All things guides · Guanacaste

All Things Tamarindo

The Gold Coast's surf capital — loved for the energy, skipped by some for the crowds. The trick is knowing which beach for which mood, and when to escape to the quiet ones. Here's the full playbook, from shell beaches to night markets.

Good to know

  • It's a base, not just a beach. Conchal, Flamingo, and Grande are all 15–30 minutes away — sleep in Tamarindo, beach-hop by day.
  • High season (Dec–Apr) is busy — book lodging early; restaurant waits are real in February.
  • The Moonlight Market is Tue & Thu evenings only — plan your souvenir hunt around it, and bring cash.
  • Surf schools everywhere — Tamarindo's beach break is one of the best learn-to-surf spots in the country.

Everything on the map

Tap a category above — the map and the list below filter together. Every pin is from The Costa Rica Map.

Want this tuned to your dates?

These routes are the classics, but the right stops change with the season, your pace, and who's traveling. On a 45-minute planning call we'll reshape any route around your trip — or your move.

Book a $49 planning call Open The Costa Rica Map