Tamarindo is the kind of place where you don’t have to look for something to: Tamarindo nightlife finds you. Everywhere you go, almost anywhere you look – there’s a bar, a restaurant, or a hangout where you can spend your evening hours.
That said, everyone has their favorites. Here are a few of ours.
Must See: Tamarindo Night Market & Feria
Ferias, or farmer’s markets, are a Costa Rican staple. And nowhere are they more enjoyable than right here in Tamarindo, where the feria becomes a night market complete with live music, international food, and artisan vendors selling jewelry, clothes, art, and so much more.
Open every Thursday from 6-9 p.m., this is our version of the feria gone wild. Only, instead of carrots and mangos, you’ll snack on arepas and empanadas, pizza and pulled pork, lasagna and cocktails. And then, there are the fire dancers and the traditional dancers, the DJs and the clowns – the absolutely everything you need to enjoy an open-air night out on the town!
And hey, if you’re also looking for the more traditional feria, we have that, too. (It’s on Saturday mornings!)
Stay: La Perla 154
3 Beds | 3 Baths | Sleeps 6
Luxury amenities meet the eco-lifestyle at La Perla 154, a spacious fifth-floor luxury condo just two blocks to wide, sandy beach, downtown, and Tamarindo nightlight.
For here, overlooking lush green hillsides and the dotted rooftops of Tamarindo, where the Pacific is almost close enough to reach out and touch, La Perla 154 frames sapphire views of Tamarindo Bay, passing sailboats (and the occasional humpback whale), and what may be some of the world’s most spectacular sunsets.
Step inside and into a world of creature comforts: a chef’s kitchen and resort pool, three bedroom suites and a shaded balcony in the round, a striking color palette and again, those views. Because they are everywhere and undeniable. And outside, La Perla’s community amenities, including 24-hour security, expansive lobby, Schindler elevators, a sparkling resort pool, and an owners’ clubhouse with ocean-view sun terrace.
All this, just minutes to all things Tamarindo. Set on a hilltop and yet, just a short ride down to the center of town – to restaurants and nightlife, to shopping and activities, and to everywhere you want to be in charming Tamarindo town center.
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Tamarindo Nightlife Must Dance: Tuesday Night Salsa
Costa Ricans love to dance. And by love, we mean that dance is a part of almost every Costa Rican cultural event and holiday. This rhythmic art is a thread woven through the tapestry of Costa Rican life. And it’s something everyone should try, at least once!
While in Costa Rica, you’re most likely to hear one of three styles of Latin music: merengue (fast and frenetic), cumbia (da-da-da da-da-da, you’ll want to jump to the beat!), and salsa (a bit slower, not so bouncy). Of the three, salsa is typically the easiest to pick up (especially if you’ve ever taken a high school ballroom dance class).
If that’s the case, then head to Utopia, where you can take some basic salsa classes and then, get dancing! Every Tuesday.
Must Experience: Weekend Parties at Pacifico
If delicious eats and great drinks aren’t enough to lure you to Pacifico Bar, then its Tamarindo nightlife options should do the trick!
Every Friday and Saturday night, this beloved Tamarindo mainstay hosts a dance-and-music party that will have you feeling the beach life right down to your soul. As the sun goes down and the moon comes up, you can drink and dance and laugh and enjoy the balmy night air and tropical beat. It’s pretty perfect!
Stay: Casa Calico
4 Beds | 3 Baths | Sleeps 12
It’s not often you find a place like Casa Calico. Nestled into the beating heart of Tamarindo, this intimate home has absconded to its own private world – one made of cool waters and whispering palms, private gardens and twinkling lights. If you’ve ever wondered where fun-loving fairies and forest sprites go on vacation, our bets are here.
Because Casa Calico offers a spectacular walled sanctuary that affords both a walkable downtown location and the luxury of privacy. From its sparkling pool and shaded patio to the chef’s kitchen and graceful indoor-outdoor living spaces, this home instills both wow and wonder – a not-oft-found blend of exhilaration and serenity.
Ideal for small groups and multigenerational travelers, the property is separated into a main home (3 bedrooms) and an independent poolside casita (1 bedroom), joined by the pool terrace. It’s just minutes to the beach and a secret garden, making Tamarindo feel like your own personal wonderland.
Specifically, a wonderland just a short walk to all things nightlife: to restaurants and bars, fire dancing and moonlit beach strolls. To everything and anything you want for on vacation, because Tamarindo is that kind of place. And Casa Calico is that kind of home.
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Upscale Tamarindo Nightlife Must: Pangas by Night
When you’re looking for a more refined approach to Tamarindo nightlife, Pangas Beach Club delivers with candlelit dinners, twinkling string lights, and the crash of surf, just a few feet from where you dine.
It’s dinner and drinks. It’s the area’s freshest seafood. And it’s both a consummately chill, yet tropically upscale approach to whiling away your evening hours.
Must See: Friday Night Sunsets at El Vaquero (+ Live Music!)
There’s nothing quite so Tamarindo as a sunset on the beach, unless it’s a sunset on the beach accompanied by live music!
That’s why we consider Friday nights at El Vaquero as some of the best that Tamarindo nightlife has to offer: A relaxed vibe. Good eats (and drinks). Incredible sunsets. And live music, every week. It’s the perfect end to the week, in a perfect place on Earth.
Stay: Las Mareas Villa 1
4 Beds | 4.5 Baths | Sleeps 12
Overlooking the gentle curve of Las Baulas estuary – a privileged point where the horizon kisses the turquoise twins of sea and sky – Las Mareas Villa 1 unfolds over some of Tamarindo’s best views – a skyline that stretches from Tamarindo to the protected shores of Playa Grande.
And here, where you can check the surf conditions from the comfort of your own private balconies and covered terraces, this graceful home rises to deliver the Costa Rican dream: a gourmet kitchen and an infinity-edge pool, a beachy color palette and lush foliage, lightning-fast internet and a front-row seat to the sun’s daily passage across the sky. The sunsets are spectacular! A tropical oasis awaits.
This oasis also comes with convenience and location, too. Set on a hilltop just above Pangas Restaurant & Beach Club, Las Mareas 1 is less than a half-mile to downtown Tamarindo – at once in the heart of it all and far-flung to the inner reaches of secluded paradise. It’s the best of all worlds and just minutes to all of Tamarindo’s cultural and nightlife pursuits.
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Must Relax: Stargazing
Tamarindo nightlife is more than dancing, dining, and fire dancing. Because here, in one of the world’s most beautiful places, nightlife can simply be night life.
And by that, we mean that some nights, there’s no better place to enjoy life than in your own private slice of paradise. Your feet in the pool. Soaking in a hot tub. Lounging on a terrace. Listening the crash of the surf and watching as streaky sunsets fade to twinkling stars. Because here, you see the constellations. You can dine on your own private deck. You can whip up your favorite drinks and serve them in the privacy of your own home and patio. And when it’s time to go to sleep, you can count stars instead of sheep.
Plan Your Tamarindo Vacation
Seeking a little planning know-how? Looking for a great deal? Can’t decide on which of our rentals in Tamarindo, Costa Rica is right for you?
Get in touch! We love to chat Tamarindo, getaways, and vacation rentals. We readily share our experiences and advice. And we promise, we’re friendly, to boot. We look forward to hearing from you!
