🌴 Tamarindo (Guanacaste Province)

✨ Why Visit Tamarindo as a Future Expat?

Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica’s most well-known beach towns, drawing surfers, families, retirees, and digital nomads. It offers the perfect “soft landing” with a walkable town center, modern amenities, English-speaking service providers, and abundant nature just beyond town. Whether you're surfing before breakfast, working remotely from a beachfront café, or watching a fire-orange sunset with locals and expats, Tamarindo blends vacation with daily life.

• 🛫 Distance from Liberia International Airport (LIR): ~1 hour (66 km / 41 miles)

• 🏖 Beach Type: Long, wide golden sand beach perfect for surfing and sunsets

• 🌦 Climate:

  • Dry Season: Mid-December to April

  • Rainy Season: May to November

  • Average Daytime Temps: 85–94°F (29–34°C)

  • Nighttime Temps: 72–78°F (22–25°C)

  • Annual Rainfall: ~65 inches (1,650 mm), mostly in Sept–Oct

🏡 Live Like a Local – Rent a Condo for a Week

If you’re thinking of moving to Tamarindo, the best way to evaluate it is to live like a local. You can rent a 1–2 bedroom condo or small villa for $600–$1,200 per week, often with full kitchens, laundry, and even pools. Walk to the farmer’s market, cook at home, chat with expats, work remotely — and test if Tamarindo’s lifestyle truly fits.

Recommended areas to rent in Tamarindo:

• Langosta (quieter, upscale)

• Central Tamarindo (walkable, lively)

• Playa Grande (across the estuary, more laid-back)

🏨 Recommended Hotels (if not renting)

• Jardin del Eden Boutique Hotel – Adults-only with a private beach garden

• Capitán Suizo Beachfront Hotel – Relaxed and family-friendly

• Selina Tamarindo – Co-working friendly, perfect for budget travelers

🍽️ Top Places to Eat

• Green Papaya Taco Bar – Great tacos and casual jungle setting

• Dragonfly Bar & Grill – Fresh seafood, upscale but relaxed

• Nordico Coffee House – Artisan coffee, great Wi-Fi

• Shrimp Hole – Delicious bowls, poke-style with tropical twists

• Antichi Sapori – Authentic Italian for a pasta break from tacos

🎯 Top Things to Do

• Surf Lessons or Rentals – Tamarindo is a beginner-friendly surf beach

• Las Baulas National Marine Park – Visit during turtle nesting season

• Estuary Tours – Boat or kayak through mangroves teeming with wildlife

• ATV Adventures – Explore nearby hills and lesser-known beaches

• Sunset Catamaran Cruise – Snorkeling, drinks, and unforgettable sunsets

💡 Expat Travel Tip

Spend at least a full week living in town, not just at a hotel. Visit grocery stores, use public transit or walk, talk to long-term residents, and notice how the area feels after the tourist crowd thins. If you love the social, energetic vibe, Tamarindo may be your new home. If not, use it as a launching pad to explore quieter nearby towns like Playa Grande, Avellanas, or Nosara.