The main beach of Nosara is Playa Guiones, six kilometers of immaculate white sand stretching in a straight beautiful line from Punta Pelada in the north to Punta Guiones to the south. Easily accessible, Guiones is the best surf spot in the area, with consistent long waves and both left and right breaks. The shell-strewn beach of Playa Pelada to the north of Guiones is protected by an offshore barrier reef, making it suited for swimming. Around Playa Pelada there are tidal pools and natural caves at the northern end of the bay.
Landscape: Beach, tropical dry forest, river mouths
This week: Highs 27–30°C, lows 23–24°C, about 92 mm of rain.
Playa Nosara, Costa Rica, is part of the North Pacific. Nosara is a protected jewel that is on the “must-see” list for many ecologically minded tourists.
What to do in Playa Nosara
Playa Nosara is known for Nosara, Ostional Wildlife Refuge, Guiones. The landscape is beach, tropical dry forest, river mouths. Visitors usually come for yoga, surfing, turtle tours. See Costa Rica surf spots and yoga in Costa Rica for related planning.
Weather and elevation
Tropical dry forest. Hot and breezy. Dry from December to April, greener from May to November. Elevation here is sea level to 20 m (65 ft). The countrywide dry season and green season are covered in Costa Rica weather.
Getting to Playa Nosara
The closest international airport is Daniel Oduber in Liberia. Juan Santamaría in Alajuela is the other main gateway. The drive from the Central Valley crosses mountains, so allow more time than the map suggests. Buses, shuttles, and rental cars are compared in getting around Costa Rica.
