Nosara, Costa Rica started off as a small coastal village many years ago and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
Thanks to a long surf break inside protected beaches, luxury surf & yoga boutique hotels, and strong focus on wellness, Nosara holds strong as the premiere destination for a luxury beach vacation.
If you plan to visit Nosara, here is our guide to help you have the best trip.
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What to Know About Nosara
Nosara is the name of the town near the beaches of Playa Guiones, Playa Nosara and Playa Garza. It’s about
However, tourists do not really stay in town since it is not within walking distance to the beach, which is the main attraction.
Nosara town is about a 10 minute drive to Playa Pelada and a 15 minute drive from Nosara village center to Playa Guiones.
Tourists stay near the beach, mostly Playa Guiones as that is the main beach with the most surf breaks. Playa Guiones is the main tourism hub where nearly all the surf schools are.
Nosara, Costa Rica Location
Nosara is in the Guanacaste province in the Nicoya Peninsula.
How to Get to Nosara, Costa Rica
You can drive, take the bus, book a shuttle or fly. Below are the details.
Best International Airport for Nosara
The best international airport to fly into for Nosara is Guanacaste Airport is 113 kilometers (70 miles) away. This is about a 3 hour drive.
From San Jose International Airport, Nosara is 246 kilometers (153 miles) and about a 5 hour drive.
Driving to Nosara
Is a 4×4 required for Nosara? Yes, in the rainy season. This is from May through November, especially the rainiest month of October.
In the driest months like February, March and April, a high clearance 4×2 SUV can work.
The coastal Route 160 is a major road commonly used, but it is hilly, goes between paved and unpaved, and has big pot holes.
There are no river crossings to get to Nosara.
If you are coming from Samara, do not take the coastal inner route which goes to the Rio Buena Vista river crossing. Drive back up north to Route 150 and continue on to Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160.
If you plan to be driving to different places in the Nicoya Peninsula such as Samara and Santa Teresa, a 4×4 is the best option.
Learn about renting a car in Costa Rica get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!
Should You Rent a Car for Nosara? How To Get Around Nosara Without A Rental Car?
Whether you should rent a car for Nosara depends on your trip.
If you want to explore and your lodging is not in town, then you should rent a car.
If you are visiting Nosara for a surf camp or are staying at a hotel in the Guiones beach center, a car is not necessary, especially if you don’t plan to go out on your own.
There is a car rental agency in Nosara though, so if you decide you want a car in Nosara, you can.
For these situations, most people will book a private shuttle or take a local flight from the airport to their hotel. Then rent a car directly in Nosara for their time there.
Then, return the rental car in Nosara and fly or book a private shuttle to their next destination or the airport.
Contact us if you would like to rent a car in Nosara!
If you decide not to rent a car at all in Nosara, you can use tuk tuks to get around, which are very abundant in Nosara. These work to get around Nosara and the beaches.
You can also rent a quad. There are quad rentals in downtown Playa Guiones, such as Monkey Quads.
Public Bus
There is a public bus from San Jose to Nosara with Transportes Inteligente de Guanacaste (TIG) at 530 AM and 3 PM.
This costs 4,895 CRC and takes . You can purchase tickets online: https://tiguanacaste.com/
This bus does not stop at or pick up from the San Jose International Airport. The closest pick up point is the Villa Bonita bridge very close by: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WxkSjMibN3KAideS6
From Nicoya, there is a bus to Nosara.
Monday – Saturday: 445 AM, 10 AM, 1230 PM, 330 PM and 530 PM.
Sunday: 10 AM, 1230 PM, 330 PM and 530 PM.
This bus takes about 2 hours and costs 2140 CRC. No online ticketing available, purchase tickets in person at the Empresa de Buses Traroc terminal in Nicoya.
Shuttle
You can book a private or shared shuttle to Nosara.
From Guanacaste Airport to Nosara, a private shuttle is around $220 USD total for 1-8 people. From San Jose International Airport, a private shuttle to Nosara is around $400 USD for 1-6 people.
Contact us in case you require a private shuttle and we’ll be happy to assist you.
For shared shuttles, Terratour Nosara offers shared services, for ~$70 USD per person from Guanacaste Airport to Nosara with two schedules in the afternoon at 3 and 5 PM.
Local Flight
Nosara has its own airport.
The domestic airline Sansa Airlines flies into this airport from San Jose International Airport and Guanacaste Airport.
From San Jose, the flight to Nosara takes 45 minutes non stop and costs around $150 USD per way. In high season, there are around 6 daily flights.
From Liberia, the flight to Nosara takes around 30 minutes non stop and costs around $145 USD per way. In high season, there are around 3 daily flights.
The Town
Nosara itself is a small local town further away from the beach (about 7 kilometers or 5 miles).
As mentioned, tourists do not really stay in town. They stay at the beach or close to the beach either at Guiones or Pelada.
However, tourists will say they’re going to Nosara since that’s how the entire area is called.
The actual town of Nosara is very small with a couple supermarkets, restaurants, tour offices and the bank. It’s also where the local airport and gas station is.
Nosara Beaches
Nosara is home to some gorgeous beaches which are the main attractions of this area.
Playa Guiones
Guiones is the main beach of the area. It has incredible surfing waves, dreamy sunsets and soft sand. If you plan to surf, this is the beach you’ll spend most of your time at.
Guiones as mentioned earlier has many hotels, surf camps, restaurants, a bank, clothing stores and grocery stores so it’s the man tourism hub of the area.
There is a lifeguard station at the main entrance of Guiones beach. Playa Guiones is part of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge which is why it has empty and pristine shorelines.
Playa Pelada
Pelada is one of our favorite beaches in the area. It’s not as big as Guiones and the surf break is more for the locals and expert surfers but we love visiting and walking on this beach.
You can swim or walk on the rocks. Just be careful if you swim as waves can get strong.
Pelada is also part of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge.
Playa Nosara
Although named after the town, this beach isn’t quite as popular as Guiones or Pelada since it has dark brown sand and has waves more suitable for intermediate and higher level surfers.
Playa Rosada
This beach is appropriately named “pink beach” with stunning light pink colored sand for most of the year. However, this beach doesn’t have easy access.
You have to walk about an hour on the beach starting from South Guiones to get there.
It is also super important to remember that you must visit during low tide as you have to cross rocks around the jutting peninsula.
During high tide, you won’t be able to cross the rocks required to get to and out of Playa Rosada so you will get trapped until the low tide comes in.
Things to do in Nosara, Costa Rica
What to do in Nosara you ask?
Surf
And surf.
And surf some more.
Playa Guiones has such great surfing waves that professional surfers from all over the world visit Nosara.
If you’re a beginner or looking to improve your skills, Playa Guiones has some of the most luxurious surf camps in Costa Rica with upscale lodging, gourmet food and personalized surf classes and attention.
For surf camps and lessons, check Surf Simply ($$$$), Barefoot Surf ($$$$), Burnt Toast ($$), Moana Surf Resort, Nosara CR Surf School, Coconut Harry’s Surf Shop and School, and Nosara Surf Academy.
Turtle Tour at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
During the months of May – January, Ostional Wildlife Refuge receives turtle nestings and baby turtle hatchings.
This refuge is also home to arribadas which are mass nestings so if you’re there at the right time, you can see up to thousands of turtles nesting at one time!
The best months to see the arribada are the rainier months of the year, such as September, October and November. November generally has the biggest mass nestings.
Ostional turtle tours require reservations and a guide and it’s just a 20 minute drive from Nosara.
You can contact the Ostional Guide Association to make a reservation if you have your own transportation.
Sunset Cruises
Enjoy a day out in the option on a catamaran for morning or sunset cruises. See the beautiful coastline, enjoy the fresh ocean breeze and if you’re lucky, see dolphins and turtles out at sea.
Yoga
With a myriad of yoga centers, make sure you take a class or two! Blue Spirit is a favorite, located down in Garza away from the tourism hub.
Reserva Biologica Nosara
This is a private reserve in Nosara on the property of Hotel Lagarta, the Nosara Biological Reserve.
To get the most out of a walk through the Nosara Biological Reserve, take a guided tour through the trails on the nearly 90 acre reserve to see birds and wildlife.
You can also take a guided safari float down the Nosara River, which borders the reserve, to see wildlife without walking.
ATV Tours
Book an ATV tour to ride up the mountains to stop at a few viewpoints to see the coast from above. There is one ATV tour in Nosara that stops at a family farm and includes a farm to table dinner.
Cooking Class
A cooking class is a great way to learn about Costa Rican culture and food.
As the Nicoya Peninsula is a Blue Zone, an area where the local residents commonly experience long life, the food is said to play a huge part into the longevity of the Nosara locals.
Learn to cook some tasty Costa Rican dishes, about the various tropical fruits and about the local Nicoyan diet.
Things to Know About Nosara
Nosara is one of the most expensive beach towns in Costa Rica so keep that in mind if you’re on a very tight budget.
Find out how much things cost in Costa Rica here.
Additionally, hotels, surf camps and vacation rentals in Nosara tend to book out quite far in advance. Make sure to book ASAP for Christmas, New Years, spring break and July which is like another mini high season.
Nosara is more popular among American and Canadian tourists. It’s not very popular among Costa Ricans, even the San Jose locals, as Nosara is expensive without many budget options.
Nosara is a safe beach town but theft and burglary is not non-existent. Never leave your belongings unattended.
Likewise, always lock your hotel room door and car doors, roll up windows and don’t leave valuables visible.
Coworking spaces are growing. Outpost has fully furnished offices, private suites, private offices, a library, meeting rooms, podcast studios and event centers.
Nosara Weather
Nosara follows the tropical dry and rainy season. Dry season is from December through April and the rainy season is from May through November.
This area is usually always hot, with average day time temperatures in the high 80s° F and low 90s° F (31° – 33°C). The hottest month is March.
Average night time temperatures are low 80s° F and high 70s° F (27° – 25° C).
Temperatures do not fluctuate very much throughout the year. In the rainy season, it is still hot with similar temperatures, just add more humidity.
The rainiest month is usually October.
Nosara Hotels
When it comes to hotels in Nosara, luxury boutique is the common theme.
- Hotel Guiones: A higher end boutique hotel on Guiones beach. They offer a saltwater pool, free bikes and organic food.
- The Nomadic: A beautiful beachfront boutique hotel with one dorm room, private rooms and an apartment. They have a pool and allow kids ages 12 and up.
- Gilded Iguana: Beautiful hotel in the area with a spa, restaurant, mountain biking, surfing, yoga and more. They also have a nice store. 5 minute walk to the beach. Starts $250 USD a night.
- Moana Surf Resort: Luxury boutique hotel with their own private trail to Guiones beach (5 minute walk). Gorgeous suites, some with a kitchen.
- Tierra Magnifica: For amazing ocean and forest views, this hotel has it all as sits on a hilltop up in the mountains. They have a spa, restaurant, and on-site trails. Starts around $400 USD
- Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort: They offer luxury yoga retreats and workshops. Treetop rooms, vegan/vegetarian/gluten free food, walking distance to the beach. They also have a spa.
Restaurants
If you’re gluten free, vegetarian, vegan or other, Nosara has a restaurant for you.
- K-Rae’s Irish Pub and Inn
- Beach Dog Cafe
- The Bakery
- El Local Nosara
- Olo Alaia Surf & Brew
- Tierra Magnifica Restaurant
- Marlin Bill’s
- Celajes Restaurante: Costa Rican food, seafood, by the airport
- Rosi’s Soda Tica (traditional Costa Rican food)
- Soda Vanessa: Costa Rican restaurant in town
- Panaderia La Cascada (bakery in Nosara town)
- Nacho’s Place (another Costa Rican owned restaurant in town)
- Soda Mapis (also a Costa Rican restaurant in town)
For cheaper eats, go to Nosara town and hit up one of the Costa Rican restaurants called soda or a bakery (panaderia).
Shopping
There are a handful of interesting shops in Nosara to check out, mostly in Playa Guiones. You can find lots of swim and surf apparel.
Hot Tamale
Monkey Mafia Surf Shop
Love Nosara
Jenstones Gallery
Stylez
Gilded Iguana Hotel has a nice surf and beach store.
Why Visit Nosara
A lot of tourists choose Nosara because of surfing. This area attracts a lot of surfers from California and Australia and their families will stay 1-4 weeks in Nosara, using it as a home base.
However if you’re not a surfer, Nosara still has plenty to offer, particularly for more luxury travelers.
You can stay a few nights to experience the beach life in Costa Rica and then move onto a rainforest area like Nuevo Arenal or Manuel Antonio.
Many visitors pick Nosara instead of towns like Tamarindo because they don’t want to be in so much of a party town.
Usually these people prefer a healthier atmosphere, are more into wellness and want a family friendly beach town with pristine beaches.
Read About Other Beach Towns in Costa Rica!
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Party beach town on the South Caribbean coast
Santa Teresa: A big surf and yoga town in the Nicoya Peninsula
Dominical: small surf and yoga town in the South Pacific
Uvita: The main tourism hub of the Costa Ballena, home to Marino National Park in the South Pacific
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Pam says
We will be in Costa Rica in early January with our 3 son ages 14, 18 and 21. We have previously visited Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna with them. This time we plan to spend the first 4-5 days of our trip in Bijagua and Rincon de la Vieja areas before heading to Nosara. They would like to take a couple of days of surfing lessons which is why I am choosing this area. As far as other activities in the area I have found one company that does ATV tours, there are turtles and I’m not finding as much as other areas? Do you know how far we would have to go to find a good charter fishing option? I would rather not stay in more than 3 different locations in our 10 day trip. Thanks! Pam
Sammi says
Hi Pam, unfortunately we don’t have any contacts in Nosara. You can check with your hotel/host or I think Terratour NOsara is the main tour company down there
Tara says
What is the snorkeling like around Guiones? Are there any other beach activities there besides surfing? 4”we have 4 kids 10-17.
Sammi says
Snorkeling is not good right off shore as its a surfing beach, but you can take a sailing tour out and they’ll take you around to spots.
Sandra says
Hello, We will be in Nosara in January and then going to Samara. We will not have a car so what are the options to get from Nosara to Samara?
Sammi says
The best option is to book a private transfer, there are some shuttle companies in Nosara/Samara. If you take the bus, you will have to take the one to Nicoya then to Samara.
Kassie says
Is it possible to get to Nosara via Samara in a 2WD vehicle in July? Is any of that section of road paved or have river crossings? Thanks for all your work!
Sammi says
If you have a high clearance car you can. July is in the middle of rainy season and we’ve already gotten a lot of rain, and also make sure you take the more paved road between the two.
Jessica Fraser says
We are headed to Samara and Tamarindo at the beginning of October driving south to north. This will be our 3rd time visiting, so we are familiar with the roads in CR and love the adventure of driving roads like 160. However, given that October is the rainiest month, I am wondering if there is any way to know if 160 will be passable while we are there. Would locals be able to tell us? Should we just skip 160 and go the inland route instead?
Thanks from some of your biggest fans!
Sammi says
I would just be safer on go inland instead. Flash floods during this time of year are common and those are impossible to predict, you can ask around but locals tend to have a different perspective on driving compared to tourists and what is “normal” for them isn’t normal for tourists. I know the river from Nosara to Ostional is pretty high right now and it’s been raining quite a bit off and on during the day and at nights.
Joellen Hughes says
Nice, what about all the places to eat in Pelada? There’s a whole other scene going on over there that seems to have escaped your attention… La Luna, Il Pepperoni, Lagarta Lodge, Toñito’s, La Bodega Mercado & Cafe, Olga’s Beach Bar, Magdalena’s… El Chivo and Seekret Spot Gelateria are due to reopen next season too.
Sammi says
We have a separate post for Pelada, we haven’t visited lately so we will update it once we have and more things open.
icysurfer says
Great Beach. Unfortunately, the CA attitude seeps into the local culture. I felt like I had not even left N CA. Except the waves were better and much warmer. Cheers.