Located along the Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica’s famous Gold Coast, Tamarindo is a dream for both nature and adventure lovers. Famous for being the largest surf town in northern Costa Rica, Tamarindo has a fun, laid-back vibe that is perfect for families, adventure seekers, or anyone looking for a slice of that Costa Rican “Pura Vida.” Whether you’re looking for surfing, water sports or just relaxing on beautiful, white sand beaches, you’ll find it all in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
At Tamarindo Tours, we strongly believe that Costa Rica is the most gorgeous place on the planet and that you can’t experience the best of what it offers by sitting on a beach towel. This is why we’ve designed all of our tours to showcase the amazing sights of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, and beyond. If you’re looking for fun, adventure, and a chance to see the stunning scenery and exotic wildlife up close, you’ll find no shortage of options when you choose Tamarindo Tours.
A tour we think you'll love
Whatever your passion is, we’ve got a tour that is sure to be the perfect fit. Of course, no trip to Tamarindo, Costa Rica is complete without enjoying the area’s many fantastic beaches, and here are a few of the best beaches near Tamarindo that you definitely don’t want to miss.
1) Playa Tamarindo – Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo Beach is obviously the place to start. The beach runs for several miles along the edge of town and gives you the chance to take in the local surfing scene for yourself. Once you’re done relaxing and looking at the monster waves, you can then head up to enjoy the many excellent restaurants and local shops that have helped make this one of the most famous beach towns in the area.
The waves at Tamarindo Beach can be quite strong so it’s not the ideal place for swimming. Nonetheless, it is still one of the best beaches in the area and is the perfect place to take in beautiful sunset views after your day of excitement and adventure.
2) Playa Grande
One of three beaches located within Las Baulas National Park, Playa Grande is a truly amazing beach and a definite must-see on any Tamarindo vacation. The beach is situated just north of town and can be reached by taking a short drive or riding the “lancha” across the estuary where you might get the chance to see a crocodile or two.
Playa Grande is another one of the area’s most popular beaches for surfing, but it’s also a great place to relax and bask in the sunshine. One of the things that makes this beach so special is that it is one of the largest nesting sites for endangered leatherback sea turtles in all of Costa Rica.
3) Playa Langosta
Playa Langosta is situated just five minutes south of town and yet feels like a completely different world compared to the busier Tamarindo Beach. Langosta Beach is famous for its chill, laid-back vibe, and the warm tidal pools make it perfect for families or anyone looking to take a relaxing dip.
Its proximity to town and all of the shops also makes Langosta Beach an ideal place to watch the sun go down and makes it easy to ensure you have everything you need for your beach adventure.
4) Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal is without a doubt one of the best, most scenic beaches in all of Costa Rica. While it can get busy at times, you still don’t want to miss the chance to stroll through the stunning pink sands as Playa Conchal is the only pink sand beach in the entire country. The calm waters also make it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and ocean kayaking.
5) Playa Avellanas
Playa Avellanas is consistently named not only among the best of Costa Rica’s beaches but one of the best in all of Central America. During the surfing season from November to March, the waves here often reach 18 feet high or more.
This has helped make it one of the top surfing destinations in all of Costa Rica. Even if you’re not up for surfing, you can still enjoy relaxing on the powdery sand or sipping on a drink at Lola’s – known as one of the top beach bars in all of Costa Rica.
6) Pirate’s Cove – Bahis De Las Piratas
If you’re looking for something with more of a private beach feel, you definitely can’t go wrong with Pirate’s Cove. This beautiful beach is still near Tamarindo but more off the beaten path – so much so that it’s often almost entirely deserted.
The waters off Pirate’s Cove are also incredibly calm and ideally suited for swimming, snorkeling, and the beach also provides amazing views of the many small, rocky islands located just off the coast.
7) Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is another of Costa Rica’s best beaches and the perfect choice for adventure, relaxation, and wildlife watching. While chilling on the beautiful white sands, you’ll often get to catch a glimpse of howler monkeys, wild parrots, sloths, and other exotic wildlife.
The crystal clear waters are also perfect for swimming and allow you to see all kinds of tropical fish darting around below you. If you’re looking to go horseback riding or ocean kayaking near Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo is also the ideal place.
Adventures Around Tamarindo Beach
This list is really only the tip of the iceberg as there are many other amazing beaches near Tamarindo that you’ll definitely want to visit if you have time.
At Tamarindo Tours, we can take you to explore the charming towns in the area to experience some true local culture and also help you experience the thrills of ATV riding, zip lines, water sports, and whatever else your heart desires. Looking to see monkeys while wandering through rainforests and mountains? Like the idea of enjoying a beautiful sunset catamaran cruise while sipping on a cold tropical drink?
If you’re looking to experience the best that Costa Rica has to offer, contact us today to book your perfect Tamarindo adventure tour!
