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Tamarindo, Costa Rica: Sustainable Travel Guide
- Caroline Watkins
- Nov 24, 2025
- 5 min read
Costa Rica is a global leader in eco-tourism, and Tamarindo has a wide range of sustainable activities, restaurants, and places to stay. From exploring lush rainforests to taking scenic horseback rides on the beach, you’ll understand why so many people fall in love with Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle. Check out our guide below to learn about sustainable activities, restaurants, stores, and places to stay.
Things to Do
Costa Rica is brimming with wildlife, and Las Baulas National Park is just outside the crowded beaches of Tamarindo. Take a relaxing boat trip to explore the park’s vast mangrove forest and be on the lookout for a range of wildlife, from howler monkeys to crocodiles to tropical birds.
One tourist rated the experience five stars: “We saw several crocodiles, different species of herons, egrets, sandpipers, southern lapwing, cormorant, and many more. We landed in one area and were led on a short hike to see some Howler monkeys up close. Such a great experience!”
Explore waterfalls, a lush rainforest, hot springs, and mud baths in this day trip to Cataratas Llanos de Cortés and Las Hornillas Volcano Hot Springs.
Spot turtles nesting and hatching along the Costa Rica coast through a guided local tour.
One tourist rated the tour five stars: "It was an absolutely magical experience ... highlight of our lifetimes. Logistics were as easy as can be, and our guide Christopher was magnificent.”
Tamarindo is the surfing capital of Costa Rica. The town became popular after the 1994 movie, “The Endless Summer II.” Thanks to Tamarindo’s warm water, light currents, and no rocks, it’s ranked one of the top ten best places to learn how to surf in the world.
Iguana Surf offers a variety of surf classes, including private, semi-private, and group lessons.
Enjoy a scenic, private horseback riding tour on the beach at Playa Conchal. This tour is perfect for both novice equestrians and experienced riders.
Are you a thrill seeker? Head to the jungle about 30 minutes outside of Tamarindo and Flamingo to embark on a scenic zipline tour, complete with 10 different zipline cables and two suspension bridges.
Places to Stay
Enjoy a relaxing stay at Tamarindo’s first 100% plant-based eco-hotel. Mother Earth Vegan Hotel has a zero-waste pledge and also uses eco-friendly, plant-based products for cleaning, furnishing, and amenities. Take advantage of the hotel’s eco-friendly healing spa for holistic massages, sound baths, facials, and more.
In addition to dining at the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant, you can also stay at this sustainable boutique, which demonstrates its commitment to sustainability through practices such as using solar panels for energy, implementing waste-reduction programs, and sourcing local, biodegradable products.
Jardin del Eden Boutique is also committed to sustainability; the hotel owns and operates its own water wells, installs solar panels, uses local artisanal suppliers, serves farm-to-table food, and more.
Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel has received the highest possible level (Level 5) for its Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). In addition to adhering to environmental practices, the hotel extends its sustainability efforts to the local community; it donates an $8 community fee per stay to the Integral Development Association of Tamarindo (ADIT) and organizes campaigns to neuter local dogs and cats.
Calling all surfers! Dreamsea in Costa Rica is the place for you. It’s an eco-friendly surf camp strategically located in the forests of Tamarindo, with easy access to the water. If you want to meet new people and have an active vacation, this is the perfect spot.
Places to Eat
Enjoy an evening of high-scale dining at Cala Luna Origen Restaurante, a farm-to-table restaurant at a mindful luxury boutique hotel. Cala Luna offers gourmet fare that is often organic, local, and sustainable, and a wine list that features organic and biodynamic wines, which are holistic and sustainable approaches to winemaking.
Enjoy a romantic date night at Dragonfly Bar & Grill, which boasts hyper-local, sustainable ingredients sourced from the country's seas, sands, farms, and fields. From vegetarian Buddha bowls to fresh-caught red snapper, you can’t go wrong with any menu option at this local venue.
Tropic Tamarindo Costa Rican Cuisine offers locally-sourced food tapas-style. Enjoy smoked meats, fresh seafood, tropical flavors, and innovative accompaniments, and be sure to try one of their Insta-worthy cocktails.
You can’t go to Costa Rica without trying Costa Rican coffee! Nordico is a local favorite that prides itself on serving organic coffee sourced from local farms.
Café Tico is known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy a healthy breakfast paired with local, sun-dried organic coffee. Yum!
Costa Rica also has no shortage of vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Pop by Flora for breakfast or lunch and enjoy a salad, sandwich, freshly squeezed juice, or breakfast burrito.
Do you want to try authentic Costa Rican cuisine and ensure your money stays in the pockets of residents? Hire Lady, a local Tamarindo chef, to teach you how to make homemade Costa Rican specialties.
One tourist left a raving review on Lady’s TripAdvisor page: “We spent the morning with Lady learning to make homestyle-Costa Rican dishes. She worked with my unusual food allergies, and my boyfriend's almost complete lack of cooking skills — and after a few hours, we had made a huge pile of food that was delicious! We brought back enough leftovers to feed the rest of the house for a few days, and convince them my boyfriend is secretly a master chef. Lady is so welcoming and helpful, you'll regret it if you don't spend some time learning dishes from her!”
Shopping
Are you planning on cooking some of your own meals while in Costa Rica? Visit Mentha y Limón for locally sourced organic produce, bulk foods, clean soaps, personal products, and more.
Visit BamBamBoo for sustainable gifts made of materials like cotton, banana fibers, bamboo, and hemp.
Are you looking to bring back unique souvenirs from Costa Rica? Visit Urban Eclectic Handmade Boutique for handmade jewelry, ceramics, paintings, soaps, eco-friendly body care products, and more.
Check out Tama Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pick up fresh, local produce and locally-made art and jewelry.
Do you have a sustainable business to add to this list? Please reach out to cgw@usc.edu with your suggestions.
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