Going Body Boarding (Boogie Boarding)? I mean, do you really want to paddle out and ride a real wave before it breaks, not just the white foam. A beginner? Then, you need to see this safety video.
WiFi Signals
There are WIFI signals throughout the center of Tamarindo and in the hotels. If you're tethered to your business and/or friends, you may want to ask your hotel, vacation rental, or condo representative whether you have a signal in your room.
IPhone
Bring a unlocked phone from home, and buy a SIM card from ICE (national phone company for Costa Rica) at airport. You can buy as much time as you want, cheap, cheap, cheap rates! You can also use it to call overseas.
Vonage
You can use Vonage Mobile to call your AT&T voice mail or other systems for messages, calls back home are free. There is an 8 cents per-minute charge is for local calls in CR. Of course, Vonage Mobile voice mail only works on these phones, and only if you have access to a WIFI. http://www.vonage.com /support.php?article=1413
Verizon
Does not have the lock and unlock SIM cards like Mobile 1.
Drink lots of water, and stay in the shade when possible! Recently, we've had some older visitors pass out from a combination of alcohol, too much sun, and not drinking enough water. A big bottle of water is your best defense. Another reason is that if your diet changes and your intestines house some interesting, but new intestinal bugs (good or bad). Lots of good drinking water is your way of apologizing to your body. Be sure to balance your new water drinking habit with other needed minerals, like salt. Otherwise, you can lose control of your muscles, get a headache and pain in your side, and some doctor may misdiagnose your problem and try to take out your appendix... anyways, long story.
Use mosquito repelent, especially during the rainy months.
Tripadvisor Destination Expert Tamarindo - surfspongerTamarindo
Going Body Boarding (Boogie Boarding)? I mean, do you really want to paddle out and ride a real wave before it breaks, not just the white foam. A beginner? Then, you need to see this safety video.
During my many years of surfing in California, Hawaii, and Costa Rica, the worst accident I ever had was actually on an incredibly small wave in Xtapa, Mexico. The waves were breaking very close to shore over a sandy bank - in only 1 foot of water! Hard to admit that even after my years of surfing experience, but I didn't see the problem coming! For while the unusual flow of the breaking waves made them great for body surfing, one of them drove my right shoulder into the hard, sandy bottom.
The one common factor that everybody shares is that we all want to look great on our trips. In fact, not only do we want to look great, but we want to look fabulous!
The sun in Costa Rica can be brutal on your skin. I prefer to get a little shimmer and protect myself from the damaging rays. If you are going to pursue getting yourself a tan, first thing you need to do is get an early start. Preferably, in a tanning bed. This will give you a head start to your base tan so you don't burn while you're on your holiday. I speak from experience when I say...DON'T burn on your holiday. I ended up spending a day in bed on my first holiday and burned both eyelids shut. They were so burnt and swollen, I couldn't open my eyes. That was from falling asleep under the burning sun with little to no protection and NOT laying under the shade.
Next, you'll want to invest in some good ol' SPF! Use your imagination and discretion here and do yourself a favor and get the highest one you can find. I've gone as high as SPF 60...and it was a great year. My burn was minimal and my tan was great! I prefer to use the spray on...my hands stay clean and sand particles don't seem to stalk me as much. Just remember, the higher the SPF, the thicker the cream and the longer it will take to absorb. Try to stay in the shade. I can't stress this point enough...for our own comfort, find yourself a nice shaded tree, or even little grass hut with umbrella and pluck yourself down UNDERneath it! The more protection you get, the more comfortable you will be.
Tips for super Tamarindo snapshots
Shooting great Tamarindo snapshots, even with that new digital camera, takes smarts and know-how. To help you make the most of your digicam on your next trip, We asked top photo gurus for their professional tips. Badly taken vacation snaps can be awfully disappointing, but good ones are a lifelong treasure.
International beach towns always attract some bad people who love to wait for the right moment when a newcomers gets careless with their shiny toys and money. Walking around in jungle fatigues pretending to be tough and looking for your next fight won't help. The best advice we can give you is just be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your things at all times. The thieves around here don't so much fear the police; they just don't like it when people start yelling. Below is more important advice:
- When you park your car in a public area, especially a deserted beach, don't leave anything important in your car, whether locked or unlocked. If a parking guard looks halfway official pay him $2 (approx 1,000 colones) to watch your car. As your paying him, just pretend your buying cheap insurance.
- Do not walk on the beach at night, especially in front of the Tamarindo Circle and especially for the next 50 meters south in front of the camp grounds.
- Don't drink and drive! Consider this a warning and a plea! The roads here are so unforgiving! If you drink, go to whatever lengths you need to not get behind the wheel. Notice the steep shoulders on the paved roads... instant serious trouble!
- If you buy illegal drugs, you're playing with fire! Not so much from the police, but the unsavory dealers who don't care much about your personal health or fair deals! Remember, Costa Rica is bordered by Panama then Columbia on the south and Nicaragua on the north. You're not in Kansas anymore!
- Wear bug spray and have respect for the danger of biting mosquitoes. While we don't have a problem with Malaria, there are many cases of Dengue Fever. So, anywhere and anytime you find mosquitoes buzzing around... leave! It's not worth the risk!
- Often near the beach, you'll feel the little bites from the smaller sand flies around your feet and ankles, while annoying, normally they are not a health risk. However, best not to get bitten by anything other than your significant other.
Finding your way around can be challenging for example, "Donde esta la tineda por favor?" "Where is the shop please?" "It's across from Pasatiempo Hotel, mi amiga." "Ah, but where is RPM Services?" "It's near ABC Realty." You get the picture, Since streets are not sign posted, people are accustomed to giveing directions based on landmarks. To make navigation easier, carry lots of maps.
Interestingly, often, you'll find taxis drivers everywhere asking other taxis for directions, as if they have never been anywhere before! They kind of hone in on the area rather than look at a map, but in the process their is a lot of yelling and personal interaction.
Expressing anger always makes you wrong, no matter how right you are! So you might as well keep your temper. An angry person is always considered in the wrong anyways for the subject of right or wrong shifts quickly to a matter of who is ruining the tranquility of everyone's day. Always, maintain an attitude of calm and your holiday spirits will soar.
Manners and respect are important here. How you come across will follow you everywhere. Express gratitude, either through a smile, a Gracias, or more specifically, a gratuity. No need to spread a lot of money, it is just smoother sailing after you gain a reputation as a nice person.
