Travel Blog Costa Rica

Tamarindo beach in Guanacaste is probably best known for being a surfer’s paradise destination. Commercial fishing and tourism are the main sources of income for Playa Tamarindo town. Thankfully, you’ll see more surfers than fishing boats in the area. Tamarindo Costa Rica not only has great surfing but also great winds for windsurfing. This beach has the Las Baulas Guanacaste National Park located right next to it. Most of the land of this beautiful Costa Rica National Park is swamp. This national park is unique in having the six mangrove species found in Costa Rica, which are the two types of black mangroves, tea, red, white, and buttonwood. Among the species to be found on his park are caimans, crocodiles, roseate spoonbill bird, baula turtles, howler monkeys, coatis, otters, among many others.

Being Tamarindo Costa Rica being a lively surfers beach town has all the great commodities a beginner or pro surfer can ask for, except that it no longer is the unknown and almost inhabited beach destination that it used to be. There are more than plenty of budget accommodation lodges for surfers, but be aware that the prices rise considerably during the high season. The flow of tourism at Tamarindo beach has increased dramatically over the years, making it a desired spot for the development of beach resorts, lodges, restaurants, and beach-front homes.

Among the recommended things to do when visiting Tamarindo beach are: most definitely surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, sports fishing, visiting the nesting of the turtles, renting scooters, mountain bikes, and any other kind of water sport activities that you may fancy. Most of the resorts, lodges, and tour operator stands in the beautiful Tamarindo beach area will arrange all sorts of fun tours for you. If you like surfing, surfing at Witch’s Rock is a must.

Ways of getting to Tamarindo beach are by booking a local flight which takes around an hour, taking the direct bus that leaves from San Jose to Tamarindo daily, and there is also the option of driving your rental car. There is a rental car company at Tamarindo beach in case you don’t want to drive to get there, but still want to have some mobility once you are there. Overall, Tamarindo Beach is a nice vacation destination enjoyable to surfers and non surfers, it has a lot of commodities and the beach is stunning.

Flamingo beach is one of the first luxury getaway vacation destinations in Costa Rica. The original name of this beach is Playa Blanca (white beach) due to its white sand shores. Over the years people started to call it Playa Flamingo due to the luxurious Flamingo Beach Resort that was built there. Flamingo beach, Costa Rica is also popular for its sportfishing and boating activities. Most of the top end beachfront houses can be found at Flamingo beach. This Costa Rica beach destination is the right choice if you look for total comfort, luxury, paradisiacal white sand beach, and top end boating facilities.

The clear waters at Flamingo Beach make scuba diving a popular sport at this beach. Other popular sports at this Costa Rica beach are sailing and deep sea fishing. If you will like to visit a close by national park while you stay at Flamingo beach you have the option of either going to Santa Rosa National Park or to Palo Verde Reserve, both of which are recommended natural destinations. If you are looking for budget accommodations at Flamingo Beach you might be disappointed as top end beach resorts is probably all you will find.

To get to Flamingo Beach you can either take a bus, drive your rental over there, or book a local flight to either the Flamingo Beach Resort or to Tamarindo Beach which is the nearest beach and take a cab to Flamingo. If you make hotel reservations at any of the beach resorts of Flamingo they will assist you in getting you to their hotel.

Jaco Beach is one of the closest beach towns in Costa Rica if you are in San Jose. Compared to most of the Costa Rica beaches, Jaco beach has become quiet touristy and crowded. Still, it has its nice assets. Jaco beach offers to the short of time traveler a chance to see the Pacific Coast, to enjoy some beach town living, eat at a good restaurant, get some decent waves for surfing, buy crafts, get surfing condition information, surfing equipment, surfing lessons…well you get the idea. It also has a variety of beach hotel options and the party night life is good. Many of bars can be found on the stretch of Jaco beach. There is also a great deal of real state activity going on for beach houses and hotels at the conveniently placed Jaco, Costa Rica beach town.

If surfing is your thing, then Playa Hermosa is a better option to catch some waves. Playa Hermosa is right next to Jaco Beach, and due to its strong wave break there are international surf contest held every year. For entertainment at the popular Jaco Beach, Costa Rica there are a lot of options to be found. Renting a bike, a surfboard, a body board, horseback riding, among other usual beach entertainment activities. The accommodation options at Jaco Beach are more than enough; camping for really cheap prices to top end beach resorts with casinos.

Tourism over Jaco Beach is usually high for the better part of the year, so we recommend making hotel reservations during the dry season (December to April), on weekends regardless of the season, and especially during Easter Week. Due to the big Jaco hotel competition especial discounts are given to guests that plan to stay long. These discounts are usually given during the low season. Be careful of pick pockets and don’t walk through dark empty roads at night. Not that this piece of advice doesn’t need to be followed elsewhere you go in Costa Rica, but just keep your eyes open.

Manuel Antonio is a nice and close by beach to visit in the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This national park used to be an unspoiled hidden paradise back in the 1980´s. Unfortunately, this overwhelming spot has been discovered and is now being visited by many. Still, if you are looking for a nearby beach with the pleasant Pacific Coast weather, plenty of wonderful hotels, amazing views, and great restaurants, Manuel Antonio is where you want to go. Direct buses from San Jose to Manuel Antonio leave daily, the other option is taking your rental car. It takes around three and a half hours to get there. The road leading from Quepos to Manuel Antonio is very nice, taking you over a series of hills that let you glimpse the Pacific Ocean from the distance.

Manuel Antonio National Park is the second smallest park system in Costa Rica. Its uniqueness resides in having a lush forest backed tropical beach, with ocean and island views, exuberant wildlife, and a well taken care of trail network. Because this park is well known and a favorite destination for travelers and locals, it can sometimes be tough getting in. It is advised to arrive early in the morning to have a better chance to visit this amazing beach front National Park and it’s awesome views. The Costa Rica rainy season between May and October, will be the time of the year when it is less crowded. Weather-wise you can expect an average daily temperature of 80 F with annual rainfall of 152 inches.

If you plan to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park, we recommend you take plenty of drinking water, your lunch if you plan to spend the day, mosquito repellent, and sun protection. Be prepared for rain even during the dry season. Manuel Antonio National Park opens at 7 AM and closes at 4 PM Tuesday through Sunday. The entrance to the park is usually congested, so leaving your rental car at your hotel and taking the bus to the National Park is a good idea. There is an approximate 30 minute walk from the entrance to the first beach through which the exuberant surrounding scenery can be enjoyed. Hiking the trails at this park is something you should not miss. Just ask the park ranger for tips concerning your priorities to select those trails more suitable for you.

Regarding the most recommended Manuel Antonio hotels we could name Costa Verde. This hotel offers rooms and apartments with great ocean views, bar, and restaurant. Costa Verde can also arrange tours around the area in case you have not already booked a vacation package beforehand. El Parador hotel is also a great exclusive Manuel Antonio hotel worth booking. Actually, El Parador hotel can be described as the most upscale hotel of the Manuel Antonio area. It even has a private helicopter landing pad, swim up bar, incredible swimming pool, sauna, tennis court, among many other commodities designed for the rich and famous. The elegance inside this hotel is overpowering. Other recommended Manuel Antonio beach hotels are La Posada and Verde Mar.

If you are into fishing, Quepos, would be the right destination for you. Being the town beside Manuel Antonio. Book a hotel at Manuel Antonio with a day tour to Quepos to start off on a fishing trip from there. The best months to go fishing are said to be December to April. Usually, sport fishing is an expensive vacation package so, if you’re on a low budget, talking directly to a charter company or splitting costs with a buddy might be a good idea. Another nice amenity that Manuel Antonio beach offers are the many different spas available on the upscale hotels of the area. The butterfly garden, right across the Si Como No hotel, is another place worth visiting. Visiting the butterfly garden is truly an amazing experience that lets you enjoy the tropical beach rainforest with a dazzling plethora of butterflies. This butterfly park also offers a night show which is for sure worth the price of $40 per person. So even if Manuel Antonio isn’t the pristine paradise it used to be, neither does it lack charm, restaurant choices for all sorts of budgets and tastes, lodges to meet everyone’s needs and lots of adventure. All of these definitely make this place a worthwhile destination to be included in any vacation package you book.