Tamarindo in December: Dry-Season Weather, Swimming, Surf and Things to Do

Late in the afternoon in December, the surfers of Tamarindo sit on their boards past the break and watch the sun slide toward the horizon, while the beach behind them fills with people carrying coolers, dogs and folding chairs. The rains of the green season have gone, the hills of Guanacaste are turning from emerald to straw, and the main street hums with restaurants, surf shops and Christmas lights strung over the patios. This is Tamarindo as most people picture it: sunny, warm and lively, and the start of the high season.

The beach at Tamarindo at sunset in the dry season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Tamarindo in December?

Hot, sunny and almost entirely dry, which is exactly why December is the month the dry season begins in earnest here.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
November	83.5	75.3	10.5	83.5
December	86.1	75.3	1.4	83.2
January	88.5	75.2	0.4	83.0

Warm, sunny mornings give way to a midday sun so intense that shade, a pool or the water becomes the go-to escape for most people. Rain is rare. When it does fall it is a brief passing shower, and you can plan beach days, surf lessons and long lunches on a terrace without watching the sky the way you would in the green season.

In the evening, shorts and a light shirt will keep you comfortable, and almost every restaurant in town offers outdoor seating. The nights do not cool off much, so air conditioning or a good fan in your room matters more than a sweater. The light is lovely in the last hour before sunset, golden and low over the water, and it fades into dusk at a pace that makes the beach walk a daily ritual for many visitors.

Dress for sun, not for rain: breathable cotton, a hat and plenty of sunscreen. Daylight lasts a little under twelve hours, so the day has a clear rhythm of early starts, a quiet midday and a long evening.

Can you swim in Tamarindo in December?

You can linger in these Pacific waters for ages, and stepping in won’t make you gasp. The sea temperature in December sits in the low 80s, a touch below the November reading, and it is pleasant at any hour of the day.

Playa Tamarindo, the town beach, is wide and sandy, with waves that suit beginner surfers and a long shoreline for walking. Tide and swell shift the conditions, which means the water may be calm one morning and energetic the next. Nearby beaches such as Playa Langosta, just to the south, tend to be quieter, while others in the area get bigger surf that draws experienced riders.

Each year, rip currents prove deadly and lead to multiple drownings among American visitors, while lifeguards and caution signs about hazardous waters are absent at most beaches. Most beaches do not have lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions. A rash guard saves your shoulders from the sun, and a mask is handy for the rocky edges where fish gather, though the water is not always clear.

What to do in Tamarindo in December

December is a month of lights and gatherings across Costa Rica. Christmas lights and posadas, the neighborhood processions and gatherings of the season, mark the early and middle weeks.

The Festival de la Luz, a night parade of illuminated floats, takes place in San Jose, and the Tope, a horse parade, follows there on December 26. The Zapote festival runs from Christmas to New Year’s. Those events are in the capital, a long way from the beach, but their spirit shows up in Tamarindo as decorated restaurants, holiday menus and families on vacation.

Because it is the start of the high season, the town feels busy in a good way. Live music drifts out of beach bars, and the sunset gathering on the sand becomes a social event. Nature is on your side too: the dry weather makes it easy to spend entire days outdoors.

Surfing and the beach

Tamarindo is a surf town first. Board rentals and lessons are everywhere along the main street, and the break just off town is a classic place to stand up on a board for the first time. Mornings usually have cleaner conditions before the wind picks up, so surfers tend to paddle out early, then rest through the heat of midday.

Even if surfing is not your thing, this beach works just as well for spectating. Find a spot in the shade of the trees at the back of the sand, bring a book, and let the afternoon go by. Walking north toward the estuary at low tide is another quiet pleasure, with shorebirds working the edge of the water.

The experienced riders head to other breaks along the coast, which surf schools can point you toward. Ask about the conditions of the day before choosing, and follow the advice of local instructors.

Sunsets, food and the main street

The evening ritual is the sunset, and in December the sky is usually clear enough to make it worth planning around. Many visitors take a drink to the beach, then wander up to dinner. Seafood is the obvious order: fresh fish, ceviche and grilled catches of the day, alongside the Costa Rican staples of casado (a plate with rice, beans, salad and a main) and gallo pinto, the rice and beans of breakfast.

The main street is lined with shops selling beachwear, souvenirs and local crafts, and the pace picks up after dark. For a quieter evening, choose a restaurant a block or two off the main road, where tables are easier to find and the music is lower.

Boat trips, wildlife and day outings

Dry weather makes December good for getting out of town. Sunset sails, snorkeling and fishing outings are popular, and a boat trip through the Tamarindo estuary is the area’s signature wildlife excursion. In the surrounding countryside, guided walks are the way most visitors see animals such as monkeys and birds, and they are chances rather than promises.

The hills behind the coast are brown and dry this time of year, and the early morning is the best moment to be outdoors before the heat builds. Plan active excursions for the morning and keep the afternoon for the pool or the water.

A two-day itinerary for Tamarindo in December

Day 1 is for the beach and the town. Start early, when the air is cool and the light is soft, with a walk along the sand and breakfast of gallo pinto and fruit at a small café. In the morning, before the sun turns fierce, try a surf lesson or a swim, then head for the shade and a long lunch of fish or a casado.

Spend the afternoon at the pool or browsing the shops on the main street, and be on the sand well before sunset, which comes early in December. Finish with dinner at a seafood restaurant and a stroll under the holiday lights. If a rare shower arrives, duck into a café or a shop and wait it out.

Day 2 moves away from the town beach. Go in the morning to Playa Langosta for a different view, then take a guided nature walk or a boat outing if you want to look for wildlife. The cooler hours are the right ones for walking.

Rest through the heat of midday, then take a late-afternoon sail or a coastal drive to watch the sun go down from a new angle. Dinner can be a simple place off the main street. If rain shows up, a slow lunch, a cooking class, or a spa treatment can keep your hours inside bright.

Is Tamarindo busy in December?

Yes, December is the start of the high season, and the town fills steadily as the month goes on.

Early in the month is calmer, with more choice in rooms and tables. The weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are the busiest, when families and groups arrive for the holidays and the beach, restaurants and surf schools all feel the crowd. Expect to share the sunset with many others, and to wait for a table at the popular places in the evening.

Book rooms early for the holiday weeks, ideally well ahead of time, and arrange rental cars the same way, since the airport at Liberia, about an hour away, sees heavy traffic. For the quieter first half of the month, you can plan later and still find good options. Restaurants fill up at dinner, so reserve a table for special evenings, and go early or late if you do not have one.

If you want the beach with fewer people, aim for the early morning and the weekdays, and walk away from the central stretch to find more room.

What to pack for Tamarindo in December

Pack for sun, heat and the sea, and leave most of the rain gear at home.

Pack sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat, since the sand offers little shade and the sun beats down hard.
A rash guard, to protect your back while surfing or snorkeling.
Light, breathable clothes for the warm evenings.
For guided walks, pack sandals plus one pair of closed shoes.
A light rain jacket, just in case of a rare shower.
Bring a refillable water bottle so you can keep drinking in the hot weather.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.

December is the start of the high season, so rooms and rental cars are worth booking first, especially for the weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through the end of November, and the dry Pacific coast of Guanacaste is at its sunniest now. Liberia airport is about an hour away, and most beaches do not have lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions.

Tamarindo in December vs November and January

Shifting your trip up by one month lands you at the tail end of the green season. Showers come on many days, the town is calmer and the hills are still green, which some travelers love. The sea is about the same temperature, but the afternoons are less reliable for the beach and some businesses are still quiet.

A month later, January is hotter and even drier, with barely any rain at all. The hills turn browner, the sun is stronger, and the town remains busy through the high season, so rooms and tables stay in demand. The sea is just as warm, and the surf and sunsets are reliable.

Choose November if you prefer a quieter town and do not mind a shower. Choose December for the balance of dry weather, a festive mood and a town at the start of its busy season, and January if the driest weather matters most and crowds do not bother you.

Is December a good time to visit Tamarindo?

Absolutely, above all for people seeking steady sunshine, balmy seas and a bustling coastal town full of festive spirit.

Beach lovers, surfers beginning to learn, families on school break and travelers who hate rain will all be happy. Those who want a quiet, empty town, or who dislike heat and crowds around the holidays, may prefer a different month, or at least the early part of this one.

On arrival, settle into the rhythm: a morning swim or surf, a slow lunch, then the beach for sunset. Check conditions with a local before you enter the water, and keep the first evening simple. Come December in Tamarindo, the hills shift from green to gold, lights glow along the main street, and the entire town drifts onto the sand to watch the sunset.

Sources

Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.2993N 85.8371W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026