We constantly receive complaints about Tamarindo hotels, so choose wisely. Be mindful, most budget hotels have cold water only. Midrange options generally have hot-water bathrooms. The bulk of top-end hotels can arrange tours in the area, and accept credit cards. The rates given are high-season rates; low-season rates can be 25% to 40% lower.
A cluster of garden cabinas makes up this wonderfully reclusive Italian-owned place. Every unit is simply decorated with bamboo and wood, and its hillside location creates a sense of peace and relaxation.
Perched on a hill overlooking the entrance to Tamarindo, this hotel is one of the most popular places in town for well-to-do travelers, and the 33 rooms and suites have all the amenities (and institutionalized blandness) you associate with the Be.
Up the same road as the ‘Milk Bottle’ hostel, this sweet little hotel has several well-appointed rooms done up in dark wood and terra-cotta–tiled floors, with orthopedic mattresses, fully equipped kitchen and hot-water bathroom.
This well-established Tamarindo landmark is known for its popular live-music nights at the bar-restaurant, though it’s also a great place to stay.
Although it’s only 200m from the beach, this German-run establishment is an oasis of serenity in an otherwise frenzied town – it’s also one of the best deals around.
On a hill overlooking Tamarindo, this luxurious French-run hotel has 36 exquisite rooms, each with a sitting area and private patio or balcony. There is a swim-up bar and gorgeous views from the pool deck.
Hidden down a quiet cul-de-sac in a wooded, residential neighborhood, you’ll find a fantastic hostel in a gorgeous yellow hacienda.
The hippest hostel in town has an international crowd. You'll like the super clean, tiled rooms; the funky art on the walls; and the groovy multihued sofa and open kitchen in the common areas. The only demerit: private rooms share baths.
This beachside B&B in nearby Playa Langosta has five rooms of various sizes, each decorated with memorabilia from the owners’ world travels (you can choose between the Caribbean, USA, California, Guatemala or Mexico rooms).
With a relaxed vibe and over-the-top cow theme, this Argentine-run spot is highly recommended for its warm and attentive management, fully air-conditioned rooms and dormitories, and a quiet location at the eastern edge of town.
The 10 rooms here are clean and fairly basic, with shared bathrooms. Though it's on a noisy section of the road, the guys running the place are friendly and offer a variety of services like surfboard rental, internet access and a barbecue area.
This exquisite bed and breakfast on Playa Langosta is set in a stunning faux-dobe Spanish-style posada.
On the southern end of the beach is this Swiss-run hotel, which belongs to the group of Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica.
One of the best deals in town, this underrated property has a variety of cabinas to fit every budget. All have firm beds, colorful patios, slanted beamed ceilings, speckled tile floors, and share a communal kitchen.
This quiet hotel is on the road into Playa Langosta, so you can definitely sleep soundly at night. The hotel itself is a yellow stucco and thatch-roof building that surrounds a beautifully landscaped pool.
