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Occidental Tamarindo

Playa Langosta, Costa Rica

4.6(10,359 reviews)

Family

Occidental Tamarindo works best for travelers who know exactly what they are booking. It is the only all-inclusive in the Tamarindo area, which explains why it stays busy despite reviews more mixed than you would see at a comparably priced Mexico or Dominican Republic resort. The setting is the draw: 198 rooms (the property opened as Barceló Langosta Beach and the rooms were last renovated in 2010) facing Playa Langosta, next to Las Baulas National Marine Park where leatherback turtles nest from October to March, with iguanas, howler monkeys and birds on the grounds for free. For a Costa Rica trip built around wildlife, surf and Pacific sunsets, that context matters more than buffet breadth.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+The only all-inclusive in the Tamarindo area, by Barceló's own description, so if you want prepaid meals and drinks on this stretch of Guanacaste there is no direct competitor
+Sits next to Las Baulas National Marine Park, a protected leatherback nesting beach; guests staying October through March have watched turtles come ashore at night, something no Caribbean all-inclusive can offer
+Wildlife on the grounds without a tour: iguanas every day, howler monkeys most mornings and a bird list that keeps casual birders busy from the pool loungers
+Playa Langosta is a real surf beach, and Barceló pitches the hotel to surfers; staying here puts intermediate and experienced surfers steps from the break with meals already paid for
+Just 2 km (1.1 miles) from downtown Tamarindo, close enough for independent dinners, surf schools, galleries and nightlife on nights you want off the buffet
+Beyond the two pools and hot tub (open 7 AM to 9 PM) there is a tennis court, mini golf, giant chess, table tennis, darts, kayaks, snorkeling and scuba sessions, and a Wellness Spa for guests 16 and over, with kids activities for ages 2 to 11 from 10 AM to 5 PM and an evening show at 8:15 PM
+West-facing Pacific sunsets from a beach far quieter than Tamarindo's main strand; Playa Langosta draws a fraction of the town-beach crowd

Cons

−The beach directly in front is rocky with a strong rip, and 2026 guests say only a small patch is clear enough to wade; it is a surf and sunset beach, not a swimming one
−Food is the most repeated complaint: 2026 reviewers call the buffet limited in variety and underwhelming in preparation, with service sometimes winding down before posted closing times
−Rooms were last renovated in 2010 by Barceló's own account, and it shows: 2026 reviews describe poorly maintained rooms and a musty or mold smell in some, with guests asking to move on arrival
−Experienced all-inclusive travelers rate it harshly against similarly priced Mexico, Jamaica or Dominican Republic resorts; one 2026 guest said it barely meets four-star criteria
−À la carte dining is rationed: one courtesy dinner for every three nights, at La Fontana (Italian) or Kyoto (Japanese), with the buffet the rest of the time. The paid Premium Level upgrade (per person, per night) lifts that to one dinner every two nights and adds 4 PM checkout, premium spirits and 20 percent off the spa
−The swimmable sand at Tamarindo Beach is 1.4 miles away, a hot, dusty 20 to 30 minute walk or a taxi, which changes the daily plan for anyone who booked expecting to swim out front
−Service is uneven, especially in the dining rooms, and although Wi-Fi is free, guests report it is unreliable; individual staff are warm but standards vary shift to shift

Two issues need flagging. First, the beach out front is rocky with a strong rip; it is for surfing and sunsets, and swimmers face a 20 to 30 minute walk or a taxi to the calmer sand at Tamarindo Beach, 1.4 miles away. Second, the food: the buffet is described as limited and bland, à la carte access is one courtesy dinner per three nights at La Fontana or Kyoto (one per two nights with the paid Premium Level upgrade), and some guests report service ending ahead of posted hours. The two pools with a kids' area and hot tub run 7 AM to 9 PM, kids activities for ages 2 to 11 run 10 AM to 5 PM, and the evening show starts at 8:15 PM with a nightclub after. Rooms are Superior (32 m², up to four, park views), Suite Duplex (66 m²) and Master Suite Duplex (99 m²), all air-conditioned; maintenance and mold complaints cluster in the standard rooms.

It suits surfers who want a resort base by the break, nature travelers who will trade food quality for turtle and wildlife access, and anyone who wants the all-inclusive format in this corner of Costa Rica. At around $160 to $210 a night for two it is one of the cheapest all-inclusive rates in the country, well under the Papagayo-area resorts, and travelers who plan to eat out in Tamarindo anyway may do better in a boutique hotel or rental in town. The Pacific sunsets, the national park next door and the short hop into Tamarindo give it a niche identity that the right traveler finds genuinely worthwhile; nearby, Playa Avellana (11.8 miles) and Playa Grande offer more surf, and Tamarindo's operators run estuary, snorkel and sunset-sail trips.

Common Questions

Can you actually swim off the beach at Occidental Tamarindo?

Not comfortably. Playa Langosta in front of the resort is rocky with a strong rip, and 2026 guests found only a small clear patch to wade in. It is excellent for lounging, sunsets and surfing, but swimmers should walk 20 to 30 minutes or take a taxi to Tamarindo Beach, 1.4 miles away, where the water is calmer and rental boards and kayaks are easy to find.

When is turtle nesting season and how likely are sightings?

Leatherbacks nest at Playa Langosta and the adjacent Las Baulas National Marine Park from October through March, with the most activity in November and December. Guests in that window have seen turtles on the beach at night, sometimes on ranger-led watches. Sightings are never guaranteed and depend on the night, but the protected nesting habitat next door is a possibility no Caribbean resort can match.

How does the à la carte dining system work here?

Standard guests get one courtesy à la carte dinner for every three nights of the stay, at La Fontana (Italian) or Kyoto (Japanese); the buffet covers the rest, with pool-side snacks during the day. The Premium Level upgrade, charged per person per night, raises that to one à la carte dinner every two nights and adds 4 PM checkout, premium spirits and 20 percent off the spa. That is tighter than the unlimited à la carte access most Mexico and Caribbean resorts offer, so plan reservations early.

Is this resort suitable for surfers?

Yes, and it is the main reason surf travelers choose it. Playa Langosta has quality breaks suited to intermediate and experienced surfers, and the hotel markets itself to surf lovers. Beginners will do better on Tamarindo's main beach, where the surf schools are. The all-inclusive format means meals and drinks are handled while you chase waves, a combination few Costa Rica surf stays offer.

What wildlife can guests realistically expect to see on the property?

Iguanas are a daily certainty on the grounds. Howler monkeys are heard and often seen in the early morning, when their calls carry across the property. Bird variety is high thanks to the national park next door, so bring binoculars if you have any interest. The wildlife is one of the hotel's real strengths and comes up repeatedly in positive reviews.

Restaurants (3)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Langosta Restaurant
Italian	La Fontana Restaurant
Teppanyaki / hibachi	Kyoto Restaurant

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

Playa Langosta
1 min walk · 0.1 mi
Playa Tamarindo
6 min drive · 1.4 mi

More things to do (18)

Tamarindo estuary mangrove boat tour · excursion6 min drive · 1.4 mi
Sunset catamaran sail from Tamarindo · excursion6 min drive · 1.4 mi
Pinilla Canopy Tour · adventure park30 min drive · 8.2 mi
Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club · golf35 min drive · 9.9 mi
Monkey Park Wildlife Center · wildlife40 min drive · 13 mi
Apami Wildlife Rescue Center · wildlife40 min drive · 14 mi
Playa Avellanas · beach40 min drive · 11 mi
Playa Brasilito · beach40 min drive · 13 mi
Playa Negra · beach50 min drive · 14 mi
Playa Flamingo · beach50 min drive · 16 mi
Sunset catamaran sail from Playa Flamingo · excursion50 min drive · 16 mi
Marina Flamingo · marina50 min drive · 16 mi
Catalina Islands dive trip · excursion50 min drive · 16 mi
Sportfishing charter from Marina Flamingo · excursion50 min drive · 16 mi
Playa Junquillal · beach50 min drive · 23 mi
Playa Potrero · beach50 min drive · 17 mi
Playa Penca · beach55 min drive · 18 mi
Playa Pan de Azúcar · beach60 min drive · 20 mi

Amenities

Diving

Tennis

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Spa

Gym

Show 1 more amenities

Beach

Seaweed & sargassum

Costa Rica gets sargassum, typically worst March through August on the Caribbean coast only; the Pacific coast is clear every month.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Costa Rica →

Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 10,359 reviews

Cynthia

a month ago

“The hotel and staff where very accommodating, the food was okay I suggest the omelet for breakfast. Natalia Catalceta works in the gift shop in the hotel she is amazing, so friendly and speaks good English also the young guy that works the gift shop...”

Amy L.

5 months ago

“Service and food were top notch in our opinion. Staff was extremely attentive with any of our needs. Cleaning staff was awesome as well and super friendly. The buffet food was amazing with a ton of different options. Plenty of desserts to choose from...”