Tamarindo Costa Rica Outdoor Adventure Guide
Pura Vida. The Pure Life. That is the slogan for Costa Rica. I share my story of the pure life in this Tamarindo Costa Rica Outdoor Adventure Guide!
Never before in a country that I spent time in have its inhabitants truly encapsulated a mindset or way of being as the Costa Ricans do in living “Pura Vida.”
It’s what drew us to the town of Tamarindo in the first place, that and my desire to Learn to Surf that I wrote about HERE.
The longer time spent on the road as nomads has translated to the longer I seem to gravitate towards want to spend more time in one place rather than moving about. They call that Slow Travel in the blogosphere :). I never imagined four to five weeks would feel like I was just “settling in.”
The time in Tamarindo Costa Rica is no exception. It’s a town of a few thousand people filled with a combination of tourists, ex pats, and locals. Tamarindo has a very touristy side to it but also a very authentic and off the beaten path way to it. We lived here for a month and outside of a few day trips to go hiking and snorkeling in nearby areas we lived the Pura Vida life in Tamarindo and its neighboring towns.
There are PLENTY of great articles out there on the MUST DO’S in Tamarindo Costa Rica, the can’t miss highlights, and more. This is my version.
Places that might not be as popular or well known but added to the experience nonetheless.
If you are looking to check boxes and tell friends about all the things you did in Tamarindo on holiday then this might not be for you, but if ya wanna learn about a few local gems and fun quirks about this town then check out my Destination Guide to Tamarindo Costa Rica below!
Pura Vida Amigos y Amigas!
Yoga: I signed up for an unlimited monthly membership at Ser Om Shanti Yoga. Mariel, Jamie, and Valeria made me feel like I signed up for a four and a half week long intensive yoga study on alignment, body cues, meditation, breath-work, and more. They were some of the hardest, most 8 Limbs of Yoga filled, and BEST yoga classes I have ever taken.
They embodied the feeling of the ancient yogi’s in India to the present day. Each class felt more like a workshop than an actual workout or class. No matter how beginner or advanced you feel your practice is I promise you will have an experience here unlike any you have ever had!
They had early morning and sunset by the beach options or in-class practices as well. Namaste!
Breakfast on our balcony of the Green Village.
Stay: WOW. They have amazing options here in Tamarindo. Half of the people we met were hunting for rentals longer-term it seemed and I met several expats from around the world who have settled here. We stayed at the Green Village Tamarindo and it was OUTSTANDING. In fact it was one of the best airbnb’s I have ever stayed at. The space was primarily American digital nomads for longer stays with a little mix of Central American travelers coming in for a long weekend. Jency, Marco, and Fernando were INCREDIBLE.
If you can’t get a space here my friends from Kelly’s Surf Shop also own Sirena Serena and it’s just up the road in what I consider to be the prime location for us. If you are a spring breaker or prefer a high-end resort this isn’t your locale. But if you are looking for a quiet neck of town that is still a close walk to the beach and all the action then this is your spot. The wifi is fast, the pool is cold, the restaurants are dynamite/affordable, and the howler monkeys are loud. Just like they should be!
The Guide to Where to Eat and Drink in Tamarindo Costa Rica
Eat: Hard to narrow it down here. So many outstanding places. I’ll stick to my top five though! Most don’t have a website so just give them a google for location on arrival!
a. The Green Papaya Taco Bar.
Made with love. Made with joy. Breakfast burritos and ginger lemonades, I’ll have seconds please!
b. Utopia.
Former Paris based baker making the best croissants and espresso’s in Costa Rica.
c. The Tamarindo Food Truck Park!
Caribbean, Colombian, Peruvian, Vegan, Fish N Chips, Craft Beer, Live DJ’s, Soccer, and the best Churros in town! A little something for everyone!
d. Cafe Tico.
Jill learned how to ask for the bill and order food in Spanish here with the sweet waitress every day. Their Gallo Pinto, Huevos Rancheros, and Banana Peanut Butter Smoothies can’t be beat!
e. The Tamarindo Night Market.
The family who makes the Arepas. That’s all I know. Trust me. Thursday nights are for arepas!
Beyond this the sushi was legit at Volcano Brewing Company, La Eqsuina Pizzeria (I recommend the Explosive Pie!), Falafel Tamarindo, Bodega, La Oveja, Tierra Bendita, and even the tacos on the Lazy Lizard were on point! If you stay off the main touristy strip you will treat yourself to amazing meals whenever you wish.
Drink: Volcano Brewing Company and the Food Truck Park were my favorite places to have a craft beer.
The beach was my favorite spot to buy an Imperial or a coconut from a local.
Tamarindo Costa Rica Experiences, beyond surfing!
a. The Sunset Paparazzi.
Every evening all of Tamarindo gathers for sunset on the beach for what our friend Tate called The Sunset Paparazzi. It’s a fun experience, everything that the sunset at Mallory Square in Key West is not, and makes me rethink not living by the beach year-round.
b. The Freshwater Estuary.
This was a fun spot to get some amazing pictures of birds and crocodiles. And it’s right in town and just two hours out of your day.
c. Catalina’s.
If you want to go a bit further for animals then book a trip to go dive or snorkel the Catalina’s. Bright blue, neon green, and sunshine yellow fish plus gorgeous corals and massive amounts of wildlife in the ocean. All there for your viewing pleasure as you dive down with them or use your fins!
d. Day Trips to National Parks/Hiking Areas.
We went to Tenorio Volcano on the Rio Celeste Hike. We have also stayed in Fortuna and gone to Arenal Volcanic National Park, Parque Nacional Volcan Poas, and the La Paz Waterfall.
Beyond that you might consider the Monteverde Cloud Forest, or for the real bird lovers, Palo Verde National Park. You can take a day trip to Nicaragua but to me that’s worth its own trip & stay rather than just going across the border for a few hours. Right now with COVID19 it doesn’t seem like the place to pop into either.
Costa Rica has it all when it comes to wild nature landscapes. Beaches, volcanoes, jungles, mountains, and rainforests. Take your pick and enjoy a day trip or two that will be long but well worth it!
If you want to use our friend Diego at Sibu Tours we promise you will enjoy his presence!
e. The Farmers Market .
TONS of fresh fruits, veggies, bread, artisans, and more. I recommend loading up on mango, watermelon, papaya, and cantaloupe while staying here. Grown nearby the prices are hard to beat.
Anything else?
I love Tamarindo and I love Costa Rica in general. Of course there’s more to talk about but that’s enough to hopefully get your appetite wet! You might have noticed the lack of mentions for ATV Tours, Ziplines, Booze Cruises, and Beachside Horseback Riding.
They have all of these as well and if you like them go for it, I just wanted to share items that maybe aren’t talked about as much when it comes to visiting the wonderful town of Tamarindo.
What made me fond of Tamarindo was the chance to live like a local.
I worked, I did yoga, I surfed, I cooked, and I connected. I made friends with the other digital nomads, the spring breakers from the states, the expats from across the globe, and the local Costa Ricans. I steadily improved my conversational Spanish and I stayed off the road more traveled.
It will be 30 days in Tamarindo but it could have been 300 or 3,000 if we could have stayed longer! Instead we’ll return ASAP for a much lengthier period.
Pura Vida Friends!
Mike R