suelou

cannnot decide between both towns. Taking a 17 year old & a 20 year old to experience some of the culture & they want to learn to surf. Has anyone been to both of these areas that could advise nice hotels & which is the nicer. Many thanks. Susan

shillmac

Manuel Antonio is a very popular area as is Tamarindo. They are vastly different. Manuel Antonio is all about the national park and pretty beaches as well as the availability of jungle very near! The adjacent town of Quepos is fairly nondescript and beside the point!

Tamarindo, on the other hand, is all about the town. The beach itself is one of the best surfing spots in Costa Rica but not as attractive as some of the other beaches--although there are some very beautiful beaches nearby (Conchal & Flamingo). For surfing, definitely Tamarindo and nearby beaches (Grande, Negra & Avellenas-sp?).

Can you spend a few days at each?

Percy

In Tamarindo( if you want surfing),a nice old hotel is Hotel El Diria.

A place that is nice and closer to the beach is "Hotel Capitan Suizo".

I think your boys would enjoy Tamarindo , both for the surfing and also because they can "browse" around down town.

Like shillmac said , there are other beaches nearby also (if you are renting a car).

Percy

suelou

if we go to tamarindo,what is the best way to get there? Do we have to fly into San Jose & then rent a drive to tamarindo hotels? we have always gone all-inclusive & would like to do things differently this time.

shillmac

Rent a car and drive yourselves! Then you have the advantage of a vehicle to explore the area around Tamarindo. Very simple. It is an easy drive. We like Tricolor and Dollar. Tricolor has always come up with the best prices for us. A 4 wheel drive is helpful, but not necessary.

LA_FadeAway

I haven't been to Tamarindo yet, but I'm willing to bet that a 17 yr. old and 20 yr. old would enjoy that area much more than MA. MA is beautiful, but my husband and I started to get bored by day three and we're 34! There isn't much of a "scene" for people their age in MA.

gannetmusic

Flying into Liberia would be a good option if you choose Tamarindo.

If I were 17 or 20 years old Tamarindo would definitely be my choice. Lots of nightlife and a real 'surfer town' feel to the place. The nearby beaches are beautiful. Neither Tamarindo nor Manual Antonio are particularly good places to experience local culture, since both are full of tourists.

Tamarindo does have a significant drug culture - marijuana is very common and lots of harder drugs are easy to get- but that holds true of most north american high schools. A bit of common sense is all that is required.

Jerry