Tamarindo

11-01-21

Tamarindo is about 160 miles from San Jose. And the speed limits are very low on the roads and highways in Costa Rica, so expect to drive slow. The entire drive took about four and a half hours. There are tolls along the way, so have cash ready. One of the tolls surprised me by giving me a gift bag. The bag contained different kinds of snacks and some packets of ketchup. I've never had an experience at a toll that would even come close to that.

The house was up a steep hill on a dirt road with deep ruts cut into it. Not far, I could see the ocean from the back patio. It was about a twenty-minute drive into the center of town. There you'll find plenty of restaurants and shops. On my first day, I headed into town and grabbed a quick bite before going to the beach across the street. The main beach in Tamarindo is vast and stretches on. I walked along the water and found a place to sit for a while. Nearby there were some people riding horses. When I left, I noticed a crowd had gathered near the exit, and everyone was looking up at the trees. We saw that what had caught everyone's attention was a group of monkeys that were feasting on the mangos above. That was my first time seeing monkeys in the wild, and I was in complete amazement. A friend reminded me not to smile too big. Showing teeth is a sign of aggression to the monkeys. But these monkeys were too busy with dinner to notice my big grin.

Playa Grande, I had heard, was an excellent beach to check out. I got there a little before noon and found a parking spot without an issue. There were almost no people around, and the beach was pristine. From where I entered the beach it appeared to go on forever, so I decided to see where a long walk would take me. I got to an area that had a lot more people around. There were picnic tables and vendors selling food. One vendor was selling pineapple drinks served in hollowed-out pineapples. I couldn't resist not having one. I bought one and found a picnic table for myself to enjoy my refreshing and extravagant drink.

Tamarindo can feel a little on the touristy side when you're in town. I enjoyed myself and was able to relax when I visited. Appreciating the view from the patio of my temporary home with some drinks. And a good beach with warm waters, hot sun, and few people makes for a good time in my book.

Know Before You Go

Playa Grande
Playa Flamingo
  • Good restaurants to enjoy food and drinks beachside
  • Be careful if driving, the road at the beach is extremely narrow and heavy of traffic
  • Flamingo Beach Road, Guanacaste Province, Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica