Overview of Tamarindo from 4 years ago

This photo and yesterday's photo show the growth of Tamarindo in the last 4 years. I took this in December 2005 during a sunset ATV tour of the hills behind Tamarindo. This photo was taken from about the same location as yesterday's photo.

You will note that looking out to the San Francisco point that divides Tamarindo, on the right, from Playa Langosta, there are no condos peaking above the tree line. Today, there is the big white condo in the middle of town, and several new 7-story condos in Playa Langosta, including one on the ocean near the point. I will show more of them during the next couple of days.

I cannot show the "before-and-after" photos that some Daily Photo bloggers show, such as Jarart of Prescott (Arizona) Area Daily Photo. Her father in law has photos from decades ago that she can post to contrast with her photos today. I had never gone to Costa Rica until December 2005, so those are the earliest photos I can post. However, even in just 4 years there has been a significant change and growth in Tamarindo, as yesterday's and today's photo show.

This photo also shows how the southern end of Tamarindo beach is protected from the full force of the ocean's waves by the off shore volcanic reef and island that continues out from San Francisco point. The sheltering effects of the reef and island allows people to choose how big they want the waves for swimming and surfing. There will be larger waves in the main part of Tamarindo beach, which is to the right of the area shown in this photo, and smaller waves in the area of the beach shown in this photo.

At the southern end of Tamarindo Bay the protection provided by the reef and island allows boats to be moored in the Bay. Tamarindo has plenty of fishing and snorkeling/excursion boats for tourists.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo website we are showing photos of Peru, particularly Machu Picchu. It is one of the most remarkable places on earth.