Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Last updated
Tamarindo
District
Beach Tamarindo, Costa Rica.jpg
The coastline in Tamarindo
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Tamarindo district
Costa Rica location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tamarindo
Tamarindo district location in Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10°17′32″N85°47′53″W / 10.2923417°N 85.798175°W / 10.2923417; -85.798175
Country Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Province Guanacaste
Canton Santa Cruz
Creation27 November 1995
Area
 • Total125.86 km2 (48.59 sq mi)
Elevation
27 m (89 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total6,375
 • Density51/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−06:00
Postal code
50309
View of Tamarindo Beach. Vacaciones Tamarindo kids CRC 35 scenic.JPG
View of Tamarindo Beach.

Tamarindo is a district of the Santa Cruz canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, located on the Nicoya Peninsula. [1] [2]

Contents

The town of Tamarindo is the largest developed beach town in Guanacaste. Once a small fishing village, it has boomed in the 21st century with surfing and eco-tourism, and is now popular with surfers, digital nomads, and expatriates.

History

Tamarindo began as a small village of several families who largely depended on fishing.

In 1985, Texas businessman Russell Wenrich purchased land in the village of Tamarindo and began to develop beachside cabanas. Five years later, Wenrich met Robert August, star of the 1966 surfing documentary The Endless Summer, who moved to town. Still later, Wenrich persuaded the Costa Rican tourism agency to subsidize filming in Tamarindo for the 1994 sequel The Endless Summer II . This film, which began with scenes from Tamarindo, is generally credited for launching a tourism boom that transformed a small fishing village into the tourism center it is today. [3]

Tamarindo was incorporated as a town on November 27, 1995, by Decreto Ejecutivo (English: Executive Order) 24820-G. [2]

"Another watershed moment came in 2003 when the nearby airport at Liberia started handling international flights, putting the town within five hours reach of Miami," Wavelength magazine wrote in 2020. [4]

In 2004, the town's beach was stripped of its Blue Flag designation for pollution. It regained the designation in 2006, but lost it again the following year after water-quality tests conducted by Costa Rica's National Water and Sewer Institute determined that some areas had more than 7,000 times the level of fecal matter considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. [5] After years of work, [6] [7] the town reportedly regained the Blue Flag in 2018. [8]

Geography

Tamarindo has an area of 125.86 square kilometres (48.59 sq mi) [9] and an elevation of 27 metres (89 ft). [1]

Settlements

Besides Tamarindo, towns in the district include Villarreal, Santa Rosa, Garita Nueva, Hernández, Hucus, Flamingo and San José de Pinilla. [10]

Villareal

The nearby town of Villareal has a public elementary school and high school, two full-size soccer fields, multiple restaurants, two large stores, multiple hardware stores, a police station, a church, several car-repair shops, and a gas station.

Langosta

Just east of the centre of Tamarindo, there is a three-way intersection. To the left is the road that leads to the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, and also a secondary exit from Tamarindo. To the right is the road that leads to Playa Langosta.

Playa Grande

To the north of Tamarindo is Playa Grande, typically accessed by crossing the marine park estuary via a water taxi, or via a 17km drive through Villareal.

Tourism

Beaches

The beaches in the area are generally clean and recent efforts by the government and local business organizations are proving themselves. While the beach has not regained its Blue Flag Status, [11] in September 2008 it did get a clean bill of health from the Costa Rican government. The town is trying to regain its Blue Flag Status. [12]

Surfing

Tamarindo and nearby areas are very popular for surfing, and feature waves from beginner to advanced. [13]

Fishing

Tamarindo is known for world-class fishing, and a variety of captains and charter services are available. Costa Rica requires a fishing license from the INCOPESCA (Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura), the government agency that manages, regulates and promotes fisheries and aquaculture. [14]

Scuba

The Catalinas Islands are one of the most popular spots for scuba diving, due to its wide variety of sea life and its views. [15]

Golf

Golf courses include the Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club, the Reserva Conchal Beach Resort, and Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo. [16]

Culture and arts

There is a night market, food truck park, [17] skate park, and features regular fire conclave performance shows at the beach. [18] [19]

Tamarindo is home to several electronic dance music festivals, including The BPM Festival; [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] and the Ocaso Underground Music Festival. [25] [26]

The town has a small gay bar. [27]

Weather

The town of Tamarindo has essentially two seasons: the wet, generally May to November; and the dry, December to April [28]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.±% p.a.
20003,525—    
20116,375+5.53%
20227,132+1.03%
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos [29]
Centro Centroamericano de Población [30]

Tamarindo's population grew from 6,375 at the 2011 census [31] to 7,861 in the 2020 census. [32] [33]

Transportation

Road transportation

The district is served by:

Airport

Tamarindo is the most accessible location along the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica with an airstrip.

Liberia International Airport is the closest international airport to Tamarindo, about an hour away.

Public transportation

There is a scheduled daily bus service to and from San José, as well as a paved highway to San José, with driving time of 3.5 to 6 hours depending on traffic.

Tamarindo coastline IMGtamarindo.jpg
Tamarindo coastline
Panoramic view of Las Baulas National Marine Park and Playa Grande, located 2 km from downtown Tamarindo. Las Baulas National Marine Park Panorama 3 CRI 08 2009.jpg
Panoramic view of Las Baulas National Marine Park and Playa Grande, located 2 km from downtown Tamarindo.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberia, Costa Rica</span> District in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Liberia is a district and the largest city in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica, located 215 kilometres (134 mi) northwest of the national capital, San José. Part of the Liberia canton, it is a major center for the country's tourism industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golfito</span> District in Golfito canton, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica

Golfito is a district and port town of the Golfito canton, in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, located on the southern Pacific Coast, near the border of Panama.

Tibás is the thirteenth canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The head city of the canton is San Juan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atenas</span> District in Atenas canton, Alajuela province, Costa Rica

Atenas is a district of the Atenas canton, in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. Its urban area is referred as Atenas city.

Desamparados is the 3rd canton in the province of San José in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 118.89 km2 (45.90 sq mi), and had a population of 223,226 in 2022, making it the third most populated among the 81 cantons of Costa Rica. The canton's capital city is also called Desamparados.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacó, Costa Rica</span> District in Garabito canton, Puntarenas province, Costa Rica

Jacó is a district of the Garabito canton, in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. Jacó has a black sand beach that is 4 km (2.5 mi) long and is popular among surfers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cantons of Costa Rica</span> Political subdivision of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 84 cantons, and these are further subdivided into districts. Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities. Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives, all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nosara</span> District in Nicoya canton, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

Nosara is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heredia, Costa Rica</span> Place in Heredia Province, Costa Rica

Heredia is a district in the Heredia canton of Heredia province, Costa Rica. As the seat of the municipality of Heredia canton, it is awarded the status of city, and by virtue of being the city of the first canton, it is the Province Capital of Heredia province as well. It is 10 kilometers to the north of the country's capital, San José.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz (canton), Costa Rica</span> Canton in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

Santa Cruz is a canton in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Santa Cruz district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrillo (canton)</span> Canton in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

Carrillo is a canton in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Filadelfia district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garabito (canton)</span> Canton in Puntarenas province, Costa Rica

Garabito is a canton in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. The head city is in Jacó district.

Sámara is a district of the Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Costa Rica</span>

Tourism in Costa Rica has been one of the fastest growing economic sectors of the country and by 1995 became the largest foreign exchange earner. Since 1999, tourism has earned more foreign exchange than bananas, pineapples and coffee exports combined. The tourism boom began in 1987, with the number of visitors up from 329,000 in 1988, through 1.03 million in 1999, over 2 million in 2008, to a historical record of 2.66 million foreign visitors in 2015. In 2012, tourism contributed with 12.5% of the country's GDP and it was responsible for 11.7% of direct and indirect employment. In 2009, tourism attracted 17% of foreign direct investment inflows, and 13% in average between 2000 and 2009. In 2010, the tourism industry was responsible for 21.2% of foreign exchange generated by all exports. According to a 2007 report by ECLAC, tourism contributed to a reduction in poverty of 3% in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cahuita</span> District in Limón province, Costa Rica

Cahuita is a district of the Talamanca canton, in the Limón province of Costa Rica. It is located on the Caribbean coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Carrillo</span> District in Hojancha canton, Guanacaste province, Costa Rica

Puerto Carrillo is a district of the Hojancha canton, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica.

The 2011 Costa Rican census was undertaken by the National Institute of Statistics and Census in Costa Rica. The semi-autonomous government body, INEC, was created by Census Law No. 7839 on 4 November 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The BPM Festival</span> Annual electronic music festival held in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

The BPM Festival is an annual electronic music festival, held in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Vuelta de Jorco is a district of the Aserrí canton, in the San José province of Costa Rica.

Guácima is a district of the Alajuela canton, in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica.

References

  1. 1 2 "Declara oficial para efectos administrativos, la aprobación de la División Territorial Administrativa de la República N°41548-MGP". Sistema Costarricense de Información Jurídica (in Spanish). 19 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 División Territorial Administrativa de la República de Costa Rica (PDF) (in Spanish). Editorial Digital de la Imprenta Nacional. 8 March 2017. ISBN   978-9977-58-477-5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Surf Sunday: Watch 'Endless Summer II,' A film that popularized Tamarindo". The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate. 2021-07-04. Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  4. ↑ Gartside, Luke (2020-08-19). "After The Endless Summer II: What Happened To The Surf Destinations Featured In The Film?". Wavelength Surf Magazine - since 1981. Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  5. ↑ "Tamarindo Loses Blue Flag Designation". The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate. 2007-11-23. Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  6. ↑ "Tamarindo Costa Rica News". 2012-11-30. Archived from the original on 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2024-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ "Tamarindo Goes For Ecological Blue Flag". Q COSTA RICA. 2017-02-14. Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  8. ↑ "Tamarindo Beach Receives its Hard-Earned Blue Flag". www.stayintamarindo.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  9. ↑ "Área en kilómetros cuadrados, según provincia, cantón y distrito administrativo". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tamarindo". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
  11. ↑ "Home". blueflag.org. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  12. ↑ "Tamarindo News". Archived from the original on 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  13. ↑ "Tamarindo Surf Guide - Surfline".
  14. ↑ "Reseña Histórica de INCOPESCA". Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Acuicultura (in Spanish). 2022-10-15. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  15. ↑ "Visiting the Catalina Islands of Costa Rica". 17 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  16. ↑ "Golf Courses Near Tamarindo Costa Rica". Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  17. ↑ "Jardín Tamarindo Food Truck Park". Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  18. ↑ "About us". Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  19. ↑ "Fire Conclave". Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  20. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ↑ Bain, Katie (2023-09-27). "The BPM Festival Releases 2024 Phase 1 Lineup: See Who's Playing". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  22. ↑ "The BPM Festival: Costa Rica - Festival Lineup, Dates and Location | Viberate.com". www.viberate.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  23. ↑ "BPM Festival Costa Rica 2024 | Music Festival Wizard". Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  24. ↑ Tamayo, Daniel (2023-12-18). "Highlights of BPM Festival: Costa Rica 2024 in Tamarindo". Ultrazonic Magazine (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  25. ↑ "Ocaso Festival 2024 – Underground Music Festival | Ocaso Festival 2024". Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  26. ↑ "The Battle of Tamarindo: How Two Dance Music Festivals Are Vying for the Same Costa Rican Beach Town". Billboard . Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  27. ↑ "Kinky Tamarindo Gay Bar". Kinky Tamarindo Gay Bar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  28. ↑ "Picking the Season for Your Tamarindo Surf Vacation | Iguana Surf". 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  29. ↑ "Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos" (in Spanish).
  30. ↑ Centro Centroamericano de Población de la Universidad de Costa Rica. "Sistema de Consulta a Bases de Datos Estadísticas" (in Spanish).
  31. ↑ "Censo. 2011. Población total por zona y sexo, según provincia, cantón y distrito". Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "Tamarindo (District, Costa Rica) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  33. ↑ "7 luxury travel destinations in Costa Rica". CNN. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original on 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.