Nikki Solano

H Frank!

We agree, on all three accounts! 🙂

Pura vida!

Hey Surfer Girl!

Great observations! Many Tamarindo visitors stick to the main drag and don’t travel south of the roundabout (just north of Chiringuito), but we’re glad to hear that you did and that you had a blast doing so. 🙂

Playa Real is a fabulous beach that’s off the beaten path; it sits along an area of the Pacific coast where there is little development, and it usually only entertains a handful of locals at a time. It’s about a 40-minute drive north of Tamarindo. To get there you’ll pass through (and turn left at) the community of Villareal and continue on to the village of Huacas. At Huacas, you’ll turn left and drive toward the hamlet of Matapalo. In Matapalo, you’ll zigzag north and west (around the futbol field), then take the bumpy road on your right as far north as Villas La Paz/Condor Lodge. At Villas La Paz/Condor Lodge, take the side road that leads west; it leads directly to Playa Real where you’ll find a small makeshift parking lot. Beware of the giant Manchineel trees (signed as “manzanillo” trees) that tower over the parking lot; they have a toxic sap that burns skin. The sap is more likely to drop from the tree when it’s raining, but it can happen at any time.

As for Blanco, we’re not familiar with this beach, unless you meant Playa Blanca, by chance? If so, would you happen to know which Playa Blanca you’re looking for? Costa Rica (rather frustratingly) has several beaches named Playa Blanca, so our advice here will depend on which one you plan to visit.

Pura vida! 🙂

Hello Madison Durham!

You’re in luck! Most Tamarindo hotels have easy access to Playa Tamarindo because the long beach fronts much of the town. A few hotels line Tamarindo’s main drag, which runs parallel to the beach. The most well-known are Tamarindo Diria (a resort-style property) and Jardin del Eden (an adults-only property). But even other great hotels that are located in backroad areas (like Hotel Pasatiempo and the Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel) are only a short walk from the water, so as long as you choose an in-town accommodation, you shouldn’t find the beach difficult to access. 🙂

Pura vida!

Xena –
You’re absolutely right! Thank you so much for drawing my attention to this oversight. I’ve corrected the error above. Thank you also for your interest in checking out Moon Costa Rica (2019) upon its release later this month. Let me know if you have any questions as you work to plan your upcoming trip to CR. 🙂
Pura vida!