Top 5 Family Friendly Activities To-Do in Tamarindo
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So, you’re planning the family vacation of your dreams in Costa Rica? Look no further than Tamarindo, Guanacaste–a beach side town with endless activities, incredible food, and locals that make this place feel like home right away.
We know. Traveling with the family provides incredible memories, but the actual planning itself can be quite stressful. How do you accommodate everyone involved and maximize your overall experience? More so, how do you do it without breaking the bank? To help you plan the vacation of your dreams and make it easier on the wallet, we have outlined the Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in Tamarindo.
- Surf Lessons and Surf Rentals
Recognized as an extreme sport, surfing can be intimidating to try. This is exacerbated when a family of varying ability levels is looking to get their feet wet with surfing but isn’t exactly sure how. Nevertheless, the beachside town of Tamarindo is home to one of the best beginner surf breaks in the world and it is impossible to come here without having a go at the sport. Come one, come all–you will be surprised with how much fun you will have.
Playa Tamarindo has a sandy bottom, warm water, and kind locals, so it is endlessly forgiving for beginner surfers. More so, the town is situated right on the beach and so families staying in the area need not travel far to paddle into some awesome waves. Around the Tamarindo area, there are countless surf shops that can enhance your vacation with surf lessons and rentals. The instructors come from all around the world, though many of them are Ticos from the greater Guanacaste region who have a deep passion for the sport and sharing it with others. As the first surf shop in Tamarindo, Iguana Surf is a perfect shop to accommodate all your needs. There are board rental options in soft top, epoxy, and even a few in fiberglass. More so, when you take a lesson with Iguana Surf, you receive 50% off board rentals for the rest of your vacation.
Searching for a bang for your buck? Look into one of Iguana Surf’s customized Costa Rica Surf Camp Packages. These are ideal for families looking to delve into a new sport or hone previously acquired skills. The Iguana Surf Camp packages are easy, affordable, and inclusive. Housing for the surf camp is at the Iguana Surf Beach Hotel, a newly finished boutique housing accommodation right above Iguana Surf Shop and right across the street from the best surf break in Tamarindo. Customized to your needs, these packages can include transportation to and from the Liberia airport, a welcome dinner with your instructor, daily lessons, surf trips to other beaches in the area, and of course inclusive breakfast every day at Breakfast Grinds, a local breakfast joint right outside the hotel.
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2. Combo Adventure Tour
How do you try a variety of activities without spending tons of money or time in a car traveling to different places in Costa Rica? Combo adventure tours (and there are a variety of options to choose from in the area) are a great way to do it. We recommend a combo tour with a regional company called Go Adventures.
This particular tour provides an EXPERIENCE. Situated in the National Park of Rincon de la Vieja, Go Adventures jam-packs your day with zip-lining, white water rafting, horseback riding, rock-climbing, rappelling, and cliff-jumping. It gets better. After a long day of moving your body and smiling, you and the family get to relax in the mud baths and Rincon de la Vieja hot springs that are formed from the volcano in the national park. Finally, a full Costa Rican feast of chicken, fish, pork, rice, beans, yuca, plantains, vegetables, and dessert are provided. Stack your plate, sit back, and enjoy the views of the river and surrounding wildlife because life doesn’t get much better than that.
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3. Dinner Picnics at Sunset
As a beach side town on the Pacific Ocean, Tamarindo has the privilege of providing ocean view sunsets every night. (So, the rumors are true: the west coast IS the best coast.) Actually, sunsets are a big deal in Tamarindo as they are a special kind of daily ritual for people who call this place home, whether that is full-time or even for a couple of nights. The sun sets consistently around 6 PM and the perfect activity to do during this time (other than surfing) is having a picnic on the beach. We recommend this for any families and friend groups stopping through here on vacation. All you need is a blanket, a loaf of bread, some local cheese, and produce that will knock your socks off. Fruits and vegetables just taste better here as they are always fresh, flavorful, and affordable.
Finally, wine or beer for your picnic is optional, but almost encouraged if you are inclined to try some Costa Rican beverages with your food. At the beach during sunset, you will see locals and tourists alike gathering together for a moment of serenity. Ticos play soccer, musicians sing, and the sky paints the most brilliant colors you can imagine. Every sunset is different, and every sunset provides a new chance for people to reflect on the day, on life, and on the bigger picture of things. There is no better place to end the day than breaking bread on the beach in the company of people that you love.
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4. Estuary Boat Tour
Perhaps one feature that Costa Rica is most widely known for is its abundant wildlife and national focus on preservation (Tamarindo Beach is actually part of a national marine park, Las Baulas.) The flora and fauna here come in every size, shape, and color that you can imagine, and it is all part of the charm that brings so many travel-eager families to the Guanacaste area. When your family comes through Tamarindo on your Costa Rican Family Vacation, you need not to go far in order to observe exotic wildlife.
Right down the street from Iguana Surf is the Tamarindo Estuary Tour. This is one the best adventures you and your family will do in Tamarindo. Though it would be worth it for far more, the Tamarindo Estuary Tour is one of the most affordable tours you can book. At $40 per person, this two-hour excursion allows you to experience the unique ecosystem of an estuary (which is a river flowing into the ocean comprised of both freshwater and saltwater) and the surrounding mangrove forest. Observe the river banks line with mangrove trees whose roots are so long and dense that you can no longer see the earth along the banks. While sailing on the estuary boat, you will have the opportunity to see iguanas, crocodiles, sharks, flying fish, and tropical birds. Halfway through the tour, the guides will take you into the national forest where you can observe more animals such as the iconic howler monkey, racoons, and more. At Iguana Surf, we love watching families with little kids and teenagers alike book this particular tour and come back to the shop with nothing but smiles. It is impossible not to enjoy yourself!
5. Tamarindo Saturday Farmers Market
Every Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM there is the Farmer’s Market located near the skatepark in Tamarindo. If you need directions, just navigate to behind Nordico Coffee House. Families of foodies and artists–this market is for you. Tamarindo is full of passionate craftsman who make a living in the most creative ways. One particularly amazing booth is a jeweler who designs bracelets, anklets, and necklaces out of silk yarn and beautifully colored glass beads.
The beads are sourced from her home country of Brazil so that each piece of jewelry has a piece of her home. There are also a variety of artisan bakeries that sell everything from pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants) to pesto infused french bread. And while you’re there, don’t forget to grab a locally infused kombucha or iced tea. All of the flavors are inspired by the tropical fruits of Costa Rica. Vegetarians, vegans, and folks with allergies–there are tons of options for you as well. One booth sells vegan squash quiche with chickpea flour crust and there is a food truck with a variety of gluten free and vegan açaí and smoothie bowls.
Finally, one of our favorite booths that everyone must check out is the Spice Market. Here you will find a local couple that has made Costa Rica home for almost 30 years. Their story is charming. For the first 15 years of their time in Costa Rica, they lived off the grid with no electricity. Some 15 years ago, they started their Spice Market business. Now, you will find them selling a variety of spices (we recommend the ¡Voila! Blend because you can put it on everything), fresh hummus, cookies that taste just as good as grandmas, freshly made chips and popcorn, and (our favorite) vegan silk chocolate. This couple will brighten your family’s whole day with smiles, energy, and incredible flavors.
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