Tamarindo Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Tamarindo and Guanacaste tours on Costa Rica’s sun-soaked Pacific coast: sail a sunset catamaran with snorkelling, zip across the canopy and soak in hot springs at Rincón de la Vieja volcano, catch your first wave on a beginner surf lesson, glide through the Palo Verde and Tamarindo estuary in search of sloths and crocodiles, tear through the jungle on an ATV, and chase the turquoise Río Celeste waterfall. Compare top-rated experiences and plan your perfect beach-and-adventure escape.
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Explore Tamarindo by interest
Whatever brings you to Tamarindo — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Catamaran cruises
Sunset & snorkel.
ExploreZipline & volcano
Rincón de la Vieja.
ExploreSurf lessons
Catch a wave.
ExploreWildlife safari
Estuary & sloths.
ExploreATV & buggy
Jungle trails.
ExploreRío Celeste
Turquoise falls.
ExploreVolcano day trips
Arenal & beyond.
ExploreHorseback rides
Beach & jungle.
ExploreTop attractions in Tamarindo
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Catamaran Cruise
Sunset & snorkel.
Rincón de la Vieja
Volcano & zipline.
Tamarindo Beach
Surf capital.
Palo Verde
Wildlife wetlands.
Jungle Trails
ATV adventures.
Snorkeling
Pacific reefs.
Horseback Rides
Beach & jungle.
Río Celeste
Turquoise falls.
Tamarindo in 1 day
- 1Morning surf lesson
- 2Beach time
- 3Estuary safari
- 4Sunset catamaran
Tamarindo in 3 days
- 1Day 1: surf & catamaran
- 2Day 2: Rincón volcano
- 3Day 3: estuary & ATV
- 4Río Celeste option
Tamarindo for adventure
- 1Zipline canopy
- 2Rincón hot springs
- 3ATV jungle
- 4Río Celeste hike
Tamarindo with kids
- 1Estuary wildlife
- 2Surf lesson
- 3Catamaran snorkel
- 4Hot springs
~2 hrs awayRincón de la Vieja
Volcano & zipline.
~2.5 hrs awayRío Celeste
Turquoise falls.
~1.5 hrs awayPalo Verde
Wildlife wetlands.
~40 min awayPlaya Flamingo
Catamaran sails.
~30 min awayPlaya Conchal
ATV & beaches.
~3 hrs awayArenal Volcano
Volcano & springs.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Tamarindo visitor asks before booking.
Dry season (Dec–Apr)
The peak season brings sunshine, blue skies and calm seas — perfect for the beach, catamarans and adventures, but the busiest and priciest time.
Green season (May–Nov)
Lush and quieter, with warm mornings and afternoon showers; fewer crowds, lower prices and a greener landscape.
Surf year-round
Tamarindo has surfable waves all year, with consistent swell making it reliable for lessons in any season.
Wildlife
The green season brings nesting turtles and the most vibrant nature, while the dry season is best for boat and beach tours.
Hottest months
March and April are the hottest and driest, ideal for sun-seekers but warm for long hikes.
Shoulder months
May and November blend decent weather with fewer crowds — a sweet spot for value.
One day
Surf, an estuary safari and a sunset catamaran.
Three days
Add the Rincón volcano and an ATV ride.
A week
Add Río Celeste, Arenal and more beaches.
Adventurers
Add ziplines, hot springs and waterfall hikes.
Beach lovers
Add more catamaran sails and surf days.
With kids
Mix estuary wildlife, surf and snorkelling.
Tours & transfers
Most tours include hotel pickup, the easiest way to reach the volcano, waterfalls and estuary without driving.
On foot
Tamarindo town, the beach, restaurants and surf shops are all walkable.
Car hire
A 4x4 gives freedom to explore beaches and the backcountry, though some roads are rough and unpaved.
ATVs & shuttles
ATVs are popular for nearby beaches, and tourist shuttles link Tamarindo with other towns.
Base in Tamarindo
Central and lively, Tamarindo is the ideal base for tours across the Gold Coast.
Getting there
Liberia Airport (LIR) is about 75 minutes away, with international flights and easy transfers.
Colón & dollars
Costa Rica uses the colón, but US dollars and cards are widely accepted in Tamarindo; carry some cash for small vendors.
Sun protection
The Guanacaste sun is strong — bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water for every tour.
Book sunset catamarans early
The sunset sails are hugely popular and sell out, especially in dry season — reserve ahead.
Full-day tours
Volcano and Río Celeste tours are long days with early starts — plan a relaxed day afterwards.
Pura vida pace
Embrace the relaxed “pura vida” rhythm; allow buffer time as tours run on local time.
Bring a dry bag
Catamaran, ATV and waterfall tours get wet — a dry bag protects phones and cameras.
Sunset catamaran
The most popular tour — book early, especially in dry season.
Rincón de la Vieja combo
Full-day volcano adventures sell out — reserve ahead.
Surf lessons
Group and private lessons have limited spots — book ahead.
Río Celeste
Long-distance day tours have limited places — reserve early.
Estuary safari
Family wildlife tours fill up — book ahead.
Dry season & holidays
December to April and holidays are very busy — plan early.
Sunset catamaran
Around $80–100 for a sunset sail with snorkelling, food and open bar.
Rincón de la Vieja combo
About $110–150 for a full-day zipline, hot springs and volcano tour.
Surf lesson
Roughly $45–70 for a two-hour group lesson with board.
Estuary safari
Around $50–80 for a guided wildlife boat tour.
ATV tour
About $75–120 for a guided jungle and beach ATV ride.
How to save
Choose group tours and combine activities into multi-stop days.
Tamarindo through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beach, sun, sails.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season.
- Best for
- Lush, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great value.
- Best for
- Turtles, fewest crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest months.
- Best for
- Drying out, calm.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Sweet spot.