Tamarindo in December has two faces. The first weeks are a gift: the rain stops, the sun returns and the countryside is still green from the wet season. Then, from around Christmas to New Year, the town becomes one of the busiest beach destinations in the country. Knowing which December you are visiting makes all the difference to how you plan your tours.
Short answer: December is the start of the dry season in Tamarindo, with mostly sunny days, little rain and breezier afternoons. It is peak high season, especially between Christmas and New Year, so book tours and private boats early. Turtle activity is still strong: the leatherback season is at its high point, although sightings are now rare, our baby turtle release tour is running and arribadas can still occur at Ostional.
Tamarindo weather in December: the dry season arrives
In most years, the rain ends in late November or early December. Skies clear, humidity drops and the sun becomes intense from mid-morning on.
Two changes are typical of the month:
- Wind. The trade winds pick up, and breezy or windy afternoons become common, especially late in the month.
- A drying landscape. Early December is still green. As the weeks pass, the dry forest begins to lose its leaves, a process that continues into the new year.
Sunsets are clear and come early, around 5:30 pm. For the complete year, see our guide to the best time to visit Tamarindo.
Christmas and New Year in Tamarindo: peak season
December brings together two groups of travelers. International visitors arrive for the high season, and Costa Rican families start their long school vacations, since the school year ends in December.
- First half of December: sunny and lively, but still relaxed. Booking tours a few days ahead is usually enough.
- From around 20 December to 1 January: the busiest days of the year. Shared tours fill up, restaurants are full and traffic in town is slower.
- Christmas and New Year: many families travel in large groups, so private boats are in high demand.
Tamarindo in December: turtles in the first dry weeks
- Leatherbacks: December and January are usually the strongest months of the season at Playa Grande. An honest note: the population has declined sharply, and seeing one is now rare. Access to the nesting beach of Las Baulas is restricted during the season, so our night tour goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús.
- Olive ridley and black turtles: the species seen most often on our nesting tour.
- Baby turtle releases: our sunset release tour runs in December, a good option for families with children who would not stay up for a night tour.
- Ostional: arribadas can still occur in December; ask us on WhatsApp before you plan the trip.
Our guide to the best time to see turtles in Guanacaste has the full calendar. Sightings are never guaranteed.
What our guides see on the estuary in December
Sunny mornings bring the crocodiles out onto the mud banks, which makes December one of the easiest months to photograph them. Herons, egrets and migrant shorebirds feed along the channels, and ospreys hunt over the open water.
The mangroves stay green all year, but in the dry forest the first bare branches start to appear. Toward the end of the month, howler monkeys become a little easier to spot among the thinning leaves.
How wind, sun and tides shape December tours
- The tide sets the time. Boat and kayak tours leave with the high tide, which changes every day, and we confirm the time by WhatsApp after you book.
- Afternoon tides are back. With little rain, an afternoon departure is comfortable and can end in golden light.
- Wind and the kayak. Breezy afternoons can make paddling harder, so morning tides are the better choice for kayaking. The mangrove channels are more sheltered than the open beach.
- Sun. Midday sun is strong; a morning or late-afternoon tour is more comfortable for children and older travelers.
Booking for the holidays: a checklist
- Send us your dates early on WhatsApp, especially for 20 December to 1 January.
- Reserve private boats first if you travel with a large family group.
- Book shared tours online with the deposit as soon as your plans are set.
- Bring cash in US dollars or colones for the balance on the tour day.
- Know the policy: cancel at least 24 hours before departure and we refund the deposit.
What to pack for Tamarindo in December
- High-protection sunblock, a hat and sunglasses.
- A light long-sleeved shirt for sun protection on the boat.
- A light layer for breezy evenings on the beach.
- Long pants for horseback riding.
- Comfortable beach clothes and repellent, applied well before a turtle release.
Things to do in Tamarindo in December: best tours
- Tamarindo boat tour (shared): $40 per person, 2 hours, minimum 2 people, children 2 and under free, pickup from Tamarindo or Langosta included. Deposit $15 per person.
- Private boat tour in Tamarindo for up to 16 people: $1,200 per boat, 2 hours, with a bilingual naturalist guide, coconut water and beers if you like. Deposit $240. A boat for up to 10 people costs $800. See our guide to private boat tours in Tamarindo for groups.
- Baby turtle release in Tamarindo: $50 per person, minimum 2 people, departure at 3:30 pm. Deposit $10 per person.
- Boat and horseback combo in Tamarindo: $80 per person, minimum 2 people, a ride to ocean viewpoints and along the beach followed by the estuary boat tour; the length depends on the tide. More in our Tamarindo horseback riding guide.
Planning around the holidays? Compare with Tamarindo in November, greener and calmer, or Tamarindo in January, dry and still busy.
Spending the holidays in Tamarindo? Reserve early with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey: book online with the deposit and pay the balance on the tour day, or write to us on WhatsApp with your dates and group size.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Private Boat Tour · up to 16 people$1,200 per boatSee tour and book →
Sunset & Baby Turtle Release$50 per personSee tour and book →
Estuary and Horseback Combo$80 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Tamarindo in December?
December is the start of the dry season: mostly sunny days, little rain and breezier afternoons, especially later in the month. The landscape is still green at the beginning of December and slowly starts to dry.
How far ahead should I book tours for Christmas and New Year in Tamarindo?
Between Christmas and New Year, book as early as you can: shared tours fill up, and private boats for large groups are limited. Reserve online with the deposit, and pay the balance on the tour day.
Is there a baby turtle release in Tamarindo in December?
Yes, our Sunset and Baby Turtle Release tour runs in December. It departs at 3:30 pm from Tamarindo; the conservation project decides when and where the hatchlings are released, so the number varies.
Can I see leatherback turtles in December?
December is one of the strongest months of the leatherback season at Playa Grande, but sightings are now rare because the population has declined sharply. Our night nesting tour goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús, where olive ridley and black turtles are seen most often.
What is the best private tour for a family group in December?
The private boat tour in the Tamarindo estuary takes up to 10 people for $800 or up to 16 people for $1,200, with a bilingual naturalist guide for 2 hours. It is the easiest way to keep a holiday group together.
More Tamarindo guides
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in January: Weather, Crowds, Turtles and ToursTamarindo in January: dry, sunny and windy weather, peak season crowds, nesting turtles, how the tide sets the estuary tour and what to pack.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in February: Dry Skies, Clear Nights and the Best ToursTamarindo in February: one of the driest months, fewer local crowds once schools reopen, turtles, monkeys in the bare dry forest and the tours that fit best.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in March: Heat, Easter Week Crowds and the Best ToursTamarindo in March: hot and very dry, Easter week (Semana Santa) and spring break crowds, nesting iguanas and crocodiles, tides and the best tours to book.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in April: The Hottest Month, Quieter Beaches and Smart ToursTamarindo in April: the hottest end of the dry season, quieter weeks after Easter, first rains, wildlife in the bare forest and tours timed to beat the heat.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in May: First Rains, Green Hills and the Start of Turtle SeasonTamarindo in May: the first rains turn the dry forest green, low season brings quiet tours, olive ridley nesting increases and small Ostional arribadas begin.
Tamarindo month by monthTamarindo in June: Green Season, Fuller Waterfalls and Turtle NightsTamarindo in June: bright mornings and afternoon storms, a lush green estuary, waterfalls filling up, olive ridley nesting and quiet tours before July.