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Eat, surf, stretch

Nosara is small enough that you’ll bump into us at most of these.

Map of the area

Map of NosaraThe coast from the Río Nosara south to Garza. Lagarta Lodge sits on the hill just south of the river mouth, in Pelada. Guiones runs along the long beach below it, Nosara village and the airstrip are inland to the north-east, and Garza is at the southern end. Numbered pins mark the restaurants and spots listed beside the map.↑ OstionalPacificOceanPlaya NosaraPlaya PeladaPlaya GuionesPeladaGuionesGarzaairstripNosaraRoute 160NLagarta LodgeRío Nosara1234567

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Lagarta Lodge
  2. 1Sunrise
  3. 2Pura Pizza
  4. 3The Gilded Iguana
  5. 4Rolling Waves
  6. 5Sendero
  7. 6Bodhi Tree
  8. 7La Malacrianza

Where to eat

Breakfast and coffee

  • Sunrise

    Big breakfasts and good coffee.

  • Rolling Waves

    Best coffee in Guiones.

Casual

  • Rosi’s

    Soda-style cooking with no fuss. Can’t go wrong here.

  • La Malacrianza

    More out of the way, but great, authentic Costa Rican food.

  • Pura Pizza

    Fast and good. Gets busy after sunset.

Dinner

  • Sendero

    Our pick for a special dinner, in the hotel of the same name. Tasting-menu style, and the food was delicious. Book ahead.

  • Huacas

    Really good food with a view. Expensive.

  • Satori Sushi

    Good sushi and fun drinks.

Drinks and small plates

  • Howlers

    Order the carpaccio and a cocktail. We often saw howler monkeys here.

On our list, haven’t tried yet

  • La Catedral

  • Posada Margherita

  • Naked Foods

  • Blue Zone Brewery

What to do

Surf

Guiones is one of the most consistent beginner-friendly beach breaks anywhere, with waves every day, a sandy bottom and warm water. If you’ve never stood on a board, this is the place to take a lesson.

Nosara CR Surf SchoolLessons and board rentals. Book a morning slot; the wind is calmer.

Yoga

Nosara is a yoga town. Classes run all day, mostly outdoors, mostly under a jungle canopy.

Bodhi Tree Yoga ResortDrop-in classes for all levels, plus a great pool and cafe if you want to linger.

Beaches and sunsets

Around 5:30 every evening, pretty much the whole town wanders down to the sand with a drink to watch the sun go down, and you should too. Guiones is the classic spot. Playa Pelada, just north of Guiones, is smaller, rockier and has tide pools, and sunset from the rocks there is the best in town.

Tuesday farmers market

Every Tuesday afternoon Guiones has a farmers market with local fruit, baked goods, coffee, crafts and food stalls. It is the best place to bump into everyone in town, and a good excuse to stock the Airbnb kitchen.

Turtles at Playa Ostional

Ostional, about 30 minutes north, is one of the few beaches in the world where olive ridley sea turtles come ashore by the thousands to nest, an event called an arribada. If one happens while you are here, go. They are hard to predict, so check with the local guide association first; the beach is a protected refuge and a licensed guide is required.

Guías AGLO on FacebookThe Ostional guide association posts when an arribada is happening and arranges guided visits.