Tamarindo’s broad sandy bay stretches for over three kilometres. At its northern end, howler monkeys swing through trees, parakeets screech as they settle for the night, and giant iguanas can even be seen downtown.
You can take a boat trip into Las Baulas National Marine Park to see exotic birds, monkeys and caiman, and watch leatherback turtles laying their eggs by night. Alternatively you can join the monkeys and birds up in the trees on a rainforest canopy adventure. When the phase of the moon is right, you can witness the arribada of the olive ridley turtle, when thousands land to lay their eggs.
Several other parks in the region include – on the coast further north – Santa Rosa National Park, one of the last remaining ecosystems of tropical dry forest which shelters 115 species of mammals, 253 species of birds and 100 species of amphibians and reptiles. To the east, Palo Verde is a birdwatcher’s paradise – said to contain Central America’s largest concentration of waterfowl and wading birds.
Also of interest is Barra Honda National Park, renowned for its vast limestone cave system, inhabited by blindfish, salamanders and bats, which you can explore with park rangers and special equipment. Optional trips to all these locations can be arranged from Tamarindo during your stay.
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