Sunset in Tamarindo: All About The Ritual the Whole Town Shows Up For
Every town along the Pacific coast boasts of having the best sunset in Costa Rica, but in our case, it is 100% true!
Sunset in Tamarindo is the kind of stuff postcards are written about. Not just because it is stunning (which it is) but because it’s a whole thing. A ritual, a tradition, call it what you will; it’s the one time of day that captivates every single person in town. So much so, that “Where are you going for Sunset?” is a question you will hear every day of your stay, and you’ll soon understand why it’s such a big deal around here.
If you have never been, you probably think this all reads like tourism copy, like an exaggeration meant to get you to book a flight. But trust us, sunset in Tamarindo is all that, and then some. And it’s something you’re going to want to come and see for yourself.
What time is sunset in Tamarindo?
Sunset falls somewhere between 5:20 pm. and 6:15 pm depending on the month you’re visiting. Since the country is so close to the equator, there isn’t much of a shift in daylight hours throughout the year so sunset timing swings by an hour at most. The sun sets earlier in the first few months of the year and gets progressively later, reaching its peak around June and July.
Our advice is to show up about half an hour early, when the color starts to build, but do not leave immediately after the sun has disappeared over the horizon. That’s what all the first-timers get wrong, so don’t fall into that trap. Usually, the best colors come after the sun has gone so stay put, order another drink, and enjoy.
And one last bit of advice is to check the tide before you go down. At low tide, Tamarindo’s flats turn into a mirror, and the whole sky doubles on the wet sand. Every good sunset photo out of this town is a low-tide photo. Our Surf Report & Forecast page has the tide chart, and we check it most afternoons anyway.
Why is the sunset in Tamarindo so spectacular?
Geography is the biggest reason our sunsets are so epic but there are other aspects at play. Tamarindo faces west and looks straight out at the Pacific with the most amazing open view imaginable. Our beach is crescent-shaped, and there’s no headland in the way of the horizon, nor is there insane development on the promenade (no mega hotels or tall apartment blocks ruining the vibe). When the sun goes down, it goes down into open water and it’s a stunning scene, one that’s surprisingly rare. Many times, you can be chasing a sunset up or down the coast in Costa Rica, only to see the sun disappear behind a hill.
The other thing is the speed at which it all happens. At this latitude, we don’t get that long European fade, where sunset can last for an hour or longer. The colors build up quite quickly, the sun touches the water and then, in a matter of mere minutes, it’s gone. You can’t really look away to order a drink or look down at your phone without missing part of it.
What happens in Tamarindo at sunset?
The social scene of the ‘sunset date’ is half the fun. You’ll see surfers paddle in from the last session with boards under one arm, and families scuttling down from their rentals, rushing the kids so they nab a good vantage point on the sand. Locals come out of habit, the way people in other places walk the dog before dinner. Somebody brings a cooler and you can bet someone else will bring a speaker. Dogs run at the break as if they have never seen water before.
Then come the horses. They typically wander down the shores and that’s when you see those same docile dogs go nuts with excitement. The sneaky ones who manage to slip out of their harness run alongside the stallions for a couple hundred feet before happily collapsing on the sand. You might hear a vendor offer you a coco loco (that’s rum poured straight into a coconut with a straw in it) and it’s important you say yes. Because cultural experiences, and all that! No doubt, some local kids will be down with a soccer ball in hand, seemingly oblivious to the light show. Once it’s dark good and proper, the fire dancers start their thing.
If you are traveling alone and worried about feeling like the odd one out, consider this perhaps the easiest hour of the day to make new friends. People sit down next to strangers, clink their beers, and by the time the sky turns orange, dinner plans are set.
The cool thing to know is that sunset ritual in Tamarindo and all along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is much older than the tourism the city now relies on. Nogui’s, the oldest restaurant on the beach, has been part of it since the 1970s, back when fishermen weighed their catch on the same sand where you are now spreading out a beach towel. Even then, everything stopped when the light changed, and we guess that’s how traditions are born anyhow. And we’re pretty sure the howler monkeys in the trees behind Walter’s have been showing up for leftovers just as long.
And at Iguana Surf Camp, we have also been watching the event unfold since 1989, back when the road was dirt, and there were maybe three places to eat.
Where is the best beach for sunset in Tamarindo?
You have two options, each one delivering a different experience.
Tamarindo Beach is the loud and social one in the best way possible. The beach is wide and flat, with restaurants and bars right behind you and the estuary curling off to the north. Come here if you want to be in the thick of it.
Playa Langosta sits south of us, just past the point and is another animal altogether. The beach is rockier and a lot quieter here with tide pools and black lava rock catching the last of the day’s light. Most evenings, there are no more than a handful of people spread out along the sand. If you want the sunset without the soundtrack, that’s where you want to go. Wear shoes you don;t mind getting wet and you’ll score the best photo spots.
Both beaches face the same ocean and both are super lovely. Our advice is to experience one sunset in each and you’ll quickly figure out which scene you prefer.
Can you watch the sunset from the water?
You can, and the sun looks bigger out there, which we cannot explain and have stopped trying to. Our own sunset catamaran cruise leaves in the early afternoon, anchors at a beach you cannot reach by road, and gives you a couple of hours to snorkel and eat before turning back. The sail home is the real treat as the coastline is drenched in gold all around you. Dolphins and rays turn up often enough that the crew stops the boat for them.
One warning, though: sunset boat trips out of Tamarindo range from calm leisurely sail to floating spring break party. Ask which one you are booking before you hand over a card.
Where can you watch the sunset with a drink in hand?
Sand is fabulous until it gets in your drink, right? Some evenings we also just want a comfy seat and a menu instead.
A few spots we send people to:
Galleta de Mar is right on the beach at Galerías del Mar and takes its food seriously. Fresh seafood cooked by Chef Gilberto Briceño, plus strong coffee and a whole pastry scene that’s worth a visit of its own accord.
Pico Bistro is the more relaxed pick. It’s totally beachfront, open all day, with shaded outdoor tables set back just far enough from the water. Coffee in the morning, cold beer and ceviche in the evening. Easy, unfussy, and you can walk straight down to the sand afterward.
Our rooftop pool at Iguana is the one we are biased about, and we own that. From up here, you get the whole bay at once. You can follow the curve of the coast past the estuary and watch the last surfers come in, with nothing at eye level to block the sky. Being in the water while the light goes is a particular kind of good.
One of the reasons we built our Iguana Boutique Surf Hotel in the first place was to create a space where you can really soak up moments like this. A lot of our newly renovated suites open onto private balconies with ocean views, so golden hour can start on your own terrace, drink in hand, before you head up top, where there’s no reservation needed, and nobody who cares what you are wearing.
If you are staying with us, just come upstairs around five. Take a peek at the rooftop here.
What is the one thing nobody tells you about sunset in Tamarindo?
Sandflies. Not every evening and not on every beach, so do not panic, but if the night is particularly still with zero wind and especially if it has rained in the afternoon then yes, they will feast on your ankles. Repellent before you walk down, not after you sit. Long pants if the air is dead still. If mosquitoes normally treat you as their personal buffet, assume the Tamarindo sandflies will do likewise. It might just be the most useful line in this entire article and still nobody puts it in a tourism brochure.
What is the best time of year for sunset in Costa Rica?
Dry season, December through April, gives reliable skies and clean gold light. Green season gives you cloud, and cloud is what catches fire. The most absurd skies we have seen here all happened in the rainy months. The trade is that some evenings the cloud sits flat on the horizon and nothing happens at all.
Is the beach in Tamarindo safe at sunset?
Yes, and it is crowded at that hour, which helps. Same sense as anywhere: valuables stay at the hotel, no bag left alone on the sand, walk back with everybody else once it is dark.
Do I need to book anything?
Nor for the beach but yes for the beachfront table in high season and definitely for the sunset boat cruise.
Ready to come experience a sunset in Costa Rica that’ll blow you away?
Join us at the best surf camp in Tamarindo, and discover your dream sunset spot with us!
