Tamarindo · Things to do

The break in front of town is sand-bottomed with no reef or rock, which is why it is one of the standard places in Costa Rica to take a first lesson. Iguana Surf have been on this beach since 1989 and run group, semi-private and private lessons with ISA-certified instructors, plus board rental if you already surf.

The long beach directly north across the estuary, inside Las Baulas National Marine Park — bigger, less forgiving surf and a fraction of the people. Driving round via Huacas takes about 40 minutes; during leatherback nesting season the beach is closed to unaccompanied visitors after dark and you need a licensed guide.

About 15km south down a rough dirt road, a wide beach break that gets consistently better waves than Tamarindo and far fewer beginners, with one beach restaurant and not much else. Take a 4x4 or a shuttle; the road is slow in the wet season.

Up the coast at Matapalo, roughly an hour north: an ocean-view dual zipline ($80, 1.5 hours), a rescue-animal sanctuary with sloths, jaguars and toucans ($45, 2 hours), and a cacao-coffee-sugarcane demonstration ($58). A combined full-day Adventure Pass with lunch starts at $125.

The volcano day trip from Tamarindo, about two hours each way to a working ranch 25km northeast of Liberia on the park boundary. The 8.5-hour Adventure Pass from $129 bundles canyon ziplines, Class II–III tubing on the Río Negro, hot springs, volcanic mud baths and a buffet lunch; individual activities start around $65.