Costa Rica Summer Road Trip Outdoor Adventure Destinations: Playa Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a great “base camp” for adventuring in Costa Rica, especially if you surf!

We share five Costa Rica Road Trips that are in and near Tamarindo Costa Rica in this article. All of these destinations have an Outdoor Adventure flair to them and all are within six hours of driving from Tamarindo

WE chose our “base camps” FROM THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE LIVED AS NOMADS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND WE WILL SHARE OUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP GUIDES WITHIN SIX HOURS OF THOSE LOCATIONS! IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SUMMER ROAD TRIP DESTINATION IN THE tamarindo costa ric REGION WITH OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ENERGY THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOU.

Our full list features the summer road trip guide from these destinations that we have lived in:
1. Columbus Ohio (Midwest)
2. Traverse City Michigan (Great Lakes)
3. Grand Junction Colorado (Mountain West)
4. Seattle Washington (PNW)
5. Malibu/Joshua Tree Halfway = San Bernardino (SoCal)
6. Paso Robles California (Central Cali)
7. Sedona Arizona (American Southwest)
8. Tamarindo Costa Rica (Lower Central America)

Here is your Summer Road Trip Tamarindo CR Destinations List!

Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio

Known for one of the most picturesque waterfalls I have ever seen (Rio Celeste) Tenorio National Park is a great spot to visit in the CR. Take it as a day trip and explore the parks trails and wildlife viewing opportunities and then head to some of the local food markets in the “inland regions” of Costa Rica.
Rio Celeste means “light blue river” and while Costa Rican students have figured out that it is actually an optical illusion due to the way the sunlight reflects off the river. Great read on it HERE.
Sloths, monkeys, hot springs, and more also await you in this rainforest region.
Distance from Tamarindo Costa Rica: 2h 31m.
Road Trip Add On’s From Here: Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.

Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja Volcano

The “Yellowstone” of Costa Rica!
This park is super close to Tamarindo and allows you to explore hiking trails that not only will have the birders in awe but those from the US or Iceland feeling like they are back in that country. The boiling mud pits of this Rincon bubble away for your viewing pleasure and it’s a great place to explore on a warm morning before cooling down in the afternoon!
Where to cool down at? How about just outside of the visitors center the trail that leads to a swimmable waterfall. Fresh water cascading down a cliff in Costa Rica while you swim in the clear fresh water is a fab way to spend your day off in the CR.
The park is split into two different areas and regions and is a place where you can spend an afternoon or a few days!
Distance from Tamarindo Costa Rica: 1h 54m.
Road Trip Add On’s From Here: Parque Nacional Santa Rosa.

Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

This is the first place I visited in Costa Rica and while it’s not a place I have returned it’s near and dear to my heart. The town of La Fortuna is charming and sweet, the hot springs, cocoa and coffee tours, Lake and Volcan Arenal, and outstanding food choices are abundant.
You can spend a week or a lifetime here (though the often erupting Arenal Volcano might unfortunately displace you like it has many locals over the decades due to activity and eruptions.)
The National Park that surrounds the volcano is abundant with diverse plants and wildlife and the waterfalls will have you on a non stop chase like you were on set for the TLC Music Video in the 90’s. You can not hike to the top of the waterfall but there are plenty of other great trail options to do in the park.
While capable of a day trip from Tamarindo I definitely recommend spending a few nights.
Need a ride to and fro and an adventure en route? Call our friend Diego at Sibu Tours and he’ll take care of you!
Distance from Tamarindo Costa Rica: 3h 46m.
Road Trip Add On’s From Here: Monteverde National Park. Palo Verde National Park.

Manuel Antonio National Park

One of the spots I have not been to that (along with Corcovado) are definitely on my list to explore and visit next time I am in the CR.
This beautiful stretch of beach and jungle offers a compact National Park with a few stunning hikes, outstanding waves, and the Pura Vida life.
It’s a good drive from Tamarindo so we would definitely recommend spending several days here.
Distance from Tamarindo Costa Rica: 5h 46m.
Road Trip Add On’s From Here: Summit the top of Costa Rica at Cerro Chirripo! (Permits required.)

Poas and La Paz

Poas Volcano National Park and the La Paz Waterfall, Butterfly Garden, and Wildlife Refuge are a great way to launch into a Costa Rican adventure if stationed in one of the cities like San Jose.
Since you are likely flying into or out of San Jose or Liberia this might be a nice adventure to tag on en route or when leaving Tamarindo.
La Paz is an exquisite waterfall. Poas is cloudy or sunny but you can hike regardless!
My photos here even on my old iPhone still pack a punch and it’s a place I had a great time exploring.
Distance from Tamarindo Costa Rica: 5h 15m.
Road Trip Add On’s From Here: Nosara, Nicoya (a Blue Zone!), and Puntarenas.

There is plenty more to explore in Costa Rica (you could do a beach cleanup with our friends from the Clean Wave!) From Rocko and the Clean Wave in the video above to our friend DIego at Sibu Tours to Jency and Marco our airbnb hosts to Mariel at Om Shanti Yoga to Sebastian and Jesslyn at Kelly’s Surf Shop we met so many wonderful people here and can’t wait to see them all again.

If you get the chance to explore and/or road trip in Costa Rica you won’t leave unsatisfied. (Unless you despise gorgeous beaches, tasty food, kind people, amazing wildlife, volcanoes, and waterfalls!)

That’s our CR Road Trip List, Pura Vida friends and thanks for reading!

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Mike R