Tamarindo Guide from La Perla 153: surfing, food, groceries & activities
Food scene
Here are some of the best restaurants and food in Tamarindo or the surrounding area.
This is the closest restaurant to La Perla 153 at the bottom of our street (the path to the right of the restaurant is your closest beach access) (best ceviche + the seafood bake appetizer are great, if you do both of those, share an entre as the entres are really big). This is probably where we go the most. They usually do a huge bonfire at 7pm on Fri/Sat/Sun. Reservation is recommended as sometimes they get full.
13 paikallista suosittelee
Agua | Salada
This is the closest restaurant to La Perla 153 at the bottom of our street (the path to the right of the restaurant is your closest beach access) (best ceviche + the seafood bake appetizer are great, if you do both of those, share an entre as the entres are really big). This is probably where we go the most. They usually do a huge bonfire at 7pm on Fri/Sat/Sun. Reservation is recommended as sometimes they get full.
This is our favorite restaurant closest to the ocean at the far end of town, right on the beach. It is great for lunch or sunset.
75 paikallista suosittelee
El Chiringuito
This is our favorite restaurant closest to the ocean at the far end of town, right on the beach. It is great for lunch or sunset.
El Mercadito is an outdoor food court with a bar in the middle. It's a great atmosphere with lively music and great food. You can get burgers, poke, tacos, sushi, and more.
64 paikallista suosittelee
El Mercadito de Tamarindo Gourmet Food Market
El Mercadito is an outdoor food court with a bar in the middle. It's a great atmosphere with lively music and great food. You can get burgers, poke, tacos, sushi, and more.
Pico is right on the beach. It is great for breakfast, lunch, and sunset.
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Pico Bistro
Pico is right on the beach. It is great for breakfast, lunch, and sunset.
Pangas (for dinner) is a great option. You usually need a reservation here. Good food right on the river. Some say this is the best restaurant in Tamarindo.
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Pangas Beach Club
Pangas (for dinner) is a great option. You usually need a reservation here. Good food right on the river. Some say this is the best restaurant in Tamarindo.
Lola's at Avallenas Beach is also one of our favourite restaurants. It's a drive or taxi to get to. You'll be traveling 30 minutes on a dirt road to get there. It's a beautiful beach with great surfing.
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Lola's
Lola's at Avallenas Beach is also one of our favourite restaurants. It's a drive or taxi to get to. You'll be traveling 30 minutes on a dirt road to get there. It's a beautiful beach with great surfing.
The night market is on Thursdays starting around 5 with lots of food and drink sellers, music, and some crafts.
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Tamarindo Night Market
The night market is on Thursdays starting around 5 with lots of food and drink sellers, music, and some crafts.
Soda's are the typical Costa Rician restaurants. They are great, inexpensive, and generally healthy. Soda Buen Comer is right across from witches rock and is really great. Any Soda is great!!.
Soda Buen Comer
152Soda's are the typical Costa Rician restaurants. They are great, inexpensive, and generally healthy. Soda Buen Comer is right across from witches rock and is really great. Any Soda is great!!.
Little Lucha
Some of the best tacos and burritos in Tamarindo.
If you like Indian food, this is a great restaurant. It is about a 25-minute taxi or drive from Tamarindo, but it is worth it. It's in a town called Brasilito. We've been there many times
Masala Indian Restaurant
If you like Indian food, this is a great restaurant. It is about a 25-minute taxi or drive from Tamarindo, but it is worth it. It's in a town called Brasilito. We've been there many times
Surfing
Surfing in Tamarindo and surrounding area
Playa Avellana has great surfing. 35 minute taxi away. It's good for beginners to advanced. You can surf right in front of Lola's Restaurant. Normally bigger waves than Tamarindo. You can also walk 200 meters north of Lola's to "Little Hawaii" with hollow waves and a bit more barrels.
Playa Avellana, Guanacaste Province, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
Playa Avellana has great surfing. 35 minute taxi away. It's good for beginners to advanced. You can surf right in front of Lola's Restaurant. Normally bigger waves than Tamarindo. You can also walk 200 meters north of Lola's to "Little Hawaii" with hollow waves and a bit more barrels.
Playa Grande is a great surf break for intermediate to advanced surfers. There aways seems to be swell there. On good days, you can get barreled there. You can take a boat across the river and walk from Tamarindo beach or take a 20 minute taxi to Playa Grande.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande is a great surf break for intermediate to advanced surfers. There aways seems to be swell there. On good days, you can get barreled there. You can take a boat across the river and walk from Tamarindo beach or take a 20 minute taxi to Playa Grande.
This is the local surfing break. If you like to surf or want to learn, you can surf at Tamarindo beach which is a few minute walk from La Perla 153. It's a great beach for beginners. On good swell days, Tamarindo surfing is world-class. If you want to rent a surfboard, get one from Witch's Rock, right on the main road 4 minute's walk away. They have a big selection.
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Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica
This is the local surfing break. If you like to surf or want to learn, you can surf at Tamarindo beach which is a few minute walk from La Perla 153. It's a great beach for beginners. On good swell days, Tamarindo surfing is world-class. If you want to rent a surfboard, get one from Witch's Rock, right on the main road 4 minute's walk away. They have a big selection.
Nosara is about a 2-hour drive from Tamarindo. It's a great small town with open ocean waves. One nice thing about Nosara is that surfing is not dependent on the tide like it is in the Tamarindo area. You can surf anywhere on Playa Guiones which is the beach in Nosara.
Nosara
Nosara is about a 2-hour drive from Tamarindo. It's a great small town with open ocean waves. One nice thing about Nosara is that surfing is not dependent on the tide like it is in the Tamarindo area. You can surf anywhere on Playa Guiones which is the beach in Nosara.
Here is our favorite surf school. An amazing, passionate instructor. You'll have a great time from beginner lessons to advanced workshops.
Reeser Str. 106, 46446 Emmerich am Rhein, Saksa
Here is our favorite surf school. An amazing, passionate instructor. You'll have a great time from beginner lessons to advanced workshops.
If you want to rent surfboards or if you're going to take a trip to world-renowned surf break Witches Rock or Ollies Point, you can get there by boat with Witch's Rock Surf Camp. It's a full-day excursion.
23 paikallista suosittelee
Witch's Rock Surf Camp
152If you want to rent surfboards or if you're going to take a trip to world-renowned surf break Witches Rock or Ollies Point, you can get there by boat with Witch's Rock Surf Camp. It's a full-day excursion.
Groceries
There is a medium-sized grocery store called Vindi on the other side of Tamarindo, about a 15min walk away. We tend to go to Automercado instead of Vindi since there is more selection.
21 paikallista suosittelee
Vindi Tamarindo
There is a medium-sized grocery store called Vindi on the other side of Tamarindo, about a 15min walk away. We tend to go to Automercado instead of Vindi since there is more selection.
Las Olas (Waves) is the closest grocery shop. For a small place, it has a great selection of staples (vegetables, surprisingly good charcuterie at times, and only frozen meats).
Supermarket Waves
Las Olas (Waves) is the closest grocery shop. For a small place, it has a great selection of staples (vegetables, surprisingly good charcuterie at times, and only frozen meats).
I highly recommend checking out the Carneceria (the butcher). This is about 5km away, so you would need a ride or taxi. The meat selection is great - their Chicarrones (hot cooked pork) is so so good (both meat and crispy skin) if you like that sort of thing. Go earlier in the day, as they do sell out of it. (Great as an appetizer or made into tacos!)
Centro de Carnes Villa Mar
Avenida de las PalmasI highly recommend checking out the Carneceria (the butcher). This is about 5km away, so you would need a ride or taxi. The meat selection is great - their Chicarrones (hot cooked pork) is so so good (both meat and crispy skin) if you like that sort of thing. Go earlier in the day, as they do sell out of it. (Great as an appetizer or made into tacos!)
If you're looking for a more extensive grocery shop and a better (and a bit cheaper) liquor selection, you could visit Automercado. It's a full American-style supermarket. They have everything. The meat selection is quite good here too. If you are doing a Carneceria & Automercado run, then you can get a driver from town (there is a guy who stands in front of Diria with a beat-up blue Hyundai mini SUV named Gerardo who we use a lot). If you negotiate a bit, you can likely get them to take you to both places, and bring you back for $8-10USD. If you try the tour van guys, it'll be $20 USD. The condo should be stocked with some spices, so check what's there first before buying.
Auto Mercado - Tamarindo
If you're looking for a more extensive grocery shop and a better (and a bit cheaper) liquor selection, you could visit Automercado. It's a full American-style supermarket. They have everything. The meat selection is quite good here too. If you are doing a Carneceria & Automercado run, then you can get a driver from town (there is a guy who stands in front of Diria with a beat-up blue Hyundai mini SUV named Gerardo who we use a lot). If you negotiate a bit, you can likely get them to take you to both places, and bring you back for $8-10USD. If you try the tour van guys, it'll be $20 USD. The condo should be stocked with some spices, so check what's there first before buying.
This is the best place to pick up your fruits and vegetables. They also have some staples - beans, spices, and good tortillas. (Expert tip - keep your carrots, lettuce, and herbs in a bowl of water in the fridge so they stay crisp longer.)
Frutas Y Verduras
This is the best place to pick up your fruits and vegetables. They also have some staples - beans, spices, and good tortillas. (Expert tip - keep your carrots, lettuce, and herbs in a bowl of water in the fridge so they stay crisp longer.)
Other Activities (waterfall, hikes, rafting, etc)
This is our favorite place for a waterfall hike and swim. You can also do a horseback ride in the adventure.
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Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin
This is our favorite place for a waterfall hike and swim. You can also do a horseback ride in the adventure.
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
350 east RIU HotelSome of the best zip lining in costa rica.
This is another great waterfall tour and you can do some very fun white water rafting here.
15 paikallista suosittelee
Catarata La Leona
This is another great waterfall tour and you can do some very fun white water rafting here.
This is a great boat you can rent with a captain. They'll do fishing, snorkeling, take you to witches rock, kayaking, etc.
Mr Pelicano Boat Tours.
This is a great boat you can rent with a captain. They'll do fishing, snorkeling, take you to witches rock, kayaking, etc.