Ask a local

Join Our Facebook Community

Still have questions or want local tips straight from our team? Join our Facebook community. That’s where we share updates, answer questions, and help you plan your Costa Rica trip the smart way.

Facebook group, insider tips

Where to Stay in Tamarindo: Downtown, Langosta or Playa Grande?

Tamarindo is small, but the area you pick still changes your stay a lot, mostly in noise and price.

• Downtown Tamarindo: the main strip along the beach, with the surf breaks, bars and restaurants. Walk everywhere, but expect late-night music.
• Playa Langosta: the quieter beach just south of town, with boutique hotels and a calmer evening.
• Playa Grande: across the estuary to the north, next to Las Baulas National Park. Wilder and quieter, and the beach closes at night to protect nesting turtles.
• Villarreal: a few kilometers inland, with cheaper rooms and rentals. You’ll want a car or taxis.

Here’s a quick look at all 15, with rough nightly rates for two people:

Hotel	Area	Rough Nightly Rate
Cala Luna Boutique Hotel	Playa Langosta	About $270 to $380, villas far more
The Coast Beachfront Hotel	Downtown, on the beach	About $145 to $400
Capitán Suizo	South end of the beach	About $290 to $935
Wyndham Tamarindo	Hill above town	About $90 to $150
Pierre and Colors	Downtown	Check direct rates
Hotel Pasatiempo	Downtown	About $75 to $195
Hotel Luna Llena	Downtown	About $80 to $200
Hotel Arco Iris	Downtown, set back from the street	About $90 to $185
Ten North	Downtown	About $105 to $160
Casa Aura Beachfront	Downtown, on the beach	About $55 to $130
Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel	Toward Playa Langosta	Check direct rates
Mai Ke Kai Surf House	Downtown	Dorm beds from about $13
La Botella de Leche	Downtown	About $20 to $100
Tamarindo Backpackers	Tamarindo	About $50 on average
Pipe House Playa Grande	Playa Grande	From about $65

Rates peak from December to April, especially over Christmas and Easter. In the green season, May to November, you’ll often pay much less, and October is often the cheapest month.

Luxury Hotels in Tamarindo

Tamarindo’s best high-end stays are small and right by the beach. These three are worth it when you want comfort and the sand close by.

1. Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Cala Luna is the calm, grown-up pick in Playa Langosta, about 200 meters from Capitán Suizo. It’s far enough from the main strip that evenings stay quiet.

There’s a pool, a kids’ pool, a hot tub, a restaurant and a bar. Some of the villas come with a private pool. Rooms range from deluxe doubles to larger luxury rooms.

Rates run about $270 to $380 a night for most rooms, and the villas cost far more. Downtown is a short taxi ride away, so you get quiet nights without giving up dinner in town.

2. The Coast Beachfront Hotel

The Coast is right on the sand on Calle Cardinal, in front of one of Tamarindo’s surf breaks. You can check the waves from the pool.

Units come with a kitchen or kitchenette, with a stovetop, oven and fridge, so it’s easy to cook a few meals. Some rates include a continental breakfast, so check yours when you book.

Rates run about $145 to $400 a night, and October is often the cheapest month. For a beachfront room in the middle of town, it’s fair value.

3. Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel

Capitán Suizo is right on the sand at the quiet south end of Tamarindo Bay. The center of town is about 1 km away. Guests often spot howler monkeys in the gardens, which makes for a fun wake-up call.

There are 35 rooms, including superior rooms with a balcony or terrace, beachfront bungalows and beachfront suites. A buffet breakfast is included, and there’s a pool, a kids’ pool, El Barco restaurant and the Aromas del Mar spa.

Rates run about $290 to $935 a night, depending on the room and the season. Book a beachfront bungalow or suite when you want the waves right outside your door.

Mid-Range Hotels in Tamarindo

Mid-range hotels in Tamarindo give you a pool and a central spot for about $75 to $200 a night. These six each suit a different kind of trip.

4. Wyndham Tamarindo

Wyndham is the big-hotel pick, on the hill about 800 meters north of the Banco Nacional. Reviewers love the infinity pool.

There’s a spa, a restaurant and a bar, and a shuttle runs down to downtown and a beach club at Playa Langosta. It’s pet-friendly too.

Rates run about $90 to $150 a night, which is good value for this many facilities. It’s uphill from town, so the shuttle saves you a hot walk back.

5. Pierre and Colors Boutique Hotel

Pierre and Colors is a small adults-only hotel on Avenida Central, 200 meters south and 50 meters east of the police station. There are just nine units, all with a king bed and air conditioning.

Studios have a kitchenette, and the apartments have a full kitchen, including a two-bedroom one for up to four. Every unit has a terrace looking onto the infinity-edge pool or the trees.

There’s no breakfast, but you’re a short walk from plenty of cafés. Rates are only on its own booking page, so check there for your dates.

6. Hotel Pasatiempo

Pasatiempo is a downtown hotel close to the beach, with a pool, a restaurant and a bar that often has live music.

There are family rooms and connecting rooms, which makes it easy for groups. Bars and restaurants are a very short walk away.

Rates run about $75 to $195 a night. Fair warning: guests mention loud music from nearby bars late at night, so pack earplugs.

7. Hotel Luna Llena

Luna Llena is on Calle Real, about 800 meters from Playa Tamarindo, so the beach is a short walk away.

There’s a pool, a bar and a small gym, and room service when you’d rather stay in. Rooms range from standard doubles to king rooms.

Rates run about $80 to $200 a night. It’s a solid, good-value base for a first trip.

8. Hotel Arco Iris

Arco Iris is a small, quiet hotel a couple of blocks from the center, set back from the street. The beach and the main strip are about a five-minute walk away.

There are five bungalows and seven deluxe rooms, all with air conditioning, plus a pool and parking. Breakfast is included, and there’s security at night.

Rates run about $90 to $185 a night. It’s close to the action but quiet after dark, and some bungalows come with a hammock on the porch.

9. Ten North Tamarindo Beach Hotel

Ten North is a 16-room hotel on Calle del Parque, right in front of the Super Compro market. The beach is about a five-minute walk away.

Most rates include a made-to-order breakfast, and there’s a pool for hot afternoons. Family rooms make it an easy pick with kids, too.

Rates run about $105 to $160 a night. It’s small and a little rustic, but the market across the street makes snacks and water easy.

Budget Hotels in Tamarindo

Tamarindo isn’t the cheapest beach town, but hostels and small B&Bs keep costs down. These six start at about $13 to $65 a night.

10. Casa Aura Beachfront

Casa Aura is a small beachfront B&B on Playa Tamarindo. It used to be listed as a hostel, but the rooms on booking sites are now all private.

Rooms have air conditioning, a private bathroom and a balcony or terrace. Waking up a few steps from the sand at this price is the big draw.

Rates run about $55 to $130 a night, and around $75 on average. It’s the best-value beachfront stay on this list.

11. Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel

Casa Pura Vida is on Calle Playa Langosta, about 200 meters from the beach, with dorm beds and double rooms.

It works with a local surf shop on surf packages, so lessons and boards are easy to sort out. Tamarindo’s beginner-friendly waves make it a good place to learn.

Rates are only on its own booking page, so check there for dorm and room prices. It suits solo surfers who want a social base close to the water.

12. Mai Ke Kai Surf House

Mai Ke Kai is a small, friendly surf house in the middle of Tamarindo, about 450 meters from the beach. It feels more like a big shared house than a hostel, and that’s the appeal.

The host gives surf lessons, so it’s an easy place to learn, and boards are cheap to rent. There’s a shared kitchen and a BBQ for cooking with your new friends, but breakfast isn’t included.

Dorm beds start around $13 a night, which is about as cheap as Tamarindo gets. It’s a social spot, so it suits solo surfers more than couples after quiet nights.

13. La Botella de Leche

La Botella de Leche is a hostel about 50 meters from the Banco Nacional, in the middle of town. The beach is about 800 meters away.

There’s a pool for hot afternoons, and rooms range from basic standard rooms to doubles.

Rates run about $20 to $100 a night, and around $40 on average. It’s a cheap, central base for a surf trip.

14. Tamarindo Backpackers

Tamarindo Backpackers is a simple budget hostel in Tamarindo, with some of the cheapest beds in town.

Rates average about $50 a night on booking sites, which is cheap for Tamarindo. Check the room type before you book, since prices differ for dorms and private rooms.

It’s a good fit for backpackers who want to spend on surf lessons rather than a room.

15. Pipe House Playa Grande

Pipe House is the quirky pick, across the estuary in Playa Grande. Its nine rooms are built from recycled concrete pipes, each with a queen bed and air conditioning.

Breakfast is included, and there’s a shared kitchen, a garden and bikes to rent. The beach is a short walk away, and Playa Grande is much quieter than Tamarindo.

Rates start around $65 a night with tax in the green season. Tamarindo is a short boat ride across the estuary, but by road it’s about 24 km. With queen beds only, it suits couples and solo surfers more than families.

Which Tamarindo Hotel Should You Pick?

For a first trip, stay downtown. The Coast puts you on the beach, and Luna Llena or Pasatiempo keep you central for less.

For a quiet splurge, Cala Luna in Playa Langosta is the one. Capitán Suizo puts you right on the sand at the calm end of the bay.

For couples, Pierre and Colors is a small adults-only pick close to everything. For small, central hotels with breakfast, Arco Iris and Ten North are good value.

On a budget, Casa Aura gives you the beach for about $75 a night. Mai Ke Kai and La Botella de Leche are the cheapest central beds, and Mai Ke Kai throws in surf lessons.

For something different, Pipe House in Playa Grande puts you in a room built from a concrete pipe. Book early for December to April.

Coming from the airport? Our guide to getting from San José airport to Tamarindo covers shuttles, buses and flights.

Tamarindo Hotels FAQ

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Tamarindo?

The best area to stay in Tamarindo for most people is downtown, near the main beach. You can walk to the surf, restaurants and sunset bars without a car.

Playa Langosta, just south, is quieter and has more boutique hotels. Playa Grande, across the estuary, is wilder, and Villarreal, a few kilometers inland, is cheaper but needs a car.

Is Downtown Tamarindo Noisy at Night?

Downtown Tamarindo can be noisy at night, especially near the bars on the main strip. Guests at central hotels like Pasatiempo mention late-night music from nearby bars.

For quieter nights, stay in Playa Langosta at a place like Cala Luna, or a few blocks back from the beach. Either way, pack earplugs.

Are There Adults-Only Hotels in Tamarindo?

There are several adults-only hotels in Tamarindo. Pierre and Colors has nine units around an infinity-edge pool, a short walk from the center.

Hotel Flores averages about $76 a night, Tamarindo Bay Hotel about $97, and Jardín del Edén about $203. All three are adults-only too, so there’s a pick for most budgets.

How Much Does a Hotel in Tamarindo Cost?

A hotel in Tamarindo costs about $13 to $65 a night for a hostel or small B&B. Mid-range runs $75 to $200, and beachfront and boutique stays cost $145 to $400 or more.

December to April costs the most, especially Christmas and Easter. October is often the cheapest month, with much lower rates.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel in Tamarindo?

Book a hotel in Tamarindo one to two months ahead for December to April, and earlier for Christmas, New Year and Easter. Small places like Pierre and Colors, with nine units, fill up first.

In the green season, May to November, a week or two ahead is usually fine, and you’ll often get better rates.

What Is the Best Airport for Tamarindo?

The best airport for Tamarindo is Liberia (LIR), about 65 to 80 km away, a 1 to 1.5 hour drive. Shared shuttles cost about $30 to $50 per person.

From San José airport, it’s 4 to 5 hours by road. Sansa also flies from San José to Tamarindo’s airstrip in about 50 minutes, for about $110 to $190 one way.