Dreams III’s guidebook
City/town information
Tamarindo is one of the busiest touristic towns on Nicoya Peninsula and in the province of Guanacaste.
Guanacaste is known as the driest province of Costa Rica with no rain from December to April.
Some of the surfer’s paradise beaches are in Tamarindo area like Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande, and Playa Avellana. At the same time nice and quiet relaxing beaches as Playa Conchal, Playa Mina, Playa Danta, and Playa Flamingo are just nearby.
Tamarindo is famous for its beautiful sunsets and long line of beach front restaurants gathering people from virtually everywhere.
336 locals recommend
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is one of the busiest touristic towns on Nicoya Peninsula and in the province of Guanacaste.
Guanacaste is known as the driest province of Costa Rica with no rain from December to April.
Some of the surfer’s paradise beaches are in Tamarindo area like Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande, and Playa Avellana. At the same time nice and quiet relaxing beaches as Playa Conchal, Playa Mina, Playa Danta, and Playa Flamingo are just nearby.
Tamarindo is famous for its beautiful sunsets and long line of beach front restaurants gathering people from virtually everywhere.
Food scene
Tamarindo Night Market
Thursdays Festivals, crafts and food (0.2 km)
Volcano Brewing Company
Calle CentralDraft beer lovers paradise :) (0.3 km)
La Esquina Restaurante
Avenida CentralPizzeria Restaurante (0.3 km)
Utopia
312 Av CentralBar & Restaurant, French bakery (0.3 km)
La Pachanga
Italian Restaurant (0.5 km)
Dragonfly Bar & Grill
Restaurant Bar & Grill +Sushi (0.6 km)
La bodega
Cafe/Bar - Fresh, Local, Organic (0.6 km)
Masa Madre
Bakery & Café (0.2 km)
Restaurante La Baula
91 C. CoronaBest Pizza Place ! (0.7 km)
Tamarindo Skate Park
Saturdays Farmer's Market
Breaking Bread !!! Awesome brunch place and bakery!
Say hi to Oren and Anat :)
6 locals recommend
breaking bread
120 Avenida CentralBreaking Bread !!! Awesome brunch place and bakery!
Say hi to Oren and Anat :)
Tama Onda (former Johnny Tamarindo) - Great beach restaurant with great views!
Say hi to the owner Andre :)
Jonny Tamarindo
Calle CentralTama Onda (former Johnny Tamarindo) - Great beach restaurant with great views!
Say hi to the owner Andre :)
The nicest open food court I've ever seen :) Variety of food and a bar in a bout.
64 locals recommend
El Mercadito de Tamarindo Gourmet Food Market
The nicest open food court I've ever seen :) Variety of food and a bar in a bout.
One of the oldest restaurants on the beach, inexpensive, with great sunset views during their happy hour :)
105 locals recommend
Nogui's Restaurant
155One of the oldest restaurants on the beach, inexpensive, with great sunset views during their happy hour :)
Great sunset views, not that expensive good place to meet local people and expats, and of course many tourists :)
75 locals recommend
El Chiringuito
Great sunset views, not that expensive good place to meet local people and expats, and of course many tourists :)
Unique place with live music craft markets some days.
Must try the chiros at La Churretica and the sangria at the bar!
Jardín tamarindo food truck park
Unique place with live music craft markets some days.
Must try the chiros at La Churretica and the sangria at the bar!
Very "all inclusive resort" looking place with a nice large restaurant at the beach, big trees and palms.
8 locals recommend
Tamarindo Diria
Calle CentralVery "all inclusive resort" looking place with a nice large restaurant at the beach, big trees and palms.
Nice place for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the beach offering a glass closed airconditioned cafe, if you feel like staying inside.
33 locals recommend
Pico Bistro
Nice place for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the beach offering a glass closed airconditioned cafe, if you feel like staying inside.
Higher end restaurant where the river meets the ocean :)
Must try the amazing red snapper there (available until the quantity last- limited catch of the day, special preparation, so go for lunch or very early evening)
13 locals recommend
Agua | Salada
Higher end restaurant where the river meets the ocean :)
Must try the amazing red snapper there (available until the quantity last- limited catch of the day, special preparation, so go for lunch or very early evening)
High end restaurant at the estuary of the river. Must try the stakes on lava rock!
122 locals recommend
Pangas Beach Club
High end restaurant at the estuary of the river. Must try the stakes on lava rock!
Traveler advice
What to pack
Flip-Flops, Flip-Flops, and more ... :)
1. Sturdy hard sole flip-flops - couple of pairs
- you'll need them - sand, water, mud, gravel, stones
- you may not easily find the right ones for you in town
2. Enough bating suites
- at least 2 ( to have one washed while one dries :)
3. Few t-shirts & shorts, tops and a hat
4. Repellant, After Bite, and Sun Block
5. Extra phone (piece of mind)
6. Cash
7. Print outs / smart phone snapshots of all relevant documents like passports, Health Pass QR code (with your name on top), Health Insurance documents, 3rd party liability car rental insurance policy (if you have one)
Don't miss
Not to miss
The everyday sunset on the beach :)
The Saturday farmer’s market
The Thursday night market
The food market "El Mercadito"
Fried red snapper and mahi-mahi ceviche
Local draft beer and rum Centenario
Catamaran party in the ocean
Massage on the beach
Coco-loco on the beach
Ways to save
Buy local food and production
Everything imported is normally more expensive than you use to buy it back home.
Useful phrases
Pura Vida
Pura Vida is a universal phrase and could mean many things:
hi, hello, good morning, good day, good evening, good night, thank you, see you later, I'm OK, I don't want, so yeah I figured that depending on the intonation could imply positive or not that positive reaction :)
Useful phrases
Mañana
Mañana does not necessarily mean tomorrow, could be any day in the near future :)
Useful phrases
Ticos and Gringos
Tico is a local person, gringo is you (even if you are from another Latin American country)
Useful phrases
Buenos Dias, Buenas Tardes
"Hola" is not that much used by the ticos. They are polite and educated friendly people.
Furthermore, If you are Spanish language insider you should use the "usted" form.