Hotel Luamey is a three-and-a-half-pearl property located in the bustling surf town of Tamarindo. The hotel’s eight guest rooms are stylish yet cozy, and all have furnished balconies or terraces. The hotel's serene pool and intimate restaurant feel secluded from Tamarindo’s lively nightlife scene, yet the town’s bars, shops, and beach, can all be reached in less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The property also offers a limited gym and free parking and Wi-Fi. Travelers would do well to compare rates and amenities at the equally beautiful Tamarindo Bay Boutique Hotel nearby.

JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa is a four-and-a-half pearl hotel located on Playa Mansita beach. The resort’s 310 guest rooms are subtly luxurious, offering marble bathrooms and roomy private balconies or terraces. Excellent on-site amenities include a sprawling infinity pool, an array of first-rate dining options, a swanky spa and fitness center, along with access to pretty (if tiny) Playa Mansita. The property earns top marks in all areas, but everything, from the restaurants to the minibars, is expensive. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the equally fabulous Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. 

Family-owned Casa Cook is a comfortable mid-range beachfront property with only four units, two of which face the ocean. Though not upscale, they are equipped with dining areas and kitchens, and guests are close to town for restaurant and bars -- accessible by walking Playa Tamarindo's sandy shore. The wide beach is great for young ones with safe swimming conditions and consistent waves for learning to surf (there's also a pool). A friendly staff is available around the clock, and the entire place can be reserved for groups. Wi-Fi is spotty for those who need to get work done, however. 

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.

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.

Hacienda Pinilla is a sprawling, estate-like, gated community of private homes and villas. It is packed with features: Guests have access to a variety of country club style amenities, including tennis, golf, horseback riding, and a stylish beach club with a restaurant, pool, and small spa. The development's isolated location and natural landscape deliver a true hacienda ambience as well as the chance to see abundant wildlife, but guests need a car to reach the action in Tamarindo, a 30-minute drive away. For more food options immediately nearby, guests can head to the JW Marriott.