Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

Playa Tamarindo Photos

Playa Tamarindo fast facts

• English name: Tamarindo Beach
• Distance from San Jose: 260km (approximately 4 hours)
• Closest Town: Villareal (small town), Santa Cruz (large town)
• Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Tamarindo beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Tamarindo is a long beach with light-brown sand. The beach is loved for the stellar waves that break offshore which provide prime opportunities for surfing, stand-up paddling, and surf paddling.

Crowds and noise

Playa Tamarindo regularly entertains groups of beachgoers because it fronts the town of Tamarindo, which serves a high volume of residents and visitors. Due to the town’s popularity, social vibe, and abundance of establishments built right on the beach, crowds and noise can be an issue.

Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating

Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)

Playa Tamarindo is not currently participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica. Therefore, it does not have a star rating.

Development at Playa Tamarindo

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

The town of Tamarindo provides a range of establishments, including hotels, restaurants, tour offices, surf schools, and shops. Most line both sides of the town’s main drag, Calle Central, or are spread out along Avenida Central, a street that connects with and runs perpendicular to Calle Central. The majority of establishments are within walking distance of Playa Tamarindo, and several, mainly restaurants and bars, are located directly on the beach.

Playa Tamarindo safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Tamarindo. However, as a well-known surf destination, the water can be wavy and rough. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.

Do not swim at the north end of the beach near the estuary that separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande and the Las Baulas National Marine Park. Crocodiles reside in this area.

General safety

Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you have one. Do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset.

Playa Tamarindo location and road conditions

Access to Playa Tamarindo and 4×4 requirement

Playa Tamarindo is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It is the principal beach of Tamarindo, a popular beach town sandwiched between the beach communities of Playa Grande and Playa Langosta. More specifically, it sits due west of where Road 152 and Road 155 meet in the village of Villareal.

Playa Tamarindo falls on the west side of Calle Central, the main street that runs the length of Tamarindo center. Outside of Tamarindo center, Calle Central is called Avenida de las Palmas and provides a direct route to Villareal. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Tamarindo.

Map of Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Tamarindo

There are a few small parking lots around Tamarindo, including a handful along the beach. You’ll need to pay a fee to park in them. Alternatively, locals park randomly along the sides of Calle Central, Avenida Central, and other side streets to save a buck. Several of Tamarindo’s many commercial centers provide parking spaces to shoppers, which aren’t meant to be used by visitors who wish to enjoy Playa Tamarindo for a few hours.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Tamarindo

Playa Tamarindo isn’t worth traveling to purely to experience the beach. However, if you plan to station yourself in the Tamarindo area for a different reason, such as to surf, to stay at one of the town’s revered hotels, to shop, or to kick back at one of many great bars, Playa Tamarindo is a comfortable, albeit busy, beach that’s worth enjoying while taking in everything else that the Tamarindo area has to offer.

Beach-hopping from Playa Tamarindo (or alternative beach options in the region)

Recommended day trips from Playa Tamarindo include visits to Playa Grande, Playa Real, Playa Puerto Viejo, Playa Conchal, or Playa Flamingo, all to the north of Tamarindo, or Playa Langosta, Playa Avellanas, Playa Negra, Playa Blanca, or Playa Junquillal, all to the south of Tamarindo.

Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:

80+ Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them

Want to learn about Costa Rica’s ecological blug flag beaches? Don’t miss our related blog post:

Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica (Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners)

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been to Playa Tamarindo? What did you think?

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