Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is located on the country's northern Pacific shore and is a haven for water lovers. With year-round balmy temperatures ranging from 80-100 degrees, warm clear seas, and practically 365 days of sunshine a year, you may never want to leave the water!
As a renowned surfing town, "hanging ten" is the most popular water sport in the area, but the fun doesn't stop there. This tropical paradise is loaded with an amazing array of water-related activities that will keep visitors happy and provide them with lifelong memories! In addition to the usual swimming, parasailing, and windsurfing, you'll want to take advantage of Tamarindo's unique activities:
Scuba Diving: Take a dive tour to the Catalina Islands or the Bat Islands to view the abundant marine life. You'll explore caverns, reefs, rocky bottoms, and steep drop-offs in the clear water. Diving is great off the coast of Tamarindo any time of year, but the visibility is best between the months of May and October. You'll have the opportunity to see white tip sharks, tiger sharks, sponges, moray eels, giant manta rays, and schools of colorful fish. An especially exciting dive is a night dive, where tiny plankton glow in the dark to give the underwater world a surreal effect. You'll find dives for beginners and experienced divers.
Snorkeling: Many snorkeling adventures await in the Tamarindo area, but one of the best is in the waters of Isla El Capitan. You and your guide will paddle kayaks for about 20 minutes out to the site, which is an adventure in itself! Once you arrive, you'll explore the volcanic rock, shells, varied marine life surrounding the island. Snorkeling the estuary is another great activity. There you'll see crocodiles, iguanas, and a plethora of tropical birds, and under the surface, a diverse aquatic community will be on display. Both of these adventures are perfect for the whole family!
Kayaking: A kayak can take you to places you could never see by car. Tamarindo has a beautiful estuary, brimming with life. Paddling among the mangroves will reward visitors with views of kingfishers, herons, white ibis, egrets, and iguanas, and you might just spot a croc or two sunning on the banks. This is a great way to see the natural flora and fauna up close and personal!
Fishing: Sport fishing in Tamarindo is legendary. Comfortable boats with state-of-the-art equipment and experienced captains and crew can take you out to where the fish are. Ususal catches include snapper, huge tuna, dorado, sailfish, and blue, black, and striped marlin. Even if you've never fished a day in your life, this will be a wonderful experience - the crew will see to that!
Tamarindo has the activities for you, your family, your friends, the strangers you meet on the beach, and anyone else in between. Just remember the sunblock, and be sure to end me a picture!
This tidbit of real travel advice was brought to you by Holle Abee.
Sure, some people like scuba diving, and others crave the fishing experience. You know what we like? Full kitchens and scandalously jetted bathtubs. And high thread-count sheets on a luxurious bed. Ooh, and amenities like gyms and concierge. Luckily for you, you can have the best of both worlds when you stay in a fabulous Tamarindo vacation home while on your Costa Rican dream getaway. (See--we can all be winners!)