As I was waiting in line to pass through immigration at the Liberia airport on a recent trip back to Tamarindo from the US, a family behind me asked me a question. They wanted to know about the currency here in Costa Rica.
A few moments later, as I was waiting for my shuttle to take me from Liberia airport to Tamarindo where we live, the same family asked me if I could recommend a reputable transportation company to take them to their accommodation in Tamarindo. Their persistent (but polite) questions and conversation with me as we now waited together for the shuttle attracted a small audience.
This post is based on my recollection of their questions and my answers, which might be useful to other visitors to Tamarindo.
Questions you may have about your vacation in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Currency
Should we change our money from US dollars to Costa Rican colones here at the airport?
The short answer is no. Do not change your money at the airport. Here are my two reasons why:
1) Throughout the country, you can pay in either US dollars or Costa Rican colones. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is 530 colones to $1 USD. Though some establishments will exchange your $1 USD for 500 colones, you will likely not get much of a better rate at the airport. Thus, you are better off just paying for things in USD as you go and getting your change in colones.
2) If you need cash, many ATMs will give you an option for either colones or USD. You may then opt for colones at the bank rate, which will be much better than the airport exchange bureau. These bureaus usually have an okay exchange rate but also charge a commission fee.
Transportation from Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport to Tamarindo
How do we find economical and reliable transportation from Liberia to Tamarindo?
You have many options, but I’m going to give you the simplest, most reliable and most popular with locals.
1) Book in advance with Tamarindo Transfers and Tours or Xplore Costa Rica. Each have shuttles that run all year round and are established, reliable companies. They will have a sign with your name on it as you exit the airport. If your shuttle has more than 2 people booked on it, you will pay between $20 and $25 USD for the approximately one hour drive, right to the door of your hotel or other accommodation. You may have to wait up to 30 minutes for others arriving on a flight arriving at approximately the same time.
2) If you are travelling with a group of 4 or more people, you are best to request a private shuttle. It will likely cost you the same per person and you won’t have the potential wait or other drop offs when you arrive in town.
In both of these cases, don’t forget to tip your driver a couple of bucks per suitcase. They will be most appreciative.
If you arrive at the airport without a booking, you may still be able to find these companies outside the airport and they may just have room for you. If not, a cab to Tamarindo will run between $60 and $100 USD depending on time of year. Ask if the car has air conditioning. It can be a long, hot drive otherwise.
Should we rent a car?
If you are coming to Tamarindo for a week, I don’t recommend renting a car, unless you plan on doing day trips inland or to other beaches most days.
A big important point about rental cars. The price you are quoted does not include the mandatory insurance you must pay to rent a car in this country. $50-$60 per day is the starting point for total cost and prices just go up from there.
If you are planning on renting a car, do yourself a favour and pick up one of these cards ahead of time. It will save you 15-20% off their best price.
Food in Tamarindo
Where can we get breakfast and coffee tomorrow morning?
Go to Café Tico or Santa Rita Café for excellent Costa Rican coffee and a light breakfast. Go to Breakfast Grinds or Nogui’s for breakfast with an ocean view. Check the links to their websites or Facebook pages for specific locations. Note, you will pay more for an ocean view.
Where can we eat typical Costa Rican food?
You are going to want to eat either at a ‘soda’, which is the name for a Costa Rican family restaurant or just grab some street food.
At lunchtime, look for a lady serving big plates of food out of big pots in the back of her white station wagon. She usually parks across from the Diria Hotel on the main street. For 2,500 colones (less than $5) you will get a full plate of food that should keep you from feeling hungry till after the sun sets. Don’t be afraid of grabbing an empanada or pipa (cold coconut) from the local vendors on the street or the beach. They are affordable and delicious.
Want to eat like the locals? Take a cab out to Villareal ($5 and 7 minutes) and eat at Soda Las Palmas. Ask for a casado (translates to marriage, because of the marriage of flavours). You can choose chicken, fish or pork (usually) served with beans, rice, fried plantains and some cabbage salad. You can always ask for vegetarian as well.
Or, try the typical bar food, chifrijo: It’s a small layered dish of rice, beans, avocado, pico de gallo, fried pork and a few tortilla chips to help scoop it all up. Since I’m a vegetarian, I love ordering this ‘sin carne’, without meat. You can get a pretty good chifrijo for about $6 at Nogui’s on the beach.
Other yummy dishes include arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) and arroz con camarones (rice with shrimp). You’ll actually find a delicious arroz con camarones at Doña Lee’s. Turn left at the main t-junction in town and stay left all the way up the hill. The restaurant will be on your right.
And finally, be sure to have ceviche while you’re in town. You can find ceviche from vendors walking the beach (make sure it’s cold, very cold). There’s a vendor at the Saturday market who has a delicious one for about $2 a cup, or you can find a good ceviche at almost any restaurant in town. Do yourself a favour though, in low season (May to October), ask when it was made. Old ceviche is not your friend.
Activities and Excursions in Tamarindo and area
What are can’t miss excursions in the area?
I find this a hard question to answer because everyone has different tastes and travel preferences. If I had a week in Tamarindo by myself, it would look very different than a week with my husband or a week with the whole family.
At sea: The unanimous crowd-pleaser (with kids 5 year and up) is the sunset catamaran tour. Several companies offer them and that are currently in business have good reputations. Leave around 1 pm: Sail, snorkel, eat, swim and drink. Return just as the sun is setting about 4 or so hours later.
The Estuary: With young children, I recommend the Estuary Tour. It’s short and sweet, but still gives you a taste of the wildlife in the area.
The Spa: For couples and groups of friends, I highly recommend the spa day at Los Altos de Eros. This package includes transportation to and from the jungle spa, three full-length treatments, and a multi-course lunch, with wine, coffee and tea. It is the most highly rated activity in the area on TripAdvisor.com and amongst the local population.
Zip-lining: Need an adrenaline rush? Go out to Pura Aventura and choose between zip-lining, horseback riding or mountain biking. Or do a combination of two or three. Package prices including transportation range from $50 to $80. This is by far the safest zip-lining operation in the area, proudly offering a double clip system, to keep you safely flying above the trees.
If you’ve got any other tips, trips, recommendations for first time visitors to Tamarindo, please share them in the comments below. If you’ve got questions for me about Tamarindo, feel free to ask here too. I’d love to answer to the best of my abilities.
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