Blog - Stay in Tamarindo

18 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica

August 17, 2018/in Tamarindo Travel Guide, Things to Do /by Erin Raub

Working on your list of things to do in Playa Flamingo? We have 18 suggestions.

Stretching a mile long, Playa Flamingo is crescent-shaped proof that paradise exists: pristine white-sand beaches, shade-lined coasts, and turquoise sea, teeming with spotted rays, dolphins, humpback whales, and endangered sea turtles.

And those are just four reasons to visit. In fact, the list of things to do in Playa Flamingo is delightfully rich. From wildlife sightings and adventure tours, to beach combing and smooth sailing, Flamingo Beach is one of Costa Rica’s most action-packed hidden gems.

Hot Tip: Don’t forget our EASY BUTTON! If any of these activities pique your interest, we’re happy to book it on your behalf – absolutely no upcharge or fees! And we promise to make sure it’s the best tour of its kind. Just name the day and our in-house concierge, Cristina (send her an email), will make it happen.

And now, 18 of our favorite things to do in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica:

5 Great Tamarindo Restaurants to Take Mom on Costa Rican Mother’s Day

August 15, 2018/in Tamarindo Lifestyle, Tamarindo Nightlife, Tamarindo Travel Guide /by Erin Raub

Tamarindo restaurants for special occasions

This Mother’s Day, treat Mom to a meal at one of the top Tamarindo restaurants

Did you know that the date of Mother’s Day varies around the world? And here in Costa Rica, we celebrate on August 15. That’s right – today! And Costa Ricans take their moms so seriously that Mother’s Day is an official holiday; you’ll find banks, school, and other public institutions are closed today in Mom’s honor.

So, Happy Mother’s Day, to all the moms around the world! If you’re lucky enough to celebrate your mom here in Costa Rica – or if you simply want to raise a glass in her honor – then we’re dishing up five great Tamarindo restaurants perfect for an honorary and celebratory dinner. Cheers!

(And hey, don’t worry! If you didn’t make it down in time for Costa Rican Mother’s Day 2018, then why not start planning for 2019? Whittle down our list of Tamarindo vacation rentals – we’re confident you’ll find an ideal home for your family – and then get in touch! We’ll help you plan the perfect getaway.)

And now, in no particular order:

6 (+ a Few Thousand!) Tropical Flowers for Your Tamarindo Wedding

August 7, 2018/in Tamarindo Wedding Guide /by Erin Raub

Wedding and Event planners in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

What kind of flowers do you dream for your Tamarindo wedding?

When it comes down to your Tamarindo wedding details, one of the most enjoyable decisions will come courtesy of your florist: What tropical, exotic, and spectacularly colorful flowers do you plan to carry down the aisle? Which will decorate your ceremony? What bouquets will sit atop your reception table?

The answer is, almost any flowers you wish. Many grow nearly year-round and offer a wide variety from which to choose – literally, thousands of exotic flower varieties, at a fraction of what you’d expect to pay in the U.S. or Canada.

While your ultimate choice will come down to you, your wedding date, and your florist, we thought we’d send your inspiration soaring with a few of our past brides’ favorite selections:

Destination Poolside: 6 of the Best Pools in Costa Rica

July 31, 2018/in Tamarindo Travel Guide, Vacation Rentals in Tamarindo /by Erin Raub

Welcome to six of the best pools in Costa Rica

One of our favorite things about a vacation in paradise? Doing everything and absolutely nothing. And by absolutely nothing, we mean lounging around some of the best pools in Costa Rica, be it for an afternoon or an entire week.

The choice is yours. We don’t judge. We do enable, though! So today, we’re serving up six of our picks for the best pools in Costa Rica: ocean-view, infinity-edge, and surrounded by all the luxury accouterments you could dream. Jump in. Cool off. Enjoy!

Guide to Santa Rosa National Park

July 27, 2018/in Nature & Wildlife, Tamarindo Daytrips, Tamarindo Travel Guide /by Erin Raub

Witch's Rock at Santa Rosa National Park

Witch’s Rock, a famed surf site, is located within Santa Rosa National Park

Where isolated beach meets rare dry forest, where rushing rivers flow into lush mangrove forests, where epic waves crash onto rocky islands – this is Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica’s first national park and an untouched beauty still far off the nation’s beaten path.

Rough and wild, Santa Rosa is a place where white-tailed deer still frequent drinking holes and the jaguars still meander along parched landscapes. Where one of the world’s last tropical dry forests meet endangered sea turtle nesting sites, where howler monkeys hoot in the tees and bats flutter through the air.

Here, amidst waist-high scrub grass and the veil of Guanacaste trees, Santa Rosa National Park protects critical habitats and prized Costa Rican history. Here, Santa Rosa National Park cradles ocean-view hiking trails and two of the world’s most beloved surf sites. Here, Santa Rosa National Park calls you to outdoor adventures and inner reflections, to heart-pounding thrills and tranquil afternoons.

Santa Rosa National Park Overview:

Location: 22 miles north of Liberia; about 2 hours north of Tamarindo

Founded: 1971

Area: 91,926 acres and 192,660 maritime acres

Hours: Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; extended hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during high season

Telephone: 2666-5051 / 2668-1045 / 2668-1150

Entrance Fee: $15 adults / $5 children

What is Guanacaste Day? (aka What’s Today’s Holiday All About?)

July 25, 2018/in Costa Rica /by Erin Raub

What is Guanacaste Day? It’s a celebration of history.

Every year, if you’re in town on July 25, you’ll notice a little something different is happening. Schoolchildren aren’t in school. Banks, government offices, and other places of business are closed. People – and especially young children – are dressed in traje típico (typical dress, usually of the red, white, and blue variety).

Mystery, solved: Today is “Guanacaste Day” or more formally, a celebration of “la Anexión del Partido de Nicoya” (the “Annexation of Guanacaste”).

The holiday is particularly grand here in Tamarindo, as we’re located in the province of Guanacaste – the epicenter of the day’s celebration. That said, Guanacaste Day is a major holiday throughout Costa Rica, and not just in Guanacaste: Today is an official holiday throughout all seven provinces. Today honors the day that our peninsula – now province – became a part of Costa Rica. Today is a day for celebration.

Tips for Your Destination Wedding in Costa Rica

July 17, 2018/in Tamarindo Wedding Guide /by Erin Raub

advice on a destination wedding in Costa Rica

Avoid these mistakes to plan your perfect destination wedding in Costa Rica

You ask, we answer: What do newlyweds most often wish they had known, before they walked down the aisle of their destination wedding in Costa Rica?

We’re not wedding planners – although our Tamarindo wedding guide does offer a pretty good start to your planning – but we do have a lot of Costa Rica wedding expertise. Not only are several of our luxury vacation homes available as wedding venues, but we also have excellent local connections and recommendations: wedding planners, florists, photographers and videographers, and more.

So, with all this experience under our belts, we have a few (okay, seven) suggestions to turn your wish-we-would-haves into we’re-so-glad-we-dids:

Business Retreat in Costa Rica? Here’s What Your Employees Need (& Want) to Know

July 12, 2018/in Corporate Retreats, Group Travel, Tamarindo Retreats, Tamarindo Travel Guide /by Erin Raub

Are you ready to plan the best ever business retreat in Costa Rica?

So, your company’s taking a business retreat in Costa Rica… and you’re considering Tamarindo! Or, perhaps you’ve already decided on Tamarindo. Congratulations! Costa Rica is a great choice for a corporate retreat and in Costa Rica – okay, call us biased – Tamarindo is the perfect home base.

After all, greater Tamarindo – Tamarindo, Langosta, Hacienda Pinilla, Conchal, and even out to Flamingo – is one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations. Not just for a business retreat in Costa Rica, mind you, but for vacation, destination weddings, honeymoons, and more. In other words, Tamarindo is paradise amidst paradise.

Our main claim to fame? Beautiful beaches, for starters. And then, there’s our world-famous surf, eclectic adventure activities, plenty of water sports, and spectacular sunsets. And, of course, there’s much geared toward your business retreat in Costa Rica, too: sprawling luxury mansions, an excellent restaurant scene, and plenty of team building, bonding, and fun. If you’ve chosen Tamarindo, then your company must be a great one! #TamarindoOrBust

But okay, after the initial excitement and general euphoria subside, you start to wonder: Where is Tamarindo, exactly? Where are you all going to stay? (And will there be any privacy?) What’s the weather like? And, how much should you budgetfor out-of-pocket extras?

Well, the first thing you should know – this corporate retreat/vacation is going to be epic. As for the rest of your questions, we have you covered:

Your Costa Rica Corporate Retreat: 7 Signs That It’s a Terrible Idea

July 3, 2018/in Corporate Retreats, Group Travel, Tamarindo Retreats /by Erin Raub

Planning a Costa Rica corporate retreat? Then, here are a few things you should know.

If you’re planning a Costa Rica corporate retreat, STOP RIGHT THERE. Because, there are a few things you should know. A few things that should give you serious pause.

Costa Rica may receive a lot of praise – it’s spectacularly beautiful, environmentally forward and has perfect weather, right? Right?! – but there’s a dark side to this slice of tropical paradise. A very dark side.

Here are 7 signs that you and your team are absolutely, positively not made for a Costa Rica corporate retreat:

The (Almost) Complete Guide to Company Groups & Corporate Retreats in Costa Rica

June 28, 2018/in Corporate Retreats, Tamarindo Retreats, Tamarindo Travel Guide /by Erin Raub

Corporate retreats in Costa Rica are paradise. Just think! Your group could be here. Yes, right here.

Ahh, corporate retreats in Costa Rica – the dream of many! And for good reason, of course: Costa Rica is not only a beautiful dream destination, but it’s full of fun, adventure, and thrills. Of everything you need to relax and reward your employees, while building in a bit of group bonding and team-building.

It’s a match made in heaven.

Your Corporate Retreat in Tamarindo: The When

The sun is shining and the weather is fine!

Costa Rican weather is warm and at least partly sunny, year-round, so we’ll start there: Tamarindo averages 75-95º F (23-35º C) and gets a consistent 12-13 hours of sunlight, year-round. The sun comes up around 5:30 and sets just after 6, almost every day.

Additionally, there are two basic seasons: dry season (December-April) and wet season (a.k.a. green season, May-November). If you’d like to know more, check out our guide to Costa Rican weather.

So obviously, the specific when is up to your group’s schedule but you should know there are four distinct retreat seasons in Costa Rica – and each has its advantages (and disadvantages). Bottom line: If you have flexibility in your corporate retreat schedule, then you may want to time your stay according to Costa Rica’s travel seasons, whether you’re aiming for the best weather, the best price, or a combination of the two: