15 Best Things to Do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica (2026 Guide)
Tamarindo has a way of making you forget you had a return flight booked.
This small beach town on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste has grown into one of Costa Rica’s most visited destinations — and for good reason. The surf is consistent, the sunsets are legendary, and the variety of things to do here surprises even repeat visitors. Whether you’re traveling with family, planning a romantic escape, or just looking for adventure on the water, Tamarindo delivers.
This guide covers the 15 best things to do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, the best beaches to visit nearby, when to go, and everything else you need to plan your trip.
Why Visit Tamarindo?
Tamarindo isn’t Costa Rica’s most remote destination, and it isn’t trying to be. What it offers is something rarer: a genuine beach town that has grown into a real destination without losing the qualities that made it worth visiting in the first place.
The surf break at the main beach is one of the most consistent and beginner-friendly in the country. The offshore waters are among the most productive for sport fishing in the entire Pacific. The estuary just south of town is a wildlife reserve with crocodiles and howler monkeys minutes from the main street. And the sunsets — the long, dramatic Pacific sunsets that paint the sky in colors that feel excessive — happen every single evening without fail.
Beyond the activities, Tamarindo has the infrastructure that makes a trip genuinely comfortable. Good restaurants ranging from local sodas to proper fine dining. Reliable WiFi. Medical facilities. A Saturday farmers market. Surf shops, yoga studios, and juice bars sharing the same street. It’s a town that functions well for travelers, and that practical quality is part of why people keep coming back.
It also sits at the center of one of the most beautiful coastlines in Central America — with a dozen world-class beaches within 45 minutes in either direction. You could spend a week using Tamarindo as a base and visit a different beach every day without repeating yourself.
Best Beaches Near Tamarindo
One of Tamarindo’s greatest assets is its location. The surrounding coastline packs more beach variety into a small geographic area than almost anywhere else in Costa Rica. Here’s what’s within reach:
Tamarindo Beach
The main beach is long, wide, and backed by the town itself on one side and the estuary on the other. The northern end is the most active — surf schools, board rentals, vendors, and a social atmosphere that makes it one of the most lively stretches of sand in Guanacaste. The southern end near the estuary mouth is quieter and better for swimming when the surf is small.
Getting there: You’re already here. Best for: Surfing, people-watching, swimming in calmer conditions, sunsets.
Playa Langosta
A 20–25 minute walk south from the center of Tamarindo along the beach, or 5 minutes by car. Playa Langosta is sheltered by the point where the estuary meets the ocean, and its calmer, more residential character makes it feel like a different world from the main beach despite the short distance.
The beach is beautiful and less crowded. The point at the south end of the estuary offers a good viewpoint over the whole bay. At low tide, walking from Tamarindo to Langosta along the sand is one of the better morning walks in the area.
Getting there: Walk south along Tamarindo Beach for 20–25 minutes, or drive 5 minutes south on the coastal road. Best for: Swimming, a quieter beach experience, morning walks, watching the estuary.
Playa Avellanas
About 15–20 minutes south of Tamarindo by car on a mix of paved and dirt road, Playa Avellanas is known for two things: a punchy beach break that attracted serious surfers long before Tamarindo became popular, and Lola’s — a legendary open-air restaurant and bar on the sand, named after a resident pig who used to wander between the tables. Lola herself is gone now, but the restaurant remains one of the best beach lunch spots on the coast.
The beach is long and wild, backed by a biological reserve that keeps development minimal. On a good swell day, the surf here is more serious than Tamarindo — fast, hollow, and less forgiving. On small days it’s excellent for swimming and exploring.
Getting there: Drive south from Tamarindo on the road toward Playa Negra. Avellanas is approximately 15–20 minutes. The last stretch is dirt road — passable in a regular car during dry season, advisable in a 4×4 during green season. Best for: Intermediate-advanced surfing, beach lunch at Lola’s, escaping Tamarindo crowds.
Playa Negra
Another 10 minutes south of Avellanas, Playa Negra is named for the dark volcanic sand that gives the beach its distinctive appearance. The wave here — a powerful right-hand reef break — is one of the most respected surf breaks on the Guanacaste coast and the setting for an annual surf competition that draws professional surfers.
The beach is wild and relatively undeveloped. A small community of low-key restaurants and surf accommodation clusters near the break. It’s not a swimming beach — the reef and current make it unsuitable — but as a surf destination and a dramatic stretch of coastline, it’s worth the drive.
Getting there: Continue south from Avellanas on dirt road, approximately 10 more minutes. Total drive from Tamarindo: 25–30 minutes. Best for: Experienced surfers, dramatic scenery, a quieter and more local atmosphere.
Playa Flamingo
North of Tamarindo, about 30–35 minutes by car, Playa Flamingo is consistently ranked among the most beautiful beaches in Guanacaste. The sand is white and fine, the water is calm and clear, and a rocky headland frames the bay on one end in a way that looks deliberately scenic. The town of Flamingo is small but has good restaurants and a marina — the main departure point for fishing and sailing charters in the region.
Unlike the beaches to the south, Flamingo is calm enough for comfortable swimming year-round and attracts a slightly more upscale traveler than Tamarindo’s surf-focused crowd.
Getting there: Drive north from Tamarindo on the main coastal road approximately 30–35 minutes. Road is paved the entire way. Best for: Swimming, photography, a beautiful beach day away from Tamarindo, accessing fishing and sailing charters at the marina.
Playa Conchal
Just south of Flamingo, Playa Conchal is one of the most photographed beaches in Costa Rica — and for good reason. The shoreline is composed almost entirely of tiny shells rather than sand, giving it an unusual texture and a color that shifts from white to pale pink depending on the light. The water is some of the clearest on the coast.
A large all-inclusive resort occupies one end of the beach, but the rest is accessible to anyone who walks down from the road. The resort’s presence means facilities are nearby, but the beach itself remains one of the most naturally striking on the coast.
Getting there: Drive north from Tamarindo approximately 35–40 minutes to the Brasilito area, then follow signs to Conchal. A short walk through the village of Brasilito reaches the beach. Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, photography, a full beach day.
Playa Grande
Directly across the Tamarindo Estuary — visible from Tamarindo Beach — Playa Grande is separated from town by the river mouth but accessible by a short boat crossing that takes about 5 minutes. The beach is long, wild, and almost entirely undeveloped, protected within Las Baulas National Marine Park.
The surf here is powerful and consistent, drawing experienced surfers who want quality waves without the Tamarindo crowd. The beach is also one of the world’s most important leatherback sea turtle nesting sites — night tours run October through March under park ranger supervision.
Getting there: Take the small boat ferry that crosses the estuary from the south end of Tamarindo Beach. The crossing takes 5 minutes and runs regularly during daylight hours. Best for: Uncrowded surfing, sea turtle watching (in season), a wild and undeveloped beach experience.
15 Best Things to Do in Tamarindo
1. Go Sport Fishing
Tamarindo sits at the edge of one of the most productive sport fishing corridors in the Pacific. The warm, deep waters of Guanacaste attract marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, and roosterfish year-round — with peak season running from December through April when sailfish concentrations are at their highest.
You don’t need to be an experienced angler. Most offshore charters are fully guided — experienced captains who know these waters handle all the technical work. Your job is to hold the rod and fight the fish. Half-day and full-day trips are available, departing from Flamingo Marina about 30 minutes north of Tamarindo.
Inshore fishing targeting roosterfish and snapper is a great option for families or first-timers who don’t want a long offshore run. Offshore trips targeting billfish are the full experience — an early departure, miles of open Pacific, and the kind of fishing that most anglers spend years planning around.
If sport fishing is on your list, it deserves a full day. Few experiences on this coast compare to a sunrise departure and a cooler full of fish by noon.
2. Learn to Surf (or Improve Your Skills)
Tamarindo Beach is one of the most beginner-friendly surf breaks in Costa Rica, and possibly one of the best in the world for learning. The waves break long and consistently over a sandy bottom — forgiving, readable, and patient enough for first-timers to find their footing.
Several surf schools operate directly on the beach. A typical lesson runs 1.5 to 2 hours and includes board rental, instruction, and plenty of time in the water. Most beginners are standing on their boards within the first session. Some book a second lesson the next morning.
For intermediate surfers who have outgrown the main break, Playa Avellanas and Playa Negra to the south offer more demanding waves within 20–30 minutes. For advanced surfers after a genuine bucket-list experience, Witch’s Rock and Ollie’s Point — accessible only by boat, about 1.5 hours north in Santa Rosa National Park — produce world-class waves in one of the most remote and beautiful settings on the coast.
3. Take a Sunset Sailing Tour
If there’s one thing Tamarindo does better than almost anywhere else, it’s sunsets. The Pacific sky turns gold, then orange, then a deep red that feels almost theatrical — and the best seat in the house is on the water.
Sunset sailing tours along the Guanacaste coast typically include snorkeling, drinks on board, and two to three hours of watching the sky change over the Pacific from a boat deck. Shared tours are social and affordable — a great option for solo travelers or couples who want an easy evening on the water.
For groups looking for something more elevated, the Why Not — a 61-foot Fountaine Pajot private catamaran operated by Oceanic Experience Costa Rica — offers fully private sunset charters with a gourmet four-course meal prepared on board, a premium open bar, and complete privacy. It’s a different category of experience entirely, and one of the most impressive things available on this coast.
4. Go Scuba Diving
The waters off Guanacaste are home to some of the most diverse marine life in the Eastern Pacific. Scuba diving near Tamarindo puts you in the water with sea turtles, reef sharks, moray eels, octopus, eagle rays, manta rays, and dozens of species of tropical fish — often all on the same dive.
Popular dive sites include the rocky reefs around Playa Flamingo, reachable in about 20 minutes by boat, and the Catalina Islands further north where manta rays aggregate December through May. Visibility is typically best from December through April, when dry season brings calmer seas and cleaner water — often 15–25 meters on a good day.
Both beginner dives (no certification required) and advanced guided dives are available. A discovery dive is a fully guided underwater experience in shallower water and requires no prior training — one of the best ways to decide whether you want to pursue full certification.
5. Explore the Tamarindo Estuary by Kayak
Just south of the main beach, the Tamarindo Estuary is a protected wildlife corridor that most visitors walk past without a second look. That’s a mistake.
Paddling through the estuary by kayak takes you into a mangrove ecosystem that feels entirely removed from the beach scene a few hundred meters away. American crocodiles sun themselves on the banks — large, unhurried, and surprisingly close. Howler monkeys roar from the canopy. Herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, kingfishers, and dozens of other bird species feed along the shoreline.
A local guide makes an enormous difference here. Knowing where to look — which bend in the channel holds a crocodile, which tree the monkeys are moving through — transforms a pleasant paddle into a genuine wildlife experience. Morning tours are best, when the light is good and animal activity is highest.
6. Watch Sea Turtles Nest at Playa Grande
Directly across the estuary from Tamarindo, Playa Grande is one of the most important leatherback sea turtle nesting sites in the world. The beach sits within Las Baulas National Marine Park, and from October through March, leatherback turtles — some weighing over 500 kilograms — come ashore at night to dig their nests and lay their eggs.
Night tours are operated under the supervision of park rangers and strictly regulated to protect the turtles. Groups are small, lights are controlled, and the entire protocol exists for the animals’ benefit. What you see in exchange is one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters in Costa Rica — a massive ancient animal navigating by instinct to the same beach where she was born, emerging from the ocean in darkness, completely indifferent to the humans watching in silence a few meters away.
Reservations are essential during peak nesting months (November–January). This is not a walk-up experience.
7. Take a Day Trip to Rincón de la Vieja
About two hours east of Tamarindo, Rincón de la Vieja National Park is an active volcanic complex that produces a landscape unlike anything on the coast. Bubbling mud pots. Steaming fumaroles. Boiling thermal pools. Waterfalls hidden in tropical dry forest. An active crater that occasionally reminds visitors it’s still very much alive.
The park’s trail system reaches the volcanic features, a series of waterfalls, and natural hot spring pools where the geothermal water is the right temperature for sitting in rather than burning yourself. A full-day tour from Tamarindo typically includes transport, a guided hike through the park, and time at the thermal pools — a contrast with the Pacific coast that’s particularly striking if you’ve spent most of your trip at the beach.
Wildlife along the trails is significant: howler and white-faced monkeys, coatis, and exceptional birdwatching throughout.
8. Snorkel the Pacific Reefs
You don’t need a scuba certification to experience the marine life off the Guanacaste coast. Snorkeling tours from Tamarindo take you by boat to rocky reef environments where sea turtles feed, parrotfish graze on coral, and schools of fish move through water clear enough to see the bottom 10 meters down.
The best snorkeling spots are offshore — not reachable by swimming from the beach — which is why snorkeling excursions are typically combined with sailing or catamaran tours. The combination works well: a few hours on the water, a stop at a reef, back on board for lunch and drinks. A guided snorkeler who knows the reef will point out marine life you’d swim right past on your own.
Snorkeling equipment is included in any reputable boat tour.
9. Go Beach Hopping Along the Coast
One of the most rewarding ways to spend a day or two around Tamarindo is renting a car or scooter and working your way along the coast — north toward Flamingo and Conchal, or south toward Avellanas, Negra, and beyond. Each beach has a distinct character, and the variety within 45 minutes of Tamarindo is genuinely impressive.
Going south: Start at Playa Langosta, a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk. Continue to Playa Avellanas (15–20 min), where Lola’s beach restaurant is worth a stop for lunch — fresh ceviche, cold beer, and your feet in the sand. Playa Negra is another 10 minutes south, dramatic and wild with a powerful reef break. If you keep going, Playa Junquillal is about 20 more minutes — one of the quietest and most beautiful beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula, with almost no development and a long stretch of sand often shared with sea turtles.
Going north: Playa Flamingo (30–35 min) is one of the most classically beautiful beaches in Guanacaste — white sand, calm water, and a headland backdrop. Playa Conchal is 5 minutes further, famous for its shell-composed shoreline and exceptionally clear water. The drive north on the paved coastal road is easy and scenic.
Tips for beach hopping:
- Go early — the best light and calmest conditions are in the morning
- Pack water, sunscreen, and snacks — facilities vary significantly between beaches
- A 4×4 is recommended for the dirt roads south of Tamarindo, especially in green season
- Tides matter — some beaches are better at low tide for walking, others at high tide for swimming
10. Try Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Stand-up paddleboarding is one of the more meditative ways to spend a morning in Tamarindo. The calm waters inside the bay are ideal for beginners — the learning curve is gentle, and rental boards are available directly on the beach.
More adventurous paddlers can explore the edges of the estuary or paddle north along the coastline toward less-crowded stretches of sand. The early morning window — before the trade winds pick up and the surface chops — is when paddleboarding is at its best. The light on the water at 7 AM, with the town still quiet behind you, is a specific kind of Tamarindo experience that doesn’t get enough attention.
11. Go ATV or Quad Biking Through the Hills
For those who want to get off the beach and into the interior, ATV tours through the hills and jungle roads surrounding Tamarindo are a genuinely fun half-day activity. Trails pass through dry tropical forest, cross rivers, and climb to viewpoints with sweeping views of the coastline and the Pacific beyond.
Many tours include stops at local farms, hidden waterfalls, or panoramic overlooks. No prior experience is necessary — guides lead groups at a pace suited to everyone’s comfort level. It’s dusty, sweaty, and legitimately enjoyable in a way that surprises people who booked it as a filler activity.
12. Visit Playa Grande for a Wild Surf Session
Beyond the turtle tours, Playa Grande deserves attention as a surf destination. The beach break here is powerful and consistent — notably more serious than Tamarindo’s main break — and the National Park protection means development stays minimal and crowds stay manageable even on good swell days.
Getting there is part of the charm. The 5-minute boat crossing from the south end of Tamarindo Beach is cheap, quick, and gives you access to a beach that feels like a different world despite being visible from town. Bring your own board — there are no surf rentals on the Grande side — and plan to have the water mostly to yourself on weekday mornings.
13. Take a Sailing Day Trip to a Remote Beach
Some of the most beautiful beaches on the Guanacaste coast are only accessible by boat — hidden coves and protected stretches of sand that road access never reaches. A day trip on a catamaran or sailing charter gives you access to coastline that most visitors never see.
These trips typically include snorkeling, a full meal, and an open bar — combining beach exploration with a proper day on the water. The journey along the coast is often as enjoyable as the destination itself. Departure is usually from Flamingo Beach, about 30 minutes north of Tamarindo, and private charter options allow you to choose your own pace and itinerary.
14. Explore the Town on Foot
Tamarindo is small enough to walk entirely and interesting enough to reward the effort. The main street runs parallel to the beach and packs a surprising amount of life into a few hundred meters — surf shops next to art galleries next to juice bars next to proper restaurants, with the Pacific visible between buildings at every cross street.
Saturday morning is when the town shows its best self. The farmers market sets up near the center of town with local produce, prepared food from vendors cooking gallo pinto and fresh ceviche, handmade artisan goods, and a social atmosphere that mixes travelers and locals in a way that doesn’t happen in the restaurants or on the beach. It’s worth building your Saturday around.
The beach changes character throughout the day in ways worth experiencing deliberately. The early morning version — quiet, mist-covered, with surfers already in the water — is different from the midday version, which is different again from the late afternoon version when the light goes golden and everyone unconsciously drifts toward the water to watch the sunset.
15. Do Absolutely Nothing
This deserves its own spot on the list.
Tamarindo’s pace is deliberately slow, and the beach is specifically designed for long, unstructured mornings with nowhere to be. A hammock, a fresh coconut, a paperback, and a view of the Pacific horizon is a completely valid way to spend a day here — and possibly the one you’ll remember most fondly.
The activity that most visitors underestimate is the simple act of being present in a place this beautiful. The best meal of your trip might happen at a plastic table on a side street where you stopped because you were hungry and the smell was right. The best conversation might happen on a surfboard waiting for a set that doesn’t come. The best moment of the whole trip might not be bookable.
Leave room for it.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Tamarindo?
Dry season (December – April) is peak season. Days are reliably sunny, the ocean is calm, and conditions are ideal for fishing, diving, and sailing. This is also the busiest and most expensive time to visit — book accommodation and tours well in advance, especially around Christmas, New Year’s, and Semana Santa.
Green season (May – November) brings afternoon rain showers, dramatically lush green landscapes, and significantly fewer crowds. Many experienced travelers prefer this time — prices drop by 20–40%, the surf improves with larger Pacific swells, and the coastline feels like it belongs to you. The rain is typically concentrated in afternoon hours rather than all day.
Best for sport fishing: December – April Best for surfing: May – November (larger swells), July for best combination of surf and drier weather Best for diving: December – April (best visibility) Best for turtle watching: October – March (Playa Grande) Best for whale watching: August – October and December – April Best value: May – November
How to Get to Tamarindo
By air: Most international visitors fly into Liberia (LIR), the closest international airport, served by direct flights from the US and Canada. The drive from Liberia to Tamarindo is approximately 80–90 minutes on paved road. Small domestic aircraft also fly directly into Tamarindo’s local airstrip from San José via Sansa Airlines — about 45 minutes.
By car: From Liberia airport, rent a car and follow the highway toward the coast. A standard sedan handles the drive during dry season. A 4×4 is recommended during green season and for exploring beaches on dirt roads. From San José, the drive is approximately 4.5–5 hours.
By shuttle: Shared shuttles operate daily from Liberia airport and San José to Tamarindo. They’re comfortable and cost-effective — the main limitation is fixed departure times.
Book Your Tamarindo Tours
Costa Rica Local Tours is a Tamarindo-based tour operator connecting travelers with the best local experiences on the Guanacaste coast. We work with experienced, vetted operators — so you know exactly what you’re getting before you arrive.
Have questions? Contact us via WhatsApp — we’ll help you plan the right itinerary for your trip.
Costa Rica Local Tours — Tamarindo, Guanacaste