When the sun drops into the Pacific, Tamarindo changes pace. Surfers come out of the water, families gather on the sand and, a few beaches away, sea turtles may be getting ready to come ashore. If you are wondering about things to do in Tamarindo at night, the answer goes well beyond restaurants: some of the most memorable experiences on this coast only happen after dark. This guide from Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey covers the evening from sunset to the walk back to your hotel.
Short answer: the best things to do in Tamarindo at night are watching the sunset over the ocean, joining a guided night turtle tour ($60 per person, pickup at 5:30 pm), taking part in the sunset and baby turtle release ($50 per person, from November 12) and enjoying dinner in town. Stay in lit areas and avoid the estuary after dark.
Things to do in Tamarindo at night: our top picks
- Sunset on the beach, free and different every evening.
- Baby turtle release at sunset, with a conservation project, in season.
- Night turtle nesting tour on beaches near Tamarindo.
- An arribada night at Ostional, when the dates line up.
- Dinner and a walk through town, with a short list of safety habits.
Start with the sunset
Tamarindo faces west, so the sun sets over the ocean. Sunset usually falls between about 5:15 pm and 6:10 pm, depending on the month, and dusk is short in the tropics: once the sun touches the horizon, darkness comes quickly. Be on the sand 30 minutes early.
The dry season, from December to April, brings the clearest skies. In the green season, from May to November, clouds can hide the sun one evening and turn spectacular the next. Our guide to the Tamarindo sunset tour explains every way to watch it, including the honest truth about boats and tides.
Sunset and baby turtle release
For an evening with meaning, the baby turtle release in Tamarindo combines the sunset with a conservation activity. It departs from Tamarindo at 3:30 pm and is available from November 12.
- Price: $50 per person, minimum 2 people, with a $10 deposit per person online.
- Includes: transportation from Tamarindo, bottled water and a contribution to the turtle conservation project.
- Bring: comfortable beach clothes and repellent.
The conservation team decides when and where the hatchlings go to the sea, and the number varies from one evening to another. It is a gentle option for families with young children who cannot stay up for a late night tour.
A night turtle tour near Tamarindo
This is the experience guests talk about the next morning. The Tamarindo turtle tour picks you up in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm and goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús. The nesting beach of Las Baulas Marine National Park stays closed during the season to protect the endangered leatherback, which is why the tour visits these beaches instead.
Once there, you wait in the dark while the guide checks the beach. Turtles come ashore when they are ready, so the length of the tour varies. Olive ridley and black turtles are seen most often, hawksbills sometimes and leatherbacks only occasionally. If we do not see turtles, we reschedule the tour for the next night or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
- Price: $60 per person, minimum 2 people; children 2 and under free.
- Deposit: $20 per person online; the balance is paid in cash on the day.
- Bring: dark clothing, water shoes or tennis shoes, a camera without flash and repellent.
White lights and flash are not allowed near nesting turtles. Read our turtle nesting tour rules before you go.
Ostional: an arribada that runs into the night
About 2 hours south of Tamarindo, Ostional hosts arribadas, mass nesting events of olive ridley turtles. The main season runs from August to December, with the peak from September to November, and the activity can start in the afternoon and continue into the night. The Ostional arribada tour costs $130 per person, minimum 4 people, and its schedule depends on each arribada. Plan it early and keep your dates flexible.
The town after dark
Tamarindo has a compact, walkable center with restaurants, cafés and bars, and it is busiest in the high season and on national holidays. For a local dinner, look for a soda, the small family restaurants of Costa Rica, and order a casado: rice, beans, salad, plantain and your choice of meat or fish. Evenings are relaxed, and many visitors simply walk the main street after dinner.
On clear dry-season nights, the sky over the sea can be impressive even from the beach near town. Enjoy it from busy stretches of sand close to the center rather than from empty beaches.
Staying safe in Tamarindo at night
- Stay in lit areas and walk with company when you can.
- Take a taxi back to your hotel if it is far or the road is dark.
- Stay away from the estuary in the dark. Crocodiles live there and hunt mostly at dusk and at night.
- Do not swim at night. Currents are hard to see and nobody can watch you from the beach.
- Watch your drink in bars and keep valuables at your hotel.
For more practical advice, read is Tamarindo safe?
A sample evening in Tamarindo
- 3:30 pm: departure for the sunset and baby turtle release (from November 12), or free time on the beach.
- Around 5:30 pm: sunset over the Pacific.
- 7:00 pm: dinner in town.
- Another night of your trip: the night turtle tour, with pickup at 5:30 pm. Eat a snack before pickup, since the length varies.
Want ideas for the daytime too? See our full guide to things to do in Tamarindo.
Ready for a Tamarindo night to remember? Book the turtle nesting tour or the sunset and baby turtle release online with Tamarindo Estuary Tours Mi Rey, paying only the deposit. If you have questions about turtle activity on your dates, write to us on WhatsApp and we will help you plan.
Book these tours
Turtle Nesting Tour$60 per personSee tour and book →
Sunset & Baby Turtle Release$50 per personSee tour and book →
Ostional Arribada Tour$130 per personSee tour and book →
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Tamarindo at night?
Watch the sunset over the Pacific, join a guided night turtle tour, take part in a sunset baby turtle release in season and enjoy dinner in town. For nature, the turtle tour is the highlight of a Tamarindo evening.
Can you see sea turtles at night near Tamarindo?
Yes, on a guided tour. Our turtle nesting tour picks you up in Tamarindo at 5:30 pm and goes to Playa Minas or Playa Jesús, where olive ridley and black turtles nest most often. Sightings are not guaranteed; if we see no turtles, we reschedule or make it up to you with the estuary tour.
Is it safe to walk around Tamarindo at night?
With common precautions, most visitors walk the center at night without problems. Stay in lit areas, walk with company when you can, take a taxi if your hotel is far and avoid empty beaches and the edge of the estuary in the dark.
Are there night boat tours in the Tamarindo estuary?
We do not run night boat tours. Our estuary boat and kayak tours are daytime outings timed with the high tide. When the tide falls in the late afternoon, a private boat or private kayak can sometimes leave close to sunset.
What time does it get dark in Tamarindo?
Sunset in Tamarindo usually falls between about 5:15 pm and 6:10 pm, earliest around November and latest around July. Dusk is short in the tropics, so it gets dark soon after the sun goes down.
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