Tamarindo

Tamarindo

Zarpe !

It’s time to have some fun, Tamarindo here I come! Next stop on the list was so called by some the “party place” that Costa Rica has to offer. It took us about 5 hours to drive from Manuel Antonio to Tamarindo. I noticed the changing landscape while getting closer to our new destination owing to the fact that it wasn’t as green as the south part of the country.

! Thing to mention: Just right before Tamarindo there was a huge construction work on the road. I assume it’s going to take a long time before it will be completed. Because of that, we literally drove on the bumpy and dusty dirt road. SUV would be a good choice to rent if you decide to commute by a car. !

Tamarindo is the biggest boomtown in Guanacaste. The active nightlife, abundant restaurants and very dependable surf, have established Tamarindo as one of the most popular beaches on this coast. The main city road is the jumble of strip malls and surf shops, as well as hotels, and restaurants. The beautiful beach here is a long, wide swatch of white sand that curves gently from one rocky headland to another. (Frommer’s. 2013).

We stayed in Capitan Suizo hotel right by Playa Langosta. That place was magnificent, beachfront, built around tall shade trees, and often visited by wildlife, especially monkeys.  In the front of the hotel there is a “monkey bridge” that apparently was re-built 4 times, since monkeys didn’t like the first three designs of it. The hotel has an open-air restaurant facing the Ocean, where during breakfast tropical birds will try to steal your food, not to mention walking Iguanas by the tables. 

Since Tamarindo is one of the most popular destinations for surfing, everyone should experience at least once this amazing sport. The gorges beach and warm water create an ideal environment for the beginner and advanced surfers. I took one class that lasted about 4 hours and I had an amazing time. Surfing classes are offered all over Tamarindo town. There is a surfing school, which is the most recommended place to go, as well as there are many local surfers offering their services on the beach. The cost of one class is about $40.

! Thing to mention: when you book your surfing class never pay upfront. Sometimes your instructor might simply not show up and you will loose your money. !

Tamaridno offers variety of restaurants and bars. Few of my favorites are:

El Coconut – serves excellent seafood, fantastic coconut drinks, very pleasant service, average in price.

Patagonia – Argentinian steak house, I highly recommend that place, amazing steaks and fantastic Sangrias!

Dragonfly Bar & Grill – I wasn’t too crazy about that place. However many people will recommend you to go there. It’s located in the hidden place on the back street. I ordered wood-fired fish of the day, it was average.

Wild Panda – fun place to go to enjoy good frozen margaritas (2 for 1), very small open-air bar/restaurant located in the food court. Live DJ on Tuesdays. Packed with young crowd. The owner is super nice, however the waitresses don’t speak any English (although understood my broken Spanish!).

Sharky’s – it is a very busy, popular, and fun bar with mixed crowd of international tourists and the locals.

! Thing to mention: Highly recommend to enjoy national beer - IMPERIAL - while vacationing in Costa Rica ! 

Around Tamarindo there are many remote beaches that are worth to explore. The one I visited was rich in its natural beauty Playa Flamingo. It offers stunning views, as well as white sand and less rocky beach where you can enjoy swimming in warm Ocean. Not too far from the beach there is the Marino Las Baulas National Park that is one of the most significant nesting sites for Leatherback Turtle. 

Reference:

Frommer’s (2013). Paya de Jaco. Costa Rica 2013. Published by: John Wilye & Sons, Inc.