Going to Tamarindo

What to do in Tamarindo

by Matt Link

About 200 miles northwest of the capital of San José, Tamarindo is a boomtown in the province of Guanacaste, in the northwest Pacific region of Costa Rica. It was once a simple hippie hangout, but now has a tangle of unplanned tourist development along the gorgeous beach. Some say the boom has been too big; however, the beach town retains its allure. It's gone from earthy to upscale in recent years, with more designer shops and cafes and more expat Americans residing full time. Tamarindo is surrounded by national parks to its north and south, and mountains with breathtaking views to its east, thus making it a major ecotourism center for ATV tours, turtle watching, diving, horseback riding, canopy tours, jungle boat rides, and rainforest hikes. Iguanas and howler monkeys are a common sight, even right in...

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