3 Days in Tamarindo - Your Weekend Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Costa Rica and wondering whether Tamarindo is worth visiting or how many days you should stay? I personally found three days to be just right.

This coastal town is known for beautiful beaches, surfing, and a popping nightlife scene. Plus, you're close enough to natural landscapes to enjoy jungle adventures, too. Copy my itinerary for Tamarindo, Costa Rica, if you want to enjoy a little bit of everything!

And if you enjoy this post, you'll love my list of things to do in Tamarindo, too!

Tamarindo was a small fishing town until global films highlighted its surf breaks and the healthy conditions that make it a Blue Zone. Now, it's home to thousands of expats (immigrants who reside locally part-time or in retirement) every year. It's one of Costa Rica's most developed beach communities.

So I found it to have the most international--largely American and European--influences of the different Costa Rican cities I've visited. English is widely spoken; you can find any cuisine from Mexican to Japanese, and the vibe is decidedly more commercial. I wouldn't go so far as to say that Tamarindo is overrated, but would have probably grown bored had we extended this leg of the trip to one week.

I visited Tamarindo with a group as the last destination on a multi-stop vacation that included Monteverde, La Fortuna, Tamarindo, and Liberia; and it was the perfect place to be for a long weekend--read our full Costa Rica itinerary to see how we squeezed four cities into 10 days!

Getting There

Tamarindo is located in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province along the country's Pacific coast. Coming from Liberia Airport (LIR), the drive is about one and a half hours, and there are plenty of options for this journey through private shuttles, by car rental, or the public bus, though I'll note that the bus route takes about three hours with at least one transfer.

And coming from San José, you can either take a one-hour flight or take a roughly five-hour road trip. The bus is also available, but can take up to seven hours!

We took a private shuttle from Monteverde to Tamarindo, and the roads were winding and sometimes a bit bumpy coming down from the mountains, so I highly recommend taking motion sickness medication before the journey if you tend to get carsick. The drive time was about four hours, with two stops along the way for meals and restroom breaks.

Here's everything you need to know about visiting Monteverde, Costa Rica, too!

How to Get Around

If you opt to drive to Tamarindo, you'll find that the roads are generally in good condition. Public street parking is free, but at your own risk, so you may wish to pay a guachimane (unofficial parking attendant) to keep an eye on your vehicle.

Uber is technically outlawed in Costa Rica. That said, it was widely available in Tamarindo and, since we had no car, this was our primary mode of transportation besides walking. And I found the town to be very walkable, even if you're staying in the hilly residential areas.

The cost of Ubers is very reasonable compared to the United States, but most of the cars are small, so keep that in mind if you're traveling with family or a large group--or if you have tall people in your party!

Best Time to Travel to Tamarindo

I visited Tamarindo in December, which is right at the beginning of Costa Rica's dry season, and part of the high season for tourism. The weather was quite warm (high 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit), and we experienced very little passing rain, which was a stark contrast to the wetter conditions in La Fortuna and Monteverde!

You'll find cheaper accommodations and fewer crowds if you visit during the rainy season (May through November), as fewer travelers go to Tamarindo and Costa Rica as a whole. Tamarindo weather by month doesn't vary much in temperature, so while it will be cooler, it'll still be in the 80s. Also, the humidity is higher, and it can rain daily.

Here's everything you need to pack for Tamarindo at this time of year!

Our Tamarindo 3-Day Itinerary

Day One: Arrive and Decompress

Lazy Pool Day: As I mentioned, the ride from Monteverde to Tamarindo was long and a little bumpy, so we spent quite a bit of time unpacking, getting set up in the Airbnb, and relaxing in the gorgeous infinity pool.

Costa Rica is home to so many species of beautiful birds, and the birdwatching just from the pool deck was phenomenal!

Here's my full list of things to do in Costa Rica across different cities!

Mexican Food in Costa Rica was not on my BINGO card, but Little Lucha Taqueria was one of the first restaurants we encountered, and it had impossibly high reviews on Google Maps, so we decided to have dinner there.

And it did not disappoint! The tacos, churros, and service were some of the best I've had anywhere--and as someone from Houston, Texas (USA) who travels to Mexico often, I know the cuisine quite well. 😊

Ocho Beach Club was our beach day base, and we had a blast. The prices were reasonable, and the folks we met on staff were warm and definitely kept the vibes high. It can be hard to keep up with a large party like ours, but they did not miss a beat, including offering us welcome shots and keeping both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks flowing. I highly recommend you try the flamingo if you need a mocktail!

Tamarindo Moonlight Market takes place weekly and is a must-do if you'll be in Tamarindo on a Thursday night! I bought most of my souvenirs here, including jewelry, art, and even snacks--all from local artisans. It's located right at the foot of the Tamahills neighborhood.

Little Lucha was so nice we ran it back twice, and there was live music the second time, so you should definitely go on a Thursday or Friday night if you want the full experience.

Lunch at Tamaki, which is a Japanese Peruvian fusion eatery located in a kind of open-air food court with other local favorites like Pollolandia (a popular Costa Rican fried chicken chain), was quite good.

We had a mix of strong margaritas, sushi rolls, baos, and ramen with interesting fusion flavor profiles. Everything was delicious, and this spot is conveniently located near a shopping center, so perfect for refueling after retail therapy.

Back to the Beach for another round at Ocho Beach Club and beach massages right by the water. The massage therapists were really skilled and able to accommodate a variety of pressures and needs within our group.

There are also vendors selling things like ice-cold coconuts, handicrafts, and candy!

Tasty Bar Crawl took us to several local bars and clubs, including Rumors, Chiquita's, and Crazy Monkey, with the latter being the livest with what I'd describe as a Latin Vegas type of vibe.

Each place was packed, which is typical for a Friday night during high season, but Crazy Monkey was absolutely filled to the brim, and I saw more than one fight break out. There are multiple levels and several rooms, and the largest one has a pool in the middle, so keep your head on a swivel and keep away from the water's edge!

This is the #1 bar crawl in Tamarindo, and their signature is a set of stickers you can choose from to denote whether you're single, taken, not looking, etc. So it's inclusive for couples, solo travelers, friend groups, and could be a great addition to a bachelorette itinerary.

Tips to Plan a Better Trip to Tamarindo

Currency - Tamarindo is not necessarily the place to spend up your local currency before going home. Costa Rican Colónes are accepted everywhere, but I noticed that vendors tended to automatically quote prices in USD. If you'll be visiting multiple cities, I recommend converting some currency before you arrive or at the airport; however, you won't really need them here.

Attire - Tamarindo is laid-back, and the weather is warm year-round, so you can dress casually. That said, cover-ups are recommended whenever you aren't actually at the beach. And the nightlife scene is dressier, but high heels aren't required.

On a budget? - Another thing I noticed visiting Tamarindo is that prices were generally higher here. When compared to Monteverde, Liberia, and La Fortuna, Tamarindo costs the most per person. If you're looking for cheap eats and accommodations, you'll have more options on the Caribbean side of the country. Blame the expat influence!

If you want more of an outdoorsy vibe with hot springs and hiking, read my La Fortuna travel guide next!

I hope this Tamarindo, Costa Rica travel guide helps you have the best trip. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this post for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!