Come and see where ecotourism is done at its best; come and see where man, nature and animals coexist not compete. Come and see the beautiful, clean Tamarindo beaches.

Beaches such as Playa Grande, Playa Langosta, Playa Negra and Playa Avellanas near Tamarindo Beach are popular among tourists and locals alike. They are frequented by all kinds of jetsetters: family vacationers, adventure seekers and honeymooners and filled with such breath taking views, turquoise blues waters, wonder and mystique, no one could blame them for going there year after year. These beaches are some of the best beaches on Costa Rica's Gold Coast and deservedly so.

Playa Tamarindo

This is one of the most popular beaches on the Gold Coast and so it is usually crowded in the high season. But if you are looking for a little tranquility without a far travel, then you need to take a trip to Playa Avellanas.

Playa Avellanas

Translated to mean Hazelnut Beach, this spot is 15 km south of Playa Tamarindo traveling by road, and 10 km if you choose to walk. But don't let the 10 km walk fool you. You will barely know where all the kilometers have gone when you take this scenic route along the beach, taking in the warm ocean breeze and getting washed in the sounds of Costa Rica.

Playa Avellanas is a popular surfing beach lined with white sand and striking natural surroundings that offer everything we have come to love about the tropics. Surfing spots along Playa Avellanas include: El Plato, Little Hawaii, El Estro de Avellanas and La Purruja. All these spots on Playa Avellanas offer not only great surf but also a great place to chill, enjoy a family moment or snuggle with your special someone.

At the end of the day when you have finished surfing, swimming, sunbathing or simply just relaxing, you can enjoy the sights of a beautiful sunset on the Costa Rican horizon on Playa Avellanas.

The beaches near Tamarindo are simply divine and they are the closest you'll ever get to a tropical paradise, so visit one on your next vacation.

Traveling to Tamarindo by Air

If you want to come and explore the rainforest, culture, landscape of Tamarindo, the best and fastest way to get there is by the Liberia International airport (LIR). Just 3 km north of Tamarindo, LIR is home to approximately 30 airlines including: America Airlines, Delta and US Airways.

Flying from the UK, Canada or Europe you will find options in LIR limited, so it is best to fly into the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. After this, you will have to take a local airline such as Nature Air or Sansa to get to the Pacific coast where Tamarindo is located.

Traveling to Tamarindo by Vehicle

Once you've reached the coast you can take a rental car, a taxi or a bus (public or private) to get to your hotel. Generally, traveling to Tamarindo by vehicle takes about 4 hours from the airport especially in high tourist seasons when the streets are crowded with tourists. Also the dirt road and narrow roads of Costa Rica makes traffic to Tamarindo move slowly. But the time will go by so quickly when you are a tourist taking in the new and exciting sites of Costa Rica; it will seem like just minutes ago that you first took out that camera snapping as you go along the streets of Costa Rica.

The best road to travel to Tamarindo is to take the road from Belen to Huacas, heading south. Another route to take is to drive from Santa Cruz to 27 de Avril on a paved road, then northwest on a dirt road for 19 km to Tamarindo.

Getting Around Tamarindo

In Tamarindo there is much transportation available so that you can see all the sights. You can travel by your rental car, taxis, and buses, on foot, bicycles, mopeds and by boats. Buses are a great way to travel if you are on a budget. They are really cheap and they run from the hotel zones to the center of town to shopping areas and popular tour sites. So just ask your hotel or get a bus schedule.

You can rent a car from well known agencies such as Avis and Budget while in Tamarindo. You must hold a valid driver's license and have a major credit card to rent a car. Taxis in Tamarindo are affordable and found at most hotels, and the fare depends on the distance. Another way to get around Tamarindo is by foot and many crosswalks can be found all over Tamarindo.

You can also rent a moped or scooter at one of the local shops in town and travel that way to popular sights. Here are also many shuttle boats and ferries to help you get to sites. Ferries and boats go to Isla Mujeres daily and you cam board a boat at the Zona Hoteleria at the Emabarcadero or the Xcaret docks.

Normally, a quiet town of 2000 residents, Tamarindo's population swells to 5000 come tourist season. And who could blame them flocking here? Tamarindo's close proximity to airlines and transportation, national parks to its north and south, its abundance of marine life, its surf reputation immortalized in the classic Endless Summer II, hotels, restaurants and shops, makes Tamarindo truly a great place to discover Costa Rica.

Make Tamarindo your base as you take an eco-friendly tour in Costa Rica; go visit an estuary, watch the famous leatherback turtles make their way into the blue waters of the Pacific, explore the national parks and rainforests, and see coral reefs and marine life as you snorkel or scuba dive.

Tamarindo is a great place to vacation if you love the outdoors. You can take an excursion in the great outdoors and go golfing, hiking, biking, fishing, white water rafting and of course surfing.

Once a quiet little fishing village and before that a part of the Guanacaste cowboy region, Tamarindo has quickly gained ground as a premiere travel destination worldwide among not only surfers but all kinds of jetsetters. Tamarindo's rich history also provides for an eclectic mix of European, Mestizo, Afro-Caribbean and North American culture. This culture is evident in the music, cuisine and in the easy-going nature of its people.

Nightlife in Tamarindo can rival the rush, exhilaration and adrenaline of many big city clubs, discos and bars. All throughout the relatively small town of Tamarindo you can see bars, clubs, restaurants and discos lined along the streets just ready to make your nighttime as enjoyable as daytime in Tamarindo.

When it comes to staying in Tamarindo there are many hotels along the strip that cater to the budget and wallet of all kinds of travelers. So in Tamarindo you never have to worry about the value of your dollar.

All who come to Tamarindo never want to leave; many jetsetters have gone to Tamarindo and fallen in love with its laid-back, surfer charm, never to return. You can see ex-pats from Europe, North America, Asia and the Caribbean now calling Tamarindo home, so don't say I didn't warn you about Tamarindo's charm.

You can meet people from all cultures in Tamarindo, surf to your heart's content, enjoy the outdoors and greet strangers with a smile, so don't miss your chance to add to the eclectic, welcoming flair of Tamarindo.