Playa Tamarindo: History

Pre-20th-Century History

Playa Tamarindo is at the northern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, a hook-shaped, beach-fringed strip of land, which has always figured prominently in the history of Costa Rica. Following the independence of Central America from Spain, the peninsula (along with Northwestern Costa Rica) comprised the bulk of Guanacaste, a province of the newly formed country of Nicaragua. However, on 25 July 1824, Guanacastecos voted to secede and join Costa Rica, creating yet another grievance between Nicas and Ticos. Today, the region still holds onto its dream of independence, and it's not uncommon to see the Guanacaste flag flying high.

Although there were several Pre-Colombian populations in the Nicoya peninsula, the most prominent were the Chorotega, which translates to 'Fleeing People'. In fact, the Chorotega arrived on the peninsula around the 8th century BC and are believed to be descendants of the Olmec in Mexico. They were also contemporaries of the Maya and a part of a cultural link extending from Mexico through Central America and to the Andes.

Although their civilization survived for over 2,000 years, the Chorotega were wiped out by warfare and disease during the Spanish colonial period, though their artisan tradition is still evident amongst the surviving indigenous populations of Peninsula de Nicoya.

Modern History

Once a haven for hippies and turtles, chilled out Tamarindo soon became known in surfing circles as its reputation for awesome surf breaks grew. In the immortal classic Endless Summer II , Patrick and Wingnut stopped here to visit their buddy Robert August (who still leaves here).

Poor roads and slow ferries kept visitor numbers and development in check for a few years, but rapidly growing traveler numbers and the construction of the Friendship Bridge, as well as the new international airport in Liberia, have caused a tourism explosion. Today, record numbers of foreigners are flocking to the region and not all of them go home - the price of real-estate these days in places like Tamarindo is rapidly becoming akin to Miami Beach.

Recent History

The new cashed-up breed of traveler has changed the face of Playa Tamarindo from a small beach town into a well-to-do (and oh so fashionable!) suburb of North American and European ex-pats.

Today, it is one of the most rapidly changing areas in Costa Rica. Playa Tamarindo is slowly earning its place on glossy leaflets in travel agencies throughout the world, while the coastline, which was once the domain of the leatherback turtle, is increasingly occupied by the leather handbag.

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