We love our Tamarindo beach, as you can lie down in a nice beach chair under an umbrella, have a drink in one of the nice beach bars or even choose between different ice cream places. But sometimes, we also like it a bit quieter. Here are some recommendations for close by beaches which are accessible by car or taxi.
Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is around a 30-minutes’ drive from Tamarindo. It’s a beautiful beach with nice soft sand and many nice restaurants. Usually, there are not as many people as in Tamarindo and the water is calmer as in Tamarindo. Perfect for families with little kids.

Playa Penca
This is a beautiful beach and more secluded than the other ones. Most of the time, there are not many people and you can enjoy a relaxing and quiet beach day. However, it is possible to drive there by car on a decent road. Make sure to bring your own snacks and drinks, as there is no restaurant on the beach. We love the different shades of blue at this awesome beach.

Playa Grande
The closest one to Tamarindo. Either you can cross the Estuary in Tamarindo by boat and walk a bit on the beach. However, to the next restaurant it’s quite far. So if you want to stay in a place at the beach near where you could have lunch, you should drive to Playa Grande by car or taxi. The beach is huge and perfect for some nice walks on the shore or to hit some waves.
