Costa Rica
Back in February, I took a trip to the beautiful country of Costa Rica. We flew into Liberia Guanacaste airport, then made our way to Tamarindo, a vibrant surf town along the northern Pacific coast of the country. This was one of the few trips I went on with minimal planning (I know, the Virgo in me was screaming), but I hope the tips and recommendations I picked up as we ventured through the country give you a glimpse of Costa Rica through my eyes.
Check out the gallery for photos from my trip and from the recommendations below!
Gallery
What You’ll Find:
Quick Tips
Weather: The best time to travel to Costa Rica is during its dry season- December through April.
Pura Vida: A saying you’ll see written everywhere, referring to a carefree way of life.
Coffee Production: Costa Rica is known for its coffee, and a coffee plantation is definitely a must visit if you have the time.
Language: We got by with some English, but brush up on some Spanish or have Google Translate readily accessible.
Money: The local currency is the colon. We did pull out some cash before we got there but definitely not necessary. Everywhere we went accepted Apple Pay or Credit Cards.
Electronics: Plugs are the same as the US, no need to bring a convertor if you’re coming from America.
What to Pack
Bug Spray: The mosquitos don’t mess around!!!
Clothing:
Hiking - Pack hiking boots (these are the ones I purchased), or sneakers with a good grip if you’re planning on hiking. The hikes aren’t difficult, but you’ll thank yourself for the good shoes on the rocky paths.
Beaches - swimsuits, hat, sunblock (this is my fav brand- Hailey Bieber recommended), and sunglasses.
Rain Jacket - If you’re headed to Costa between May and November you’ll be in the rainy season.
Casual Clothing - Costa Rica is a casual country, even on a night out (imagine the looks we got on our first night in our NYC outfits lol). Shorts, skirts, and casual dresses with crop tops/tank tops will suffice.
Waterfalls - If you plan on going inside a waterfall, bring water shoes and a waterproof sleeve for your phone.
Driver’s license - Unless you book a driver, you’ll need to rent a car. We booked ours through Hertz. Make sure you specify an automatic car if you can’t drive stick when making your reservation. Waze was recommended by the Hertz associate as the main method of navigation throughout the country.
Towns Visited
We stayed in Liberia for 2 days, which was more than enough. We actually left a day earlier than we expected to, to maximize our beach time. Your best bet is an Airbnb in the area, and try to find one that has a pool- it was hot. The food wasn’t anything notable here, and we did make a stop at the local Walmart to pick up water and snacks.
Tamarindo is a little beach town, really big for surfers. The best place to stay is in the town itself. This made getting around and access to restaurants and cafes so much easier for us. Everything is walking distance and you have a plethora of options nearby. As for dining, I am picky with food, and I wouldn’t say I was blown out of the water with our dinners in Costa Rica. I’ll note my favorite places below. However, the vibes and ambiance at all the restaurants made the experience enjoyable.
The beach in town could get a bit crowded, but if you want a quieter beach day, head to Playa Flamingo. It was about a 15-minute drive along the coast of Tamarindo. Make sure you make it to any of the beaches for the sunset. I snapped the photo above on Tamarindo’s shore.
Activities
The highlight of Liberia was the private hiking tour we booked. The van picked us up at 7 am and took us to:
Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja - The hike here was about 2 hours, mostly shaded, but some sun. As I mentioned earlier, hiking shoes, or shoes with a strong grip will spare you the struggle. Throughout the hike we were up close and personal with active volcanoes, monkeys, and nature. The tour guide did an incredible job of explaining everything we were seeing and leading us through the park.
Oropendola Waterfall - The waterfall is located right next to the park. The view was stunning, and you can take the stairs down if you want to go into the water. Because the fall is completely in the shade, the water is freezing. If cold plunges are your thing, this is the place for you. However, it definitely felt refreshing to cool down after the hike.
Rio Negro Hot Springs- Now after the ice cold of the waterfall, get ready to warm up to the heat from the hot springs. At the springs, we were able to relax in mineral pools, which are naturally heated by the volcanoes’ thermal energy. They also gave us volcanic mud to lather all over our faces and bodies. Volcanic mud is rich in sulfur, magnesium, and zinc, leaving our skin glowing after we showered off.
At the end of the tour, we stopped for a meal, which was included in the price of the tour, then got dropped back off at our Airbnb ~3 pm.
Food
Sol Bakery - One of our favorite breakfast spots! We came here three times to grab coffee, breakfast, and pastries, which are all made fresh in house. The French toast and almond croissants were the showstoppers here.
Costa Juice - Another one of our favorite spots! We came here at least once a day. They make smoothie bowls, fresh juices, and smoothies daily. Everything tasted super clean. The detox juice and the happy bowl were my favorites.
Tabu - Tabu is a beach club restaurant with tables directly on the sand. The cocktails were delicious, and the food was tasty. We started with the octopus, Peruvian ceviche, and chips & guac. My main was the ahi seared tuna, which was a bit too seared and sliced too thick for my liking. If you’re in the mood for something refreshing, the salads were fresh and appetizing.
Pangas - Pangas was recommended to me by some friends who had visited Tamarindo. They swore it to be one of their top restaurants. I didn’t make it here but it is a good option if you’re looking for a good view, meal, and drinks.
Agua Salada - This place has a DJ on Fridays, with good food and drinks on the beach. It’s known to be one of the top ceviche spots in Tamarindo.
Bamboo Sushi - This is one of the highly rated sushi spots in town.
Tamarindo Night Market - Food market space that’s only open on Thursdays. Good vibes and music.
Patagonia - Argentinian restaurant in town. We didn’t make it here but it was packed every time we walked by.
Dragon Fly - One of the best restaurants we tried. Sushi and tuna tartare were delicious, and cocktails were amazing!
El Mercadito - Food court with a huge variety of food and drink stalls.
Nari - Italian restaurant with a popular gelato spot next door.
Falafel Bar - Another top restaurant in town. I ate here twice, and even got some food to go. Fattoush salad and hummus were to die for!
Nightlife
As I mentioned before, Tamarindo is a super casual place so none of the bars have any dress code.
The Roof - Rooftop bar/ pizza restaurant
Crazy Monkey Bar - This is one of the most famous bars in Tamarindo, but it’s only open Friday nights! Be prepared for good music, they currently have a resident DJ.
Pacifico - Beach bar with good music
Sharky’s - We were in Tamarindo on Super Bowl Sunday, and Sharky’s was the place to be. Drinks, Tvs, and music.
Chiquitas - Mexican restaurant by day, party at night. Hip-hop classics at this spot!
Overall, Tamarindo is the perfect place for a quick 3-4 day trip, where you’ll be able to relax, tan, and explore without feeling like you’re trying to squeeze everything in. It’s a great place for tourists, whether you’re traveling alone or in a group!
