Costa Rica - Tamarindo

Tamarindo Costa Rica is the perfect beach getaway trip! It's the Mecca for beach lovers, surfers, consistent waves and warm water. The beaches are beautiful and the sunsets are even more vibrant. Nightlife and dining are abundant; however, the food in this area is typically expensive. Expect a $20 minimum for breakfast and a $35-40 minimum for dinner/lunch.

Tips

• Dry season is December - April

• BRING SUNSCREEN AND REAPPLY EVERY TWO HOURS

• You do not need to convert cash - USD Cash and card is accepted

• Rent Golf Carts to get around town

Where to stay

• Villa Makai (also on airbnb)- This is where I stayed for my trip. It's a luxury 6-bedroom home in a gated community with an amazing pool and lots of natural light. This villa was even more beautiful than pictured. I would recommend your stay here. The concierge was as helpful and attentive as can be. Please note, that there may be a chance of water outage happening during the dry season. During my stay, my friends and I were left with no water ( we could not use the shower, toilet, or faucet) for about 12 hours. It occurred at 8pm and was not back on until the next morning. Outside of this occurrence, this villa was perfect. 

• Honorable mention: Casa Oasis - This was our second choice.
  

THINGS TO DO IN TAMARINDO

• Beach/Beach Massages

• Surf Lessons

• Arenal Volcano Hike - This is about 4 hours from Tamarindo; therefore, this would be a full day excursion.

• Manta Ray Booze Cruise - I have been on many Yachts/Booze cruises; however, this was by far the best one I've experienced. The boat was new and very spacious, the ambiance was great and the captain/crew provided a great time. Definitely recommend.

• Native Way - A reliable source to book excursions such as Tamarindo Bar crawl, Arenal hike, etc

• La Leona Waterfall Hike

Places to eat

• Sentido Norte - A restaurant in a small picturesque town called Las Catalinas. The most beautiful view and sunset you will ever see paired with delicious food. 

• Monkey Waffle - The breakfast here was good! BUT the chicken sandwich from this spot was PHENOMENAL. 10/10 

• SOL Bakery - This place was the best breakfast I had in Tamarindo. My friends and I went here repeatedly. The drinks and the food were amazing compared to the other breakfast spots.

• Restaurant Sofia - This is a Mediterranean eats! This was hands down the best dinner I had my entire trip.

• Jardin Food Truck Park - I did not get to try this, but definitely an honorable mention. 

Nightlife

• Pacifico Beach Club

• Crazy Monkey

• Rumors

Itinerary