10 Best Hostels in Tamarindo, Costa Rica (2026)

Updated October 2026

These are the best hostels in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, ranked by the most 4- and 5-star Google reviews this year. La Botella de Leche Hostel leads the list, followed by The Backside House (Women Only) and Dreamsea Surf Camp. For each one, we say who it suits and what recent guests didn’t like.

Tamarindo hostels range from social surf hostels on the main road to quiet houses up the hill. This list covers a women-only hostel, two surf camps, a long-stay house with apartments and a hostel with its own beach access. If you’re looking for a surf hostel, several of these bundle lessons with your bed.

How we ranked these

These are the hostels in Tamarindo with the most 4- and 5-star Google reviews this year. Recent reviews tell you what visitors think right now, not years ago. Every business here fits the category, is in or near Tamarindo and shows recent signs of being open.

Playa Grande Surf Camp is across the estuary in Playa Grande, not in Tamarindo itself. Google lists Casa Chaak as a holiday rental, but guests describe a shared dorm as well as private rooms and apartments.

Every business in Tamarindo is listed free on Tamarindo Guide. Featured businesses, the ones that support the guide, are usually included when they fit the category, and we always label them.

1. La Botella de Leche Hostel

See La Botella de Leche Hostel on Tamarindo Guide

382 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.8 average

Life at La Botella de Leche centers on a pool under the palm trees, on Tamarindo’s main road a few minutes from the beach. It also runs its own surf camp, and guests say the lessons are well organized for different levels. Dorm beds have privacy curtains, lights, outlets and air conditioning, and staff help book shuttles and tours.

It suits solo travelers who want to meet people without a wild party scene. Guests call it social but not a party hostel, and one compared it to staying with Argentine friends. Recent complaints mention a messy shared kitchen with old food left out and one billing mistake, so check your total at check-in.

2. The Backside House (Women Only)

See The Backside House (Women Only) on Tamarindo Guide

87 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.9 average

Only women can stay at The Backside House, a small hostel a minute from the beach in the center of town. Guests say the women-only rule makes it feel safe and makes it easy to meet other women. It’s attached to Club 33, a surf school and shop, so lessons and boards are next door, and one guest mentions coffee, yoga and a gym there too.

It’s a strong pick for solo female travelers, including women trying a hostel for the first time. Beds have privacy curtains, and guests like the kitchen. Many booked a few nights and stayed for weeks. The dorms and common area are small, so it gets cramped when full, and one guest said volunteers came home loud late at night.

3. Dreamsea Surf Camp

See Dreamsea Surf Camp on Tamarindo Guide

46 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.2 average

Set in the jungle near town, Dreamsea works as a full surf camp, and most guests come for a week of lessons, yoga and group trips. Reviews mention 7am yoga, excursions such as a waterfall trip, good food and a bar. There are dorms and private rooms with air conditioning, and many guests and volunteers arrive alone.

It suits beginners and first-time solo travelers who want a ready-made plan and a big social group. Beginners praise the surf lessons. Several recent guests, mostly people who already surf, say the boards are poor, the rooms are basic and the camp feels more about partying than surfing. If you can surf, ask about boards and lesson level first.

4. Pura Vida Hostel

See Pura Vida Hostel on Tamarindo Guide

43 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.5 average

Two shared kitchens and an open-air lounge full of hammocks set Pura Vida Hostel apart, on the main road a short walk from the beach, bars and supermarkets. Guests describe a simple, homey place where travelers cook together and play cards, and the rooms have air conditioning. Several reviews say it’s a quiet place to rest.

It fits backpackers and surfers who care most about location and price and don’t need hotel extras. Several guests this year had a bad experience with the owner, including rude treatment and being charged more than the agreed price. Confirm your rate in writing before you arrive.

5. Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel

See Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel on Tamarindo Guide

26 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.7 average

Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel draws a young, lively crowd, and guests say there’s music in the common area most nights until 11. Reviewers also praise the pool and a big kitchen that several call the most complete they’ve seen in a hostel. It’s about 5 minutes from the beach, next to a supermarket, with a secure room to store bags.

It suits travelers in their twenties who want to meet people, and long-term guests add to the friendly mix. Staff can book shuttles, yoga and other activities. Light sleepers should know the walls are thin and the dorms can be cramped and loud. One guest found the crowd too young and rowdy to come back.

6. Casa Chaak

View Casa Chaak on Google Maps

23 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 5.0 average

Many guests at Casa Chaak stay for months, not nights. It’s a quiet place about 10 minutes from the center, with a shared dorm, private rooms, small apartments and a casita. Reviewers praise the owners, a couple who answer quickly and check in on guests, plus air conditioning, strong showers, good internet and laundry service.

It’s a good fit for remote workers and long-stay travelers who want calm and a full kitchen, with supermarkets and a gym within walking distance. It feels like a shared house, not a party hostel. You’re outside the busy center, so you’ll walk a bit more or use your own transportation to reach the beach and bars.

7. Tamarindo Backpackers Hostel

See Tamarindo Backpackers Hostel on Tamarindo Guide

18 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 4.8 average

Up a small hill off the main road, Tamarindo Backpackers is close enough to walk to the bars and far enough away to sleep. Guests mention a pool and hammocks, a clean kitchen, free morning coffee made by the night guard, and a resident dog and cat. GoodVibes Surf School is based here, and remote workers say the Wi-Fi is solid.

It’s a good pick if you want a calm, friendly hostel near town. Several guests say it’s not a party hostel, and first-time solo travelers felt welcome. It’s a basic budget place, though. One guest says the dorm air conditioning runs only from 9pm to 9am, and another reported cockroaches and other insects.

8. Playa Grande Surf Camp

See Playa Grande Surf Camp on Tamarindo Guide

12 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 5.0 average

Across the estuary (the river mouth north of Tamarindo) in Playa Grande, this thatched-roof surf camp is about 2 minutes on foot from the beach. Playa means beach. Guests can hear the waves from the pool, and there are hammocks, a shared kitchen, dorm beds and a 4-bed apartment. Its private surf lessons and board rentals get strong praise.

It suits surfers, couples and families, including parents with teens or younger kids taking lessons. Reviewers say it’s a place to rest, not party, and the staff live on site and help with transport, tours and groceries. You’re outside Tamarindo itself, so plan how you’ll get to its restaurants and bars.

9. Casa Aura’s

See Casa Aura’s on Tamarindo Guide

10 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 3.5 average

Of all the hostels here, only Casa Aura’s has its own beach access. It’s a hostel and B&B in the center of town, and some guests say it feels more like a small boutique hotel. Breakfast is included, and guests mention eggs, gallo pinto (rice and beans, the usual Costa Rican breakfast), fruit and coffee, plus a discount at the restaurant next door.

It’s a good choice for couples and friends who want the beach at the door and sunset views. Recent reviews are mixed, though. Several guests say rooms are small and nearby bars are loud at night, and two had a room next to the bar speaker or a strong sewer smell. Ask for a quiet room when you book.

10. Tsunami Hostel

See Tsunami Hostel on Tamarindo Guide

7 4- and 5-star Google reviews in 2026 · 3.2 average

If you need a low-cost bed across the street from the beach, Tsunami Hostel on the main road is the most basic option here. Guests who liked it mention friendly staff, a social feel, and surfing and kayaking close by. Rooms are simple, and some have a fan instead of air conditioning. One guest called it a place to sleep and nothing more.

It’s for travelers on a tight budget who won’t spend much time in the room. Recent reviews are mixed. Guests mention worn bedding, a dirty kitchen and cockroaches, one had a booking problem and could only pay cash, and another reported a theft from their room. Lock up your valuables and read the latest reviews first.

How to Choose a Hostel in Tamarindo

Start with the mood you want. Hostels on the main road put you a short walk from the beach and the bars, but nights can be noisy. Places a little up the hill or outside the center, like Tamarindo Backpackers, Casa Chaak or Playa Grande Surf Camp, are quieter.

If surfing is your main goal, a surf hostel or surf camp can bundle your bed and lessons. Beginners give good reviews to most of them, but if you already surf, ask about board quality and lesson level first.

Dry season, roughly December to April, is the busiest time, so book early. The green season (rainy season) runs about May to November, with September and October the quietest months. Most hostels here have air conditioning in at least some rooms, but not all do, so check the room type when you book.

Quick comparison

#	Business	4- and 5-star reviews in 2026	Average rating	Best for
1	La Botella de Leche Hostel	382	4.8	Social solo travelers
2	The Backside House (Women Only)	87	4.9	Solo female travelers
3	Dreamsea Surf Camp	46	4.2	Beginners wanting a surf package
4	Pura Vida Hostel	43	4.5	Budget backpackers
5	Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel	26	4.7	Social travelers in their 20s
6	Casa Chaak	23	5.0	Long stays and remote work
7	Tamarindo Backpackers Hostel	18	4.8	Quiet nights near town
8	Playa Grande Surf Camp	12	5.0	Families and surfers wanting quiet
9	Casa Aura’s	10	3.5	Beach access and breakfast
10	Tsunami Hostel	7	3.2	Basic bed near the beach

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hostel in Tamarindo?

La Botella de Leche Hostel has the most 4- and 5-star Google reviews this year, followed by The Backside House (Women Only) and Dreamsea Surf Camp. Guests praise La Botella for its pool, friendly staff and short walk to the beach.

Is there a surf hostel in Tamarindo?

Yes. Dreamsea Surf Camp, Playa Grande Surf Camp and La Botella de Leche all offer surf lessons with your stay, and The Backside House is attached to the Club 33 surf school. GoodVibes Surf School is based at Tamarindo Backpackers Hostel.

Is there a party hostel in Tamarindo?

Most hostels on this list are social rather than wild. Reviewers describe Casa Pura Vida Surf Hostel and Dreamsea Surf Camp as the most lively, while guests call La Botella de Leche and Tamarindo Backpackers relaxed, not party hostels. Most central hostels are a short walk from the bars.

Are Tamarindo hostels good for solo female travelers?

Yes. The Backside House is a women-only hostel, and guests say it feels safe, clean and friendly. Many first-time solo travelers also say they felt welcome and made friends quickly at Dreamsea Surf Camp and La Botella de Leche.

Find more hostels in Tamarindo

Want more budget places to stay? Browse all the hostels in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, in Tamarindo Guide’s free business directory.

Browse all Hostels in Tamarindo on Tamarindo Guide

Best Hostels in Tamarindo in 2026