Tamarindo in October: Green Season Weather, Surf, Sunsets and Things to Do

In October, Tamarindo wakes up to hot, bright mornings and smells of wet earth and salt after the night’s downpour. Surfboards lean against the walls of cafés on the main street, the hills behind town are a deep green, and the sky builds into towering clouds by midafternoon. On the Guanacaste coast, October sits at the peak of the green season, made for waking early, lingering over lunch, and watching the sun go down on a peaceful stretch of sand.

The beach at Tamarindo at sunset in the rainiest months · Illustration

What is the weather like in Tamarindo in October?

October in Tamarindo is hot, humid and very rainy, with warm mornings that often turn into stormy afternoons and evenings.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
September	83.2	75.8	26.7	86.1
October	82.5	75.5	24.8	85.6
November	83.5	75.3	10.5	83.5

Rain falls on nearly every day of the month, though that does not mean gray days from dawn to dusk. The usual pattern is a bright, sticky morning, building clouds around midday and a heavy shower in the afternoon or night, sometimes with thunder rolling in from the hills. A few days bring steadier rain that lasts for hours, and on those days the beach is mostly a place to watch the sky.

Nights barely cool down, so you will sleep with a fan or air conditioning and eat dinner outside in a t-shirt. The sun is strong whenever it shows itself, and the hours between breaks in the clouds can feel steamy. The best light comes early and again just before sunset, when the sky often turns orange after the rain has passed.

Dress for heat and wet: quick-drying clothes, sandals that handle puddles and a light rain jacket. The sea stays warm all month, which makes a rainy afternoon on the water less unpleasant than it sounds.

Can you swim in Tamarindo in October?

Yes, the sea is warm enough to stay in for a long time, with no shiver when you wade in.

The main beach in town is a wide curve of sand where swimmers, surfers and boat tours share the water. Beginners find the beach break forgiving, and you can rent boards or take lessons from surf schools.

October’s wet season usually brings bigger surf than the dry months, when rain comes in short bursts or a wetter stretch, and the larger sets break at beaches only a short drive north and south. Because the tide and the swell shift the sea, check the water first, then decide.

Rip currents are a real danger in Costa Rica, and each year they cause several drownings of visitors from the United States. Since most beaches lack lifeguards and offer no alerts about dangerous conditions, check with residents or your surf school about good swimming spots, keep close to other people and don’t head out by yourself.

Children and uneasy swimmers need a grown-up keeping watch at all times, and no part of the beach should be assumed safe from rip currents. Pack a rash guard to block the sun and to keep your mind at ease about jellyfish, and take your swim in the morning, ahead of the building storms.

What to do in Tamarindo in October

October is a month for the sea and the surf, for wildlife walks and for slow afternoons in town. The calendar has one nearby tradition worth knowing: October 12 is the Day of the Cultures, and Limon holds its Carnival around that date, with parades, music and Afro-Caribbean food. Limon is on the Caribbean side, far from Tamarindo, but you may notice the holiday in the mood around the country, and dates can shift from year to year.

In town, the main street is lined with restaurants, shops and nightlife, and it is livelier than most of the coast. This month it is quieter than in the high season, with rain coming as short showers or a wetter spell, and tables easy to find with a relaxed, local feel in the evenings.

Surfing and beach time

Tamarindo is a surf town first. Its beach break suits beginners, so a lesson is the easiest way into the water, and the schools rent boards and teach along the main beach. The green season brings bigger swells on some days, which makes this an appealing month for people who already surf.

If you want bigger waves that are a better fit for skilled surfers, drive a little way north or south of town. Plan surf sessions for the morning, when the air is calm and the storms have not formed. Afternoons are better for a nap, a smoothie and a walk once the rain stops.

Even if you do not surf, the beach is a pleasure at low tide, when the sand is wide and firm for walking. Watch the sunset from the shore, where the sky often glows after a storm. Bring a towel and a dry bag for your phone, since sudden showers arrive fast.

Rainy-day options in town

When the afternoon rain settles in, Tamarindo has plenty to do under a roof. Cafés serve strong Costa Rican coffee and pastries, and the shops along the main street sell hammocks, beachwear and local crafts. A long lunch of grilled fish or a bowl of ceviche is a good way to wait out a downpour.

Yoga studios and spas around town offer classes and treatments, and they suit a wet afternoon well. Evenings bring live music in some bars and restaurants, and the town has a friendly, easygoing nightlife. Take a light jacket or a small umbrella for the walk home.

For wildlife, guided walks and boat outings are the usual way visitors see animals, and monkeys, birds and other creatures are chances rather than promises. Morning is the best time, before the heat and the storms. Ask your hotel or a local operator what is running in the days you are there.

A two-day itinerary for Tamarindo in October

Day 1 starts early, because the morning is when October is at its driest and coolest. With almost twelve hours of daylight, you have room for a slow start. Book a beginner surf lesson at the main beach, then wash up and have breakfast at a café along the main street, featuring fruit, eggs and gallo pinto (rice and beans).

Spend midday in the shade or the pool, when the heat and humidity peak and the first clouds appear. In the afternoon, walk the main street for shops and a late lunch. If rain arrives, settle into a café or a spa, and head back to the beach for sunset once the sky clears. Dinner is fresh fish at a restaurant in town, and the evening is easy and unhurried.

Day 2 trades the main beach for Playa Grande or Playa Langosta, with a guided boat trip through the Tamarindo estuary as the main wildlife option. Drive a short way north or south in the morning to one of the nearby beaches, where the waves are bigger and the sand is quieter. Experienced surfers can paddle out, and everyone else can walk the shore and look for birds. Bring water and sun protection, since shade is scarce.

Come back to town for lunch, then spend the hot hours resting or on a wildlife outing if the weather allows. If the sky turns dark, switch to a coffee, a market browse or a yoga class. End the day with a last sunset on the main beach and a casual dinner, ideally somewhere with a covered terrace in case the evening rain returns.

Is Tamarindo busy in October?

No, October is one of the quieter months in town, with fewer visitors than in the dry season.

The rain keeps many travelers away, so restaurants have open tables, surf lessons are easy to arrange and the beach has room to spare. Rooms and rental cars are generally easier to find than in the busy winter months, and you can often book closer to your trip. The holiday weeks around the end of the year are another story, and those fill early.

Some businesses scale back in the green season, and a few close for a break, so check ahead for a favorite restaurant or tour operator. October 12, the Day of the Cultures, may bring a little more local movement around the country, so a weekend near that date can feel livelier. Even then, the town stays relaxed.

Book any must-have tours ahead, and leave the rest flexible so you can adjust to the weather. A loose plan works well here, since a stormy day can swap places with a sunny one without much cost.

What to pack for Tamarindo in October

Pack for heat, humidity and daily rain, and keep everything easy to dry.

A light rain jacket, because afternoon and evening showers are the norm
Quick-drying clothes, since nothing dries slowly in this humidity
Sandals that can get wet, for puddles and the beach
Sunscreen and a hat, for the strong sun between clouds
A rash guard, for surf lessons and sun on the water
A dry bag for your phone and documents, for sudden downpours

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.

October falls inside the Atlantic hurricane season, and the heavy rain Costa Rica sees this month is part of the green season. Set on the Pacific coast, Tamarindo is a little town roughly an hour by car from the Liberia airport, so keep that drive in mind when you arrange your arrival and departure. Dirt roads can be slow after rain, and a flexible schedule makes the most of the month.

Tamarindo in October vs September and November

Moving the trip a month earlier brings the wettest stretch of the year, with rain on almost every day and a sea just a touch warmer. September is quiet, with plenty of room on the beach and in restaurants, and some businesses take a break. It suits people who want solitude and do not mind frequent storms.

A month later, November brings a clear change. Rain days drop sharply, the hills are still green and the sea cools slightly, though it stays warm. More visitors begin to arrive as the season turns toward shorter showers and a wetter spell here and there, and the town gets livelier.

If you want the driest weather and a livelier town, choose November. If you want the emptiest beaches and the greenest scenery and can live with daily rain, stay with October or go in September. October sits between the two, with a very warm sea and the quiet of the green season.

Is October a good time to visit Tamarindo?

October suits travelers who enjoy green hills, quiet beaches, and warm water, and who take rain as part of the journey.

It suits surfers, flexible travelers and anyone who likes a slower pace, with mornings for the sea and afternoons for rest. It is a poor match for people who want guaranteed sunshine all day, long hikes on dry trails or a lively beach scene. Should that appeal to you, the season offers a month that will serve you well, as October’s rain tends to come in brief showers or a wetter spell.

On arrival, get to the beach in the first morning light, watch the surf and book a lesson or a walk while the sky is clear. What is special about October here is the contrast: a rain-washed town, a warm sea and a sunset that often comes after the storm has passed.

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