My husband and I are planning a trip to CR in September. We will be there 8 nights, but have to spend last night in Liberia. Main purpose of trip is surfing. We have tix flying into and out of Liberia and were planning to stay on the Nicoya Peninsula. We land at about 6:30 pm and were hoping to get to the Tamarindo area that first night. Sounds like most people like Playa Grande more then Tamarindo??? We are looking at Las Tortugas Hotel. Any opinions??

Also thinking of heading down to MalPais for a couple nights. Any lodging recommendations there close to surfing? We found what seems like a good deal on a 4WD rental and hotel open voucher package. Has anyone used the open-voucher programs? Any advice? How long is the drive from Tamarindo to MalPais? How long from MalPais back to Liberia? Any dining recommendations in either of these areas? Thank you!!!!

Hey ardie - definitely check out Shark Bite Deli in Tamarindo for lunch. Great food (sandwiches) and enviroment! (Also, in case you check other places, we stayed at El Jardin del Eden & were very happy with it). We liked the atmosphere & food at Stella's (although can be pricey) & Cantina Las Olas (Mexican - not the best, but fun place). Also, check out Zullymar's right on the beach at the circle for drinks at sunset/happy hour!
There were a lot of people surfing, but it didn't look like the waves were all that big. But, I don't know anything about it. Have a great time!

Hi Ardie,
Sounds like a good trip! Regarding MalPais, I assume you know that in September, it is likely to be quite rainy there--more so than Tamarindo which is in the drier northwest area. Even there, it tends to rain more in Sept. and Oct, although mornings are usually sunny.
We were at Malpais (actually Santa Teresa--adjacent beach) in March, and loved the Tropico Latino. Be sure to request the oceanfront bungalow. There is only one with a great view and we lucked out. Rates should be around $70 in Sept. There were many surfers here, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. MalPais/Sta. Teresa are basically the same location.
I don't know about the hotel/rental open voucher system. We always rent a vehicle, however. The drive from Tamarindo to MalPais will be approximately 6 hours. The west coastal road will be impassable (can only be driven in the dry season, and then with difficulty due to river crossings). There are 2 alternatives:

Drive through Santa Cruz and Nicoya and continue on south on the east side of the peninsula until you come to Paquera, where you will drive about another 1.5 hr. around the tip of the peninsula to MalPais. A lot of driving--some roads not paved.

OR,(and this is this best route) a few miles south of Nicoya, you can head east across the new Friendship Bridge over the Rio Tempisque, then turn south to Puntarenas and take the ferry over to Paquera. The ferry takes about 1.5 hr. and you will need to check ferry times (do this online at nicoyapeninsula.com). Most folks arrive at the ferry about 30 minutes before it launches. From Paquera, it's on to MalPais. Saves about half an hour, and you get to rest while riding the ferry while they do the "driving". Better roads as well. The last hour or so to Malpais, however, is not paved.

From MalPais back to Liberia, you can count on about 5.5 hours if you take the ferry, 6.5 if you stay on the peninsula and drive north out of Paquera. There is about a 30km section of unpaved road from Paquera north to Naranjo. Safe travels!

Forgot to mention. . . .do check the ferry schedules, but keep in mind that they are subject to change, and you should recheck before leaving Tamarindo. There is an excellent internet cafe there.

Las Tortugas Hotel is well recommended and has a very good restaurant. The nearby Hotel Cantarana has a good restaurant as well.

In Tamarindo the place most often recommended is Stella's but I have not eaten there to offer a personal opinion.

The people at Las Tortugas, as you may know, are in the forefront of conserving the leatherback sea turtle nesting habitat at Playa Grande.

Jerry

Thanks for all the quick responses. Didn't realize weather would be so different between MalPais and Tamarindo. Maybe Nosara is a better option? Closer and a bit drier?

Also check out the Villas Baula hotel in Playa Grande, just across the estuary from Tamarindo but a 15 min car ride away - great place with 2-br bungalos and regular hotel rooms as well with a pool and family-style restaurant. There can be beach break surf all up and down this area but possibly best just north of the estuary mouth. South of Tamarindo is Playa Negra and another nearby spot whose name escapes me now for some really good reef-type breaks with hotels nearby. If you follow this route from Liberia - Playa Grande - Tamarindo - and points south, using the roads closest to the beach it will be a good adventure in your 4WD. I have personally been as far south at Playa Negra and the roads in that area were just ok in a sedan. South of there I understand the road conditions can "vary", if you know what I mean! Then when you get to Mal Pais you can take the paved highway back up the middle of the peninsula to Liberia for your final night. Good luck and have fun, I'm sure you will find some waves!

Ardie, since you'll be going to Playa Grande check out Playa Langosta as well. It's near the Barcelo something or other casino and resort. It's at the end of the strip of Tamarindo and in a secluded neck. Surf's good there.
It's hard to explain but you can ask around or follow the signs/dirt roads. Hope that helps!

I hope your trip is in early september becuase in oct its stormy and lots of rain. Liberia airport is the bomb, its so cool. you can drive at night on the nicoya peninsula with no problems, we have driven the falmingo/ tamarindo road dozens of time just be sure to gas up. if you are real surfers which it sounds like you might be then you want to surf playa grande, when it breaks its crazy good. palay grande is also very beautiful and pristine, covered with little conical shells. tamarindo surf is for beginners, etc. we had reservations at las tortugas but passed on it once we looked around. its very ructic, basic surfer style but for the money we satayed in a luxury condo in playa langosta and drove over to grande for the glass off pm. you will need to surf avenellass to the south of tamarindo. you will want to hang out in tamarindo, food, etc. if you just want to surf every day all day go to mal pais also. otherwise you dont have enough time. things move very slowly and there lots to do and see around tamarindo. the car rental places at liberia airport at little houses east and west of the airport, they take you there in little vans. i dont know about open vouchers but be careful, you can get accomadations real cheap always but especially in september, just pull up to where you want to stay and bargain. the tourist industry is hurting, they are desperate. are you bringing your own boards? you can rent decent boards at high tide in tamarindo. party!

If you want less chance of rain, then yes, Nosara is probably a better option. Mal Pais /Santa Teresa is beautiful and my husband liked surfing there, but we have only been there once as it's not as easy to get to as other surf spots. We love Nosara so much we are building a hotel there. My husband has been surifng for 30 years (learned as a teenager on Oahu) and always finds surf in Nosara, or in Ostional, 20 minutes away. He's looking forward to living there and surfing every morning before work! It is a lot closer to Tamarindo, but has a MUCH more laid back feel and is spread out and never crowded like the entire Tamarindo area can be, although not quite as much in Sept. If you decide to go there instead, check out the Harbor Reef hotel, Casitas Romantica or if you want a kitchen, The Canadian Condos are nice. The Gilded Iguana is also nice, with 6 new rooms close to the beach.
Also, if your timing is right, (new moon) there is a very good chance you can see the Olive Ridley turtles come to Playa Ostional to lay their eggs. A beautiful experience. Of couse that means the beach would be closed so no surfing there, but there are plenty of breaks around Nosara.
If you decide to go to Mal Pais, I also liked Tropico Latino. I wish they'd had the new beachfront room when we were there, but our room was nice. Nothing fancy, but comfortable and large with a king size bed which is hard to find in Costa Rica! The Mal Pais Surf Camp is a fun place to hang out at night. Have a great trip.