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So when you hear the winds are to pick up, and tomorrow is supposed to be perhaps the most gorgeous day throughout your entire stay along the Rich Coast, what do you do? Grab the surf board? Lay out and soak up sun? More mojitos and cerviche?

It can be a tough call…

For us, the answer was pretty clear. We needed a boat.

Boating options around Tamarindo aren’t plentiful, but a few exist. Most are smaller boats meant to explore Las Baulas National Park right across the beach in Tamarindo. We decided to save that for next time. There’s a large schooner ship harbored in Tamarindo by a couple from South Africa available for sunset cruising and dinner. Could be fun… but there were also a couple of cats. That’s a little more my style…

We were introduced by a local adventure tours guide that north of Tamarindo was a boat named “Panache” and that it would set sail if reserved. The other boat we were interested in (Blue Marlin) was reserved for the day, so we decided Panache was our best bet and the ride to Playa Flamingo would be fun to see.

Chalk it up to another reason for going in the “green season”. Because of the lack of tourists, we were asked if we’d pay an extra ticket for having the boat to ourselves… since the proprietor demanded a 4 person minimum. We couldn’t have been more eager to oblige. It’s a great, reasonably priced way to spend an entire day – and take in an unforgettable sunset.

Our 45 foot catamaran had 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a loaded wet bar, snorkeling gear, a kayak, and two ticos that not only knew how to have a good time, but sailed like true pros.

Needless to say we had a blast. Enjoy the photos!

Sailing Panache in Tamarindo Costa Rica

Sailing Panache in Tamarindo Costa Rica – Pic 2

Sailing Panache in Tamarindo Costa Rica – Pic 3

Sailing Panache in Tamarindo Costa Rica – Pic 4

Sailing Panache in TamarindoCosta Rica – Pic 5

Sailing Panache in Tamarindo Costa Rica – Pic 9

Highlights of the trip included

Awesome margaritas made at sea
Holding two puffer fish while snorkeling
Seeing dolphins at sea
Raising the main sail & commanding a boat worth more than the average house is a rush (sailing experience required)
Sunset at sea is amazing
Snacks, fresh fruit, burritos served after snorkeling

Tune in next time for adventures in car renting, driving in Costa Rica, and sampling beer from Costa Rica’s only micro-brewery – all on the way to a Volcano.

Pura Vida amigos.