Everyone tells you that Costa Rica is absolutely gorgeous, full of lush rainforests, a wide variety of biodiversity, and massive stretches of white sand beaches. And I’m here to tell you: all those people are right. That’s it. I really cannot provide any new ground-breaking or profound perspectives, because Costa Rica is just as diverse and just as beautiful as you would expect it to be.
As someone who grew up rarely spending any time near the ocean, I have never been as infatuated with the beach as some of my friends. If I’m going to have a love affair with a body of water, it is going to be a calm, glassy lake at sunset, its surrounding mountains reflecting perfectly in the mirror-like water, thank you very much. Which is why I was so surprised to have fallen so hard and so quickly for the beaches of Costa Rica, which, in their defense, are some of the most beautiful in the world.
You’re probably thinking that this looks pretty nice. Maybe you’re already thinking about a trip to the Costa Rican coast (if so, good on you). Maybe you’re wondering if there’s a way to find accommodations right on the beach without murdering your bank account in cold blood.
And THERE IS.
Hotel Tamarindo Diria is a gated beach resort located right smack dab on the Tamarindo Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. And the best part is that, despite its luxurious rooms and unreal views at sunset, this resort is an excellent price for what you get. We’ve paid about the same for a room in my sister’s college town, a town no sane person would willingly venture for any other reason than for a college graduation, and even then, they’ll most likely make a quick trip of it. That hotel didn’t even offer free breakfast. Diria offers it all.
Sleeping
Diria’s accommodations are, in brief, gorgeous. Our room was equipped with two queen beds, a television, mini bar, and high-speed wifi. The rooms were impeccably clean, almost impossibly so, which made falling into the crisp white sheets with abandon the most enjoyable way to end the night.
All rooms are either garden view, pool view, or ocean view, and all have a balcony overlooking something that is really nice to overlook. This is convenient for relaxing before dinner, getting some sun, or forcing your mother to engage in a photo shoot with you, only to come to the conclusion that you are really bad at posing and are just embarrassing yourself.
Eating & Drinking
I really, truly do not think I can say enough about this hotel’s breakfast. I am always excited about a free breakfast, but this was one that I sprinted to every morning with a little extra pep in my step. The Diria Restaurant is an open air restaurant with views of the beach and ocean and a massive assortment of options for its breakfast buffet: eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, and, in normal Costa Rican fashion, lots and lots of fresh fruit (my mother ate so much papaya at this place that I am surprised she didn’t spend most of our stay in the bathroom with some really unpleasant digestive issues).
The only issue is the birds. Leave your plate unattended for five seconds, blink your eyes a little too slowly, and a bird will swoop into the restaurant and peck at your pastry obscenely while you yell and wave it away frantically. Ahh, beautiful, beautiful wildlife, one of Costa Rica’s biggest appeals, turning on you in your breakfast buffet-induced stupor. Not so beautiful anymore. I hate birds and find their jerking heads, beady eyes, and sharp talons terrifying, but if you’re a little less of a tight ass you may find the interaction with Costa Rica’s exotic fowl over a plate of eggs charming.
In addition to the extensive breakfast, Diria also has a separate restaurant, a little more upscale and specializing in steaks and traditional Costa Rican food, with a terrace directly on the beach. Across the path from this restaurant is a fully stocked bar, which offered us some really tasty strawberry daiquiris the first evening that we arrived (we had received a voucher for one free drink at the bar, which was a pleasant surprise).
Relaxing
I did mention that this resort is on the beach, right? It’s hard not to relax here. Guests aren’t even doing their jobs if they don’t kick back and enjoy the sounds of the waves lapping against the shore. The resort also has three swimming pools, all accessible for guests of the resort, some overlooking the ocean, and some occasionally hosting wildlife of the not-breakfast-stealing variety.
You can leave your room and have your toes in the sand within seconds, you can be sitting at the bar a minute later with a fruity cocktail in hand. There’s a complimentary fitness center, tennis courts, and a casino for anyone feeling lucky (I have never in my life felt lucky, and have only gambled once during a Las Vegas trip just to say I’d done it).
The town of Tamarindo is small, and Diria is perfectly situated so that all shopping and nightlife is within about a five minute walk of the front gates. Perfect for that souvenir to let your friends know you were thinking about them when you were actually mostly preoccupied with lying on the beach and practicing your Spanish with the locals.
Adventuring
The hotel’s tour desk presents affordable opportunities for a wide variety of exciting Costa Rican activities. There are a lot of Costa Rican activities, because Costa Rica is an thrill-seeker’s paradise. Some options include horseback riding through the forests, tubing down the Rio Negro, sailing, scuba diving, and ATVing (!!!). All tempting, and all super easy to book through the resort.
One adventure you are bound to have here (and for FREE!) is learning how to skillfully dodge the massive, 8-inch grasshoppers that live in the area and like to admire the lights outside of the rooms in the night. That’s all well and good, but every one that I came across also happened to be more skittish than my rescued Chihuahua, and every time they would sense you walking by on your way to the beach, dinner, or, god forbid, to the comfort of your own bed, they would spaz in the most unpredictable direction possible, often straight at your head, until you were screaming, running, and praying for death’s sweet release. The first time this happened, our tour guide came running out of his room in a panic, frantically asking if everything was okay, and when I pointed speechless, seconds away from pooping myself, to the gigantic black grasshopper, he laughed condescendingly, scooped it up, and stroked it, deranged, like some kind of abnormal, evil pet.
Basically: it’s Costa Rica. There are some creepy creatures. Maybe you can watch Jurassic Park from your pest-free living room if you really don’t want to encounter any and pretend you’re actually in Costa Rica, but my suggestion is facing your fears and making nice with them.
Pricing
A standard double room on the first floor starts at $162 per night. That’s $81 per person per night. I’ve paid almost that much for a bed in a 12-person dorm in Europe and had to pay an extra 5 euro the next morning for a hot breakfast. That’s how insane this place is priced. You’d think I worked for them the way I talk about them. No, I just really, really love a good deal.
Poolside rooms are priced from $182 per night, and oceanside rooms are priced from $247 per night. All rooms include breakfast, beach and pool access, and access to the gym and casino.
In short, this resort exceeded my expectations. Beach resorts can be a hit or miss; the world is chock-full of them, some towns are literally nothing BUT commercialized beach resorts, but only a select few are really worth the hefty price tag. Diria offers everything that a luxury resort offers, but without that hefty price tag. You’ll sleep well, you’ll eat even better, and you’ll get a chance, at no extra charge, to get to know Costa Rican wildlife, whether you want to or not.
Book your stay here!! This link will take you to photos, descriptions, and reviews of this awesome resort and you’ll be able to book from there!
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