UTV Buggy Driving Tamarindo: Hidden Beaches & Tropical Forest

Navigate back roads to spot monkeys and iguanas before reaching untouched white-sand beaches

A UTV buggy activity from Tamarindo where you drive your own Side by Side through dry tropical forest and back roads to reach Playa Minas, Puerto Viejo and Pirate's Bay. You get a 15-minute instruction session before setting off, hotel pickup and drop-off from selected locations, a bilingual guide, water and fresh fruit. The activity runs about two and a half hours and suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

UTV buggy tour to secluded beaches

• Arrive at office and get helmet
• Receive UTV driving instruction
• Drive through tropical forest
• Spot monkeys and iguanas
• Visit Playa Negra black sand beach
• Relax and snorkel at Playa Negra
• Stop at beaches near Playa Conchal
• Return to Tamarindo via scenic route

The Experience

Can you actually drive a UTV if you've never done it before? Yes—the crew gives you a 15-minute instruction on how to operate the buggy, and they won't let you head out until you're comfortable with it. You choose between a 2-seater or 4-seater buggy at checkout. After you pick up from your hotel, you get your helmet and goggles, then you're behind the wheel on back roads through Guanacaste's dry tropical forest. This is not a paved-road tour: you're navigating trails where the landscape actually changes as you drive, and the route is designed to give you the best chance of spotting monkeys, iguanas and birds along the way.

The three beaches are the payoff. Playa Minas, Puerto Viejo and Pirate's Bay are not the crowded strips near town—they're the hidden spots with white sand and clear water where you can actually breathe. You stop at each one long enough to soak in the view, wade in if you want, maybe snorkel. The crew brings cold water and fresh fruit so you're not parched by the time you've been driving and walking. On the way back to Tamarindo, you take a different path with different views, so the return isn't a repeat of the drive out.

Wear clothes that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes—you're driving off-road, not sitting in an air-conditioned van. Bring sunscreen. The whole thing is about two and a half hours from pickup to drop-off, and your guide speaks both English and Spanish. If you're staying at JW Marriott, Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Grandes or Las Catalinas, you can add hotel pickup for $15 per person; otherwise, you meet at the office in Tamarindo.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected locations.
• 15-minute UTV instruction before you drive.
• water and fresh fruit during the activity.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• local taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Native's Way Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Choose the 2-seater if you want to drive solo and control the whole route yourself; pick the 4-seater if you're traveling with someone and want to share the experience or take turns at the wheel. Either way, you're driving the buggy, not watching from a passenger seat—this is for travelers who want to handle the vehicle on the back roads themselves.

Traveler reviews

4.56★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the difference between the 2-seater and 4-seater UTV buggy?

The 2-seater is a single-rider buggy you drive solo; the 4-seater seats two people up front and two in back, so you can bring a passenger or split driving duties with someone else. Both follow the same route and stop at the same beaches.

Do I need off-road driving experience to do this?

No. The 15-minute instruction covers how to operate the UTV, and the guides won't send you out until you're ready. The crew confirms you're comfortable before the group heads into the forest.

What wildlife might I actually see on the drive?

Monkeys, iguanas and birds live in the dry tropical forest along the back roads. The route is chosen to give you the best chance of spotting them, though sightings are never guaranteed.

What happens if I'm staying outside the listed hotel pickup zones?

You meet at the office in Tamarindo. If you're at JW Marriott, Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Grandes or Las Catalinas, hotel pickup is available for $15 per person; otherwise, arrange your own transport to the starting point or meet there directly.

How long is the whole experience from pickup to drop-off?

The activity runs about two and a half hours total, including the instruction session, the drive through the forest, stops at the three beaches, and the return to Tamarindo.