Tamarindo Bay, on Costa
Rica’s northwest Pacific coast, is an idyllic cove
dotted with white beaches and luxurious hotels, only 4-5
hours’ drive from the Costa Rican capital San
Jose. Renowned for its sunny climate and its glittering
shoreline, publicized in the surfer film classic Endless
Summer II, Tamarindo offers a bewildering array of sports
– particularly deep water sport fishing, diving,
surfing, sailing,
horseback riding, scuba
diving, and snorkeling.
Located in the verdant region of Guanacaste,
Tamarindo is an ecotourism center. Adrenalin junkies can
zip through centuries-old forest
canopy, visit nesting sites of the giant leatherback
turtle, explore caves and an active volcano. Most resorts
in Tamarindo offer all these packages; so optional trips
can be planned on the spur of the moment.
The bay’s three beaches, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, and Playa Grande, offer a variety of Tamarindo hotels for every budget and lodging preference. From b&bs to air-conditioned cabanas on the beach, hotels in Tamarindo accommodate all types of tourists, whether backpackers, luxury travelers, or families with young children.
Notable among Tamarindo hotels is the El Jardin del Eden, a French-style boutique hotel perched atop a hill, and only three minutes’ walk from the beach. Living up to its name, “garden of Eden”, the hotel features five villas with 34 rooms and two apartments, nestled in lush greenery.
El Jardin has one of the finest views of the bay at sunset, among resorts in Tamarindo. Guests often enjoy watching sundown with one of the hotel’s gourmet seafood dinners. Golf enthusiasts favor El Jardin del Eden among hotels in Tamarindo due to its proximity to the area’s two oceanfront championship courses, the Paradisus Conchal and Hacienda Pinilla, both within a few minutes’ drive. A tennis court is located five minutes’ walk from the hotel.
A consistent favorite among resorts in Tamarindo is the Hotel Capitan Suizo, owned by a Swiss family intent on providing excellent hospitality and organic living. Situated in a garden with old forest growth, the hotel is occasionally visited by armadillos, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other forms of wildlife. The hotel offers eight ocean view bungalows, 22 rooms, and a large freeform pool. The bungalows are set in the garden, each with an outside shower and a double whirlpool. For larger groups, the hotel also offers an apartment with four bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, and two bathrooms. Honeymooners take the hotel’s top suite, a bungalow with a private 90 sq m garden with a hammock and a table set for a candlelit dinner. The El Capitan Suizo is 20 minutes’ drive from the golf courses.
Slightly on a larger scale among Tamarindo hotels is
the Barcelo Langosta Beach hotel, on Playa Langosta, two
km from the city center. The hotel is slightly off the
beaten path but has numerous facilities certain to keep
both kids and adults entertained. The hotel features 132
rooms, and leisure options such as a casino, a pool with
Jacuzzi, and a Turkish bath. Sports facilities include
golf (15 minutes’ drive), archery, darts, and even
giant chess. Particularly kid-friendly among hotels in
Tamarindo, Barcelo runs a children’s program, designed
to keep them safe and occupied while the parents relax.
The hotel also offers an attractive All Inclusive program,
which allows guests to pay one time and avail of the following:
access to all services and amenities, accommodations,
all meals, daily scheduled on-site activities and classes,
taxes, tips, and unlimited local beverages.
