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Nosara
Nosara built its reputation on Playa Guiones, a broad, forgiving beach break that works virtually every day of the year — the closest surfing gets to a guarantee.
- Best forSurfers · Wellness & slow travel · Couples
- In May31°C · 27 rainy days · sea 31°C
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~5h 50m from Los Angeles
Nosara, Costa Rica
Open in Google Maps
Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles
- CurrencyCRCCosta Rican colón
- LanguageSpanish
- Local time04:367h behind the UK
- PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+506
Why go
A stretch of Guanacaste coast where the jungle comes almost to the sand and the town sits back from the beach in the trees, linked by unpaved roads that turn red with dust in the dry season. Howler monkeys wake everyone at first light. Playa Guiones takes a consistent, forgiving beach break that works nearly every day, and the rhythm of the place is surf, yoga, eat, repeat.
A week is about right, since the point is to settle rather than tour. December to April is dry, bright and busy; the green season from May brings afternoon rain, bigger swell and much better value. Getting here is either a five-hour drive from San José or a short flight to the local airstrip. It is expensive by Central American standards and short on conventional nightlife.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Barefoot, sandy-roaded, unhurried
From our guides
The town behind it is leafy and low-key, all yoga shalas and jungle roads where howler monkeys provide the alarm clock. It's pricier than most of Central America, so book accommodation months ahead for the December-to-April dry season, or gamble on green-season deals.
Featured in Ten laid-back tropical surf towns for slow mornings
Things to do
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Playa Guiones
A wide, seven-kilometre beach break that suits beginners and intermediates alike, with several surf schools and board hire along the access paths.
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Playa Pelada
Smaller and rockier just to the north, with tide pools, a blowhole and the sunset spot most locals prefer to Guiones.
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Ostional arribada
Up to an hour north, olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest in enormous synchronised waves, mostly around the last quarter moon in the wet season.
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Nosara Biological Reserve
Trails through mangrove and dry forest along the river mouth, good for birds, iguanas and monkeys in the early morning.
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Yoga and wellness
The town has been a yoga destination for decades, with open-air shalas running drop-in classes through the day for all levels.
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River mouth kayaking
The Nosara river winds through mangroves behind the beach, paddled at high tide with crocodiles, herons and kingfishers for company.
Getting there
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Fly to
San José (SJO)
Nearest airport to Nosara, about 155km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Nosara
Most visitors fly into San José (SJO) and take a short domestic hop to Nosara's airstrip (NOB), or drive five to six hours across Guanacaste; the last stretch is rough dirt road.
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On the ground
Getting around
Playa Guiones is a few minutes from the airstrip by taxi or shuttle, and the sandy tracks between the beach, Pelada and Nosara town are best covered by quad, bike or 4x4.
Public transport: Long-distance buses reach Nosara from San José and Nicoya, but once there almost nothing runs and taxis are informal.
Flights
Los Angeles Nosara, Costa Rica
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Roughly 5h 50m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 29°C in November to 34°C in March. Driest in February; wettest in October, with rain on about 31 days. The sea is warmest in May at around 31°C, coolest at 28°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May31° · rain 27 days · sea 31°Hot and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — January and February. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Jungle villas, boutique surf lodges and self-catering casitas, plus long-stay yoga retreats. No high-rises and no international chains, and many properties are on unsurfaced roads.
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Best base overall
Playa Guiones
The surf beach and the bulk of the yoga studios, cafés and rental houses sit here, all reachable on foot or by bicycle down sandy lanes. Expect dust in the dry season and the highest prices in the area.
Find stays in Playa Guiones -
Best for couples
Playa Pelada
A smaller, calmer cove just north with tidepools, sunset bars and fewer surfboards. Rooms feel more secluded, but you drive or cycle to Guiones for the choice of restaurants.
Find stays in Playa Pelada -
Best value
Nosara town
The actual Tico village inland, a few kilometres from the sand, where guesthouses and long-stay flats cost a fraction of beachfront rates. Nothing scenic about it, and you will want wheels.
Find stays in Nosara town -
Quietest
Playa Ostional
North of the river and close to the turtle arribadas, with a handful of simple lodges and next to nothing else. Rough road access, strong currents, and total peace as the reward.
Find stays in Playa Ostional
Worth knowing before you book: December to April books out months ahead and rates rise sharply over Christmas and Easter. Green season brings deep discounts but check the property has a generator and a passable access road.
Search everything else in Nosara by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Roads
- Local roads are unpaved, rutted and heavily potholed. A 4x4 or a golf cart is the norm, and low hire cars struggle in the wet season.
- Rip currents
- Guiones has rips despite its friendly reputation. Surf near other people, ask about conditions locally and swim parallel to the shore if caught.
- Timing
- December to April is dry and busiest. May to November brings daily rain, greener surroundings, bigger swell and lower prices.
- Cash
- Cards are accepted in most businesses, but keep colones or dollars for small stalls and taxis. Machines are limited and occasionally empty.
- Wildlife
- Howler monkeys, iguanas and the occasional snake share the roads and gardens. Shake out shoes and do not feed anything.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Tamarindo
Costa Rica · 42km away →
Tortuguero
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Santa Teresa
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Zip-lining the cloud forest
Monteverde, Costa Rica · 96km away →
San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua · 138km away →
Ometepe
Nicaragua · 169km away →Elsewhere in Costa Rica
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Nosara?
For warm, mostly dry days, January and February. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 29°C in November to 34°C in March. Driest in February; wettest in October, with rain on about 31 days. The sea is warmest in May at around 31°C, coolest at 28°C.
How long should I spend in Nosara?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Nosara?
Most visitors fly into San José (SJO) and take a short domestic hop to Nosara's airstrip (NOB), or drive five to six hours across Guanacaste; the last stretch is rough dirt road.
Do I need a car in Nosara?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Long-distance buses reach Nosara from San José and Nicoya, but once there almost nothing runs and taxis are informal.
What currency and language are used in Nosara?
Currency: Costa Rican colón (CRC). Language: Spanish. Plugs: type A and B.
Who is Nosara best for?
Best for surfers, wellness & slow travel and couples. In a phrase: barefoot, sandy-roaded, unhurried.