The Tamarindo area is about 4 ½ northwest of San Jose on the northern pacific coast. It is also only 45 minutes from Liberia International airport. You can also take a 45-minute inter-country air flights from San Jose to the Tamarindo airport. This area, although tropical, is generally a little dryer and more flat then some of the areas on the southern coast. Like the Jaco area, this is a great centrally located area for many of the surf “hot spots” including Tamarindo Beach, Langosta Beach and a boat ride away from the famed “Witch’s rock.”

Tamarindo Beach is a three and a half kilometer stretch of white sand and warm blue water. This beach is part of a bay formed by a cape, Cabo Velas ( Cap sail in Spanish) where you will find also Playa Grande, which is the main beach in Tamarindo, lying to the north of Tamarindo Beach inside the bay. A natural salt-water estuary separates the two beaches.

Both Playa Grande and Playa Langosta are protected beaches because they are part of the Costa Rican Natinoal Park's nesting areas for the giant leatherback turtle. These beaches are considered one of the major worldwide nesting areas.  The turtles usually arrive from October to March to lay their eggs in the soft sand of Tamarindo. Special tours are organized during this period, with professional guides, to discover the best of what Mother Nature can offer…

Nature is abundant, Howler Monkeys are heard and seen swinging on branches all over Tamarindo and in some restaurants giant Iguanas will come up to your table expecting table scraps. In the late afternoons you can hear the parakeets screeching in the trees, preparing to settle down for the night.