Great outdoor activities in Tamarindo

Tamarindo is one of the most popular and beautiful swimming beaches in Costa Rica. Ideal for surfing (beginner-friendly spots), stand up paddling, swimming, kayaking, boogie-boarding and snorkeling. Due to the fact that Tamarindo Bay has some of the most tranquil currents on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica it is considered one of the safest beaches for enjoying water sports.

WALKING / JOGGING

Walking along Tamarindo beach is beautiful, and during low tide you can also walk south to Langosta Beach.
Directly in front of the hotel, 4 kilometers of beautiful sandy beach invites you to enjoy nice walks or runs. 

SWIMMING

With the ocean in front of your doorstep, you are privileged to enjoy the warm waters all year round while observing the pelicans close up and the gentle sway of the boats from far away in one of the most beautiful and safe swimming beaches this country has to offer.

SNORKELING

One of the nicest spots to snorkel in Tamarindo is around the Capitán Island, which you can reach by swimming, kayaking, or with a stand-up paddle board.
Depending on the tides, the weather conditions and your swim/kayak/SUP level, it may take you between 20 – 40 minutes to get to the island from the beach in front of Capitán Suizo.

SURFING & BOOGIE BOARDING

The beach offers opportunities for surfers of all levels to enjoy the great waves that bless this part of the world. Right in front of the hotel is a perfect spot for beginners. 
Take your own surfboard or rent one directly at the hotel. And if you prefer boogie boarding, you can find complementary boogie boards at our concierge.
Tamarindo is also an ideal place for learning how to surf. Whether you are new to the sport or not, our experienced surf instructor will guide you through the basics of this fun and exciting sport and before you know it, you will be riding the waves.

KAYAKING & STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDING


You can explore the Capitán island, the Tamarindo Bay or the Tamarindo estuary paddling your own kayak or SUP board.
In the Tamarindo estuary you can observe wildlife including wading birds, monkeys, crocodiles and the ecosystem of the mangrove forest.

Compiled by Milena Re
Marketing Assistant – Hotel Capitán Suizo
April 28th, 2022

Tamarindo Travel Tips

The weather in Tamarindo ☀️

The climate in Tamarindo is divided into two seasons, a dry season, often referred to as high season, and a rainy, or green, season.
The dry season runs from December to April, and in those months it rains very very little. 
In May the green season starts (it starts to rain) and lasts till November. In the first few months of green season it can rain quite a bit, with typical tropical “showers”, but it’s also common to have days, and sometimes even weeks, with almost no rain at all. September and October are the rainiest months.


Both seasons have their advantages: the dry season is perfect to enjoy warm weather and sunshine ☀️ and the rainy season offers more tranquility, due to fewer tourists, more comfortable prices, and nature is presented in all its most beautiful shades of green! 🌿

What should I pack?
 👙🕶️

Tamarindo is a beach town, and it’s warm year round, so you can pack comfortable, casual and light clothes.
Your wardrobe should definitely include bathing suits, shorts, shirts, flip flops, sunglasses and a cap/hat.
Also, sunscreen, insect repellent and an after bite are highly recommended, but can also be found in the shops in town.
If you are visiting Tamarindo in rainy season, bringing a rain jacket is a good idea.
And if you are planning to do some activities, tours or hikes a lightweight daypack and comfortable hiking boots should be part of you luggage.

Airports ✈️

The closest international airport is located in Liberia, about a 60-minute drive away and there is also a domestic airport in Tamarindo.

Is the local water safe to drink? 🚰

Tap water is generally safe to drink in most places in Costa Rica, it may have a different “taste” though. 
At Capitán Suizo we offer filtered water in our restaurant and we have a few filtered water distributors in the hotel area.

Swim & surf in Tamarindo 🌊

Tamarindo in general is known as one of the safest beaches in the country, the currents are gentle and the beach is flat with almost no inclination. 

During low tide, the waves are very small which makes swimming enjoyable for everyone.
During high tide, the water level rises and therefore waves become bigger and are ideal for surfing or boogie boarding.  

Capitán Suizo is located at the end of the bay where the waves are the calmest which is why the beach at our end is also ideal for beginner surfers.
For advanced surfers, the river mouth is a perfect place to surf. 

Costa Rica's Wildlife 🐒🦝🦜


Costa Rica is known for its amazing nature and wildlife and in Tamarindo you can see quite a few animals. Birds, howler monkeys, squirrels, gray and green iguanas, geckos, skunks, and raccoons are some of most common animals in the area. With some luck you can also spot nocturnal wildlife such us armadillos, collared anteaters, porcupines and opossums.

If you are looking for a hotel set beneath native trees and nestled between rich, organically maintained gardens which home and attract a wide variety of wildlife, Capitán Suizo is a great option 😉

Compiled by Milena Re
Marketing Assistant – Hotel Capitán Suizo
February 24th, 2022

Surfing Costa Rica

Rachael Kershaw surfing in front of Capitán Suizo / Photo: Ana Rodríguez Oropeza

Tamarindo Surf Experience

Three years ago, I moved to Costa Rica to work as a Food & Beverage Manager at the Hotel Capitan Suizo. Being a very sporty person and after testing out surfing during a holiday in Australia and another time in the Dominican Republic, I thought that I had to make the most of the opportunity seeing that there is the perfect surf spot for beginners in front of the Hotel Capitan Suizo.

I first began with a couple of classes with our very own Luis Seitur, the hotel’s dedicated surf instructor. As for everyone, my beginning was challenging facing balance issues, timing issues and so forth…let’s just say I was mostly under the board than on top. Being persistent, I continued my quest of learning how to surf and with time and practice, I saw myself improve and achieve step by step new objectives – catching white water wave on my own (yes I began as everyone, being pushed into the waves), actually standing on the board for more than 2 seconds, riding the wave and not just going straight down,… and then came the day that I caught my first “Unbroken Wave”. I was surfing the wave and it was magical.

Moments like these make it all worth it and give you the strength and dedication to keep learning and improving. There are days that you feel that you have made progress and days that you feel that you are simply getting worse, but it all goes in phases and there are skills to learn at every step that allows you to improve.

I was lucky enough to get my own longboard and be able to practice without Luis. After a while I decided to also get a shorter board, to try different surf spots and also started surfing with local friends who always gave me tips and insight on how to improve. Every day was a different challenge, different conditions, a different wave and with time, I started to read the waves better, understand how they break and adapt my surfing to the conditions. 

I have a course a lot to learn and I am fortunate to live somewhere that gives me access to waves all year round. There are a plethora of beaches in the area of Tamarindo and waves for every level as well as type of surf that one is looking for - waves, that are perfect for longboards, other that should only be tamed with a shortboard. At the end of the day, what I can say is that surfing has been one of the most satisfying sports that I have undertaken (at the end of the day, the pleasure of riding a wave, depends solely on you!) and with patience, persistence and practice many challenges can be overcome.

Look forward to seeing you in the water!

Pura Vida!