The Pacific coastal town of Tamarindo is a microcosm of all that Costa Rica has to offer. As a result, tourism is the main industry of the area and Tamarindo has become a haven for surfers, eco-tourists and holiday seekers from around the world. The population of this sleepy village can swell from 500 to over 5,000 people during the height of the tourist season. With lush rainforests, spectacular beaches, wonderful surf breaks and the nearby Las Baulas National Park, Tamarindo is a miniature tropical paradise.
The Playa Tamarindo is a long stretch of white sandy beach that offers two excellent wave breaks for advanced surfers. One is the rocky Pico Pequeño point and the other is the El Estero near the mouth of the river estuary. The strong currents can produce waves as high as twelve feet. The remainder of the beach offers wonderful opportunities for beginning surfers.
Eco-tourists will be thrilled by the Playa Grande beach. The leatherback turtle takes over the beach from November to April as they dig one meter deep nests, lay their eggs and return to the sea. Approximately sixty to ninety days later, visitors will be enraptured as they watch the eggs hatch and the young turtles make their way to the ocean. Other eco-friendly activities include snorkeling off shore reefs, zip-lining across the rain forest canopy and getting up close to the local flora, fauna and culture during a horseback tour of the tropical forest and surrounding area.
Tamarindo offers an acclaimed, cosmopolitan mix of dining and nightlife venues that have gained in popularity over the years as the best way to top off a special day in paradise. Guests will find a wide variety of shops, souvenir stands and art galleries where visitors can view and purchase the sculptures, pottery, art and other handcrafts of local artists. Tamarindo offers a wide selection of accommodations for every taste and budget.
Tamarindo, with its tropical climate, is easily accessible by land or air. There is daily scheduled bus service from San Jose. The trip takes approximately six hours. The most convenient way to reach Tamarindo is by airplane. There is a local airstrip that is serviced by regular flights from San Jose. Another access point is to fly directly from several major gateway cities to nearby Liberia and then rent a vehicle for the drive to the vacation hot spot of Tamarindo.
