Where to live in Tamarindo

Tamarindo is Guanacaste's best-known beach town, with an easy surf break, restaurants and cafés on every corner, and everything you need for a long stay within walking distance.

Playa Langosta is a quieter, residential beach just south of Tamarindo town, with an estuary, wide sunsets and a pleasant walk or short bike ride into town.

Playa Grande sits across the estuary north of Tamarindo, inside Las Baulas National Marine Park. It's a long, wild beach with consistent surf, low-density homes, and leatherback turtles nesting in season.

Villarreal is the local town just inland from Tamarindo, with supermarkets, hardware stores and everyday services. Homes here cost noticeably less, and the beach is a short drive away.

Huacas is a crossroads town between Tamarindo and the northern beaches, with services, schools and residential neighbourhoods. It's a practical base if you want easy access to the whole coast.

Hacienda Pinilla is a large gated community south of Tamarindo with a golf course, a beach club, horse trails and spacious homes set among dry forest and quiet beaches.

Playa Avellanas is a laid-back surf beach south of Tamarindo, known for its several breaks, long sunsets and a relaxed beach-bar scene with no town in the way.

Playa Negra is a small surf village south of Avellanas, built around a famous reef break, with rustic charm, few crowds and a close-knit community.

Brasilito is a small, authentic Costa Rican beach village north of Tamarindo, next door to Playa Conchal and its clear, shell-sand water.

Playa Flamingo is an upscale beach town on the northern coast, with white sand, hillside homes with ocean views, and sailing and diving trips from the bay.

Potrero is a calm fishing village on a sheltered bay next to Flamingo. It has a small-town feel, a few good restaurants, and the quiet Playa Penca nearby.