Tamarindo Beach , Guanacaste is the most accessible location along the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica with an airstrip serviced 7 days a week from San José by two airlines: SANSA, the national airline, and Travelair, a private regular schedule airline. Private charter services are available as well. Scheduled daily bus service to and from San José , as well as surrounding communities, is available by a variety of companies. There is also a paved highway from San José for those who wish to rent a car and drive the countryside (4-5 hrs. to Tamarindo).

The new international airport in Liberia , Guanacaste is now open to international arrivals, currently flights to and from Miami . The airport is just a 45 minute drive from Tamarindo.

Tamarindo Beach is part of a bay formed by a cape, Cabo Velas (velas is Spanish for sails or sailfish). Playa Grande lies to the north of Tamarindo Beach inside the bay. The two beaches are separated by a natural salt water estuary, Estero Tamarindo. South of Tamarindo Bay there is another beautiful estuary and beach, Playa Langosta.

Both Playa Grande and Playa Langosta are protected nesting areas for the giant leatherback turtle, and are part of the Costa Rican national park system . These beaches are the major nesting areas worldwide for the turtles, which arrive from October to March to lay their eggs. Tours led by official guides are available to take visitors to see this incredible spectacle. Another very special tour is the jungle boat ride. Small groups are ferried on locally built skiffs deep into the mysterious mangrove forest, where a breathtaking diversity of birds, mammals, and reptiles can be seen.