Looking for an authentic tropical adventure with warm ocean waters, friendly people, delicious food, clean beaches, and thriving wildlife? Then Nosara, Costa Rica is your place.  Their motto Pura Vida, literally means “pure life”.  This small, Costa Rican paradise is primarily known for two things: surfing and yoga.  Hopefully this makes it easier to imagine the laid back vibes here.  The surfing in Nosara is suitable and appealing for both beginners and advanced surfers and there are many surfing schools and shops in town who can help with any of your surfing needs. Yoga is also a very popular activity which is offered in many places in Nosara from hotels, retreats, and private studios. Nosara also offers an awesome fishing and eco-tour scene and is home to one of the largest sea turtle wildlife refuges in the world.   You’ll often hear and see howler monkeys and tropical birds in the treetops, and iguanas roam freely everywhere (fun sights to enjoy). If a surfers paradise, yoga haven, and eco-friendly destination doesn’t already sound appealing to you, then perhaps visiting a Blue Zone might interest you. Nosara is a part of the Nicoya region of Costa Rica, which was recently distinguished as one of the five Blue Zones in the world. This basically means that the people who live here live longer due to their healthy diets, strong sense of community, and active yet low-stress ways of life.  We definitely appreciated the wealth of fresh, local ingredients used in all of the meals we had in Nosara which consisted of fresh caught fish, beans, rice, grilled vegetables, tropical fruit, amazing coffee and more. It was all delicious and extremely healthy. All of the locals were friendly, and exuded the laid-back, pura vida vibes that this area is known for.

When we visited this past April, the town had grown significantly since my last visit twenty years ago.  Although still quaint and small, there are now a couple of “main streets” featuring surf shops, clothing stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. A few upscale neighborhoods have also started developing nearby.  From what locals shared with us, development in Nosara shot up significantly during the Pandemic when remote workers and investors alike were looking to build homes that they could live in or use as a rental property.  Although Playa Nosara isn’t a big secret anymore, I was relieved to see that it has preserved its magical, natural, rustic elements that I fell in love with when I traveled here decades ago.  At that time there weren’t ANY paved roads leading into or out of Nosara.  You had to literally cross a small river or two to get there and sometimes the dirt road leading into town felt more like a hiking trail in the jungle.  But not to worry, it is relatively easy getting there today, minus a couple of stretches of dirt roads. So if you’re craving a getaway that’s part paradise, part adventure, and part relaxation, then put Nosara, Costa Rica on your list. I’ve put together some “know before you go” notes and tips below when you’re ready to start planning your trip. I hope you enjoy happy and safe travels and, Pura Vida!

When to Go:

Nosara, Costa Rica has two seasons:  a green season and a dry season.  Green Season, or their rainy season, is from May - November.  You can expect more rainfall overall, especially in September and October.   During the green season, it typically rains in the afternoons leaving time in the mornings for outdoor activities.   It is also less touristy during the green season which typically means better deals on hotels and airfare.  Nosara’s dry season, or high season, goes from December - April when there is much less rainfall and when more tourists come to vacation. Many snowbirds start arriving in December during the holidays and stay well through March.  The high season lasts through April when the last spike of Easter tourists converge on the coast.  You can expect warm temperatures all year round with the hottest months being March and April when temperatures can get up into the 90’s.   The ocean feels like a perfect, warm bath year-round in Playa Nosara, which makes it an appealing destination any time of year.  So whether you’d like to visit during their lush, wetter, green season or want to opt for their less rainy but warmer dry season, you won’t be disappointed either way.

Where to Stay:

Hotels: 

There are several amazing, charming hotels along the stretch of beach which connects Playa Nosara and Playa Guiones.  Both beaches are right next to each other and it only takes about 15 minutes to walk from Playa Nosara to Playa Guiones.   I’ve found that most of the hotel properties in Playa Nosara offer clean and comfortable rooms, beautiful gardens and pools, air conditioning (in the bedrooms), restaurants, yoga classes, surf lessons, spa services, concierge services and close proximity to the beach. Everywhere hotel we visited, the staff was warm, friendly, and helpful.  

Here are a few hotels that I recommend that are situated a short distance to the beach and highly rated. 

The Harmony Hotel: When I visited Nosara twenty years ago, there were only a handful of small hotels located on the beach.  At that time we stayed at one of the only hotels in the area, the Harmony Hotel,  which is still as beautiful and charming as I remembered it, just bigger and more luxurious today.  The Harmony offers beautifully appointed rooms, bungalows, and villas (for larger families) and is conveniently located a one minute stroll away from Guiones Beach.  Their popular flagship restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and features a smoothie bar.  This hotel is great for families, groups, couples or solo-travelers.

Las Olas Verdes:  This all-suite hotel is conveniently located a 7-minute walk to the beach and, like many surf hotels in the area, is bordered by the Ostional Wildlife Refuge.  All guest suites are spacious and comfortable and feature a living room, bedroom, and bathroom.  You can also rent one of the homes on the property.  Complimentary breakfast is served daily from their beloved “El Manglar” restaurant situated next to one of the hotels gorgeous pools. This hotel is a great place for families and groups.

The White Palms Hotel: This tranquil and modern boutique hotel surrounded by nature is conveniently located in Section K of Playa Guiones and only a 10 minute stroll to the beach.  It offers 9 modern, well-appointed guest rooms and 3 beautifully designed pools with waterfalls.  They offer free bicycles during your stay and complimentary breakfast is included in your rate.  Yoga classes are conveniently offered across the street at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort. This hotel is family-friendly although I would rate this one as being better for couples or solo-travelers.

The Sendero Hotel:  One of the newer hotel properties on Guiones Beach, the Sendero is a stylish and modern boutique hotel designed around a lush tropical jungle and only a 3 minute walk to the beach.  Each room is beautifully appointed and has a zen-luxe feel.   Their restaurant, the Sendero Kitchen, is open from 6am-9pm and offers delicious and healthy menu options. This hotel is great for families, groups, couples, or solo travelers.

Tierra Magnifica Hotel:  Perched on top of a tall hill above the Playa Nosara coastline sits the Tierra Magnifica Hotel.  This  18 room boutique hotel is a truly unique, tree-top experience.  Each of their luxurious guest rooms allow you to enjoy breathtaking ocean and/or jungle vistas while surrounded by luxurious, manicured tropical gardens and terraces.   Dine at their world-famous Huacas restaurant and enjoy world-class spa services during your stay. This hotel is best suited for couples, solo travelers, or families with kids over the age of 14.

AirBnBs:

We stayed in an AirBnB in Section K on Playa Guiones (one of the residential areas walkable to the beach), and it was wonderful. 

Here are a few AirBnB’s in Nosara to consider:

La Musa de la Jungla K Section

Luxury Villa close to Yoga and Jungle Views 4BDR

Ultimate Surfer´s Pick 5 min walk to Playa Guiones

Casa Ananda a Bali Inspired Home

Car Rentals:

There are plenty of car rental agencies in Costa Rica and most have locations at the airport. We rented a car online through Enterprise since we were familiar with this brand and wanted to rent from a reputable company. I recommend booking your rental car a few months in advance to get the best deal. We opted for all of the recommended insurance and looking back, I think this was a good call since there are a few stretches of bumpy roads leading into Nosara and we wanted to avoid any issues with possible damages. The recommended coverage should also cover theft but be sure to ask this question if they don’t mention it. Even though a 4WD vehicle isn’t necessary to have in Costa Rica, we ended up renting a 4WD Toyota that was similar to a Highlander. The cost to rent our 4WD car for six days was around $1000 dollars.

Mobile Phone & Navigation

When we arrived in Costa Rica, we had no issues using our cell phones, just make sure you call your cell phone carrier to add international service for your travel dates before you arrive in Costa Rica.  If you don’t, you will be paying for astronomical roaming charges.  My husband and I added international service to our cell phones to communicate while traveling.  Although we didn’t encounter any major issues making calls, using the internet, and texting, you might encounter small stretches along the highway that have little to no cell service. You can still use your navigation app even if your service drops for a minute, just don’t turn your phone off once you’ve started your navigation route. We used the Waze app to help us navigate to Nosara and it worked just fine. Once you’ve landed in CR, you can use Waze to help you navigate to Playa Nosara.  TIP: I highly recommend opening the Waze app before you go to Costa Rica and pre-entering your route from Liberia airport to the place you are staying in Nosara, just in case.  Waze should remember the route for you so it’s already loaded on to your phone when you arrive.   If for some reason, you can’t use your navigation app, it is very easy to get to Nosara from the airport as you will need to take major highways to get to Nosara. I recommend printing the route from Liberia airport to Nosara to have a backup just in case.

Where to Eat:

There are lots of great places to “dine and chill” in Nosara.  Things to keep in mind when you go out to eat is that all of the restaurants in Nosara are outdoor “alfresco” dining only.  So flies might be joining you as you dine, but it wasn’t a huge problem for our group.  Also, in Costa Rica, dining in a restaurant is an experience to savor and enjoy with patience. In other words, don’t expect your food to come 15 minutes after you’ve ordered.  Plan for at least an hour and a half for lunch and two-three hours for dinner, especially during high season.   All of the restaurants I’ve listed below offer excellent dishes, drinks and ambiance.  Keep in mind that you can also dine at one of the many hotels that feature a restaurant on the property. (The Harmony Hotel, Sendero Kitchen, El Manglar to name a few)

Breakfast & Lunch:

Rosi’s Soda Tica  (3 locations in town)

La Ventanita - counter service only 

Destiny Cafe (at La Negra Surf Hotel) 

Lunch & Dinner:

Beach Dog Cafe

Harmony Hotel juice bar & restaurant  

Destiny Cafe (at La Negra Surf Hotel) 

Dinner Only:

Huacas restaurant at Tierra de la Magnifica  - The restaurant is a short, 10 minute drive up the hill in Nosara.  The restaurant is part of the Tierra Magnifica Hotel and features stunning ocean and jungle views below.  I would recommend dressing up a little bit as it does have more of a fine dining feel.  They also don’t allow kids under 15.

Restaurant La Luna - The restaurant is located right on the beach next to the Nosara Beach Hotel (a 15 minute drive from Guiones Beach) You will need to make reservations as it is very popular with tourists due to the sunset location right on the beach.

La Coyol - (Mediterranean/BBQ) - Prepare for a very bumpy, 20 minutes drive up the mountain but well worth it.  The restaurant sits in the treetops in a jungle-like setting. We weren’t able to eat here when we visited but we have heard its a great dining spot with amazing views and vibes.

Tip: the sun sets everyday around 5:45, so if the restaurant has an ocean or sunset view, make sure you book your table by 5:00 or 5:30 so you can enjoy the gorgeous Nosara sunset. 

Activities to Plan Ahead:

Known for its pristine beaches, consistent, world-class waves, and quintissential good vibes, it’s no wonder people flock here year-round for surfing, yoga, and eco-tours.  My personal favorite activity in Nosara was going to the beach, swimming in the warm Pacific waters, and taking in all of the beauty that surrounded me.  Our group, which consisted of 4 adults and 6 kids, took part in many of the activities below and they were all great. If you’re looking to book surf lessons, a yoga class, or any of the other fun activities listed below, most hotels will have a concierge that can easily help you book lessons, classes, rentals, and excursions.  I recommend booking your activities at least 2-3 months in advance. If you don’t have access to a concierge service, here are a few local, activity/tour operators that I recommend:

Surf Lessons:

Living Stoked

Nosara CR Surf

Chorotegas Surf School

Yoga & Fitness Classes:

Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort

Harmony Hotel

Nalu Nosara

Sports Fishing:

Fishing Nosara

Snorkeling Trips:

CRSecretspot

The Gilded Iguana

Safari Surf

Ziplining:

Miss Sky Canopy Tours

ATV Tours:

Platinum Tours

Off Road Adventure Nosara

Horseback Riding:

Playa Ponies

Platinum Tours

Tico Tours Nosara

Waterfalls: (Green/Rainy season only)

Tierra Costa Tours

Cooking Classes:

Huacas at Tierra Magnifica

What to Pack:  

In addition to the obvious toiletries, medications, and first aid kit you will want to bring on your trip, here are some additional items I recommend for your trip to Costa Rica. Most places you stay will have towels and beach towels so there is no need to pack these.

Sunscreen (and lots of it) - sunscreen is very expensive in Costa Rica, so I highly recommend packing a few bottles if you can.  We went through roughly 2 cans of spray and 2 bottles of lotion in our family of four.  Also, pack a couple of sunscreen sticks high in zinc/SPF.  This will save your skin from the strong Costa Rican sun.  Lastly, be sure to pack Aloe Vera for those “unplanned” burns (we all burned a little while on our trip).

Electrolyte Tablets - people can get heat exhaustion in the hot, Costa Rican climate if you’re not used to it (especially during the dry season). Make sure you drink lots of filtered drinking water while you’re there and bring electrolyte powders/tablets that you can add to your water.  Several in our group experienced heat exhaustion and the electrolyte tablets helped tremendously as well as the cold AC!

Bug Spray/Hydrocortisone cream (we didn’t need it but we were close to the coast and went in the dry season when there are less mosquitos)

A packable beach bag or back packs

Refillable water bottle(s)

Flip Flops or Comfortable Sandals, Boat Shoes, Walking Shoes or Sandals for Hiking

Breathable, lightweight clothing

Swimsuits and long sleeve swim shirt

Beach Hat/Ball Cap

Rain jacket (during the rainy season)

Tip: The other family we were traveling with have food allergies, so they checked a travel chest on the plane filled with gluten and nut- free snacks, breads, and other items. They also used this chest to bring sunscreen and other items like water bottles. I thought it was a great call since Costa Rican grocery stores don’t have all of the brands that we do in the U.S.

ATV, Golf-Carts, Boards, Beach Gear, and Other Rentals:

Getting around is generally easy to do when you’re in Nosara as everything is within a mile or two walking distance. We used our rental car to get around town, but you can also get rent an ATV, golf cart, or bicycle if you prefer. I’ve also added some links to ATV, Golf Cart and Bike rentals.  The main road leading into Nosara is now paved (for the most part); however, the roads in the neighborhoods and near the beach are not paved and can be very “bumpy”.  Getting around takes some getting used to but after a couple of days, we got the hang of it.  You can also rent surfboards and other beach gear (umbrellas and chairs) while in Nosara and there are plenty of surf shops that offer great surf boards at a reasonable rental rates.  Not all rental places carry everything so be sure to ask them what they offer.  We rented boards from Nosara Surf Shop but rented our beach chairs and umbrellas from Coconut Harry’s. 

Surfboard rentals:

Nosara Surf Shop

Frog Pad Rentals

ATV rentals:

Nosara Surf Shop

Roadrunner rentals

Golf Cart rentals:

Nosara Paradise Rentals

Nosara Family Surf

Bike rentals:

Roadrunner rentals

Frog Pad Rentals

Cali Bike Rentals

Beach Umbrella & Beach Chair rentals:

Frog Pad Rentals

Coconut Harrys

Grocery Stores:

The grocery stores are well-stocked in Playa Nosara, but just know that they will not have ALL of the brands that you are used to getting in your country.  We bought delicious breads, eggs, vegetables, fruits, dairy items, and snacks and we were more than satisfied with the quality.  

Organico Bakery and Grocer - small, organic grocery store and bakery

La Bodega Nosara - small grocery store and cafe

Rinde mas Nosara - traditional grocery store

General Safety:

Crime is low in Costa Rica and we didn’t experience or hear about any crimes while were were visiting; however, a local told us that there had been past incidents of petty theft happening, especially after dark. They told us not to walk around at night, especially on or near the beach areas. Also, they told us to always have someone keeping watch over your belongings while you’re swimming in the ocean. And lastly, lock your car doors, hotel doors, and house doors at all times. This last one seems like common sense, but it’s a good reminder for people who don’t lock their doors all the time.

I hope you get to enjoy all of the good vibes, beach town charm, and natural wonders of Playa Nosara, Costa Rica! XOXO Penny