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Best Tours in Tamarindo

These are the 15 tours we’d book in Tamarindo. The first ones are on the beach and in the water near town. Then come the boat trips and the full days inland. The list ends with shorter tours that fit into a free afternoon or evening.

1. Surf Lesson on Playa Tamarindo

Tamarindo is one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to learn to surf, because the waves break over sand.

Our pick costs around $55 and takes 2 hours. You start with around 15 minutes of theory on the sand. Then you get around 1 hour and 45 minutes in the water with a local instructor. A beginner’s board, a leash and a rash guard are included, plus water or coconut water.

Kids can join from age 5, and the top age is 80. Groups can reach 15 people, so a private lesson is worth asking for if you want more help. The school is on the beach in town, so you can walk there. Bring swimwear and sunscreen.

2. Sunset Catamaran Sail

A sunset sail is the most popular boat trip from Tamarindo. Boats leave from the beach in the afternoon, and there’s no dock, so you wade out to get on board.

Our pick costs around $133, on a 66-foot catamaran, and the trip takes around 4.5 hours. There’s a stop in a calm bay for a swim or a snorkel. An open bar is included, with soft drinks for kids. Around 2.5 hours in, you get a light meal of chicken or pasta salad, fruit, chips, pico de gallo and guacamole.

Snorkel gear is included. Towels, sunscreen and hotel pickup aren’t, so bring your own towel. It’s a barefoot boat, so shoes stay on the beach. It’s not a good fit for anyone who gets seasick easily.

3. Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour

The Tamarindo estuary is at the north end of the beach, inside Las Baulas National Marine Park. It’s a mangrove river with crocodiles, howler monkeys and lots of birds.

Our pick takes 2 hours and costs around $45. Groups can reach 18 people, and the park entrance is included. You also get a bilingual guide, fresh fruit, water and round-trip transport from Playa Tamarindo. Hotels outside town pay an extra fee. The start time depends on the tide, so the operator confirms it after you book.

Wear water shoes and bring bug spray and sunscreen. Crocodiles are likely but never guaranteed. Don’t swim at this end of the beach, because the estuary is home to them.

4. Night Turtle Tour

On a turtle night, a guide takes you to a quiet beach to watch sea turtles come up and nest. Some nights, you also see hatchlings heading for the sea.

Our pick costs around $65 and takes around 4 hours, with up to 20 people. Round-trip transport from Tamarindo is included, plus a bilingual naturalist guide, water, light snacks and a flashlight. Dinner isn’t included, so eat early.

November to April is the best time. Expect olive ridley or green turtles, since leatherbacks are rare now. Wear dark long sleeves, long pants and walking shoes, and bring bug spray. Flash photos aren’t allowed, and there can be long quiet waits on the sand.

5. Snorkeling at the Catalinas Islands

The Catalinas Islands are a group of rocky islets off Playa Flamingo, north of Tamarindo. They’re the best spot for snorkeling and scuba in this part of Guanacaste. Our pick costs around $140 per person.

It’s a 5-hour snorkel trip with two stops at the islands. The boat ride out takes around 30 minutes. Gear, a snorkel guide, water, iced tea and fruit are included. You can meet at the shop at 7:30 AM, or take the shuttle from Tamarindo.

Groups are capped at 25 people, and kids under 6 can’t join. Manta rays are seen most often December to May, but nothing is certain at sea. Bring a towel, sunscreen and a light rain jacket in the green season. Certified divers can book a 2-tank scuba trip instead.

6. Hacienda Guachipelín Day Pass With Pickup

Hacienda Guachipelín is a big ranch next to Rincón de la Vieja National Park, near Liberia. Its day pass puts ziplines, river tubing and hot springs into a single day. With pickup from Tamarindo, it costs from around $145.

Our pick takes around 12 hours. You get 8 zipline cables, a hanging bridge, a rappel, a climbing wall and a Tarzan swing. Then comes 5 km of Class II and III tubing on the Río Negro, for 1 to 1.5 hours. A buffet lunch and time in the hot springs and volcanic mud end the day.

Pickup in Tamarindo and Langosta is around 6:30 AM, and all fees are included. Breakfast on the way isn’t. Tubing starts at age 8. Kids 4 to 7 can do everything else, with one adult staying back with them. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes.

7. Palo Verde River Safari

Palo Verde National Park is a big wetland on the Tempisque River, inland from Tamarindo. A boat safari is the best way to see crocodiles, iguanas and water birds up close. It costs from around $135.

Our pick takes 6 hours, with up to 15 people. Transport, a bilingual guide, the boat and the park entrance are included. The boat goes down the Tempisque River through the wetlands at Hacienda El Viejo, where monkeys are common too.

Lunch is a Costa Rican meal at a 150-year-old country house. Part of the price goes to the local Bolsón community. Tips for the guide and driver aren’t included. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a refillable bottle.

8. Kayak and Snorkel to Capitán Island

Capitán Island is a small rocky island just off Playa Tamarindo. You paddle out from the beach, snorkel around the rocks and paddle back. It costs around $65.

Our pick starts with a 20-minute lesson on the sand. The paddle out takes 30 to 40 minutes, and then you snorkel for around 45 minutes. You might see rays, octopus and starfish. Groups are capped at 10 people.

The tour uses open-top kayaks, single or double. A mask, snorkel, fins, water and fruit are included. It’s timed to the tide, and you need to be able to swim. Pickup, towels and photos aren’t included, so bring a towel and a change of clothes.

9. Diamante Eco Park and the Superman Zipline

Diamante is a park on Playa Matapalo, north of Tamarindo, with a Superman zipline and ocean views. On this line, you fly face down, like Superman. Our pick costs around $100 per person.

You get a 10-minute briefing, then around 1.5 hours on the lines. The Superman cable is nearly a mile long. There are also dual lines, so you can ride next to a friend, and a 30-foot free fall called the Quick Jump. The brakes are automatic, so you never touch the cable.

Riders need to weigh at least 60 pounds for the lines and 85 pounds for the Quick Jump. The top limit is 280 pounds. The park is around 1 hour from Tamarindo, and transport isn’t included. Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes.

10. Horseback Ride on the Beach

A horseback ride on the beach is an easy way to see more of the coast. Late afternoon rides are the best pick, since you’re out for the sunset.

Our pick is a private 2-hour ride around Playa Conchal and Brasilito, north of Tamarindo, for around $95. The horses, saddles, water and entrance fees are included. The ride goes along trails and beaches, so it’s more varied than a ride in town.

Riders over 70 can’t join. Wear long pants and closed shoes, and bring a camera. Before you get on, take a look at the horses. A good operator will match you with a calm one.

11. Sportfishing Charter

Tamarindo is a good base for sportfishing, and the boats leave from the beach. You pay per boat, not per person, so it costs less each in a bigger group.

Our pick is a private 28-foot boat for up to 5 people, from around $900. It has twin 150 HP engines, shade and a toilet, and trips take 7 to 9 hours. Snacks, beer, soda and water are included, plus lunch on the longer trips. Rods, live bait, lures and fish cleaning are included too.

The fishing license is included on this boat, but many charters charge it separately. Go full day for sailfish and marlin, because the deep water is 1 to 2 hours out. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and book a few weeks ahead in the dry season.

12. Río Celeste and Llanos de Cortés Day Tour

Río Celeste is a bright blue river in Tenorio Volcano National Park, a long drive inland from Tamarindo. Our pick is a small-group day with up to 15 people, and it costs around $290 per person.

It takes 12 hours. You hike the Río Celeste trail with a guide, then visit an animal shelter with rescued sloths and frogs. Lunch is included. The day ends with a swim at Llanos de Cortés, a wide waterfall near Bagaces.

Entrance fees, a driver and a guide are included, and tips aren’t. Hotels off the route may pay extra for pickup. Swimming isn’t allowed in the park, and heavy rain can make the river look less blue. Heavy rain can make the river look less blue, which is why many people check the notes on the Río Celeste trail before they go.

13. Monkey Kayak Tour in the Estuary

You can also see the Tamarindo estuary by kayak. You paddle slowly into the mangroves, where howler monkeys feed in the trees above the water.

Our pick costs around $49 and takes 2 hours. It starts with a short lesson at the estuary, and groups are capped at 10 people. The kayak gear and bottled water are included. You meet in the center of Tamarindo, so there’s no long ride.

Kids under 4 can’t join, and the weight limit is 297 pounds. It’s quieter than the boat tour, and you get closer to the trees. Bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray. Go with a guide, though, because crocodiles live in the estuary.

14. ATV Tour to the Beaches North of Tamarindo

An ATV tour takes you down the dirt roads north of Tamarindo to quiet beaches. A 2-hour ride costs around $95 per person.

Our pick leaves from an office in Huacas, and pickup is included. You watch a safety video and practice on a small field first. Then you ride through the villages of La Garita Nueva and Matapalo. There’s a stop at Puerto Viejo Beach and a stop for a swim at Pirates Bay.

Helmets, goggles, fuel, water and fresh pineapple are included, and photos cost extra. Pickups are at 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM. Bring a copy of your driver’s license or ID. You’ll get dusty in the dry season, so wear clothes that can get dirty.

15. Tamarindo Night Walk

A night walk is the easiest way to see the animals that come out after dark. You walk with a guide and a headlamp, and the guide does the spotting. Our pick costs around $65.

It takes 2 hours, in a protected patch of dry forest around 15 minutes from town. Headlamps, a water bottle and a guide who speaks English, Spanish or French are included. Groups are capped at 16 people, and kids from age 3 can join. Transport is an extra fee, so ask for it when you book.

At the end, the guide makes a list of every species you saw. Touching the animals isn’t allowed. Wear closed shoes and long pants, and bring bug spray. It works well in the evening after a beach day.

Best Time of Year for Tours in Tamarindo

Guanacaste is the driest part of Costa Rica, so most Tamarindo tours go ahead all year. The dry season is roughly December to April. Days are sunny and hot, and the dirt roads get dusty.

Around December to March, strong Papagayo winds blow along this coast. On windy days, the sea can get choppy, and boat trips may be moved or canceled. Morning trips are calmer.

The green season, roughly May to November, brings afternoon rain. Mornings are often dry, so book boat and kayak tours early. Turtle nights are best November to April. December to April are the dry months and the best time to travel to Costa Rica for these beach tours.

Which Tamarindo Tours Should You Book?

For a first trip, book a surf lesson and the sunset catamaran. They’re the two things most people come to Tamarindo for, and both start in town.

With a few more days, add one big day inland. Hacienda Guachipelín is the best pick for families, with ziplines, tubing and hot springs. For wildlife, go with the Palo Verde river safari.

On a tight budget, the estuary boat tour and the Capitán Island kayak trip are the best value. Both take around 2 hours, so they fit into a morning before the beach.

Tamarindo Tours FAQ

How Much Do Tours in Tamarindo Cost?

Most tours in Tamarindo cost around $50 to $150 per person. The short tours in town are the cheapest, like the estuary boat or a surf lesson. Sea trips and the big days inland cost more, and small-group days to Río Celeste cost the most. Sportfishing is priced per boat, so it costs less each in a group. Some local operators add 13% tax on top.

Do Tamarindo Tours Include Hotel Pickup?

Most do, but free pickup usually covers Tamarindo and Langosta only. Hotels in Conchal, Flamingo, Pinilla or Playa Grande often pay an extra fee. At one big local operator, that fee is around $80 to $100 per booking.

Some tours meet in town instead, like the surf lessons and the mangrove kayak. Before you book, check where pickup is and what it costs from your hotel.

Can You Do a Day Trip to Nicaragua From Tamarindo?

Yes, you can, but it’s a long day. One local operator charges $190 per person, with the border taxes included. Pickup is around 4:30 AM, and the trip takes around 15 hours.

You need your passport, and drones and binoculars aren’t allowed at the border. Check your government’s travel advice for Nicaragua before you book.

Can You See the Ostional Turtle Arribada From Tamarindo?

Yes, some tours go to Ostional, around 2 hours south of Tamarindo, for the arribada. That’s when thousands of olive ridley turtles nest over a few nights. Tours cost around $90 to $150. They leave around 2 PM and get back around 10 PM.

Arribadas happen mostly in the rainy season, and they’re never guaranteed. Operators often confirm only once one starts, so keep the evening free.

What Is the Cancellation Policy for Tamarindo Tours?

The rules change from company to company. One big local operator charges the full price for cancellations inside 48 hours. Some surf schools don’t refund lessons inside 7 days.

Many online listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so check the rules before you pay. Boat trips can also be moved or canceled for rough seas, and you get a new date or a refund then.

Which Tamarindo Tours Are Best for Kids?

The calm tours in town suit young kids best. The estuary boat, the mangrove kayak and the night walk are short, and none of them needs any special skills.

For older kids, a surf lesson or a day at Hacienda Guachipelín is a big hit. Families often stay near Langosta for quieter nights, where many of the best hotels in Costa Rica for families are.