Nosara
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Nosara has grown into an international surf and yoga destination, but the coast’s strongest quality is still its sense of space. Guiones is broad enough for surfers, runners and long walks without feeling divided into private zones.
Pelada offers a different scale, with rocks, smaller coves and evenings close to the sea. Ostional farther north introduces one of nature’s great rhythms when turtles gather for arribadas according to their own cycles.
Forest remains between beaches, along rivers and around accommodation. Howler monkeys wake the area early, iguanas cross the roads and birdlife follows the transition between tropical dry forest and coast.
Nosara works best when the programme leaves room. Surf, yoga and a nature excursion do not need to fill every day. The slower pace is not empty space between activities but one of the destination’s defining qualities.
Plan your trip to Nosara
Tell us when you would like to travel and what you would like to experience. We help you put together hotels, transport and activities that suit your trip.
How booking works
Send an enquiry with your preferences. We will get back to you with a proposal and go through the itinerary with you before you decide to book.
Planning a trip to Nosara?
We help you combine the right hotels, transport and experiences into a well-planned journey.
Playa Guiones and its consistent surf
Playa Guiones stretches along an open bay with several breaking areas. Its breadth allows surfers to spread out more than at many smaller beaches.
Read more Show less Playa Pelada, rocks and tides
Waves, wind and currents change throughout the day. Surf schools therefore choose time and location according to experience and current conditions. Mornings often bring lighter wind and a gentler start.
The beach is also excellent for walking and sunset. Protected vegetation behind the sand gives the coastline an unusually green and low profile.
Playa Pelada, rocks and tides
Playa Pelada lies north of Guiones and is divided by rocks and smaller coves. At lower tide, pools and coastal formations appear and give the beach a different character.
Restaurants and small accommodation sit closer to the sea than at Guiones, making Pelada particularly pleasant in late afternoon and evening.
Waves and rocks require attention when swimming. Local advice and tide matter more than a general label of the beach as calm or rough.
Ostional and the turtle arribadas
Ostional is one of the most important nesting beaches for olive ridley turtles. During arribadas, large numbers of females come ashore during the same period to lay eggs.
Read more Show less Ostional Wildlife Refuge and protected coastal nature
The phenomenon can occur throughout the year but varies greatly in size and exact timing. During arribadas and other sensitive periods, access is regulated and visits take place with approved local guides.
The experience requires patience and respect. Turtles must never be surrounded, dazzled or blocked on their route between sea and nesting site.
Ostional Wildlife Refuge and protected coastal nature
Ostional Wildlife Refuge includes beaches, river mouths and coastal habitats around Nosara and Ostional. Protection has helped keep development back from parts of the shoreline.
Tropical dry forest meets wetter environments around waterways. Howler monkeys, coatis, iguanas and many birds occur in the landscape.
Kayak and nature excursions around rivers and mangroves provide an alternative to surf and yoga. They work best early in the day when temperatures are lower and wildlife more active.
Yoga and movement as part of daily life
Nosara has a large range of yoga studios, training programmes and retreat centres. Options range from open classes to longer residential programmes with meals.
Read more Show less Food, coffee and an international coastal community
The best settings use airy spaces, natural ventilation and the sounds of the forest. Yoga then becomes connected with the place rather than something that could happen anywhere.
Pilates, meditation, massage and different forms of training are also available. Choose according to quality, teachers and atmosphere rather than fashionable labels.
Food, coffee and an international coastal community
Nosara’s restaurants reflect both Costa Rica and the international population that has settled in the area. Sodas serve casado, gallo pinto and the fish of the day, while smaller cafés focus on fruit, coffee and modern vegetarian food.
Ceviche, mahi-mahi, plantain and tropical juices suit the coastal climate. There are also ambitious restaurants using local ingredients in more international cooking.
Prices and styles vary widely. A mixture of simple soda, beach lunch and one thoughtful dinner gives a fairer picture of Nosara’s food scene.
Book your trip to Nosara
Roads, accommodation and a spread-out destination
Nosara has no single centre containing everything. Guiones, Pelada and Nosara village are separate, and hotel location has a clear effect on everyday logistics.
Read more Show less Seasons and fitting Nosara into a wider itinerary
Bicycles and golf carts work for shorter distances, while cars or taxis are needed for some restaurants and nature excursions. Gravel, dust and heavy rain can affect journey times.
Accommodation near Guiones suits surf and walking. Pelada gives access to smaller coves and evenings by the sea, while the hills may provide broader views but require more transport.
Seasons and fitting Nosara into a wider itinerary
The drier period brings sunnier days and dustier roads. The rainy season turns the forest greener and can bring heavy afternoon showers, particularly later in the season.
Surf is available during much of the year but changes with swell and wind. Arribadas follow their own natural rhythm and should be planned using local information.
Four nights are a good foundation. Nosara combines with Tamarindo, Sámara, Rincón de la Vieja or Monteverde depending on the direction of the wider journey.
See trips to Nosara
Flights and hotels
Flights and hotels for Nosara can be booked as one coordinated arrangement, with trip length, budget and standard considered together from the outset.
We match the flights to your hotel location and travel dates rather than selecting each element in isolation. This makes planning easier and reduces the risk of poor connections or impractical arrival times.
Where useful, we can also add transfers, extra nights or other practical elements that make the journey smoother.
Book flights and hotels for Nosara as one coordinated arrangement. We match the flights with accommodation that suits your budget, preferred location and trip length. Transfers can also be added.
Flights
For flights to Nosara, we look at more than the lowest fare. Journey times, connections, ticket rules and arrival times often affect the trip more than they first appear to.
This may be a straightforward return journey, but it can also involve flying into one city and home from another or adding stops along the way. For more complex itineraries, we can also assess air-pass and multi-flight options.
A good choice when accommodation is already arranged or when you plan the rest of the journey independently.
We help you find the right flights to Nosara, for both straightforward journeys and more flexible itineraries. A good choice if you want to arrange the rest of the trip yourself.
Hotels
Hotels in Nosara should be chosen on more than price and star rating. Location, neighbourhood, standard and the purpose of the journey often determine whether a property actually works well.
In some places a central hotel is best; elsewhere quiet surroundings, views or character matter more. We therefore suggest options that fit the way the journey is planned.
That can mean good-value mid-range hotels or more distinctive properties where the accommodation becomes part of the experience.
We help you book hotels in Nosara according to neighbourhood, standard and budget. Whether you want to stay centrally or somewhere quieter, we find an option that fits.
Guided tours
Guided tours in Nosara work best when the subject, pace and level of detail reflect what you genuinely want to see and understand. Your focus might be a city, wildlife, culture or a particular practical excursion.
A good guide does more than identify landmarks. They provide context, explain telling details and draw attention to things that are easy to miss when exploring independently.
We help you choose the type and format of tour that best suits your interests.
Discover Nosara with a private tour shaped around your interests. We help choose the right guide, content and format.
Images from Nosara
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10 quick facts about Nosara
- Nosara lies on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste Province.
- The name Nosara is often used for both the district and the coastal communities around Guiones and Pelada.
- Playa Guiones is several kilometres long and known for surf during much of the year.
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- A protected coastal zone keeps much of the vegetation between Guiones and development intact.
- Playa Pelada has rocks, smaller coves and clear tidal environments.
- Ostional is one of the world’s most important beaches for mass nesting by olive ridley turtles.
- Arribadas can occur throughout the year but vary greatly in size and exact timing.
- Ostional Wildlife Refuge protects both nesting beaches and coastal habitats.
- Parts of the Nicoya Peninsula have received international attention through research and stories about longevity.
- Nosara’s development is spread out and there is no continuous seafront or dense town centre.