Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica's most popular beach towns, strung along a wide Pacific bay in the Guanacaste province. It built its reputation on surf — long, consistent waves that draw beginners and experienced riders from around the world — and that reputation has stuck. The town is more developed than most places in Costa Rica, with a busy strip of restaurants, surf shops, and tour operators running parallel to the beach.
That development cuts both ways. Tamarindo has real infrastructure and plenty of accommodation options, but it lacks the quiet authenticity of smaller coastal villages. If you want a beach town that feels untouched, head further along the Nicoya Peninsula. If you want waves, nightlife, and the ease of a place that knows how to receive travelers, Tamarindo delivers.
The surrounding area has more to offer than the town itself. Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, just north of town, protects one of the most important leatherback sea turtle nesting beaches in the Pacific. The dry tropical forest of Guanacaste surrounds the coast, and the Tamarindo Estuary supports crocodiles, birds, and mangroves worth exploring by kayak or boat. Across the rivermouth, Playa Grande gives you a five-kilometre stretch of empty sand.