Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Three words: beachfront taco stand. Hefty beef and veggie tacos and fresh
batidos
(fruit
shakes) will sustain you for a full day of sun and surf. Can't beat it.
Cafe Del Pueblo
PIZZA
( 2653-2315; mains US$10-18; 5-9pm)
Just east of town, and recommended by local foodies, this pizzeria also does homemade
pasta and fresh seafood dishes. Dine under the stars on the patio.
Information
Playa Grande Clinic
MEDICAL CENTER
( 2653-2767, 24hr emergency 8827-7774)
If you get rolled too hard in the surf and need a doctor, find this clinic next to Kike's Place.
Getting There & Away
There are no buses to Playa Grande, but the road was recently paved so it's an easy drive.
Alternatively, catch a boat across the estuary from Tamarindo to the southern end of
Grande (around US$1 per person, from 7am to 4pm). From Playa Grande arrange your
boat to Tamarindo at
Hotel Bula Bula
.
Playa Tamarindo
Well, they don't call it Tamagringo for nothing. Tamarindo's perennial status as Costa
Rica's top surf and party destination has made it the first and last stop for legions of tour-
ists. It stands to reason, then, that this is the most developed beach on the peninsula with
no shortage of hotels, bars and restaurants. Yet, despite its party-town reputation,
Tamarindo is more than just drinking and surfing. It forms a part of the Parque Nacional
Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste, and the beach retains an allure for kids and adults alike.
Foodies will find some of the best restaurants in the country. Families and students will ap-
preciate the fierce competition that has kept lodging prices reasonably low. And
Tamarindo's central location makes it a great base for exploring the northern peninsula.
