dbos

My wife and 11 year old son and I are planning a trip to the Tamarindo Bay area the first week of March. We are interested in a Canopy tour, horseback riding, fishing and whitewater rafting. Not necessarily all of this but some of it. I read that the Monteverde area has great canopy tours and horseback riding. How long a trip is this from Tamarindo to Monteverde/ Arenal area? Is it worth the time? I know that there are canopy tours and horseback riding around Tamarindo. Has anyone experienced these?

dncee11

In just one week, you might be able to give these three areas enough time. Tamarindo is fun for a beach area with everything close by - stores, restaurants, etc. Monteverde deserves at least two days and one night. Arenal is not to be missed with volcano, hot springs and waterfalls. Depending on arrival time, you can get from the SJ airport to Tamarindo in one day. Then Tamarindo to Monteverde in another, Monteverde to Arenal another. Arenal to SJ is another day so depending on departure times you may have to save your last night for the airport area in Alajuela. Other CR posters here like Shillmac can advise you on the availability of activities in each area. Good luck, I know you will all have fun! Your son is just the right age to enjoy the trip with you.

gannetmusic

There is good saltwater fishing just off Tamarindo. March does tend to be quite windy, however and the boats sometimes have to go an hour or more along the coast to get out of the wind.
We went out on Randy's Wilson's [Tamarindo Sportfishing] smaller boat the 'Salsa' this November for $400 half day, and caught quite a few decent fish.
Canopy tour and horseback riding can both be booked in Tamarindo. Another possibility is to spend a few nights at Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge, about 2 1/2 hours from Tamarindo or an hour from Liberia. Canopy tour and horseback riding are right there and you are a 20 minute walk from Rincon de la Vieja National Park with splendid hiking, hot springs, boiling mud pots and beautiful waterfalls. This lodge was a highlight of our trip.
Let me know if you have other questions about the area.

Jerry

dbos

We were considering flying into Liberia.Delta goes directly there from Atlanta. If we only go to Tamarindo , I was not going to rent a car just get transportation to Tamarindo.My family does not want to spend a long time "traveling". In reference to my previous post,if I rented a car from Liberia, what itinerary would you recommend that would involve the least amount of drive time and maximum activity? Also how is the driving to and from these areas?

nankar

We were at Flamingo Beach several years ago and drove into Tamarindo several times. We were only there for one week and chose not to move from hotel to hotel as many do. We did not go to Arenal or Monteverde but saved this for a future trip. There was plenty to see and do in Guanacaste and we had a great time. Our hotel in Flamingo had an activites desk from which we booked all our trips. Even though we were the only guests on many trips, the price was very reasonable. We did a day trip to Rincon for the canopy tour, mud baths and spa which was great. They also have horseback riding and a water slide there. We did a river cruise one day which was awesome; we saw so many birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. We went out at night to see a leatherback turtle laying its eggs on the beach. There is a snorkel cruise from Flamingo marina which we enjoyed. They also had many fishing excursions from the marina. You will have plenty to do based in Tamarindo and I am sure these activities will be available to you through your hotel. At that time, many of the roads were unpaved, including the road into Tamarindo. We rented a car which we used every day and I would do so again just to travel to other beaches and restaurants. You will have a great time!

dcd

You could fly into San Jose and out of Liberia or vice versa, which may save you some time. We are about to do the same kind of trip and will be flying into San Jose and departing immediately for Arenal for 3 nights via a private transport (we decided against driving ourselves), then going to Monteverde (part of which can be done by horseback) for 2 nights, and then to Tamarindo by private transfer (takes less than half a day) for 3 nights before flying out of Liberia. In Arenal/Monteverde, there are many companies offering white water rafting trips, horseback riding, canopy tours, hiking trips, etc.

dcmalia

Just got back from a week-long trip that included 2 days in Monteverde, 2 days in La Fortuna/Arenal and 3 days in Tamarindo. LOVED IT! Working up a trip report with all the details, but here are a few thoughts to start with:

- Tamarindo was AWESOME! We were just there last week. We took surfing lessons ($20 for 2 hrs, including board rental and wetsuit) and just relaxed.
- It took us about 6 hours to drive the HORRIBLE roads from La Fortuna (near Arenal Volcano) to Tamarindo. That drive seriously sucked. If you can get a van or shuttle transfer, or fly, that would be advised.
- You could do canopy tour in either Arenal or MV. I saw signs for it in Tamarindo, but don't know how it is there.
- We did a van/horseback/boat/taxi trip from Monteverde (8am) to Arenal (2pm) that was amazing - Great way to turn travel into an adventure!
- Check with the tour company we used for booking anything in the Arenal/MV areas, they were always on time and very organized. Also they are known to be very good with their horses: http://www.monteverdetours.com
- As far as places to stay, would recommend El Sapo Dorado in Monteverde and Casa Rosa in Tamarindo. Casa Rosa was a beach-front studio with one large bed, a single bed and a kitchenette. They have hammocks, beach chairs and boogie boards to use. It's right next to Hotel Captain Suezo.
http://www.sapodorado.com/
http://casarosabeachhouse.com/
- While in Tamarindo, check out Sunset Cafe for bkfst. Yum!

stepmoore

We are leaving for CR on Friday for one week and had the same dilema. We are flying into Liberia and renting a car and staying 4 nights in Tamarindo and two at Arenal (Sueno Del Mar and Tobacon respectively)and then flying out of San Jose (No FF Tix departing LIR but I believe the SJO is about the same distance as LIR) In retrospect we should have probably split the time equally but were looking to unwind at the beach for a while. Thanks to all the posters for the information and we look forward to adding our bit of wisdom when we return.

shillmac

You'll be glad to have the extra days at the beach--you can drive up and down the coast in this area and explore several beaches if you'd like. Flamingo, about 30 min. north, is one of the prettiest. Also Conchal.

shillmac

dbos,
The roads all around Tamarindo are very easy to navigate, and a car would give you the freedom to get out a see things for yourself at your convenience. The suggestions to spend time in the Rincon de la Vieja are good--this is a beautiful area. In fact, as other posters have pointed out, there is a LOT to do right in the Tamarindo area. You can do almost everything you are looking to do with the exception of white water. The Corobici River tour isn't white water, but as someone said, is an excellent tour. Flamingo Beach and the area it is in (Potrero, Sugar Beach, etc) are fun areas to explore.

If I were you and just had one week, I'd spend it just in this one area, taking it all in. You can take a day to sport fish, spend a day in the Rincon de la Vieja doing the canopy, mud baths, water slide (what a rush!), do the river float trip on the Corobici, and the rest of the time is yours to enjoy and explore!

Other things to do would include Monkey Park (on the way to Tamarindo); checking out Guayitil (a few miles outside of Santa Cruz) for pottery; visiting Playa Grande when the leatherback turtles are laying eggs, etc.

Fun places to eat at Stella's and Lazy Wave in Tamarindo; Camaron Dorado, El Perro Bravo, and Happy Snapper in Brasilito; Marie's (and Stella's II) in Playa Flamingo.