Hold onto your [witch’s] hat! It’s a Tamarindo Halloween!
From witchy drinks to live DJs, from breezy costumes to $1,000+ in prizes, Tamarindo is serving up all the creepy tunes, scary events, and spooky revelry you could want for your Halloween in Costa Rica celebration. Enjoy!
Picture yourself at Playa Avellanas, a Blue Flag beach within Hacienda Pinilla
As 2018 draws to a close – can you believe there’s only two months left in the year?! – we’re already beginning to think about our next year’s travels. And when we think travel, we think of dream destinations. And when we think of dream destinations, we think beaches. Beaches, glorious beaches. Soft sands and swaying palms. Warm waters and lazy afternoons. Swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and strolling. Ocean perfection!
Ok, back to reality. Because, when it comes to beaches, there are no better in Costa Rica than Blue Flag beaches.
You’ve probably heard the term before – “Blue Flag” Beaches – and maybe you’ve even seen the flag, but do you know what the flag represents? In a nutshell, a Blue Flag designation means sustainability. It represents eco-friendly policies. It stands for safety. And it demands a healthy beach and even healthier community. And it’s very, very hard to achieve.
And for all these definitions – for all these reasons – we are so proud to share with you that Tamarindo recently earned its very own Blue Flag. Congratulations to us!
Playa Junquillal’s surf is absolutely epic – and for experienced surfers, only! (But please don’t swim.) Read all about it in our Playa Junquillal travel guide.
For those who crave long walks at sunset and afternoons lounging in tide pools, ecological Blue Flag-recipient Playa Junquillal is a two-kilometer stretch of white-gray sands and beachfront wilderness – an outdoor paradise where jungle tumbles into sea, tide pools swirl, and boulders crumble into rocky reefs. Here, bluffs reach toward palm trees, the surf churns with seafoam, and the River Nanda Mojo cuts a swath through a 500-acre estuary and natural paradise.
Yes, this is Playa Junquillal – pronounced, hoon-kee-yal– a quiet retreat almost as hard to locate, as it is to pronounce. Located 10 miles south (as the toucan flies) of Tamarindo, this quiet corner of Costa Rica is a testament to the beauty of isolation: nearly deserted beaches, powerful surf swells (experience surfers only!), and molten sunsets that sizzle as they hit the horizon, Junquillal also marks the northern border of important sea turtle nesting beaches, both for olive ridley and leatherback turtles.
Our Playa Junqillal travel guide takes you to and through the best this secluded beach town has to offer.
Location: North-Pacific Costa Rica, aka The Gold Coast, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Tamarindo
Average Temperature: 75-96º F (23-36º C)
Landscape: Lots of tropical ocean, protected turtle beaches, and dry and wet forest
Closest Airport: Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) – about 80 minutes
Top Activities: Turtle-watching, Surfing, Snorkeling & Scuba Diving, Horseback Riding, and Sports Fishing
Top Attractions: Beaches, Catalina Islands (scuba & snorkeling), Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Great for: Couples & Honeymooners, Anglers, Families & Family Reunions, Destination Weddings, Nature Lovers
We Recommend: For when you crave the quiet but don’t want to stay too far from world-class restaurants, Playa Junquillal is an isolated (yet Tamarindo-adjacent) natural wonderland.
Casa Costa Blanca is one of the most prestigious luxury vacation rentals in Tamarindo
Step into another world – into a beachfront paradise, a luxury community, an exotic wonderland. Step into Casa Costa Blanca, one of the most prestigious and spectacular vacation rentals in Tamarindo. In Costa Rica, even!
This seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom beachfront villa is equipped with the full menu of luxury amenities (including air conditioning, WiFi and cable television, among others), but what really pulls your spirit is That Ocean. Yes, the wide open Pacific is on full display here – overlooked from every common area, almost every bedroom, and the custom infinity pool and heated Jacuzzi.
And, what is paradise without a full-time housekeeper and groundskeeper? Monday through Saturday, your housekeeper even cooks up a delicious Costa Rican-style breakfast (you provide the ingredients).
It’s the perfect choice for Tamarindo weddings, family reunions, and other groups and celebrations for up to 24 guests. We look forward to welcoming you!
Did you know that late Tamarindo green season (September, October, and November) are some of the best months for Tamarindo fishing?
October update! Tamarindo fishing is absolutely booming this month, and we’ve been reeling in mahi mahi, sailfish, tuna, rooster fish, and so much more. The oven is ovening, the grill is smoking, and the ceviche and sushi are super fresh. Nom nom nom…
In other words, we think that Tamarindo green season is the season. Or, at least, a season. A great season, in fact.
Ask any local, and we’ll tell you that the Tamarindo green season gets a bad rap. Yes, it rains. But no, not all the time. Not even every day, depending on the location and the month (and the whims of Mother Nature).
Green season is so named for a reason: In stark contrast to the sun-splashed, oft-parched months of dry season, Costa Rica’s green season (roughly May through November) sees lush landscapes, roaring rivers, well-watered wildlife, and other wonderful benefits, thanks to almost daily showers.
Another thing to know: Tamarindo is located in the province of Guanacaste, the driest province in the country. So, while the rest of the country is drenched, we often see full days of sun – sometimes, for whole weeks after the official start (or before the official end) of green season. And in Tamarindo, prepare for sunny mornings and afternoons, with rains only beginning in the early evening.
In other words, if you’re visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season, choose Tamarindo. You’ll have a better chance of great weather. And even if it does rain, it shouldn’t spoil your vacation. Here’s why. Seven reasons why, in fact!