Way back in the day Tamarindo was a well-kept secret; a sleepy surfer’s paradise sparsely populated with local fishermen, quaint accommodations, and loads of natural beauty and wildlife. The excellent surf and abundant flora and fauna are still there, however much has changed, and Tamarindo is a secret no more. So many additional features are available which can truly provide travelers a phenomenal, unforgettable vacation. It is the ideal place for honeymoons and weddings, couples, families, eco-adventurers as well as single travelers.
A Tamarindo Costa Rica Vacation has something for everyone: world-class surfing, sport fishing, SCUBA, snorkeling, wildlife tours, golf, tennis, kayaking, boating, jet skiing, horseback riding, yoga, spas, National Parks, zip-line tours, international restaurants, bustling nightlife, live music, boutiques for shopping, art gallery, medical clinic, commercial plazas, banks with ATM’s and Costa Rica’s highest-end supermarket Auto Mercado. Lodging can be from simple to luxurious, with many choices in between. Boutique inns, bed and breakfasts, resort hotels, luxury villas, romantic spa lodges are all dispersed throughout the long, white sand beaches and elegant seaside hills. Even with all of this, the area has managed to retain its charm; some places are just magical and what manages to catch and keep our attention is more than just location. The energy is vibrant yet at the same time balanced with the purely Costa Rican “pura vida”. It is not just the warmth of the tropical sun you will love, but the warmth and sincerity of the people as well.
The town has approximately 2000 full time residents, with an eclectic, international flair. The multi-cultural population gives the town a fun mixture of influences, and is easily seen in the wonderful restaurants and inviting shops. From Italian, to vegan, to local “tipico” Costa Rican, you can find it all. The local seafood is fresh and fantastic; Dorado or Mahi-Mahi is caught fresh daily, as well as Red Snapper, shrimp, and the makings for excellent ceviche. You can spend an evening dining, and then stroll amongst the night-time hot spots and people watch, dance, or listen to live music. During the day the boutiques have an interesting mixture of local and imported products, from clothing to crafts, pottery, paintings, jewelry, surf gear, beach wear and so on. The local color and feel is lovely and entertaining.
Tamarindo Beach is part of a bay formed by a cape, Cabo Velas, which is Spanish for sails, or sailfish. This beach is wonderful; a long stretch of white sand with excellent surf for every level of surfers, body surfers, wave paddlers and swimmers alike. Just in front of charming Hotel Capitan Suizo is a great beginner’s break, and a very nice sea kayak takeoff point. All local water sports can be accessed from this friendly beach. The famous surf of Playa Grande lies just to the North of Tamarindo Beach. The two beaches are separated by a natural salt water estuary, Estero Tamarindo. South of Tamarindo Bay there is another beautiful secluded estuary and beach, Playa Langosta. The world class Witch’s Rock can be reached by custom or group tours with Witch’s Rock Surf Camp or Iguana Surf for advanced surfers. These companies also provide all levels of instruction right on Tamarindo Beach. During the December to April period when the water turbidity is low, fishing may be done from the shore with Jack’s, Dorado, Sea Bass and Rooster Fish amongst the possible catches.
Playa Grande and Playa Langosta are protected nesting areas for the Giant Leatherback Turtles, and are part of the aptly named Las Baulas National Park surrounding Tamarindo. These beaches are the major nesting areas worldwide for the turtles, which arrive from October to March to lay their eggs. Eco-sensitive tours led by official guides are available to take visitors to see this incredible event. The leatherbacks take over the beach, digging their nests up to one meter deep, lay their eggs and cover the pit with sand, returning once again to the sea. After 60 to 90 days, the hatchlings emerge and immediately make their way back to the water. Another natural wonder is the jungle boat tour, where a breathtaking diversity of birds, mammals, and reptiles can be seen as you meander through the deep mangroves in the estuary on locally made skiffs, in small, intimate groups.
Tamarindo is the most accessible beach area along the Northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, located in the Province of Guanacaste 10 degrees 18 minutes North and 85 degrees 49 minutes West. A trip to Tamarindo will definitely be a fun filled adventure, but wouldn’t be complete without a visit to these places by car rental Costa Rica.
If you are ever fortunate enough to visit Costa Rica, one of the smallest, but undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in the entire world, be sure to take along a camera and plenty of batteries and film to capture the unforgettable sights and scenery.
The National Parks of Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s national parks and wildlife refuges are divided into 11 different regions covering one fourth of the country’s total area. For the past 50 years now, Costa Rica has taken an active role as a country to protect wildlife and become a leader in the world of ecotourism.
The national parks of Costa Rica are tucked away in the rainforests, the cloud forests, in both the lowlands and the highlands with something interesting to see anywhere you look. Explore just one or two of the many parks and you’ll see things like canals, caves, lagoons, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and volcanoes along with collections of ancient relics from pre-Columbian days and plenty of flora and fauna.
Located in the central Pacific region is Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular in all of the country. This park is open from Tuesdays through Sundays and features activities like hiking, walking, swimming, picnicking, and observing creatures like anteaters, eagles, ocelots, and pelicans and very easy to visit by car rental Costa Rica.
Another popular tourist attraction in Costa Rica is Tortuguero (turtle catcher, in English) National Park, open every day from 8am to 4pm, and home to animals including sloths and monkeys, birds like the toucan, and aquatic creatures such as the manatee and giant sea turtle.
On the Caribbean coast lays Cahuita National Park, a preserve founded in 1982 that is open every day of the week. Bring your snorkeling gear to Cahuita and head to the sandy, white beaches before exploring beneath the surface of the crystal clear waters.
Nearly all of Costa Rica’s national parks will have at least a few trails that are maintained on a regular basis, save for the rainy season when mud and muck are inevitable. If you aren’t familiar with an area, by all means hire an experienced travel guide or enlist the services of a park ranger before attempting to hike or explore on your own.
Parks like Corcovado or Santa Rosa have excellent trails and if you visit during the rainy season, chances are you’ll see fewer people and more wildlife.
Costa Rica has a $2 billion a year tourism industry and is the most visited country in Central America with almost 2 million tourists in 2007. Most tourists are from the U.S. and Canada, and the European Union. Ecotourism is popular with many visitors and tourists to the country and almost all of them visit the huge national parks and protected areas in the country. Costa Rica beach holidays are the favorite of tourists who flock to Costa Rica year after year. Costa Rica has numerous world-class beach resorts for tourists. For nature lovers and ecotourists, there is abundant wildlife and many national parks to see and visit.
The people are warm and friendly and the beaches and waves are enticing for surfers from around the world. The more adventurous can climb mountains and volcanoes or go river rafting, kayaking, or canoeing, visit the Baldi hot springs, or enjoy the sunshine at the La Paz Waterfalls and Gardens. Tourists can sleep in the rainforest and doze off to the sights and sounds of night creatures. Get up to the chirping and chattering of tropical birds. Canoeing along the Rio Fortuna with huge trees spreading their branches over the water with the peace and solitude is a magical experience. Costa Rica nightlife is as lively and exciting as the daytime. The country also offers Costa Rica deals for people looking for a retirement home or a second home away from home. Travel by car rental Costa Rica, especially for those who want to explore and have a bit of an adventure.
For visitors looking for a solid investment avenue who are not sure about investing money in the stock market or even real estate in the United States, Costa Rican homes for sale and excellent Costa Rica deals is the best investment opportunity. This tiny tropical paradise is a very solid and stable nation and investors can find beautiful homes for sale in the Costa Rican style that cost far less than what an investor would pay in the US. People who are on the verge of retirement or have retired can buy Costa Rican real estate at attractive prices. Beaches Costa Rica too is an attraction for many retirees and people looking to invest in holiday homes for the family. Travel by car rental Costa Rica, especially for those who want to explore and have a bit of an adventure.
Whether you are visiting Costa Rica as a tourist to enjoy Beaches Costa Rica or as an investor looking for good Costa Rica deals, the right time is always now. If you have not yet visited Costa Rica, you should start planning as soon as possible and visit this paradise of natural beauty. With so much to see and do around the country, a tourist will always come back for more and maybe fall in love with the country and decide to live here.
While you might know that Costa Rica is a small country in the southern portion of Central America, you may not realize the rich history that abounds there, or the ecologically diverse wildlife living there, or the incredible number of sights to see.
Similar to the state of Florida in the U.S. geographically, it features two long coastlines as well as several tiny islands primarily located on the side of the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica only spans a distance of approximately 200 miles in length and a mere 70 miles at its narrowest part occupying about 20,000 square miles in area.
Bordering the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Atlantic on the east, it is home to 20 national parks, eight biological reserves, and a plethora of protected areas teeming with fascinating and exotic flora and fauna. And, if you’re looking for adventure, in the northwestern portion of the country, the Guanacaste Province is chock full of stunning sights and exciting activities by car rental Costa Rica.
This area draws visitors by the droves thanks to its beaches, rivers, volcanoes, and waterfalls, not to mention all of the wildlife living here, some of which cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Guanacaste, which derives its name from the native word for the Guanacaste tree, quahnacaztlan, is the national tree of Costa Rica and this particular region is the driest in all of the country receiving less than a scant 55 inches of rain per year.
There are only has two seasons, dry or wet, and unlike many other areas of Central and South America, stays pleasant all year long.
High season, or the dry season, is from December through April, and green or wet season lasts from May to November. The tropical climate of Costa Rica averages about 72 degrees Fahrenheit although it can be considerably hotter in the coastal or beach areas and much cooler in the mountainous regions.
10 Facts about Costa Rica
1. The capital of Costa Rica is San Jose, a city with just over one million in population.
2. It follows Central Standard Time or six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time and there is no daylight savings time in the country.
3. Bananas and coffee are the two primary agricultural exports from Costa Rica.
4. The most popular sport is soccer.
5. The democratic government of Costa Rica is the oldest of any Third World country and it is often referred to as “The Switzerland of the Americas.”
6. In 1986 the first Costa Rican/American, Franklin Ramón Díaz Chang, traveled to outer space aboard the space shuttle Columbia.
7. The current president of Costa Rica, Óscar Rafael de Jesús Arias Sánchez, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 due to his great efforts to promote peace throughout the Central Americas.
8. It claims five percent of the earth’s biodiversity, making it home to one of the richest ecosystems anywhere.
9. It boasts one of the world’s highest life expectancy rates at 77 years.
10. People from many other countries travel to it explicitly for receiving quality, low cost health care.
The site www.tripadvisor.com acknowledged the work of hotels around the world into different categories, as defined by giving its guests, several nationals are present
Several hotels located in Costa Rica got a good grade on the list of the best performing site ranking www.tripadvisor.com and he calls Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Award 2010.
The choice is made by visitors to the site to rate the work of these spaces into different categories based on their own experiences.
It estimates of the site, have received nearly 30 million views and criticisms of travelers.
Por example, among the ten best hotels for families in the world, El Silencio del Campo, located in La Fortuna, was ranked number six, while at Central and South America was ranked number one followed by La Posada Private Jungle Bungalows in Manuel Antonio. At position number four is the Hotel Esperanza Playa Samara, as number six Buena Vista Villas and Casas in Manuel Antonio also followed by Casa Bambu Resort in Bear and Yellow Coco Lodge Puerto Jimenez.
In the category of best value for money in Central and South America was awarded the Aparthotel Vista Pacific Jaco, Blue Banyan Inn Quepos, Casa Marbella in Santa Teresa, Horizon Ocean View Hotel and Yoga Center in the same location and the Hotel El Silencio Campo in La Fortuna.
In assessing best customer mentioned in the top 10 Central and South America to Los Altos De Eros, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa Villas Hermosas.
While in these areas, but qualified as the most romantic, ground tico highlighted in Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens, La Fortuna, as well as Casa Marbella, The Springs Resort & Spa and Hotel Royal Corin, both in San Carlos.
Among the most luxurious worldwide listed Los Altos De Eros, while in the region referred to the Four Seasons Resort and Xandari Resort & Spa in Alajuela.
In the category of resorts in the region, the Royal Corin, The Springs Resort & Spa, Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens, Horizon Ocean View Hotel and Yoga Center, Casa Marbella, Falls Resort and Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort were among the ten best.
“These awards are a motivation for us, as are granted by our clients. Therefore means that we are fulfilling our goal to provide excellence and quality daily. It is also of great importance for the country as it positions itself internationally as a preferred destination among tourists, “said Laura Miranda, manager of Marketing for Marriott Costa Rica.
