like Tamarindo. So, though it’s not really expected, the equivalent of a dollar or two each day for housekeeping, and an eye toward an extra 10-15% for a job well done by anyone, will always be much appreciated. 

An exception to this is actually in restaurants, where one would almost always expect to leave a tip. Often a service charge of 10% is added directly to your total. This is the gratuity, and nothing further is expected. Look for a line item called “Servicio”. If it’s there, you’re already tipping that amount. If you wish to leave more, of course more money is welcome! 

Where to stay in Tamarindo?

As you might expect of a tourist town, you can find accommodations in all shapes, sizes and price points. This includes budget-friendly hostels and all-inclusive hotels too. 

Looking for something more adults-only? Check out Jardin del Eden, and Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel Flores. Both are well-reviewed and the minimum age is 18.

Jardin del Eden

Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel Flores

Family-friendly options are also available, if you’ll have loved ones in town. Cala Luna, Arco Iris, and the Coast Beachfront all get high marks for family accommodations.

There are too many hostels in Tamarindo to list, however our favorite budget hotel is actually more bungalows than hotel. Villas Macondo is centrally located with a pool, and perfect for singles, couples and families alike.

Things to do in Tamarindo?

There are so many fun things to do in Tamarindo. Surfing is of course what the town is famous for, and of course we offer surfing lessons. However, there are other water sports in Tamarindo you would likely enjoy too. Stand-up paddleboarding, anyone? 

What about sport fishing? As you already know, before it was anything, Tamarindo was a fishing town, and that’s for good reason. Expect some of the best fishing Costa Rica has to offer in Tamarindo.

It just wouldn’t be right to make a trip to Tamarindo and not visit the estuary! And your inner tree-hugger will be impressed that you chose the eco-friendly kayak option.

Horseback riding, sailing, hiking, whitewater rafting… it’s all an option. As Ferris Bueller famously said: “The question isn’t what are we going to do today, the question is what aren’t we going to do today.”

Check out every single thing you can do right here on our Tamarindo Tours page.

Tamarindo bars and nightlife?

Tamarindo does love a good party, and you’ll find yourself with no shortage of fun things to do and places to go. Try Sharky’s for something more “sports bar-ish”, and El Garito if you’re looking to shake what your mama gave you.

Maybe an organized pub crawl is more your speed? Giving new meaning to the term Sunday Funday, the Beach and Pool crawl is where it’s at for thirsty travelers who travel in packs.

Is Tamarindo safe?

Tamarindo is quite safe and there’s little to worry about. But indeed there are stories of thefts and muggings, just like anywhere in the world. So, it is important to take precautions, just like anywhere in the world. A good rule of thumb is not to be out and about on foot or bicycle after dark, and this goes double if you’re female.  If you are alone, take a taxi instead, whenever possible. If you are drinking however, again, take a taxi.  

That said, Tamarindo is one of the few towns in Costa Rica that really is open late, so there are typically people hanging out everywhere along the main area which remains well lit. Don’t have flashy or valuable things on you or with you, ever, and don’t drink too much or otherwise compromise your clear head, which can lead to bad decisions and situations.

Is Tamarindo gay friendly? Family friendly?

Well, it’s Costa Rica, the sweetest place in the world, so while it wouldn’t be described as UN-friendly to anyone, Tamarindo is first and foremost a surfing beach. 

This means it tends to draw a younger, more party friendly and slightly wild crowd. This is their exact market, what Tamarindo was made for. 

Where kiddos are concerned, Costa Rica in general has tons of kid-friendly activities so you’re going to have no trouble keeping everyone entertained. Stay away from the late nights and the discos and it’s as kid-friendly as anywhere might be. Except Disneyland. It’s not that kid-friendly.

There is a similar logic where the “gay-friendly” filter is applied. While it is absolutely not UN-friendly toward any LGBT folks, Tamarindo is not famous as a gay travel destination. It’s a surfing destination. Costa Rica in general is very tolerant of the gay community, but you should also understand that they are a very Catholic country. They are quite “live and let live” as a general rule, but low key behavior is expected to be sure. 

What kind of vibe can I expect in Tamarindo?

It’s a familiar story: tiny sweet fishing village hits the big time as a tourist attraction. In the case of Tamarindo, the main attraction is the waves. Playa Tamarindo is loved by surfers from all corners of the globe; its expert-level breaks tend to draw the seriously skilled, while most of the beach has waves suitable for the rest of us. 

The nice waves, good food and laid back vibes have turned Tamarindo into a mecca for travelers of all stripes. It’s a welcoming town and has opened its arms to a large expat population too. Thanks to its recent rise in popularity, the other familiar story (the condo story) is also playing out here, and jokes/riffs on the name such as “Tama-gringo” have begun to crop up.

Joking aside, some might argue that the presence of so many English speakers is the very reason so many more travelers continually fall in love with it. We do love to leave home, but it also seems to be a universal truth that when we’re gone from home, we love to find a piece of it along the way. It feels… well… like home. Feels nice.

Tamarindo Beach is our favorite vacation destination in Costa Rica for the younger more vibrant crew.  If you’re looking to book or get more information on the various activities and things to do in Tamarindo, visit our website or contact one of our Activities Specialists.  We would love to help you plan your perfect Costa Rica vacation.