Comments on: Tamarindo – Costa Rica – More travels!

By: Concerned adopted tica

Concerned adopted tica — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:31:50 +0000

I agree with you James! Tamarindo used to be VERY beautiful before it became so Americanized and now more of the scum or semi locals(not true locals) only want to see what they can get ($$$$) out of you, much more than EVER before and harass you til you do-is that a way to spend a vacation??? Away from the rat race? And now that they have chased tourism away by this behavior,….they are now stealing from the nice long time locals! Who state that it is usually druggies stealing from everyone. And the police? If things were enforced do you think there would be this huge problem? The police are ticos and should love and respect their country…but they are paid very little. I have friends that grew up in one of the towns close by …. local Ticos and THEY don’t even like to go to Tamarindo anymore, too dangerous. Jaco is really nice as the local government/chamber too has made great strides to clean up the area…Tamarindo needs to do the same- as the word is out, and when they realize how much they have lost without tourism, maybe they will realize they cut their own throats and will then clean up their act and tourism will then return. I agree… about all you had to say about Tamarindo James!

By: James

James — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:38:19 +0000

First of all Costa Rica is a beautiful place and this wasn’t my first time to the Costa Rica. My first trip was to Jaco and loved every minute of it. However, Tamarindo on the other hand is a place I will never consider again. The price of everything is the same as in the states or twice as much. Drug dealers and working girls are everywhere. The food is great, beaches, and views. However, for a true Costa Rican experience go somewhere that’s not so Americanized. Also, for the quote above “if you haven’t been to Tamarindo you are missing out” that’s not a legit statement. Pictures, hotel reviews, etc.. are just a hugh marketing tool used to bait, hook, and sucker you in. By the way I’m a very open minded person, respect all cultures, and thier customs. However, the majority (not all) of the people here look at Americans as $$$$ and will find any way possible to get as much out of you as they can.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:41:47 +0000

This in NO way is a true representation of Tamarindo or Costa Rica….

The beaches are fabulous – the surfing is wicked – the food in the town is out of this world – there is nightlife and loads of fun to be had

A all inclusive experience is NEVER a true representation of any culture…

It is completely unfair to judge this place so harshly especially knowing that you didn’t have the true experience to know what the area is all about and what good it offers….

Tamarindo is a small surfing town – there are three beaches to surf at – depending on your level of ability. There is shopping, tours, fishing, diving, horse riding. Luxury condos and homes to rent and a huge grocery store – just like home! This is a favorite of mine and many others from Northern America.

This area is full of beutiful people – thats because surfers can’t help but look awesome and VERY FEW KIDS!

For those of you who havn’t been to Tamarindo you are truely missing out!

By: Playa Samara

Playa Samara — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:37:49 +0000

Samara Costa Rica is in the growing phase moving from dirt roads to our surf schools. Seriously though, every playa town has it’s ups and downs just keep an open mind and do the research.

By: paul franco

paul franco — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:55:13 +0000

this story really put a bad taste for our plans. to gp to tamarindo, and check it out for apossible move. there will be no inclusives, or maybe nothing. i guess we will have to do more research, i was very surprised to hear something negative about the beaches wow.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:37:41 +0000

I truly love your country… But I won’t be back for a while and probably never be back to Tamarindo until the nasty taste leaves my mouth.

We went to Tamarindo for 2 weeks in March, Yes it was my own fault, I had forgotten Easter was coming so early this year !
Some friends of ours rented a “Gold Coast Villa” up the street from the first pharmacy on the right as you come into town from Liberia, right past the Monkey Bar.

I could not believe how we (Americans) have ruined it. Prices are more than in the states.

You talk about the crime in Tamarindo…We found the ones you really need to watch are the ones hired privately to protect you, i.e. Hotels,Condos & Private Homes.
This so called “Villa”(Compound) had a alarm system,block walls,iron gates with razor wire and 24 hour security guards. A little over kill if you ask me but I didn’t rent the place. You couldn’t get in or out unless you had a key. Wasn’t fun, I got locked “in” one day. We were told all the security was because of some “crack addict” stole a 42″ plasma T.V. a year earlier.

Anyway, One nignt a iphone came up missing that had been on one of the patio tables most of the afternoon, no one in our party of eleven had it… We asked the security guard, He said we most likely left it at a bar ! NOooooo…..Someboby was playing with it about an hour ago !
“Then maybe a Crack Addict came while the gates were open” NOooooo…..Someboby saw you walking around in here a little while ago ! “Yes, I found a gate open”.
We stopped arguing and gave this poor guy the benefit of the doubt…maybe we were wrong because by now the accusations were pointed at him.

Meanwhile, we called the states and had someone email this iphone stating there was a GPS tracking device on it and processing its location to the authorities at this time and to please call this number XXXXXXX.

Well guess what… Our Security Guard called the number on the iphone…he said some guy at a bar near where he lives some 15 km away was trying to sell him a iphone for 40 Colones. He said “I just yanked it out of the guys hand and said this doesn’t belong to you and I know who the owner is”.
At least we were smart enough to email the iphone and tell who ever had it about GPS stuff and he fell for it. And yes, Thank You God, we did get it back !

Other than that episode, most everyone was very plesant and nice. My husband has medical problems and I had to use the help of the pharmacy a couple of times because he had forgotten one of his medications and had a seizure (first and last I hope,really scary for me) while in C.R., they all went out of their way and even had me speak to the doctor once.

We spoke to several Officers and all spoke very good English, one even helped me try and locate a speciality store I was trying to find in one of there strip malls.

A word of caution… Renters beware ! Be very careful and shy away from “Gold Coast Villas” and any other property that advertises security up the ying yang, if it has to have that much security, you shouln’t be there in the first place and never take stuff with you on a vacation that you have to worry yourself sick that it might get stolen. Jewelry ! Your just asking for trouble. If you insist on wearing your weddind ring, go to wal-mart and get a 10k band or costume jewelry.

Save all the impress people stuff for home.
In all the years we’ve traveled,only once has my husbands size 11EEEE New Balance Tennis shoes been stolen 25 years ago in Fiji and that’s because they have no shoes and big feet ! (they didn’t need the money or camera on the night stand above the shoes)

They need to rename Tamarindo to TamaKIDSGO !