In 1998, I decided to visit Costa Rica. These were the olden days, so I got a travel book on the country. I flipped through it and settled on a trip to Arenal Volcano, and then Tamarindo Beach. I enjoyed the rainforest and volcano, but I fell in love with Tamarindo Beach. After that Costa Rica vacation, I made four more trips to Tamarindo Beach. By April 1999, I made the decision to move. I lived in Tamarindo Beach by October.
Why Tamarindo Beach?
Before my move I lived in New York City. That’s an amazing place with culture, style and LOTS of buildings. Tamarindo had fresh air, beautiful weather, and soothing ocean waves. I relaxed in a way I hadn’t in many years. Of course, the early days were challenging. No telephones, no internet, no television, unpaved roads, one small grocery store—when they ran out of something, that was it. One small bank with long lines. There were no pharmacies, ATM, or much creature comfort. Yet, there was the sunset every day, more or less at the same time. We’d all gather at the beach to watch the golden globe sink below the horizon while the sky erupted in a wonderous color palate.
I learned to surf. The waves were world renowned. I ran the beach. So many to choose from like Avellanas, Grande and Langosta. I was an early adaptor to telecommuting because I lived in a hotel that had telephone that I could use to dial up internet in the US.
Why I stayed
Over the years, more visitors flocked to the growing number of hotels, restaurants and rental condominiums and homes. Tamarindo Beach’s number of tour businesses grew as well. More sportfishing, surf schools, excursion operators came around. The local population increased. We got a huge supermarket called Automercardo. They paved the main road, and miracle of miracle, after a long wait, the road from Tamarindo Beach to the nearby homestead community of Langosta. Cable companies set up shop, internet—even fiber optics—came to town, and banks with ATMs, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, yoga studios, gyms, just about everything you need to make life comfortable landed here. And we got a movie theater, which we hope reopens soon.
For me, I became a travel agent for Costa Rica Vacations, a journalist for local and national newspapers and magazines. My focus was the Tamarindo community as well as the national surf scene. I still surf, run the beach, and now practice yoga. I moved back into the hotel, Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas, which is an affiliate of our travel agency.
Life is good. Come visit Tamarindo Beach. You will be very happy, and more than that, you will relax.
