A right-hand barrel surf break made famous by the film Endless Summer II.
Playa Negra is a black sand beach near the small town of Los Pargos, about 50 minutes south of Tamarindo by car, known for a fast, hollow right-hand barrel that was featured in the surf film Endless Summer II. The beach is rocky, with tide pools exposed at low tide, and the wave is generally better at high tide since low tide exposes a rocky bottom. It has a strong local surf crowd and few services beyond the handful of restaurants and small hotels scattered around Los Pargos.
Reached via an unpaved, pothole-heavy road off Route 152 near Los Pargos; a high clearance vehicle is recommended, especially in rainy season, with public beach access next to Hotel Playa Negra.
Featured
Tamarindo
Beachfront surf camp in Tamarindo operating since 2001, with ISA-certified instructors and a quiver of 250-plus boards. Packages combine daily lessons or guided surf tours with video coaching, breakfast and airport transfers. Also runs a hotel and restaurant on the same beachfront property.
Tamarindo
A 20-hectare wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary in Portegolpe, a short drive from Tamarindo, caring for injured and rescued animals from Costa Rica and abroad. Guided and self-guided tours run daily and cover each animal's rescue story alongside the center's conservation and release work. A beekeeping tour was added as a newer add-on experience for visitors 14 and older.
Tamarindo
ATV and UTV tours that depart directly from Plaza Avenida Tamarindo, in front of Banco Nacional in the center of town. Routes run one to six hours through tropical dry forest, river crossings, and beaches, including stops at Puerto Viejo, Playa Real, and Playa Minas. Each driver must show a driver's license and a credit card security deposit is required.