Chillin' in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

There’s something about stepping into a place where the rhythm of your day slowly shifts without you even realizing it. Tamarindo met us with heat, ocean air, and a pace that gently nudged us to slow down. What started as a simple beach getaway turned into a week of small moments, early mornings, quiet sunsets, and time spent together.

I did not pick Tamarindo with photography in the forefront of my mind. My main purpose was to find a destination that my husband and two adult girls would enjoy together for an 8 day getaway. I knew that the beach would be a selling point. I have visited Costa Rica before and was fortunate enough to stay in Manuel Antonio and San Gerardo de Dota. I wanted to see what the beach life was like because each driver we had on our first trip told us that they went to the Guanacaste Coast for family holidays.

I was very aware that the town would be busy and it would feel like Banff, but having options and conveniences didn't seem like a bad thing for the first time introducing the girls to Central America.

Flight

We were lucky enough to catch an overnight flight into Liberia, direct with Westjet. I was not prepared for the flight itself as I assumed there would also be entertainment and I looked forward to my movie and tv options. However, now Westjet just offers

wi-fi. Ok, yes, it is very convenient but to be honest, going on holidays I want to be less connected. I can scroll anytime. I love the whole experience of getting on a plane, sit down and start playing with the tv screen in front of me trying to decide what movie I am finally going to watch or what tv show I might try. I discovered Ted Lasso on a long legged trip once and watched the limited series Apples Never Fall just last year over a couple of trips. Anyway...first world, old school, problems. On the way back I watched a bunch of photographer Simon D'entremont videos taking advantage of watching videos I don't just sit down and watch at home. Ok, I figured it out. On our flight back we had a stopover in Toronto which made for a very long day. I am glad that we just had this one way and not both. However, when I booked the tickets the price to take the direct flight home was quite a bit more expensive plus it left early in the morning so we would have had to stay in Liberia the night before.

Transportation

I had arranged a driver to pick us up in Liberia to take us to Tamarindo. I used the same service I used the last time Miranda Private Shuttles and Tours . For the 4 of us it cost $110 USD for the hour and a half drive. Raphael was our driver and he even stopped at one of his favourite bakeries so we could grab a coffee and some treats. The driver we had last time from San Jose to Manuel Antonio made a couple of stops along the way including Crocodile Bridge so we could have a good look at the crocs. However, warning, apparently that bridge at the time I am writing this is under construction creating very long delays.

Tamarindo Village Hotel

We arrived in Tamarindo and weren’t surprised to see shop after shop and restaurant after restaurant lining the main street. Still, the town itself felt smaller than I had expected. Our driver wound his way up the hill, navigating a few sketchy dirt side roads before arriving at our hotel, Tamarindo Village Hotel.

I had chosen this small, 11-room hotel because it felt tucked far enough away from the hustle and bustle, yet still less than a 10-minute walk to both the beach and town. It turned out to be the perfect balance. We were also incredibly lucky since no one had stayed in our room the night before, we were able to check in early within half an hour of arriving. It gave us time to settle in and even sneak in a bit of rest.

We decided to splurge a little on our room for the four of us, just to have some extra space and it came with a small kitchen. It was simple, with just a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. They offered to bring in a hot plate and cooking utensils if we wanted to cook, but the owner, Steven, mentioned how hot it had been lately and suggested we probably wouldn’t feel like cooking anyway. He was right.

Our little bungalow felt cozy and thoughtfully laid out, with a king bed downstairs and two twin beds tucked up in the loft. The loft also had a small balcony where you could catch a glimpse of the ocean in the distance and take in those rich, orange Costa Rica sunsets.

But the real highlight of our stay was the patio. We spent so much time out there, just relaxing and enjoying the slower pace. It featured a small plunge pool that quickly became part of our daily routine especially in the afternoons when the heat peaked. It was one of those simple luxuries that made the whole experience feel just a little more special.

Our Room

Sunset from our balcony

Hiking up the road to our hotel. Great calf workout!

Temperatures

It was hot. Some days were very hot.

We chatted with Martha, the other owner, who was absolutely lovely and she mentioned that March is the hottest month. My friend Dee had warned me, but I hadn’t thought much of it at the time. As it turns out, we experienced several days hovering around 34–35°C.

It took us a couple of days to adjust, but we eventually found our rhythm. Instead of easing into the mornings and heading to the beach later, we learned it was much better to get out early, enjoy the cooler hours, and then retreat in the afternoon either by lounging around the pool or escaping to the air-conditioned room. Mornings were beautiful, but by 10 a.m., you were already searching for shade.

We were told that the best time to visit is between late November and mid-February. In November, the weather is still warm, but everything is lush and green, with flowers in full bloom. By March, it’s the dry season, so some trees have lost their leaves and there aren’t as many flowers. From the plane, we even spotted a few fires and saw smoke from one not far from Tamarindo.

That said, some people absolutely thrive in that kind of heat. One of my daughters soaked up every second of it. Watching her reminded me of myself at her age. I used to love it just as much. The hotter, the better.

Playa Tamarindo

The beach in Tamarindo was such a great spot. It’s especially perfect for people learning to surf and there were plenty of beginners out in the water. The waves were just big enough for easy body surfing, or even just a gentle bobbing float if you made your way out a little farther.

During our last few days, the waves picked up a bit, though that may have been because we were visiting more often at high tide rather than low. There aren’t a lot of shady spots along the beach, but if you wander a bit, you can usually find a small patch to settle into.

One afternoon, we were incredibly lucky to be invited to spend time at the Langosta Beach Club. It was such a treat. We relaxed under a cabana in the shade, with a steady ocean breeze keeping us cool. There was a beautiful infinity pool, along with a restaurant and bar, and we treated ourselves to a few fancy drinks and some delicious nachos and quesadillas.

I struck up a conversation with a couple from Canada who were staying there, and they told me that every time they visit Tamarindo, this is where they stay. They loved the hotel and how close it is to the beach. With the shade and the breeze, they could comfortably spend most of the day there. Overall, it felt like such a relaxing and welcoming place to be.

Playa Tamarindo at low tide

Playa Tamarido while the tide is out by Playa Langosta

Boat Tour – Tamarindo Estuary (Estero de Playa Grande)

We decided to book one tour during our stay, and the 7 a.m. boat tour along the Estero de Playa Grande felt like the perfect choice. We paid $40 USD each for the two-hour experience, which was a great deal. I believe the company was Kingfisher, but Martha arranged everything for us, and we paid in cash.

Our small boat held about 12 people, which made the experience feel relaxed and personal. Our guide, Byron, was fantastic. He’s from the area and is currently studying to become a naturalist, so he had a deep knowledge of the ecosystem. What made it even more special were the stories he shared. His grandparents lived along the banks of the estuary, and he spent many weekends there growing up, back when it felt much more remote.

We spotted a large crocodile lying quietly in the water, its head tucked into the shade beneath the mangrove trees. We also saw a baby crocodile, which ended up being a highlight of the tour. There were plenty of birds as well, including a few different types of herons, even a green one, but unfortunately, it was in a spot where we couldn’t stop for photos. Darn!

We also came across a group of howler monkeys who looked like they had already had a long morning. They were completely sprawled out, fast asleep in the trees.

From what we heard, the day before had more crocodile sightings and a bit more action, so our tour felt a little quieter in comparison. Still, it was such a peaceful way to spend the morning, and it was really nice to get out on the water and experience something new.

Osprey

Crocodile

Howler Monkey

Playa Langosta

Our last two mornings we got up early and walked to Playa Langosta and spent time on the shores of Marino Las Baulas National Park. Here is a location where leatherback turtles will nest, however we had no turtle encounters. It was beautiful and peaceful there though. There was a river that ran into the ocean...luckily we saw no crocodiles. We spent time under the shade of the mangrove trees as we watched seabirds fish including herons, royal turins, sandpipers, pelicans, vultures...

When we first arrived I decided to go for a walk by myself along the edge of the river when for some reason I decided to look to my left at a tree. There inside, on a branch, in the protection of the shade I saw a Green Heron. I had never been so close to a heron before and it was a green one, which are so pretty. Quickly my disappointment from the day before for not getting at least one picture of this bird faded as I had this encounter all to myself. It was incredibly special and he let me take several pictures. I also just stood there for the longest time watching him clean his feathers. I just love Herons very much. I always get excited here at home when I see a Great Blue Heron. On this trip to Costa Rica I saw Little Blue Herons, Green Herons, Great Blue Herons and Yellow Crowned Night Herons. I was in my element. (stay tuned for pictures of them on my website)

Dining

We ate out once a day. We had continental breakfast included in our stay at Tamarindo Village. If you wanted, you could order a hot meal for $7.00 USD. We then ate sandwiches and snacks most days by our little pool for lunch.

There's one grocery store on the main drag called Vindi Tamarindo. It was the first grocery store we went to. It was pretty pricey and there wasn't much of a selection of goods. The next day on our walk to the beach we passed by the Pura Vida Supermarket where we found a bigger selection of food and drinks and the prices were a bit cheaper. So, most of the time we stopped by there.

I have to say, we did not have a bad meal. Being Canadian, the exchange rate does not work in our favour. However, if you come to the acceptance that we were probably paying the same as if we were in Banff, then it makes sense. Plus, the portion sizes are quite large. Sometimes we found ourselves packing up part of the meal to bring home the next day for lunch.

Little Lucha is a Mexican Restaurant serving up delicious tacos and "Big Ass Burittos". They offer daily special. Tacos are $4.50USD each but on Taco Tuesday they are $3.00USD each. We went on Taco Tuesday and it was so busy, but it was worth it. We ate here twice. Also, the churros were the best I have ever had.

We found that between 6:30pm and 7:30pm were the busiest times for eating at restaurants. Sunset was around 5:50pm so it makes sense.

Pizzeria La Baula is a great place for pizza. Their menu just had a variety of pizzas, one mixed salad and a couple of desserts. No need for anything else. It is open-air and it was delicious. The first time we went was on a Saturday night and we waited awhile for a table but when we returned on our last night, a Wednesday, we didn't wait at all. I think it's about timing and luck of the draw.

The Green Papaya is another Mexican Restaurant. You had your choice of sitting inside or outside at long tables. The one side of the tables outside you sat on swings, which were a bit of a novelty. The food came out fast. I decided to have a Buddha Bowl which I really enjoyed. I hadn't had salad and veggies in awhile, so my body thanked me haha.

Naan and Curries is a nice Indian Restaurant in Tamarindo. Their menu was huge and great options for Vegetarians and Vegan diets. The food was quite delicious and the atmosphere was really nice. The pastry on the samosas were nice and flakey and of course we had to try the Butter Chicken, which is one of our "go to's". The sauce was flavourful and there were big chunks of chicken (always a good sign).

The Falafel Bar was the first restaurant we ate at and we really enjoyed it. They served up Mediterranian Cuisine. Their pita bread was so fluffy and tasty. My daughter really loved her falafel sandwich and my other enjoyed the shawarma chicken dish.

We also had drinks and snacks by the beach at Namu and Tama Onda. There are several restaurants along the beach which offer Happy Hour and they are a nice place to escape to for a cold drink and some shade.

Markets

On Thursday nights there's the Tamarindo Moonlight Market across and up the road from Little Lucha. This place was hopping. There were food vendors and artists selling their products. Some of the food looked so delicious. Our favourite vendor was the pastries made by Utopia Bakery, run by a professional French Pastry Chef of 26 years. We had an Apple Cinnamon Roll and a Peanut Butter Chocolate Croissant that was so delicious. The market is from 5pm to 9pm.

To our delight, he was at the Saturday Farmers Market in town where we bought a Ham and Cheese pastry plus another one I can't remember but it was delicious. The Saturday Market is really big and if you are looking to purchase some souvenirs to bring back home, this is another option for you as you are supporting small businesses. The market goes from 8am to 2pm.

We were hoping to find Utopia at the Wednesday Market, but they weren't there and that market was about a quarter of the size of the Saturday market.

Final Thoughts

I truly loved spending the week with my husband and two of my girls. We definitely missed our third daughter, who was dutifully at home going to school and taking care of the dog. Thank you!

Tamarindo was exactly what we were looking for when we booked this trip, and I really enjoyed our time there. That said, if we return to Costa Rica, I think we’ll split our trip between two locations again, like we did the first time. A few days in the mountains would have been such a nice contrast. Even though the drives can be long and the roads are slow, I think it’s worth taking the time to experience the changing scenery and explore a different side of the country.

I’d also love to explore some of the beaches south of Tamarindo next time. I’ve heard great things about places like Samara, Santa Teresa, and Nosara, and they all sound like beautiful spots to experience.

One thing that really stood out was how friendly the people of Costa Rica are. We felt very safe in Tamarindo. I never worried if one of the girls wanted to head back to the hotel on their own during the day. Like anywhere, you still need to be aware and use common sense… even back home in Okotoks.

We didn’t rent a car, which did limit us a bit. However, it was incredibly easy to walk everywhere, and many people rented golf carts to get around for the day. Looking back, even renting a car for just one day would have been a great way to see more beyond the town. I had heard about a restaurant south of Tamarindo called Lola’s, a perfect spot to watch the sunset and see a variety of shorebirds and that’s something I’d definitely add to the list next time.

I hope this gives you a helpful glimpse if you’re considering a trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. It’s an easy destination to get to and a great choice if you’re looking for a relaxed beach and surfing getaway.

Thanks for making it until the end.

Rikki

Check in to my website as I will be updating my Costa Rica 2026 Portfolio as I edit pictures. Right now I have some wave pictures on there that didn't present well on the Insta. www.rikkineukom.com/costa-rica-2026

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