Roughly 25–35 minutes south of Tamarindo on partly unpaved roads.

Playa Avellanas

The surf day-trip — 'Little Hawaii' and a famous beach bar.

Surfers of all levelsBeach day-tripsLow-key beach bars

Why go

Avellanas is the classic Tamarindo surf day-trip: a string of quality breaks headlined by 'Little Hawaii,' white sand, mangroves behind the beach, and just enough beach-bar comfort to make a whole day of it.

Avellanas packs several distinct waves into one beach — mellower inside sections that work for lessons, and 'Little Hawaii' at the north end, which on the right swell throws the heaviest wave in the area. That range is why surf schools and guided surf trips from Tamarindo come here constantly.

Away from the water it's still pleasantly undeveloped: a couple of beachfront restaurants and surf camps, mangroves with resident wildlife behind the sand, and famously, a beach bar whose resident pig became a local legend. Roads in are dusty in dry season and muddy in green season — a taxi, tour pickup, or 4x4 beats a compact rental.

Pickups & logistics

Surf tours and some beach shuttles from Tamarindo serve Avellanas regularly. Staying out here? Most operators can still arrange pickup — ask when booking.

Popular from here

Tours that name Playa Avellanas

Listings that mention Playa Avellanas in their route, pickup, or departure details.

WildlifeFrom $40

More regional tours with pickup

Operators on this coast work the whole Tamarindo–Flamingo stretch. These top-rated tours typically arrange pickup — confirm your exact location when booking.