Post-COVID – How Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica is Thriving

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fire dancers on Tamarindo beach

Every night when the sun goes down, Playa Tamarindo lights up with markets, nightlife, and fire dancing

It was a long haul. But we’ve made it from there to here and today, Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica is thriving in our post-COVID world. From new restaurants and newer entertainment to memorable moments and returns of old favorites, our vibrant beach town is once again ready to party. And boy, are we ready.

Since we’re here on the ground, living in the Tamarindo area and soaking up every chance to thrive, enjoy, and have a blast, we thought we’d fill you in on all the fun that awaits in 2022. To start, know this:

April 1, 2022: Costa Rica Drops COVID Entry Requirements

As of April 1, 2022, Costa Rica has eliminated its COVID travel requirements. Tourists are no longer required to take a COVID test before entry, or show proof of vaccination, or purchase COVID health/quarantine insurance, or fill out the Costa Rican Health Pass. Entry to Costa Rica is exactly as it was pre-pandemic: Show your passport, get your entry stamp, and enjoy!

(Note that, depending on your country of residence or return, you may be required to take a COVID test before your flight home. Please check your home and/or transit country’s COVID requirements!)

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Top Tamarindo Instagram Must-Visits & Must-Stays

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Soul House

When it comes down to it, your Tamarindo Instagram must-visits should be about your priorities, your vacation style, and however you define “perfect”

When it comes down to it, your Tamarindo Instagram must-visits should be about your priorities, your vacation style, and your however you define “perfect”

There’s something so very appealing about framing a perfect photo or snapping a shot at just the right moment. It’s more than a rush; it’s the kind of vacation alchemy that imprints on your soul, forever tying this one perfect moment to that one perfect photo. And that’s where our favorite Tamarindo Instagram spots and vacation rentals come in.

Because these are the kind of places where alchemy sizzles in the air. They’re almost begging for you to shoot your shot, in both the literal and figurative senses. So, give yourself over to the feeling. Be a little daring. Wade into the water and kayak out toward the horizon. Chase that next photo, not for the ‘gram but for the moment, the memory, and the feeling that you’ll then immortalize through your Instagram.

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A Guide to Costa Rican Microbrews, Craft Beers & Artisan Alcohol

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Costa Rican microbrews and craft beer-min

Have a yen to quench your tropical thirst. We have a few (okay, many!) Costa Rican microbrews, craft beers, and other brews for you to try.

In the land of sun and fun, you’ll likely to crave an ice-cold one. That’s our motto, at least.

It’s true – if you’re like many of your fellow travelers, you’ll often be on the hunt for some chilly refreshment. Luckily, craft beer and Costa Rican microbrews are readily available and pairs perfectly with Costa Rican fare and the warm tropical sun.

You’ll quickly discover that there’s one MAJOR player in Costa Rican beer: the Florida Ice & Farm Company (FIFCO), which produces all of Costa Rica’s more mainstream, standard brews, including those that maraud under the brand names of Imperial, Pilsen, and Bavaria.

Since you can find those everywhere and on every menu, we thought we’d highlight a few of the harder-to-find, you-may-have-to-ask-for-them Costa Rican microbrews, craft beers, and artisan lagers that we’ve grown to know and love.

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7 Costa Rican Christmas Traditions for your Holidays in Tamarindo

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sand-man for your holidays in Tamarindo

Don’t throw a sand-ball at us, but we’re saying it: we prefer sand-men to snowmen! Because, there’s just something special about lighted palms, roasting pork, and the holidays in Tamarindo.

Look out your window. If you see anything but sunbeams, palm trees, and blue skies – okay, maybe there’s a wispy cumulus cloud in there, somewhere! – then we’re guessing you’re not in Costa Rica. You’re not spending the holidays in Tamarindo.

At least, not this year. But, there’s always the promise of 2020!

Because, here’s the truth: the holidays in Tamarindo – Christmas in Costa Rica, generally – are a festive time of year. A special time of year. A twinkling, joyous, and inclusive time of year.

There are the lights and trees and carols, and then there are the only-in-Costa-Rica holiday traditions – all the making-some-memories, never-forget-your-trip details that transform December into such a fun month to travel abroad. You’re going to love it.

And so, with fun and festivities in mind – and in the spirit of inclusion, all sans creed or doctrine – we present seven of our favorite Christmas traditions. So, no matter what you celebrate (or don’t) back home, you can join in the joy during your holidays in Tamarindo.

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How to Keep the Beach Clean on Your Tamarindo Vacation

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help keep Costa Rica beaches clean

Want to help keep Tamarindo’s beaches clean? Here are 14 easy ways to do your part.

Ahhh, the beach. The glorious beach.

Can’t you just hear the sound of lapping waves, each tiny crash on wet sand? Can you see the pelicans diving, in search of their next meal? Can you feel the warm sun on your face, your neck, your back? Can you imagine your feet or hands, finally (and perfectly) connecting with a soccer ball or volleyball?

A day at the beach is a day like no other. It’s joy. It’s a rush. It’s total freedom. It’s probably why you chose Tamarindo, a beach town located on Costa Rica’s famed Gold Coast.

The beach has a special appeal. It makes us feel things. It makes us want to linger a little longer, enjoy a little more. The beach is everything.

And that’s why it’s our job to help keep it clean. To not only keep our sands free of garbage, but to help make our oceans that way, too. From small lifestyle changes – changes you can make before your trip, and continue long after – to the everyday habits you can adopt while you’re here, we’re sharing a few of our favorite ways to help keep our beaches clean.

We hope you’ll join us in our efforts!

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15 Restaurant Recommendations We Haven’t Made Before

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Shrimp Hole Tamarindo-min

Looking for some new (and tasty) inspiration? Look no further than these 15 fresh recommendations for restaurants in Tamarindo. (Pictured: Shrimp Hole)

Jumbo prawns, classic lobster thermidor, crispy falafel, Mongolian barbecue, gluten-free pizza, sizzling hot wings, and frothy milkshakes – if you crave it, chances are that one of our favorite restaurants in Tamarindo can satiate that hankering.

The Stay in Tamarindo office is full of foodies. That’s probably not much of a surprise, given how often we write about food. That’s also one of the reasons we have all found ourselves in Tamarindo: With all of Costa Rica to explore, what brings us here? The food scene, in part!

Tamarindo has one of, if not the best restaurant scene in Costa Rica: From finger food at the bar to a splurge-worthy seafood grill on the sand, our town-by-the-sea serves memorable cuisine around almost every corner. And so, we thought we’d highlight a few of those corners we’ve never showcased before (or haven’t mentioned in years): 15 fresh recommendations – restaurants in Tamarindo you really should try.

Not enough meals in your trip? No problem. You’ll just have to visit us again, soon!

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Dance, Music & the Pura Vida: The BPM Festival Comes to Tamarindo, Costa Rica

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BPM Festival Tamarindo Costa Rica

The best month of the year just got better: This coming January, Tamarindo will welcome the legendary BPM Festival, an underground electronic music festival that offers a perfect complement to our powder-soft beaches, sunset vistas, tropical dry forests, and Pacific Ocean escapades.

It’s a sweet new start for BPM, which has alternately hosted in Bali, Barcelona, Playa del Carmen, Portugal, and Toronto. This will mark the first time the festival heads south of Mexico.

From the press release, “Surrounded by national parks with an abundance of lush jungles and white sand beaches complemented by warm blue water and breathtaking sunsets… the surfing town and beyond offers the perfect opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica.”

Aww, shucks. [Blushes.]

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July 25: The Annexation of Guanacaste

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Guanacaste Day typical dress

What is Guanacaste Day? Well, we’d call it a celebration of democracy, of peace, and of patriotism.

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again – one of the many times of year that we ask ourselves, “What’s that noise?” Well, folks, today is July 25 and in Costa Rica, that means today is “Guanacaste Day” or more formally, a celebration of “la Anexión del Partido de Nicoya,” aka the “Annexation of Guanacaste.”

In Guanacaste province, including Tamarindo and surrounds, today is what we consider a Major Holiday. We’re talking parades and bombetas (like sound-only fireworks – all the boom, none of the color), history and celebration, bombas (traditional rhymes) and food. Lots of food.

So, yes, that’s that noise. But, Guanacaste Day is so much more than what you see (and hear) today.

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Property of the Month: Pacific Soul

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Pacific Soul catamaran rental Costa Rica

You are here. Enough said? (Oh, you’re serious? Then feel free to inquire now about Pacific Soul!)

You’ve just awoken. There’s a hint of sunlight streaming in your window but, that’s not what woke you up. What was it? It was something completely beyond anything you’ve ever experienced. Or, at least, anything you’ve ever experienced upon waking.

You’re… rocking. It’s a gentle lap and ebb, lap and ebb. Oh, that’s right! Yesterday, you ditched your landlubber card and today, you’re waking up in Pacific Soul, a spectacular 45-foot private-charter catamaran. A 4-bedroom, 4-bath private catamaran. Floating on the aquamarine Pacific. Your only neighbors: dolphins, sea turtles, and the occasional octopus or two. This. Is. The. Life.

Welcome to the lap (and ebb) of luxury – a true, elusive luxury that only a few will ever have a chance experience. Will you be one of them?

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Treat Yourself: Hiring a Tamarindo Private Chef

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mahi mahi from private chef tamarindo costa rica

Relax. Indulge. Treat yourself. Our favorite Tamarindo private chef is here to serve. Literally.

Sometimes, you just don’t want to eat out. You don’t feel like getting dressed up, or piling into the car for dinner, or any of the restaurant routine. You’d much prefer sunset drinks on the balcony, appetizers by the pool, and a low-key evening. You’d prefer the luxury and bespoke services of our favorite Tamarindo private chef (and surrounds).

Welcome to paradise. Truly. Because, if there’s anything more indulgent than a vacation in Tamarindo, it’s a vacation in Tamarindo, upgraded with the luxury of your own private chef – a personal chef who visits your vacation home, understands your palate, and crafts fabulous meals from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

In other words – yum. All the yums. Whenever and however you want.

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