Tamarindo Information:  back to table of contents

Tamarindo's rise to become a serious contender for the title of Costa Rica's most popular beach town is not hard to explain. All the things people come to Costa Rica for—beach life, surfing, fishing, diving and nature tourism—are either right here or nearby.

Tamarindo is the epicenter of one of the world's great year-round warm water surfing coasts. If there's nothing doing off Tamarindo, which is rare, then it's a simple matter to head south to Playa Langosta, a bit further south to Playa Avellana, north to the big beach breaks at Playa Grande and Playa Negra or hop a water taxi to the renowned tubes of Witches Rock at Playa Naranjo in Santa Rosa National Park.

For the nature lover, the best reason to be in the Tamarindo area is to witness the nesting of the baulas, the giant leatherback turtles, at nearby Playa Grande. Now part of Las Baulas National Park, this long beach is one of the world's most important nesting sites for this huge reptile. With adults growing to an astonishing 1,000 pounds and more, the leatherback is the world's largest marine turtle and its annual nesting ritual is one of the most impressive sights in the natural world.

During nesting season, October through March, hundreds of visitors descend on Playa Grande to watch the female leatherbacks emerge from the surf and laboriously make their way up to the dry dunes, deposit 100 or so golf ball-sized eggs into a shallow pit, cover the whole thing up again and then drag themselves back to the sea.

NIGHTLIFE
Although Tamarindo has a lot to offer during the daylight hours, the nightlife should not be missed. There are over 40 restaurants which offer cusine from around the world, many beach bars with specials you can't miss, a disco and two casinos.

Directions to Playa Tamarindo and Villa Alegre B & B

From San Jose to Liberia:

Departing San Jose head west, passing the International Airport on the left hand side; follow the signs to San Ramon. Continue on this road, which turns north, along the Pan-American Highway; following the signs to Liberia. The trip is 135 miles and should take 3 - 4 hours, depending on the traffic. Arriving in Liberia you will come to a traffic light on the highway with 2 gas stations and Burger King/Papa John's on the corners.

From Liberia to Playa Tamarindo:

Take a left from the main stop light and head west along the main road to the beaches. 12 miles down the road you will come to an intersection in the town of Comunidad, follow the signs for Playa Flamingo and Playa Tamarindo and stay to the left. This route will take you through the town of Filadelfia and on to a smaller town of Belen about 12 miles. Keep an eye out for the big green and blue/white signs that say Tamarindo and Hotel Capitan Suizo. Turn right after the signs. Continue for 18 miles to Huacas . Turn left at Huacas. From Huacas you will continue to Villarreal. Turn right at the signs for Hotel Capitan Suizo & Playa Tamarindo. Continue 2 miles of dirt road to Tamarindo. The trip takes about 1 ½ hours and is 48 miles from Liberia.

From Playa Tamarindo to Villa Alegre B & B:

Continue on the main road thru town to 30 meters past Century 21 Real Estate on the right hand side. Turn left 50 meters and you will see a white sign for Hotel Capitan Suizo. Turn right and travel 1 mile, past Hotel Capitan Suizo to a fork in the road. Take a right and follow this road 200 meters to Villa Alegre B&B. We are on the corner of the block in a two story Spanish style villa directly west from Hotel and Villas Cala Luna.


Villa Alegre from the Taiwan Bridge

San Jose to Taiwan Bridge (Puente Taiwan):

Departing San Jose head west, passing the International Airport on the left hand side; follow the signs to San Ramon. Continue on this road, which turns north, along the Pan-American Highway; following the signs to Canas. Just before Canas you will turn left at the Shell Gas Station and Mi Finca Restaurant. The trip to the bridge from San Jose takes about 2 hours.

From Taiwan Bridge to Playa Tamarindo:

Continue on the bridge and drive straight for ½ hour to a “T” in the road. Turn right and follow signs to Nicoya. From Nicoya drive 30 minutes to Belen. You will see a sign after Santa Cruz that points to the left. Do not turn keep going straight or you will drive on a terrible dirt road for miles. Keep a look out for big green, blue & white road signs that say Playa Tamarindo and Hotel Capitan Suizo. Turn left at Belen. Continue for 18 miles to Huacas . Turn left at Huacas. From Huacas you will continue to Villarreal. Turn right at the signs for Hotel Capitan Suizo & Playa Tamarindo. Continue 2 miles to Tamarindo. The trip takes about 1 ½ hours.

From Playa Tamarindo to Villa Alegre B & B:

Continue on the main road thru town to 30 meters past Century 21 Real Estate on the right hand side. Turn left 50 meters and you will see a white sign for Hotel Capitan Suizo. Turn right and travel 1 mile, past Hotel Capitan Suizo to a fork in the road. Take a right and follow this road 200 meters to Villa Alegre B&B. We are on the corner of the block in a two story Spanish style villa directly west from Hotel and Villas Cala Luna.

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