Tamarindo, on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is a magnet for tourists seeking the relaxed beaches of Central America. Tamarindo hotels vary from a rented villa apartment to the relaxed pace of hammock accommodations of a beachfront house.

The bustling shoreline is the center of life at Tamarindo Beach. A nearby coral reef makes the beach a busy center for snorkeling and scuba diving. Surf camps offer newbies an opportunity to ride a wave within a couple of hours. These activities, in addition to deep-sea Costa Rica fishing and canoeing are some of the things that bring tourists back year after year. Returning visitors will sometimes opt for renting a villa apartment instead of staying at one of the hotels in Tamarindo. One of these types of alternate lodging, of which they are many types to choose from help them feel at home, and have less of an impersonal feel they might encounter staying at a Tamarindo hotel.

The Villas Longosta are sure to please first time or return visitors to Tamarindo. There is a 3-day minimum stay, which is not a problem once you find out about this villas" oceanfront location, spacious 1300 square feet 2 bedrooms luxury accommodations. While a night will cost you $215 in the high season and $195 in the low season, it is less expensive that the luxury Tamarindo hotels, and there is enough room in the villas to sleep 3 couples comfortably.

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The Villas Macondo are a more economical option for villa rentals, being priced comporable to the nicer hotels in Tamarindo. A one bedroom is $80 per night for a one bedroom, and $100 for a two bedroom in the dry season, and $70 and $90 on the off-season. If you"d like to just rent a room these are very reasonable as well, you can rent them for only $25 a night while still enjoying the relaxed pace here that you won"t find in other Tamarindo hotels. Located on a quiet side street away from the bustle of Tamarindo Beach, the accommodations don"t have oceanfront views but they do have a pool for you to enjoy, and it"s only a two-minute walk to the beach.

The relaxed pace and diverse populations of guests make this area a perfect situation to stay at the resorts in Tamarindo. Among the many resorts in Tamarindo, the Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort is one of the most popular places to stay. Surrounding the resort is a national park with views that will take your breath away. There are different rates for every season, May through June and September through December tend to be on the cheaper side. Like many resorts in Tamarindo, this resort offers everything from the economic room to the spacious room with an ocean view.

The variety of Tamarindo activities is matched by the incredible assortment of accommodations. Mountain retreats, hillside condos, beachfront bungalows, Oceanside villas, shoreline cabanas, vacation home rentals and the requisite Tamarindo Hostel offer you so much variety that you can actually try them all on one trip for an entirely different experience in each Tamarindo Hotel.