By the Where to Stay in Costa Rica editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay near Playa Guiones. It's Nosara's main surf beach, with consistent waves for every level, and most cafés, yoga studios and surf schools are on the dirt roads behind it. North Guiones is livelier; south Guiones is quieter and more residential. Our pick is The Gilded Iguana.
Choose Playa Pelada for a calmer, smaller beach with tide pools, or the hills above Guiones for views and privacy, but you'll need wheels to reach the beach.
Nosara's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | To the beach | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Guiones | Surfers, cafés, walking to everything | Walk | Busier, dusty roads |
| South Guiones | Quieter stays, families, villas | Walk | Fewer restaurants nearby |
| Playa Pelada | Calm, tide pools, sunsets | Walk | Small beach, few services |
| The hills | Views, privacy, romance | 5–10 min drive | Steep, rough roads |
Nosara village, about 10 minutes inland, has the airstrip, banks and a supermarket, but it isn't where visitors stay.
Map of Nosara Hotels
Playa Guiones is the long beach in the middle; Playa Pelada is the small bay to the north.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Nosara stays →Best Splurge Hotels
A yoga resort and a boutique hideaway.
Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
Playa Guiones, inland, Nosara
Yoga resort in the forest behind Guiones, with daily classes and wellness programs.
Best for: Yoga trips
- Daily yoga, one class included
- Rooms, villas and residences
- Lap pool and spa
More about this hotel
Nosara's best-known yoga resort, with daily classes, a lap pool, a spa and rooms ranging from doubles to 2–3 bedroom residences. Booking rates include one class and breakfast.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Di (they-them), CC BY-SA 4.0
Tierra Magnífica
Hills above Playa Guiones, Nosara
Small boutique hotel in the hills above Guiones, with ocean views and a romantic feel.
Best for: Romantic boutique stays
- Ocean- and jungle-view suites
- Chef-run restaurant
- Pool, spa and yoga
More about this hotel
A small hillside boutique hotel with jungle and ocean views, a pool, a spa and a chef-run restaurant. The beach is about 1.4 km downhill, so a tuk-tuk or car helps.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Alegutierrezc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Best Mid-Range Hotels
Surf hotels and lodges, two of them family-friendly.
The Gilded Iguana
North Playa Guiones, Nosara
Our top pick: a surf hotel at the north end of Guiones with a surf school, a lively restaurant and family rooms.
Best for: Surfers and families
- Steps from the surf break
- Surf lessons and board rental
- Kids club (ages 4–10)
More about this hotel
Steps from the Guiones surf break, with a surf club for lessons and rentals, a pool, a gym and a busy restaurant. A kids' club for ages 4–10 makes it the easiest family pick in Nosara.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Alegutierrezc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lagarta Lodge
Above Playa Nosara and Pelada, Nosara
Hilltop lodge with sunset views over the Nosara river mouth and a private reserve.
Best for: Views and nature
- Trail access to the biological reserve
- Infinity pools with sunset views
- Free Nosara airport shuttle
More about this hotel
A hilltop lodge next to the Nosara Biological Reserve, with trails down to the river and infinity pools facing the sunset. It includes a free shuttle to Nosara's small airport.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Olas Verdes Hotel
South Playa Guiones, Nosara
Eco-friendly suites with kitchens, a short walk from the south end of Guiones.
Best for: Eco-minded families
- 200 m to the beach
- Two saltwater pools
- Family beach apartments
More about this hotel
A LEED Platinum eco-hotel about 200 m from the beach along a jungle path, with two saltwater pools and beach apartments that suit families.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Best Budget Stays
Simple, friendly and close to the beach.
Ride On! Surf Hotel
South Playa Guiones, Nosara
Budget surf guesthouse near south Guiones, with board rentals and lessons.
Best for: Budget surf trips
- Under 1 km to the beach
- Free bikes and board rental
- Pool and breakfast
More about this hotel
A simple surf hotel under 1 km from Guiones beach, with a pool, free bikes, board rental and breakfast. There is no lunch or dinner on site.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Villa Mango B&B
Playa Pelada, Nosara
Owner-run B&B with big views over Playa Pelada, for good value.
Best for: Value with a view
- Short walk to Playa Pelada
- Pool with ocean views
- Highly rated breakfast
More about this hotel
A friendly owner-run B&B on the hillside above Playa Pelada, with a pool, ocean views, frequent monkey visits and a highly rated breakfast.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Haakon S. Krohn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Nosara Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Gilded Iguana
Surf hotel
|
North Playa Guiones, Nosara | Mid-range | Surfers and families | Check prices |
|
Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
Yoga resort
|
Playa Guiones, inland, Nosara | Splurge | Yoga trips | Check prices |
|
|
Tierra Magnífica
Boutique hotel
|
Hills above Playa Guiones, Nosara | Splurge | Romantic boutique stays | Check prices |
|
Lagarta Lodge
Hilltop lodge
|
Above Playa Nosara and Pelada, Nosara | Mid-range | Views and nature | Check prices |
|
Olas Verdes Hotel
Eco-hotel
|
South Playa Guiones, Nosara | Mid-range | Eco-minded families | Check prices |
|
|
Ride On! Surf Hotel
Surf guesthouse
|
South Playa Guiones, Nosara | Budget | Budget surf trips | Check prices |
|
Villa Mango B&B
Owner-run B&B
|
Playa Pelada, Nosara | Budget | Value with a view | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Getting to Nosara
- From Liberia airport (LIR): 2.5 to 3 hours via Nicoya. The main roads into Nosara are now paved, though potholed, but many side roads are rough dirt: rent a higher-clearance SUV, and a 4x4 in the rainy season.
- From San José airport (SJO): about 5 hours by car, or a short domestic flight to the Nosara airstrip.
- From Tamarindo: about 2 hours.
Once there, many people get around by ATV, golf cart, bike or on foot. Bring a buff or sunglasses for the dust in the dry season.
What to Do from Nosara
Surf and yoga are the main draws, with several studios offering drop-in classes. The Ostional Wildlife Refuge, a short drive north, hosts mass nesting events ("arribadas") of olive ridley turtles once or twice a month all year, with the biggest usually from September to November. Visits during an arribada are only with certified local guides. Calmer Playa Sámara, about 45 minutes south, is better for young swimmers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.