Anyone who knows anything about Tamarindo, Costa Rica knows that surfing and fishing rank high on the list must-dos, but there are exceptions. Not everyone surfs or even has an interest in trying to learn.

[Cue: Collective gasp from the crowd of surfers on the Tamarindo break.]

Also, not everyone likes to smell like fish at the end of the day. Some travelers want something unique to do while vacationing in Tamarindo.

This brilliant resource is for those folks. I promise there won’t be any mention of zip lines, quad rentals or sweaty horses; nothing one can do in any town of Costa Rica. These are not activities exclusive to Tama, but definitely options while in Tamarindo.

It’s true that one can skydive many places in the world, but one can only skydive Tamarindo while in Tamarindo… er, above Tamarindo. You get the idea. What a way to remember a town, from the air!

These are the activities that will truly separate your Tamarindo vacation from the one everyone else has. You’ll see Tamarindo in a way most travelers never see it.

Golf

While Tamarindo doesn’t yet have its own golf course — “it’s coming,” they say — there are two beautiful courses 30 minutes out of town in either direction from Tamarindo.

In Brasilito, to the north of Tama, the Reserva Conchal Golf Course offers a world-class experience. It’s a 71 par course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, surrounded by ocean views and Costa Rica’s best wildlife.

To the south of town, Hacienda Pinilla offers a 72 par course. This one, designed by Mike Young, weaves through the forests of Hacienda Pinilla running all the way to the Pacific. Like the Reserva Conchal course, expect to see howler monkeys and parrots in the trees.

Play both courses to decide which you prefer, but go home with a golfer’s tan and the itch to come back for an early tee time.

Skydive the Earth

In Costa Rica, there are a handful of outfits who offer skydiving, but there is only one that will drop its customers from 10,000 feet above Tamarindo, Skydive Guanacaste.

This adventure will cost more than the aforementioned quad rental but remains an incomparable experience. As one reviewer of the experience said on Trip Advisor, “I can now die satisfied.” Good luck feeling that way from zip lining.

When everyone else Instagrams vacation pictures of Tamarindo’s beach, you’ll one the one sharing image of that same beach from a bird’s view.

Jumps are in tandem with a trained and certified skydiver. Plan on going early, and spending a few hours at this activity. Check with a local tourism office (or Horizons Pacific Vacations) to learn more.

Take an Ultralight Ride

If falling from the sky isn’t your thing, as in skydiving, perhaps flying works? Flying in an ultralight gyrocopter [think helicopter] is a great way to get some of the same views enjoyed by skydivers without having to scream all the way down.

The outfit who hosts these flights, taking off from the small Tamarindo airport, is Fly With Us. In their two-person ultralight craft, they take customers on a low-altitude flight up the coast to Flamingo, then back to Tamarindo.

Fortunate flyers report whale sightings, but there is always something to see on the Pacific.

Fly With Us offers 20, 30, and 60-minute tours. To book a tour, one can reach out to the Fly With Us! crew directly by dialing 8827-8858 or emailing [email protected]. Again, the Horizons Pacific crew is happy to help you book something.

Spin a Clay Pot Like the Locals

Now, this may sound odd, as in, who wants to go on vacation to make a crummy clay pot? But, hear me out. This isn’t just any crummy clay pot. It’s a clay pot of your design and handiwork, and it’s not crummy.

The owner of Guaitil Pottery Studio, Arbin, helps clients pick out their desired design then guides them through the Chorotegan method of clay-making.

The Chorotegan people are one nation of native people who still live in and around Tamarindo. Design options range from pieces small enough to fit in a carry-on to designs big enough to sneak a sloth home.

If it doesn’t turn out, no worries. You can buy a pot from any of the local vendors and say you made it. Don’t forget to take pictures to back up your story.

Explore a Real Labyrinth

Before this blog purports to name Tamarindo as a place of adult-sized labyrinths, full stop. There is only one such maze in Tamarindo, the La Senda maze, but it’s a doozy.

La Senda isn’t your average labyrinth made of cacti, but one with special meaning (and powers if you ask the proprietors).

The maze itself is not quite the darling from the movie The Shining, one can see and walk right through the cacti, but it’s a well-organized path using sacred geometry, designed by an expert in energy work. As such, it’s located on a sacred ground.

Visting the maze is less about solving the maze as it experiencing a journey. There are places along the maze route designed for visitors to stop and meditate or reflect as they prefer.

It’s $20 per person to visit, and visits are by reservation only. Call +506 8702 1785 to book a visit or let Horizons Pacific help you.

Enjoy a Private Mangrove Tour

There are 300 beaches in Costa Rica, and probably just as many mangrove forests. The mangroves are home to a diverse spectrum of wildlife, and function as buffers between the ocean and the land. They are critical to the ecology of the country.

Tamarindo has its own mangrove forest found by taking a boat up the estuary from the beach. One can book a tour through a tourism office, but there is a hut on the main road into town where the estuary meets the road.

There, one can book a private tour and negotiate a deal. Most of the boats can hold up to a dozen passengers, but as few as one person can book a private tour. The more people, the easier it is to get a good deal.

Make sure to get a tour in a language you understand. This is the coolest thing you never imagined doing in Tamarindo. Make sure to wear repellant or linens.

All that uniqueness aside, if riding quads and zip lining through the forest is your thing, don’t worry. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the team at Horizon Pacific Vacations is happy to help you make arrangements for whatever activities you wish to enjoy.

We love them all. We’ve done them all too so we’re happy to help you make these arrangements or any others you wish to make.

Horizon Pacific Management & Rentals is located in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Offering vacation rentals, property management, long-term rentals, as well as a complete concierge service. Providing you with a local contact during your stay, Horizon Pacific is a company you can trust, with the experience you need.