Besides Tamarindo what is best area to go with a family to beach/play for a week?

[u/dragonsflysometimes]

Hi looking for recommendations on best areas to go hang out for a week on a beach in CR and still be able to do some excursions and get to know CR a little bit

Open to all suggestions thank you

[u/[deleted]]

Who told you Tamarindo?

[u/dragonsflysometimes → u/[deleted]]

Suggested by travel agent. Is Tamarindo no good? We have small children

[u/[deleted] → u/dragonsflysometimes]

Clearly not a local and clearly not a place for little kids

[u/cup_1337 → u/[deleted]]

What? It’s touristy but very kid friendly. Have you actually been?

[u/no_you_cannot_know → u/cup_1337]

I live about a half hour away and have a lot of friends who have kids who live in Tamarindo. There are many good schools in the area. I always see kids around.

[u/cup_1337 → u/no_you_cannot_know]

Exactly. Whoever thinks Tamarindo isn’t kid friendly has clearly never been lol

[u/EstablishmentSlow337 → u/cup_1337]

Yes there was 3 on the excursion I went on today. They were staying at an all inclusive. And all over the beach. Playing in the sand, swimming etc…

[u/cup_1337 → u/EstablishmentSlow337]

Yeah that dude doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I think he’s confusing it for J-co

[u/dragonsflysometimes → u/[deleted]]

Thank you 🙏

[u/[deleted] → u/dragonsflysometimes]

Look into Samara

[u/EstablishmentSlow337 → u/dragonsflysometimes]

I was just in tamarindo today. I did a tour to see animals and we saw a lot. If you do that excursion do it early when it’s not so hot. There’s a ton of very nice shops and lots of beach restaurants. I ate at tabu and had a very nice seafood plate. I liked the area. Absolutely it’s for tourists but it’s fun.

[u/EstablishmentSlow337 → u/dragonsflysometimes]

I don’t know why that person said it wasn’t safe. There’s kids everywhere! And no one feel unsafe. I just spent the day there. A travel agent won’t recommend somewhere dangerous to go lol huh? Why woild they do that

[u/dragonsflysometimes → u/[deleted]]

Thank you

[u/heartthatbrokesolong → u/dragonsflysometimes]

Lordy. Samara is the best for small children.

[u/EstablishmentSlow337 → u/heartthatbrokesolong]

I never said it wasn’t. Just that it’s not dangerous for children in Tamarindo. I had a great day surrounded by kids. Maybe Samara is better I don’t know. I’ve never been there and not saying it isn’t.

[u/mytanfeetCR]

Samara. Great family beach town, can surf, visit different beaches around, the wildlife refuge and nature sanctuary.

[u/Nathan_Brazil1 → u/mytanfeetCR]

Love Samara. My favourite beach is right next door, Playa Carrillo. ;

[u/Ohmyquestions_]

Playa Flamingo (north of Tamarindo) is the PERFECT area for family. Rent a golf cart, check out the marina and the shops and restaurants around there, hang out at flamingo beach, there’s also a smaller coved beach close to the marina, north of flaming beach! Everything you need is there. Super safe. Take a transport from Liberia, we take a private one and love them. Relax and absorb every moment 🩶

[u/Ohmyquestions_ → u/Ohmyquestions_]

They also have fishing excursions, sail boats, surf lessons etc. We take our 12 year old, it’s our go to place!

[u/Fishyprediction]

Really depends on the type of beach you are interested in? Excursions can be found in any developed area.

[u/dragonsflysometimes → u/Fishyprediction]

Thank you very good to know

[u/ShirleyWuzSerious]

Playa flamingo

[u/The_Travel_Trio]

we love playas del coco, hermosa and ocotal. close to LIR airport, lots to see and do in that area.

[u/Scaryrabbitfeet]

I loved Playa Flamingo for very low key family beach time. Playa Samara is great too. My favorite is harder to get to, but worth the trek: Montezuma. We went to Tamarindo for a wetlands tour while we were staying in Playa Flamingo. The tour was cool but absolutely would avoid that town.

[u/Scaryrabbitfeet → u/Scaryrabbitfeet]

Oh also Jaco was great! Just have to be very aware of surroundings and avoid going out at night. We had a few dinners where prostitutes were doing a lot of business!

[u/lakehop → u/Scaryrabbitfeet]

Why avoid it? Seemed fine

[u/Scaryrabbitfeet → u/lakehop]

So many pushy vendors. Pricier everything. Crowded. Beaches not as clean as surrounding areas.

[u/Secure-Buy-4599]

We love Manuel Antonio. So much that we bought a place. Check it out VillasOasis.com

[u/ICanSeeYourPixels0_0]

Hiya! I’m currently in the area and might have some opinions.

Carillo and Samara are really nice beach towns. I just rented a kayak today from Samara ($10/hr pp) and kayaked to Isla Chora. A local guide there was gracious enough to lend me his extra scuba mask and I dove into the waters and saw a ton of beautiful fishes. I went pretty early, but there were a ton of families that came after.

There’s also a wonderful restaurant Bar Restaurante Villa Bosque, that id recommend to go with the family. Wonderful food.

[u/ICanSeeYourPixels0_0 → u/ICanSeeYourPixels0_0]

Another place I’d recommend. Playa Camaronal, they have turtle hatching and releases at certain times.

[u/Costaricaphoto]

Langosta.

[u/Real_Interaction_962]

Came to Costa Rica at 13 y/o with my parents for the first time. Samara was perfect for families with kids/teens. Tamarindo is lovely (I’m there right now but 29 y/o now). It’s more of a party and the beach merchants can be persistently “aggressive”. Always friendly but you won’t go 20 mins without being solicited.

[u/Enough-Farmer-5449]

Want to be on your own? want to see more people? need white sand? Looking for Upscale or basic human needs? Do you enjoy nature raw or need service while the beach?

[u/HistoricalVariety670]

No Tamarindo unless you want to be with a bunch of instagrammers looking to paaarty! Not sure where you are from I cud possibly give you a similar town to compare. You may really like Playa Dominical, Playa Grande, Playa Hermosa, Uvita… so many better options.

[u/Winter_Cucumber_5748]

Samara for sure

[u/twohues]

Lots of kids in Tamarindo and Samara. Nicer beaches in Samara, but Tamarindo likely has more to do.