The holidays in Costa Rica, and especially New Year’s in Costa Rica, are pure joy – a feast of sunny days, fire dancing, sandy shores, and fireworks that light up the sand and sea.
And, even in a country as festive as Costa Rica, Tamarindo still finds a way to up the ante, intensify the vibe, and celebrate the season with beachside revelry, live music, and a palpable spirit of pura vida – a perfect way to usher in a 2025 filled with adventure, connection, and celebration.
Tamarindo is Costa Rica’s year-round favorite North-Pacific destination, but as one year transitions to the next, Tamarindo becomes the place where nature, nightlife, and New Year’s collide.
A vibrant beach town that has it all: world-renowned beaches, a lively downtown, and a community that knows how to celebrate. Tamarindo shines in late December, when the holidays in Costa Rica go wild – when stunning sunsets meet exciting water sports and trendy beach bars feed into evening celebrations. This festive, feel-good atmosphere peaks during the New Year holiday.
So, here’s a glimpse of what to expect, how to celebrate like a local, and a few tips for that perfect New Year’s Eve in Tamarindo.
While much of December is devoted to Christmas celebrations –Costa Rica is a Catholic nation, after all – the holiday season doesn’t end on December 25: It merely transitions, switching from twinkle lights to the light of fireworks, continuing into New Year’s and early January.
El Tope is either the end of Christmas or the beginning of New Year’s – however you slice it, the holidays in Costa Rica hinge on El Tope, a grand horse parade showcasing Costa Rica’s vibrant cowboy culture.
While some Tamarindo locals head to San José for the nationally televised event, you can still find a smaller Tope celebration closer to town – or catch the Big Daddy on broadcast TV. Riders don their finest, and horses trot in impressive, coordinated steps that embody Costa Rica’s equestrian tradition. Even if you’re just catching the highlights, El Tope is an amazing way to dive into Costa Rica’s holiday spirit.
For Costa Ricans, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is prime beach time, with families and friends flocking to beach towns like Tamarindo.
If you’re here, you’ll immediately see that this week is essential one long celebration – a mix of beach barbecues, sun-soaked relaxation, and outdoor festivities that embody the pura vida lifestyle. It’s the perfect opportunity to mingle with residents, pack your beach picnic, and make the most of the golden Costa Rican summer.
The heart of the New Year’s celebration in Tamarindo is New Year’s Eve. (Note that New Year’s Day is fairly sedate in Costa Rica, as everyone recovers from the season.)
Whether you’re looking to join a beach party, savor a gourmet dinner (included in our holiday rentals, below!), or gather with friends and family, Tamarindo is absolutely buzzing with anticipation and excitement. If you want to celebrate the Costa Rican way, here are four key elements to enfold into your New Year’s celebration in Tamarindo:
Nothing says the holidays in Costa Rica quite like a beachside barbecue. It’s a beloved tradition for friends and family to gather around the grill, firing up classic flavors over wood or charcoal. Think sizzling chorizo sausage, fresh fish, marinated chicken, juicy steaks, and an array of veggies, plus Costa Rican corn tortillas for a local twist. A smoky barbecue becomes the hub of your celebration – the spoke in the wheel of your meal, music, and camaraderie.
Many of our Tamarindo vacation homes have outdoor kitchens or grills, perfect for crafting your own Costa Rican feast. Grab your local fish and produce, fire up the coals, and toast to 2025 with a plate of local flavor.
In fine Costa Rican tradition, New Year’s Eve is whatever you want it to be: either a lively party with family and friends or an epic night out. Tamarindo caters to both, so you’ll find plenty of options for a night in or a night out on the town. Take your pick!
Traditionally, Costa Ricans celebrate New Year’s Eve with family – a cozy gathering featuring a homemade feast, music, and plenty of conversation. You’ll find families gathered in homes, grilling and chatting, waiting for midnight to arrive. Luckily, our New Year’s vacation homes include a private chef credit, so your festive meal is a snap! Just open some ice-cold Imperials and toast to good health, happiness, and the pura vida life.
But if you’re looking for something wilder, Tamarindo’s bars and beach clubs host New Year’s Eve partieswith live music, DJs, and champagne toasts. You’ll find venues decked out with lights and decorations, and the festivities last well into the night.
Fireworks are essential to New Year’s Eve in Costa Rica. Starting at midnight, you’ll see (or at least hear) the sound of fireworks echoing across Tamarindo’s beach. Some families also set off their own backyard fireworks, while beach bars and resorts organize elaborate shows for the crowds gathered on the shore.
Many of our vacation homes offer spectacular views of the fireworks. So you can either dangle your legs in the pool or your toes in the sand and enjoy the show, reflected over the ocean – a dazzling and unforgettable sight. And don’t be surprised if you spot a fire dancer or two. This mesmerizing art form is a Tamarindo favorite, with talented dancers twirling flames and adding a bit of mystery to the midnight hour.
New Year’s in Costa Rica wouldn’t be complete without a few fun traditions that promise to add a dash of luck, love, and prosperity to your 2025. Join in on the fun and add these regional customs to your evening:
- 12 Grapes for Good Luck: For each stroke of midnight, eat a grape – 12 in total, one for each month of the coming year. With each grape, make a wish or a resolution, and start the year with a fresh dose of positivity.
- Coordinate Your Underwear (Red, Yellow, or Green): Some Latinos believe that the color of your underwear can influence the year ahead. Red is for love, yellow is for happiness, and green is for prosperity. So, choose wisely!
- Walk with Your Suitcase: Dreaming of more travel in 2025? Grab an empty suitcase and take it for a walk around the block, or alongside the beach. According to regional tradition, this will invite adventure and travel into your life in the coming year.
The holidays in Costa Rica extend through the 12 days of Christmas, ending with Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day, on January 6. While Epiphany isn’t widely celebrated in Costa Rica, many families observe the day with El Rezo del Niño – a gathering that marks the end of the holiday season and an opportunity to honor the baby Jesus.
Families gather to pray, take down their Christmas decorations, and share delicious treats like pastries and Costa Rican coffee. It’s a beautiful and meaningful end to the holiday festivities and an invitation to begin the new year with joy and gratitude.
The New Year season is one of the busiest in Tamarindo, so if you’re considering a trip for New Year’s 2025, it’s almost never too early to book. And right now – mid-November? It’s already late for many Costa Rica vacation home rentals!
Luckily, at the time of this post’s publication, the following homes still have New Year’s availability and offer a special package:
Celebrate the season with our exclusive special: a $500 Chef Gift Card to enjoy holiday classics served with a side of ocean breeze. Leave the apron behind and embrace the tropical spirit with gourmet dining and zero cleanup. Book by 11/30/2024 and mention code FEAST to claim this gift.
Tamarindo | 6 bedrooms | 7 baths | 14 guests
Introducing Palazzo del Mar, where panoramic views meet unparalleled luxury in Tamarindo. This brand-new villa, set high above the ocean, invites you to relax into a stunning retreat that redefines luxury with jaw-dropping 200+ degree panoramic views from every room. Just minutes from the famous Tamarindo Beach, this new hillside sanctuary is a Costa Rican experience in pure style and relaxation.
At Palazzo del Mar, every detail inspires awe. From the open-air design to the serene pool overlooking the Pacific, each space invites you to breathe deeply and enjoy Tamarindo’s natural beauty. The expansive outdoor deck is perfect for gatherings and sunsets, while the villa’s peaceful nooks invite you to unwind, meditate, or book an ocean-view massage.
With a dedicated housemom to handle breakfast, cleaning, and laundry, plus easy access to Tamarindo Beach and town, Palazzo del Mar offers an elevated escape into Costa Rica’s beauty and charm. Here, luxury is effortless, views are infinite, and holiday memories are made.
Playa Langosta | 4 Bedrooms | 4 Baths | 14 Guests
Answer the call to breathe and accept Soul House’s invitation to soothe your soul. Welcome to a truly incredible, almost spiritual experience at this Balinese-inspired villa, located in the peaceful, yet still convenient community of Playa Langosta.
Populated with Balinese-style artwork and accents – each, reinforced via thoughtful details throughout – this special retreat offers quiet and privacy for all, including in the second-floor private apartment (perfect for the trip organizer!). Outdoors, you’ll revel in the backyard enclave, where shaded seating, lush gardens, and a private pool make themselves available for everything from retreat activities to quiet afternoons of diversion and reflection.
Indoors, you’ll appreciate the home’s high design, clean lines, and ample light to soothe the soul, escape to serenity, and reclaim your spirit. Find your balance by the flames of the firepit and among statues, hammocks, and palms. Breathe deeply of the sea breeze. And rejoice in the knowledge that you’ve found your way to Soul House, a standout even among the most distinguished Costa Rica vacation home rentals.
Tamarindo | 6 Bedrooms | 6 Baths | Sleeps 16
Literally named for its unbeatable sunset views, Casa Puesta del Sol is located at the end of an adventure lover’s drive up a hill, where Tamarindo Bay meets stunning 300-degree panoramic views that invoke a sense of soaring above it all. Welcome to the Tamarindo that only a select few experience!
Puesta del sol – “the setting of the sun” – represents an outstanding Costa Rica luxury villa rental: spacious but cozy, upscale yet welcoming, remarkable while approachable. It begins with the enormous windows – natural mediums to frame the artwork of Tamarindo’s most breathtaking scenery – that line all walls of the property, and extends to sliding glass doors, which open almost completely to the sea and mountains.
You’ll love the details here, which include a pristine infinity pool overlooking 300º ocean views. Details, like a bubbling whirlpool set beneath the twinkling stars. Details, like lounge chairs placed to enjoy the tropical sunsets that set the sky ablaze with bold jewel tones and muted pastels. Details, just like these.
Welcoming the New Year in Tamarindo is more than just a celebration – it’s an experience, an adventure, and an invitation to embrace the best of Costa Rica. So grab your red underwear, your grapes, and maybe a suitcase, and join Tamarindo in welcoming 2025 with all the magic, mystery, and pura vida that only Costa Rica can offer.
At Stay in Tamarindo, we really are different. We really do care about you. We really will go the extra mile. And the holidays in Costa Rica are a specialty. We’re going to work hard for you. We’re going to follow up with you. And we’re going to do everything we can, to ensure that this is not just your Best Vacation Ever, but also Everything You Want It to Be.
Because that is what we mean, when we talk about our quality of service: We want to transform the way you travel and celebrate. We want to deliver the best everything you’ve ever experienced – including the best value. And we want you to go home completely fulfilled, whether you came to relax for a week straight or have packed your days full of every adrenaline-soaked, high-adventure activity you could fit in.
So go ahead, give us a try. Embrace the experience. Live your best life. And now, ask us to help you plan unforgettable Costa Rica holidays and traditions. It all starts with getting in touch with our concierge!