I'm On a Boat...

I'm On a Boat...

I'm On a Boat...


"If life’s a beach, then enjoying it is getting on a boat.” -Gilligan

 

image of Mauritus

 

It’s no surprise that people associate Costa Rica with volcanos, surfing, and sloths. If it weren't for all the cool things to do on land, we may totally forget the country is bordered by two coastlines. Even the name translates to rich coast. Not only is there a beautiful coast, but some great views of that coast, which are best enjoyed from the deck of a boat. You don't even have to fish.

 

In Tamarindo you have several options for getting out there and getting some perspective. We're going to talk about why you may consider doing so, and what your options are. Strap on your life vest. It's about to get awesome.

 

Gain some perspective.

 

image of costa rica sea and mountain view

You think this place looks beautiful from the land? You should see it from the other side of a whale! Things get really special out on the water. There are not just whales, but huge stingrays, dolphins, and all the fish you have crammed in your fishtank back home. Here they're just much, much bigger.

 

Not to mention, hanging out on a boat deck is about the most serene experience you can enjoy. There is nothing for you to do but ride. If you don't feel like chatting, you can just enjoy the peace of it or take a nap in the sun. Drink what they're serving and you will definitely catch some Zs. Most of the charter boats around here offer free drinks and snacks.

 

Ride on a big fancy catamaran.

 

image of sunset view

 

This is the most popular option. There are several catamarans, or cats in Tamarindo. They all take people out for snorkeling, kayaking, and a sunset cruise. They may also offer a morning cruise depending on the boat and time of year. Here’s the short list from TripAdvisor:

 

    • Marlin Del Rey. #2 in Tamarindo. The Marlin Del Rey group has three boats, two of which take tours out of Tamarindo. The other boat is up in Playas Del Coco. They are by far the largest outfit, with the largest boats.


 

    • Blue Dolphin #6 in Tamarindo. Blue Dolphin is slightly smaller than the Marlin Del Rey boats, but can be the more affordable option for those traveling on a budget.


 

    • Seabird SailingNot ranked for Tamarindo. This cat used to be in Flamingo, and was rated #8, but moved to Tamarindo last year. Since moving to Tamarindo it appears to have gone offline for repairs. There is nothing on their site about an ETA. Too bad, as their reviews are glowing. Contact them for information.


 

Get a more private tour.

 

image of boat

 

 

Catamarans can be too busy for some of us. Because of their large deck areas, and the stability of the boats, they can often be packed with tons of people. From an owner’s perspective it means more money earned for hours logged at sea. From a customer standpoint, sometimes the attention on these big boats is less than what one may prefer. If this is you, may consider one of the single hull boats, or even a private charter.

 

    • Antares Sailing Adventures. #3 in Tamarindo. This old timey boat will make you want to say “argh.” The hull is very classic black and white, and the reputation is very good. You can expect less people on board this craft.


 

    • Rhino Charger Sportfishing. #13 in Tamarindo. This craft is specifically for fishing, but if you book it, you can do whatever you want. Expect to pay more, but share much less, with almost nobody. (Captain, first mate, and crew).


 

    • Mandingo Sailing. #25 in Tamarindo. Similar to Rhino Charger, this boat is much smaller, but rated impeccably. All five star ratings.


 

Get a super private tour.

 

image of beach view

 

 

These options you won’t find on Trip Advisor. They are the small fishing boats that tool around the estuary, or make runs from ship to shore with people and supplies. The size of these boats is small, and the ride is rough, but you won’t share your boat with anyone. You also will need to BYOB and BYOSnacks too. If you find the right boat though, you will get the most personalized attention of any option.

 

An alternative version of this is to rent personal watercraft (PWC) from one of the outfits on the beach. You may know PWC's as jetskiwave runner, or skidoo. For this option we recommend not drinking as you will be steering. Drinking and operating a waverunner is the fastest way to take an otherwise safe activity and make it very unsafe. No bueno.

 

Whichever option you pick, out on the beautiful blue water off Tamarindo’s coast, expect to see Costa Rica in a way many people will miss. If you’re still not sure, and you would like some direction on which way to go, contact us and we will help you. We might be Coldwell Banker of Tamarindo, but we are your personal Costa Rica insiders.

 

Pinterest board? You bet there is!

 

image of sunset view

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We had so much fun at Buena Vista. Thanks for arranging that with Memo.
I also want to say many thanks for all that you have done. We have enjoyed Costa Rica and I have found you so helpful with everything and a pleasure to deal with that it was a very stress free vacation. When I do come back here hopefully you will still be doing what what you do.
Our last couple of days will be spent enjoying the sunshine and eating at great restaurants. Sincerely,

Tara, Kevin and Roy., Costa Rica

While my computer is still running here, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your help during our stay.
When we first came to your office, we were in dire straights and in desperate need of assistance. Andrea was extremely compassionate, spoke with candor, and had a "can do attitude" that was of immense help.
In addition, Andrea has put us in contact with Steve, with whom we are working, preparing to view a little property that might be just what we are looking for at this particular time.
In addition, having gotten to know Andrea personally as well as professionally has been our great pleasure. I wanted to let you know what a tremendous asset she is to your company. She is a great treasure -- a one in a million.

Tina Parker, Costa Rica

Laurel and Tony,
The both of you were fantastic with us throughout the property search and purchase process. As we had mentioned, two other attempts to find thorough, attentive, responsive agents to work with in Tamarindo were failures. I expect that we are more work to deal with than many others as we asked a lot of thorough and analytical questions and expected responses to all of them. You two never failed to deliver. The organization and execution of our condo shopping trip in January was excellent and the fact that you two devoted 2 full days to us, around our schedule, to get this deal done was key to our success. The selection of properties that Laurel planned out, including a few places above and below our target zone helped us to refine our interests. We truly appreciated your interest in our success. This could easily have been very stressful for us, and yet, it wasn’t. Thank you very much.
As a side note, when we walked into the Coldwell Banker office randomly with no appointment in November had we not found your office staff patient and accommodating from the start we would have simply walked on to the next agency. Your staff deserves special mention for getting us interested in the agency to begin with.
We will give you some advance notice before we make our first trip down so that we can plan to get together for lunch or dinner. We are tentatively planning on somewhere in the last 2 weeks of May, as soon as our son gets out of school for the summer.

Dan Batliner, Costa Rica

We are- UNHAPPILY- home safe. Would much rather be back in Tamarindo. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING you did to make our stay a joy ! We look very much forward to seeing you on our next trip to Costa Rica. PURA VIDA !

Steve Perry, Costa Rica
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