dcsam

Which would you choose and why?
Thank you!
Carrie

sean420

I've been to both places and would pick Tamarindo over Manuel Antonio. MA is very touristy and crowded. Also its more expensive there than elsewhere in Costa Rica. The town is really spread out along a twisty narrow road that makes it difficult and dangerous to walk and getting around at night can be a problem as well. Tamarindo is not as crowded or expensive and is easy to walk around.

faithie

Well ..... They are " both " touristy and crowded now , in Costa Rica terms . Tamarindo even sporting a Burger King . So for that, perhaps they are about even. The beaches in Manuel Antonio Park have been described as the prettiest in the country and are calm for swimming ,while Tamarindos are better for surfing (Tamarindo is a bit more "hip and now " ). Tamarindo has more lodging choices on the beach while the majority of hotels in M.A. are on the hill . In M.A. it's very lush and hilly and "jungly" , with lots of wildlife , Tamarindo is a bit drier ( Guanacaste region ) and flatter . The layout of Manuel Antonio as it is often termed ,starts at the little scrubby town of Quepos which has a variety of little shops and restaurants ( do not expect cute and charming ). A former banana port , a bit ramshackle but endearing , a working town ...... The road starts to wind up into the hills twisting and turning up and down , with hotels and restaurants scattered along the way ( great views ) . Gradually it winds down to beach level , to the public beach where there is a variety of more budget lodging , vendors , restaurants etc. For those expecting a more pristine , and untouched Costa Rica , these are not the places . Manuel Antonio was the first tourist destination in Costa Rica , The Mariposa Hotel being built in the '70's ..... Sadly it is being overbuilt , but still has great charms and beauty . It is I guess it's beauty at fault .... I would still choose Manuel Antonio .

dcsam

WOW! Thank you for taking the time to write. Very helpful. Manuel Antonio it is!
Carrie

dcsam

Oops! Only saw the second posting. Just read the first. Will have to consider them both again.
Carrie

Jayneann

Hi Carrie,
I had to choose between these two places also and finally decided on Manuel Antonio. I absolutely love the way Faith describes Manuel Antonio and is always so consistent and faithful supporting this area. THANK YOU FAITH!! She and a couple others certainly convinced me it's where I wanted to be just by their passionate descriptions of beauty and wildlife! We are going in December and can't wait!! Good luck deciding!
Jayne

faithie

Thanx , I do still love it very much , and find it's views and vistas extremely beautiful . BUT , I will also be the first to admit that it has changed , and is indeed becoming too built up . ( sadly so ... ) That is why I want people not to go expecting a pristine , remote area like the Osa , this is NOT the area ..... You would be disappointed. Go expecting to see natural beauty that "has" been long ago discovered ! The local buses do chug-chug , up the road , it can be crowded inside the park , someone will try to sell you coconut juice , and hotels might be a bit more expensive ..... If research is done correctly , you will know what to expect and thus not be disappointed . I expect that if the building is left unchecked even oneday I will find it too sad to visit ...... I love it now , but you might not .

misha2

I've never been to Tamarindo.

But, while we loved the national park and our Finca Valmy riding trip, none of our party of eight has any desire to go back to MA.

dcsam

Please do tell...
What didn't you like about Manuel Antonio? Thinking of spending 3 nights there at Mango Moon.
Carrie

misha2

Well, actually we did like it we just didn't LOVE it. I think if we had gone in with different expectations...

We wanted the last part of our vacation to be a beach vacation and we didn't have easy access to a great beach. We stayed at Tulemar Villas and while they have their own beach when we went it was too small and grey to be relaxing. (others have loved it)

The beach in the park was beautiful. But, you would have to get there and pay for admission to access it. The public beach we saw near the entrance to the park was filled with people selling their wares.

Anyway, the park was gorgeous and Finca Valmy was a highlight of our trip. But, the consensus was that if we wanted a beach on our next trip we would try the Carribean coast.

faithie

Mango Moon is adorable and a short hike away from Biesanz Beach ......

siempretrvls

Between MA and Tamarindo I vote for Mal Pais!I know it wasn't an option on this post but after reading the descriptions MalPais had to be mentioned. It has the natural beauty, mountains, nature, and beach.It hasn't been overdeveloped yet.I'm sure it's time will come but right now it still has the Costa rican charms.Other than a few stands selling jewelry at the main beach there are no vendors pushing their wares or Burger King's.Not yet!

shillmac

Well, dcsam, you're just gonna have to try them all! And they are all different and very difficult to compare. MalPais, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo each offer a different experience, in my opinion.

I wouldn't consider Tam "beautiful", but its "happening". We love to drop in and hang out during the day, but haven't stayed overnight there for quite some time. For those who are looking to party at night, Tamarindo would be the place to go out of all three.

MalPais, also a surfer town, is very laid back, not at "touristy" as siempretrvl says. Our experience there was that there wasn't much to do when the sun went down, and that was fine because our main purpose for being there was just to relax for a few days. We went to bed with the birds and got up with them. We enjoyed nearby Montezuma and its falls as well as Cabo Blanco Reserve. MalPais (or Santa Teresa just north, where many people stay) has great sunsets--as does Tamarindo.

Now Manuel Antonio is the place to go if you want a good selection of activities and if you want to experience rain forest right by the beach. Also, you'll see more wildlife there. Finca Valmy horseback riding has been mentioned as a highlight. There are also canopy tours (ziplines), kayaking, some white water, sport fishing, and any number of other activities to fill your time (or not). And yes, the beaches here at Manuel Antonio are among the prettiest in the country (not particularly known for its beaches). Manuel Antonio is popular for those coming to Costa Rica for the first time. So many people choose the Arenal/Manuel Antonio combo which does, indeed, give a nice overview.

So you see, it just depends on what you are wanting in your beach location. All of these three are interesting places to visit if you are open to different types of experiences.

joeschmo

Your question is limited to Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo...........
I don't care for either of these towns but as far as their locations, I prefer the climate in the northern Pacific coast(Tamarindo)where the humidity is lower. Also, this location allows you easy day trips by car to some fun beach towns up and down the coast.
I think some people are 'stuck' with Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo as destinations because they've heard so much about them and consider them safe bets.

Once again, it's all what you're into.

I loved Tamarindo 15 years ago; not today. I love the beauty of Manuel Antonio but cannot deal with the crowds and humidity. MalPais?...I love the beach, the surf, but as Shillmac said,
a little quiet.

Check out Playa Grande.
Just across the esturary from Tamarindo.
Beautiful beach...away from the noise. Boat shuttles to Tam for day visits.