DESTINATION

Tamarindo

Costa Rica · Guanacaste

Guanacaste's main beach town — consistent surf, walkable streets, sunset restaurants, and the closest of the surf towns to Liberia (LIR) airport. Popular with first-time Costa Rica visitors and surf schools at every block. Expect wind and dry sunshine December through April.

32° / 27°

32° / 26°

32° / 27°

32° / 26°

Overview

Guanacaste's most developed beach town — easy surf, easy access, and easy nightlife.

Tamarindo grew from a fishing village into Costa Rica's most accessible Pacific resort town — a 75-minute drive from Liberia airport, with beach-front restaurants, surf schools, and sunset bars lining a long crescent of golden sand. It's the easy first stop on a Guanacaste itinerary.

Tamarindo Beach — beginner-friendly waves at high tide, longer rides at sunset
Playa Grande — a 10-minute crossing, leatherback turtle nesting Oct–Mar
Sportfishing — sailfish, mahi-mahi, and marlin out of a busy marina
Day trips — Rincón de la Vieja volcano, Witch's Rock, Palo Verde NP
Sunset cocktails — Pangas, El Vaquero, Surf Shack

Best time to visit

December through April for guaranteed sun and lively peak season. May through November delivers cleaner swells, deep-green hills, and softer crowds, with brief afternoon storms and warm nights.

Guides for Tamarindo

Where to Stay in Tamarindo: The Ultimate Hotel Guide (2026) · Where to stay
Things to Do in Tamarindo: Sort the Week by Where Each Tour Starts · Things to do
Getting to Tamarindo: Land in Liberia, or Give San José Half a Day · Getting there
Where to Stay in Tamarindo: the Strip, Langosta, or Playa Grande · Where to stay
Tamarindo Food Markets: El Mercadito, the Food Truck Park and the Saturday Feria · Things to do
Tamarindo Turtle Tours: What the Park Allows Now, and What to Book Instead · Things to do
Fishing in Tamarindo: Sailfish, Roosterfish & Snook on the Guanacaste Coast (2026) · Things to do
Liberia Airport to Tamarindo: Shuttle, Taxi & Transfer Options (2026) · Getting there

Experiences

Tamarindo Estuary Boat Safari

From $52 per person

Sloth Watching, Coffee, Chocolate & Waterfall Experience

From $160 per person

Private Mimosa & Bloody Mary Brunch Cruise in Tamarindo

From $1,080 per group (up to 8)

Private Sunset Catamaran Charter in Tamarindo

From $1,600 per group (up to 12)

Private Morning Catamaran Charter in Tamarindo

From $1,080 per group (up to 8)

Tamarindo Sunset Catamaran Sail with Snorkeling & Dinner

From $95 per person

Tamarindo Morning Catamaran Sail & Snorkel Tour

From $85 per person

ATV Tamarindo

From $135 per person

Full Day Scuba Diving Islas Murciélago

From $360 per person

Scuba Diving Catalina Islands

From $140 per person

Snorkeling Catalinas Island

From $95 per person

Estuary Boat Tour

From $45 per person

La Leona Waterfall and River Tubing Tour

From $35 per person

Waterfalls and Sloths

From $95 per person

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

From $89 per person

Surf Lessons

From $89 per person

Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling Adventure

From $89 per person

Dune Buggy Tour

From $120 per person

See all 18 tours and activities in Tamarindo →

Getting around

Private Transfer: San Jose Airport (SJO) to Tamarindo

From $480 per vehicle (up to 4)

Private Transfer: Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Flamingo

From $106 per vehicle (up to 4)

Shared Shuttle: Monteverde to Tamarindo

From $75 per person

Shared Shuttle: Arenal / La Fortuna to Tamarindo

From $65 per person

Shared Shuttle: Liberia to Tamarindo

From $54 per person

Shared Shuttle: San Jose Airport (SJO) to Tamarindo

From $65 per person

Shared Shuttle: Tamarindo to San Juan del Sur

From $67 per person

Shared Shuttle: San Juan del Sur to Tamarindo

From $65 per person

Private Transfer: Monteverde to Tamarindo

From $264 per vehicle (up to 4)

Private Transfer: Manuel Antonio to Tamarindo

From $420 per vehicle (up to 4)

Private Transfer: Liberia Airport (LIR) to Tamarindo

From $120 per vehicle (up to 4)

Private Transfer: Arenal / La Fortuna to Tamarindo

From $300 per vehicle (up to 4)

Gallery

Weather by month in Tamarindo

Month	High	Low	Rain
Jan	36°C	20°C	4 mm
Feb	37.7°C	20.5°C	3 mm
Mar	38.4°C	20.7°C	4 mm
Apr	39.2°C	21.9°C	29 mm
May	38.2°C	22°C	222 mm
Jun	35.5°C	22.6°C	226 mm
Jul	35.1°C	22.7°C	165 mm
Aug	37.3°C	23°C	222 mm
Sep	35.4°C	22.7°C	317 mm
Oct	33.7°C	22.1°C	359 mm
Nov	33°C	19.5°C	163 mm
Dec	35.4°C	19.6°C	17 mm