Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel is a three-pearl, adult-only hotel located a short walk from lively downtown Tamarindo. The hotel’s nine guest rooms feature stylish, minimalist decor with a Zen feel and understated color schemes. The eco-friendly outdoor pool and common area have a refined, relaxing feel, and a wonderful free breakfast buffet is served on a scenic second-floor terrace. Other freebies include use of bikes, snorkel gear, and boogie boards. The hotel’s location on a gravel road isn’t particularly inspiring, but it’s under a 10-minute walk to the shops, restaurants, bars, and beach of central Tamarindo. Travelers looking for a hotel with direct beach access might also consider Sueno del Mar Beachfront Bed & Breakfast.  

Sueno del Mar Beachfront Bed & Breakfast is a three-pearl bed-and-breakfast located on Langosta Beach. This small property’s four rooms and two casitas feature distinctive Central American decor, whitewashed walls, and vaulted wooden ceilings. Nestled amid tropical plant life, the small pool and beach have a private, secluded feel. And the hearty free breakfast served on an airy patio is well above-average. The property's location in the town of Langosta feels out-of-the-way, but the nightlife and shopping of Tamarindo is about a 20-minute walk or a short drive away. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel.

Hotel Villa Amarilla is a funky, laid-back, eight-room, budget-oriented bed-and-breakfast with a surfer vibe, a prime beachfront location, and colorful, friendly owners who go out of their way to make guests feel at home. The hotel lacks a pool, but the ocean and Tamarindo’s famous surf break is just steps outside the back gate. Rooms are basic and bright, individualized by colorful murals of sea life and sunsets. Guests can prepare meals in the communal outdoor kitchen or walk to Tamarindo for a variety of dining options. Hotel Arco Iris is a similar option that does have a pool, but it's not nearly as close to the beach.

Hotel Arco Iris is an immaculate, mid-range, 13-room boutique hotel with a sparkling pool, a restaurant run by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and perfectly manicured gardens. Located just outside the noise of Tamarindo, yet still within walking distance to the nightlife and beach, Hotel Arco Iris offers rustic-chic private bungalows with hammocks and Deluxe Rooms with terraces that overlook the gardens. If ocean views are a must, The Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas has ocean views and lower rates, but its pool gets noisy and its rooms are drab. 

Tamarindo Hostel Resort is a practical, two-pearl property located in the heart of Tamarindo. The hostel’s 16 dorms and private rooms are no-frills but tidy, with all offering AC. There’s an inviting upstairs common area with dining tables and hammocks, plus a sizable shared kitchen -- but no pool. The hostel’s atmosphere is relaxed and social, and there are tons of bars and restaurants in the neighborhood for guests looking to party. Budget travelers searching for a property with direct beach access could consider Hotel La Laguna del cocodrilo, though it also lacks a pool.

This 18-room, no-frills surfing mecca sits on a prime stretch of Tamarindo Beach perfect for learning to surf. The vibe is friendly, laid-back, and fun. Guests are encouraged to kick back in the two lively restaurants, the brewery, or the tiny pool. There's also a busy surf shop that outfits guests with surfing gear. Rooms are bare-bones basic, lacking clocks, TVs, and adequate lighting, but that’s part of the plan. Guests don’t come to Witch’s Rock to lounge on high-thread-count sheets (they're pretty thin) or linger in luxurious bathrooms (hot water is sporadic), they come to hone their surfing skills and embrace the camaraderie and campy lifestyle that goes along with the sport.

Seis Playas Hotel is a 25-room budget chain hotel with a huge pool, an on-site restaurant, and a 24-hour lobby. The hotel features basic, cottage-style rooms with private terraces entwined with pink bougainvillea, most with views of the pool. While not located on the beach, the beaches of Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo are within a 10-minute drive. Those looking for ocean views and closer beach proximity may prefer the similarly priced Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas. 

This budget-friendly hotel in Tamarindo has 22 rooms in two types: Standard and Deluxe. Tropical grounds include an outdoor pool, and guests are within walking distance of great beaches with consistent waves for surfing. Simple rooms have air-conditioning, small flat-screen TVs, pillow-top mattresses, and furnished patios (mini-fridges are available for an extra fee). The restaurant, Monkey La-La, is under a palapa roof and serves free breakfast before turning into a bar and restaurant with regular musicians that attract an outside crowd. Noise from the bar might disturb early sleepers, so this is not the best option little ones. Friendly staff can arrange affordable activities and shuttles to the airport, and there is free Wi-Fi.

Pura Vida Hostel is a two-pearl hostel located right in the center of Tamarindo, close to the beach, dining, and nightlife. Its nine private rooms and dorms are basic, but tidy and colorful, and most have air-conditioning and hand-painted wall art. The small property has an airy common area and two well-stocked communal kitchens. Freebies here are quite generous, including loaner surfboards and bikes, Wi-Fi, and morning coffee. Though it's not a party hostel, there are ample bars and restaurants within a five-minute walk. Travelers looking to surf may want to compare rates and amenities with nearby Witch's Rock Surf Camp, which offers surf classes and has two restaurants and a brewery on-site.

Hotel Tamarindo Diria is a popular, three-and-a-half-pearl hotel located in downtown Tamarindo. The hotel’s 239 guest rooms are clean and pleasant, although not all have balconies and some lack natural light. Tamarindo Diria’s extensive facilities, which include four pools, six a la carte and buffet restaurants, and dozens of shops, are spread across both sides of Tamarindo’s main street. The hotel offers direct access to scenic Playa Tamarindo beach, but guests with rooms on the far side of the property need to cross the street to get there. Travelers who would prefer a quieter location, off the main strip, might consider Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel. 

This affordable all-inclusive resort by Spain-based Barcelo has 198 rooms and suites on the far end of Tamarindo, with access to a rugged beach, large outdoor pool, and manicured grounds. The main restaurant (though repetitive) offers all three meals buffet-style; there's also a snack bar, as well as an à la carte restaurant -- free for guests who stay three nights or more. Basic rooms include sodas and drinking water, and two bars serve national liquors, house wines, and draft beer. A schedule of activities keeps guests entertained, culminating each night with two shows in the amphitheater -- one for kids, one for adults -- and then the ubiquitous disco. Service at this hotel seems to be more genuine that some other Barcelo properties. Parking is free, but guests who require consistent Wi-Fi should look elsewhere.

A 33-room budget-oriented hotel in need of updating, the Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas is one of the first hotels visitors to Tamarindo notice as they make their way to town. Perched on a rocky hill, across the street from Tamarindo Beach and the estuary that separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande, the hotel is popular with surfers, families, and partygoers, who flock to the hotel's Crazy Monkey Bar for its famous Friday night poolside dance party. Rooms are small and a bit dreary, although some have airy terraces and ocean views. The pool is frequently crowded with yelling kids, so those seeking a quieter, more relaxing atmosphere may want to consider other comparably priced hotels in Tamarindo such as the more intimate Hotel Arco Iris.

Both affordable and stylish, Hotel Nahua delivers more than the average mid-range option. Nahua’s 10 clean rooms have a simple industrial chic vibe with poured concrete floors and crisp white bedding. There’s an on-site health cafe, a beautiful pool, and free Wi-Fi, plus the hotel’s hands-on owner is always available to help guests during their stay. Hotel Nahua’s quiet location is ideal for travelers who want to be within walking distance of the beach and downtown Tamarindo, but don’t mind being slightly removed from the center of the action. Rooms could definitely use more lighting, and we wish the on-site restaurant was open year-round, but for the price, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value in Tamarindo. It’s worth comparison shopping with Hotel Pasatiempo across the street, which has warmly decorated rooms but is typically pricier.  

Hotel La Laguna del cocodrilo is a low-key, two-and-a-half-pearl property located on Playa Tamarindo beach. The hotel’s eight rooms and suites are basic but inviting, and some offer private balconies or patios. The direct access to Playa Tamarindo is the property’s stand-out feature, with a little bakery and a quality restaurant further enhancing its appeal. Although there’s no pool and the path to the beach isn’t always easily accessible, La Laguna represents one of the best deals in Tamarindo. Budget travelers may also want to check out Casa Cook, but La Laguna’s rates are usually better. 

Sunrise Condos of Tamarindo is a three-pearl condo complex located in downtown Tamarindo. While not upscale, the complex’s 52 two-, three-, and four-bedroom units are inviting and well-equipped, all offering full kitchens, separate living areas, multiple bathrooms, as well as washers and dryers. Like many condo complexes, in-room features are the selling point here, with few on-site amenities aside from a nice outdoor pool and kids' pool. Although there’s not much to do on the property, its central location in Tamarindo puts guests within easy walking distance of dining, nightlife, and the beach. Travelers seeking more on-site features might want to compare rates and amenities with Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas, which offers a restaurant, a spa, and free yoga classes -- but it's a 20-minute walk to downtown Tamarindo.