Flamingo

Air:

Local carriers Nature Air and Sansa operate 45-minute flights to and from Tamarindo, which is a 20-minute drive from Flamingo. Flights depart from Nature Air's airport in Pavas (between San Jose and Alajuela) or from Sansa's terminal in Alajuela, next to the international airport.

Alternatively, visitors can fly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, a one-hour drive from Flamingo.  

Bus:

From San Jose to Flamingo (Tralapa Station): $11; 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; 5 hours. Departs from the intersection of Calle 20 and Avenidas 1/3. Tel: 2680-0392. 

From Flamingo to San Jose: $11; 2:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m.; 5 hours. Departs from the intersection of Calle 20 and Avenidas 1/3. 

Car:

Depending on road conditions and traffic, travel time between San Jose and Flamingo is roughly four and a half to five hours. Take the Interamerican Highway (Route 1) north and follow signs to San Ramon and later, Liberia. Continue north toward the Nicoya Peninsula, following signs for the Tempisque River Bridge and Nicoya. There is a well-marked intersection at a Shell gas station with signs to the Tempisque River Bridge; turn left here onto Route 18. After crossing the Tempisque River Bridge, look for Route 21 and take it through Nicoya and Santa Cruz. Continue north past Santa Cruz to Belen, then drive through Huacas. From Huacas, follow the signs to Flamingo and you will arrive in 15-20 minutes.

ATV Tours

Tackle the bumpy rainforest trails and quiet unpaved roads that surround the Flamingo area on an all-terrain vehicle. Combination excursions to local canopy tours are available, making the ride there and back an adventure in and of itself.

Canopy Tours

Some of the best canopy tours in the country can be experienced just 40 minutes from Flamingo. The most popular course features eleven cables totaling ¾ of a mile in length – the longest of which lasts 35 seconds. The tour also has three suspension bridges and a wildlife farm full of snakes, butterflies and monkeys.

Casinos

Try your luck at Flamingo's brand new, state-of-the-art casino. With 21 Vegas-style slot machines, standard and electric roulette wheels, poker tournaments, raffles, cash giveaways and more, there are plenty of opportunities to win big bucks.

Dance Lessons

Salsa and Merengue dance lessons are offered nightly at many local hotels. They are free of charge for their guests but visitors can join in for $5-10 per person for a one-hour lesson.

Day Spas

Most all-inclusive resorts feature luxurious salons and day spas for the ultimate relaxation experience.  Exfoliating chocolate scrubs, organic mud wraps, couples’ massages, and pedicures are just a few of the many ways to unwind and absorb Costa Rica's 'pura vida' way of life.

Golfing

Golf aficionados appreciate Flamingo's two stunning golf courses: Mike Young's award-winning course at Hacienda Pinilla, located 20 miles south of Flamingo, and the 18-hole, 72-par Garra de Leon just five miles south in Conchal. 

Horseback Riding
Try a sunset horseback ride along Playa Flamingo's graceful, crescent-shaped shores. The waters are so clear that it is not uncommon to spot devil rays gliding across the crashing waves. Half-day excursions to nearby beaches like Brasilito can also be arranged.

Jet Skiing

Explore the turquoise Pacific Ocean on a thrilling jet ski adventure. Speedy waverunners zip up and down the coastline, blending sightseeing with adrenaline-fueled fun. The area's scenery is spectacular – rugged mountains and gorgeous beaches abound, and rich ocean habitats are home to marine turtles, dolphins, whales, manta rays and other wildlife. 

Sailing

Opulent 45 and 52-foot yachts offer half or full-day outings. The journey includes a choice of kayaking, snorkeling, or dolphin and whale watching. Tours include an open bar as well as appetizers and lunch.

Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Scuba diving and snorkeling tours are popular in Flamingo, especially during the rainy months of May- October when visibility is at its best (30-80 feet). Dive companies depart from a centrally located hotel for the Catalina Islands – a small archipelago 10-20 minutes offshore. Here, spotted eagle rays, white tip reef sharks and colorful schools of fish are commonly spotted.

Whales frequent the area from September-March, and large schools of cow-nosed and devil rays can be seen from January-March. Orcas, whale sharks and nurse sharks are also known to visit these waters on occasion. The local dive shop offers day trips and PADI certification courses.

Sport Fishing

Fish in style, both inshore and off, for sailfish, marlin, wahoo, yellow-fin tuna, roosterfish and big cubera snapper. Marlin can be caught year-round, but December through February are the best months. Private charters on well-equipped sportfishing boats are available.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

Rent by the hour, half day, or full day, and get paddling. Stand-up paddle boarding, or SUP for short, is an growing sport that challenges surfers to balance atop a longboard and maneuver the waves with with a kayak-type paddle. Flamingo's gentle surf is ideal for beginners.

Turtle Tours

Playa Grande, located 15 miles from Flamingo, is one of the world's most important nesting sites for the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle. Between October and March, hundreds of these marine giants lumber up the beach to lay their eggs. Guided turtle tours, which are administered by Las Baulas National Marine Park, are strictly regulated to assure turtle protection.

Whitewater Rafting

Explore the Class II-III Colorado River on an exciting, full-day whitewater rafting tour. Rafters not only enjoy the thrill of moderate rapids, but also the beauty of the river's scenery; the rafts drift through river gorge, by small waterfalls, and into dense forest. Daily tours include transportation, a bilingual guide, snacks and lunch.