Conchal/Tamarindo, Costa Rica / City Guide.

The Flamingo/Tamarindo/Pinilla area offers some of Costa Rica's best beaches and great restaurants. These are my suggestions while visiting this Guanacaste's golf gold coast:

Restaurants

Happy Snapper
The Happy Snapper, located in the town of Brasilito is well know for its Coconut Shrimp and Lobster dishes. It was also just voted as best Ceviche in Costa Rica. Just 5 minutes from Reserva Conchal, this one of the areas few excuses to dress up a little bit.

Marisol's
Marisol's is a french restaurant located in the hills of Flamingo beach. It offers great food and a spectacular view of Flamingo bay. Dishes run around $20 and up but they are well worth it.




Bars/Nightclubs

Monkey Bar
Inside the Flamingo Marina hotel, the Monkey bar offers good food and even better atmosphere. Great to enjoy the sunset and oceanviews while relaxing on a nice cold beer. This bar is a sure thing - every day there is a live band or a fun crowd that is just out to have fun.

Witch's Rock Surf Camp
This relaxed bar/restaurant is ideal to enjoy a beautiful sunset at Tamarindo beach. It is a surfers hangout that offers the biggest nachos you will see in Costa Rica. I particularly enjoy their fish tacos while downing a nice cold beer.

Activities

Volcano Day Trip
Drive about 1 1/2 hours and you will get to Rincon de la Vieja volcano and Hacienda Guachipelin. For a mere $80 day pass, you enjoy river tubing, zip lining, horseback riding, a volcano mud spa and lunch. THis is a complete day activity - we recommend getting there before 9am so you can be done with all the choices by sunset.

Scuba Diving
Inside the Flamingo Marina hotel, Aqua Center offers scuba tours to the Catalina islands. This area is also great for snorkel.

Sunset Cruise
A 1 pm hotel pickup starts a great afternoon in a catamaran off the Tamarindo coast. The rate includes all you can eat and drink - we recommend it for an afternoon of sun and great new friends.

Take a Surf Class
Tamarindo is one of Costa Rica's surfing meccas. Take an afternoon surf class - includes clothes, boards and personal trainer. It is never too late to take a surf class and trainers will know how to adapt to your physical conditions.

There are many other activities and restaurants but I have listed the best of the best. If you are staying more than a couple of days, we recommend that you add an overnight visit to Arenal or Monteverde. We can suggest an itinerary and arrange a perfect Costa Rica vacation.