Welcome Visitors
Welcome to Tamarindo, Costa Rica! It is a small place, measuring about 2 miles from north to south. However, sooner or later during your vacation, you'll need to use a Phone Book, and this is the only accurate one! Also, people often find their way around using our Visitor's Guide, and has a great, little simple map inside.
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Contact your travel desk for details, but here are some of the most frequently visited parks: Tip: Within easy driving distance there are several very popular Day Trips. You’ll need good walking or hiking shoes, as it seems anywhere in the world nature must be viewed from an incline. Dink lots of water, pack insect repellent and perhaps most importantly—don’t overdue it! Remember, the affects of the heat and humidity of the tropics can sneak up on you! Here are some of the most popular parks and reserves:
Rincón de la Vieja National ParkThis protected forest sits at the mouth of a volcano and is distinguished by bubbling mud pools, natural hot springs, and geothermal steam ascending from beneath the earth. A dramatic nearby waterfall enveloped in lush jungle teems with wildlife, a cacophony of nature providing an aural backdrop to the scenic marvels of the area.
Ostinal Beach - Ridley Turtle Nesting Most people are awed by the spectacle of turtle nesting, during which time Ridley and Leatherback turtles convene on the protected beach to lay their eggs. As this phenomenon is dictated by lunar phases, be sure to confer with a guide to ascertain exact dates and times. It’s a real drag to make the trip and then trip up because you didn’t confirm nesting activity. Tours generally depart in the afternoon and arrive on Ostinal Beach in time for dinner, which is followed by the Main Event. The package generally includes a bilingual guide, air-conditioned bus and refreshments.
Palo Verde National Park A scenic drive through Guanacaste’s beautiful cowboy country (Sabanero) will deposit you on a dock from where you embark on an equally scenic two-hour boat trip on the Tempisque River to Palo Verde National Park. The river, which once served as the main channel on which sugar cane, fruits, beef (and people!) were transported, was crucial to the area’s economy. Today, as you relax on the river vessel, nature paints a vivid portrait of jungle foliage and tropical birds: egrets, ospreys, flycatchers, kingfishers and many more. It is a great trip for both bird-watching enthusiasts and those who just want to kick back on a tranquil journey that evokes a sense of the golden olden days.
Arenal Volcano National ParkYour late afternoon might be spent soaking in hot pools of volcanically heated waters and enjoying an unobstructed view of the erupting Arenal Volcano. Later, over dinner, relish the Technicolor spectacle of molten lava dancing down the side of the active volcano. On your return, we suggest that you stop at the famous artisan village of Guatil where the Chorotega Indians maintain the pottery tradition of their Pre-Columbian ancestors in crafting their distinctive and prized ceramics.
Santa Rosa National Park
Perched near the Nicaragua border, this tropical dry forest boasts remnants of a storied past. Santa Rosa, an old fort which is now a national monument, marks the spot where Juan Santa Maria of Costa Rica stopped William Walker’s army from invading from the north many years ago.
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