| Tamarindo is the "hub" of Guanacaste from a | | | | There is an abundance of great local restaurants |
| traveller's perspective, and puts you right on | | | | to choose from, and are usually easily |
| beaches with great sport fishing, easy access to | | | | distinguished from the more "tourist trap" places |
| hiking and volcanoes, access to great surf | | | | both in look and cost. If you are paying more |
| (including 'Ollies', the point break named for Ollie | | | | than you would pay in a comparable American |
| North), and even a nearby city in San Jose. | | | | restaurant, you're getting ripped off. There are |
| Violent crime is not an issue here, although some | | | | plenty of ATMs, and most places take USD so |
| areas of San Jose can be rough and should be | | | | you don't need to do conversion if you don't want |
| avoided, but you do not want to leave valuables | | | | to. Also, you can get by on just English in |
| laying around in an unattended vehicle. | | | | Tamarindo and most of the neighboring towns if |
| The region is named for the national tree of | | | | you no habla. |
| Costa Rica which you will see in addition to many | | | | Something to be aware of when traveling to the |
| sugar cane fields. One of my favorite things about | | | | Guanacaste region of Costa Rica is that unlike |
| the local food products is that they are generally | | | | most other areas in the country, for this you'll |
| sweetened with sugar cane instead of the nasty | | | | want to fly into the Liberia airport. Basically you'll |
| high fructose corn syrup used in the US. | | | | either be setting up a shuttle ride with a service, |
| Environmentalists should really love the area, as | | | | or getting your hotel to provide you with |
| everyone from the government down to the | | | | transport. |
| people are very supportive of "green" lifestyles | | | | For surfers, I'd recommend checking out Witches |
| and initiatives. Likewise, wildlife has been | | | | Rock (boat accessible only) and Playa Negra. Have |
| preserved and is not threatened like in neighboring | | | | a great trip down there, you won't be |
| Nicaragua. | | | | disappointed! |