Sometimes when on vacation, it is tricky to stay healthy. You don’t always know where to get good food, you might not have as much time to exercise, and you 
are out of your normal routine. Luckily Tamarindo is an easy place to continue a healthy lifestyle even though you will be on vacation. Health is definitely a priority for many people here in Tamarindo because of the relaxed vibe and the easy access to so many fresh fruits and vegetables. If staying in good shape and eating well are priorities for you on your Costa Rica surf trip, then this is the place for you!
In general, the average diet in Costa Rica is fairly healthy. The typical food consists of rice and beans which have nice natural carbohydrates and protein, meat for iron and more protein, plantains, and salad usually. All of the meat, especially the fish is super fresh and makes a great balance. The typical food isn’t super full of fruit and vegetables, but if you make an effort, you can get a bunch of those into your diet super easily because they are some of the easiest food to find and they are super affordable! Costa Rica’s climate makes it an extremely abundant place for growing all kinds of produce. There are big stands that sell all sorts of fruits and vegetables for super cheap. You can make a big trip and stock up on all sorts of things to make smoothies, salads, and just eat fruits and veggies alone as a snack. There is a super awesome and affordable fruit stand in Villa RealObviously moving your body is a huge part of staying healthy and living a balanced life. In Tamarindo at your Costa Rica surf camp, you will have surf lessons every day to make sure that you are active at least once a day. Surfing is awesome exercise – paddling is obviously a great arm workout, and the arch that you need in your back works those muscles as well. Then standing up on the surfboard works your legs, with some cardio in there the whole time! It is an ideal way to get moving, enjoy the scenery and the water, and learn a new sport all at the same time. If you are out in the water for an hour or two, you will be getting a really good workout while having an absolute blast! If you don’t feel like surfing, you can also rent a paddle board which is a surprisingly intense workout. It works your whole body, from your legs to your core, to your arms and is an awesome way to enjoy the ocean!
In general, the average diet in Costa Rica is fairly healthy. The typical food consists of rice and beans which have nice natural carbohydrates and protein, meat for iron and more protein, plantains, and salad usually. All of the meat, especially the fish is super fresh and makes a great balance. The typical food isn’t super full of fruit and vegetables, but if you make an effort, you can get a bunch of those into your diet super easily because they are some of the easiest food to find and they are super affordable! Costa Rica’s climate makes it an extremely abundant place for growing all kinds of produce. There are big stands that sell all sorts of fruits and vegetables for super cheap. You can make a big trip and stock up on all sorts of things to make smoothies, salads, and just eat fruits and veggies alone as a snack. There is a super awesome and affordable fruit stand in Villa Real
Even in just daily life in Tamarindo, you end up getting quite a good amount of exercise because you walk everywhere around town. Tamarindo is small, so no matter where you are staying you can walk wherever you need to go. Walking to the surf shop, walking to dinner, or just walking around browsing shops is a super simple way to be active, essentially without doing anything different! It is also awesome to walk along the beach for exercise and to take in the scenery at the same time. If you walk on Tamarindo Beach to the north, you can cross the river in a little boat and then walk along Playa Grande as well.
Playa Grande is long so it is a great way to get a good workout. The views are gorgeous and if you make it to the other end of the beach, there is a cool rock you can climb up on to get an even better look around. If you walk along Tamarindo Beach to the south, you can walk around the point on the rocks if the tide isn’t too high and then you will be at Langosta Beach. This is another gorgeous walk – there are fewer people, tons of beautiful shells, and more sets of nice waves. Besides surfing, there are lots of other opportunities in Costa Rica to get your body moving and stay in shape. There are a number of places that offer classes of all kinds from yoga, to Zumba, to kickboxing, to salsa! There are tons of fun ways to stay moving and you don’t even think that you are working out. The yoga studios in Tamarindo are top quality and some even offer classes on the beach. What is more peaceful than that? The culture here is rich in music and dance, so it is the perfect place to learn how to salsa. The local teachers grew up dancing since they were small so they are absolutely the best people to learn from. You could take a class in salsa, bachata, merengue, and more. It is also a fun way to meet people and then you can take your moves to the bars! There are some fun spots at night to go out dancing which is also great exercise. Some places have live salsa bands and even if you just go solo, there will always be someone to dance with!
Even in just daily life in Tamarindo, you end up getting quite a good amount of exercise because you walk everywhere around town. Tamarindo is small, so no matter where you are staying you can walk wherever you need to go. Walking to the surf shop, walking to dinner, or just walking around browsing shops is a super simple way to be active, essentially without doing anything different! It is also awesome to walk along the beach for exercise and to take in the scenery at the same time. If you walk on Tamarindo Beach to the north, you can cross the river in a little boat and then walk along Playa Grande as well. Playa Grande is long so it is a great way to get a good workout. The views are gorgeous and if you make it to the other end of the beach, there is a cool rock you can climb up on to get an even better look around. If you walk along Tamarindo Beach to the south, you can walk around the point on the rocks if the tide isn’t too high and then you will be at Langosta Beach. This is another gorgeous walk – there are less people, tons of beautiful shells, and more sets of nice waves.
Tamarindo also has a gym that is right in town easily accessible and of course, you can walk there! They have options for short term memberships that are totally affordable. You can just do a day walk in, a week membership, or something longer if you are planning an extended stay. The gym is fully equipped with all the normal machines and weights, as well as a long list of different classes offered daily. There is a big room where they all take place, which you can also use when it isn’t occupied with classes.
Clearly, your health goals don’t have to go down the drain on your Costa Rica surf trip. With the easy access to awesome food and myriad ways to move your body, you will be having the time of your life without feeling like you are going backwards with your goals. You can put together an awesome lifestyle for yourself while you are here filled with surfing, yoga, delicious meals, and plenty of sun. Getting a daily dose of Vitamin D is one of the best things you can do for your health, and in Costa Rica, you don’t even have to try! We can’t wait to see you at the beach!
