Must See: The Top Sunset Lookouts in Tamarindo, Guanacaste

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sunset Villa Royal Tamarindo Guanacaste Costa Rica 16 9

Sunsets in Tamarindo, Guanacaste are spectacular! | Pictured: Villa Royal

If you’re the type of vacationer who craves a soul-shaking, awe-inspiring, possibly life-changing sunset experience, then Tamarindo, Guanacaste is here to fulfill your wishes.

The truth is that you’re at the beach and if that beach is Tamarindo, Guanacaste, you’re going to appreciate some truly awe-inspiring sunsets. But if you’re here, we think you might as well be here, here – at some of our favorite, extra-special spots (including one perfect wedding proposal locale) to enjoy the sun’s brilliant lights show.

Our Favorite Sunset Spots in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

You can’t go wrong with any sunset in the area. But you can get it very, very right at a few very special sunset lookout locales. From north to south:

Playa Ventanas

Just a few miles outside of bustling Tamarindo, Playa Ventanas offers rock-framed “windows” (ventana is Spanish for window) to downtown. And yet, this quiet, white-sand beach could almost be secluded, as it usually has few visitors. And that can make it an excellent choice for your evening sunset!

Here, with your toes in the sand and the waves lapping at your feet, the crescent of Playa Ventanas is ideal for strolling, beachcombing, and simply enjoying the quiet. And then, come sundown, you’ll enjoy a fluorescent sky that, sometimes, you’ll have all to yourself. And that’s almost unheard of, this close to Tamarindo, making it all the more special.

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Top 8 Things We Are Thankful For in Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste

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Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste aerial view

‘Tis the season for thankfulness! And this November, as we reflect on another year in Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste, we find we have so much to be grateful for.

We’re Thankful for… Our Biodiversity

three-toed sloth in Costa Rica

It’s no secret that Costa Rica has a reputation for being one of the world’s most nature-rich, biodiverse destinations in the world.

That’s due to many things – from our rare ecosystems (like tropical dry forests and mangroves) the vast variations in topography and scenery you can experience, even in a country smaller than the state of West Virginia. In Costa Rica, you can literally wake up to sunrise over the Caribbean and sunset on the Pacific. You can whitewater raft the same day you climb a volcano. In a single day, you can spot howler monkeys, keel-billed toucans, leaf frogs, three-toed sloths, and even endangered to critically endangered species.

And right here in and around Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste, you can experience some of the world’s last tropical dry forests, watch endangered sea turtles lay their eggs, hike an ancient volcano’s fumaroles and hot springs, and boat through one of Central America’s largest concentration of aquatic birds and the most important migratory bird site of the Mesoamerican Pacific.

As we said, there’s a lot to be thankful for. And we’re just getting started!

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2022 Resolution: Dream Big Dreams + Plan Healthy Travel

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whale watching in Costa Rica-min

Does travel run through your veins and fuel your soul? Us, too. Prior to 2020, travel was a priority for so many of us. We craved it. We planned it. We looked forward to it. And then, like that – gone. No more plans, put a hold on your anticipation. Until now. Because now, the world is looking forward – is craving, planning, and anticipating healthy travel in 2022.

The world is slowly but surely opening back up. Sometimes, it’s two steps forward and one step back, but we’re pushing toward our goal – toward the great wide world and all its wonderful promises. Again.

Here in Costa Rica, our borders have been open since mid-2020. There’s no COVID test required to enter the country. And we’re naturally (literally and figuratively) one of the best places to travel in 2022. Hello, open spaces. Hello, sun and fresh air. Hello, outdoor everything. Hello, healthy travel.

As you solidify your resolve for this new year – as you dream your dreams and plan your plans – make yourself one more promise: Let yourself be free again. And as you plan for that freedom, consider Costa Rica. With our vast wilderness and miles of coastline, spectacular scenery and long list of outdoor diversions, we’re a perfect choice. We’re waiting for you! 

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Level Up Your Vacation: Top 7 Day Trips from Tamarindo

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Costa Rica red-eyed tree frog

Red-eyed tree frogs – the world’s cutest amphibian? And one of the frogs you could spot, on these 7 day trips from Tamarindo!

Tamarindo is a destination unto itself, famed for its powdery beaches and raucous surf, rolling hills and splendid sunsets.

That doesn’t mean you’ll never want to adventure past the town’s limits, though. (After all, Tamarindo proper occupies less than a square mile!) So, for all those times you crave stretching your legs, for all those moments you can’t experience with your toes in the sand, for all the must-sees and must-dos that lie just beyond our borders, we offer…

7 Incredible, Memorable & Worth-Your-Consideration Day Trips from Tamarindo:

Sloths & Frogs

two-toed sloth in Costa Rica

Can you really say you don’t want to see this face, up close and personal? Can you? Can you?? We thought not.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a close encounter with a smiling sloth or a colorful frog – and, let’s be honest? what nature lover hasn’t, really? – then we’ve designed this adventure just for you.

One of our most popular day trips from Tamarindo, this unique experience takes you hiking 90 minutes into lush landscapes and tropical forests. On this special half-day, you’ll not only take a dip in waterfall pool, but will enjoy close encounters with sloths and spottings of toucans, butterflies, and frogs in their natural habitats.

Round out the day with a typical meal at a sodita, or homestyle diner, for a typical lunch and a true taste of Costa Rican tradition.

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Costa Rica Private Villa & Travel FAQ: 2021 Version

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Costa Rica private villa & travel FAQ 2021

Questions? We have answers! And for anything you don’t find in our updated Costa Rica private villa & Tamarindo travel FAQ, just get in touch! We’re always happy to help.

So, you’re thinking about traveling to Costa Rica this year? We’ll bet you have questions. Luckily, we also have answers.

We won’t cover the standard FAQ fare – where is Tamarindo? (northwestern Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste) or do Costa Ricans speak English? (not as their first language, but English is widely spoken) – but rather, we’ll touch on all those things that can and do frequently change – especially after the 2020 we all had.

Jump to:

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Costa Rica Open to the World – and our Tamarindo Vacation Rentals Are Ready for the Holidays!

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Tamarindo vacation rentals - best social distancing

Talk about social distancing! There’s no better place to spend the holiday season – or to connect to your virtual office, the kids’ online school, or your colleagues – than from one of our exclusive Tamarindo vacation rentals – your own private enclave. (Pictured: Casa Ventana, in Tamarindo)

Oh hello, it’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Because wow, what a year! In some ways, 2020 feels like the punchline to a cringe-worthy riddle – when did a decade fall within the span of just a few months? – but in other ways, it’s just been… unprecedented. That’s a good word for it.

So, we thought we’d brighten your day with a little bit of much-needed precedent: The Costa Rican holiday season is upon us – and our Tamarindo vacation rentals are ready play! More than ready. We are delighted and excited and all the other good things!

Because, whether you’re planning a Christmas in Costa Rica or a New Year’s abroad, a break from the office or a long-term, work-from-home rental in paradise, we have the Tamarindo vacation package or just-right-for-you vacation home to fulfill all your travel needs and dreams.

All while keeping you safe, of course. Here’s what’s been happening in Costa Rica – at our airports, in our local businesses, and even on the government level. Or, just skip ahead to the fun stuff – plan your holiday in Costa Rica, check out our longer-term rentals (work or school abroad, anyone?), or jump right to finding the Tamarindo vacation rentals perfect for you.

→ Search Tamarindo Vacation Rentals ←

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Costa Rica Coronavirus Update

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We’d like to give you a Costa Rica Coronavirus Update, so you will feel safe, booking a trip with us.

In the final months of this challenging year, who doesn’t need a vacation?!  There’s nothing better for your physical and mental health than sunshine, clean air, warm salty ocean water, and exercise.

Costa Rica is the ideal destination for your first post-pandemic vacation!  We, at Stay in Tamarindo are a local organically-grown vacation company located a stone’s throw from the sand in Tamarindo, Costa Rica and we can’t wait to host you!  We’ve been here throughout lock-down and the travel freeze holding down the fort, keeping our Costa Rica vacation rental homes cleaner than ever and in perfect condition.  We’ve kept our vans running and our certifications active so that now, as Costa Rica Travel restrictions lift and flights begin to arrive, we’re ready for you and it’s time to make your 2020 Costa Rica travel dreams come true!

Need some post-Covid relaxation?

Need some post-Covid Relaxation in Costa Rica? We’ve got you covered.

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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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Tamarindo Halloween 2018: 9 Halloween Parties!

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Halloween parties in Tamarindo, Costa Rica-min

Hold onto your [witch’s] hat! It’s a Tamarindo Halloween!

If you’re in Tamarindo for Halloween, you’ll be delighted to hear that our sandy little beach town goes BIG for the year’s spookiest holiday. We’re talking parties and prizes and all sorts of spooky décor, courtesy of the best Tamarindo Halloween parties.

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!

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Wildly Fun: Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge

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Mangrove Kayaks

Take a kayak tour into the wilds of Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge

Saltwater jungles. Lumbering leatherback sea turtles. Otherworldly mangrove estuaries. Winding canals. Lizards, running on water. Behind-the-scenes boat tours. Yes, Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge is fascinating and often, a bit magical.

We admit it freely: We love our wildlife refuge! Even more so because it encompasses our entire coastline. Indeed, almost anywhere you walk on Tamarindo’s beaches, you’re walking through the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge.

But it’s about a lot more than just the beach. Indeed, while – in wildlife refuge terms, at least! – the beaches serve as important sea turtle nesting sites, there’s more to see here. More, to the tune of incredible mangrove forests, connected through winding saltwater and brackish canals. It’s wildlife central and it’s right in our backyard, if only you know where to look.

Overview:

Location: Tamarindo

Size: 953 acres (385 hectares)

Altitude: Sea Level

Contact (Tempisque Conservation Area): 2686-4967 / 2686-4968

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