Hotels near Tamarindo Airport - TNO, Tamarindo

Tamarindo is amazing. Villarreal is a small local town nearby. The construction and yard cleaning machines make any stay in these areas a bit noisy. Overlook the noise and commotion and crowds and the area is really fun.

Playa Grande is perfect for running or walking on the beach, however not for swimming, snorkeling or floating. On the other side of Playa Grande (crossing the river) there is Tamarindo, a crazy town full of tourists with its own long beach. If you are looking for a laid back place, Tamarindo is NOT where you want to be. Lots of traffic and tons of people walking in the streets and hanging around. Can't imagine what is like in high season. Stores have beautiful clothes but they are pretty expensive. Definitely a surfing town, everyone walks with a board under their arm...lol.

Tamarindo has a nice beach, but way too many tourists. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants in a small amount of space. I felt claustrophobic. Lots of wealth in the area mixed with pobreza. Appears to be mostly Americans and Europeans with the wealth.

Playa grande was such a relaxing place. The beach sunsets were amazing! Took an estuary tour with Luis right off the beach - private tour for 2 was only $70 and we saw crocodiles, monkeys and amazing birds. Tamarindo is a fun day trip (taking the water taxi, or asking to be dropped off there after the boat tour). There is a cool food truck court at the end and behind the beach that has an iguana walking about. Tamarindo was nice if you like lots of people and lots of bar and food choices but playa grande was so much more chill of a spot. Loved it and will be back! Cantarana cafe had the best coffee and almond croissants and dinner upstairs was really good. Servers for breakfast and dinner were fabulous! The Tortuga was a great spot - with the most delicious fish bites I’ve ever had! Cafe Mar Azul was so much fun- Sunday night entertainment needs a reservation. Such a good price for amazing fish dinners.

I absolutely love Costa Rica and extremely dislike Tamarindo. Tamarindo is the opposite of the soul of Costa Rica. Driving into Tamarindo from anywhere else on the pacific coast is a complete shock - a nosedive into consumerism, price gauging, bad food, constant harassment from vendors, laced with a background of drugs and overall sketchiness, and all dressed up in a sellers mask of "pura vida"... but believe me when I say there is no pura vida in Tamarindo.

We wanted a quiet place to celebrate our anniversary and Hotel Cantarana was just that! At times, we felt like we were the only ones staying there. We loved that it was so close to an amazing beach that we walked every day for sunrise and again for sunset. At times, we felt we were the only ones. We had the pool all to ourselves. There is a restaurant on site and a couple others close by that are AMAZING! The beach is incredible . . . soft, white sand! Andy, at the front desk, was the best! She greeted us with a warm smile and was so helpful. She helped us to arrange a sunset cruise which was spectacular! We surely will be back!