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Based on 6.4k reviews
Exceptional Service
Guests consistently praise the resort's friendly, helpful, and attentive staff, highlighting service as a major strength of their stay.
Prime Beachfront Location
The resort's direct access to the beautiful and quiet Playa Langosta is highly valued, offering stunning views and a serene environment free from vendors.
Enjoyable Pool Area
The large outdoor swimming pool is a popular feature, providing a central hub for relaxation and leisure for guests of all ages.
Good All-Inclusive Value
Many visitors feel that the resort offers a good return on investment, with its all-inclusive package providing a worry-free vacation experience.
Quiet Beach Access
The ability to step directly onto the spectacular Playa Langosta, known for its natural beauty and breathtaking sunsets, is a significant draw for guests.
Room Condition & Odors
A recurring concern among guests is that rooms can feel outdated, with frequent reports of persistent mildew or unpleasant odors.
Food & Drink Quality
Dining experiences receive mixed reviews, with some guests finding the buffet mediocre and lacking variety, and included drinks often described as poor quality or overly sugary.
Rocky Swimming Beach
While beautiful for surfing and sunsets, the beach directly in front of the resort is noted to be rocky and less suitable for swimming.
Limited Pool Shade
Guests often report a lack of sufficient shaded areas around the main pool, which can be an issue during hot periods.
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Travel Proud
Certified Property
Travel Proud
Occidental Tamarindo holds an unusual position: it's the only all-inclusive resort in Tamarindo, a town better known for boutique hotels, surf schools, and independent restaurants. That market position cuts both ways — guests get the convenience of a structured all-inclusive experience in a genuinely lively beach town, but the competition from non-all-inclusive options in Tamarindo means the resort has to deliver more than just proximity to justify the format.
The resort opened in 1999 and was last renovated in 2010, and that's becoming a visible timeline. Rooms are spacious and generally clean, but recurring guest reports mention mildew odors and dated finishes — packing a room freshener is a practical suggestion that appears independently across multiple reviews. The Superior Room (344 sq ft) is the baseline; the Duplex and Master Suite categories step up to 710–850 sq ft across two floors, which is a genuine upgrade in space if not necessarily in freshness of decor.
The beach situation needs honest treatment. Playa Langosta is a recognized surf beach — it's beautiful, and the direct access with no street vendors is a real plus. But the stretch directly in front of the resort is rocky and not comfortable for casual swimming. Guests who want a swim-friendly beach rather than a surf-watching beach need to know this. The pool, which is large and central to the resort's daily life, fills this gap for many guests.
Practical details: 198 rooms, three room categories, three dining venues plus a snack bar. À la carte dinners at the Japanese (Kyoto) and Italian (La Fontana) restaurants typically include one complimentary reservation per three nights — confirm the current policy at check-in. Wi-Fi costs extra at around USD 12 per day, which is an unusual charge for a modern all-inclusive. Daniel Oduber Quirós Airport (LIR) is 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes away — the drive time varies considerably with traffic.
For surfers and families who want a base in Tamarindo without managing meal logistics independently, this resort delivers. For guests who want a polished, freshly renovated all-inclusive product, the aging infrastructure will frustrate.