how we do
nosara.
The places we go back to, the way we get around, and the little things about the house we wish someone had told us. Our recommendations, from the family that built it.
Nosara is slow on purpose. Dirt roads, early mornings, surf at dawn, dinner at sunset. Pick a section, or start with how to get here, it shapes the whole trip.
be home before dark.
The Nosara airstrip has no runway lights, the roads have no streetlights, and the potholes, cattle, dogs and bikes don't wear reflectors. Plan flights, drives and ATV rides so you're back by sunset (roughly 5:30–6pm year-round).
fly in, rent local.
Our strong recommendation: land at Liberia (LIR) or San José (SJO), hop a small plane to Nosara (NOB), and rent a car in town only if you need one. It turns a long, rough drive into a 30–45 minute flight.
book your international arrival before 3pm.
Nosara's airstrip has no lights, so local planes only land in daylight. Your international flight needs to land at LIR or SJO by about 3pm to make a same-day connection. Arriving later? Overnight near the airport and fly in the next morning, which is also when the skies are calmest.
local airlines
sansa
Scheduled flights to Nosara from San José (~45 min) and Liberia (~30 min). Standard fare includes about 30 lb of checked bag.
flysansa.comcosta rica green airways
Daily scheduled service into Nosara, first flights early morning. Standard fare: 20 lb checked + 10 lb carry-on. Small dogs (under 25 lb) can fly.
costaricagreenair.compacking for small planes
- Soft duffels, not hard rollers.
- Weight limits are real and checked; extra bags can ride a later flight.
- Surfboards: ask the airline first.
- Morning flights get cancelled least.
shuttle vs car vs local air
| option | time from LIR | best for | watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sansa / Green Airways (our pick) | ~30 min flight | Everyone, especially first-timers and families | Daylight only; bag weight limits; book early in high season (Dec–Apr) |
| Private shuttle our go-to: Yerly Shuttle [whatsapp] | ~2–3 hrs by road | Late arrivals, big luggage, groups of 4–6 | Long, bumpy final stretch; still aim to arrive before dark |
| Rental car from the airport | ~2–3 hrs + stops | Confident drivers planning side trips | Unpaved roads, river crossings in green season, night driving. Get a 4x4. |
renting a car in nosara
economy rent a car — nosara
Fly in, then pick up in town. They can coordinate drop-off at the house or the airstrip. Office ~50 m north of Café de Paris, Playa Guiones.
the insurance thing
Costa Rica requires liability insurance that online booking sites usually leave out of the quoted price. Expect it to be added at the counter. Declining extra coverage can mean a large deposit hold on your card.
do you need a car at all?
Plenty of guests don't. Golf carts, ATVs and tuk-tuks cover town, and most restaurants are a short ride. See 4x4 & explore.
what driving here is actually like
dry season · dec–apr
Dust. A lot of it. Washboard dirt roads, keep windows up, slow down passing people and bikes.
green season · may–nov
Mud, deep potholes and creek crossings. Some roads become 4x4-only. Never drive into moving water you can't see the bottom of; wait, or turn around.
every day
- 4x4 with real clearance, not a compact.
- Waze works; trust it less after rain.
- ~40 km/h in town; one-lane bridges, yield.
- No driving after dark.
- Nothing visible left in a parked car.
- Gas stations are few; fill up when you can.
where we eat.
Coming from a restaurant family, we're picky. Book the dinner spots a day or two ahead in high season, and plan sunset dinners around the light, not the clock.
our highest recommendation
sendero
Our favorite in Nosara, full stop. Book it for your big night.
la brasa
A top-tier dinner and a regular for us. [eric: what to order]
mamagui
Italian we'd put our name behind. [eric: what to order]
orgánico
Not just a grocery: the prepared food, bowls and bakery are some of the best eating in town.
second up
sunrise
[eric: one line on why]
el chivo
[eric: one line on why]
sunset musts
la luna
Good food and the best oceanside sunset in Nosara. Reserve, and ask for a front table.
lagarta
Sunset views over the river mouth, and you can walk there from the casa. Food is okay; come for the view and a drink.
huacas
Sunset view toward Garza, a great cocktail spot, good snacks.
pilo's
A dirty little dive bar on the sand at Garza, and honestly our favorite sunset. Great family runs it. Hours aren't reliable; make it work anyway.
coyol
An amazing view of everything. Food is average-plus, but it's worth it for the view. The drive is steep and bumpy; take a driver if that's not your thing.
local eats
rosi's
We love breakfast here. The best way to start a Nosara day.
howler's
Beach-bum spot. Simple food, and it's killer.
gas station ceviche
Ceviche and empanadas sold out of a cooler at the gas station. Trust us.
garza fish shack
Fresh catch to cook at home on the grill. Go early; when it's gone, it's gone.
coffee
rolling waves
The best coffee on the way to the beach.
oli beer & surf
Coffee in the morning, beer after the surf. [confirm]
orgánico
Not bad, and you're probably there anyway.
surf.
Nosara is one of the most consistent beach breaks in the country, with a sandy bottom that's kind to beginners. Go early: glassy before 9am, wind after. Check the tide; mid-tide is usually the friendly window.
the four beaches
playa guiones
The surf beach, and the safest for swimming. Long sandy beach break, waves year-round. Three accesses: North, Main and Bakers. Busy in high season; walk a little and it spreads out.
playa pelada
Beautiful cove, sunset spot, tide pools at low tide. Always swim by the flags. Don't surf in front of La Luna: it's dangerous and only for very experienced surfers.
playa nosara
Walk across the boca (the river mouth) to a long, wild beach walk. Check the tides first: cross at low tide for an easy walk over, and make sure you can get back. Crocodiles live in the river; keep an eye out and don't swim in the boca.
playa garza
A real fishing town and beach; you can book fishing trips from here. The water's dangerous at high tide, but at low tide, down the beach to the right, there are warm natural swimming holes that are amazing.
lessons
dispatch surf co
Mobile surf school: the van meets you at a Guiones access with boards, lockers, showers and drinks. Private and semi-private lessons, kids' lessons.
safari surf school
One of Nosara's best-known schools. Good for multi-day progress.
nosara tico surf school
Locally owned; private and group sessions.
gilded iguana surf club
Lessons, rentals, lockers, outdoor showers and a juice bar right by the beach.
board rentals & shops
coconut harry's
At the main crossroads in Guiones. Rentals, lessons for kids and adults, Taco Taco next door.
nosara surf shop
Big shop: surf, SUP and skim boards, plus ATV and golf cart rentals in one stop.
juan surfo's
North Guiones, Tico-owned by one of the area's first local surfers.
respect the rip.
Rip currents are common, including at Pelada. Swim near the lifeguard towers, never alone at dusk, and if you're pulled out: don't fight it, swim parallel to shore, then in. Leave the river mouth to the locals. Reef-safe sunscreen, always.
get dusty.
Around town, a golf cart or ATV is how Nosara moves. For the jungle, rivers and waterfalls, a 4x4 side-by-side or a guided ATV tour. Here are our three favorite rides.
three rides we love
Rivers, hills and back roads to a jungle waterfall with natural pools for a swim. Stop for fresh-pressed sugarcane juice on the way.
- No ATV experience needed; drivers 16+ unless with a parent
- Bring: swimsuit, towel, closed shoes, clothes you'll ruin
- Green season = muddier, bigger falls
Our easy favorite. A good ride that isn't crazy difficult, with a few river crossings, nothing wild. Up and back in a short afternoon.
- Coyol is on the way. Stop for a drink or dinner on the way back, but get home before dark; this road isn't one to drive at night.
- Green season: if a crossing looks deep or fast, turn around.
The full day. Ride out through El Flaco and on to El Ruco, and eat there; it's a restaurant we highly recommend. From El Ruco it's 40–75 minutes home on paved road.
- Stop at Garza for sunset on the way back if the timing works.
- This is the one ride where coming home after dark is fine, because the return is paved.
- Leave by late morning so the dirt sections are done in daylight.
where to rent
monkey quad
Who we rent from. Great people, and they'll set you up with the right machine for the ride.
nosara surf shop
ATVs and golf carts alongside the surf rentals, plus guided ATV tours.
pura vida traveling
ATV rentals (Kymco 270cc and Honda 420cc, automatic) and the Pilas Blancas + White Rocks guided tours.
around town
golf cart
Easiest for Guiones–Pelada, dinners and the market. Not for the highway or river crossings.
atv
The local default. Helmets on, goggles in dry season, lights checked before any evening ride.
tuk-tuk
The way to get to dinner so nobody drives. Drivers change often, so agree the price before you go; most will give a good round-trip rate if you ask.
stock the kitchen.
Two full kitchens, a pizza oven and a grill. Here's where we shop, in the order we'd go.
italian discount
Our first stop, every trip. Incredible wine at amazing prices, the best liquor pricing around, and high-quality imported Italian food. This is where the pizza-oven night starts.
orgánico
Organic produce sourced from Costa Rican farms, bulk staples, great prepared bowls, baked goods. Breakfast pastries across the street at the bakery.
super nosara
The full-size, everyday supermarket. Lower prices, bigger selection, the place for staples and bulk.
tuesday market
Vendors set up along the main road on Tuesdays. Fruit, local goods, a good morning wander.
how the house works.
Check-in 4pm, check-out 10am. Our local team meets you on arrival. Anything not here, message us.
wifi
Network: Casa Carrara
Password: sent with your check-in details.
getting in: gates, locks & codes
gate code
One gate code, given at check-in, opens the driveway gate, the boca gate, the surf locker and the casita entrance.
Arriving: enter the code on the keypad. Leaving: the gate opens by sensor, or push the exit button. If the gate ever won't open, there's a backup lock door within the gate.
bypass switch
Coming and going all day? Flip the bypass switch so you don't have to enter the code every time. Switch it back when you head out for the night or turn in.
house doors
The house has Yale smart locks with your own personal code, sent before arrival. It's different from the gate code.
Locked out, or the power's down? We have physical keys. Message us and we'll get them to you.
casita-only stays
If you've booked the casita on its own, the interior door to the main house stays locked and there's no access upstairs.
sliding doors
The big sliders are tricky to lock. Use the right-hand door:
- Close it fully.
- Lift the door up to seat it.
- While holding it up, push the lock down.
The left door's handle doesn't do anything, so don't fight it. Lock up when you leave and at night; it also keeps the geckos and the occasional monkey out.
air conditioning
Every room has AC. Each remote lives in its wall holder in that room; please keep it there.
- No need to go below 20°C (68°F). Colder doesn't cool faster, it just works harder.
- Run the fans too; they circulate the cool air.
- Close doors and windows while it's on.
- Heading out? Set it to 24–26°C (75–79°F), or better, turn it off.
power & solar
The house runs on solar with battery backup, so it often keeps running when town loses power. During an outage, go easy on the AC. The Sol-Ark battery system lives in the laundry room; no need to touch it.
lights
- On timers: main terrace, the step lights up to the house, and the garden lights. They take care of themselves.
- Casita exterior: on a timer, but you can switch them back on.
- Terrace switches: outside, on the terrace.
- Spiral stairs to the rooftop: switches in the casita, on the rooftop and in the primary suite.
Please turn off anything you switched on when you're done. It saves the solar battery and keeps the bugs down.
the two pools
One by the casita, one off the main terrace.
- Pool lights run on their own and switch off automatically each night.
- Our pool team comes weekly to clean.
- No glass in or around any pool, please. Plastic cups are in the kitchen.
- Children supervised at all times.
pizza oven & grill
Both run on gas. Fire them up any time.
- Turn the gas fully off when you're done.
- Give them a clean after use, ready for the next pizza night.
water
Drink from any tap. The house runs on its own private well, filtered through a top-of-the-line system. Prefer it completely pure? Both kitchen sinks have reverse-osmosis water. Skip the plastic bottles.
trash & recycling
Trash goes in the bin outside by the driveway entrance. Close the lid every time; ants, raccoons and coatis are fast. Keep food sealed inside too.
dogs
Small breeds welcome with approval; please tell us the breed when you book. A pet fee applies.
- Off the furniture and beds.
- No dogs in the pools.
- Not left alone in the house unless we've approved it.
who to call
Call or WhatsApp us directly; our number is in your booking details. For anything non-urgent, message us through your booking site. Here, WhatsApp is how everything gets done.
slow down.
Nosara is Costa Rica's wellness town. You can bring it to the house or go to it.
at the house
yali yoga
Private yoga on our deck at sunrise or sunset. Yali comes to homes and rentals around Nosara.
book yaliholistic massage nosara
In-villa massage by certified female therapists, set up in your room or on the terrace. Surf recovery, deep tissue, relaxing, lymphatic, couples and four-hands.
book a massagenosara wellness
Lomi lomi, shiatsu, Reiki and bodywork, with off-site sessions available. Give them about 24 hours' notice.
in town
bodhi tree
The yoga epicenter: six or seven public classes a day across beautiful shalas, plus Pilates, a gym and a full spa.
harmony healing centre
Classes open to the public, with massages and treatments in the spa. Some classes are by donation.
nosara bodywork
For when the surf wins: physiotherapy, massage and acupuncture under one roof. +506 7287 7650.
the small stuff.
emergencies
any emergency
911 for ambulance (Red Cross), police and fire. It works from any phone, local SIM or not.
clinics · 24/7 emergencies
Lifeguard Medical Center / Nosara Urgent Care, 200 m southwest of Hotel Guiones. Doctor on call 24/7; call or WhatsApp +506 8512 9111.
Paradise Medical Services, Guiones. Emergency WhatsApp +506 8909 5769, phone +506 2682 1212.
pharmacies
- Farmacia Guiones, next to Paradise Medical. +506 2101 7528
- Farmacia Nosara, inside Rinde Más, open daily 9am–9pm. +506 8472 1235
- Farmacia Don Gerardo, next to the gas station. +506 8784 1701
hospitals
The nearest hospital is Hospital de la Anexión in Nicoya, about 1.5 hours away. For anything serious, start with a clinic above; they stabilize and arrange transport.
money
US dollars are widely accepted; change usually comes in colones. Carry some cash for sodas, tuk-tuks and tips.
seasons
Dry (Dec–Apr): sun, dust, busy, book ahead. Green (May–Nov): afternoon rain, lush, empty beaches, muddy roads.
wildlife
Howler monkeys are your alarm clock. Shake out shoes, don't feed animals, and give iguanas and the occasional snake space.
sun & bugs
The sun is strong at 10° north. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and repellent at dusk.
phones
WhatsApp is how everything here gets booked. An eSIM or roaming plan helps with maps on the road.
staying longer? two side trips
tamarindo
The party town. Busy, lively, nightlife and shopping. Fun for a night, a big change of pace from Nosara.
santa teresa
Gorgeous and boho, with some of the best food on the coast. Also expensive; budget for it.
our perfect nosara day
- Morning: coffee at Rolling Waves or Oli, then a local breakfast at Rosi's.
- Midday: get outside. Surf, a long beach walk, or take the quads out.
- Sunset: Pilo's on the sand at Garza, with a cocktail and ceviche.
- Night: pizza by the pool, something on the grill, or dinner at the bar top at Sendero.