Where is Nosara?

Nosara is located in the northern province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It is a small rural, jungle beach town located on the Pacific coast, primarily known for surfing and yoga. It is a 4-hour drive from the mountain towns of Monte Verde or Lake Arenal and a five hour drive from San Jose.

Nosara is not a city-beach vacation town like Tamarindo, which is 1 hour and 45 minutes north of Nosara. Nosara is smaller and jungle-chic meets rural, beach vibes. The first 200 meters of land from the oceans edge is a protected wildlife reserve. You won’t find big chain hotels or restaurants on the beach but you will find great surf, adventure tours, and lot of chi-chi boutiques and restaurants. We have some great Tico owned sodas and eateries but expect to pay tourist prices in the restaurants by the beach.

For day trips, the closest beaches are Playa Ostional, a popular nesting ground for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, San Juanillo for scenic each day, and Marbella for black sand beach and surf. To the south is Playa Samara which has dining on the beach and lots of boutique shops.

Car Rentals,
Golf Carts,
Side-by-sides, or
ATVs

Car Rental Companies. Economy and National/Alamo are recommended, with offices at the airport and in Nosara. Some roads are unpaved, so an SUV is recommended for clearance though a 4x4 not required. Always get a quote from rental car companies with taxes and insurance included—initial quote may be misleading. Do consider full insurance, and check if your credit card offers any international car rental coverage if you pay for the car with the card.

Golf Carts are convenient for short trips to stores, beach, and nearby restaurants in the evening. Gas-powered carts are recommended, as some electric ones can be too slow for main roads. For golf cart rentals, Limo Dan or MonkeyQuads.

ATVs and side-by-sides are another option. MonkeyQuads rents ATVs and iQuad rents both side-by-sides and ATVs (quads). Be sure to ask about their security deposit policy.

Uber and Lyft are not offered in Nosara. Our local taxis are Tuk tuks, that can fit 2-3 people. For larger groups, I suggest arranging a local shuttles van in advance.