Tamarindo Hostel Resort

Tamarindo Hostel Resort is set in a distinctive building just off Tamarindo’s main drag, which it shares with a handful of other businesses, including a medical clinic and a cafe. The building offers big doses of character, with the hostel’s dorms and private rooms set along arched corridors with colorful tiled floors. Walls in hallways and common areas are painted an attractive fern green with white trim, and flourishes of plant-life further add to the hostel’s esthetic appeal. The property primarily attracts young solo travelers and groups of friends interested in Tamarindo’s excellent surf and up-tempo nightlife. A “What to Do This Week” board in the reception area keeps guests in the loop about events and deals happening in the neighborhood, plus hostel staff can assist with booking local tours and activities. 

Tamarindo Hostel Resort is well-situated for guests interested in beach-going, dining, and nightlife. There’s a big shopping complex next door to the hostel, which offers a grocery store and a bank. It’s set on a buzzing side street, just off Tamarindo’s main thoroughfare, Calle Central. Beautiful Playa Tamarindo beach is located a few minutes’ away by foot, right on the other side of Calle Central. Ample restaurants, bars, and shops can be found a five- to 10-minute walk away.Attractions beyond Tamarindo’s main strip include Rincón de la Vieja National Park and Arenal Volcano National Park, which are two- and three-hour drives away, respectively. Liberia’s airport can be reached in a little over an hour by car.

Guest rooms at Tamarindo Hostel Resort are simple and clean, with tiled flooring and bright accent walls. Six-bed male, female, and mixed dorms offer bunkbeds as well as shared bathrooms with hot water. Towels and bed linens are provided, and all dorms have AC, but they lack lockers. Shared bathrooms offer two large showers stalls covered with shower curtains, as well as separate water closets.   Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms can accommodate one, two, or three guests. All private rooms have TVs, along with small shelving areas and hangers for storage. Basic en-suite bathrooms with showers are stocked with bars of soap. Some private rooms feature hanging chair hammocks, which are set outside in the hallway. Most rooms face toward the lively streets of Tamarindo, and some guests complain that outside noise can be a problem at night. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel, but the connection is often spotty in rooms. 

Overall, Tamarindo Hostel Resort has basic but helpful features that add to its value and personality. The property has a lovely upstairs common area, with arched windows and a white-latticed ceiling. Seating is offered at wrought iron high-tops lined along a mosaic-tiled bar, or at wooden four-top tables. There are also a few artfully-arranged hammocks and comfy sofas.  A long, narrow common kitchen is located just off the common area. It features an oven, a full-size fridge, a toaster, and a few other appliances, in addition to cookware and cutlery. The appliances are older and the dinnerware is mismatched, but it's perfectly adequate for a hostel. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, but the connection tends to be unreliable. Free parking is offered on-site as well.