Sunset
Over the Pacific.
Tamarindowiki — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tamarindowiki — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mike Vondran — CC BY 2.0
A long bay on the Guanacaste coast that grew from a small fishing village into one of Costa Rica's best-known beach towns, with a sweeping sandy beach, blue water, waves suited to learning to surf and famous sunsets that colour the sky over the ocean. At the bay's northern end a river mouth lined with mangroves hosts calm boat and kayak trips to watch birds, crocodiles and monkeys. Across the river lies Las Baulas Marine National Park, where leatherback turtles, the world's largest, come ashore at night to nest in season, watched only on guided tours. The town is full of restaurants, cafés, shops and surf schools, and is a base for other Guanacaste beaches such as Conchal and Avellanas. It is dry and sunny from December to April. Never swim across the river mouth, which has crocodiles and currents. Rip currents are strong on many Pacific beaches, so swim only where others do and keep away from river mouths.
Over the Pacific.
Boat trips.
Giant turtles.
Tamarindo town on the northern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula
At night in season, roughly October to March, on Playa Grande, on guided tours only; their numbers are low today.