While the long, white shore has some rocky patches, Tamarindo is perhaps Costa Rica's most cosmopolitan beach. Few places have so much entertainment by day---scenery, sunbathing, snorkeling, surfing, and shopping---and such a lively nightlife. Although the town is not nearly as crowded as other Pacific coast beaches like Jacó, tourists and expats make their presence abundantly clear. Here you'll find more resort-hoppers than backpackers and just as many Thai restaurants and French bakeries as sodas. The crowd on the beach is composed of people from all walks of life: tico families on vacation, retired gringos, surfers from the north and south, and backpackers seeking a break from their diet of rice and beans. Socialites can find plenty of people to schmooze with, and those preferring peace can wander out to the rocky points at either end of the beach and take in a stunning sunset, reflected on the endless silvery waters. If standard after-hours activities don't suit your taste, take advantage of fantastic natural splendors, like watching a leatherback turtle lay her eggs at nearby Parque Nacional Las Baulas. Tamarindo is a good place to think about Costa Rica's many contradictions, but also an easy place to forget about them.