Playa Tambor

Playa Tambor is located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, in Puntarenas. This beach sits in a large, secluded bay called Bahia Ballena, named for the whales that used to gather here. Reality TV fans might remember Playa Tambor as one of the locations used in filming Temptation Island, but don't let that put you off. Today, Playa Tambor is growing as a popular tourist destination while still retaining a laid-back and quiet ambiance.

Tambor is perfect for families and those seeking a calm and peaceful vacation. Unlike many parts of Costa Rica, the gray-colored beach is tranquil and great for kids. It's ideal for diving, snorkeling, and fishing. In addition, it's perfect for horseback riding, volleyball, beach soccer, and building sandcastles!

The community of Tambor is at the southern end of the beach, where a river mouth empties into the bay. It's a charming little fishing village full of anchored boats. This is one of the safest places to anchor boats in Costa Rica. Despite tourism growth in this part of the country, Tambor itself has changed little over the years, not losing its sleepy, laid-back vibe. Still, it has everything one might need; souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, tour operators, and car rental offices.

The best time to travel to Tambor is during the December to April dry season, when you're guaranteed hot and sunny weather, perfect for those long, relaxing days on the beach. However, we like the crossover months of May and November, when the rains start (May) and end (November). You get the best of both worlds at this time - still hot and sunny, but with a sprinkling of showers to make the surrounding hills look fresh and green.

The dry season here runs from mid-December until April or May. You can expect short afternoon showers from May until August and heavier rain during September and October, when many places tend to close. Whether it's raining or not, temperatures remain consistent throughout the year, in the high 70s and 80s F.

Playa Tambor is safe, although like everywhere in Costa Rica, you should take care of petty, opportunistic crime. Never leave anything in your car or on the beach that you can't afford to lose.

Restaurant & Cafe Cristina: A small restaurant with a small menu, but what a menu! Mostly locally-sourced seafood.

H&B Lodge and Restaurant: Tambor's ceviche specialists.

Pizza Express: Excellent and big pizzas. Even the small ones are enough for two.

Tambor Tropical: The restaurant of this hotel is excellent for those seeking a varied, international menu while in Tambor.

Juan Santamaria Airport (Airport Code SJO) outside of San Jose is the closest international airport to Playa Tambor.

From SJO Airport: 89 miles (143 kilometers), about 4 hours (depending on ferry schedules)

All Costa Rican Vacations packages include an airport "meet and greet" service and private transfers with English-speaking drivers. This means you're all set when you arrive in-country - just sit back, relax, and our driver will get you to your destination.

If you're planning to drive to Tambor from the airport, give yourself about four hours of driving time and an hour to arrange your car rental. Make sure you arrive in Costa Rica early enough in the day to not drive at night - something we don't recommend. It's also important to know that this journey includes a ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. Travel time depends absolutely on ferry schedules.

Once you have your car, get onto the InterAmerican Highway and head to El Coyol. Turn off there to get onto Ruta 27, the toll road to the coast. Keep on 27 to the coast in Caldera, never coming off. The highway will swing around to the right and become Ruta 23. You're now heading north, with the ocean on your left. Follow the signs to Puntarenas, through Caldera, to El Roble. Keep following the signs to Puntarenas, which will swing you around to the left. Now head into town.

The street you're on is Avenida Central, the main strip of Puntarenas. Keep going through the city until you hit Calle 35, almost at the end of town. Take a left, two blocks later, take a right, and you're at the ferry port.

You need to get the ferry to Paquera. There are six ferries a day from Puntarenas to Paquera, running from 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM. You might have to wait a while. Buy your ticket, and get in line (when buying your ticket, make sure you buy the Paquera ticket, not the Playa Naranjo ticket.

Once you're on the ferry, you can enjoy crossing out of your car. There's a restaurant and bar and places to sit and watch the spectacular scenery of the Gulf of Nicoya. The corner to Paquera takes about an hour. So get down into your car in advance of arrival and drive off the boat with everyone else. Welcome to the Nicoya Peninsula!

Now it's easy. There's only one main road on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, and you're on it as soon as you come out of Paquera. Make sure you take a left at the gas station - or just follow everyone else, as that's what they will be doing. Now just keep ongoing. Soon, you'll pass the Tambor Airstrip (flying here is another option from San Jose), and shortly after that, you'll see a left-hand turn at the Barcelo Playa Tambor. Pass that, and continue. You'll arrive in the village in a few minutes, and you're there.