Posts tagged Leatherback
Tamarindo, Costa Rica – Ultimate Beach Vacation Destination
Nov 11th
You’re going on vacation to Costa Rica. You want to go to a place with a fun, laid-back vibe with plenty of amenities and plenty more things to do. Where do you go?
Whenever I’m asked this question I always answer the same way: Tamarindo.
Tamarindo Orientation
Tamarindo, Costa Rica is located at the start of the Nicoya Peninsula in the province of Guanacaste. It faces the Pacific and offers a long expanse of beach for sun worshipers and a consistent swell for surfers. The sand is golden and sprinkled with gorgeous little spiraling shells.
Directly to the north of Tamarindo beach is the Palo Seco river mouth and then Playa Grande, a long scimitar of beach that is also a protected park. This park, Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, is a breeding ground of the enormous and endangered leatherback turtle, which on average weighs 1000lbs (455kg) and measures over six feet in length (2m). Leatherbacks’ nesting season is from October to March and most eggs are laid at night. This miracle of nature can be seen nightly, but you’ll need to hire a guide in order to legally access the park past dusk. During the day the river-mouth between Playa Grande and Playa Tamarindo can be crossed at low tide, or you can hop on a small boat and be ferried across for a nominal fee.
Many Options for Lodging and Food
Being one of the most developed beach resort towns in Costa Rica, Tamarindo offers an array of accommodations from luxury resorts to simple cabins. There are also numerous dining options and international cuisine, including some familiar fast food chains in case you’re in need of comfort food. Despite the town’s growth it is still small and accessible, without of any of the overdeveloped feel of the Mayan Riviera and other parts of coastal Mexico. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of partying and a vibrant, unpretentious nightlife.
Adventures Galore
Adventure activities abound here, with surfing and fishing being two of the main draws. Tamarindo’s consistent but reasonably sized surf has made it the mecca for surfers and would-be surfers alike. There are numerous surf shops offering lessons in the range of $25-30 for an hour to an hour and a half. Surfboard rentals range from $10 to $25 per day with longboards costing more.
Costa Rica fishing aficionados will be delighted by all the possibilities in Tamarindo. Species are varied and abundant, and the there are numerous sportfishing charter boats for hire. Planning your trip between the months of April and November is your best bet to avoid the seasonal high winds off the coast of Guanacaste. Despite this, the waters are teeming with billfish, dorado (mahi mahi/dolphinfish), and tuna year round. For marlin, the best months are June and July — same for tuna. Dorado is best from June to October.
Other activity options include jungle canopy tours on zip lines, atv tours, horseback riding, and mangrove tours in the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. A variety of companies in town can arrange tours, including your hotel in most cases.
Getting to Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Tamarindo’s proximity to an international airport makes it very appealing, especially since you don’t have to pass through Costa Rica’s congested capital, San Jose. Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia (code: LIR), serviced by American Airlines, Delta, and US Airways et al, is about an hour to an hour-and-a-half drive from Tamarindo beach by rental car or taxi.
A Great Destination
In sum, Tamarindo is a great, fun destination for your Costa Rica vacation – the nightlife is great too. Perhaps it’s not as ‘authentic’ as some other towns, but the range of amenities and activities certainly create an appealing locale to relax, sip a cold cocktail, and watch a beautiful sunset while planning out your next adventure.
Costa Rica Vacation and Travel Planner
Nov 4th
Costa Rica is one of my favorite destinations – there is so much natural beauty crammed in this small country of 19,600 square miles. From the humble capital city of San Jose, located in the center of the country at about 3.600 feet above sea level, everything is close at hand – the Caribbean and the Pacific Coast are less than 90 minutes away, the lush lowland rainforests of the Caribbean slope are about 75 minutes away and the cloud forests and the volcanoes of the central highlands are less than 1 hour away. For a visitor who can afford only 7-8 days in Costa Rica, it is possible to explore a variety of habitats and life zones in a very short time period.
The following 8 day/7 night itinerary would be ideal for such a traveler:
One night in San Jose – if you arrive during the day, you may have time for a quick highlights tour of the city and some shoppingTwo nights in the Caribbean lowlands – an opportunity to explore the lush rainforests of Costa Rica. Nature hikes, white water rafting, birdwatching etc.
Alternate: 2 nights in Tortuguero – well-established ecotourist destination located on the Northern Caribbean Coast. Wet coastal forests, very lush and green. Drive/take motorboat from San Jose/return by air. Important nesting area for both Green and leatherback turtles.
Two nights at Bosque de Paz – private nature reserve and lodge at about 7,000 feet above sea level, Cloud forests and montane rainforests, Secluded and quiet. Ideal for hiking and nature studies
Alternate: Two nights in Monteverde – popular ecotourist destination and mountain resort straddling the continental divide. Misty cloud forests, very lush and green with views of the Pacific Ocean. Somewhat commercial but there are many attractions in the area. Many lodges to choose from. Nice social scene.
Two nights La Fortuna – Popular resort area, and site of Arenal Volcano, most active volcano in Costa Rica
If you can afford to stay 3-5 days longer, I would add an extra night at Bosque de Paz and in San Jose and/or perhaps 2-3 nights in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort area with lush tropical landscapes and excellent beaches on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast. Alternate – any number of resort areas located on the Nicoya Peninsula (Northern Costa Rica) – Ocotal, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Samara or Nosara.
For your information, a variety of tour packages to Costa Rica are offered by Calypso Island Tours, with themes ranging from turtle watching to butterfly gardens. All these tours are fully customizable.
