Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [225]
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Orientation
Once a sleepy fishing village that turned into a little surf town, Tamarindo now channels the spirit of rush hour in southern California on the weekends, when traffic gridlocks along the two-lane main drag. Just before the main street dead-ends at the southeastern end of the beach, a road branches off to the left and passes the new Plaza Conchal mall. If you turn left again where that road forms a Y, you’ll find several hotels along the dirt road. Turn right and you’ll be headed for Playa Langosta, where the coast is crowded with condos and villas, a casino resort and a couple of exquisite little inns.
Amazingly, even though Tamarindo is possessed of frozen yogurt, yoga studios and air-conditioned malls, there’s no gas station. For that, you’ll have to drive 15 paved kilometers to Huacas – from Tamarindo, make a left at the intersection in Villareal, drive to Huacas, hang a right and go up the hill. The gas station is 4km up the road, on the right.
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Information
Tourist information is available from any of the tour operators in town, or your hotel. Keep up on the local happenings by picking up a copy of the Tamarindo News – it’s available all over town or online at www.tamarindonews.com.
BAC San José (2653-1617; Plaza Conchal; 8:30am-3:30pm) Has an ATM and exchanges US dollars and traveler’s checks.
Backwash Laundry (per kg ₡1000;8am-8pm Mon-Sat) Get your filthy unmentionables washed, dried and folded. Most hotels also offer laundry service.
Banco de Costa Rica (Plaza Conchal) 24-hour ATM.
Banco Nacional 24-hour ATM.
Coastal Emergency Medical Service (2653-0611/1974; 24hr) It does house calls! Can you say that about your hometown doc?
Cyber Bakanos (9am-10pm) On the 2nd floor above a pizza shop, offers high speed internet connections and international phone calls.
HSBC 24-hour ATM.
Internet Café del Mar (2653-1740; www.cafedelmarinternet.com; per hr ₡800; 8:30am-9pm)
Jaime Peligro (8820-9004; 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun) A local spot for new and used foreign-language books and the best Central American CDs and DVDs.
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Dangers & Annoyances
The tourist invasion has left Tamarindo with a growing drug and prostitution problem. Vendors openly ply their wares (and women) on the main road by the rotunda, and some bars can get rough at closing time. Theft is a problem. Leave your hotel room locked, use room safes and don’t leave valuables on the beach. If you’re driving, never leave anything in your car.
In March 2005 an Australian man vanished from a Tamarindo beach and was later found dead. In October 2009 British journalist Michael Dixon walked out of his Tamarindo hotel room and was never seen again. In December 2009 a 67-year-old American was found strangled to death in nearby Playa Potrero. Their cases have not been solved. We’re not telling this to alarm you, but as a reminder: although Costa Rica is by far the safest country in Central America, it’s important to keep your wits about you. Travel in pairs. If you’re alone, tell somebody where you’re going. Tamarindo is a party town; have fun, but don’t get so wasted that you become vulnerable to crime or accident. Just common-sense precautions that you should practice anywhere in the world.
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Activities
CYCLING
The local expert on mountain biking, distance cycling, bike tours and repairs is Blue Trailz (2653-0221; www.bluetrailz.com; 7am-7pm Mon-Sat). And if mountain biking ain’t your thing, you can also rent a beach cruiser (two hours US$10, all day US$20).
DIVING
There is only one dive shop in Tamarindo, and we don’t recommend it due to (from our experience) poor customer service and old equipment. You’re better off diving in Playa del Coco or Playa Sámara (Click here).
GOLF
Just outside Tamarindo, near the village of San José de Pinilla, lies a residential development project that boasts one of the finest golf courses in Central America. Hacienda Pinilla (2680-3000; www.haciendapinilla.com) has a 7km