Tamarindo beach Holidays

Looks-wise, this resort is everything you’d expect from a long-haul beach town – it boasts a long ribbon of sand edged by a thick curtain of palm trees. Don’t be surprised to see monkeys playing in the canopies. The bay itself is beautiful and is often filled with moored up yachts.

Pad along the beach and you’ll find plenty in the way of funky beach bars with a distinctly ‘surf dude’ vibe. Reason being, Playa Tamarindo is a big hit with surf aficionados – the nearby Witch’s Rock is a famous wave-riding spot. Likewise, the town itself – which is basically a long strip running parallel to the beach – is lined with watersports outlets and boutiques specialising in surf gear.

There’s lots in the way of souvenir shops, snack huts and sports bars in Playa Tamarindo. There’s even a mini-mall, casino and big supermarket at one end of town. On the restaurant front, ‘global’ seems to be the watchword here – as well as home-grown Costa Rican eateries, you’ll find a good clutch of Italian and American restaurants.

When it comes to things to do, Las Baulas National Park fringes the edge of the resort. Dense with mangroves, this estuary nature reserve is a renowned turtle-watching spot.