10 Amazing Things to do in Nosara Costa Rica

With a long stretch of sandy beach, surfers dotting every wave, native forests, and a fun vibe in town, Nosara is a fun beach destination on the Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is truly an easy and adventurous place and a perfect family-friendly destination. It is also a perfect week long family destination from the US. I’ve been to Costa Rica

more than once and was thrilled to enjoy Nosara.

Check out the suggestions below on the 10 Top Things to do in Nosara Costa Rica as well as some general information to help you plant your visit such as how to get around Nosara and how many days to spend in Nosara.

Nosara is known as one of the best surfing towns in the world and in many ways the town is geared towards the surfing world. We visited Nosara on our week-long itinerary in Costa Rica.

Quick Look at the 10 Best Things to do in Nosara Costa Rica

Map of Nosara Costa Rica with the top Things to Do

Complete Details of Things to Do in Nosara Costa Rica

Watch the Sunset

This is easily the most enjoyable thing to do in Nosara. Perched right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Nosara’s long stretch of the beach comes alive in the evening as people pour out onto the beach to watch the sunset. Locals and tourists alike soak up the last ray of sunlight as surfers get in their last wave. It is truly a lovely way to end the day.

Surf

Nosara is a surfing paradise with consistent and big waves. Many people come here to surf and there are several places you can do a surfing lesson or surfing school. We spent a day with surfboard and boogie boards and found it a hard place to surf for beginners. We did love watching the experienced surfers in the waves!

You can find several shops in town to rent surfboards and boogie boards. Our kids enjoyed playing in the smaller waves with their boogie boards.

Visit the Nosara Biological Reserve

The Nosara Biological Reserve is a 90-acre private reserve designed to protect the habitat and species that live right where the forest meets the beach. Home to monkeys, iguanas, snakes, armadillos, wild cats, crocodiles, and an array of bird species, the reserve offers hiking trails and you can even stay and eat right in the reserve. There is a small entrance fee and you can arrange to have a tour guide take you on a nature walk.

The best time to visit is early morning for the best chance to see animals.

If you are a nature lover, you can also check out Sibu Sanctuary.

Take a Yoga Class

Nosara has increasingly become a hub for healthy living. You can find several local studies that offer pilates and yoga classes. Ask at your Nosara Hotel or resort for suggestions of a good studio (many resorts offer their own courses). Most yoga studios are out in the open air amid the surrounding forest.

You can also check out the studio at Nalu Nosara.

Go Horseback Riding

One of the best things to do in Nosara is to go horseback riding. There are several different tours that offer horseback rides in the forest and hills and right on the beach. We chose a sunset horseback ride and it was my 7-year-olds favorite part of the whole trip. The ride lasted about 2 hours and finished with the sun setting over the ocean as we rode down the beach.

Check out the Sea Turtles

Every year hundreds of thousands of turtles visit the beaches near Nosara to lay their eggs. The Olive Ridley Sea Turtles gather on the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge to dig their nests and lay their eggs. Most turtles come ashore mostly between July and December and lay between 80-100 eggs. Just a small number of these will hatch and make it to the sea about 60 days after they are laid.

You can view the turtles on your own, or talk to your hotel about booking a tour.

Go on a River Safari

Explore the mangrove forest during a river safari or kayak. This tour offers pick-up at local Nosara Hotels and is perfect for nature lovers. Kayak on the Nosara and Montana Rivers and wind through the Mangroves in your search for local animals.

Visit the Beaches

Nosara is best known for its beaches. You can visit all 3 of Nosara’s beaches.

• Guiones Beach – this is the main beach in Nosara and stretches 6 km with perfect sand and crashing waves.
• Pelada Beach – this beach is smaller and much calmer. Instead of the sand, there are lots of shells on this beach and you can explore caves and tidepools.
• Nosara Beach – at the mouth of the Nosara River, you will find the tranquil Nosara Beach. The beach ends at Ostional Beach where the sea turtles come to lay their eggs.

Try some of the Amazing Food in Town

Nosara has some truly amazing food options and places to eat, although you will pay a lot more that some other places in Costa Rica. You can find locally brewed beer, natural smoothies, acacia bowls, burgers and pizza. We enjoyed eating out and there are a few wonderful restaurants right on the beach.

Take a Snorkeling Trip to San Juanillo Bay

Just a 45-minute drive from Nosara, San Juanillo Bay is the perfect escape for a day of snorkeling. It’s possible to book a snorkeling tour, or if you have a car, you can drive yourself to the bay for a day of snorkeling. Ask locally at your hotel for the best advice and the current visibility.

Things to Know About Visiting Nosara

Here are some general things to know about Costa Rica and Nosara to help you plan your visit:

• Spanish is the official language but most people in Nosara speak English
• The official currency in the colon
• There are a few ATMs in the town of Nosara, but you can also use credit cards in most of the hotels and restaurants in town
• In general, the water in Nosara is safe to drink – ask your hotel to confirm

How to Get to Nosara

Nosara is a small town, but it is easy to get to. The closest big airport is in Liberia although there is a smaller airport right in Nosara. From Liberia, the drive to Nosara takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. The road in this direction is easy to drive and well maintained. From the Liberia Airport, you can either rent a car and drive to Nosara, or book a ride or transfer.

If you are arriving from another part of Costa Rica (we came from the La Fortuna area) it’s important to note that the road to the south from Samara crosses a river and is not passable during the rainy season.

How to get around Nosara

Once you arrive in Nosara, it’s perfectly reasonable to simply walk around town. Many of the hotels and places to eat are right in town. There is very limited public transportation in the area or even taxis. If you want to get further out of town, you will need a car or will need to book a tour.

Best Time of Year to Visit Nosara

The best time of year to visit Nosara is December-April. This is the dry season and is also the most popular time to visit Costa Rica in general. From May to November, you can expect more frequent rain, although this does not mean that it rains hard all day. You are more likely to get heavy showers that pass through quickly. September and October are truly the rainy months where you can expect rain all day for days in a row.

How long do you need in Nosara?

At a minimum, you should plan to spend 3 nights in Nosara to enjoy the town, beaches, and the water. If you have time and want a relaxing vacation, you could easily spend an entire week here.

Best Hotels in Nosara Costa Rica

We stayed at Kayasol (now part of Uliminar Beachfront Suites) we loved having our own small place and the swimming pool.

Green Sanctuary Hotel – just a short walk to the beach, this is a great budget-friendly hotel with a pool

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge – This is a more luxurious option with lovely views and a swimming pool