Tamarindo is a seaside town on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where the Nicoya Peninsula curves into the ocean. It’s an easy-going place with sheltered beaches and gentle waves that bathe huge stretches of sand. The hotels in Tamarindo offer ocean views, large pools and thatched cabanas for relaxing in the shade. Langosta Beach is a tranquil spot that’s popular with surfers. The waves, which are close to the shore, are ideal for beginners, who can take a couple of lessons to get started. More experienced surfers often look for the bigger waves, which are found at the mouth of the river. But, of course, beachgoers don’t need a surfboard to enjoy the sea. Swimming and bodyboarding are popular too. The calm water is also perfect for boat trips. Sailing on a catamaran as the sun sets is an experience not to be missed.

Visitors revel in simple activities such as swimming, sunbathing, walking on the beach and chilling out under a palm tree with a drink. Vendors sell fresh coconut milk all along the shore. They simply open the coconut husk, add a straw and it’s ready to drink. Another popular drink is kombucha, a fermented tea with many health benefits. More energetic pastimes are available at the best hotels in Tamarindo, including beach volleyball, football and kayaking. Other options include giant chess, table tennis and massages in the open air. Fine dining specialities at hotels include lobster, prawns, Mexican tacos and Spanish paella. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always on the menu. Anyone craving yet more produce can visit Tamarindo market, where local farmers sell their home-grown crops, and shoppers can pick up souvenirs, traditional crafts and jewellery.

Many visitors to Costa Rica want to discover the richly diverse wildlife. The best hotels in Tamarindo help guests organise day trips to natural parks abundant with flora and fauna. Just to the north, Las Baulas National Marine Park is a haven for leatherback turtles, the largest sea turtles in the world. Weighing up to 700 kg, they lumber ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. Anyone visiting during nesting season, from October to March, is guaranteed to see them. Other species come ashore throughout the rest of the year. A raft trip down the river estuary in Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge allows visitors to see ocelots, howler monkeys and caimans living in the dense mangroves To see the underwater life, travellers can try Snuba diving, a new sport in which divers breathe through an air hose connected to the surface. It’s easier than scuba diving, requires no certification, and even beginners get the chance to see everything from eels and octopus to whales in the calm seas around Tamarindo.