Playa Tamarindo features a seemingly endless beach that attracts scores of travelers year after year, but not every section of Tamarindo’s shoreline is good for swimmers. Happily, swimming is only one of many adventurous things to do in Playa Tamarindo. Whether you’ve come to relax or to explore, the choices are many, the scenery is unbeatable, and nobody has to stay inside.
First and foremost for many travelers is the swimming, sunning, and water play. You’ll find the best beaches for swimming in Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica on the southern end of its very long shore, anywhere near Punta Langosta.
Farther north, sharp offshore rocks pose a hazard for both swimmers and water boarders or body surfers. Stay away from the mouth of the estuary as well. The current is very strong there, and more than capable of sweeping visitors out to sea, even when it looks calm.
Scuba diving and sport fishing are also popular in Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica. Agua Rica Diving Center, located in the tiny shopping center across from the El Diria resort, can set up diving and snorkeling tours and scuba diving and snorkeling classes.
Fishing for sailfish and marlin is popular all year, but billfish hit their peak between mid-April and August. Tamarindo Sport Fishing, Warren Sellers Sport Fishing, and Capullo Sport Fishing all offer half-day and full day excursions. Expect to pay between $300 and $600 USD for a half-day fishing trip and between $600 and $1600 for a full day.
Although sport fishing is not the most economical past time, Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica is one of the few places in the world where anyone has a good chance of catching a marlin—and catching a marlin is a fish story every fisherman dreams of telling again and again.
The Tamarindo Tennis Club rents tennis equipment and court time, and features two lighted courts located on the back road on the way to the Hotel El Jardin del Eden. Courts are open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM and court time runs about $15 USD per hour.
Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica offers a topnotch 18-hole golf course on the southern end of the beach called Hacienda Pinella. Advance reservations are recommended, and greens fees will set you back about $150 for 18 holes, including a cart. Golfers can also play at the well-known resort Paradisus Playa Conchal.
Four wheeling, horseback riding, and biking are very popular activities in Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica. Find out where to rent any of these at any major hotel. While you are asking about the bikes, pick up some brochures on Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica adventure tours and sailboat charters too.
Canopy tours, kayak tours of the estuary, and raft floats are all available for half or full days, and usually run between $35 and $95 USD. To charter a sailboat, expect to pay around $110 per person for a full day, or $60 for a half-day.
Related links:
Costa Rica Beaches on the Upper West Coast
Best Costa Rica Hotels in Tamarindo
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