This Tamarindo 7-day itinerary is the plan our team at Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey suggests when guests tell us they have a full week. It combines two ways of exploring the estuary, two days inland, turtles in season and real time on the beach.
Every morning our guides check one thing before anything else: the tide. It decides when boats and kayaks can enter the mangrove, and over a week it moves by several hours. A good plan uses that movement instead of fighting it.
Short answer: arrive and rest on day 1; take the estuary boat tour at high tide on day 2; go to Rincón de la Vieja on day 3; paddle the mangroves on day 4; take a second day trip on day 5; ride horses and join the sunset turtle release on day 6; and keep day 7 free. The tours in this plan cost $540 per person, and online you only pay the deposits.
Your week in Tamarindo at a glance
- Day 1: arrival, beach walk and sunset.
- Day 2: estuary boat tour at high tide.
- Day 3: full day at Rincón de la Vieja volcano.
- Day 4: kayak in the mangroves; turtle nesting tour at night in season.
- Day 5: La Leona waterfall or sloths and Llanos de Cortés.
- Day 6: horseback ride and sunset baby turtle release.
- Day 7: free day before you leave.
How the tide moves through one week
Boat and kayak tours in the estuary leave with the high tide, when the channels are deep enough to enter. High tide arrives about 50 minutes later each day. A tide at 7 am on Monday will be close to noon by Saturday.
For a long stay this is good news: some day of your week will always suit the estuary. Our guide to the Tamarindo tide schedule explains the pattern. The practical rule is to book the tours with fixed times first and let us place the estuary tours on the days with the best tide:
- Full-day trips: departures between 6 and 7 am, returns between 3:30 and 6 pm.
- Turtle nesting tour: pickup in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm, in season.
- Sunset and baby turtle release: departure from Tamarindo at 3:30 pm, from November 12.
Tamarindo 7-day itinerary, day by day
Day 1: Arrive and watch the sunset
Most visitors reach Tamarindo by road from Liberia or San José, so keep the first day light. Check in, walk the beach and watch the sun go down over the Pacific. If you are still deciding on transport, read how to get to Tamarindo.
Day 2: The estuary by boat
Your first full day is perfect for the shared Tamarindo boat tour: $40 per person, 2 hours, with a bilingual guide, water, seasonal fruit and pickup from Tamarindo or Langosta.
From the boat our guides look for American crocodiles on the banks, herons in the mangrove roots and iguanas in the branches. A short walk in the dry forest adds the chance of howler monkeys. Spend the rest of the day on the beach, before or after the tide.
Day 3: Rincón de la Vieja volcano
The Rincón de la Vieja tour from Tamarindo costs $180 per person (minimum 4). It leaves between 6 and 7 am, returns at 6 pm and includes transportation, entrance tickets, drinks and a Costa Rican lunch. Bring water shoes and tennis shoes.
Day 4: Kayak in the mangroves
After a long day, a slower one. The Tamarindo kayak tour ($60 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours) is timed with the high tide so the current helps you into the park. Without an engine, you hear the birds and the water, a different estuary from the one you saw by boat.
In turtle season, this evening suits the Tamarindo turtle tour ($60 per person). Booking it early in the week leaves room to reschedule if no turtles are seen.
Day 5: A second day trip
Choose the trip you did not do on day 3. Both require a minimum of 4 people:
- La Leona waterfall tour: $160 per person, 7 am to 3:30 pm, back in time for the sunset.
- Sloth tour in Guanacaste with Llanos de Cortés waterfall: $185 per person, 6:30 am to about 6 pm.
Compare the options in our guide to waterfalls near Tamarindo.
Day 6: Horses and baby turtles
In the morning, Tamarindo horseback riding ($50 per person, 1 hour) goes from the estuary to ocean viewpoints and back along the beach.
From November 12, end the day with the baby turtle release in Tamarindo ($50 per person, departure 3:30 pm). Do not book it on the same evening as the nesting tour, since the two overlap.
Day 7: A free day before you leave
Keep your last day open for a final swim and a long lunch. If your flight leaves late and the tide fits, a second boat tour is possible, but avoid anything that could make you rush to the airport.
Seasonal swaps for turtles and rain
- Ostional arribada: if an arribada is expected during your week, swap day 5 for the Ostional arribada tour ($130 per person, minimum 4). The main season runs from August to December, with peaks from September to November. Read about the best time to see turtles in Guanacaste.
- Rainy season (May to November): showers usually come in the afternoon, so favor morning tides for the boat and kayak. See our tips for the Tamarindo rainy season.
- High season (December to April): dry, sunny days and busy dates. Book day trips and turtle tours before you arrive.
Adapting the week for families, couples and groups
- Families: children 2 years old and under ride free on the boat tours, and the release takes place in the late afternoon, ideal for kids who will not stay up for a night tour.
- Couples: swap the shared kayak for the private kayak ($100 per person) for a guide just for the two of you.
- Groups of 8 or more: replace the shared boat with a private boat tour in Tamarindo ($800 for up to 10 people or $1,200 for up to 16).
- Short on time? Our 3-day Tamarindo itinerary condenses the essentials.
What a week of tours in Tamarindo costs
The main plan (boat, Rincón de la Vieja, kayak, La Leona, horseback ride and sunset release) adds up to $540 per person. Online you only pay the deposits, $165 per person in this example.
The balance is paid in cash, in US dollars or colones, on the day of each tour. Pickup in Tamarindo and Langosta is included where stated, and farther areas pay an extra transportation cost directly to the driver.
Ready to plan your week? Book your first tours online with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey and pay only the deposit, or send us your travel dates on WhatsApp and we will suggest the best order for your tours according to the tides.
Book these tours
Shared Boat Tour (Mangrove Safari)$40 per personSee tour and book →
Shared Kayak Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Rincón de la Vieja Combo Tour$180 per personSee tour and book →
Sunset & Baby Turtle Release$50 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
Is a Tamarindo 7-day itinerary too long?
No. A week lets you see the estuary by boat and by kayak, take two full-day trips inland, join a turtle tour in season and still keep relaxed days for the beach. Tamarindo works well as a base because most tours include pickup in town.
How many tours should I book for one week in Tamarindo?
Four to six tours is a comfortable number for most visitors. Leave at least one day without fixed plans, and avoid putting two early full-day trips on consecutive days.
What if the high tide falls on the same day as a full-day trip?
Simply move the estuary tour to another day of the week. High tide arrives about 50 minutes later each day, so over seven days there are always several dates with a convenient tide; we confirm the exact time by WhatsApp after you book.
How much do the tours in a week in Tamarindo cost?
The main plan in this guide adds up to $540 per person: shared boat $40, Rincón de la Vieja $180, shared kayak $60, La Leona $160, horseback ride $50 and sunset turtle release $50. Online you only pay the deposits, $165 per person in this example.
Can a couple do the full-day trips in this one-week plan?
The full-day trips and the Ostional arribada require a minimum of 4 people. If you are a couple, write to us on WhatsApp before planning those days so we can tell you what is possible on your dates.
More Tamarindo guides
Plan your tripBest Tours in Tamarindo: A Local Operator's GuideBest tours in Tamarindo ranked by a local operator: estuary boat, kayak, turtles, horseback and day trips, with the price and length of all 13 tours.
Plan your tripThings to Do in Tamarindo, Costa RicaThings to do in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: beach and sunset, the mangrove estuary, sea turtles, horseback rides, day trips and town life, with local tips.
Plan your tripThings to Do in Tamarindo at Night: Turtles, Sunset and TownThings to do in Tamarindo at night: a turtle nesting tour, the sunset and baby turtle release, dinner in town and safety tips for walking after dark.
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Plan your tripTamarindo Travel Tips: What to Know Before Your First VisitTamarindo travel tips from local guides: dollars or colones, why SINPE is local, sun and heat, tides, booking tours and getting around on your first visit.
Plan your tripHow to Book Tours in Tamarindo: Deposit, Payment and CancellationsHow to book tours in Tamarindo with a local operator: pay only a deposit online, the balance on the tour day, tide times by WhatsApp, clear cancellations.