The closest airport to Tamarindo is Liberia which is about 30 minutes and Tamarindo is accessible by bus. In my opinion, Tamarindo is more of a party town with more nightlife but there is nothing wrong with visiting.
Jaco is about a two-hour bus ride from the San Jose airport, and it was a lot more my style.
It is slower-paced, and I found a lot more to do in the area, including Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is located near Quepos, and it can be reached by local bus from Jaco in about an hour. In Quepos and especially the park, you will find tons of monkeys and, with a keen eye or a tour guide, sloths.
Both monkeys and sloths are synonymous when someone brings up Costa Rica, along with the breathtaking beaches and rainforests. Both monkeys and sloths are mysterious creatures in many different ways. Monkeys in my opinion as little assholes, I have experienced their antics in Thailand and Costa Rica. They will steal right from your hand, throw their shit at you and howl like crazy giving you the creeps at night.
I have seen it all happen, which can be maddening if they get your phone, wallet, sunglasses, or nail you with a deuce. The howling monkeys were next to my Airbnb in Tamarin, which was wild.
Costa Rica is not that expensive if you do it right. I have stayed in the La Hacienda in Jaco twice, and this sweet Airbnb in Tamarindo that had an amazing patio with a hammock.
I rented a room in both places for about USD 35 a night, but you can get a hostel bed for under $20 a night in Jaco. It is a short walk from the bus stop that drops you off in San Jose, and the bus that takes you to Manuel Antonio Park via Quepos.
I also have had the absolute best hamburger in my life at Ridiculous Burgers and the most amazing Coconut flavored beer and wings at Puddlefish Brewery both times I have visited. You’re missing out if you do not hit all of these places in Jaco!
The below is the hostel, so amazing to catch the Oilers game from the pool too!
My visit to Tamarindo was awesome and I got to experience the howling monkeys. This was a park next to my Airbnb first thing in the morning. They woke me up every morning so I wanted to see if I could catch a glimpse of them.
They were so loud and a bit creepy to see and, especially hear them doing their thing!